《How to Live as a Wandering Knight》 Chapter 1: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) Chapter 1: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) The Aitz family, a knightly lineage of the Holy Empire. The story of Kim Yo-han, a knight born with power in the Aitz family, a knightly family of the Holy Empire. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª After dying in an unexpected ident, Kim Yo-han was reborn with dragon power in the Aitz family, a knightly family of the Holy Empire. And then 17 years passed. Kim Yo-han had no choice but to admit that life here was not so easy. ???????????? The Aitz family was among the many noble families in the Empire, but so small that it could hardly be considered significant in the family tree. Unlike other knights whocked a fiefdom, the Aitz family at least had a small town as their territory, which might be considered fortunate. However, the chances of this town falling into Johan¡¯s hands were slim. Gessen Aitz had too many children. His eldest, second, and third sons from his fourth wife; his fourth and fifth from his third wife. . . Johan¡¯s mother, who gave birth to him, was Gessen¡¯s second wife. She passed away shortly after his birth, leaving Johan without any memory of her. ¡°???? ?????????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?????????? ???? ?? ??????????????????. . .¡± Still, his situation was difficult enough. It would have been even moreplicated if he had been illegitimate. The sons of Gessen¡¯s fourth wife, being older, naturally despised Johan and the children from the other wives. The current Mrs. Aitz also disliked Johan and the children from the other wives. Excluded from the two main factions in the fiefdom, other than Sir Gessen himself, Johan¡¯s life was inevitably hard. Unless Sir Gessen mediated, which he rarely did, as he showed little interest in the affairs of the fiefdom. Sir Gessen spent most of the year away from the fiefdom. What he did during this time was unclear, but he seemed very busy. When he did return, he mostly indulged in strong drinks. Johan had rarely seen his father, Sir Gessen, himself. Thus, the fiefdom was managed by Sir Gessen¡¯s subordinates, his wife, and his older sons. . . And caught in the middle were sons like Johan. At least the other sons had brothers from the same mother for support, but Johan was truly alone. Had he been smaller, he would have been relentlessly bullied. ¡°Ah, Johan-nim. Hello.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Johan greeted the serf. Though the Aitz family had a fiefdom, they were a small and poor noble family, not owning an expensive castle. Their residence was a moderately-sized mansion adjacent to a vige. Compared to the vige houses, it seemed luxurious like a castle. Consequently, the sons of the Aitz family had no choice but to interact closely with the vigers. Sons like Johan, who were more distant, even more so. While most behaved arrogantly due to their noble status, Johan was different. It was not in his nature, and he saw no benefit in earning the wrath of the serfs. As a result, the vigers liked Johan. Despite his youth, he had the stature of a knight and amendable personality. In the vige, there were talks that ¡°Johan should seed Sir Gessen.¡± However, these words meant nothing. The serfs, tied to their fiefdom and farming, had no influence. Even if Sir Gessen suddenly passed away, the decision would be made by his retainers, wife, and older sons. ¡°What¡¯s up? It¡¯s Johan.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look. Idiot.¡± Walking past the wheat fields near the vige, there was a fairly dense forest. It was a dense forest that the elders of the vige called the ¡®Devil¡¯s Forest¡¯, where light did not enter even in broad daylight. Unlike Earth, the Holy Empire was full of ces that were not cleared like this. It was a world where you had to be afraid of beasts jumping out of the forest even on the road. And there were only a few people in the vige who could enter that forest. Most of the serfs were forbidden to enter the forest unless it was a special time. The trees and beasts of the forest belonged to the feudal lord. Only the son of the feudal lord or the hunters who were allowed could enter the forest! Naturally, it was his half-brothers who were telling Johan not to look at him now. Johan shook his head. Such a quarrel was now pitiful. At first, he didn¡¯t tolerate it and fought back, but now he was so annoyed that he ignored it and passed by. ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ???????????¡¯ He knew that he shouldn¡¯t do it with force, but the other side only quarreled with their mouths and didn¡¯te any closer. They knew very well that there was nothing good about bumping into Johan. ????????©¥ Johan ignored it and stood in front of the dense oak tree. He was thinking of doing what he did every day. ¡®I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s okay to just train like this.¡¯ Over 180cm physique. When he fought with other brothers, he was so powerful that he could win against four. From the moment he was born, Johan had a blessed body. It was a simr appearance to his previous life, but it attracted much more attention. Overall, people¡¯s physiques were smaller. Even Johan¡¯s half-brothers were sons of knights and ate and slept well, so their physiques were above average, but they looked poorpared to Johan. Besides. . . ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?????????????? ????????????????.¡¯ Johan clenched his fist. The grip felt stronger than before. The Bergmann¡¯s Law. Thew that the colder the animal lives, the bigger it gets. Did the environment of this world increase Johan¡¯s strength like that? He didn¡¯t know why he felt stronger even though his physique was the same. ??????????, ??????????©¥ Johan stopped worrying and started exercising. It was a workout he had been doing since Earth. No matter how physically gifted he was, he couldn¡¯t get stronger without training. And in this part of the training, Johan was confident. A person who is more familiar with modern and scientific training methods than anyone in the Empire! Although there are no devices and it is difficult to adjust the diet, Johan made the maximum effort within his ability. The result was his current body. The problem is that this is not a modern world, but a different world with a medieval feel. It was not a world where you could seed by being good at unarmed mixed martial arts, but a world where you could seed by knowing how to swing a sword in armor. And Johan didn¡¯t learn this part at all. It wasn¡¯t just Johan. Most of the other half-brothers were simr. It was because Sir Gessen was so indifferent to his children. It was okay to just wander around outside the fiefdom. There were many such people among the knights. However, such knights usually sent their children to other knights for squire training. It wasmon for knights to exchange their children to train them into excellent knights. A knight was not made overnight. From a young age, they consistently learned things necessary as a knight, such as swordsmanship, etiquette, tactics, and strategy. Among Sir Gessen¡¯s sons, only the eldest or second eldest received knight training, and the youngest son, now Mrs. Aitz¡¯s son, was learning under a home tutor. What about the rest? They were just livingfortably. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????????????????????.¡¯ Johan shook his head as he watched his half-brothers go hunting in the forest with their swords. How nice it would have been if he could livefortably like that. But he couldn¡¯t. Unlike them, who didn¡¯t know their situation, Johan was fully aware of his situation. ¡®???? ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????????????, ?? ?????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ??????????. . .¡¯ Think about it. What if Sir Gessen dies? Sir Gessen is already past middle age and looking at old age, and in this world, it¡¯s rare for humans to live beyond 60 or 70, let alone 100. There was no such thing as a knight preventing aging with internal power, as in the fantasy novels Johan had read. To Johan¡¯s eyes, it seemed difficult for Sir Gessen to live more than ten years. He was extremely fat and old, but he still loved alcohol and women. . . When Sir Gessen dies, one of the eldest or youngest sons will seed the knight title. Johan didn¡¯t know who it would be. Whoever wins the fight will take it. The problem was the remaining sons like Johan. If the brothers were close, they would have taken care of at least one feudatory position, but from Johan¡¯s perspective, there was no chance. Whoever rises, the brothers with different mothers seemed likely to be driven out of the feudatory. ¡®???? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????, ????????¡¯?? ????????.¡¯ Honestly, he didn¡¯t think they would even do that. In the past, he didn¡¯t understand why the second and third sons of lower nobles in history went into the military so much, but now that he was experiencing it himself, he understoodpletely. There was nothing else to do. He was a son of a formal knight family, so he was a nobleman for now, and he didn¡¯t think about doing business or farming, but he still needed money to eat and live. . . If he had received training as a squire under a knight, he would have continued to run as a knight and aimed to enter under another nobleman who had a feudatory, but he had not received training, so there was no way. ¡®Should I ask to be sent to another knight with a big heart? I¡¯m still his child. . . Damn. I can¡¯t try anything because he isn¡¯t involved in the feudatory.¡¯ Johan resented Sir Gessen. He couldn¡¯t try anything because he was away all the time. In the end, there was only one thing Johan could do. Training. He didn¡¯t know how meaningful bare-handed martial arts would be, but he had to do it because he was anxious. How useful it would be when others were wearing armor and swinging swords. . . And the other half-brothersughed at Johan like that. In their eyes, Johan seemed to be doing strange things with his bare body. ¡°Are you bewitched by a witch? Hahaha!¡± ¡°Shh. If the new priest hears you, it¡¯ll be a big deal.¡± ???????????? ¡°Hello, Johan-nim.¡± Hunter Joseph bowed politely. Johan was as courteous as a knight in a bard¡¯s song, but that made him all the more cautious. ¡°Joseph, are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Johan stared intently at Joseph. It was initially ufortable to treat a middle-aged man arrogantly, but he had gotten used to it now. If he was unnecessarily kind, it would only make the other person feel more burdened, and if it reached others¡¯ ears, it could cause unnecessary problems. ¡®?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ????????.¡¯ On the hunter¡¯s waist were a crude dagger and a few pouches of medicine. These were unique medicines passed down among the hunters, ranging from painkillers to drugs used to lure animals. In addition, a bow and arrows. That was all the weaponry a hunter had. There were no chainmail, gauntlets, metal boots, or even a thick cloth armor called a gambeson. If a hunter had such equipment, he would have sold it for money immediately. He was worried about what would happen if he encountered a beast, but the hunter¡¯s answer was simple. ©¥??????¡¯?? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ??????. Chapter 2: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) Chapter 2: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) It was a simple but true statement. Going to a ce where formidable beasts appear was not for hunters, but for mercenaries or knights. Even in this world where aura and inner strength were scarce and magic was rare, there were monsters. The particrly strong beasts that were difficult for humans to deal with were precisely these monsters. When such monsters appeared, people called for mercenaries or knights. It was curious how they could deal with creatures several times stronger than ordinary beasts without guns, but from the stories passed down, it seemed possible to confront them. ¡®Well, there must be a way.¡¯ In the past, when there were no guns, people would have hunted beasts with just spears. The people here were no different. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take the lead.¡± ???????????? Joseph was one of the few people in the vige who had permission to enter the forest. While others would be severely punished if caught, Joseph was allowed to hunt there. Joseph was responsible for managing the forest to keep others out, guide Sir Gessen if he wanted to hunt in the forest, and serve as a soldier in case of war. Of course, Joseph had no intention of fulfilling thest duty. If a war broke out, he nned to pack his belongings and flee. He had run away to this ce and had no intention of bing a human shield for the nobles. ¡®???????? ?? ???????????????? ??????????.¡¯ Joseph thought about Johan, who was following him through the forest. This was not the first time he had hunted with Johan. ©¥?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ????????????? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ??????. ©¥??¡¯?? ??????????, ??????????-??????. When Joseph first met Johan, he bowed his head and bit his tongue. Sir Gessen had so many sons that there were more than a few who came to him to be hunting attendants. Of course, he couldn¡¯t amodate all such requests. Strictly speaking, only Sir Gessen had the right to make such a request. The other sons did not have that right. Fortunately, Joseph had an excuse. ©¥???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???????????? ????????, ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ????????????????, ?????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???? ????????. . . A noble¡¯s hunt was different from a hunter carrying a single bow into the hunt. The noble¡¯s attendants followed, and soldiers followed to guard those attendants. It was more like a hunt where beaters drove the animals towards them than a traditional hunt where they searched for animals. Naturally, it cost a fortune. Even the nobles couldn¡¯t do it casually. Especially not the not-so-wealthy Aitz family. Moreover, the sons of the Aitz family did not have the authority to make such decisions. Joseph thought Johan wouldin and back off. He was prepared for insults or spitting. ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ????.¡¯ But the answer that came back was unexpected. ©¥????, ??¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?? ???????? ???????? ????????????????. ??¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?? ????????????. ?? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????. ©¥. . .?! Joseph was taken aback. And he was disgusted. ¡°What nonsense. . .¡± Wanting to go on a hunter¡¯s hunt. It was clear that a noble¡¯s child would get bored in a few hours. And if he acted rashly and got hurt. . . But he couldn¡¯t refuse. If he refused here, even the good-natured Johan would surely get angry. ©¥??????¡¯?? ??????????. ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ??????. ???????? ???? ?? ?????? ????????, ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ??????. ©¥??-???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????? Joseph, who had his inner thoughts exposed, blushed. It was a mistake to think that Johan was easy to deal with because he was young. Johan was smarter than he thought. In the end, Joseph went hunting with Johan, albeit reluctantly. And it didn¡¯t take long for him to have to admit it. Johan wasn¡¯t lying. Johan was surprisingly patient for a noble. He followed the insignificant hunter¡¯s instructions withoutining, waited when told to wait, and didn¡¯tin about camping in the cold night dew. Thanks to that, the initial worry had long disappeared. Instead, curiosity arose when the worry disappeared. ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?? ????????????? Knights would scoff at it, but the skills of a hunter were not easy to learn. Moreover, Joseph¡¯s skills were even more so. The method of tracking the traces of animals, the method of walking quickly in the forest without making a sound, the method of setting traps ording to the animals, the method of camping avoiding beasts and bugs. . . When a war broke out, it was not for nothing that hunters were used as scouts. However, no matter how much he thought about it, it was not a skill that nobles should learn. ¡°Joseph. What are you doing?¡± ¡°Ah. . . Yes! I¡¯m sorry.¡± Joseph was startled and shook his head. It was a mistake that should not be made, even if it was the beginning of the forest, to think about other things. ¡°Is this a footprint?¡± ¡°Yes. You found it correctly. It¡¯s really a nobleman¡¯s excellent skill. It¡¯s not something anyone can find. Originally, it¡¯s not easy to find footprints when the weather is like this, but you found it, it¡¯s definitely Johan-nim. It must be that God recognizes you and helps you.¡± ¡°. . .I see.¡± Johan nodded with a twitching face. Such a tteringpliment. ¡®???? ?????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????¡¯ But Joseph couldn¡¯t help it. There were many nobles who got angry if they didn¡¯t do so. ¡°Can I set a trap right away?¡± ¡°No, Johan-nim.¡± Find the footprints of the beast, and set a trap on the path where those footprints lead. This was the first method Joseph taught. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Look closely. The footprints of the usual blue dot deer are dug deeper. It¡¯s definitely a pregnant female. Females, especially pregnant blue dot deer, are more sensitive than usual. If you set a trap recklessly, you may not be able to catch it.¡± Johan nodded his head. To Johan, who had lived in the city all his life, every teaching of Joseph was touching. ¡°Then what should I do?¡± ¡°You have to avoid its sense of smell, so you¡¯ll use this herb powder. Thebination is. . .¡± ¡°Red cake grass with Akinen tree and small devil grass. Right?¡± ¡°. . .Yes. You remember well.¡± Experienced and cunning hunters also knew the knowledge of herbalists. A hunter who can make various medicines bybiningmon herbs was respected in the vige. And Joseph was a hunter among hunters. ¡°If you sprinkle this herb powder, it will be confused because its sense of smell is paralyzed. No matter how sensitive it is, it won¡¯t notice the trap. Now you can install it.¡± Johan¡¯s skill, who had done it several times, was familiar. He skillfully carved a tree and hung a spear, and put a resilient rope. The moment you touch it, the spear will fly and pierce the body of the deer. ¡°You did well. Now let¡¯s install a few more.¡± There was no hunter who set only one trap. And Joseph didn¡¯t usually aim for deer. If you catch a lot of animals like deer, you could be caught by the feudal lord. What Joseph usually caught was rabbits or badgers, foxes or birds. He could catch wolves if he wanted to, but he usually didn¡¯t. Unless it appears in the vige and attacks people, there is no need to do so. ¡°Joseph.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that wolf?¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± Joseph turned his head in surprise. Far away, a ck wolf was staring at him through the dense trees. ¡®?????????!¡¯ This was not an area where wolves appeared. To see the territory of the wolves in the forest, he had to go further for about a day. Moreover, there were no signs of a wolf appearing. Footprints, feces, characteristic w marks. . . ¡®????¡¯?? ?? ?????????? ????????!¡¯ Joseph realized that the wolf was not the one he usually saw in the forest. Its fur was so glossy ck and its size seemed to be twice as big as other wolves. ¡®?????????? ???? ????. . . ?? ??????????????. . .!¡¯ Among the beasts, those who were born with great strength and continued to fight and survive were unusuallyrge. These beasts behaved and moved differently from ordinary beasts. Even savvy hunters didn¡¯t want to deal with these exceptional beasts, monsters. ¡°Johan-nim. You must never act rashly!¡± ¡°I know.¡± Johan didn¡¯t show it, but he knew how dangerous the situation was. Seeing Joseph like this, he realized that the wolf was an unexpected enemy. Moreover, the oppressive atmosphere it exuded was no joke. Even Johan, who had never seen a monster, thought, ¡®Is that a monster?¡¯ ¡®?? ???????? ?? ??????????. . .¡¯ As the son of a knight, Johan had received a longsword. It was a bit old and unimpressive, but it was considered a proper weapon in this vige. The problem was that Johan didn¡¯t know how to use a sword! He felt more confident fighting with his bare hands than with a sword. ¡°Slowly. . . don¡¯t provoke it and back off.¡± With that, Joseph put a pouch filled with powder that beasts hate between his fingers. Then he picked up his bow and strung an arrow. ¡®????????????. . .¡¯ He was confident in his archery skills, but he wasn¡¯t confident against it. Joseph prayed that it wouldn¡¯t follow him. ¡°!¡± The wolf suddenly turned around and disappeared into the dark forest. Joseph let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Let¡¯s run away quickly!¡± ???????????? Emerging from the forest, Joseph panted and said, ¡°It looks like a monster no matter how you look at it. I should tell everyone not to go near the forest for a while. Just my luck to see a ck wolf. . .¡± Among the hunters, the ck wolf was a bad omen. Johan thought as he saw this. ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?? ??????????.¡¯ Joseph was a good teacher. He answered everything Johan asked, perhaps because of the difference in status. He wouldn¡¯t have bothered if the other boys in the vige had asked. But he couldn¡¯t force a frightened Joseph to go to the forest. It would be dangerous for Johan too. ¡°I understand. You¡¯ve worked hard too.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. It¡¯s amazing that you, Johan-nim, are not flustered.¡± ¡°Yeah. Yeah. I understand, so rest well, and let¡¯s talk again when the wolf is gone.¡± Johan sent Joseph away and sat down on the deste hill in front of the vige. For a while, he had to stay still and train near the vige. ??????????????????©¥ ¡°?!¡± Johan was startled. There was a guest under the tree where he usually sat alone. ¡®????????? ?? ?????????????¡¯ It didn¡¯t look like a person from the vige at a nce. Judging by the shabby luggage thrown next to him and the thick, worn-out coat he was wearing while sleeping, he was clearly a wanderer. Even the serfs of the vige couldn¡¯t treat Johan casually, and if he was a wanderer, he could kick him out. But Johan didn¡¯t do that. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan moved his steps and moved to another tree. And he started exercising. His muscles tightened and made a creaking sound from the tree. ¡°You¡¯re doing something interesting. Are you the son of Sir Gessen?¡± ¡°?¡± Johan stopped exercising and turned his head. The old wanderer had already gotten up and was looking this way. Chapter 3: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) Chapter 3: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) ¡°How did he know I was from the Aitz family. . . Oh well.¡± ¡°. . .Could you tell what I was thinking?¡± ¡°Who else would be hanging around here with a longsword at this time?¡± Now Johan was wearing casual clothes and there was no family crest anywhere, but that longsword was enough. ¡°May I ask your name?¡± ¡°Johan. I¡¯m Johan Aitz.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re Sir Gessen¡¯s son. . .¡± ¡°?¡± Johan looked at the old man with a puzzled look. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°What brings me here. . . I alwayse here.¡± ¡°Ah, I apologize. I was rude. . .¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s fine. Do as you please.¡± Johan waved his hand and was about to move on. Then the old man spoke again. ¡°May I ask one more thing?¡± ¡°. . .I don¡¯t mind, but who are you?¡± Johan looked the old man up and down. One eye seemed to be blind, it was gray. Other than that, he was dressed normally. ¡®He¡¯s a pretty well-kept old man for his age.¡¯ Johan realized that the old man had a straight back and a sturdy physique. Such old men were rare in the town. ¡°I¡¯m Kaegal, a wanderer roaming the Empire.¡± ¡°I see. Kaegal. What brings you to this uninteresting town?¡± ¡°As I said, Johan-nim. Wanderers just wander. There¡¯s no reason. Besides, an uninteresting town? This warm and well-kept town is rare in the Empire.¡± Kaegal exaggerated, but Johan didn¡¯t think it was sincere. In the first ce, the Aitz family¡¯s territory wasn¡¯t that great. Johan decided not to argue. It wasn¡¯t a big deal, and he didn¡¯t feel bad about the territory beingughed at. ¡°I see. What do you want to ask?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re Sir Gessen¡¯s son, are you currently training as a squire?¡± ¡°Are you mocking me right now?¡± ¡°No. Why would I?¡± ¡°If I were training as a squire, I would be under another knight.¡± When they were young, they entered under another knight as a page, gained experience and became a squire, andter became a knight by making a contribution. This was the usual case. Of course, even if they didn¡¯t go that far, the children of noble knight families could say ¡®I¡¯m a knight¡¯ and get away with it, but the son of a lower-ss noble without any skills would only end up beingughed at. ¡°That¡¯s true, but there could be other cases. Sir Gessen calls another knight to the territory to teach. . .¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what you meant. That¡¯s what John is getting.¡± Mrs. Aitz had called a retired knight to the mansion to teach her youngest son, John. The old man nodded and said. ¡°The youngest. . . So you¡¯re not really training?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not training. Why do you keep bothering me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You don¡¯t look like you haven¡¯t trained. . .¡± Johan realized why the old man was acting that way upon hearing his words. For someone untrained, Johan¡¯s appearance was too usible. ¡®?????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ?????? ???????????????????????????¡¯ Even for a wanderer, he seemed to know too much about the lives of knights. Of course, he could have picked it up while working in another knight¡¯s family. . . ¡°Oh my. . . Then I¡¯ll be on my way. Ah. Johan-nim. Is there a ce in the town where I can sleep for the night?¡± ¡°Go down the hill and look for a house with a long and wide door. There¡¯s no second floor, but there¡¯s a back room for asional travelers.¡± If it had been arger town, there would have been a separate inn doing business, but there was none in this town. There was only a pub that also served as an inn. Of course, it was enough for wanderers to drink, sleep, and go for a night. This pub was owned by the feudal lord, Sir Gessen. Like other facilities such as the mill, it was a ce where people who had received permission from the lord operated and raised ie. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ?????????????????? ????. ???? ????¡¯?? ?? ???????????????????? ????????????. . . ????. ???????? ??????¡¯?? ????.¡¯ Spies or suspicious people wouldn¡¯t bothering to Aitz¡¯s feudatory. There was no value in doing so. And even if they did, Johan had no intention of stepping forward. If it was rted to the Aitz family, shouldn¡¯t the well-off half brothers or Mrs. Aitz step forward? ???????????? Kaegal quickly became friends with the people in the town. It wasn¡¯t hard to get along. All it took was a bit of skill and some empire¡¯s silver coins. When a harmless wanderer praises their town and even offers drinks, the usually bored farmers would flock to him and start asking questions. ??????????©¥ There was a hearth in the middle of the dirt floor. A stew that seemed to have been boiling for quite a while was bubbling on the hearth dug into a pit. It wasn¡¯t cooked with a particr dish in mind. Even the tavern owner probably didn¡¯t know exactly what was in the stew. It was always boiled with whatever ingredients were avable. But the town of Aitz was notcking in salt or spices, so the taste was decent. Thanks to its location on the ancient Empire¡¯s trade route, merchants always brought goods, which was a boon. Thanks to this, Kaegal was somewhat satisfied. He had eaten much worse dishes before. For a wanderer, this was a feast. ¡°But. . . about Sir Gessen¡¯s son. . .¡± ¡°Which son?¡± ¡°The tall, well-built one.¡± ¡°Ah, Johan-nim.¡± ¡°I saw him for the first time, and his presence is no joke. Is he the sessor?¡± ¡°What? No. No. The sessor is Philip-nim.¡± ¡°But I can understand why you¡¯d be confused. At first nce, Johan looks much more like a knight, doesn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°You fool. Can you be a sessor just by looking the part? Don¡¯t say such nonsense.¡± ¡®??????????????????????.¡¯ Kaegal listened to the farmers¡¯ conversation with interest. He poured them a light beer and asked a question, and they started talking on their own. They usually didn¡¯t have a chance to rx and chat like this, so they couldn¡¯t stop talking. ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ To Kaegal¡¯s eyes, Johan was a young man born with a body given by the gods. stic and strong muscles, quick reflexes. He was the very embodiment of a warrior¡¯s physique. What was surprising was that he was trained enough to fight at any moment. Could a young man who had not received any instruction be capable of such training on his own? Kaegal became interested. He didn¡¯t believe in the prophecy of the witch of Asman, but now that he saw Johan, he began to trust the witch¡¯s prophecy. ©¥????, ????????????, ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????. ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ??????. . . ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????. . . ???? ?? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????????. . . ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ??????????????, ?????????????? ????????. . . ©¥??????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ???????? ????????????????? ?? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????. ©¥???? ????¡¯?? ????????, ??????¡¯???? ???????? ????. ©¥???????? ????. ??????¡¯???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ????????. ©¥???? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ????, ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????. The witchughed softly. The scent spread in the tent made Kaegal¡¯s old body feel heavier. Kaegal shook his head. ©¥?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?? ???????? ????????. With one Empire gold coin, you could y and eat for several months even in a city with high prices. There were plenty of serfs who had never seen a gold coin in their lives. But he didn¡¯t think about saving it. Only a fool would break a promise with a witch. Kaegal didn¡¯t believe in gods, but he was an old assassin who believed in superstitions. Even this witch was not a witch from the Asman Empire, far to the east of the Holy Empire. It was rumored that the witches of the Asman Empire were even called upon by the Sultan to predict the future. ©¥?? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????¡¯???? ?????????????? ??????, ????????????. ©¥?????????? ??????. ?? ???????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ????????????. ©¥??????¡¯?? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????, ????????????, ???????? ?? ??????????. Neither Kaegal nor the witch had a respectable status. The witch was a heretic who believed in a different god than the Holy Empire¡¯s church, and Kaegal was an assassin. The unofficial swordsmanship guild of the Holy Empire, ! Kaegal was one of the masters of that guild. In the Empire, there were official swordsmanship guilds that purely honed their swordsmanship and pledged loyalty to the feudal lord of the city, and there were illegal guilds that hid in the shadows of the city and took illegal requests. A guild where delinquents, thieves, and murderers gathered. Not all swordsmen who learned swordsmanship were righteous. The underground swordsmanship guilds flourished as much as the aboveground swordsmanship guilds. And was one of the most prosperous among the underground swordsmanship guilds. Kaegal, who had lived without regrets all his life, had one regret as his death approached. That was the fact that his skills would disappear as they were. Unlike the official guilds, the unofficial guilds were far from the concept of master and disciple, and the transmission of swordsmanship. They had to learn on their own and steal swordsmanship on their own. If they couldn¡¯t, they would die. Kaegal was proud to have mastered the secret techniques of swordsmanship handed down in . He melted what he had experienced and felt into it and created a new swordsmanship. But. . . There was no one to teach. The young men who newly joined were trash, just like the people who joined . Even if they tolerated their dog-like and vulgar character and temperament, their skills and talents did not please him. Was he supposed to take as disciples those clumsily evil guys who might use the swordsmanship he taught to kill him right away? Kaegal didn¡¯t want to do that. He suddenly realized why the official guilds were strong. They would naturally be strong because they received systematic instruction and transmission. In the end, Kaegal went to the witch. He tried to get a prophecy with the feeling of grabbing at straws. And now. Kaegal was happy that the prophecy was unexpectedly not wrong. ???????????? ¡®??¡¯???? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ ¡°May the blessing of the divine be with you.¡± ¡°May the blessing of the divine be upon you.¡± Valberga, a clergyman in charge of the church in the feudal territory, bowed before Johan. He spent the afternoon assisting with church duties alongside Valberga. Most of Sir Gessen¡¯s sons were far from devout. Amidst this, Valberga was delighted to see Johan frequently visiting the church, demonstrating his faith. ¡°Johan-nim. The divine is surely watching over your dedication.¡± Chapter 4: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) Chapter 4: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) ¡°I feel filled with light when I think of your excellency watching.¡± Johan said so and grumbled to himself. Helping Valberga was not out of faith in God, nor was it to win Valberga¡¯s favor. If the church here had been a bit bigger and more substantial, Johan might have tried to win some favor. But the church here was small and humble, befitting the size of the estate. The only priest avable was Valberga. This Valberga had to take on all the misceneous tasks of the estate, from baptism to mass, blessings, etc. There were some errand boys and servants to help, but Priest Valberga was the type to do as much of the work given by God himself. It was best for Johan to learn while helping out, as there would be problems if Johan said, ¡®Quit the estate job and teach me first.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s a decent person, but I¡¯m not going to be a priest or enter a monastery. . .¡¯ priest Valberga was a pure priest who believed solely in God without any particr ties to the church. There wasn¡¯t much he could do for Johan. The reason Johan wanted to help was to learn literature. If he learned the most difficult ¡®ancient imperialnguage¡¯ used by schrs and clergy on the continent or the elves of the Catalian Penins, ¡®Holy Empirenguage¡¯ or ¡®Ens Kingdomnguage¡¯ was easy. They all had quite a few simrities. Not many people knew how to write and read. Not only the serfs, but also the nobles. There was a lot of thinking like, ¡®Why should I learn when I can hire someone who knows the letters.¡¯ Those who could write and read were the clergy who had to read the scriptures of the church or the merchants of the city! Here, priest Valberga was the most educated person in the estate. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ?? ???????????? ???????????????? ???? ???? ??????????.¡¯ The religion was not much different in the Holy Empire. Our God, who is light and sun, is one, wants faith, the pope is the highest, so pay tithes. . . Sometimes a great priest shows a miracle, but Johan didn¡¯t have much faith. It seemed hard to believe until he saw it with his own eyes. Rather, the letters he taught like this felt more amazing. ¡®???? ?? ?????????? ???? ???? ?? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ????????????????, ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????????? ????????????????.¡¯ Learning was a good thing. As you learn, fear disappears and confidence arises. Knowing how to write and read the ancient imperialnguage, and moreover, Johan was proficient in calctions. The mathematical ability of a modern person who can do calculus was notmon in this world. Valberga admired Johan¡¯s talent given by God when he did the calctions necessary for estate management. At first, when he was praised for doing some mental arithmetic, Johan thought, ¡®???? ?? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ??¡¯?? ?? ????????????¡¯?? ???????¡¯ But soon he was able to realize the reason. They didn¡¯t use Arabic numerals here. Johan was shocked. ©¥?????????? ?????????????????????? ????????????????. . .! In the ancient Empire, they used to calcte in a primitive way, writing one by one like I, II, III, without any zeros to align the digits. It was a mess and mistakes weremon. Even now, it¡¯s unbelievable when you think about it. ¡®????¡¯?? ????????????, ?????? ????¡¯?? ???????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ The more abilities Johan has that others don¡¯t, the easier it will be for him to survive. Johan nned to scrape together whatever assets he had and head to a city with a port once Lord Aitz died. He thought there would be many ces to work in a city with a port. Whether using his body or his mind. . . ¡®?????????¡¯ Walking from the church to the feudal lord¡¯s office, Johan felt something was off. There was a prickling sensation on the back of his neck. ¡®????¡¯?? ???? ????????????!¡¯ He didn¡¯t expect anyone to be lying in wait for him here, so his reaction was slow. Johan quickly tensed up and looked around. ¡°Impressive! You noticed.¡± ¡°. . .You¡¯re not a wanderer.¡± ¡°I am a wanderer. I just didn¡¯te here for sightseeing. The way of the world is that things are not as they seem. Even though you¡¯re the son of a pig, you¡¯re like a lion.¡± The old man stroked his chin and hesitated before opening his mouth. ¡°. . .Can I ask you something? This might be a bit rude. . .¡± In this situation, throwing out such a question left Johan speechless. And it made him curious. What question would an old man, who was bold enough to lie in wait and ambush him in the dark evening, ask? ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Are you really Lord Aitz¡¯s son? No matter how I think about it, you seem different.¡± ¡°. . .Well, it¡¯s possible for a lion to be born under a pig.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Kaegal opened his mouth wide. And then he startedughing like a madman. ¡°Hahaha! Hahaha!¡± ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°I never dreamed you¡¯d answer like that!¡± If he were the son of a knight, he would have charged in anger at the insult to his father and his family. Kaegal had expected Johan to do so. But Johan casually brushed off the insult. ¡®?? ???????? ????! ?? ???????? ????!¡¯ It felt like the witch¡¯s prophecy wasing true. Kaegal felt his heart pounding. He wanted to pass on his skills to the young man in front of him. But he couldn¡¯t just pass them on without any conditions. Kaegal started to think. He had nned to subdue Johan when he attacked and then talk. . . ¡°So what¡¯s your purpose? Just so you know, I don¡¯t have anything. If you want to take some silver coins, it would be better to aim for the feudal lord¡¯s office over there where the light is on.¡± ¡°Every word you say hits the mark. But I didn¡¯te here to collect silver coins. I have enough of those.¡± At those words, Johan¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°I came here to take a disciple.¡± ¡°A. . . disciple?¡± Johan asked as if he found it strange. ¡°Yes. I am Kaegal, one of the masters of . Have you heard of me?¡± ¡°. . .I think I¡¯ve heard of it.¡± Johan had heard of it before. When a minstrel visited the feudatory, he sang about the great knight Sir Karamaf tearing apart the cowardly assassins from ¡®Venom of Nessus¡¯. Assassin¡¯s Guild! ¡°Knowing that, this conversation will be easier. You must learn from me. There¡¯s no other choice.¡± While speaking, Kaegal carefully observed Johan. Naturally, someone raised in a knight¡¯s family would first refuse to learn from a master of a dirty, unofficial guild. But Kaegal had no intention of epting a refusal. He was determined to make him his disciple! The old man saw little chance of finding another disciple as fitting as Johan. He was resolute to make him a disciple today, by any means necessary. ¡®If he refuses, I¡¯ll threaten his and his family¡¯s lives to make him swear to learn as my disciple.¡¯ A vow was sacred, and as a knight, he had no choice but to keep it, even if it was made under duress in a life-threatening situation. That¡¯s what knights were like. Johan hesitated before speaking. ¡°Uh. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°How much do I have to pay?¡± ¡°. . .What?¡± And the words that came out of Johan¡¯s mouth werepletely beyond expectation. ???????????? Johan was bbergasted. A master hade to teach him swordsmanship. What had he eaten wrong? Or was it because Johan had lived so diligently that God was finally blessing him? Of course, that wasn¡¯t the case. Johan asked cautiously, ¡°How much do I have to pay?¡± ¡°. . .What?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t teach me without anypensation. . .¡± ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Kaegalughed until tears came out. The wrinkles on his face deepened. When was thest time heughed like this? He felt like he had neverughed as much as he did today. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a swordsmanship teacher? You¡¯re really not Aitz¡¯s son!¡± ¡°I am his son.¡± ¡°Say it again. Learning from me, one of the masters, means learning the swordsmanship of an assassin, not the honor of a knight. If a knight who knows honor sees this, he will despise you, and if a priest of the church sees you, he will curse you. Are you still ready to learn?¡± ¡°Where is good and evil in strength? When making a sword, do you make it by hammering steel, or do you decide who to kill and who to protect? Swordsmanship is just swordsmanship, it¡¯s important who uses it. . . Wait. If I learn swordsmanship, do I have to join ?¡± ¡°No. You can live without caring about . You just have to keep my swordsmanship from being interrupted.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m ready anytime.¡± ¡°. . .God is fair even to those who don¡¯t believe. Follow me! I¡¯ll teach you.¡± Kaegal felt a surge of vitality in his body with joy. He realized that Johan sincerely regarded him as a teacher. The son of a knight¡¯s family respects such an assassin as a teacher. It was something he had never dreamed of. ???????????? ¡°Have you ever learned swordsmanship?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Try to lift itfortably and naturally.¡± Johan lifted the sword towards his left shoulder. ¡°Left-handed. Left-handers can make good assassins.¡± ¡°I have no intention of assassinating.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you say. And who knows whether you¡¯ll have to assassinate someone in your life? I didn¡¯t decide to be an assassin from a young age either.¡± Kaegal scanned Johan¡¯s body. It was a terrifyingly well-built body. He didn¡¯t need any training before giving him a sword. ¡°Swordsmanship is not difficult. Once you understand the basics, the rest is practice and proficiency. The problem is whether you can understand that basic. Most people swing their swords all their lives without understanding it.¡± ¡°What is the basic?¡± ¡°Raise your sword, touching your opponent. His sword does not touch yours. That¡¯s it.¡± Johan made a subtle expression. It was really basic. ¡°There are as many swordsmanship in the Empire as there are stars. You can¡¯t know and respond to all of them. But if you understand, you can see what you¡¯re trying to do just by looking at the opponent¡¯s actions. So. . . understand!¡± With his words, Kaegal cut the tree. Even in the dark where only the moonlight was visible, the sword light shed. The falling leaves were pierced and fell one by one. ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t expect you to master it right away. This kind of thing takes time. Don¡¯t worry. I have plenty of time, so I¡¯ll hammer it into your body.¡± ¡°Thank you for your warm words.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tter me, use a stab. Show me your actions.¡± Johan took the same action as Kaegal just did. And he stabbed. The air was torn and a cool wind blew. It was as fast as a sh. It was dark, but it felt like it was bright for a moment. ¡°. . .again.¡± Johan stabbed again. Kaegal was astonished. It was perfect. To the point where there was no need to point out. ¡°Let¡¯s move on to the next.¡± ¡°Huh? Aren¡¯t you looking?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s move on to the next. Do this too.¡± Kaegal showed a technique called in the guild. At first nce, it looks like a normal diagonal cut, but it¡¯s a brutal technique that targets the neck and face whileing down on the opponent¡¯s weapon. Chapter 5: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) Chapter 5: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) It required a strength beyond the ordinary to stop in the middle of a full-force swing. Originally, it was a technique that borrowed the power of the opponent¡¯s weapon. And Johan did the same. Kaegal was able to realize the reason immediately. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????? ????????????????!¡¯ Kaegal focused on Johan¡¯s hand and the hilt of the longsword he was holding. Despite seemingly holding it lightly, the hilt creaked as if he was squeezing out even the strength used to suckle milk. It wasn¡¯t because the sword was broken or worn out. It was Johan¡¯s strength. ¡°Open your hand.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Did you grip it with all your strength just now?¡± ¡°No, I held it lightly.¡± ¡°You held the sword lightly when you gripped it? Why did you grip it like that?¡± Even beginners didn¡¯t hold the hilt lightly, they gripped it tightly. ¡°I¡¯ve broken it a few times by gripping it too hard.¡± In this ce, a weapon like a longsword was a precious item. Even though the Aitz family was a knight family, they weren¡¯t so well-off that they could recklessly break a well-forged longsword. When Johan was young, he had smashed three training swords, and after that, he had received a stern warning that if he broke one more, they wouldn¡¯t give him a weapon. Although it was an old and shabby longsword, it was better than nothing in this countryside. Johan had been taking care of this longsword in his own way. ¡°Hold this.¡± Kaegal took out a steel te and handed it over. Johan grabbed it. ¡°Pull it with all your strength.¡± With a dull sound, the steel te was torn apart as it was. Kaegal¡¯s eyes widened even more. ¡°Truly monstrous strength. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a monster.¡± Johan spoke in a dissatisfied tone. Although he had a good physique and innate strength, that didn¡¯t make him a monster. ¡°It seems like you haven¡¯t had a chance to use your full strength because you don¡¯t have a need for it. If you were born a thousand years ago, you would have been a hero in mythology.¡± In the ancient empire¡¯s mythology, there were unbelievable heroes. Heroes who immersed their bodies in the river of the underworld, making them impervious to spears and swords, or heroes who possessed innate strength and brought down massive temples with their power. Of course, no one seriously believed in such things. It was just a bygone epic. But Kaegal knew. The fact that such an epic was created meant that there were people with abilities to match it. Even if not impervious to spears and swords, at least the muscles and skin would have been tough and hard like a beast¡¯s, and even if they couldn¡¯t bring down a temple, they would have been strong enough to break a bull¡¯s neck. And in Kaegal¡¯s view, Johan¡¯s brute strength was enough to fit into that category. It wasn¡¯t just a good physique and good innate muscr strength. A brute strength that surpassesmon sense! Kaegal had lived a long life and had wandered not only in the Empire but also in other ces. He had seen a few people who showed strength beyond ordinary humans. And among them, Johan was the best. Even Ferfeng, a knight from the Ens Kingdom who was rumored to have the strength of a giant, and Kaiwood, renowned for his formidable power among the knights of the Asman Empire, didn¡¯t seem to be at that level. As Kaegal fell silent, Johan became anxious. Was there a problem? ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°A problem? No. There¡¯s no problem. Unless you can¡¯t control your body because of your overflowing strength, but that¡¯s not the case.¡± Unimaginable brute strength. A natural physique. An eye that grasps the essence of technique at a nce. And a beast-like sharp instinct that ties all this together. Johan was already aplete warrior before he was taught. Kaegal got up and stretched out his fingers. There were seven. ¡°It will take seven to teach you.¡± ¡°Seven years. Hmm. I¡¯m not sure if I can hold out that long in this feudatory.¡± Can Gessen Aitz survive for seven years? He might have been able to if he lived a little more restrained life. ¡°Not seven years.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Seven days. One week is enough.¡± ¡°Excuse me. . .?¡± ¡°Even to teach the assassins¡¯ codes that are easier to understand if you experience them directly, if you just learn the techniques, seven minutes is enough.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that too fast?¡± Johan¡¯s eyes were now filled with disbelief. He seemed to be ufortable because he was taught too quickly. Kaegal shook his head. ¡°Treating a grown lion like a cub only dulls the ws. Don¡¯t pretend to be weak. You¡¯re a lion.¡± With that, Kaegal drew his sword. It was slightly thinner than a regr longsword and had a sharp end. As soon as he drew his sword, Kaegal transformed from a shriveled old man into an assassin who had been killing people all his life. ¡°You¡¯re a lion, so now it¡¯s time to learn. The stiff-necked knight dastards talk about forms and structures, but I don¡¯t like that. You¡¯re the type who realizes it at a nce, so you¡¯ll fully embody it once you experience it.¡± ¡°Wait. . .!¡± Johan realized what Kaegal was trying to do. The sword de, bathed in moonlight, emitted a creepy glow. Kaegal, who had been seven steps away, was now swinging his sword in front of him. Johan gritted his teeth and bent his body. The sword barely grazed his body and passed by. Kaegal smiled satisfactorily. He had really tried to stab him, but he had avoided it. He was indeed like a lion. ¡°This is the of the guild¡¯s secret technique.¡± It was a technique specialized for surprise attacks, and even an excellent knight could be pierced in one blow if he didn¡¯t know it. This technique, which loosens the movement of the feet and then quickly bounces out, required cunning and strength. ¡°I see you¡¯re an assassin.¡± Johan grumbled as if he was dissatisfied. Kaegal deepened his smile and said. ¡°Are you saying you just realized I¡¯m an assassin? You¡¯re slower than I thought. Move! Those who don¡¯t move don¡¯t deserve to live.¡± A swordsman had to keep moving and fighting. And Johan was already epting that teaching. Johan, who didn¡¯t back down in fear of the sword but rather rushed forward to prevent Kaegal from swinging his sword, was a born warrior. His instinct as a warrior told him so. Johan was already a warrior before Kaegal taught him. He just didn¡¯t know it because he was among sheep and pigs. In the dark forest, the young warrior and the old assassin bared their teeth and faced each other. ???????????? Kaegal did not lie. It took Johan only a day to master all of Kaegal¡¯s techniques. And after two days, Johan began to push Kaegal. After three days, Kaegal had no choice but to hold out against Johan and hope for a stroke of luck. When something flew from the side with a ¡®thud¡¯ sound, Johan caught it with his fist without even turning his body. A sharp awl was flying towards his cheek. ¡°When did this happen. . .?¡± ¡°Have you ever seen an assassin fight fair?¡± ¡°There was nothing just now?¡± Surely Johan and Kaegal hade here for the first time today when the day was bright, and even the training ce was chosen by Johan. Kaegal couldn¡¯t havee here in advance and set it up. But how on earth is there a trap? ¡°I taught you how to set traps. You¡¯re not thinking like an assassin, Johan. I¡¯ve taught you all my techniques, but that doesn¡¯t make you an assassin. Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± ¡°I think I understand.¡± Johan felt it while living with Kaegal. The mindset of an assassin is different from the bone. Kaegal taught him all his swordsmanship, not only the guild¡¯s swordsmanship, but also various other techniques, but he did not teach Johan the mindset of an assassin. Because it wasn¡¯t something that could be done by teaching. The mindset of an assassin was something that was realized by entering the unofficial guild and eating the blood of many people. If you don¡¯t realize it, you¡¯ll die, and if you live, you¡¯ll realize it. ¡°You¡¯re a lion. A lion doesn¡¯t need to graze. I¡¯m saying you don¡¯t need to live as an assassin. Just learn how to deal with it. If you don¡¯t want to die somewhere.¡± Before he finished speaking, Johan kicked a tree. The thick tree split in half with a groaning sound. Kaegal backed away with a stunned expression. ¡°Who told you to deal with it like that?¡± ¡°Is it not allowed?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a very good way.¡± Even a delicate trap would be destroyed if you went around smashing things like this. When the n went awry, Kaegal moved to the next trap. Johan followed, on guard. ???????????? Another day of training has ended. Originally, Johan, who would have ended up drenched in sweat, ended with a few drops of sweat, and Kaegal realized that Johan had finished adapting. There is no need to teach anymore. ¡®????¡¯?? ??????????????????????.¡¯ Kaegal, who originally did not stay in one ce, felt regret now. ¡°There¡¯s nothing more I can teach you.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan just stared at Kaegal in response. It was a look asking him to stay a little longer, but Kaegal refused. ¡°I¡¯ve never stayed in one ce for long.¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re an assassin?¡± ¡°No, you fool. I¡¯ve been like that since before I became an assassin. Why is it always because of the assassin?¡± Johan averted his gaze as if embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯ve taught you everything I can teach you. There are a few things you haven¡¯t learned, but there¡¯s nothing you can do about it. Try the .¡± Kaegal said, throwing a twig. Originally, was a technique to hold a hidden dagger or secret weapon in your hand at once. If you were proficient in this technique, you could kill your opponent in one shot even in a crowded market and slip away without anyone knowing. But Johan was not good at this technique. Because. . . Crack! The twig broke as it was. Kaegal shook his head. ¡°Rx the power!¡± ¡°I did rx!¡± ¡°Well. . . Well, if God gives you one, you have to take one.¡± It wasn¡¯t because the twig was weak. Johan broke even a sturdy dagger or steel awl equally. He was not good at handling such delicate techniques because he was born with strength. ¡®????????????, ??????????¡¯?? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ Kaegal didn¡¯t bother to say it. Comcency was the enemy of a warrior. A sheep that was scared and running around was better than a wolf that wascent. ¡°I¡¯m satisfied as long as my technique doesn¡¯t disappear and continues. I don¡¯t have any specific expectations from you, and I don¡¯t have any grudges to pay back. Live well on your own.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± ¡°But there are a few words to leave. If you have a chance to teach my technique, tell them the name of Kaegal of .¡± ¡°I swear.¡± ¡°And don¡¯t use the secret techniques I taught you unless you have to. Remember when you use it.¡± ¡°Kill the opponent?¡± ¡°Yes. Kill it for sure. It¡¯s annoying if they find out. Of course. . . there won¡¯t be many who find out.¡± Chapter 6: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) Chapter 6: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) There was a scent of blood in Kaegal¡¯s voice. The was a guild of assassins. And assassins were those who only showed their skills when they were about to kill their opponent. ¡°If you¡¯re not in a hurry, you won¡¯t need things like arcane techniques. You won¡¯t have any enemies with just ordinary swordsmanship.¡± A lion didn¡¯t need techniques. Johan, who learned from Kaegal, had already be a person who knew how to swing a sword, how to fight. That was enough. A simple vertical sh became a cutting strike that tore space, and a horizontal sh became a w that tore te armor. What was the point ofplex techniques? Those who didn¡¯t know much about swordsmanship worshippedplex techniques and pursued such techniques, but originally, when it reached the extreme, it became simple. The simplest thing is the most efficient! And Johan already knew that well. He seemed to not know, but his body was showing it. What Kaegal showed was the way of fighting of an assassin, but Johan did not follow it exactly. He melted it down and used it to suit himself. If Kaegal¡¯s fight was a swallow, Johan¡¯s fight was closer to a rock. He was originally a born knight. Even if he showed the sword of an assassin, he melted it into the swordsmanship of a knight. So it was a pity. ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ??????, ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ????????????, ???????? ?????? ???? ??????????????????.¡¯ ¡°And next. . . let¡¯s see. You might meet a guild member of while you¡¯re alive.¡± ¡°Are you saying I should show mercy then?¡± ¡°Why do you keep talking nonsense? If you meet them, kill them right away. Don¡¯t listen to what they say.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan made a bewildered expression. ¡°You said there was a master there. . .¡± ¡°If there are ten, five are trash and four are murderers. There¡¯s nothing good about getting involved. You won¡¯t lose, but if you get caught up in an assassin¡¯s fight, it¡¯s annoying. You don¡¯t want to be addicted and groaning.¡± ¡°But one person is fine.¡± ¡°One person is a weirdo like me, but even that won¡¯t be good for you. If you don¡¯t get along, it will be a scarier opponent than the previous nine.¡± Kaegal rolled up his sleeve. A snake with nine heads was drawn as a tattoo. It was a tattoo drawn with a special drug, and it was a tattoo that did not appear unless the body temperature rose. ¡°Remember. Be careful if you meet someone with this tattoo. Be more careful if there are many heads.¡± The more heads the snake had, the higher the position in the guild, and it meant that it was a skilled assassin. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to go to use traps.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Of course, the other party wouldn¡¯t easily fall for that trick.¡± Kaegal started to fold his fingers. ¡°What else should I tell you. . . Ah. That¡¯s right. Get a sword. One that¡¯s sturdy enough for you to use. The one you¡¯re using now isn¡¯t unusable, but it¡¯s like a twig for you. If you use all your strength, it will break.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking of something like a sword made of Danus steel.¡± ¡°Give up. It¡¯s impossible.¡± Danus steel. It was a rare steel that could only be made in the ancient Empire that covered countries like the Holy Empire or Ens Kingdom, which had long since perished. Since the ancient Empire perished and the technology disappeared, no new items wereing out. The weapon made of that steel was light and unbreakable. It was truly magical steel. ¡°All the swords with known materials are all owned by famous nobles, and if you steal them, you¡¯ll be chased until you die. Unless you run away to the Asman Empire with it, there¡¯s too much to give up just to get a sword. Just go find the dwarf tribe of the Empire. The dwarves are stubborn and closed-minded, but they are excellent figures in the Empire. If you can persuade them well, they will make you a sturdy sword.¡± The majority of the Holy Empire was upied by humans. Both the serfs and the nobles were humans. However, there were dwarves who formed tribes and lived here and there, and the feudal lords valued them very much. The dwarves with excellent metallurgy were just like geese thaty golden eggs. Of course, this did not apply to the Aitz family. If it was a fiefdom with dwarves, the Aitz family would not have been able to acquire it. ¡°I think I¡¯ve told you everything. Hide the techniques, don¡¯t deal with assassins, get a sword, what else is there?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯ve told me everything.¡± ¡°Ah. I forgot to talk about this. Have you seen a ck wolf?¡± The ck wolf of the forest that Johan saw when he went hunting with Joseph. Since then, Johan had not been able to go hunting. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Be careful. It¡¯s a bad omen. It¡¯s a symbol of death.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t it foresee the master¡¯sing?¡± Even to Johan¡¯s joke, Kaegal answered seriously. ¡°If I had killed someone, it would have been a prediction of me, but since I didn¡¯t kill anyone, it would have been a prediction of something else. Remember. The ck wolf is a sign of death. You should always be afraid when death is approaching.¡± ¡°I should be afraid, but it sounds like a superstition. . .¡± ¡°Those who believe in superstitions are fools, but those who don¡¯t believe are even more foolish. I also had a time when I was young when I didn¡¯t believe in superstitions. But Johan. There¡¯s a reason for superstitions. It¡¯s like magic. It¡¯s better to believe than not to believe.¡± Johan nodded his head. If Kaegal said so, it might be true. ¡°Fear death. Johan. Even if you are blessed by God, death will not care.¡± ¡°I will remember and be afraid.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good attitude.¡± Suddenly, Kaegal got up and started walking away. ¡°Are you leaving?¡± ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t follow me. I hate someone following me from behind.¡± And Kaegal left. He really didn¡¯t look back. ???????????? Three days have passed since Kaegal left. Johan slumped down, biting his tongue. It was fun when he was learning swordsmanship from Kaegal and sparring. He felt like he was doing something. But when Kaegal left, he felt empty again. A life of just baking bread without any goal! What¡¯s the point of being an excellent swordsman? ¡®???????????? ?? ?????????? ???????????¡¯ Kaegal gave Johan confidence. Before meeting Kaegal, Johan didn¡¯t know he was a lion. But now he knew who he was. The only reason he didn¡¯t leave first was because he couldn¡¯t get anything unless his father, Gessen Aitz, was around. His stepmother and half-brothers wouldn¡¯t wish him luck and give him a hefty amount of money. They would just tell him to get lost. To get at least something, he had to speak up when Gessen Aitz was there. ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯ll give me anything. . .¡¯ There were too many children, so the chances seemed a bit low. Johan considered just leaving several times. ¡®Damn. If master saw this, he would say I¡¯m living miserably.¡¯ Kaegal would have just robbed the feudatory and run away, but that wasn¡¯t Johan¡¯s style. He didn¡¯t want to create resentment for a few silver coins. ¡°?¡± He heard the sound of horse hooves with dust from afar. At first, he thought Gessen Aitz wasing back. There was no one in this manor who could make such a heavy sound of horse hooves. But it wasn¡¯t. Knights he had never seen before were riding horses from afar. There were only about ten people, but Johan felt an ominous feeling for some reason. ???????????? Sir Karamaf was a renowned elf knight, so famous that even Johan would have heard of him. Elves, with their superior looks and twice the lifespan of humans, upied noble positions all over the continent. Especially in the western kingdom of the Empire, the Ens Kingdom, most of the nobles were elves. Sir Karamaf was also a knight from the Ens Kingdom. Although he was from the Ens Kingdom, Sir Karamaf was a knight trusted by the Emperor to the extent that he was entrusted with soldiers. He yed a heroic role in the rebellion in the west and was a knight who won duels against numerous knights! Nobles who held a grudge against Sir Karamaf called him the . This was because Sir Karamaf had killed many nobles. And such a Sir Karamaf visited the main house of the Aitz family. ¡°It¡¯s. . . it¡¯s an honor! Sir Karamaf! To meet you like this!¡± The youngest, John Aitz, spoke desperately. His eyes sparkled with admiration. The eldest son, Philip Aitz, who was standing behind him, looked at John as if he was displeased. However, he was also shrinking in front of Sir Karamaf. ¡°Wee to the fiefdom, Sir Karamaf. The meal is modest, but I hope you eat a lot and relieve your fatigue.¡± Philip spoke as if he was the owner. At this, Mrs. Aitz frowned. She couldn¡¯t stand her eldest stepson stepping forward and ignoring the youngest. ¡°Isn¡¯t it my role to entertain guests when Sir Aitz is not here?¡± ¡°s, Mrs. Aitz. I did it for you, fearing you might make a mistake in unfamiliar work. It¡¯s something I¡¯ve been doing even before Mrs. Aitz arrived.¡± Though Philip is a son and stepmother to Mrs. Aitz, he was over thirty. There wasn¡¯t much age difference between him and Mrs. Aitz. The two red at each other, refusing to back down. Philip, who had earned the trust of the Aitz family¡¯s vassals by working with them for a long time. Mrs. Aitz, who could sway Sir Aitz with pillow talk. Their confrontation was so intense that even the serfs of the fiefdom knew about it. ¡°Sir Aitz.¡± And the one who interrupted their conversation was Sir Karamaf. ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°What? Sir Aitz is currently in another fiefdom.¡± ¡°Which fiefdom?¡± Karamaf¡¯s voice had lost its honorifics and turned cold and metallic. However, everyone present was so overpowered by Karamaf that they didn¡¯t notice. ¡°That far. . . Sir Aitz often travels abroad.¡± ¡°List all the ces he could be.¡± ¡°That, that far. . . What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your concern.¡± Everyone from the Aitz family stiffened. Even so, this was too rude. How rude it was for a guest invited into someone else¡¯s manor to behave this way. Even if it was Sir Karamaf, they couldn¡¯t tolerate it. ¡°Sir Karamaf! That¡¯s too rude! Apologize for your rudeness!¡± Whoosh! Karamaf turned his head. His piercing gaze fixed on Philip, making him feel as if his heart had frozen. Those cold, metallic eyes! ¡°What?¡± ¡°C-Coming here and. . .¡± ¡°Ho ho ho. It seems Philip is nervous and misspoke. Sir Karamaf, why don¡¯t you talk to my son John?¡± ¡®That woman!¡¯ Philip gritted his teeth. Using such a situation where the Aitz family was insulted for a fight. Dishes prepared for Karamaf came out. Lamb in bean soup, robust cock meat grilled with herbs, soft white bread. Sir Karamaf pushed them away without eating. It was a harsh world for gourmets. Although it was easier to obtain spices than in the real world¡¯s Middle Ages, it wasn¡¯t possible to eat as much as desired. Dishes like bean soup boiled withmb finely chopped and marinated in beef broth with onions, then cooked with wine and spices, or whole grilled plump cock meat were something Johan could only asionally enjoy. When Johan did, he would sit at the table and eat, even if he received res like ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????¡¯. But Karamaf pushed away all the food as if he had no interest in it. ¡°Having a conversation isn¡¯t bad. When you find out where Sir Aitz is,e and tell me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you like this. Could you please teach my son John a thing or two?¡± ¡°No.¡± Karamaf said no more and left the hall. The insult was so severe that even Mrs. Aitz hardened her face. Chapter 7: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) Chapter 7: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Johan hesitated to enter the hall and looked around. There was no point in going inside, as he was bound to receive nothing but the disapproving gazes of his stepbrother and stepmother if he did. Fortunately, Johan had his other foolish stepbrothers. He spoke mockingly to them. ¡°Do you guys even know who came?¡± ¡°What? Who doesn¡¯t know that Sir Karamaf has arrived, you rascal! Are you looking for a fight?¡± When alone, Johan doesn¡¯t argue, but when the three brothers are together, they seem to gain courage. Fern, Jan, and Marcel, the three brothers who share the same mother, hurled insults at Johan. ¡°You can¡¯t even talk back to Sir Karamaf?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Johan pondered for a moment. A knight as famous as Karamaf must have solid connections. But would he view Johan favorably? Meanwhile, a cold conversation ensued inside. Johan, along with his brothers, eavesdropped at the door. ¡°Insane. Approaching him means death.¡± Johan decisively gave up. Sir Karamaf was terribly cold, perhaps having been extorted by Sir Gessen. ¡°Amazing. . . That¡¯s a real knight!¡± ¡°Right!¡± ¡°Idiots.¡± Johan shook his head. These fools forgot whom Sir Karamaf was angry with. ¡°What are you doing there?¡± ¡°!¡± A young, armed elf knight from the other end of the corridor sharply questioned. Judging by the youthful face, he was clearly a squire, around Johan¡¯s age or slightly younger. ¡°A noble knight from Ens Kingdom? Sir Karamaf¡¯s offspring?¡± If not Karamaf¡¯s squire, he had no reason to be here. Johan quickly recognized him and decided to leave. ¡°You, the son of Sir Gessen?¡± ¡°And if I am?¡± ¡°I am Yein Rothtain. A noble offspring of Sir Karamaf and future knight of the Rothtain family.¡± ¡°I am Johan Aitz. Not exactly a knight to inherit a family.¡± Yein stared intently at Johan, as if assessing his abilities. Johan¡¯s appearance seemed to provoke a knight¡¯s challenge. ¡°It¡¯s hard to determine an elf¡¯s gender.¡± Elves are mostly beautiful, making it hard to distinguish between male and female. Plus, Yein had a thin voice and delicate features. Johan¡¯s half-brother chimed in. ¡°I am Fern Aitz. . .¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking you. I heard there are no decent knights among Sir Gessen¡¯s sons, but now it seems otherwise. Care for a duel?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not.¡± Johan waved his hand, turning away to avoid trouble. Then Yein forcefully grabbed his hand. ¡°I haven¡¯t finished. Why refuse a knight¡¯s rightful request?¡± Despite his boyish face, Yein¡¯s hand was hard and strong. Johan internally scoffed. Even after being born and living long in this world, he couldn¡¯t fully adapt to such a mindset. Nobles born and raised as knights naturally thought this way. For honorable knights, crossing swords was a matter of course! Of course, for Johan, it was a pointless endeavor with no benefit. Even if he defeated Yein, Karamaf wouldn¡¯t introduce Johan anywhere. ¡°Not in the mood.¡± ¡°Not in the mood?! Why?! Is something wrong? Are you hurt?¡± ¡°Uh. . . my heart.¡± ¡°Your heart! . . .Are you mocking me?¡± Yein¡¯s face scrunched up, and his grip tightened. But it was like boasting of strength in front of an elephant. Johan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Realizing this, Yein exerted all his strength. Though still a squire, he was already a knight in all but name. She had trained as a knight for nearly a decade, and with a weapon, he could kill a dozen soldiers. His strength was unbelievable for his small stature. If another half-brother had held his hand, their bones would have broken. Yein¡¯s face started to show shock. Johan had begun to exert his strength. ¡®????????????????????. . .!¡¯ Trained under Sir Karamaf, Yein had never been defeated in strength. Though small in stature, his strength was innate. The other three half-brothers shouted. ¡°What are you doing, Johan! To Sir Karamaf¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦. . .¡± ¡°Have I won?¡± ¡°Not. . . not yet!¡± Yein exerted her utmost strength, but it was no match. Legendary giant-like strength! Yein thought so inwardly. She couldn¡¯t believe one of Sir Gessen¡¯s sons possessed such monstrous strength. Johan could have let go but maintained his grip until he surrendered. He knew from experience that people in this world would draw their swords if not defeated outright. ¡®??¡¯?? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ If Sir Karamaf heard his prot¨¦g¨¦¡¯s hand bones were crushed, he wouldn¡¯t stay quiet. It was dirty and low but he had to endure. ¡°I lost!¡± ¡°Right. It was a good fight. I¡¯m d to have battled a noble knight, Yein Rothtain.¡± ¡°What good fight are you talking about?!¡± Yein, rubbing his hand, red at Johan. It must have hurt quite a bit. ¡°Sorry, but I haven¡¯t been properly trained as a knight. A fair fight would be difficult.¡± ¡°Is that so? My apologies.¡± Yein said, surprised. Not all children of knights were trained as knights. Some were just of knightly lineage. ¡°But you have the potential. It¡¯s not toote to learn.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°If you do learn, let¡¯s fight again!¡± Johan¡¯s half-brother, overhearing, interjected. ¡°I¡¯m Fern Aitz, Yein Rothtain. Fight me. . .¡± ¡°You¡¯re too weak. Train more before youe.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ???????????? Yein was a well-taught apprentice knight. He didn¡¯t show resentment after losing a fight he had initiated himself. Although it was a knight¡¯s rule to behave so, not everyone in the world followed rules. By adhering to this rule, Yein earned a good reputation from Johan. If Yein had held a grudge and spoken ill of Sir Karamaf, Johan would have been very tired. Thus, there was no problem for Johan, but issues arose for the Aitz family. The men who came with Sir Karamaf began to stay in the family¡¯s fief. They did not tantly cause trouble, but neither did they consider the Aitz family¡¯s circumstances. The servants of the house were on edge while serving these men. The situation was worsened by the conflict between the eldest son John, who insisted on sending Karamaf away, and Mrs. Aitz, who wanted to leverage Karamaf¡¯s presence. ¡°This isn¡¯t beer, it¡¯s ditch water.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have wine?¡± ¡°Sorry. . .¡± ¡°I was foolish to expect more from such a ce. Enough.¡± ¡°Even what¡¯s avable here smells foul.¡± Johan wandered outside. Yein, seemingly fascinated by Johan¡¯s talent, kept pestering him to teach swordsmanship. Johan could have shown his skill and then left Yein alone, but he chose not to. Initially, Johan thought this would make Yein more bothersome, but then realized it wasn¡¯t the case. Johan was on guard against Sir Karamaf and his men. ¡°Oh. I never believed in superstitions.¡± The words left by Kaegal bothered Johan. Disying his swordsmanship to Yein and overpowering him would surely reach Karamaf¡¯s ears. . . Strangely, Johan was hesitant to reveal his skills. ¡°Joseph. Are you unwell?¡± ¡°Johan-nim.¡± Johan noticed the hunter Joseph walking with a pale face. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Joseph hesitated to speak, fearing he might escte the issue. Others in the town thought Joseph was close to Johan, but Joseph didn¡¯t see it that way. Just as a wolf and a deer don¡¯t be friends, a noble and a serf can¡¯t be close. Joseph knew that even a friendly noble could turn on him at any moment. Among the nobles, Johan was known to be polite and kind, but Joseph never let his guard down. He maintained his distance, a wisdom acquired from his long life as a hunter. ¡°Is it a story you can¡¯t share with me?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that! It¡¯s just that I feel guilty telling Johan-nim. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯m disappointed. A knight who can¡¯t even listen to the troubles of his fief¡¯s people.¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± Joseph inwardly grumbled at Johan¡¯s indirect torment. Unlike his brothers, Johan was deep and cunning. What could he do against such a noble? He just had to endure. ¡°There are knights who havee to the feudatory, you know.¡± Strictly speaking, only a few of them were knights, the rest were cavalrymen following their orders, but for Joseph, there wasn¡¯t much difference. If someone on a horse, wearing armor and wielding a sword says ¡®?? ???? ?? ????????????¡¯, you have to prostrate and say ¡®???? ??????, ?????? ?????? ?? ????????????¡¯, rather than saying ¡®??????¡¯???? ?????? ???????? ?? ????????????¡¯?? ????????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ????????????, ???? ???????????????? ????????????????, ??????¡¯???? ???????? ?? ???????????????? ??????????????????¡¯, right? ¡°Those people heard the rumors about the ck wolf and kept trying to enter the forest. . . So, I was assigned to guide them.¡± Since entering deeper into the forest required permission, it was clear that the matter had already been settled between Philip and Mrs. Aitz. Neither of them were likely to refuse. ¡®???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ For Joseph, however, it was an unexpected predicament, in many ways. First, the problem was entering a forest with a cunning monster like the ck wolf. The knights might be confident in their strength, but he didn¡¯t have the confidence to confront the ck wolf directly. And would the knights protect him? He¡¯d be lucky if he wasn¡¯t used as bait. And if they were lucky enough not to encounter the ck wolf, that was also a problem. Where would the knights direct their frustration? The serfs, like those of the feudal lord, were also property of the feudatory, so the sons of the Aitz family didn¡¯t cross the line even when they caused trouble. But these knights were different. They had nothing to do with Joseph, and wouldn¡¯t bat an eye if he died. ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ll help.¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°I said I would help. Are you hard of hearing?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. . .¡± Joseph looked bewildered at Johan¡¯s words. ¡®?????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???? ???????????????? ?????????¡¯ Chapter 8: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) Chapter 8: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) ¡°As a knight, it is my duty to protect the people of the feudal lord.¡± ¡°Uh. . . Yes. . .¡± Joseph was beyond flustered and utterly astounded. Of course, he had heard the noble knights utter such words, but he had never seen anyone take them seriously. They were just empty words used to adorn themselves, a facade to make knights seem nobler thanmoners. ¡°It¡¯s a joke. I never thought that way. It¡¯s not even my fief to begin with.¡± ¡°. . .??¡± ¡°I¡¯m just repaying what I learned from you. It¡¯s only right to return the favor.¡± ¡°!!¡± Joseph had to conceal his overwhelming emotion that surged in that moment. Although he had always viewed knights and nobles with skepticism, he couldn¡¯t help but acknowledge the truth now. The young knight before him was a true knight indeed. ¡°Thank you. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it for something like this.¡± ???????????? Although he spoke confidently, Johan remained silent. In fact, he didn¡¯t even have armor. It would have been truly embarrassing had he been without weapons as well, but fortunately, he still had his longsword. ¡°May I borrow a horse and gear?¡± The manor was modest, but it was still a feudatory. The Aitz family didn¡¯t manage the feudatory alone. Sir Gessen¡¯s ves and wealthy serfs, selected to serve, assisted in its management. If it were arger manor, there might have been a professional administrator to manage the feudatory or soldiers to handle such gear, but that was too much to expect. All these duties were undertaken by the servants. As a result, the servant in charge of the weapons at the feudal lord¡¯s residence couldn¡¯t be too assertive with Johan. No matter how ambiguously noble Johan might be, nobility is still nobility. There¡¯s a difference in status. Reporting to Philip, the eldest son, or Mrs. Aitz? That would be madness. Johan might be humiliated for now. . . But if Johan attacked him at night and broke his neck, he would forever remain a corpse, while Johan would merely receive a brief reprimand and confinement. And looking at Johan¡¯s physique, it seemed unnecessary to attack him at night. The servants at the feudal lord¡¯s residence, better fed than the serfs, were well-built, but paled inparison to Johan. ¡°I promise, I won¡¯t damage or misuse anything. I¡¯ve arranged to go hunting with the knights visiting the feudatory; I can¡¯t go unarmed.¡± ¡°Well. . . that¡¯s true, but. . .¡± The servant sighed and nodded. There was no point in upsetting Johan by refusing needlessly. ¡°Please be careful with it. Please. . .¡± ¡°I understand. I understand.¡± Johan¡¯s voice was so earnest that he had no choice but to nod in agreement. Sir Gessen, while indifferent to many things, cared about the weapons in the feudal lord¡¯s residence. The poor feudatory had invested almost all its money in these arms. And the gear was expendable. Without ongoing maintenance and care, it easily deteriorated. If the gear was damaged upon return, Sir Gessen¡¯s fury would be unleashed on the servant. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not like Fern or John.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the servant¡¯s face rxed slightly. Unlike his other brothers who frequently bothered the servants with requests, Johan was rtively kind to them. ¡°Yes, Johan-nim is quite different from the two.¡± With the servant¡¯s help, Johan donned his armor. First, he put on a thick shirt made of hemp, covered it with a hood, and then draped chainmail over it. The helmet was open-faced, not covering the entire face. ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ?? ????????????????.¡¯ There wasn¡¯t much difference between a well-made hemp shirt and a gambeson, a type of padded armor. The gambeson was just thicker and more cushioned. Beforeing here, he hadn¡¯t realized that for a knight, the most important thing wasn¡¯t swordsmanship or chivalry, but armor. The quality of one¡¯s armor not only indicated status but also protected one¡¯s life. When he was young, he wanted to own a full-body te armor, but Johan soon realized the reality. Here, te armors were much more precious than on Earth. They were masterpieces exclusively made by dwarven artisans using steel and rare metals. Only knights with fame in the kingdom could afford them. It was a world where a joke about a single armor being worth an entire castle made sense. Typically, knights wore a gambeson, a thick cloth or leather armor, and then put on chainmail over it, finishing with a surcoat as an outer garment. Even this was an excellent armament, far superior to that of ordinary soldiers. Wealthy knights eitheryered chainmail, added hard metal tes over it, or wore scale armor instead. Scale armor, made by attaching individual metal scales, was more expensive but much sturdier than chainmail. If a knight killed a monster, making high-quality leather armor from its hide was a good choice. The hide of a monster was much tougher, stronger, and more durable than regr leather. If it had any special properties, the price could skyrocket. Of course, none of this applied to Johan. He had neither the money nor special hides. He was more than satisfied with the armory avable at the feudal lord¡¯s residence. ¡°It suits you well.¡± The servant¡¯s words were sincere. Johan, already striking in appearance, looked every bit the part of a knight when armored. ¡°But why is there no crest on the surcoat?¡± The surcoat, a garment knights wore over their armor, not only protected against sun and heat but also served a fashionable purpose. Knights would disy their family crests on it to show off their lineage. But Johan¡¯s surcoat bore no family crest, just a dull color. The servant spoke with an embarrassed face. ¡°The dyer asked for such a high price, so we¡¯ve put it off for now.¡± ¡°. . .Really?¡± Johan suppressed augh. It was indeed fitting for the Aitz family. The servant cringed, fearing reprimand. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll be able to go well now.¡± ???????????? Although not ustomed to being fully armed, Johan quickly adapted. His movement remained unchanged even though the armor felt a bit heavy. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s not even that ufortable.¡± Johan made a nking sound as he slightly tugged at the chin part of his armor. The other cavalrymen¡¯s armor was simr to Johan¡¯s, though theirs appeared better maintained and newer. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Sir Aitz had such a brave son among his children?¡± One of the cavalrymen said with a sly smile. Although respectful innguage, thement was a mockery of the Aitz family. Of course, Johan was not at all bothered. Whether they mocked the Aitz family or urinated on the coat of arms, Johan remained unaffected. Johan decided to act like a young knight from a lesser-known noble family. ¡°Ha ha. Our family is quite small, so it¡¯s not well-known. I¡¯m d to be out here with you all. My father never gave me a chance. My dream is to earn distinction on the battlefield.¡± ¡°Did you have such a dream?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it natural, being born into a knightly family? That¡¯s why I admire you all, serving under a great knight like Sir Karamaf and achieving military exploits.¡± The cavalrymen¡¯s faces lit up with satisfied smiles upon hearing Johan¡¯s words. Few disliked receivingpliments, especially from a noble¡¯s son. Commoners or serfs groveled before them, but their status was no different frommoners. They were not born into knightly families nor had they undergone a Knight Initiation Ceremony, being merely mercenaries. Serving under an influential figure like Sir Karamaf, they would have been indistinguishable from mercenaries or bandits otherwise. So, Johan¡¯s praise was genuinely pleasing to them. ¡°Ha ha! You¡¯re right. There are no men as great as us. Sir Karamaf trusts us a lot.¡± ¡°Really? I might have heard about you from the wandering minstrels who visited our feudatory. Where are you from?¡± ¡°Have you heard of the wolves of Arkten? We¡¯re from there. Sir Karamaf personally hired us.¡± The feudal lords here didn¡¯t keep many soldiers. Battles involved only a few hundred or thousand men. Johan was used to tales of tens or hundreds of thousands fighting, but the reality was quite different. Maintaining arge number of soldiers, a financial drain, was madness. No one could afford it. Nevertheless, skirmishes among the feudal lords, poor or small, were constant. Johan¡¯s continent was dominated by feudal lords, each ruling their feudatory like kings, fighting over trivial matters. And for these battles, mercenaries were always needed. They were the ones who fought in ce of others. It has always been cheaper to hire soldiers as needed rather than maintaining a standing army. As a result, bothrge and small mercenary groups roamed the continent, hovering around battlefields and seeking silver coins. The more the continent was fractured and filled with conflict, the more the mercenaries profited. Wolves of Arkten were a fairlyrge mercenary group from the Ens Kingdom. Even Johan had heard of them. ¡°Seeing their armor and horses, I thought they wouldn¡¯t be easy to deal with, and indeed. . .¡± The skill of a mercenary could be judged by the gear they wore. Those with expensive and high-quality gear were usually experienced and skilled. Especially if they were also mounted. ¡®???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ???????¡¯ He didn¡¯te alone but brought armed mercenaries with him. Although he said he came to meet Sir Gessen, his intentions didn¡¯t seem benevolent. ¡®?????????? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????????????¡¯ It was unclear how a country knight like Sir Gessen could have incurred the wrath of Karamaf, but a grudge was a usible reason. ¡®???????????????? ????¡¯?? ?? ????????????, ???????? ???????? ???? ????????? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ???????????????????¡¯ It seemed excessive to bring mercenaries for such a matter. Sir Karamaf could have handled it alone. Even if Sir Gessen had a few men in his fief, they would flee at the sight of Sir Karamaf drawing his sword. ¡°Wolves of Arkten! Was it necessary to bring them to such a tranquil ce?¡± ¡°. . .Haha. Even for Sir Karamaf, it¡¯s not feasible to travel alone, is it?¡± Johan clearly saw one of the mercenaries momentarily fluster with confusion. ¡°What about the servants?¡± Servants apanying a noble were a force in themselves. Arming people made them soldiers. Even some basic training could make them better than a mediocre mercenary. ¡°How can servants chase away rogues? This is something we should handle. Besides, it would be disrespectful to have Sir Karamaf personally wield a sword against mere rogues. That¡¯s why we apanied him.¡± As they spoke, the group gradually moved deeper into the forest. The path narrowed between densely packed trees. Joseph the hunter led the party at the forefront. Chapter 9: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) Chapter 9: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (??) ¡°How much further do we have to go? It seems like it¡¯ll take all day.¡± ¡°We need to go deeper to find a ce where it might appear.¡± Joseph spoke calmly. Fortunately, it was Johan who was behind him. If it had been just mercenaries, they would have prostrated themselves. ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°Monsters tend to upy a wide territory. Since there was no damage to the vige where it appeared, it¡¯s clear that it has settled deep inside the forest, probably taking over the territory of the wolves inside.¡± Monsters behaved differently from ordinary animals, not hesitating to attack and consume their kind. If ck wolves hadn¡¯te down to the vige, the only ce left was deeper inside. ¡°This is incredibly boring. Are there any deer?¡± ¡°It would be nice if there were deer.¡± Deer were the preferred prey of nobles. Mercenaries didn¡¯t often have the opportunity to hunt in noble territories, so it wasn¡¯t easy for them to catch any. ¡°Hey, gamekeeper. Are you really doing this properly? Well, maybe try using some bait.¡± Sometimes, gamekeepers in noble hunting grounds would also scatter bait. When they spread the bait, the animals in the hunting grounds woulde to eat, and it became a habit for them. By instilling this habit, it was easier to locate the animals when the nobles came to huntter without having to do much else. However, that was a luxury, and the Aitz family didn¡¯t do such things. From Sir Gessen onwards, they hardly hunted and preferred to wander outside. Why bother with such things? Joseph¡¯s hunting was more about tracking and patiently waiting. ¡°Monsters won¡¯t need to do that. They¡¯ll attack at the mere sight.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± The mercenary, clearly dissatisfied with Joseph¡¯s response, tapped his sword hilt. Without Johan, he might have struck a blow. Being with Sir Karamaf didn¡¯t mean expecting chivalry from mercenaries. They were often rough and barbaric. The saying ¡®???? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ??????????¡¯ wasn¡¯t for nothing. Without Sir Karamaf, it wasn¡¯t strange for them to lose their temper. ¡°Joseph. Is that true?¡± ¡°About the monster? Probably. . .¡± Monsters were several times more fierce and savage than ordinary beasts. Even predators like wolves would flee or keep their distance from armed knights, but monsters wouldn¡¯t. ??????????????©¥ ¡°!¡± ¡°Wolves! Is it the one?¡± At the distant howling, theining mercenaries snapped to attention. The horses shivered and neighed. ¡°Stay still, you fool!¡± One of the mercenaries scolded his horse and pulled out a cavalry crossbow from the saddle. It was small and less powerful, designed for shooting from horseback, but sufficient for hunting wolves. ¡°Gamekeeper! Is it the one?¡± ¡°No. . . It doesn¡¯t seem like it!¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°The howling isn¡¯t from just one!¡± ¡°What? It¡¯s just the cry of a beast! Are your ears rotten? Can we really trust this guy?!¡± ¡°What does a hick from a backwater hunting ground know, anyway. . .¡± The mercenaries immediately burst into curses. Joseph cursed them inwardly. ¡®?????????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ It seemed that the mercenaries had never tried hunting. It was clear that these guys had never roamed the forests or mountains chasing after wild animals, unlike killing people on the battlefield. Theirck of experience was evident in everything they did. With such guys, there was no way this could turn into a proper hunt, even with all the rumors about monsters and the allure of leather. ¡®?????? ?????????? ???? ????????????!¡¯ And then, the gods answered Joseph¡¯s prayer. From all directions, the sound of wolves howling began to fill the air. ¡®??!''¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on, Joseph? You¡¯re not usually like this?¡± Johan asked Joseph in a panic. The wolves of this forest were cunning predators, not blood-crazed beasts. They knew armed people were dangerous. Instead of retreating or avoiding human territory, they began to howl aggressively and approach. ¡°Monster!¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°It must be the monster. It has taken control of the wolf pack!¡± Sometimes monsters would not fight but dominate animals. Joseph had heard such stories from an old hunter before. Wolves, being pack animals, were likely susceptible to the monster¡¯s control. ¡°Ah, finally showing up!¡± One of the mercenaries eximed excitedly, eager to fight after a boring wait. Joseph, rmed, shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t shoot!¡± ¡°What? Don¡¯t talk nonsense, hunter. You¡¯re not the only one who knows how to hunt. I¡¯ve chased wolves while working as a mercenary.¡± The mercenary said irritably. Though he hadn¡¯t hunted in forests and mountains like a hunter, he had experience in fending off wolves that attacked merchants on the road. ¡°This isn¡¯t a normal situation. . .¡± ????????????! Without waiting for a response, the mercenary fired his crossbow. The bolt, sounding like a brief whistle, embedded itself in a tree with a ¡®??????????¡¯. ¡°Can¡¯t even hit a pup? Where¡¯s your skill?¡± ¡°Shut up. They¡¯re just messing with us.¡± ¡°Johan-nim, please make them listen!¡± Joseph pleaded with Johan, but Johan shook his head. ¡°W-Why not?¡± ¡°Would they listen to me? Let¡¯s just worry about our own lives. Whether they live or die.¡± ¡°. . .!!¡± ¡°How dangerous is this situation?¡± ¡°If the monster is controlling the wolves, there¡¯s only one target. It¡¯s going to attack us!¡± Wolves appeared and disappeared among the dense trees. The rustling of bushes sounded chilling. Joseph muttered in a despairing voice. ¡°We¡¯re being surrounded. . .!¡± ¡°This won¡¯t do. Joseph, get on the horse.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°We might have to break through in an emergency.¡± Joseph felt a moment of relief at Johan¡¯s calm demeanor, then was startled by his own reaction. ¡®???? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?? ??????????????????. ???? ?? ???????????¡¯ The wolves, havingpleted their encirclement, began to reveal themselves more and approached. They moved so visibly that even the mercenaries could clearly see them. The mercenaries fired bolts at them with curses. ¡°Why are these bastards hiding? Come out!¡± ¡°Why are they prancing around like that?¡± The mercenaries were frustrated. Usually, wolves attacking on the roadcked patience. They would immediately pounce on carts or carriages, and the mercenaries would just pick them off one by one. But these wolves were cunning and smart. They moved around, causing the mercenaries to waste their arrows. Moreover, crossbows were hard to reload. It was slow on the ground and even more so on horseback. The tools for aiding in reloading were expensive, and few mercenaries carried them. ¡°Thud!¡± As thest bolt sound ended, the wolves began to howl fiercely. It was a signal for the start of the fight. ¡°There, the bastard!¡± A mercenary, mocking a wolf charging straight at him, twisted his body. He raised his axe-wielding hand, ready to skillfully strike the oing wolf. ¡°Watch out on the side!¡± The wolf that rushed in had its windpipe cut, but it wasn¡¯t the only one attacking. Another wolf sprang from the left bushes, targeting the mercenary¡¯s exposed leg. The mercenary¡¯s life was saved by arade who quickly thrust his sword into the wolf¡¯s neck. ¡°Argh!¡± However, even in its dying throes, the wolf savagely bit the mercenary¡¯s leg. The chainmail was either worn or unlucky, as the wolf¡¯s teeth tore through the leg, sttering blood and tearing flesh. ¡°These damn wolves are crazy!¡± ¡°Gather! Form up!¡± The experienced mercenaries didn¡¯t lose their momentum easily, but there wasn¡¯t much they could do. This was an unfamiliar fight for them. The wolves moved differently than humans. stic and irregr in movement. While dealing with one in front, suddenly others would attack from behind or above. Moreover, the wolves didn¡¯t care how many of their pack fell. They aimed to bring down a mercenary or target the horse¡¯s legs to bite. Even if armed, being thrown off a horse meant a high chance of being fatally bitten by the wolves. More than a dozen wolves had fallen, but mercenaries also started to drop one by one. ¡°Damn it!¡± A mercenary, acting as a squad leader, fiercely yelled and struck a wolf¡¯s head with his round shield. Then he shouted. ¡°Shit! Let¡¯s get out of here! We can¡¯t even break even!¡± ¡°Hey, help me up!¡± A fallen mercenary desperately shouted. But hisrades kicked their horses and fled without looking back. The horses neighed and began to run. ¡°Let¡¯s escape too.¡± Johan, who had been standing by idly, also spurred his horse. The wolves seemed to only target the mercenaries, allowing Johan and Joseph to retreatfortably. The howling of wolves echoed behind the retreating mercenaries. Unlike before, they shivered with a chilling fear. They never expected such humiliation from merely facing a pack of wolves. ???????????? ¡°They¡¯re catching up!¡± ¡°Damn this forest path. The road is terrible!¡± The path was narrow and littered with obstacles, making it slow to traverse even on horseback. Unlike earlier when the mercenaries were in formation, now they were riding in a single file. A situation highly vulnerable to attacks. The mercenaries knew this but had no choice. Stopping here would be foolish. And then. . . ¡®???? ???????? ???? ????¡¯?? ?????? ????!¡¯ It didn¡¯t matter to him if someone else got caught. ¡°Slow, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°J-Johan-nim.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk with such a pitiful voice. It¡¯s creepy to hear a grown man talk like that.¡± Joseph felt relieved at Johan¡¯s joke. Johan was currently at the very back of the group. Their speed was reduced due to two people riding together. They were extremely anxious about an ambush, but the wolves hadn¡¯t attacked yet. The continuous howling indicated they were still being followed. ¡°Johan-nim!¡± ¡°?¡± The mercenarygging farthest behind was almost upon Johan. The horse was bleeding and running hard. The mercenary¡¯s face was a mix of anxiety and fear, aware of being left behind. ¡°Leave that man behind!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Leave him! I¡¯ll exinter, damn it!¡± The mercenary grabbed Joseph¡¯s cor in a sudden attack, causing Joseph to choke. Despite this, the mercenary, with panic in his eyes, tried to push Joseph away. ¡°J-Johan-nim. . .¡± ¡°Ah, I see. To feed the wolves?¡± ¡°Yes! You¡¯re quick!¡± ¡°Why bother when there¡¯s a better target here.¡± With those words, Johan¡¯s fist crushed the head of the mercenary. Chapter 10: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) Chapter 10: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) The mercenary was so taken aback that he couldn¡¯t even react. Even if he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to respond. Johan¡¯s punch was that fast and powerful. There was a sound of a skull being crushed. The mercenary, frothing at the mouth with blood, fell off his horse sideways. After convulsing, hey limp. It was a clear case of instant death. ¡°J-Johan-nim!¡± ¡°Save your thanks.¡± Johan took Joseph on the horse with him. Even with injuries, it was much better than both riding. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????????????????? ???????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ????????????????????.¡¯ Johan felt strange about himself. It was odd to have such leisurely thoughts in such a desperate and dangerous situation. Was his sense of danger broken? ¡®????. . . ????, ????¡¯?? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Johan didn¡¯t feel this as danger. Confidence! The confidence that even if all the wolves here attacked, he could survive, was keeping Johan calm. From behind the galloping horses, there was a sound of something being torn apart. ¡°The wolves must be feasting.¡± ¡°. . .T-Thank you.¡± Joseph spoke in a voice still muddled by confusion. He hadn¡¯t expected Johan to go to such lengths. ¡°I¡¯ve repaid my debt.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You kept me from bing one of those fools.¡± Johan said, pointing to the mercenaries. Joseph had to suppress the tickle in his throat. Laughing in such a situation would be insane. ???????????? Four dead, two injured. Sir Karamaf¡¯s face turned cold at the news that half of the personnel he brought along had either died or been injured. The mercenaries couldn¡¯t even raise their heads. ¡°Injured and killed trying to catch a wolf?¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± ¡°I paid silver to mercenaries, not to *ssholes.¡± ¡°I have nothing to say. Sorry, Karamaf-nim.¡± The mercenaries, covered in blood and with various wounds, hadn¡¯t even thought about washing up. They were very afraid of Karamaf. ¡°I won¡¯t take away the silver. But remember, if things go wrong, even your necks might not be enough to take responsibility.¡± ¡°Yes! Thank you for your kindness!¡± The mercenaries shouted loudly. Internally, they were frustrated, but they knew better than to be insolent in front of Karamaf, as many who did lost their heads. To survive long as a mercenary, one had to know whom to pick a fight with. ¡°Go and rest.¡± ?????????? ?????????? ??????????©¥ ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I came to take care of the knights¡¯ armor and weapons as ordered by the master. . .¡± The servant mumbled timidly. The mercenaries were interested in this. After a fight, armor and weapons needed maintenance. Chainmail had to be rolled in a barrel with sand and vinegar to prevent rust, and longswords needed to be cleaned of blood and flesh and oiled. It was a tedious task, and having someone else do it was preferable. Knights could order their servants or vassals, but they were mercenaries. ¡°Then take them. . .¡± ¡°Stupid fool. How would that guy know how to do it? Forget it. We¡¯ll do it.¡± The mercenary leader stopped the others. How could they trust the skills of a servant here? Their expensive gear could get damaged, and Karamaf would love to see them fight bare-handed. ¡°Go back and wait. Don¡¯t wander outside the feudal lord¡¯s domain. If you leave without permission again, I¡¯ll cut off your ankles.¡± ¡°Yes! Thank you for your kindness!¡± The mercenaries shouted once more and were able to leave. ¡°Shit. . . What a disgrace this is.¡± ¡°Damn crazy wolves.¡± ¡°Go put on some ointment and bandages, you idiots.¡± ¡°Even with the forces waiting outside, this small fiefdom is nothing. I don¡¯t understand why they¡¯re making such a fuss. Honestly, Karamaf alone could kill them all. In that armor, he could kill a hundred of these fiefdom men.¡± ¡°A hundred? They¡¯d all run away.¡± The mercenaries chuckled as they walked. This small fiefdom had no significant force. The ill-trained noble sons of the Aitz family and their servants were all they had. ????????©¥ After the mercenaries left, the servant cautiously moved. He had not immediatelye out after leaving but had hidden in a dark corner of the corridor. ???????????? ¡°Well done.¡± Johan praised the servant, who, trembling, still managed a weak smile. He seemed proud of himself, as a devoted person. After the mercenaries returned in disarray from their wolf hunt, Johan said to the frightened servant: ©¥?????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ????????. . . ©¥???????? ?????? ?? ???????????? ??????. ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ????????. Since Sir Karamaf¡¯s men were injured, the servant who lent the armor was in trouble too. It wouldn¡¯t have been surprising if the other sons or Mrs. Aitz punished the servant to save face. Knowing this well, Johan told the servant that he could use his name. After all, worsening rtions with the other members of the Aitz family wouldn¡¯t make a difference. ©¥??????????-??????. . .! The servant was tearfully moved. The kindness from someone of such higher status felt piercingly sweet. He regretted hesitating when Johan asked to borrow the armor. ¡®??????????-?????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ????????????. . .¡¯ The servant said resolutely: ©¥??????????-??????. ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????????????????, ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????, ???????????? ???????? ????. ?? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????. ©¥????????????? ???????? ????????????. ?? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????. ©¥? Johan instructed the servant to pretend to run an errand and eavesdrop on the mercenaries¡¯ conversation. Both Karamaf and the mercenaries had one thing inmon: they disregarded and ignored servants and ves. ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan¡¯s prediction was correct. The servant overheard everything, and the information was more serious than expected. Johan¡¯s face hardened. ???????????? ¡®???????? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ There are two things he just learned. There are support troops waiting nearby. And the guys who came with Sir Karamaf are ready to wield their swords at any moment. ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ???????????????????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ??????????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ??¡¯???? ?????????? ??????, ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ ¡°Dealing with mercenaries using serfs might not be much, but it¡¯s better than doing nothing. . .¡± Eitherunching a surprise attack, digging traps, or even preparing for a defensive battle with the help of the feudal lord would be better than doing nothing. Although it pales inparison to a fortress with walls, the feudal lord¡¯s mansion is a sturdy andrge building. By arming the servants in the annex and holding out, the mercenaries,cking siege equipment, will face difficulty. ¡°I must keep them in check so they can¡¯t do anything foolish until Gessen Aitz arrives.¡± Gessen Aitz, though a country feudal lord, was a seasoned and experienced knight. Once he returns, neither the mercenaries nor Sir Karamaf will be able to act easily. Johan licked his lips and headed towards Mrs. Aitz. He didn¡¯t want to confront her, but he had no choice. ???????????? ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± ¡®???????? ????. ???? ????????????????.¡¯ Mrs. Aitz scolded Johan in a sharp voice. The gentle and sweet voice she used when dealing with Sir Karamaf or Gessen Aitz was nowhere to be found. Although Mrs. Aitz was not even ten years older than Johan, she was several times more dreadful and a more dominant figure. This was evident from how she manipted the Aitz fiefdom at such a young age. ¡°Sir Karamaf is plotting a conspiracy? Ha! And you overheard this and found out. Are you ndering Sir Karamaf right now?¡± ¡°Why would I nder Sir Karamaf?¡± ¡°Well. You followed Sir Karamaf¡¯s men on a hunt and returned only with embarrassment. Seems like you have more than enough reason to nder.¡± People tend to see only what they want to see. For Mrs. Aitz, who wanted to build connections with Sir Karamaf, the idea that Sir Karamaf could hatch such a conspiracy was unthinkable. Moreover, it was even more preposterous that Johan, who she normally wouldn¡¯t even consider, had overheard and brought this news. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we prepare just in case?¡± ¡°Prepare? Yes, we should prepare. Tomorrow, when the day breaks, I will confront you with Sir Karamaf. If you are truly of a knight¡¯s lineage, apologize to Sir Karamaf for your rudeness and ask for his forgiveness.¡± Johan inwardly scoffed, seeing through the intent to sell him out to Karamaf and curry favor. ¡®???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± In the midst of the conversation, Philip Aitz, the eldest son of the Aitz family, entered the hall. Philip frowned upon seeing Johan and Mrs. Aitz talking. It was an unusual pairing to see. ¡°Brother. About that. . .¡± Johan ced hisst hope in Philip. Although Mrs. Aitz was in charge of the feudatory, Philip also had significant authority within it. Being the oldest son and having spent a long time in the fiefdom, he had many followers. However, Philip dismissed it as nonsense. ¡°Absurd. Why would Sir Karamaf do such a thing? You must have heard some rumor from wanderers and clowns and brought it here. If you spread such baseless rumors again, I won¡¯t forgive you.¡± Unlike Mrs. Aitz, Philip did not wish to be close to Sir Karamaf, but he did not believe Johan¡¯s words either. ¡®????????????????. ???????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????????.¡¯ Sir Karamaf, not a rogue or rogue leader, had no reason to engage in such antics in a feudatory like this. It didn¡¯t make sense. Rather, it seemed more likely that Johan, humiliated in the recent hunt, was jealous of Sir Karamaf and framing him. Believing such words and preparing for a trap or fight was not feasible. It could be perceived as an insult or threat by Sir Karamaf if discovered. And at that moment, Johan made up his mind. Just to escape tonight. He had intended to somehow pick up something valuable in the chaos, but staying longer seemed to risk a worse fate. ¡®?? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ???? ????????????.¡¯ Stealing too much might indeed provoke a real pursuit, so he nned to take just enough. Of course, there¡¯s no moderation in theft. . . Anyway, facing Sir Karamaf one-on-one for exnations tomorrow was out of the question. ¡°Go back and reflect on your actions. From injuring Sir Karamaf¡¯s man in the unauthorized hunt to framing him, you have responsibilities to bear.¡± ¡°. . .Yes.¡± Johan feigned repentance. Internally, he was already calcting what to steal. ???????????? It was different to put on armor with the help of a servant in broad daylight and to sneakily put it on at night, muffling the sound. Johan equipped himself using all his senses. He wore a fine, sturdy hemp shirt, covered it with a well-maintained chainmail, donned a surcoat, and finally, took a coat made of Finnish wool. The weather was gradually getting colder. He would need a thick outer garment to wrap around himself. Thanks to what Johan learned from Joseph, he was able to quickly prepare what he needed to leave without hesitation. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????????? ??????????.¡¯ Unlike the storeroom where the armor was kept, the silver coins would be in the bedroom safe. It was risky to go in and potentially wake someone up, and taking the expensive armor was risky enough, let alone adding silver coins, which could truly prompt a pursuit. Of course, the items he was taking now were enough to infuriate, but considering the family¡¯s honor, there was a possibility they would overlook this extent. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ Chapter 11: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) Chapter 11: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) Whether to work as a mercenary or go to the city to find work, I wasn¡¯t sure yet, but it didn¡¯t matter. Starting with nothing, yet for some reason, my heart was racing. Johan realized that he had been waiting for such a moment for a very long time. He had spent more than a decade living like a dead mouse, waiting for the day to leave this cramped fiefdom. Though he was not leaving amidst a warm farewell but sneaking away in the dead of night, it didn¡¯t matter. ¡®???????? ??????????????????????, ?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ?? ?????????? ???? ??????.¡¯ The Aitz fiefdom was poor. Taking a set of expensive armor was one thing, but taking a horse as well would really be crossing a line. Moreover, the stable was attached to an outbuilding next to the feudal lord¡¯s house where the servants slept, and any mistake could wake them with the sound of a horse. Despite the risk, the temptation of a horse was strong. Having one or not made a tremendous difference. It wasn¡¯t just about being fast and convenient. A horse was also a symbol of status. Appearance, skin, ent, demeanor, attitude, clothing. . . all these things indicated what kind of person one was. A serf, no matter how smart or determined, found it hard to imitate a noble, and vice versa. If Johan rode a horse, half of his troubles would diminish. People would think he was a knight. After much thought, Johan made his decision. ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????????? ????!¡¯ Even if it was excessive, he couldn¡¯t give it up. ¡°?¡± As Johan decided and was about to leave the storage room, he hesitated. He heard something. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????????¡¯ Could someone in the feudal lord¡¯s house have woken up? That would be very troublesome. . . ¡®????¡¯?? ??????????????!¡¯ The faint sound came from outside, not inside the feudal lord¡¯s house. Hearing the hoarse voice bursting into roughughter, Johan realized who it was. Sir Aitz of Gessen had returned. ¡®???????? ????. ???????? ???? ????????. . .¡¯ Johan cursed inwardly and pushed himself into a corner. Now that it hade to this, he had no choice but to wait, unseen. ???????????? ¡°Wake up the servants and have them bring something to eat. I¡¯m hungry.¡± Gessen had grown fat enough to cover his muscles but was still a menacing knight. His heavy build, hidden by armor, exuded strength. The ve following and serving Gessen bowed his head and ran to the annex. True to his life spent on battlefields, Gessen had a foul temper. Not running immediately meant a p on the face, and in a stroke of bad luck, one might get hit with a spiked club. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. Sir Gessen.¡± ¡°It seems Count Gisored will soon send someone with good news.¡± A few subordinates quickly ttered Gessen, who smiled pleasantly. Even though he knew it was ttery, it didn¡¯t upset him. ¡°Count Gisored knows people well. In these times of frequent battles, it¡¯s not easy to find a knight like me.¡± ¡°You are absolutely right!¡± Gessen preferred selling his force to influential nobles over managing his small and insignificant fiefdom. Participating in territorial wars was far more profitable than farming wheat or raising pigs. This trip wasn¡¯t bad. Count Gisored was soon nning a war with a nearby noble, and his interest in Gessen¡¯s force was evident. Whether it was the Holy Empire or the Western Ens Kingdom, feudal lords shing swords for a bit morend wasmon. In fact, it was rare not to. This was why knights like Gessen or mercenaries thrived. ¡°Have you returned?¡± ¡°Oh. My wife!¡± Gessenughed heartily, embracing and lifting Mrs. Aitz. Despite his strong sweat and dust smell, Mrs. Aitz didn¡¯t blink an eye. ¡°Having a wife whoes to greet me like this makes me a happy man.¡± In truth, Gessen¡¯s group had woken her with their noise, but that was unimportant. Mrs. Aitz replied in a soft voice. ¡°Of course. But there¡¯s a guest waiting.¡± ¡°A guest? Who?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised. It¡¯s Sir Karamaf.¡± ¡°Sir Karamaf? Why is he here?¡± Gessen asked in a lukewarm voice. He had no dealings with Karamaf. ¡°I¡¯ll exin the reason shortly.¡± ¡°!¡± The sound of Gessen¡¯s group seemed to wake Karamaf too, as Karamaf emerged from the main entrance on the first floor. Although he must have been sleeping until just now, Karamaf was fully armed. Wrapped in a te armor made by dwarves, only his cold face, with the faceguard up, was visible. Gessen instinctively reached for the weapon at his waist. Having shattered the skulls of numerous enemies, Gessen could feel it. Karamaf was certainly not here for a visit. ¡°What brings you to my fiefdom?¡± ¡°Gessen Aitz. I arrest you for conspiring with heretics to poison His Holiness, the Emperor, and incite a rebellion.¡± ¡°. . .What nonsense!¡± Gessen eximed as if screaming. It was a charge he had never heard before. However, Karamaf¡¯s facial expression did not change. ¡°When did I ever plot such a thing!¡± ¡°Save your excuses for God, not me.¡± ¡°I demand a trial. I am a noble of the Holy Empire and the head of the Aitz family. You can¡¯t decide based on your trivial words!¡± ¡°I ept your request. You shall go to His Majesty¡¯s court and face trial.¡± Upon hearing Karamaf¡¯s words, Gessen¡¯s face was momentarily filled with despair. Karamaf was like an extension of the Emperor. He would not have taken such action without certainty. If this was a trap, going to court for trial might not offer an escape. Gessen thought hard, recalling the powerful nobles he knew. Now was the time to seek their help, even if it meant offering the pirs of his fiefdom. However, reality exceeded Gessen¡¯s expectations. The moment he saw Karamaf¡¯s cold eyes, Gessen realized. Karamaf would not take him to court. ¡°Ha!¡± Gessen drew his weapon from his waist, intending to strike at Karamaf. But Karamaf¡¯s attack was several times faster. Gessen, a knight, was not skilled in swift swordy but in the martial arts of a strength-focused family. In battlefields teeming with weaker foes, he could dominate like an invincible warrior, but Karamaf was several times stronger than Gessen. Gessen¡¯s throat was cut before he could even draw his weapon. The torchlight flickered on the sword as it sprayed blood in an unreal spectacle, leaving Gessen¡¯s men behind him unable to grasp the situation. ¡°Kyaa!¡± The scream of Mrs. Aitz brought them back to reality. Her scream tore through the quiet night¡¯s silence, echoing everywhere. Karamaf, his face covered with a visor,manded. ¡°Send the signal.¡± As he spoke, Karamaf¡¯s waiting mercenary ran from behind the door and began blowing the horn. The sound, following the scream, eerily heralded doom. ¡°This b*stard dares!!¡± One of Gessen¡¯s men, in a fit of rage, charged. He stabbed at Karamaf with a spear from horseback. Karamaf deftly avoided it and shed at the man¡¯s leg. The sword, a famed de enhanced by Karamaf¡¯s skill, tore through the armor. The man fell from his horse with a ¡®thud¡¯. Despite the pain in his leg, he quickly rolled to regain his stance, showing the prowess of an experienced warrior. But it did not save his life. As Karamaf approached, the man lunged with his spear. Karamaf didn¡¯t even dodge. The spearhead was futilely stopped by his armor. The man¡¯s face sank into despair upon encountering the legendary armor. ¡°Damn dwarven craft!¡± The dwarves¡¯ te armor was impervious to ordinary attacks. One could only hope to knock the opponent down and prod at joints or gaps with something sharp. But how could one attempt such against Karamaf? ¡°Die!¡± A thrust aimed at the face. Karamaf closed the distance in one fluid motion, deflecting the spear with one hand and shing the man¡¯s throat with his longsword in the other. The fatally struck man clutched his neck and fell. ¡°Surrender! We surrender!¡± ¡°Please spare us!¡± Realizing they couldn¡¯t match Karamaf, the remaining men bravely surrendered. But Karamaf, unflinching, continued his assault. ¡°Sleep. . .¡± One by one, like a butcher ughtering sheep, Karamaf massacred Gessen¡¯s men. The mercenaries behind him watched with a mix of awe and terror. ¡°The Aitz family resisted arrest and attacked me. I proceed to subdue.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Sir Gessen was killed before he could be arrested, but the mercenaries, who knew the reason they were here from the start, didn¡¯t blink an eye. Yein, who came as a seed of Karamaf, calmly drew his weapon. He didn¡¯t understand the situation well, but as a squire, he just followed what the knight said. ¡°Surround them. Don¡¯t spare anyone rted to the family.¡± The still half-asleep men of the Aitz family would be confused about what was happening inside the feudal lord¡¯s manor. The mercenaries brought by Karamaf drew their weapons and surrounded the vicinity of the feudal lord¡¯s manor to prevent any possible escapees. Karamaf had one reason foring here: to erase the Aitz family and send a warning to the disloyal nobles. And the fault of the Aitz family was one: they were seen as an easy target. They were weak enough to be trampled, and after being trampled, there were no other noble families to use this as a reason to object, and despite this, the head of the family kept mingling with all sorts of nobles. They were the perfect scapegoats. ¡°W-What is this. . . God is watching! Sir Karamaf! What are you doing?!¡± A bloodied Mrs. Aitz screamed and questioned. Instead of answering, Karamaf signaled a mercenary. The mercenary raised a crossbow and shot her. Mrs. Aitz gasped and fell. ¡°Make sure she¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The mercenary licked his lips and cut off Mrs. Aitz¡¯s breath. Normally, he might have had other desires due to her semi attractive face, but now that he was already in disfavor with Karamaf, doing such a thing would have really cost him his head. ¡°The servants are running out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. Make sure to properly watch the men of the Aitz family. I won¡¯t forgive you if you let even one escape.¡± Karamaf turned and walked towards the annex where the servants stayed. It was better to block that side, as the sturdy servants would likely run away better than the Aitz family men, who were only strong in appearance. Chapter 12: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) Chapter 12: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) The mercenaries, after killing the servant who had apanied Mrs. Aitz, took their positions near the door and windows. The nobles inside the feudal lord¡¯s mansion were poorly trained, likely to foolishly rush out. ¡°Why aren¡¯t theying out yet?¡± ¡°Could there be an underground passage?¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense. We already checked, there¡¯s nothing like that.¡± ¡°Should we go in before the main force arrives and finish this?¡± The earlier trumpet signal was meant for the mercenaries camping at a distance. Karamaf preferred certainty. He had prepared dozens of men separately, just in case. These men wouldpletely seize control of the fiefdom and be the pursuit team if any situation arose. ¡°Hey. Sir Karamaf ordered us to surround them and prevent their escape.¡± ¡°Who said we¡¯re not surrounding them? Let¡¯s just go in and kill a couple. It¡¯s better than waiting for those inside to arm themselves ande to their senses.¡± This suggestion from one of the mercenaries intrigued the others. They had already been paid, but killing more of the Aitz family would earn them a bonus. If they went in before the main force arrived, they could monopolize the reward, instead of sharing it with the others. The mercenaries sought permission from Yein, Karamaf¡¯s offspring. ¡°Yein-nim, may we go in?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to enter with the main force? If we go in with a small group and get ambushed, it would be troublesome.¡± ¡°Ha, don¡¯t worry! If we get beaten by those nobodies, I¡¯ll cut off my own wrist.¡± The mercenaries boasted confidently. They were battle-hardened, unlikely to be defeated by those who were hardly knights of the Aitz family. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ????????????????????????????.¡¯ Yein frowned, thinking of Johan. Even without experience, his innate strength and size were formidable weapons. The mercenaries could be caught off guard. However, as the mercenaries suggested, killing the family members before they could arm themselves seemed like a good idea. If they started arming themselves with the armory inside, the casualties would only increase. After all, the death of one or two mercenaries wouldn¡¯t change the situation. Dozens more were on their way. To Yein, the lives of these mercenaries were as insignificant as those of the feudal lord¡¯s servants. That was the way of the nobility. These weren¡¯t soldiers he had personally raised but hired with money. Whether they seeded quickly or died trying, it didn¡¯t matter. That¡¯s what they were paid for. Yein nodded. ¡°Three. I permit only three. The rest must hold their positions.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± The mercenaries excitedly decided who would go. For the three chosen, additional silver was almost guaranteed. ???????????? ¡®???? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????, ??¡¯?? ?????? ?? ??????????. .¡¯ Johan sighed and closed the wooden window. Gessen didn¡¯te in but kept talking outside, so curious, Johan secretly went upstairs and slightly opened the window, only to find the worst situation unfolding. Sir Karamaf killed Gessen and Mrs. Aitz, then ordered to kill everyone. The reason behind this was unknown, but one thing was certain. If you stay still, you die! ¡®?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan shook his head and let go of his regrets, focusing on the current situation. After blowing the horn, torches flickered in the distance from the darkness. It was clear that the others waiting in ambush were approaching. At a nce, there seemed to be dozens of them. At that moment, Johan gave up on fighting here. Meeting Kaegal had boosted his confidence, but he wasn¡¯t up to fighting dozens of experienced mercenaries alone. That would be foolhardy. ¡®???? ?? ?????????? ????????????????????, ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ??????, ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????, ??¡¯???? ???? ?????????????????????? ???? ???? ????????. . .¡¯ Johan remembered Kaegal¡¯s teachings. Fleeing when you can¡¯t win wasn¡¯t shameful. The problem was how and where to escape. The mercenaries looked rxed but were strategically positioned around the feudal lord¡¯s manor, their grip on their weapons showing nocency. ¡°I have to break through after all.¡± Avoiding a fight wasn¡¯t an option. Johan needed to find a rtively weaker one, kill them in one strike, and break through. He quickly formed a n in his mind. ¡°S-Don¡¯te here!¡± ¡°Oh dear. My lord. Your legs are shaking.¡± ¡°Can you even swing a sword properly like that? Put some strength into it and swing. alright?¡± The mercenariesughed mockingly at Fern and John. The half-brothers, too, had awoken to themotion outside. Unlike Johan, they foolishly rushed towards the stairs and encountered the mercenaries. ??????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????¡¯ Maybe they got bored of waiting? That was possible. Johan walked through the corridor towards the stairs. ????????©¥ Fern and John copsed, their legs giving out. A foul smell wafted as their pants got soaked, possibly with urine. The mercenaries climbing the stairsughed at them, wielding their weapons. For them, nothing was more enjoyable than killing arrogant nobles. ¡°Noble sir, beg for your life. Maybe I¡¯ll spare you.¡± ¡°Please. . . I have hidden money! I¡¯ll give it to you if you spare me!¡± ¡°Oh? Where is it?¡± The mercenary seemed intrigued. Hidden noble silver could be worth a lot. ¡°It¡¯s. . .¡± Fern rolled his eyes. Even without experience, he wasn¡¯t a fool. Revealing the location without any promise was idiotic. ¡°Smart kid.¡± ¡°Aaaah!¡± With a ¡®thud¡¯, blood sttered from Fern¡¯s leg. The mercenary had stabbed him with the tip of his weapon. ¡°Enough, kid. Even if you don¡¯t tell us, we can find it. Do you think we haven¡¯t robbed nobles¡¯ houses before? It¡¯s probably hidden behind a wall or under a bed.¡± The mercenary kicked Fern. Fern crawled, trying to escape. The mercenary followed Fern with his eyes and then noticed someone standing in the corridor. ¡°Huh?¡± One strike. It took only one sh to sever the mercenary¡¯s neck. Swoosh! Johan¡¯s monstrous strength instantly decapitated an unsuspecting mercenary. A fountain of blood sprayed, drenching Fern¡¯s face. ¡°Wha, what? What?¡± A mercenary behind him swung his sword in panic. It wasn¡¯t a thoughtful action, but one borne of experience. Johan charged fiercely. Before the mercenary could fully swing, his sword was struck out of the air. ??????????©¥ The impact twisted the mercenary¡¯s arm backwards, exposing his torso. And then, a deadly strike to the exposed torso. The mercenary who was attacked was the most experienced and well-armored mercenary among the mercenaries who followed Karamaf. He wore a full chainmail and even added a separate metal te on top of it for a mercenary. However, against Johan¡¯s strength, it was meaningless. From the shoulder to the side, the body was nearly split in half, spewing blood and entrails. The mercenary died without a sound. Thest remaining mercenary panicked and tried to call for help outside. ¡°Damn it! There¡¯s a monster here. . .¡± Once Johan saw blood, he didn¡¯t stop. His longsword gleamed as it pierced the mercenary¡¯s neck. The mercenary gasped for air and then knelt. ¡®?????? ?????????¡¯ Johan looked at his old longsword, now filthy with blood and entrails, worrying more about its durability than the dirt. He felt he had used too much strength in hisst swing. ¡®??????????, ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°You. . . You. . . You. . .!¡± John and Fern pointed at Johan, speechless from shock at what had just happened. ¡°You killed Sir Karamaf¡¯s men. How will you handle the aftermath?!¡± ¡°. . .You¡¯re talking nonsense at a time like this? Idiots. Look outside. Karamaf has unleashed mercenaries to kill us.¡± Only then did theye to their senses. ¡°Where¡¯s your brother?¡± ¡°Waiting in the bedroom. . . But why did you save us?¡± Fern asked, puzzled. They never thought Johan would save them. They always mocked Johan, and he beat them when the time came. ¡°So you wished to be left to die?¡± ¡°No. . . it¡¯s not that. . .¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like you, but I don¡¯t hate you enough to leave you to die. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°. . .Thank you.¡± Fern and Johm nodded in gratitude. Seeing Johan fully armed, they said, ¡°We¡¯ll bring weapons too! Let¡¯s fight together until father arrives!¡± ¡°Sir Gessen is dead. Karamaf killed him. By now, every armed man near the lord¡¯s manor is probably dead, and no serfs wille to our aid. Stop talking nonsense and think about escaping.¡± Johan¡¯s words froze them. They were overwhelmed by the flood of information. ¡°Father is. . .¡± ????????! Johan pped Fern. Fern, stunned, asked, ¡°Wha. . .?¡± ¡°Snap out of it.¡± ¡°You. . . You could have just said it, no need to hit!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time to coddle you. I¡¯m nning to break out now.¡± ¡°Wait! Me too!¡± ¡°No, it can¡¯t be. John.¡± As Fern tried to stop him, John looked at him as if asking why. ¡°We. . . it¡¯s too much for us.¡± ¡°Oh, because you got stabbed in the leg? Don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll carry you and run. . .¡± ¡°You fool. It¡¯s too much for your skills.¡± Johan scolded John. It was literal. How could he think of breaking through with skills that couldn¡¯t even handle a single mercenary? John couldn¡¯t retort and just blushed. ¡°But brother, if we keep staying here, really. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. . .¡± Fern licked his dry lips with his tongue, unsure of what to do. Johan picked up a longsword from the mercenaries and said. ¡°There is one way.¡± ¡°What, what is it?¡± ¡°Set a fire.¡± ¡°. . .!!¡± ???????????? The mercenaries initially thought they were seeing things wrong. mes began to burst from the windows of the feudal lord¡¯s residence. ¡°T-This is crazy. . .!¡± ¡°Which b*stard set the fire?! Are they insane?!¡± Karamaf had strictly forbidden setting fires for the purpose of identification. Moreover, there were things to loot inside, so no mercenary would be foolish enough to start a fire. ¡°It¡¯s definitely the guys who went in! These idiots must have messed up something and started the fire during the fight!¡± ¡°These b*stards. . . if theye out, I¡¯ll kill them!¡± The mercenaries cursed their colleagues who had entered first. They never imagined that the Aitz family would set the fire. What kind of madmen would set fire to their own location? Chapter 13.1: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) Chapter 13.1: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) ? ¡°Shit. . . I¡¯m going to get scolded by Sir Karamaf.¡± ? ¡°Damn. It doesn¡¯t matter. It doesn¡¯t matter anyway. If there¡¯s a fire, they¡¯ll escape on their own. Keep an eye on the surroundings.¡± ? ¡°What if the fire spreads? I don¡¯t want to burn to death in a ce like this.¡± ? ¡°They¡¯ll escape before that. Hold your position. It¡¯s better than getting beheaded by Karamaf, isn¡¯t it?¡± ? ????????! ? ¡°!!¡± ? Against the flickering mes, a man burst out. The chattering mercenaries quickly threw their spears as if they had been waiting. ? ????????????! ? ¡°?!¡± ? The thrown spear was caught mid-air. Initially, the mercenary didn¡¯t realize his spear was caught. He had thought it pierced through. Only when the man charged with the spear in hand did he realize. ? ¡°Shi. . .¡± ? Johan¡¯s charging momentum emitted a fear that shrank hearts. Holding a mercenary¡¯s spear in one hand and raising a longsword like an executioner in the other, the mercenary didn¡¯t even have time to finish his curse. ? Longswords are usually wielded with two hands, but Johan handled it effortlessly and skillfully as if it were a shortsword. ? ??????????©¥ ? Swung with one hand, it made a tremendous sound, louder than a two-handed swing. The mercenary¡¯s head flew off. ? Like a lion tearing through sheep, Johan cut down the mercenaries, realizing the truths in Kaegal¡¯s words. He was a lion. He would have been a lion even without learning from Kaegal. ? ¡°This crazy. . . Ack!¡± ? Johan threw the snatched spear. Though he had never thrown a javelin before, the spear whistled through the air, piercing the chest of a charging mercenary. Thrown with such force, the spear went halfway through the body and stuck in the ground. ? The mercenaries, standing a bit away, hesitated to approach, instinctively paralyzed by fear. Johan didn¡¯t bother to kill them all. Escaping the encirclement was enough. There was no need to waste time. ? Then, people from the Aitz family ran out of the feudal lord¡¯s manor. Enduring next to the fire, they started running with all their might. ? Seeing this, the mercenaries panicked. With their small numbers, the death of two opened a path. ? ¡°Shoot!!¡± ? ¡°Damn, these crazy b*stards. . .¡± ? The mercenaries hastily drew their crossbows. But Johan had already run into the darkness, and the Aitz family was descending the hill. They managed to shoot down one more, but the rest escaped. ? ¡°We¡¯re screwed. . .!¡± ? ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ? Karamaf, who had dealt with all the servants in the annex, returned. Yein also looked at the mercenaries with stern eyes. ? ¡°That. . . one guy broke through and the rest followed. . . escaped.¡± ? ¡°Two are dead. You¡¯re saying one did this?¡± ? ¡°Yes. He suddenly appeared and attacked. . .¡± ? Karamaf pondered. Even with a sudden ambush, was it possible to kill two men so quickly? ? Yein spoke from the side. ? ¡°One of the Aitz sons was very strong. He wasn¡¯t trained, but. . .¡± ? ¡°Why are you only saying this now?¡± ? ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t think it would matter.¡± ? Yein thought this job would end with just the arrest of Sir Gessen. Moreover, the guy had no training. It wouldn¡¯t have been strange if he hadn¡¯t mentioned it. Knowing this, Karamaf didn¡¯t bother to scold him. He had to consider the dignity of the Rothtain family as well. ? ¡°Impressive.¡± ? After surveying the situation, Karamaf was purely amazed by Johan¡¯s physical abilities. To kill two mercenaries in a sh and escape was remarkable. Moreover, the way he killed them was astounding. It felt like a tremendous brute force just by looking. ? If Gessen had raised him properly, he could have been a formidable knight. ? However, Gessen was foolish and his son a novice. Karamaf had killed more threatening and experienced knights before. ? Today, Gessen¡¯s son would die, just like Gessen. ? ¡®?????????????? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ? ¡°What about their armament?¡± ? ¡°The one who broke out was well-armed, the others were unarmed.¡± ? ¡°Then except for one, none can leave the fiefdom. I will chase them. The rest of you, watch the feudal lord¡¯s manor.¡± ? ¡°The fire is spreading, Karamaf-nim.¡± ? ¡°So?¡± ? ¡°. . .I will ensure that the remaining ones don¡¯t escape.¡± ? ¡°When the main force arrives, secure the fiefdom¡¯s entrances and search thoroughly. Do it right. I will not forgive a second failure. Yein Rothtain, I entrust you with themand here.¡± ? ¡°Yes! Sir Karamaf.¡± ? With that, Karamaf finished his instructions and mounted his horse. Chapter 13.2: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) Chapter 13.2: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) ¡°Set fire to it.¡± ? ¡°Fire, if you set fire, what about the others?¡± ? ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the mercenary earlier? Those below are probably already dead. If anyone is hiding, there¡¯s nothing we can do. Call the remaining people and get ready.¡± ? Upon hearing Johan¡¯s words, Fern and John shuddered. They had only been scared of the mercenaries, not realizing what they had been doing below. ? ¡°Hold out inside until I leave, then follow me. There¡¯s no other way.¡± ? ¡°Can you do that?¡± ? ¡°Better to share the arrows than take them alone.¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? Fern and John finally grasped the reality. Johan¡¯s intention to send out other family members wasn¡¯t purely out of kindness. It was mixed with the intention to scatter the mercenaries¡¯ pursuit. ? Still, Johan was helping them at the moment. They nodded firmly, their faces set. ? ¡°Alright. We will definitely escape and run outside.¡± ? ¡°I don¡¯t rmend it.¡± ? ¡°What?¡± ? ¡°Going out at night, unarmed, into the fiefdom. If you run on the road, you¡¯ll be caught and killed; if you go off-road, you¡¯ll be killed by beasts.¡± ? This world was more wilderness than civilization. Beyond the towns, most areas were uncharted. Even traveling on roads was dangerous due to beast attacks, let alone off-road. ? Understanding Johan¡¯s words, they turned pale. ? ¡°Then. . .¡± ? ¡°If you manage to escape, hide in the church.¡± ? ¡°What?¡± ? ¡°Hide in the church. No one in the fiefdom will help you except Priest Valberga.¡± ? A good person like Valberga would risk their life to save them. Other feudal lords definitely wouldn¡¯t. ? ¡°Hiding in a church doesn¡¯t guarantee safety. You might die on the way or get caught. But it¡¯s much better than blindly going outside. With the fire and others running in all directions, they might not notice.¡± ? Fern realized how valuable Johan¡¯s advice was and felt suddenly ashamed. When they had argued with Johan, how petty must they have seemed to him. ? ¡°. . .Thank you.¡± ? Johan showed no reaction. He hadn¡¯t done it for thanks. He had done enough for those he disliked, and now it was up to them. ? ¡°I¡¯m going down now.¡± ? ¡°Wait. Johan.¡± ? ¡°What now?¡± ? Johan looked at them, slightly annoyed. ? ©¥??????????¡¯?? ?? ?????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????. ??????¡¯???? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ??????????????, ??????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????. ????¡¯?? ?? ???????????? ??????.¡± ? ©¥??????????????, ???????? ??????????. . . ? ©¥???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ????????????. ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???? ????. ???????????? ???? ?????????? ????.¡± ? Apparently, the two had somehow secretly obtained a horse. Mills and other facilities in the fiefdom were owned by the feudal lord, and the miller had to be wary of the lord¡¯s sons. It was a good hiding ce. ? ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll make good use of it.¡± ? ¡°. . .We should be the ones thanking you.¡± ? ???????????? ? In the feudal lord¡¯s manor, such amotion erupted and a fire broke out that it was impossible not to be heard in the vige located just below the hill. The serfs were sticking their heads out with anxious faces, murmuring among themselves. ? On the main road, the sound of horse hooves and flickering torches approached, and the feudal lord¡¯s manor was aze. Normally, they would have rushed to extinguish the fire, but they hesitated. It seemed like something had happened. ? ¡°Help! The mercenaries. . .!¡± ? People of the Aitz family, who barely escaped, grabbed the serfs begging for help or looked for the vige chief. However, the serfs, screaming, went inside and shut their doors. The vige chief, one step ahead, hid himself. ? The vige chief, usually so obsequious, had quickly grasped what was happening. Karamaf, who rode down on a horse, swung his sword at everyone he saw, cutting them down. ? ¡°Eek!¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s a knight!¡± ? The already terrified vigers couldn¡¯t even raise their heads as Karamaf appeared. ? ¡°Listen, serfs! The Aitz family dared to conspire with pagans to assassinate the Emperor. If anyone dares to hide them, their entire family will be executed!¡± ? ¡°There. . . there¡¯s one hiding here, sir!¡± ? ¡°N-No!¡± ? Karamaf broke into the house, swinging his sword. The serf closed his eyes tightly. Karamaf then came back out and threw a silver coin to the serf, whose eyes widened. ? ¡°Those who help in finding the Aitz family will be duly rewarded. Come out and chase all the Aitz family members!¡± ? Fear and greed awakened the vigers. Even the vige chief, who had been hiding in a corner, came out and started holding a torch. Those trying to hide in the fiefdom or escape were also caught and brought in. ? ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ ? Karamaf coldly observed the situation, confident that all the fleeing Aitz family members could be caught. The serfs were thoroughly searching the fiefdom, and more mercenaries wereing from beyond. ? But Johan was different. He was armed and physically capable, able to flee into the forests or mountains under the cover of night. That would have been troublesome. ? ¡°Report if anyone sees this Johan! You¡¯ll be rewarded with silver.¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? The serfs hesitated. Unlike the other Aitz family members, Johan had treated them well. Karamaf noticed this and immediately beheaded a serf to dispel any hesitation. Fear was necessary to eliminate hesitation. ? Blood and fear sttered again. ? ¡°You. Do you want to die too?¡± ? ¡°He went that way!¡± ? The serf pointed towards a mill. Karamaf immediately turned his horse in that direction. ? ???????????? ? ¡°That¡¯s a really good phrase.¡± ? Johan brought up a horse, not a pack animal or a donkey, but a well-built warhorse. He finished preparing behind the mill. Now he had to escape at full speed. ? ¡°Johan-nim?¡± ? ¡°Joseph?¡± ? Johan was surprised by this unexpected person. He knew Joseph lived in a shack far from the vige, being a gamekeeper, but why was he here? ? ¡°I heard themotion. . . and ran out.¡± ? ¡°Dressed like that?¡± ? Joseph seemed too prepared for someone who hade out in a hurry. ? ¡°It¡¯s never bad to be always prepared.¡± ? ¡°Is that so.¡± ? Johan realized Joseph was lying but did not press the matter. There was no time for that. ? ¡°Johan-nim. What¡¯s happening in the fiefdom?¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s an attack. I have to flee too, so there¡¯s no time to exin.¡± ? ¡°. . .Johan-nim. Head for the forest.¡± ? ¡°?¡± ? ¡°Run a different path. I¡¯ve set traps on the usual forest path.¡± ? Johan understood. Joseph too had ns to escape if necessary. ? ¡®???? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????. . .¡¯ ? Otherwise, there was no reason to set traps at such a time. Chapter 14.1: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) Chapter 14.1: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) ? Anyway, I was just grateful now. ? ¡°And you?¡± ? ¡°Who would care about someone like me?¡± ? Joseph smiled faintly. ? The story of trying to escape was when the Aitz family was intact and intended to offer to Karamaf, but who would care about a hunter like Joseph now that the Aitz family was destroyed? ? ¡°Thank you, Joseph. If someone asks, just respond appropriately. I don¡¯t mind.¡± ? ¡°. . .Yes. I will do that.¡± ? Joseph answered, enduring something tickling his throat. He had lived his life despising nobles, but the young knight before him had apelling presence. He made Joseph feel it wouldn¡¯t be regrettable even to sacrifice his life for him. ? I was both regretful and amazed at myself. ? ¡°I hope we can meet again someday.¡± ? ¡°I. . . feel the same.¡± ? After bidding farewell, Johan turned his horse and ran into the forest, quickly hidden by the darkness. Left alone, Joseph looked around to assess the situation. ? ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ??????????????? ???? ?? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????????????. . .¡¯ ? Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves thundered. Startled, Joseph looked up. Karamaf, having regrouped with the main force, was looking down at him from his horse. ? ¡°Have you seen Johan Aitz?¡± ? ¡°. . .Yes.¡± ? It wasn¡¯t a question, but a confirmation. ? The mercenaries on horseback exuded a beast-like aura, and Karamaf, expressionless, constricted hearts with just his gaze. ? Joseph instinctively realized. If he lied, he would die here. ? ¡°Where did he go?¡± ? ¡°South. . . down that road.¡± ? Thinking about it, anyone fleeing would have headed downwards, especially a noble, towards the road connecting to the ancient Empire highway, located below the ck Forest and past the millstream. ? The mercenaries didn¡¯t seem to suspect Joseph¡¯s lie, suggesting to Karamaf. ? ¡°Your Karamaf-nim, we can catch him if we chase now.¡± ? ¡°How far could he have run by now.¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? Instead of responding, Karamaf stared intently at Joseph, as if trying to see through his eyes into his heart. Joseph pretended to tremble, avoiding Karamaf¡¯s gaze. ? ¡®???? ???????? ???????? ????. ???????????? ??????????????.¡¯ ? Joseph had no regrets. Even if he died here, it was his choice. It was better to die for Johan than to help someone like Karamaf. ? ¡°Let¡¯s go! We¡¯ll chase him.¡± ? Karamaf turned and led the mercenaries downhill. Joseph took a deep breath, feeling sweaty. ? ¡°This fiefdom too, only until today.¡± ? It didn¡¯t seem like his lie would be exposed, but if they couldn¡¯t find him, he could be med. He had to escape as quickly as possible. ? Fortunately, he was a skilled hunter, very familiar with the geography of the forests and mountains, and knew how to escape through them. It was easy for him to slip past the indifferent mercenaries and flee. ? ¡°Hey, Joseph! Are you also looking for the nobles?¡± ? Serfs holding torches appeared. Joseph smiled slyly and nodded. ? ¡°Let¡¯s search together! It¡¯s reassuring with you around. If anyone swings a sword, let¡¯s shoot them.¡± ? ¡°Oh my. Is it really okay to shoot?¡± ? ¡°Didn¡¯t you see Karamaf-nim kill someone earlier? And he paid us in silver right away.¡± ? Joseph blended in among the serfs. Being among them meant he wouldn¡¯t be suspected even if he went a bit far. Next, he nned to sneak away with an excuse and escape. ? ???????????? ? ¡°. . .Keep pursuing them.¡± ? ¡°Yes. Are you returning, Karamaf-nim?¡± ? ¡°No. I¡¯ll search elsewhere.¡± ? ¡°??¡± ? The mercenaries were puzzled but didn¡¯t question further. They just had to follow Karamaf¡¯s orders. ? ¡°Find him at all costs. I¡¯ll put a gold reward on it.¡± ? ¡°. . .!!!¡± ? The mercenaries, excited by the unexpected fortune, gripped their weapons tighter, their breath heavy with desire. ? ¡°We will certainly capture him!¡± ? After sending the mercenaries, Karamaf didn¡¯t return to the town. He changed direction and headed towards the forest, the same ck Forest from where mercenaries returned after encountering wolves. ? Karamaf kept his suspicions to himself. But something unnerved him. Choosing the dangerous forest over a safe path seemed foolish, yet. . . ? Karamaf was drawn to the forest as if enchanted. He was a cool-headed knight but didn¡¯t ignore the signals his intuition sent. Chapter 14.2: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) Chapter 14.2: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) There were two paths in the ck Forest. ? The first was well-known to most. It started at the forest entrance, narrow and rough but passable. It was the path the mercenaries took when they went wolf hunting. ? The second path was known only to hunters Joseph and Johan. It was barely a path, covered with dense bushes and invisible soil. ? However, Joseph found this path useful for traveling through the forest. Nobles would have thought him mad for suggesting it, but it was a convenient shortcut when he was alone. ? Johan also naturally learned this path. ? ¡®????????????????.¡¯ ? Since there was no distinct path, the second path was marked by signs Joseph had left on trees. Following these signs was the shortcut. ? Joseph had mentioned setting traps on the first path in case he needed to escape. Surely, if a pursuer followed, it would be there. ? Johan raced down the second path. His horse snorted in annoyance at the bushes hitting its face but didn¡¯t stop. ? Then, a horse¡¯s neigh echoed from afar. ? ¡®????¡¯?? ?? ??????????????!¡¯ ? Johan flinched. Hearing a horse in this forest meant only one thing. ? The pursuer had fallen into Joseph¡¯s trap. ? ¡®??????. . . ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ ? Johan quickly dismounted and pressed his ear to the ground, a hunter¡¯s wisdom. This way, he could detect even distant movements. ? ¡®???????? ?????? ?????????????¡¯ ? The sound didn¡¯t seem like that of a mercenary group. If mercenaries were pursuing, there should be sounds of at least ten or more. ? A face shed through Johan¡¯s mind. ? ???????????? ? At the same moment he felt something being triggered, the image that shed through Karamaf¡¯s mind as a small crossbow bolt whizzed by was the face of the hunter. ? That oddly irritating expression! ? ¡®??¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????????!¡¯ ? There was no guarantee that this trap was set by him, but Karamaf was certain. That was enough. ? Karamaf powerfully swatted away the iing bolt. There was no need to catch it. The armor he wore could not be prated by traps meant for mere beasts. ? However, Karamaf had underestimated Joseph too much. ? After all, a seasoned hunter like Joseph wouldn¡¯t target well-armed mercenaries. ? ????????! ? A sound came from below, and a horse neighed. Karamaf¡¯splexion changed. His beloved horse had fallen victim to the trap. It was a trap targeting the legs, not covered by the horse¡¯s armor. ? ¡°!¡± ? Triggering the rope would shoot the person above while simultaneously targeting the horse¡¯s legs. It was a double trap aimed at the horse. Karamaf cursed as he leaped off the horse. ? ¡°. . .Sorry.¡± ? The condition of the horse was worse than he thought. A foul smell rose from the wounded area, and its color had changed. ? ¡®????????????!¡¯ ? Karamaf gritted his teeth. That insignificant hunter dared to harm his horse. To a knight, a horse was arade and partner. Even a hundred lives of a serf wouldn¡¯t suffice inpensation. ? And with the fall, its leg waspletely broken. Recovery was impossible. Even if there was a way, it couldn¡¯t be taken out of the forest. ? ????????????! ? Karamaf beheaded the horse. It was the least he could do to end its suffering. ? The cold eyes of the elf knight zed with fury. He had been calm even when killing Sir Gessen, but this incident had truly enraged him. ? ¡®???????? ?????????????????????????? ???????????? ?????????? ????!¡¯ ? ¡°I give up the pursuit.¡± ? He didn¡¯t know if anyone had escaped into the ck forest, but he could no longer chase. He had to return and tear apart that hunter and contemte his next move. ? Karamaf¡¯s eyes widened. ? Just as he decided to turn back, someone who looked familiar appeared from the depths of the forest. ? It was the son of Gessen. ? ???????????? ? ¡°As expected, I was right.¡± ? Johan confirmed Karamaf¡¯s face and walked out. He had thought that Karamaf was the only one who would follow him alone. He wasn¡¯t sure why Karamaf hade alone. . . ? ¡®?????? ???? ?????????? ????????????¡¯?? ??????????? ?? ???????? ???????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ ? Karamaf¡¯s face was covered, so his expression was not visible, but Johan somehow felt that Karamaf was looking at him as if he were insane. ? After all, it was natural. ? The one who should have fled had suddenly appeared in front of Karamaf. ? ¡°I see.¡± ? Karamaf nodded as if he understood. ? ¡°What?¡± ? ¡°Have youe for revenge?¡± ? ¡°That¡¯s one of the reasons.¡± ? There were two reasons why Johan came. ? The first reason was that he coveted the wealth that Karamaf possessed. ? If he killed Karamaf, who was alone, the mercenaries would not know who killed Karamaf. They wouldn¡¯t have thought he was killed by Johan. Perhaps they would suspect a monster. ? And the second reason was. . . ? ¡°To avenge your father huh. You have the qualities of a good knight. You won¡¯t be a living knight, though.¡± ? ¡°No. Among those you killed, there were servants who were close to me.¡± ? ¡°. . .??¡± ? Karamaf looked at him as if he didn¡¯t understand. Johan was not a coward to endure and flee when it was disadvantageous, nor was he the type to keep enduring when the situation allowed. ? Johan¡¯s eyes calmly red at Karamaf. They were the eyes of a lion targeting its prey. ? ¡°You will die here today.¡± ? Johan walked out slowly. Karamaf stood still, as if waiting to see what Johan would do. ? ¡°He¡¯s strong.¡± ? Kaegal¡¯s words came to mind. ? ©¥?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????? ????. ???????? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ????????????????????, ???????? ?????????????? ??????????????????????????, ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ??????????????????. ?????? ???????? ???? ??????????????????. ???????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????. ? ©¥???????? ???? ??¡¯?? ??????????? ? ©¥???? ??????¡¯???? ??????????, ?????? ??????. ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????? ???? ??????¡¯???? ??????????, ????¡¯?? ?????? ??????????????????. ? Karamaf was definitely a strong opponent. If even half of the songs sung by the minstrels were true, it would be so. ? But he was not afraid. Chapter 15.1: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) Chapter 15.1: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) Karamaf drew his weapon, a drab, dark-colored longsword without any decoration. It seemed too in for a knight of Karamaf¡¯s stature. ? ©¥???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????¡± ? ©¥??????¡¯?? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ????????, ???????????? ????????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????????????? ????????????? ? ©¥. . .?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ????????????? ????????, ????????¡¯?? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ???????? ??????????????????????, ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?? ????????????.¡± ? Ordinary swordsmanship didn¡¯t mean instant death for someone unfamiliar with the technique. ? Swordsmanship is ultimately about how one wields the sword inbat. It¡¯s about how to stab, sh, and parry. It¡¯s not about suddenly unleashing an unthinkable move. A master of one technique could somewhat counter an unfamiliar one. ? However, the technique¡¯s vision was different. ? If you don¡¯t know them, you¡¯re at a disadvantage! ? They¡¯re skills that defy conventional wisdom, leaving first-timers vulnerable. Knowing even one or two of these could mean the difference between life and death in a split second. ? ©¥???????????????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????????????, ????¡¯?? ???????????????????????? ???? ?? ???????????????????? ????????????. ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ??????, ???????? ????????¡¯???? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ??????????????????????????. ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????????????????.¡± ? Fitting for an assassin, Kaegal¡¯s swordsmanship specialized in ending the fight with a first strike. This was fortunate for Johan. ? ¡®?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ????????????.¡¯ ? One step further. ? Karamaf raised his longsword, immediately creating an overwhelming pressure. It seemed ready to respond instantly in any direction. ? ©¥?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????? ?????????? ????????. ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????. ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ??????, ?? ????????-?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????????????????.¡± ? ©¥???????? ???? ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ????????? ? ©¥??????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ??????????????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????. ???????? ????????! ????????????????????, ????????¡¯???? ???????? ???? ??????.¡± ? ¡®??????. ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ ? Contrary to Kaegal¡¯s words, that¡¯s exactly what he was doing. ? Karamaf¡¯s te armor felt like a fortress. The only seemingly vulnerable spots were the helmet¡¯s slit and the neck, but Karamaf, being no fool, would defend these well. ? ????????????©¥ ? Johan gripped the longsword tightly, feeling it scream in his grasp. ? ¡®???????????? ???? ?????????? ????????????.¡¯ ? One step further. ? Johanpleted his calction and his step. ? It was time to strike. ? A technique called from the guild unfolded beneath Johan¡¯s feet. It was a unique gait that seemed to glide over the ground. ? Karamaf¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of a technique usually used by assassins, wondering how a knight¡¯s son could use it. ? But that was all. Karamaf was too experienced to be surprised by this. He immediately prepared to counter Johan as he closed the distance, ready to strike at any moment. ? Then, Johan vanished. He elerated again in an explosive movement that genuinely shocked Karamaf. ? ¡®?? ????????????!¡¯ ? It¡¯s said that a first-ss swordsman senses their defeat before it happens. The trained mind and senses make the judgment before the de even touches the body. That¡¯s what Karamaf was experiencing now. ? For him to lose track of his opponent in a duel between swordsmen was unbelievable. ? ¡®?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????. . .!¡¯ ? Though defeated in the bout, Karamaf did not panic. This wasn¡¯t a duel under equal conditions. It was a fight where lives were at stake. ? From the beginning, Johan couldn¡¯t win against Karamaf, no matter how many times he probed his weaknesses. ? As long as this armor remains intact. ? Karamaf only needed one hit to win, but for Johan, a win was impossible without striking several times to prate vital spots. The fight was so uneven it could hardly be called a fight. Karamaf never thought he would lose. ? ¡®?? ?????????? ??????¡¯???? ?? ??????????????. ????, ???????? ???????? ?????? ????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????, ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ????????. ???? ???????????? ?????? ????????, ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ ? Karamaf guarded his neck and face, waiting for Johan¡¯s attack. It didn¡¯t matter where Johan struck. The moment he did, his feet would be stopped, and Karamaf¡¯s counterattack would begin. ? ????????????! ? There was a heavy sound of air being sliced. Johan swung his sword with tremendous force, aiming for the side. He was attempting a horizontal sh. Karamaf scoffed at Johan. ? Trying to cut te armor with a longsword. Such a foolish act, not even a fool would attempt. Hisck of proper knightly training was his downfall here. Once his meaningless sword strike ended, his neck would be severed. ? ¡®????????????????.¡¯ ? Then there was a sound. ? It was the sound of Karamaf¡¯s armor being ripped apart. Chapter 15.2: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) Chapter 15.2: ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? (????) Sessfully burrowing into Karamaf¡¯s embrace, Johan swung his longsword with all his might. The longsword screamed as it was about to shatter, emitting its death throes. ? ¡®?????? ?? ???????? ?? ???????????????¡¯ ? Despite his sess in burrowing in, such a thought crossed Johan¡¯s mind. ? The longsword wasn¡¯t a weapon that could cut through anything. Its cutting power greatly diminished in front of armor, especially if the opponent was wrapped in full te armor. ? Johan was doing the opposite of what he had learned. ? However. . . ? Strangely, he felt a confidence that he could do it. It sounded crazy, but the moment he saw Karamaf, he had an intuition that he could dive in and cut through. It was like having the confidence to cut a rock with a twig. It was not something he could exin to others. ? ??????????????????©¥ ? Johan¡¯s arms swelled further, disying tremendous strength. It was a strength Johan himself couldn¡¯t have imagined. Unknown to him, he had hardly ever used his full strength. There had been no need to exert himself fully before. ? The moment he exerted his full strength, the longsword, weighing at most 1~2kg, transformed into a giant¡¯s greatsword. ? And with a loud crash, everything in front was shattered. Blood sttered. Karamaf¡¯s armor was ripped apart, and his torso was nearly severed. ? ¡°Gah!¡± ? A scream flowed from inside the helmet. Karamaf seemed more shocked by this unbelievable situation than the pain. Due to the shock and pain, Karamaf couldn¡¯t properly bring down his raised arm. He missed his chance for a counterattack. ? Johan raised his fist like a lion. He felt that the longsword he was holding had shattered. The de was split, and the crossguard crumbled under Johan¡¯s strength. It was regrettable, but it didn¡¯t matter. Johan thanked his faithful friend, the sword, for its service and swung his fist. ? With a dull sound, blood sttered from Johan¡¯s fist, and Karamaf¡¯s head snapped back. It was natural for his fist to be injured, having struck a metal mass with full force. ? However, such an attack was enough for the wounded Karamaf. He dropped his weapon and fell backwards. Johan quickly climbed on top of Karamaf. To a swordsman, martial arts were as important as swordsmanship. Honestly, Johan was more confident in grappling or martial arts than in swordsmanship. He had trained to the bone in them even beforeing to this world. ? Johan grabbed Karamaf¡¯s helmet with both hands and exerted strength. With an unbelievable sound, the helmet made of unknown metal tore apart. ? Then, a cold-faced elf was revealed. Handsome but bloodied, he red fiercely. Karamaf spat out blood and growled. ? ¡°Did Gessen. . . give birth to a monster. . .!¡± ? ¡°You¡¯re one to talk,ing into someone¡¯s fiefdom, killing, and burning everything.¡± ? ¡°How on earth did the ancient Empire¡¯s arm. . .¡± ? ¡°Enough, die, elf!¡± ? Johan had no intention of talking to Karamaf for long. His fist struck down on Karamaf¡¯s face. Even a great knight like Karamaf couldn¡¯t withstand such an attack in an unprotected state. ? Karamaf, counted among the finest knights of the Holy Empire. ? It was a disappointingly anti-climactic end for such a knight. ? ??????????! ??????????! ? As if to confirm the kill, Johan repeatedly pounded Karamaf¡¯s face. The head was smashed beyond recognition. ? ¡°Phew. . .¡± ? Only after cutting off the opponent¡¯s breath could Johan finally take a breath. Then the muscle pain and fatigue rushed in. It was due to exerting full strength. The fight had ended quickly, but the burden Johan felt was no joke. He had plunged in, keeping every nerve in his body sharply focused. ? ¡°. . .What do I do now?¡± ? Johan looked down at what was once Karamaf, muttering to himself. ? He hadn¡¯t realized during the fight, but after it, he felt a great sense of loss. Karamaf¡¯s te armor was ruined, with a shattered breastte and a torn helmet. It was certainly unwearable now. ? ¡®????. . . ?? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ ? The te armor was obviously associated with its owner. If Johan wore it or tried to sell it, he would likely face serious trouble. ? So, what to do? ? ¡®?? ?????????? ??¡¯???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????????.¡¯ ? If he disposed of the body in a corner of this forest, nobody would know Karamaf¡¯s whereabouts. Who would suspect that Karamaf had been killed by Johan? There might be somemotion for a while, but it would settle down if they couldn¡¯t find him. ? Then, no one would be pursuing Johan. The Aitz family was already finished; who would continue chasing after one son? ? Here in the Empire, the organization and administrative power were not particrly strong. Even the Emperor was more like a powerful feudal lord with special privileges than a true emperor. He had little power over those not directly under him. There was neither the capability nor the reason to continue chasing any possible survivors of the Aitz family. ? ¡®???????? ??????????????. . . ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ ? Johan spat and ground his teeth against the Emperor he had never met. It was hard to fully understand from what he had heard. But he could guess that the Aitz family had been unfortunately framed for something. ? Sir Gessen had been seeking other nobles to make feudal contracts. He would fight when needed and, in return, receivend or money. A knight¡¯s feudal contract was simr to a mercenary agreement. ? It might have been better to gain a few more lords and rise in status than to manage a hopeless fiefdom. There was no rule that feudal contracts had to be one-to-one. If capable, serving multiple lords was possible. ? Had that angered the Emperor? ? He neither knew nor needed to know. After all, Johan was now nning to flee, abandoning the name of the Aitz family. ? Johan began to dig. He was burying Karamaf. ? ©¥??????????. ? ¡°. . .You again?¡± ? Johan turned his head with a weary look. ? There was the ck wolf. Chapter 16.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 16.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) ¡°Come if you dare.¡± ? Johan picked up Karamaf¡¯s longsword instead of his broken one. It was admittedly a bit ufortable, but better than wandering weaponless. Moreover, unlike the te armor, Karamaf¡¯s longsword was ordinary and unremarkable, likely to go unnoticed by most. ? ¡®??¡¯???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ????????????????.¡¯ ? However, the ck wolf did not attack. It lowered its head and approached slowly. It wasn¡¯t threatening at all. ? ¡®?¡¯ ? Johan was puzzled. ? A trick? ? Would a monster resort to such tricks? ? But it wasn¡¯t a trick. The ck wolf knelt before Johan and shook its head. ? ¡°. . .Are you trying to butter me up?¡± ? Johan was astonished. The memory of wolves attacking mercenaries was still vivid. ? ¡®?????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ????, ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????. . .¡¯ ? Johan reached out and scratched the ck wolf¡¯s chin. He was ready to strike if it bit, but the wolf didn¡¯t. Instead, it wagged its tail happily and even exposed its belly. ? ¡°. . .Hungry?¡± ? Johan pointed to the bodies of Karamaf and the horse. The ck wolf started tearing into the horse with excitement. Itsrge size corresponded to its appetite; it quickly exposed the bones. ? ¡®???? ????????. . . ?????????¡¯ ? With such damage, no one would recognize the bodies. Johan quickly collected items before the wolf could consume Karamaf entirely. ? A longsword, a silk pouch containing six empire gold coins and twenty silver coins (almost forgetting his grudge against Sir Karamaf), and a ring bearing a family crest. ? It was a modest yet luxurious haul. Johan clutched the pouch tightly. It was more money than he had ever owned. ? Empire gold coins were roughly equivalent to twenty silver coins. Additionally, Empire silver and gold coins were highly trusted, usable throughout the Empire and even in other kingdoms. ? ¡®???????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ ? The family crest ring. It would be a dead giveaway, even more so than the te armor. Johan pondered burying it too but eventually kept it, thinking of future uses. ? ¡®????¡¯?? ??????????, ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????.¡¯ ? Having finished thinking, Johan approached the te armor. Its shattered and torn state was pitiable. ? ????????????????????©¥ ? ¡°!¡± ? As he tried to remove the te armor from the body, exerting force, it moved as if alive. The fastenings whirled around and released on their own. ? ¡°???¡± ? Though Johan didn¡¯t know in detail how Earth people wore te armor like te Armors, he knew this wasn¡¯t the usual method. ? ¡®????????¡¯?? ????????? ?????????????? ????????? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????? ???????????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ ? Such technology would be several times more convenient than the real thing. The armor fitted itself to the body and loosened onmand, even adjusting its size to fit. ? Still functioning despite being split and torn. ? ¡®?? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ????????????????.¡¯ ? Johan buried Karamaf¡¯s armor and left markings only he could recognize. ? ©¥?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????????¡¯?? ????????????????. ?????? ???????????????????? ???????? ????????, ?????? ?????????? ??????????????. ? While wooden markings were temporary, stone ones were permanent. Johan finished his task and wiped the sweat from his forehead. ? ¡®??????, ?????? ?????? ????????????. . .¡¯ ? ??????©¥ ? The gaze of the ck wolf was palpable. It drooled over the sight of Karamaf¡¯s corpse. ? ¡°. . .Want to eat this too?¡± ? It was evident that the ck wolf understood speech. It promptly bit into Karamaf, devouring it. Its appetite was so great that only bones remained. Johan could tell that this ck wolf was unusual, even if he didn¡¯t know how well wolves generally ate. ? It was umon for only bones to be left so cleanly in just a few minutes. ? ¡®?????? ???????????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ????????????. . . ????. ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ ? They had already eaten the mercenaries; what difference would it make? ? Johan asked the ck wolf. ? ¡°Hmm, I hope you haven¡¯t attacked the serfs in that town. It¡¯s okay to attack those iron-smelling mercenaries, though.¡± ? ??????©¥ ? ¡°. . .Do you really understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± ? Instead of answering, the ck wolf licked its front paw. Johan frowned and then stood up. ? ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Chapter 16.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 16.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) When the task was finished, the sun was rising. Sunlight began to shine into the forest. ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ??????????, ?????? ???? ????????????, ?? ????????????¡¯??. ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ????????????????. ? ?????????? ???????????? ?? ????????? ? ?????? ???????? ????????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????. ??????????????????????, ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ????. ???? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ ? It didn¡¯t seem like Johan would be pursued, and even if he was, what technology of this era could find him? Once Johan changed his name and settled down, it would be practically impossible. ? ¡®??????????, ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ ? A little further to the west was the Ens Kingdom, and descending the great Dwarf Mountains to the south, there were free cities outside the Emperor¡¯s influence. ? ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????? ????????????, ?????????? ??????.¡¯ ? I would rather fight armed soldiers than climb a freezing, snowy mountain barehanded. I didn¡¯t want to die in an avnche or by falling. ? ¡®???? ?? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????, ??¡¯???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ????????????¡¯?? ??????????????. ???????? ?????????? ???? ????????. ? ???? ???????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????, ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ???? ????????????. ??????????????, ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ????????. ?????????????????????????? ?????? ???????? ????????????, ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?? ???????? ???? ??????.¡¯ ? The ancient empire¡¯s highway, maintained for over a thousand years, was a lifeline and a guidepost for travelers across the continent. 70-80% of the Empire¡¯snd was forests and mountains, and roaming here was like offering one¡¯s life to monsters. ? Travelers, merchants, nobles, vagabonds, thieves, mercenaries, all traveled along this highway. ? It would take Johan 2 to 3 days to break through the ck Forest and escape westward. ? Even if mercenaries who knew Johan¡¯s face came towards Ens Kingdom, they would take the highway above the ck Forest ande around, taking at least a week to two weeks. ? That was enough time to shake them off. If Johan kept moving on the highway, the gap would widen, and by then, it would be unlikely to meet again on this vast continent. ? ¡®????¡¯?? ?? ?????????????? ???????? ??¡¯???? ????????.¡¯ ? ©¥????????????? ? ¡°Hmm. It seems you shouldn¡¯t follow. Carrying you around might cause misunderstandings. To call you a dog. . . you¡¯re too big for that.¡± ? Many had hunting dogs, but a ck wolf was clearly not a dog, even to the blind. Where would one find such a dog? ? ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ? ©¥???????????? ? The ck wolf nodded its head and then started to back away and disappear. Johan took a breath of relief and went to find his tied horse. He was curious about the town¡¯s situation, but now he needed to stand out as much as possible. ? ???????????? ? Even for someone like Johan, spending three days alone camping and navigating through the forest was a mentally exhausting ordeal. ? ¡®???????? ????.¡¯ ? Only when the forest ended and a distant road became visible could Johan finally sigh in relief. He had managed because he had learned well from Joseph; otherwise, he might have panicked, lost his way, and perished in the forest. ? The knowledge of a hunter. ? It was all about the actions one must take in the forest. ? Starting a fire, finding a suitable spot for the campsite (fiefdom), scattering herbs snakes dislike, and preserving body heat. ? ©¥?? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ??????. ? Joseph had said so, but Johan found it hard to believe. ? Having to camp alone, he slept only half-awake, always ready to move and kept his weapon close. He removed his chainmail to sleep but reluctantly wore the rest. His physical strength wasn¡¯t an issue for activity, but he was mentally exhausted. ? And to use the forest as one¡¯s bed? ? ¡°I could never be a hunter.¡± ? Of course, Joseph¡¯s words were somewhat exaggerated. And hunters usually didn¡¯t enter the forest alone. ? His joints cracked. Stroking his stubbled chin, Johan thought he¡¯d like to lie down and drink some cheap, watery beer. ? ¡°!¡± ? From the other end of the road, he saw a group with two carriages approaching. Loaded with goods, they were clearly merchants. ? ¡°Lucky me.¡± ? It was better to travel with a group than alone. It would lessen any unnecessary suspicion. ? ???????????? ? ¡°Huh? A knight!¡± ? ¡°What? Really?¡± ? The mercenaries guarding the merchant froze in shock. A knight, of all things. ? The idea that knights were honorable and adhered to chivalry was mere propaganda among them. To mercenaries, knights were ruthless warriors best avoided. ? These were warriors of a different ss, trained rigorously from a young age, possessing superior strength and quality equipment, unlike mercenaries who merely survived the battlefield by clutching any weapon they could. ? If one mercenary could take on ten serfs, then one knight could handle ten mercenaries. ? ¡°Why worry? It¡¯s not like we¡¯ll sh with a knight.¡± ? ¡°Oh, this naive fool. . . If your head is empty, at least keep your mouth shut. You have no idea how brutal knights can be.¡± ? The youngest and most inexperienced mercenary¡¯s words earned him reprimands from the others. ? Why would a knight be here for no reason? ? Two possibilities came to mind. ? If the opposing knight cared even slightly about honor, he might be collecting tolls. And if he didn¡¯t care at all. . . ? ¡®??????????????!¡¯ ? There were knights who would kill every merchant and traveler passing through their territory, stealing their goods. It was outrageous yet a convenient business model. ? Within their ownnds, they were the masters with no one to challenge them, and their opponents were typically weaker than their own followers. . . ? It was akin to reaping benefits without effort. ? The mercenaries swallowed hard and looked around nervously. The dim forest seemed intimidating, as if hiding ambushers. ? ¡°Milord Eldans. We have no intention of fighting a knight.¡± ? The captain of the small band of mercenaries, less than ten, cautiously spoke to their employer. He was a man trying to keep his promises, driven by ambitions of rising higher. Even if they fled, moving to another city was an option, but it would mean losing all the groundwork he hadid. Chapter 17.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 17.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Additionally, Eldans is a merchant affiliated with the Katana Merchant Guild. If he vites the rules, it bes difficult to get hired anywhere the Katana Merchant Guild has influence. ? ¡®????????. . . ??????¡¯?? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ ? ¡®????????. ???? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????????¡¯ ? The mercenaries watched their conversation with clenched teeth. They didn¡¯t run away, mainly because of their Captain, Goran. ? ¡°I agree. I don¡¯t want to fight with a knight.¡± ? Eldans frowned in thought. ? ¡°Haven¡¯t we checked the owner of the territory around here?¡± ? ¡°Of course, we checked!¡± ? Eldans, a middle-aged cat beastman, racked his brain. They had surely confirmed the owner of the nearby territory. They even paid the taxes. . . ? So, were they really robbers? ? Eldans nced at the forest. It would be hard to be pursued if he ran into the forest, but entering it was akin to suicide. And if the opponent had reallye to rob, there could be an ambush in the forest. ? While he pondered, Johan arrived in front of the group. The mercenaries gripped their weapons tightly, ready to flee in all directions if the situation escted, money and reputation be damned. ? ???????????? ? ¡°May the divine¡¯s blessing be with you. From which noble family do you hail, Sir?¡± ? ¡°May the divine¡¯s blessing be upon us. I am Johan of the Yeats family.¡± ? Johan changed the name of his family. He altered the spelling of Aitz to Yeats. After all, there were many small and insignificant families on the continent, so no one would know if he imed a fake family name. ? ¡°Ah! I see!¡± ? ¡®?? ???????? ????????????!¡¯ ? There were two types of knights. ? One was amoner-born mercenary who, by good fortune, acquired equipment and a horse and wandered around iming to be a knight. If really lucky, they might catch the eye of a noble in a battle or tournament and be granted a fiefdom, bing a true noble. ? Of course, such individuals were mocked behind their backs. They were seen as mercenaries who didn¡¯t understand their ce. ? The other was a knight born from a noble family, like Johan¡¯s half-brothers. Some were not properly trained, but that was an exception. Knights who had undergone rigorous training since childhood were iparably different frommoner-born mercenaries. ? A noble knight, systematically trained in various weapons, horsemanship, handling armor and shields, hunting, chess, tactics, etc., and a local old mercenary who learned a few tricks in childhood and barely survived on the battlefield. ? The story of a low-born rising to knighthood through valor was something out of a minstrel¡¯s song. Reality was much harsher and more brutal. ? Naturally, noble-born knights despised and shunned the self-proimed knights ofmon birth. One might think that just having the equipment was enough to blend in, but it wasn¡¯t. It was nearly impossible for amoner to imitate a noble¡¯s ent, demeanor, culture, general knowledge, attitude, etc. ? In this respect, Johan¡¯s ent was perfectly that of the nobility. Even though it was the same Empirenguage, the ent used by the nobility was different from that of themoners. ? Eldans rolled his eyes. He knew this man wasn¡¯t just a mercenary pretending to be a knight, but that didn¡¯t improve the situation. If he was an enemy, it was even more dangerous. A mere mercenary would have been better. ? ¡°Sir Johan, what brings you. . .?¡± ? ¡°Where are you headed?¡± ? ¡°We are heading to Rutzbeck, nning to pass through there to Marcel city. We¡¯ve paid the toll to the great Count Jarpen. . .¡± ? Mentioning Count Jarpen, the current lord of the territory, was meant to intimidate Johan a bit. By saying they had paid taxes to Count Jarpen, they were implying they were under the Count¡¯s protection. ? Of course, if the other party didn¡¯t care and attacked, the absent Count wouldn¡¯t be able to protect them, but it was still better than not mentioning it at all. Names can sometimes be stronger than swords. ? Johan understood their intent and smiled wryly. He wondered why they were so guarded. . . ? ¡®????????, ?? ?????????????? ????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ???? ???????????????? ??????????.¡¯ ? ¡°I had no intention of harming you. It seems our paths are converging, so I wondered if we could travel together.¡± ? ¡°Ah. . .! That would be an honor!¡± ? Eldans¡¯s face noticeably brightened. It was a relief that he was not a bandit, and even better to have apanion for the journey. ? It was an offer that couldn¡¯t be refused, and there was no reason to refuse. Eldans readily epted. ? ¡°Why would a knight seekpanionship on the road? Isn¡¯t that suspicious?¡± ? ¡°What will you do if you¡¯re suspicious, *sshole? Shut up and stay quiet. If you don¡¯t want to die.¡± ? ¡°Seems like a wandering knight. . . must have aged a decade.¡± ? Khan, the oldest mercenary in the mercenary group, muttered. Khan was experienced and knowledgeable, befitting his age. ? ¡°A wandering knight?¡± ? ¡°A knight without a fiefdom. Probably the third or fourth son of some family.¡± ? The eldest inherits the fiefdom, but the rest get nothing. Each must find their own way to survive. Still, it¡¯s better than being amoner. They have connections and some inheritance. If lucky, they might find a new lord and gain a fiefdom. A much more likely story than that of amoner-turned-knight. ? ¡°Don¡¯t they usually have servants or ves? Why would such a person wander alone?¡± ? ¡°How would I know the affairs of noble families. There are poor nobles too, you know.¡± Chapter 17.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 17.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Khan shrugged his shoulders and closed his mouth. The mercenaries did the same. It was better to remain silent in front of Johan. ? Johan naturally rode beside Eldans. None of the mercenaries were on horseback. Even if they were, they wouldn¡¯t have dared to join him. ? ¡®?????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???? ??????. . .¡¯ ? Johan was surprised at the mercenaries¡¯ gear. It was much more rudimentary than he thought. ? None wore metal armor. All had shabby cloth armor. Even with padding, it had its limits. The best-equipped had a steel te over their chest and chainmail on their arms. ? The weapons were even worse. Setting aside spears and bows, there were axes fit for lumberjacks, and even some with clubs. He knew the wood here was as hard and heavy as metal, but clubs were still inadequate. ? ¡®???? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????¡¯ ? Johan was mistaken. The Wolves of Arkten were among the most renowned mercenaries on the continent. The fact that their fame reached Johan¡¯s fiefdom spoke volumes. ? In this era, standing armies were rare. Raising, training, and maintaining soldiers was expensive. It wasmon to train a few ves or capablemoners or servants for protection. ? Most nobles preferred hiring mercenaries as needed. And a feudal lord of high rank always had mercenaries on hire. The Wolves of Arkten were elite, even employed by the Emperor. Their equipment and weapons were far superior to those of ordinary knights. ? Among the mercenaries avable, Goran¡¯s group was decent. Except for the novices, all hadbat experience. Captain Goran waspetent, and each had at least some armor and a shield. ? ¡®?????????? ???????? ??????????????????????. . . ????????, ?????????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ ? Goran¡¯s group was under a ridiculous misconception. ? ???????????? ? Johan was essentially a great person to be friendly with. Despite being of noble status, where he could act arrogantly, humble and kind Johan was bound to be liked. ? ¡°Are you affiliated with a guild?¡± ? ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ? ¡°They say guilds make a lot of money, is that true?¡± ? ¡°Haha. . . While guilds do earn a lot, a roaming merchant like me doesn¡¯t make that much.¡± ? Guilds of merchants. ? In the medieval era, people closely bonded with those in their profession to protect their interests and rights. Merchants were no exception. Large guilds established branches in cities, generating immense profits through their affiliated merchants. ? Of course, this was the general story, and it was unlikely that a roaming merchant like Eldans had much wealth. ? The Katana Merchant Guild, to which Eldans belonged, was active mainly in the southern cities of the Holy Empire and the free cities of the Catalian Penins, beyond the Dwarf Mountains. ? ¡°I also wanted to join a guild.¡± ? ¡°Haha! I appreciate even the thought.¡± ? Mistaking Johan¡¯s jest for an attempt to praise him, Eldansughed. It was rare for a noble to wish to be a merchant, especially a knight. ? Still, it wasn¡¯t unpleasant. Eldans felt a sense of friendliness towards this young knight. ? ¡®????, ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ ? The other seemed to be around twenty years old but caution was more important at such times. ? ¡°As a child, my dream was to be a knight. Of course, it was an unrealistic dream. How could I fight in a battlefield? I¡¯m still trembling as I wander around. It¡¯s fortunate to meet a knight.¡± ? It was half sincere. ? In an era full of dangers on the roads, any addition to the force, especially a knight, was wee. ? ¡°Isn¡¯t this area rtively safe?¡± ? Count Jarpen was known to be a decent noble, attentive tow and order. This wasmendable, considering many nobles cared only about tolls and neglected their duties. ? ¡°That¡¯s a thing of the past. I heard Count Jarpen¡¯s estate suffered a defeat, leading to dyed payments to the mercenaries. Consequently, many of them deserted. . .¡± ? Eldans shrugged his shoulders. ? Mercenaries were greedy and rough. There weren¡¯t many mercenaries who would endure without getting paid. They either went somewhere else, or roamed around and acted as rogues. It was hard to tell the difference between mercenaries and bandits. ? ¡°The situation is very tense around here. I wish those mercenary b*stards would go somewhere else soon.¡± ? The continent was constantly overflowing with blood and iron. War was almost a daily routine. The Holy Empire fought with the nobles inside and with the nobles of the Ens Kingdom and the city-states on the southern penins of the Dwarf Mountains outside. The Ens Kingdom fought with the elf nobles inside and with the Holy Empire and the nobles of the Finnd Kingdom outside. ? It was not a war where countries pulled out their full strength and fought until one fell, but a war where feudal lordspeted andpromised for a piece ofnd, a line of honor. Mercenaries always yed the most active role in such wars. ? Most of the mercenaries who were now running away and acting as bandits would flow to that side if a big fight broke out nearby. ? ¡°Is it okay with this number of people in such a situation?¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s okay. We move along the Empire highway, and even if they are mercenaries, they won¡¯t openly run wild on the highway.¡± ? Bandits aimed for weaker and easier targets. Chapter 18.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 18.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) They target travelers, pilgrims, or merchants who are unarmed or look weak, and who travel alone. There was no need to risk attacking a carriage that was escorted by nine mercenaries. ? ???????????? ? ¡°I¡¯m sorry about this.¡± ? ¡°Not at all, Sir Knight.¡± ? Goran bowed politely and then went about his business. As a noble in the group, he had no need to do menial tasks or stand guard. ? ¡®???????????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ????????????????????.¡¯ ? In this era, social status held absolute authority. In general circumstances, just revealing one¡¯s status could earn them special treatment. ? While the mercenaries lit a fire and selected sentries for the night watch, Johan could restfortably after removing his armor. Of course, he didn¡¯t take off all his inner gear. He couldn¡¯t fully trust everyone. There are always bold and audacious people in the world. ? ¡®?????????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ????????.¡¯ ? Since he seemed to have made a good impression on Eldans, going to the city for an introduction seemed like a good n. Everything bes easier with a guide, and he had some money too. ? ¡®??¡¯???? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????, ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ ? He wanted to get a weapon first, if possible. The current longsword felt a bit unreliable. He carried it because it would look odd without one. . . ? ¡°This is too humble for Sir Johan to eat. . .¡± ? ¡°What would a traveler have to fuss about?¡± ? Johan, who had left in a hurry, couldn¡¯t have brought proper food with him. A few pieces of bread and light butter were all he had. Fortunately, the bread from the feudal lord¡¯s house was soft wheat bread, a world apart from the hard ck bread usually eaten by serfs and mercenaries. ? But even this can be monotonous after a while. ? The soup Eldans offered was more like a porridge, made by boiling a handful of mixed grains, water, and salted meat, but it was a feast for travelers. When in dire straits, one couldn¡¯t even light a fire like this. ? The soup warmed his throat, making him feel slightly rxed. Johan looked around. The sun was setting, and it was getting dark. He habitually checked if the campsite was in a vulnerable position for an attack. ? The camp was ideally located, with a gentle hill on one side and a distance from the forest. Setting a watch on the hill would allow them to spot anyone approaching. ? ¡®?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?? ??????????.¡¯ ? There was a reason not to travel alone. Solo travel meant too many concerns. Joining this group of merchants seemed like a wise choice. ? ???????????? ? Khan yawned. He thought that as he aged, he would sleep less, but it seemed that wasn¡¯t the case. ? ¡°So, Mr. Khan, to be honest, it¡¯s quite ridiculous. I don¡¯t understand why everyone else is groveling. Sure, nobles are impressive,manding soldiers and all. But this guy is just a knight without any followers, no different from a wanderer or a pilgrim. . .¡± ? ¡°Gamson.¡± ? ¡°Yes?¡± ? ¡°Shut up for a bit.¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? As the oldest in the mercenary band, Khan was paired with the newbie Gamson for guard duty. If there were mistakes, it was likely Gamson who would make them. ? Of course, that didn¡¯t mean Khan was kind to the rookie. The neer had to learn and adapt on his own. Not beating him up was kindness enough. Other mercenaries typically learned through beatings and menial tasks. ? ¡®???? ???? ?????????????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ?????¡¯ ? Khan pondered whether to hit Gamson a few times but then decided against it. It would be silly for him to step in when the mercenary Captain Goran was there. ? Gamson was mistaken about nobility, having never seen one. He had spent his life in a remote vige, only to flee with a passing mercenary band. ? Nobles were not scary because of the soldiers theymanded; their terrory in their backgrounds. That¡¯s why even the most worn-out mercenaries wouldn¡¯t target nobles in public ces. Especially if they didn¡¯t want to be pursued for life. ? What if that noble was a well-trained knight? ? That alone made them a fearsome presence. Khan nced at Johan, who was sleeping but still exuded an intimidating aura. Hisrge physique and well-trained body, along with equipment far superior to that of ordinary mercenaries, spoke volumes. ? ¡°Come on, there are nine of us. Are we really afraid of just one knight?¡± ? ¡°Nine or twenty, it doesn¡¯t work with knights, Gamson. You¡¯ve never been on a battlefield, it¡¯s obvious, so stop bbering.¡± ? ¡°What are you talking about, Mr. Khan? I¡¯ve been in two wars. . .¡± ? ¡°Probably just goblin raids in the vige. Ever been in a real fiefdom war? If you had, you wouldn¡¯t be so clumsy. Have you even seen a knight? Do you know how mercenaries react when a knight charges at them on horseback?¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? ¡°Hundreds of mercenaries run away crying. They¡¯re not cowards; they know the front few will just die. Don¡¯t mess with knights. Pretending to be tough only exposes your ignorance.¡± ? Gamson¡¯s face trembled. Back in the vige, he was feared by other youths, but now in the mercenary band, no one treated him well. Ignored and scolded for speaking, he didn¡¯t realize that not being beaten was something to be grateful for. He took Khan¡¯s advice as an insult. Turning his head, Gamson muttered. Chapter 18.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 18.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) ¡°Damn it. . .¡± ? ¡°What did you say?¡± ? ¡°Nothing.¡± ? ¡°Has this guy lost his mind? I¡¯m trying to be nice and talk instead of beating, and he thinks I¡¯m a goblin? Say it again, you idiot.¡± ? Khan¡¯s face turned fierce. He was older and gentler, but he had been a mercenary who had spent his life on the battlefield. He wouldn¡¯t stand for some blood-stained youngster arrogantly climbing up. ? Khan drew the weapon he was carrying. Gamson was startled when the amiable man suddenly drew his weapon. But he couldn¡¯t back down here. He also picked up a club. ? Khan¡¯s expression then turned cold. It was a situation that already warranted an apology, yet the other daringly drew a weapon. ? ¡°You must be crazy to want to die. . . Goran has chosen the wrong person. Even in a hurry, to choose someone like this.¡± ? ¡°W-Who do you think you are? Have you done anything for me?¡± ? Khan¡¯s gear was among the best in the mercenary group. A short sword,monly known, and a shield made by oveying bronze and leather. It was quite intimidating for Gamson, who only had a shining ck club in the darkness. ? ¡°Even if I get scolded by Goran, I must kill the likes of you.¡± ? ¡°Damn it. . .¡± ? ????????! ? What interrupted their conversation was an arrow flying in between them. Both were shocked when the arrownded between them. ? ¡°?!?!¡± ? Khan quickly lowered his body and turned the shield towards the direction of the iing arrow. After taking a deep breath, he shouted. ? ¡°It¡¯s an attack!¡± ? ¡°Assh*le! Can¡¯t even hit that?!¡± ? ¡°Try shooting in the dark then, you son of a b*tch!¡± ? The voices that were heard seemed to have a strong Eastern Empire ent. Khan, frustrated with the youngster, med himself for not guarding properly. ? ¡®???????? ?? ?????????????? ??????????????. . .!¡¯ ? ¡°Kill them!¡± ? With a murderous cry, the mercenaries who had crawled up the hill began to charge. They seemed to have covered themselves with cloaks to avoid being seen in the moonlight. ? ¡®?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????!¡¯ ? Khan tried to quickly assess the number of enemies. How many enemies were there? How many allies had awoken? ? ¡°Aaah!¡± ? ¡°You b*stard. . .!¡± ? Seeing Gamson scream and run down the hill, Khan was astounded. He couldn¡¯t believe someone would run away without even swinging a weapon. ? The enemies lit a fire, thinking they were already discovered. This allowed Khan to make out their outlines roughly. ? ¡®?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????!¡¯ ? The sound of metal shing was heard. The enemy had reached Khan and struck his shield. Two mercenaries attacked Khan, who braced himself. He blocked with the shield on his left and shed at the right one¡¯s leg with his short sword. ? ¡°Cough!¡± ? Blood sttered, and the posture of the right one copsed. Khan relentlessly stabbed with his short sword in the darkness. ? ¡°You b*stard!¡± ? The enemy on the left, wielding a club, struck the shield hard, causing Khan to lose his bnce. The shield spun and flipped over when hit on the edge. ? ¡°Mr. Khan!¡± ? With a whoosh, an arrow struck the enemy¡¯s shoulder. The enemy screamed and tumbled down. ? Allied mercenaries rushed up the hill to help. The enemy hesitated as they were temporarily outnumbered. ? The battle paused for a moment. The enemies couldn¡¯te up the hill, and Goran¡¯s mercenaries didn¡¯t dare to attack first, outnumbered and caught by surprise. ? However, Goran¡¯s side was at a disadvantage. The enemy was numerous and began to surround the hill. It was clear that an attack would begin again once they all gathered. ? ¡°Where are you guys from?!¡± ? Goran shouted. The opponent only glowed with their eyes and did not respond. ? ¡°You must know this is Count Jarpen¡¯s territory! You are viting thews of Count Jarpen¡¯s state right now!¡± ? The opponent still did not respond. If they were the type to be shaken by this, they wouldn¡¯t have attacked in the first ce. Goran clenched his teeth. ? ¡°If you continue to fight, we will fight to the end. Are you prepared for that?¡± ? Bandits often retreat when they find the opponent too tough. ? However, the enemies approached even closer. The hands of a mercenary with a bow trembled. ? ¡°What shall we do?¡± ? ¡°We are already surrounded. Get ready to fight shoulder to shoulder! Running away is. . .¡± ? At that moment, a scream erupted. It was not from Goran¡¯s mercenary group but from the attackers. ? ???????????? ? The first to react to the attack was Johan. Precisely, he woke up just before the attack started. The murderous intent of the enemies had stimted Johan¡¯s instincts. ? ¡®???? ?????????????!¡¯ ? Johan wondered if he had been toocent. He thought they wouldn¡¯t follow since Karamaf had disappeared. . . ? Johan quickly put on his helmet. There seemed to be no time to don chainmail. ? ¡®?? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????.¡¯ ? Fortunately, it seemed the mercenaries would attract the attention. Chapter 19.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 19.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ????????????!¡¯ ? Johan realized this immediately upon seeing them. They were dressed too differently from those in the fiefdom. For one, none of them wielded longswords. ? A longsword is essentially a two-handed weapon. Its use makes defense difficult due to the challenge of handling a shield, and it¡¯splex to master. Unless trained professionally in a fencing school or a swordsmanship guild, there was no particr reason to use a longsword. If a long weapon was desired, a spear was better, and if a sword was preferred, a short sword with a shield was more convenient. Except for spears, mercenaries typically preferred to carry a weapon with a shield. ? There were a few mercenaries in the Wolves of Arkten who used longswords, indicating their high skill level. But the mercenaries before him were definitely not the Wolves of Arkten. ? Of course, that didn¡¯t mean he could stop. ? Johan charged at the closest one. The darkness and the focus on the hilltop meant his approach went unnoticed until he was right upon them. ? ¡°Uh, uh?!¡± ? The man tried to defend himself with his shield, putting force into it. Therge round shield was effective in blocking the direction of an attack just by holding it. ? . . .Unless the opponent was Johan. ? Johan responded simply and effectively. ? ????????! ? When Johan kicked the shield, it splintered and flew backwards. Despite being sturdily made of thicklyyered wood, it was powerless against his immense strength. ? ¡°Huh?¡± ? Johan was slightly surprised; he hadn¡¯t expected the shield to fly away like that. However, his body moved naturally. He aimed for the neck of his off-bnce opponent and stabbed. Blood spurted with a ¡®gurgle.¡¯ ? ¡°W-What the heck is this guy?!¡± ? The fallen opponent was holding a messer, a type of thick single-edged sword. Rusty and with a barely sharp edge, it was still useful for throwing. Johan quickly threw it at another advancing enemy, who recoiled in shock, raising his shield. ? One step. ? Johan closed the distance with a simple forward step, not a special maneuver from the Kaegal school, butbined with his strength, it was formidable. ? The opponent swung a mace in panic. Johan deflected its trajectory with his sword, then struck off the man¡¯s hand and delivered a fatal blow, splitting his body in one stroke. ? ¡®?¡¯ ? Johan sensed something odd. The longsword. . . was too easily wielded. ? While the longsword wasn¡¯t blunt, it wasn¡¯t usually honed to such sharpness, as over-sharpening could damage it. It was sharp enough to cut a person, but not to split someone like cutting butter. ? ¡®?? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ????, ??????. . .¡¯ ? In the dim light, the dark de seemed to absorb the blood, revealing inscriptions in an ancient imperialnguage: ? ¡®?????????????????? ???? ???????????¡¯ ? It was a fitting sword for Karamaf, known for destroying noble houses and taking their seal rings. Johan clicked his tongue. He knew it was a master sword, but this made it even more awkward to use. ? Johan picked up the opponent¡¯s shield and mace. After the surprise attack killed two, the enemies rushed to kill Johan. ? ????????! ? An arrow flew from a distance. Johan, without blinking, blocked it with the shield. It was too dark to see, but he sensed it. ? ¡°There was never talk of such a guy existing!¡± ? ¡°?¡± ? Upon hearing those words, Johan became certain. ? These guys weren¡¯t here to target me after all! ? ¡®????????. ???????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ ? It was he who felt the sting. Indeed, there was no reason for them to have pursued Johan in that situation. ? Neither was reconciliation possible in these circumstances. And Johan was not so kind as to let someone who was trying to kill him go. ? ¡°Come at me!¡± ? Johan let out a short battle cry and charged. The light revealed Johan¡¯s equipment. His stature and gear made the mercenaries flinch. ? The first to die was the one wielding a spear. The long weapon was troublesome. Johan charged foolishly, parried the spear with his shield, and swung his mace. ? ??????????! ? ¡®????. . . ?? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ????????????????????.¡¯ ? Had Kaegal seen it, he would havemented, ¡®?? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????????????????, ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ????????, ?????? ????????!¡¯ But Johan and the mace were excessively well-matched. The shorter range and fewer variations made it easier to handle. Given Johan¡¯s physical abilities, there was no need to resort to swordy. ? ¡°You monster!¡± ? A shortsword swung at his waist, but Johan preemptively collided to defend. The opponent¡¯s arm broke, positioning his head for an easy strike. ? Once more. ? With a dull sound, the opponent fell. The enemies panicked as a madman broke their formation. Only four had died, but the momentum was terrifying. None of the mercenaries were prepared to die for their mission. ? ¡°Attack!¡± ? Goran quickly shouted. Now was the time to strike, as the enemy was recoiling. Goran¡¯s mercenaries charged with battle cries. ? Even though Johan was difficult to surround, he found it easier now. He inhaled briefly and charged. One arrow was easily blocked with his shield. ? ????????, ????????, ????????. Chapter 19.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 19.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) As Johan advanced, swinging his mace, three fell, blood spraying. A blow to the torso was severely damaging. Johan smiled contentedly. The weapon, found on the road, was useful. ? As more than half fell, the remaining mercenaries began to flee without orders. Johan was puzzled. ? ¡®?????? ?? ???????? ?????? ???????????????¡¯ ? On second thought, one of the men he killed, who wielded a shortsword, did seem like a Captain. . . ? Johan quickly pursued, striking the leg of the furthest man. No need to capture all. Just enough to interrogate. ? ¡®?????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ????.¡¯ ? Better than just one. Johan broke the fallen man¡¯s leg, more painfully for being an archer. ? ¡°Aaaaagh!¡± ? As Johan chased, the mercenaries threw their weapons and fled, shivering at the thought of him following. ? ????????! ? He managed to catch another. As the opponent drew a dagger, Johan pped both cheeks. ? ¡°You b*stard. . .¡± ? The opponent, still venomous, continued to talk. Johan broke one arm to prevent mischief, then the other as the eyes still showed life. Then the opponent cried out. ? ¡°Ah, my lord. I was wrong!¡± ? ¡°Realize your mistake?¡± ? ¡°Yes! Yes! Deeply!¡± ? Unlike other mercenaries who cursed or acted rough, the impassive breaking of each arm was terrifyingly filthy. ? ¡®?????? ???????????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????. . . ???????? ????????????????!¡¯ ? ???????????? ? ¡°This brat! How dare you challenge us!¡± ? Enraged, Gamson tried to strike down the fallen one, but Goran stopped him. ? ¡°Why are you stopping me!¡± ? ¡°He¡¯s not the one you caught. Rookie.¡± ? ¡°But we can kill those who attacked us right away, can¡¯t we!¡± ? ¡°I won¡¯t stop you, try it if you want.¡± ? Meanwhile, Johan returned. Johan asked Gamson, looking at him. ? ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ? ¡°Uh. . . nothing.¡± ? Gamson stumbled back. Seeing Johan covered in blood, he lost his nerve. In one hand, Johan even held the head of a twitching mercenary. ? ¡°You¡¯ve all worked hard.¡± ? ¡°No! Thanks to you, Johan-nim, we were able to save our lives. Thank you so much!¡± ? Goran bowed respectfully, his gratitude sincere. As a wandering knight, there were some doubts about his abilities, but the recent scene cleared them all. Indeed, a knight is a knight. He rushed into battle, hardly armored, and butchered several men in the blink of an eye, a chilling sight. ? ¡°What are we going to do with this guy?¡± ? ¡°Take him to the city and sell him as a ve, right? Since we¡¯re on our way there anyway. . .¡± ? ¡°Not a bad idea, but first, I have questions. We need to find out who hired this guy.¡± ? ¡°What? He¡¯s just a bandit.¡± ? ¡°We can take on bandit requests too.¡± ? Johan called out to Eldans. Eldans, who was hiding and trembling between the carriages, stuck his head out. ? ¡°Is it, is it over?¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s over, you cane out now.¡± ? Eldans came out with a sigh. He had no idea what was going on. ? ¡°They say words have consequences, but the bandit b*stards really. . .¡± ? ¡°. . .?¡± ? Johan scanned Eldans¡¯ expression. He didn¡¯t seem to be lying. ? It was clear that they weren¡¯t targeting Johan. And there was no one who would hire mercenaries to target those seemingly worthless mercenaries. . . ? Only the merchant was left? ? ¡°Hey. Did you catch the two of them?¡± ? ¡°The knight caught them.¡± ? ¡°Let¡¯s take them and sell them as ves. These trashy b*stards. How dare they rob! They will be cursed by God.¡± ? ¡°Let¡¯s hear their story first.¡± ? Johan lifted his mace over his shoulder and asked. ? ¡°Who ordered you?¡± ? ¡°W-We don¡¯t know anything!¡± ? ????????????! ? As soon as the words were out, Johan swung his mace. The broken knee shattered. ? ¡°Aaaahhh!¡± ? ¡°Did you think I caught you to hear you say you don¡¯t know anything? Spit it out! Spit out the answer I want.¡± ? The mercenaries swallowed their saliva at Johan¡¯s appearance. He looked to be around twenty years old, but his wless appearance was no joke. They wondered what kind of family he had trained in. ? ¡°If you don¡¯t want to live as a cripple for the rest of your life, spit out the answer. Now. One! Two!¡± ? ¡°T-The Captain knows! He just said to rob that merchant guy! So! So!¡± ? The captured one shouted out in a hurry. Then everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Eldans. ? ¡°Milord Eldans. What is this? You didn¡¯t say anything like this.¡± ? ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about this either!¡± ? ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you tried to save money. . .¡± ? ¡°If I knew someone was after me, I would have hired more mercenaries, why would I gamble with my life?!¡± ? Eldans argued as if he was frustrated. Goran frowned but epted it. ? ¡°I understand.¡± ? The reward that Eldans offered was not bad. Three Empire coins per day and one Empire silver coin every time a fight broke out. Twelve coins were worth one silver coin, so it was a decent job for escorting a merchant. Eldans was not a fool who would cut corners on his life. ? He would have hired more mercenaries if he knew someone was after him. A seasoned merchant wouldn¡¯t risk his life for a few pennies. Chapter 20.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 20.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Thanks to Eldans, Goran was convinced. It was a situation that might have aroused suspicion had it not been for his usual behavior. ? ¡°Where did the information leak from? Did you buy something expensive?¡± ? ¡°No. . . not really. Justmon items. Though they could be sold for a good price if taken to the market. . .¡± ? Barley and wheat bought from a town in the northern part. These were goods to be sold or traded in the town of Rutzbeck. It was here that he had learned that barley and wheat were currently fetching high prices in Rutzbeck. ? Additionally, animal hides acquired from a town in the south. Fortunately, he managed to obtain well-tanned bear hides from a hunter. Though costly, they were a gift worthy of the nobles who favored his trading house. ? ¡°Is that all?¡± ? ¡°Yes. . .¡± ? ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem worth attacking over. Anything else? Another reason foring here?¡± ? ¡°Well, there were a few letters to be delivered to a trading house branch in the southern city. . .¡± ? ¡°What¡¯s in the letters?¡± ? ¡°I don¡¯t know the contents.¡± ? Tampering with sealed letters was an act that could dishonor the trading house. ? ¡°And they weren¡¯t even important letters. If they were, they wouldn¡¯t have been entrusted to me.¡± ? As Count Jarpen¡¯s realm grew uneasy and signs of fiefdom wars loomed, Eldans nned to rest after this trading trip. ? An experienced merchant didn¡¯t abruptly cease visits even when war seemed imminent. He informed the towns he owed favors to in advance and conducted his final trades. A merchant who left without a word couldn¡¯t be trusted. Rtionships forged with each town were sometimes more important than life itself. ? ¡®?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????????, ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????????????? ??????. ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ??????.¡¯ ? Johan looked at Eldans, who seemed very anxious about an unknown grudge. ? ¡°Can¡¯t help it now. I¡¯ll assist you.¡± ? ¡°Really?!¡± ? ¡°Helping someone in danger is what a knight should do.¡± ? ¡°. . .Thank you! Johan-nim!¡± ? Eldans was both surprised and pleased by Johan¡¯s words. Goran and the mercenaries were shocked. The idea of helping without mary gain was iprehensible to them. ? ¡®???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????.¡¯ ? By helping Eldans and entering the city, the Katana Merchant Guild would vouch for Johan¡¯s identity and assist him. The trading house wouldn¡¯t just let go of someone who helped a guild member. Especially if that someone was a skilled knight. ? The trading house would be even more eager to get closer. ? Regardless of Johan¡¯s endeavors, it was beneficial to be friendly with influential powers. After all, there were limits to what one could do alone in this ce. ? ???????????? ? ¡°I will take these fellows with me.¡± ? ¡°His leg is broken, can we really take him?¡± ? ¡°Ah. . .¡± ? Goran looked slightly embarrassed. He had dered in front of Johan that he would definitely take them, but then realized it was too much. ? ¡°But aren¡¯t they your spoils of war, Sir Knight?¡± ? ¡°They are my spoils, so I must take responsibility. Let¡¯s not just abandon them.¡± ? ¡°N-No!¡± ? The two mercenaries screamed. With a broken leg, what were they supposed to do here? Though it was a in, there was a forest nearby. ? ¡°Please show mercy, sir! We won¡¯t do such things again!¡± ? ¡°Mercy? You want me to kill you?¡± ? Johan gripped his mace. Being torn apart alive by beasts might be better than a clean death. ? ¡°No. . . that¡¯s not what I mean. . .¡± ? ¡°Shut up! If you don¡¯t want to die here.¡± ? Goran¡¯s mercenaries roughed up the attackers. Without Johan, they would have been executed immediately. No mercenary would let go of someone who attacked first. ? ¡°The rest of the spoils will be turned into money and shared upon reaching the city.¡± ? ¡°Really?¡± ? ¡°It wasn¡¯t a solo fight.¡± ? What would have been obvious from a high-ranking person became generous and merciful. The mercenaries brightened up at Johan¡¯s words. It was an unexpected bonus. ? ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????, ??????¡¯?? ?????¡¯ ? ¡®???????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????????. . .¡¯ Chapter 20.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 20.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) ¡°Goran.¡± ? ¡°Mr. Khan. What¡¯s the matter?¡± ? ¡°The neer is a bigger mess than I thought.¡± ? ¡°Is it that bad?¡± ? Goran frowned. Khan had known Goran for quite some time and didn¡¯t take his words lightly. ? ¡°I want to get rid of him. He seems like he could cause trouble if left alone.¡± ? ¡°Hmm. . . It¡¯s a bit difficult right now. Eldans would not like it. It¡¯s a time when even one person is needed.¡± ? ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the fight earlier? When a fight broke out, he ran away and then sneakily came back.¡± ? ¡°I saw it. But even if we have to punish him, it should be done in the city, not before the work is finished. It would only tarnish our reputation. It¡¯s better to monitor him until we return and then deal with him afterwards.¡± ? ¡°Damn it. Let¡¯s do that. Where did you find such a guy. . . Next time bring someone experienced. No matter how cheap they are.¡± ? ¡°Understood.¡± ? Fortunately, no more fights urred after that. Two dayster, the group was able to reach Rutzbeck. ? ¡°It¡¯s Rutzbeck!¡± ? ¡®???????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ ? ¡°Can we go in right away?¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s fine. I know the vige chief and many of the vigers.¡± ? The Aitz fiefdom, where a feudal lord like a knight lived and governed directly, was an exception. Usually, nobles didn¡¯t live in their fiefdoms. They sent representatives to collect taxes when due. ? In such cases, the town¡¯s vigers managed things among themselves. The vige chief, elected from among the wealthy serfs, handled major and minor matters, managing the town. Though it might seem trivial to modern eyes, for merchants, being on good terms with the vige chief was crucial. Any issues with the chief couldplicate matters. ? ¡°Have you been here before?¡± ? ¡°I have. They make quite good beer.¡± ? Khan replied. Johanughed. ? ¡°I like the sound of that. Anything else?¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s better not to eat the food from the inn. Ask the brewery to bring something for you. Just give them a coin, and they¡¯ll bring something decent along with the beer.¡± ? ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind. Thanks.¡± ? Johan said this and entered the town. The townspeople tensed up at the different atmosphere presented by the mercenaries. Murmurs were heard. ? ©¥???? ???????? ?? ????????????? ? ©¥?????????????? ???????? ??????????????????????. . . ???? ?????????? ?? ?????? ????????????? ? ©¥????¡¯?? ?????????? ??????????. ? Though they tried to whisper, Johan heard everything. He shrugged his shoulders and tied his horse in the stable. As he entered the inn, the innkeeper hurried out. ? ¡°Wee!¡± ? In Aitz¡¯s fiefdom, the innkeeper was unfriendly. To be precise, he was often absent. He had another job as his livelihood and only went to the inn to collect money when travelers came. He didn¡¯t care much about them, so he was rude. ? But here in Rutzbeck, the inn was decent enough. The innkeeper didn¡¯t show any surprise when he saw a foreigner. ? ¡°Are you by chance a Sir Knight?¡± ? ¡°Johan of the Yeats family. More importantly, have knights ever visited here?¡± ? ¡°asionally, yes. Shouldn¡¯t you, a knight, also stay?¡± ? If he were a noble with money and power, he might rent a house from the vige chief or choose a pleasing one in the town, but as a mere wandering knight, he had no choice but to stay at an inn. ? ¡°Last year, a few knights did stop by. They were here to participate in the tournament. Are you interested in the tournament as well, sir?¡± ? ¡°No. I am just passing through.¡± ? Johan handed over half a coin of the Empire¡¯s currency along with his horse. It was enough for lodging. ? ¡°If you wish to have a meal. . .¡± ? ¡°I¡¯m fine without a meal.¡± ? At Johan¡¯s words, the innkeeper¡¯s face was tinged with disappointment, evidently hoping to charge more. ? Entering his room, Johan copsed onto the bed. It wasn¡¯t very soft, but it was enough. He hadn¡¯t properly rxed since escaping from the fiefdom. ? ¡®?????? ???????? ???? ????????????. . . ?? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ? ¡°I¡¯ll think about the future ns after a good sleep,¡± thought Johan, as he closed his eyes and drifted into sleep. ? ???????????? ? ¡°Is that knight really so extraordinary?¡± ? ¡°Ah, indeed he is.¡± ? Upon hearing Eldans¡¯ words, vige chief Atanka wore a disbelieving expression. ? ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a decent person among wandering knights. Those who camest year were a mess too. Brimming with arrogance, those without a family name. . . Do you know what happened to them?¡± ? ¡°Were they beaten and driven away?¡± ? ¡°Yes. I tried to tolerate it, but they just crossed the line.¡± ? Real nobility would have restrained themselves for fear of consequences, but a family-less wanderer knight was neither noble nor anything else. Just a mercenary proiming himself a knight. ? Such men, thinking too highly of themselves, demanded the vige chief¡¯s house, free food and drink, and women, pushing the town¡¯s patience to its limits. ? Aitz¡¯s fiefdom only had a few ves, servants, and family members as soldiers, but Rutzbeck was different. It had its own militia. The town¡¯s spirited youth, toughened by farming, overwhelmed the untrained wandering mercenaries. ? ¡°This man is different. Hees from a genuine knight¡¯s family. And his skills are exceptional too.¡± ? It wasmon for knights from noble families to be strong, but it was rare for someone as young as Johan to be so aplished. Eldans thought it only possible with talent and rigorous training. ? ¡°Really? Why is he wandering alone then?¡± ? It was unusual for nobility, even younger sons, to travel alone. It wouldn¡¯t be strange to have a servant or two. Even self-proimed mercenary knights brought followers, calling them servants. ? ¡°There must be circumstances within his family.¡± ? Whether a declining or a fallen family. Eldans implied subtly, and the vige chief understood immediately. There was no need to openly criticize nobility in their absence. ? Where there are no tigers, foxes reign. In ces not directly governed by nobility, the vige chief¡¯s authority was significant. ? However, this was only within the vige. Even a mere official sent by a noble could make the vige chief fawn obsequiously. The chief was well aware of his position. Political acumen was essential to be the chief of such arge town. Chapter 21.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 21.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) ¡°If you¡¯re that kind of knight, we¡¯d like you to stay in our town.¡± ? ¡°Why so?¡± ? ¡°You know, there¡¯s been some ominous rumors going aroundtely.¡± ? The lord of the town of Rutzbeck is Count Jarpen. Naturally, after Count Jarpen lost several battles, rumors began to circte in his fiefdom. ? With the increase in rogues and the Count unable to help, the townspeople had to form a vignte group to fend them off. The young men of the town were enthusiastic even with just a spear in hand, but the vige chief knew well. It would be difficult to fend off a proper attack with them. ? Why would nobles hire mercenaries at a high cost? It was impossible to fight well just by giving a spear to those who had never fought before. They might be full of courage in their own town, but they would copse immediately under a real attack. ? Thisrge town had been safe so far because it was difficult for runaway mercenaries to target, but what would happen in the future was unknown. If the number of mercenaries increased, or worse, if they settled nearby, it would be a headache. It would be difficult to subdue them with a vignte group. ? ¡°Haha. Atanka-nim. Of course, that would be nice, but it would be too much for Sir Knight to stay here.¡± ? ¡°Why, if you get attached, anywhere can be home. We have many young women in our town.¡± ? ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????????????? ????????????.¡¯ ? ¡®???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????????? ????????????. . .¡¯ ? They wereughing, but inside, they were cursing each other. ? But Atanka was at a disadvantage. He also thought that the knight would not stay here unless necessary. There were few reasons to stay. ? But if the knight stayed, it would be a great help. ? ¡®?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ????????????????.¡¯ ? To protect the town, they had to hire mercenaries, but the problem was whether they could trust these mercenaries. It wasmon for mercenaries brought into the town to betray and turn into rogues. ? They had to hire trustworthy mercenaries, but they were hard to find and expensive. ? But if it was the knight Eldans mentioned, it was a different story. A nobleman who knows the honor of a knightly family would not betray, and unlike a mercenary, he would not tantly demand money. ? ¡®???? ??????¡¯?? ????????.¡¯ ? Eldans was ridiculous. He exined to avoid misunderstanding because he was a foreigner, but he was harboring an unreasonable desire. ? The Katana Merchant Guild always wanted reliable warriors. The Catalian Penins had as many battles as the Empire or Kingdom above the Dwarf Mountains. Independent city-states fought each other, and they also fought with the nobles of the Holy Empire. . . ? Small tradingpanies avoided battles, butrge tradingpanies actively participated in battles. There was nothing more profitable than war. ? And the most needed thing at such times was military power. ? It was a chaotic era. The only thing they could trust was military power. Even small towns had to form vignte groups and hire mercenaries, let alone city guilds. ? Eldans intended to introduce Johan to the Katana Merchant Guild. Building a rapport with such a young knight would undoubtedly be helpful in the future. ? ¡°Well, let¡¯s save that discussion forter. . . I heard you brought wheat and barley. How much for a sack of wheat and a sack of barley?¡± ? ¡°Oh, Atanka-nim, the hardships I¡¯ve endured. . . One sack of wheat will be two and a half silver coins, and one sack of barley will be two silver coins. That¡¯s my final offer.¡± ? ¡°Two and a half silver coins! Are you trying to starve our town¡¯s people?¡± ? ¡°What are you talking about? Do you know how high-quality this barley is? The brewers from Rutzbeck would dly pay several times more for it.¡± ? Rutzbeck¡¯s beer was well-known in the vicinity. Perhaps they should send someone from the monastery to purchase it. ? Typically, a full sack of wheat was worth only one silver coin. However, merchants didn¡¯t often pay the proper price. ? ¡°If you¡¯d consider epting a currency other than Empire silver coins, I could buy it for two and a half sacks.¡± ? ¡°Nonsense. . . Please, Atanka-nim, don¡¯t speak such absurdities. You know how unreliable other currencies have be these days.¡± ? The , operated under the rules set by dwarf nobility, was quite peculiar. The contents of other currencies could change at any time. There was a reason merchants preferred Empire silver and gold coins. ? ¡°Two sacks, Atanka. And one and a half sacks for the barley. That¡¯s my final offer. I won¡¯t go any lower.¡± ? ¡°Stop groaning. Fine, you¡¯ve got a deal. That¡¯s it.¡± ? Atanka realized that Eldans wasn¡¯t going to budge any further and reluctantly agreed. Eldans might be a bit shrewd, but he could let this one trade slide. After all, this wasn¡¯t the only time they¡¯d be dealing with each other. ? ¡°Thank you once again, Atanka-nim.¡± ? Eldans smiled and extended his pouch. They both knew what was inside. Atanka returned the smile and shook hands. The townspeople would remain oblivious to these conversations, even in their wildest dreams. Chapter 21.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 21.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) This world was one where travel was rare. Most people lived and died in the town or city where they were born. As such, an outsider who came to the town inevitably received a mix of curiosity and caution. ? Suspicious but wanting to hear news from outside! ? In this regard, Goran¡¯s mercenaries were quite convenient. Since Eldans brought them, they were somewhat trustworthy. The townspeople approached the mercenaries, asking where they were from and how things were around these days. ? ¡°Be careful with your actions, okay?¡± ? ¡°A day or two as a mercenary. Of course, don¡¯t worry.¡± ? Of course, Goran¡¯s mercenaries didn¡¯t act recklessly. In such arge town, careless behavior could cause trouble. ? What if they became friendly and got into a fight while drinking? If they couldn¡¯t handle it well, their lives would be at risk. In a small town, they might escape, but arge town had its own vignte group and pride. Being caught or chased would be a big problem. ? Therefore, experienced mercenaries were cautious in their actions, especially in towns they weren¡¯t familiar with. If trouble arose, it would likely be med on them. ? Of course, there were more thoughtless mercenaries in the world. And Gamson was one of them. ? ¡°Where did that b*stard Gamson go?¡± ? ¡°He said he was going to drink.¡± ? ¡°Damn it. . . Okay, we aren¡¯t his father, can¡¯t watch him all the time.¡± ? ???????????? ? ¡°Are you the new mercenary?¡± ? ¡°Yeah. What, do you have a problem?¡± ? ¡°Whoa, calm down. Just curious about what kind of guy the new mercenary is.¡± ? ????????©¥ ? A young man from the town sat next to Gamson. Gamson recognized him instantly. Young, energetic, full ofints and greed. The kind of guy scorned in the town for being immature. Hadn¡¯t Gamson also run away from the town to be a mercenary? ? There was only one thing this guy would be curious about, just like Gamson had been. ? ¡°Interested in mercenary work?¡± ? ¡°Thought it might be a good distraction.¡± ? ¡°You buy the beer. Then I¡¯ll talk.¡± ? Gamson returned the same words a mercenary he had met before had said to him. Pretending not to, but the other guy was excited. He would have epted an offer to work as a mercenary right away. ? The beer arrived, and they drank it refreshingly. Soon, two became three, and three became four. Rutzbeck was a fairlyrge town, and there were several hot-blooded guys. ? ¡°So, I dealt with a troll there, and the vige folks were so grateful. The nobles said they would report it. . . even the knight dastards came and admired it. Asking how a mercenary caught it. . .¡± ? Gamson bragged with a flushed face. In the mercenary group, he was just a low-ranking member often scolded, but here it was different. With every word he said, the young guys looked at him with admiration. ? Of course, they didn¡¯t believe everything, but what did it matter? ? ¡°So? What did they say?¡± ? ¡°Just get the reward, why bother getting involved with nobility? It¡¯s damn annoying dealing with them. Do this, do that. . . Being a mercenary is the best! If you have silver, you won¡¯t envy the nobles.¡± ? Although Gamson would bow down at the opportunity to meet with nobility, he was just posturing. However, it seemed others didn¡¯t agree. For everyone, rising in status through the favor of nobility was a dream. ? ¡°But you could even receive a title, like knighthood.¡± ? ¡°What¡¯s the use of such titles? Just grab the silver, *sshole.¡± ? At Gamson¡¯s words, the young men were infuriated but held back. They were the ones who wanted to hear more. ? ¡°Hey, speaking of which, didn¡¯t you say there¡¯s a knight in your group? Heard he¡¯s a damn good fighter.¡± ? ¡°Yeah, I heard too. Did he ughter them all by himself? Is that what a real knight does? That wandering knight dastard we hadst time was pathetic.¡± ? ¡°That guy is also a wandering knight!¡± ? ¡°Come on, not all wandering knights are the same. His equipment was different.¡± ? ¡°Hey. Do you know why that guy is so strong?¡± ? ¡°?¡± ? ¡°Have you seen his gear? His longsword is an amazing famous sword.¡± ? Like a cow backing into a mouse, Gamson stumbled upon the right answer while belittling Johan. Of course, even if Johan¡¯s longsword was a twig, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered in killing the attackers, but Gamson couldn¡¯t know that. ? ¡°With that sword, even someone like you could kill two or three mercenaries.¡± ? ¡°T-That much?¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s nonsense. . .¡± ? ¡°Think about it. How could you fight and win against more than ten enemies? Is that a normal weapon?¡± ? ¡°Aren¡¯t knights trained from a young age for that?¡± ? One was doubtful, but the rest seemed intrigued by Gamson¡¯s words. ? ¡°Man, that sounds like an amazing sword. . .¡± ? ¡°. . .Should we steal it?¡± ? ¡°?!¡± ? Gamson was shocked as he gulped down his beer. ¡®???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????¡¯ ? Luckily, the other vigers tried to dissuade the one who brought it up. ? ¡°Are you crazy? How would you handle the consequences?¡± ? ¡°Just grab it and run. Weren¡¯t you nning to go to the city anyway? You said you didn¡¯t want to rot in this town forever farming. If it¡¯s such a great famous sword, even selling it would give us a good share. Could it be a famous sword from the ancient Empire?¡± ? ¡°Really. . .!¡± ? Drunk and naive, the youngsters quickly got excited. Gamson was panicked. He wasn¡¯t sure whether to dissuade them or not. ? ¡°Gamson, join us!¡± ? ¡°M-Mme?¡± ? ¡°You know the mercenary business. We can¡¯t do it without you in the city.¡± ? ¡°There¡¯s a mercenary group here. . .¡± ? ¡°Who cares about those lousy guys? They¡¯re no help anyway. Leave them! Come with us. We¡¯re different from those cowards.¡± Chapter 22.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 22.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) The lies one tells oneself be a trap. ? Gamson hesitated, stalling for time. But as he thought about it, he became increasingly drawn to the n. ? The atmosphere among the mercenaries wasn¡¯t great anyway. ? Unbeknownst to Gamson, Goran nned to punish him as soon as he returned to the city. The mercenaries were not so lenient as to overlook someone so audaciously climbing the ranks. ? Although Gamson didn¡¯t expect to be punished, he sensed the unfavorable atmosphere. Being treated like a novice and even fighting with the khan. . . ? Perhaps it would be better to make a fortune and flee. ? ¡®???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ????????. ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ????. ????????, ???? ????¡¯?? ?? ???????????? ??????????????, ????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ ? If I steal everything I can and flee, how could a mere wandering knight dastard catch up? The Yeats family wasn¡¯t even from around here. ? While Gamson hesitated, the townspeople had already made a n. ? ¡°Just pack up and steal the knight dastard¡¯s sword, then run away.¡± ? ¡°What if our families get angry? What if they chase us?¡± ? ¡°We have the vigntes. At most, they¡¯ll curse us and me us. What can he do? We¡¯ll have to ride horses in case he chases us.¡± ? ¡°Let¡¯s steal and ride the knight dastard¡¯s horse.¡± ? ¡°Great! I¡¯ll help you out.¡± ? Gamson made a decision, cheered on by the other youths. ? ¡°That knight dastard must have a lot of money. We should steal that too. Who¡¯s the lightest among us?¡± ? ???????????? ? The n was simple. ? As night fell, the nimble and skilled Burren would pretend to be friendly and enter the inn, heading to the knight¡¯s room. Then, he¡¯d open the door and take everything he could, including the sword. ? Then, he would join the others waiting at the stables and escape the town. Pell and Pra seemed confident, having apparently brought a horse from somewhere. ? ¡°We¡¯ll split into pairs on the two horses and escape. Let¡¯s sell everything in the city and split the money.¡± ? ¡°Gamson¡¯s our Captain. We trust you.¡± ? ¡°Ha ha ha. Just trust me. Mercenary work isn¡¯t easy, but I¡¯ll teach you well.¡± ? Gamsonughed. He could ditch these three in the city when the right opportunity arose. ? ¡®?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????¡¯ ? ¡®???????? ????. ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ ? The somewhat clever Burren signaled the other two with his eyes. Although inexperienced, Burren was cunning. Heading to the city, unknown and unvisited by these novices, was risky. They needed Gamson, even if he was unlucky, as a guide. ? ¡°Wait. I¡¯ll go in.¡± ? ¡°Be careful. If you wake the knight dastard, we¡¯re screwed.¡± ? ¡°Got it, got it.¡± ? As he casually responded and was about to enter, Gamson grabbed Burren¡¯s arm. ? ¡°Answer properly. If we wake the knight dastard, we¡¯re all in danger.¡± ? ¡°I said I got it, didn¡¯t I? And stop acting like a coward.¡± ? ¡°What??¡± ? ¡°This is our town. Even if he wakes up, he can¡¯t do much.¡± ? The youths of the town were reminiscing about a self-proimed knight, a wandering mercenary who had visited before. This was their town, and even if they caused trouble, outsiders couldn¡¯tin much. In this world, power was thew. ? Gamson, naive and inexperienced, couldn¡¯t fathom the town folks¡¯ absurd thinking. ? A knight wouldn¡¯t dare act recklessly? ? He couldn¡¯t understand their delusion. If the opponent was of noble birth, these mere town folks wouldn¡¯t matter; they could be killed on the spot. No noble would stand idle if a serf dared to rise above their station. ? A vignte group? ? What a joke. Any sensible townsperson would kneel at the first sign of a noble¡¯s wrath, fearing their entire town could be wiped out if they dared to oppose a noble. ? What about the owner of this town, the Count? ? If the Count hears it he will likely be enraged and stain this town with his weariness. It¡¯s absurd that even though this is his own town, the serfs looted the nobility¡¯s belongings and fought. That was a disgrace to the nobility. ? But these fools were saying things like, ¡°Because this is our town, the knights can¡¯t act recklessly,¡± with an arrogant tone. ? ¡®???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????????????¡¯ ? ¡°Come on. Captain Gamson. Burren is confident, so he acts like that. If he really wants something, he goes for it.¡± ? ¡°. . .Alright, just be really careful.¡± ? Gamson finished his meal. He had never imagined feeling the same way as a seasoned mercenary like a Khan when he was being addressed by him. Chapter 22.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 22.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Johan opened his eyes. ? Burren was just about to touch the door with his hand. ? A beast-like intuition! ? That intuition instinctively forewarned of danger. ? ¡®???????? ???? ?????¡¯ ? Johan, who had woken up, struggled to grasp the situation. He woke up due to an ominous feeling, but it wasn¡¯t immediately clear what the situation was. ? ????????????????©¥ ? Someone was trying to slide a thin hook through the gap in the door to push thetch open. This was possible because the inn¡¯s door was rather flimsy. ? ¡®???? ????????????????? ????. ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ????? ????¡¯?? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?? ???????????? ??????????????.¡¯ ? Johan tensed his body as he quickly ran through thoughts in his mind. He was ready to overpower whoever was entering. ? ????????????????©¥ ? Thetch slid open, and the door opened. Someone tiptoed in through the darkness, and Johan pounced. ? ¡°!!!¡± ? The reason the other person couldn¡¯t scream was that Johan had hit his sr plexus and grabbed his throat. Burren¡¯s face turned pale blue from the suffocating pain, feeling as though his entire body was breaking. ? ????????! ? Johan quickly threw the man to the ground and firmly subdued him. Then he raised his arm. He could feel the man¡¯s joints screaming. ? ¡°Answer me if you don¡¯t want to die.¡± ? ¡°Uh-huh. . . Uh-huh. . . I can¡¯t breathe, I can¡¯t breathe. . . you b*stard. . .¡± ? ¡°Who are you?¡± ? Johan felt relieved. Seeing the other person, he knew it wasn¡¯t an assassin. It couldn¡¯t have been this sloppy. But he didn¡¯t let his guard down. Being careless just because the other person was struggling would disappoint Kaegal. ? ¡°Answer me.¡± ? Johan applied more pressure with his arm as Burren gasped for air and spewed curses. The man, in agonizing pain as if his arm was being torn apart, finally spoke. ? ¡°I-Im. . . Bouln!¡± ? ¡°What¡¯s your purpose foring?¡± ? ¡°W-What purpose. . . I just mistook the room, damn it! You thought you¡¯d get away after this. . . Aaah!¡± ? Johan dislocated the shoulder joint of the other person. Burren screamed in pain he had never experienced before. Johan stuffed a dirty cloth into Burden¡¯s mouth to prevent his screams from leaking out. ? ¡°I can tell you¡¯re underestimating me. A guy who mistook the room and brought tools to pick the lock. Now, I¡¯m going to break your fingers one by one. It would be wise to answer before all ten are broken. Otherwise, it will be your neck that¡¯s breaking.¡± ? ¡°Ugh!¡± ? ??????????©¥ ? Johan didn¡¯t wait for an answer and broke a finger. Then he removed the cloth. The arrogant attitude was gone, and Burren was now a mess of tears and snot, sobbing. ? ¡°Answer me. If you don¡¯t want to die.¡± ? ¡°P-Please. . . If you kill me, my family won¡¯t stay quiet. We run a mill.¡± ? ¡°Is your father a Count? Are you a b*stard or something?¡± ? ¡°What does that. . .?¡± ? ¡°Guess not. Save your miller talk for the people of your town. You haven¡¯t tasted enough yet.¡± ? Johan stuffed the cloth back in and broke another finger. And then one more. ? Mills, gristmills, inns, and such facilities in the town often belonged to the feudal lord. This meant that the townspeople had to pay a separate fee to the lord every time they used these facilities. ? Such facility owners were naturally appointed with the lord¡¯s permission, and the townspeople feared them, even though they resented them. ? No matter how menial the job, being connected to the lord was a big deal. ? However, Johan was not deceived. ? Only the serfs would be fooled by such pretense; in reality, these facility owners never met the nobility. ? A scribe under the Count, a manager under that scribe. That was the limit of whom the serfs could ever see. The manager was just a low-level bureaucrat who came to collect taxes for the fiefdom, but when the manager came, from the vige chief to the elders, they fawned over him. Even the loud mill owners or millers trembled before the manager. ? Of course, Johan, originally a modern man reborn as a noble, wouldn¡¯t be frightened by such threats. If the manager came, it was clear whose side he would take. ? No matter if it was their own town or their own serfs, from a noble¡¯s perspective, serfs were not the same as themselves. On the other hand, Johan was a fellow noble. ? ¡°So, are you ready to talk?¡± ? ¡°Y-Yes. . . Yes! I was trying to steal a sword. . .¡± ? ¡°A sword?¡± ? ¡°That sword, it looked expensive. . .¡± ? ¡®???????!¡¯ ? Johan was shocked. The sword must be expensive, but it had never been drawn in the town. That meant. . . ? ¡°How did you find out?!¡± ? ¡°That mercenary egged me on! The one named Gamson!¡± ? ¡°!¡± ? Johan realized the situation had gottenplicated. He had thought it was just a scared thief who hade in alone, but if there was a group, it was a different story. Johan lifted the bellows with one hand and then kicked open the door and ran out. ? ¡°W-What¡¯s this?¡± ? The drowsy innkeeper uttered in a panicked voice. Suddenly, there was a loud noise, and the knight who had stayed upstairs came down with Burren. Apparently, Burren had lost his mind and was sobbing with tears. ? ¡°What happened. . .¡± ? ¡°Did you help?¡± ? ¡°No!¡± ? When Johan asked threateningly, the innkeeper quickly responded. Living as an innkeeper in the town, the only thing that had grown was his intuition. Realizing the severity of Johan¡¯s question, the innkeeper understood that a wrong answer now could really lead to death. ? Despite the darkness, the innkeeper could see the murderous look in Johan¡¯s eyes. He realized his pants were slightly wet. ? ¡®??-?????????? ??????????????. . . ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????¡¯ ? The innkeeper stared at Burren. He couldn¡¯t imagine what the hell he¡¯d gotten himself into. ? ¡°Trust me. Turn on the fire and bring out a torch!¡± ? ¡°Yes. . . yes!¡± ? The kind demeanor Johan showed was merely like a lion briefly wearing a sheep¡¯s skin. The innkeeper painfully realized this. Knights were fundamentally predators meant for ughter. Chapter 23.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 23.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) ¡®?? ???????? ???? ????????!¡¯ ? The innkeeper moved desperately with just that one thought in mind, not allowing himself any distractions. He took out some oil, lit a fire, and made a torch, which he handed to Johan. ? ¡°Carry this and follow me!¡± ? ¡°Yes!¡± ? Johan went out armed only with his weapon, not wearing his armor. There was no time to don all his equipment in such a situation. ? ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ? ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ? The other mercenaries who had been sleeping upstairs were also awakened by themotion and came down. Those who had drunk a lot were still lying down, while those who had drunk less staggered around trying to understand the situation. ? Johan didn¡¯t respond. Exnations could wait. ? ¡°If I can¡¯t catch your gang, your hands and feet will be cut off. Let¡¯s go!¡± ? ???????????? ? Gamson was about to make the sharpest decision of his life. ? ¡°. . .Damn, something feels off.¡± ? It could have been instinct, or fear of Johan. Either way, Gamson¡¯s body was screaming. ? I need to run away right now! ? ¡°What¡¯s up now?¡± ? ¡°Burren is really good at this sort of thing.¡± ? While the remaining two chattered, Gamson crept closer to eavesdrop. He thought he heard something. A loud, thumping noise. ? ¡°Damn! Good at what. . .! I¡¯m an *sshole for trusting these country bumpkins!¡± ? Feeling goosebumps all over, Gamson ran to where the horses were tied and untied them. Frightened by his actions, Pra and Pell asked, ? ¡°What are you doing?¡± ? ¡°We agreed to wait for Burren!¡± ? ¡°You guys wait, *ssholes! There was a noise! If the job was done properly, why would there be a noise!¡± ? As Gamson shouted in terror, the fear spread to the other two. Despite their trust in Burren, they couldn¡¯t ignore Gamson¡¯s words. ? ¡°If you want to live, untie the remaining horses and bring them out!¡± ? ¡°But. . . if we take them, what about Burren. . .¡± ? ¡°Burren¡¯s done for! Figure it out yourself *ssholes! I¡¯m getting out of here!¡± ? There was no reason for Gamson to wait for someone he¡¯d just met. He immediately mounted a horse. Pra, being the smarter of the two, quickly followed suit behind Gamson. ? ¡°Pell! I¡¯ll leave one horse for Burren, so if he shows up, ride out together!¡± ? ¡°Uh, uh? O-Okay!¡± ? Pra admired his own cunning. He was running away first, but if Burren showed up, he had an excuse. ? ¡®???????? ????. . .¡¯ ? As Pra slowed down the horse by getting on, Gamson cursed inwardly. ? He wanted to leave Pra behind, but starting a fight here and now would be a bad idea. If he got entangled with Pra and Pell, that knight dastard would catch up. ? ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????!¡¯ ? Stealing horses from Eldans or another part of the town felt too risky, but now he regretted not taking that risk. ? Now they had to escape on a horse together with the knight dastard on their heels. . . ? ¡®????¡¯???? ???? ????????. ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????????©¥. . .¡¯ ? ¡°!!!¡± ? Gamson saw it clearly. The light shining through the gaps of the inn in the darkness. ? We¡¯ve been spotted! ? ¡°Damn it!! Run! Run, you *ssholes! The knight dastard is chasing us!¡± ? Gamson was so terrified that he forgot to lower his voice. He used to curse when Johan wasn¡¯t around, but now the mere sound of a door opening in the distance was enough to scare him senseless. ? ??????????????, ??????????????©¥ ? Gamson and Pra left first, with Fell scrambling onto the horse btedly. Burren didn¡¯t show up, but he had long been forgotten by the three. ? ¡°Run! Run!!¡± ? ??????????! ? Lucky for them, Pell was the best horse rider among them and familiar with the geography of the area. Although he startedte, it was fortunate that he sped ahead, allowing them to follow without stumbling in the dark. ? The three thieves desperately ran towards the town entrance. Once past it, the night¡¯s darkness would protect them. Chapter 23.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 23.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Johan ran like hell. ? The notion that big, muscr people are slow was a prejudice. Johan¡¯s sprint was fast enough to catch up with the horses. ? But Johan realized, ? ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ????????.¡¯ ? He could see silhouettes darting through the night, recognizing them as thieves by the sound of horse hooves. ? His muscles reached their limit from the sprint. Humans couldn¡¯t win a long-distance race against horses. They were already far ahead. ? ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ ? He might have caught them if he had realized sooner that Burren wasn¡¯t alone and dashed out immediately. But now it was toote. . . ? ¡°No, this was unavoidable.¡± ? Despite feeling ridiculous, Johan controlled his emotions. It was like an unavoidable ident. How could he have foreseen one of the town folks stealing his horse? It¡¯s not like he could sleep hugging his horse. ? ¡®?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ????????????. . .!¡¯ ? Johan, seizing his mace, threw it with all his might, half relying on luck in the darkness. He couldn¡¯t catch them all, but hoped to catch at least one. ? To show them hell. ? ????????! ? A heavy sound, followed by a thump, indicated someone had fallen. ? ¡®?????? ?? ???????????? ?????? ???????????????!¡¯ ? Johan was surprised. To hit at this distance. . . ? But the horses didn¡¯t stop or change direction. They kept running rhythmically. ? ¡®?????????? ???????? ??????????, ?????? ?????? ????????, ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????. . . ????????. ?? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????????????????.¡¯ ? Approaching, Johan kicked the groaning figure. The torchlight revealed Pra¡¯s face, unknown to Johan. ? ¡°. . .Slipped away.¡± ? The fact that he missed the ringleader infuriated Johan the most. ? ???????????? ? ¡°He¡¯sing! They¡¯reing!¡± ? ¡°That crazy b*stard!!¡± ? Gamson realized that saliva was drooling from his mouth. He was so scared that he couldn¡¯t close his mouth. ? They ran without turning on the lights, but Johan was running towards them with a torch. It was really scary for them. How could a human run that distance so quickly? ? ??????????! ? ¡°???¡± ? Gamson turned his head. He saw Pra screaming and falling from behind. ? ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????!¡¯ ? ¡°Shit. . . Run! Run, you stupid horse!¡± ? ¡°What¡¯s going on?! What happened?!¡± ? ¡°Ass*ole! The knight dastard is chasing us! Run! If we get caught, we¡¯re all dead!¡± ? Pell realized that his friend had fallen, but now there was nothing he could do. Turning the horse around now would mean death. ? ¡°Pra. . .! Pra! I¡¯lle back to save youter!¡± ? ¡°Shut up and look ahead!¡± ? A mercenary and a viger thus sessfully escaped the town. ? ???????????? ? The turmoil ended and dawn arrived. ? The atmosphere of the town was gloomy as if something was weighing it down. ? The vige chief, Atanka, was holding his head. ? ¡°These b*stards worse than goblins. . .!¡± ? They should have been punished when they bragged about their well-off homes. They were spared when they caused minor troubles, but now they¡¯ve caused a major incident. ? The influential vigers in the town gathered at the vige chief¡¯s house. News spread fast in such a town. They all had different expressions on their faces. ? ¡°Vige chief, we heard that the mercenaries caused trouble. Is that true?¡± ? ¡°How dare they cause trouble in our town. Shouldn¡¯t we call the local militia?¡± ? ¡°Who got hurt?¡± ? ¡°Burren and Pra are half-dead. The mercenaries have captured them.¡± ? ¡°What? The mercenaries dare. . . Call the young men of the town right away to take care of this. . .¡± ? ¡°Shut up!!¡± ? Atanka shouted, punching the floor. The vigers were startled by the unusual behavior of the vige chief. ? ¡°Am I the only one understanding the situation here? These assholes. . .¡± ? ¡°Isn¡¯t that too harsh, vige chief? Are you siding with the merchant you brought in. . .¡± ? ¡°You. Try handling this yourself! You seem to be defending your kid who¡¯s causing trouble. Do you think this is a usual situation? The opponent is a real knight! And that merchant is from the Katana Merchant Guild! Do you think this is a matter to be solved with threats?¡± ? ¡°But they¡¯re less than ten. . .¡± ? ¡°Those less than ten are people who kill for a living. Local militia? Just some guys who¡¯ve swung sticks a few times. . . Have they even properly dealt with a goblin?¡± ? ¡°That¡¯s too harsh! We¡¯ve faced mercenaries several times!¡± ? ¡°That¡¯s when the mercenaries are at a disadvantage! We have dozens of men, so they didn¡¯t want to shed blood rashly. What do you think will happen if we really fight? Even if we catch all of those guys, half of us will die and the rest will flee. And mercenaries are not the issue. If it was just mercenaries, we could have ended this by persuasion or threat. The problem is that there¡¯s a real knight among them. Don¡¯t you really understand what it means to be up against a noble?!¡± ? At the words of the vige chief, the townspeople murmured. The name ¡®noble¡¯ instilled fear in them. However, the gruff owner of the mill, Burren¡¯s father, spoke up. ? ¡°So what if it¡¯s a wandering knight? There¡¯s no need to be so scared of a wandering knight dastard, right? No matter how strong he is, we have numbers. Just scare him off and then talk things over when the manageres. I¡¯ll lead the talk. . .¡± ? Atanka inhaled sharply, his face red with anger. He refrained from pping the man right then, only because Atanka had aged. Had he been younger, he would have done it immediately. ? ¡°How are you going to talk properly?¡± ? ¡°Say that the wandering knight dastard came and caused trouble. . .¡± ? ¡°What if the knight tells the manager?¡± ? ¡°The manager is friendly with us; surely he¡¯ll believe our word, won¡¯t he?¡± ? ¡°You mean to say the manager will take our word over that of a noble-born knight dastard. . .?¡± ? The vige chief spoke sarcastically, and the townspeople began to grasp the situation. ? No matter how they thought about it, something was off. ? ¡°Alright, let¡¯s say he listens to us. And then the knight dastard goes back to his family and tells them about this, and they tell the Count. Do you think the manager will still take our side then?¡± Chapter 24.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 24.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) ¡°That¡¯s. . .¡± ? Even as the owner of the mill, he couldn¡¯t respond affirmatively in this situation. It was too absurd even for him to consider. ? The mill owner changed the topic. ? ¡°How about we prevent knight dastard from leaving? Just kill him outright.¡± ? Gasps emerged among the townspeople. The thought of killing a noble was shocking enough, but the idea of how to kill a knight was even more startling. ? ¡°If thingse to that, I¡¯ll be sure to give you the honor.¡± ? Atankaughed scornfully. Although they were normally friendly, in this situation, there was no greater enemy. ? ¡°What if the knight dies here? What about the other merchants and mercenaries?¡± ? ¡°T-Them, they too. . .¡± ? ¡°What if we kill the merchant of the Katana Merchant Guild and the knight. . . and then someone from the knight dastard family or the Katana Merchant Guildes to investigate?¡± ? ¡°. . .I believe everyone will keep the secret.¡± ? ¡°What if the knight dastard family takes a few townspeople for questioning? Will the secret still be safe then? Huh? You insane fool?¡± ? Now the mill owner¡¯s face turned red. But Atanka did not stop. Now was the time to press him further. ? ¡°Look at this situation! You fools! Threats? Does that make any sense? We¡¯re dealing with nobility! Wake up! If we handle this wrong, we¡¯ll all die together!¡± ? Silence and fear spread. Atanka¡¯s attitude made the townspeople realize the gravity of the situation. ? ¡°What we need to think about now is not how to intimidate them with our local militia, but how to appease them. Those who want to try force, go ahead! I won¡¯t take responsibility. Hey! You. You said earlier we should teach them a lesson? I¡¯ll call the local militia for you. Will you try?¡± ? ¡°N-No. It was just a thought. Why this reaction, Atanka.¡± ? ¡°You! You dared the mercenaries. Will you try?¡± ? ¡°Vige chief, it was just a thought! Why are you doing this?!¡± ? The townspeople all backed down. One of them, who had been quiet, raised a hand and asked cautiously. ? ¡°So what will you do?¡± ? ¡°First, we need to hear what the knight wants. That¡¯s how we¡¯ll start the conversation.¡± ? ¡°What does the knight want?¡± ? ¡°Money, probably.¡± ? ¡°Money? There¡¯s hardly any in the town.¡± ? ¡°Think about it, Pra and Burren were already caught. Can¡¯t we settle it with that? Since those two caused the trouble, let them pay for it.¡± ? ¡°I knew those guys were trouble from the start.¡± ? The townspeople, who had many grievances, ruthlessly criticized the three young men. Their families were distraught but remained silent. ? ¡°The mercenaries didn¡¯t do much good either. One of them was enticed to flee.¡± ? ¡°Right. If we negotiate well, maybe they won¡¯t have anything to say? Punishing Pra and Burren might settle things for both sides. . .¡± ? Atanka burst into hollowughter, then spoke. ? ¡°From now on,¡± ? ¡°. . .?¡± ? ¡°Anyone who talks nonsense will be brought to negotiate with the knight and forced to repeat exactly what they said.¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? ¡°Think carefully and speak out, your excellency~. It¡¯s me who would negotiate with the knight, not you assholes! Stop spouting such nonsense! What? Settle it with the lives of those already captured? It¡¯s also our fault because a mercenary was involved? Try saying that yourself!¡± ? ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, vige chief!¡± ? When Atanka red fiercely, the young man who spoke quickly shut his mouth. Although he was a powerful youth in the local militia, he was no match in front of the vige chief. ? ¡°We¡¯ll hand over Pra and Burren. Any objections?¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? ¡°I agree.¡± ? ¡°I agree too.¡± ? ¡°Yeah. These two were always useless in farming and always causing trouble. Maybe it¡¯s better for them to die now.¡± ? The vige chief maliciously belittled the two, as it would make it easier to hand them over. It would have been troublesome ifter it was said that the ¡®?????????????? ?????????? ????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ????????????.¡¯ It was better to create a consensus. ? It was fortunate that the two were always worthless. ? ¡°I¡¯m not sure how much silver to offer. . . If it¡¯s a horse good enough for a knight to ride, any amount wouldn¡¯t be strange.¡± ? ¡°Vige chief, let¡¯s hand these guys over too.¡± ? ¡°!¡± ? ¡°!!!¡± ? Pra and Burren¡¯s families stiffened. Burren¡¯s father, the owner of the mill, shouted angrily. ? ¡°What are you talking about!¡± ? Ton, a town hunter and also a member of the local militia, continued speaking, indifferent. He had a grudge against the miller who had always cheated him out of his wheat. ? ¡°Sir Knight won¡¯t just cut off those two. Obviously, he¡¯ll hold someone responsible. If we offer them first, it¡¯ll look better. We just need to tie them up and say it was their fault. There¡¯s no need to use the money of innocent town people.¡± ? Ton¡¯s suggestion tempted the others. Handing over Pra and Burren¡¯s families could be justified aspensation with their properties. ? Most of their properties were in kind. The knight couldn¡¯t take everything, and it was not prestigious, so the remaining goods could be divided among the town people. Plus, if a ce like the mill became vacant. . . ? ¡°. . .It can¡¯t be done.¡± ? ¡°!!!¡± Chapter 24.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) Chapter 24.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (??) ¡°Why not?¡± ? Atanka spoke harshly. Honestly, he wanted to sell these b*stards and be done with it. ? ¡°As the vige chief, it¡¯s my job to protect the town¡¯s people. The children of these people caused trouble and brought harm to the town, but they can pay it back by working in the future. It¡¯s one thing to hand over the two who caused trouble, but offering their families too, what would the feudal lord say!¡± ? If it¡¯s discovered that a few serf families have disappeared, the administrator will ask what happened, and upon hearing the situation, will naturally hold the vige chief responsible, not the knight. . . ? ¡®???????????????????? ??????!¡¯ ? He couldn¡¯t be responsible for these worthless people. ? Moreover, the three families were wealthy farmers in this town. Whether liked or disliked, they were the ones who had joined hands with Atanka and supported him. If these people disappeared, Atanka¡¯s power in the town would be greatly weakened. ? ¡°Yes. . . Yes! I will definitely repay you! Please forgive me just this once.¡± ? ¡°I will surely repay the damages my son has caused. . .¡± ? Realizing the situation, they begged obsequiously. Seeing them like this, the townspeople could no longer say anything. It was not easy for them to continue advocating for the death of those they had lived with. ? Living and growing up in the same town in this world meant a much stronger rtionship than what appeared on the surface. ? ¡°So, are you going to collect money?¡± ? ¡°Silver coins are so valuable. . .¡± ? ¡°Can¡¯t we just make those guys take responsibility?¡± ? ¡°Wait and see. I will try to save as much silver as I can.¡± ? Atanka pondered. Silver was the lifeblood of the town. He had toe up with a solution that involved tangible assets and would satisfy the knight. ? ???????????? ? ¡®?????? ????????¡¯?? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????????? ?? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????. . . ?????? ????????-?????????????? ??????????, ???????? ???? ???????? ????????????, ??????¡¯?? ???????????? ??????????. . .¡¯ ? Johan was calcting, fully armed. ? ¡®??????? ????, ???? ?? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ????????????????????, ????????¡¯???? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ????????. ???? ??????????¡¯?? ?? ??????????????, ?? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????. ????¡¯???? ???? ?? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????????????? ????????????, ?????? ???? ????, ??¡¯???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ ? Did growing up in a knight¡¯s family also influence one¡¯s character? Despite the dangerous situation, Johan was preparing calmly without breaking a sweat. ? The mercenaries were the ones who were flustered by this. ? ¡°Doesn¡¯t Sir Knight have any fear?¡± ? ¡°Isn¡¯t he Sir Knight for a reason?¡± ? ¡°No. . . Sir Knight is exceptional. Normally, everyone gets nervous before a fight.¡± ? Knights usually felt nervous before going into battle. Some drank alcohol or gambled to relieve stress. Khan, having fought alongside knights, knew this well. ? ¡°Goran.¡± ? ¡°Mr. Khan.¡± ? ¡°What are your ns for the aftermath?¡± ? ¡°My head is aching right now. I should have listened to Mr. Khan¡¯s words. That son of a b*tch. . .¡± ? Goran was grinding his teeth. He regretted not heeding Khan¡¯s advice, not expecting such a major mishap. ? ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I didn¡¯t expect that guy to pull such a stunt either.¡± ? The mercenaries were shocked by the news they heard. ? Gamson had conspired with some young men of the town and stolen the knight¡¯s horse and fled! ? The knight had captured two young men from the town and was waiting at the inn. Their employer, Eldans, stated firmly. ? ©¥?????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????, ???? ?????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????????????????????. ? As a result, they ended up facing the townspeople alongside the knight without any special bonus. It was something they should have done anyway. The town¡¯s two men were nearly beaten to death; it wouldn¡¯t have just passed. ? The only regret was not receiving the special bonus. ? Facing the townspeople was not so terrifying. There were many of them, but the townspeople, unless crazed, wouldn¡¯t attack a group that included a knight and merchants affiliated with the guild. The justification was on their side. ? What worried them more was what would happen after this incident was over. ? Gamson was, after all, affiliated with them. It was impossible for the knight to just overlook it. ? ¡®??¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ????????.¡¯ ? Goran, though experienced in his own right, was facing nobles for the first time. What should he say? ? ¡°Please. . . please loosen the ropes. I can¡¯t breathe.¡± ? ¡°Shut up, you thieving scum.¡± ? When Prained, one of the mercenaries kicked him roughly with his foot. Struck by the hard leather boots, Pra screamed. ? Already in pain from a broken bone due to a fall from a horse, his condition worsened without proper treatment. ? ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll? The people in the town. . .¡± ? ¡°Yeah, what about the people in the town? Eh? Say it again. I can¡¯t hear you.¡± ? ¡°Aaaah! Aaaaah!¡± ? Pra was experiencing firsthand the kind of people these mercenaries were. ? Mercenaries were generally rough and foul-tempered. Irritated by Gamson¡¯s antics and escape, they were quick to anger when some insignificant viger spoke up. ? Kicking was just the beginning; they burned wounds with the end of a torch and poured boiling water over them. The mercenaries were very creative and professional in tormenting others. ? Burren trembled and wet himself, watching this scene. He used to strut around the vige with a bit of muscle and a well-off family, but now, that meant nothing in front of the mercenaries. ? ¡°Huh. This guy is really getting on my nerves. Hey.¡± ? ¡°?¡± ? ¡°Why are you ying innocent? Clench your teeth.¡± ? ??????????! ? ¡°Cough!¡± ? After trampling over Pra, the mercenaries started on Burren. He stayed silent and motionless, but that didn¡¯t matter in such situations. Friends of troublemakers were also held responsible. Chapter 25.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (????) Chapter 25.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (????) ¡°Hey, you b*stard. Where¡¯s your friend? Where did your friend go?¡± ? ¡°I. . . I don¡¯t know! I really don¡¯t know! Sob sob. . .¡± ? ¡°If you don¡¯t know, who does!¡± ? ¡°Do you realize how much trouble you and your friend have caused us? And now your friend isn¡¯t here? So, who should we take our anger out on? Tell me. Hey, speak up.¡± ? ¡°Please. . . I was wrong! Please spare me!¡± ? ¡°I know you were wrong! But stop talking nonsense that even a goblin could say and say something useful. Something that can calm our anger!¡± ? ¡°I. . . I really don¡¯t know. . .¡± ? ¡°You mean to tell me you nned this heist without discussing what to do next? Damn it, this guy is unbelievable. Hey, make this guy think clearer.¡± ? ¡°You¡¯re going to use that? On this guy? The other one is more annoying, use it on him.¡± ? ¡°Fine.¡± ? Even among scum, there¡¯s always someone more detestable. The focus shifted to Pra. Having mentioned the people of the town earlier, Pra was now trembling uncontrobly, too frightened to even mutter. ? ¡°You heard everything, right? Don¡¯t say you didn¡¯t. If you say you didn¡¯t hear, we¡¯ll beat you until you say you did.¡± ? ¡°I heard! I heard it!¡± ? ¡°Good. You probably don¡¯t remember, so let us help jog your memory.¡± ? ¡°What do you mean. . .¡± ? As the mercenaries grabbed his arms, Pra shivered in fear. Could it be, could it. . . ? Crack! ? ¡°Aaaaaaagh!¡± ? ¡°Feeling smarter now? Huh? Are you feeling smarter?¡± ? ¡°Stop. . . Stop it, you motherf*ckers! Stop it!¡± ? ¡°Oh. Did your guts grow instead of your brains?¡± ? ¡°Sob sob. . . Please! Please!!¡± ? ¡°Let¡¯s try one more time. Let¡¯s see if it makes you smarter.¡± ? ¡°The city! We were going to the city!¡± ? ¡°Which city?¡± ? ¡°I don¡¯t f*cking know! I¡¯ve never been there! It was that son of a b*tch¡¯s idea, why are you messing with me! Sob sob!¡± ? As Pra pointed at Burren, everyone¡¯s heads turned sharply. A cruel smile lingered on the mercenaries¡¯ lips. ? ¡°Oh dear. . . It was your idea?¡± ? ¡°N-No! It really wasn¡¯t!¡± ? ¡°So one of you is lying?¡± ? As the mercenaries turned their gaze back to Pra, he desperately shouted again. ? ¡°Ask the people of the town! That b*stard is the leader!¡± ? ¡°Oh really?¡± ? The mercenaries had already figured it out. Burren clearly looked older. Who else but him could y the role of a leader in such a rural town? ? ¡°Wow, this guy. As cunning as an orc. We almost fell for it? He¡¯s the one who did it and stayed quiet?¡± ? ¡°Impressive, huh?¡± ? ¡°No, no, no, no. . .¡± ? ???????????? ? As the mercenaries washed their hands in a wooden tub, they said, ? ¡°Looks like Gamson and this guy hit it off. nning to make a score and run off to the city, huh?¡± ? The mercenaries had all been like Burren or Pra at some point. That¡¯s why they could immediately understand what these guys were up to. ? Living as serfs in a rural town was too harsh for fiery young men. It was no surprise that seeing a band of mercenaries visit their town tempted them to flee to the city. ? The only difference was whether to run away empty-handed or with something in hand. ? ¡°All this trouble over a half-witted asshole. . .¡± ? They called the newbies who just got into a mercenary job or the country bumpkins who wanted to be mercenaries ¡°halfpennies.¡± It was a sneer, meaning they couldn¡¯t even earn a proper coin. ? Of course, just because theycked the ability didn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t cause as much damage. ? ¡°I hoped there would be a hiding ce near the town or maybe connections in another nearby town, but it seems not, Captain.¡± ? If that were the case, they could have been caught. But if they nned to run far away from the beginning, finding them was impossible. ? How can they be found in this vast continent? ? ¡°No. Perhaps they can be found after all.¡± ? ¡°Mr. Khan. Is that really so?¡± ? ¡°How do you mean?¡± ? ¡°Well, it¡¯s a long shot but think about it. Where would Gamson run? To an unfamiliar town?¡± ? ¡°No, he would likely head to the city, wouldn¡¯t he?¡± ? It was difficult for a wanderer to settle in a small town, especially a suspicious, talentless mercenary. ? In contrast, cities were a gathering ce for all sorts. ? ¡°Right. He would go to the city. But which one?¡± ? ¡°We can¡¯t know for sure, can we? Just any city. . . Wait. He had no connections, right? Could it be?¡± ? ¡°I think there¡¯s a high chance he¡¯ll return to Marcel city.¡± Chapter 25.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (????) Chapter 25.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (????) Gamson was a rookie mercenary, treated like a halfpenny. A country bumpkin who ran away to the city with a bit of money. ? He joined the mercenary band only by sheer luck. Captain Goran wouldn¡¯t have included someone like Gamson if they hadn¡¯t suddenly lost a member. ? What if such a guy suddenly stole a horse? It takes skill to sell stolen goods. A suspicious mercenary would be given a lower price by merchants. ? To sell at a fair price, one needed known connections or a credible identity. ? Gamson had neither. ? ¡°In Marcel city, there are several shops and merchants connected to the Katana Merchant Guild. He must have familiarized himself with them while passing through, so he might try to sell the horse there, making excuses.¡± ? ¡°. . .!¡± ? They had passed through Marcel city as mercenaries guarding the Eldans, familiarizing themselves with each other. From Gamson¡¯s perspective, he might think, ¡®If I make a good excuse, can I sell the horse at a decent price?¡¯ ? ¡°No, even if he¡¯s an *sshole, could he be that stupid?¡± ? ¡°I think it¡¯s possible. He¡¯s a rookie who doesn¡¯t understand the power of the guild¡¯s connections. He failed to steal what he wanted and his friends got caught. In a situation where the pursuers could catch up any time, he would want to get rid of the conspicuously visible horse as soon as possible. Rather than an unknown distant city, Marcel would be more appealing.¡± ? Moreover, their group was rtively slow. Gamson, having no baggage, could easily sell and escape. ? However. . . ? ¡°The merchants in the city aren¡¯t that easy to fool, are they?¡± ? ¡°True.¡± ? Merchants in the city were not *ssholes. Even if you were a mercenary escorting a merchant, they wouldn¡¯t trust you toe back and sell your horse on your own. ? Would they pretend to be defeated and buy it cheaply, even if they were a bit skeptical? ? That was a delusion only a country bumpkin would have. Such acts were the doing of wandering quacks. The city¡¯s merchants did not sell each other out for a few pennies. ? Doing business in the city meant being intricately bound by the city¡¯s rules. ? And Gamson probably didn¡¯t know this. If he goes on without knowing. . . ? Contact would be made among the tradingpanies or mercenaries, and Gamson would be caught in a ¡°huh, huh¡± moment! ? ¡°Interesting.¡± ? ¡°!¡± ? Johan, who was listening nearby, opened his mouth, and everyone was startled. ? ¡°Does this mean we can catch him if we go to Marcel City?¡± ? ¡°S-Sir Knight. This is just a possibility, if he escapes to another city. . .¡± ? ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± ? Johan replied lightly. ? ¡°It would be good if we catch him, but if we can¡¯t, there¡¯s nothing we can do. It seems you were also deceived by him. I have no intention of holding you responsible separately, so rest assured.¡± ? ¡°. . .!¡± ? ¡°T-Thank you!¡± ? The mercenaries felt tears well up at Johan¡¯s words. What a generous act. Though he had a fierce demeanor in battle, Johan had a truly generous heart. ? ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll receive thepensation in this town.¡± ? Johan nced outside the window. Vige chief Atanka was seen walking towards them with a tense face. ? ???????????? ? ©¥?????????????? ??????????, ???????? ????. . . ? ©¥??????????. ????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????. ? Inparison to Johan, he was a dirty mercenary calling himself a knight, but the equipment itself was decent. ? ©¥????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????????????? ? ©¥???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????????? ???? ??????????? ? ©¥??¡¯?? ??????????. ? When Atanka got angry, the local militia members shut up. Unlike Atanka, the local militiacked tact. ? ¡®?? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ??????????. . .¡¯ ? In such a town, selling armor was a task. Without a suitable buyer, it couldn¡¯t be sold. Moreover, Atanka had to sell it secretly from the townspeople. ? But who knew this difficulty would save Atanka¡¯s neck like this? ? As Atanka brought out the mercenary¡¯s armor and weapons with a nking sound, the local militia asked cautiously. ? ©¥???? ???????? ???????? ????????????? ? ©¥???????? ????? ? ©¥???? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????. . . ? Johan¡¯s ent and demeanor exuded nobility. Plus, being on a well-built horse, dressed in armor and surcoat, gave a chilling presence. ? In contrast, the equipment here seemed barely decent, with only the weapons looking intact. The surcoat worn over the clothes looked like stitched old rags, and the armor seemed very ufortable, as if iron tes were forcibly inserted between cloth armors. ? ©¥???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????! ?? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ??????????????. ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????????????. ? ©¥??-????????, ???????? ???? ????????. ? ©¥?????? ??¡¯???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????????. ??????¡¯?? ??????????. ? ???????????? ? ¡°Sir Knight. How are you?¡± ? ¡°Not well. Does Rutzbeck steal guests¡¯ properties and take their horses?¡± ? ¡°I apologize once again for that incident.¡± ? Atanka bowed his head without changing his expression. He seemed to have made up his mind beforeing. ? ¡°As the vige chief, I should have managed the young men properly, but failing to do even this and disappointing Sir Knight. . . I am truly sorry.¡± ? Atanka, lowering his posture and bowing without any excuses. Johan thought to himself. ? ¡®???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ ? The respectful approach of the other party was due to Johan¡¯s strength, butrgely due to his status. A vige chief might act like a king in his town, butpared to nobility, his status was insignificant. ? Probably, Atanka feared Johan¡¯s family more than his strength. ? ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t intend to just apologize with words. I will properlypensate for the theft of Sir Knight¡¯s horse.¡± ? ¡°How?¡± ? ¡°First, I will punish those two men. If Sir Knight does not wish to punish such insignificant men, we will. . .¡± ? ¡°No. There¡¯s no need. I¡¯ll take them with me and punish them myself.¡± ? The town¡¯spensation included those two men. Whether to sell them as ves or behead them was Johan¡¯s decision. ? Atanka was inwardly disappointed. If Johan had said to handle the punishment himself, Atanka might have secretly let them escape. ? ¡°Punishing the guilty is natural. Surely, you¡¯re not saying that will be thepensation?¡± ? ¡°No. The theft of Sir Knight¡¯s horse is a grave crime! Punishing those two men cannot make up for it.¡± ? Horses were expensive property, especially warhorses ridden by knights. Good breeds had to be trained from a young age, unlike the pack horses used by merchants. ? ¡®??????. ?????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???????????????????¡¯ ? Johan didn¡¯t really know what kind of horse he had. It was a horse secretly obtained by his half-brothers. They seemed to have cared for it quite well, providing a decent saddle and harness. . . ? ¡°Even if we scrape together silver, it won¡¯t satisfy Sir Knight.¡± ? The suggestion seemed suspicious. Properlypensating for a knight¡¯s horse would be no joke. Such a town might have to gather all its hidden silver. ? Of course, that was the town¡¯s concern, and Johan intended to receive properpensation. ? ¡°Doesn¡¯t the god say that life must be repaid with life? Although it won¡¯t be as useful as Sir Knight¡¯s horse, we have prepared a ve that might be of help.¡± ? ¡°. . .?¡± ? ve! ? ves weremon on the continent. Several of the servants in Johan¡¯s fiefdom were ves bought by Sir Gessen. ? Even the monotheistic church did not particrly criticize very. Sinners, losers in war, or those unlucky enough to be captured, were sold as ves. ? These ves were utilized in various fields. Those without skills did menial tasks, but those with skills received some treatment. Chapter 26.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (????) Chapter 26.1: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (????) Having skills in technology or cooking, or any talent for that matter, was always beneficial. Even a good physique couldnd someone a role as a guard or soldier. Sir Gessen also recruited several soldiers this way. Although life-threatening, for a ve, it presented an opportunity to earn freedom through meritorious service. ? ¡°But does such a person exist in this town?¡± ? He wondered if there were skilled ves in this town. A ve with exceptional skills would be expensive and unlikely to be sold in such a town. . . ? ¡°What¡¯s he doing?¡± ? ¡°He¡¯s a merchant by origin, very knowledgeable due to his travels across the continent. Sir Knight, he can answer any question you ask.¡± ? ¡°!¡± ? Johan was surprised by the seemingly favorable conditions. To him, a ve with such extensive knowledge was useful. But why would they want to give him away? ? ¡°Why are they offering him?¡± ? If the ve was truly useful, it wouldn¡¯t make sense to give him up. Johan cautiously asked a question. ? ¡°Is he of no use to the town?¡± ? ¡°Of course, he is useful! But to atone for our debts to Sir Knight, we must offer something of value.¡± ? It was a lie. In truth, a knowledgeable ve wasn¡¯t very useful in the town. ? The knowledge needed in the town involved identifying herbs, predicting rain and snow, not facts like ¡®????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ??????¡¯. Such knowledge only served to fill the young men of the town with unrealistic dreams. ? ¡°He¡¯s not unruly or rebellious, is he?¡± ? ¡°Not at all! He¡¯s nothing like that.¡± ? ¡®???? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????,¡¯ ?????????? ??????????????. ? Yet, the offer was tempting. Whether useful or not, Johan liked the idea of having someone apany him. ? ¡®???????????? ?? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ? Despite Johan¡¯s noble origin, evidenced by his armor, ent, and demeanor, he couldn¡¯t hide one thing: his financial struggles. ? Even if you are a wandering knight without a fiefdom, there are rtively wealthy wandering knights who lead dozens of people, and there are poor wandering knights who wander alone without even proper armor. ? People naturally respected the former more. ? To gain respect, one must look the part. Merchants andmoners were enough for now, but not for higher status. ? ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll see and decide.¡± ? As Johan prepared to leave, the worried mercenaries tried to stop him. ? ¡°Sir Knight. Be careful. It could be a trap.¡± ? ¡°You can¡¯t expect honor from these town folks.¡± ? The experienced mercenaries were concerned about a trap. ? The people of such towns could resort to anything if provoked. Regardless of honor, they might kill and bury mercenaries to protect their wealth. And if Johan went out alone. . . ? However, Johan remained calm. ? ¡°If ites to that, I¡¯ll find a way out, so no need to worry.¡± ? Despite how absurd it sounded, Johan¡¯s confidence momentarily convinced the mercenaries. ? They believed that he could indeed fend off a dozen town folks and escape. ? ???????????? ? ¡°The limbs are intact.¡± ? Johan highly rated the fact that his limbs were intact. The man was wearing old, tattered cloth clothes, and around his neck, a brass ne symbolizing a ve. The solid ne, inscribed with his name, crime, and master, was so tightly soldered without any gaps that it couldn¡¯t be removed without tools. ? ¡°Has Atanka-nim arrived?!¡± ? ¡°Yes. Geoffrey. Fortunately, this honorable Sir Knight has said he will take you with him.¡± ? ¡°Yes?¡± ? ve Geoffrey was startled by the vige chief¡¯s words. He had to follow a knight he had never seen before. ? Is this a good thing, or a bad thing? ? After all, it wasn¡¯t something he could decide. ? ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ????????.¡¯ ? The life of a ve is to follow their master. ? A vige ve would probably spend his life plowing fields and cleaning up horse dung until death, but a noble¡¯s ve could livevishly, enviable bymoners, if lucky. ? And a knight was a status at the lower end of nobility. Moreover, the knight in front of him seemed quite presentable. He wasn¡¯t a wandering knight without any equipment. ? The problem is. . . ? ¡®??????¡¯?? ?? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ???????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ ? Geoffrey feared being trapped in a goblin¡¯s den or dying a horrible death while following the knight. Knights were often considered madmen, seeking ces to die. ? ¡°Geoffrey. What are you doing? Greet him.¡± ? ¡°Ah. Yes! Thank you very much! I¡¯m honored that you think highly of me! I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m worthy of Sir Knight¡¯s attention, but I will do my best. I¡¯m not good with weapons and my limbs are weak, but I¡¯ll do whatever I¡¯m told. . .¡± ? Geoffrey hurriedly greeted upon the vige chief¡¯s call, subtly mentioning his weaknesses. If the knight was not satisfied and didn¡¯t take him, it would be better for him, avoiding a tough life. ? Atanka frowned. ? ¡°In a situation where it¡¯s an understatement to say he¡¯s robust.¡± ? ¡°Turn your neck.¡± ? Geoffrey turned his head, revealing the writing on the ne. ? ¡°Huh. Can Sir Knight read?¡± ? While there were knights with high learning, they were as rare as dumb orcs. Most knights preferred to hire someone to read for them. It was considered beneath the dignity of someone of high status to read themselves. ? The knights who could read were usually those from churches or monastic orders. ? ¡®??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ?? ???????????? ???? ???????????????? ??????????. . .¡¯ ? ¡°Gold smuggling?¡± ? ¡°Y-Yes. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m reflecting on it now. . .¡± ? ¡°How did you survive?¡± Chapter 26.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (????) Chapter 26.2: ????????????, ????????????????, ??????????????????, ?????????? (????) Johan was amazed. Thews in this world were much stricter than on Earth. If youmitted a crime without status or connections, it was best to assume the death penalty. ? Jail? It was rare to feed expensive food to criminals. Unless they were valuable hostages. . . ? And smuggling was usually a capital offense. Bringing something into the city without paying taxes was a serious crime. ? ¡°I had some savings.¡± ? Apparently, he managed to save his life by paying some back money. Johan nodded interestedly. ? ¡°You got into smuggling even with wealth? Why?¡± ? ¡°I was enchanted by a demon.¡± ? ¡°How about being honest instead?¡± ? ¡°I need a lot of money. . .¡± ? ¡°Please, Sir Knight. This man is reflecting on his actions now.¡± ? Atanka, perhaps misunderstanding Johan¡¯s question, defended himself. As a knight, he desired obedient and loyal ves, not merchants caught smuggling. ? ¡°We have prepared equipment suitable for Sir Knight. Please ept this and forgive us.¡± ? ¡°. . .!¡± ? Johan was slightly surprised. Weapons suitable for a knight in such a town? ? But, surprisingly, they were decent. The longsword was well-bnced, and the sharp, spear-like estoc prated deeply. The small crossbow worked perfectly. ? However, the armor was terrible. It was so mismatched that it felt like ¡®this is what a knight without money wears.¡¯ Even if chainmail was damaged, wearing this was unthinkable. It would change how he was treated. ? ¡®??¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ??????????????, ?????? ??¡¯???? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ ? ??????????©¥ ? Something caught in Johan¡¯s rummaging hand. It was a small, round piece of metal. Instinctively pulling and opening the lid, a familiar object appeared. ? It was a broken pocket watch. ? ¡°. . .?!¡± ? Johan was astonished. He had never seen, nor expected to see, a wind-up clock like this. Such a sophisticated item was difficult even for dwarf artisans to make. Although broken, its potential value was intuitively apparent. ? ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ??????????!¡¯ ? Such an item in this town was surprising. It made sense that the townsfolk, not knowing how to read a clock, failed to recognize its value. ? ¡®?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????¡¯ ? Upon closer inspection, faint engraved marks were visible. They were indeed ancient Empire characters, though broken and faded. ? Johan tossed and caught the pocket watch, then observed Atanka¡¯s expression. Atanka seemed puzzled, wondering what Johan was doing. ? It was clear Atanka didn¡¯t understand the item¡¯s significance. ? Johanposed his expression. Showing too much surprise might lead to misunderstandings. He decided to take the weapons and the pocket watch, saying, ? ¡°Well, since he¡¯s reflecting, I¡¯ll show mercy.¡± ? At Johan¡¯s words, Atanka¡¯s face lit up. It was a settled matter. ? ¡°He¡¯s too shabby and dirty. Wash him and dress him. Even if not in armor, at least to a presentable level.¡± ? ¡°Yes, I will do so.¡± ? Providing a decent shirt and trousers wasn¡¯t difficult. However, Johan didn¡¯t stop there. The pocket watch was unexpected, but he had intended to ept the offer anyway. ? ¡°Two horses as well.¡± ? ¡°Yes. . .?¡± ? ¡°My horse was of good breed. Worth four or five Empire gold coins. But even at best, this ve won¡¯t fetch more than a dozen silver coins.¡± ? ¡°But, two horses. . .¡± ? ¡°There must be decent horses in this town. No excuses. I expect two horses that I won¡¯t be ashamed to ride.¡± ? Judging by the town¡¯s size, he could guess the kind of assets it might have. While there might not be well-trained warhorses for knights, sturdy packhorses or swift hunting horses were likely avable. ? Though they are inferior in pricepared to warhorses, these horses are still valuable assets. Moreover, the fact that he has to give away two of them really hurts. ? He tried to save some silver, but ended up paying even more. ? ¡®??????.¡¯ ? Should Iunch a surprise attack? ? Atanka thought for a moment about doing just that. If he could appease the knight and catch him off guard, then maybe a surprise attack. . . ? Johan stared intently at Atanka with his dark eyes. His gaze seemed to say, ¡®?? ???????? ???????? ??????¡¯???? ????????????????.¡¯ ? Atanka felt a sinking feeling in his chest. His hands trembled and his heart pounded. The pressure was different from when he subdued the wanderer with the local militia. ? ¡°I want a clear answer right here and now.¡± ? ¡°. . .I will do as you say.¡± ? Atanka, experienced as he was, could only bow his head in silence before the young knight before him. ? It was a primal fear. ? ???????????? ? ¡°It feels like an arrow might fly at us from behind.¡± ? ¡°Hey. Don¡¯t look back.¡± ? As they left Rutzbeck, the mercenaries felt uneasy about the back of their heads. They could clearly sense the townspeople watching them with certain thoughts in mind. ? They must be wishing for our demise as we leave! ? ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect them to give up so easily.¡± ? ¡°We were lucky. They seemed quite frightened. . . Milord Eldans. Will you be alright? We won¡¯t have toe here again, but it might be inconvenient for you in many ways.¡± ? ¡°I don¡¯t mind either. I won¡¯t have toe here for a while anyway.¡± ? The situation in the southern part of the Empire was bing increasingly chaotic. The tradingpanies were reluctant to send merchants to ces where feudal lords and mercenaries were fiercelypeting. ? After this journey, I¡¯ll be staying in the city for a while to help with the tradingpany¡¯s work. ? ¡®?????????????????????? ?? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?? ???????? ???????????? ????????.¡¯ ? Meanwhile, Johan was having a conversation with Geoffrey. ? Johan, in his own way, and Geoffrey, in his, were both trying to understand each other. ? But Geoffrey was the one who was desperately wracking his brain even more. ? ¡°So, why did you engage in smuggling?¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s like, I was bewitched by something. . .¡± ? ¡°Hmm. Geoffrey. We¡¯ll be moving together in various ways in the future. It¡¯d be better to know about you in advance. Just answer when I ask. Don¡¯t overthink it.¡± ? ¡°. . .I got into some debt because of gambling. . .¡± ? ¡°Ah, I see. What kind of gambling?¡± ? ¡°It was dice gambling. . .¡± ? Geoffrey, who was speaking, was surprised that Johan wasn¡¯t very angry. Normally, a knight would be angry or scold someone who had fallen into gambling and resorted to smuggling. . . ? ¡°Hmm. What kind of gambling did you mostly do?¡± ? ¡°I-It was the kind where you throw three dice and guess the sum of the numbers thate up.¡± ? ¡°Was that gambling popr?¡± ? ¡°It was so popr that you had to pay under the table to get in. . .¡± ? Then, Geoffrey realized that this young knight was genuinely interested in his story. ? ¡®???? ??????. . .?!¡¯ Chapter 27.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 27.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Of course, dice gambling was a game enjoyed by everyone, from children to the elderly, and from ves to nobles. ? However, it was a bit too lowly a pastime for nobles to openly admit their fondness for. Nobles were openly fond of intellectual and dignified entertainments like chess, not dice gambling. ? But to show such open interest in it. What does that mean. . .? ? ¡°Sir Knight, you seem to be quite fond of dice gambling!¡± ? Geoffrey was suddenly delighted. Unsure if he could get along with this new master he had just met, he now felt they would be a good match. A knight who liked gambling, what better master could there be? ? Although not something to boast about, Geoffrey was an expert in dice gambling. He knew which gambling houses in each city had the best odds, where to find unlicensed illegal gambling houses, and which dice rolls were likely in different situations. ? But Johan proved to be beyond Geoffrey¡¯s expectations. As soon as the conversation about gambling ended, Johan began asking about smuggling. ? ¡°How did you do the smuggling?¡± ? ¡°Pardon?¡± ? ¡°I¡¯m curious about how you smuggled gold. Tell me the method. You must have been quite confident to do it, right?¡± ? ¡°Bribing the guards and sneaking it in boxes brought into the city. . .¡± ? ¡°Standard procedure. Why were you caught?¡± ? ¡°The guard betrayed us. Seemed like he got scared. . .¡± ? Smuggling was too serious a crime for a few coins. Getting caught meant risking not only one¡¯s life but also the lives of one¡¯s family. ? ¡°Hmm. Bribing guards doesn¡¯t seem like a good method. Easy to betray and if another person inspects, it¡¯s over.¡± ? Goods brought into the city were rigorously inspected. It was too risky to bribe just a few people. ? ¡°How about a method less likely to get caught. . . like hiding it in the stomachs of animals? Hiring shepherds or pig herders to put gold in the stomachs of sheep or pigs.¡± ? ¡°!!!¡± ? Geoffrey was shocked by Johan¡¯s suggestion for two reasons. ? First, that a knight would suggest a method of smuggling, and second, that the method was actually usible. He wondered why he hadn¡¯t thought of it himself. ? ¡®????????¡¯?? ?? ?????????? ????????!¡¯ ? No one would suspect shepherds or pig herders bringing animals into the city. ? ¡°What do you think?¡± ? ¡°That. . . That¡¯s an excellent idea.¡± ? ¡°Good. d to know it¡¯s a feasible method.¡± ? Johan encouraged Geoffrey. Although Johan asked for future money-making schemes, the conversation was beneficial for both. Most importantly, Geoffrey began to like this unique new master. ? Like recognizes like. ? Quick-witted and a former merchant, Geoffrey intuited that his new master was quite different from the knights he had feared. In fact, they might be well-matched. ? He was unsure about future bloody battlefields, but a master with whom he could converse was the best kind. Geoffrey swore loyalty, hoping to prosper under this knight. ? ???????????? ? The road to Marcel was smooth. The mercenaries moved a bit faster than usual. It wasn¡¯t exactly because of nearby rogues or a tight schedule. It was because of what had happened in the town of Rutzbeck. They feared the townspeople, having changed their minds, might follow them. ? ¡°Oh Lord in heaven, I pray for rain. . .¡± ? ¡°Since when have you been such a devout believer?¡± ? ¡°Hear me out to the end. . . .I hope Gamson got caught trying to flee to Marcel first.¡± ? ¡°Well, in that case, I might pray for the first time in a while.¡± ? The mercenaries weren¡¯t devoutly religious like priests, but they basically believed in a god. Usually, they believed when it was convenient for them. . . ? In this era, religion was inseparable even for those who didn¡¯t believe. ? ¡°If you¡¯re done praying, let¡¯s hurry and set up camp.¡± ? ¡°Ah, my body is starting to stiffen. It would be great to loosen up in the city.¡± ? ¡°Wait. Isn¡¯t that the sound of a wolf howling?¡± ? ¡°What? There shouldn¡¯t be any wolves around here. Where is iting from?¡± ? The mercenaries were puzzled. There were no wolves in this area. Of course, it wasmon for beasts and monsters to migrate here. . . ? ¡°Damn. It¡¯s going to be troubling to stand guard.¡± ? ¡°Let¡¯s say anyone killed by a wolf is an *sshole.¡± ? Johan, who had been listening to their conversation, paused. The sound of the wolf howling was strangely familiar to him. ? Johan stood up and walked towards the outskirts of the campsite. The startled mercenaries asked him. ? ¡°Where are you going, Sir Knight?¡± ? ¡°Just going to check something.¡± ? Johan approached the edge of the forest with a longsword at his side. Then he shouted. ? ¡°Come out!¡± ? The mercenaries thought Johan had lost his mind for a moment. If Johan hadn¡¯t been a knight, they would have immediately called him crazy. ? However, Johan wasn¡¯t crazy. A huge wolf appeared in front of him. It was sorge that the mercenaries initially thought it wasn¡¯t a wolf. ? ¡°W-What is that, a monster?¡± ? The mercenaries, who had been hastily grabbing their weapons, stopped. The wolf began to wag its tail and act yfully in front of Johan, like a shepherd¡¯s dog. ? ¡°Isn¡¯t that. . . Sir Knight¡¯s pet?¡± ? ¡°Wow. Quite a feat to tame such a creature.¡± ? ¡°He¡¯s not even a wolf shapeshifter. Is he from the north?¡± ? ¡°Isn¡¯t it from the east if it¡¯s about handling wolves?¡± ? ¡°No, the northerners do it too.¡± ? ¡®. . .?¡¯ ? Johan was surprised to hear the mercenaries chatting behind him. ? They were less shocked than he expected about him having such arge wolf. ? Then Johan realized. He had been thinking too much with old wisdom. ? ¡®????????????, ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????, ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????????? ????????. . .!¡¯ ? Eldans, who came over upon hearing the noise, asked. ? ¡°Is this wolf tamed by you, Sir Knight? Why did you have it follow from afar? What if you lost it. . .¡± ? ¡°I didn¡¯t want to cause unnecessary worry.¡± Chapter 27.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 27.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) ¡°Hahaha! Sir Knight, you¡¯re something else. These folks are seasoned mercenaries. They wouldn¡¯t be scared by a tamed wolf.¡± ? Eldans burst intoughter. The mercenaries nodded with a smile, not so green as to be scared of a tamed wolf. They had seen wolf tamers before. ? ¡°But really, it¡¯s big. What did you feed it?¡± ? The mercenaries tried not to look scared, but flinched instinctively as the ck wolf approached. ? ¡°Outside it¡¯s fine, but when entering the city, it¡¯s better to put a cor on. Let¡¯s see. . .¡± ? Eldans took out a cor for the beast. Johan stared intently at the ck wolf. ? ¡°It might freak out if you cor it.¡± ? Would a wild beast stay calm while being cored? ? Surprisingly, the ck wolf stayed calm. A cor engraved with Johan¡¯s name was put on it. Even with just one cor, the wolf seemed well-trained. ? ¡°What is its name?¡± ? ¡°Name? Uh. . . Karamaf.¡± ? ¡°Karamaf! Named after Sir Karamaf? Haha.¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? ¡°Named after eating him.¡± ? Johan realized hecked the sense to name things. Of all names, why Karamaf? ? But Eldans seemed convinced, nodding. Naming animals or mounts after famous nobles or knights wasmon, hoping to inherit their spirit. ? Karamaf was a famous knight of the Empire, a fitting namesake. But. . . ? ¡°Sir Karamaf was a knight loyal to the Emperor.¡± ? People south of the Empire, beyond the mountains in the Catalian Penins, did not favor the Holy Empire¡¯s Emperor. They disliked his ims over the cities of Catalian Penins. ? If Johan was from a pro-Emperor knightly family, it would cause problems. ? ¡°Johan-nim, do you admire Sir Karamaf?¡± ? Eldans tested the waters. He thought Johan, a noble, wouldn¡¯t catch on, but Johan, raised on hard looks in his fiefdom, quickly understood. ? ¡®????????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????? ????. ?????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ ? Admiring Karamaf -> A knight from a pro-Emperor family! ? Johan inwardly cursed. Such trickery from an experienced merchant. ? ¡°No, not particrly.¡± ? ¡°Is that so? Not even such a great person. . . Oh, I don¡¯t mean you¡¯re not great, Johan-nim.¡± ? ¡°I don¡¯t doubt Sir Karamaf¡¯s skills, but hecks honor.¡± ? Johan had a ready excuse. Karamaf, the Emperor¡¯s butcher, had many enemies. His g, stained with blue blood, was a symbol of suppressed civil wars and rebellions. ? ¡°Ah, I thought so too.¡± ? Eldans hastily agreed, but his ears perked up happily, his doubts resolved. ? ©¥??????????. ? The new Karamaf made a contented sound and nudged Johan¡¯s leg. Johan, suddenly remembering, looked at the wolf and asked. ? ¡°If you¡¯ve followed me here, did you happen to see two scoundrels who fled from the town?¡± ? The wolf nodded its head. ? ¡°You saw them? Why didn¡¯t you catch. . . No, never mind. I can¡¯t expect that from you.¡± ? From the wolf¡¯s perspective, it must have been confusing whether it was okay to just eat the two humans who fled. Especially since Johan was riding on it. ? ¡°Do you know where they went?¡± ? The wolf turned its head and pointed in the direction of Marcel. Johan smiled slyly. ? ???????????? ? Marcel was a beautiful city that had descended from the ancient Empire era. For Johan, who had spent his entire life in a rural fiefdom, the sight of Marcel was inevitably striking. If he hadn¡¯t lost his memories of a previous life, he would have reacted like a country bumpkin. ? ¡°Impressive!¡± ? While the prosperous city itself was remarkable, Johan was amazed by something else: the technology of the ancient Empire. ? The ancient Empire felt like Rome on Earth, but its technology was on a different level. Living-like te armor, swords that seemed to cut through anything, and roads thatsted over a thousand years. . . No wonder there were mercenaries who specialized in rummaging through the ruins of the ancient Empire. ? Furthermore, it was said that in Marcel, clean water was readily avable everywhere, and there were so many baths that water was in excess, indicating a near-perfect water supply system. It wasn¡¯t that the people of the city were extraordinary; it was just that the system from the ancient Empire era was still functioning perfectly. ? The ability to spread water channels throughout the city like veins and maintain them was truly miraculous. ? ¡°I thought it would be dirtier and smellier. . .¡± ? Before he could finish marveling, good news arrived. ? A guard at the city gate addressed Eldans. ? ¡°Ah, Mr. Eldans. You¡¯re just in time.¡± ? ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Fiso?¡± ? ¡°The mercenary hired by Mr. Eldans came babbling, so we locked him up. Is he the one sent by Mr. Eldans? If so, you shoulde quickly to confirm. . .¡± ? Eldans turned his head. The mercenaries, already bright with joy at arriving in the city, erupted in cheers at this unexpected good news. ? ¡°That son of a b*tch, let¡¯s go sort him out!¡± Chapter 28.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 28.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Khan, The oldest among the mercenaries predicted exactly right. ? As soon as Gamson and Pell brought out a warhorse, they were plunged into chaos. ? Johan was too scared to run out of the town, but there was no proper way to do so. ? ©¥???? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ???? ????????????????. . . ? ©¥???????? ???????? ????, ??????! ??¡¯?? ????????????????. ? Gamson got irritated. Pell couldn¡¯t respond and shrank back. Outside the town, especially alone, Gamson seemed as high as the sky to Pell. ? ©¥????. . . ????????. ???? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????. ? ©¥?????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????? ? ©¥???????? ????, ??????! ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ????????! ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?? ???????????????? ???????? ????????????? ???? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ??????, ???????? ???????? ??????????! ? ©¥????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ?? ???????? ???????? ????????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ?? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ??????????? ? ©¥! ? It sounded like a crazy idea, but it was impossible for their minds to work well while wandering the cold, dark fields at night. Gamson thought hard. ? ¡®????????????, ?????? ???????? ???? ??????, ???? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ?????? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???? ??????????????????????, ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ????¡¯???? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????, ????????¡¯???? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ ? Talking to a horse merchant, not a merchant or a mercenary, seemed like a good idea to Gamson. ? It was a foolish decision made without knowing that the merchants of the city were interconnected like a spiderweb. ? ???????????? ? ¡°You¡¯re very healthy, you b*stard!¡± ? ¡°I prayed to God that you wouldn¡¯t die. I wanted to kill you myself!¡± ? The mercenaries reacted heatedly upon seeing the two locked in a solitary cell. ? Joy of reunion! ? They wouldn¡¯t have been this happy even if they had met their wives again. ? ¡°C-Captain. Let me exin. . .¡± ? ¡°Don¡¯t call me Captain anymore. It¡¯s not about exining.¡± ? ¡°What?¡± ? ¡°You should say ¡®?? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Of course, it won¡¯t do much good, but still, you scum.¡± ? With those words, Goran beat Gamson. The people of the association had locked them up carefully so they wouldn¡¯t get hurt, but that only made it more annoying. ? Did they eat and sleep well in the solitary cell while we were wandering and suffering? ? The sounds of beating, bones breaking, and chilling screams erupted from the cell. The old grudges of the mercenaries were terrifying. ? Meanwhile, outside, Johan and Eldans were having a cultured conversation with the people of the association. ? ¡°Oh, thank you so much. If it weren¡¯t for you guys. . .¡± ? ¡°Haha. What are you talking about, Mr. Eldans. I learned it from Mr. Eldans.¡± ? The employees of the association and guild were closely connected. They were very happy to have been helpful to Eldans. ? ¡°The merchant thought something was suspicious when he came babbling, so he dyed and sent someone to us. Mr. Eldans wouldn¡¯t have sent a mercenary back without a letter, so it seemed suspicious.¡± ? ¡°Right. Right.¡± ? ¡°But who is this person?¡± ? ¡°He¡¯s a knight we met on this business trip.¡± ? ¡°Ah. . .¡± ? The employees momentarily showed a look of difort. To them, who weremoners, violent and high-ranking knights were naturally objects of aversion. A collision with them could only lead to their downfall. . . ? ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s a young knight who knows honor and respects the weak.¡± ? ¡°. . .?¡± ? Johan was flustered. ? ¡®?????? ?? ???? ?????????¡¯ ? However, the assurance from Eldans was more effective than expected. The clerks immediately lowered their guard upon hearing it. ? ¡°If Mr. Eldans says so, he must be a remarkable person. . .¡± ? ¡°How honorable must he be? What achievements has he made?¡± ? ¡°He¡¯s not yet famous, but soon his name will be known throughout the Empire. . .¡± ? ¡°Eldans?¡± ? ¡°Yes, Johan-nim?¡± ? Johan put his arm around Eldans¡¯s shoulder and whispered softly. ? ¡°Be modest, it¡¯s embarrassing.¡± ? ¡°. . .Yes!¡± ? Eldans thought to himself upon Johan¡¯s words. ? He doesn¡¯t swagger about such praises but humbles himself. ? Truly, a knight out of an old tale! Chapter 28.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 28.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) While mercenaries were beating up Gamson and Pell and rejoicing, Johan was indulging in a rare luxury. Marcel was indeed different from the rural fiefdom. In the countryside, to take a bath one had to plunge into cold river water, but here hot water was avable everywhere. ? Thanks to Eldans¡¯s consideration, Johan could utilize the connections of the tradingpany. He rxed in a public bath known by thepany, got reasonably priced clothes from a wool merchant known by thepany, and asked a known expert for weapon repairs. . . ? All these were things he would have had to do upon entering the city alone. Johan was satisfied with joining the trading caravan. ? ¡®?? ???????? ???????????? ????????????.¡¯ ? ¡°Johan-nim?¡± ? ¡°?¡± ? ¡°I am truly grateful that you brought me out here. The city is wonderfully filthy.¡± ? Geoffrey too seemed happy, breathing the city air after a long time. Karamaf also looked very pleased, having received a piece of meat. ? Johan chuckled. ? ¡°It¡¯s good to rest like this before things get tough.¡± ? ¡°That¡¯s naturally a job for a ve, isn¡¯t it.¡± ? ¡°Speaking of which, what skills do you have?¡± ? ¡°Y-Yes? Oh, did I do something wrong?¡± ? ¡°No, just curious. Can you fight?¡± ? Geoffrey heaved a sigh of relief at Johan¡¯s words. ? He had feared Johan would sell him as soon as they arrived in the city and get a fresh new ve. ? Honestly, being under Johan was good. As a former merchant, Geoffrey knew how horribly a ve owner could treat their ves. Not whipping, asking about the ve¡¯s condition, allowing rest when tired. . . ? ¡°I will fight diligently!¡± ? ¡°Geoffrey. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but answer the questions before Karamaf asks.¡± ? ©¥??????????. ? ¡°. . .Yes.¡± ? ¡°Can you fight? What weapons have you handled?¡± ? ¡°A quarterstaff. . .¡± ? The long six-foot staff, made by carving wood, wasmonly used by everyone from merchants to shepherds. It was easy to find and handle. . . ? ¡°Are you good with it?¡± ? ¡°Well, I can fend off wild dogs. . .¡± ? ¡°Hmm. Not muchbat ability.¡± ? Geoffrey suddenly felt anxious at Johan¡¯s mumbling. ? Was he going to be sold if his evaluation fell below the standard? ? ¡°Do you have any knowledge of alchemy or medicine?¡± ? ¡°. . .Johan-nim. If I had such talents, I wouldn¡¯t be in that rural town. . .¡± ? ¡°I see. Understood.¡± ? ¡®????????.¡¯ ? ¡°J-Johan-nim. I know how to maintain weapons and armor!¡± ? ¡°Oh. That¡¯s unexpected. How did you learn that?¡± ? ¡°Naturally, from often selling swords and armor. . .¡± ? ¡°That¡¯s good. I might leave the maintenance to you in the future.¡± ? ¡®????????.¡¯ ? Geoffrey let out a sigh of relief. It seemed like he had scored some points. ? Meanwhile, they arrived at the ce where the horse merchant was. Johan greeted him lightly. ? ¡°Thank you. Thanks to you, I could find the stolen horse.¡± ? ¡°No, your Excellency. Catching a thief is a merchant¡¯s honor, isn¡¯t it?¡± ? The horse merchant was pleased with Johan¡¯s gratitude, appearing to be of noble birth. When else would he receive thanks from such a person? ? Johan handed him half a silver coin of the Empire. The merchant¡¯s eyes widened at the unexpected reward. ? ¡°This, this, this is too much, your Excellency.¡± ? ¡°No. My horse is worth that much.¡± ? ¡®??????. ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????????? ????????????.¡¯ ? Geoffrey thought to himself, observing Johan. Such generous charity was something only those of noble birth could afford. ? Mercenaries, fretting over a single coin, could never be sovish no matter how sessful they became. ? Of course, Johan wasn¡¯t thinking that way. He was thinking with an Earthling¡¯s sensibility. ? ¡®?? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?? ???????? ????????????????????.¡¯ ? Johan also thought the half silver coin was a regrettable loss, but decided to grit his teeth and hand it over. ? Someday, it would prove helpful. ? . . .Definitely! ? The horse merchant, hiding his moved expression, said. ? ¡°Certainly, your horse was worth that.¡± ? ¡°Is that true?¡± ? ¡°Yes. A fine breed of warhorse.¡± ? A knight¡¯s horse had to be neither too big nor too small, but just the right size and strength, with well-developed muscles. But that wasn¡¯t all. A knight¡¯s horse needed to be easily controble for eleration, stopping, maneuvering, and turning. These qualities came from training, not just lineage. ? Lineage and training. The essence of a warhorse. And Johan¡¯s horse had passed in all these aspects. ? ¡®????. . . ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????????¡¯ ? Johan was surprised by his half-brothers¡¯ acumen. He hadn¡¯t expected them to acquire such a quality horse, assuming they would settle for a decent packhorse or hunting horse. ? ¡®???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????¡¯ ? ¡°Come here, boy. Your master is here.¡± ? The horse whinnied in greeting to Johan. Johan felt a renewed affection for the horse. People often realize the value of something once they lose it. ? ¡°Your name is Fern.¡± ? Johan decided to name the horse after his half-brother. Seeing such a magnificent horse made him somewhat regret beating Fern up in his youth. ? ¡®?????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????¡¯ ? ???????????? ? Horses of any breed were quite expensive. After selling the horse received from Rutzbeck, there was enough money to spend while staying in the city. It seemed unnecessary to tap into the inheritance from Karamaf. ? Moreover, thanks to what Eldans had arranged, the merchants in the ces visited offered low prices. Even Geoffrey, who was with him, was surprised and checked cautiously. ? ¡°There¡¯s no problem. . . This is definitely cheap. Milord.¡± ? Johan nodded his head and fitted himself with equipment. He bought an additional longsword, a mace, a sturdy steel shield, and even a long spear. There was nothing like the heavynce specialized for assault that one would see in a movie. Here, even knights used ordinary spears. ? In any case, it was better to carry multiple weapons. The longsword from Karamaf was even more ufortable to use. . . ? He also picked up things he couldn¡¯t carry when he left the fiefdom. He bought a cloak, a nket for camping, pewter cups and bowls, animal fat solidified, some spices and herbs, and also a quarterstaff and a shortsword for Geoffrey to carry. The money went quickly. Before he knew it, the money he got from selling the horse turned into three Empire silver coins. ? ¡®?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????????.¡¯ ? In fact, Johan was quite well-off. He had the most expensive asset of a knight, his equipment. To acquire such chainmail immediately would cost in the hundreds, not tens of silver coins. ? Nevertheless, he couldn¡¯t becent. After all, money has a way of disappearing like melting snow if you only spend without earning. ? Johan decided to speak to Eldans and meet the branch manager of the tradingpany in this city. Chapter 29.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 29.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) ? Connections! ? In this world, connections were many times more important. Just as I¡¯m feeling in the city now. . . ? After all, wasn¡¯t joining Eldans¡¯ trade caravan to forge a bond with this tradingpany? ? ???????????? ? Marcel city¡¯s tradingpany branch manager, Iaon, listened to Eldans¡¯ report with a curious expression. True to his feline beastman nature, his ears and tail twitched attentively. ? ¡°A good meeting, was it?¡± ? ¡°Yes, thanks to St. Ruoak¡¯s care.¡± ? ¡°So. . . what do you think is the reason?¡± ? Unperturbed by Iaon¡¯s sudden question, Eldans understood its meaning. ? Knights who were not the firstborn and thus did not receive a fiefdom fell into several categories. ? If they were nobles with a good family background, they would be appointed by another family connected to their own and serve as knights. Even without a fiefdom, being able to act as a knight within the family¡¯s protection was a great fortune. ? Of course, this was in the best-case scenario. . . ? If a knight failed to establish themselves, they would roam, participating in tournaments or hunting monsters to build fame and seek opportunities. asionally, spirited knights would approach nobles to serve under them, but this was rare. ? And if they fell further? ? They would be rogue knights, wandering battlefields with mercenaries and turning into bandits. ? Johan was not from a prestigious noble family. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be wandering like this. It was clear he came from a humble or fallen noble family. . . ? Equipped so well and skilled, yet why did he not seek opportunities to impress nobles through tournaments, insteading to the tradingpany? ? Knights would rather plunder merchants thane begging to a tradingpany. It was unusual. ? Iaon was asking for this reason. ? ¡°I think it¡¯s because of ambition.¡± ? ¡°Ambition?¡± ? ¡°Yes. What else could be the reason for a knight of noble lineage to visit a tradingpany? Surely not just to earn a few coins?¡± ? Eldans¡¯ words were correct, but he himself did not realize that he had hit the mark. ? ¡°If he had no ambition, he wouldn¡¯t have made such a choice. He must havee here with the ambition to achieve feats as a knight and gain a fiefdom.¡± ? Normally, knights shunned associating with merchants. So, why would one visit a tradingpany? ? It was clear that he had an ambition that broke the usual stereotypes. ? A starving lion will not refuse to eat rotten meat while crouching down! ? If it¡¯s to gain power, one can join hands with anyone! ? ¡°Exactly, I thought the same.¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s also beneficial for the tradingpany. If we establish ties with a trustworthy knight. . .¡± ? Upon hearing Eldans¡¯ words, Iaon nodded. ? The tradingpany and the knight could mutually benefit each other. The tradingpany needed force to protect its merchants, and the knight needed gold to equip and sustain his followers. ? The problem was that typically, their rtionship wasn¡¯t good! ? Few knights viewed tradingpanies favorably. ? To the knights, merchants were greedy and obsessed with gold, and to the merchants, knights were monsters filled only with vanity in their heads. ? But if Johan, as Eldans said, is a knight who does not consider it shameful to be thoughtful and follow the words of merchants. . . ? Certainly, this connection was worth investing in. ? ¡°Alright. I will report positively to the higher-ups.¡± ? ¡°Thank you.¡± ? ¡°I trust Mr. Eldans¡¯ judgment. That settles the matter of the knight. . . Is the situation in the Empire really that bad?¡± ? ¡°Yes. It seems a major war is about to break out.¡± ? ¡°As expected.¡± ? The Emperor crushed several nobles as an example to curb the anti-Emperor factions. Although the charges were usible, everyone knew they were nonsensical. ? And this overreach angered the feudal lords. ? It was more than just expressing dissatisfaction; the sight of hiring mercenaries and diplomatsing and going was ominous. ? He may unt being an Emperor chosen by the gods, but in reality, he was elected by the votes of the prtes. His power was not much different from that of a great lord. ? In such a situation, crossing the line was bound to infuriate the nobles. It wasn¡¯t that the noblescked swords to rebel. ? ¡°Perhaps we should advise the merchants of our guild against going there. The vicinity is already troubled.¡± ? ¡°?¡± Chapter 29.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 29.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) ¡®?? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????????.¡¯ ? Johan regretted it. There was a reason why Eldans said, ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????, ?? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ??????.¡¯ ? It was ufortable for Johan to wait at the guild building. ? Even though they heard from Eldans, the employees were not bold enough to approach Johan first, and since the other side was reluctant, Johan also hesitated to initiate conversation. He didn¡¯t want to bother busy people needlessly. ? Coming here to see and hear things firsthand only led to this awkwardness. ? Geoffrey, being a former merchant, skillfully conversed with the guild staff, discussing various matters. The staff also seemed at ease talking with Geoffrey, sharingughs. Johan wished someone would talk to him, but the cautious employees preferred speaking to a ve. ? ¡®????????.¡¯ ? All Johan could do was to sit stiffly and solemnly. ? As time passed in awkward silence, amotion was heard outside. Soon, the door opened and an elderly human wrapped in robes entered. ? ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ????????????????.¡¯ ? Johan thought this pointless thought as he looked at the old man. Certainly not a body trained forbat. His back was straight, and his eyes were sharp, but that was all. ? The old man was apanied by two ves. The ves were in in clothes but had robust physiques, suggesting they could handle a fight. ? ¡°Wee, Suetlg-nim. What brings you here?¡± ? One of the employees, familiar with the old man, spoke with a flustered voice. It was customary to make an appointment before meeting a branch manager. Making someone of higher status wait was inconvenient for both parties. One such person was already enough. ? ¡°I came to see the branch manager. Why, is it a problem if this old man visits?¡± ? ¡°Not at all. . . I¡¯ll inform them immediately.¡± ? ¡°Never mind. He¡¯s busy, so I¡¯ll wait.¡± ? ¡°Well then. . .¡± ? ¡°Don¡¯t make me repeat myself.¡± ? As the old man waved his hand for them to leave, the staff hesitated but eventually backed away, knowing all too well his irritable nature. ? The old man nced around and, upon seeing Johan, his face lit up with interest. Johan, equally intrigued, locked eyes with him. ? They both seemed out of ce and awkward here. ? ¡°Are you a knight, milord?¡± ? Johan nodded. The old man grinned wickedly, his smile twisted with multiple meanings, expressing both amusement at finding an interesting counterpart and confidence that he was indifferent to Johan¡¯s status. ? ¡®????????, ???? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ ? Nobility could makemoners bow their heads, but that was it. The power of nobility came from their background. A noble without a family or fiefdom had little power in a city like this. ? Johan¡¯s treatment in this guild was due to the guarantee of the Eldans and his equipped gear, not his noble status alone. Without these, the city¡¯s merchants would have called the guards if he¡¯d demanded respect just for being a noble. ? ¡°And who might you be?¡± ? ¡°You don¡¯t know me? I am Suetlg, the sage of the Ipa?l River.¡± ? ¡°. . .?¡± ? The old man chuckled again and said, ? ¡°Need a simpler exnation? I¡¯m a wizard.¡± ? ¡°Oh. . .!¡± ? ¡°. . .Is that all you have to say?¡± ? Suetlg was surprised. Most young knights, unlike the obtuse nobles, were not thrilled to hear of wizards. ? The virtues of knights were bravery, justice, and loyalty, values far from wizards, who were associated with suspicion, ambiguity, and inscrutable malevolence. ? Yet, Johan seemed genuinely pleased. ? ¡®. . .????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????¡¯ ? ¡°Pleased to meet you, Suetlg-nim. A wizard, that¡¯s fascinating. I¡¯ve always wanted to meet one.¡± ? ¡°. . .R-Really?¡± ? ¡°Would you mind telling me about magic?¡± ? In Johan¡¯s rural fiefdom, magic was almost a legend or a rumor. Seeing a real wizard was astonishing. ? ¡®??¡¯???? ?????????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????!¡¯ ? ¡®????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ??????, ??????????????¡¯ ? Unbeknownst to Johan, he was being considered an oddity by Suetlg. ? ???????????? ? Suetlg regained hisposure and nodded. ? ¡°Since we¡¯ve met, I don¡¯t see why I shouldn¡¯t tell you.¡± ? ¡°Oh. . . .¡± ? ¡°But it¡¯s no fun just telling you, so if you beat me in a game, I¡¯ll answer any question you want.¡± ? ¡°Oh. . .¡± ? This ¡®Oh¡¯ was one of disappointment. Johan cursed inwardly. ? ¡®????????. ?? ????????????¡¯???? ?????????????????? ????????.¡¯ ? Even if knights didn¡¯t learn to read, they were taught culture, including poetry and chess, the pastimes of nobility. ? Being bad or unfamiliar with these activities made it hard to fit in with their circles. Hence, Johan had learned chess from Priest Valberga back in his fiefdom, believing it woulde in handy someday. ? Although Priest Valberga was an excellent chess yer. . . ? Johan was not a good student. ? Even when viewed in the best light, the skill level was only average. It was natural not to improve much in chess, as there was little interest in it. ? ¡°Can¡¯t we bet on something other than chess? Like dice gambling?¡± ? Or maybe arm wrestling. ? ¡°You¡¯re quite the joker. And I wasn¡¯t talking about chess. The game of kings is fun, but it¡¯s nothingpared to the game of gods.¡± ? ¡°??¡± ? What is the game of gods? A duel? ? As Johan looked puzzled, Suetlg clicked his tongue. ? ¡°Seems you don¡¯t know. Are you from the north? This is a game favored by the sultans of the East. Merchants who caught the sultan¡¯s eye learned it and spread it here. The pagans of the East call it the game of gods.¡± ? With those words, Suetlg snapped his fingers. Then a ve came and set up a board. ? It was a Go board. ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? Johan wore a stunned expression. Suetlg misunderstood it. ? ¡°You might be wondering why there are so many khans. Let me exin it to you simply. Don¡¯t worry too much. Considering it¡¯s your first time, I¡¯ll give you a handicap.¡± ? ¡°. . .Ah, yes.¡± ? Johan clenched his teeth. It was to hold backughter. Chapter 30.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 30.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) ? I never imagined it, but it was really Go. Except for the fact that it was an old-fashioned Go without komi, everything else was the same. ? ¡°This is how you make a house and win. Do you understand?¡± ? ¡°I understand.¡± ? ¡°Well, shall we y and learn?¡± ? Suetlg said, rubbing his palms together. He had been wondering how to pass the time, and it seemed like a good opportunity. ying with this knight dastard on the Go board would also be fun. ? ¡®???????? ????????????. . . ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????? ???????????? ???? ??????????????, ?????????????? ????¡¯?? ???? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ ? The old man seemed to have no conscience, fitting for a wizard. He said it would be with a handicap but didn¡¯t give any points at all. How could this be. . . ? Johan was deep in thought. ? He was much more confident in Go than chess, having spent a lot of time on it as a hobby in the past. Johan, who had held his own against professional yers with just a two-point difference in the opening, felt underestimated by the wizard. ? ¡®?????? ??¡¯???? ???? ???? ????????.¡¯ ? Since the opponent might be an unexpectedly great master, Johan decided to y his best. ? ???????????? ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? Suetlg¡¯s mouth was agape. His hands were trembling. ? ¡°I swear by the Ipa?l River, this isn¡¯t the skill of a first-timer. . .!¡± ? ¡°It is my first time.¡± ? ¡°Even a sultan¡¯s chess yer couldn¡¯t y like this!¡± ? ¡®But you can¡¯t.¡¯ ? Johan thought to himself but kept his mouth shut. He had many questions for the wizard. ? Honestly, Suetlg¡¯s skills were at best third-ss. Moreover, he only used very old openings, so there was no way he couldpete with Johan. ? It was only because Johan had been considerate from the mid-game that it ended like this; otherwise, Suetlg would have been in tears. ? ¡°Anyway, since I won, may I ask?¡± ? ¡°One. . .¡± ? ¡°?¡± ? ¡°Would you y one more game?¡± ? ¡°No, the promise is. . .¡± ? ¡°I¡¯ll keep the promise! I swear on the Ipa?l River¡¯s name, just one more game!¡± ? ¡®???????? ???? ????????. . .¡¯ ? Johan was incredulous. But he could understand the feeling; Go yers often think they lost due to apse in concentration. ? ¡°If I lose this time, I¡¯ll give you a gift.¡± ? ¡°Hmm. In that case. . .¡± ? Johan pretended to hesitate, then quickly epted. ? I thought he had no other talent than wielding a sword, but this was useful! ? ???????????? ? Suetlg sat with a dazed face. He had been utterly defeated by a young knight new to Go. ? Johan waited patiently out of consideration. ? ¡®???????? ???? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ???????????¡¯ ? But Suetlg was not that shameful a wizard. He was initially shocked but soon collected himself and spoke. ? ¡°Ask what you want to know.¡± ? ¡°Thank you. Then. . .¡± ? ¡°But if you had yed like this in Go. . .¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? ¡°Ah. Sorry. Go ahead and ask.¡± ? ¡°So, what is magic?¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s listening to the vast nature and understanding itsnguage, then asking them for help.¡± ? Suetlg answered promptly. It seemed like he had been asked this question more than once. ? ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand.¡± ? ¡°Of course, you wouldn¡¯t. This is my way of using magic. If you ask another wizard, you¡¯ll get a different answer. Some find secrets in the sequences and patterns of numbers, others discover something among the fumes of sulfur and mercury.¡± ? ¡°Isn¡¯t it all the same?¡± ? Suetlg responded irritably to the thoughtless question. ? ¡°Do you handle all weapons well? If there¡¯s a knight who¡¯s good with a sword, there might be one good with a spear. It¡¯s the same with wizards. You shouldn¡¯t think of magic as too easy, nor too hard. Magic is. . . a kind of secret. Those who understand and handle this secret are called wizards. Did that answer your question?¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s both understandable and not.¡± ? ¡°If you understood right away, what would I be?¡± ? ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask more simply. Can I learn magic?¡± ? ¡°. . .Are you a knight?¡± ? An outstanding wizard was revered by feudal lords as a trusted advisor or philosopher. They held a position much higher than that of a lower noble. . . ? Just as a knight who earns well doesn¡¯t envy a merchant, it was the same for a wizard. ? ¡°Are there no knights who use magic?¡± ? ¡°As far as I know, there aren¡¯t. It¡¯s not an easy discipline to learn, and why would a knight bother? I¡¯m called the sage of the Ipa?l River because I learned from my master about the secrets of the Ipa?l River and how to control water and the river. My master learned it from his master. The Ipa?l River is capricious and cunning. . . ? And doesn¡¯t easily reveal its favorite passages. Even if I told you, it¡¯s not something you could easily follow.¡± ? As Suetlg finished speaking, he pushed the go board aside and called a ve. The ve brought a copper basin with a unique pattern engraved on it. ? ¡°I never thought I¡¯d say this, but. . . there¡¯s nothing good about learning magic. Just be sessful andmand a wizard.¡± ? If the knights under a feudal lord feared or disliked magic, Suetlg would tease them even more. ? However, Johan couldn¡¯t help but wonder what kind of knight would want to learn magic. ? ¡°Do you know why I took out this bowl?¡± ? ¡°?¡± ? ¡°Your next question is, what can be done with magic, isn¡¯t it?¡± ? ¡°!¡± Chapter 30.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 30.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) ¡°. . .Don¡¯t be surprised. It¡¯s a question even a three-year-old could anticipate. I usually don¡¯t answer such questions.¡± ? ¡°Is it rted to the secret of magic?¡± ? ¡°No. The more mysterious, the more gold I can receive. The nobles think I can summon thunder and lightning and cause floods. At least they think I can do about a tenth of that. But what I can do is. . .¡± ? Suetlg ran his hand over the basin, and the water inside began to boil. ? ¡°Is this a magic to boil water?¡± ? ¡°. . .Do you call opening your mouth and making a sound magic? This is just preparation. I know a bit about controlling water after listening to the river¡¯s secrets. Water can tell you a lot. Let¡¯s see. . . Is there someone whose news you¡¯re curious about? Someone you haven¡¯t heard from in a while?¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? This time, Johan was lost in thought. The only people he was curious about were his family members, the half-brothers he left behind. ? ¡°If you¡¯ve chosen a person, put your hand in the water and think about them.¡± ? ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ??????????,¡¯ Johan thought to himself as he dipped his hand into the water. It was boiling, but not hot. The water created ripples and changed its shape. Suetlg squinted his eyes, trying to read the patterns. ? ¡°Let¡¯s see. . . a quiet, secluded ce. . . silence. . . a symbol of the sun. . . I see. Perhaps they¡¯ve entered a monastery? It seems like they¡¯re staying in one.¡± ? If they had sessfully taken refuge in a church, a priest might have sent them to the monastery. Johan was beginning to believe this. ? ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that.¡± ? ¡°Hmm. Anyway, this is all I can read. And don¡¯t rely too much on this. As I said, water is fickle.¡± ? After clearing the basin, Suetlg said, ? ¡°As you¡¯ve seen, I can read the present and future in water and purify tainted water. With enough preparation, I might even be able to make it rain asionally.¡± ? ¡°Isn¡¯t there anything more powerful?¡± ? Suetlg seemed slightly offended. ? ¡°Isn¡¯t this powerful enough? You¡¯re only focused on the visible, like a true knight. I understand what you mean. Creating fire, rolling stones, breaking walls©¥that¡¯s not my specialty, and those who research such secrets can¡¯t do it easily.¡± ? ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I offended you. I was just curious how you would confront an enemy.¡± ? ¡°Of course, my ves would fight in my ce, wouldn¡¯t they?¡± ? Suetlg looked at Johan as if to say, ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????¡¯ A wizard like him wouldn¡¯t personally fight, would he? ? ¡®????, ?? ??????.¡¯ ? Johan realized his mistake. Thinking that a wizard would fight directly was a prejudice. It seemed more usible, as the old man said, that he wouldn¡¯t fight at all. ? ¡°Tsk tsk. It seems you want to learn magic to use in fights?¡± ? Misunderstanding, Suetlg shook his head. ? ¡°Give up on that thought. Nature won¡¯t reveal its secrets to those with such shallow intentions. Even if you learn, it¡¯ll be hard to use in battle. . . Here.¡± ? ¡°? ? Suddenly, Suetlg took out two small ss bottles from his robe. The bottles, sealed with cork and beeswax, contained shimmering liquids. One glowed white, and the other emitted a sticky red light. ? ¡°What is this?¡± ? ¡°I said I¡¯d give you a gift. This is river water infused with secrets by me. One is for healing wounds, and the other is for poisoning or applying on weapons if you want to kill someone.¡± ? ¡°Water of Blessing, Water of Rage.¡± ? Johan read thebels on the bottles, written in the ancient imperialnguage. ? ¡°I wrote that for distinction. No real meaning. Can you read the script? Were you nning to be a priest?¡± ? Even Johan, who didn¡¯t know much, could tell these were valuable. Especially the ¡°Water of Blessing,¡± which could heal wounds. ? ¡°Is it alright for me to ept such a gift?¡± ? ¡°I swore to the Ipa?l River, so I have no choice. If I give a trivial gift, the river won¡¯t share its secrets with me anymore.¡± ? Suetlg spoke with a regretful expression, as if he had lost more than he expected in a casual game of Go. ? ¡°Then, I¡¯ll gratefully use it.¡± ? ¡°Have all your questions been answered?¡± ? ¡°Yes.¡± ? ¡°Then let¡¯s y another game.¡± ? ¡°. . .Ah, yes. How many points should I give you?¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? Suetlg, blushing, pondered for a moment. ? ¡°Just. . . give me two points.¡± ? ¡°Two points will be enough?¡± ? ¡°. . .Three points.¡± ? ???????????? ? As Iaon appeared, a staff member rushed over to inform him that Johan and Suetlg were waiting. Surprised, Iaon asked, ? ¡°Why didn¡¯t you report this immediately?¡± ? ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. Both of them insisted not to tell you. . .¡± ? Suetlg might be entric, but Johan too? Shaking his head, Iaon said, ? ¡°From now on, it would be better to prioritize thepany¡¯s interest first. What are you nning to do by exploiting their kindness?¡± ? ¡°Ah. . .!¡± ? Iaon clicked his tongue and quickly walked away. Johan might be unknown, but Suetlg was an odd old man who would wait for him to arrive and then throw a tantrum. ? ¡°. . .???¡± ? ¡°I-I¡¯m going to back down.¡± ? ¡°You have already backed down three times.¡± ? ¡°I swear on the Ipa?l River, this is thest time!¡± ? ¡°Doesn¡¯t it anger the Ipa?l River to use it like that?¡± Chapter 31.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 31.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) ? ¡°What are you two doing?¡± ? ¡°Ah. Iaon branch manager. Long time no see.¡± ? ¡°Is this person the branch manager? Nice to meet you.¡± ? When Suetlg and Johan greeted, Iaon nodded with a bewildered expression. At a nce, they seemed to be ying Go. The situation was. . . ? ¡®???? ????????????-?????? ??????????????¡¯ ? At first nce, Suetlg was clearly losing badly. Iaon was even more perplexed. After all, Suetlg was an expert who had even won against a Go yer under the Sultan. ? ¡°Since the branch manager is here, let¡¯s stop here. It¡¯s a shame, but it can¡¯t be helped.¡± ? With those words, Suetlg swept his hand across the board. Johan looked at Suetlg as if he couldn¡¯t believe it. Suetlg avoided eye contact and then walked away first. ? ¡°Is he always like this?¡± ? ¡°No, not usually. But, did you know each other from before?¡± ? ¡°This is our first meeting today.¡± ? Iaon slightly revised his opinion of Johan. ? Seeing how well he got along with Suetlg, this go yer seemed to be quite an entric character as well. ? ???????????? ? ¡°You can speak first, Suetlg.¡± ? ¡°Thank you. Since you¡¯ve been gracious, allow me to exin the reason I came. . .I have heard of recent disturbances in the southeast.¡± ? ¡°?¡± ? ¡°Johan looked puzzled. Disturbances in the southeast?¡± ? Suetlg kindly exined what Johan seemed unaware of. ? Recently, mercenaries have been pouring in from various ces, and they have formed a rogue band. Their numbers have grown to over a hundred, and they¡¯ve be a nightmare in the nearby forest. Travelers and merchants in the vicinity prefer to take detours. ? Naturally, Marcel City couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch. The magistrate and the City Council unanimously decided tounch an expedition, and a mercenary group was hired with the city¡¯s gold. ? With over five hundred mercenaries going into the forest for the expedition, it might take some time, but they will soon bring an end to it. ? Everyone in the city thought that way. ? ¡°It seems the expedition might fail.¡± ? ¡°. . .?!¡± ? Iaon was surprised, but he didn¡¯t dismiss Suetlg¡¯s words casually. Suetlg was a philosopher(sage) closely associated with the Katana Merchant Guild¡¯s owner. If he said something like that, it had meaning. ? ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ? ¡°The river and water have shown me the future.¡± ? ¡®?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????????????? ??????????????????????. . .¡¯ ? Johan found it bewildering. If he were themander and a wizard came and said, ¡®?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ????¡¯?? ??????,¡¯ he would have probably said, ¡®???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ??????!¡¯ ? Shouldn¡¯t he provide a more usible reason? ? But that alone was enough. ? Unlike Johan, people took magic and superstition much more seriously. ? ¡°I see. In that case, we should prepare.¡± ? ¡°?!¡± ? ¡°That¡¯s why I came here. It¡¯s a good thing.¡± ? ¡°No. Can it really be done with that?¡± ? ¡°Thank you for the visit. Do you happen to know why this is happening?¡± ? ¡°I haven¡¯t seen that part.¡± ? ¡°Understood.¡± ? Suetlg immediately stood up from his seat. It seemed like he was about to leave. Iaon cautiously said, ? ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, please stay a little longer.¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s fine. The amodations here are quite ufortable.¡± ? There was no way the Guild would provide Suetlg, a wizard like him, with a shabby inn. Even though they were fit for nobles, the reaction wasn¡¯t due to the quality of the amodations; it was clearly because of Suetlg¡¯s personality. ? Iaon¡¯s mind shed for a moment. With the wit of a skilled merchant, he opened his mouth. ? ¡°Since it seems like you¡¯re looking for a suitable opponent, wouldn¡¯t it be better to stay here a little longer?¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? Suetlg looked hesitant. To be honest, calling him a ¡®???????????? ????????????????¡¯ would be a bit of a stretch of conscience. . . ? But it was true that the idea was tempting. Where else could one find such a rival? ? Iaon looked at Johan and gave a pleading look. It was a request for help. ? He had already learned and felt that helping a merchant meant receiving help in return. There was no reason to refuse. ? ¡°Why don¡¯t we stay a bit longer?¡± ? ¡°. . .Alright. If you say so.¡± ? Suetlg seemed to regret his words immediately, his expression aplex mix of emotions. Still, he didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of taking his words back, as he was the first to stand up and leave. Left alone, Iaon said with a brightened face, ? ¡°Thank you, Sir Johan.¡± ? ¡°It was nothing. I also enjoy matching wits with a worthy opponent.¡± ? ¡°I appreciate your words even more then. If it¡¯s alright with you, could you stay not at the inn where you are currently staying, but at the mansion where Suetlg resides?¡± ? Johan smiled contentedly. What a profitable turn of events. ? ¡°I shall do so.¡± ? ¡°Thank you very much.¡± ? ¡°May I ask you something?¡± ? ¡°Please do.¡± ? ¡°Since Suetlg has already made his prophecy and left, why do we need to keep him here any longer?¡± ? ¡°Ah. . .¡± ? Iaon smiled bitterly. It seemed the knight was not familiar with such matters. ? ¡°Suetlg¡¯s prophecies do note easily. No matter how much we plead, he does not readilyply. Magic is not something to be used frivolously, after all.¡± ? ¡°. . .?¡± ? Johan was puzzled. Then what was the meaning of the prophecy Suetlg had given earlier? ? Was it a favor? Chapter 31.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 31.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) ¡°If he stays longer and is well-treated, there might be a chance to receive more prophecies. It¡¯s a calction on our part. Such opportunities are rare.¡± ? ¡°Hmm. Is a prophecy that significant?¡± ? ¡°A good prophecy can change the fate of a whole guild.¡± ? Even if uncertain, everyone sought prophecies about the future. Thanks to his prophecies, Suetlg had be an advisor to the Duke. ? ¡°Let¡¯s leave Suetlg¡¯s story at that and talk about you, Sir Johan.¡± ? ¡°That would be appreciated.¡± ? ¡°Sir Johan, we have a guess as to why you came to the guild.¡± ? ¡°!¡± ? Had his shallow intent of making a stable ie been seen through? ? ¡®Isn¡¯t this too harsh a rebuke?¡¯ ? ¡°Ambition is not bad in itself. And if it¡¯s ambition in someone qualified, it¡¯s actually a virtue. Someone like Sir Johan certainly deserves to serve a worthy lord and receive his own fief.¡± ? ¡°. . .So you¡¯ve seen through me.¡± ? Caught off guard, Johan decided to y along. ? Being seen as an ambitious knight aiming for a territory seemed better than being thought of as someone just trying to make a quick buck. ? And honestly, thetter seemed too petty. ? ¡°We guessed right, then. Please forgive us for speaking so frankly. As merchants, we like to understand each other¡¯s true intentions.¡± ? ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ? ¡°Sir, would you mind or feel reluctant to fight under our g?¡± ? ¡°Not at all, I wouldn¡¯t mind in the slightest.¡± ? ¡°Hmm. . .¡± ? Iaon hummed in satisfaction. As Eldans had observed, Johan was indeed a knight worth joining hands with. ? His first impression had been favorable. ? Even as a knight, Johan had shown her respect. A younger knight might have acted arrogantly, trusting solely in his status. ? But Johan didn¡¯t. ? He knew his status but understood the situation. This flexibility was rare in other knights. ? ¡°By the grace of St. Ruoak, may this meeting be beneficial for both of us. I look forward to working with you, Sir Johan.¡± ? ¡°I look forward to working with you as well.¡± ? ???????????? ? ¡®?? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ ? Johan was lost in thought. Back in the rural fiefdom, his primary goal was to establish his position, not to be a feudal lord. It seemed like an unattainable goal. ? However, hearing Iaon¡¯s words, it suddenly felt usible. After all, bing a feudal lord was simply a matter of catching the eye of a noble who would grant thend. ? With the help of the guild, gaining achievements and fame, who knows if such fortune mighte? ? ¡°Won¡¯t you sit?¡± ? ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ? Johan settled down at once. He was an assassin who had captured a grand wizard. Suetlg¡¯s face reddened then turned ashen. ? ¡°Wizard-nim, shall I give you a break?¡± ? ¡°. . .I couldn¡¯t sleep wellst night because of you.¡± ? ¡°What did I do?¡± ? ¡°Didn¡¯t you make the maid cry all night?¡± ? ¡°Ah, I guess you heard. My apologies.¡± ? The maid¡¯s seduction seemed like a ruse, and he tried to refuse, but the curiosity about her being a cat person was too much, especially her tail and ears. ? In the end, it was true that cat people had a weakness for their tails. ? ¡°I¡¯ll give you some good advice if you give me a break.¡± ? ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ? ¡°Be careful with getting too involved with the guild.¡± ? ¡°. . .Is there a problem?¡± ? Johan tensed up. Suetlg¡¯s words were not to be taken lightly. Wasn¡¯t he much more familiar with the guild? ? ¡°Is there a scheme within the guild?¡± ? ¡°Scheme? The guild is transparent. They grasp what¡¯s profitable and let go of what¡¯s not. The issue is with you. Aren¡¯t you from the Empire?¡± ? ¡°Yes.¡± ? ¡°The Katana Merchant Guild is anti-Emperor. A couple of times may go unnoticed, but continually associating with them mightbel you or your family as anti-Emperor. Be cautious and think big.¡± ? ¡°Um. . . I¡¯m fully prepared for what I¡¯m doing.¡± ? ¡°. . .Is that so?¡± ? ¡°Yes.¡± ? ¡°Then let¡¯s continue our game.¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? Suetlg, feeling embarrassed, said no more. An awkward silence followed. Johan spoke to lighten the mood. ? ¡°This mansion is a really nice ce.¡± ? Skilled servants, beautifully decorated courtyards and rooms, and the meals served at every meal were just a bonus. Seeing the treatment Suetlg received made Johan envy the life of a wizard. ? ¡°It was once a noble¡¯s residence.¡± ? ¡°Oh, whose was it?¡± ? ¡°Who remembers such details? Besides, I dislike this mansion. I can¡¯t hear the sound of the river. . . The only thing I like here is this pet.¡± ? Suetlg tried to pet Karamaf, but the wolf shrank away, displeased. ? ¡°But isn¡¯t the name a bit unlucky?¡± ? ¡°Well, a bit of a sinister name keeps the enemies at bay, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ? ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ? While they were chatting, a messenger arrived at the mansion with urgent news. Panting, he drank a ss of water and delivered his message. ? ¡°The expedition has failed. Johan-nim, the branch manager is looking for you.¡± ? ¡°The prophecy hase true.¡± ? Suetlgmented nonchntly. Unknown to Suetlg, Johan was looking at him with an impressed yet irreverent gaze. Chapter 32: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 32: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) ? ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± ? ¡°Will you be alright?¡± ? ¡°In what sense do you ask?¡± ? ¡°I¡¯m asking if you¡¯re okay with going on a punitive expedition.¡± ? Johan was also perceptive. ? After agreeing to cooperate with thepany, the fact that they were calling him following the failure of the punitive expedition meant that there was use for a knight. ? It seemed that he would cooperate with the punitive expedition in the name of thepany. ? ¡°Do I look like it¡¯s my first time in a punitive force? I can take care of myself. Since I prophesied it, I should take responsibility.¡± ? In the courtyard, Suetlg¡¯s ve had finished preparing for departure. Geoffrey, with equal speed, quickly saddled a horse. It seemed he felt a sense of urgency because of the ves under Suetlg¡¯smand. ? ???????????? ? The city of Marcel was run by an elected magistrate and other members of the council. Here, the council members were not ordinary city citizens but rather powerful peopleposed of the city¡¯s guilds and nobility. ? Iaon, the branch manager of thepany, was naturally a member of the council. ? This meant that he naturally had to participate in the response to the failure of the punitive expedition. ? However, Iaon was rxed. He had prepared after hearing Suetlg¡¯s prophecy. He had stockpiled goods that would increase in price due to road blockages and had mercenaries ready. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t him who had rmended the failed mercenary group. ? In this situation, there was nothing to lose and only gain. It was the happiest time for a merchant. ? ©¥?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ??????????, ??????????¡¯?? ??????! ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ?? ???????? ???? ????????????! ? ©¥????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????. ???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ??????. ? ©¥???????????????? ???????? ????????. ?????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ?? ???????? ????????????????????. ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ????????. ? ©¥???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?? ????????! ?????? ???????? ???? ??????????????, ?????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????????? ??????????????. ? ©¥??????????¡¯?? ?????? ??????????. ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ????????. ? ©¥?????? ?????? ???????????? ??????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???? ????????? ? ©¥????????????! ???? ????????????????????, ?? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????????? ????????????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????, ???????? ???????????? ???? ????????????????????. ?????????????? ??????????????, ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ????????????????. ?? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ?? ?????????????? ??????. ? Upon hearing the magistrate¡¯s words, the council members nodded. Whether they liked it or not, they agreed with the magistrate. The matter had to be resolved quickly. ? Council members who had hoped to escape by paying the defense tax pursed their lips. The magistrate had preemptively blocked this route. ? Hiring mediocre people was easy, but not for this situation. Considering the magistrate¡¯s dignity, they had to hire proper mercenaries. ? Iaon took this opportunity to start his business. ? ©¥???????????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ??????????????????. ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ????? ? ©¥????, ?????????? ???????? ???? ??????????????? ? ©¥???? ????????????. ? Paying the defense tax and escaping was not an option, but joining forces with other council members to hire mercenaries was eptable. Iaon charged a considerable sum to a few council members and included their names. ? ©¥?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????????????? ??????????? ? ©¥?????????? ??????????????????????. ? ©¥. . .! ? ???????????? ? ¡°As you instructed, Sir Johan. The three were sold asborers. And Gamson was executed.¡± ? Johan nodded. The three men caught from the town were of no concern, but Gamson was the one who had led the operation directly. A definite punishment was necessary. ? Gamson, beaten by the mercenaries, was executed in the name of thepany before he could regain consciousness. ? Johan epted a purse offered by Iaon. ? ¡°It wasn¡¯t necessary to reward those mercenaries. . . but as per your instruction, Sir Johan, I shared some silver with them.¡± ? ¡°One is rewarded by God for having a merciful heart.¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? As Johan made a joking remark, Iaon¡¯s expression became subtle while Suetlg beside them found it absurd. What use was such talk in front of a merchant? ? ¡°Mercy? Do you not know that woman¡¯s blood was golden?¡± ? ¡°It was just a joke.¡± ? ¡°Don¡¯t joke with someone who can¡¯t take it.¡± ? While the two bantered, Iaon cleared his throat to draw attention. ? ¡°Sir Johan. You said you wouldn¡¯t mind fighting under thepany¡¯s g. Do you still stand by that decision?¡± ? ¡°Yes.¡± ? ¡°A force is being assembled in the city to hunt down a group of rogues. We n to hire mercenaries and join. Please participate with us.¡± ? Johan nodded. He had been prepared for this from the beginning. ? Iaon, with a tense expression, swallowed and spoke. This next request was a bit daunting for her. ? ¡°And. . . we would like you to follow themand of our mercenary captain.¡± ? ¡°I will do so.¡± ? ¡°. . .?¡± ? Iaon was momentarily startled then regained hisposure. He was taken aback by how easily Johan agreed. ? A knight from a noble family would not easily ept themand of a mercenary, no matter the circumstance. It was a matter of knightly pride. ? But Johan had epted it too easily. To Iaon, Johan¡¯s calm expression started to feel like a mask worn by an enigmatic creature. ? ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s alright? It¡¯s unusual for a knight to follow a mercenary¡¯smand.¡± ? ¡°If one receives something, one must give something in return. I¡¯ve decided to think about prideter.¡± ? ¡®. . .???? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ???? ?? ??????????????????, ?????? ?? ????????????.¡¯ ? Suetlg thought disdainfully of the people of Johan¡¯s former household. To train such a man as a knight. Well, it must have been due to his size. . . ? ???????????? ? The dwarves of the Dwarf Mountains were a beloved race of mercenaries due to their sturdy and robust physiques, along with their race¡¯s characteristic stubbornness. ? One such group was the , a band of dwarf mercenaries under the Katana Merchant Guild. For this expedition, five units of ten dwarfs each and a Captain of a hundred men had arrived in Marcel. ? Johan looked at the dwarves with wonder. Their appearance, with shieldsrge enough to cover half their bodies and carrying huge axes on their backs, seemed like small, solid walls in motion. ? ¡°I am Captain Kumal. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Johan.¡± ? A burly dwarf with a long, braided red beard greeted him respectfully. He had heard about Johan before arriving. ? ©¥?? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ????. ? ©¥???????????? ??????????????, ????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ?? ??????????-???????? ????????????. ? ©¥?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ????????. ? ©¥. . .? ? The branch manager, not one to speak idly, agreed to this, but as a Captain, he couldn¡¯t help but be concerned. ? ¡°I look forward to working with you.¡± ? ¡°Sir Johan! Please speak freely.¡± ? ¡°Won¡¯t that undermine your authority in front of your subordinates?¡± ? ¡°My men won¡¯t doubt my authority just because the knight speaks casually. In fact, it makes me more ufortable.¡± ? ¡°Then let it be so.¡± ? At Johan¡¯s words, the dwarf nodded in bewilderment. He had worried about a sh of egos, but this was beyond his expectations. ? ¡°I Count on you, Suetlg-nim.¡± ? ¡°Yes, I¡¯m counting on you too.¡± ? Johan and Suetlg joined the dwarves. Meanwhile, mercenaries began gathering at a camping site near the city. ? City guards and newly hired mercenaries would be the main force of this expedition. The force was approximately eight hundred strong, qualitatively much better than the previous Oak Tree Mercenary Group. ? Moreover, the cmity society¡¯s preparations were far from over. ? ¡°St. Iena Holy Knights¡¯ Order, and St. Gnto Holy Knights¡¯ Order. . .!¡± ? Geoffrey eximed in surprise upon seeing the gs of the arriving pdins. ? The Holy Knights¡¯ Order, a group of devotees who, instead of living in seclusion, took up arms to fulfill the will of their deity. ? Strictly speaking, they were not noble-born knights but devotees, yet no one underestimated them. The pdins, honing their skills within the monastery, were as formidable as well-trained knights. ? ¡°Are they famous?¡± ? ¡°Yes, milord. Both are renowned orders in this region. The St. Iena Holy Knights¡¯ Order notably defeated a troll.¡± ? About twenty female devotees arrived, followed by thirty male devotees. St. Iena Holy Knights¡¯ Orderprised only women, while St. Gnto Holy Knights¡¯ Order admitted only men. ? They exchanged greetings with a flicker of motion and then took their ces in an orderly fashion on opposite sides. The noisy mercenaries fell silent and hesitant in the presence of the Holy Knights¡¯ Order. ? ¡°They lookpetent in both arms and skills.¡± ? ¡°They are unmounted. Nothing muchpared to you, master. Hehe.¡± ? Geoffrey was desperately ttering, driven by his anxiety. ? Already needing to prove his worth, Geoffrey found himself stuck at Suetlg¡¯s mansion when Johan was there. The servants at Suetlg¡¯s mansion left Geoffrey with no opportunity to act. ? ¡°Skill is not determined by the presence of a horse.¡± ? ¡°Ah. Yes.¡± ? Geoffrey despaired, feeling he had made another misstep. ? ¡®???? ???????? ????????, ??¡¯???? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ?? ??????????????. . . ???? ??????. . .¡¯ ? Oblivious to Geoffrey¡¯s desperate heart, Johan surveyed the pdins. They were not mounted but were well-armed, a stark contrast to the mercenaries who were merely wrapped in leather armor with a few chains. ? ¡°Look, the knights areing.¡± ? ¡°From the monastery again?¡± ? ¡°No. Knights like yourself.¡± ? Suetlg pointed in the opposite direction. A group of about thirty, bearing a family crest, was approaching. Identifying the knights was easy; the three in front were heavily armed and mounted, while the others lightly armed and carrying baggage, leading the horses. ? ¡®?????????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ ? ¡°Sent by Count Bartok, it seems.¡± ? ¡°Why would the Count send them to a city that¡¯s not his?¡± ? ¡°Why indeed?¡± ? Suetlg drew a circle indifferently. It meant that sending knights under one¡¯smand cost money, so the Count must have struck a significant deal with the city. ? Unlike the monastery knights, these approached the fiefdom slowly and showily. It was quite irritating. Watching them, Johan thought, ? ¡®????????. . . ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????????????¡¯ ? City guards¡¯ Captain, leaders of the mercenaries, Holy Knights¡¯ Order, real knights. . . ? Themand structure was already making him dizzy. ? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ? ¡°I was thinking about who willmand all these gathered.¡± ? ¡°Worrying about trivial things. The mercenaries will follow their Captain, the Holy Knights¡¯ Order will manage themselves, and the knights will take care of themselves.¡± ? ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be easier if themand structure was unified?¡± ? ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be convenient to fly in the sky? Why don¡¯t you fly?¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The enemies will be just as disjointed.¡± ? Suetlg was unfazed by the disorganized nature of the gathered groups. It was normal for him. ? From Johan¡¯s perspective, however, such chaos was unprecedented. An army should have a more orderlymand structure. . . ? ¡®???? ????????, ?? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???? ??????.¡¯ ? Kill if seen, chase if fled, and stop ifmanded. ? Johan nned to work only as much as he was paid for in this campaign. Four Empire silver coins a day seemed fair enough. Chapter 33: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 33: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) ? Unfortunately, the captain of the guards was not in a position to be unconcerned like Johan. ? He had to issue orders while appeasing the iing mercenary captains to prevent their dissatisfaction, request politely from the people of the Holy Knights¡¯ Order, and grovel to the knights sent by Count Bartok. ? Although he had gained experience from a long stay in the city, he was ultimately a mercenary by origin. He had no way to resolve this situation. ? ¡®???????? ????????.¡¯ ? ¡°What will your honors do?¡± ? ¡°Report to us if you see the enemy. We will step in if necessary.¡± ? ¡°Yes, understood.¡± ? With those words, the knights withdrew. They seemed to have no intention of mingling or conversing with the mercenary captains. It was a role of a superior, but it couldn¡¯t be helped. ? ¡°The pdins of. . .¡± ? ¡°We will coordinate and act in concert with the soldiers.¡± ? ¡°!!¡± ? At these reassuring words, the captain of the guards was relieved. He might not be able tomand the pdins of the Holy Knights¡¯ Order, but their willingness to coordinate and act together was something. ? ¡°The pdins from St. Gnto Holy Knights¡¯ Order also. . .¡± ? ¡°We will do the same.¡± ? ¡°Thank you. This makes things easier. With esteemed knights and pdins present, those rogue gangs will soon be captured and dealt with!¡± ? ???????????? ? The camp of the punitive force seemed like chaos itself to Johan. ? The gathered mercenaries were grouped separately by their own units orpanies. There was no uniformity or coordinated movement among them. ? Over a dozen merchants moved in and out of the camp with their workers, selling various meals, equipment, and necessities to the mercenaries. ? ¡°Quite a disciplined force.¡± ? ¡°The captain of the guards is a renowned figure. With his high reputation among mercenaries, there should be no problem in managing them.¡± ? At the words of the dwarf Kumal, Suetlg nodded in agreement. Johan felt like the only sane person among fools. ? ¡®??????????. . .¡¯ ? Even though he knew intellectually that this was the best approach, adapting was another matter. Johan clicked his tongue in frustration. ? The location of the Crimson Iron Mercenary Company was among the better spots in the camp. It was due to the names of Katana Merchant Guild and Crimson Iron Mercenary Company, but also because of Johan and Suetlg. ? As a result, while other mercenaries were busy setting up camp and standing guard, Johan and Suetlg could restfortably. ? ¡°Is this the ce of Sir Johan and the philosopher of Ipa?l River, Suetlg?¡± ? A well-dressed servant asked cautiously. Suetlg frowned and replied. ? ¡°I am Suetlg. What is it?¡± ? ¡°My lord, Sir Gustav, wishes to host you both.¡± ? ¡°Hmm. . . Alright. We¡¯lle soon.¡± ? After the servant left, Suetlg spat out. Johan asked in surprise. ? ¡°Do you have any grievances?¡± ? ¡°What knights are good at is upsetting wizards.¡± ? ¡°Then why did you ept?¡± ? ¡°One has to consider the dignity of the Count Bartok. A wizard friendly with nobles receives noble treatment, but a wizard not friendly with nobles is more dangerous than a ve. It¡¯s not good to incur the wrath of nobles.¡± ? ???????????? ? The members and knights of the Holy Knights¡¯ Order waitedfortably inside the camp. They had no need to go out for camping or guard duty. ? However, the way the two of them stayed was theplete opposite. ? The camping site of the Holy Knights¡¯ Order was so modest that it had less luggage than the mercenaries, but the knights¡¯ tents were decorated with fabrics and gs of various brilliant colors. ? It seemed to have already started; from inside, there was a loudughter and light spreading out. Seeing this, Suetlg shook his head. ? ¡°Those without money are making a fuss.¡± ? The virtue of the nobility was not modesty but luxury. The morevishly they could indulge in luxury, therger the vessel of that nobleman could be shown. ? The problem was that these knights were not wealthy enough to afford such luxury. ? ¡°Don¡¯t they have a fiefdom?¡± ? ¡°A knight with a fiefdom? They might have received the title but not the fiefdom. If they had a fiefdom, they wouldn¡¯t havee to such a ce.¡± ? Even if they had a knighting ceremony and received a title, it didn¡¯t necessarilye with a fiefdom. To receive a fiefdom, one had to aplish a certain amount of merit. ? Probably, they were spending more money than they earned, just to maintain their prestige. ? ¡°Thanks to that, they will eat and drink well. With someone else¡¯s money.¡± ? ¡°Must be nice to be so carefree. Let¡¯s see what kind of reaction they have.¡± ? Suetlg grumbled and went inside. However, Johan¡¯s words were not wrong. ? Instead of a thick mercenary-style soup of unidentified ingredients, they had noble-style soup made with properly fried chicken divided by parts and neatly cooked with spices, along with roast pigeon, wild boar, goose, and various other animals. Onions, garlic, potatoes, etc., were naturally cooked alongside, served with soft white bread and well-ripened cheeses ? Rolling around on the table. The servants and ves brought by the knights shone with anticipation in their eyes. ? While the elf knights indulged in wine and meat, engaging in excessive drinking and eating, the pdins were having a remarkably modest meal. ? A little boiled potato with a little salt. That was all they had for their meal. Johan looked disgusted. He would have at least eaten the soft bread that he usually couldn¡¯t have. ? ¡°The philosopher of Ipa?l River is here, surely our battle will be blessed with good fortune!¡± ? An elf shouted loudly. Then, everyone¡¯s gaze inside turned to them. Suetlg and Johan briefly greeted and sat down. Johan wanted to tear into some expensive meat dish after a long time, but the knights wouldn¡¯t leave him alone. ? ¡°Philosopher, won¡¯t you predict our future?¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? Suetlg was expressionless, but Johan knew that Suetlg was getting angry. ? ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Magic isn¡¯t something that can be used so easily.¡± ? ¡°Oh well. It can¡¯t be helped. It¡¯s fine. After all, there¡¯s only one oue. The rogues will all be torn to death!¡± ? The elf knight said this and, caught up in the excitement, threw his cup to the ground. His party pped and stomped their feet. Johan quietly ate the food in the meantime. ? ¡®??????. ?????? ???????? ???? ??????????????????.¡¯ ? ¡°Is there anything as reliable and straightforward as a well-sharpened sword? More dependable than the unpredictable and fickle magic. . . Even the gods in the heavens! Oh, I apologize. Philosopher, I did not mean to insult you.¡± ? ¡°That¡¯s alright.¡± ? Johan marveled at the knights¡¯ eloquence as he ate his meat, mocking magic while summoning a wizard. ? What was more surprising was that they didn¡¯t particrly bear any grudge or hostility against Suetlg. They genuinely believed that. ? Suetlg, a philosopher acquainted with Count Bartok, naturally had no reason to be insulted. ? The knights¡¯ treatment was a matter of duty, but their mistrust and skepticism towards magic made them speak their minds bluntly. . . ? Johan understood why Suetlg detested the knights¡¯ treatment. ? ¡®?? ??????. ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????.¡¯ ? ¡°Sir Johan of the Yeats family?¡± ? ¡®???? ????.¡¯ ? As an arrow flew towards him, Johan clicked his tongue. He thought it would end after talking with Suetlg who had summoned him. ? How should one handle Johan¡¯s temper? ? ¡°It¡¯s truly a pleasure to meet an honorable noble in this filthy battlefield filled only with mercenaries and rogues. You must feel the same, right?¡± ? ¡°Ah, certainly.¡± ? Johan responded casually, but the elven knights seemed to take a liking to him more than he expected. ? Essentially, Johan had an appearance that knights would find appealing. ? An elf knight named Leon poured strong wine into a ss, overflowing, and said. ? ¡°I heard you¡¯re working under the banner of apany. To work under such greedy people, you must feel indignant.¡± ? ¡°I¡¯ve been swallowing that bitter feeling.¡± ? ¡°Yes! I understand that feeling. Merchants are blinded by gold, scraping it together like a rake, regardless of what it takes. Do you know how greedy they are? Once you¡¯re in debt, they pounce like a possessed son of a b*tches.¡± ? ¡®??????¡¯?? ???? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????????¡¯ ? The knights had a different perspective than Johan. ? Instead of ¡®???? ??????¡¯???? ???? ????????, ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ??????,¡¯ it was ¡®?? ?????????? ???? ???? ????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????¡¯ ? ¡°Leon. Even so, isn¡¯t it shameful for a knight to fight under the banner of apany?¡± ? ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, Loren. Once those greedy merchants decide to go after you, you can¡¯t escape until you give them an arm.¡± ? The elf knight known as Leon believed Johan was fighting under thepany¡¯s banner because of debt. Johan, who voluntarily joined for good meals, remained silent. ? ¡°Right, Sir. Will you join us in the charge tomorrow? I n to be at the forefront as soon as the scouts report.¡± ? ¡°I have to lead thepany¡¯s mercenaries, so it¡¯s impossible.¡± ? ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate. Missing such an opportunity as a knight.¡± ? Johan had no intention of charging ahead with unfamiliar knights, leaving his mercenaries behind. While knights seek glory and achievements, it wasn¡¯t necessarily only at the forefront. . . ? At this time, Johan didn¡¯t fully grasp what it meant for the knights to ¡®???? ???? ?????? ??????????????????¡¯. ? ???????????? ? ¡°The mercenaries sent out for reconnaissance have discovered an enemy encampment. The numbers appear to be around fifty or so. . .¡± ? ¡°Understood. We must prepare to advance our soldiers.¡± ? Before the Captain of the guard could gather the warriors present, the sound of a loud trumpet emanated from the knights¡¯ encampment. ? Elven knights, heavily armed with chainmail, helmets,nces, and longswords, along with their well-armed but lesser-equipped servants and ves, were readying for a charge, mounted on their horses. ? ????????-????????, ????????-????????©¥ ? The mounted ones in front, those leading spare horses behind. The elven knights proceeded, pulling their horses forward, as the mercenaries looked on. The knights swiftly broke through the encampments and moved forward effortlessly. ? The scouts had heard and prepared before even reporting to the captain. ? Cooperation with mercenaries? Such notions held no meaning for the knights. ? It was solely about their bravery and their achievements! ? ¡°But, captain. They¡¯re moving out ahead.¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s not like they¡¯d listen if we tried to stop them. Hurry and get the mercenaries ready! We must sweep them up before they flee further.¡± ? The knights¡¯ eagerness to charge ahead without waiting for preparations was not surprising. ? It wasn¡¯t because the knights were foolish. They knew well enough that fighting together was advantageous. They simply chose not to. ? Waiting for the mercenaries to fight together would be akin to dering their own weakness. ? For those born and trained as knights, this mindset and value system was absolute. ? ¡°Isn¡¯t it dangerous? It¡¯s deep in the forest, after all.¡± ? ¡°Dangerous? With just those knights, the rogues inside can be easily subdued.¡± ? Suetlg¡¯s words were no exaggeration. ? Certainly, if hundreds of mercenaries united against the knights, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for them. ? But the mercenaries were far from united. ? Facing the knights¡¯ fierce assault, they would think first of abandoning theirrades and fleeing rather than banding together. ? The knights¡¯ fearsomenessy in such small-scale battles. Their ferociousbat capabilities unmatched by simr numbers of mercenaries! ? Before long, a messenger sent by the knights arrived. Blood was smeared on his cheek and clothes. ? ¡°My lords and the honorable Sir Knights have attacked the encampment and ughtered all the rogues inside!¡± Chapter 34.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 34.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) ? ¡°Understood. What did the Lords decide to do?¡± ? ¡°They said they will interrogate them and then decide.¡± ? ¡°Understood. Tell them I wille as soon as possible.¡± ? Suetlg made a look as if to say, ¡®?????? ?????????¡¯ Whether surrounded by forest or whatever, facing knights with just a few dozen mercenaries was absolutely impossible. ? The captain of the guard shouted, gathering the captains of the mercenaries. Since the knights had already gone ahead and were causing trouble, they also had to hurry. ? Honestly, the knights aren¡¯t fools, they¡¯ll handle it well. . . ? But what if they¡¯rete? What would they hear then? ? ¡°It would be easier if the Sir Knights just swept them all away.¡± ? ¡°I¡¯m afraid to say that, it seems like we would get an earful for that. Aren¡¯t the preparationsplete yet?¡± ? ¡°They say it¡¯s all ready now.¡± ? Upon hearing the adjutant¡¯s report, the captain of the guard nodded. ? The n of subjugation was simple. ? Sweep through the nearby forest, destroying all possible camping sites, and kill any mercenary or rogue they encounter. ? It was a simple but effective method. Since they had more numbers and better quality of troops, there was no need forplicated tactics. ? The only reason these bands of rogues held out was because of the vast forest. If they destroyed all supplies and camping grounds, the mercenaries would be finished. Would these mercenaries, gathered for personal gain, regroup after a retreat? They would just scatter. ? ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll run or fight?¡± ? ¡°Maybe they¡¯ll fight at least once, right? After all that, they won¡¯t just disband.¡± ? Having betrayed the city and turned into a band of rogues, the mercenary captain had to produce results. Otherwise, he would be hanged by the angry mercenaries. ? ¡°Are you okay after drinking so much?¡± ? ¡°The wine? Good wine is like medicine.¡± ? At Johan¡¯s words, Suetlg made a disbelieving face. The elf knights and Johan had really drunk like madmen. Seeing Johan drink well, the elf knights seemed excited and kept pouring more. ? ¡®?????????? ??????????????, ????????????.¡¯ ? Suetlg gulped down some cold water. Johan, while preparing for the march, asked. ? ¡°What conditions are needed to see the future?¡± ? ¡°Why? Do you want me to predict your future?¡± ? ¡°Haha. How could I ask for that? I was just wondering if someone like Suetlg could foresee and avoid a disadvantageous future.¡± ? ¡°To see the future, a few conditions are necessary. When water wants to tell me the future, when my life is in great danger, and most importantly, when I haven¡¯t overdrunk the previous night.¡± ? ¡°Sounds usible.¡± ? ¡°Why suddenly talk about the future? There must be a reason.¡± ? ¡°The mercenaries who betrayed the city and turned into a band of rogues wouldn¡¯t have done it without reason. I was wondering if there¡¯s something more to it.¡± ? ¡°Don¡¯t overestimate those mercenary fools. Like I said, they¡¯re like beasts. They eat when hungry, drink when thirsty. They resort to thievery when out of money. Probably thought they could extort more after receiving the down payment. With the Empire in turmoil, they¡¯d flee there and Marcel couldn¡¯t do anything.¡± ? Blocking the path to the city meant that the city would have no choice but to negotiate. It would be much more profitable than the money to hire the mercenaries. ? If the Oak Tree Mercenary Group and band of rogues were mistaken about anything, it was that the magistrate of Marcel was not an easy person. ? ¡°The mercenaries misjudged the person. In other cities, maybe, but here the magistrate is not so soft to fall for such tactics.¡± ? ¡°Hmm.¡± ? They thought blocking the road would lead to negotiations, but the magistrate¡¯s choice to hire twice as many troops for a counterattack was indeed threatening. ? However, Johan felt strangely uneasy. ? Could the opponent have some other n in mind? ? ???????????? ? The sight of the burning fiefdom was horrific. The mercenaries who couldn¡¯t escape in time were ughtered right there. Unlucky merchants who came to the fiefdom to make some money, along withborers and prostitutes, were also killed. ? As the knights charged, shouting ¡°For glory!¡±, one third of the mercenaries in the fiefdom panicked and fled, abandoning their weapons. Another third shouted, ¡®??????????????????! ???? ??????????????????!¡¯, while the remaining third tried to fight, grasping their weapons. ? The elf knights indiscriminately wiped out the mercenaries. Since the opponents were not nobles, there was no reason to ept their surrender. ? ¡°Sh, sh, sh, sh. . .¡± ? A servant pointed a knife at the throat of a surviving female mercenary. ? ¡°You¡¯re not alone, are you? Where are the others?¡± ? ¡°O-Over there, at the stream to the east. . . waiting to emerge if anyone passes by on the road. . .¡± ? Before she could finish speaking, the servant slit the mercenary¡¯s throat with a dagger. It was a skill he had honed following the knights. Servants or ves apanying knights often became skilled soldiers. ? ¡°Did you find out?¡± ? ¡°Yes. It seems they are waiting at the eastern stream.¡± ? ¡°Annoying bugs, scattered here and there.¡± ? One of the knights frowned. ? ¡°The horses seem tired, let¡¯s switch mounts. We need to attack before they hear themotion and flee.¡± ? None of the approximately thirty members of the party were injured. Even though the mercenaries were caught by surprise, the disparity in strength was immense. Chapter 34.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 34.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Johan clicked his tongue at the sight of the thoroughly destroyed and burned fiefdom. Those who had been so friendly to him, a fellow knight, had caused this havoc and left. ? Moreover, they had already advanced to the next target. ? ¡°Sir Johan. Could you possibly assist the knights of the St. Iena Holy Knights¡¯ Order?¡± ? The captain of the guards decided to change his ns when the knights did not wait and continued forward. He thought it better to send a few swift members to assist. It seemed like a good opportunity to avoid unnecessary trouble. ? Seeing a good opportunity, Johan nodded. Participating in the suppression under the banner of the guild, he didn¡¯t rampage like the crazed elf knights but saw it as a chance to earn merit. ? ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± ? Johan decided to leave Geoffrey behind with the group. It didn¡¯t seem dangerous enough to bring along another person. Geoffrey, unsure whether to be relieved for his safety or worried about being sold off as aborer, wore aplicated expression. ? ¡°Then, Suetlg-nim. I entrust this to you.¡± ? ¡°What¡¯s there to entrust? The dwarves will handle the fight. Just make sure to be careful.¡± ? Despite carrying iron shields and loads on their backs and holding weapons in their hands, the women of the St. Iena Holy Knights¡¯ Order did not slow downpared to Johan on horseback. They were far more disciplined than the mercenaries. ? Leading them was Captain Valien, a monastic priestess. ? She was tall enough to reach Johan¡¯s nose, with a well-trained body that was evident even under her ample monastic robes. In contrast, her youthful face with silver hair was quite incongruous. ? The first words she spoke after the greeting were as follows. ? ¡°Sir Johan. What do you think of God?¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? Taken aback by the unexpected question, Johan was perplexed. ? The churches in this world were simr to those on Earth but not exactly the same. He had learned quite a bit from Priest Valberga, but he wasn¡¯t knowledgeable enough to discuss theology. ? ¡°I do not think it¡¯s my ce to speak on such matters.¡± ? ¡°That¡¯s a humble statement.¡± ? ¡°?¡± ? Valien was expressionless, but Johan could feel that she was satisfied with his answer. He was slightly bewildered. Did he give the right response? ? ¡°The knights from the Bartok family were indulging in sins. Gluttony, though pleasing to the tongue, corrupts the soul. It leads to pride.¡± ? Johan, who had been eating and drinking merrily with the elf knights, felt a bit guilty. He quickly changed the subject. ? ¡°In that regard, the clerics are indeed leading a devout life. I have always respected that.¡± ? ¡°Would you consider joining the monastery?¡± ? ¡°I have family duties, so that might be difficult. . .¡± ? Valien nodded, understanding that such reasons were unavoidable. ? Throughout the walk, Johan, not wanting to discuss theology and frugality, posed another question. ? ¡°I heard the St. Iena Holy Knights¡¯ Order had encountered trolls. I¡¯d like to hear about how you dealt with them.¡± ? ¡°Sir Johan. Please, let¡¯s not speak of trolls.¡± ? ¡°?¡± ? ¡°There is a saying that speaking of trolls brings them to life.¡± ? ¡®???? ???? ???????????????????????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????????¡¯ ? In a world where magic exists, superstitions were unsettling topletely dismiss. So, he decided not to speak of trolls. ? Instead, Johan inquired about how the Holy Knights¡¯ Order clerics lived, their daily routine, and if they had any diforts. ? The clerics seemed intrigued by such questions. ? Johan was indeed different from other knights. Such questions were never posed by knights. Common questions from knights were about their achievements, the beauty of their new swords, or how much God loved them. ? The clerics responded kindly. ? ¡°There are swordsmanship techniques unique to the Holy Knights¡¯ Order. We practice and spar in our free time.¡± ? Since retired knights often joined the monastery, the Holy Knights¡¯ Order¡¯s swordsmanship was far from weak. They dedicated less time to scripture and more to honing their skills. ? Among these techniques were secret visions not disclosed to the outside, simr to what Johan had learned from Kaegal. Suddenly, Johan became interested. ? How do these pdins fight? ? Then, from afar, the sound of galloping horses approached rapidly. It was the sound of someone riding a horse at full speed. Johan and the clerics immediately stopped and grabbed their weapons. ? ¡°Help us!¡± ? ¡°!¡± ? Bursting through the bushes was a servant who apanied the elf knights. He was hanging onto the horse, his face half dazed. He clearly looked severely distressed. ? ¡°What happened?¡± ? ¡°Alert! Alert! Milord has been attacked by a troll!¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? No. . . ? Johan nced at Valien for a moment. Fortunately, it seemed Valien did not me Johan. ? ¡°Please help us!¡± ? ¡°Understood. You go back to the main force and ask for help. I will go as I am to aid them.¡± ? ¡°Thank you. . .!¡± ? After hearing the details of the location and situation from the servant, Johan looked at Valien. Since the troll had already appeared, there was no need to hold back words. They had to ask those who had hunted before. ? ¡°Is the troll faster or slower than a horse?¡± ? ¡°Slower than a horse, but. . . Alert, alert! Please stop!¡± ? As Johan was about to drive the horse away, Valien cried out in panic. Hunting a troll wasn¡¯t like hunting a wild beast by just running and catching it. The troll¡¯s skin was tough and its regenerative powers were even more tenacious, requiring full preparation. ? ¡°Why?¡± ? ¡°To capture the troll, we need to prepare. Please wait until we are ready with .¡± ? One of its weaknesses was fire, especially a relentless fire that wouldn¡¯t easily extinguish. Hearing Valien¡¯s words, Johan thought to himself, ? ¡®?? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ??????????????????. . .¡¯ Chapter 35.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 35.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) ? Currently, the St. Iena Holy Knights¡¯ Order seemed seriously intent on risking their lives in a decisive battle against the troll. It was natural for them, who regarded monster subjugation as a divine mission. ? However, Johan did not really have such intentions. ? Of course, he had feasted grandly with the elf knights and participated in the subjugation, so he would go to the rescue, but. . . ? He had no intention of risking his life in a life-or-death struggle. ? ¡®???? ?? ?????? ???? ??????????, ???????????? ????????, ?????? ????????????, ???????? ?? ????????; ???? ????¡¯?? ?????? ????????, ??¡¯???? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ ? Since he was faster than the troll, he just needed to turn his horse around and retreat. That was the reason he had asked. ? The elf knights would undoubtedly rush to capture the monster at the sight of it, but Johan did not entertain such thoughts. ? If he could capture it, he would; if not, it couldn¡¯t be helped. ? A flexible knight! ? In this situation, the best course was to rescue the elf knights and then escape without fighting the troll. It was better to move quickly, as there was nothing to gain if the elf knights died. ? ¡°No. That would be toote. I¡¯ll go ahead, and you follow as soon as you¡¯re ready.¡± ? ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± ? Johan pretended not to hear and spurred his horse on. Karamaf growled beside him, keeping pace with the horse. ? ???????????? ? Meanwhile, the main force was steadily advancing into the forest. ? There were a few minor skirmishes with what seemed to be scouts and rogues, but no major battles. ? Therefore, when the scouts returned with their reports, the Captain of the guard was taken aback. ? ¡°They¡¯re waiting in ambush?¡± ? ¡°Yes. They¡¯ve gathered and are ready to fight.¡± ? The captain of the guards was surprised by the report that several hundred mercenaries and rogues had formed ranks (though it was more like just standing in line) and were ready to fight. ? Honestly, he had thought they would just copse. ? ¡°What did I tell you? I said the rogues would fight at least once. The enemy¡¯s mercenary captain¡¯s neck is on the line.¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s noisy. Tell the mercenary unit to get ready to fight.¡± ? After kicking the smug adjutant in the buttocks, the captain of the guards prepared for battle. ? Although hundreds had gathered, they were reduced in number due to several skirmishes. In both numbers and quality, the punitive force held the advantage. ? ¡°Captain, the wizard has arrived.¡± ? ¡°!¡± ? The Captain was startled by Suetlg¡¯s sudden arrival and saluted with a disciplined posture. ? ¡°What brings you here?¡± ? ¡°I heard that a group of rogues is waiting in ambush. Did I hear correctly?¡± ? ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ? ¡°Can you spare some reserves and leave them behind?¡± ? ¡°Yes. . .?¡± ? ¡°Even without the Crimson Iron Mercenary Company or the St. Gnto Holy Knights¡¯ Order, that¡¯s enough power to win.¡± ? The Captain was taken aback by the sudden suggestion. Indeed, given the state of the enemies, the dwarves and pdins could remain in reserve. ? They were not holed up in a fortress or castle but openly prepared to fight in a clearing. There was more than enough strength to overwhelm them from the front. ? ¡°That¡¯s true, but. . . may I ask why? Uh, did you foresee the future?¡± ? ¡°. . .You could say it¡¯s simr. Think of it as an old man¡¯s concern.¡± ? I couldn¡¯t refuse Suetlg¡¯s proposal. Although he was speaking politely now, if Suetlg used his authority, the captain of the guards had no choice but toply. ? It¡¯s basic city life etiquette to respond kindly when spoken to nicely. The Captain, well-versed in city ways, obviously knew this. ? ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll ce the two in reserve. Those mercenaries hoping for an easy job will surely grumble.¡± ? ¡°I¡¯m sorry about this.¡± ? ¡°No, it¡¯s not a difficult request at all.¡± ? The reserves could be called into battle at any time. It wasn¡¯t an unreasonable request. ? ¡°Crossbowmen to the front! Special rewards for those who distinguish themselves in battle! Forward!¡± ? ¡°Those who flee will have their heads cut off! Don¡¯t even think about trickery!¡± ? A fierce shout erupted among the mercenaries. It was the cry of those soon to be led into battle. Not all mercenaries were the same; some were new, some were cowards. It was the role of other mercenaries to grab these types and push them into battle. ? ¡°Excuse me, wizard-nim. Why did you ask to ce the two at the back?¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s just unnecessary worry.¡± ? Geoffrey asked cautiously. Fortunately, Suetlg didn¡¯t turn him into a frog in anger. ? ¡°I¡¯ve been bothered since your master said something. . . Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯ll be fine.¡± ? Their loud approach was unmistakable. Drumbeats and battle cries erupted from the other side. ? ©¥?????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????, ?????? ????????????????! ? ©¥???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ?????? ???? ????????! ? As they came within sight, arrows flew back and forth. Most used crossbows, with only a few mercenaries using bows. Arrows whistled through the air, embedding themselves in each camp. ? ©¥??????! ? ©¥??????! ? A few unlucky ones, hit by arrows that flew between shields, fell. But the mercenaries didn¡¯t stop. They continued to advance silently. ? The punitive force¡¯s morale improved, seeing theirrger numbers and longer formation. Jokes even emerged among the more rxed veterans. ? ©¥Anyone want to bet if I hit that guy or not? ? The Captain felt relieved, as it seemed the rogues would be easily defeated. Then, a disheveled knight¡¯s servant arrived. ? ¡°A troll?!¡± ? ¡°Send reinforcements quickly! Milord is in danger!¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s impossible now! Look, those retreating are losing. How can we pull out mercenaries in this situation!¡± ? The captain sharply rebuked him. The servant had no response and hesitated. ? ¡°Didn¡¯t Sir Johan and the St. Iena Holy Knights¡¯ Order pdins go?¡± ? ¡°Yes, they went to help, but I¡¯m afraid. . .¡± ? ¡°That force should be enough! Sending mediocre mercenaries against a troll won¡¯t make a difference.¡± ? ¡°But. . .¡± ? The servant acted like a noble when his master, the knight, was around, but without him, he was nothing. And now, the Captain couldn¡¯t back down either. It was time to fight, but a troll©¥what an annoyance. ? ¡®?????????? ???????????????? ??*??????????. . .! ???????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?? ??????????!¡¯ ? It was clear they only thought of their own fame and achievements. The thought made him angrily boil over. ? ¡°. . .Understood. I will wait until the fight is over.¡± ? ¡°A wise decision.¡± ? Suetlg, who was listening nearby, eximed ¡®Ah¡¯ in surprise. Geoffrey, puzzled, asked, ? ¡°Why is that, sir?¡± ? ¡°Indeed, your master seems to be blessed with fortune. It¡¯s clear that the brave are looked after by the gods.¡± ? ¡°. . .?¡± ? ¡°Though the troll is known as a ¡®Knight yer,¡¯ a monster, fortunately, your master has an elixir that¡¯s effective against trolls.¡± ? Suetlg looked pleased. A gift given without much thought had returned in this manner. Was this also a revtion? Chapter 35.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) Chapter 35.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (??) ¡°Karamaf. You¡¯re also considered a monster; can you handle a troll?¡± ? ©¥??????????. ? Karamaf expressed his opinion simply and briefly. It meant he was unwilling. ? ¡°Can you at least distract it?¡± ? ©¥??????????. ? Karamaf nodded confidently. Johan said with a relieved expression, ? ¡°Go and draw its attention, but don¡¯t engage too much. If it gets dangerous, you can retreat. We never nned to risk our lives anyway.¡± ? Karamaf, with a keen sense of smell, was leading the way remarkably well. Although a servant had given directions, they would have wandered more without Karamaf. ? ¡®?????????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????, ?????? ???? ?????????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????¡¯ ? Upon closer examination, the troll¡¯s skin was much tougher than expected. Not only that, the thick skin coupled with the tough muscles and fat underneath formed a dense armoryer. ? Even a sharply honed longsword, when swung, would only slightly prate the muscles before stopping. This meant that the knights¡¯ swordsmanship might not be very effective. ? Moreover, such wounds would quickly heal. . . ? Would it be different if cut with the ? ? ¡°It¡¯s not a good ce to pour oil on the sword and set it on fire. Perhaps. . . we have no choice but to push through with brute force.¡± ? ©¥??????????? ? ¡°If thrown hard enough, a spear might prate somewhat. Better than a sword.¡± ? ©¥??????????. . . ? Even with regenerative abilities, a spear lodged in the body would not be easily removed. ? Of course, this was a n that only Johan, confident in his extraordinary strength, could consider. ? The wolf growled as if frustrated. ? ???????????? ? The elf knights gazed at the troll with mesmerized eyes. ? The knight yer, the troll! ? Even when they heard such a nickname, they vividly remembered scoffing, ¡®???? ???? ?? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????????.¡¯ ? ¡°There¡¯s only one. Missing this would be a disgrace to knights. Surround and capture it. Keep shooting bolts to confuse it!¡± ? The knights weren¡¯t fools either. Even if not trolls, they had experience in capturing other monsters. ? After surrounding it with their subordinates, flooding it with bolts from all sides would inevitably panic and fluster any monster. ? Then, it would be the knights¡¯ turn. ? They knew about the troll¡¯s remarkable regenerative ability, but beheading would render that useless. As the creature floundered, the knights swiftly prepared to strike at its neck. ? However. . . ? ¡°T-The beast, it¡¯sing this way! It¡¯sing this way!!¡± ? The bolts were too weak to dismay the troll. Unscathed, the troll sneered and charged at the crossbowmen. The encirclement quickly copsed amidst screams. ? From then on, it was not a fight but a struggle for survival. ? Realizing the elf knights were the leaders, the troll ignored the others and doggedly pursued only three. It was determined not to give them a chance to escape on their tied-up horses. ? The elf knights had to jump and roll with curses, as the troll, seemingly 1.5 times the size of arge soldier, swung its massive club, making defense impossible. ? Fortunately, one of the three elf knights continually distracted the troll, maintaining a precarious bnce. ? All three were acutely aware of it. ? If even one of them fell, the others would be killed by the troll! ? It was a shameful situation for knights, but all they could hope for was reinforcement. ? And then, Johan arrived. ? Riding a warhorse and gantly leaping through the bushes, Johan¡¯s arrival on the battlefield was the epitome of an honorable knight. ? ¡®. . .?????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ ? Of course, he was contemting whether to flee alone or with the knights. Chapter 36.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) Chapter 36.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) ? ¡°Alert!!¡± ? Before Johan could make a decision, one of his fallen subordinates, seeing Johan, urgently shouted. Unlike the disoriented elf knights, they seemed rtively at ease. ? Johan, realizing he was discovered, inwardly clicked his tongue. ? Now that it¡¯se to this, leaving them be would onlyplicate matters unless all the personnel here were killed. ? ¡®?? ?????????????? ????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ??????????, ?????? ????????????????????????, ????????¡¯???? ?????????? ????????????.¡¯ ? The three elf knights were arrogant and greedy, but not cowards. They didn¡¯t think of running away in the face of the enemy. ? If only they had run away, it would have been easier for both parties! ? Johan, on his horse, aimed his spear at the troll. Itsrge size made it an easy target. The troll, still preupied with the elf knight, didn¡¯t notice Johan. ? ??????????©¥ ? The spear, infused with Johan¡¯s strength, trembled. It seemed fragile, as if it might break. ? Johan, having aimed, swiftly threw the spear. ? ????????????! ? The sound of it cutting through the air startled the troll, who turned its head in surprise. But it was toote to react. The spear, like shot from a ballista, pierced the troll¡¯s belly with a heavy force. ? ¡°¨D¨D¨D¨D¨D¨D¨D¨D¨D!¡± ? The troll bellowed in an iprehensiblenguage, writhing in pain. Unlike bolts that would only pierce its skin, this spear went through the muscle, causing immense pain even to the regenerative troll. ? ????????! ? The troll, attempting to pull out the spear stuck in its belly, ended up breaking it. However, as if it didn¡¯t matter, it grabbed its club and began charging towards Johan. ? ????????????????????????????????????! ? The warhorse began to frantically buck. The malice of the monster was too much for even a well-trained horse. It was only Johan¡¯s strong thigh muscles that kept it under control. ? ¡®????????. ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ??????. . .¡¯ ? Even if the troll was fast, it couldn¡¯t be faster than a horse. But Johan underestimated them. ? . . .Not the troll, but the knights. ? ¡°Your opponent is me, monster!¡± ? The brave elf knight, Leon Dior¨¦, didn¡¯t think of retreating but instead charged forward. The shining sword swung, sttering blood from the troll¡¯s thigh. ? The faces of the elf knights, who had never been able to strike first due to the troll¡¯s frenzy, lit up with color. Of course, curses naturally escaped Johan¡¯s mouth. ? ¡®???????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????????? ??*??????????. . .!¡¯ ? They think that Johan hade to catch it together. But Johan had only intended to attract its attention and then escape. . .! ? ????????????©¥ ? The troll¡¯s superficial wounds quickly healed. Unlike the piercing spear wound, such shing injuries were not much damage to the troll. ? The troll, already enraged, and further irritated by the elf knights¡¯ pestering, unleashed a furious blow with its club. Leon Dior¨¦, bold as ever, didn¡¯t roll to evade but raised his longsword to deflect the attack. ? Unbeknownst to Johan, this was one of the secret techniques of the Dior¨¦ family, . It was a powerful counterattack move that could block and return any overhead strike. ? However, the troll was unexpectedly cunning. Seeing the knight raise his sword for some action, it immediately stopped its attack and countered with a front kick. The elf knight was struck squarely in the chest, spewing blood as he tumbled. ? ¡°Damn it!¡± ? Johan, cursing, leaped off his horse and plunged into the battlefield. Given the chaos, the troll prioritized finishing off the elf knights over pursuing him. ? One of the three had fallen, and it was only a matter of time for the other two. ? ¡°Karamaf. No need to hold back the troll! Just make sure Fern doesn¡¯t escape!¡± ? ©¥??????????! ? Even if Karamaf asked, it would be something the troll could easily ignore. Instead, it was better to watch the horse to prevent it from running away, ready to mount in a hurry if necessary. ? As Johan dismounted and approached, the troll immediately went on the defensive, instinctively sensing him as the most threatening presence there. ? Thanks to this, the elf knights could save their lives. ? ¡°Withdraw to the side with Sir Leon!¡± ? ¡°But, it¡¯s too much for you alone!¡± ? Ignoring the response, Johan charged at the troll. Springing off the ground with agility, he seemed to growrger in the troll¡¯s eyes. ? Normally, the troll would have counterattacked immediately, but it still remembered the afterimage of the previous spear attack. Unconsciously, it raised its arm to protect its vulnerable head. ? That exposed the appetizing target of the troll¡¯s torso under its raised arm. ? It was the same situation as before with Karamaf! ? Johan took a deep breath and swung his longsword with all his might, realizing toote that a thrust would have been more lethal against the troll. ? ????????! ? A crude sound of flesh being struck echoed as the hilt of the longsword shattered and the de stuck firmly in the troll¡¯s torso. But the situation was different from Karamaf. ? While Karamaf¡¯s thin te armor concealed a frail body, once the troll¡¯s outer skin was torn, thick, hard muscles and fat formed a protectiveyer underneath. ? The tough, coarse mass firmly gripped the de. The longsword, reaching the ribs, could move no further. ? ¡°¨D¨D¨D¨D¨D¨D¨D¨D¨D!¡± Chapter 36.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) Chapter 36.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) It seemed twice as painful as before. The troll swung its club at Johan¡¯s head with hatred and venom in its eyes. With the longsword already broken, Johan discarded any hesitation and swiftly dodged backward. The spot where he had just been standing shattered, sending chills down his spine. ? ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?? ????????????.¡¯ ? Grateful for having prepared multiple longswords, Johan drew another one. Though his attack failed, it had an effect. Two weapons were now stuck in the troll¡¯s body, too deeply embedded for its regenerative abilities to push out. They needed to be pulled out manually. ? Of course, he didn¡¯t n on giving it the time to do so. ? Johan feigned a charge. The troll, grinding its teeth, kicked to prevent him from getting close, but it was just a bluff by Johan. Realizing it had been tricked, the troll roared in frustration. ? ¡°Bring me my weapon! We must aid Sir Johan!¡± ? ¡°Milord, you¡¯re injured!¡± ? ¡°Shut up! Can¡¯t you bring it immediately? I¡¯ll cut you down!¡± ? ¡°No! Milord! Better kill me instead!¡± ? ¡®????. ?????????? ????????.¡¯ ? Johan found the chatter of the distant elf knights and his men even more annoying. ? Just buzz off, you sons of b*tches! ? ¡®Doesn¡¯t seem like an uncatchable one, though.¡¯ ? Johan calmed his anger and thought hard. The most threatening strength of the troll was its unique defensive capability and regenerative power. It was no ordinary challenge, as the creature not only rarely got hurt but also healed quickly. ? However, with Johan¡¯s superhuman strength, it was possible to inflict damage. Continuously attacking would eventually wear the troll down and weaken it. Moreover, the situation was in Johan¡¯s favor. The Holy Knights¡¯ Order, experienced in hunting trolls, would soon arrive. ? ¡®???????????? ?? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????¡¯ ? But the troll, with two weapons stuck in its belly, seemed to have a different idea. Preferring quick resolutions, the troll charged at Johan with a roar as soon as it realized he was just buying time. ? It felt like a massive boulder was flying at him, but Johan dived low. Being intimidated by size was a thing of the past for him. Dodging to the side, he precisely aimed and stabbed at the troll¡¯s leg this time. ? If the creature kept attacking despite being stabbed in the torso, targeting its legs seemed a better strategy. ? ¡®?????? ????????!¡¯ ? . . .Johan thought, but a too tempting opportunity arose. His longsword deeply pierced the troll¡¯s thigh muscle, forcing one of its knees to the ground. Simultaneously, the longsword broke apart. The remaining de, of course, stayed in the troll¡¯s body. ? ¡°¡ö ¡ö¡ö!¡± ? By this point, even the elf knights, overwhelmed by the heat of battle, realized something was off. ? How can any creature be so monstrously strong? ? ¡°Give Sir Johan a weapon! Quickly!¡± ? ¡°Y-Yes!¡± ? Thinking they could finally end the troll¡¯s life, the excited elf knights shouted. Normally, knights wouldn¡¯t lend their weapons to others, but they didn¡¯t hesitate to throw theirs to Johan. ? But there was no time for Johan to leisurely receive a weapon while fighting the troll. Without a chance to draw a weapon, he pounced behind the kneeling troll. A strong kick to its back made the troll lose bnce and fall. Johan stepped on the troll¡¯s back, gripping one of its arms. ? ¡°????¡± ? ¡°????????¡± ? ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????¡¯ ? One of the ves, in shock, thought irreverently. Was this a wrestling match against a troll. . .??? ? That was something you¡¯d do when you were too close to swing a weapon, not something feasible against a troll. ? ¡°¡ö¡ö!¡± ? The troll, encountering an opponent who dared to engage in a physical struggle for the first time, was bewildered. When Johan tried to pull its arm, the troll, incredulous, resisted. It nned to throw this contemptible human off and stand up to kill him. ? But it didn¡¯t break free. Instead, its arm was pulled even more. ? ¡°¡ö¡ö! ¡ö¡ö?!¡± ? ??????????! ? Johan was expressionless, but inwardly surprised. ? ¡®. . .????¡¯?? ???????????????!¡¯ ? Just like the elf knights and his subordinates, who looked at him as if he was insane, Johan regretted grabbing and pulling the troll¡¯s arm. ? Strangely, in battle, his instinct and reason worked separately. Logically, he thought, ¡®?? ??????????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????,¡¯ but his instinct boldly went ahead. ? Especially with such actions! ? The troll, losing the struggle, thrashed around, but if it couldn¡¯t win with strength in this situation, there was little it could do. Gradually, its arm was pulled back, and a strange sound started emanating from its thick shoulder. ? ¡°Oh, oh, oh. . .?¡± ? ¡°My God. . .!¡± ? A sight where even those who weren¡¯t particrly devout call upon the name of the deity! ? Muscles tore and skin ripped with a sound, followed by sttering blood. Then, the troll let out the loudest scream of the day. Johan felt a tingling loss of strength in the muscles of his arms and legs. That was the effort he had exerted to defeat the creature. ? Johan, having thrown one of the troll¡¯s arms aside, shouted, ? ¡°Weapon!¡± ? ¡°Sir, catch!¡± ? One of the subordinates quickly regained their senses and hurled a weapon towards him. The voice was filled with reverence. After witnessing such a fight, no one could face Johan with a clear head. ? Johan raised his sword, aiming at the troll¡¯s thick neck. Even a troll with great regenerative abilities couldn¡¯t survive with an arm torn off by sheer force. The creature was unconscious from pain and blood loss. ? Like an executioner beheading a prisoner, Johan swung his sword in a calm and orderly manner. It was hard to believe he had just been in such a brawl. ? ????????! ? The sword glinted, and its well-forged steel de shattered the troll¡¯s neck bone. ? Then, btedly, the St. Iena Holy Knights¡¯ Order pdins arrived on the battlefield, carrying zing torches. ? ¡°Everyone, stand back! We will handle this!¡± ? ¡°. . .It¡¯s already been taken care of.¡± Chapter 37.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) Chapter 37.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) ? One of the servants spoke in a dazed voice. The pdins did not immediately understand what he meant. ? ¡°Taken care of? What do you mean?¡± ? As they looked ahead, an unbelievable sight caught their eyes. Johan, covered in blood, was holding the troll¡¯s head in one hand, looking towards them. ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? ¡°God has trained my hands for battle and my fingers for war. . .¡± ? As one of the clerics absentmindedly recited a scripture, Valien raised her hand to stop her. Now was not the time for prayers, but for confirmation. ? It was hard to believe, but if what she saw was correct. . . ? The knight had indeed beheaded the troll after severing its arm. Or rather, upon closer inspection, the arm wasn¡¯t cut off. It was oddly contoured for a severed limb. ? ¡®???????? ??????. . .?¡¯ ? Was it possible without fixing the troll and tearing it with a pulley? ? While the clerics exchanged bewildered looks, a servant spoke up. ? ¡°We must collect its blood! Milord!¡± ? ¡°Uh. . . Oh. Yes, do that.¡± ? The knights were not of a status to do such work directly, and the monks were not in a hurry for such tasks. It was the servants who actively engaged in such profit-making. ? Troll blood was popr among nobles as an alchemical ingredient with magical properties. Given the difficulty of capturing one, the price was justified. ? Moreover, Johan¡¯s concern was the troll¡¯s skin. Normally, fire was used when hunting trolls, often burning most of the skin. But this time, a good amount of unburnt skin remained. ? ¡°Hurry up! Move it! Run! We need to collect that blood, it¡¯s worth more than your life!¡± ? A senior servant scolded the ves and set out to collect the blood. He poured out the water in his leather pouch onto the ground and hurriedly pressed it against the troll¡¯s body. ? ¡°It won¡¯te out well that way. You need to lift it and ce it somewhere else to easily collect the blood.¡± ? The pdins with experience in troll hunting spoke up. The servant, perplexed, asked. ? ¡°How do we prop it up?¡± ? ¡°Usually, we prop it against a support, but in this case. . .¡± ? Johan, having roughly washed off the blood with water, stood up. He then grabbed the troll¡¯s ankles and hoisted it onto his back. ? ¡°S-Sir, this is not your job to do!¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s fine. This is better than several people struggling. Where should I ce it?¡± ? ¡°O-Over there, on that suitable rock. . .¡± ? The clerics looked at Johan in awe for taking the lead in what was usually a servant¡¯s job. His humble demeanor, even after hunting a troll, was the epitome of an ideal cleric. ? Glory only to God! ? ¡®???????????? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ ? The troll¡¯s blood was repulsive and sticky. No matter its value, Johan did not wish to face it directly. He looked curiously at the torches the clerics were holding. ? ¡°Is this the fire of St. Iena?¡± ? ¡°Yes. Be careful not to touch it. It¡¯s a fire that doesn¡¯t extinguish easily.¡± ? Johan looked at the fire with curiosity. It certainly felt different from ordinary fire. Such a fire would undoubtedly be useful in hunting trolls. ? ¡®. . .?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ????.¡¯ ? ¡°Sir Johan. Sir Johan.¡± ? ¡°?¡± ? While trying to figure out how to make a torch, the elf knights called out from behind. Johan walked over with an unkind expression. ? The elf knight, Leon Dior¨¦, who was hit hard by a troll, was dying with a pale face. ? ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll live long.¡± ? ¡°Hmm. I see.¡± ? Johan mixed a little of the blessed water he received from Suetlg into a ss of wine next to him. If it doesn¡¯t work, he thought to add more, so he needed to save it. ? ¡®????. ????????. ???? ?? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????, ????????????¡¯?? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????????????¡¯ ? . . .Johan decided not to think about it. Leon Dior¨¦, unaware of what Johan was doing, coughed and continued speaking. ? ¡°I haven¡¯t married or had children yet, so I want to pass on my sword, soul, and joy to. . .¡± ? ¡°Just drink.¡± ? Johan, tired of dealing with these knight dastards, chugged the ss. Leon coughed and drank the wine. ? ¡°The wine is good, but I have something to say right now. . .¡± ? ¡°Take a breath. Do you feel better?¡± ? Without saying it, it was obvious. Leon¡¯splexion had visibly improved. Leon, who couldn¡¯t breathe before, looked bewildered. ? ¡°Thank Suetlg-nim. Without his help, you wouldn¡¯t have survived.¡± ? ¡°. . .!¡± ? Leon and the other knights around him looked moved. They were saddened to see a fellow knight dying, but now, a miracle! ? ????????! ? Two other elf knights hugged Johan tightly, expressing their gratitude. ? ¡°Sir! I knew you were an honorable knight, but I didn¡¯t know you were sopassionate and noble. Thank you again!¡± ? ¡°I will definitely inform the Count and spread word of your noble actions!¡± ? ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ????????????-?????? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????.¡¯ ? After being generously treated by the knights and considering the benefits of having used the water. . . ? Seeing the effect of the life water right in front of his eyes, it was hard not to be greedy. ? ¡°What are you waiting for? Praise Sir Johan! How can you stand still after seeing this? Are you blind?!¡± ? As the knight shouted, the subordinates quickly caught on and started praising. While Johan liked the praise, the problem was that they had deserted the battle. Johan spoke indifferently. ? ¡°We should return to the main force soon. Can you walk?¡± ? ¡°Of course. Just need to find my horse again. . .¡± ? With a hee-hawing sound, horses began to return to the encampment. Behind them was a giant wolf. Karamaf had rounded up the runaway horses. Johan smiled slyly. Chapter 37.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) Chapter 37.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) ¡°To name such a smart creature ¡°Karamaf¡±. Isn¡¯t that pitiful?¡± ? ¡°He may be dishonorable and without prestige, but he¡¯s still imposing.¡± ? ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ? To the elf knights, Karamaf wasn¡¯t a good image. His notorious deeds in the Empire had tarnished his reputation. ? Of course, to Johan, insults to Karamaf meant nothing. In fact, he preferred it. ? ¡°. . .?¡± ? Johan realized something was off. Karamaf had brought a person in its mouth. The man waspletely disheveled and struggling, but Karamaf wouldn¡¯t let go. ? ¡°Who did you bring here?¡± ? Initially, it seemed that he had caught one of the rogue groups. But the clothes of these rogues were too fine. The face and hands were soft, not like those who had roughed it. ? ¡°Let go of me, you wolf cub!¡± ? ¡°What are you doing?¡± ? Sensing something was off in his words, drew their weapons and aimed them at the man. Startled by the sudden weapons at his throat, the man eximed. ? ¡°I. . . I am just a traveler, sir!¡± ? ¡°Where are you traveling from and to?¡± ? ¡°I came from Thuringia, heading to Marcel to visit rtives. . .¡± ? An elf knight asked. ? ¡°Sir Johan. May I ask?¡± ? ¡°Go ahead.¡± ? ????????????! ? The elf knight drew his dagger and sharply cut the traveler¡¯s hand. The traveler screamed sharply. ? ¡°If it¡¯s found that you lied, I¡¯ll tear your limbs and burn them. Tell me who your rtive in Marcel is!¡± ? ¡®???????? ???? ????¡¯?? ?????????¡¯ ? The answer was ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ????????¡¯. Elf knights had a convenient mindset that even Johan couldn¡¯t dare to follow. ? The traveler named a few, but the elf knight didn¡¯t listen. It seemed he had already made up his mind. ? The elf knight continued to interrogate with the de, and finally, the traveler, crying, confessed. ? ¡°I. . . I am Baron Eiven¡¯s scribe! Baron Eiven sent me here with a troll to help the mercenaries!¡± ? ¡°!!¡± ? Johan and the elf knight were both startled by the sudden name. ? ¡°So, it was you who brought the troll to our fiefdom?!¡± ? The knight eximed in anger. Trolls had appeared while they were subduing rogue groups. ? Johan was surprised for a different reason. ? ¡®????, ?????? ???????????? ???????????????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????????????!¡¯ ? He had thought they were just chasing a troll in the woods, but this scribe had intentionally orchestrated it. ? ¡®?????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????. . . ?????? ????????????. ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ????.¡¯ ? ¡°Is a troll a controble monster? Never heard of that.¡± ? ¡°Me neither. Not usual for an evil wizard.¡± ? The knights continued to interrogate the scribe. ? The scribe, in tears and snot, rambled on. ? He came to support the rogue groups on Baron Eiven¡¯s orders, learning how to control a troll for this purpose. He said that by spraying a special potion given by a wizard, the troll wouldn¡¯t see him as an enemy, allowing him to control it. ? . . .And Baron Eiven himself came leading mercenaries. ? ¡°. . .!!¡± ? ¡°How many? What kind of men did he bring?!¡± ? ¡°Empire¡¯s a hundred in five units. . .¡± ? ¡°!!¡± ? The elf knights¡¯ expressions changed drastically. They had thought their force was enough to easily crush a group of rogues, but the story changed with so many additional forces arriving. ? Furthermore, if mercenaries brought personally by the Baron were involved, they were undoubtedly well-trained heavy infantry. ? ¡°Baron Eiven, a notorious figure as the Emperor¡¯s right hand, his presence here means something! It¡¯s a direct order from the Emperor himself!¡± ? ¡°What cursed ignorance, not to recognize such honor! How dare they resort to such schemes?!¡± ? The knights of Ens Kingdom were enraged. Even though Marcel city maintained friendly rtions with the anti-Emperor factions among the Empire¡¯s nobility, such tant maneuvering was unprecedented. ? Supporting bands of rogues and mercenaries to threaten the city? ? Had they not realized, they would have shattered the punitive force once again, extorted gold from the city, and then acted innocently back in their own fiefdom. ? While the knights were furious over this dishonorable scheme, Johan urged them calmly. ? ¡°Return quickly.¡± ? ¡°We shall do so, sir.¡± ? ¡°Why did you act like madmen, creating this situation?¡± ? ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry, sir.¡± ? ¡°When a troll appears, just retreat and rejoin the main force. Why behave as if it¡¯s your sworn enemy?¡± ? ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you don¡¯t say anything to the others about my mistake, sir.¡± ? ¡°After all jumping in together, what now?¡± ? Johan naturally scolded the knights. The proud elven knights, unbeknownst to themselves, bowed their heads in submission©¥a surprising sight not shown in front of the Count. ? ???????????? ? Battles among mercenaries oftensted long until one side crumbled and fled. Despite fighting back and forth for hours, Suetlg felt uneasy as the enemies held out well. ? Yet, it was evident that they were slowly being surrounded by arger force. The fear in the enemies was palpable. ? ¡°In the name of Fort Oxso! Charge!¡± ? ¡°Bulls! Tear the enemies apart!¡± ? ¡°??!!¡± ? Thus, when hundreds of heavy infantry suddenly emerged from the nks, even Suetlg was bound to be taken aback. Chapter 38.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) Chapter 38.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) ? ¡®?? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ??????????????!¡¯ ? Caught off guard by an unexpected attack, the captain of the guards was so astonished that he only stared at the mercenaries pouring in from the side. Suetlg, unbelievably vigorous for an old man, shouted in a booming voice. ? ¡°Forward, Crimson Iron Mercenary Company! Advance, St. Gnto Holy Knights¡¯ Order! It¡¯s time to fulfill our contract with the city!¡± ? Any other mercenaries would have hesitated or even fled in the face of hundreds of elite attackers. But not these. ? The Crimson Iron Mercenary Company, renowned for its loyal dwarf mercenaries, and the St. Gnto Holy Knights¡¯ Order, pdins who¡¯d rather die than break their vows, did not hesitate. ? Those in reserve quickly moved to nk without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ? ¡°Fire!¡± ? At Captain Kumal¡¯smand, the dwarves unleashed their loaded crossbows on the approaching mercenaries. ? ????????-????????-????????! ? With heavy thuds, mercenaries fell, groaning. Some even tumbled over their shields. ? The dwarves¡¯ crossbows were far more powerful than the lighter ones carried by the mercenaries. Though harder to reload, the dwarves had no intention of doing so. ? ¡°Form a shield wall! Hold formation! Do not retreat in the name of Red Iron! Our ancestors watch over us!¡± ? ¡°Praise be to my Rock, my fortress, my stronghold. . .¡± ? The St. Gnto Holy Knights, murmuring scripture, drank from leather pouches. Their eyes shed wildly, entering a frenzied state. ? Suetlg recoiled at the sight. Aware of the pdins¡¯ ferocity, it was still unsettling to witness. ? ¡°In the name of St. Gnto, charge!¡± ? The holy water crafted through the St. Gnto Holy Knights¡¯ Order¡¯s mystical visionpelled them to fight relentlessly until death. ? In this dire situation, Suetlg had no choice but to rely on these zealots. He took out a vial and began chanting. ? ¡°O River Ipa?l, I, a mere mortal who knows your secrets, beseech you. . .¡± ? Then, a thick mist began to rise from behind, obscuring everything. The dwarves and pdins were now hidden. ? ¡°Wizard-nim! You are amazing!¡± ? The captain of the guard expressed admiration. Such a response to a sudden attack was impressive. ? The enemies who attempted the surprise attack were fiercely counterattacked by the reserve forces, and the situation became even more confusing for them as the fog rolled in from behind. No matter how elite, there was no one who wouldn¡¯t be flustered in such a situation. ? Doubts about whether they had fallen into a trap! ? This doubt slowed their steps. ? ¡°Your Excellency Baron, They are stronger than we thought! This isn¡¯t what you said?!¡± ? ¡°Reinforcements will be arriving soon. Didn¡¯t I say I brought a troll!¡± ? Baron Eiven cursed the scribe. They needed to quickly drive the troll to the opposite nk of the enemy, but what were they doing? It was certain that someone was cking off somewhere. ? The battles in this world were extremely uncertain and chaotic. Most things did not go ording to n, and it was almost impossible tomunicate if one was just a little apart from others. ? Still, things almost went as expected. The punitive force that underestimated the rogue gangs went deep in, and now if they are defeated just once, they will copse on their own. ? ¡°Don¡¯t think of retreating, push forward. I will not forgive any tricks! If you back down here, you all will be hanged at the gallows.¡± ? Upon hearing the Baron¡¯s words, the mercenary captain nodded. He too had spoken not with the intention of retreating, but to urge the Baron. ? A mercenary caught doing rogue activities receives no mercy. They were either sold as ves or hanged. ? To return with gold in hand, victory was necessary, even if the opponent was a frenzied pdin or a dwarf. ? The mercenary captain tightened his helmet strap and shouted. ? ¡°Attack! Reinforcements wille soon. They are exhausted! They will copse now!!¡± ? ???????????? ? ¡°So, the Emperor set this up because he was displeased with Marcel city that regrly pays gold to his opposition? Such petty actions.¡± ? Since he couldn¡¯t take the nobles for a proper trial, he either fabricated evidence for assassination, or resorted to such underhanded tactics instead of openly attacking the city with soldiers. ? All this was due to hisck of power. Had the Emperor¡¯s power been strong, he wouldn¡¯t have resorted to such actions. ? The Emperor, who ascended to the throne by the votes of the lords, had no power outside his own fiefdom but constantly coveted more. ? It was natural for the nobles managing their own fiefdoms to resist. ? ¡°The nobles are now uprising against the Emperor¡¯s tyranny. That b*stard Emperor doesn¡¯t deserve the crown!¡± ? ¡°Y-Yes, you are right.¡± ? ¡°Shut your mouth! You despicable creature. Speak nonsense one more time and I¡¯ll tear you apart.¡± ? ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m so sorry!¡± ? An elf knight angrily retorted to the scribe who tried to tter him. He felt like beheading him on the spot. ? Meanwhile, Johan was reassessing his thoughts. What was the most important thing in this situation? ? Joining the main force in battle was obvious, but above all. . . ? ¡®?????????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ ? He was of high hostage value as a noble, and the best to trouble the Emperor in this affair. Even if the tail is cut off, Baron Eiven, as a well-known limb of the Emperor, can¡¯t escape me. Anyone with eyes would recognize him. . . ? ¡°Sir, give themand. If it¡¯s your order, I¡¯ll dly follow.¡± ? ¡°No, just as usual. . .¡± ? ¡°Right, I can happily follow Sir Johan¡¯smand. Please, give your order.¡± ? Johan was disgusted by the overly friendly elf knights. Honestly, he didn¡¯t get along with the elf knights. He would ept gratitude for saving their lives but didn¡¯t want to be personally close. ? Still, the elf knights continued to approach him in a friendly manner. ? ¡°Where are you from in the Empire, do you know any nobles, have you thought about joining under Count Bartok, how much debt do you owe to the merchants. . .¡± ? Thanks to that, Johan let out a sigh of relief when he spotted the battlefield in the distance. ? ¡°Well done, Karamaf.¡± Chapter 38.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) Chapter 38.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) Johan praised the ck wolf. It was all thanks to Karamaf, whether it was dealing with the troll, gathering the words afterwards, capturing the scribe, and even leading to this battlefield. ? ¡°. . .Are you chewing on troll meat right now?¡± ? ©¥????????. ? Johan looked around, but it seemed that no one had noticed. It was an amazing feat to have put a piece of meat in his mouth without anyone realizing. ? ¡°Prepare to charge. We¡¯ll hit them from behind and break their formation as we go.¡± ? He had neither the ability nor the intention to issue anyplicatedmands. The knights in his party were fundamentally stronger inbat than these mercenaries. ? Charging in and creating chaos was enough. ? ¡°Blow the horns. We charge! Follow Sir Johan!¡± ? ¡°Charge! Charge! For honor!¡± ? As the knights burst out from behind the forest, the rogue gang was startled. The elite mercenaries from the Empire were still struggling to push back the enemy when suddenly the knights appeared from behind. ? ¡°Fire!¡± ? ¡°From behind, the St. Iena Holy Knights¡¯ Order fired arrows. These were fire arrows lit with . The mercenaries screamed as the mes that couldn¡¯t be blocked by shields spread.¡± ? ¡®????¡¯?? ????????.¡¯ ? Even before the cavalry could crash into their formation, the enemy mercenaries were already scattering with screams. Without proper preparation, and especially from a surprise attack from the rear, no one could withstand. ? And such mercenaries became easy prey. Johan swung his spear with a cold expression, piercing the throat of a fleeing mercenary, then grabbed a mace with his other hand to strike the opposite side. ? ¡°S-Shit, die!¡± ? A fallen mercenary tried to stab Johan¡¯s horse in a fit of desperation, but an elf knight quickly rushed over and crushed his head with a horse¡¯s hoof. ? ¡°How dare you challenge us, you lowly scum! Hey! Properly assist Sir Johan!¡± ? ¡°I¡¯m sorry, milord!¡± ? The elf knight¡¯s subordinate hurriedly ran over and joined Johan¡¯s side. Johan, disgusted, charged forward even more. ? ???????????? ? As Johan sensed the end, so did Baron Eiven, and the captain of the felt the end was near. ? The mercenaries and rogues, who were supposed to hold their ground, crumbled like this, indicating they too couldn¡¯t hold out for long. ? ¡°Those damn sons of b*tches! After all the gold I¡¯ve scattered!¡± ? Baron Eiven cursed the mercenaries with eyes bulging in excitement. He had spent so much to bribe the Oak Tree Mercenary Group and to make them fight valiantly. ? But they couldn¡¯t withstand and were shattered like this! ? However, to the mercenary captain, this was an inevitable oue. Who could withstand when knights were charging from behind? ? ¡°Get ready to run.¡± ? The mercenary captain whispered to his senior mercenaries and lieutenants. The was about to copse. They had to escape before that happened. ? ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± ? ¡°We must escape.¡± ? ¡°Escape! How will you handle the aftermath!¡± ? ¡°It¡¯s already toote. Even if we bring ten trolls, those guys won¡¯t regroup.¡± ? ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! You¡¯ve taken the money, do your job! Do you think you¡¯ll be safe after this?!¡± ? ¡°Escort his excellency. We¡¯re escaping.¡± ? The mercenary captain had no intention to argue with the Baron. The mercenaries quickly grabbed the Baron and started retreating from the battlefield. Their subordinates fighting fiercely upfront had no idea about the Captain¡¯s actions. ? ©¥????????! ? ¡°Yes, I saw it too.¡± ? After crushing the chest of a fleeing mercenary, Johan narrowed his eyes. Amidst the chaos, he noticed figures starting to retreat in the distance. It looked very suspicious. ? ¡°Karamaf. Follow them. Let¡¯s go.¡± ? ¡°Sir Johan. I¡¯ll help! Let¡¯s go together!¡± ? ©¥????????. ? Although Johan couldn¡¯t understand exactly what Karamaf said, it felt like he said something like ¡®???????? ?????? ???? ????????????????¡¯. ? ???????????? ? The escorting mercenaries retreated from the battlefield and tried to mount their horses. But before they could, they spotted pursuers in the distance. ? ¡°There are pursuers!¡± ? ¡°Who is it. . . Damn, it¡¯s a knight!¡± ? The mercenaries looked at each other. Running away from a lost fight was something every mercenary experienced. Now, the thing was. . . ? The pursuer was supposed to be slowed down. ? ¡°Damn!¡± ? A few unlucky ones were left behind, and the Baron and the mercenaries started their escape. Those who remained gritted their teeth and held their weapons. Even if it was a knight, if they could just hold out and knock him off the horse. . . ? Johan didn¡¯t stop and wielded his mace. Seeing the mercenaries with shields, his intention was clear. ? ????????! ? With a dull sound, the mercenaries copsed. The ones who took the mace on their shields couldn¡¯t stand up due to the impact. For the mercenaries trying to flee from behind, this was an unbelievable situation. ? ¡°Who taught these *ssholes to use shields?!¡± Chapter 39.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) Chapter 39.1: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) ? Not just any greenhorn, but how does it make sense to fall after shielding from a blow on horseback? ? Of course, for the mercenaries who fell after being hit, it was an unjust tale. They had clearly blocked it properly, yet their bones were crushed and the impact prated down. ? ¡°Karamaf! Block their front!¡± ? ¡°What? What Karamaf?¡± ? The mercenaries were startled by the sudden name. Sir Karamaf, once renowned as the Emperor¡¯s great warrior and then suddenly disappeared, became the talk of many gossips. Some whispered that the cunning Emperor had secretly taken him away for another plot. ? Why would such a knight appear here? ? Soon, they would discover who this name referred to. ? ©¥????????! ? ¡°Damn these wolf b*stards!¡± ? Karamaf, after swiftly running through the bushes, burst out in front of the path, threatening the horses. The horses, startled by Karamaf¡¯s murderous howling, reared up and halted. ? ¡°It¡¯s just two of them! What are you doing! Capture and move on!¡± ? As Baron Einbeck shouted, the mercenaries frowned. They were annoyed by this noble who kept nagging, even though he wasn¡¯t the one fighting. ? When they were well-fed and safe, they kept quiet because of the power behind the Baron, but if things got tough, being a noble or even a noble¡¯s father meant nothing. ? However, the Baron¡¯s power was still effective. Once they escaped here, he would be a solid source of money in the Empire. ? ¡°Definitely just two of them. Maybe we should capture and go.¡± ? ¡°Damn. . . I knew we should have captured them earlier.¡± ? The mercenaries grumbled and prepared to fight. They were reluctant to battle a knight on horseback. Although they were veterans who had roamed battlefields for over ten years, fighting knights was a different story. . . ? ¡°How dare these filthy maggots!¡± ? An elf knight from the Belelem family was furious that the mercenaries did not flee but chose to confront them. Already enraged by the humiliation suffered from trolls, his killing intent exploded. ? ??????????! ? That exploded killing intent burst out in a refined martial art. The elf knight, charging forward on his horse in one stride, stabbed through the enemy¡¯s armor with hisnce, dismounting him, and then drew his longsword, sending another¡¯s helmet flying. Despite being hit on the helmet, blood gushed like a fountain. ? ¡°Come at me again, you maggots!¡± ? The elf knight fiercely shouted, swinging hisnce again, sending another mercenary flying. The knight, who had been evading trolls, was now a ughterer among the mercenaries. Johan admired this sight. ? ¡®????????????, ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????????, ???????? ???? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ ? Johan joined in right away. The mercenary, who earlier mocked his colleague for poor shielding, now understood physically why his fellows had fallen. ? As he was lightly struck by a mace on horseback, his body crumbled with a groan. ? ¡°Karamaf! You must not eat that one!¡± ? ©¥??????????! ? Karamaf was already crushing Baron Eiven under him. Baron Eiven was babbling something. ? ¡°I am a high noble of the Empire, Baron Eiven! I beg for mercy!¡± ? ¡°What shamelessness for one who turned mercenaries into rogue bands to wag his tongue so freely!¡± ? It was customary among nobles to demand ransoms from each other when captured, but this was only a custom, not a hard rule. When tempers red, such conventions were quickly forgotten. ? Moreover, this was not a formal battle, but an incident where an Empire noble had secretly hired a mercenary band to engage in rogue activities and got caught. It was natural for the elf knight to be enraged and want to kill them. ? ??????????©¥ ? Johan stopped the elf knight. ? ¡°Sir. . .!¡± ? ¡°Honor must be upheld.¡± ? ¡®?????? ?????? ???????????? ??????.¡¯ ? Even if Baron Eiven caused trouble with a troll, a ransom was still a ransom. Johan had no intention of losing money. ? At these words, the elf knight showed a look of admiration. ? ¡°You are right, sir. I learn again from you. The virtue of a knight is honor.¡± ? ¡°Ugh. . . water. . . water. . .¡± ? One of the fallen mercenaries gasped for breath. The elf knight responded with his spear. ? ????????! ? The struggling mercenary breathed hisst. ? ¡°To almost forget that a knight¡¯s virtue is honor. I believe meeting a knight like you in this insignificant city of merchants is surely divine guidance.¡± ? ¡°That. . . makes sense.¡± ? ???????????? ? Suetlg sighed in relief, seemingly having won the battle. As Suetlg staggered, Geoffrey supported him and asked, ? ¡°Wizard-nim. Are you alright?¡± ? ¡°Do I look alright? Ugh. . .¡± ? Handling too many secrets had backfired on his body. Handling the secrets of nature in a mortal body was no ordinary task. Blinded, Suetlg fumbled for his staff. ? ¡°You were truly magnificent. I never knew the power of magic could be so great.¡± ? ¡°Looks like the knights charged in, is your master also here?¡± ? ¡°Yes.¡± ? ¡°Seems like they caught the troll safely. Hmph.¡± ? Suetlg looked pleased. Catching the troll with his poison was also divine providence. ? The battlefield was smoothly cleared. ? The victorious troops butchered the fleeing enemies and, once they had some breathing room, captured the escapees. Some mercenary groups, after getting permission, sent their swift soldiers to reap substantial profits. From equipment to ves, everything became their property. ? ¡°Wizard-nim, you really did a great job. This expedition would have been really tough without you!¡± ? ¡°If you have the leisure to praise me, better to extol the knights.¡± ? Suetlg scolded the Captain of the guard. If the knights who fought the troll heard praise for the wizard, who knew what they might do out of jealousy. ? In fact, their mood was likely already sour for not receiving proper support in fighting the troll. . . ? ¡°Philosopher, thanks to you, my friend¡¯s life was saved. Today, I felt that the title ¡®Philosopher of the Ipa?l River¡¯ is no empty name.¡± ? ¡°Thank you, Suetlg-nim! I will surely tell Count Bartok.¡± ? ¡°???¡± ? But the reaction of the returning knights was strange. ? They weren¡¯tining about not receiving support against the troll, nor were they demanding their share of the spoils. ? Gratitude! ? Suetlg was shocked, never having seen knights express gratitude before. ? ¡®?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????¡¯ ? ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the Elixir of Life you gave us, my friend would have. . .¡± ? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ? Suetlg became serious. ? Realizing what had happened at that moment. ? Even feeding it to street pigs would have been less wasteful! Chapter 39.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) Chapter 39.2: ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? (????) Upon hearing the report from Johan and the knights, the Captain blinked repeatedly. Suetlg, standing beside him, also disyed a look of disbelief. ? ¡°What did you catch the troll with?¡± ? ¡°Ah, no. Wizard-nim. That¡¯s not the main issue right now. Didn¡¯t you say Baron Einbeck was behind it? We need to return to the city quickly and report this.¡± ? ¡°Ah, right. . . So, how did you catch the troll??¡± ? The Captain was indeed curious about how the troll was captured, but as amander, his sense of responsibility prevailed. He patiently organized the situation rted to Baron Einbeck. ? It was necessary to report to the magistrate immediately. ? ¡°Seems the Emperor is in a tight spot.¡± ? ¡°How do you think Marcel will react?¡± ? ¡°Well. In the city, there are both pro-Emperor and anti-Emperor factions. Now that they¡¯ve been caught red-handed, the pro-Emperor faction won¡¯t have a choice but to keep quiet. The decision wille from the council, and depending on their leniency, it could either be exile or a more severe punishment.¡± ? Suetlg made a throat-slitting gesture, hoping that those aligned with the Emperor in the city wouldn¡¯t cause trouble in this situation. ? ¡°But about the troll, who tore it apart?¡± ? Suetlg wouldn¡¯t have believed it had he not heard it directly from the elven knights and the monastery members. ? The elven knights were excitedly recounting how ¡®?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ????.¡¯ Baron Einbeck¡¯s involvement was not the main concern, but how Johan tore the troll apart. . . ? The knights were simple-minded. They disregarded those beneath them but were generous to their equals, let alone to a knight more formidable than themselves. ? Johan had clearly overwhelmed the knights with his skills. ? ¡°Yes, somehow.¡± ? ¡®. . .?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ¡®??????????????¡¯. ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?? ???????????¡¯ ? ¡°Good. Bing famous as a troll yer, cutting off the troll with a single blow. Brute strength isn¡¯t something to be praised in a bard¡¯s song. . . Anyway, be careful for a while.¡± ? ¡°?¡± ? ¡°Sudden fame always brings trouble. But no need to worry about that now. Just rx and enjoy for the time being. The city won¡¯t let this matter end just like that.¡± ? Now that the rogue band had been revealed as sponsored by the Emperor, Marcel would surely elevate the expedition and demean the Emperor. ? And such glorious praise was always fitting for a knight. ? ¡°The elves will be pleased.¡± ? ¡°. . .Ah, right. Speaking of which, you gave that water I gave you. Why use it on someone?!¡± ? ¡°Ah. wizard-nim, how can you not save face? You now have connections with Count Bartok, don¡¯t you?¡± ? ¡°Damn grateful for that.¡± ? Suetlg couldn¡¯t refute Johan¡¯s words. Saving Count Bartok¡¯s knight was indeed a good deed. Considering the Count¡¯s reputation, this act would surely bring appropriate rewards. ? However, that was one thing, and the annoyance with the elven knights was another. ? ¡°Since it was used for a good cause, could you please refill the water?¡± ? ¡°. . .I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ? ???????????? ? The triumphal ceremony to honor those returning victorious from war has been a tradition since ancient times. ? Although not as extravagant as during the Empire era, the triumphant return of the punitive force was enough to captivate the attention of the city¡¯s popce. It had an atmosphere akin to a festival. ? ¡°Praise the honorable knights! These are the knights who contributed most significantly to the punitive expedition!¡± ? The knights were at the forefront, while at the end, mercenaries captured in the expedition were brought in. The citizens jeered, hurling stones and rotten objects at the mercenaries. ? Agitators positioned throughout loudly proimed the knights¡¯ achievements and the reasons why the rogue band had plundered near the city. ? This was done to elevate the knights and simultaneously incite hatred against the Emperor. ? While there was disdain for the Emperor, people were astonished by the previously unheard name of Johan. The tale of a new knight¡¯s exploits was fresh and intriguing. ? ¡°He beheaded a troll all by himself, can you believe that?¡± ? ¡°What are you talking about. . . He¡¯s a Sir Knight. Obviously, he¡¯s different from the likes of us.¡± ? ¡°Even for a Sir Knight, capturing a troll all by himself. . .¡± ? ¡°You doubt too much. The Sir Knights nearby must have helped. Anyway, capturing it is impressive, yes.¡± ? ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡± ? Though interpreted differently by the naive and the cunning, everyone agreed on one thing. ? Regardless of the help received or how it was done, capturing a troll was a remarkable feat! ? Already, the nickname ¡®troll yer¡¯ was circting among the people. After today, Johan would be referred to as Marcel¡¯s troll yer. Chapter 40: ???????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 40: ??????????''?? ?????????????? (??) The elf knights adeptly rode their horses, responding arrogantly to the cheers. They took these acmations and celebrations for granted and considered them a source of pride. These knights were fundamentally different from Johan, who was calcting in his head how much profit he had made from this expedition! ¡°Basic allowance, plus for being active, plus for distinction in battle, and of course, extra for the troll¡¯s body, which is quite valuable, and the ransom for Baron Einbeck. . . quite a haul.¡± The profit was so substantial that Johan couldn¡¯t help but smile. Meanwhile, the elf knights were receiving gifts from the noblewomen and praising Johan. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for this honorable knight here, I would have surely perished.¡± ¡°Hmm? Oh. Right.¡± ¡°A round of apuse for the knight who knows honor! The praise he duly deserves!¡± The elf knights firmly impressed Johan¡¯s name upon the city nobles. It was different from just hearing about it through a captain¡¯s report; publicly praising him in such a setting had a different impact. With this, Johan was no longer seen as a knight who had just lucked into a feating from the Empire, but as a knight of skill and honor, endorsed by other knights. The expedition turned out to be an overly profitable venture. ???????????? ¡°Was it something you aimed for?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Just curious. About you saving the elf knights.¡± After the victory parade, they rested at the mansion. While Johan was full of energy, Suetlg was weak from the effects of magic. Geoffrey, Johan¡¯s ve, seemed to attend more to Suetlg. ¡®But why don¡¯t the wizard¡¯s ves do anything?¡¯ Geoffrey didn¡¯t know that the ves were too afraid of the wizard toy a hand on him. Had he known the full story, he would never have dared to intervene. ¡°Those arrogant elves werepletely smitten. Even a girl in love wouldn¡¯t act like that.¡± ¡°Who thinks about that, your Excellency? I just did it because I had to, considering what I¡¯ve received.¡± ¡°If you didn¡¯t do it with an ulterior motive, that¡¯s impressive in itself. Wait. Is that perfume oil? What do you n to use it for?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it to Ibelka.¡± ¡°Who is Ibelka?¡± ¡°The maid who serves me.¡± Suetlg was taken aback by Johan¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re not misunderstanding something, are you, your Excellency? That maid probably had a lover before you came and will find a new one soon after you leave. She¡¯s different from ady.¡± Young men often mistakenly believe that once they¡¯ve had intimate rtions, the other person bes theirs. But with someone who isn¡¯t serious, such a mistake would only lead to embarrassment. Moreover, a knight rising in honor had nothing to gain from a love feud over a maid. ¡°I know that, but?¡± ¡°. . .You know? Then why give the gift?¡± ¡°Suetlg, sir, do you think gifts are only given in deep rtionships? You can just give them. And Ibelka has been very helpful in many ways.¡± ¡°That help wouldn¡¯t happen to be of a certain. . . intimate nature, would it?¡± ¡°. . .What nonsense. . . I was talking about the rumors of the city. After all, I haven¡¯t been in this city for long. Ibelka has many connections, so it¡¯s easy to hear various rumors. Of course, as a maid affiliated with a tradingpany, there is a need to be discreet, but being treated nicely like this does make one¡¯s lips a bit looser, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°. . .!!¡± Suetlg was truly surprised by Johan¡¯s words. He thought Johan was just a young, hot-blooded knight, but his way of thinking (your Excellency) seemed like that of a seasoned noble. It was rare among knights to think like this (your Excellency). Usually, if one focuses solely on knightly training in a castle from a young age, their mindset tends to be rigid in that direction. ¡°Were you ying around with such thoughts from the beginning?¡± ¡°ying around? Someone might misunderstand with such words. . . It¡¯s just a by-product of doing something else. Giving a gift isn¡¯t harmful, after all.¡± ¡°You always manage to surprise me. I¡¯m not usually someone who gets surprised so often. . . Have you heard of the saying about the courage of a lion and the cunning of a fox?¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a virtue a king should have. Being brave yet cunning. It¡¯s rare to find someone possessing both qualities. Most knights usually have the former.¡± ¡°That¡¯s certainly true.¡± ¡°But you seem to have a talent for both.¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m not cunning, though.¡± ¡°No, you definitely have the talent.¡± Although it was apliment, it oddly felt like an insult. Johan nodded with a bittersweet expression. ¡°You¡¯ll do well even at the banquet hosted by the magistrate. I was a bit worried, actually.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve looked into it, and it doesn¡¯t seem to be a situation to be too concerned about, right?¡± ¡°At an event where even mercenary captains and monks are invited, you don¡¯t have to worry much about formalities. Minor mistakes won¡¯t matter. However, you should be cautious for other reasons. A young, talented knight with a weak background who has recently aplished a feat. Who wouldn¡¯t be tempted?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was suddenly alert at Suetlg¡¯s words. Indeed, it was a valid point. Johan¡¯s position was still unstable, making him an easy target for exploitation. ¡°It would be fortunate if they regard you highly and make an offer, but such good fortune is rare in this world, especially among city nobles. Be very alert, and think deeply (your Excellency) about any offers you receive.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind. I was already digging into some people to watch out for in Ibelka, but I¡¯ll have to inquire more deeply.¡± ¡°. . .I guess I didn¡¯t need to say it after all.¡± ???????????? Strictly speaking, the city nobility were not actually nobles. Those in power in the city could have been wealthymoners, guild leaders, or even mercenary captains who had earned military glory. However, in cities without a feudal lord, these individuals behaved like nobles and essentially received the same treatment as nobles. The magistrate and the city council were central figures among these city nobles and also ruled the city. Although they were democratically elected, in reality, it was a system driven by money and power. Therefore, the magistrate and his family could be considered equivalent to a feudal lord and his family in the city. ¡°Dark elves. . . are they also from a noble family?¡± Observing a middle-aged dark elf man, Johan thought to himself. The lineage of elves and dark elves itself signified nobility in Ens. Even without a fiefdom or title, they were treated as prestigious bloodlines. Unlike human nobles of the Empire like Johan, who had to prove themselves through ent and demeanor, it was much easier and straightforward for the elves. No wonder elves were genuinely treated as ¡®blue-blooded¡¯. ¡°I offer my thanks for the conquest, and I dedicate this glory to the gods.¡± ¡°Thanks be to the gods!¡± The banquet was definitely informal andfortable. Even the mercenary captains who had performed special feats were seated at the end of the long table, obviously delighted and proud to be invited to such an event. Johan reaffirmed his resolve as he reflected on the status of those seated around him. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s a happy asion. Aren¡¯t you drinking too little? Here, drink freely.¡± An elf knight from the Bellemen family generously filled Johan¡¯s ss with wine. The most rxed individuals at this event were probably these elf knights. Havingpleted the conquest, now all that was left was to return to the Count and receive praise. . . Still, having these individuals seated next to him made it easier for an outsider like Johan to chat freely. There was also an unexpected benefit. ¡°Sir Johan, I¡¯ve heard about your troll hunt. To achieve such a feat at your age is truly remarkable. There¡¯s a noble I¡¯m deeply indebted to whose fiefdom is gued by a cockatrice. What do you say? Are you interested in adding another illustrious achievement to your already shining honor?¡± ¡°Ha! If you want to catch a cockatrice, you should call insane pdins or hunters. That¡¯s not a task for a noble knight! How disrespectful to suggest such a filthy and troublesome task to Sir Johan!¡± The elf knights loudly clinked their sses, causing wine to ssh out. They were clearly tipsy, and in this city, theycked nothing and spoke boldly, regardless of whether the other party was a city noble or someone else. From Johan¡¯s perspective, this was frankly refreshing! ¡°No, it was just a suggestion. I thought Sir Johan might be interested. . .¡± ¡°Interested? Do you think we don¡¯t know how tedious and disgusting it is to catch a cockatrice? What do you take a knight¡¯s honor for? Always these people cooped up in their rooms, fiddling with jewels!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The person who brought up the topic blushed and backed away. After such incidents urred a few times, no one dared to make any more frivolous suggestions. ¡°Sir Johan. I speak of this because my nephew is of the right age and truly a good child. I think he might be suitable for you. . .¡± ¡°How many nephews do you have, Lord Morens? Didn¡¯t you just send off one to marriage recently? Did her husband pass away since, or did you adopt a new daughter-inw? No, this is a matter that needs rity. Unless the girles from a decent background, surely you wouldn¡¯t have picked up a street orphan and dressed her up, right? I remember hearing something about this. . .¡± ¡°These crazy fools.¡± It seemed the elf knights had drunk enough wine to lose all restraint, hurling insults without a second thought. Johan, indifferent, watched as those insulted turned red-faced and cursed the knights. They were truly reckless, not from this city. ¡°Indeed, the offers I received today were all quite peculiar.¡± As Johan drank, he pondered over the proposals of the day. Most were attempts to exploit his abilities for a cheap deal. Compared to these offers, the contract with the tradingpany felt generous. Fame was important, but not enough. Without a solid background, one was prone to be swarmed by wild dogs like this. ¡°Sir Johan?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Your Excellency wishes to see you in private.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Thus, the proposal at the end of the banquet took Johan by surprise. ???????????? Magistrate Vco, a solitary and inscrutable man, perhaps more so for being a dark elf. ¡°Do you know why you have been summoned alone, sir?¡± ¡°?¡± Johan was intrigued by the magistrate¡¯s direct approach, usually starting with formalities. ¡°You called me here to ask something that can¡¯t be discussed in the presence of others, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What do you think that might be, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°Is it about the Emperor?¡± The magistrate beamed with pleasure at Johan¡¯s guess. ¡°Exactly. So, will you stand with the Emperor, or against him?¡± ¡°I am under the banner of the tradingpany and will follow their will.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, sir. Why would someone bite the hand that feeds them? No knight thinks of spending a lifetime with a tradingpany. It¡¯s just a matter of convenience.¡± ¡°Are you dissatisfied with my allegiance to the tradingpany?¡± ¡°Look, sir. While the Katana Merchant Guild is a strong part of the city, honestly, if the Emperor offers more, they would side with him. I don¡¯t trust such people easily.¡± Chapter 41: ???????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 41: ??????????''?? ?????????????? (??) The base of the guilds was in the city-states of the Catalian Penins, not in Marcel. For the guilds rooted in Marcel and the magistrate, the guilds were an entity hard to trustpletely. ¡°But the case with the knight is different. Now, please tell me.¡± ¡°Cardirian is not a good Emperor, is he?¡± Upon hearing Johan¡¯s words, the magistrate grinned triumphantly. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Did you call me to ask which side I¡¯m on?¡± ¡°Ah. Of course not. The main point starts now. You have captured Baron Einbeck, and the right is yours. The knights sent by Count Bartok also said so.¡± It was Johan who had captured Baron Einbeck, so the ransom for this hostage was also rightfully Johan¡¯s. ¡°Do you n to hand over Baron Einbeck to another noble?¡± ¡°!¡± Instead of releasing Baron Einbeck for a ransom from the Einbeck family, handing him over to a third noble for money. Certainly, this would have been a difficult task for nobles rted to the Emperor or the Emperor himself. It was like throwing dirt on the face of the Einbeck family. Of course, Johan was not at all concerned. ¡°If the price is right.¡± ¡°. . .Of course, we will offer you a generous price. Are you really okay with this?¡± ¡°Yes. But I¡¯m curious. Who wants to take Baron Einbeck?¡± ¡°I cannot tell you yet. I will inform you once it¡¯s decided.¡± ¡°Is it a noble of the Empire?¡± ¡°You are quick-witted. Instead, I will tell you something else. When the sun rises tomorrow, all Empire people in Marcel city¡ªespecially those rted to the Emperor¡ªwill be expelled.¡± Johan was surprised by the magistrate¡¯s words. Although what the Emperor did was indeed hical, he didn¡¯t expect such a strong reaction. ¡°Is that allowed?¡± ¡°Cardirian refused to exin orpensate and insulted our diplomats. It¡¯s a challenge to us, so there¡¯s no reason to tolerate anymore.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t there pro-Emperor factions in the disaster relief council?¡± ¡°They will be gone from tomorrow.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan felt a chill for a moment. ¡°Sir, I was honestly surprised by your power. When the guilds mobilized you, I wondered what their intentions were.¡± ¡°I understand, being a foreign knight who drifted here.¡± ¡°But as things be more chaotic around us, a knight like you will be more valuable. As a magistrate, I look forward to your achievements. And don¡¯t think that only the guilds can be your backing.¡± The magistrate smiled meaningfully. ???????????? ¡®??????. ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?? ????????????????, ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ????????????????.¡¯ The conversation with the magistrate was beneficial but also burdensome. It was clear what the magistrate wanted. When the interests of the tradingpany and the magistrate diverged, thene under the Magistrate¡¯s seal instead of thepany¡¯s g. Considering the magistrate¡¯s status, it was an undeniably good offer. . . From Johan¡¯s perspective, who neither knew the magistrate¡¯s thoughts nor ns, it was inevitably suspicious. In contrast, the tradingpany was straightforward. Give and take. Suetlg wasn¡¯t wrong when he said thepany was easy to understand. ¡®?????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????????????? ??????¡¯???? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ Not just fame or power, but trust was also one of Johan¡¯s valued principles. It was because many ignored this. While pondering, Johan handled his tasks in order. He took care of the silver and gold from subjugation and merits (some of which he distributed to mercenaries and donated to the monastery), and decided to sell the troll¡¯s skin and blood to Marcel. ©¥?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????? ????????????? The magistrate, naturally, Marcel wanted to buy those precious ingredients. If Johan¡¯s family had not been gone, they might have even hauled them by the cartload. Meanwhile, the elf knights finished their work in the city and prepared to leave. They hugged Johan, telling him to send a messenger if he was ever nearby. As busy as Johan was, the city was equally bustling. As the magistrate said, edicts of exile, executions, and property seizures burst forth everywhere. It was such a measure that people wondered if the Emperor¡¯s army was invading. Yet, people didn¡¯t worry seriously. They had that much trust in the city. Even if it was the Emperor, it wasn¡¯t easy to lead an army from afar and conquer this city. ???????????? ¡°Are you feeling rested, Sir?¡± Iaon, who ran the tradingpany¡¯s branch, seemed more respectful than before for some reason. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The reason I called you today is that there¡¯s a proposal that¡¯s difficult for me to decide.¡± The frivolous proposals Johan received at the banquet also reached Iaon. They were letters from various ces, but the contents were roughly simr. They praised a knight who had just started gaining fame and asked him to hunt monsters near their territories. Monster hunting was a rare poison for young knights. One could easily gain fame, but intoxicated with it, they often ended up with nothing. If they continued to win, maybe, but a severe injury could leave them with nothing in the end. However, among these proposals, some were worthwhile. Two proposals were such. ¡°Count Bartok and Count Jarpen wish to meet you, Sir.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Johan couldn¡¯t help but be surprised when suddenly told that two Counts wanted to meet him. ¡°Do I have to choose between the two?¡± ¡°Yes. If you go to meet one, the other will surely hear about it, as neither of them is a fool.¡± From the Count¡¯s perspective, Johan was merely a knight who had gained a little fame. It was rare for a Count to view favorably a knight who rejected his offer. Choosing one side meant it would be difficult to meet the other again. ¡°It would be best for you to make a decision quickly and assemble a party to depart the fiefdom. There¡¯s nothing good in dy in this situation.¡± When dealing with those of higher status, one had to be extra cautious. There was always a chance of being faulted for some reason. ¡°From thepany¡¯s perspective?¡± ¡°Well. . . Whoever it may be, they are people of high repute, so I think it will be a good opportunity. And Sir.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Has the magistrate made any proposal?¡± ¡°A proposal? I¡¯m not sure what you mean.¡± Johan kept his face unchanged, feigning ignorance, but Iaon looked already convinced. ¡°The magistrate always likes to not trust others and create his own people. Ourpany has no intention of betraying Marcel City, yet he made the offer. You¡¯re free to ept the magistrate¡¯s offer, but just know one thing. Unlike our contract, once you ept a deal with the magistrate, it¡¯s hard to get out of it. Anyway. . . we¡¯ll wait for your decision.¡± Iaon, like a seasoned merchant, did not rush the response, said what he had to, and gracefully retreated. ???????????? ¡°They probably want to use you as an escort, a young knight of skill and status. You know that the city¡¯s guards and the captain of the guards are originally mercenaries, right?¡± ¡°I am aware.¡± The mercenaries fought well butcked loyalty. Knowing this, the city employed various methods to appease them. They provided the mercenaries with homes and families, gave the mercenary captains positions, and continuously mixed mercenaries to maintain control. Carrot and stick! Mercenaries were tricky beings to deal with©¥neither too little nor too much. In contrast, Johan was a noble-born knight. A much more reliable entity. ¡°They must want to use you like that. It¡¯s not a bad offer, but the timing is off.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Looking at Marcel¡¯s atmosphere, there¡¯s a strong scent of war. epting the offer now means you¡¯ll have to fight bloodily, in someone else¡¯s war.¡± ¡°Who would they be fighting against?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know that. But if we do fight, it¡¯ll probably be against the Empire, maybe a fiefdom rted to the Emperor. The city wouldn¡¯t stay idle after such an incident.¡± Johan suddenly remembered what the magistrate had said. Could the one wanting to buy Baron Einbeck be a feudal lord within the Holy Empire? Selling the Baron and borrowing an army would definitely be a worthwhile venture, especially to start a war. ¡®???????? ???????? ??????????????????????????, ????¡¯?? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Participating in the war was one thing, but joining as a subordinate of the magistrate was another. The difference in rewards received would be too great. ¡°In my opinion, what you should be worrying about right now is not that. You can honestly put aside the merchant guild or the magistrate for now. Choosing one side won¡¯t make the other hold a grudge against you. But an invitation from the Count is a different story.¡± ¡°Do you have any advice to offer?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go to Count Bartok.¡± ¡°. . .Why not?¡± Johan asked, seemingly bewildered by Suetlg¡¯s abrupt statement. ¡°Because Count Bartok is a miser.¡± ¡°His spending is miserly?¡± Johan recalled seeing the elf knights indulgingvishly in food and luxury. It seemed odd that a Count who allowed such extravagance could be a miser. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about his spending. He spendsvishly because he has a reputation to maintain. But he won¡¯t easily grant fiefs. Haven¡¯t you seen those knights? None of them received a fiefdom.¡± Count Bartok, though generous in spending for his own luxury and pride, was stingy in holding investiture ceremonies and granting fiefdoms to his subordinates. ¡°It¡¯s quite obvious. He will invite you, make youpete in a few contests, praise you, and then hold an investiture ceremony. But after that, he won¡¯t grant you a fiefdom.¡± ¡°Then what about Count Jarpen?¡± ¡°Count Jarpen is¡­¡± Suetlg trailed off. ¡°The Count is?¡± ¡°. . .I don¡¯t know much about him.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Seeing Johan¡¯s expression, Suetlg quickly made an excuse. ¡°I haven¡¯t met all the nobles. Especially someone like Count Jarpen, who doesn¡¯t seek wizards, there¡¯s even less chance of meeting.¡± ¡°When I was passing through, it seemed like there was a war going on.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s fortunate. Were they losing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I think I heard they were at a disadvantage¡­¡± ¡°Even better. Such desperation might mean you¡¯ll be treated well.¡± Johan chuckled at Suetlg¡¯s words. It sounded like a joke, but it made sense. ¡°So, inviting me would mean. . . they¡¯re looking for a useful mercenary.¡± ¡°Does that bother you?¡± ¡°Not really. I thought it could be possible.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite an unusual person. Sometimes I think you have a broad perspective, and other times, it seems quite narrow.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take that as apliment.¡± Thanks to the conversation with Suetlg, Johan felt his thoughts bing clearer. Indeed, it seemed right for Johan to go to a noble who needed him, rather than one who didn¡¯t. If Count Jarpen is desperate, he will likely make a substantial offer. Chapter 42: ??????????’?? ???????????? (??) Chapter 42: ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? (??) When told to go to Count Jarpen, Iaon nodded his head as if it was a good choice. ¡°You have made a good choice. Speak to Count Bartok as politely as possible and prepare to leave immediately. Will you be hiring any mercenaries separately?¡± ¡°!¡± Johan realized a practical problem upon hearing Iaon¡¯s words. While the elf knights had servants and ves in Count Bartok¡¯s fiefdom, Johan only had a single ve and a wolf. It was not only a matter of dignity but also of real danger. As they approached Count Jarpen¡¯s territory, the number of mercenaries and rogues would increase. To avoid unnecessary fights, it was better to present a formidable appearance. ¡°. . .Would it be possible for you to rmend some decent mercenaries at the guild?¡± ¡°Yes, that would be wise.¡± Iaon nodded with a smile. In such matters, having connections was certainly convenient. ???????????? Traveling with more than twenty mercenaries cost Johan four Empire silver coins a day. Though it was a bargainpared to a knight¡¯s cost, it was still a significant expense. It was fortunate he received a substantial amount of silver coins from this campaign. Otherwise, he would have had to join as a member of a merchant caravan. Fortunately, the mercenaries introduced by the guild were generally trustworthy, unlike the riffraff picked up from the streets. There was no need for unnecessary rivalry or power struggles. And. . . ¡°That Sir Knight is a troll yer?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t look like it, does he?¡± ¡°What did you expect him to look like?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Twice his size, maybe.¡± Most importantly, no crazy mercenary dared to challenge Johan¡¯s authority so soon after the campaign. Experienced mercenaries knew better than to risk their lives unnecessarily. ¡°Milord, wouldn¡¯t it be better to buy more ves?¡± ¡°Hmm. I am considering it.¡± Geoffrey¡¯s suggestion made sense. If he had the money, it would be better to travel with ves or servants rather than mercenaries. They were more reliable. The problem was. . . ¡®????????¡¯???? ??????????????????.¡¯ Johan, who unexpectedly came into arge sum of money due to his achievements, was reluctant to buy battle ves and form a troop indiscriminately. ¡°By the way, Geoffrey, you seem to be in a good mood?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it because of the nice weather?¡± Geoffrey looked very pleased. The reason was simple. With no Suetlg, no ves of Suetlg, and no servants from the guild, Geoffrey was determined to score points and be as indispensable to Johan as a tongue in a mouth! Even if other ves joined, to secure his position as a trusted senior and to avoid hardbor, Geoffrey was resolved to give his best effort. ???????????? The road to Count Jarpen¡¯s territory was the reverse of the route they had taken to the city. Although it was the same path they had traveled before, the atmosphere felt markedly different on the return journey. ¡°Sir Knight. Something seems amiss.¡± Mercenaries who had gone into a nearby town to procure provisions reported back to Johan with serious expressions. When Johan had escaped, Count Jarpen¡¯s territory was in the midst of war, but the conflict hadn¡¯t reached as far as Rutzbeck. However, now it seemed that the effects of the battle had spread to the south. Not only Rutzbeck but other towns as well were in a state of high alert, on edge. ¡°Is it that bad?¡± ¡°Yes. We need to be more cautious going forward.¡± The opponent in the war with Count Jarpen was Countess Abner, a powerful Count from a royal court background. Though Count Jarpen was a legitimate Empire Count, he seemed to be outmatched in power. The conflict between these two feudal lords in the southwest of the Empire had garnered the attention of everyone from other lords of the Ens Kingdom to the merchant guilds of southern city-states, indicating its prolonged nature! In this era, wars were more akin to conflicts between fiefdoms rather than between nations. The lords within a country were almost like rulers of small states. And if such a war drags on. . . ¡°Milord. Maybe we should consider returning.¡± Geoffrey, a former merchant, cautiously suggested this, knowing well the dangers of traversing areas where fiefdom conflicts are prolonged. Piging! In a world without systematic supplies, armies relied on purchasing from camp-following merchants, and when that failed, they resorted to looting. While mercenaries might take cues from their feudal lords, that was only feasible when circumstances allowed. There were no mercenaries who would hold back when faced with immediate hunger and survival needs. ¡°Do you think so?¡± ¡°Frankly, under these circumstances, Count Jarpen should have sent an escort procession. That¡¯s the custom. Their failure to do so indicates. . .¡± ¡°A dire situation, then.¡± Under normal circumstances, inviting someone in such chaotic times would require the host to demonstrate their status by sending an escort procession. However, Count Jarpen did not, or perhaps could not, do so. ¡®?? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ???????? ???? ????????, ?????? ?????? ?? ?????????????????¡¯ There was no point in visiting if the situation was so dire that the other party had nothing to offer. Johan regretted not choosing to visit the more prosperous Count Bartok of the Ens Kingdom instead. But the decision had been made, and the letters had been sent. Retreating now would only result in a loss for Johan. ¡°. . .But we won¡¯t turn back. Having said we¡¯d visit, we must.¡± A knight¡¯s honor was crucial in such matters. Retreating aftermitting to a visit would diminish Johan¡¯s reputation. Geoffrey nodded in understanding. A ve¡¯s role was limited to giving advice; thereafter, they must follow their master¡¯smands. ???????????? The worries proved to be right. A group of about forty mercenaries blocked the way. Although they had encountered mercenary groups before, those groups had retreated, seemingly daunted by Johan and his party. But these mercenaries were different. A desire to risk danger for a big gain gleamed in their faces and eyes. ¡°Halt! We are mercenaries governing this area under the sacred orders of Countess Abner. In the name of the Countess, we will levy a toll. Surrender your belongings and weapons.¡± ¡°Do you have a stamped permit?¡± ¡°Ha! As if we carry such things all the time. Look at this g. This alone suffices as proof.¡± The mercenaries pointed to their g, but Johan¡¯s mercenaries whispered quietly. ©¥???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????????. ???????? ?????? ?????? ????????????. ©¥?? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????. It was unclear whether they were directly under Countess Abner or deserters. Even if they were contracted by Countess Abner, there was no reason to tolerate such plundering. ¡°I am Johan of the Yeats family. The warriors behind me are mercenaries hired in the name of Marcel¡¯s Katana Merchant Guild. Even Countess Abner cannot sanction such levies.¡± ¡°Are you defying the Countess¡¯s orders?¡± Some mercenaries armed with crossbows raised their weapons threateningly. Johan growled in a low voice. ¡°Karamaf!¡± ¡°?¡± The enemies wondered what Johan meant. But by the time they realized, a giant wolf was already pouncing from the side. ©¥????????! ¡°Kill those with crossbows first, Karamaf!¡± Johan shouted fiercely, brandishing a newly forged spear. The tip of the spear shone sharply. ????????! The first to fall was the one who had insolently spoken to Johan. Before he could move, Johan¡¯s spear pierced through him, easily prating his steel-ted armor. ¡°Such a mad knight. . .¡± Before they could finish, Johan had already reached the mercenaries. The imposing knight on horseback, with his arms raised, instilled such terror that some mercenaries wet themselves. And then the ughter began. Like a wolf massacring a flock of sheep, Johan rampaged through the mercenaries with a mace and longsword. Each sh of the sword brought sprays of blood, and every dull thud meant another head shattered. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight meny dead. The mercenaries, panicked by the copse of their formation, hastily retreated. For Johan, it was as if they were begging to be killed. To stop a knight on horseback, they had to stick close and attack the horse. ¡°Charge, support Sir Knight!¡± The mercenaries, initially stunned by Johan¡¯s fierce attack, hurriedly joined the battle. Arrows flew, and with shouts, shes ensued. The battle was easy, almost disorienting, thanks to Johan¡¯s frenzied frontline assault. They only had to attack the retreating mercenaries from behind. ??????????! ¡°!¡± Johan felt a chilling sensation and jerked his head back. A bolt had just whooshed past where his face had been moments ago. One of the mercenaries fleeing behind him must have loaded his crossbow. ©¥????????! ¡°Aaaargh!¡± The mercenary was immediately punished. Karamaf leaped up and tore the mercenary apart. For Johan, long-range attacks like these were more threatening than the assaults from the knights. Thanks to Karamaf, Johan could focus on the battle with ease. ¡°Catch those fleeing! Don¡¯t let a single one escape!¡± Johan had no intention of letting any of the remaining enemies slip away. They would only be a future problem. The mercenaries Johan had hired knew this too and quickly pursued. Those who deserted were one thing, but the hired ones had to be killed right there. ¡°Please, mercy! I just want to go home. . .¡± ¡°You have a wife? I¡¯ll take good care of her!¡± ¡°Spare me! I just did what the captain told me to. . .¡± ¡°Heh. I was just following the captain¡¯s orders too.¡± Once the skirmish seemed over, Johan asked. ¡°Karamaf, did any escape?¡± ©¥??????????. The wolf, a monster named Karamaf, had an amazing sense of smell, able to detect mercenaries who had fled from the area. Johan asked the few remaining mercenaries who were still alive. ¡°Are you hired by Countess Abner, or are you deserters? Speak the truth, and I swear by the gods I won¡¯t touch you.¡± ¡°W-We deserted.¡± ¡°Why did you desert?¡± ¡°B-Because our pay was dyed. . .¡± It was ironic that the winning side also had dyed payments, but it wasn¡¯t surprising. The enemy would only give up and pay oncepletely defeated. As long as they resisted, there was nothing to extract from the attacking side. ¡°I see. So you had no real connection with the Countess.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry for lying. I just wanted to leave, but the captain. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I lied too.¡± ¡°?¡± ????????! Johan swung his mace, cutting off the remaining mercenaries¡¯ lifelines. They had no reason to be spared. ¡°Quickly gather up the money! We need to get out of this area.¡± ¡°Yes!!¡± The mercenaries, despite the sudden battle, looked cheerful. It was thanks to the rewards. The loot taken from the enemies was a substantial ie for the mercenaries. Moreover, seeing Johan in action inspired trust. Beyond the danger, following a knight like him seemed a sure way to earn a substantial share. A good employer is one who pays on time and doesn¡¯t dy wages. An even better employer provides opportunities for mercenaries to earn their share. Chapter 43: ???????????? ???????????? (??) Chapter 43: ??????????''?? ???????????? (??) There were two ways a noble could influence those beneath them. One was to bestow generously in a manner befitting a noble. And the other was to walk in step with themoners despite being of noble status, thereby impressing them. Johan was a knight who knew how to use both methods, not that he particrly intended to. . . ¡°So what happened?¡± ¡°What do you mean what happened! They dropped whatever they had looted and ran. They would¡¯ve been killed on the spot if they got caught by the feudal lord¡¯s heavily armed troops returning.¡± At the campsite, the mercenaries were fond of Johan¡¯s solid attitude, eating the coarse food with them and joining their conversations. What surprised them most was how a knight who fought so fiercely in battle could be so unpretentious. ¡°How in the world are you so strong, Sir Knight?¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t speak irreverently. He must have been trained from a young age, how can you even say that?¡± The training of knights was rigorous. Young nobles from various ces sweated from morning till night under the steward¡¯smand in the castle, and in some areas, external talents came to assist in their training. They learned not only swordsmanship but also archery, horseback riding, swimming, hunting, ying chess, reciting poetry©¥and could even advance to rhetoric, arithmetic, and astronomy©¥developing both externally and internally intoplete knights. Of course, this was the story of knights training under high nobles with proper fiefdoms. Johan¡¯s case was different. So-called elerated warrior training! ¡°I¡¯m thinking of trying out the fencing guild, even if I can¡¯t be a Sir Knight.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you saying it¡¯s a waste of money before?¡± ¡°Well, it seems that the ones who learned really do fight better.¡± The fencing guild was an organization established with the city¡¯s permission, where swordsmen gathered. Officially, it was for teaching swordsmanship and self-defense to good citizens, but many mercenaries and vagrants also knocked on their doors. If you go further down the sinister path, it bes an assassins guild like Kaegal, lurking with assassins. ¡°I saw a swordsman from St. Johnson¡¯s regiment the other day. He was just a trainee, but he fought really well. He wasn¡¯t pushed back even in a 1:2 fight.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t trainees the lowest rank?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying. If a trainee is that good, how well does a master fight?¡± Johan listened with interest as he sprinkled powder around. It was a mix of herbs he learned from hunter Joseph, used to repel insects and snakes. ¡°Eh, Sir Knight. Have you ever met the eastern patrolmen?¡± ¡°?¡± The eastern patrolmen. The east of the Holy Empire was a wildnd beyond the reach of the Empire¡¯s influence. The Empire¡¯s nobles wanted to subjugate the tribes there and be new feudal lords. Naturally, battles were inevitable, and in the process, experienced warriors emerged in the east. One of them was the eastern patrolmen. Composed of experienced hunters, they freely roamed the eastern wilderness, dispatching monsters and warning of enemy invasions. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°The powder you just used, isn¡¯t that what the eastern patrolmen use? I once saved a life and learned how to mix it.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Johan was surprised at these words. Was Joseph originally from the eastern patrolmen? Hearing this, it strangely made sense. Indeed, Joseph was too skilled to be just a rural hunter. ???????????? ¡°Sir Knight, there is a problem.¡± A mercenary who had returned from scouting with Karamaf said with a troubled expression. ¡°Why? Are more mercenariesing?¡± ¡°No. Merchants areing.¡± Not just a few merchants with carts, but arge caravan of merchants was heading this way. There seemed to be well over two hundred of them. Arge procession mixed with merchants, mercenaries, porters, jesters, nurses,undresses, prostitutes, minstrels, gamblers, and travelers! ¡°Looks like they¡¯re going for business.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± These merchants followed the army, supplying various goods and conveniences. In practice, they were the ones responsible for logistics. And there was only one reason for them to appear in such a ce. ¡°It¡¯s not a band of rogues, so is it right to wake up the mercenaries and move now?¡± ¡°It does seem so.¡± Rest is essential during a journey, so unless facing a threatening army, there was no need to pack up and move again. ¡°But they will be concerned about us as well. Sir Knight.¡± ¡°Are you saying I should go and talk to them myself?¡± ¡°. . .Yes.¡± The mercenary spoke cautiously. It was nerve-wracking to suggest to an employer to ¡®go and negotiate personally,¡¯ especially if that employer was a knight capable of beheading a troll with a single stroke. Johan smirked. ¡°No need to worry about that. Speak freely. Let¡¯s go.¡± It was better to talk to them before the procession came too close. Johan, donning his armor and surcoat, headed towards the merchants¡¯ caravan with a few mercenaries. It was already dark, but therge number of people made the caravan visible from afar due to its lights. ¡°Halt! Identify yourselves!¡± ¡°I am Johan of the Yeats family. The warriors behind me are mercenaries employed in the name of the Marcel¡¯s Katana Merchant Guild. And who are you?¡± ¡°We are mercenaries hired by Doris-nim. Doris-nim has a stamped permit, so I¡¯d advise against any rash actions.¡± The mercenaries were on guard, unsure of the size of Johan¡¯s forces. Such arge group wouldn¡¯t dare provoke deserters, but there were always crazies around. ¡°Foolish men. What are you doing to a Sir Knight of honor? Stop.¡± Then, a portly man bellowed from behind. It was clear at a nce that he was Doris, dressed in fine silk and adorned with rings. ¡°Johan of the Yeats family, the renowned troll yer of Marcel? Sir Knight?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Thanks be to the gods! To meet such a distinguished Sir Knight in a ce like this. Allow me to offer you hospitality! Hey, what are you all doing? Lower your weapons!¡± The mercenaries, who had their weapons raised, awkwardly lowered them. They were flustered as their employer acted in such a way, but what could they do? They had to follow orders. ???????????? Goran, yawning with Khan, trudged forward. He was fatigued from checking the dark forest in various ways. ¡°Reconplete. Nothing ahead.¡± ¡°Good work. Go and rest.¡± Although Goran was a captain leading his own mercenary group, that was only when they moved by themselves. When involved inrger convoys, there were higher-ranking mercenary captains inmand. Of course, it wasn¡¯t a matter of dissatisfaction. As a mercenary, one couldn¡¯t always be a captain. Being paid on time and not being used as cannon fodder was enough satisfaction. ¡°What¡¯s that? Do we have a guest?¡± Goran wondered as the tent where the employer stayed became noisy. A mercenary beside him spoke in anguid voice. ¡°They say he¡¯s entertaining Sir Knight.¡± ¡°Sir Knight?¡± ¡°The knight who killed the troll in Marcel. Heard of him?¡± ¡°!¡± Goran and Khan exchanged nces. They obviously knew, having traveled together. They didn¡¯t participate in the troll subjugation, having received ample rewards to rest in the city, but they had watched the victory parade from a distance. ¡°If you eat and drink like that, something might trickle down to us, right?¡± ¡°Oh? Ah, right.¡± Goran nodded. While the top indulged in luxury, leftovers often fell below, but that wasn¡¯t the issue now. ¡°Mr. Khan. We need to go greet him, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother. Sir Johan may be approachable, but it doesn¡¯t mean trouble won¡¯t find us. Wait a minute. Goran. What are those guys doing?¡± Khan pointed towards the tent. The most senior mercenaries were loitering near the employer as usual. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Are your eyes just for show? Why are some mercenaries heavily armed in the middle of the campsite?¡± ¡°!¡± That did seem odd. Usually, guards would be lightly armed, patrolling the area, but these mercenaries were unusually fully armed. ¡°. . .What are they doing?¡± ¡°Stay put. I¡¯ll go and find out.¡± Khan, an experienced mercenary, was adept in these matters. He took a bottle of wine and walked forward, chatting with the mercenaries near the tent before returning. ¡°Those guys. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Seem to be nning to ambush the knight.¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± Surprised by the unexpected news, Goran was shocked. ¡°W-Why would they do that?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± ¡°Should we tell someone?¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Usually, they would have asked, ¡®?????? ???? ?????????¡¯ But this time was different. They could receive a reward for helping. Besides, both owed Johan a favor. ¡°Maybe we could subtly inform him.¡± ¡°Would that be okay?¡± ¡°Why, would you not do it if I said no?¡± ¡°Must you say it like that now? Damn.¡± Goran looked around. It was clear who the group led by Johan was. Because the mercenaries he hadn¡¯t seen before were mingling with others. They seemed quite experienced, refusing offers of drinks, but if the knight were captured, such caution would be futile. ¡°What if I interject over there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s unclear when and how to speak, and even if I do, I¡¯m not sure it¡¯ll be conveyed properly. If a mercenary suddenly goes to that tent, Doris might get suspicious, right?¡± ¡°Then how do we deliver the message?¡± ¡°Give a bottle of wine and a silver coin.¡± ¡°What??¡± ¡°A bottle of wine and a silver coin. Then, I¡¯ll show you some magic.¡± ¡°Well. . . I get the wine, but the silver coin. . .¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to do it, you don¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°Ah, damn it. What if we don¡¯t get rewarded for this?¡± ¡°Goran. If I knew you were this clever, I would have retired from being a mercenary long ago.¡± Khan chuckled as he collected the wine and silver coin. Despite everything, his reason for sticking with Goran for so long was because of his personality. ???????????? ¡°Such a magnificent wolf! Its name is Karamaf, even more impressive.¡± ©¥??????????. ¡°Sorry about that. This creature has a bad temper.¡± Karamaf growled and showed clear dislike whenever Doris came close. The wolf¡¯s mood seemed to rub off on Johan, making him feel unnecessarily wary. ¡°Of course, a beast¡¯s nature is foul! Sir Knight. Tell us how you caught the troll. I heard there were knights from the Belemen and Diore families there too! Oh, what are you doing! Sir Knight¡¯s cup is empty!¡± Doris urged the ves beside him to refill Johan¡¯s cup whenever it emptied. The poorly clothed ves rubbed against each other as they poured the wine. The smell was strong, but Johan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. After moistening his lips with a sip, Johan discreetly poured the rest onto the ground. There was no poison, but he didn¡¯t want to get drunk in front of this merchant. ¡®?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ?? ???????????????¡¯ Rejecting a host¡¯s hospitality was almost like insulting them. He had epted it, not wanting to make more enemies on a journey through hostile territory. . . But being in the heart of the enemy¡¯snd, if this merchant had ulterior motives, was concerning. Yet, he couldn¡¯t make the first move either. Karamaf¡¯s dislike for this merchant could simply be due to the merchant¡¯s greedy nature. All he could do now was to stay alert while epting the hospitality. ¡°Sir Knight!! Do you recognize me!!¡± ¡°??¡± At that moment, an old, slightly drunk mercenary pushed through the tent p. It was Khan. Chapter 44: ???????????? ???????????? (??) Chapter 44: ??????????''?? ???????????? (??) Doris¡¯s face crumpled suddenly. Some crazy mercenary. . . The purpose of the mercenary¡¯s entrance was obvious. Praise the knight, then covet a few coins, food, and drink. The smell of alcohol wafting here revealed his intentions clearly. ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? *????????????-???????? ????????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????????.¡¯ Of course, showing mercy to such begging mercenaries was both a noble¡¯s role and pleasure, but Doris didn¡¯t feel like seeing that now, due to his ulterior motives. The moment Doris heard the name ¡®Marcel¡¯s troll yer,¡¯ he realized. ©¥???????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ????????????! Why else would a young knight like Johan wander in such times? It seemed clear he was heading to Count Jarpen¡¯s territory. Countess Abner might have called him, but Countess Abner wasn¡¯t the kind of noble to invite a newly famous young knight to meet. With the greedy intuition of a merchant, Doris was certain Johan was headed to Count Jarpen¡¯s territory. Then? ©¥?????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???? ????????????????????! ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ???? Count ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????????. . . While presenting him to Countess Abner, if one speaks cleverly, it could be made to appear as if a knight who intended to join Count Jarpen was captured, thus earning military credit. And that¡¯s not all. If a ransom is paid by Johan¡¯s family, there would be another reward to collect. Doris was a greedy merchant, always on the lookout for opportunities. He operated as a main merchant under Countess Abner¡¯s license, always aiming for big earnings. In that brief moment, Doris, who managed to intoxicate Johan and make him fall asleep, and also coerced the mercenaries intoying down their arms, was indeed an impressive merchant. But there¡¯s always a w in ns. The w in this n was Khan. ¡°Aren¡¯t you Khan?¡± ¡°Yes! That¡¯s right! It¡¯s an honor that you recognize me! Sob! Just once we fought together!¡± The Khan pretended to cry, relieved. Johan, being perceptive, yed along. ¡°Hearing that Sir Knight arrived, I was so happy that I had toe to see you, even from afar. Huh. I hope mying here isn¡¯t an intrusion!¡± ¡°What nonsense. It¡¯s a joy to give to those below. Why wouldn¡¯t I treat a warrior I fought with? Come. Bring this friend some food and drink.¡± Doris grimaced but couldn¡¯t object. Interrupting would spoil the festive mood. The servants brought abundant food before Khan. Khan devoured trout cooked in sauce, white bread with cameline sauce, sausages made of various meats and spices, porridge with eggs and meat, and congealed beef fat as if possessed. It was truly convincing acting. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????????????? ????????.¡¯ Johan was surprised to learn that Khan was here and thought there must be a reason for Khan¡¯s behavior. If so, that appearance must be a disguise. In fact, Doris was merely finding Khan pathetic and annoying, without taking any further action. Of course, those dishes seemed really delicious as he was eating them. . . ¡°So, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°Ah, yes! I am working for a new employer who is very kind.¡± At these words, Doris forced a generous smile. It seemed that the mercenary was at least perceptive from what he was saying. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean he was going to be forgiven. Once everything was settled, the mercenary and the one standing at the entrance would be punished with whipping. ¡°The employer is such a good person. . . Do you remember Gamson-nim? The employer is even more benevolent, generous, and faithful than Gamson-nim.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Johan¡¯s eyes sparkled coldly as he feigned admiration. Doris, not noticing,ughed awkwardly. It was awkward to respond to such tant ttery. ¡°The mercenary is acting like this because he¡¯s drunk.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s doing this because you treated him well. It¡¯s rare for an employer to hear such words from a mercenary.¡± ¡°Hahaha. . . Thank you. Although I am a merchant who seeks gold, I try to live devoutly. Did you know? There¡¯s a priest behind me. But who is Mr. Gamson?¡± ¡°A priest. A good man indeed.¡± ¡°Ah. . .!¡± Pleased with the ttery, Doris decided to lighten the punishment. Instead of whipping, he would assign guard duty. ¡°Sir Knight. Do you remember what Gamson-nim did back then?¡± ¡°How could I forget? Such a person is rare.¡± ¡°This person will treat you even better than Mr. Gamson. You can trust me! He is that remarkable!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Upon hearing this, Johan made up his mind. ???????????? After Khan finished eating and drinking everything, Johan coughed and said. ¡°I have something to discuss with Doris, can you leave us alone for a moment?¡± ¡°Of course, I should!¡± ¡°Take this silver coin. Meeting like this is also a blessing.¡± When Johan put a silver coin in Khan¡¯s hand, envy swirled on the faces of the surrounding servants. Such generous spending. And Doris was also pleased. This spending suggests the family must have some money! ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± ¡°Yes. You may leave now.¡± Khan was confident that Johan had understood everything. He stepped back carefully, feeling proud of himself. ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± ¡°Hmm. . . It¡¯s a really important story. Step aside for a moment.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the servants and ves also stepped back. Doris involuntarily swallowed. The way Johan was acting, it somehow smelled like money. ¡°This is something I¡¯m only telling you. After receiving such treatment.¡± ¡°. . .Yes!¡± Doris¡¯s heart pounded so loudly. Doris leaned in close to Johan. ¡°Actually, the name Gamson is a son of a b*tch.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Johan didn¡¯t say anything more and wrapped his strong arms around Doris¡¯s neck. Feeling suffocated, Doris let out a gasp. ????????????©¥ At the same time, a longsword was drawn. Johan held the longsword in one hand, aiming it forward, and said, ¡°Shut your mouth. Anyone who opens their mouth will see their own tongue rolling on the ground!¡± ©¥??????????! At his shout, the servants and ves froze. The sudden situation was one thing, but Johan¡¯s murderous aura bound them tightly. ¡°Cough. . . Sir Knight, why are you doing this?!¡± ¡°Why? You prepare mercenaries to ambush me outside and dare to say that?¡± ¡°Cough, cough. There¡¯s a misunderstanding. . .¡± ¡°Misunderstanding? You merchant. Who are you underestimating? If you don¡¯t speak now, I¡¯ll rip out your tongue and twist your neck. Speak!¡± Johan red at Doris with zing eyes, growling. Doris felt his limbs go weak. Knights were not the kind to ept that their thoughts were wrong. The fear of being broken by the enraged Johan surged in him. ¡°Sir Knight, please. . . please spare me. I¡¯llpensate you! It¡¯s my fault!¡± ¡°You prepared the mercenaries, didn¡¯t you?¡± Realizing that mercenaries were indeed prepared, Johan¡¯s eyes grew cold. ¡°Yes! Yes. . .! But I never intended to harm Sir Knight! I just wanted to host you as a guest until the war ends! Truly! I swear to God!¡± ¡°Whom did you intend to host as a guest?¡± ¡°C-Countess Abner. . . Aren¡¯t you going to Count Jarpen¡¯s territory. . .? Oh, if not, I must have been mistaken, please forgive me. . . I¡¯ll give you gold.¡± ¡°!¡± Johan was honestly surprised. That this greedy merchant had so quickly figured out where he was going. ¡®?? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????????????????????? ??????.¡¯ Just as a caterpir can roll, merchants have an excellent sense for opportunities. Had it not been for Khan¡¯s warning, he would have waited until the opponent attacked first. ¡°Call my mercenaries here.¡± Johan instructed a servant to call the mercenaries into the tent. Doris didn¡¯t know what to do and fumbled. ¡°. . .!!!¡± The experienced mercenaries, fittingly, did not make much noise even after seeing the situation inside the tent. ¡°What¡¯s going on. . .?¡± ¡°For now, make noise eating and drinking. So no one suspects anything outside.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± The mercenaries began eating the food brought by the servants and ves, sitting around various parts of the tent. If not for the situation, the food would have been really tasty. ¡°This merchant was trying to capture me and hand me over to Countess Abner.¡± ¡°What. . .! Sir Knight, you haven¡¯t even joined Count Jarpen¡¯s forces yet! It¡¯s impossible to take you hostage!¡± ¡°I, I misunderstood. . .¡± ¡°Shut your mouth.¡± Johan silenced Doris and then said, ¡°The sequence doesn¡¯t matter; they must have nned to catch him and then link him up.¡± ¡°How dare this damned merchant?¡± ¡°What will you do? Will you escape right now?¡± ¡°If we take him and escape, what about these mercenaries?¡± The mercenaries responded to Johan¡¯s question with various opinions. ¡®?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????????????????????, ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????????,¡¯ ¡®????, ???? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????????????????, ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????? ????????¡¯???? ????????,¡¯ ¡®???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????,¡¯ and so on. Johan, who was listening, then asked Doris. ¡°Listen carefully. If you want to save your life, you must be able to do what I tell you from now on.¡± ????????©¥ The sound of Doris swallowing was unusually loud. ¡°Who is in charge of this trade caravan?¡± ¡°I. . . I am in charge.¡± ¡°What about the other merchants?¡± ¡°T-There are others I¡¯ve taken money from to join the caravan, but they¡¯re not the leaders.¡± ¡°If you change the direction of the caravan, will the others obediently follow?¡± ¡°. . .They will follow. B-But if you go somewhere too strange, they have eyes too. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t n to make it impossible to do business.¡± Johan, holding Doris¡¯s head with one hand, spoke to the mercenaries. ¡°I have no intention of running away with this guy. If things getplicated, you might end up dying with this trash.¡± ¡°Then. . .?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make him lead this procession. Let¡¯s go to Count Jarpen¡¯s territory as nned.¡± Since it was a trade caravan authorized by Countess Abner, there was no trouble even if they encountered the Count¡¯s mercenaries. Moreover, the various merchants in the caravan were only interested in making money, whether they sold to Countess Abner or Count Jarpen. The problem was with Doris, the leader. Once they reached the Count¡¯s territory, Johan and the mercenaries could safely secure Doris¡¯s assets and ransom, and the people in the caravan could continue their business, though with a different client. It was a good deal for everyone except Doris. ¡°But, if I go to Count Jarpen¡¯s territory with a permit from Countess Abner and do business there, I¡¯ll be in big trouble!¡± ¡°Yes, I know. But Doris. Countess Abner is a problem forter, but I am the problem now. If you can¡¯t manage it, I¡¯ll just cut your throat and then escape from this procession.¡± ¡°. . .!!!¡± ¡°I might suffer a bit, but you¡¯ll lose your life. So, it¡¯s best for you to do your utmost. Whether your mercenaries attack or the merchants express dissatisfaction and leave, if anything goes wrong, your head will definitely be gone.¡± Doris felt a dizzying sensation along with the overwhelming shock as if the sky was falling. How did ite to this? Chapter 45: ???????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 45: ??????????''?? ?????????????? (??) While Doris was in despair, Johan moved relentlessly. There were still things to be done to lead this caravan. ¡°Call them.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The veteran mercenaries and guards, still unaware of the situation. Unlike the newly hired mercenaries, these had a direct rtionship with their employer. If left alone, they might act unpredictably. ¡°What do you want. . .ugh.¡± ¡°I saw the call and came. . .ugh.¡± Every time someone entered the tent, Johan mercilessly swung his club, knocking them out. It seemed they hadn¡¯t imagined that a knight would notice first and take Doris hostage. ¡°Tie them up and lock them inside. Kill them if they try anything funny. Doris, are you ready?¡± ¡°. . .Yes. . .¡± ???????????? The surprise attack at night ended more quietly than expected. The only change was that the mercenaries guarding Doris were reced by the newly arrived knights and their subordinates. They stuck close to Doris, leaving no room for error. Astute merchants noticed some mercenaries were missing, but, being shrewd, kept quiet. The brave mercenaries hired before the journey realized their employer was missing, but, true to their nature, remained silent. And one more thing. ¡°This is unexpected. . .¡± Johan clicked his tongue. It turned out that Doris and Johan had the same destination. Well, slightly different. Johan¡¯s destination was the fortress in Count Jarpen¡¯s territory where the Count resided. . . While Doris was heading to the army of Countess Abner, surrounding that fortress. ¡°They¡¯re really besieging it?¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± ¡°Sir Knight. He might be lying. We should interrogate more. . .¡± ¡°No need. Thinking about it, a convoy this size would naturally be heading to a stationed army.¡± Johan had nned tofortably lead the caravan into Count Jarpen¡¯s territory and meet the Count, but now they were going to encounter Countess Abner¡¯s army first. Johan felt things getting moreplicated. ¡®?????? ???????????????????? ???? ????????????????????. . .¡¯ To think that epting Count Jarpen¡¯s invitation would lead to this situation. In truth, he could have avoided this trouble by retreating and epting some damage to his honor. . . But now that things hade this far, he had no intention of backing down. He was determined to gain something from this! ¡°Sir. . . Sir Knight. If you stop here, I swear to God I won¡¯t seek revenge. . .¡± ¡°You were nning to?¡± ¡°N-No, it¡¯s not like that.¡± Before Johan could say anything, the mercenaries silenced him. Doris silently screamed in frustration, his mouth gagged. ???????????? Near the Boson Castle, over a thousand troops were deployed. Not all of them were well-armed soldiers, of course. If that were the case, Countess Abner would have gone bankrupt long ago. There were about two to three hundred soldiers, the rest were a collection of mercenaries and hastily conscripted serfs, along with other non-visionarybatants. Of course, this was still a considerable force. . . But it was woefully insufficient to take down a prepared castle. No, in this era, conquering a prepared castle was nearly impossible. An era where defensive strategies overwhelmingly outweighed offensive ones! The easiest and best strategy for the attackers was simply to besiege. They would seize the surrounding viges and farnds, surround the castle, and just wait, hoping for it to copse from within. Absurd, but this was the most realistic approach. What if the defenders still didn¡¯t crumble? Then it was the attackers who ended up copsing first. ¡°I heard another deserter appearedst night. What are you doing!¡± A young nobleman was furiously yelling inside a tent. It was Stephen, the third son of Countess Abner. In an Empire where the eldest inherited everything, the younger siblings had to find their own paths. Beingpletely neglected like Johan was rare; usually, they were somehow guided. For Stephen, being granted a knighthood and sent to the military was the Countess¡¯s way of taking care. The problem was that Stephen had hardly received any knightly training! Without proper training, just going through a ceremony and dering ¡®?????? ??????¡¯???? ?? ????????????¡¯ didn¡¯t suddenly endow him with abilities. It was the subordinates who suffered. ¡°Sorry, sir.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need your apologies! Just take down that castle now!¡± The faces of the knights and mercenary captains were grim. Count Jarpen had dealt with the situation with annoying wisdom. Rather than fighting with pride outside, he gathered all the resources, took his elite troops, and retreated inside the castle. The moat under the castle was deep, the walls were solid, and the inside was stocked with supplies. The soldiers guarding the walls were well-trained elites. A frontal attack seemed like a sure way to get everyone killed. ¡®???? ?????????????????? ???????????????? ???? ????????????, ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ?????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ To pay the troops, they needed to capture the castle or catch the Count to extort money. In such a situation, there was no way to get money. The soldiers were being prioritized for payments, but it was only a matter of time before the funds ran out. ¡°Sir! The merchants have arrived. The merchant wants to greet and speak with you!¡± ¡°Ah, good. Let them in!¡± Stephen¡¯s face brightened, and so did everyone else¡¯s. Amidst the frustration, this was wee news. The arrival of new merchants in the camp boosted the soldiers¡¯ morale. Forget about wages, once people eat, drink, and enjoy themselves, discontent tends to disappear. Additionally, it pressured those inside the castle. ???????????? ¡°Leave your weapons before entering.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bring any in the first ce.¡± Johan confidently surrendered his body for inspection, proving he had no weapons. The guards nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Enter. And don¡¯t forget to behave in front of themander.¡± ¡°I. . . I understand.¡± If the guard had been more observant, he might have noticed how unusually pale Doris was. But he didn¡¯t. ¡®????????. . . ???????? ???? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?????¡¯ Doris shivered internally, staring at Johan, clueless about his intentions. There was only one thing he knew. Whatever Johan was plotting, if he failed, it was highly likely he would die too! ¡®??????, ????????????. . . ???? ?? ????????????, ??¡¯???? ???????????????? ?? ??????????, ????, ?? ?????????????? ???? ???? ???????????????? ???? ??????.¡¯ ¡°It is an honor to meet you, Stephen-nim.¡± ¡°Yes. Why did you want to see me?¡± Stephen looked at Doris with anticipation. When the head merchant requested a meeting with themander, there were already expectations. Suitable bribes and customs. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s. . .¡± ¡°Sorry, but let me speak first. I am Johan of the Yeats family.¡± ¡°?¡± Stephen frowned. A knight dastard from an unknown family suddenly stepping forward was displeasing. ¡°So? Want to earn merits under me? I don¡¯t ept just anyone.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about that. I was invited by Count Jarpen and was heading to his territory. epting a noble¡¯s invitation is a knight¡¯s honor. But this merchant tried to ambush me.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Stephen didn¡¯t understand, but nearby knights and mercenary captains immediately grasped the situation. ¡®???????? *????????????. . .¡¯ ¡®???? ??????¡¯???? ?????????? ???? ????????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ????????????????. ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????¡¯ The idea was to take the merchant as a hostage and im allegiance to Count Jarpen, but it backfired. ¡°I captured this merchant and acquired legitimate rights granted by God over what he had. So please allow me to enter Count Jarpen¡¯s castle with this man¡¯s belongings.¡± ©¥???????????????????? ??????. One of the mercenary captains signaled with his eyes. Regardless of how much Doris had, allowing these resources into a besieged castle was absurd. ¡°No. We¡¯re at war. We can¡¯t allow supplies to go to the enemy.¡± ¡°I understand. Then buy my share of goods. I¡¯ll go to Count Jarpen empty-handed.¡± This was an eptable proposal. The siege wasn¡¯t about a fight to the death with the Count, but rather to make him surrender and ransom him. Allowing one knight to meet him was no issue. The problem was. . . ©¥????. Their current financial situation was dire. They could hardly afford to buy the goods from Doris, let alone spare any funds. ¡°No. Our weakness might be exposed to Count Jarpen.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s not possible, I¡¯ll return with the property.¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s not possible. I can¡¯t believe that a merchant attacked you in the first ce. Who¡¯s to say you didn¡¯t attack the merchant and capture him?¡± As he spoke, Stephen gestured with his eyes. It was a signal for Doris to speak up. If Doris insisted it was true now, Johan would be cornered. However, Doris said nothing. ¡®???????? ?? ???????????? ?????????¡¯ The fact that a merchant could be so foolish. Stephen didn¡¯t realize that Doris was too scared and confused to think straight. ¡°I swear on my knightly honor and in the name of God, I have not lied. Are you now trusting a mere merchant¡¯s word over a knight?¡± ¡°This merchant is an honorable merchant licensed by Countess Abner. Compared to him, you are an unknown knight. I cannot trust your words, so when this is over, go to Countess Abner¡¯s domain and protest. If you want, I¡¯ll let you stand trial in the name of a knight. Meanwhile, I¡¯ll hold onto the property and the merchant. You have one day to leave the camp.¡± Stephen¡¯s words were met with nods from the mercenary captains and knights. It went surprisingly well than expected. Having given the naive knight an escape route, the knight, frustrated and wronged, had no choice but to leave empty-handed. Even if he goes to Countess Abner¡¯s domainter and demands a trial, such an unknown knight had no chance of winning. ¡°You have insulted my honor.¡± ¡°Careful with your words, knave. Your honor is not equal to mine, and my decisions are above your honor. Be thankful that I am sparing your life out of respect for your honor.¡± Johan lifted his head. This tedious dialogue was all to build a pretext. Attacking Stephen outright at night would have made Johan no better than a rogue knight, but by asserting his rights and building a pretext this way, it was a different story. Everyone present was probably thinking that Johan had a point. They just wouldn¡¯t acknowledge it for practical gains. ????????! ¡°Huh?¡± Johan threw Doris to the left and then hoisted the nearest mercenary captain on his right, swinging him around. The giant figure whirled quickly, causing a mess around. ¡°W-What are you doing. . .!¡± A shocked knight drew his sword. Unlike the mercenaries, knights could carry swords inside the tent. Johan didn¡¯t hesitate to swing the mercenary captain. ??????????! The knight couldn¡¯t bring himself to thrust his sword and was struck instead. Johan continued to whirl the mercenary captain around like a windmill, clearing a path. Stephen, who should have been escaping, was stunned and stared at Johan with his sword drawn. ¡°Move! Sir!¡± Realizing what Johan was up to, a knight screamed, but by then, Johan had already thrown the mercenary captain and reached Stephen. Stephen swung his sword, but Johan dodged and grabbed Stephen¡¯s neck, twisting his hand to disarm him. ¡°Say it again. Sir. What about my honor?¡± Chapter 46: ??????????’?? ???????????? (??) Chapter 46: ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? (??) The hostage situation seemed natural, as if it had always been done. Johan briefly wondered if his aptitude was not for a knight, but for a rogue knight. A rogue knight who kidnaps passersby on the road and takes them to a fortress to demand a ransom! ¡°C-Calm down. Sir. Just calm down.¡± ¡°We respect your honor! Please calm down!¡± The knights nearby panicked and tried to stop Johan. In one hand, Johan held a sharp sword, and in the other, he grasped Stephen¡¯s throat. But what worried them more than the dire situation was Johan¡¯s monstrous strength. How could he swing that massive body around so effortlessly? Was that really human strength? ¡°M-Marcel¡¯s troll yer!¡± One of the knights, witnessing this strength, suddenly recalled and eximed. Was the rumor created during the chaotic troll hunt actually true? ¡°Was the troll yer from Marcel a knight?!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Calm down and put down your sword! I swear, no revenge will be taken.¡± ¡°What about my honor? My honor trampled by that merchant?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The knights fell silent. Mercenaries might have ignored and threatened, ¡®?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ??????¡¯???? ???? ????????????!¡¯ But these knights, born and trained as such, couldn¡¯t argue against such a statement. Why be a knight if one doesn¡¯t draw their sword when honor is trampled? ¡°I came here to keep my promise to Count Jarpen, and I acted without shame in the process. But this noble scorned and mocked my honor.¡± ¡°C-Calm down. Please, just calm down.¡± As the shortsword inched closer to his neck, Stephen trembled. He was a knight untrained for such situations,cking the fortitude to handle them bravely. ¡°I. . . I misjudged you, sir. I apologize for disrespecting your honor. I apologize.¡± ¡®????!¡¯ One of the knights internally screamed. Apologizing was not right. The moment Stephen apologized, it would confirm that he had insulted Johan¡¯s honor. Stephen,cking patience, spoke out when he should have instead insisted it was a misunderstanding. With the apology, everything from Doris¡¯s assault on Johan to the knight¡¯s ims became true. ¡°Do you acknowledge that Doris¡¯s wealth and his life are mine as retribution?¡± ¡°Yes. I acknowledge it!¡± ¡°Good. As payment for his misdeeds, I¡¯ll take his wealth and life, and for my honor, this man¡¯s life.¡± ¡°?¡± Stephen didn¡¯t understand at first, but the knights grimaced as if they had anticipated this. A knight who rose up for his tarnished honor wouldn¡¯t just back down, especially after taking Stephen hostage. ¡°A-Aren¡¯t you afraid of my family?!¡± ¡®???????? ????. ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ????????.¡¯ The knights internallymented. What use was such a statement? Even if Countess Abner was a high-ranking noble with a wide fiefdom, outside her own territory, there was little she could do. Even the Emperor had limited power outside his domain, so what could Countess Abner do? Besides, they were dealing with a knight respected in Marcel. If he fled to Marcel, Countess Abner couldn¡¯t send a pursuit party. ???????????? ¡°Captain, they areing again.¡± ¡°Is it another envoy?¡± Dwarf crossbowmen stationed on the ramparts squinted at the procession of dozens approaching from afar. ¡°Surely they aren¡¯t foolish enough to attack with that force. Another envoy, perhaps?¡± ¡°As if my lord would surrender just like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a human as tough as a dwarf before.¡± The Dwarf mercenaries held Count Jarpen in high regard. He was timely with pay and had a dwarf-like personality. . . Thanks to this, the Dwarf mercenaries didn¡¯t waver even when the castle was besieged. Some fearless mercenaries were ready to shoot crossbows and bolt anyone who approached. The Dwarf captain rushed to the ramparts upon receiving the report. ¡°Are they neers?¡± ¡°Perhaps a new envoy sent?¡± ¡°No. Go down and inform Count Jarpen.¡± The castle gates opened, and an envoy from Count Jarpen¡¯s side emerged. He seemed to be unaware of the situation. ¡°I am Johan of the Yeats family, invited by Count Jarpen.¡± ¡°Ah. . . Sir Johan?!¡± As Johan handed over a seal-stamped letter to the envoy, who was surprised after reading it. Johan, a young knight who had distinguished himself in Marcel, was invited by the Count. But given the current situation in the fiefdom, wasn¡¯t his arrival expected muchter? ¡°Are those in the procession behind you. . . your subordinates?¡± The procession was oddlyvish for a knight, as if they had plundered merchant caravans. ¡°By my rightful im, I have captured and taken hostage those who attacked and insulted me.¡± ¡°I-I see. . .¡± The envoy was still unaware of whom Johan had taken as a hostage and asked something more urgent. ¡°How did you pass through Countess Abner¡¯s army? Did they allow your entry?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°????¡± How exactly? Persuaded in the name of the family? Or bribed? The reason became clear soon after. ???????????? It wasn¡¯t too difficult to get permission to enter the castle. After all, it was just a procession of a few dozen people. The castle¡¯s inhabitants suspected spies, wondering how they could enter under such impossible circumstances. ©¥???? ?????????? ?? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????, ???? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????? ©¥???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ????????????? ??????????????, ????¡¯???? ???? ???????????????? ????????. ©¥???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???? ????????? But the suspicion was soon resolved. An unbelievable hostage was among the group. ¡°H-Hey, isn¡¯t that Countess Abner¡¯s third son?¡± ¡°Yes! You lowlifes. As a son of the Abner family, I demand proper treatment!¡± ¡°A-Alright, we will treat you as a guest of the castle.¡± Conflicts among nobles were far from brutalbat. It was a battle with long-established customs and rules. A captured noble had to be treated properly as a hostage until ransom was paid. There were a few exceptions, but vitions were rare. Of course, that was one thing, and the Dwarf mercenaries were quite astonished. ¡°. . .How on earth was he captured?¡± ¡°What? That son of a b*itch?¡± The dwarves murmured behind the walls. What foolish thing must one do to get captured by such arge group, as themander? Sensing the atmosphere, Stephen became even more irritated. He was aware of his own foolishness. ¡°Sir Stephen.¡± ¡°. . .Count Jarpen, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s regrettable to meet like this.¡± A middle-aged man with broad shoulders and scars across his face, clearly a veteran of many battles, emerged wearing armor. Count Jarpen was a born knight and warrior, with achievements to match. Stephen felt intimidated under his gaze. ¡°I thought you were leading the siege. What happened here?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Stephen blushed, unable to respond. ¡°Since you¡¯vee to my castle, I¡¯ll treat you as a guest.¡± ¡°. . .Thank you, sir.¡± ¡°But your fate lies with that young knight, not me.¡± ¡°Sir! This is your castle!¡± Stephen eximed in surprise. It was better to be in Count Jarpen¡¯s hands than in Johan¡¯s. Count Jarpen was at least reasonable. ¡°Are you, a knight, begging for mercy from the enemy? Maintain your honor.¡± At Count¡¯s firm words, Stephen closed his mouth, unable to retort. ¡°Take him inside.¡± After speaking, Count Jarpen looked at Johan, who greeted him respectfully. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you.¡± ¡°No, the honor is mine, meeting a young knight of such renown.¡± Count Jarpen smiled, a smile that didn¡¯t quite fit his stern face. ¡°Would you walk with me? I¡¯d like to show you my castle.¡± ¡°Please.¡± Count and Johan began walking slowly, followed by knights at a distance. ¡°Do you know why I called you here?¡± ¡°I thought you were seeking a knight for the war, but it seems that¡¯s not the case.¡± The condition of the castle was too good for someone seeking a mercenary. The besiegers would have fallen before Count needed to worry. ¡°Exactly. Why would I, even at a disadvantage, call unknown knights to fight for gold and fiefdom?¡± ¡°Then why did you call me?¡± ¡°Purely to meet a knight who killed a troll. I was curious if you were as good as they say. I¡¯ve killed a troll in my youth, not alone though.¡± Count Jarpen wore a unique leather armor, clearly made from a monster¡¯s hide, a trophy from his own conquest. ¡°I was curious if you lived up to the rumors, but seeing you now, it seems they were an understatement.¡± ¡°You tter me.¡± ¡°No. Modesty is a virtue, but too much modesty doesn¡¯t suit a knight. If you¡¯re too humble, the knights behind you won¡¯t dare to lift their heads.¡± The knights looked at Johan with eyes mixed with envy and admiration. The courage to enter enemy territory and capture their leader was an achievement not easily aplished, even by the bravest of knights. ¡°Thanks to you, I find myself both grateful and in need of an apology to you.¡± ¡°I understand the gratitude, but why the apology?¡± ¡°Now, because of this, you have also incurred the wrath of Countess Abner¡¯s court.¡± ¡°Of course, I was prepared for that.¡± Inmitting such an act, it was impossible that he hadn¡¯t prepared himself for the enmity it would bring upon his family. He had already braced himself for it. After all, it wouldn¡¯t matter much if he didn¡¯t go into Countess Abner¡¯s territory. ¡°It was Countess Abner who first tarnished my honor. For the sake of reiming it, I am willing to ept any enmity.¡± ¡°Excellent! Truly befitting a knight. Then, the only thing left for me to do is to reward a young knight like you.¡± Upon hearing Count Jarpen¡¯s words, Johan struggled to maintain a calm expression. What else could be the reason for causing such turmoil and meeting the Count, if not for a reward that matched his newfound fame? ¡°I hear you captured a merchant along with Sir Stephen, but you¡¯re not nning to return with his wealth. I¡¯ll buy it from you for a fair price.¡± ¡°No, in fact, I was thinking of presenting it to you.¡± ¡°What are you saying? To simply ept the spoils a knight has earned. Do you see me as someone who doesn¡¯t understand honor?¡± Count Jarpen seemed infuriated, as if the idea was preposterous. At this, Johan realized that Count Jarpen was more affluent than he had thought. ¡®????????, ???? ?????????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ???? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????¡¯ If he hadn¡¯t had wealth, he wouldn¡¯t have offered to buy it outright. The morale of the mercenaries and the depth of Count Jarpen¡¯s pockets clearly indicated his wealth. ¡°If I show off by buying goods, then I¡¯m no different from a merchant. Listen, give the knight the finest warhorse in the castle, and a sword and shield made of quality steel.¡± Offering a horse and weapons was the most honorable custom to wee a worthy knight. It was a way to show respect for the knight by presenting these items. Just this was enough to make his journey here worthwhile. Moreover, the ransoms for Doris and Stephen had yet to be calcted. . . While Johan was contemting his merchant-like schemes beneath his knightly facade, Count Jarpen brought up a shocking proposal. ¡°Have you considered receiving a knighthood ceremony?¡± Chapter 47: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Chapter 47: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Knight Initiation Ceremony. It was a ritual every young squire dreamed of. In fact, there wasn¡¯t much visible difference between a mercenary iming himself a knight and one who had been trained from a young age to be officially knighted. But there was a vast difference beyond that. While the former was alone beyond himself, thetter gained connections with the noble who bestowed the knighthood, knights trained under the same noble, and other nobles rted to that noble. It was a kind of social sacrament and amon tradition. A tradition that offered an honorable status that couldn¡¯t be easily bought with gold and swords! Thus, the Knight Initiation Ceremony was not bestowed upon just anyone. There were certain customary obligations for the noble who bestowed it. Basically, the noble had to provide the knight with expensive equipment like swords, shields, armor, and war horses, and organize a grand festival fitting for the knighting ceremony on a good day. It didn¡¯t end there. The newly knighted young knight would travel around for a few years, participating in jousting tournaments and hunting monsters to elevate his fame, during which it wasmon for the noble to support his activities financially. In short. . . The Knight Initiation Ceremony was not just a gift to a young and brave knight, but a solid investment made with fullmitment by the noble. Through such generosity, the noble gained a young knight who would follow him. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ Johan was bewildered. He knew he had achieved something, but the knighting ceremony seemed excessive. The custom was to train under a noble as a squire for over ten years, earning one¡¯s ce, or performing extraordinary feats on a battlefield. ¡°Am I the one you mean? It feels too generous.¡± ¡°What is too generous for a young knight who broke through enemy lines and captured theirmander? No, it¡¯s not.¡± ¡®?????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ For Johan, it was undoubtedly beneficial. He might get entangled in Count Jarpen¡¯s obligations, but nothinges for free in the world. And he was already somewhat involved. ¡°Count, if you don¡¯t exin properly, Sir Johan might misunderstand.¡± ¡°Ah. Right. The knighting ceremony is not my doing.¡± After hearing the knight¡¯s words, Count seemed to remember something. There were times when a high-ranking bishop was called for such ceremonies, but this time it didn¡¯t seem to be for that purpose. ¡®???????? ???? ?????¡¯ ¡°I could bestow it, but there is someone better suited.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°Hmm. I haven¡¯t received a definite answer yet, but I¡¯m sorry for jumping ahead. Anyway, are you willing to ept it?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s from a noble as honorable as Count Jarpen, how could I refuse?¡± Count Jarpen twisted his stern face into a slight smile. ¡°I can assure you of that. It¡¯s not my nature to discuss things not yet happened, but I had to ask your opinion in advance in this case. Sorry for the confusion. I will give you a response as soon as possible.¡± ¡°No problem. How important can that be in the current situation?¡± ¡°What current situation?¡± ¡°The castle is under siege.¡± ¡°Thanks to your efforts, that will soon change.¡± Count spoke with confidence, as if the army outside had already crumbled. Johan was puzzled. Sure, he had captured theirmander, but for them to disappear so quickly? They had their pride too. But the Count was right. The next day, as the sun rose, not a single soldier upying the nearby vige was left. ???????????? ¡°May I ask a question?¡± ¡°Yes! Feel free to ask anything.¡± The scribe working at the castle was extremely polite upon hearing the name Johan. After checking the ledger, he brought out a chest mixed with gold and silver coins and handed it to Johan. Feeling the heavy sensation, Johan shuddered. ¡®?? ?????????? ?????????????? ??¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ To hold substantial money, one inevitably had to rise higher. As a merchant or mercenary at the lower levels, all you got were a few copper or silver coins. The life of a knight was a typical high-risk, high-return. Capturing an opponent and getting a ransom brought in enormous sums of money, but failing to do so resulted in rapid financial loss. If one got captured, the losses were even more significant. ¡°Please check. I have exchanged the viin¡¯s goods for money.¡± Of course, Johan didn¡¯t check everything on the spot. Such things had to be done secretly upon returning, not openly. ¡°With this much money, couldn¡¯t we have hired more mercenaries to fight?¡± ¡°It was Countess Abner¡¯s overreach. The enemy was more numerous than expected, so the Count chose to hold out in the castle rather than engage unnecessarily.¡± Waiting for the right moment rather than hastily hiring mercenaries as the enemy did was a good strategy and proved sessful. Moreover, capturing an unexpected hostage thanks to Johan was an added bonus. Thanks to this, there were cheerful talks in Count Jarpen¡¯s territory about negotiating a truce after receiving the ransom from Countess Abner. While it was merry in Count Jarpen¡¯s territory, Countess Abner¡¯snd must be filled with a tense, almost suffocating atmosphere. ¡°How did you find the shield and sword you received?¡± ¡°They were good. The horse was well-trained, too.¡± ¡°I knew you would be satisfied. Donum is one of the smartest and well-bred horses here. The trainer even joked that it might have a monster lineage, considering its ancestors.¡± Receiving the merchant¡¯s wealth was pleasing, but the additional gifts were also quite valuable. The horse named Donum gifted by the Count was immediately recognized as intelligent upon riding. It moved cleverly, understanding the rider¡¯s intentions, a quality not seen in Fern. Moreover, the Count gifted not only a sword and shield but also a set of chainmail. The chainmail made in the Count¡¯s territory was much thicker and heavier than what Johan wore, crafted by dwarf experts with doubleyered chains. Though heavier, its protective capability was undeniable. Johan was very happy with these rewards and wanted to try them out right away. . . But surprisingly, there was no opportunity to use them. The knights of the castle, possibly following orders from the Count to avoid friction, did not challenge Johan to a duel, and as a guest, Johan was cautious about initiating one. When with Suetlg, he yed board games, but now as an esteemed guest, his activities were limited to training and horseback riding. Bored, Johan summoned Geoffrey and the mercenaries. Goran and Khan, who had received generous rewards from Johan after entering the castle, went out expecting more and were caught by surprise. ¡°Ugh. . . Cough. . . Choke. . .¡± ¡°Come on. Get up.¡± ¡°Please let me rest for a moment, Sir Knight.¡± ¡°Sir Knight, how old do you think I am to be doing this. . .¡± The mercenaries had undergone some training, but Johan¡¯s method was on a different level. His systematic and relentless approach to training each part of the body wearied the mercenaries. Even though the mercenaries had been excited when they learned that a knight would personally train them, this was not what they had expected. ¡°Sir Johan, if you¡¯re feeling bored, why didn¡¯t you just speak to me?¡± The scribe rushed over, rmed when Johan started ying with the mercenaries. To him, it seemed as though Johan was protesting. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Sir Johan, I will introduce you to someone suitable for your rank.¡± ¡°Oh? Who might that be?¡± Upon hearing this from the scribe, Johan was intrigued. He had been feeling bored. He had only taken a few days off after constantly moving around full of vigor. He would wee the chance to meet anyone who could help him build connections. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . .Are you seriously thinking they¡¯re a good match?¡± And the person the scribe introduced was Stephen, who had been taken hostage. ???????????? ¡°Sir Stephen has also been knighted, as has Sir Johan. Wouldn¡¯t it be good for the two of you to have a conversation?¡± The scribe was not wrong. If Stephen had been a true knight, epting his defeat and respecting the victor, it would have been so. But Stephen was far from such a knight. ¡°The moment I return to my fiefdom, I will challenge you to a duel.¡± ¡°Why not do it now? Ah, I see. You couldn¡¯t because you were captured. It would have been the same even if you were free.¡± At Johan¡¯s mockery, Stephen¡¯s face turned red. ¡°Watch your mouth! I am of the Abner lineage. My family¡¯s sanctity is different from the likes of you!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you unable to even inherit a title? As a knight, you should be earning military honors. . . Oh dear, you¡¯ve messed up this time. It¡¯ll be difficult to get assigned next time.¡± Stephen never stood a chance in a verbal duel against Johan, considering the situation and their different backgrounds. ¡°T-Then, I will take my leave.¡± Realizing his mistake, the scribe quickly fled. Johan, looking at Stephen, thought it wouldn¡¯t be bad to gather some information about the Countess Abner family for amusement. ¡°So, how much do you think your family will pay for your ransom?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Not nning to answer?¡± Johan picked up a poker from the firece as he spoke. The red-hot poker made a threatening sound. At this sight, Stephen¡¯s eyes widened in fear. ¡°What. . . what are you nning to do?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the disposition of a hostage at the discretion of the captor?¡± ¡°H-Honor your word! Don¡¯t you n to get a ransom?¡± ¡°A few wounds won¡¯t prevent me from getting a ransom. Now, will you answer or keep silent?¡± Stephen was terrified at Johan¡¯s actions. As a hostage, there was nothing he could do if his captor decided to disregard the ransom. ¡°My family will surely bring at least a hundred. . . no, two hundred Empire gold coins!¡± ¡°Oh? Is that true?¡± Johan tapped near Stephen with the poker, asking. ¡°I am worth that much!¡± A ransom of one hundred to two hundred Empire gold coins was equivalent to a famous knight¡¯s annual ie, a considerable sum unreachable for lower nobility without a fiefdom. Johan was pleased. I did well to capture this man! ¡°How convenient for both of us when you answer like this. Now, tell me about Countess Abner.¡± ¡°What. . . what about?¡± ¡°Anything. Why, need to get a bit closer before you feel like talking?¡± As Johan brought the poker close to his face, Stephen shuddered. He was supposed to be an honorable knight, yet his actions were as cruel as those of a ruthless mercenary. ???????????? Stephen¡¯s mother, Countess Abner, was a noblewoman who loved gold and silver just as much as a merchant. To her, the silver mine discovered at the border of the two fiefdoms was a mouth-watering prey. Unfortunately, no matter how much she searched through the documents, the silver mine was located in Count Jarpen¡¯s territory. . . Countess Abner cleverly demanded thend where the silver mine was located as a dowry. ¡°What dowry?¡± ¡°Marriage, marriage dowry.¡± ¡°. . .You and Count Jarpen¡¯s daughter? Isn¡¯t that a shameless demand?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?! I¡¯m talking about Ulrike-gong.¡± ¡°Gong¡± is a title given to high-ranking nobles or the sessors of high-ranking nobles. Ulrike-gong was Sir Stephen¡¯s sister and Countess Abner¡¯s firstborn, the sessor to the Count. ¡°Oh. You haven¡¯t married yet? Then it¡¯s reasonable.¡± However, even if it was a marriage with the sessor, it was too much to ask for the silver mine as a dowry, and Count Jarpen naturally refused. Countess Abner used this as an excuse to raise her soldiers. . . The two families were surprisingly close. No, in the first ce, noble families were all intertwined with each other. ¡°Countess Abner didn¡¯t even think of breaking off the marriage, so peace will soon be made! Then of course, there will be a ransom, and please remove the shackles from my body!¡± ¡°Oh. I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t realize it until I thought about it.¡± ¡°I brought some wine.¡± As they were talking, a servant came in. Stephen swallowed his saliva when he saw the wine on the silver tray. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????¡¯ Things do go around, but I never thought it would go around like this. Johan looked at the approaching servant with such useless thoughts. The servant bowed his head respectfully, then ced two sses and retreated. ¡°Wait.¡± Johan called out to the servant. There was no specific reason for it, but it was something instinctive. He realized the reasonter. ¡°Why are you carrying the sses upright instead of upside down?¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m sorry.¡± Chapter 48: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Chapter 48: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) A small difference in carrying the ss upright instead of upside down. However, Johan¡¯s instinct drew one conclusion from the opponent¡¯s tension, subtle tremble, and wavering gaze. Assassination! ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± ¡°W-Why are you doing this?¡± ¡°You drink first.¡± Johan, pointing at his own ss, said. The servant obediently poured and drank the drink. At this, Stephen looked at Johan as if he were insane. ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????¡¯ ¡°Is, is it done?¡± ¡°Then drink from this ss.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Cold sweat started to form on the servant¡¯s face. Johan said with a cold face. ¡°Drink.¡± ¡°I. . . I did wrong!!¡± ???????????? After the servant was dragged away by the enraged knights, the first thing Stephen said was a denial that he had nothing to do with it. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me!¡± ¡°. . .Are you blind? The poison was in your ss, not mine.¡± The inside of Stephen¡¯s ss was coated with poison. At first, Stephen didn¡¯t understand what he meant, but soon his face turned pale. ¡°S-Someone targeted me?¡± ¡°Why, haven¡¯t you ever done anything to earn resentment in your life?¡± ¡°No. . . not that, but. . .¡± Shivering, Stephen suddenly raised his head and eximed. ¡°I know who did it!¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°It must have been Ulrike¡¯s doing!¡± Johan was impressed by the attitude of suspecting his family first, leaving many others aside. It was a truly noble attitude. ¡°Why do you think so?¡± ¡°Because she¡¯s the only one who wouldn¡¯t want to pay my ransom!¡± Countess Abner might pay the ransom as a mother, but to the eldest, Stephen was just a troublesome brother. The ransom for such a brother would surely seem a waste. ¡°That¡¯s logical.¡± ¡°Logical? What nonsense! Attempting to poison a family is a grave sin that even God won¡¯t forgive!¡± ¡°Then using without evidence is. . . Anyway, you survived, didn¡¯t you? Just hang in there until the ransom is paid. Then you won¡¯t be targeted anymore.¡± Stephen was agitated by Johan¡¯s indifferent attitude, thinking it wasn¡¯t his problem. ¡°You. . . you dishonorable. . .!¡± ¡°It seems your mind isn¡¯t quite there yet. Who do you think wants to protect you the most in this castle?¡± ¡°C-Count Jarpen?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s me. If you die, I won¡¯t get the ransom. In fact, didn¡¯t I just save you?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°So, if you want to return safely, it¡¯s better to behave. Don¡¯t you think?¡± ???????????? Enraged by the near death of the hostage, Count Jarpen turned the castle upside down. The foreigner who had bribed the servant had already escaped the fiefdom. He had promised to pay more gold as a down payment and then the same amount again if Stephen died, but no one believed it. Even if it had been sessful, the servant would likely have been killed by the foreigner. ¡°I trusted you and let you into the castle!¡± ¡°I havemitted a sin worthy of death. My lord! I thought it was okay because he was unrted to your noble family!¡± As soon as the investigation was over, the servant was executed immediately. And that evening, Count Jarpen invited Johan. ¡°Thank you for preserving my honor, knight. If it weren¡¯t for you, rumors would have spread about my ipetence.¡± ¡°I only did what needed to be done.¡± ¡°I heard you associated with Stephen, are you okay?¡± Count Jarpen knew Stephen¡¯s character. It was far from that of an honorable knight. ¡°We are in the midst of open and honest discussions.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s surprising. I didn¡¯t think that was possible.¡± ¡°Do you have any idea who might have ordered the assassination?¡± ¡°Countess Abner. It must be someone under her, fearing the loss of the ransom. If the hostage died, they wouldn¡¯t have to bear the dishonor of not paying. There are always those whock honor.¡± Count Jarpen¡¯s guess was almost identical to Stephen¡¯s. The situation was too coincidental. ¡°But no need to worry. As things stand, I¡¯ll send out the knights at dawn. Countess Abner has agreed to pay the ransom and make peace, so no need to wait any longer.¡± ¡°!¡± Johan clenched his fist in satisfaction at the news that Countess Abner had surrendered. The payment of the hefty ransom was just around the corner. ¡°Has the marriage issue been resolved?¡± ¡°Ah, you heard about it, did you? Yes, I¡¯ve decided to send my youngest daughter. It¡¯s not worth it to keep fighting with Countess Abner, so I need to save face to some extent.¡± Countess Abner, who had paid the ransom andpensation, was like a cornered rat. If they kept pressing her, she would bite back even more viciously. They had to give her some breathing room. After all, they were going to have to live together as families. Even if it wasn¡¯t as much as the silver mine, the dowry would help to save Countess Abner¡¯s face to some extent. ¡°Where will you be bringing the adopted son from?¡± ¡°Hmm. I haven¡¯t heard, but I think Ulrike-gong will decide that.¡± It wasmon for same-sex couples to bring in adopted sons from other rted families when they married. The marriage between the Count¡¯s family was not about personal preference, but about the fiefdom. Once married, each would likely have their own lovers and live their lives. ¡°Actually, I considered you as a potential match. . .¡± ¡°!¡± Johan was taken aback as the conversation shifted from the Knight Initiation Ceremony to a fiefdom award ceremony. Marrying off an untrained child was akin to grantingnd equivalent to the dowry to the other party. No wonder knights targeted wealthy widows or bachelors with fiefdoms. A single marriage could elevate them to a feudal lord. Though Johan had never seen the person, it didn¡¯t matter. If it meant obtaining the position of a feudal lord, that was a sacrifice worth making. ¡°If I did that, I would be the enemy of the Abner family.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Johan seemed regretful but didn¡¯t show it. After all, it was too big a prey for him to aim for. ¡°By the way, may I join the procession taking Sir Stephen?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, but. . . it won¡¯t be afortable journey. It hasn¡¯t been long since the war ended, and it will be swarming with mercenaries and rogues. We¡¯ll have to move while subduing them. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to rest a bit more? The person I mentionedst time will contact you soon.¡± ¡°What would a knight do if he stayedfortable?¡± ¡°A wise answer.¡± Johan¡¯s replypletely satisfied the Count. Of course, Johan¡¯s real concern was for Stephen. Stephen¡¯s ransom was too high to leave to the knights alone. ¡°I must save him and get the ransom in person!¡± Besides, the moneying in from subduing the rogues was a bonus. ¡°Then I¡¯ll arrange a ce for you in the procession.¡± ???????????? Although not as much as the elf knights, Count Jarpen¡¯s knights did respect Johan. However, they were not without jealousy. They had heard of Johan¡¯s achievements and were striving topete. And Johan overwhelmed them with his skill. In the process of subduing bands of rogues, Johan fought fiercely, knocking down and trampling the enemies. Geoffrey had to rush over to tell him to rest. It didn¡¯t take long for the knights to recognize Johan. ¡°Ah!¡± Hearing the sound of a bird taking flight, Stephen quickly ducked, mistaking it for the sound of an arrow. ¡°Are you scared of a bird?¡± ¡°We¡¯re about to arrive at the castle! We can¡¯t be too cautious.¡± Stephen was clearly terrified. And he had good reason. Countess Abner¡¯s territory was more dangerous for him than Count Jarpen¡¯s. To the knights, Stephen¡¯s behavior was contemptible. A knight only hiding, not ready to fight! ¡°Sir Johan. There¡¯s no need to associate with such a person. Let the soldiers escort him.¡± ¡°No. Since I caught him, I will take care of him devotedly until we reach the family estate.¡± The knights saluted Johan with a moved expression for his honorable conduct. Stephen, threatened with a club, looked on in disbelief from behind. ¡®??????¡¯???? ?? ??????????????. . .!¡¯ Yet Johan was truly protecting Stephen devotedly. He was using not only himself but also Karamaf to block if the enemy approached. Honestly, I¡¯d like to see someone try to break through this guard and kill him. ¡°But if you¡¯re that scared, isn¡¯t it dangerous to return to the fiefdom?¡± If assassins appear, thinking of his siblings¡¯ names, inside the fiefdom might be more dangerous than outside. If it were Johan, he would have run away immediately. ¡°Ha. If I talk to the Count, even Ulrike won¡¯t act recklessly.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Judging by his talk, Countess Abner seemed to care quite a bit about this third son. After all, giving him a knight¡¯s title and abruptly making him a militarymander were not easy things to do without affection. ¡°So, protect me properly! If you want the ransom!¡± ¡°Shut up and stay quiet. If you keep making noise, Karamaf will get angry.¡± Despite his grudge against Johan, Stephen had to admit once more during this journey that Johan¡¯s abilities were indisputable. Not only was it bold to seize him in a tent filled with armed knights, but the tremendous strength disyed against bands of rogues was beyond imagination. He wasn¡¯t sure if his feelings would change once back in the fiefdom, but for now, Johan was as good as his lifeline. ¡°We should arrive by tomorrow. Let¡¯s stay in this town tonight.¡± When moving under the banner of Count Jarpen¡¯s house, the treatment was different. Even in the fiefdom of other nobles, everyone from the vige chief to the serfs rushed to tie their horses and run errands. In the town, vacating the best house for them was a given, and when the vigers even attempted to ughter pigs and chickens with borrowed liquor, the knights intervened. ¡°We have brought provisions. You may stand down.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sir Knight.¡± The knights of Count Jarpen, true to their discipline, epted no undue favors. Stephen grumbled discontentedly about not receiving the expected treatment. Just as the knights were about to retire after a satisfying meal, a group appeared outside the town. The fluttering g belonged to the house of Countess Abner. Leading this entourage was Ulrike, Countess Abner¡¯s eldest daughter. ???????????? ¡°Marcel¡¯s troll yer is. . . over there, right?¡± ¡°Yes, Ulrike-gong.¡± The knights epted Ulrike¡¯s approach with bewildered expressions. As the heir to the Count, she was a daunting opponent for them to deal with. ¡°Would youe to my tent for some good wine as a treat for such a knight?¡± ¡°. . .!!¡± The knights wore very worried expressions. Of course, breaking a promise as a noble was akin to social suicide, but this was enemy territory after all. Moreover, someone like Johan was exactly the kind of adversary the Abner family would be grinding their teeth against. Sending Johan to the tent alone seemed daunting. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. It¡¯s getting dark, and you must be tired from today¡¯s battle.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking you. Who do you think you are, being so bold in front of me?¡± ¡°. . .I, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Though they came as a delegation celebrating victory, the difference in rank was clear. Outside the agreed upon negotiation topics, the knights found it hard to assert themselves in front of Ulrike. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°. . .Sir, please be careful.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the person entering my tent be the one to be careful?¡± At Johan¡¯s joke, the knights forgot the situation for a moment and burst into a stifledugh. It was indeed a remarkable disy of courage. ???????????? Before even starting to drink in the tent, Ulrike spoke up. ¡°If you kill Stephen, I¡¯ll pay you his weight in gold and cleanly forget this grudge.¡± About to take a sip, Johan put down his cup with a wry expression. It was a proposal that soured the taste of the drink he had. Chapter 49: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Chapter 49: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) ¡°I refuse.¡± The offer was dishonorable from the start, so no formalities were used in the refusal. Ulrike seemed to have anticipated this, as she promptly made another offer. ¡°What about double the amount?¡± ¡°I refuse that as well.¡± ¡°Four times then. You¡¯ll refuse this too? How about ten times more?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was surprised. He honestly hadn¡¯t expected such a sum. Ten times the amount could tempt one into betrayal over and over again. It was iprehensible why someone would offer such a price, especially for someone like Stephen. ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Noticing Johan¡¯s thoughts, Ulrike casually observed him. Her beauty reminded Johan of a venomous snake. He clenched and unclenched his fist, ufortable. ¡°What¡¯s left then? Ah, yes. You can¡¯t kill with your own hands, can you? After all, you¡¯re a knight. I don¡¯t expect that much. Just close your eyes. My men will handle the annoying wolf.¡± Johan was irked by her confident demeanor. It seemed she believed her offer would be readily epted. Frankly, other knights might have epted such an offer. Knights are human after all. Like a devout believer can covet gold and lie, a knight can be honest about their desires. Honor is a knight¡¯s armor, but in private, even that can be shed. Knowing this, Ulrike had sought this private meeting. ¡°This is my family¡¯s fiefdom. Dying here won¡¯t dishonor you, but my family. So, have I said enough? What more should I consider? Invite you to a hunt? Need an excuse to leave?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this too high a price for killing a brother without inheritance rights?¡± ¡°That¡¯s something only a naive knight would say,¡± Ulrike scoffed. ¡°Do you know how much money my foolish bloodline has wasted so far? And how much more will be wasted? Countess Abner spends for the sake of bloodline, but I think differently. The eldest, who will inherit the family, is what matters. The money being wasted now is the family¡¯s but also mine. It¡¯s better to deal with it quickly before more is lost.¡± ¡°Surprisingly honest, it¡¯s a bit unsettling.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a wandering knight. Who would believe you if you went around talking?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re so capable, why don¡¯t you handle it yourself?¡± ¡°Are you pretending to be stupid, or are you really that dumb? Once it gets to the Count, you can¡¯t kill like now. And you¡¯d just cause more trouble.¡± Ulrike, apparently tired of the conversation, pulled out a certificate. It was a promissory note with the seal of a tradingpany, redeemable for the promised amount immediately. ??????????©¥ Ulrike threw the certificate in front of him. ¡®??????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????¡¯ She seemed unconcerned, confident she could handle it even if he fled. Anyone who could spend a thousand gold coins to kill a brother would surely spend more. ¡°Now, stop talking and make a decision. What will you do?¡± Ulrike was sure Johan would ept. Johan calmly replied. ¡°I refuse.¡± ¡°. . .Are you serious?¡± ¡°Seriously. Since you spoke at length, I¡¯ll return the courtesy and do the same. If the child is so precious to the Count, even if it¡¯s not my responsibility, the grudge could still be directed at me. People¡¯s feelings don¡¯t resolve that neatly.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± As Johan pointed out something Ulrike hadn¡¯t considered, her expression subtly twisted. It was indeed a valid point. People sometimes disce their grudges onto those who are not involved at all. Especially if they happen to dislike the person. ¡°And even if you trust me, I find it hard to trust you. I don¡¯t have a way to retaliate.¡± ¡°If you argue like that, wouldn¡¯t it be impossible to conduct any business in the world?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I only do business with people stronger than me who are rtively trustworthy.¡± Ulrike red at Johan¡¯s statement, but Johan didn¡¯t care. ¡°So, is that everything you wanted to say?¡± ¡°No. There¡¯s onest, major reason.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°My honor. . .¡± ¡°Ah. Forget it. No one was watching or listening.¡± ¡°You should listen to the end. Apart from my honor, I made a promise to Stephen, and it doesn¡¯t feel right to break it first. Stephen might be an annoying guy, but he hasn¡¯t done anything wrong enough to break my promise and kill him yet.¡± Having finished his piece, Johan stood up. Further conversation would only be harmful to both of them. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Ulrike looked as if she had seen a rare monster. If what was just said isn¡¯t about honor, then what is? ???????????? ¡°Hmm. It seems Ulrike-gong really did try to kill you. I was half in doubt about it.¡± ¡°. . .How did you confirm that?¡± ¡°She came to me and offered several times the gold to let him kill you.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Stephen clutched his head and buried it in the nket. He hadn¡¯t expected such a brazen proposal. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Once we meet the Count, she won¡¯t dare do anything rash.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s the type to give up easily.¡± ¡°Wait. . . you¡¯re not saying you¡¯ve been bribed? What about the promise? What happened to the promise?!¡± ¡°She really knows how to handle people. She has a way of talking that even those not bribed would want to be. Don¡¯t worry. I didn¡¯t take her offer.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Stephen looked at Johan with a wary gaze. He knew Ulrike¡¯s skill in manipting people, having experienced it several times. Didn¡¯t she always have the people in the castle under her control? ¡°I tend not to make suspicious deals with those I can¡¯t handle. Ulrike-gong is a bit. . . devilish.¡± ¡°. . .Hahaha!¡± Stephen burst intoughter, shaking off his fear. It was the first time he heard someone speak of Ulrike like that. ¡°Right. She does have a devilish aspect!¡± ¡®????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ????????????? ????????¡¯?? ???? ?????????????? ?????????¡¯ Stephen finally stoppedughing and said, ¡°Right. You¡¯ve thought this through well. It¡¯s better not to make such suspicious deals. If we return safely, I can pay you in gold instead of a ransom. I promise.¡± ¡°You?¡± Johan asked incredulously, and Stephen was angered by his tant disregard. ¡°Do you think I have less money than a knight dastard like you?!¡± Even if disregarded for his force, he couldn¡¯t be ignored for his wealth. Especially not by a knight like that. ¡°Ah. Don¡¯t take it the wrong way. But you¡¯re not the firstborn and don¡¯t have an inheritance, so where will this golde from?¡± The power of nobility came from their fiefs. Even the impoverished Aitz family could afford expensive arms and servants. Ulrike could throw around gold because she had already inherited some territories. Heirs of noble families often received some territories early on. But Stephen? ¡°. . . . . .¡± Stung by thement, Stephen fell silent. After a moment, he spoke up. ¡°There¡¯s a way to get it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of extorting it from the Count, are you?¡± ¡°What nonsense. . .?!¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ll see. I¡¯ll look forward to it.¡± Johan was skeptical. Could Stephen reallye up with that much gold? ???????????? Johan and his knights entered the castle without disarming, a privilege of their victory. As they entered, disapproving res came from all sides. No noble family¡¯s vassals had escaped losses in the war. The gazes were naturally harsh. ©¥???????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????????????, ??????????????¡¯?? ????? ©¥?????? ????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ????????????? ©¥??????????????, ????¡¯?? ???????????? ????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ????????? Wars were prepared in winter to start in spring, not the other way around. Fighting in winter, especially with dyed supplies, was suicidal. Moreover, with theirmander captured, the knights and mercenary captains had a good excuse. Retreating the next day was the obvious choice. ©¥???? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????. ???? ?????????? ?????? Count ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????????, ?????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ??????????????. ©¥??????¡¯???? ??????????. Stephen¡¯s face turned red. There was no way he couldn¡¯t have heard the insult. ¡°The Countess ising in!¡± A servant entered, announcing this, and after those present paid their respects, the Countess entered the hall. Wrapped in expensive silk, the Countess bore the look of an aged leopard, exuding a presence that only a noble of his rank could. ¡°Why are you armed in my castle?¡± ¡°What? Didn¡¯t you allow it, my lord?¡± ¡°I never gave such permission. Disarm yourselves.¡± The Countess raised her hand, and the guards by her side stepped forward as if to pressurize. The number of guards, more than usual and well-armed, clearly indicated an intentional disy. ¡®??¡¯???? ???????? ??????????????????.¡¯ The messenger of Count Jarpen clicked his tongue. The Countess had agreed too readily, perhaps for this very reason. A simple way for the Countess to regain dignity and authority in front of her vassals. The knights present couldn¡¯t overturn the negotiations with just this. The Countess was ying a dangerous game, staying just within the boundaries of nullifying the negotiations. The knights, aware of this, prepared to reluctantly disarm, their faces showing signs of frustration. But Johan was different. Unlike the knights of the Jarpen family, Johan didn¡¯t need to care about such things. ¡°If you want my weapon. . .¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to take it from my dead body. Back off.¡± The approaching guard stopped, looking at the Countess in confusion, not expecting such a response. ¡°Is Sir the Marcel¡¯s troll yer?¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± ¡°I thought he was a frence knight, but he¡¯s from the Jarpen family?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here only as a guest, not a member of the Jarpen family.¡± ¡°Then why did you interfere in the fight?¡± ¡°I had no choice but to defend my honor.¡± ¡°Does that mean you hold no particr grudge against the House of Countess Abner?¡± ¡°Indeed, my lord.¡± ¡°Then, in respect of that honor, I grant you a privilege.¡± When she backed down, Johan was surprised. He had heard that she was more emotional, but her demeanor was as cool as steel. This conversation was almost like an offer of reconciliation. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ????????????, ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ It was a rational attitude, but people, especially those of high status, are not always rational. Johan realized how cold-blooded the nobility trained as feudal lords could be. Compared to them, Johan and the other knights were hot-blooded. ¡°My lord Countess! Even if you permit it, I still feel my honor has been tarnished. Please allow my son to fight the troll yer and restore our honor.¡± And so it went. The sudden appearance of the old knight made Johan realize his reputation had spread. Challenging Johan to a one-on-one duel meant he was considered worthy of such an honor. Otherwise, such a challenge wouldn¡¯t have been made. No one praises defeating a mere rogue in a duel. Now, Johan had be a target for knights seeking honor. ¡®???????????????????? ??????!¡¯ ¡°?¡± Stephen whispered desperately from behind. Chapter 50: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Chapter 50: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Stephen was well aware of who this old man¡¯s mentioned son in the recent article was. ¡®The Butcher¡¯ Gerdolf! A knight of the Highan family, serving Countess Abner, Gerdolf was a brutal and fierce knight, aptly nicknamed ¡®The Butcher¡¯. While not as notorious as Sir Karamaf, known as the ¡®Noble Executioner¡¯, Gerdolf was also a knight who had killed many in his career, no different than Countess Abner¡¯s hound. As Stephen tried to dissuade Johan, Countess Abner was also displeased. Although she would be relieved if Gerdolf overpowered Johan, the aftermath would be too bothersome. Count Jarpen, known for his admiration of honorable knights, would be furiously enraged, potentially disrupting the recently amicable negotiations. While he might overlook a fiefdom feud, killing an invited knight was an insult no noble would tolerate. Moreover, Johan was an up-anding knight, earning the nickname ¡®troll yer¡¯. If Gerdolf were injured or defeated. . . It was irritating to see someone trying to boost his family¡¯s honor by picking fights, but now that it hade to this, the Countess could not refuse. If Johan were to back down, then the Countess would consider it favorably. . . ¡°How can I refuse a challenge brought to me?¡± ¡®???????? ???? ??????.¡¯ In any case, these knights were all infuriating, constantly grating on his nerves. ???????????? ¡®??????????????!¡¯ Stephen watched the fight with a tense expression, annoyed by Johan¡¯s attitude in epting the challenge despite his advice. There was a reason he tried to stop the fight with Gerdolf. Gerdolf embodied all the negative traits of a knight. Cruel, deceitful, and savage. While some knights were trained in honor and values from a young age, others, like Gerdolf, were bred in blood and ughter. If not for Countess Abner, Gerdolf, with his reckless behavior, would have long been hanged. ¡°Target. Kill. Target. Kill. I. Understood.¡± A warrior, seeminglyrger than Johan by a head or two, entered with a clumsy manner of speaking. Sir Inno, his father, tried hard to exin the situation, but the warrior seemed to understand less than half of it. Gerdolf¡¯s savagery was partly due to his low intelligence. Unlike other knights, his brain, incapable of considering consequences, made him more violent. ¡°Over 2 meters tall.¡± Count Jarpen¡¯s knights, familiar with Gerdolf¡¯s name, became very serious. Whispers were heard, wondering how to stop him. They wanted to intervene, fearing to seem rude to Johan. ¡°It seems he is not an unbeatable foe.¡± Unlike his time in the fiefdom, with growing experience, he could now hear the whispers of his instincts. How strong is the opponent, can he win, if they fight, how will the opponent attack. . . This led to a calm assessment. Johan wielded a newly received longsword and shield, while Gerdolf, without a shield, held a two-handed sword. The greatsword seemed evenrger, likely customized to his size. Gerdolf¡¯s desire to charge and strike was evident on his face. Johan surveyed him, considering that dragging out the fight might be advantageous given Gerdolf¡¯s impatience. ???????????? ??????????! With the sound of bones crushing, Gerdolf howled in pain. The duel was over in a single move. As Johan lunged into the reach of the greatsword, Gerdolf attemptedbat wrestling, thinking he had caught Johan off guard, and Johan counterattacked in kind. The two knights, confident in their strength, shed with no finesse at all. . . And the winner was, of course, Johan. Gerdolf screamed in pain mixed with surprise, not having expected Johan to be stronger than him. ¡°My arm, my arm!¡± ¡®???????? ????.¡¯ Johan clicked his tongue. The duel had ended too quickly due to Gerdolf¡¯s brutish attack. Originally, Johan had nned to exchange sword and shield blows before winning a tense fight. Even if he lost, it would save face for both. He had just reconciled with the Countess and did not want to tarnish her reputation. But when Gerdolf attacked with brute force, Johan had no choice but to respond. . . And that led to the current situation. The people of the House of Countess Abner looked at Gerdolf with very crumpled expressions. Though Gerdolf was a brutal knight who knew no honor, he had been respected for his continuous victories. Such a man loses all worth the moment he is defeated. ¡°Hang in there! Rather. . .¡± Amidst the noise, Gerdolf¡¯s father shouted. What he meant to say next was clear to everyone: ¡®???????????? ??????.¡¯ But Gerdolf stammered out. ¡°I surrender, I surrender!¡± Sighs erupted from all around. Johan released his arm and eximed. ¡°I thank the Countess for giving me the opportunity to duel with an honorable knight! It seems Sir Gerdolf wanted to test my strength in this manner, but had we properly shed weapons, the oue of the fight would have been uncertain!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± After a moment of silence, one quick-witted person started pping and cheering to break the awkward atmosphere. ¡°Blessings on Sir Johan¡¯s honor! Blessed in the name of God!¡± ¡°. . .A fight between honorable knights, well observed. A battle that would please the gods as well.¡± Although no one really thought so, no one dared to speak out in front of the Count. Johan sensed the Count¡¯s nod of thanks. ¡®???????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ????????, ???????? ????????????.¡¯ Continually weighing every action in front of high nobility was exhausting, even for someone with a body as strong as steel like Johan. Fortunately, from then on, there was no need for Johan to step forward. After Gerdolf was carried away, an envoy came out to talk with the Countess and exchange documents. Johan also received the ransom he was promised. Two hundred empire gold coins. A reward well worth the trouble he had gone through. ???????????? ¡°Count! Ulrike is. . .¡± ¡°Ulrike-gong.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You should call her Ulrike-gong.¡± ¡°Y-Yes. Ulrike-gong is trying to kill me. . .¡± ¡°Evidence? Do you have any evidence?¡± ¡°No evidence, but you know, Count. How much Ulrike-gong. . .¡± ¡°I have a proposal for you.¡± ¡°?¡± Stephen¡¯s eyes widened at Countess Abner¡¯s words. What kind of proposal is she making? ¡°I spoke to the Sharkaz Monastery. They said they would ept you if sent. It will be safe there.¡± ¡°. . .!!!¡± The Sharkaz Monastery, also known as ¡®The Silent Monastery.¡¯ Unlike other monasteries, this secluded one forbade its monks from any social activities. Once entered, one cannot leave until death. It was akin to social death. ¡°Countess, Countess, Countess. . .!¡± Stephen trembled. He had heard rumors of disgraced nobles being sent to the Silent Monastery, but never thought it would happen to him. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go, you don¡¯t have to. But this is thest chance I can offer you.¡± At Countess Abner¡¯s words, Stephen realized. This failure meant Countess Abner had given up on him! He had underestimated the situation. Even familial bonds had limits, especially for a Countess who must lead a house. ¡°. . .I will think about it and respond.¡± ¡°You better decide quickly. For your own good.¡± ¡°. . .Yes.¡± ???????????? Johan and Count Jarpen¡¯s emissaries were happily intoxicated. Havingpleted their mission as emissaries, they were now just enjoying the hospitality before returning. Countess Abner had served the finest wine and cuisine for the sake of her own reputation, impressing Johan. His refined pte had grown only more demanding over his travels. ¡°A toast to Sir Johan¡¯s exploits! To the power blessed by the gods!¡± ¡°Hahaha! Who knew the knight could trample that butcher!¡± The people of Countess Abner¡¯s house entertained the emissaries with smiling faces despite their displeasure. They had to endure, having already made peace. Victory is always the remedy for injustice. ¡°Hey, hey!¡± ¡°?¡± Johan was puzzled when Stephen approached his table. He had already received the ransom, so why return? ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something urgent I need to discuss!¡± ©¥??????????. ¡°Karamaf doesn¡¯t seem interested in listening.¡± ¡°Stop joking! It¡¯s good news for you too! I swear!¡± Johan¡¯s interest piqued as Stephen insisted. Had something gone wrong after meeting the Count? ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ???????????? ¡°Hmm. . . you¡¯ve had a hard time. Farewell.¡± Johan had already bid farewell. Once Stephen entered the monastery, it was likely they would never meet again. ¡°Don¡¯t make such a dog-like joke! What are you talking about?!¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying you¡¯ll bravely face the sword of Ulrike-gong? Well, that¡¯s not bad either.¡± Maybe Johan could, but Stephen was likely to die within a week, so much so that bets could be ced on it. ¡°Stop the nonsense and listen. I have a fiefdom. It¡¯s a small town, but. . .¡± ¡°. . .???¡± Johan thought Stephen had gone mad. ¡°Are you dreaming?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I say listen? I really have a fiefdom. Technically, it¡¯s not the fiefdom itself, but the right to collect taxes from that fiefdom. . .¡± In this world, fiefdoms were usually entangled inplexities. The owner of the fiefdom might be A, managed by B, with the tax rights held by C, and the judicial authority with D. Nobles¡¯ wars often arose over these entangled rights. If it¡¯s tax rights, it¡¯s the right to collect taxes from the fiefdom. Practically, it was one of the most valuable rights. It was enough to im ¡®???????? ???? ???? ??????????????¡¯. ¡°Who gave it to you?¡± ¡°Countess Abner. . . in the past.¡± ¡°In front of others?¡± ¡°No. Secretly. Only one bishop as a witness.¡± ¡°. . .Now I see why Ulrike-gong wants to kill you.¡± It was a serious statement, not a joke. Nobles didn¡¯t spare even their own parents and children. It wasn¡¯t rare to see a firstborn wage war against their parents for not receiving their rightful fiefdom. Even more so when a part of the fiefdom¡¯s tax rights were secretly given to the third child. If Ulrike knew, it would be serious enough to wage a war against Countess Abner based on this. ¡°Damn. How would I have known when I received it? I was young then!¡± ¡°Anyway, if you have the tax rights, isn¡¯t that good? Just sell them at a suitable ce and escape to the city.¡± The price of the tax rights of a fiefdom was unimaginably high. With that money, one could settle in the city and live a life of luxury and ease. ¡°. . .I can¡¯t sell it.¡± ¡°Because of pride?¡± ¡°No. The current state of that town is a mess. . .¡± Stephen said with a mix of frustration. If the state of the town had been decent, he would have sold it long ago. The number of monsters nearby had increased, and after repeated attacks, the townspeople had fled to the mountains, bing sh-and-burn farmers. With no people, there was naturally no tax to be collected. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the entire tax rights of that fiefdom. Come with me to subdue the monsters of this fiefdom!¡± ¡°If you give away all the tax rights of that fiefdom, where will you get your ie?¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯ll give you half of the fiefdom¡¯s tax rights.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan seriously contemted whether it was safe to join hands with Stephen. Teaming up with someone smart enough to deceive him was dangerous, but someone as foolish as this seemed risky in a different way. ¡°What about the troops? Surely you¡¯re not thinking of making me hire soldiers.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡®???????? ?? ?????????? ???? ????. ???????? ?? ?????????????????? ????????????????.¡¯ Stephen, apparently embarrassed by what he heard, blushed and changed his words. ¡°Y-Yes, I can hire mercenaries with the money I¡¯ve prepared.¡± ¡°What about the knights? It would be much easier if we could mobilize the knights. Each would bring a certain number of soldiers too.¡± ¡°Are you crazy?! What do you think the knights of the family think of me!¡± It would have been better if they despised or disliked him, but they could have been bribed by Ulrike to kill him. ¡°Then, assuming only the mercenaries participate. . . do I just need to join in person?¡± ¡°You caught a troll? Aren¡¯t other monsters easier to catch?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple a problem.¡± Johan fell into thought. Anyway, let¡¯s assume we go through this trouble and gain tax rights. To whom should it be sold for the best profit? ¡°. . .Selling to Ulrike seems like it would fetch the highest price.¡± Chapter 51: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Chapter 51: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Price was a factor, but it seemed like the option with the least repercussions. Johan realized this while watching the Jarpen and Abner families fight. ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ??????????????, ??????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????????????????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Even in a favorable position, the Jarpen family extended their hand first. The reason was simple. If they weren¡¯t nning to fight to the death with the Abner family, they had to work together anyway. Countess Abner, despite feeling bitter and angry, epted the proposal immediately. Nobles sometimes fight to the death, but such ¡®trivial¡¯ disputes were different. Regardless of win or loss, they had to respect each other¡¯s pride to some extent. Imagine handling matters well and gaining tax rights. The moment you sell it to someone else, it would eventually reach Ulrike¡¯s ears. At that moment, Ulrike would grasp the situation and explode with anger. ¡°. . .So the first one to sell to should be Ulrike-gong.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense is that?! Why would Ulrike buy that!¡± Stephen was shocked. Even if Johan was overly confident, he couldn¡¯t force Ulrike¡¯s twisted personality to change with power. ¡°She won¡¯t buy it!¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because Ulrike dislikes me! She won¡¯t listen to my proposal.¡± ¡°Apart from disliking, Ulrike-gong knows how to see reality.¡± ¡®????, ?????? ?????? ???????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????????!¡¯ ¡°If the rights to a fiefdom willplicate things by going to others, she¡¯llpromise. Am I wrong?¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± Stephen couldn¡¯t argue. It made sense when put that way. ¡°Unless it¡¯s a trade guild, selling it to another nearby feudal lord would give Ulrike a real headache.¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s a bit. . .¡± Even as a member of the Abner family, Stephen was flustered. That was a bit too much. ¡°This is how negotiations are done. Got it? Of course, I don¡¯t want to sell it off like that and create hostility, but. . .¡± ¡°So, are you going to negotiate now?¡± ¡°No. This is just a scenario if things go well. Trying to negotiate with something that doesn¡¯t exist yet will only lead to mockery. In the worst case, it might even cause interference.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Good point. . .¡± Stephen mumbled, then looking at Johan, he said, ¡°But it¡¯s really good to have a knight like you. I can¡¯t trust the other knight dastards of the family at all.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t agreed to do it yet.¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Bring the map. I¡¯ll decide after hearing the details.¡± ???????????? Ultimately, Johan epted Stephen¡¯s proposal. ¡®?????? ?? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ Although Stephen said it was a small town, that was by Stephen¡¯s standards; it was actually quite arge town. Being over a few hundred in poption was consideredrge. ¡°Anyway, this map is really. . .¡± The maps of this era were terrible. Johan sometimes wondered if he was looking at a map or scribbles. ¡°?????? ?????? ???????????????????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ????????????.¡± Having followed Priest Valberga in managing the fiefdom¡¯s taxes and poption registry, Johan had useful experience in this area. Stephen, who was without a scribe or priest, looked at Johan reading the documents alone with amazement. ¡®???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????????, ????¡¯?? ???????????????? ???? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????????, ?????? ???????? ??????????????????????, ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????????. . . ????, ?? ???????????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ Having never owned a fiefdom, Johan had developed a habit of contemting how to develop any fiefdom that came into his hands. If it was something Johan could do, others would have tried it a few times as well. What Johan was facing now was not a future matter but an immediate subjugation. ¡®?????????? ???????? ?????????? ????????????????????????, ?????? ????????????. ?????? ???????????? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ??????????????????????, ?????? ???? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?? ?????????????????? ????????????, ???????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????.¡¯ It was amon urrence. If the monsters were defeated and peace returned to the area, it was fortunate, but if not, the fight had to continue. From the employer¡¯s perspective, weighing options was inevitable. Mercenaries cost money from the moment they are hired. In a situation with no end in sight, pouring money into it rather than withdrawing could be more beneficial. But Johan was different. ¡°It would have been easier if it was just one strong monster causing the failure. This seems easy but is actually difficult.¡± Still, Johan decided to go ahead with it. A significant factor was that all the money woulde from Stephen¡¯s pocket. ???????????? Countess Abner looked at Johan and Stephen as if amazed. ¡°Although I granted privilege out of respect for honor. . .¡± Countess Abner felt a headacheing on at the sight of the knight who brought a strange n after seeking reconciliation. ¡®????. ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan is an outsider. It was unlikely that he would have led such a n. The cause was clearly Stephen. Ast desperate attempt to avoid going to the monastery! It was both annoying and pitiful. Still, she was the most cherished child in her youth. . . ¡°Heincut town has failed thrice in subjugation. Some priests say thend is cursed, as it¡¯s infested with monsters. Do we really need to hire mercenaries and ensure its subjugation?¡± ¡°Yes. Please trust and leave it to me. I have already agreed with Sir Johan.¡± ¡®?????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Sincerity was felt in those recent words. ¡®???????? ????????????, ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Of course, Stephen didn¡¯t notice at all. ¡°There will be no support from the family. Do not ask for any help if the mercenaries¡¯ wages are dyed.¡± ¡°I am doing this to elevate my honor! How could I ask the family for help!¡± Stephen eximed, pounding his chest. It was a knightly attitude, but no one in the room took him seriously. ¡®?????????????? ????????????????????????.¡¯ ¡®???????? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ????????????????¡¯?? ??????????.¡¯ ¡®?????????? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ????????????, ?????? ??????????????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???? ??????????.¡¯ ¡°. . .If anyone here wishes to join this honorable expedition, speak now. I will consider it.¡± Silence followed Countess¡¯s words. It signified their unwillingness to get involved in trouble with Stephen. ¡°Countess, please give me and my son a chance!¡± ¡°Sir Inno. Is Sir Gerdolf fully recovered?¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t injured at all! Give us a chance, and we will redeem ourselves.¡± ¡°Granted.¡± ¡®?????? ??????????????¡¯ ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ????????????, ?? ????????????, ?????????????? ????. ???????????????????? ???? ????????????-????????¡¯?? ??????????????, ???????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ??????????. For them, with neither a noteworthy fiefdom nor family, The Countess was the only reliable entity. ¡®?????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan clicked his tongue at the Countess¡¯s effort to include and help the knight. Nobility¡¯s rule might be heartless and tearless, but as humans, it¡¯s not always possible to be that way. ¡°With the Butcher. . . Cough. Sorry. I should have stopped it.¡± ¡°. . .What nonsense are you talking about?¡± ¡°???¡± ???????????? Nearly two hundred mercenaries were hired. Considering Stephen¡¯s finances, it would be a disaster if the campaign wasn¡¯t concluded within half a year. Count Jarpen¡¯s emissaries, particrly the knights, regretted not participating in Johan¡¯s expedition. It was thanks to Johan¡¯s reputation and connections. ©¥??????, ?????????? ???? ??????????????????, ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????¡¯?? ????????. ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????. ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ??????????????. Count Jarpen might understand, but he couldn¡¯t be kept waiting for too long. For both Johan and Stephen, time was of the essence. ¡°So that¡¯s why you called me?¡± ¡°Yes, Suetlg-nim.¡± ¡°You¡¯re undervaluing a wizard¡¯s worth.¡± ¡°How can I equate friendship with gold?¡± Suetlg looked incredulous at Johan¡¯s easygoing response. ¡°This monster hunt desperately needs your experienced advice, Suetlg-nim.¡± ¡°. . .You seem to think my magical secrets are akin to a hunter¡¯s experience, but I assure you they¡¯re not.¡± If you want to know how to deal with a monster hunt, summon an experienced hunter or a mercenary captain. It¡¯s like using a catapult to hunt goblins. But Johan, undeterred, asked, ¡°What do you think is the reason for the endless appearance of monsters?¡± ¡°There are various reasons. . . maybe we haven¡¯t found the breeding dens. Creatures like goblins, known for their fertility, often do this. They¡¯re adept at hiding their dens. Though different, ghouls are also troublesome if their source isn¡¯t found, continually rising from the dead.¡± ¡°Ghouls? How do they usuallye about?¡± ¡°Well, everyone says something different. . . I think they emerge when a corpse with a strong grudge is buried improperly, but priests believe they arise frommitting sacrilege. . . I¡¯m not sure. It¡¯s not my area of expertise. What else could there be? Ah. In the case of clever monsters, some flee when the hunters arrive and then return. Beasts as clever as wolves you¡¯re asking about are good at detecting human presence. If the hunt has failed a few times, there should be records of what kind of creatures appeared.¡± ¡°Mostly goblins. Apparently, they¡¯re particrly clever and even control boars.¡± ¡°Those pests are surprisingly skilled in that regard.¡± Suetlg clicked his tongue. Goblins, being monsters, were inherently brutal and cruel, but that didn¡¯t necessarily mean they were stupid. Depending on the tribe, there were plenty of clever ones. ¡°Now that I think about it, there¡¯s one more possibility.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Mercenaries pretending to work, failing to hunt, and then embezzling the money. It¡¯s surprisinglymon.¡± ¡°Looking at the Countess, anyone doing that would have met a gruesome end.¡± ¡°You know well. Indeed, Countess Abner is famous. Once, she hanged a group of mercenary captains.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was relieved to meet Countess Abner as a knight, not a mercenary. ???????????? ¡°No, captain. You¡¯ve received such arge sum of money and still not resting? You keep working.¡± ¡°When did I tell you toe? If you want to rest, go and rest.¡± ¡°How can I be absent where the captain goes?¡± The mercenaries grumbled but their faces were very bright. Thanks to Goran and Khan¡¯s choice, they had earned several years¡¯ worth of sry at once. At first, when they heard that Goran and Khan were involved in aplicated matter, they were horrified. ©¥????, ??????????????! ?????? ?????? ??????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ?? ??????????! ©¥???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ????. ?????????! Such reactions changed to the opposite after the reward they received upon arriving at Count Jarpen¡¯s territory. ©¥???? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????. ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???? ??????????????????. ©¥????????, ??¡¯???? ?????????? ?????????????? ????. ????????. . . The soldiers currently escorting Johan in the punitive force were the mercenaries they had hired when they left the city. It was much more reliable than hiring new mercenaries. When they heard about the punitive mission, the mercenaries unanimously decided. They wanted to follow this fortunate employer and earn even bigger! Who would be crazy enough to step back from such a golden opportunity to rest? The same went for Goran¡¯s mercenary group. ¡°Stop! We rest here today. Summon one sub-captain each!¡± ¡°Is that Heincut town over there?¡± ¡°Seems like it. It¡¯s gloomy.¡± ¡°All abandoned towns are gloomy.¡± The punitive force set up camp a little away from the town. It was risky to enter the monster-infested town, especially as the sun was setting. ¡°Please give my son a chance, Sir Stephen.¡± ¡°. . .You¡¯re asking for a chance for your own son, what do you think, Sir Johan?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Although Inno brought it up himself, he regretted participating here with Gerdolf, wondering if it was a mistake. It¡¯s hard to find a knight as unreliable as that! Chapter 52: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Chapter 52: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Although Stephen was themander of the punitive force, anyone with eyes could immediately tell that the realmander was Johan. Not only them, but even the captains of the mercenaries knew it. Stephen did not possess the reputation or ability to lead such a punitive force. When Inno poked him, Gerdolf recited the words he had memorized following his father¡¯smand. ¡°I will go and kill. I pledge my loyalty.¡± ¡°No. Darkness is about to fall. It doesn¡¯t seem necessary to take unnecessary risks for Johan.¡± ¡°It seems unnecessary to take risks for Johan as darkness is about to fall.¡± Stephen repeated exactly what was said. Gerdolf, with a fierce look, was puzzled. ¡°Parroting words?¡± ¡°. . .No, this person. . .¡± ¡°Enough, Stephen. Let¡¯s notplicate things unnecessarily. Amander doesn¡¯t need to issue orders for every little thing.¡± ¡°Is. . . is that so?¡± Watching Johan y with Stephen, Inno spoke up. ¡°Sir, may I have a word with you in private?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I hope you weren¡¯t displeased with my behavior at ourst meeting.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not particrly displeased. A knight may act ording to honor.¡± ¡°As expected, you understand. I knew you would. It¡¯s not about anything else, but here. . .¡± Inno tried to hand over a jingling pouch to Johan, who looked puzzled. ¡°What does this mean?¡± ¡°Could you bestow the honor of the first assault to my son?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said it before. There¡¯s no need to rush in under dark circumstances.¡± ¡°Such things don¡¯t bother Gerdolf.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it. If there¡¯s a problem, other soldiers will have to be involved too, so wait.¡± As Inno¡¯s face fell, Johan added. ¡°In any situation, I¡¯ll yield the honor of the first assault to Sir Gerdolf. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°. . .Thank you! Sir. Here. . .¡± ¡°No. Keep that pouch. I trust Sir Gerdolf¡¯s abilities.¡± But Johan inwardly regretted it. Could the sound in that pouch be silver coins? Surely not gold? ¡®?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ????????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ If you¡¯re going to give, do it before departure, as giving in a camp like this will surely be noticed by others. ¡®???????? ???? ?? ???????????? ????, ?? ????????????¡¯?? ???????????? ????.¡¯ ¡®?????? ?????????????????????? ????¡¯?? ???????????????? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ?? ????????????. . . ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????????????????¡¯ Neither Inno nor Gerdolf spoke the Empire¡¯snguage with the distinctive ent of nobility. Humans express their status through ents and behavior. Unlike Johan and other nobles, they were likely from self-made or newer families. That exined their anxious behavior. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?? ??????.¡¯ While some knights, like those from the city, obsess over the first assault, Johan was indifferent. Boasting about beheading a troll was more impressive than iming the first assault in a fight. ¡°Sir Knight! It seems a fight has broken out in the town!¡± ¡°?¡± At the sudden report, Johan¡¯s face hardened. ???????????? ¡°Are there people who came to this town first to fight?¡± ¡°Serfs who fled to the mountains might have gathered money to hire mercenaries.¡± ¡°No. The serfs wouldn¡¯t have done that. Considering their numerous failures, unless the serfs are fools. . .¡± ¡°Could it be rogue bands that have drifted into the town? Especially since many mercenaries were let loose after the war.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the priests.¡± ¡°???¡± Suetlg interrupted the noisy chatter. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I hear hymns from over there. If they¡¯re singing hymns while fighting, they must be from a religious order.¡± ¡°Ah. . .!¡± It wasn¡¯t just mercenaries roaming around like wild dogs. Monks and priests from the religious orders were also traveling everywhere. The difference is, while mercenaries covet gold, the religious order seeks to spread the will of God, right? If there are monsters, they go to hunt them; if the people are suffering from drought or floods, they go to help; if there¡¯s looting due to war, they go to protect. . . ¡°If they¡¯re from a religious order, it makes sense for them to step foot in such a remote vige.¡± ¡°Put the agile horse-riding soldiers in front. We need to go and support them.¡± Upon Johan¡¯s words, the mercenary captains responded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Sir Gerdolf, let¡¯s see your skills.¡± ¡°Thank you. I won¡¯t disappoint you.¡± Gerdolf spoke hesitantly. Inno was surprised by this. Usually, Gerdolf wouldn¡¯t understand unless the Count himself repeated the orders. But he understood Johan¡¯s words at once. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????¡¯ ¡°I will get ready too!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The atmosphere froze for a moment at Stephen¡¯s shout. Johan spoke calmly. ¡°If themander isn¡¯t at the main base, the mercenaries might waver. Stay and firmly guard the base.¡± ¡°R-Right.¡± ¡°Suetlg-nim. Please take care of him. (???? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ???? ???????????????? ??????????????????????).¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my best. ( ???? ???????????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ???? ???????????????? ??????????????????????).¡± ???????????? Gerdolf, at the forefront, let out a ferocious roar. It was more akin to the bellow of a monster than that of a human. The sound was so intense it seemed to dispel the darkness around. Handling a greatsword on horseback required not only immense strength but also extensive training. Whilecking in social skills, Gerdolf proved why he was known as the butcher. Ugh! The sudden cavalry charge scattered the goblins rampaging in the town. The goblins, smaller than humans, were horrified by the surprise attack of the mounted warriors. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö! ¡ö!¡± ¡°¡ö¡ö! ¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡± Realizing they were being supported from behind, the goblins howled. However, it was rare for an army to respond to such a surprise attack amidst intense battle. ¡°Kill them! Don¡¯t spare any goblins!¡± The mercenaries fiercely shot their crossbows. The goblin armor, mostly made of beast hides, was no match for the bolts of the heavy cavalry crossbows. ¡°Sir Gerdolf, fight facing forward!¡± After skewering three goblins with hisnce, Johan shouted sharply. Gerdolf, not looking aside, rampaged like a berserker. The goblins¡¯ weapons were crude spears, shoddy bows and arrows, and slingshots. Continuous hits could still cause injury, as armor doesn¡¯t cover the entire body. But Gerdolf swung his weapon relentlessly, intent on killing his foes before getting hurt himself. As dozens of heavily armed soldiers rampaged, the goblins¡¯ poor formation quickly copsed. Johan struck Gerdolf with his riding crop. ¡°?!¡± ¡°Coordinate. Gerdolf.¡± ¡°U-Understood.¡± Gerdolf nodded as ifing to his senses. He rode up beside Johan, his face covered in blood. ¡®???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????¡¯ As the savvy mercenaries threw torches, dispelling the darkness, the situation became visible. It seemed the goblins had quickly emerged from underground upon hearing noises. But this level of defense could be easily countered even after an ambush. ¡®???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ????????????????. . .¡¯ ¡°Sir Knight! The goblins are quite well-armored!¡± ¡°!¡± The goblins inside were surprisingly d in metal armor. Although of questionable quality, the mere fact that they had forged and attached metal tes was impressive. It indicated at least a captain-like figure among them. Inside, figures resembling monks held their formation, fending off the goblins in the barely visible darkness. ¡°Regardless of the armor, crush them!¡± ¡°Yes!!¡± Johan, hesitating not,manded his mercenaries. Even his presence at the forefront inspired his troops. As goblins skewered onnces flew, the mercenaries roared. ¡°Assist the priests!¡± ©¥??????????! Karamaf growled beside him. A deep rumble erupted from the darkness. Huge boars, weighing several hundred kilograms, charged ferociously, baring their tusks. ¡°C-Crazy. . .!¡± ¡°What are these goblins raising?!¡± The mercenaries were shocked at the sight of not just metal weaponry but also such savage boars. Johan felt the need to intervene personally. ¡°Karamaf. Drive them back! Gerdolf. Follow me. Let¡¯s hunt them down!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Johan swiftly turned his horse and rode off to the side. Karamaf moved in a simr manner. The recklessly charging wild boar always had its nk as a weakness. ¡°Fire! Cover Sir Knight!¡± The mercenaries ignored the goblins and aimed to catch the wild boars first. A fully grown wild boar, especially one of monster size, was as dangerous as a beast. Getting caught or stabbed by its tusks could lead to instant death. Although bolts flew and struck fast, it was not enough to stop the boars. It only enraged them more. Thud! One boar fell. Johan¡¯s thrown spear had pierced its thick body, striking the heart. ¡°A-Amazing!¡± ¡°Strike, Gerdolf!¡± Gerdolf leapt off his horse, sword in hand, and aimed at the boar like a spear. The boar, charging with full speed, ran straight into the greatsword. ¡°Grrr!¡± Jumping aside to minimize the impact was a crude method. Gerdolf¡¯s hand was torn, bleeding profusely. Another boar turned towards Gerdolf. Johan rode to the side on his horse. Having already thrown his spear, Johan followed with a mace, striking the boar¡¯s side furiously. The thumping noise echoed loudly. The boar staggered and fell to the side with a piteous squeal. The watching mercenaries were impressed by the two knights¡¯ crude, no, spirited way of fighting. They had never seen knights fight like that. ¡°Is this the strength of a human??¡± For the mercenaries, allies, it was a sight of awe, but not for the goblins. The warrior who suddenly appeared and slew the beasts seemed like a monster emerging from the dark. ¡°¡ö¡ö! ¡ö¡ö!¡± ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡± The goblins howled and started to flee in all directions. Theplete darkness helped conceal their small figures. ¡°What are those things babbling about?¡± ¡°Seems like they¡¯re calling us demons.¡± ¡°What? You understand goblinnguage?¡± ¡°No. Just seems like it.¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense! Prepare to chase!¡± ©¥????????! ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ????????! The mercenaries halted at Johan¡¯smand, looking at him curiously. ¡°Are we not pursuing them?¡± ¡°Fighting monsters in unknown ces at night only leads to injury. There¡¯s no need to create unnecessary casualties.¡± The mercenaries, though not clearly visible in the dark, seemed moved. It was rare for knights to care for their soldiers. To most knights, soldiers were merely expendable. Expendable for their honor and achievements! Scouting at night, volunteering for the first charge, all were possible because soldiers were seen as expendable. Some knights even deliberately sent mercenaries to their deaths to save on wages. In this regard, Johan was a knight who naturallymanded loyalty, not for wages or spoils, but for his charisma. ¡°Are you Sir Knight, Marcel¡¯s troll yer?!¡± ¡°. . .How you recognized me, I don¡¯t know, but yes!¡± Johan answered the question that came from among the monks. In a situation of mutual wariness, it was better to reassure quickly if the other party recognized him. Chapter 53: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Chapter 53: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) ¡°Indeed. . .! I did not expect there to be so many with the divine power bestowed by God!¡± The monks were very pleased. To think that they would meet Marcel¡¯s troll yer in such a ce. The rumors of this world spread differently ording to the ss. Among the nobles, themoners, the mercenaries, and the monks. These rumors spread surprisingly fast and were also the only means for people to gather information. ¡°How did you hear about my story?¡± ¡°We heard it from the warriors of the monastic order who participated in the subjugation. It¡¯s clear that God has guided us.¡± ¡®???????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ????????????????.¡¯ Johan felt ambivalence towards the monks¡¯ attitude. It was good that strangers were not hostile, but being too friendly was also disconcerting. It seemed like they were treating Johan as if he were a leading monk or priest of their own. ¡°Do these monks know Sir Knight?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like it?¡± The mercenaries who followed Johan were also murmuring in surprise. Ordinarily, knights and monks, that is, the Church, were not close. Politically, they were allies, but ideologically, they wereplete opposites. Knights pursued honor, ventured into battlefields, defeated enemies, and plundered gold. Although they professed faith, they rarely gave back to the real weak, the serfs. The Church frowned upon duels and tournaments that knights enjoyed. Naturally, the Church and knights often shed. One of the mostmon tasks of priests assigned to fiefdoms was to follow and preach to knights. Of course, it was rare for knights to listen. For a knight, piety was merely a convenient ornament to elevate their honor. But now, the monks¡¯ attitude was as friendly as if they were dealing with a famous priest. ¡®?????????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????????????????????????????. . .¡¯ ???????????? Johan led the monks outside. They couldn¡¯t spend the night in a town where such a fight had urred. ¡°Did the Bishop of Mohsho send you?¡± ¡°No, he didn¡¯t send us. The bishop spoke to us, and we decided toe on our own ord.¡± Mohsho was a fiefdom located to the west of Abner and Count Jarpen¡¯s territory. And it was a fiefdom of the Ens Kingdom. The Bishop of Mohsho, though governed by a bishop who was also a Count , remained a vassal and feudal lord of King Ens. Surprised, Johan asked Suetlg. ¡°Is it okay for a feudal lord to send people to another¡¯s fiefdom like this?¡± ¡°Of course not. I know what kind of person the Bishop of Mohsho is. A man firmly armed with piety.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°Hearing about the suffering of the serfs nearby, he must have sent armed monks without informing the Countess.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Sending people for the serfs who had fled under Countess Abner¡¯s rule was quite a risky move. A feudal lord is like a king in his own fiefdom. Interfering in someone else¡¯s fiefdom is naturally. . . Knowing this, they acted without notifying the Count . ¡°These folks don¡¯t seem very scared. . .¡± ¡°What would monks know about politics? Their only faith is in God, what else would they fear?¡± Suetlg clicked his tongue. He wasn¡¯t irreligious, but couldn¡¯tpare to a monk. The church¡¯s monotheistic faith had a generous and lenient God, but those who believed in that faith weren¡¯t always so. Suetlg found the zealotism shown by the monks and pdins disturbing, even if they came with good intentions this time. ¡°We must arrest them immediately, Sir! How dare they act without the Countess¡¯s permission!¡± Inno reacted vehemently. He was angered that the monks had acted without informing the Countess. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Imprisoning them seems right, but you¡¯ll be the one getting all the me.¡± ¡°I was thinking the same.¡± Imprisoning the monks, who came to do good deeds, would only bring criticism to Johan. Moreover, the monks¡¯ attitude seemed oddly familiar, as if Johan¡¯s reputation had been somewhat. . . distorted. ¡°Have you ever been involved with the monastic order?¡± ¡°Do I look like that sort of person to you?¡± ¡°Well. . .¡± Suetlg was immediately convinced. Johan felt somewhat annoyed. ¡°We came to hunt monsters, we can¡¯t imprison faithful monks. Let¡¯s cooperate until the job is done.¡± ¡°But Sir. . .¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the right to punish them, do I? I¡¯ll report to the Countesster.¡± Seeing that he couldn¡¯t persuade Johan, Inno turned to Stephen. ¡°Sir Stephen. They are acting recklessly. . .¡± ¡°It seems Sir Johan is right.¡± ¡°. . .Yes.¡± With Stephen taking that stance, Inno had no choice. If the Countess interrogated himter, all he could say was, ¡®?? ?????? ???????? ??????.¡¯ Gerdolf, his son, awkwardly started speaking. ¡°I, I think. . .¡± ¡°!¡± Inno was surprised when his son spoke. Could it be that Gerdolf, as a knight of the Countess, was trying to make a statement in this situation? ¡°. . .Sir¡¯s words are correct. I think so.¡± ¡°Oh. Thank you, Sir Gerdolf. And well done in the recent battle.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Gerdolf smiled contentedly, waving his hand. His torn hand didn¡¯t hurt much, thanks to the cloth Johan had wrapped around it when he returned. Inno looked at his son, dumbfounded. ¡®???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????¡¯ Meanwhile, Suetlg was lost in thought. ¡®. . .????????. ???????? ??????, ?????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?????? ??????????. . .?¡¯ ???????????? ¡°Indeed. Sending people into someone else¡¯s fiefdom like that. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that surprising. The west of the Empire is influenced by the Ens Kingdom, and the south is influenced by the city-states of Catalia. Even the Abner family is distantly rted to the King of Ens.¡± Once a conflict breaks out in a fiefdom, kingdoms, the Empire, and city-states all secretly intervene. The noble families are intertwined like a spiderweb. Nationality didn¡¯t matter. There were cases where nobles from various countriespeted for a single Count title. ¡°Of course, I doubt the bishop of Mohsho initiated this with a shallow n to increase his influence by sending monks. The Countess knows this too, so even if it bes known, it will be resolved. But what were you doing this morning? I didn¡¯t see you around.¡± ¡°I was praying with the monks in the morning.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg clenched his mouth shut, trying to hold back hisughter. ¡°Did you really do it?¡± ¡°Would I not have done it there?¡± ¡°You? Really? Do you even know the prayers?¡± ¡°I know most of them by heart.¡± Johan¡¯s response surprised Suetlg once again. ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????¡¯ The oblivious monks invited Johan to join them in morning prayers. The leading priest, even more clueless, gave Johan the honor of starting the first verse. . . Johan began the prayer with verses he had learned from Priest Valberga. ¡°O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. . .¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand why the monks are acting like this. They treat me like some wandering ascetic knight.¡± ¡°Hmm. . . I was surprised too. It¡¯s rare for monks to act like that. The Holy Knights¡¯ Order members from the punitive force must have really thought highly of you. Anyway, it¡¯s better than being criticized as corrupt.¡± ¡°You say it¡¯s not bad to pray daily and live modestly?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good for both body and soul. It¡¯s okay to endure hardships when you¡¯re young. You can indulge in desires when you¡¯re older.¡± Johan, annoyed by Suetlg¡¯s uncharacteristic advice, gathered the mercenaries. It was time to check the town, as dawn had broken. The mercenaries were astounded anew at the size of the wild boar. It definitely seemed like a monster. Catching it alone. . . ¡°Hard to tell who¡¯s the real monster.¡± ¡°Are you crazy? Be careful with your words. If we all get whipped because of you. . .¡± ¡°N-No. It just slipped out.¡± ¡°Gather the goblin corpses on one side and burn them! The rest will search the town¡¯s underground!¡± The monks had camped in the ruined town, intending to find the goblin¡¯s den. The remaining houses provided good shelter from the cold wind. But as night fell, goblins suddenly sprang up everywhere in the town. It was clear they had been staying underground. ¡°Prepare to start a fire. We need to smoke them out.¡± ¡°Step aside. What a coward. Do you think smoke will work?¡± The experienced mercenaries prepared to smoke out the goblins, knowing that if they threw burning green wood into the den, the goblins would emerge like a pack of dogs. ¡°. . .Aren¡¯t theying out?¡± ¡°What?¡± ???????????? ¡°It¡¯s clear they have fled.¡± After finishing up in the town, Suetlg said this upon receiving the report. The faces of the mercenary captains were also filled with surprise. ¡°Usually. . . they don¡¯t run away easily, those persistent ones.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The goblins were known to stubbornly resist even when faced with a subjugation force. But now, they just vanished. Suetlg simply stated, ¡°Seems like they really got scared.¡± ¡°Ah. . .!¡± ¡°Certainly. . .!¡± The mercenaries at the scene immediately understood. Honestly, even if they were goblins, they would have fled after seeing that! ¡°. . .I don¡¯t know what Sir Johan did, but since the goblin creatures have fled, we need to think about what¡¯s next.¡± Suetlg pointed towards the mountains near the town and said, ¡°We¡¯ll search the mountains.¡± The mercenaries sighed. Whether experienced or not, searching the mountains for monster dens was a tedious and unwee task. Moreover, this was a ce where subjugation had failed several times before. It would surely not be easy to find. ¡°Can¡¯t we just use dogs to search?¡± ¡°Are you from the south? Goblins can fool dogs too. They mix mud and saliva and apply it. . .¡± ©¥??????????. The conversation among the mercenary captains halted. It was because Karamaf had let out a deep growl. ¡°Could Sir Knight¡¯s wolf perhaps track them?¡± ¡°Seems confident.¡± Karamaf raised his head proudly. The mercenaries admired the sight. Indeed, a wolf led by a knight seemed to be something special. However, Johan was a bit worried. If he stepped forward boldly in front of the subjugation team and then failed. . . ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????????????¡¯ ???????????? ©¥?? ????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????????, ??????. . . ©¥? ©¥?? ?????????? ?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ????. ?????????? ???????? ??????????, ?????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ????, ?????? ???????????????? ???? ??????????. ©¥?????? ????????, ????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????? ©¥???????? ??????????, ???? ????????????. ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ??¡¯???? ???????? ???? ???? ????????, ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ??????????????????. ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ???? ???????? ??????????¡¯?? ??????????????????. ©¥????????. . . -?? ?????????????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ????????????????. ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ????????????. ©¥. . .?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????? ©¥????????¡¯?? ???????? ??¡¯?? ?????????????????? ??????. ???????? ???????? ??????????????, ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????. Johan moved, recalling what Suetlg had said. It made sense why the wizard only spoke to him. Mercenaries, despite their rough appearance, were often superstitious and easily frightened. Suetlg¡¯s words would have only scared them more. ©¥??????????! While tracking the scent of goblins, Karamaf, ascending the mountain, swiped the earth with his massive paws, revealing an entrance to a cave big enough for two or three people to pass through. ¡°Quite the skill, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°How did he find a goblin den like this?¡± The mercenaries buzzed in preparation for battle. Entering such caves and fighting was part of a mercenary¡¯s job. But Johan, along with Gerdolf, stood at the forefront. ¡°Sir Knight, you¡¯re not nning to go inside, are you?¡± ¡°And if I am?¡± ¡°Well. . . it¡¯s just. . .¡± ¡°Stop the pointless chatter and get the mercenaries ready to enter. We¡¯ll go in as soon as we¡¯re prepared.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll fight with all my might.¡± ¡°Brave. That¡¯s how a knight, Gerdolf, should be.¡± Hearing that Johan was going in, the mercenaries involuntarily rechecked their arms. A knight, especially in front of their employer, couldn¡¯t afford to show any disgrace. Especially a knight willing to enter such perilous terrain. ???????????? Three hourster. Johan came out of the cave with the mercenaries. Their shields and maces were caked with goblin blood. ¡°Is everyone out?¡± ¡°Yes!!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll rest for a bit and then move to the next cave. Stay alert during the break.¡± The mercenaries waiting outside were puzzled by the expressions of theirrades. They looked as if they had encountered a ghost inside. ¡°What happened? Did you run into a troll instead of goblins?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. . .¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°Are they injured? No, they seem unharmed??¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they even draw their swords? Why is there no blood on them? Did they just go for a walk?¡± Chapter 54: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Chapter 54: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Usually, it¡¯s basic for the experienced soldiers to stand at the front unless it¡¯s a special case. Well-armed and experienced senior soldiers could hold their ground in a fight, but neers often just copsed. If the front line copses, even the skilled fighters in the back line get affected. In that regard, it wasn¡¯t surprising that Johan and Gerdolf were leading at the front. Because they were the best armed and the best fighters. It was surprising that the knights weren¡¯t leading in a cave fight against goblins. . . The mercenaries who entered the cave were curious to see how well the two knights fought. The knights, skilled in horsemanship, were invincible on horseback. But what about on foot? Could they be just as invincible in a muddy, close-quarters fight in a dark, narrow cave? Turns out, the knights were indeed invincible on foot as well. ¡°T-The goblins. . .¡± ¡°The goblins? Did they cast some wicked magic or something?¡± ¡°It was the first time I felt sorry for the goblin scum.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± A mercenary briefly and simply shared his impression. Everyone was shocked by his words. What in the world. . .? It was like hearing a soft, inexperienced neer talking, not a seasoned mercenary. ¡°As the goblins were rushing forward, not stopping, just trampling everything in their path, and we were about to help from behind, but they were swept away like boulders. . . I was just stunned. . .¡± ¡°So you did nothing but watch? What kind of *sshole are you? Worthless?¡± ¡°I, I took down a few that jumped out from the side.¡± ¡°Because of guys like you, Sir Knight can¡¯t work properly. They¡¯re not going to fire us for that, right?¡± ¡°M-Maybe not. . .¡± The mercenaries swallowed hard. Even mercenaries have their own pride. Being fired for ipetence was a disgrace. Especially if the opposite party was not some insignificant noble, but a respected warrior. Without the mercenaries realizing, Johan had already earned their respect. Gaining respect among tough warriors wasn¡¯t difficult. Just don¡¯t shy away like a coward, lead the fight, be generous with gold, and respect the mercenaries. Though, it was actually hard to do. ???????????? ¡°Stephen.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I hope you haven¡¯t been saying unnecessary things to the mercenaries.¡± ¡°What? No, why would I. . .¡± Stephen, who had been sitting quietly as instructed, was taken aback by Johan¡¯s question. What a baseless usation. ¡°I really did nothing! Ask the servants around!¡± ¡°The mercenaries started fighting fiercely, so I wondered.¡± Johan suspected that Stephen might have made some unnecessary threats or promises of rewards to the mercenaries, considering how aggressively they attacked. It seems that was not the case. ¡®?????????? ??????, ???? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°So, how did the subjugation go?¡± ¡°So far, it¡¯s sessful. Seems like we¡¯ve caught about a thousand.¡± ¡°A thousand. . . A thousand?! Are you serious?!¡± Stephen was astounded. How could he speak so calmly about such an achievement? ¡°That¡¯s a great sess! A grand sess! I must write a report to the Countess right away!¡± Until now, the mercenaries who came here for subjugation had only managed to catch a few dozen at best. After that, the goblins would disappear and not show up again, and the mercenaries would spend their time idly around the town, eventually giving up and returning. This was indeed a sess, no, a grand sess. Suetlg opened his mouth in admiration of the quick victory. ¡°We¡¯ve indeed benefitted greatly from the wolf.¡± ¡°Certainly, it was good to actively pursue the subjugation rather than wait.¡± ¡°Yes. It would have been harder if we waited, scared by someone.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°But did the goblins not counterattack?¡± ¡°The mercenaries said the same, but no. They just holed up in their caves.¡± Karamaf, encouraged by Johan¡¯s praise, energetically found every goblin cave. In each cave, there were dozens, even hundreds of goblins, and Johan and the mercenaries thoroughly annihted them. The mercenaries expected that even the fleeing ones would gather and attack desperately, but there was no sign of it. ¡°Aren¡¯t the goblin creatures plotting something? Like an ambush. . .¡± ¡°Normally, I would¡¯ve dismissed it as nonsense, but there are many suspicious instances this time. It¡¯s better to be cautious.¡± ¡°Anyway, the initial search is over. Now we¡¯ll stay in the town, persuade the escaped serfs to return, and look for any remaining caves.¡± ©¥??????????. ¡°Right, right. Well done.¡± Johan yfully tickled Karamaf¡¯s chin. Suetlg found the giant wolf acting coquettishly quite fascinating. Where did Johan find this creature? Taming monsters is quite a special skill, after all. . . ???????????? ¡°Have the goblins gone mad? Why won¡¯t they listen?!¡± ¡°Quiet! There¡¯s just a temporary issue, they¡¯ll soon follow mymands again.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you see those mercenaries swarming below? We can¡¯t even get out like this! You might have nothing to lose with your lowly status, but I have a lot at stake!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to shut up?¡± The wizard, cloaked in robes, threatened the young nobleman with a fierce voice. Startled by the tone, the nobleman hesitated. ¡°Expeditions havee and gone before. Left alone, they¡¯ll eventually leave. It doesn¡¯t matter if the goblins don¡¯t attack.¡± The wizard was using the nearby goblins as his minions, orchestrating attacks on the town and fending off the expeditions, all under hismand. But this time, the expedition was different. Not only did they capture the carefully raised monstrous boar, but the goblins also began to flee in fear. . . The most astonishing thing was that the goblins, usually frenzied by drugs offered as rewards or by special scents that enhanced their wildness, started hiding in their dens, refusing to move. At this point, the wizard realized something. The knight leading this expedition was clearly not to be underestimated! ¡®?????? ?????????? ???????? ?? ???????????????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ???????????????????¡¯ It was frustrating, but nothing changed that reality. The wizard, true to his nature, had to ept it and start scheming. ¡°If the goblins don¡¯t attack, it might take longer, but those guys will eventually be satisfied and retreat. Would such a powerful knight dastard stay here long?¡± ¡°Can you stay calm even after the goblins have been annihted?¡± ¡°Goblins will repopte over time! The ones I directly raised are still fine. Leave them be!¡± ¡°But if things stay this way, we can¡¯t go outside. . .¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stay put and endure? Don¡¯t you have any patience? What¡¯scking here, water or food?¡± The wizard¡¯s clear, aged voice sparkled with a killing intent, sending chills down the nobleman¡¯s skin. ¡°Al. . . Alright, I¡¯ll wait inside.¡± ¡°If you try any foolish tricks to go outside, I won¡¯t let you off easy. Just pray quietly!¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± ???????????? While cleaning up the corpses and gathering the loot, nothing happened in the town as they searched for the scattered serfs. Not even a single raid. Among the mercenaries, mundane talks circted: ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????????????????? ?????????¡¯ ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????¡¯ However, Suetlg and Johan felt uneasy. Of course, they had caught a tremendous number of goblins, but. . . ¡°We haven¡¯t encountered those wearing metal armor.¡± ¡°Right. That¡¯s the problem. Isn¡¯t it strange? And what about that boar? There must be a ce where it¡¯s being raised.¡± ¡°Milord. The monks have arrived.¡± Johan¡¯s face twisted at Geoffrey¡¯s report. Suetlg struggled to suppress augh. ¡°Another prayer?¡± ¡°No. The monks say they have something to report.¡± ¡°?¡± ???????????? After the massive subjugation ended, the monks scoured the mountains, wandering around. It was because of records mentioning a forgotten temple nearby. It was part of their duty to search for such temples based on the information recorded in the monastery. ¡°You found it? Isn¡¯t that good? It¡¯s great news for the people of the town.¡± ¡°Well. . . um. . .¡± ¡°??¡± ¡°It seems to be a temple of a different faith. . .¡± The monks hesitated as they spoke, feeling it sphemous even to discuss such a matter. ¡°What?!¡± Suetlg showed even more interest. A temple of a different faith? In such a ce, something precious? ¡°Suetlg-nim.¡± ¡°Ah. My apologies.¡± Suetlg cleared his throat. There was no need to act like a heretic in front of the monks. They were not ordinary fools. ¡°It definitely looks like a temple of a different faith, but it feels too sphemous for us to examine it further. . . we are sorry.¡± ¡°Haha. Don¡¯t worry. God will understan©¥. . . forgive us.¡± ¡®???????? ????????????????. . .¡¯ Suetlg looked at Johan with a horrified expression. Did he almost say ¡®????????????????????¡¯ just now? Such words were not fitting for a devout believer. Of course, the thoroughly smitten monks did not notice. ¡°You came to ask to report to the bishop, right?¡± ¡°Yes. It doesn¡¯t seem like something we should verify. . .¡± Suetlg desperately nudged Johan¡¯s back. It was a signal to show him first, before the Bishop of Mohsho saw it. Johan nodded. ¡°Understood. But I can¡¯t report directly to the bishop easily, so I will verify and report after seeing it myself.¡± ¡°Oh. . .! To give Sir Johan such trouble. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s obviously my duty.¡± The monks, moved, made the sign of the cross and then withdrew. Their faces were filled with trust, believing Johan was reliable. Hearing this, Suetlg said, ¡°If there¡¯s a trialter, it¡¯s better to be judged by the church. That would be very reassuring.¡± ???????????? Johan selected the strongest and most discreet among the mercenaries. While scouting was important, for Suetlg¡¯s sake, tight-lipped mercenaries would be better. That was all well and good. Suetlg was grateful for Johan¡¯s thoughtfulness. Indeed, friendship is felt in such moments. However. . . ¡°Why did you bring that foolish knight dastard?!¡± ¡°. . .I had no choice, he kept following.¡± Behind them, ¡®The butcher¡¯ Gerdolf and the mercenaries were walking. For Suetlg, it was an astonishing situation. ©¥?? ???????? ????????????. ©¥????. ????¡¯?? ?????? ??????????????????. ©¥?? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????????????. ?? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????. ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ??????????????. ????¡¯?? ??????????????. ©¥. . .???????? ?????????? ???? ??????????; ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ????????. ¡°We need people to guard outside too, so having Gerdolf isn¡¯t bad. He¡¯s a loyal friend.¡± ¡°I think you have a knack for befriending strange people, huff huff. . .¡± ¡®??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ??????, ????????????-???????¡¯ Johan thought so but didn¡¯t say it aloud. ¡°So, why do you want to see that temple?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know? They say it¡¯s a heretical temple, but it¡¯s surely from the ancient Empire era!¡± ¡°. . .!¡± ¡°Of course, it could be a new temple secretly built by heretics, but considering it¡¯s mentioned in monastery records, it¡¯s unlikely. It must be an artifact from long ago. Huff huff. . . Imagine the mysteries and secrets it holds.¡± Suetlg, out of breath, was d they reached the reported location without getting lost. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see. . .¡± Suetlg looked around mesmerized. The small temple perched on a cliff looked very ordinary, almost like a church. Suetlg touched and licked the walls, pacing back and forth. The mercenaries had to restrain their expressions at this bizarre sight. Wizards are indeed a bit crazy. . . ¡°Is there anything valuable?¡± ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s all gone.¡± There were no silverware or unused sacrificial implements that Johan wanted. Most of the valuable items had been made of gold or silver. Suetlg, wandering inside, stopped in front of a wall for a while. ¡°?¡± ¡°This is. . . a door. A barrier against intruders. During the Empire¡¯s chaotic times, various looters roamed. A church was prime prey, so such a door is not surprising.¡± ¡°Can you open it?¡± ¡°Well. It might take days to figure out how. We can stay and investigate.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit. . .¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°How can we leave everything to Stephen alone?¡± ¡°Then leave me behind.¡± ¡°How can I leave Suetlg-nim alone? If it¡¯s really a door, I¡¯ll try to open it.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? If it¡¯s something that can be opened with strength. . . Oh.¡± Chapter 55: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) Chapter 55: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (??) The stone gate, carved out of a massive boulder, was not meant to be opened by human strength. It was fine to regard it simply as a piece of rock, to prevent intruders from opening it. But Suetlg definitely heard it. The sound of the stone door twisting and moving! ¡°Ugh. . .!¡± Johan¡¯s forearms swelled as the giant stone wall began to slowly roll to the side. Suetlg couldn¡¯t close his gaping mouth. ¡°My goodness, oh divine. . .¡± A miracle that even a wizard like Suetlg would seek the divine! Johan, sweating profusely, pushed the door open. ¡°Fortunately, it¡¯s open. We are lucky.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Suetlg-nim? snap out of it.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Regaining his senses, Suetlg quickly gave an order. ¡°Ensure the mercenaries cannot enter. The fewer eyes, the better. I¡¯ll only take my ves inside.¡± ¡°Are you sure? It would be okay for me to go alone.¡± ¡°No. That would be too unfair to you. I¡¯ll protect my own body. And. . . don¡¯t worry about secrets. Their mouths are special.¡± Suetlg¡¯s ves had undergone a special procedure, something Johan had guessed. Deciding to askter, Johan spoke softly. ¡°How suspicious are you nning to be?¡± ¡°Enough that the mercenaries shouldn¡¯t see. In exchange, I swear to repay you properly, in the name of Ipa?l River.¡± ¡°I always liked the Ipa?l River.¡± Johan and Suetlg exchanged meaningful smiles. Whether it was a pagan temple or anything else, if there was something useful, they would surely take it. ???????????? ©¥?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ??????????????. ©¥??????????. ???? ???????????? ?????? ???? ????. . . ???????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????, ??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ????. ©¥? ?? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ????. ©¥. . .?????????????????? ????????????????, ?????? ??????????????. ?????? ?????? ?? ???????? ????????????. ©¥?????????? ??????, ??????. ¡°A corridor. . .!¡± Johan and Suetlg, having entered through a passage behind the stone wall, marveled at the expansive hallway before them. To find such a well-constructed building hidden within these remote mountain cliffs was astonishing. Alongside the corridor stood statues they had never seen before. Suetlgmented on each one as they passed. ¡°A pantheon. During the ancient Empire era, people worshipped many gods. Isn¡¯t it fascinating?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s possible to believe, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°. . .Yourckluster reaction takes the fun out of it. Anyway, they must have hidden here to pray. Look at this. Isn¡¯t it beautiful? This god might have been a warrior deity.¡± ¡°Or perhaps the god of drunken brawlers. . .¡± Suetlg scowled. After hearing Johan¡¯s words, the statue indeed began to look that way. ¡°But, Suetlg-nim.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think the strange behavior of the goblins is rted to this pagan temple?¡± ¡°It might be, but it¡¯s too quiet for that, isn¡¯t it? I don¡¯t sense any presence. It might be unrted.¡± ©¥??????????. Karamaf let out a low growl. In response, footsteps emerged from the darkness, and three figures appeared. The zealots, d in peculiar religious robes, held torches. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°I-Intruders!!¡± The zealots seemed more frightened than Johan and Suetlg. From their perspective, they had encountered armed intruders unexpectedly. ¡°How did you get in here!¡± Suetlg empathized with their reaction. Honestly, he would have thought the same in their shoes. A well-hidden secret door. Under normal circumstances, it would have taken days to open it, by which time those inside would have noticed. ¡°. . .I understand why you¡¯re surprised. Attack them!¡± Regardless of the opponent¡¯s surprise, an attack was necessary, especially since those dwelling in such a pagan temple couldn¡¯t be sane. ¡°How dare these corrupted ones!¡± The zealots, enraged, drew short swords from their waists. Sensing an evil aura in the flickering shadows, Suetlg shouted in astonishment. ¡°Be careful! They have magical aura!¡± Suetlg¡¯s ves, though not as strong as Johan, were skilled swordsmen. As they shed with the zealots, they immediately disrupted their bnce and aimed for vital points. However, the zealots appeared to be less skilled in sword fighting. As their swords met, they floundered. But as Suetlg said, they were imbued with magic. A ¡®thunk¡¯ sound was heard as a sword shed a zealot¡¯s throat, but he did not fall. The shadow quickly spread over the zealot¡¯s body, wrapping around the neck to prevent bleeding. The zealot¡¯s eyes reddened, and his face darkened. ¡°I shall not die. . .¡± While the ve hesitated, Johan¡¯s mace flew in, blowing the zealot¡¯s head off. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t hee back to life?! He¡¯s dead!¡± ¡°Wait. . .!¡± Johan crushed another frozen zealot¡¯s head. Whatever magic they had, it seemed to withstand only shed wounds, so decapitation was more effective. ¡°No need for such brutality if they¡¯re not trolls!¡± ¡°Ah. Should have said so earlier.¡± ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö! ¡ö¡ö!¡± As they finished off the zealots, goblins appeared from the other end of the corridor, wearing metal armor and wielding spears, looking quite formidable. ¡®????, ???? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ ©¥??????????! Johan lifted his mace, soaked in goblin blood from this campaign. Sensing its ominous aura, the goblins flinched. ¡°Come.¡± With those words, Johan, like an avatar of violence, charged at the goblins. ???????????? ¡°How could the strike force possibly!¡± The wizard, with a face mired in confusion, was ready to flee. All the zealots in this secret temple were in turmoil, including their leader, the wizard. A sudden ambush, a frantic fight. . . anyone would have to brace for the worst. The intruders were few, but there was no way to know that. ¡°Where do you think you are going?¡± ¡°We must escape.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t Nahra-nim promise to protect this ce?¡± Nahra, the god of shadows and blood, had existed since the ancient Empire but was now forbidden in most ces. Already disliked by other churches, Nahra¡¯s teachings were excessively cruel and barbaric. ¡°He is protecting us!¡± ¡°If he¡¯s protecting us, how did the strike force get in here!¡± ¡°Gods can be capricious at times. Just shut up and follow!¡± The wizard looked at Zirbo with annoyance. He would have discarded him long ago if not for his status. Among those in the temple, Zirbo was the most useful. The illegitimate child of the Abner family! Illegitimate children were treated worse than younger legitimate siblings. It wasn¡¯t hard to entice such a disgruntled man into joining the cult. Although Zirbo had little to offer, his ess to other nobles was crucial. He couldn¡¯t be discarded yet. ¡°Even if the strike force follows, they won¡¯t enter here. I¡¯ve unleashed the shadow monster. It¡¯s a kind of revtion from Nahra. Move!¡± ¡°Under. . . Understood.¡± Zirbo prepared to follow the wizard but looked nonchnt. ¡®?????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ??????. . .¡¯ Initially tempted by the wizard, Zirbo now doubted his reliability. What if they were shot by the blind with arrows outside? Perhaps it was better to reveal his identity and surrender. p! ¡°!¡± Sensing his thoughts, the wizardshed out with his whip. The ck whip writhed as if alive, leaving the ground where it passed pitch ck. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to move?¡± ¡°I-I said I understood.¡± ¡°Move? Where?¡± Johan entered the room, growling, covered in the blood of his enemies. His exposed eyes zed with a fierce fire. ???????????? Johan, who had killed goblins indiscriminately and headed to the wizard¡¯s chamber under Karamaf¡¯s guidance, encountered a monster he had never seen before. A four-legged monster as if draped in dark shadows! But upon closer inspection, parts of the creature resembled a goblin. It was unclear what had been done to the goblins, but the mere sight of it exuded an evil aura. ¡°Give Johan the silver sword!¡± Suetlg shouted sharply. Then, a ve hurriedly pulled out and threw a sword. It was a de coated with silver. Indeed, silver always works against evil beings. Johan grabbed the sword and viciously shed the monster¡¯s torso. ????????????! The blood from the monster¡¯s torso made a noxious sound as it burned the ground. Johan clicked his tongue at the creaking durability of the silver sword. ¡°What a weak weapon. . .!¡± ¡°What are you talking about?! That¡¯s a sturdy weapon! What are you doing, help Johan!¡± ¡°Don¡¯te! It¡¯s better to fight alone.¡± Fighting the monster with these uncoordinated allies was more of a hindrance. ¡®?????? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ????????????? ??¡¯?? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ??????????. . .¡¯ The greatest strength of the shadow monster was its unknown identity. Whether beating it was effective, or if it was safe to touch it. . . This was what hindered Johan¡¯s charge. Sensing Johan¡¯s hesitation, the monster grew increasingly ferocious. Johan made up his mind. ¡®??¡¯???? ?????? ???????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Facing an unknown enemy, his most confident attack was indeed the Seal Retriever. Suetlg was neither someone to distrust nor to use. Above all, they both held too many of each other¡¯s weaknesses. Johan fiercely threw the silver sword at the monster, whipping its long forelegs. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Thud! Synced with the monster¡¯s scream, Johan charged forward. In his hand was another longsword, the ancient Empire¡¯s famous sword, . ????????, ??????????, ????????????©¥ With each sh of the sword, the monster convulsed and bled. The embedded silver sword shone brighter, inflicting more damage on the creature. ??????????! Johan spat. The Seal Retriever seemed to shake off the monster¡¯s filthy blood, bing clean again. Suetlg said, ¡°. . .By the name of the Ipa?l River, I swear to silence about what I just saw.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to swear for me to believe.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Suetlg almost burst into emotion, momentarily forgetting his age. This young knight had a talent for moving people in strange ways. Though the sword¡¯s story was unknown, its rare use implied a significant past. And yet, he wielded it without hesitation. . . ¡°So, what is this monster?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know everything. It seems to have done something to the goblins. . . Hurry! We mustn¡¯t lose the wizard.¡± ???????????? ¡°¡ö¡ö. . .¡± As soon as he saw Johan, the wizard attempted to recite a strange spell. At that moment, Johan¡¯s Seal Retriever shed and beheaded the wizard. The shadows and spells protecting the wizard¡¯s body were torn apart in one strike, killing him. ¡°Well done!¡± Suetlg admired it. Although there was never anything good in having long conversations with wizards, those who encountered wizards always inadvertently heard such words. Those who handle magic deal with the deepest secrets and mysteries. The voices of those who know the truth inevitably have more persuasive power than ordinary people. But Johan, seemingly uninterested, beheaded him right away. It was a refreshingly good judgment. ¡°I-I am the son of Countess Abner! I demand a fair trial. The Abner family will not forgive you for touching me!¡± ¡°?!¡± ¡°. . .Kill him!¡± Suetlg coldly ordered. Then, the ves following him swung their swords. In an instant, the nobleman¡¯s b*stard was reduced to a bloody heap and fell. ¡°The wizard, I get it, but why him?¡± ¡°Because he saw your sword.¡± Chapter 56: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (????) Chapter 56: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? (????) Suetlg was wless. The face was unfamiliar, and the fact that he was said to be Countess Abner¡¯s son suggested he was either an imposter or a b*stard. Either way, there was no good in keeping him alive. It would only incur Countess Abner¡¯s enmity for no reason. ¡°Even if to kill, it would have been better to extract information first. . .¡± ¡°What would such a kid know anyway? Probably just foolishly used. It¡¯s already been a hassle dying this long, and it would get moreplicated if someone from abovees in.¡± The moment someone else from above saw this man, neither Johan nor Suetlg could hastily kill him. Especially with Stephen outside. In this chaotic situation, it was essential to make sure he was dead. Suetlg was thorough in this regard. ¡°You don¡¯t think Countess Abner is involved, do you?¡± ¡°. . .I doubt it. If she were, she would have sent a punitive force, wouldn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief at least.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope she didn¡¯t care much for the b*stard. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be in such a ce to begin with.¡± The ves crushed the b*stard¡¯s face and destroyed anything that could identify him. Meanwhile, Suetlg searched the wizard¡¯s body. ¡°As expected, he was studying blood magic.¡± Blood-rted magic was referred to as blood magic. Among various magical fields, magic dealing with blood was particrly considered ominous and evil. And then there were the shadows. . . Even the most talented wizards couldn¡¯t get proper recognition if they dealt with such magic. ¡°Do you have any idea what he was nning to do with these monsters?¡± ¡°Wizards are human too. Probably nned to sell them to nobles.¡± ¡°Even at the risk of being emunicated?¡± ¡°If they don¡¯t get caught, that¡¯s the end of it. . . The Church tends to be more lenient towards nobles, doesn¡¯t it?¡± The life of a wizard unrecognized in public was miserable. Magic was a study that consumed all kinds of wealth, and without a patron, research was difficult. Especially blood magic required many sacrifices. A wizard studying such magic would have desired a strong patron. Regardless of right or wrong, many nobles wanted powerful monsters infused with magic. ¡°Search the surroundings. Take out anything useful. We must search thoroughly before anyone arrives.¡± The ves moved busily. Soon, people would enter, and the temple would bepletely burnt down. They had to gather anything useful before that. The first thing Suetlg prioritized was the wizard¡¯s research papers. For a wizard who could perceive mysteries, these papers were more precious than gold. ¡®???? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????????????. . .¡¯ Suetlg frowned. Even among wizards who explored mysteries, there were differences in methods. This wizard¡¯s methods were those of a lunatic. Feeding goblins to each other to strengthen them, collecting their blood for evil spells, controlling beasts. . . The ultimate n was to mix the strengthened goblins and beasts to create a robust monster. The monster encountered in the temple corridor was the result of this. It was not maintained properly, but itsbat power was indeed threatening. ¡°Is this. . . an Empire University bracelet?¡± ¡°Not surprising. There aren¡¯t many ces to learn magic in the first ce.¡± There weren¡¯t many ces to learn the mysteries of magic. Suetlg was lucky to learn the secrets of the Ipa?l River passed down from his master, but not everyone was that fortunate. ¡°Yet, if one still desired to learn magic, they had to seek it anywhere. One such ce was the Empire University. Empire University, a hall of various disciplines such asw, astronomy, medicine, alchemy, theology, and numerology, was one of the most advanced educational institutions. Young intellectuals from across the continent traveled great distances to reach it. ¡°Do they teach magic?¡± ¡°Hardly. Magic isn¡¯t that easy. If you¡¯re lucky, you might find just the tip of it. This fellow here did the same.¡± ¡°What about universities in other cities?¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s Ens or Catalia, it¡¯s the same. Magic isn¡¯t something you can learn just anywhere. Surely you¡¯re not still harboring the vain hope of learning magic?¡± ¡°Does this Empire University bracelet sell for a high price?¡± ¡°Changing the subject. . . It¡¯s more of a symbolic item, not a costly one. Rather, this ring would be better. Look, this ring. It would be best if you took it.¡± ¡°Eh? Why offer such a suspicious. . .¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that suspicious.¡± Suetlg wiped the ring with his robe before tossing it to Johan. The copper ring held a dark abyss at its center, which strangely flickered if stared at continuously. ¡°Cleverly encapsted shadows. If it breaks, darkness will spread around. Good for deception.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you use it?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯d blow your head off?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Johan gratefully epted it. Although he didn¡¯t know the extent, he figured it would be useful. ¡°There¡¯s some gold from the Ens Kingdom. Take this too.¡± ¡°Oh, can I really take all this?¡± ¡°I swore to repay you properly. Compared to this research, it¡¯s nothing.¡± To a wizard, mysteries and secrets were more valuable than gold. It didn¡¯t matter much to give these to Johan. ¡®?????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ Suetlg was frustrated. Searching this heretical temple was somewhat risky for Johan too. If a promise was made, it needed to be honored ordingly. But nothing useful was in sight. This wizard seemed to have delved only into evil magic, owning things that were ominous or cursed. In contrast, Johan was at ease. In fact, he had little intention of getting his investment back. He had already gained enough. ¡®?????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?? ???????????????? ??????????????.¡¯ Just seeding in the subjugation, which had failed numerous times before, was enough. Besides, more gold would soone. An anxious wizard and a leisurely knight. It was the knight who made an unusual discovery. Johan noticed a red leather belt hanging on the wall and asked. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°. . .Don¡¯t touch it for a moment.¡± Suetlg cautiously picked it up, swung it a few times, and clicked his tongue. ¡°Really trivial research.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°A weapon suited for an assassin. Desperate as one might be, creating such a thing to sell to nobles. . .¡± The red leather belt transformed into a whip-like weapon when swung with force, draining blood from its target. It was an assassin¡¯s tool. Suetlg sighed, saddened by the desperate intent of the cornered wizard. ¡°Such a thing is not even worth giving to you.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll make good use of it.¡± ¡°??!¡± ???????????? The news that Johan had sessfullypleted the subjugation was immediately delivered to Count ¡®s ears. It was surprising enough that the several failed subjugations had seeded, but what was more surprising were the people behind it. The report of the subjugation of the group left Countess Abner with no choice but to shake her expression. It was a background she truly hadn¡¯t anticipated. The vassals, who were equally astonished, regained their senses and eximed. ¡°Congrattions, Countess!¡± ¡°What could be the reason for the previous failed subjugations to seed? It must be that God has chosen you, Countess.¡± ¡°I have always thought that Sir Stephen was a brave and outstanding knight. I am overjoyed that such an opportunity hase to prove it!¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡± The noble who had opened his mouth at Countess Abner¡¯s cold words blushed and had to bow his head. ¡°If Sir Stephen had the opportunity to show his ability, he would have shown it long ago. Don¡¯t make unnecessary remarks. The matter now is about Johan.¡± Honestly, it was good news that Stephen yed an active role, but Countess Abner was not foolish enough to be deceived now. The sess of this subjugation was entirely due to Johan¡¯s ability. She thought that she should have ced Stephen among credible knights earlier. . . But now, such assumptions were meaningless. ¡°The monks sent by Bishop Mocheau were lurking around the fiefdom. Ordinarily, I would have immediately expelled them and protested, but this time is different. I should send a messenger to express gratitude and make a donation.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The vassals wore dissatisfied expressions. Normally, meddling in someone else¡¯s fiefdom, even if done by a bishop, was not something that could be overlooked. But the situation was different this time. Since the monks had subjugated the heretics, it would have been an affront to the Countess¡¯s dignity if she did not express gratitude. Generosity and piety were virtues of nobility. ¡°Countess, someone from the church hase to see you.¡± ¡°Let them in.¡± A priest entered with a respectful demeanor, unfazed by the scornful looks of the nobles. If he were to be deterred by the gaze of lower nobles without fiefdoms, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to be a priest. ¡°We are grateful for this subjugation, and Bishop Mocheau sends his thanks. Without the Countess¡¯s decisive action, the subjugation would have been impossible. We n to send a priest back to Heincut town to care for the people, hoping for the Countess¡¯s magnanimity. Please show mercy.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Countess Abner, who was puzzled by the speech, realized the situation and cursed Stephen. ¡®???????? ?? ????????. . .!¡¯ Stephen had reported too briefly. He reported finding all the goblin dens and that the monks came to subjugate the heretics, leading Countess Abner to assume, ¡®?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ But now, it was clear that the heretics were also wiped out by the subjugation team. The priest¡¯s words made it even more certain. ¡°. . .It was a duty that naturally had to be done. I will consider sending a priest positively.¡± ¡°Thank you, your grace.¡± The priest politely stepped back as if he hade in. As the worries turned into luck, the expressions of the spirits present brightened. What used to be a matter of owing a debt to the church had now be something that could be approached with enthusiasm. ¡°When Sir Stephen returns, he shall be rewarded. Let the treasurer prepare ording to custom.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Upon witnessing this, the nobles thought to themselves. ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????¡¯ ¡®?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????¡¯?? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ??????????????????????. . .¡¯ However, contrary to the nobles¡¯ worries, Countess Abner was unfazed. While she may have overestimated Johan, she never did so with Stephen. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± After the vassals had left, the head butler asked cautiously. Among the vassals, the head butler held a high-ranking position. This position entailed managing the fiefdom and even acting as a representative in the lord¡¯s absence. Naturally, Countess Abner knew what she had given to Stephen. Now that the campaign was sessful, Stephen would certainly try to use the tax rights. After all, that was the purpose of starting the campaign. And if Ulrike-gong found out. . . ¡°I have made my decision. The rest is up to Sir Stephen. Even if Ulrike-gong kills him, I won¡¯t concern myself.¡± ¡°Yes. Understood.¡± ¡°. . .However, delivering this letter wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea. Deliver this letter to Sir Johan.¡± ¡°I will do so.¡± Though often deemed heartless, Stephen was an exception. Indeed, Stephen was favored by the Countess. ???????????? Johan and the expedition force were preparing to return with high morale. Calling out the hidden vigers, repairing the town, and burning down the temple in front of the clergy. . . Havingpleted these tasks, it was time to return. Repairing the town wasn¡¯t necessarily a duty of mercenaries, but they followed Johan¡¯smand without muchint. Sometimes, orders could be given without gold. ¡°Are you really going to meet Ulrike?¡± ¡°As I said, negotiating with Ulrike is the priority. Other matterse after.¡± The best candidate to sell the tax rights to was Ulrike. Of course, she was also the one most likely to be enraged upon learning the truth, but Johan believed that if Ulrike understood the situation properly, she would engage in the deal. Unlike Stephen, she had that level of intelligence. Chapter 57: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 57: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) The problem was that Ulrike-gong¡¯s focus was not on Countess Abner¡¯s territory. Ulrike-gong was leading an army on a campaign. ¡°How long has it been since thest war ended?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that surprising.¡± In this world, war was as routine as sleeping and eating. Soldiers were mobilized and battles fought for all sorts of reasons. Suetlg said with a grim expression. ¡°Do nobles like war? What surprises me is the timing. It¡¯s winter now. . .¡± Wars typically started in spring, battles were fought in summer, and enemy fiefdoms were plundered in autumn. Starting a war in winter was foolish, as it was difficult to find food for the army. ¡°The ones who started this must have a reason.¡± ¡°Sure, like the wizard who got his head chopped off. Everyone has a reason, even that knight over there.¡± Though Suetlg thought differently, Johan was also pondering this. Ulrike-gong, as the heir to the Countess, had already received several fiefdoms as her property upon bing an adult. She was not incapable of mobilizing an army. The reason was guessable. The Abner family had suffered losses because of Count Jarpen and wantedpensation, no matter the adversary. But wasn¡¯t the timing too soon? When an army is hastily raised, it usually indicates a strong motive. Johan was curious about what Ulrike-gong was relying on. Especially now when he had to meet and say, ¡®?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???? ????.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re going with mercenaries. Never go alone if you don¡¯t want to die like a dog.¡± Suetlg¡¯s obvious advice sounded ominously. ???????????? But not all the news was ominous. A messenger who suddenly visited Johan was an example. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Countess Abner sent me.¡± After following the custom of praising Sir Stephen, rewarding him, and granting rewards to the sessful mercenaries, the messenger finally approached Johan. The wax-sealed letter contained a simple message. ©¥???? ?????? ???????? ??????????????, ?? ?????????? ??¡¯???? ?????????? ??????. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s face grewplicated. What did the Countess mean by sending this? Johan was currently on his way to negotiate with Ulrike. ¡®?? ??????. ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????????¡¯ If the negotiations with Ulrike failed and Johan turned to other forces, Stephen¡¯s chance of survival would decrease, not knowing Johan¡¯s situation. Ulrike¡¯s inaction was only when Stephen remained passive; it changed when it involved her inheritance. Ulrike, please conclude this matter without harming Stephen! ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ But one thing was certain. Countess Abner was still strong and creating a debt would be quite beneficial. ¡°And this.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan received a certificate from the messenger, redeemable at a trading house. ¡°I don¡¯t have anypensation to receive from the Countess, what does this mean?¡± ¡°She said it¡¯s a personal token of gratitude.¡± ¡°I see. . . Well, I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Johan suddenly envied Stephen. Apart from intelligence, wasn¡¯t luck something one was born with! ???????????? Countess Abner¡¯s territory lies to the east of Sangdarju Castle. Nestled among the mountains, it¡¯s a vital transit point for those traveling from the west to the heart of the Empire. Historically, the lords of Sangdarju Castle have had several frictions with the Abner family. The castle¡¯s ability to challenge the Abners, who control several fiefdoms, stemmed from a single reason. A powerful backing. The territory of Sangdarju Castle was directly granted by the Emperor of the Empire. Influential feudal lords might scoff at the Emperor, but that doesn¡¯t mean the Emperor is powerless. The Emperor, like the feudal lords, also had his own set of powers, just not as prominently proimed. After all, one couldn¡¯t buy the support of the prime nobles with gold if they weren¡¯t a feudal lord themselves. But now, Ulrike-gong is sweeping through the casten¡¯s territory, seemingly unconcerned about such matters. ¡°A wise choice.¡± The vige chief trembled, prostrating himself. In front of himy a pile of silver coins, scraped together from the town. This tribute was originally meant for the feudal lord, but now, an angry army glinted at the town¡¯s edges. At Ulrike-gong¡¯smand, the town could be set aze in an instant. Ultimately, the mey with the feudal lord who failed to protect them. Why else would they loyally offer tributes andbor? ¡°They¡¯re noting out, are they?¡± ¡°No. They didn¡¯t even have time to hire mercenaries, just sent a warning message¡­¡± ¡°*ssholes. They still don¡¯t understand the situation. After plundering, we head to Sangdarju Castle! I want to see the casten¡¯s face myself!¡± The army roared in response to Ulrike-gong¡¯s cry. An employer who offered gold and plentiful plunder was always popr. ???????????? ¡°. . .This feels familiar.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Stephen reddened and growled at Johan¡¯s remark. The situation indeed mirrored a past one. The situation when they were absurdly defeated while besieging Count Jarpen¡¯s Boson Castle! Although Sangdarju Castle was smaller and less fortified than Boson Castle, a castle was still a castle. The army could only besiege it, not daring to attack. ¡®?????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Stephen¡¯s army seemed loose and full of gaps, but Ulrike-gong¡¯s forces were the exact opposite. ¡°Even at a nce, it¡¯s over a thousand. . . That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to be cautious. Ulrike clearly has the support of the Ens royal family.¡± ¡°!¡± A source of confidence that allowed you to be indifferent whether the Emperor was behind you or not. That was the only thing you had as a feudal lord. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°It might not be, but there aren¡¯t many ces where Ulrike could get support. Besides, everyone knows that King Ens is interested in the Empire¡¯s situation.¡± Your misfortune is my happiness. The King of Ens would be very pleased if the Holy Empire Emperor and the feudal lords shed. ¡°And the Emperor. . . as you know, has made too many enemies. Too many urgent fires to fight to intervene here.¡± ¡°But inaction will erode his authority.¡± ¡°A dilemma. But it¡¯s all self-inflicted.¡± While they whispered, knights came out to meet them in the camp, cautious due to Johan and Stephen¡¯s status. ¡°Please,e inside.¡± ???????????? ¡°Isn¡¯t that too rude?¡± Suetlg spoke with a calm fury. Inside the tent, crossbowmen with loaded crossbows and armed knights stood firm, ready to throw themselves in the way if necessary. There was no custom of weing a visitor in such a manner. ¡°Forgive my rudeness. I¡¯m a bit cowardly.¡± Ulrike responded without batting an eye. From her perspective, it was natural. It was widely rumored that the foolish Stephen, relying solely on his name, had been caught by an unarmed knight. She did not want to be the second fool of the family. ¡°You should have been moderate!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not argue about right and wrong here.¡± Responding to Suetlg¡¯s whispered words, Johan walked forward. There was never an intention to take hostages, but now it seemed certainly impossible. ¡°Have you been well, Ulrike-gong?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been fine, Sir Johan. Pleased to see you like this.¡± Johan scanned Ulrike¡¯s face. It was definitely bright and cheerful. ¡®?? ?????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Indeed, telling Stephen to ¡®?????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ???????????? ??????????????????¡¯ was a clearer message than a hundred words. Knowing there was no further loss of wealth, herposure was understandable. ¡®. . .?????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????????? ??????.¡¯ It felt like dampening someone¡¯s good mood. ¡°Regret it?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°You should have epted my offer. We could have been so happy.¡± Ulrike¡¯s words puzzled Suetlg, while Stephen¡¯s face reddened with anger and fear. Only Johan and Stephen understood the meaning of that proposal here. ¡°But the chance is over. Opportunities are like arrows; once shot, they can¡¯t be caught again. Hope your upheld honor is worth it.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t exactly for honor. . .¡± ¡°Enough, answer first. It¡¯s a rejection.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Obvious. Stephen¡¯s thoughts. Failed in monster subjugation, but doesn¡¯t want to go to the Silent Monastery, so he thought of leading mercenaries under me as a workaround. But it¡¯s not necessary.¡± Suetlg, listening, asked. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t over two hundred mercenaries be helpful. . .¡± ¡°It would be nice. But I don¡¯t want to be associated with that ipetent knight. Take the mercenaries and leave. Come back without that knight next time.¡± Ulrike pointed at Stephen. Two hundred mercenaries would be helpful, but she didn¡¯t want to give even a slight honor to Stephen. Unwanted and disliked. That was Stephen. ¡°Ulrike-gong.¡± ¡°What? Anything else to say?¡± ¡°First, a correction. . . the subjugation was sessful.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± For the first time, Stephen felt triumphant. Ulrike¡¯s expression justified it. ¡°. . .I thought I would let it go. Definitely. I underestimated your ability.¡± It dawned that the philosopher from Ipa?l River couldn¡¯t have been called by Stephen. Surely, it was Johan¡¯s doing. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°So? You came to boast about your sessful subjugation?¡± ¡°The following conversation. . . I¡¯d like to have it more privately. . .¡± ¡°Ulrike-nim!¡± The tent p was pushed aside, and a mercenary captain rushed in. ¡°Sangdarju Castle is ready to surrender!¡± ¡°!¡± ???????????? Thanks to that, the private meeting with Johan was postponed. The casten was ready to surrender, so naturally, that had to be addressed first. ¡°That was quicker than expected.¡± ¡°It¡¯s thanks to Ulrike-nim¡¯smand.¡± ¡°I just waited doing nothing, so spare me the useless ttery.¡± Her tone was cynically simr to Countess Abner¡¯s. But it wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. The surrounded casten had limited options: either resist to death or surrender. The lord of Sangdarju Castle chose thetter. The castle gates opened, and a delegation bearing a white g emerged. Ulrike, unknowingly, smiled. In such a situation, no one could help but smile. ¡°The surrender documents?¡± ¡°Here they are. . .¡± The envoys¡¯ faces were dark and haggard. It was natural, having resisted under siege beforeing out to surrender. Ulrike signaled with her chin, and her subordinates began to read the documents. Meanwhile, Johan was nkly spectating from behind. Stephen asked cautiously. ¡°. . .Do you think the negotiations will go well?¡± ¡°Well, logically, it should, but people don¡¯t think with just their brains. . . Shouldn¡¯t you have been more careful about making enemies?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I wanted to make them!¡± ¡°Being foolish is also a sin. If it were me, I would have been careful even while breathing.¡± ¡°Enough of this pointless talk. There are many ears around.¡± At Suetlg¡¯s words, Johan nodded. Speaking here was pointless anyway. The negotiation would be decided in the meeting with Ulrike. ¡°¡­?¡± Johan sensed something off in the envoys¡¯ expressions. It was a familiar look. In that moment, Johan realized why their expressions seemed familiar. ¡°Gerdolf!¡± ¡°S-Sir!¡± ¡°Lead the mercenaries and block the left nk!¡± Before finishing his sentence, Johan dashed off like a madman. There was no time to find and mount a horse. Their expressions were familiar because they had the same thought as Johan had before. Ambush! ¡®?????????? ??????????!¡¯ However, the meaning was the opposite. Johan, in front of others, built a just cause while unting the honor of a knight. As the cause was with Johan, the knights present epted it. But these people came out as surrendering envoys and were attempting to ambush. Such an act was dishonorable enough to not deserve noble treatment. Even Ulrike hadn¡¯t expected the opponent to stoop to such levels. . . ¡°Ulrike!¡± ¡°What? Have you lost your mind?¡± Ulrike, recognizing Johan¡¯s voice, turned her head in disbelief. Calling her without formalities, were they that close? ¡°Get back!¡± ¡°What nonsense are you. . .¡± Ulrike stopped mid-sentence, a chill running through her mind. ¡°Capture Ulrike-gong!¡± The haggard delegation drew their weapons. With a beast-like ferocity, they lunged at Ulrike. Chapter 58: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 58: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) The delegation was not even wearing proper armor. This was to lower Ulrike¡¯s guard. Moreover, there were only about a dozen of them. They would easily be crushed if Ulrike¡¯s fiercely positioned army attacked. However, all of that would change if they captured Ulrike. Ulrike,ing forward to receive the surrender delegation! All they needed to do was capture Ulrike somehow. Only a few knights and scribes, who were off their guard, were around Ulrike. They could capture her with a surprise attack! ????????! ¡°Damn it!¡± The man leading the delegation as the envoy gritted his teeth. He was a low-ranking noble without a fiefdom, taking on this mission for a chance at advancement. He just had to reach out and grab Ulrike, who was close. . . But Ulrike dodged just as a crazed knight dastard yelled out behind him. His hand, reaching out, pathetically swiped through the air. But it didn¡¯t matter. Ulrike¡¯s army was far behind, and they were right in front of her. ¡°Block, block it!¡± As Ulrike hastily retreated, the knights and scribes beside her finally realized the situation and moved, desperately throwing themselves into the fray. ????????????! But the delegation¡¯s swordsmanship was extraordinary. They targeted the exposed weak spots of the armored knights, striking from all sides. They were clearly swordsmen who had properly learned short sword techniques from the swordsmanship guild. No matter how well armored, one cannot bepletely protected. When four of them stabbed with short swords from all sides, the knight fell with a scream. The scribes, too, were no different from the knights. They fell at once. In an instant, those blocking the way were gone. Even Ulrike had to sweat in such a situation. And then Johan arrived. ¡°Huh?¡± ??????????! As the sound of a sword piercing flesh came from somewhere, one of the raiders looked down at his body in surprise. A longsword was embedded in him. Johan had thrown it as he charged. The raider at the front immediately fell, breathless. ¡°You son of a b*tch!¡± Another raider cursed and lunged at Johan. Johan, who had thrown his longsword, was unarmed. Despite wearing thick chainmail, he would have been no swordsman if he couldn¡¯t handle such an opponent. ??????????! Johan blocked the raider¡¯s short sword with the armored part of his arm, then struck with all his might. The raider¡¯s skull shattered, and he died instantly. Ulrike, watching from behind, widened her eyes. ¡®????????????¡¯?? ?????????? ????????????!¡¯ She somehow felt she knew how he got that title. ¡°Get behind me! They can¡¯t kill you!¡± ¡°!¡± Understanding Johan¡¯s words, Ulrike clung behind him. It would be pointless if she was captured and used as a hostage. ¡°Kill them! Capture them!¡± The raiders screamed frantically. They knew their situation too well. If they failed to capture Ulrike before the approaching soldiers arrived, they would suffer a fate worse than death! Johan looked around as the raiders attacked from all directions. Fighting and holding them off was one thing, but it meant nothing if Ulrike was taken. ¡°. . .!¡± Johan kicked a tent pole. It was a temporary, open tent, but the pole wasn¡¯t shallowly nted enough to be pulled out by a kick. . . ??????????! The tent copsed forward, obstructing the raiders. ¡°!!!¡± Johan then picked up the pole and started swinging it at the approaching raiders. The long and massive pole was a weapon in itself. The raiders, armed only with short swords, couldn¡¯t prate inside. ¡°Cursed by the devil, the lot of them. . .!¡± One of the raiders muttered this. To him, Johan seemed like someone who had made a pact with the devil. How else could such supernatural strength be possible? ???????????? The castle had more than just a main gate; there was also a secret door. This concealed door, not easily visible from the outside, was a crucial strategic point, used for the ndestine departure of messengers or as an escape route for the feudal lord. One of the roles of this secret door was to serve as a pathway for raiding parties. No one was foolish enough tounch an attack right through the main gate. The cavalry inside the castle cautiously emerged through this secret door. Their objective was straightforward. If the delegation managed to ambush and capture Ulrike, they were to swoop in and drag them into the castle, creating a diversion. But then. . . ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°!¡± The cavalry, turning a corner, were shocked. The situation was undeniably odd. There was no sign of the delegation, and Ulrike¡¯s army was ominously close to the castle walls, exuding a threatening aura. ¡°To the Raan gate! Escape through the Raan gate!¡± ¡°Divert! Divert!¡± Thanks to the leader¡¯s quick thinking, they didn¡¯t charge but instead turned their horses around. Returning from an ambush via a different secret door was the norm. They quickly veered towards the opposite secret door. ¡°Gerdolf-nim. Command!¡± ¡°Kill them all. Everyst one.¡± Gerdolf growled fiercely, realizing why Johan had led the mercenaries here. It must be to kill them! Gerdolf charged with a savageugh, relishing the sight of the enemy¡¯s faces turning pale in surprise. ???????????? ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Why would you fight so recklessly?!¡± Suetlg checked Johan¡¯s arm, relieved to find no broken muscles or bones. It was a miracle that he was unscathed after such madness. ¡°I needed a long weapon, but there was nothing at hand.¡± ¡°The most foolish reason I¡¯ve ever heard. Relying on brute strength is foolish.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a bit tired, otherwise fine. No need to worry.¡± Suetlg looked exasperated. Even the strongest man should be hurt after such an ordeal. Yet, Johan seemed unharmed except for slight fatigue. If not divine blessing, then what? ¡°What about Ulrike-gong?¡± ¡°Furious to the core, preparing for retaliation. She¡¯s been looking for you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ll stay here.¡± ¡°She won¡¯t harm you, just wants to thank you.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not. You go ahead.¡± Suetlg did not want to meet Ulrike. While Johan had much to gain politically, Suetlg had little interest in Ulrike. Rather, Ulrike might demand too much from Suetlg. ¡°Ulrike-gong wishes to see you.¡± ¡°Wait. Let me persuade Suetlg-nim.¡± ¡°She only wishes to see you, though. . .?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg¡¯s expression wasplex. Not wanting to meet, yet feeling oddly about not being invited. ¡°Then, I shall go alone.¡± ¡°Just be careful not to get devoured.¡± ???????????? Near Ulrike¡¯s tent, surviving raiders were tied to pirs. They were soon to be executed in the most brutal manner in front of the castle. ¡°Sir, wee.¡± ¡°I am sincerely grateful for your achievements.¡± The furious knights ceased their swearing and respectfully greeted Johan, indicating the significance of his recent heroics. Had Johan not alone confronted and defeated the raiders, Ulrike might have truly been taken hostage. The mere thought sent a chill down one¡¯s spine. ¡°?¡± Johan looked at the knights in puzzlement. He had not disarmed before entering. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I surrender my weapon?¡± ¡°You have been permitted to enter as is.¡± Johan entered, perplexed. Inside the tent, only Ulrike was present. She looked up from her map and scribblings as Johan entered. ¡°You must have something you want, right?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Something you desire. Did you set out without even thinking about it?¡± In response to Ulrike¡¯s words, Johan replied with an indifferent expression. ¡°I don¡¯t particrly have anything I want. . . I just want to finish what I came here for.¡± Johan had no ulterior motives in going after Ulrike, and he didn¡¯t bother thinking about what to aim for in that situation. Johan wasn¡¯t that clever. Ulrike¡¯s expression became ufortable upon hearing his words. People who are meticulous in their cost-benefit analysis tend to feel uneasy if the other party doesn¡¯t align with their expectations. From Ulrike¡¯s perspective, she didn¡¯t appreciate Johan not demanding something in return first. The feeling of being in debt hadn¡¯t disappeared. ¡°You can speak freely.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Unlikest time, this is a public asion, so I will uphold propriety.¡± Ulrike¡¯s difort grew even more from Johan¡¯s words. Johan was puzzled. Wasn¡¯t his response supposed to satisfy Ulrike just now? ¡°. . .Go ahead and tell me.¡± ¡°Actually, I have the tax rights in Heincut Town.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike pondered silently, then spoke after 10 seconds. ¡°Tell Stephen. Not gonna happen.¡± ¡°Actually, I came to negotiate about that.¡± ¡°Damn it! I wondered why you joined the expedition. . .¡± Ulrike realized her misjudgment. She should have known when her foolish brother spent all his money on mercenaries. It wasn¡¯t for military glory, but to sell his fiefdom rights profitably. ¡°Sir Stephen agreed. I intend to sell these tax rights back to you.¡± ¡°To me?¡± ¡°Yes. Aren¡¯t you the rightful owner of this fiefdom?¡± ¡°Skip the formalities. I¡¯m not fooled. What if I don¡¯t want to buy?¡± ¡°If you refuse, I¡¯ll have to find others. Bishop Mohsho, or maybe a trade guild. . . Many desire these tax rights. I hope you understand this is a gesture of goodwill to return your rightful authority.¡± Johan¡¯s rxed tone was irritatingly effective. But Johan was right. Letting the tax rights fall into others¡¯ hands out of spite would be a loss. ¡°And one more thing.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°If you buy the tax rights, I ask that you spare Stephen¡¯s life.¡± ¡°Did that guy present his ass to you?! And that b*tch too, why can¡¯t she take care of these as*holes without causing a fuss?!¡± Ulrike finally exploded. Johan¡¯s coddling of Stephen was infuriatingly iprehensible to her. She fumed until she realized. She was jealous. Her insignificant brother had a knight shecked. ¡°He didn¡¯t present any ass. . . I¡¯m just trying to keep a promise.¡± ¡°Fine! Say I buy the tax rights. I will give you some money. Then what? What if I kill Stephen afterward?¡± ¡°Then that can¡¯t be helped.¡± Johan responded calmly, surprising Ulrike. ¡°What. . . what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not Stephen¡¯s father, nor can I protect him forever. If he is to be killed, so be it.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°If Your Highness wishes to break the promise, feel free. I won¡¯t interfere. My promise with Stephen didn¡¯t extend that far.¡± Ulrike felt an inexplicable sense of defeat at Johan¡¯s words. Though she held the decision, she couldn¡¯t counter Johan¡¯s argument. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to say, ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ????????????????; ??¡¯???? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ ¡°. . .Alright. I¡¯ll spare him. He was supposed to die long ago anyway. Tell him not to loiter in my sight again.¡± ¡°He must have learned a lot even without my saying.¡± ¡°Ha! If I thought that guy could learn, I wouldn¡¯t have tried to kill him.¡± Ulrike took several deep breaths and spoke. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve discussed your matters, let¡¯s talk about mine. Weren¡¯t you curious why I called you?¡± ¡°Ah yes, I was very curious.¡± ¡®???????? ?????? ????????????. . .¡¯ Johan had a polite way of being irritating. Ulrike said, holding back her annoyance. ¡°Are you interested in receiving a fiefdom?¡± ¡°. . .!¡± ¡°Wait. Before you get too interested, listen. I don¡¯t like to lie to those who receive mynd. You won¡¯t just receive it. You¡¯ll have to fight for it a few times.¡± ¡°Like attacking that castle?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chapter 59: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 59: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) Ulrike nodded her head. Johan wasn¡¯t surprised either, as he had suspected it. ¡°I also need to take care of the eyes of my vassals, my feudal lords. You can receive it after a certain amount of achievements. Of course, if it¡¯s a merit, you should be able to achieve it sufficiently.¡± Ulrike pointed on the map while speaking. ¡°The problem is whates next. If we¡¯re lucky, it¡¯ll end there and a fiefdom will be granted, but it¡¯s likely not to end with just that.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Sangdarju Castle is a territory of the Emperor. Immediate support may note, but as soon as there¡¯s room to breathe, an army will be sent immediately.¡± ¡°Are you prepared for that?¡± At Johan¡¯s question, Ulrike burst intoughter. ¡°Of course! Why would I do such a thing without being prepared? Besides, the Emperor is already a toothless old lion.¡± The Emperor¡¯s fiefdoms were divided into the northern, central, and southern parts of the Catalian Penins. Although vast whenbined, managing such divided fiefdoms required much more effort. Mercenaries employed by the Emperor at great expense had to be constantly on the move. Ambitious regents and feudal lords, lords from neighboring kingdoms, and cities constantly trying to break free from the Emperor. . . ¡°Right now, the Emperor¡¯s main forces are tied down in the southern part of the Empire.¡± The forceful attempt to warn the southern feudal lords about their treacherous activities backfired. Even though some nobles were executed without trial and the Emperor feigned ignorance, the southern feudal lords were outraged by this unprecedented and outrageous act, eventually leading to a rebellion. . . The bewildered Emperor tried to diplomatically resolve the situation, but the lords responded by beheading the envoys and sending them back. War was the only option left. ¡°The point, Johan, is that the Emperor doesn¡¯t have the luxury to pay attention here. By the time he does, everything here will be over. Then he can send an army or not, as he pleases. Reinforcements wille.¡± ¡°Reinforcements?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice? The King of Ens is supporting us.¡± Since Johan had already heard this from Suetlg, he wasn¡¯t too surprised. He would have been more surprised if such actions were taken without such a background. ¡°You knew then. It¡¯s obvious with Cardirian II soon to die.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Why surprised? It¡¯s not a widely known story. . . but if you¡¯re to be a lord, you should be interested in such affairs.¡± Cardirian II was old and ill. Even his most loyal followers didn¡¯t think he would live long. At most a few years. When the Emperor dies, an electoral meeting of the princes is held to choose a new Emperor. Cardirian II¡¯s family, heavily in debt due to fruitless wars, was unlikely to be chosen in the next vote. The Emperor¡¯s intentions were clear. He intended to bypass the electoral process and pass the throne to his eldest heir! Of course, the princes had no intention of just watching this happen. If the Emperor disregards custom andw, we will act by force! ¡°Does the King of Ens desire the crown of the Empire Emperor?¡± ¡°I would never be so bold, and probably push a sibling or rtive to be the Emperor. Anyway. . . after hearing all this, you wouldn¡¯t back out, would you?¡± ¡°I ept.¡± Upon hearing Johan¡¯s response, Ulrike was momentarily surprised, but soon her face brightened. She had secretly thought Johan might refuse. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Did you think I would refuse? It¡¯s an offer with no reason to refuse.¡± ¡°How would I know? It¡¯s hard to understand knights who do all sorts of foolish things for the sake of their damned honor.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say it was for honor. . . Anyway, could you please tell me about the fiefdom I¡¯ll be receiving?¡± ¡°If you ept, you¡¯ll likely receive the title of a feudal lord or Baron. It¡¯ll include the town of Heincut, and maybe two or three others. I¡¯m thinking of this area. . .¡± Johan nodded as Ulrike pointed out the locations. The ces weren¡¯t bad. They weren¡¯t golden fiefdoms, but neither were they worthless. ¡®?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????? ????????????.¡¯ Johan now understood why Gessen had wandered so much. In a small fiefdom, no matter how much you squeezed, there was a limit to the money you could make. Even feeding and clothing the troops with that money was difficult. In contrast, one sessful raid or hostage-taking in war could yield tens or hundreds of times more revenue. He understood why Gessen was obsessed with roaming. ¡®???? ?????????? ?? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????????????????. . .¡¯ Withplex thoughts, Johan shook his head. He needed to focus on the immediate challenges first. If he didn¡¯t distinguish himself in the uing battle, he might not even receive that small fiefdom. ???????????? After the dishonorable surprise attack ended in failure, the lord of Sangdarju Castle sent an envoy once again. The message was that the recent incident was carried out without his orders, for which he sincerely apologized, and mentioned that showing mercy would bring divine blessings. Ulrike-gong responded to the envoy by killing him outright. ¡°Send it.¡± Then, an arrow with a letter attached flew over the castle. ¡°What did it say?¡± ¡°It said if they open the gates and prostrate themselves, we promise a painless death.¡± ¡°How merciful.¡± It was clear that the lord of Sangdarju Castle was moved by this mercy, as he immediately had his soldiers prepare for battle. However, the situation in Sangdarju Castle was different than Count Jarpen¡¯s. The faces of the soldiers showed evident fatigue and hunger. ¡°Please spare us, my lord! Just spare our lives!¡± ¡°The casten ordered us, we had no choice!¡± Those who attempted the assault and were captured were dragged forward. Composed of lower nobility and mercenaries, they seemed to sense the fate that awaited them. Horrific screams echoed in all directions. These sounds made those within the castle walls foresee their own fate. Normally, surrender would ensure the preservation of lives, but this time it was different. Having broken the customs of surrender with a surprise attack, it was undeniable that everyone, noble ormoner, deserved death. And Ulrike appeared to be aze with the determination to kill everyone. ¡°Was the conversation fruitful?¡± ¡°It was. They promised a fiefdom.¡± ¡°As expected. Worth a try.¡± Suetlg was not surprised. Johan, though young and inexperienced, had shown enough to attract the nobility¡¯s attention. Especially someone like Ulrike, having seen her in person. . . ¡°It seemed decent, so I epted. . .¡± ¡°Well done. Not bad.¡± Although Suetlg disliked entanglements with the nobility, Johan¡¯s case was different. As a knight aspiring to be a feudal lord, it was necessary to grab any opportunity. And Ulrike was indeed a good opportunity. ¡°I¡¯m somewhat reluctant to get involved in a mess caused by King Ens¡¯ greed.¡± ¡°Where in the world is there a game not started by the nobles¡¯ greed? It¡¯s about which side you¡¯re on, Johan. Being in the west of the Empire, it¡¯s unavoidable to be influenced by King Ens, so it¡¯s not bad to choose a side early. And if it turns disadvantageous, why not switch sides?¡± ¡°Is it alright to switch like that?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± It was not umon for nobles to switch sides, as long as there was a reasonable justification. Especially for a young, powercking knight like Johan. ¡°You¡¯d be wee on the other side too. Don¡¯t worry needlessly. Now, think about how to earn distinction. Have any ns?¡± ¡°If I had a good n, I would have acted on it by now.¡± It wasn¡¯t just Johan, but also the knights under Ulrike who hesitated. Despite their bold threats, they didn¡¯t rush into an attack. Ulrike knew well that pushing soldiers without proper preparation could lead to heavy losses, even against a small castle. The mostmon and effective siege tactic was to surround the enemy and wait for them to crumble. ¡°The number of people executed earlier seemed low, are you executing them in batches?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good strategy, but it seems a bit weak for making the enemy crumble. It¡¯s hard to predict when they will fall apart.¡± Suetlg exhaled. Each day was getting colder. The ones inside were shivering, but it would be even harder for those outside. ¡°So, you see.¡± ¡°. . .What¡¯s with that scheming look?¡± ¡°You said you owed me a debt.¡± ¡°No. . .¡± Suetlg was incredulous. Of course, he had incurred a debt, but he didn¡¯t expect to be asked to repay it so soon. ¡°Alright. What do you want?¡± ¡°I heard you summoned fog in thest expedition. Can you do it now?¡± ¡°Ugh. . . It¡¯s possible. But the river is far, so preparation is needed, and it will take some time.¡± ¡°As long as it¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°nning a surprise attack in the fog? Not a bad idea, but the enemy isn¡¯t foolish. They¡¯ll know that a full-scale attack is likely in the fog.¡± With fog, attackers could approach the walls easily, but the defenders could anticipate this as well. Moreover,unching a coordinated full-scale attack in the fog wasn¡¯t feasible unless the troops were exceptionally elite. ¡°Ah. That¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning a full-scale attack. I don¡¯t even havemand authority. If it happens, I was thinking of picking a dozen men for a surprise attack.¡± ¡°. . .Where to?¡± Johan pointed at the walls. Suetlg¡¯s mouth fell open. He hadn¡¯t expected such a n, despite the defenders being outnumbered. Brave or foolish? ¡°nning to climb the walls using the fog as cover?¡± ¡°With fewer numbers, we won¡¯t be detected, right?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be detected. But once you¡¯re on the wall, expect a warm wee.¡± ¡°The soldiers on the wall look tired and frightened. They aren¡¯t that disciplined, and in their current state, they¡¯ll likely flee easily.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg looked troubled. He didn¡¯t want to waste precious magic just to kill a young knight. Even with a dozen men, could they push back the soldiers on the wall and shake up the inside? ¡°Well. . . you can take care of your own life. If things go south, just break down the wall and run.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense are you talking about?¡± ???????????? Johan had no intention of creating fog just once. He had to do it for at least several days in a row. At first, seeing the fog would cause tension. But what if it persists for several days and everything remains calm? Being human, the tension would inevitably ease. ¡°So, the fog muste and go for several days¡­¡± Suetlg let out a groan. An unknowing knight dastard was trying to overwork him with this magic. However, using such a ruse was a better tactic than creating fog just once. It would catch the opponent off guard. The problem was not with Suetlg, but with the other knights. None volunteered despite hearing Johan¡¯s n. ¡°Isn¡¯t there anyone who will join me to defeat them?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The knights remained silent. They were not repulsed by Johan, the neer, nor did they want to embarrass him. Johan¡¯s n felt too reckless to them. Even the Empire knights, desiring honor and glory, did not want to enter a situation that tantly led to death. ¡°If no one steps forward, I¡¯ll have to go alone.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be alone, Sir. I will apany you.¡± Gerdolf spoke as if questioning the absurdity. Then Sir Inno was shocked. They had different ces to go, why would they go together? ¡°What are you talking about? That¡¯s not a ce for you to intervene. You¡¯re mistaken, let me tell you.¡± ¡°I will go with you.¡± Gerdolf ignored his father¡¯s words. Sir Inno didn¡¯t know how to react and just gaped. ¡°Thank you, Sir Gerdolf.¡± ¡°Are the other knightscking courage? Is Sir Johan the only brave person under mymand?¡± Ulrike provoked them, but the knights stood firm. Ulrike asked Johan. ¡°What about taking Stephen with you?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather fight with one hand tied.¡± However, the issue ofpanions was unexpectedly resolved easily. The mercenaries brought by Johan volunteered en masse upon hearing the news. The mercenaries under Ulrike, already present, clicked their tongues at the recklessness. ¡°No matter how much you love gold, what¡¯s the use if you die? Don¡¯t do something crazy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone who fights recklessly live long. Quit now. Even the knights are avoiding this.¡± However, the mercenaries following Johan scoffed in response. ¡°You say that because you haven¡¯t seen our employer fight.¡± Chapter 60.1: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 60.1: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) ¡°What are you talking about? Do you think your employer is some kind of god?¡± ¡°Well, his power was indeed enormous, like that of a god. . .¡± ¡°But still, he bleeds when stabbed with a spear and dies when hit by an arrow. It¡¯s insane to think that with just those men, they would climb the city walls. No matter how much one loves gold, it¡¯s madness.¡± Experienced mercenaries said that, indicating the riskiness of this attempt. Yet, the mercenaries following Johan were unshaken as if they were enchanted. After all, faith is not rational and is something that cannot be exined to others. The mercenaries who had followed Johan from the city held a strong belief. They had faith that they would never lose if they followed this knight! Such unwavering faith doesn¡¯t just emerge from kicking down giant tent poles. It develops through continuous coboration, syncing movements, and experiencing each action side by side. Mercenaries unaware of this thought those participating in the surprise attack seemed mad. ???????????? The weakest part of the castle was its gate. It was natural, as it was originally made for people to pass through. Thus, various methods were employed to protect the gate, like elevating its position, digging a moat below, or building a small bastion nearby. . . Sangdarju Castle wasn¡¯t that well-built. The moat was shallow, and the towers were crude. But still, a castle is a castle. A direct assault on the gate could even turn Johan into a piece of meat. ¡®?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°There¡¯s fog rolling in.¡± Suetlg, who had turned pale preparing magic, came out and said. From a distance, fog was enveloping the area around the castle. The sudden dense fog caused confusion among the soldiers on the walls. ¡°When will we attack?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll repeat this a few times and then go in just before sunrise.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the middle of the night be better?¡± ¡°It might be harder for us if it¡¯s too dark. Considering the terrain and all. . .¡± Johan thought the time just before sunrise was when people are most off-guard. Others thought of night, but to Johan, night seemed more dangerous. ???????????? With a shield on his back, and a mace, longsword, and dagger at his waist. To keep themselves light, the assault team minimized their baggage. Johan even considered removing his chainmail due to the noise, but decided it wasn¡¯t necessary. Johan led from the front, cutting through the fog. It seemed easier to climb the wall before the break of dawn. ??????????©¥ Strong grip wasn¡¯t just useful for wielding weapons or tearing off a troll¡¯s arm. It was also effective for climbing walls. ¡°. . .!¡± The mercenaries following from below admired Johan¡¯s speed in climbing. Climbing up the wall barehanded, and so swiftly at that! Now they understood why he had refused the cumbersome siegedders. With such strength, they were unnecessary. Now, all that was needed was for Johan to throw down a rope. ¡°Oh.¡± Reaching the top, Johan, leaning against the wall, froze upon seeing two soldiers yawning and sitting there. ???????????? The location of the climbable wall was not chosen randomly. Behind it was Gerdolf¡¯s effort. ©¥?????? ??????. ?????????? ???????? ????????????????. ©¥????????. . . ????????????????! ?????? ???????? ????????! ?? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ????????, ?????? ?????????? ??????????????! ??¡¯???? ???????? ??????! ??¡¯???? ???????? ??????! ??????????????! Gerdolf surprisingly had a talent for interrogation. After interrogating the captured raiders who attempted a surprise attack, they became ragged and spilled the secrets of the castle. The location of the hidden doors they used toe out of, the roughyout of the castle. Johan tried his best to memorize these details in his head. However, Johan was powerless over the soldiers¡¯ deployment. It changed frequently, and now that the raiders were captured, it would have changed again. Relying on it could lead to seeing blood. But to run into them as soon as climbing up. There was definitely no luck. ¡°. . .What?¡± The sitting soldier blinked and looked at Johan. He was exhausted from the dense fog and staying up all night. Johan, suddenly appearing over the wall, must have seemed out of ce. His slow reaction cost him his life. ??????????©¥ The mace swung, and the soldier copsed. The soldier next to him was startled and scrambled for his spear, but Johan stepped on it first. ¡°Atta(ck). . .¡± One blow to the lungs, one to the neck. What Kaegal taught Johan most intensively were the body¡¯s vital points. An assassin couldn¡¯t kill openly like a knight in battle. They often had to kill quietly in the darkness. It was this technique that was effective then. Not shing with a sword, but quickly stabbing a hard-to-hear vital point with a dagger and silencing them. ¡°Guh-huh. . .¡± The soldier gasped and gurgled. Johan pushed him aside and checked the surroundings. There were no others. ??????????©¥ As the rope descended, the mercenaries sighed in relief. They had been anxious about the sudden disappearance. As all the mercenaries climbed onto the wall, Johan gave the order. ¡°Go to the secret door and open it.¡± The main gate was toorge and noisy, drawing inevitable attention. In contrast, the secret doors in the wall were rtively free from such concerns. They were small and concealed enough to be unnoticed from the outside. If they could take the secret door before the enemies noticed and bring in the soldiers from outside, it would be over. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too quiet?¡± ¡°Are they all sleeping?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t touched them for days, so it¡¯s likely. . .¡± Johan and the mercenaries ran through the castle courtyard, the eerie silence making their hearts race. As they moved towards the secret door, a shout erupted from behind. ¡°It¡¯s an attack! It¡¯s an attack!!¡± ¡°The wall has been taken!¡± ¡°?!¡± Johan and the mercenaries, who had not yet taken the wall, were shocked by the outcry. ¡°Have those guys gone mad?!¡± ¡°No. They must have discovered the missing soldiers. Move fast!¡± Johan urged the mercenaries. With tense expressions, they nodded. From now on, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising to encounter enemies anywhere. Chapter 60.2: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 60.2: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) ¡°Who are you! Identify yourself!¡± ¡°!¡± The opponent Johan encountered did not attack first but asked for his identity, as the fog was bing denser. It was difficult to precisely identify who the other party was, even at a somewhat close distance. ¡°. . .Attack!¡± At Johan¡¯smand, the mercenaries charged fiercely. Like a pack of wolves led by a lion, they swiftly overpowered their prey. The soldiers, thinking they were allies, fell with screams. ¡°Move! Unless you want to be hit by arrows!¡± The mercenaries didn¡¯t need Johan¡¯s urging; they knew what was at stake. Inside the fortress walls was a smaller citadel. Compared to the outer fortress, it was embarrassingly small, merely a tower of two or three floors, but it was fully equipped. Towers and paths for attacking enemies who had breached the gates, the walls, and the courtyard. In the current situation, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising for arrows to be flying. ¡°S-Sir Knight.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem to be the secret passage. . .!¡± The thick fog confused not only the enemies but also Johan and the mercenaries. Instead of the secret passage, they encountered an open, lower gate of the inner fortress. ¡®?????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ?????????!¡¯ The gate of the inner fortress, on the opposite side of the front gate they were facing. They hade in thepletely wrong direction. Johan pondered. Should he turn back to find the secret passage, or find a suitable spot in the walls to escape now? ¡®?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ??????. . .¡¯ But there was no time to hesitate. Soldiers began emerging from the open inner fortress gate. Luckily, the fog seemed to have concealed Johan¡¯s presence. ¡°Look, that man seems like a noble.¡± Gerdolf pointed to a man among the twenty soldiers, hisvish attire andmanding presence suggesting he was at least a captain. ¡°. . .Right. Let¡¯s capture him!¡± Johan made a decision based on intuition. The situation was chaotically confusing for both sides due to the fog. ¡°Kill them!¡± With a short battle cry, Johan charged forward, shield in hand. Surprised by the sudden appearance of an enemy in the fog, some defenders dropped their weapons in shock. With the sharp sound of metal, a spear was deflected. The distance closed, and a mace crushed someone¡¯s bones. Two fell, bleeding. Regardless of the thick fog, Johan overpowered his opponents. His brute strength felled them with a single blow after deflecting their attacks. The soldiers began to sumb to fear, amplified by the disorienting fog. ¡°Fight back! They aren¡¯t many!¡± The man who appeared to be the captain shouted, but already five or six were sneaking away to escape. The situation was unclear, but it seemed the fortress wall had been breached, and soldiers had made it this far. . . Maybe it was better to flee? ??????????! ??????????! Making that decision easier was a knight. Gerdolf swung his great sword, decapitating a hesitating soldier. A spray of blood spread fear among those nearby. ¡°Move aside. Or die.¡± Gerdolf stared down the soldiers, speaking in a blunt tone, which was more effective. The soldiers involuntarily stepped back. ¡°Protect me! Execute anyone who flees! Anyone who flees. . .!¡± As Johan and Gerdolf, two knights, carved through the soldiers like cutting through waves, the defense captain turned pale. They thought they could hold them off with their superior numbers, but the momentum was unexpectedly strong. ¡°You! Run and call for reinforcements, fast. Gasro! Make good on the silver you and your friends were paid! Stop them!¡± ¡°Understood, sir.¡± Even as soldiers were being defeated and fleeing, there were those near the defense captain who held their ground. They wore different outfits from the soldiers and were armed with longswords. ¡®?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????¡¯ It was rare for poor soldiers or mercenaries to handle longswords. Spears or shields were more convenient. The mere use of a longsword was evidence of some degree of training! Gasro stepped forward, longsword in hand. The crossguards of the longswords held by the men all had identical decorations. The fencing guild often revealed their origins through such decorations, so these men were clearly from the same guild. Johan felt tense, recalling what Kaegal had said. ©¥???? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????. ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ?????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ????????????????????. ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????????????, ???? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ??????. Of course, there would be varying levels of skill within the guild, but a proficient swordsman could be dangerous. ??????????! Johan attacked first, to gauge his opponent¡¯s skill. From behind his shield, Johan¡¯s mace suddenlyshed out, striking the opponent¡¯s torso diagonally. ¡®???? ???????????????? ???????????? ??????????????.¡¯ The swordsman, smugly, sliced his longsword sideways, deflecting the opponent¡¯s strength and changing direction to seize the offensive. ????????! With the sound of a skull shattering, the swordsman fell. Chapter 61.1: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 61.1: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) ¡°. . . . . .¡± Upon seeing arade bleeding and falling, the other swordsmen froze in shock. What did I just witness? Being from the same swordsmanship guild, they knew exactly what their colleague had done. It was amon technique across various guilds to deflect an overhead attack and then counterstrike. But why couldn¡¯t he block it? In the midst of the chaos, Gasro barely managed to reach a conclusion. ¡°This foe is extraordinarily strong! Do not engage directly with his weapon!¡± Gasro had seen it clearly. When the mace was swung, it exploded outward like an arrow shot from a bow! Unbelievable as it was. . . If the opponent had superhuman strength, then what they had just witnessed made sense. Even if it was hard to believe, when there¡¯s only one possible exnation, you have to ept it. ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????¡¯ ¡®?????? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ??????????. . .¡¯ The swordsmen red at Johan, pondering their options. Knightly swordy, often passed down within families, varied regionally. Typically involvingbat in armor, it didn¡¯t focus much on intricate techniques. But there were limits, and they had never seen a technique that simply overpowered with sheer strength. ¡°Skill ovees strength.¡± A phrase they had heard often, but it had never felt as hollow as it did now. Can skill truly prevail against overwhelming power? ¡®???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ????????????????.¡¯ Johan also observed the swordsmen. The recent fight had been unexpected for Johan too. He thought they would have exchanged more blows. Those who faced Johan treated him as an equal. But that was an irreversible mistake. One should face Johan as if facing a monster. A human-shaped monster. A monster capable of tearing one apart with brute strength! ¡®??????. . .¡¯ The swordsmen¡¯s overt caution was palpable. Their readiness to retreat at Johan¡¯s charge was evident. A moment of standoff. ¡°One, two, three.¡± Reading the opponent¡¯s breath wasn¡¯t difficult. Sensing the right moment, Johan hurled his mace like a bolt of lightning. ¡°Gasp!¡± It was like a stone shot from a catapult. The frozen swordsman was struck by the mace and tumbled to the ground, motionless and looking seriously injured. Johan nonchntly drew his longsword. The swordsmen hesitated and retreated further. Mercenaries surrounded the area. ¡°Ga, Gasro. . . What do we do? Do we keep fighting this?¡± ¡°. . .I surrender!¡± ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Although the defense captain was aghast and shouted, Gasro immediately held his longsword to the captain¡¯s throat. Another swordsman quickly seized the captain. The enemies¡¯ presence here meant the outer walls and gates were likely already taken. In such a situation, dying to protect the defense captain seemed less sensible than surrendering. Facing that monstrous foe, it felt certain they would die right here. ¡°You¡¯re quick-witted. Disarm them! And if they try any tricks, feel free to cut them down.¡± Following Johan¡¯smand, the mercenaries rushed to disarm the swordsmen and the defense captain. Johan, watching the struggling captain, inquired. ¡°Speak of the situation within the fortress.¡± ¡°Shut up! I swear to God, I have nothing to say to an invader like you. Once the reinforcements arrive, you lot will. . .¡± Gerdolf struck the defense captain in the abdomen. The defense captain choked and vomited what he had eaten the day before. Johan asked the swordsmen. ¡°Do you know anything?¡± ¡°We do know! A lot!¡± ¡°These traitors. . .! This is why you can¡¯t trust those of low birth! Even after handing over so much silver! And to think, a fencing guild would be more expensive. . .¡± ¡°Still no thoughts of surrendering?¡± Johan asked the defense captain. Instead of answering, the captain spat. Johan nodded. ¡°Kill him.¡± ¡°Sir?¡± The holding mercenary was taken aback. Clearly, he was of noble origin. Not a high-ranking noble with a fiefdom, but even a lower noble was a daunting opponent for a mercenary. Normally, they would capture, not kill. . . ??????????! Gerdolf swung his short warhammer, smashing the defense captain¡¯s head. It didn¡¯t matter where the captain came from or what family he belonged to. Just do as told! The nickname ¡®Butcher¡¯ wasn¡¯t for nothing. Having cut off the defense captain¡¯s breath, Gerdolf approached the mercenary holding him and grabbed his throat. ¡°C-Cough, Gerdolfnim. Why are you doing this!¡± ¡°What are you doing, Gerdolf?¡± ¡°This man, didn¡¯t follow orders.¡± ¡°No, sir! I was just startled!¡± ¡°Let him go.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Gerdolf immediately released the mercenary. The mercenary gasped for air and said. ¡°I-I apologize, Johan-nim. I won¡¯t disobey orders again.¡± ¡°Fine. You¡¯ve followed us this far, I won¡¯t doubt your loyalty.¡± The mercenaries looked moved at Johan¡¯s words. Regardless, Gerdolf grabbed the next person and raised his warhammer. The swordsmen panicked as Gerdolf¡¯s arm rose. ¡°Why, why are you doing this! I said I would talk!¡± ¡°Ah. My apologies. This man is a loyal knight. So, what is the current situation?¡± ¡°The walls are under attack, and the captain was about to go for reinforcements.¡± ¡°Is the casten inside the fortress?¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± ¡°Do you know his location?¡± ¡°For now. . .¡± Johan made a decision right away. ¡°We go inside. Capture the casten first!¡± ???????????? The soldiers waiting in Ulrike¡¯s camp realized something was amiss when they spotted a few fleeing soldiers. ¡°Isn¡¯t that them running away?¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s ridiculous. . . but it¡¯s true?¡± The guards, who had lost their way in the fog and unfortunately ran towards Ulrike¡¯s camp, screamed and ran away again. ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± ¡°We need to open the gate to get in. . .¡± A few knights murmured in confusion. Normally, they would have subdued the secret passage and sent mercenaries for reinforcements. Things seemed messed up, but seeing the enemies fleeing outside the castle, it seemed that was not the case. ¡°Aren¡¯t we in the middle of a battle?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t tell because of the fog. . .¡± The fog made even the attackers hesitate. Then Stephen stepped forward. ¡°We must go support them now!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Chapter 61.2: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 61.2: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) The knights looked doubtful. They would have listened if it were someone else, but it was hard to ept when Stephen said it. ¡°Let¡¯s watch the situation a bit more.¡± ¡°What if Johan dies in the meantime?¡± ¡°Sir Johan is not someone who dies easily. Besides, it seems they are fighting now. . .¡± ¡°Then how about we go support with the soldiers Stephen is leading?¡± Hearing this, Suetlg offered apromise. The knights couldn¡¯t object to sending the mercenaries Stephen brought. Returning to their camp, Suetlg spoke to Stephen with surprise in his expression. ¡°That¡¯s a decent idea. In this situation, the enemy will be too confused to attack us easily.¡± ¡°Ah. . . yes, I thought so too. Of course.¡± Of course, Stephen had not thought that way. Just like when Johan returned from negotiating with Ulrike, Stephen didn¡¯t quite trust Ulrike. ©¥?????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????????? ©¥????????, ?????? ??????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????, ???? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???????????? ??????. ©¥?????? ?????? ?????? ????????????? ©¥?????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ????????, ????????????????????????, ?????? ??????????. ??????¡¯???? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????. ©¥?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????????????. . . ©¥?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ??????¡¯???? ???????? ?????????????? ????????????, ?????? ???????? ???????? ??¡¯???? ????????, ???????????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????? ?????????????? ????????????. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ It was surprising, but Johan seemed to have won Ulrike¡¯s favor. It was evident from what was heard. But Stephen still feared Ulrike. If Johan were to die, it wouldn¡¯t be strange for Ulrike to break her promise. ¡®?????????? ???????? ?????? ??????!¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s go! Follow me!¡± Fortunately, the mercenaries followed Stephen. They went to aid their employer, Johan, without question, though their faces were filled with bewilderment. ¡°Did that knight know how to fight?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. . . I heard he¡¯s like a blind man with open eyes. . .¡± Whispers from behind. Normally, Stephen would have been furious, but now in a desperate situation, he couldn¡¯t afford to lose his temper. Clenching his teeth, he led the soldiers close to the city walls, his body tense in anticipation of iing arrows. ¡°The fog is too thick to shoot this far. Definitely. . .!¡± He thought this in his head, but the fear did not subside. Moreover, the top of the wall was eerily quiet. That was even more terrifying. As Stephen wondered what was happening and racked his brain, the mercenaries urged him on. ¡°You need to give an order!¡± ¡°Do we stick close to the secret gate to enter? Or do we climb the wall?¡± ¡°Keep it down! I¡¯m thinking. . .¡± Then, a disturbing noise echoed through the fog. It was the sound of the castle gate being lifted. ¡°???¡± ¡°W-What is that?¡± The mercenaries grabbed their weapons first, but something felt off as they did. Why would those inside open the gates ande out? It was a time when they should be hunkering down inside. People emerged from the fog. The mercenaries looked only at Stephen, waiting for hismand. They were waiting for an order, but Stephen was also at a loss for words. ¡°Hm? Have youe to help?¡± ¡°??!?!¡± The one who came out of the opened gate was Johan. In Johan¡¯s hand was an unfamiliar man, covered in blood. ???????????? Johan¡¯s party, Ulrike, and even the guards themselves were unaware that the situation inside the fortress was in chaos. When it became known that someone had climbed over the wall in the thick fog, the guards, thinking the walls had been taken over, were terrified. While Johan was busy clearing soldiers in the courtyard, fear spread even more on the walls. In an already exhausted and starving situation, some quick-witted ones took advantage of the fog to climb down the walls and flee. Still, the situation could have been managed up to that point. But the situation worsened when the guard captain, who should have hurriedlye to calm the soldiers, was caught and killed by Johan. With the guard captain¡¯smunication cut off, the leaders of the soldiers, the ten-man captains, also panicked. When one of the ten-man captains ran away, it was the end. Like a dam bursting at its limit, the soldiers each looked for their own way to survive and fled. At that time, Johan was searching the inner fortress for the casten, unaware that the outside defense had copsed. ¡°The casten is on the third floor?¡± ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± Apart from the main tower, the inner fortress was a narrow space with no empty areas. Normally, the first floor of a tower was used as a storehouse or kitchen, and living spaces were above it. ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ????¡¯?? ???????????????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ The casten would know more about this fortress than Johan. It wouldn¡¯t be strange if there were one or two secret passages. Johan had to rush to catch him before he was discovered. ¡°Is there a passage to escape outside?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know that much. . .¡± The captured swordsmen said with anxious expressions. With the guard captain killed in one stroke, there was no one who could guarantee their lives here. They had to show they were useful somehow! ¡°Where are you from?¡± ¡°From Aren, in the central Empire.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite far. How did you end up here?¡± ¡°We were conscripted by the guild. . . Sir Karamaf sent us here.¡± ¡°!¡± Johan was surprised at the unexpected name. Karamaf sent them? ¡°Karamaf? Have you seen his face?¡± ¡°Of course not, we are not of the status to meet him directly. Besides, Sir Karamaf is. . . well, it¡¯s a rumor, but there are rumors that he¡¯s seriously ill. . .¡± Chapter 62.1: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 62.1: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) ¡°A serious illness?¡± The swordsmen hastily added, perhaps misunderstanding Johan¡¯s reaction of incredulity as something else. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s unbelievable that a knight like Sir Karamaf would fall seriously ill. It¡¯s a ridiculous rumor, but we are not lying.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Moreover, it is said that Sir Karamaf is cursed. . .¡± ¡°Madman. What are you talking about, curses?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a real curse, I tell you. Why else would a perfectly healthy knight copse?¡± The rumor that Karamaf had copsed due to a curse suggested that he had umted significant enmity over the years. Indeed, when suppressing the rebellion in the western Empire, he never considered reconciliation, ruthlessly killing nobles indiscriminately. . . Usually, nobles involved in rebellions weren¡¯t easily executed. Even if defeated, they would lose their fiefdoms or pay reparations as apromise. However, the Emperor, relying solely on his might, chose a hardline approach, and Karamaf acted in ordance with his wishes. Now, the feudal lords in the western Empire were openly targeting the Emperor. ¡°What are you doing! How dare. . .!¡± A servant working there eximed in shock. It was natural to be surprised seeing dozens of armed men ascending to the second floor. ¡°Show your loyalty if you want to live.¡± ¡°. . .Yes.¡± Led by Gasro, the swordsmen, following Johan¡¯s words, stepped forward with somber expressions, holding their returned weapons. Having switched sides during the war, they had to prove themselves. Otherwise, they risked facing des from both sides. ¡°Is the casten upstairs?¡± ¡°You traitors! Do you think you¡¯ll be safe after bringing outsiders in here?! You and others will be held responsi©¥. . .¡± ¡°Chwaag!¡± Even with a roughened temperament, slicing down a servant was nothing challenging. The swordsmen, having sttered blood, pointed their swords at another servant and asked, ¡°Is he upstairs?¡± ¡°He. . . He is.¡± ¡°He¡¯s there.¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s go up.¡± Screams echoed throughout the tower. Realizing the situation, the servants and ves began to flee. Those who realized that dangerous enemies had entered tried to escape outside first. The mercenaries didn¡¯t bother to capture them. They had no time to waste in frivolity. ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Bring them back here.¡± Confused by Johan¡¯smand, the mercenaries moved as instructed. They vividly remembered how Gerdolf had fiercely grabbed someone by the neck earlier. ¡°Why, why are you doing this! Please, don¡¯t do this!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t struggle. Unless you want something broken.¡± The mercenaries caught the fleeing servants, dressed in shabby, ragged clothes with dirty faces©¥nothing unusual at first nce. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????¡¯ But that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. . . Johan stood in front of them. A vague intuition had made them stop. It was time to find out why. ¡°. . .Only one of them has intact hands.¡± ¡°!¡± At Johan¡¯s words, one of the servants turned deathly pale. ¡°Clean his face.¡± ¡°Run away! Milord, ru©¥¡± The mercenary swiftly cut down the struggling servant, then roughly wiped the face of another. The swordsmen verified the face. ¡°It¡¯s the casten.¡± A crafty-looking middle-aged man urgently spoke to Johan. ¡°If you let me go like this, I will speak directly to His Majesty the Emperor! I could even grant a fiefdom to everyone here!¡± Mercenaries could be feudal lords. It was a story of great luck, indeed. Even owning a small town would make a mercenary a legend among their peers. However, everyone just smirked. None were foolish enough to believe that promise. Johan, without changing his expression, called Gerdolf. ¡°Gerdolf. Shut him up.¡± ¡°Guah!¡± Gerdolf silenced the casten. The casten had heard of the butcher¡¯s reputation. Gerdolf, as if proving the rumors true, swung his fist. Blood sttered, and the casten fell silent. ¡°Stop there. Don¡¯t kill him. We need to check outside. Are the guards surrounding the keep? Maybe we¡¯ll have to hold out in the tower.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t see them.¡± ¡°Still on the ramparts? Good. Let¡¯s go through the secret passage.¡± The fog was starting to clear. Johan felt the urgency to move quickly. ¡°. . .?¡± But when they emerged outside, they saw a courtyardpletely devoid of any signs of life. No soldiers were in sight. ¡°Hmm. . . a trap?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s ask the casten what he¡¯s plotting!¡± ¡°Seems like they really ran away. . .?¡± Johan checked not the secret passage, but the main gate. No soldiers were visible there either. Even for a trap, it was unusual to leave this area unguarded. ¡°Open the main gate first.¡± ¡°Yes. Together now. . .¡± ¡°No. I will open the gate. Keep watch.¡± Normally, hoisting the gate¡¯s winch wasn¡¯t a one-person job. About a dozen soldiers were needed to lift it. The mercenaries thought to help but then stopped themselves. ¡®?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ????.¡¯ And Johan did exactly that. As he alone opened the gate, the mercenaries, no longer surprised, rushed through. Only the swordsmen looked on as if seeing a madman. ???????????? ¡°You¡¯ve bravelye to help. Braver than I thought, huh?¡± ¡°O-Of course, that¡¯s me.¡± Upon hearing Johan¡¯s words, Stephen hurriedly nodded his head. Fortunately, it seemed he wouldn¡¯t be hit by an arrow. ¡°Thanks to you, it went well. Send the soldiers inside to take over the walls. Stay alert. We don¡¯t know how many are still inside. And call for reinforcements. We¡¯ve captured the casten.¡± ¡°Captured the casten?!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you¡¯re holding now?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Stephen wore a sickened expression. He couldn¡¯t believe that was the casten. . . For Stephen, who had only experienced treating nobility with a certain level of respect, it was shocking. He couldn¡¯t even lift his head properly. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ ¡°Mobilize the cavalry and capture all the servants or ves among those escaping. We don¡¯t need the soldiers, but we must capture all of them.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Seeing the casten, it seemed likely others might disguise themselves as servants or ves to escape. Even though they had captured the casten, Johan was thorough in such matters. The casten twitched upon hearing this. Johan was surprised, thinking the man had been knocked out. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????????¡¯ The messenger soon arrived at Ulrike¡¯s camp. Ulrike was at a loss for words upon hearing the request for reinforcements, given that they had opened the gates, taken over the walls, and captured the casten. ¡°. . .Isn¡¯t that like having already conquered the castle?¡± The knights seemed to agree. They had thought that when they said they¡¯d cross the walls with just a few mercenaries, they¡¯d quietly open a secret door and call the soldiers. Thete arrival of the messenger was thought to be due toplications, but they never imagined it was because they had taken the gate, the walls, and the casten. ¡°Issue the order. We can¡¯t bete in cleaning up after taking over the castle by ourselves.¡± The fog was already liftingpletely. Chapter 62.2: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 62.2: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) The situation within the fortress was quickly grasped. Ulrike chuckled at the fact that more than half of the defenders had fled. Then she immediatelyposed her expression. She pretended to be calm to maintain dignity in front of her subordinates, but the satisfaction on her face was undeniable. Johan felt a hint of humanity in Ulrike¡¯s statue-like face for the first time. ¡°That¡¯s quite adorable.¡± ¡°What. . . What?? Are you insane???¡± Stephen, who was standing nearby, was startled. Was he talking about Ulrike? ¡°People have many facets, don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Even if Ulrike has a hundred aspects, none of them would be cute!¡± ¡°Just shut up, especially if you value your life. You should be trying to impress Ulrike-gong, not messing around like this.¡± Johan¡¯s rebuke snapped Stephen back to reality. He was right. His life was spared not because of his own charm, but because he had impressed Johan. ¡°I-I know.¡± ¡°If you want to live long, keep your head down and be observant. Breathe carefully until you can collect your money and leave.¡± ¡°. . .Understood.¡± ¡°What were you discussing so earnestly?¡± Ulrike asked with curiosity. ¡°We were discussing how the capture of the fortress was possible thanks to Ulrike-gong¡¯s leadership.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The two from the Abner family looked at Johan incredulously. Ulrike regained herposure first and spoke. ¡°Such jokes don¡¯t suit a knight like you. Wasn¡¯t it a bit too harsh how you treated the casten after bringing him out?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a man whose death would be insignificant anyway.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why didn¡¯t you just kill him? It must have been troublesome to bring him out.¡± ¡°I thought you might want to do it yourself.¡± At Johan¡¯s question, Ulrike smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there,e to my side, knight. I want you to guard me while we inspect the fortress.¡± ¡°I shall do so.¡± Watching Johan ride up to stand beside Ulrike, Stephen realized he should¡¯ve been more alert and joined them as well. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ??¡¯?? ???????????????????? ?????? ???? ????????.¡¯ ¡°You, get lost.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Stephen obediently left, cursing Ulrike internally. Ulrike instructed her knights to keep their distance, wanting to speak privately with Johan. ¡°But why did you order the soldiers to catch the servants and ves, instead of just the casten?¡± ¡°Seeing the casten in disguise and hiding made me think his rtives might do the same.¡± ¡°You wasted your time. The casten¡¯s rtives aren¡¯t here in this fortress.¡± ¡®?¡¯ Johan, who had thought the casten¡¯s flinch was due to his rtives hiding, was puzzled when told otherwise. Then what was that reaction about? ¡°You did much better than I expected, knight. I doubt anyone wouldin about you receiving a fiefdom.¡± ¡°When does the army return?¡± ¡°As soon as the clean-up isplete. There¡¯s no reason to stay here in this ce during winter. We will leave a few to garrison and return to my fiefdom. Once we return, I¡¯ll take care of your fiefdom first.¡± Seeing how the fortress was captured, it seemed unnecessary to wait any longer. No one would likely express dissatisfaction. ¡°It seems we must prepare for the Emperor¡¯s counterattack. . .¡± ¡°Even so, not right now. It¡¯s still a long way off, so it¡¯s better to focus on your town first. Hmm. Even for you, it¡¯s difficult to manage the town directly. When I return, I¡¯ll introduce you to some capable people who can serve as administrators.¡± The administrators who collected taxes and managed the town were usually selected from among the educated, either free citizens or lower nobility. Frankly, neither knights nor nobles had the capability or reason to handle such detailed governance. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You can be informal with me. Like you are with Stephen.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Does that mean to swear and scold? That would likely result in an immediate sword fight. . . ¡°No.¡± ¡°. . .Alright.¡± At that moment, a knight who had gone out for reconnaissance hurriedly rode into the castle gates. ¡°Ulrike-gong! Ulrike-gong!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The Emperor¡¯s army is in Lebuten!¡± Ulrike¡¯s expression changed. Lebuten was a city not far from Sangdarju Castle, reachable in three to four days northeast along the Empire¡¯s highway. Given Sangdarju Castle¡¯s location surrounded by mountains, there was only one path to approach from this side, making the intention clear. ???????????? ¡°Karamaf, you damn b*stard.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Marquis Crucho waved his hand at the lieutenant. It was a signal to leave. Even though Marquis Crucho was one of the Emperor¡¯smanders, the current situation was not good. Being amander, he was all too aware of this. Enemies on all sides. When his house was overflowing with gold and he had many soldiers, he could wield iron fists, but now, with debts and mercenaries deserting, he had to endure. However, the Emperor did not. He tried to suppress the rebelling feudal lords with force. ¡®???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???? ????????. . .¡¯ Marquis Crucho sighed. It was ironic for him to me now, after he had not dissuaded the Emperor and had instead ridden the wave. When the call for help from Sangdarju Castle came, Marquis Crucho strongly advocated for support. ©¥???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????????? ??????????! If Sangdarju Castle fell, the western feudal lords would openly traverse the central Empire. It was strategically different from the southern rebellion. The Emperor, out of pride, wanted to subdue the south first, but Marquis Crucho strongly argued and barely managed to secure troops. ¡®?????????????????? ???????????? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ??????????????, ?????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ???????????? ????????????. ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????????????, ???? ???? ???? ????????????????, ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ Chapter 63.1: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 63.1: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) If the enemy is not foolish, they will retreat. The area near Sangdarju Castle is not a good ce for the attackers to hold out for long. Marquis Crucho intended to quickly drive the enemy back. The Marquis himself was also short on time. The soldiers led by the Marquis needed to be redirected to the south immediately. ¡®???? ???????? ???? ??????????????, ?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Recently, the Emperor has been suspecting all the surrounding vassals. The already unfavorable war situation was critically impacted by the disappearance of Karamaf. Although everyone kept silent, it was impossible to hide the truth even from the high nobles around the Emperor. There were already rumors among the nobles that Karamaf had fled due to disappointment with the Emperor. ©¥?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????, ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????????, ?????? ????????, ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ????????? This rumor further deepened the Emperor¡¯s suspicions. ¡°It had to be ended quickly.¡± ¡®?????? ?????????? ????????????¡¯?? ?????????????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????????. ???? ?????????? ???????????? ????????, ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ????????.¡¯ However, the Marquis did not yet know. That Sangdarju Castle had already fallen. ???????????? ¡°We were lucky.¡± Everyone in the room nodded at Ulrike¡¯s words. However, the thoughts of the Sangdarju Castle were somewhat different. ¡°A few more dayste, and it would have been dangerous.¡± ¡°Exactly. If we had been attacked with the castle behind us. . .¡± It was fortunate to attack aggressively. Otherwise, they would have spent money and gained nothing. The knights and mercenary captains looked at Johan with respect. Anyone who could scale the walls and capture a castle barehanded would inevitably be respected among those who live by the sword. ¡°Themander?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Marquis Crucho.¡± ¡°Why would that creature, belonging among the beast-folk, climb all the way up here?¡± Ulrike looked disdainful but was not reassured. Marquis Crucho was quite a name among the Emperor¡¯s vassals, famous as amander in the southern Catalian Penins. ¡°How do you think they¡¯lle out?¡± ¡°They might try to negotiate. Of course, it will be greatly disadvantageous.¡± Laughter appeared on the knights¡¯ faces. They knew they were in a favorable position. If they hadn¡¯t captured the castle, they would have been negotiating from a disadvantage. But not now. The other side was in need. ¡°What does the casten think?¡± ¡°. . .If you show mercy, His Majesty will reward you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Ulrike stood up. In her hand was a longsword. ¡°But I don¡¯t need the mercy of Cardirian, what should I do? No, actually, I¡¯m not even sure if that person is capable of showing mercy. Having shed the necks of nobles like that, wouldn¡¯t he cut mine too?¡± ¡°No, no!¡± ¡°Above all, it¡¯s you who should be seeking mercy now, not me. How dare you break the customs of surrender and attack by surprise, and now ask for mercy? Let¡¯s see Cardirian¡¯s mercy!¡± ¡°Your. . . Your©¥¡± With those words, Ulrike beheaded the casten. Blood sttered on Ulrike¡¯s face. She spoke in a rough voice. ¡°Clean this up. Give the head to the Marquis when hees. Tell him what he has done.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Johan took out a handkerchief and handed it to Ulrike. Ulrike looked at Johan with mixed emotions and then wiped her cheek. ¡°So. . . now there¡¯s no casten. Do you think they¡¯ll try to negotiate?¡± ¡°The casten¡¯s rtives are still here, so they might try to use them to get the castle back. They will try to regain the castle by paying a properpensation.¡± ¡°Just ignore it. There¡¯s no reason to listen to such nonsense.¡± ¡°But we can¡¯tpletely ignore it. It will tarnish the honor of the Abner family.¡± Although fights among nobles aremon, killing the casten and upying the castle to make it a fiefdom will cast a wary eye from other nobles nearby. As the Abner family from the west, there¡¯s no rule saying they wouldn¡¯t do the same to the central or northern nobles. ¡°So you¡¯re saying we should return the hard-won castle? Madness! This castle must stay in the hands of the Abner family. It¡¯s a strategic point.¡± ¡°How about stalling for time? No matter whoes to negotiate, demand an absurd amount ofpensation. Meanwhile, we can use the castle as much as we want.¡± Returning the castle is an impossible task, and swallowing it without a word creates a subtly ufortable situation. Ulrike¡¯s retainers heatedly debated various opinions. In this regard, Johan had little to say and just sipped his drink. ¡°?¡± Johan turned his head. Suetlg was gesturing for him toe out from the doorway. ¡°I saw Ulrike-gong beheading someone. Knew it would happen.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it self-inflicted?¡± ¡°Exactly. Deserved to die. But where did that handkerchiefe from? It doesn¡¯t match.¡± ¡°Ivelka gave it to me.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Ivelka?¡± ¡°I told you before. A maid who served in the mansion.¡± ¡°. . .Never mention that name in front of Ulrike-gong!¡± Suetlg was horrified. What madness is this knight getting into? ¡°It¡¯s not cheap, is it? I bought the handkerchief with my own money.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the issue. . . Anyway, didn¡¯t you order to capture all the servants and ves?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°So, while checking, I found one peculiar fellow and called him.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know when you see. Follow me.¡± Johan followed Suetlg outside. The captured servants and ves were trembling in the courtyard. Although the casten was the one whomitted the crime, usually after such conflicts, there was no distinction in who was executed. If Ulrike was in a foul mood, they would all be punished together. Fortunately, Ulrike had no intention of shedding anyone else¡¯s blood, except for the casten¡¯s. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°That young one. Doesn¡¯t he resemble the casten?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure?¡± Johan looked at a young servant with a puzzled expression. The servant had a rather noble face for a servant, but that didn¡¯t necessarily prove nobility. The ent wasmon, and the movements were unrefined. He was not someone raised as a noble from a young age. ¡°Don¡¯t remember the casten¡¯s face?¡± ¡°I remember it faintly. . .¡± ¡°. . .I remember him from his youth. That one indeed resembles the casten.¡± ¡°But his actions are not of a noble, are they?¡± ¡°Could be an unacknowledged illegitimate child. Heard he oddly received the casten¡¯s favor.¡± The fate of unrecognized illegitimate children was often miserable. If parents took care of them, they were very fortunate. Usually, they had to fend for themselves. Worse, they might be targeted by assassins. Infidelity might be tolerated, but producing a child was a different matter. In this respect, it was not unusual for the casten to keep his illegitimate child as a servant. Being a noble¡¯s servant was better than living as a serf or freeman. The problem was. . . ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just a clever servant.¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible. So, will you just kill him? No more trouble then.¡± ¡°Not necessary to go that far. . . Ah.¡± Johan suddenly had a thought. If there were no legitimate heirs, couldn¡¯t an illegitimate child inherit the fiefdom? Chapter 63.2: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 63.2: ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? (??) ¡°Is he really an illegitimate son?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important. The point is, using this as a pretext, the Abner family can avoid criticism.¡± Beheading a guilty casten and returning the castle to his child without any repercussions provided an unquestionable justification. Of course, this was nothing but a deception. The child of the casten would be given no real authority. The Abner family would control the castle and the nearby town. Ulrike looked at Johan with a surprised expression. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°I never thought themander coulde up with such a scheme.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I owe it to the advice of Suetlg-nim.¡± ¡°The counsel of a philosopher is not for everyone, nor is it understood by all who receive it. Yes, a good n. We must do it immediately. Hey! Prepare and dress up the ¡°son¡± of the casten.¡± Whether he was a real illegitimate son or not didn¡¯t matter. If they strongly assert it and it seems usible, then it bes the truth. ???????????? Marquis Crucho felt a suffocating sensation in his chest. ¡°The castle has fallen?¡± ¡°And. . . the son of the casten has seeded the position.¡± ¡°Nonsense! The casten had no children!¡± The casten had no children, only rtives. If the casten died, his brothers should have seeded him. Regardless of Marquis¡¯ anger, a neatly dressed new lord of Sangdarju Castle looked down at them from the castle walls. He was clearly just a boy. ¡°How dare they bring in such a boy after killing the casten and expect such an excuse to work?¡± ¡°The former castenunched a surprise attack while sending a surrender envoy.¡± Marquis Crucho clenched his teeth in anger. The opposition had annoyingly secured a moral high ground. They executed him for viting the customs of surrender and returned the family estate as they didn¡¯t intend to conquer the family. ¡°One cannot arbitrarily change the emperor¡¯s vassal!¡± ¡°Session is the rightful right of a vassal, ording to customaryw, imperialw, lesiasticalw, and thews of the world.¡± ¡°But wasn¡¯t that session forced?¡± ¡°Then file awsuit.¡± The knight, acting as an envoy, responded brazenly. Marquis Crucho had to restrain his desire to draw his sword. Filing awsuit would be futile as they wouldn¡¯tply easily. Knowing it was futile, Marquis Crucho issued an ultimatum. ¡°Open the gates! I must meet the new casten and understand the whole situation.¡± ¡°Are you trying to take a vassal¡¯s rightfulnd by force, like your lord often does?¡± ¡°. . .Watch your mouth. I¡¯m not so weak that I can¡¯t kill one like you!¡± ¡°Try if you can. The walls of Sangdarju are high, and the weather is getting colder. Let¡¯s see what you can do from outside.¡± The envoysughed and went inside. Unable to refute their words, Marquis Crucho despaired. ???????????? ¡°Do you think we should retreat, or should we attack?¡± ¡°Won¡¯t you retreat?¡± ¡°I bet on attacking.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t the opponent said to be an experiencedmander?¡± Ulrike looked at Johan. No matter how she thought about it, he was a unique knight. It seemed like the characteristics of many people werebined in one person. Devising strategies seemed noble or scribe-like, but the aggression and momentum in battle were that of a knight among knights. Yet, for a knight, his blood was too cold. In such situations, no knight would speak of retreating. It wasn¡¯t a matter of high walls or disadvantage. Honor, pride, and face as a knight. . . These were things that flowed deeply in the blood of knights, beyond any cerebral calction. If one were to retreat just because it was disadvantageous, then there would be no reason to be a knight. ¡°Because. . . If it were me, I would have attacked.¡± Ulrike¡¯s words were spot on. That night, Marquis Crucho initiated an attack. It was a desperate, almost iling attack. And that attack did notst even a week. Before a week passed, Marquis Crucho¡¯s army began to withdraw. ???????????? ¡°I¡¯m not thinking of capturing the Marquis.¡± ¡°For that, your eyes are burning too fiercely.¡± Unlike a casten, the Marquis came from a very wealthy family. He was a hostage worth arge ransom from his southern fiefdom. It was the same for Johan and the other knights. They were burning with the desire to target the retreating army of the Marquis. ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it. Overdoing always leads to trouble. I¡¯ve never seen anyone fare well going against the flow of a river.¡± ¡°I understand. Flowing water doesn¡¯t race to the front.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good saying. Where did you hear it?¡± Johan didn¡¯t answer but lifted his spear. The pursuit force was mainlyposed of cavalry. They would quickly follow and bite into Marquis¡¯ army. ¡°Sir Johan, will you lead the front?¡± The knights proposed without needing to discuss who should go first. Stephen looked on enviously. Johan had no connections under Ulrike, nor did he have the backing of a powerful family. Yet, he had gained the recognition of all knights solely through his skill. Is this what a true knight is? Johan, standing at the forefront, drew his sword. A robust cheer erupted from the knights. It was almost time for the hunt. Chapter 64.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 64.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Indeed, Marquis Crucho was an exceptionalmander. The most difficult aspect ofmanding an army was the retreat. The armies of this world were not well-organized. Loyalty was even harder to find. The fact that some mercenaries were famous for their loyalty meant that other mercenaries werecking in this respect. Thus, both mercenaries and soldiers would flee without hesitation if the army¡¯s morale was low, especially since their own lives were at stake. And now. It was rare for an army¡¯s morale to be as low as during a retreat, yet Marquis Crucho¡¯s army was retreating in an orderly manner. ¡°Marquis Crucho is an experiencedmander, so this is to be expected.¡± Upon hearing the report from the scouting knight, Johan nodded. He already knew Marquis Crucho was an outstandingmander from experience. The attack hadsted less than a week, but it was fierce. Thousands of soldiers were throwingdders and shooting arrows. Being able to lead such a total attack with troops gathered from various ces itself proved his capability. However, Marquis Crucho greatly underestimated thebat power of the army led by Ulrike. They were neither tired nor injured. Even after the siege, the soldiers remained almost unharmed. It was unthinkable that they couldn¡¯t hold their position on the walls, especially with Johan there. ¡°I would like to hear your opinions, knights.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the knights¡¯ faces brightened, and they began to offer various suggestions. Suggestions includedunching multiple assaults with a robust cavalry of several hundred to gradually annihte the enemy, and targeting Marquis¡¯s main force directly. Johan gathered their opinions and made a decision. ¡°Let¡¯s follow them at a distance. If the enemy¡¯s morale is low, that alone will cause many soldiers to scatter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a wise decision.¡± Setting a trap under the guise of retreat was not something anyone could do. Pretending to retreat could lead to the disintegration of an army. However, Johan decided to prepare for any contingency. Suetlg had advised the same. ¡®?????????? ??????, ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ?? ?????????????????????????????? ????????????????, ???? ???? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????? ????????. ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ????????????????, ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ ???????????? On the first day, there were dozens. On the second day, there were hundreds. On the third day, the scattering was so widespread it was frightening to Count . ¡°I apologize, Marquis.¡± ¡°No, themander is clever.¡± Marquis Crucho did not feign retreat, but it was true he wasying traps. He intended to rally the remaining elite troops to annihte the pursuers and then turn the morale around with that. However, the enemy only followed closely enough to seize an opportunity, not rushing in. This naturally brought the soldiers¡¯ morale to rock bottom, knowing that knights ready to strike were nearby. Now, it seemed there were less than a thousand left, mostly infantry and too many conscripts. They were those who would copse at a charge led by knights. ¡°We will charge.¡± ¡°No. Stop.¡± When his knights moved to act, Marquis Crucho stopped them. The enemy wasn¡¯t all knights either; except for twenty or thirty, the rest were likely mounted heavy troops. But their number was in the hundreds. Marquis Crucho¡¯s cavalry, even if scraped together, amounted to only dozens. Many knights had fallen during the siege, and mercenaries deserted at night, making it hard to be confident of victory. In this era, knights and cavalry made up the bulk of warfare. Conscripts and mercenaries mostly couldn¡¯t withstand knights. Once the formation broke, it was over. ¡°Who is the knight leading them? A new face. Were such knights in the Abner family?¡± Johan¡¯s name was already a rumor among the Marquis¡¯ camp. Soldiers atop the walls, trembling with fear, had spread the rumor about the mighty knight. Initially, the knights didn¡¯t believe it, but as they were pursued, they couldn¡¯t ignore the rumor. ¡°He¡¯s Knight Johan of the Yeats family. Said to have in a troll in Marcel.¡± ¡°Huh. . . Such a knight existed? A shame not to have recruited him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s young and unrefined. We can win in a direct confrontation.¡± Marquis¡¯ knights proudly dered, as true knights are never lukewarm. ¡°If possible, we should enter Lebuten without fighting. Any sh now would cause great damage.¡± ¡°If we speed up. . .¡± ¡°We¡¯re already losing men at this pace; speeding up will leave even fewer. And the enemy will start attacking.¡± Increasing the retreat speed would only create vulnerabilities, practically inviting an attack. ¡°But Marquis. . . Now is not the time to worry about appearances. If you¡¯re captured, the situation worsens significantly.¡± ¡°I agree. You should escape first, Marquis.¡± ¡°What are you saying? You mean to leave the army behind and flee. . .?¡± Marquis Crucho asked in disbelief, but his knights were serious. ¡°I¡¯ll stay andmand. Escape tonight with the other knights, Marquis.¡± Usually, Marquis Crucho would have rebuked them, but not now. The dilemma was too great. If he continued leading the army, they could reach Lebuten in days. Many dispersed mercenaries would likely join there for a regroup. But if the army crumbled further. . . Even Marquis might not escape. With less than dozens left, no tricks would work. To escape first, it had to be now, while over a thousand decoys diverted attention. ¡°. . .Understood. Let me know once you¡¯ve decided.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Chapter 64.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 64.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) As night fell, both sides rested. However, while one side restedfortably, the other trembled with anxiety. Johan approached the enemy camp with about a dozen men. The watchmens screams were visible in the light of their torches. You sons of b*tches! Better to attack! If youre going toe, do it like a knight, what are you doing! The weary mercenaries struggled, but Johan ignored them. To torment the opponent without fighting. Johan could do such things as much as he wanted. The knights admired him for this. If Johan had been a dishonorable mercenary, they would have scorned such tricks as petty. But Johan was already a knight who had proven his honor. This was an amazing stratagem. . . . .? Johan, harassing the enemy with Karamaf, sensed something odd. Having done this for days, he felt a sense of unease. Torches and people moving in the darkness. Whats changed? ! Could it be. . . Johan shuddered at the thought that came to mind. But it seemed highly probable. Lebuten wasnt far. The Marquis could have just slipped away. Prepare to charge! ! Ready, sir! Though only about a dozen, they charged towards a camp of nearly a thousand, but the knights stood unfazed behind Johan. Charge! Johan realized it was time again to surrender to instinct rather than reason. His instinct now was to ransack the enemy camp with his knights. Right now! Charge! Its an attack!!! Attack!! Soldiers screamed and scattered in all directions. The days of harassment had paid off. Their formation was barely in ce. Thudding hooves echoed through the camp, and the knights shouts rattled eardrums. They relentlessly struck down mercenaries d only in light garments. Dont scatter, to the center! Find the Marquis! Johan was cautious, but no organized counterattack came. Instead, soldiers scattered like frightened rabbits. No one thought this assault was just a dozen men. They believed it was a total attack by those who had been pursuing them for days. Sir! Found it! The Marquis tent was easy to spot even in the dark. It was thergest and had many torches. Arriving at it without counterattack left Johan feeling empty. Clearly, the adversary had fled. Instead, another figure on horseback appeared. I am Senephus of the Leseji family! State your name, adversary! Johan of the Yeats family. Where did the Marquis go? Think Id reveal that? Dont underestimate me just because Im alone. I can take on hundreds by myself! Johan gripped his weapon tightly. There was no point in detaining a knight for questioning in such a critical situation. The opponent wouldnt know the exact way either. ? They were about a dozen, excluding the main force behind. It was fortunate the enemy didnt know. Otherwise, who knows what chaos would have ensued. Ive heard of your exploits among the mercenaries. Lets see if you can show the same skill in front of a real knight! Senephus charged. In the darkness, his spear tip, faintly glimmering, aimed for Johans vital spot. ! With a heavy sound, Senephus fell off his horse. Johan shouted without even looking back. The Marquis has fled! Head to the main force and order a full attack. We will pursue the Marquis! Yes!! While the cavalry behind thempletely crushed the remaining enemies, Johan and his knights raced forward. Karamaf. You must y a key role! ! Karamaf, seemingly able to see the path even in the darkness, ran without hesitation. Johan followed, eyeing the front intently. Although the enemy had started first, the gap wasnt too wide. Moreover, the enemy had to be slower than them. Nobles move with their servants and ves in tow, after all. . . Johans pursuit had also reached the ears of his target. The sound spread far in the darkness. Did you not hear the sound of a horse neighing just now? What sound? Are you tired, sir? No. Just now. . . ! The other knights had clearly heard it too. The sound of a horses neighing from a distance. The pursuit team ising! H-How so soon! Could the mercenaries have betrayed us? Otherwise, how could they be here so quickly. . .! Lets fight back! The numbers are too uneven! We must create confusion. Take the Marquis away! The rest of us will scatter and deceive them! Marquis Crucho did not hesitate for long. Having already retreated, there was no turning back. I express my respect for the knights loyalty. Lets meet in Lebuten! Not so, Marquis! Marquis left immediately. The knights dispersed and began to change direction one after another. The servants and ves remained in ce. They had no horses to escape on. The knights division was soon known to Johans group. Servants and ves trembling in surrender, and horse hooves scattering in all directions. Karamaf also growled and tilted its head in confusion. . . .Damn. Do we have to leave it to luck here? God will take care of us, sir. The knights, although not entirely believing, seemed intoxicated with victory. How could they have shattered the enemy camp and chased after Marquis without divine care? Alright. Lets go! If God is watching over us, we might catch Marquis! Of course, that was not the case. Johan found only five knights in the direction he chased. None looked like Marquis. Tsk. Those around Johan also showed disappointment. Knights had value, but they were mere substitutes for the real target. Unaware of such materialistic thoughts, Marquis knights steeled their resolve. I am Marco of the Algaro family. Reveal your identity! Johan casually wielded his weapon, ready to knock down anyone. They had the numerical advantage. Sir! Why? Do you want to confront him? That man is the son of the Marquis! Johan was puzzled by the knights words. Isnt he from the Algaro family? Hes a b*stard son. In cases of noble b*stards, it wasmon to send them to other families. It was the best scenario for b*stards to still receive noble treatment. Is he a favored one like Stephen? Not really. I see. Johan was disappointed. If that were the case, he wouldnt have been brought to the battlefield like this. As Johan and the knight murmured, Marco shouted out. Reveal your identity! Johan of the Yeats family. With those words, Johan charged. He intended to capture these knights since Marquis seemed to have escaped. Chapter 65.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 65.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) As Johan charged, Marco leaned back and drew his bow, pulling the string taut. ! Knights from the Holy Empire or Ens Kingdom were not adept with the bow. Although they learned archery as a part of their martial skills, they did not wield it as proficiently as other weapons. In this regard, the sight of the knight drawing a bow clearly indicated his origin from Catalia. ! With a sharp sound, a heavy impact was felt on the arm. Johan easily blocked it. Unless the situation was chaotic, it was possible to read the opponents movements and intercept the arrow. Marco then discarded the bow and drew his sword. However, this action was meaningless to Johan. With a single strike, Johan sent the sword flying and grabbed the knights throat, throwing him off his horse. ! Subduing the knight in one go, the tension among the other knights was palpable. Will you surrender? As a knight, how can I surrender without a fight! In that case. Johan had anticipated such a response. He proceeded to knock down all the remaining knights. Foolishly, the knights attempted to cross weapons with Johan. Once they engaged, Johans immense strength caused them to lose their bnce. Caught off guard by the unexpected impact, all the knights were unseated in a ridiculous manner. Afterwards, they became easy prey for the knights waiting in the wings. Defeated so cleanly that no excuses could be made, the knights acknowledged their defeat and surrendered. Marquis barely escaped with his life and fled to the city, while Ulrikes army returned with numerous spoils of war. As the enemys army disappeared, Ulrike leisurely withdrew her forces. Leaving behind a new casten and a few who would control him, along with a garrison to guard the castle, was sufficient. Congrattions on the great victory. The Marquis fled dishonorably. . . Dont worry about not capturing the Marquis. The victory is significant enough without that. Ulrike praised everyone with a satisfied voice. It was regrettable that they couldnt capture Marquis Crucho, but theplete destruction of his army was an unexpected achievement. Johan led the pursuit personally, which had raised some expectations, but such a result was beyond anticipation. . The disappearance of the army led by Marquis Crucho was one thing, but the impact of this victory on the surroundings was even greater. The other feudal lords of the Empire would surely make their judgments upon seeing the strength and influence of the Abner family. After meeting Countess Abner and discussing rewards, everyone can rest easy. At Ulrikes words, everyone showed expressions mixed with anticipation. War was heaven for the victors, starting with the wages and including the division of spoils obtained in battle. Youve worked hard. Have you brought the knights? One of them ims to be Marquis illegitimate child. Will he fetch a good ransom? Hmm, maybe not. Perhaps the other knights might be more valuable. Selling just their armors and weapons should cover the ransom. Johan clicked his tongue at Suetlgs words. I thought he might be favored like Stephen. . . Its rare for an illegitimate child to receive such treatment. What should we do if we cant get a ransom for him? Handle it as you see fit. Keep him imprisoned, release him, entrust him to another noble. . . Executing seems a bit much. Anyway, dont expect too much for a ransom. Knights often carry their wealth on their bodies. . . Besides, youve gained a lot from this war already, havent you? Suetlg looked around. The camp was bustling, possibly due to the victors return. The constant arrival of merchants and theing and going of travelers were evident. Before springes, you should rest and prepare for the next season. I might be an uninterested wizard, but youre a young and ambitious knight. . . Im not that ambitious. Dont talk nonsense. Have you made any ns? At Suetlgs words, Johan nodded. From the previous campaign to this war, Johan had earned a considerable fortune due to his victories. The ransoms of Baron and Stephen, the goods Doris had, the bounty for rogue subjugation and troll blood, the tax rights of the town, and rewards from the siege. . . Adding all this up, the total came close to a thousand Empire gold coins. He might not get all of it at once, but it was almost like having the annual ie of a feudal lord, casten, or a Baron in one go. Thergest part was, of course, the ransoms of Baron and Stephen, earning hundreds of gold coins at once. Inparison, the troll blood and rewards seemed minor. The towns tax rights were significant but had clear limits, being a small town. It was clear why knights were so eager for war. Ransom! Wars where ransom could be legally extracted were opportunities for social advancement and business. I did want to build a castle like the Sangdarju or Abner families. A castle? That money is nowhere near enough. Suetlg was incredulous at such an absurd idea. Building a proper stone castle would take years and about ten times more gold. What would be the point of building one? I know. And it seems pointless anyway. If a castle was really needed, it might be different, but the ce Johan was due to receive didnt require one. Building a castle there would be excessive. You could build arge mansion instead. If its made of wood, it would be much cheaper and faster. Suetlg cautiously opened his mouth, wondering if his words were too harsh. What was the point of fighting as a knight? For fame, obviously. It would be a grave insult for a young and spirited knight to live in a small house after rising in status by receiving a fiefdom. No, not really. But Suetlg still didnt understand Johan. Johan didnt care much about such things. Building a mansion in his fiefdom to show off his wealth and power was what other nobles and knights dreamed of, not Johan. His wish to build a castle was simply to withstand enemies if attacked. He abandoned the idea, thinking it better to give up the town than fortify it with walls. Really not interested? I never nned to stay long in the town anyway. What good woulde from pioneering a town that barely produces a dozen gold coins a year? And Johan alsocked confidence in that area. It would be better to wander around and earn gold during that time. So, what I thought was to hire more mercenaries. Chapter 65.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 65.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Now that the war is over, a lot of mercenaries will likely leave. Johan nned to choose well-armed ones among them to hire. It would be even better if they were cavalry. Thats. . . not a bad idea. Suetlg was honestly impressed with Johans words. The idea wasnt incredibly genius or innovative, but it was remarkable toe up with such a thought in this situation. While other knights might be excited to just throw around gold, Johan was unshaken and already preparing for the next task. The situation in the Empire was bing increasingly chaotic, and since Johan was already involved, the more soldiers, the better. . Suetlg had been worried that Johan might be arrogant or make mistakes due to his obsession with gold. It seems he had be quite close to this young knight. But seeing Johan, he realized that such worries were unnecessary. The only worry is, after going to the trouble of hiring mercenaries, if theres no one to call them. . . That shouldnt be a concern. Suetlg asserted. The achievements of this siege would spread faster than the troll extermination in Marcel. The problem was under what pretense to call them, not theck of people to call. It seems the delegation approaching is from Count Jarpens house. They must be busy preparing for marriage. Thanks to our victory, it can be done with smiling faces. Suetlg hesitated in his speech. It seemed that Count Jarpens house was quite interested in Johan. What would they think of this expedition? The members of the diplomatic delegation were initially overwhelmed by the abundance of news, then became confused in the middle, and eventually epted it. Are you joining under the Abner family?! Well, I am making a vassge contract. Essentially, the rtionship between a vassal and a monarch was business-oriented. Loyalty in exchange for a piece ofnd without expecting to risk ones life was not anticipated. The only obligation of a vassal was to serve for a certain period. However, regardless of that, the perception from the outside was different. Bing a vassal essentially meant siding with the Abner family of the West. How should we handle this matter. . . The members of the Jarpen family murmured among themselves. Johan asked, appearing puzzled. Is there a problem? Well. . . as you know, the Count intended to ask Sir Johan for the Knight Initiation Ceremony, right? Yes. I kept quiet until the details were finalized, but now that I have a definitive answer, I can tell you. Its Duke Brduhe. ! Duke Brduhe. Even Johan, who had been in a remote vige, knew the name of this great feudal lord. One of the Empires Twelve Electors and the ruler of a significant territory in the southeast of the Empire. Receiving the Knight Initiation Ceremony directly from Duke Brduhe held immense significance. Being knighted by one of the Twelve Electors meant that even if Johan went alone to the Emperors fiefdom, he would have enough influence to deter and hesitate any adversary. Amidst his confusion, Johan collected his thoughts and asked. Isnt Count Jarpen quite friendly with the Ens Kingdom? Ah. . . I see what you mean. Its because of the Abner family. The Count has some rtions with them, but they are not that close. What Count Jarpen trusted was Duke Brduhe. Johan pondered. If he epted the fiefdom as it was, the chance of receiving Duke Brduhes Knight Initiation Ceremony might slip away. Those under the Duke would likely oppose it. , , . Having a consistent source of ie, even if small, was crucial. As Johan pondered, Suetlg, who was listening, spoke up. Do you want both? Of course, wouldnt I want both? If you had been interested in unting your status as a feudal lord, you wouldnt have said that. . . but if its too much of a burden, just ept the rights. If you dont make a vassge contract, the Duke wont have anything to say about it. . . .! Upon reflection, Johan realized that managing and ruling over the townspeople held no real meaning for him. He wasnt the type to enjoy ordering people around for various tasks. Its a good solution, but. . . would Ulrike-gong allow it? Of course, Ulrike-gong might be dissatisfied. But theres no such thing as absolute in this world. Everything changes depending on how you talk and persuade. Although Suetlg said this, Johan found it hard to believe. From Ulrikes perspective, it seemed like a losing deal. Not making a vassge contract meant not receiving the due service from a subject. It would only weaken an already tenuous contractual rtionship. I dont think it will work. . . Well, since youre the one who wants both, shouldnt you be the one to figure it out? Persuade Ulrike-gong. Even without a vassge contract, promise loyalty with the honor of a knight. . . . . . . Johan looked dubious. He didnt think Ulrike, who was not an *sshole, would believe such superficial words. Give it a try, Sir Johan. Whats there to lose? Right, Sir Johan. However, Count Jarpen and his people seemed to think this was the only chance, urging Johan on. They wanted to ensure he received an appointment from the Duke by any means. Alright, Ill give it a try. But dont get your hopes up too high. . . The heir is something to be proud of. Everyone nodded at Countess Abners words. The achievements established by Ulrike were indeed worthy of such remarks. Sir Gerdolf. I have heard of the achievements you have established. Thank you. I am considering sending you to Sangdarju Castle for an assignment Inno smiled contentedly. There had been a sense of fulfillment in following Johan along with Gerdolf. Sangdarju Castle, being a newly conquered fiefdom, required many talents. Bing one of them was both an honor and a profitable opportunity. I apologize. Is that so? If you dislike it, theres nothing to be done. Innos eyes widened in surprise. To decline such an offer?! Chapter 66.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 66.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) It was embarrassing, but what was said couldnt be taken back. Countess Abner was not generous enough to tolerate an interruption at this moment. Under Countess Abner, there were knights eager for opportunities, and Gerdolf was just one of them. Inno fidgeted nervously with his fingers, but Countess Abner scoffed inwardly. . Everyone thought simrly upon seeing Inno and Gerdolf. They thought of a foolish son being looked after by his father. However, Countess Abners thoughts were slightly different. Inno was timid, greedy, and narrow-minded. He was not a knight fit for great responsibilities. Gerdolf seemed better byparison. On the surface, he might seem foolish, but his persistence and straightforwardness were virtues not easily found. Seeing Gerdolf, it seemed likely he would follow a knight named Johan. Countess Abner decided to allow this generously. After all, she owed Johan. With this victory, envoys are already arriving. Theyre probably trying to align with us once the Emperor dies. At Countess Abners words, everyones face lit up with smiles. A loser of the west and a great feudal lord. This was the position the Abner family was aiming for. Lets dedicate this victory to the gods. May the glory of the gods be eternal in our family. May the glory of God be eternal to the family! Countess Abner called out a few knights who had distinguished themselves and awarded them with prizes, and then dismissed the people. Now only Ulrike was left. You worked hard. It was just something that had to be done. No need to be too humble. It was a great victory, even if the situation was favorable. The countess had expected to capture the castle after a tedious siege, but the marquiss intervention and defeat were all unexpected. It would be better to rest until the daughter of the Jarpen family arrives. If the person to be married keeps running around, the Jarpen family will be ufortable. I will do that. You can take your time finding a child. You can adopt a suitable man from our family or bring one from somewhere. I wont think about it for a while because my body is getting heavy. Thats right. Youre not the type to enjoy yourself by making lovers. Be sure to warn the daughter of the Jarpen family as well. It is free to enjoy, but if you give birth to a child outside, that child will not be able to enter the family. Of course I know that much, dont I? Knowing and remembering are different. Youll know when you get married too. Ulrike was annoyed by Countess Abners mocking words. What a way to talk like shes been married a few times. Only the person who inherited the blood of the Abner family can continue the family name. Thats all you need to remember. Ill congratte you on your happy marriage in advance, as Ill be busy in the future. Thank you. And thank you for forgiving Stephen. I didnt forgive him. Thank you for not killing him. Im proud of you. . . .Yes. Ulrike nodded and stepped back outside. Conversations with the Countess always evoked conflicting,plex emotions. As she cleared her head and stepped outside, she suddenly thought of Johan. Could he be nning to explore the town right now? Do you think Im going to ept that proposal? Im sorry. Im prepared to ept your refusal. Upon hearing Johans words, Ulrike fell deep in thought. Surprisingly, she was not angry, even though she was on the verge of losing something of hers. Why? What? Oh, no. Sorry. I was just talking to myself. Honestly, it was a situation Ulrike had to acknowledge as well. Unless Johan was going to spend his life as a rural feudal lord, it was definitely better to receive the appointment from Duke Brduhe if he intended to keep fighting and moving forward. It wasnt a visible asset. However, it would prove to be immensely powerful in the fights and life ahead. If he refused here, Johan would give up the fiefdom and leave. In the end, there was only one decision to make. Whether Ulrike would just let him go or do something believing in the distant future. . . .Okay. Ill arrange all the rights of Heincut and the neighboring town and give them to the duke. ?!?! Johan was greatly surprised. ? I might not be a feudal lord, but its practically the same. Heincut currently has no administrator, but if we send one from the neighboring town, it wont be much different. Is that okay? . . . . . . As Johan looked bewildered, Ulrike felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. Why? Thank you. Consider this town a payment for your loyalty. You are an honorable knight, arent you? . . . . . . Johan might not have been particrly honorable, but he wasnt tactless enough to say that now. Johan nodded his head. Chapter 66.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 66.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Its done. Really?! It seems that Ulrike-gong also has a broad perspective. To yield like this for a young knight. . .! The people of Count Jarpens house said so, but Suetlg shook his head no. Being still young, his view of the world was soft and malleable. Could it be? Thats good. Can we now depart for the Dukes territory? Hmm. . . Johan nodded his head. If he could receive the appointment, there was no need to wait long. It was enough to depart immediately with a few people from Count Jarpens house and the letters. Wait. Dont we have to pass through the southern part of the Empire? Should we hire more soldiers? From what hes heard, the southern part of the Empire was a fierce situation between the Emperors faction and a coalition of rebellious feudal lords. For Johan, there was no choice but to be vignt. No need to worry about that. They wont fight much in this winter, and if theres an army, just avoid it. You can go by visiting cities unrted to the Emperor. And honestly, its unlikely theylle after you alone. At Suetlgs words, Johan felt slightly embarrassed. It was certainly true. To the nobles of the Emperors faction, Johan was just a knight not worth paying attention to. They wont chase him even if he passes through the south. He just had to pass quietly. If there are many, it will draw more attention. About a few dozen skilled and loyal people will be enough. The mercenary captains had already somewhat discussed this. When Johan expressed his intention to be the new employer, the mercenaries were overjoyed. They had to find a new master by next year. For them, a knight like Johan was a wee change, not an ipetent employer. It was already a legend among them that he had demolished the enemy camp with just a dozen knights. Ill prepare by selecting well-armed riders. Will youe with us, Suetlg-nim? That was my n. Oh. Whats with that reaction. . . I owe a debt, so I should do at least that much. I thought it was all over with the magical fog. If it ends just because you think so, how easy would that be. Thats why promises are scary. In return, move along the Ipal River when we go along the south. I need to recover some secrets. Even for a wizard like Suetlg, summoning fog was no easy task. He needed to recover his strength near the river for a while. And it would be good to take Stephen with us. Yes? Hes from the Abner family. Its a convenient name to use wherever you go. Ah. . . Johan nodded his head. Indeed, the lineage Stephen possessed would serve as a convenient proof of identity wherever they went. I thought all the problems were resolved, but an unexpected issue caught Johan by the ankle. It was Marco and the four knights he had caught before. I understand the family cant pay the ransom. Ill release the knights since weve taken their weapons. When a knight is defeated, their equipment bes the property of the victor, and they must pay a customary ransom to be released. However, Marco and the four knights stated that their families were too humble to afford the ransom. Johan wanted to release them as punishing them seemed unnecessary and there was no reason to keep them captive, but. . . Thats not possible. Then what do you propose? I will follow you and earn the ransom. Please wait until then. . . . . . . Johan thought this was some *bullsh*t talk, but the others around didnt seem surprised. It was a decision that made sense, considering a knights honor and dignity. If the captor releases a knight without a ransom, how would the knight maintain their dignity? Paying the ransom proudly was the way to uphold a knights honor. You want to work while following me? Yes. It wasnt a bad idea. Five knights would be good in a fight. The problem was. . . ? Cautious by nature, Johan was a bit uneasy about having the Marquiss illegitimate son in the group, not knowing what he might do. Sir Marco, you honor your name. Sir Johan. It sounds like a fair proposition. But the others showed no concern. The fact that he was the Marquiss illegitimate son seemed to bother no one. Johan felt a gap in this regard. ? But Johan already knew. Saying this would only lead others to respond, ? or . Then, I will ept your loyalty until the ransom is gathered. We will follow your orders until then. And so, the group was formed. Dozens of mercenaries escorting a member of Countess Abners family and the Marquis Cruchos illegitimate son, a strange mix in the group. And Gerdolf too. . . . . . ? Gerdolf, stark naked, suddenly appeared before the group departed, stating his wish to join. Johan was slightly surprised but nodded. Gerdolf seemed more trustworthy than the other questionable knights. But did you tell Sir Inno? Its fine. . . .You did tell him, right? Its fine. ?? When Johan heard that Marco was an illegitimate son of the Marquis family, he expected a character like Stephen. However, Marco was polite and cautious. He asked for permission when going on reconnaissance and took the lead with other knights in establishing the fiefdom. Johan was very surprised by this behavior. He asked Suetlg, That knight, hes more polite than I thought? . . .Let me ask the opposite, what kind of personality did you expect? Arrogant and impudent. . . Sometimes you say really strange things. How would he have survived so far if an illegitimate child had such a character? Indeed. Illegitimate children had to live humbly. Those who were arrogant and unruly did not live long. , . Stephen, unaware that Johan was cursing him, was mingling and chatting among the mercenaries and ves. Surprisingly, he fit in well in such settings. Sir, thank you for returning the weapon. How can a knight fight without a weapon? Johan responded simply to Marcos gratitude. He had taken the knights equipment, but Johan was not cruel enough to make them fight unarmed. You handle the bow, do they often use it in the south? We use it more often than Empire knights, but not that frequently. Marco spoke modestly. The bow was a good weapon, but not highly preferred among knights. A knight should charge into enemy lines on horseback, not just stand back and shoot arrows. Actually, I continue to use it because Im ustomed to it from my youth, but I frequently use other weapons as well. Marco exined, not wanting to be misunderstood as someone who only knew how to use a bow. However, Johan was not the type to fuss over such things. Could you teach me a bit about the bow? Really? Johan had learned from hunter Joseph, but he saw no harm in learning more, especially since their styles would differ. Marco seemed pleased at a knight like Johan asking him to teach archery, showing a slightly excited expression. ? Johan suddenly felt sorry for Marco. People who had simr childhoods could recognize each other. Marco, like Johan, must have been very observant and grown up significantly. Probably even more so than Johan. . . Your stance is good. Youve practiced a lot. I thought you would handle the bow well, given your strength. You could use a stronger bow. . . oh, I dont have one to offer. . . , . Johan lightly released the bowstring. The arrow flew heavily and embedded in a tree. It wasnt bad, considering he hadnt shot in a while. It wouldnt hurt to train the others as well. The mercenaries should have crossbows, right? A crossbow is a crossbow, and a bow is a bow. Chapter 67.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 67.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) The ballista had good prating power but was quite slow to reloadpared to a bow. Yet, it was frequently used due to its ease of use. It took far less time to master than a bow. But it wouldnt hurt to learn the bow as well. Groups like Johans, which moved around in small numbers, benefited from having a variety of skills. Johan called Gerdolf, who was swinging his sword in the distance. Gerdolf. Stop swinging your sword ande try shooting a bow. Gerdolf, though reluctant, came over withoutining and took the bow. This was one of Gerdolfs strengths. Practicing with the bow? Suetlg-nim. Are you alright? Yes. I feel magical energy from that bow. At Suetlgs words, Marco blushed and replied. Yes. My master who gave me this said that as a knight, one must be honorable to pierce the target urately. . It seems to be made from winter-cut vermilion wood mixed with alchemical ingredients Im not familiar with. Quite a well-crafted piece. . . Suetlg was intrigued but showed no further curiosity. The mystery of the arrow flying urately with more honor was not of interest to Suetlg. Natural talent is essential for outstanding archers, but can it be taught? Better to shoot a bow than do nothing, right? Well, thats true too. Johan asked the mercenaries if they could shoot a bow. Only two or three knew how. Khan, did you use a bow too? Learned it from my oldman when I was young. For secretly hunting wild animals. Goran and Khan were mercenaries who had joined the group unexpectedly, thanks to Johans sudden invitation during a restful moment. ? . . . . . ? , ? . ? , . . . . ???? Johans decision to take them to Duke Brduhes domain was unexpected, especially considering there were more experienced soldiers avable. , ? . . . ? . ? Goran was slightly worried, but the anticipated conflict did not ur. Johans selected mercenaries were all tight-lipped and loyal, not the type to belittle or quarrel with unfamiliar faces. While the mercenaries and knights were practicing with bows, Suetlg spoke up. Anyway, I feel somewhat guilty. We could have traveled morefortably. Noble travels usually followed ancient Empire roads or at least connected towns and cities. There was no need for nobles to camp outdoors. However, the current party was moving along a river, necessitating camping outdoors for a few days. Its not a problem. Wizard-nim. The knights spoke as if it didnt bother them. Unless they were high-ranking nobles, all of them were knights from poor families. They were very ustomed to sleeping outdoors, exposed to the dew. This was even more true for mercenaries. . . What are you doing?! ? The group was puzzled by the sight of a person running towards them, their face flushed with anger. Since the person was alone and without any significant armament, none of them were tense. Do you know where you are?! Isnt this thend of the Balpa family? The gamekeeper flinched at Johans response, which was delivered without a change in expression. From his ent, it seemed he might be a noble. E-Excuse me, but where are you from? From the Jarpen family. And this person is of the bloodline of the Abner family. Im so sorry! This lowly one hasmitted a crime worthy of death! The gamekeeper prostrated himself. He had thought these rowdy mercenaries, shooting their bows, were poaching in the lords forest. Why are such esteemed individuals here. . .? Would a knight seekfort? Marco answered on their behalf. The other knights nodded in agreement. I will guide you to the lord! The knights looked troubled. Rejecting such an offer could be seen as an insult. Suetlg said it was fine. Its not necessary to stay by the river. Moving to a morefortable location to receive hospitality doesnt seem bad after weve been here long enough. Chapter 67.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 67.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Do you know much about the Balpa family? No. All I know is that theyre a minor house with just a feudal lord title. Compared to the Abner or Jarpen families, they are quite modest. It was a small house simr to Johans Aites family. Still, their fiefdom seemed to be in a slightly better condition. Its only natural to want to treat someone well when you hear the names Abner or Jarpen. Treating guests well was both a duty and an honor for the nobility, especially if the guests were of high status. Of course, with that hospitality often came a few favors in return. I just hope I dont end up owing any favors. . . Why? It would be the people of Abner or Jarpen whod be in trouble, not you. At Suetlgs words, Johan realized something. He thought about it and realized he was not in any trouble here. He could just rx and enjoy himself. ! Johan shifted his mindset from being the leader of the group to simply enjoying the moment. The feudal lords manor wasnt veryrge, but it was cozy and warm, and the Balpa familys lord was a cheerful dwarf. Short with a lively voice, heughed and celebrated their victory. To defeat the Marquiss army! That Marquis Cruchos army. Surely the Abner family is under divine protection! Hahahaha! . . . . . . Marco and the other knights seated there didnt know how to react and were sweating nervously. . . . Actually, Sir Johan here yed a major role in that battle. He was at the forefront, defeating the knights of the Marquis. ! The feudal lord was surprised upon hearing this. He knew the names of the Abner and Jarpen families, but Johans name was new to him. But people from the Jarpen family wouldnt lie. Surprised, the lord asked, To aplish such feats at your age is truly remarkable. You must be blessed by the gods. If only my children could achieve half as much. . . Are your children knights? Yes. From the lords response, it seemed his second and third children were knights. The first child had to continue the family line, so the second and subsequent children had to find their own paths. The two chose to be knights rather than scribes or priests. Could they perhaps serve as knights in the Abner family? Pff. Stephen, who was sipping a fine beer, choked. Though a child of the family, the rights varied from one house to another. And Stephen wasnt very prominent in his house. A rmendation from him here would have made Ulrike very happy. I. . . Im sorry. I dont have such authority. . . Thats unfortunate. Cant be helped, I suppose. The lord didnt seem to have been seriously expecting a positive response. When Stephen humbly declined, the lord seemed to take a liking to his modesty. It was unusual for an Abner family member to be so humble. . Karamaf, who had been gnawing on a chunk of meat in a corner, suddenly raised his head and growled menacingly, causing the servants to step back in rm. Whats the matter? Why is he acting like that? Johan was also puzzled. They checked just in case, but the feudal lord had not ambushed the soldiers or done anything like that. (Suetlg scolded for having unnecessary suspicions) Is there a monster roaming around the feudal lords estate? This wolf wouldnt act like this without a reason. . . . . . . For a moment, the face of the feudal lord darkened. But it soon returned to normal. The feudal lord, waving his hand, said, What are you saying? If that were the case, all the serfs would have run away. True, its rare for monsters toe close to a town where people live. After that, Karamaf didnt bark anymore. Johan thoroughly enjoyed the meal favored by the dwarves. The pork sausage made by removing the tendons was delicious, and the cabbage cooked with oil and wine was also good. , . There was certainly an old-fashioned uniqueness, different from what he had eaten elsewhere. The meal ended pleasantly, except for the feudal lord subtly suggesting a marriage with a rtive to Stephen. Are you sleeping? No, I am not. I thought so. nning a night walk? Yes. Lets go together. Suetlg was someone who couldnt overlook a mystery. And Johan was more wary than curious. If Karamaf barked, there must be a reason worth checking out. Do you think the feudal lord has some ulterior motive? It doesnt seem so. The beer tasted good. . . .Im speaking seriously. So am I. The beer seemed home-brewed by the family, too rough and unrefined for a dwarf with a nasty temper. Suetlg could read many things from water. Johan was amazed. Reading a person through the taste of beer. , . Here, take this silver-ted longsword, just in case. The monsters that appear at night are mostly evil. My ves dont react as sharply as you, so be careful. Karamaf is with me, so its fine. Suetlgs ves were skilled in swordsmanship but somewhat blunt in instinct due to some aspects of their personality being muted. Should we call the other knights? The more we are, the more likely well be noticed. Its not a big issue if were caught, but its embarrassing, so keep your voice down. If its a monster. . . I hope its useful. ? For experiments. The rarer the materials, the better. Really. . . arent you too rxed? Johan hade out to check preemptively for an attack, but Suetlg had other thoughts. Monsters found across the Empire were a secret among wizards. Full of mysteries and secrets. If we find something useful, Ill definitely share with you, so do search. Thank you. I will search diligently. Johan remembered his time in his former fiefdom. Roaming quiet towns at night. It was different then. . . Why didnt the feudal lord tell us? Your turn to guess. Maybe its about saving face. Good reason. Especially embarrassing in front of a renowned western feudal family, not being able to deal with a monster. But. . . its still strange. Why not ask for help on such an asion? Suetlg nodded. Johan was seeing it right. It was more beneficial to ask for help when such knights were present. So, your conclusion? Maybe the feudal lord is involved in the issue. Sometimes. . . not just sometimes, often I think. You would have done well as a scribe. Why didnt you go to college, even if not a priest? Thank you for thepliment. Unlike other knights, Johan could reason logically. To Suetlg, it was merely fascinating. Suddenly, the air turned cold, a different chill from winters. Karamaf started scratching the ground. Johan quickly came to his senses and looked ahead. With glowing blue eyes, a knight stood in front of them. The chainmail was torn, and the attached metal tes were shattered, almost like a corpse. But the intimidation it radiated was more substantial and unpleasant than a living knight. Suetlg eximed in astonishment. Death Knight. . .! When a person dies harboring intense resentment, they be undead. And a knight, being stronger than an ordinary person, can harbor even more intense resentment in death. Such a knight, unable to shake off their attachments, wandering as an undead, was called a Death Knight. A Death Knight bringing death to the living. Suetlg instinctively checked the position of the moon. Death Knights couldnt roam once the sun rose. It came out too early! Could the magic he currently possessed be enough to defeat this Death Knight? Meanwhile, Johan carefully observed the knights ears. Fortunately, it wasnt an elf. Thought it was a Karamaf. Since it wasnt far from the Dead Forest, where Karamaf died, he was honestly a bit startled. But if it wasnt, it didnt matter. Death Knight? After all, it had a physical form. Wouldnt it break apart if beaten enough! -. . . -. . . ?!?! Chapter 68: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 68: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Do not attack! Suetlg urgently eximed upon seeing the Death Knight speak. Fortunately, it seemed this undead was not one to attack just anyone. He clearly had a specific purpose. , , . . .! . . . - ? ! Johan realized the situation had beplicated. A townsman could have sincerely answered, . But what about Johan? He instinctively felt it. This Death Knight would detect a lie. Johan sighed deeply and picked up his mace and shield. If youre a knight, figure it out with your strength. ! -! ! What are you doing?! Suetlg eximed in shock. Even with boiling blood, it was audacious to pick a fight with a Death Knight! Is there anything to be cautious about when dealing with him? Do not touch his weapon! The necromantic poison is so potent it rots flesh and crumbles bones! The Death Knight lunged, his swordsmanship from life ingrained in his movements. ! The rusted longsword shed with the shield. Despite being damaged, the weapon exerted immense pressure. A ck trace, writhing as if alive, etched itself onto the shield amidst the hissing sound. ! Johans shield was no ordinary one. Although a heater shield in shape, its material was unique. Johans shield was made by melting metal in its entirety. It was rare to use solid metal for shields. Thick wood was sufficient for defense, and metal made them too heavy. No matter how sturdy, if the bearer tired quickly, it was pointless. But for Johan, such weight was insignificant. Thats why he chose a metal shield when receiving one from Count Jarpen. That choice was now saving his life. , . The Death Knight attacked relentlessly. If he were alive, he would have stopped for breath and fatigue, but the undead knight had no such limitations. The onught continued. But a single counterattack was enough. Blocking with his shield and gathering strength, Johan fiercely targeted the knights nk. The mace struck like a battering ram. ! With a terrifying sound, the knight was flung aside. Are you alright?! Are you addressing me, or him? Obviously you! Im fine. Though the shields surface was ruined, it remained intact. Unfortunately, it seemed the Death Knight was simrly undeterred. Any normal person would have been shattered, yet he attempted to rise again. What does Karamaf have to do with you? -. . . . Who are you? . . . . Your family name? . As they conversed, the Death Knight stood and armed himself. Suetlg shouted to the knight. The dead should return to the realm of the dead. What lingering attachment do you have to torment the living? -. I swear on the Ipal River, I do not know his whereabouts! . . . ? Instead of answering, Johan returned the mace. The Death Knight was struck and flew backwards again. Suetlg eximed in astonishment. What are you doing?! Its not enough to unleash his stupidity! Suetlg-nim. ? Karamaf has been dead for a long time. . . .That sword was Karamafs sword?! No wonder. . . Did you know?! No. I just suspected it. The sword Johan had drawn was unmistakably not an ordinary one. The strong magic emanating from the metal seemed to be unique. Danus Steel Sword! For a wandering knight to possess a famous sword dating back to the ancient Empire era. . . Initially, it seemed like an inheritance, but upon further thought, that was imusible. It was not a sword to be secretly passed down within a humble family. Either found in a ruin by chance, or acquired from someone. And that someone was Karamaf. Honestly, even Suetlg was surprised. Karamaf, known for wearing a full te armor made by dwarves, was hard to injure on the battlefield. . . How was he defeated? Suetlg-nim, how do you think he will react if we tell him the truth? . . .I thought he would just pass by if you said you didnt know. . . but now, even I am not sure. Purpose-driven undead often ignore those unrted to their objectives. The towns people were unharmed probably because they knew nothing about Karamaf. But Johan, the one who defeated Karamaf, how would the opponent react? -. . . I killed Karamaf. It was a fair duel. . . . . - ! Johan drew the Seal Retriever. The de flickered seductively, absorbing the faint moonlight. The knight halted in its light. Karamaf was defeated by me, and his sword is now mine. Theres no reason for you to remain. Stand down! The figure of the knight flickered, then began to fade and lose form. The voice vanished, the glow in the eyes disappeared, and eventually, it turned into ck smoke, melting into the darkness. . . .Is it over? You, surprisingly, might have a talent for magic. Suetlg muttered in astonishment. Magic wasnt about forcibly knocking down with strength, but about making the opponent retreat with the power contained in words. In Johans current form, glimpses of such magic could be seen. What? Are you saying that because of how I wield the mace? What kind of nonsense is that? I thought defeating the Death Knight with a regr mace was magical. . . . . .Thats indeed remarkable but not magic! Just like you dont callunching stones with a catapult magic. . . Suetlg began to get slightly confused in his exnation. Johans strength, in fact, was somewhat magical. I meant the power of words you used to defeat the death knight. Without strong intent, undead cant be defeated by words alone. . . . Johan thought so but didnt say it to Suetlg, not wanting to be ridiculed for ignorance. Can I learn magic too? . . .Please dont ask other wizards so casually as if its as easy as learning archery. You never know what offense it might cause. Im just speakingfortably with Suetlg-nim. You need to ask more challenging questions. . . you might be able to learn magic. But that doesnt mean its not impossible, nor does it mean you can use magic. ? First of all, youre not particrly interested in mysteries. Suetlg carefully scraped off the ck powder left in the spot where the Death Knight was and put it in his pocket. It seemed to be an important enough task to do himself rather than having a ve do it. You should have brought your ve with you. Are you talking about Geoffrey? Hes meticulous and smart. Those are virtues my ves dont exhibit. Thanks to taking care of Suetlg during Johans absence, the wizard hade to think highly of Geoffrey. As a merchant who had traveled far and wide, he was adept in such matters. Back to the topic of magic, if you want to wield it, you need to be interested in some mystery and unravel its secrets. Like I did with the secret of the Ipal River. I cant exin it even if I want to. Even if I did, you wouldnt understand. When I was young, I spent months with my master just observing the surface of the Ipal River. During the day, I immersed myself in the river, and at night, I watched the moonlight on its surface. Then, the river began to whisper to me. Do you think you can do the same? Johan shook his head. It made sense why Suetlg had scoffed at the idea of a knight learning magic. A knight chases honor and desire, not the hidden mysteries of the world. But dont give up too easily. You might find yourself interested in some mystery someday. Theres no mystery in swordsmanship or archery. . . Enough of the nonsense. Lets go inside. Theyll be suspicious. Johan and Suetlg pondered how to deal with the incident that happened at night. . , . ? ? . ? . ? , . , ? It was a valid point. Johan decided to take a direct approach. Lord,st night I saw a Death Knight roaming your fiefdom. . . . . . . The feudal lord appeared perplexed by the words brought up by Johan and Suetlg, who came alone. I, what do you mean by that, I. . . A wandering undead in the town can cause harm at any moment. It might seem tame now, but it could turn violent the next day. To hide such information while an undead lurks in the town. . . Arent you ashamed of your honor? Suetlgs reprimand darkened the feudal lords face. He spoke with a heavy heart. As a feudal lord, I have no intention of shirking my responsibility. I will deal with it somehow. You dont have to worry about that. I have already defeated it. . . .!! Upon hearing Johans words, the feudal lord was speechless and stared at Johan. Suetlg added firmly. I saw it with my own eyes. Its gone. How? With the valor of a knight and a bit of magic. At Suetlgs signal, Johan put down his shield. It bore the marks of dark resentment, clearly signs of a battle with the Death Knight. This knight had to risk his life due to your concealment of the truth. He deserves to know the truth. Please tell us, why was this death knight wandering around here? Suetlgs forceful voice stirred the feudal lords heart. The sweating dwarf pondered for a long time before speaking. . . .That knight was in by me. ! Johan and Suetlg were both surprised by the unexpected confession. After Karamaf went missing, the Emperormanded the knights through letters to search for Karamaf. Sir Gairendel was one of them. He moved hastily, taking only a few subordinates, and during this, he visited the fiefdom of the Balpa family. However, the Balpa family held a blood feud against the Emperor. If it were Johan, he would have prepared to flee without even eating a meal the moment he knew, but Gairendel was different. He requested hospitality as a guest, and from the moment the feudal lord epted, Gairendel thought the lord would protect him ording to tradition, regardless of any grudge. Of course, there are always those who break traditions. That was the feudal lord of the Balpa family. He poisoned the food and drink, killing Sir Gairendel and his subordinates. Youve done a terrible thing. To break such a tradition. I know too. . . I know as well. But. . . seeing that guy, daring to praise the Emperor and Karamaf with his insolent mouth. . . The feudal lord bowed his head in silence. Having spilled the truth, it was an attitude of resigned eptance. Suetlg nudged Johan. ? . . , , -, ? , ! . , , , . . Indeed, they couldnt just leave the feudal lord like this. Johan organized his thoughts and then spoke. I will pretend I didnt see it. . . .??!! The feudal lord suddenly raised his head. The words from the young knight in front of him were unexpectedly surprising. Chapter 69.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 69.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Suetlg also looked at Johan in surprise. He knew that Johan had quite a different mindset from an ordinary knight. Still, to say that he would overlook and move on from the actions of such a person. Yes. . .? I dont think its my ce to say anything. I wont tell anyone your secret, so you dont need to be so distressed, feudal lord. Oh, no. . . The feudal lord, too, looked at Johan in disbelief. Are you really a knight? Shouldnt there be an outcry like , ! or ! ? Is. . . Is that true? With such a blood feud, who am I to say anything? Judgment is solely for God to make, not for a knight like me. God was always a good excuse. Suetlg realized that Johan was just making excuses, but he didnt point it out. The undead have been dealt with by me and the philosopher. You need not worry anymore, feudal lord. Please live a life you wont be ashamed of before God from now on. Johan neatly concluded and stood up. There was no reason for Johan to use the other party with , !, especially since the deceased was also a knight of the Emperor. And honestly. . . ? , . To Johan, the people here seemed tock tact too often, especially the nobles. The difference in values! They must believe its okay to speak like that, but when you meet such an uncontroble dwarf, its over. Anyway, Johan didnt feel any particr emotion about the incident and rather thought of bestowing kindness on the feudal lord than ming him. Who knows when he might receive gratitude in return. . . Sorry to interrupt your eloquent speech, but you cant just leave like that. ? Suetlg cleared his throat and then addressed the feudal lord. It was touching how the knight here forgave your actions and left them to God. However, its not over yet, feudal lord. There must be a ce where their bodies are buried. Please guide us there. ! While following a ve serving the feudal lord, Johan asked Suetlg. Why the corpse? If its risen as undead, the grudge isnt ordinary. Besides, the feudal lord probably didnt handle the body properly to bury it. Suetlgs guess was correct. The body was buried under a secluded warehouse. It was in such a mess that it was barely recognizable. Johan dug up the ground himself andid out the body. Suetlg asked cautiously. Shouldnt you have the ves do this? Isnt it better not to do such things yourself? No, it isnt. Thats why I did it myself. However, it was rare for a knight to do such work himself. Suetlg was grateful that the knight in front of him was easy tomunicate with. Otherwise, it would have been much more troublesome. . . . Suetlg sprinkled holy water and recited a prayer. Johan continued the prayer. Suetlg was knowledgeable in theology, and Johan had learned by observing a priest. Looks like its done. Can we bury it now? No. Before burying, remove any belongings. Its troublesome if they are buried with possessions. This is to ease the deceaseds soul, so dont feel offended. . . Yes? Johan was already searching through the possessions. Suetlg nodded. Search thoroughly. There was no famous sword like the from Sir Karamaf. Instead, a family crest ring that belonged to Sir Gairendel was found. . It seemed like a pointless item to have, as it could only lead to misunderstandings, yet it was too precious to discard. Johan decided to return it to the family when the opportunity arose. If not, it couldnt be helped. This is. . . an authorization from the Emperor. To gather troops in the city? Must have been urgent. The Emperor himself had troops under his directmand, but the forces brought by his subordinate lords were also important. The great feudal lords could employ renowned mercenary captains, but further down the ranks, people were more concerned with earning their keep than hiring mercenaries. In such cases, one had to take action personally. This recruitment authorization was used to travel around towns and cities, drawing in mercenaries and young people to take with them. With the Emperors seal on it, a good talker could gather many for a small fee. . . .But why keep that? Ah, how can I throw it away with the emperors seal? That would be disrespectful. . . . . . . Suetlg almost hit him but restrained himself. Karamaf was also killed, and. . . There was nothing else significant in the rest of the belongings. Johan found a palm-sized blue ss sphere in the knights pocket. The ss was of high quality, which puzzled Johan. Where was that? In this mans pocket. . .? Him? That cant be. Suetlg took the ss ball almost snatchingly and checked it again. This is an item that only a wizard can use. Do you know its name? I dont know what it does. It looks like a ball made of ss. This is a Fire Goblet. The Fire Goblet. Literally, a goblet that holds fire. Johan was puzzled by the incongruous term. Its neither fire nor a goblet. . .? You light a fire inside this goblet. Thats why its called a Fire Goblet. An artifact used by wizards of the ancient Empire, and to see it here. . . Is it expensive? Not as expensive as your sword, but some nobles who fancy it do exist. Its an ancient Empire artifact, after all. Suetlg looked at the Fire Goblet again as if it was still fascinating. How do you put fire in it? You cant do it the usual way. The fire needs to be lit inside a sealed ball, so its only possible with magic. Thats why its an item for wizards. Wizards. . . they seem to be quite troublesome people. There is indeed a bit of that vibe. Even in such a simple object, the pride of wizards was evident. The pride that only those who knew the mysteries and secrets could handle it. Why dont you try lighting it? I cant do it. What? Chapter 69.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 69.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (??) I dont know how to handle fire. . . And even if I did, its not an item to be used carelessly. This Fire Goblet is made in pairs. If you light one goblet, the other lights up too. Johan quickly realized the value of the item. It was like a small and convenient beacon. Such a powerful magical tool in the hands of this knight. . . Was it bestowed by the Emperor? Doesnt seem likely. I think. . . it was given by a wizard close to the Emperor. ? Some powerful wizards use knights for their purposes. Probably given formunication. Hmm. . . Why are you looking at me like that? Nothing. So, this item is then. . . Johans face hardened. Regardless of which wizard near the Emperor it was, being close to the Emperor meant they were a powerful wizard. Can it be traced? Well, I havent used it. . . Maybe it can be traced by the difference when moving away or closer. Then we shouldnt be discussing this leisurely. Dont worry. Whoever gave this, if they want to find it, theyd have to search extensively. But the Emperors army hasnte near here. Even a great wizard would just be causing trouble. Suetlg smiled slyly and began to wrap the Fire Goblet in a purple cloth with a pattern. Good for whoever. I never thought Ide across something like this here. You said you couldnt use it yourself, Suetlg-nim? Ill give it to another wizard who can use it. A good trade, and I can pay off the debt I owe you. . . .? Johan thought to himself. Is it alright to trade such a suspicious item with hidden motives? Of course, it was good for Johan. . . What Johan didnt know was that deceiving others without lying was almost routine among wizards. Being able to deceive without telling lies was a skill in itself. What have you been up to since dawn? I dont think the feudal lord would have requested a duel. . . Marco asked with a curious expression. It seemed that Johan and Suetlg had been chatting with the feudal lord about this and that since early morning. He was asking how we might arrange a marriage with Stephen and a rtive. Ah, so thats why he saw us off so kindly. Marco understood. Stephen, who had been listening, eximed in surprise. I, I have no intention of marrying a dwarf! Why not? Certainly, the Balpa family is smaller than the Abner family, but Sir Stephen, you are not the eldest either. Isnt it a good opportunity? Marco sincerely couldnt understand. If he were Stephen, he would have immediately epted the feudal lords proposal. Coming from a background of having nothing, he would definitely ept the chance to marry into a legitimate noble family, whether the other party was a dwarf, a centaur, or an orc. After all, isnt it about securing a fiefdom? And the dwarves were renowned for their unity, helping each other even among different families. Even a minor family could connect with others. But shes a dwarf! Yes? I know shes a dwarf. Didnt I just say that? . . . . . . Stephen decided to keep quiet, feeling that anything more he said would only make him look foolish. Johan remembered what the feudal lord had given him before leaving. . . It was a knot made from a strand of a beard. , . Although Johan was uncertain about the effectiveness of the knot, the sincerity of the feudal lord was clear. There was a sense of aplishment from fighting alongside Suetlg against the Death Knight that night. We should get moving. I have a friend to meet in the city of Vaizen. Between the western and southern parts of the Empirey a vast forest,monly known as The ck Forest. Full of dangers and mysteries, few chose to traverse it, opting instead to travel around it, either above or below. Johan had once cut through the forest to evade pursuers. . . . . .and the city located on the path below the forest was Vaizen, bustling due to its riverside location. A friend, you say? Is it a noble? I have no noble friends. They wouldnt consider me a friend, either. Thats unfortunate. I consider Suetlg-nim a friend. Thank you. . . The friend I mentioned is a wizard. ! Johan was surprised. It was no wonder Suetlg knew other wizards. With all the exchanges I need to make, including with the wizard, I should visit my friend. They might have something useful. That sounds interesting. Dont get your hopes up too high. The treasures wizards possess often have little use for others. But regardless of Johans expectations, others were excited. To travelers wandering the ins, visiting a city was always an anticipated event, especially as these mercenaries were well-funded. Marco? Yes. Keep an eye on the mercenaries so they dont cause trouble in the city. Understood. Part of a knights duty was to maintain discipline among mercenaries. Marco firmly resolved to monitor the mercenaries during their stay in the city to prevent any mischief. And Stephen. Huh? Keep an eye on Stephen so he doesnt cause trouble. The mercenaries arent fools; theyll manage on their own. . . .Y-Yes! Marco was startled but nodded in agreement. Dont worry. There wont be time for mischief anyway. ? With the gs of the Abner and Jarpen families, do you think well have time to y around? The citys nobles will be lining up to meet us. Chapter 70.1: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 70.1: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Suetlgs words were not wrong. The guards at the gate, upon seeing the g, contacted the inside, and Johans party was quickly allowed to enter. The nobles of the city were not strictly real nobility. Of course, there were those of true noble blood, but many were self-made families from the city. Their blood was not as blue as that of the true nobles. The rtionship between the city nobility and the true nobility who owned fiefdoms was quite delicate. A rtionship mixed with jealousy, admiration, and respect. . . .Of course, this did not mean that families like Abner or Jarpen were not weed when they arrived, especially when they were gaining power in the west. As a result, Johans party had to go on a mansion tour in session. What are you drinking? Water of life. Alcohol? You just drank that and again? . . .Im drinking water that sobers you up. Im not as robust as you. Suetlg, having drunk too much, was protecting his body using expensive antidotes. In this world, the morevish and debauched the hospitality, the more sincere it was considered. Hiring musicians, minstrels, jesters, and preparing spectacr entertainments was part of the preparation, but the basis of any banquet was food and drink. Luxurious food and quality alcohol upheld the city nobles dignity. Currently, Johans party was indulging in food and drink at the mansion of a city noble whose name and family they barely remembered. Johan could handle strong grape wine poured down his throat, but not everyone else, especially not Suetlg. When will you visit the wizard friend? One must follow customs. At least until tomorrow, shouldnt we eat and drink? Suetlg said, wiping his mouth. epting only one persons hospitality and not anothers could build unnecessary resentment. It was a nobles duty to joyously eat and drink when invited. Eating and drinking is fine, but Im more curious about magic. You are quite unique. Perhaps, in such gatherings, being sober might be better than being drunk. Suetlg looked around. Except for Johan, almost all of the party members were heavily intoxicated, including Marco and the knights. Even the most honorable knights indulged in food and drink in such situations. Not enjoying oneself was considered odd. Heartily eating and drinking was also a way of proving a knights prowess. Moreover, Marco and the knights, being from poor families, found such asions even more delightful. But Suetlg was a wizard. Proving strength through eating and drinking didnt quite resonate with him. The ss of honor is empty! Why are you not refilling it? At the nobles shout, a servant hurriedly filled Johans ss with grape wine to the brim, which Johan downed in one go. Cheers erupted from all around. Anyway, . . .Was what you just drank really wine, not water? Yes. Anyway, during our eating and drinking, I noticed some people giving us displeased looks. . . Shouldnt we be concerned about this? Vaizen city was a free Empire city. As a city granted freedom by the Emperors patent, it naturally had Emperor faction forces. Even if the Emperor was tyrannical, such forces didnt easily disappear. You noticed that while drinking? Impressive. But such people are everywhere, arent they? They wouldnt dare do anything against custom in the city. Besides, now is not a good time for the Emperors faction to act out. The Emperors faction was suffering defeat in the west and attempting invasion in the south. Public opinion was not in favor of the Emperor. Although the Emperors faction had many grievances against families like Abner or Jarpen, there was little they could do. Still, it wouldnt hurt to be cautious. Ill also inform the mercenaries in advance. Yes. Do that. Chapter 70.2: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 70.2: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Caenerna-nim, we have arrived at the city. The knights spoke cautiously. Although all wizards were known to be quirky, the one they served, especially so. But there was no other choice. She was a wizard, almost a confidant of the Emperor. Caenerna-nim, please be careful. The atmosphere in the City of Vaizen is not good. I know. Caenerna replied with anguid voice. She was a wizard, not a fool. She was far from those who couldnt read the atmosphere and unted their status. Now, revealing that they were part of the Emperors forces in the City of Vaizen was not beneficial. Thus, the knights were in disguise, hiding their banners. It was dishonorable, but necessary. Why so discontent? Wasnt it your wish to seek Sir Gairendel? N-No, thats not it. Is that all the honor and camaraderie of knights amounts to? Perhaps I was mistaken. Discontent was evident on the knights faces. The wizards words had hit a sore spot. But beyond the perspective of honor,ing here to find Sir Gairendel was an excessive waste. Perhaps for Sir Karamaf, but knights like Gairendel were plentiful in the Emperors court. And honestly, Gairendel losing contact meant. . . ? , . Sir Gairendel is originally from the Empires south. It wouldnt be strange if he had gone elsewhere. Magic doesnt say so, so just follow orders quietly, will you? . . .Yes. What should I do? I need to go somewhere and have a conversation. If the other party doesnt listen, you might need toe and help. . . .? This is why knights are troublesome. Caenerna gestured with her hand across her neck. The knights were horrified. Should we kill them? No. Dont kill. We need to kidnap and take them away. Can you do that? Surely you can. . . . . . . Though more difficult, the knights nodded. It was dishonorable and following the wizards order, but not impossible. They were capable. Sneaking out of the city could be done by seeking help from the Emperors forces within the city. Once they revealed their identity, they would surely be assisted. Geoffrey checked once, and the maid checked again, but Johan still examined his appearance one more time. One of the virtues a knight should have, surprisingly, was fashion. How stylishly one dressed could sometimes influence their reputation. Of course, Johan wasnt doing this to visit anydy or maiden. Suetlg said disdainfully. You can gofortably. Please wait a moment. Im nervous about meeting the wizard. . . ? Alright. Lets go. Johan turned and set out for the city streets with Suetlg. Suetlg quietly watched the mercenaries following behind. Being cautious isnt bad, but. . . isnt this a bit too much? They couldnt be heavily armed in the city, but the mercenaries skillfully carried their weapons. Besides the swords at their waists, there were certainly more hidden. The friend Im visiting isnt the type to enjoy a crowd of peopleing over. Well wait outside. Of course, inconspicuously. The experienced mercenaries knew how to disperse and wait discreetly nearby. Suetlg nodded. Well. . . that should be fine. Crossing several city districts and entering an area where guilds gathered, Suetlg suddenly entered a stable next to a building. ? Johan was puzzled. Suetlg had insisted on walking instead of riding. But why go to a stable? Inside the stable, there was a loud snorting sound. Among the horses, a hairy man was lying down, asleep. He was wrapped in some strange leather, which made him look even more like a wild man. Gulrak. Wake up. There was no answer. Suetlg pointed to a dirty wooden barrel beside him. The water in it was not clean either. Ssh it. A magic to sober up, I see. Stop the strange jokes. ! Along with a curse, the man stood up. Muttering something unintelligible, he looked at Suetlg. What kind of motherf*cker. . . Can a gueste and ssh water on the host! I was the one who sshed the water. And who are you? Johan of the Yeats family. A knight? I didnt know Suetlg keptpany with knights. Gulrak wiped his face with leather and then walked out of the stable, heading to the side. The building, looking like a storeroom, was filled with all sorts of things. Gulrak roughly made a space and sat down by himself. Suetlg coughed meaninglessly. Shouldnt you be hosting your guest? Ill host if I recognize you as a guest. Havent done that yet. What brings you here? Came for the help of a talented wizard. Gulrak snorted. Knowing Suetlgs personality, it sounded unbelievable. Wizards often thought they were the smartest in the world. To be hosted in a wizards home, you know what you must do. Ready for the test? It was an old tradition for those visiting a wizard to pass a test to receive hospitality. Hearing this, Johan remembered the chess game he had with Suetlg. Was the chess game a test? No. That was just something I enjoy. It wasnt my home anyway. Ah. Will you receive it, or refuse it? Is it really necessary? An old friendes visiting and you bring up old customs. Alright. Ill ept it. Gulrak grumbled but didnt back down. It seemed he wanted to bring Suetlg down a notch, finding him irritating. Johan asked quietly. What is the test? A test youll like. Suetlg, responding to Johan, said reluctantly. Well, cant help it then. Go on, try it with the knight here. Suetlg. Arent you going to do it? Thats shameless. How could I do such a thing? Isnt it shameless to pass it off to a knight? Sometimes, a wound to honor hurts more than a physical wound. Despite his words, Gulrak rolled up his sleeves and approached. He thought whether it was to embarrass the man Suetlg brought or Suetlg himself, it was the same. Johan asked. So, what is the test? Its something a knight should know well. Just grab each other and the one who falls loses. Simple, isnt it? Oh. . . A simple test of brute strength! Johan looked at Suetlg, who nodded with a pleased expression. It seemed he had been looking forward to this day. Gulrak, oblivious, urged them on with an innocent expression. What are you waiting for? Hurry up. Dont worry, Ill make sure no one gets hurt. Well. . . alright. . . Lets do it. Johan stepped forward and grabbed Gulraks arm. Gulrak also grabbed Johans arm. Gulrak clicked his tongue. If Suetlg was the philosopher of the Ipal River, then Gulrak was the wild man of the ck Forest. He was enchanted by the mysteries of the forests nature and beasts and had inherited their power. He was especially close to bears and could somewhat harness their strength. Challenging Gulrak to a test of strength was almost like challenging a bear. Knowing this, Suetlg must have passed the defeat onto this poor young knight. Shall I start? As you wish. Alright. Then. . . begin! . . .??? Gulrak was baffled. The knight in front of him didnt move an inch. His face turned red with effort, and veins bulged, but Johan remained motionless. Suetlg burst outughing on the side. It was then that Gulrak realized he had been tricked. Chapter 71.1: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 71.1: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Uh, uh. . . Johan. Finish it. Johan slightly bowed his head in apology and exerted his strength. Gulrak felt his body lift off the ground and was shocked. What. . . What. . . WTF! Sorry about that. Where did you find this bear-like guy! Gulrak, who had fallen, protested to Suetlg. Suetlg avoided his gaze, pretending not to hear. Gulrak got up and dusted himself off. Then he had a look of realization. Marcel! Marcels troll yer!! Yes. Such a cowardly and cunning old man! Bring out a chair. You need to treat your guests. Gulrak pped his knee. He should have taken the rumors more seriously when he heard them! Although Gulrak grumbled continuously, he did not go back on his word. Suetlg and Johan were allowed to sit as guests. You smell like a wolf. What have you been doing? My wolf is outside. You can talk freely, since youre a guest. So. . . do you n on calling your wolf? Yes. Can I see it? If its okay with you. When Johan called, Karamaf walked out of the stable. Gulrak was surprised at the sight of therge wolf; such a size was umon. Amazing! A wolf like this. . . . Karamaf growled, a sign of warning not to provoke him. Gulrak understood immediately and stopped. How did you be friendly? Uh. . . just acted friendly. It followed me. ! Gulrak was really surprised at this and looked at Johan. But Johan did not seem to be lying. Clearly, its the magic of the forest. Dont just attach magic to anything. What magic in such a gloomy ce. Dont listen to that sly old man. The forest is the ce that truly holds mysteries. The sacred darkness that has been passed down since ancient times covers the forest. The river is. . . well, its just a river. I saw sailors peeing in it yesterday. Do you think people dont urinate in the forest? Ignoring Suetlgs words, Gulrak spoke. Monsters are one of the forests mysteries. If such a mystery follows you, it must be because of the greater mystery sleeping in your blood and soul. Gulrak exined that he could hear and understand the words of all kinds of animals in the forest and speak to them. This was because Gulrak had embraced the secrets and mysteries of the forest. Does any of your ancestors have a story rted to wolves? It doesnt seem so. Then it might be innate. Love from the forest, a wonderful gift from the gods. . . . . . . Though not by blood, Johan felt there was something about his soul. His soul was one of the greatest mysteries. If theres nothing more to say about wolves, lets end it there. Youre here for a reason. This friend is hard to see in the city except in winter. Pointing at Gulrak, Suetlg said. Do you only stay in the city during winter? Because of some magical reason? No. Its cold in winter. . . . . . . Anyway, why did youe? Ivee to share the mysteries Ive gathered on my travels with you. Suetlg, along with his words,id out a purple cloth-wrapped Fire Goblet and the diaries held by Nahras followers. One is a magical tool from the ancient Empire era, and the other is a book filled with mysteries about shadows and fire. . . .What do you want? This knight and I are heading to Duke Brduhes territory. As you know, the east of the Empire is a rough ce. Even though the Empire had forests, mountains, and unexplored territories, they couldntpare to the east. Tribes rejecting the Empire and monotheism, attacking pioneers, nobles continuing the legacy of ancient kingdoms in the area, vassals of the eastern Empire boasting of their ancient Empire lineage. . . The eastern part of the Empire was and of wild and turbulent savagery. So, hand over some leather. . . . . . . Leather? The skins that fellow has are not only of good quality but also imbued with magical power. Gulrak, who lived in the forest andmunicated with animals, could obtain better quality skins than any hunter. It must hold warmth to fend off the cold, and be tough enough to resist spear and sword. I didnt say Id give it! So, youre not interested? Gulrak had many skins, but not the ones Suetlg had. Gulrak, with a greedy expression, scratched his beard and asked. So where did you get this magical tool? I cant disclose that. Ugh. . . Can I open it? Do as you please. Gulrak, removing the cloth, was astonished. This is a Fire Goblet! Yes. Thought youd like it. Looks handy for the forest, doesnt it? . . .Wait. Fire Goblets are usually used in pairs. Couldnt find the other one. Maybe you could try looking for it. Gulraks expression turned very suspicious. Chapter 71.2: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 71.2: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Caenerna-nim. Could you tell us who we should bring now? Why? . . .We have sworn to follow Caenerna-nims orders, but we also have our honor. We think we need to know who we are to bring. If I dont tell you, are you going to disobey my orders? . . . . . . Caenerna chuckled and said, Its a joke. Cant I even make a joke? The one were going to bring now is a wizard. Ah. . . The knights were relieved. It was much morefortable to abduct a wizard than a noble. Of course, a wizard was still an uneasy adversary. . . The one leading them was also a wizard. That was eptable. The one we are seeking is skilled in forests and beasts. He will help us find Gairendel. Indeed. . . I see. The knights were both convinced and surprised by the wizards words. It seemed even Caenerna couldnt do everything. When they saw her in the Emperors court, she seemed to know everything. . . Lets hear the n. The knights had already made contact with people of the Emperors side and bribed those they needed to. From the night watchmen they would meet after evening to the gate guards they would pass after daybreak. Since the target was not a person of great status or a noble family, it was much morefortable. When Caenerna gives the signal, the knights will rush in, subdue the wizard, and drag him away, then move to the amodation in the darkness of night and wait until dawn. That would be a sess. It would be good if it can be resolved through conversation. Do you feel a bit reluctant to use force against another wizard? One of the knights asked. They wondered if Caenerna, who seemed distant from human emotions, without blood or tears, could have such feelings. They actually hoped she did. The unknown is always frightening. The knights still found the wizard Caenerna difficult to understand. No. That wizard is powerful. Caenerna-nim. No matter how powerful a wizard is. . . Is there anyone here who can fight a bear with bare hands and win? The knights were baffled by the unexpected question. Who would fight a bear with bare hands? None? Then youd better be prepared to fight without being careless. That wizard has the strength of a bear. Maybe he can even turn into a bear in the forest. Caenernas words were absurd, but the knights had no choice but to ept them. She often spoke ambiguously, but she wouldnt lie in such a situation. Beating him up a bit is fine, so dont hesitate to swing your clubs. Just dont use a sword. . . .Yes. After finishing the conversation, Caenerna, looking tired, bit a long cigarette holder. The cigarette holder lit up without being set on fire. The knights were frightened by this sight. Suetlg once told Johan, Wizards conversations are probably less interesting than you think. That statement was wrong. The wizards conversation was indeed far less interesting than imagined. As they kept discussing the same topic for hours, like where they found this journal and the Fire Goblet, Johany down on Karamaf, who growled in response. Lets take a break. . ? Karamaf turned his head, indicating the door. Gulrak noticed and looked in the same direction. Seems like we have a visitor. Does anyone else visit you besides me? Thats a good question. Gulrak swept away the dirty hair. Unlike Suetlg, who is respected as a philosopher of the Ipal River, Gulrak was much more unsociable. In the city, most people didnt know him. Stay inside for a bit. A guest should be treated well. Will it be the same test? Quiet, and go inside. Gulrak pushed two people and a wolf inside and then opened the door. . . .Huh. Just as the visitor realized Gulrak was a wizard, Gulrak also recognized the visitor as a wizard. Ive seen you before. The wild man from the Dark Forest, Gulrak, right? And who might you be? A court wizard of the Emperor. Caenerna-gong? Im ttered you remember my name. May Ie in? Caenerna didnt wait for an answer and stepped inside. Before Gulrak could react, he had moved aside. What brings the Emperors court wizard here? I need a favor. I have to find someone, and thats not my specialty. I need your help. You wont refuse, will you? . . .I refuse. Gulrak frowned. He had heard of Caenerna, a wizard dealing with all sorts of secrets at the Emperors court. But Gulrak was a wizard of the same mystery. He wasnt naive enough to be overawed by the visitors authority and position. Why refuse? I have no interest in honor, and even less in the Emperors wealth. Im not a dog that follows orders. Youre misunderstanding. Its just a favor. All the more reason for me to refuse. I dont usually grant favors. Refusing a guests request? Youre not my guest. I havent epted you as one. Caenerna snorted at Gulraks firm reply. Then how does one get treated as a guest? Pass the test. Caenerna chuckled. Is it a test of strength? Gulraks face reddened with embarrassment. Only offering a test you can win is cowardly for a wizard. Has anyone ever passed it? Yes. ! Caenernas face showed surprise for the first time. Gulrak felt oddly proud. He didnt expect his deception with Suetlg today to turn out this way. Really? Thats surprising. Anyway, I dont n to pass that test. Will you really refuse my request? Indeed. Well, cant be helped then. Caenerna stood up and opened the door as if to leave. But through the open door, masked figures entered. !!! Subdue him. Caenerna! How dare you as a guest! Its you who didnt treat me as a guest, isnt it? Gulrak growled in anger. His fur seemed to bristle like chestnuts. Even the knights who had been inwardly dismissing the wizard flinched. I swear on the name of the Dark Forest, Ill break the necks of all who dare attack. Such dishonorable wretches! . . .Subdue him! The knights, feeling provoked, charged. Unarmored and holding only a well-crafted club, it was enough to subdue a wizard unfamiliar with fighting. ! The door burst open, and Johan emerged from the inside. Johan and Suetlg, who had been listening from behind, were shocked by the real situation unfolding in front of them. ? ! . . . . . . ? ! Uh. . . What? The knights hesitated after hitting Gulrak a few times, startled by the sudden appearance. Johan drew his sword. He had no intention of fighting the same way as the one with the club. Wait. . . Wait. . .! Before he could finish speaking, the head of the knight in front flew off. Chapter 72.1: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 72.1: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) As blood sttered in all directions, a look of horror and fury swirled in the knights eyes. None of the knights who had entered here hade prepared to risk their lives. It was supposed to be a simple kidnapping of a wizard. They thought it would be over as soon as they overpowered any resistance. But suddenly, they were embroiled in this bloody drama. Who are you?! Do you know who we are? Arent you just some thugs trying to kidnap someone while wearing masks? The knight who had spoken habitually blushed at Johans words, feeling ashamed. Caenerna, noticing this emotion, clicked her tongue and said, Why not reveal your family and name and challenge me to a duel? . . .All but the wizard can be killed! Attack! The warehouse was now cramped with people. In such a space, it was hard to showcase refined skills. It was all about brute strength and endurance. Even though Johan was armed, the knights were numerous. In this situation, there was little difference between a club and a longsword. One good hit could bring anyone down. Thinking this, the knights charged, swinging their clubs. ! Johan broke a knights club with a swing of his fist, his eyes widening in disbelief. Johan then grabbed the knights throat, breaking his neck with a snap. Cough! He positioned the knight as a shield and, with his other hand, wielded a longsword. A barrage of club strikes poured in from the side. Johan swung his sword. Blood sttered, and another knight fell. Humans created techniques tobat wild beasts. The knights, having forgotten this, were paying dearly for recklessly attacking the beast with brute force. Yet, one of the knights managed to swing a club at Johans exposed back. ! Johan clenched his teeth, turned around, and shattered the skull of the knight. Even a well-trained knight was no use. The knight copsed, vomiting blood from a single punch. . . .Retreat. Protect me! The first to regain herposure in this chaos was Caenerna. She watched, as if entranced, Johan exerting immense strength to break a club, before finally snapping back to reality. It was unbelievable that several knights couldnt handle one man, but believing the unbelievable was the role of a wizard. She bit her lip and prepared to retreat. Fortunately, Johan, busy ughtering the knights, didnt notice her escaping through the door. Dont move! Ill shoot if you do. Get on your knees! !!! Surprisingly, there was an ambush. Outside the warehouse, mercenaries with bows and crossbows waited in ambush. Johans mercenaries! , ? ? !!! ! ! ! Mercenaries brought in case of an attack in the city were unexpectedly proving useful in a different way. Realizing they were ambushed, the knights were horrified. . . .How dare these insignificant mercenaries! Wait! Caenerna tried to stop them. With her nearby, any rash action. . . But the knights were already charging. Their brave assault in such a situation was characteristic of knights. The problem was that they were not even wearing armor, just in clothes. ! Crossbows and bows were fired, and arrows stuck into the bodies of the knights. Even in such a state, the knights rushed in, gritting their teeth. It was indeed an astonishing momentum. The mercenaries had a look of horror on their faces. But they were also experienced and skilled mercenaries. The response was immediate. Crossbowmen, archers, fall back! Raise the shields! Block them! The knights, pierced by arrows, couldnt fight properly. They dropped their clubs and fell. . . .I said I surrender. Caenerna spoke with a calmed demeanor. Soon, the door opened from behind and Johan emerged. No voice of a knight was heard from inside. Bring her in. I thought she was an assassin sent by the Emperor. . . Didnt I say? Why would the Emperor engage in such acts for no reason? Johan assessed the situation and felt futile. They hade not specifically for him but to abduct Gulrak. Gulrak asked Johan. I owe you one. Thank you. Its only what a knight should do. . . . Suetlg inwardly admired. Gulrak, not knowing Johan for long, was unaware of his true feelings. All knights except Caenerna resisted and died. Caenerna answered questions with a very polite and submissive attitude. Why did you try to kidnap Gulrak? We were looking for a knight and needed that wizards help. Are these the Emperors knights? Yes. Does the Emperor know about this? I dont know. Johan stood behind Caenerna. Caenerna nced back, concerned about his position. As expected, Johan was holding up his longsword. Ready to strike in a single blow! Wait a moment. I still have questions. While Suetlg intervened, Gulrak asked curiously. Is it okay to speak so obediently? If I dont, I know youll torture me. I think its better to just speak than to be tortured into talking. Why are you looking for the knight? He has my treasure. Is that treasure by any chance the Fire Goblet? . . .?! Chapter 72.2: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 72.2: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) For the first time, Caenerna showed a surprised expression. Answer the question. . . .Yes. Can you talk about the Emperor? I cant. Johan casually ced his longsword on Caenernas shoulder. It was a warning. Caenerna shivered at the chill of the metal. She turned her head to look at Johan. In this warehouse with three wizards, only Johan was not a wizard. Caenerna tried to enchant Johan by any means. Red hair, crimson eyes. Despite being covered in a robe, Caenerna was a beautiful woman. Combined with her magical power, enchanting people was not a difficult task. But Johans eyes did not waver. In his eyes, Caenerna felt the power of a strong soul. Johans eyes conveyed only one message. The death of Caenerna. Why cant you speak? Probably sworn by mysteries and magic. Unless the Emperor is a fool. Even a court wizard couldnt fully earn the Emperors trust. Naturally, he would have sworn her to secrecy. For a wizard, death was preferable to losing magic. So, may I kill her? . . .Do you bear a grudge? No. But theres no good in sparing a wizard. You never know what they might do. Unlike Gulrak and Suetlg, who were well-versed in magic, Johan, who was not, couldnt help but be wary. And the best defense was to cut off the opponents head. A dead wizard cant cast spells. How would you feel if your arms and legs were all tied up? Id probably secretly untie them and get up, dont you think? . . .I asked the question wrong. What do you think when you see someone with their arms and legs tied up? They dont seem dangerous, right? Its the same with a wizard. Suetlg ced a Fire Goblet in front of Caenerna, who looked shocked. With just one Fire Goblet, Caenerna understood everything. We didnt kill Gairendel. We just took care of the remains. . . . . . . Wizards dont usually kill each other. But nothing is absolute. Even the knight here wants to kill you. If you want to live, convince us. Unlike Johan, Suetlg had no intention of killing Caenerna. It was too wasteful to just kill such a talent. A wizard could be trusted. Once they swore an oath, they could never break it. Sensing this, Caenerna sighed and asked. What do you want? You might know, but the Emperor is bing more violent. We need someone to warn us of danger when our lives are at risk someday. Will you repay the favor if I save you? . . .If it doesnt conflict with my oath, I will grant you three requests. You must swear to secrecy about what happened today. I will do so. Johan listened to the wizards conversation with a look of wonder. Caenerna showed not an iota of loyalty to the Emperor. Is this what a wizard is? Gulrak said beside him. This woman is peculiar. ? She doesnt serve the Emperor; she thinks shes trading with him. Thats why she acts like this without any hesitation. Suetlg is different, dont misunderstand. I didnt misunderstand. Good. Then thats settled. Suetlg and Caenernas conversation flowed so smoothly, it was like merchants who hade to negotiate from the start. Caenerna will repay Johan by granting him three requests for sparing her life today. This will not be disclosed anywhere. After the conversation, Caenerna discarded her polite demeanor and returned to her arrogant andnguid attitude, assured of her lifes safety. May your path, brave Sir Knight, be filled with pain and glory. . . .? Johan immediately drew his longsword to strike Caenerna. She screamed and ducked. Suetlg, taken aback, intervened. What are you doing?! Isnt that a curse? No! Its just a greeting! Sorry about that. Thought it was a curse. . . . . . . Caenerna red at Johan and then rode away on her horse. Gulrak was a wizard who, despite his crude way of speaking, expressed his gratitude sincerely. He took out a surcoat made of the finest leather and personally draped it over Johans shoulders. The surcoat, worn over armor, was the best garment for knights to disy their family pride and style. The smooth leather surcoat, swirling with dark red hues, possessed a dignity that any knight would admire. This leather will protect you from the cold, and from things like moisture and arrows. Suetlg was amazed by the surcoat. Gulrak, despite hisrge build, was known for being stingy. It was unlike him to give away such a treasure so easily. It was clear that Johan liked it very much. Come visit my house when youre in the forest. How should I find it? Just ask a wolf, and they will lead you there. Be careful, the east is a wild ce. After the conversation, Gulrak picked up a piece of leather and threw it at Suetlg. The leather, seemingly unprocessed and unstitched, left Suetlg bewildered. Really? Wrap yourself in it. Itll keep you warm if you sleep under it. If youre giving me something, at least make it decent! I have repaid my debt. And Suetlg, if you intended to give me the Fire Goblet with such a story, you should appreciate this leather too. I didnt know that wizard woulde for the Fire Goblet. Im giving this because of that. Otherwise, you would have gotten nothing. Gulrak mmed the door harshly. Suetlg, grumbling, wrapped himself in the leather. It definitely felt magical, despite its foul smell. You have a good friend. Hes much better to befriend than a wizard like Caenerna. Dont think too poorly of me for sparing Caenernas life. Its more beneficial to keep someone alive, even if they are hard to trust, than to kill them. I dont think poorly of it. . . .Right. I worried over nothing! Johan had said that because he tended to draw his sword at the sight of wizards, but it turned out to be an unnecessary worry. We will keep this Fire Goblet. Its better to have a way to contact. Johan epted the Fire Goblet. It was a bit awkward since Caenerna could contact him but he couldnt do the same. . . Its surprising that a court wizard has no loyalty. Do you know why Caenerna gave the Fire Goblet to Gairendel? ? She must have bribed him. If she found the remains of Karamaf, she nned to steal Karamafs sword and other treasures. Its a treasure worth such a scheme. . . .! To steal treasures without reporting to the Emperor. Its not just ack of loyalty. . . To her, everything must be a transaction. The Emperor might think differently, but what can be done about it? If someone is deceived, its their own fault. You might see more wizards in the future, but dont treat them like knights. Youll be betrayed. Loyalty is a difficult virtue to expect from wizards. But friendship can still be hoped for, right? Suetlg nodded and smiled at Johans words. Yes. Friendship is indeed a virtue worth hoping for. Chapter 73.1: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 73.1: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Themotion at Gulraks house was not a big issue. It might have been different if Johan was a suspicious wanderer from afar, but he had the support of powerful families behind him. In fact, the influential people of the city even apologized. The incident was concluded as an act of excessive loyalty by the followers of Emperor. Johan praised the bravery of the mercenaries, distributed silver coins, and the city nobles seized the opportunity to attack the nobles of the Emperor faction. Sir, it would be best for you to leave quickly. Yes, I agree. Not only Suetlg, but also Marco spoke up, indicating the citys atmosphere was unusual. There was no reason for Abner or the Jarpen family to get involved in the citys power struggles and tarnish their own gs by doing favors for others. The group quickly prepared and left the city. Although some tried to persuade them to stay longer, Johan decisively refused. Lost in thought, I see. Whats on your mind? I was thinking about Caenerna. Charmed by her looks? She is quite beautiful. Suetlg stroked his beard as he spoke. A wizard studies and maniptes mysteries, eventually gaining stronger persuasive power in speech and voice. Among wizards, some excel in this, possessing the ability to captivate souls with their beautiful appearance and sweet voice. If they have a good soul, they be great advisors; if not, they manipte others for their own gain, bing ordinary wizards. And Caenerna was typically thetter. No. Thinking back, didnt you try to kill her? , . No. I was wondering what trick that wizard might be up to. Again with that sound? Dont worry, its fine. A wizards oath isnt as simple as you think. To repay the kindness of being saved by granting three requests doesnt just mean fulfilling the requests. It also means that she cannot harm you. Right now, she must be agonizing over how to phrase her words, her head probably aching. What do you think she will say? How would I know? If she doesnt want to lose her magic, shell have to figure it out herself. This whole situation must be quite bothersome for Caenerna, trying to twist the events in a way that doesnt harm Johan. But for Suetlg, it was a matter of little concern. Caenerna, being resourceful, will surely handle it well! Sir! From a distance, Marco returned from his scouting mission. He had gone out as an advance scout with a few mercenaries. Such scouting was essential the farther they were from the city. Before the main force moved, it was necessary to identify any dangers so that those following could be prepared. There are mercenaries on the road. Here too? They seem like no big deal. We can probably just pass by. . . Marco cautiously offered his opinion. In fact, among the group, Marco and the knights were in the most precarious position. Unlike the others, they were captured prisoners. So even voicing a simple opinion required careful consideration. Johan wasnt arrogant, but it still wasnt easy to speak up in his position. If the Sir says so, then thats what well do. Well continue straight ahead. Yes! Marcos face brightened. As Marco said, the mercenaries were unremarkable. They looked dirty and unhappy from staying outside for a long time. They nced at Johans party, disappointed they werent an easy target. Watch your eyes. If you look again, Ill pierce them! . . . . . . The mercenaries hired by Johan shouted fiercely. Being mercenaries themselves, they knew what the others were thinking. These kinds of people, like animals, needed to be shown who was in charge. We were wrong. Sir Knight. Well move aside, please forgive us. We were wrong! The mercenaries slowly moved aside. Johans party proceeded through the tense air. The situation in the south isnt good. How can we live in peace like this? Its the same everywhere in the Empire, isnt it? It doesnt seem like where the Emperor is would be the same. Suetlg disyed a look of dissatisfaction as if displeased that only the Emperors fiefdom remained intact while other ces got embroiled in the mes of war. After all, isnt this entire political situation in the Empire due to the greed of the Emperor and his family? . . .? The mercenaries had disappeared, but people kept appearing on the roadside, from travelers burdened with luggage to merchants, not just mercenaries. At first, it seemed like they were fleeing from the fighting, but they were too numerous for that. Whats going on? Chapter 73.2: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 73.2: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) M-My lord, Ivemitted no crime! I received permission from the priest to go on a pilgrimage. . . Calm down. Im not ming you. Marco soothed the traveler. On a journey, not only rogues and monsters were formidable enemies, but knights were also not to be underestimated. Even a regr knight, not a rogue one, was a frightening adversary for travelers. Being mistaken for a runaway serf or ve could lead to a lot of trouble. Why are so many people gathered on the road? Ah, well. . . some crazy mercenaries have upied the bridge. Thats what everyones been discussing, about what to do. To cross the river ahead, they needed to cross the bridge, which was currently upied by mercenaries who wouldnt let anyone pass. The weather was cold, and the water too chilled, and the river was not shallow enough to swim across. With so many of you here, why dont you pool your money and pay them a toll? The mercenaries refuse! Theyrepletely mad! Voices of agreement erupted from all around. Although tolls were usually paid to the local lord, there was a rule even among rogues to let people pass for a certain fee. But these rogues, perhaps having eaten something wrong, were refusing money and stubbornly upying the bridge, causing much frustration for travelers. We outnumber them; lets attack at nightfall! There are mercenaries guarding those merchants over there! Dont talk nonsense. Did you see how many mercenaries were on that bridge? We wouldnt stand a chance. Now that Sir Knight is here, maybe he can resolve this? Why dont you talk to him? Are you crazy? This guy is looking for trouble. . . The murmuring crowd parted as Johan made way. Dozens of well-armed men with gs approached, and the crowd split, creating a path. They held their breath and bowed their heads as Johan and his party passed. What are these madmen doing on the bridge. . . Lets just sweep them away! Johan fell into thought at Stephens words. Attacking without knowing who the opponent was wasnt Johans style, even if it was something a knight would do. Shouldnt they know who theyre fighting against first? Sir, if you permit, Ill go and fight first. No. Lets find out who were dealing with first. To Johan, it wasnt the situation but the opponent that mattered. Even in a humiliating situation, one shouldnt fight against a stronger opponent. Suetlg nodded as if he had thought well. In this regard, Johan was really agreeable. Listen! We are an embassy from the Jarpen and Abner families. What kind of people are you to dare block the bridge and obstruct the path of good people? Marco shouted valiantly. At his cry, the mercenaries on the wide stone bridge reacted abruptly. The names of the Jarpen and Abner families were well-known enough for the experienced mercenaries. Even the mercenaries who had rudely told the travelers to get lost were cautious around nobility, hurrying over to respond. We are the County Mercenary Group! Watch your mouth, scoundrel! Remember who stands before you and choose your words wisely. At Marcos words, the three mercenaries who had run over twitched their faces. Being noble didnt mean they couldnt get angry. But they quickly assessed the situation and bowed their heads. S-Sorry, sir knight. We deal with rough stuff. . . This head of mine doesnt always listen well. Please forgive us generously! Please forgive us! Johan, who was listening from behind, asked. Do you know the County Mercenary Group? Theyre quite famous. A mercenary group that numbers in the hundreds and survives several years inevitably bes famous. There werent many that made it that far. An experienced mercenary Khan cautiously asked. May I say something? Of course. And feel free to speak your mind anytime. Thank you. The leader of the County Mercenary Group is a bit peculiar. Hes nicknamed the Prophet. . . Hmm? Suetlg also showed curiosity. A mere mercenary having the nickname of a prophet. Prophecy was among the most difficult andplex fields of magic, not something just anyone could do. Ah, thats not to say he can prophesize like wizard-nim! Khan, embarrassed, stuttered. Its just that Mahreet himself is so uncanny in his work, he got the nickname of a prophet. Avoiding dangerous assignments, participating in profitable battles, and evading formidable enemies. . . After doing such things a few times, a mercenary leader naturally earns a nickname. This also builds trust among mercenaries. Although the life of mercenaries was marked by sword and blood, they tended to be superstitious. In this regard, the leader of the County Mercenary Group more than qualified as a leader. Are we going to fight? If they dont clear the way, we might have to. For Johan, waiting or turning back was easy, but now he was carrying several gs and names. Yielding to mere mercenaries would be too great a loss. If we catch the leader, give me a chance to ask him some questions. Dont worry. I was nning to ask as well. Captain! Captain!! Whats themotion? A man adorned with ornaments on his arms and neck frowned as he stepped out of the tent. He was Mahreet, the leader of the County Mercenary Group. I told you to block the bridge, why are you crossing? Do you miss the taste of the whip? Its not that! The nobles havee! Nobles?! Mahreet was taken aback, so much that his stern voice faltered. It was a problem on a different level than mere travelers. What should we do? Shall we give way? ! Mahreet struck the cheek of the mercenary who spoke. Dont talk nonsense! Go and block them by any means. Persuade, coax, or threaten. . . How can we threaten them?! If they try to pass, tell them even if they are nobles, we will fight! Just make some excuse, you fools! Say were following the orders of a noble whose name we cannot reveal. Just make them back off. Mahreet fiddled nervously with a ring on his finger. He had a bad feeling about the dream he hadst night! . . , ! Mahreet believed in the prophecy, which had never been wrong before. Wait. Isnt that Caenerna? You must be joking. . . Oh. Suetlg was also surprised. Among the mercenaries on the bridge, there was a red-haired wizard. Looks like they hired her. Shes quite skilled. With such abilities, it wouldnt be difficult. . . .But why is she tied up? . . . . . . Johan and Suetlg were agape. Caenerna was captured as a prisoner! Is that woman really the wizard Caenerna? Even wizards are human! Wait, why am I defending Caenerna? They checked again in disbelief. No matter how many times they looked, Caenerna was indeed captured. The mercenaries were circling around, shouting things like ! !. Chapter 74: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 74: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) The atmosphere was so menacing it felt like someone could be killed at any moment. Johan immediately drew his sword. Thinking of saving [her]? Is there a better way? No. . . its a good idea. Suetlg nodded. It was a good idea to save [her]. It was customary for a wizard to return a favor. Only, it was Johan who had tried to kill Caenerna three times just recently! Gerdolf, follow me! Without waiting for a response, Johan spurred his horse. Gerdolf, without asking, drew his weapon and followed Johan. Traditionally, a wizard was a profession that received respect and courtesy from others. However, when things went awry, the wizard was often the first to be bound and sacrificed. Just like now! Dealing with magic inevitably invited fear. Nothing was more frightening than what one could not understand. Such rotten luck. Caenerna thought this, sighing. There was a saying, , but who would have thought it would apply to themselves? Looking at the current situation, it seemed advising the Emperor was out of the question; taking care of oneself was priority. An uncertain misfortune, with no clear starting point. Losing the knights brought along was tolerable. She could leave the city with a few servants and ves. The preparations were a bit naive given the dire circumstances, but Caenerna had a n. The idea was to discreetly join a nearby trading caravan. With Caenernas abilities, winning the merchants favor was more than possible. The problem was encountering crazed mercenaries spouting things like - and , . There were fanatics in the world, so devoted that not even a needle could prate their belief. The mercenaries Caenerna met were of this sort. Caenerna knew that mercenaries were superstitious, but not to this extent. Their ears were so closed that not even Caenernas powerful words could prate. I said I am not a witch. Dont lie, witch! The merchants said they saw you using magic! That was pure magic, not evil sorcery. I am an advisor to the Emperor, a court wizard. . . Cover your ears! This witch is trying to bewitch us! Block it! The captain said to cover our ears! . . . . . . There are times in life when one is trapped in a dilemma. Caenerna intuitively knew this was one of those moments. A wizard, even in desperate situations, did not resort to meaningless struggle. Give me a chance, and I will prove I am a wizard. Ha! As if wed believe that! Youre going to execute me anyway, right? Throw me into the fire. Then, Ill show you magic. Some of the mercenaries seemed intrigued by these confident words. No! The captain said to throw the witch into water. Indeed. . . anticipating witchcraft, he said that. But how can a witch y tricks if thrown into fire? Dont know. Maybe escape. Then isnt it the same with water? Go tell that to the captain. Throw the witch into water! Throw the witch into water! Caenerna looked up at the sky, sighing. If she survived this, she vowed to burn that captain! ? - From the other side of the bridge, two knights rushed forward at full speed. The mercenaries screamed and threw themselves out of the way. Normally, those who should have blocked the way, but if they were loyal enough to throw themselves in front of charging knights, they wouldnt be working as mercenaries. What. . . what are you doing, you fuc Idiot! They are nobles! . . .Honorable ones! Even though the mercenaries almost got hit by the horses, they couldnt curse and just nced around. Johan looked at the mercenaries and spoke. Whats the difference between a wizard and a witch? . . . . . . . . . . . . Do we really need to ask that question now? Even while bound, Caenerna spoke out of disbelief. There really wasnt much difference between a wizard and a witch. A wizard that needed to be hung for being evil was simply called a witch. With such limited knowledge, the mercenaries couldnt respond. Isnt she a witch since she uses magic and crossed the bridge? The leader said shes a witch. How do you prove someone is a witch? If you throw them under the bridge and they float, doesnt that make them a witch? And if they sink? Then shes not a witch. . .? Huh. Chillingly logical. Realizing that Johan was toying with the mercenaries, Caenerna opened her mouth. . . .Wouldnt you help me since youre here? You prayed for a future filled with pain and glory for myself, but it seems your future is also full of pain and glory. Caenernas face reddened slightly at Johans mockery. Normally, such petty taunts wouldnt shake her, but the situation was different now. A situation truly embarrassing for a wizard! Sorry, but that person is not a witch. A wizard. . . albeit a bit sloppy, which is odd, but still a wizard. A noble guaranteed by the Emperor himself. Despite Johans words, the mercenaries were not easily swayed. Once they believed something, they stuck to it. In the mercenaries eyes, Johan looked like a knight bewitched by a witch. When the mercenaries blocked the way and refused to move, Johan chuckled. Are you refusing to listen? Right now, Sir Knight, youre under a witchs spell. Hmm. So it is. ? The mercenaries were taken aback when Johan agreed so easily. What did he mean? They soon found out. Gerdolf charged and punched the jaw of a mercenary standing in front, knocking him down instantly. He was quite burly, but upon taking a direct hit from Gerdolfs fist, he copsed. What. . .? Johan strode forward and grabbed the cor of a nearby mercenary, then threw him. He threw him effortlessly, not exerting much strength, yet the mercenary flew over the bridge and sshed into the river. A terrifying disy of strength. The mercenaries couldnt even muster the courage to draw their weapons, stunned. Will you move aside? But the witch. . . Right. Dont move aside. Aaaagh! Another mercenary flew off the bridge. Those watching from behind were astonished by the bizarre scene. Mercenaries flew over the bridge like birds and started sshing into the river. Ugh! Urgh! Though they werent tied up and could swim, the river was cold. The mercenaries trembled and desperately swam towards the shore. If you want to draw your weapons, go ahead. Johan said so, but the mercenaries dared not. They knew. Johan and Gerdolf were deliberately not drawing their weapons. If this fight turned bloody, they would be the ones at a loss. The mercenaries looked into Johans eyes. His steady gaze held the power of a strong spirit. Facing his gaze, the mercenaries involuntarily sumbed to a sense of defeat, losing their will to fight. Slowly but surely Eventually, the mercenaries surrounding Caenerna stepped aside. Johan had subdued the mercenaries on the bridge without swinging his sword even once. Johan stood in front of the fallen Caenerna. Caenerna, saying nothing, looked up at Johan. A strong will to not lose her dignity as a wizard was evident. Theres no need to mock a weak opponent. Johan reached out his hand to Caenerna. . . !! When Gerdolf tried tosh out at Caenerna, Johan, rmed, grabbed his arm. Why do you do this? This wizard is not an enemy. Ah. I am sorry. Caenerna breathed a sigh of relief. She felt unlucky to be involved with this knight, Johan. Im sorry about this. Get up. . . .I am grateful for your kindness. Gerdolf. Take this wizard and protect her well. Donty a hand on her. Yes. I will remember that. I will not hit. Even if she looks suspicious, dont throw her into the river. Yes. I will not throw her. And. . . yes. Dont whip her. Yes. I will not whip her. Caenerna took Johans hand. She spoke in a tired and earnest voice, devoid of any leisure. . . .I would be grateful if you just let me walk on my own feet. Mercenaries may be reluctant to confront nobles, but that doesnt mean they just say yes, yes and do nothing when faced with a noble. A good example was when a noble arrogantly tried to enter the mercenaries encampment without permission. They kept silent when blocking the bridge, as it could be excused for a band of rogues, but uninvited visits to the encampment were a different matter. In terms of principle and custom, the mercenaries held the upper hand. Even nobles risked being killed by sword if they tried to enter forcibly. After all, not all of the nearly hundred mercenaries were fools. Thats why Mahreet thought he was still dreaming when he heard that a knight was outside his tent. . . .Who did you say is here? What do you mean by that? Sir Knight is waiting outside. And what did you guys do? . . . . . . Motherf*cking idiots! Mahreet abruptly stood up. Could it be that despite there being at least dozens of mercenaries awake, no one stopped the knight froming here? It was so unbelievable that it felt unreal. Its not like the mercenaries collectively turned foolish, nor did the knight use magic. . . Suddenly, remembering the prophecy, fear surged through him. To think that this would happen even though he acted ording to the prophecy. Could this situation be what the prophecy warned about? Bring me my sword and armor! ves hurriedly brought the armor and sword. Mahreet, with a stern face, pushed open the tents door and stepped out. Indeed, there was a knight waiting. Standing proudly on his horse, gazing this way. . . .??? The surrounding mercenaries were just staring nkly, as if this knight was the leader of their mercenary band. Mahreet felt a chill as those who should naturally try to stop him, stood aside, making way as if acknowledging the knight. The dominance he had built over the years leading the mercenaries. It seemed as if the knight had snatched away that dominance just by riding and walking over here. Are you the leader of the mercenaries? . . .Yes, I am. . It was natural for Johan to think so. Mahreet was excessively adorned for a mercenary leader. Even for a knight, isnt it too much to enter the mercenarynd so arrogantly? To Mahreets protest, Johan nodded. Yes. You are right. . . .? Ill give you a chance for revenge. Will you fight? ! Mahreet realized he had underestimated the opposing knight. . . .?! A typical knight would never offer a chance for revenge against mercenaries. They would oppress and insult, but why would they do such a thing against mercenaries? That was exactly what Mahreet had counted on. If Johan insulted the leader in front of the mercenaries, even those who stepped aside as if mesmerized would be enraged! The mercenary leader is the face and pride of the group. Insulting the leader was akin to insulting all the mercenaries. The mercenaries were selfish and self-centered sons of b*tches, but even sons of bitches have their own pride. However, Johan was giving him an opportunity as a warrior, rather than insult or persecution. Oh. . .! Captain! ept it! When else will you get to face a knight like this! As expected, cheers erupted among the mercenaries. They were admiring Johans generosity and magnanimity. The opponent was a knight who came alone to the heart of the enemy and generously offered an opportunity. Mahreet sensed it. If he avoided this offer, he would be a coward. Mahreet subtly evaded the proposal and asked. I must first hear why you, a knight, are here. What brings you here? I came because I heard that some wicked people were blocking the bridge. . . .Alone? Why, did you expect me to bring my soldiers? Mahreet flinched at Johans words. There was confidence in Johans voice. It was clear that he led an elite force. Johan looked around at the mercenaries and said, I could have brought my soldiers, but that would not have been respectful to the warriors here. Right? Laughter full of agreement erupted. Johan was capturing the mercenaries with every word and gesture, masterfully and to his own surprise. Its hard to say, but I have a request from a noble person. . . We are not rogues. You might have heard of our mercenary group. . . Im not sure. Prove it. Johan didnt give his opponent a chance to escape or y any tricks. He nned to seize the dazed Mahreet and finish the job. Prove it. If youre not a coward. . . . . . . The cheers grew louder. Mahreet, as if mesmerized, reached for his weapon. Chapter 75: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 75: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) . Johan thought to himself. Although Johan had instigated such a situation, it wasnt entirely unsurprising. After all, the opponent had little choice. Johan dismounted his horse and drew his sword, intending to defeat anyone he faced without underestimating them. ? However, the opponent did not move. Standing still, the veins near Mahreets eyes became distinct and darkened. The mercenary leader, drooling, began to speak with a trembling hand. . ! It was a chilling voice, deep and powerful, vastly different from before. At this voice, the mercenaries yelled out with a different emotion than before. If the previous cheers were of respect for a brave knight, now they were of fear towards an iprehensible mystery. The leader prophesies! Everyone shut up! The leader is prophesying! Mahreet continued to pour out prophecies towards Johan. , ! - . , ! Johan listened to Mahreets prophecy with an amused expression, not believing a word. Suetlg had advised that prophecies are often wrong and inurate, and Johan, by nature, was far from such blind faith. Arent these just forced, possibly wrong predictions? , - ? . If Johan had been an ordinary knight, he might have panicked at the thought of facing the Emperors forces. However, Johan asked without flinching. Such prophecies I can make too! Is that all? , ! ? Is that all? Tell me more. Cant you see what will happen to your own neck? Johan took a step forward. Then something strange happened. A ck, ghost-like figure began to appear behind Mahreet. Despite this unusual phenomenon of a ck ghost appearing behind someone in broad daylight, the surrounding mercenaries showed no reaction. Johan realized that he was the only one who could see this ghost. . . . . And your neck? . . . So, your neck? With each question, Johan stepped closer. With each step, the ck ghost became darker and more violently agitated, as if it feared Johan. A strong spirit dominates the mystical. Johans unshakable soul shook his opponent. Finally, Johan stood before Mahreet. Now, what do you think will happen to your neck? . . . ! Johan struck Mahreets face. Mahreet flew sideways. Johan spoke fiercely. How dare someone who cant foresee their own future prophesy? Better worry about saving your own neck. Who are you? Come out and face me! , . . . Instead of answering, Johan repeatedly struck Mahreets face. Blood sttered, and his mouth was shut. Without being able to open his mouth, even if he tried to prophesy, there was no way. Eventually, it was the ck ghost that surrendered. Johan was unfazed by dozens of prophecies, but the ghost could no longer endure. Above Mahreet, a ck mass billowed and bloomed. Only now visible, the mercenaries screamed in rm. My God! What is that?! Its a malevolent spirit! A malevolent spirit! Johan caught the malevolent spirit. Not with a silver-ted sword or blessed ash wood, but with his bare hands. However, the strong power of Johans soul enabled him to grasp the malevolent spirit with his bare hands. Once caught, Johans formidable strength was unleashed. Johan exerted all his strength to crush the malevolent spirit. As his grip intensified, the malevolent spirit screamed silently. My name is Valkalmur! Valkalmur! Spare me, Sir Knight! As a humble spirit, I will serve you! The true names of all things mysterious and bizarre were the source of their power. The moment the true name was revealed, the entity became subservient. Unable to withstand it and revealing its true name, the form of the malevolent spirit vanished as if melted by light. And Johan deeply realized from within his soul that he had subdued this malevolent spirit. Its getting toote. Crossing the bridge with mercenaries, Suetlg looked at the camp with a subtle expression. Although Johans confidence as a knight was understandable, Suetlg was a wizard. To a wizard, bravery and foolhardiness were not much different. Who wouldpensate for the bravery if an unlucky arrow flew in and cut off the breath? Sir Gerdolf. It seems we must go to aid Sir Johan, but entering with soldiers might cause misunderstanding. Can you manage if its just you and me? Even if the opposition had a fierce formation with raised spears, Gerdolf would have agreed. Gerdolf nodded without hesitation. Then lets go! Move aside! I need to see your leader! Suetlg and Gerdolf spurred their horses towards the main gate of the fiefdom. As the two charged alone, the mercenaries, unable to stop them, stepped aside in confusion. It didnt seem like an attack, and the fact that they had already been allowed to pass once yed a big part. After passing the main gate, it was easier inside. The mercenaries were nowhere to be seen, perhaps due to somemotion within. Reaching the center of the fiefdom easily, Suetlg was startled by the sight in the distance. Johan was grappling with a malevolent spirit with both hands, trying to tear it apart. ??! It was unclear how one ended up wrestling with a malevolent spirit barehanded in broad daylight, but it had to be stopped. Entities like spirits or malevolent spirits should not be recklessly confronted by non-wizards. Even well-prepared wizards sometimes failed to subdue them and got devoured, let alone someone who wasnt a wizard. Suetlg frantically searched for blessed holy water and elixirs. But it was unnecessary. The form of the malevolent spirit had disappeared. It was unbelievable, but there was only one reason: Johan had subdued it. Suetlg made the sign of the cross, something he hadnt done in a long time. God. . . if you were to show a miracle, it would have been enough to show it in my youth. . .! ??? Suetlg first checked Johans hand. Fortunately, it was intact without a single wound. The situation was more serious for Mahreet, who had been beaten badly. Mahreet was gasping for breath, spewing foam. W-Wizard-nim. Milords condition is a bit. . . Give this potion to your master. He will be fine soon. T-Thank you! Although outsiders were using the leaders tent as they pleased, no mercenary dared to speak up about it. They had just seen Johan subdue a malevolent spirit. Suetlg listened in as much detail as possible to what had happened to Johan. It was unbelievable, but Suetlg tried his best to believe it. What did I subdue? A malevolent spirit. Normally, its impossible to subdue it like that. . . It seemed the mercenary leader was called a prophet for a reason. With a malevolent spirit dwelling in him, it must have appeared to the mercenaries as if he was making prophecies. Can a malevolent spirit make prophecies? Anyone can prophesize. But a malevolent spirit never gives a proper prophecy. It leads people to ruin with malicious mockery and pranks. This mercenary leader was quite sessful, wasnt he? It was just his luck. Among many prophecies, those of the malevolent spirit were particrly poor in quality. Initially granting glory, but soon dragging one into a quagmirethat was the nature of its prophecies. The best way was to simply ignore them. Ignoring them, be it spirits or malevolent spirits, they couldnt interfere. Suetlg noticed that Johan was not at all swayed by the opponents prophecy. The strength must have frightened and shaken the malevolent spirit. At first, only I could see them, and not the mercenaries. Why is that? Perhaps its because youve faced many evil things. Like the Death Knight. . . Living in close proximity to mystery makes one closer to it. Johan, who had subdued a Death Knight, found it not strange to see a malevolent spirit dwelling in someone. So, how does it feel to have used magic? ? I asked, how does it feel to have used magic? Is this magic? Butst time. . . Suetlg nodded. To wield magic, one needs to be interested in and understand the mystery. But there were always exceptions. Right. It requiresplicated procedures and processes. You have to be interested in the mystery. But sometimes, even someone who knows nothing can perform magic with innate talent and instinct alone. Like a gravedigger who has lived near a tomb for a long time, casting exorcism spells with chants learned from ancestors, or a shepherd wandering all their life, predicting the future just by looking at the stars. What you showed is simr. Taming the malevolent spirit with the power of voice and soul, thats magic. Well, if you think about it, I subdued it with strength. . . .Well, anyway. Johan summoned Valkalmur from his soul. A small ck shadow flickered on the palm of his hand. Once his true name was revealed and subdued by Johan, Valkalmur was no longer a malevolent spirit scheming evil. It had be merely a strand of dark power, stripped of intelligence and voice, and subjugated. There was less Johan could do with Valkalmur than he had thought. It was barely stable enough to lift a sheet of paper. Thinking magic is not all that special, arent you? ! No need to be surprised. I felt the same at the beginning. Getting into magic is just the start. Isnt that how it is with everything in the world? Gradually, youll be able to do more. Just keep an interest and explore. I understand. Johan had intended to practice with this power he had acquired at his leisure. Suetlg looked at Johan as if it was nothing new. But to subdue a malevolent spirit with your voice. . . You might be well-suited to be a priest. Traditionally, priests were better at handling such malevolent spirits than wizards. A deeply faithful priest could scare off a malevolent spirit with just his voice. Actually, more with fists than with my voice. . . If anyone asks, say you subdued it with your voice. That sounds more usible. Suetlg spoke decisively. Subduing a malevolent spirit with a voice seemed more usible than with fists. The former sounded like a person full of faith, while thetter seemed more like a brute. As the mercenaries whispered rumors that , Mahreet woke up. Suetlg, who was beside him, looked at Mahreet and asked. You must have slept soundly for once, without any nightmares. How. . . How did you know? Mahreet, not knowing who Suetlg was, felt overwhelmed by his aura and spoke to him respectfully. Havent you always had nightmares, seen your own death in the future, and sometimes felt like you were not yourself? No! How did you know?! Mahreet was startled. There was a mysterious aura about Suetlg, making Mahreet certain that Suetlg was a wizard. Wizard-nim, please help me! No matter how much I follow the prophecy, the shadow of death does not leave me! Do you wish to escape the unfortunate prophecy? Yes! Then do not believe in the prophecy. That will allow you to escape it. . . .Thats such nonsensical talk. . .ugh. Only then did Mahreet notice Johan beside him. Johan, with hisrge build, sat up and asked Mahreet. Are you hurt? . . .Yes? Mahreet took out a bronze mirror and looked at his face. It was swollen and in a mess. ??! I tried to control my strength, but the malevolent spirit was so strong that I couldnt help it. Sorry about that. It was a lie. Even if the malevolent spirit had been weak, he would have hit hard. Suetlg consoled the confused Mahreet and exined what had happened. The revtions that it was not divine revtion or blessing that had given him prophecies, but a malevolent spirit, and how he had narrowly escaped death due to good fortune. Then, that malevolent spirit. . . A devout knight here banished it with a prayer. Be thankful. It wasnt something just anyone could do. I have received a favor so great I could never repay it in a lifetime! Sir Knight, thank you! Even Mahreet, who was not a wizard, knew how remarkable it was to vanquish a malevolent spirit. He bowed down in front of Johan. Chapter 76.1: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 76.1: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Suetlg soothed Mahreet with a familiar expression. As a wizard who had lived a long life, Suetlg had often received such gratitude. Johan was a knight, but it was good to watch once if he was going to handle magic in the future. To handle magic means to receive both fear and respect from others. Even a wizard like Caenerna could be thrown into the water if unlucky, what about an inept wizard? A wizard must know how to soothe and captivate their opponent. Rise. Your body might not have fully recovered yet. That. . . Now that I think about it, my body feels heavy and my head aches. . Yes. Its because the malevolent spirit has left. But you are young and healthy, so you will recover soon. Grateful for Suetlgs words, Mahreet repeatedly expressed his thanks. Suetlg gave him a few more pieces of advice. Do not wear unnecessary ornaments, do not fall for anyones temptation, and drink salt water in a silver cup with the moon reflected in it every fortnight. . . Listening, Johan became curious and quietly asked. What is that, thest thing? Is it some kind of magic? Nothing really. But it eases the mind. That man looks rough but is very fearful and superstitious. Doing this will calm his mind so he wont fall for suspicious whispers. Suetlgs words were true. After all, Mahreet was moved as if he had heard some great secret. He immediately called the mercenaries to lift the blockade on the bridge and treated Johan with great respect. It was as if amoner was serving a knight. Caenerna would know more about summoning spirits or malevolent spirits than I do. . . . . . . Caenerna sighed tiredly at Suetlgs words. You think its too much to ask me to reveal my magical visions to someone else? Dont beat around the bush. Im a wizard too. Caenernas words might have worked in the Emperors court, but this was a mercenary tent. Moreover, the ones present were Johan and Suetlg. Her words were least effective on them. And Im not asking you to teach me your vision. Just a few simple pieces of advice. If its about exorcising a malevolent spirit, a priest might be a better choice. I could write you a rmendation if you want. If it was about exorcism, I would have sought a priest. But this knight needs a method to control them. Caenerna wondered why Suetlg was doing this. A knight, not a wizard, what difference would a few pieces of advice make in controlling a spirit? It could even be more dangerous if done rashly. Was he trying to endanger Johan? But Suetlg hadnt given any sign of that. Then was it for his own curiosity? No, the philosopher of the Ipal River had no interest in spirits or malevolent spirits. If he had, he wouldnt have been beloved by the river. Its probably useless even if you listen. . . It is useful. Ive subdued a malevolent spirit. ?! Caenerna was truly surprised at Johans quietment. This knight subdued a malevolent spirit? Not exorcism. . .? Exorcism could be done by non-wizards with some luck, but subduing a spirit was a different level. How did he do it? Suetlg smiled wryly. It was always pleasing to see a wizard like Caenerna curious. Curious? . . .Yes, I am. We answered your questions sincerely. Dont forget that. Caenerna was annoyed by Suetlg who even made debts in such situations, but she couldnt help it. She was genuinely curious. Caenerna nodded. This knight subdued the spirit with a strong voice and the power of his soul. Indeed. . . A natural talent. . .! Others might have scoffed, but they were wizards. Caenerna understood immediately. Moreover, the strength of Johans soul was impressive. She had never seen such a soul even in the Emperors court. And also violence. . . Violence? Nothing. Just a joke. Now, will you give the advice? . . . . . . Caenerna ran her fingers through her red hair and let out anguid sigh. Just the two of us. Without that wizard. As you wish. Suetlg, having no real interest, quickly left. Caenerna pondered where to start. She murmured an indecipherable spell in a low voice, and mes sprang from her hand, splitting into several streams and decorating the inside of the tent. Surprisingly, the fire did not burn the items in the tent. Do you realize what I have just done? Did youmand a spirit? As Caenerna chanted a spell, a wave of power emanated from deep within her. Johans perception of the mystical had grown stronger since subjugating the malevolent spirit Valkalmur. , . Yes. I have made a pact with this spirit. I cannot tell you the method. Itsplex and not something that can be shared with others. Im not curious about that. Now, for Johan to contract with a spirit usingplex spells and magic circles, it would take ages. He just wanted to skillfully control whatever he caught. I pay the price and make a request, and the spirit fulfills it for a fee. There are things a spirit cannot do, and sometimes, there are things it can do but wont. Spirits are capricious. Equivalent exchange. There was little difference between spirits and malevolent spirits. Although a spirit bes a malevolent spirit when it is nasty and evil, from a human perspective, spirits often felt malevolent too. The key for Johan was to understand what the spirit could do and pay the price for it. In cases like Johans, where one discovers and subjugates the true name of a malevolent spirit, one could be said to have absolute control. However, this didnt mean tasks could be ordered without any cost. Then? Since it was subdued within the soul, the energy of the soul must be paid as a price. Handling a spirit beyond ones capabilities could result in spitting blood and copsing. However, for a strong knight like Johan, he could easily recover with just a little rest. You will have to understand for yourself what the malevolent spirit can do. But dont forget one thing: always remember that what youre controlling is a spirit. Wizards who became arrogant from controlling spirits always met their downfall. They deluded themselves into thinking they were masters of the spirits. ? Arrogance was a word too distant for Johan. Valkalmur. Chapter 76.2: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Chapter 76.2: ?????????? ?????????????? (??) Johan summoned the malevolent spirit and directed it towards the tip of his dagger. The de of the dagger turned as ck as a moonless night sky. Caenerna watched with interest. Johans skill in handling the malevolent spirit was quite impressive. The spirit seemed to be following him properly. ? ? Ive been thinking about cursing weapons like this. What do you think? It doesnt seem bad. A malevolent spirit would be skilled in curses. But. . . ? Is it right for a knight? Seems like a dishonorable act? . . .Of course, I was just asking. I have no intention of using it in battle. Johan quickly covered up. Caenerna, unaware of Johans true nature like Suetlg, nodded with a so be it expression. , . . Did you say youre going to the territory of Duke Brduhe? Mahreet asked with a tone of surprise. The territory of Duke Brduhe in the southeast of the Empire was so vast and powerful that it was called a duchy. However, that did not mean it was a peacefulnd. From the east, fierce barbarians raced across the ins to attack, from the south, heretics from another empire were constantly watching for opportunities, and nearby minor kingdoms plotted conspiracies to expand their influence. The eastern part of the Empire was known as a roughnd of opportunity, even among mercenaries. Yes. Why do you ask? Sir Knight, we were just returning from the east. ! Mahreet and the County Mercenary Group happened to be returning from a mission in the east. How was it? The east? Always the same. Monsters are terrible, people are tough, barbarians are fierce. . . Oh, I once saw Duke from a distance. He was a remarkably handsome man. Duke Brduhe, now middle-aged, was renowned as a great leader. In the troublesome eastern part, his name held absolute authority. Many serfs prayed in his name. What about the people? Sir Knight, how would someone like me know that? I only met the steward briefly. But he seemed like a fine man. Why is that? Because he paid the wages on time and generously. This was expected, but many nobles failed to do so. Wage dys weremon in mercenary employment, and mercenaries oftenpensated for these dys through looting and post-war rewards. It wasnt for no reason that mercenaries were restless. Good to hear hes not stingy. Are you going to meet the Duke, Sir Knight? Indeed. . . Mahreet was amazed at Johans words. He thought Johan was exceptional, but actually going to meet Duke Brduhe? Why did you return from the east? The winter was cold, and the mercenaries were discontent. Staying longer in the east seemed like it might lead to a real rebellion. . . . . . . . . And also the prophecy. . . ahem. Hearing this, Johan got a sense of what the east was like. He nodded. Before Johan left, Mahreet spoke earnestly. Sir Knight. I may be a humble mercenary, but I understand what gratitude is. If you ever need my assistance, please do not hesitate to call upon me. I will risk my life toe to your aid. Dont take the risk of your life lightly. It devalues it. . . . . . . But Ill remember your words. I wont forget your honor. Yes! As Johans party left, the sub-captains approached Mahreet. Couldnt you have followed that Sir Knight, captain? He seemed toe from a good family. . . Mercenaries were superstitious, Mahreet no less so. To them, Johan was like a revtion. A knight who alone invaded a mercenary camp and banished a malevolent spirit! To the mercenaries, unaware of the true situation, it seemed almost like a revtion. As if following the prophecies of Mahreet, they desired to follow Johan. Hes heading east. Huh. Hmm. The sub-captains were appalled. Not just their subordinates, but they themselves detested the east. After finally returning to the Empire, they wanted to rest until spring warmed the weather. No need to worry. Hell be back soon. Captain! Are you making a new prophecy? Although Johan was not an eastern noble, nor were Jarpen or Abner, the mercenaries misunderstood it as Mahreet making a prophecy. The malevolent spirit was gone, but the mercenaries still believed Mahreet to be a prophet. None refused when offered a convenient lie. Mahreet nodded. Exactly. Oh. . .! What else hase forth? Joining at that time will bring great fortune. As expected. . .! I thought so! The sub-captains epted without doubt. People tend to believe what they want to hear. Mahreet looked at his subordinates. He felt both pity and disdain, reminiscent of his own past self, once deceived by a malevolent spirit. . . . Seeing this, he felt he could lead the mercenaries for many more years. Farewell. And take care. ? After the party left, Caenerna also prepared to depart. She left with just a few ves. Whys that? It seemed oddly meaningful for a farewell. Youre getting better at understanding the undertones. Yes, there was a deeper meaning. As you know, I am a wizard. I trust old sayings. . Do you know it? I do. Caenerna is a great wizard, but she has faced misfortune twice. No matter how great, one cant avoid the tide of bad luck. It wouldnt be surprising if it happened a third time. Ah, but surely. . . Johan chuckled. That mercenary band was truly an unavoidable misfortune, but surely such an incident wouldnt happen again. Dayster, Johan spotted a familiar figure fleeing on horseback, enveloped in a cloud of dust. Caenerna was being chased by a band of rogues. . . . . . . . . . . . . Prepare for battle, charge! Chapter 77.1: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) Chapter 77.1: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) The soldiers immediately drew their weapons without hesitation at Johansmand, a testament to their training. The orderly momentum of the army was easily recognizable from afar. The spectacle of the troops quickly aligning side by side made their pursuers stop in their tracks. Any sensible rogue would not engage with dozens of well-armed warriors. The band of rogues slowly retreated. Shall we pursue them? No, its fine. Johan restrained Marco. While they could win the fight, he did not want to waste time battling in such a ce. . Johan and Suetlg seemed as incredulous as Caenerna about the situation. She rode her horse slowly towards them and stopped in front. Really bad luck today, isnt it? . . . . . . Despite Suetlgs call, there was no response. Caenernas face seemed devoid of energy. Johan spoke up. Should I offer some constion? No need. A viper dies if it eats anything other than poison. Dont bother with pointlessfort. Suetlg-nim, even vipers eat normal snake food. . . People in this world often had limited information. They were unaware or misinformed about things outside their knowledge. Johan once seriously heard someone say, . . . .Really? I didnt know that. Anyway, dont offer emptyfort to that wizard. It might sound like mockery. If it sounds like mockery, its because of their twisted disposition, not mine. . . . . . . Suetlg was slightly impressed. Johan was not usually eloquent, but asionally he had the ability to strike sharply like an arrow. Caenerna would have bristled if she had heard this. When Johan approached to console her, Caenerna surprisingly did not get angry. Instead, she showed a different reaction. . . .Is it okay if I join you for a while? Johan openly showed his displeasure. Noticing this, Caenerna raised her eyebrows. She was an advisor to the Emperor and a renowned wizard, yet he was openly wary. . . Ill ask Suetlg-nim. Wait a minute. ? My reputation rivals that of the philosopher of the Ipal River, and I hold the position of a court wizard. It was pitiful for a wizard to boast about their own fame, but sometimes it was necessary. Of course, to Johan, it was nothing more than a ? moment. So what am I supposed to do with that. . .? . . .Never mind. Its bound to be worrisome. What are you talking about? Misfortune, thats what. Wizards believe in omens. If one experiences misfortune thrice and fails to recognize any sign, they dont deserve the title of a wizard. A true wizard ought to hear the voice of fate in such signs. Caenerna, skilled in prophecy, might have heard something in this misfortune. Like a voice saying, ? That sounds trivial when you put it that way. . . Its not exactly a direct voice, but more like a revtion. Honestly, if I were in her shoes, having faced thrice misfortune, Id do anything. I havent experienced it myself, but Caenerna, having gone through it, might see things differently. So, is it alright to apany us? Why ask me? Its for you to decide. Arent you worried she might poison your drink? Ah. Thats what you meant. . . As I said before, no need to worry about that. Havent you saved her life multiple times? The wizards debt to Johan was several times more significant and weighty than he imagined. And besides, apanying her would be beneficial given your skills. But? Shes the Emperors wizard. Saving her might be seen as a noble act by you, a knight, but apanying her is different. Remember, others might misunderstand. ? People like the Jarpen, the Abner family, or the soldiers might misconstrue. To those not wizards, a wizard can seem far more suspicious than one would think. It doesnt matter. Oh? Are you sure? Yes. Those with us wont be swayed by such. Johan trusted hispanions and the image he had shown them. Their faith wasnt so weak as to waver just because he was apanying the Emperors wizard. Johans expectation was correct. Even with Caenerna joining, the mercenaries and his family members werent overly surprised. Marco was more shocked than anyone. Is it alright for the Emperors wizard to join us? Sir Johan must have his reasons. But shes the Emperors wizard. . . Arent you a knight of the Emperor? . . . . . . At a loss for words, Marco fell silent. Caenerna asked Marco. Arent you the illegitimate son of Marquis Crucho? Youre still alive. . . .Yes. . . How is the Marquis? How can he be well? Having strongly advocated for a military action that led to defeat, even a Marquis couldnt be unaffected, especially since he couldnt even face the Emperor and was in seclusion. Marcos face darkened. So, why are you here? Im serving with my sword to raise a ransom. Caenerna nodded. It wasnt unusual for knights. Chapter 77.2: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) Chapter 77.2: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) If I get to returnter, please tell him Im sorry. . . For what? For my part in the defeat. . . Caenernaughed softly. The Marquis probably doesnt even remember you? . . . . . . Dont look like that. Its not meant as an insult. But honestly, Marquis Crucho isnt someone who would remember you. Have you ever wondered why you were the only one captured while the other knights fled? To stand up to the crisis of the lord I serve as a knight is. . . Right, right. Its an honor, a privilege, and a duty. No need to say it again. Caenerna waved her hand as if she already knew. But if the other knights fled and you alone were captured, that would be strange. I wont say more. But remember, Marquis Crucho is not someone worthy of such loyalty. It was always a pleasure to tell the truth to a young knight. It was like ying with a newly strung puppet. Caenerna enjoyed manipting people ording to her own interests. Just then, Johan called her from a distance. . Although she had traveled with Johan for a few days, he was hard to figure out. It was rare for Caenerna, who had the power to see through people. Caenerna. Good timing. Why did you call me? Could you light this fire? . . . . . . For a moment, Caenerna thought Johan had called her to insult her. However, there was no particr intent on Johans face. Suetlg, sitting beside him, said, I misspoke. My apologies. ? I said a wizards me is more powerful and mystical than ordinary fire. He got curious hearing that. I can predict the future, but. . . Never mind that. Just light the fire. Johan, with his armor off and dagger in hand, preferred doing things himself, unless it was urgent, even though it could be a ves job. Caenerna lit the fire with a very subtle expression. Oh. Impressive. Caenerna and Suetlg exchanged nces. and was their silent exchange. Then you may go. . . . . . . Caenerna left. As she did, Suetlg cautiously started, Well, I did tell you to do as you please but. . . ? Dont be too harsh. Ah, I wasnt nning on killing. Its not just about being kind or murderous. There are many attitudes in between. Johan wondered why there was discontent. Despite being an Emperors person, Johan never touched Caenerna. He didnt insult her, didnt make her keep watch at night, and treated her as well as he did the nobles in his party, with the best food and drink. Sometimes a wizard can be more hurt by one act of neglect than a hundred insults. ??? . . .Ah, just show some interest. Didnt you show interest in my magic when we first met? Ah, yes. You, Suetlg-nim, lived in a big Count ry and traveled everywhere. Suetlg blushed at Johans sharp memory. Arent you interested in Caenernas magic? Ive already received advice on summoning spirits, and Im curious about fire magic, but. . . Great! Call her and ask! I dont want to be close to someone I dont want to be alone with. Isnt that suspicious? . . . . . . There was nothing to say to that. What can you say to suspicions? And indeed, Caenerna was a suspicious person. Her shallow loyalty made Johans wariness understandable. ! ! Suddenly, Karamaf bristled his fur and began to growl. It was past evening, and the surrounding ins were pitch ck without a single light. Only the campsite was flickering with light. Whats the matter? Be careful for now. Everyone, wake up! Prepare for an attack! Johan awakened the people around him with a voice thundering like thunder. The mercenaries hastily got up at the sudden shout. There was nothing but open ins without a single mountain nearby. Since ambushes were rare in such terrain, the mercenaries were perplexed. What foolish ones would rush through this darkness? Light a fire! Put on your armor! Crossbowmen, rush over! As Caenerna was lighting a fire and returning to the tent, he was amazed. It wasnt the mercenaries experience that amazed him. Of course, they were experienced, but such soldiers could be seen anywhere. What amazed Caenerna was that they moved without a hint of doubt. In the middle of the night, when the enemies couldnt be heard or seen, the fact that no one doubted and just moved. . . It meant that Johan hadpletely taken control of them. Even the experienced mercenaries tended to make their own judgments, but this was something else. Karamaf. Where are theying from? . The wolf turned his head to point in the direction. Johan stared into the darkness as if to re. He could feel a beast-like murderous intent approaching. Johan drew his bow and pulled an arrow. The bow was bent back as if it would break, and the arrow quivered. Even in the surrounding darkness, the arrowhead was seen to darken. Valkalmur! At that moment, responding to Johans cry, the malevolent spirit cursed the arrow. The shot arrow made a vicious sound as it flew. ?! Not seeing anything but hitting something. Even the shooter, Johan, was surprised. A beasts roar erupted from the darkness. A few experienced mercenaries heard the roar and realized the identity of the opponent. Damn it. . . Werewolves! Werewolves! Wake up! You fools! Run out if you dont want to die! Damn these eastern ins. What kind of werewolves roam around here?! Johan quickly reloaded his arrow. Unlike Johan, the werewolves had very sharp night vision. Realizing that Johan was aiming an arrow, one of the werewolves dashed furiously towards him. ! Karamaf unleashed his wildness and bit the werewolfs neck. The werewolf swung its ws in rage, but Karamaf had already created a distance. Well done, Karamaf. ! Johans mace swung, and the sound of a werewolfs head shattering was heard. Chapter 78.1: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) Chapter 78.1: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) When facing a monster of medium size orrger, it wasmon not to engage in closebat. Fighting against a monster with tenacious vitality often resulted in the person copsing first. Only truly prideful knights would dare confront such monsters. Impressive. . .! Therefore, Caenerna had no choice but to be amazed by Johans extraordinary strength. Werewolves, being robust and fierce monsters, could normally withstand a knights attack, but it copsed as easily as a straw bundle. , . In fact, Caenerna had never properly seen Johan in battle. She had seen the chaos in Gulraks warehouse, but that was a frantic melee. The knights were pushed back, but it was a situation where they werent fully equipped. It could have been considered bad luck for the knights. But now, it seemed natural that the knights were overwhelmed. Even if knights were driven by honor and bravery, they were still human, with fears and rational thoughts. Only a very few would dare to face ferocious werewolves without wearing armor. Come at me! The fallen werewolf did not rise again. Werewolves lurking in the darkness did not dare attack upon hearing Johans shout, instead circling the area. Caenerna felt it was time to demonstrate her worth. With a spell andplex movements in the darkness, the mes around the encampment zed fiercely, emitting a blinding light. As the light approached, the werewolves fled into the darkness in terror. Suetlg-nim! Well done! . . .It was me. Oh, really? Well done, wizard. Excellent. Are the crossbowmen ready? Fire as soon as you are loaded! The crossbowmen gritted their teeth. The vast easternnds were home to all kinds of monsters. But encountering werewolves in such ins was unexpected. It was a relief to have Johan by their side; otherwise, they would have been overwhelmed with fear. Any more advice? Johans attitude left Caenerna feelingplex. It was right to acknowledge her abilities as a wizard, but there was an absence of the usual awe or fear one would show, leaving her uncertain whether to be angry or not. Its better to light more fires around and prevent their approach. Have the injured retreat. Werewolf wounds must be treated immediately, or theyll worsen quickly. Also, pair up the soldiers. Understood. Johan called for Gerdolf. Gerdolf. Protect Suetlg-nim. Sir Marco. Lead the knights and move with Stephen. Protect the people of the Jarpen family. Stephen and the Jarpen family were, apart from theirbat abilities, the first to be protected. Having issued his orders, Johan realized he had omitted something. No, Gerdolf. Protect Caenerna-gong. Wait, wait. Caenerna spoke in a hurried voice. She didnt trust Gerdolf, fearing he might turn his weapon on her at any moment. Could I request Sir Marco to escort me? Thats a bit. . . I apologize. It might raise unnecessary suspicions. Marco showed reluctance. Being together with people from the Emperors faction already invited suspicion. Then stay by my side. But be cautious. Im not skilled at fighting while protecting someone. . . .Bear that in mind. As the mes in the encampment grew brighter, the werewolves seemed to realize that their ambush had failed. They skulked in the shadows, circling to find an opportune entry point. Each time the light shone, it revealed the werewolves forms. These bipedal beasts, heads one or two sizesrger than a humans, sent shivers down the mercenaries spines. Their ws appeared sharp and thick enough to split a shield in one strike. ! One, seemingly losing patience, finally lunged. A crossbow bolt fired, burying into its torso. Yet, the werewolf endured, howling. Driven by a desire to repay this pain with blood and flesh, it attacked. Even if the werewolves would fallter, the mercenaries formation was in immediate danger. Johan chanted the name of a malevolent spirit and hurled his spear. Valkalmur! Johan saw clearly how the spear writhed, altering its trajectory to match the werewolfs evasive moves. And the spear pierced the werewolfs chest, unable to withstand Johans force despite its tough hide and muscles. Move aside! Johan rushed forward and decapitated the werewolf with a single strike. As blood sprayed like a fountain, the morale of the werewolves outside the fiefdom plummeted further. They began to flee, howling like beasts. The mercenaries cheers followed them, intoxicated with the thrill of battle and Johans bravery, taunting and cursing the retreating werewolves. Caenerna, taken aback, suddenly realized something. Didnt you say the power of a malevolent spirit isnt to be used in battle? When its urgent, it can be used. Whats the issue? . . . . . . At Johans response, Caenerna was at a loss for words. What exactly is this knight up to? The mercenaries couldnt sleep until dawn broke. They had been attacked by werewolves in the ins; anyone who could sleep after that would have been crazy. Only after the break of dawn could the mercenaries rest. Its quite extreme, even for the perilous east, to have werewolves in the ins. The people of the Jarpen family could not hide their surprise. It was that shocking. Sir Johan. If we go further towards the river, we wille across a town. It might be better to rest in the town, even if its a detour. Sir Knight. Someone ising from the east. ? Chapter 78.2: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) Chapter 78.2: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) Johan, who had been questioning Suetlg and Caenerna about various things regarding the werewolfs body, stepped outside at the mercenaries call. A group of cavalrymen was approaching. They dont seem like a band of rogues. . . Thats the g of Duke Brduhe. They must be warriors under the Duke. Unlike the west or south, the eastern part of the Empire wasmon with nomadic tribes wandering the vast emptynds. Those who embraced the Empires culture and religion became loyal warriors, while those who refused became formidable enemies. The approaching group was carrying the g of Duke Brduhe, along with another g with a unique, unfamiliar pattern. They were clearly warriors serving Duke Brduhe. Centaurs. . .! Centaurs are indeed a rare sight in the Empire. Centaurs, capable of running on four legs from birth and fighting with their arms, always boasted exceptionalbat prowess. While other races raised and trained horses, the centaurs themselves were equivalent to cavalry. Johan looked at the centaur warriors with great interest. Caenerna asked: Doesnt it creep you out? Youre a bit creepy up close, but Im trying not to be, considering what Suetlg-nim said. Nothing to worry about. . . .? Caenerna was puzzled for a moment, then understood the meaning. Johan was talking about her! . . .I was talking about the centaur warriors. Ah. Sorry about that. Dont take it to heart. . . . . . . When Caenerna fell silent, Johan seemed slightly apologetic andforted her. I tend to be a bit wary of wizards, thats all. I hope you can understand. Didnt you conversefortably with Suetlg? The magic I showed yesterday should be enough reason for respect. I demand the same level of respect you show to the philosopher of the Ipal River. When Caenernas indirect words failed to be understood, she spoke more directly. Johan responded in kind. Well, such excuses wont work, I guess. Its unsettling that you are the Emperors advisor. Does that make sense? Caenerna was neither angry nor flustered. Being a wizard, she had learned not to be disturbed by such reactions. She tried to probe and shake Johan to persuade him. . . .As a wizard, I dont pledge loyalty to any one person. So, you neednt worry about that. If you dont pledge loyalty to someone, the same applies to me, right? As a court wizard and a guest, I will follow the customary hospitality, but I dont expect more. To earn my respect, one needs corresponding virtues. Johan spoke bluntly. Suetlg suggested that since Caenerna was apanying them, it was necessary to be a bit more persuasive. Johan was not as stubborn as other knights, and if he wanted to tter, he could do so at any time. Winning Caenernas favor, a distinguished wizard, couldnt be a bad thing. However, Johan thought differently. Wizards might be ustomed to such dealings, but not Johan. He saw no reason to cozy up and perform tricks with someone hard to trust in a situation that wasnt even dire. Caenerna understood Johans point. Approaching a knight who had drawn such a clear line would only backfire. She decided to back off. Did you have a conversation? How was it, did you get closer? At Suetlgs inquiry, Johan replied with a slightly embarrassed voice. We agreed to keep the promises we made since we want different things. . . .Well, then theres nothing we can do. There were ipatible people. Trying to force them together was usually fruitless. Caenerna seemed to have given up on Johan too. It appeared she thought it better to persuade others than to persist with someone like him, who seemed unyielding. Are you from the Jarpen family? The centaurs spoke in a rough Empirenguage. The people of the Jarpen family nodded, holding their banners. We will serve you. This area is dangerousbe careful. Just yesterday, we encountered werewolves. At this, the centaurs looked surprised. The condition of the group was too good for having met a werewolf. There should have been at least a few bodies. What was more surprising was that the werewolves bodiesy in the camp. Who caught these? I caught two of them. No, three. Sir Knight. There was another one dead outside. As dawn broke, a werewolf, pierced by an arrow in a vital spot,y dead, unable to escape. The centaur asked Johan. Are you Johan of the Yeats family? Yes. Indeed. Milord has been waiting for youwaiting quite a bit. The centaur, not fluent in Empirenguage, or perhaps due to different concepts, referred to the Duke as the master. This was despite not being a ve. Gather the bodies! We must show them to Milord. At the centaur warriorsmand, the subordinates collected the bodies. It was their custom to show appropriate trophies when returning from a hunt. Three werewolves would be enough to adorn the reputation of the knight named Johan. You say waiting, what does that mean? Johans question didnt upset the centaur, who readily answered. They respected strong warriors and despised the weak. Johan, having in three werewolves, was worthy of respect. There are knights-warriors waiting for an appointment ceremony. They are prominent young warriors from the east, eager to demonstrate their bravery before Milord. . . .I see. So, its that kind of event. The appointment ceremony was not just about cing a sword on the shoulder and receiving a knights duties. It was a grand festival and an event to prove the honor and authority of the nobility who supervised it. People flocked from all sides, and knights were given the opportunity to prove their bravery. And such opportunities often involved swords and bloodshed. With such distinguished young warriors from the east present, Johan naturally braced himself. A tournament? Or perhaps something else. Sir Knight is enough. Three werewolves. Not an easy feat. It was possible with the help of the soldiers. You dont hunt alone. Everyone gets help. With your skills, Sir Knight, it will be remarkable. I want to see. In the centaur warriors eyes sparkled a mix ofpetitive spirit and anticipation. Johan nodded. If the opportunity arises on our way, Ill show you. The centaurs cheered and roared withughter. This knight from the west seemed to be quite hearty. Chapter 79.1: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) Chapter 79.1: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) Duke Brduhes city, Baien, was nicknamed the Glory of the East. The vast, expansive East had many unexplored territories. There were only a few cities dating back to the ancient Empire era. A little to the north, barbarians and pagans who mocked the name of the Empire swarmed from all sides. Hence, it was natural for others in the Empire to regard the East as barbaric. Baien in the southern East was a city that defied such mockery. A beautiful and massive city dating back to the ancient Empire era. Located at the foothills of the Dwarf Mountains and embracing the Drnal River branching from the Ipal River, this city had never fallen since the ancient Empire era. Even when the ancient Empire copsed and numerous kingdoms and barbarians swept the surrounding areas. The centaur warriors smiled contentedly. Johans expression, as he gazed at the city emerging in the distance, filled them with pride. Am I speaking correctly? Thats quite fluent. Easternnguage is quite difficult, isnt it? The centaur warriors shrugged their shoulders. They looked at Johan as if he was unusual. None of the knights from the Empire bothered to learn thenguage known as Eastern. There was no need for the nobles of the East to learn anguage used further east while speaking thenguage of the Empire. Isnt it more difficult than thenguage of the Empire? Well, maybe for you folks. In fact, theres only one thing to learn in Easternnguage. . ? What does that mean? While other centaurs tried to intervene in confusion, the centaur warrior grinned and exined. Roughly, it means, , , , . Its good to say this before a fight. Ill remember that. Despite the seemingly rude words, Johan chuckled and moved on. It was, after all, a useful phrase. Sir Knight. My name is Acdda of the Alcia tribe. Please remember it. Ill remember. Its a pity I couldnt show my skills. Since the centaurs joined, surprisingly, no monsters were seen. Actually, it was rare to encounter monsters in the ins. There will be an opportunity soon. ? Acddas words sounded quite significant. As Johan was about to inquire about their meaning, he saw arge group setting up camp in the distant ins. With various banners and gs, hundreds of warriors and thousands of people were gathering. They were there to attend the investiture ceremony and to watch it. The orderly gathering of so many people in the field was a spectacle in itself. Sir Knights honor is . Did you just curse at me? Of course not! Ha ha! Sir Knight. Please visit the Alcia tribe. Dont forget the name Acdda. With these words, Acdda raised his arm. The centaur warriors who had finished their escort duty raced ahead, heading towards their tribe. Be careful when dealing with the nobles of the Empire, Acdda. Why is that? I quite liked that knight. We got along well. There are such knights even among the people of the Empire. Acdda spoke cheerfully. His manner of speaking fluently in Easternnguage was a stark contrast to when he dealt with people from the Empire. To the nomadic tribes of the East, the Empire had always been a cautious adversary. This was also true for those who entered the fences of the Empire. They had sworn allegiance as vassals to the Duke, but at the same time, they never let down their guard. They were not dogs, but wolves. And wolves cannot be tamed. Do you know how annoying those Empire folks are? If you meet them on the ins, they are the type to be shot in the neck with an arrow and die. . . Theres some truth to that. You should not believe that the knight caught three werewolves. The braggadocio of those from the Empire is quite serious, isnt it? His eyes didnt seem to be lying. Did you see the expressions of the soldiers behind him? Upon Acddas words, the centaur warriors could not refute. A superior warriors subordinates always had a different expression. The soldiers genuinely revered Johan. In the uing appointment ceremony, I n to show those from the Empire who the real warriors are. Right. Do your best. The Alcia tribe was one of the renowned nomadic tribes nearby, and Acdda was the beloved youngest son of the chieftain. As such, Acdda inevitably heard information about the appointment ceremony. Duke Brduhe was a wise man, and he knew well how useful the Eastern nomadic tribes could be. This uing appointment ceremony was going to be an event for their pride. Hes really handsome. Why is that? Ah. I was admiring how handsome the Duke is. Suetlg chuckled at Johans words. Dukes appearance is famous even in the Empire. How are you getting along with the centaurs? They were affable friends. You must have made them so. A great river epts all streams without discriminating. Just like a great mountain epts even the smallest clod of earth. Is there such a saying? Thats also a good one. Duke Brduhe dismounted quickly upon seeing the group. The people of the Jarpen family were moved by this gesture. Stephen felt the same. Chapter 80.1: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) Chapter 80.1: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) If such words were spoken to other hot-blooded young knights, they would have been seething with anger. The investiture was more than just a ceremony for receiving knighthood. Of course, the title of knight was important, but young knights could not be satisfied with just that. They always wanted to be the most honorable and outstanding knight themselves. Once the Duke awarded the titles to the knights, congratting them in the name of honor and glory, it was their chance to showcase their skills. That was precisely what the tournament was for. As long as you dont make a fool of yourself, its fine, isnt it? Yes. Its an easy position if you just get rid of your pride. Being chosen as the most outstanding knight would spread ones fame in front of the Duke and the crowd, and their name would be known in the east for a while, but it was a poisoned chalice. In such group battles, it was necessary to have luck and connections, though it might be different in one-on-onebat. Except for not using edged weapons, everything else was like war, so not only individual valor but also tactics and strategy were important. In this aspect, knights from powerful families naturally had an advantage. The knights here had already entangled rtionships in the name of their families beforeing. They would move around those rtionships even in the tournament. If it were the Ens Kingdom, it would have been better. ? Elven knights would have chased after you. Ah. . . Johan chuckled, but Suetlg was serious. Im not joking. With my family and more formidable guys around, arent you overestimating me? Knights arent that sharp-witted. . . Oops. Sorry. Its okay to say helmet rack instead of head; feel free to speak your mind. Thanks. If they were as sharp-witted as you, I wouldnt be so frustrated. Knights just follow famous families and knights with high reputations. . . Do they also follow those who fight well? Im serious. It wouldnt be strange for you to have knights following you. It wasnt unusual for other knights to follow a superior knight. In this camp, there were already several groups visible. But not just anyone could be such a knight. To lead knights as subordinates, one needed both reputation and funds, and also skill. No matter how great the family, a knight without skill was soon found out. Arent there any now? Sir Marco? Those guys. . . Leave the process aside and just look at the result. They are following him, arent they? If you say so. Suetlg was giving apliment, and Johan wasnt the type to stubbornly refuse by saying no. Johan decided to ept it happily. Just dont get hurt. Theres nothing more futile than dying in a tournament. Haha. I know. They might be fighting with blunt weapons, but everything else was like realbat. There were quite a few deaths. Of course, people didnt discourage it by saying, ! On the contrary, violence and bloodshed excited them. ! was the cry of the spectators. From Johans perspective, it seemed too much for people who werent even participating. . . This is nonsense! Why are you so upset? These scoundrels, what do they think of the Abner familys name! Let it go. Johan stopped Stephen, who was getting as worked up as if it were his own matter. There was one reason. In a tournament where fighters were divided into two groups, Johan was assigned to the eastern group. . . that is, a group with many barbarians. The Dukes chancellor, inspector, and scribes tried to mix in some knights, but ultimately, choosing which side to aim the spear at was a personal choice. Naturally, influences of friendships and family lineage were inevitable. So, naturally, the knights gathered in the west were from western knightly familiesthose who consider themselves as part of the Empirewhile those in the east were the opposite. Notable nomadic tribes from outside the Empire, barbarian families who had converted only a few generations ago, and even knightly families who had not converted were present. As a result, while most knights in the west were humans with a few elves mixed in, the knights in the east were a diverse mix of humans, centaurs, dwarves, and their attire varied greatly. They must have found it difficult to ce me in the east since Im already familiar with the other guys. Sir Johan. If you tell me, I will go and protest. The people of the Jarpen family also looked stern. Even considering the knightly courtesies for friends, cing Johan from afar in the east was questionable. They could even appeal to the Duke in the name of the Jarpen family. Its really okay. . . I think it would be rude to the knights ced in the east to go andin about it. Trying to build friendships and ending up making enemies. Ah, no. . . but still. Stephen blushed, realizing he hadnt considered that perspective. Stephen and the Jarpen family members were all people of the Empire. To them, the knights were part of the western group, not the east. And Stephen, go easy with the name of the Abner family. If Ulrikees after you, youll have to fend her off yourself. Ive changed too. Of course, I was careful. Stephen grumbled, but Johan didnt believe him and asked Marco. How was it? Chapter 80.2: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) Chapter 80.2: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) Uh? No. . . You can speak freely. Were you. . . quite modest? Why the doubt? Anyway, got it. Marco, looking awkward, tried to change the subject. How was the investiture? Its not the first time talking to the Duke, just felt like he was giving stuff away. . . . . . . Marco was surprised by the much more indifferent response than he had expected. He, as a b*stard, had been so excited about his own investiture ceremony that he couldnt sleep. He vividly remembered bathing and praying all night in the temple. . . What did you receive? A sword, a cloak, and a belt. Considering what he received, he wondered if it was worth the long journey, but the significance was not light. The name and lineage of the Duke were represented in these items. Have you thought about fighting under the Duke? I havent even thought about it yet. It wouldnt be a bad choice to work under the Duke and aim for a fief, now that he had a title. But Johan still found thisnd unfamiliar. The western part of the Empire was at least not too far from where Johan grew up, but this ce feltpletely different. For now, he thought to wait until the tournament was over. Geoffrey. Im Count ing on you. Yes! Just leave it to me. If things look bad, Ill give themand, so dont worry. In the arena, it was the role of servants or ves to carry out a fallen knight. Geoffrey, aware of this, had a tense expression. Johan lightly checked his thoughts and drove his horse towards the knights in the east. Already, more than a dozen knights had finished preparing and were waiting in formation. , , , , . There was nothing particrly special. Losing armor and weapons was painful, but none of the knights present for the investiture ceremony would die without them. Instead, one had to worry about their life. A wrong hit and a broken neck meant death for Johan as well. Sir Knight. Have youe searching for the Alcia tribe as requested? ! A yful voice was heard from the front. Acdda stood in the center of the group, waving his hand with a pleased expression. I thought you would stand with the West since you came from there, unexpected, isnt it? I came here because I like you more. Did you hear? This Sir Knight is such a person. Acdda burst intoughter. Other knights also looked at him favorably. What weapon does Sir Knight use best? Not sure. I seem to manage with a sword. What are you saying! Even though you are a knight! Acddaughed until tears formed. It was too funny for him. He had never seen an Empire knight talk like that. And you? I am best with a bow. Of course, Im not bad with a spear either. . . but Euclyia here is better with it. Say hello. Acddas cousin, Euclyia, had muscles that could be felt even through the armor gaps. It was natural for centaurs to berger than humans, but Euclyia was especially tall among them. Her spear seemed half longer than others. She looked troubled and hesitated to speak. Johan was puzzled. Didnt she want to talk with a human knight from the Empire? He understands the Eastern tongue, so feel free to speak. Ah. Hello, Sir Knight. Pleased to meet you. I look forward to seeing your spear skills. Ah, no! Its really nothing special! So I hope you dont expect too much. Spear skills are ultimately. . . Lets leave it at that. Youre giving it all away. Acdda pped his cousins shoulder and said, Its a pity that you cant use a bow, but what can we do? The Empire desires it, so we must adapt. To receive one, one must give one, right? I see. . . .Wait. What do you mean by receiving one? By the way, Sir Knight! What role do you want in this fight? I, Acdda, will help you get it. Is that possible? Yes, of course. Johan was secretly surprised. It meant Acdda was qualified to be amander among these eastern knights. Was he from a more impressive family than expected? I have no special desires. Besides, you all have more experience fighting together, right? Just ce me somewherefortable and Ill fight my best. Acddas expression became more curious. The more he looked, the more fascinating it was. He just didnt seem like an Empire knight. Sir Knight, do you know youre the most peculiar Empire person Ive ever met? And youre the most peculiar centaur Ive met. Besides me, which tribe have you met. . . Ah, haha! I see what you mean. I understand. Ill ce you somewherefortable. Crowds filled the vast stadium, swarming in such numbers that they packed the area, while the knights lined up orderly from end to end. The sight of over dozens of armed knights looking for an opportunity to charge, facing each other, was magnificent. Despite the noise outside, a chilling tension was palpable. Trumpets and shouts. A fitting response to them. Before reality could sink in, the knights on both sides charged at each other. Johan felt an instinctual cry within. Instinct was shouting within Johan. To crush the skulls and break the necks of those in front! . . Johan slowed his horse, calming his instincts. The first sh was already nearing its end. As the thick dust settled, knights who had been thrown off their horses were visible, swearing and swinging their weapons at each other. Some were immobile, some writhed, and some struggled to escape. The crowd viciously shouted for more fighting, yelling at the knights, whom they would normally not dare to address, to ! ? The Duke revealed a hint of interest in his expression. Even amidst this fierce battle, there were some knights who had not joined the fight. They had been unable to find their ce in the chaotic charge. However, once these knights grasped the situation, they quickly turned their horses and joined the fray. But Johan stood quietly in the middle of the battlefield, as if he hade there alone, with a calm expression. Not engaging in the nearby battles, he waited with his spear, his demeanor inexplicably serene andposed. Even though the Duke couldnt see Johans expression, he strangely felt its impact. For honor! A knight, spotting Johan, charged at him. Hisnce seemed to have broken earlier, as he had drawn his sword. Johan aimed his spear at the opponents shield. The corners of the opposing knights mouth rose in a confident smile. It was a confidence that he could withstand such an impact. Cough! With the collision, the knight was sent flying. Johan, shaking off the tingling in his hand, threw the shattered spear aside. The opponent, having absorbed the full impact, couldnt even rise from the ground. Sir Boriska! How dare this man! Avenge Sir Boriska! Apparently a knight of some renown, the nearby knights fiercely attacked. Johan sensed that things were unfolding differently than he had expected. Chapter 81.1: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) Chapter 81.1: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) I, too, underestimated the situation, as did Suetlg-nim. The tournament was not a ce to casually adjust ones strength and show off. It was a battlefield where notable foes attacked each other on sight. To survive, one had to defeat the oing opponents, and defeating them inevitably drew attention. Yulska of the Gemarti family! Johan of Yeats. Come. Yulska spurred her horse, her long hair flying. Her eyes were filled with anger, but her movements were steady. She, too, seemed like an experienced knight. Be careful of him! Hes the one who defeated Sir Boriska. I know! Ordinary knights, while charging on horseback, did not thrust their spears straight ahead, but diagonally, fearing the impact and subsequent collision. However, Johan thrust directly forward. Whether it was due tock of experience or true confidence in his strength, Johan ultimately won, and Boriska fell. ? Boriska of the Petreo family was a well-known knight in this area, and they were knights who followed him. Johan was unaware of this. The two knights split to either side, aiming to attack Johan. It was clear they could read each others intentions. In this tournament, where fighting with blunted weapons, unconventional methods were necessary to defeat an opponent. Unhorsing them, removing their helmet, breaking their weapons. . . The knights targeting Johan seemed to aim for both unhorsing and helmet removal, attacking fiercely from above. Johan, putting his weight on the saddle, deftly withstood the attack. In mountedbat, quick judgment and horsemanship were more important than excellent swordsmanship. The two knights, failing to finish in one strike, turned their horses again. Thats when Johan counterattacked. Johan, barely breathing, swung his weapon. The two could not synchronize their attack every time. Johan first struck at the torso of the knight who charged first. Once. Twice. Thrice. On the third strike, the knight was unhorsed. Despite blocking the attacks with his shield, Yulska was astonished by the strength that shattered his opponent. But the fight was not over. Johan, strapping his shield to his arm, grabbed Yulskas arm and swung her off her horse. Another unhorsing. Cheers erupted from the stands. To the audience, it appeared as though Johan had defeated two knights at once. Johan of Yeats! The troll yer of Marcel! It was natural for the name of a knight who performed well to spread quickly. Moreover, the mercenaries following Johan excitedly touted his skills. Duke, impressive! To recognize the skill of a new knight at a nce. I couldnt even guess. If you want to know how great that knight is, look at his burning soul. No adornment can hide the soul. Duke Brduhes words left his children in awe. Of course, the Duke was inwardly surprised. . . . Unlike other nobles, Count Jarpen was not the type to make rmendations based on lineage and connections. It was clear he sent someone truly worthy to this eastern region. Duke touched his forehead. He hadnt made a tant mistake, but he was reflecting on his own judgment. . , . Sir Lucas is doing well, Duke. Yes, Im watching. As the initial sh and melee almost ended, the prowess of skilled knights became noticeable. Several knights had already knocked down many and were breaking through the formation. Knights from the west were in a slightly more advantageous situation. The knights from the east, on closer inspection, were mostly warriors from outside the Empire, many of whom were quite different from the Empire-style knights. They preferred lighter armor over heavy metal armor, agile and enduring horses over bulky, muscr ones, and lived by their own customs rather than faith and honor. Naturally, they were at a disadvantage in such Empire-style tournaments. Nheless, knights from the east also made their presence felt. The Duke hoped that they would perform well, or if they lost, they would lose honorably. He watched the unfolding situation with a sharp gaze. If the situation turned too unfavorable for the eastern knights, the Duke nned to dere the fight over in his name. Oh. It might end morefortably than expected. After toppling three knights, no one else dared to attack. Partly because they were too busy focusing on their surroundings, but also because they were wary of Johan. The enemies did not specifically target Johan, who was standing still. The knights engaged in several small skirmishes, getting entangled and separating repeatedly. Thanks to this, the space around them grew more open, giving Johan, who was waiting at a distance, some breathing room. . . . . , . -. Its themander, capture him! If we take down themander, victory will be ours! ! Johan lifted his head. Western knights who had broken through the formation were aggressively attacking Acdda. Acdda, true to his centaur nature, dodged the enemies by jumping here and there, but the knights were relentless, chasing him persistently. As the battle reached its midpoint, if themander were to be unseated or surrender, it was highly likely that the Duke would dere the end of the fight. ! , ! ! ! Surprisingly, the audience cheered for Acdda. Even those who usually disliked centaurs had to acknowledge his honor in this situation. The sight of more than five knights desperately attacking a single person was not considered honorable for knights, perhaps in war, but not here. Why dont you surrender already, centaur! If I had my bow, these humans would have been dead long ago! What about it, why not try one-on-one?! . . . . . . The knights expressions wavered when hit with a painful truth. They believed they couldnt beat Acdda one-on-one. The knights, who would need a lifetime of riding to achieve unity with their horse, were no match for the centaurs who were born with this unity. ! Euclyia, Acddas cousin, joined the fray with a wild Eastern war cry, wielding a spear. Just as the tide seemed to turn, three more knights rushed in to block his cousin. Acdda eximed in a hollow voice. Do you have no pride or honor? The very people who called me a savage are acting. . . just like that. Shut up, you cursed wretch! How dare a centaur speak! Acddas taunts clearly ignited the knights anger. They attacked ferociously, indicating the fight was far from over and bloodshed seemed imminent. The Duke frowned, his hand already gripping his sword. Drawing the sword would signify the end of the fight. And thats when Johan stepped in. Chapter 81.2: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) Chapter 81.2: ???????? ???? ???????????? (??) Strangely, I found myself thinking of the elf knights. They were annoying when we were together, but now that were apart, they somehow seem like decent fellows. Actually, they might have been decent. If it were them, they would have insisted on one-on-one even in that situation. A knight is supposed to be honorable, but. . . If every knight were honorable, why would an honorable knight be praised? Honor is not easy to uphold. Everyone says it must be maintained, but only a few can actually do so, and thats what makes it great. The knights attacking me now were like that too. Johan actually felt a sense of kinship with them. Ah, these knight dastards here are human too! They act just like me in a pinch, despite what they say! But then, Johans eyes met Acddas. Acdda didnt speak, but his proud eyes conveyed a strong message to Johan. It was a plea for help. Getting involved now wouldnt result in a good rtionship with the western knight dastards after its all over, but. . . Johan decided. He would side with the centaur knights. He didnt know which side would benefit more. It could even be a loss. But honestly. . . He found the centaurs more likable than the knight dastards. ! Gasp! As Johan charged forward, shouting in Easternnguage that he would kill their parents and children and bury them together, Acdda stumbled and almost fell. It was truly a first-time experience. What did he say? A knight from the Empire speaking Easternnguage. . .? Those nearby who had fallen off their horses or were scatteredughed uproariously at the sudden use of Easternnguage. Only the western knights were confused. But Easternnguage was just the beginning. If you are a knight, fight one-on-one! Shut. . . Johan swung his sword at the helmet of the most unfortunate knight in front. Sparks flew as the knight rolled to the side. Next was another knights shield. Striking with full force, the enemy fell from his horse as the sword finally broke. Catch. . . The knight, thinking he saw an opening, eagerly tried to mount his horse, but Johan approached first. The knight was taken aback by Johan charging at him unarmed. ?! ! Johan snatched the mace from the knights hand. Confused at having his weapon taken, the knight looked at Johan, who responded with the mace. In an instant, three were rolling on the ground. Johan joined Euclyia with a war cry. ! The opposing knight, witnessing all this, showed remarkable judgement. He turned his horse and fled. Even though fleeing the scene was a shameful and dishonorable act for a knight. Such was the fear Johans presence instilled. Loud jeers followed the fleeing knight, and Johan mercilessly struck down the knights who didnt flee. No knight, even with a shield, could maintain bnce after several hits from Johan, especially on horseback. ! ! ! Speak slowly, I cant understand when you say it like that! Responding to the excited centaur knightess, Johan turned his horse. The knights attacking Acdda were distracted and unaware of the situation behind them. Only when Johan joined them with a demonic face did they turn at the urgent cries. ! ! Uh-huh! A knight fell off his horse in a rather absurd manner without even being hit. It was a result of sheer panic, losing grip on the reins and tumbling to the side. The audience burst intoughter, almost losing their minds in the uproar. . . . Stephen thought to himself. While the onlookers wereughing, it was indeed a situation where falling off the horse wouldnt have been surprising. Johans momentum had something beyond just a knights prowess. It seems youre delighted with Sir Johans performance! Ah. . . Of course, indeed! Sir Johan has taken down another one! ! ! The excitement reached its peak. Johan, entangled with the knights, took a few hits while charging in. He absorbed the impact on his back and shoulders, enduring it with his muscles. He certainly reaped the rewards. Though the attacks were exchanged, Johan was the only one standing. Damn it! Is Sir Knight even human?! Look ahead, you fool! Haha! Im watching! Acdda cheered and swung his spear. Johan had unseated all the other knights, but left the leader-like figure alone. It was Lucas of the Lachio family. Even though Johan could have taken him down, he yielded to Acdda, prompting the audience to cry out, ! This honorable conduct, so different from the knights in the west who attacked in groups, set the crowd aze. Johan shouted in Eastern tongue. Do you wish for assistance from behind? No, Im fine! Acdda shouted back, sweating. He was tired from continuousbat, and Sir Lucas was no easy opponent. Lucass horse, particrly exhausted, was panting heavily. Acdda, more aware of Lucass horse than Lucas himself. Although he might have been inferior to Lucas in pure weapon skill. . . ! Instead of shing swords, Acdda collided with Lucass horse. The horse neighed and toppled to the side. Sorry, youre an honorablepanion! Acdda apologized to the horse in Eastern tongue and quickly pointed his sword at Sir Lucass throat. Lucas, trying to pick up his dropped weapon, resigned with a look of defeat. . . .Ive lost. Eastern knights still energetic enough to yell, raised their weapons high in the air. It was a clear victory. Chapter 82.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Chapter 82.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) As soon as the oue was decided, the Duke realized he was gripping his sword tightly. His palms were sweaty. He had been watching so intently. As a ruler, one must coldly orchestrate tournaments to derive political gains. Getting lost in the excitement of such tournaments was something ordinary people did, not the Duke. Duke, reflecting on this, quickly spoke up. The contest ends here! I will not allow any further duels in the name of Brduhe. Serfs, servants, and ves, go inside and bring out your masters. Bless the knights who fought honorably! The audience responded with apuse and cheers, grateful for the Dukes generosity in hosting such an event. It was said that a well-conducted tournament could bring peace to the region for years. Such was the events impact in establishing the hosts authority and captivating the people. Now, only one thing remained. It was time to choose the tournaments winner. The bishop and abbot seated next to the Duke made the sign of the cross before speaking. It must be hard to choose. He doesnt have such a sense, does he? Originally, it was customary for the winner to be themander of the victorious side. And Acdda of the Alcia tribe was more than qualified to receive it. Even Lucas of the West had brought down his opponents and won the victory himself. The problem was that there was another knight who had made a significant impact in the tournament. Johan of the Yeats family. Although he did not actively fight in the tournament, the majesty he disyed was unmatched by anyone. His charge with thence, knocking down knights and saving Acdda, was truly remarkable. Because of this, he was already extremely popr among the crowd, even though he was not originally a knight active in the east. Even the Duke was surprised by this. At this rate, if Johan does not be the winner, there could be dissatisfaction among the crowd. . . . I have heard from the Bishop of Mohsho that Sir Johan of the Yeats family is a paragon of devotion among knights. Seeing him today, I realize that these words were not mistaken. ?! The Duke was shocked at the bishops words. He knew Johan was young and talented, but he hadnt expected such praise from the bishop. Normally, the church despised such barbaric events as tournaments, where many died despite precautions. Such a reaction, instead of a typical sermon? ? ? ? God loves a loyal knight. Despite the surprise, the Duke made up his mind. . If Acdda, from the victorious eastern knights, didnt receive the honor, the Alcia tribe might be displeased. So much effort had been made to appease the nomadic tribes; he couldnt just stand by. There might be discontent, but Acdda as the winner wasnt an unreasonable oue. It would settle soon. Duke. ? Dukes stewards came looking for Johan. Johan was taking a break, chatting with others. Sir Johan. You have been bestowed the honorable glory of thispetition. ? Johan was puzzled by this. He had thought Acdda would receive it due to customs. Sir Knight. Congrattions! Did you say something behind my back? What? No, why would you think that? How could I possibly do that? Although Acdda feigned ignorance, he was unaware of Johans understanding. Johan was not merely a knight of physical strength; he possessed a mind capable of realistic assessments in such situations. Well, your tribe seems quite remarkable, and you are an outstanding warrior, so I thought you might have yielded to me, thinking you owe me. . . .Im sorry, Sir Knight. I underestimated and insulted you. Caught, Acdda gave up and apologized, knowing it would only strain their rtionship further. No. If you yielded, I should be thankful, why talk of underestimation and insult? I assumed without speaking. . . Acdda worried Johan might be angry, but this too was a misconception. You must have thought that if you told me, I might refuse or take it as an insult. I appreciate your consideration. . . .! But are you really fine with not epting it? It might mean a lot to you, although Im not from here. Its fine. Other honors await me. . . .? Johan was perplexed but epted the offer, not wanting to keep the Duke waiting. The sound of trumpets and some unknown instruments could be heard, and only after the Dukes servants and stewards shouted Johans name and bravery until their throats were sore, Johan could reach in front of the Duke across the arena. Johan knelt respectfully in front of the Duke. The Dukes children beside him caught his eye. . . .!! Johan was surprised. The reason was the unreal appearance of Dukes children. Their silver hair and pale, beautiful features resembled Duke, but all of their faces looked alike as if they were twins. Their appearance, indistinguishable between males and females, seemed like a fantasy. It seemed understandable why Dukes children were called Stars of Brduhe. They looked so alike. . . ? Sir Johan. I am pleased to bestow upon you the highest honor of this contest. In the West, the most beautiful and noble person would have presented this sword, but. . . Laughter erupted around the Dukes joke. In the East, it is thew that a warrior must give the sword to another warrior. I bestow this sword upon you for the honor and bravery you showed today! The sword the Duke offered was <>, a famous de with a silver edge. It wasnt as great as Johans < >, passed down from ancient Empire times, but it was still a remarkable sword. Envious and admiring gasps were heard around. Johan respectfully received the sword. He could feel the Dukes children staring intently at him. . Other knights present must have some rtionship with the Dukes children, being nobles active in the East. But not Johan. Suddenly, arge stone rolled in, and from the childrens perspective, they must have wondered, ? After Johan left, the Duke stood up and surveyed the gathered crowd. Now that the tournament had ended, it was time for the feast. Everyone was filled with anticipation for the drinks and food to be generously provided by the Duke. However, the Duke had another n in mind. Now that this honorable contest is over, a feast should follow for everyone. But it is too early to rx! There is another contest for the warriors gathered here! ??? Chapter 82.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Chapter 82.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) The crowd started murmuring. Usually, a feast followed the tournament, but there was more. Were they talking about a one-on-one horseback fight? Or archery? Or maybe. . . Its a hunt! Since old times, hunting was the best event to prove a warriors prowess. Of course, the honor was far from the hunters hunting, waiting with traps. A true warrior should end the preys life with his own martial skills. And another thing was Johan himself. If the hunting target was a deer, it would be a noble leisure activity; if a wild boar, a fight for training and honor for young knights. If it were a rabbit, it would be too embarrassing to even speak of. From this crescent moon to the next, the greatest honor will be bestowed upon the knight who brings back the most formidable monster! Until then, let the knights enjoy feasting and merrymaking in gratitude for the bounty! A roar like thunder erupted again. It was the loudest cheer of the day. People admired the Dukes generosity and breadth, buzzing about the uing hunt. Every face was filled with anticipation. However, the faces of the knights who would participate were serious. Most of the knights were unaware of this event. It was natural to be bewildered by the sudden need to hunt nearby monsters. Moreover, this custom was. . . Isnt this a custom of those barbarians?! Shh. Keep your voice down, sir. Moreover, hunting is amon practice in the Empire. No, I must speak my mind! Hunting in the Empire? Where else do they hunt like this? Awarding glory to those who bring back the most impressive game is something those barbarians do! The native families of the East naturally knew somewhat about the customs of the nomadic tribes. Bringing back the most impressive game to honor and celebrate is their custom! Anyone with a head would understand the Dukes intention. The Duke was tantly appeasing the nomadic tribes. We already conceded in the tournament, and now we have to yield to them again? Ha. Then why didnt you fight better in the tournament? How dare you. . .! Youck confidence in hunting, so youll draw your weapon here? Go ahead! Lets see how well an Empire knight dastard fights. Im curious to see how well you fight and whether youll disobey your mastersmand! There wasmotion and growling everywhere. It took the Dukes soldiers rushing over and warning to calm things down. Interesting concept. No wonder the centaurs were speaking so meaningfully. . . The centaurs had left, and only Johan and hispanions remained in the tent. They needed to leave at dawn, so they had to n as much as possible before then. In fact, the most disadvantaged here was Johan, who was the least familiar with the geography. Moreover, this hunt was. . . Isnt it too much to go alone without any servants or escorts? If they were going to side with the nomadic tribes anyway, its better to do so decisively. If allowed, knights from the Empire would have swarmed in dozens. Besides, isnt the justification usible? A true knight must hunt alone. No knight could argue against this. It was good to show kindness to the centaurs. The Duke must see value in being kind to them. At Caenernas words, Suetlg nodded. Johan asked them: Cant you help in any way? Thats unlikely. What capabilities do we have? Besides, it wouldnt be possible. We were already invited before you came. While you hunt, well likely be roaming around here. ? Whether its me, this wizard, Stephen, or Marco. . . Please tell me Sir Gerdolf wasnt invited. Of course, Sir Gerdolf was invited too. . . . . . . I will do well, Sire. Right. . . just nod and keep your mouth shut. People from various houses had been sent even before Johans return. These were houses that wanted to establish a connection with Johan, the knight, not just the Abner and Jarpen families. Naturally, Suetlg and Caenerna were among the first to be invited. Being famous wizards from the Empire and not entangled with other noble families made them easier guests. Of course, knights like Stephen and Marco were also invited. Despite concerns about their families, it was still worth trying to form a connection first. Hearing this, Johan thought to himself: ? Johan, already honored enough at the tournament, unlike other knights, didnt need to stake his life here. If he could enjoy the eastern rivers, ins, and beautiful nature, and then receive some hospitality in the town before returning. . . You seem troubled, can I offer any help? As if dismissing Marcos ignorance, Caenerna replied: He must be pondering his prey. Rash advice is meaningless. A knight must choose his own quarry. . Chapter 83.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (2) Chapter 83.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (2) But Johans n went awry from the beginning. Acdda came to Johans tent. Did you have a good rest, Sir Knight? You must be more tired than I am. Haha! I could run three days and three nights without trouble. From the way you fought, it didnt seem like that. . . So, did you know about this hunt? I had my suspicions. The Duke had hinted at it to the chieftain. Johan nodded. He had guessed as much from Acddas behavior, which had been overly significant. Im sorry I couldnt tell you, Sir Knight. No. Why worry about that? Such things shouldnt be said out loud. . Hearing Eastern speech from behind, Johan realized Acdda hadnte alone. Euclyia, his cousin, appeared behind him. Im really grateful for your helpst time. . She say your fighting was like that of Tengri. . . . Cant you tone it down a bit? Let me speak too. I told you to learn Empirenguage. Acdda grumbled. It was frustrating toe all this way only to interpret. Euclyia looked dejected and nodded. Shouldnt you go in and rest, with us leaving tomorrow? Haha. Before we leave tomorrow, I have a proposition. ? Wont you join us? Johan was surprised by the unexpected offer. He hadnt thought of it. Isnt it a rule to go alone? Youre too honorable, Sir Knight. Perhaps thats why you didnt consider it. No. . . Johan was incredulous to hear . He wanted to object, but Acdda continued. Of course, the Duke said not to bring servants, ves, or attendants. One must leave alone. But whats to stop those who leave alone from meeting and traveling together? ! Now that I hear it, Acdda was right. . It was quite usible for knights to stick together and move as a group. There was no reason to deliberately suffer losses when they werent breaking any rules. Thinking about how they moved together during the tournament made it seem even more usible. You were really nning to move alone? Sir Knight is truly remarkable. Among the knights Ive met, few are as honorable as Sir Knight. Acdda expressed pure admiration. Among the knights of the Empire he had met in the east, none failed to mention honor. However, truly honorable knights were rare. They all easily go back on their words ording to their interests. I was. . . nning to move alone. , . . . Acdda hadnt considered that Johan might be nning to rest nearby and return after the hunt. If Sir Knight doesnt dislike, despise, or avoid us, it would be an honor to join you. You dont dislike, despise, or avoid us, do you? Thats a bit of a sly way to put it. Haha. Please understand that as a sign of how much I want to join. Besides, you wont be at a loss, Sir Knight. The ins, mountains, rivers, and valleys nearby. . . all these ces are under our control. The Empires knights are familiar with them, but theyre like sheep, always going to the same ces. It was a remark that would have irked the knights, but Johan was unfazed. Acddas offer was also appealing. One of the reasons Johan had been reluctant to step forward was hisck of knowledge about the geography. The Duke had given him ample time, but it was not enough to decide on a monster, gather rumors, and pursue it. He should have been aware of these things in advance. Alright. Thanks for the offer. Lets go together. Really?! Thats great. You wont regret it! Acdda smiled innocently and was delighted. He seemed not much older than Johan, so his lively attitude suited him well. . Thats a bit burdensome to say. It might be better not to convey that. ? Youre asking because you dont know? No. Dont ask me, ask the other adults around. . . . . . . Johan resolved to learn the Easternnguage as quickly as possible. As dawn broke, the sound of trumpets and bugles faded away as the knights began to depart one by one. However, Johan, now enlightened with the truth, saw something different. He sensed an agreement among them, exchanging nces and waving hands, as if nning to regroup at a certain point. Surprisingly, even knights from the Empire and those from the tribes outside the Empire were seen exchanging looks. , . . . Johan realized the situation. Not all knights of the Empire were hostile towards barbarians or nomadic tribes. There were neutrals and those willing to cooperate given the opportunity. If there were connections, it made sense to join hands. The unexplored territories to the east were better known to these external tribes. Those who didnt ally would fall behind. ? Chapter 83.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (2) Chapter 83.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (2) When Johan shared his conjecture, Acdda nodded in surprise. Johans theory seemed usible. It was more surprising that a knight, new to the area, had grasped the Dukes intentions. That could be true. The Duke Brduhe is capable of that. What do you think of the Duke? Hes a chief who understands us well. He gives as much as we offer. Acddas words reflected satisfaction and trust in the Duke, who had been implementing conciliatory policies towards the nomadic tribes. But still, he is of the Empire. Our tribe wouldnt have thought of such a strategy. Creating advantageous situations for the external tribes and inducing harmony by having Empire knights join them was a clever strategy. Not participating meant a loss. Johan saw this as a refined approach, but wondered what the issue was. Why is that? Well, if I were in charge, I wouldnt help the arrogant knight dastards just because they ask for it. Other warriors probably think the same. But some seem to have already joined hands? Acdda chuckled at Johansment, sending shivers down his spine. Dont think they have really joined hands, Sir Knight. Empire people may trust oaths, but we dont. We first see if the other is a warrior worth respecting. If the counterpart wasnt worthy of respect, any promise made with them meant nothing, regardless of oaths or honor. It was uncertain how sincere the warriors who joined hands with the Empire knights were. Betrayal and disappearance at any moment wouldnt be surprising. Its interesting to hear about such customs, but it makes me uneasy to hear this now when weve agreed to move together. . . Dont worry, Sir Knight. I wouldnt have invited you to visit our tribe if I didnt respect you. Acdda wouldnt have made such an offer to someone he didnt respect. As Acdda enthusiastically chatted, several warriors gathered around. They were familiar with Acdda or rted to his tribe. They, too, had participated in the tournament in the east and were very pleased to see Johan. Didnt expect the troll yer to be here! I already feel like were winning. Among the gathered, chatting crowd, Johan suddenly realized he hadnt asked the most important thing. So why have we gathered like this? What are we trying to catch? . . .Well. Acdda. You havent told him yet? What did the sir believe in to follow you? Did he juste along without knowing? What if he leaves after hearing it? Nonsense. Would such a warrior back down? I see. I misspoke. As the warriors became noisy, Acdda signaled for them to quiet down. Sir Knight. I apologize. I forgot the most important thing. . . .But why didnt you ask, Sir Knight? I trust you, thats why. Do you think Ill be moved by what you said? Although he said that, Acdda looked very happy. As the personnel gathered, he shouted. Now, gathered warriors, rough and tenacious warriors, fierce like untamable lions, warriors with fire in their eyes and light on their faces! Lets go on a hunt so grand that Brduhe will be breathless with awe! Lets show who owns this in! To the arrogant Empire folks. . . A-Acdda. Sir Knight is also here. . . . . .Not to that Sir Knight, but to the arrogant Empire folks, lets show who owns this in! Lets go! To catch the leader of the werewolves! The gathered warriors in front of the forest raised their weapons, responding to Acddas call. Werewolf King. That was the goal of all the warriors gathered here. The centaurs and humans rode out through the forest, all but Johan familiar with the area and able to navigate the paths even with their eyes closed. The warriors, considering Johan, ced him in the middle of the group, but surprisingly, Johan kept up without falling behind. Sir Johan. Have you often ridden through the forest? Riding a horse in the forest required more than instinct and intuition; it needed experience and technique. Signals from the elements of the forest. The shape of the extended path and the direction of the branches. The appearance of leaves and piled earth. . . To decipher where to steer based on these things, experience was required. And Johans mentor in the forest was Joseph. A ranger from the East. Johan suddenly realized that Joseph was from the East. What he had said was also useful in the East. Euclyia, who had approached thinking she might help Johan if he fell behind, eximed, Like a snail, fast, and cool! . . .Maybe speaking in Eastern dialect would be better. Euclyia blushed and nodded her head. Since she wanted to be more familiar with the Eastern dialect, it was better to converse in it. Sir Knight. Recently, there have been more werewolves. Acdda said, casually flicking his bowstring. The arrow in Acddas hand was uniquepared to the others. It was much shorter and sharper. Theyre not the kind with no heads that would overrun a town. . . but their numbers have increased that much. The monsters, with diminishing prey, became more aggressive and active. Werewolves knew attacking towns was dangerous. Yet, their attacks implied one reason. There might be several reasons for the increase of werewolves, but our tribes shamans, as well as other tribes, have made the same prophecy. There must be a leader among the werewolves. Werewolves typically didnt group much, often fighting for dominance within their own kind. However, asionally, a strong werewolf, having survived long enough, would subdue others and form a pack. With a strong leader, the werewolf pack, more organized, wouldst longer. Especially if these fierce monsters moved in an orderly fashion. . . We were going to report to the Duke and ask for soldiers, but given the situation, we decided its better to handle it ourselves. Wouldnt it be an honor? So, how do you n to catch them? With this, of course. Acdda held up his bow and arrow. Despite a regr bow and arrow being less effective against monsters, his confidence was evident. As you must know, having caught a troll, whats most important in hunting a monster? A way to ensure cutting off its breath. Exactly. Acdda smiled slyly. He thought Johan shared his perspective. A deadly poison strong enough to cut off a werewolfs breath. Ive prepared such a poison. You must have it too, Sir Knight, for when you caught the troll. Uh. . . Oh? Did you catch it with fire? Chapter 84.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Chapter 84.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) It was rare to catch a troll with fire around here. Despite their reputation for being dull, this troll was a quick and cunning monster. It would either deftly avoid or try to extinguish any fire. Tond a proper hit with fire despite such evasion required special vision or skills. . . .No. Um. So, thats. . . What is it? Please tell us how you caught it. Dont worry, Sir Knight. We are not fools who would insult Sir Knight for not fighting one-on-one fairly. At Acddas words, the other warriors also nodded in agreement,ughing. However, they had no idea what Johan was about to say. . Johan exined the events as convincingly as possible. The warriors, initially listening with great interest, gradually made more bizarre expressions. You tore off the trolls arm and beheaded it? Is that really a human? This knight might have been born with the soul of an ogre. We should mention this to our tribes shaman. Sir Knight looks normal, but the things he does are unimaginably crazy. . .? Even the craziest of our tribes hunters wouldnt catch a troll like that. . . .If you want to speak without being heard, why not just talk in Easternnguage? Johan spoke with a bitter expression. Despite his efforts, these barbarians. . . Oops. Sir Knight. My apologies. Were not saying Sir Knight is an ogre. Actually, being an ogre would be apliment. . Euclyia, that might be misunderstood by Empire people, dont you think? . . .Anyway, Sir Knight! We n to use poison. Acdda, trying to recover from the awkward situation, spoke up. Even for these brave Eastern warriors, Johans method was not an option. I wasnt nning to use my method anyway. I just answered because you asked. Wait. You said you caught a werewolf before. How did you do it then? One was with an arrow and the others. . . The others? . . .I fought them with des. The warriors looked at Johan with a expression. They murmured in Easternnguage, anguage Johan barely knew, but he could make out something like . But dont monsters usually resist arrows? There were even humans who could dodge or deflect arrows, let alone monsters. The archery of the Centaurs is quite special. Other warriors answered instead. Acdda, proudly, showed Johan their bow and arrows. The arrows were shorter than usual, equipped with an additional small arrow. Sir Knight. Do you know how to use this? . . .Perhaps you insert the arrow in the addition and then only shoot the arrow? What? Acdda was surprised. This archery technique, called Solenarion, was a traditional skill passed down among Centaur tribes. A technique dating back to the ancient Empire era, so revered that the Centaurs enemies feared it as . But Johan knew what it was. , ? A technique of archery that increases range and speed by reducing the size of the arrow. Seeing the small arrow ced on the addition, Johan was sure of it. Acdda was amazed when Johan immediately guessed correctly. He had never seen anyone from the Empire recognize it before. . . Do you also know how to use it? No, not that. Seeing that you recognize it, you must have a talent. Why dont you try learning it? . . . .youre not good at shooting bows, remember? ! No, is it my fault that you chose a spear over a bow? Keep this up, and Ill ry exactly what youre saying. Anyway, Sir Knight. Weve been hunting werewolves with this. Seeing how confident Acdda and the other warriors were, it seemed they werent new to hunting. Indeed, a smaller arrow that flies swiftly like a shot arrow would be hard to react topared to other arrows. I understand the method of hunting, but shouldnt we first find out where they are? Sir Knight, do you know what means in the ancient imperialnguage? Born hunter? . . .why do you already know what Im about to say, Sir Knight? Acdda said with a slightly deted expression. There are hunters in our tribe, Sir Knight. Since you asked to find the werewolf pack, they should be tracking them by now. Lets go to a nearby vige and rest until we get news, then well depart. I-I see. The trial of a knight wandering the bordends alone, seeking glory as the Duke had described, never existed. The Duke himself probably didnt believe in it. The warriors of the nomadic tribes and the knights of the Empire used whatever means necessary, each in their own way. Only the gathered crowds were unaware of this and cheered. Acddas predictions turned out to be urate. The warriors who joined hands with the Empires knights mostly had ulterior motives. ! . . ! . . . . . . ? . . . The tribal warriors received a hefty sum, but they never intended to conduct a fair deal from the start. To them, Empire knights were easy targets to exploit. A warrior who receives a knighthood from the Duke would be a member of a fairly significant tribe. As soon as they got away, they summoned their tribal warriors and turned the tables, threatening the others. ? , ? , . ? . . . . . . Chapter 84.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Chapter 84.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Many knights fell for the warm hospitality of the nomadic tribes. However, not all knights were deceived. , ? The warrior thought to himself. He was a warrior who had taken money from the Petreo familys Boriska. Of course, he had no intention of keeping the promise either. But Sir Boriska was really. . . Late. Ah. Sorry, sir. It took longer to return avoiding peoples eyes. Boriskas actions were so audacious that even warriors outside the Empire were amazed. He even hired mercenaries separately to call them out! Even if some leniency was expected, this was an outright disregard for the Dukes orders. If caught, it could lead to not just embarrassment but also the revocation of his knighthood. But Boriska didnt bat an eye. He was burning with the desire and anger to regain his lost reputation. It was ridiculous he fell off his horse in the tournament when he should have shone. Unlike Lucas, who fought honorably, he fell early and had no such constion. If he couldnt make up for it in this hunt, he might never recover. What I asked for? Of course, I brought it. A ranger from the east. You can trust his skills. The mercenaries of the Arrowhead group were not intimidated even in front of the knights. Mercenaries from the east are known to be especially rough, being a mix of Empire people and barbarians, but these were exceptionally violent. The knights behind Boriska looked at the mercenaries withplex expressions. They had followed because they were originally with Boriska, but not everyone was in favor of this hire. Some visibly disapproved of hiring such mercenaries, thinking it dishonorable. Originally, they might have drawn swords in anger, but Boriska let it pass. After all, they needed the help of both the knights and the mercenaries. My name is Gmbos, sir. I see. Youre a ranger from the east? Yes, I was a captain. I heard a wyvern can be found around here. Do you think thats true? At Boriskas words, Gmbos smirked. Hardly. In such ins where only low hills and mounds are visible, its hard to find. The mountain ranges are days away. Is that so? Then it was a lie. Damn it. . .! Realizing he was caught, the warrior drew his weapon. He hadnt expected the mercenaries to bepared like this. But the mercenaries were prepared. As soon as the warrior drew his weapon, crossbow bolts flew, piercing him in several ces. He fell, writhing in pain. Get rid of that barbarians corpse! You said your name was Gmbos, right? You should have brought good news. Is there any monster nearby worth catching? Gmbos nodded with a sly smile. He had a reason to believe, which is why he hade to this knight. I heard rumors of Centaurs. Sir Knight might be interested. Nomadic tribes didnt stay in one ce forever. When the time came, they moved with their livestock. The human tribe called in Easternnguage warmly weed Johan and Acddas party. Troll ? ? ! Troll ! Cant we stop talking about trolls? Its too entertaining, Sir Knight. Have a drink! The hunters should be back in a couple of days. You can rest until then. Euclyia clung to Johans side, continuously pouring a drink made from livestock milk. The sweet drink went down easily. The tribe apuded, amazed at Johans ability to drink without getting drunk. Troll yer! Troll yer! Learning to pronounce troll yer in Easternnguage, Johan enjoyed their hospitality. ? Whats the point of getting drunk? During the feast, Johan stepped outside the tent. He desperately needed some cool air due to the heat. The sound of grass rustling in the wind reached his ears. This rhythmic sound made Johan nod his head in enjoyment. . . . . . ? Something seemed off to Johan, prompting him to turn his head. He realized that given the season, the grass shouldnt have been long enough to make such noise. Suddenly, he remembered Kaegal. An assassin who boasted about various methods of infiltrating enemy lines. ? ? , , , . From using the environment for camouge to using people, Kaegal had enthusiastically discussed all kinds of methods. He spoke strongly, believing Johan wouldnt use them otherwise. . . .Though Johan had not used them to the extent that it seemed pointless to have mentioned them. . . . Such brutal tasks were notmon. This didnt mean Johan lived a calm and peaceful life, however. Johan walked towards the source of the sound and locked eyes with a man who looked like a tribesman. The man twitched upon seeing Johan. His expression didnt change, but Johan could feel that he was startled. Who are you? Oh my. Are you the new Sir Knight? I. . . might have had a bit too much to drink. . . . . . . . . The man staggered as if drunk, with dirt on his hands and legs, suggesting he might have fallen. , . It was normal to be startled by someone in the dark. Moreover, Johan didnt look like the other tribespeople. Suddenly, a thought crossed Johans mind. He spoke in the eastern tongue. . . .. ???? Johan smiled broadly. Then, he abruptly grabbed the mans throat. What kind of tribesman doesnt understand his own insults? The man panicked and tried to draw a dagger, but Johan pped him across the face with his other hand, knocking him out in one blow. Intruder! Intruder! Johans shout awakened the people. The tribespeople stopped drinking and ran out with their weapons. Wheres the intruder?! Caught him here. Is he one of your tribe? The people who saw the man Johan caught scrutinized him with torches. He looked vaguely familiar. Clearly looks like a man from the west. . . No, Sir Knight. This man is a knight dastard who was in the tournament! One of the warriors recognized the mans face. Johan eximed in surprise. What? I was surprised too! How did he end up here. . . Too weak for a knight, isnt he? Couldnt even take one hit. . . .But more importantly, shouldnt we be wondering why hes here? Thats a good point. Wake him up. Chapter 85.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Chapter 85.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Being a knight didnt always mean adhering to honorable methods. As humans, knights could be just as dishonorable. Compared to the various cunning deceptions used in war, infiltrating in such a way wasnt particrly surprising. Of course, getting caught meant life could not be guaranteed. Lets y his skin off! Sir Knight, please give me a chance! The warriors wanted to y the knights face with their sharp daggers. Johan raised his hand to stop them, and surprisingly, the ferocious warriors quieted down. The awakened knight looked at Johan with startled eyes. It was astonishing to see an outsider handle these fierce tribes so well. How exactly? You have two choices: Speak before being yed, or after. What will you choose? . . .Theres nothing to hide. Ill speak. The knight, Botan, readily revealed his purpose for being there. He was ordered by Boriska to secretly enter the tribalmunity, eavesdrop on information about their prey, and if possible, disrupt them. Acdda red fiercely at Botan. Im sorry, Sir Knight. I didnt expect other scoundrels to also covet the werewolf. For a prey of that caliber, its not unusual for rumors to spread across the ins. Dont worry too much. Since theyre resorting to such tricks, they clearly havent seeded in tracking it down. Indeed, it wasnt surprising for others to covet prey that the Centaurs had been eyeing for a while. . Johan thought of Boriska and other knights. While using deception was always an option, the type of deceit varied among individuals. Dressing as barbarians and infiltrating a tribe was a ruse not typically considered by knights. Surely? Who among your allies devised this strategy? . . .! Botan was shocked. He had no choice but to assume Johan already knew about the Arrowhead Mercenary Group. Botan was already disgruntled before arriving. To think he had to stoop so low because of a mere mercenarys scheme. Even the mercenaries didnt partake in their own n. No matter the money offered, they didnt want to venture near the barbarians unarmed. This prompted Botan to speak freely. He even disclosed the fact that they had hired mercenaries. The warriors were shocked. Even mercenaries? A guy named Gmbos from the mercenaries came up with it. And what does he do? Hes a hunter, originally a ranger from the east. Thats all I know. Acdda, overhearing this, asked Johan in a whisper. Sir Knight, how did you know that Boriska had allies? Just guessed it. . . . . . . Despite saying it was a guess, Acdda still looked at Johan with admiration. Modesty aside, intuitively uncovering such things was indeed a warriors instinct. Do you wish to be treated as a prisoner? . . .I dont expect such from these barbarians. If youre going to kill me, just do it. Well, this elder here is about to skin you. . . Enough. Johan restrained the warriors who were about to attack again, and called them aside. This mans life is mine, right? Yes, it is. Im thinking of letting him go, what do you think? The warriors, instead of reacting angrily to Johans unexpected proposal, nodded in agreement. Truly like a Sir Knight from the Empire. I know what that is. Thats a yoke, right? Did I use it correctly? Seems a bit different, but since Sir Knight caught him, do as you please. Its a pity we cant skin him, but it cant be helped. . . .No, its not for honor. Acdda asked with curiosity. Are you nning to release him and then follow him? Its impossible. We are masters of tracking, but he will notice since he has eyes. The in was a cumbersome ce to secretly follow someone, especially when the other party was alert and on guard. If he had a brain, he would check his surroundings repeatedly. Why not torture him and find out where he was supposed to meet? It cant be far. No. I thought about that too. ? Acdda had to suppress augh. He liked what Johan was saying. The ones who sent this knight must have prepared for such a situation. They wouldnt have failed to anticipate his capture. . . . . . . Acdda agreed with Johans words. Indeed, the enemy would have prepared for such a scenario. Even if we locate their hideout and ambush them, it wont be much fun. Theyre likely in a ce well-suited for a fight. Indeed. But Sir Knight, even if they are prepared, we are confident of victory. I know that. There was no reason to spare the knight who crawled here and tried to infiltrate, as he would not yield any useful information. Johans reasoningy elsewhere. Think about it. You send a subordinate on a secret mission and he returns safely, but his face is a mess and his weapon gone. What would you think in such a situation? . . .! Already seeming discontented, wouldnt he be more suspicious? It seems better than walking into a trap theyve prepared. Sir Knight is truly like Tanggru! I heard that Tanggru name before, who is that? He was a warrior from our tribal myths, fought and died bravely. Oh. I like that. Acdda smiled satisfactorily at Johans response. It was a relief that he didnt react negatively like other knights might have, deriding their polytheistic deity. Tanggru, the destroyer of worlds and the embodiment of pure rage sent by the gods, burned cities from west to east and turned the weak into ves. . . . . . . Isnt that just a madman? Johan almost blurted that out but restrained himself, out of respect for the others beliefs. Chapter 85.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Chapter 85.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Although the infiltrated knight discovered nothing, the group decided to move quickly. It was wise to hurry, knowing that others were also targeting the same werewolf. They could get ahead by gathering information elsewhere. Fortunately, as day broke, the hunters arrived in the town. , . ! , ! Acdda was overjoyed, maintaining a dignified presence in front of Johan and the other warriors. There was concern about calling Johan and then finding the werewolveste, which could lead to losing the prey, not being able to proudly mention the Alchio tribe. The group packed lightly and traveled over the ins for more than two days to the location discovered by the hunters. During the journey, Acdda sent one person at a time to different locations. What are you sending them for? I asked them to call warriors from known tribes to be nearby. Didnt you say the knight dastards couldnt be found? Acdda, who had rushed after hearing the news, boasted confidently. He said that by the time the slow-moving knight dastards arrived, the hunt would already be over. But now calling tribal warriors nearby was unexpected. . . .Doesnt the Empire proverb say to tap even a stone bridge before crossing it? Johan smiled wryly and nodded. It was a better habit to be prepared rather than overconfident. There were many nameless forests in the ins. Such forests were excellent havens for monsters. Even Centaur hunters rarely ventured into these forests, especially in seasons like winter. However, those gathered here today had already made such amitment. A warrior outstanding in the ins was as good as an exceptional hunter. Setting up camp a little away from the forest entrance, the group waited for dawn. The werewolves roam at night and return to their dens in the morning. So, when its day, well enter the forest and attack theirir. Most had experienced werewolf hunting, so the discussion was quick. The warriors checked their weapons and bows. What if theye out and attack first? Werewolves are cunning and cautious, they dont hunt near their dens. They wont rush out just because were at the forests edge. It would be better if they did attack! The warriors eximed heartily. Unless surprised, the werewolves charging from a distance were their prey. Even the strongest werewolves fell quickly after a few hits from poisoned arrows. Johan felt reassured seeing the seasoned hunters among the gathered warriors. . Warriors prepared for any situation were reliablepanions. Johan decided to rest well in preparation for the werewolf hunt. And that night, werewolves charged out of the forest frenziedly. Werewolf! Werewolf! The warrior on watch woke up everyone, and those in the camp immediately rose, grabbing their weapons and armor. How many? I. . . I dont know! What do you mean you dont know? Is it one? Two? Do. . . Dozens. . .! ??? The awakened warriors widened their eyes and peered into the dim darkness. The ground thundered, and dozens of werewolves were seen running back and forth in the distance. Everyone, mount up! Grab your weapons! Whats happening? Usually calm, Acdda too was puzzled and couldnt answer immediately. Why are so many werewolves madly running out of the forest like that, what on earth is happening? Have you never seen anything like this before? Im sorry. Someone must havee before us. ? Otherwise, something like this wouldnt have happened. The ones who came first must have done something. . . .! Acdda realized what Johan meant. It was strange for such an event to ur while others were also hunting werewolves. It was too much of a coincidence. But how? I dont know. But Acdda, whatever has happened, does it really change what you and I need to do? Give your orders! Johansposure was contagious. Acdda nodded and shouted. Move! Carefully lead the horses while watching the movements of the werewolves! Should we put out the fire? The ones who needed to see us already have. Throw torches around! Its better to increase the fire. The horses, sensing nearby werewolves, whinnied nervously. Johanforted them, thinking to himself. . Just like during troll hunts, horses are often inappropriate for monster hunting because they are surprisingly skittish. ! ! ! The howling of the werewolves grew louder, tearing through the ears. Those that ran out of the forest howled fiercely. The situation is definitely strange. Theyre not looking for prey, they seem to have just exploded in ferocity. Acdda! Some of them are heading this way! Even if they couldnt smartly hunt using sight or smell, once they started rampaging, they would eventually see their prey. A few approached rapidly. But the warriors, already mounted and ready to fight, were not intimidated. Retreat while shooting! The warriors rode backwards, turning their bodies to shower the werewolves with arrows. Despite the darkness, their arrows hit with astonishing uracy. However, the werewolves response was surprising. They swatted away arrows with their ws and rolled to dodge them, performing feats unbelievable in their frenzied state. But the warriors were a step ahead. They coordinated their shots. The arrows, aiming for openings and flying in session, pierced through the werewolves hides and muscles. -! A cursed scream was heard. A werewolf fell to its knees, unable to pursue any longer. Its better to retreat and wait until daybreak! Lets retreat, Acdda! Understood. Back. . . Wait! Someonesing! The warriors quickly readied their arrows, aiming at the sound of a horse approaching through the darkness. Dont shoot! Dont shoot! What, isnt that the knight dastard? Did he trail us? He couldnt have trailed us in suchplexity, just shoot him! Johan restrained the warriors, shouting. Give us a reason not to kill you! I will tell you where Sir Boriska is! Chapter 86.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Chapter 86.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Sir Knight! The reaction of the warriors was natural. In the midst of the chaos, a guy who had been caught suddenly appeared and offered to reveal Boriskas location, which was bound to raise suspicions. And Johan was honestly a bit flustered too. The intention of releasing Botan was to cause internal strife by having them attack each other, not to expect such a betrayal. To be betrayed so readily after being released was too good to be true, making Johan himself suspicious. Acdda looked at Johan with a mix of awe and surprise. This is not what I had aimed for. Still, you are amazing, Sir Knight. Its like fortune favors you. Talking about luck in a situation where werewolves are going berserk is a bit. . . Sir Knight! Should I shoot? No. Dont shoot. We need to hear the story. From Johan and the warriors perspective, it was like ? But from Botans perspective, it was different. Botan was chosen for a dangerous infiltration mission solely because of his agility, despite not knowing Easternnguage well. He was mocked and insulted upon his failed return. , ? ? . , . . Boriska stopped Botan who was ready to draw his sword right then. The reason was not to start a fight before the hunt, but his true intentions were different. ? ? Boriska was doubting Botan. Johans n had worked perfectly. Boriskas suspicious nature only amplified the effect. Botan couldnt help butpare Boriska and Johan. One fought honorably from the tournament and even showed mercy to captured prisoners, while the other. . . Johans expression twisted strangely as he listened. . . .Thats how it could seem! Wouldnt it have been better to just run away instead of betraying? If I had openly done that, an arrow would havee flying at my back. Sir Boriska is not stupid. How I acted to avoid suspicion. . . Im not really interested in how you shook off suspicion. Tell me, how did you get here, and why is all this chaos happening? Acdda, who was listening, interrupted with a question. How did you tail us? Tail us. . .? we did no such thing. Thats impossible. . . But it was true. Boriskas group was able toe to this forest not because of tailing, but because Gmbos found traces of werewolves. More precisely, hunters acquainted with Gmbos brought news of werewolves. Acddas face flushed with humiliation. A centaur being outdone in tracking by a human in the ins. His hands holding the bow quivered. Youre more skilled than I thought. Its just this once, Sir Knight. Usually. . . I get it. I get it. So why are the werewolves going crazy? Thats the doing of that eastern ranger! Ordinarily, werewolf hunting should have been as cautious as the centaurs described. Moving in and out of the forest, targeting the werewolves weak moments. That way, even the werewolf leader would have no answer. But thats a task that requires quite a long time. From Boriskas perspective, who didnt know when an interruption mighte, he wanted to quickly lure out the Werewolf King and defeat him. Under the knights urging, Gmbos did something unusual, iming it to be a secret technique of the eastern hunters. He released a few pigs he had brought from somewhere into the forest and confidently dered, . Not only the knight but also the mercenaries thought, ? However, surprisingly, the werewolves began to rampage from the middle of the night. Is this a known method? No. . . The secrets of the eastern hunters are often bizarre and unique. . . It seemed that Acdda was quite upset about being outdone by the eastern hunter. Instead of a rxed demeanor, he was grinding his teeth in frustration. So, what about Boriska? He and the others are waiting on the opposite side. When all the werewolvese out, the Werewolf King will too, and well catch him then. They dont know youre here. How did you know? I was just watching for an opportunity. . . I kept circling around to check whenever I could. The two groups actually did not arrive much differently. It was purely luck that Botan was able to spot Johans group from a distance. As soon as he spotted them, Botan caught a horse and rushed over with all his might. Trust me! How can I trust someone who crawled into someone elses camp? Its worth checking out. Ill go and check ande back. The warriors were shocked at Johans words. Its dangerous for Sir Knight to go alone! If theres a trap, its easier to escape alone. I brought it up, so Ill go and check. Johans confidence overwhelmed and convinced the warriors. They no longer opposed and nodded their heads. Sir Knight. Take Euclyia with you. Shell be helpful. Seizing the moment, Euclyia eagerly tried to show off her skills in fluent Empirenguage. Empire knight, Ill tear them apart. Im good at tearing. . . .Alright, two should be fine. Botan. Lead us to where they are. Chapter 86.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Chapter 86.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Thats freakishly fascinating. How did you do it? Do you know that werewolves are fond of the moon? Of course. I heard from a hunter I used to run with. He was an experienced hunter who had caught dozens of werewolves. He said that werewolves go crazy at the sight of moonstone. Really? Yes. While monsters are sensitive to scents, moonstone especially drives them wild. Thats why I mixed moonstone powder into the scent to lure the monsters. I see. So thats why theyre going berserk like that. Right. The werewolves will pounce on any pig that enters the forest, and the scent on them will transfer to others. . . Gmbos boasted with pride, showcasing his knowledge. Even the fierce mercenaries of the Arrowhead Mercenary Group listened in awe. You deserve the recognition you get from the knights. Dont be envious. You reap what you sow. Isnt it a bit arrogant to fight werewolves ourselves? At the mercenaries words, Gmbos waved his hand in warning. Dont threaten carelessly. They might run away immediately. In this darkness, surrounded by the forest, no mercenary wanted to engage in a chase with the eastern hunters. Besides, Gmboss role was far from over. . . .So, when does this Werewolf King appear? Soon. Youll know by its howl. Just follow the sound. Is it that different from regr werewolves? Bigger in size and different in color. Each leader monster has its own traits. Usually, theyre much faster, stronger, and smarter than regr werewolves. Gmbos took a sip of beer and continued. But a frenzied one is easier to trap. Just do as I say. . ? ? . *. It wasnt a lie? . . . . . . Botan had a bitter expression. Johan seemed to believe him. . . Open your eyes, or Ill gouge them out. You y the Empire game well. . Euclyia blushed and waved her hand shyly at Johanspliment. Botan, looking incredulous, said: I spoke the truth. Thats a camp over there. Like the centaurs camp, their camp was expertly concealed, barely letting any light escape. It would have been hard to find without Botan leading them. Johan was troubled upon actually locating the enemys position. The timing was delicate. With werewolves rampaging nearby, attacking them could lead to mutual destruction in an unlucky scenario. These monsters, currently howling at the moon in madness, were unpredictable. They could be drawn by the smell of blood and sounds of battle. , . Johan pondered, while Euclyia fidgeted beside him, asking, ? ?. Johan patted her back reassuringly. Wait. Dont get any closer. ? That eastern hunter said he set traps. Stick to this path. Ah. So, the n was to draw the werewolves here. . . Wait a minute. In that moment, Johan felt a wicked idea cross his mind. - ! Johan and Euclyia circled the area, calling out the werewolves. Johan, with a bow in hand, shot at the werewolves arms or shoulders. Valkalmur! Johan was increasingly adept at wielding the power of the malevolent spirit. Valkalmur produced optimal results even in challenging situations. The surrounding werewolves, ceasing their howling, began to gather more and more. Johan signalled to Euclyia. This is, really. . . What? Thinking of switching sides again? Dont insult me with such nonsense! Botan, helping out, was first astonished, then serious. He had no intention of returning to Boriska. However, Johans n was truly horrifying. To gather the nearby werewolves and take them to that camp! This way! This way, you wolf brutes! Come this way! Since mastering magic, Johans voice had begun to contain a strong power. As Johan shouted, the werewolves followed, as if whipped into changing direction. Lets go! Lets bring glory to Sir Boriska and the knights! ! Euclyia, with an excited expression, chased after Johan, shouting. Unlike Botan, for a centaur, this was pure enjoyment. Wait. That sounds like a human voice. Gmbos suddenly stood up. There was something odd mixed in with the werewolves howling. Did you drink the wrong beer? Quiet. Theres a human voice. . . The werewolves howling like this, one could be mistaken. . . .Others havee! Its definitely those centaur brutes! What? Damn it. You said you were the fastest? Centaurs can be fast too! Am I the only one whos fast?! We should report to the knight. The knights going to freak out. . . .Wait. What. You want us not to report? No. The sound of hooves. . . The ground-pounding sound grew louder. Gmboss face began to sink. Werewolves!!!! Damn it! Those patrolling nearby spotted it first. They shouted at the top of their lungs. Damn wolves, are they crazy?! Hey, hunter! You said they wouldnte this way! Shut up and get ready to fight! Gmbos was also flustered. How could this happen? But the werewolves were already charging fiercely. The mercenaries hid behind obstacles, drawing their weapons. Scatter! Scatter! Shouldnt we gather? Its better to scatter when theyre running wild, *sshole! Just listen and call the knight! Tell him to catch a werewolf! Thanks to the werewolves drawing attention, Johan easily entered the camp. A mercenary, staring nkly at the werewolves, locked eyes with Johan. Where is Sir Boriska? Uh. . .? ! A hole in the body usually loosens the tongue. The mercenary, screaming, pointed in a direction. Thanks! Johan rode off. He saw facesing with torches in the pointed direction. It was Sir Boriska and the other knights. Boriska of the Petreo family! Come at me. Ill give you a chance for revenge! ?! Boriska was startled. The one he wanted to avenge suddenly appeared before him? But his panic didnt cloud his judgment. Turn and block him so he cant escape! Ill strike him myself! ! Euclyia, cursing, threw her spear. A knight, turned to dodge, hastily crouched to avoid it. This damned centaur. . . Valkalmur! Chapter 87.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Chapter 87.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Johan drew his arrow and pulled back the bowstring. The knight, reassured by his armor and shield, was shocked as the arrow precisely pierced a small exposed vital spot, causing him to fall in agony. Boriska. Its despicable to make an honorable knight do shameful deeds and secretly hire mercenaries behind his back! Dont you have the courage to confront directly? Johan rebuked Boriska. Johan didnt particrly despise Boriska or rage with !. However, as a knight, he had to assert that he had a just cause in any situation. In fact, some of the knights around Boriska hesitated at Johans outcry. Drop your weapons and surrender! If you do, youll be given a chance to be tried before the Duke. Kill that foreign b*stard! Of course, a knight who would be ashamed and reflect upon such words wouldnt have started this in the first ce. Boriska fiercely shouted, pointing at Johan. Despite being masked by honor and piety, a knight was essentially a barbaric and violent beast. This was more evident in situations driven by desire. The knights charged at Johan with a battle cry. Unyielding, Johan spurred his horse towards them. As the mace swung with a deadly sound, the shing knights were thrown back. Even in the darkness, Johans valor shone brightly. The knights showed a look of seeing a demon, unable to stop just one man from breaking through their formation. Despite riding the same horses and wearing the same armor, why couldnt they stop him? Boriska, are you scared? Stop hiding behind other knights ande out yourself! How dare this insolent man! An irate Boriska gripped his weapon and red at Johan. A true knight wouldnt cower just because he was once defeated. I must thrust this spear into that mans neck! Boriska, with a spring in his step, spurred his horse forward. It was surprising when Johan suddenly appeared, but he had thought several times about how to fight if they met again after the tournament. The strength of the knight named Johan was immense, as if he had made a pact with a demon. He had to avoid colliding and tire him out by circling around him. Boriska was confident. Even if Johans strength was great, he could not match his horsemanship. Suddenly, a werewolf leaped out from the side. ???! The werewolf that appeared was of a different dimension than ordinary ones, with a body size that stood out. Its fur, dyed white, was noticeable even in the darkness, shining as if illuminated. Aaagh! A scream followed by a spray of blood. The werewolf quickly knocked down Boriska and tore into him. Its the leader! At someones shout, Johan snapped to attention. He grabbed and threw his spear. The Werewolf King, with a wild cry, flung his body backward. The eyes of the beast shone cunningly, uncharacteristic of a ferocious monster, as if sizing up Johan. A knight, close to Boriska, bravely charged forward on his horse. The Werewolf King caught the flying sword with its teeth and struck the knight with its paw, causing a fall. No! Having caught two, the Werewolf King howled in satisfaction and fled with one in each arm. This patience was also uncharacteristic of a monster. . . .Unbelievable. Johan was also stunned. A werewolf that attacks then flees. Euclyias expression also hardened in disbelief. I. . . I surrender, Sir. ! Voices of knights came from the front. Euclyia gestured a throat-cutting motion. Johan shook his head. He had told Boriska earlier that he would have a chance to stand trial before the Duke, but it wasnt sincere. He was certain he would attack. If Boriska were taken to the Duke, he could cause trouble, and if the matter turned into a battle of truths, it would be a headache for Johan, an outsider. Boriska must be dealt with here! But there was no need to kill the rest. Will you swear to testify about Boriskas actions before the Duke? The remaining knights hesitated momentarily but nodded. After all, Boriska was the instigator. In this situation, he would be the one to bear the brunt. Johan escaped the camp with the surrendered knights. Mercenaries who barely escaped the werewolf riot appeared, their faces drained of life. Upon seeing the mercenaries, the knight immediately hurled curses and insults at them. You worthless hunter! You caused this chaos! What kind of eastern ranger are you? What secrets do you hold? Like a wild dog biting its master! It was a mistake to call upon the likes of you! . . .Are you done talking? Thanks to your tantrum in the middle of the night, I feel terrible. . . The mercenaries, angered by the knights insults, clenched their weapons. Johan observed this and said, If you draw, I will cut. ? The mercenaries were startled by the unfamiliar knight. Why was there someone they hadnt seen before? Boriska was captured by the werewolf, and these knights have surrendered. What do you n to do? . . . . . . . . .We. . . We also surrender. Chapter 87.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Chapter 87.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) The mercenaries, quicker to catch on than the knights, immediately dropped their weapons as they realized the oddity of the situation. With Boriska gone and other knights captured, their situation was hopeless. They could do nothing, and they werent particrly loyal either. . . Who among you is the eastern ranger? Its this b*stard! This guy, always running his mouth. . . The mercenaries dragged out Gmbos, whose face was battered from being caught while trying to escape. Gmbos cried out in desperation, Its not my fault! The werewolves went mad. . .! Seeing Gmbos make excuses, Johan felt a pang of guilt. None of those present seemed to think that Johan had herded the monster in their direction. Shut up, you quack! We nearly died because of you. Be quiet. Johan silenced the mercenaries and made Gmbos reCount what had happened. The secret of the eastern ranger was so intriguing that Johan became absorbed, forgetting the situation. The werewolf leader seemed too sane to be mad. Its. . . well. . . it worked on the werewolves, but not on the Werewolf King. Damn this *sshole! The mercenaries were infuriated but understood Gmbos point. Such anomalies were unpredictable. Gmbos thought desperately, Given the circumstances, he was definitely facing execution. Ill track where the leader went! There are plenty of traces left to follow! The mercenaries were astounded. Despite the chaos, he was determined to pursue the werewolf again. But Johan was intrigued. While it was tempting to return and use Boriska of his crimes before the Duke, capturing a worthy prey seemed more appealing. You can track it? I stake my life on it! Then, tribal warriors rushed in from a distance. They hade searching when Johan didnt return. Acdda asked about the chaos at the camp. Indeed, Sir Knight. We cant let the prey escape like this! Acdda strongly agreed. The death of a few mercenaries and knights was irrelevant. What mattered was capturing the prey or letting it escape. The people gathered near Baien did not easily disperse. Such feasts were rare, and they were curious about the prey the knights would bring back. As the knights returned one by one, the crowd cheered and was ecstatic. Among them, there was a knight who returned empty-handed, trudging along. When that happened, jeers were mercilessly poured out. And when the sun was at its highest, Johan and his party returned. Initially, people were puzzled by the presence of several knights, but such questions soon disappeared. The prey among the knights was too impressive. Its a werewolf! A werewolf? Arent werewolves not that remarkable? You crazy fellow. . . Knowing how ferocious werewolves are! Ah, but still, the mercenaries who came to our townst time caught one too. How foolish. You can say that because you dont see it from there. Come out and see! If thats just a werewolf. Its the Werewolf King! They caught the Werewolf King! Even to the untrained eyes, the werewolf, with its massive size and white fur, looked extraordinary. As soon as someone well-informed opened their mouth, the news spread quickly. The mercenaries driving the cart with the werewolfs corpse in the middle were anxious and nervous, even as they received cheers. Is this really okay? What else? Run away? Shut up, you fools. Unless you want to be hanged. The mercenaries anxiety was understandable. It was a hunt held in honor of the Duke. A minor deception might be overlooked, but hiring mercenaries was a direct challenge to the Dukes authority and honor. No noble would overlook such audacity. If lucky, hanging was the fate, if not, a more terrible death awaited. Johan promised to spare their lives if they did not show any other intent, but it was hard to believe. These were men who had lived by betraying others. Even if the opponent was an honorable knight, the thought of what if? was inevitable. Duke Brduhe looked satisfied from atop the castle walls. The Alcia tribe has not disappointed me. Indeed, they have not. But fighting alone. . . Its rare for a knight to find such a worthy prey, but they might meet several while pursuing one. Its also honorable for knights to join forces to capture it. The Duke had anticipated such a gathering. After the Duke said this, no one else brought it up. I see the bodies of knights behind. Its a glorious death. Though it might seem strange for people to die at a festive event, in this world, it was natural. Just as a few unlucky knights did not awaken during the tournament, hunting was the same. Life was trivialized for honor and glory, especially among the knightly ss. Those watching made the sign of the cross, mourning and paying respects to the knight. Duke looked puzzled at the sight of the gs hung. ? Death was equal to all. Any knight could fall to a single unlucky arrow. But Boriska did not seem like a knight who would actively put himself in danger. Wasnt he a knight who calcted gains and losses while being escorted by other knights? Moreover, the fact that eastern tribal warriors had retrieved the body was puzzling. They were unlikely allies. ? The first to greet the prey was the Dukes gamekeeper. In fact, the job wasnt much different from that of a regr gamekeeper, but the honor was of a different dimension. It was a prestigious position that only the fortunate lower nobility could hold. Therefore, thepetition was fierce, and one couldntst long without sufficient skills. The gamekeeper had to be far more experienced than the average hunter. . . .? This gamekeeper, with a puzzled expression, rummaged through the body of the werewolf with his hands. There was nothing where there should have been. There were no wounds on the creatures body. It was naturally assumed that it was caught with poison, but there were no traces of poison, nor were there any marks of swords or spears. . . What exactly was used to catch it? May we enter? E-Enter. Johan and his party passed through the open city gates and entered the city. It was their first time entering the city, as they had to stay outside during the tournamentst time. . It was something he felt even from a distance, but the city, dating back to the ancient Empire era, had an awe-inspiring appearance. Did you see the gamekeepers face? Its understandable hed be confused. Acdda burst intoughter. He knew why the gamekeeper was bewildered. Honestly, he would have been surprised too had he seen it. Theughing Acdda suddenly stopped and asked, But why did you collect the body of that guy and bring it back? From secretly hiring mercenaries to attempting to disrupt the sacred hunt, such actions were unforgivable. Normally, it would have been enough to leave the body in the fields for the beasts to tear apart. Its mercy. . . .Excuse me??? Dont be so surprised by a joke. I thought it might be useful given the situation. Chapter 88.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Chapter 88.1: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) When the werewolf fled with Boriska, even Johan was honestly bbergasted. Who would have thought the monster would cut off his air supply. But that thought soon changed. Better this way. Boriska hadmitted a fraud, and Johan had no intention of spreading it far and wide. This was an event organized by the Duke, and it concerned the Dukes prestige and honor. For Johan to act recklessly at such an event was dangerous. He must speak to the Duke first! The Duke, being a wise man who knows right from wrong, would understand why Johan spoke first. He would make an appropriate decision. Johans aim wasnt to expose the dishonorable knight and punish him. It was enough for Johan to seed in the hunt and earn the Dukes trust. I may not know much about the Petreo family, but they must be quite wealthy if they can hire mercenaries and travel with knights. Hiring mercenaries and even feeding the knights they traveled with meant they couldnt be short of money. Acdda nodded. Theyre quite a famous family. Though they wouldnt daree forward in this case, havingmitted fraud themselves, human hearts are not so simple. If we had killed them, they would have held a grudge against us. Neither you nor I are on particrly good terms. Haha. Theyre more likely to dislike me than Sir Knight. But if a monster killed the knight, and we not only dealt with the monster but also properly handled the knights body, who would hold a grudge? Wed rather be thanked. At Johans words, Acdda looked intrigued. The way of thinking of tribes outside the Empire, clearly dividing life and death, allies and enemies, differed from Johans in these aspects. And among the knights, few could make such a decision. Of course, such a decision was honorable even for a knight. But who could readily offer such a thing to a recently fierce opponent? Especially when the opponent had first acted despicably. Johan asked, as if bewildered. Is it that surprising? Yes. Honestly, its surprising to see someone who was hunting so fiercely showing mercy! . . .Thats a different story. . . Johan had no answer to Acddas words. This time, he honestly acted a bit crazy. Gmbos desperately tracked the location. The resilience of the eastern patrolman, facing a life-threatening crisis, was astonishing. Thanks to him, the party was able to closely follow the Werewolf King. . . ? ! , ! , ! . ! . . , . ? . . . . . . ? ! . , ? . . . ? , , . . . , . , . . . . . ! The Werewolf King, instead of entering the forest, ran across the meadow, trying to find another hideout, but it was a poor decision. Thanks to that, the warriors dispersed in all directions, driving the werewolf. Gmbos also made a proper judgment this time. The Werewolf King persistently avoided fighting. The chase that started when the moon set only ended at dawn. Both horses and men were exhausted, and the Werewolf King waspletely drained. As the creatures movements slowed, the centaurs finally shot their poisoned arrows to cut off its breath. Until then, they hadnt dared to aim because of its eerily agile movements. . . ? , ? , . . . ? Depending on where the injury is, the value of the skin varies. Therefore, an experienced hunter would also be careful about the location of such wounds. , . . , . . . . . . . . . ? ! ? , . . . Euclyia blushed and nodded. Her eyes were filled with a longing for blood and violence. , . . . . . However, the centaurs didnt need to step in. Johan approached the werewolf, knocked it down, then strangled it to death. The watching centaurs were so surprised that they dropped their bows. . . . ! Chapter 88.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Chapter 88.2: ???????? ???? ???????? (??) Thats how it came to be, Your Grace Duke. Johans usation was met with a look of surprise and understanding from Duke, who nodded. . Acdda grumbled inwardly. Even in this situation, the Duke showed no change in expression. He had expected at least some panic or anger. . . However, contrary to Acddas thoughts, the Duke was truly astonished. How dare someonemit such fraud at his event! It was unclear whether it was audacity, fearlessness, or sheer madness. Boriska was rather fortunate. He died at the hands of a monster. Had he returned alive, he would have been paraded through the city on horseback, naked, before heading to the gallows. Why didnt you spread this truth? The people outside think Sir Boriska died honorably. Its Your Graces event, and as an outsider who came from afar, how could I dare to judge and punish? Its rightfully within Your Graces authority. . Acdda thought so. There were two types of ttery: one ineffective when known and the other effective even when known. The current situation was thetter. The Duke nodded his head. With those words, Duke greatly elevated his opinion of Johan. Remarkable. To have such a knight. . . It was surprising that, in addition to bravery in battle, such a young knight could make political considerations. Another young knight would have beheaded Boriska, mounted his head on a spear, and paraded around shouting. Envious! Those who held positions and worked around the Duke were either from lower noble families with long ties to the Brduhe family or from noble families that needed political consideration. Though an outsider with none of these connections, the Duke wanted to entrust Johan with a position. It was greed for his capabilities, but. . . More than anything, he was curious. As a feudal lord who had governed people for a long time, he was curious about the extent of this young knights skill he had rashly judged. Having made his decision, Duke stood up. He had a look of deep emotion, with tears glistening in his eyes. Sir Johan. Thank you. Im grateful! He embraced Johan heartily. It wasnt a special calction but a habit formed over a long time. Subordinates are deeply moved by a single tear andmit their lives. Why not use this method, much cheaper and more effective than gold or silver coins? . Acdda had to bite his lip to suppressughter. Johans expression was too indifferent. Sir Knight was indeed a never-tiringpanion. After the embrace, Duke held Johans shoulder and said, Your sincerity in considering the honor and dignity of Brduhe has moved me deeply. I sincerely thank you. You tter me too much. State your wish. Johan did not miss the inquisitive sparkle in Dukes eyes. It wasnt surprising. He was a person who continuously evaluated and judged others. . I have a request. What is it? I hope you show mercy to the knights and mercenaries who were with Sir Boriska. . . . . . . The Duke was impressed. Not gold or weapons, but mercy. Considering the insight Johan showed, it was clear that the decision was not out of pure goodwill, but for political considerations. ? However, one thing was iprehensible. It was understandable to ask for clemency for the knights, but why for the mercenaries? They were not a remarkable band of mercenaries, just insignificant ones that could be picked up anywhere. There was no benefit in keeping them alive. The Duke was slightly conflicted. He wanted to ask, but there was the dignity of being Duke. In the end, the Duke refrained and nodded. If I dont listen to you despite you saying so, Brduhes name would be shamed. Dont worry. I will show mercy. Ill let the knights know who saved them. Do you desire anything else beyond such a selfless request? Yes. It would be troublesome to receive more for doing what was rightfully expected. And you? The same for me, Duke. I have already enjoyed more honor than I deserve. Acdda quickly responded. Even if the Duke handled the matter quietly, the Petreo family couldnt escape punishment. They would have to pay a substantialpensation to the Duke, which would ultimately benefit Duke. Duke shed tears once again. I must be blessed by the gods. To have such honorable knights serving me. No, Duke. No, you tter me too much. The only one unaware of the drama unfolding here was the Duke. He never imagined the two young knights were acting far more coldly than him. A meal as well? That sounds delicious. . . .No, Sir Knight. Acdda said in a flustered voice. Such a reaction there? Does it taste bad? No. . . Its not that. Im just surprised by the overly generous treatment. Ah. Is that what you meant. It was a great honor to have a meal with the Duke, even on a non-special asion. That means he thinks highly of you! Its not surprising. Perhaps hes trying topletely win us over. Win us over? Ah. Dont you use this expression? It means to bepletely charmed. Acdda almost teased, ? But then, he realized it wasnt something only applicable to Euclyia. Just like the quiet and reticent Euclyia seemed charmed, other warriors also trusted and followed this knight from outside, as if they had known him for years. Acdda himself included. It was the same during the hunt. When Johan said to scatter and surround, no one doubted and dispersed. Meanwhile, the Duke was talking to the Gamekeeper at that time. The knights who were to return had already starteding back. The Duke had to choose the knight who performed the best in the hunt. . . .How was this caught? ! The Duke, looking at the prey, asked an obvious question. The body of the Werewolf King, without a single injury! Among the bodies of monsters covered in blood and wounds, the pure white, unscathed werewolf stood out notably. The Gamekeeper sighed and then knelt down. Your Grace, Duke! I apologize for myck of ability. . . I couldnt figure it out. I am ashamed before you. Its alright. I know your skills. The Duke, instead, patted the Gamekeepers shoulder. The Gamekeeper teared up, moved. . The Duke thought so internally. He had no personal grudge against the Gamekeeper, but his ipetence was unforgivable. The Quartermaster boasted about bringing in good meatst time, so lets use that. Shall I instruct the chef to showcase his skills? Upon the Stewards words, the Duke nodded. Allowing the chef to show off his skills would naturally lead to conversations. Managing such minor details was also the Stewards role. Call the young Brduhes as well. It would be pitiful to only deal with the ragamuffins. Yes. The Steward nodded without showing his feelings. Calling the children as well must mean they really pleased him. Chapter 89.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 89.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Upon hearing that young Brduhe children were alsoing, Acdda had an expression of difort. Why is that? The stars of Brduhe are rather daunting to deal with. The centaurs, like the people of the Empire, or even more so, were believers in superstition. To them, Dukes children, who were twins and strikingly alike, were a spine-chilling existence. Are there any among them to be wary of? Hmm, no, its not like that. Theyre all conscientious people. Acdda stated this definitively, which made Johan more curious. Even with so many of them? If there had been any among them who were debauched or delinquent, it would have been less daunting. In those times, being lustful or gluttonous was not particrly problematic. The church might disapprove, but others would likely praise such behavior as hearty. However, there were no such rumors about Dukes children. They were all reputed to be faithful, humble, and capable. Even with the prestige of the Dukes family, such rumors would have been hard to spread if they were not true to some extent. Oh. . . Johan was quite amazed. He knew well, having many half-siblings himself and being familiar with the case of the Abner family. Generally, noble families, except for the firstborn, did not live restrained lives. While the firstborn had to seed the family and live a politically calcted life, the rest could live as they pleased, wherever and however. . . Yet, it was strange for all the children to be so diligent, even considering this was a coincidence. Has the Duke decided on a sessor yet? What? It seems unlikely theyd be so diligent without ambition. . . .! Surprised by Johans words, Acdda responded with an astonished expression. Even so, theres a tradition, isnt the firstborn supposed to inherit? Im not sure. Theres always an exception, right? Dont the centaurs inherit differently? Acdda looked slightly pleased. It seemed he felt Johan was interested in the centaurs. True to his words, the centaurs divided everything equally. Starting from the eldest, they received their share of the farthestnds and left the herd. But the Duke is not a centaur, hes from the Empire, right? Thats true. But this hunt, if it were a traditional Empire event, we wouldnt have done it. Though its Empirend, it feels far from the Empire. Could it be that the Duke might leave his legacy to the youngest, like we do? Or maybe he hasnt decided on a sessor yet. . . Anyway, thinking about it now makes me feel uneasy too. I might think so, but why would Sir Knight? Its never good to meddle in another familys affairs, is it? It hasnt been long since the conversation ended, and my worries have already be reality. . Hello, Sir Johan. Its an honor to meet you, Elso-gong. He encountered the Dukes eldest son in the corridor. It was clear that the Dukes firstborn had no reason to be here, so it must have been a deliberate visit. . Having known Acdda, he could have easily brushed this off. Without him, he had no choice but to confront this alone. The servant leading the way had already stepped aside long ago, out of earshot. . . The Dukes eldest son, just like he had learned from the Duke, skillfully praised Johan. From troll hunting to exaggerating events in the West. . It was clear they had heard from the Jarpen family or Suetlg. The fact that he spoke about what happened to Stephen suggested it wasnt Stephen who had told him. Sir, I have a question Id like to ask. What is it? How did you catch the werewolf? Hmm. Johan hesitated. Should he tell? The conversation with Acdda earlier and this question made it clear. The Dukes children werepeting. He didnt know yet what they were after or why they werepeting. . . , . If the Duke represents current power, his children are the future power. It wouldnt hurt to get close to them. I knocked him down and then strangled him to death. . . .I see, Sir Johan. I understand. I was thoughtless to ask. ?? Johan was confused. , . Realizing his mistake, Johan internally cursed. Mixing with the eastern warriors had eroded hismon sense. The Dukes children werent like the warriors who believed whatever Johan said. Such talk could only be interpreted as ? The Duke must have instructed you. No. . . Well, yes. . . It may be toote to say this, but if you could keep the fact that I said this a secret, I will not forget your kindness. Im not someone who goes around talking nonsense, Sir. And my memory isnt great either. . . .Thank you. When Johan reassured him, the Dukes eldest son neatly gave up, thanked him, and left. His eyes mixed with disappointment and gratitude. . . . ? Chapter 89.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 89.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Even though he couldnt give the answer they wanted, he had at least extended a favor. However, the Dukes children didnte one at a time. When someone who looked exactly like the eldest came, Johan initially thought the eldest had changed clothes and returned. Have you been well, Sir Johan? . The second child also praised Johan in a simr manner. Except for a more arrogant and aristocratic tone, it was simr to the eldests. Johan internally sighed. By any chance, how did you. . . I knocked him down and then strangled him to death. . . .I was short-sighted. Anita, like changing masks, altered her friendly demeanor. It was the face of a proudly burning aristocrat. I will keep your secret. I would appreciate that. Anita left. After encountering the Dukes children one after another just trying to go to the bathroom, Johan was getting irritated. But before he could enter, the third appeared. ? - The third one approached in a more unique way, trying to put a bracelet and ne around Johans neck. Johan stopped the hand and said, I knocked down the werewolf and then strangled him to death. . . .I-Im sorry. Thinking that Duke had already spoken, the third one was so flustered that his face turned pale. Johan said, looking him in the eye, Dont worry. I will keep your secret. . . .Thank you! I will definitely repay you. Haha. Im looking forward to it. After the third one left, when the servant approached again, Johan red at him and said, If someone blocks my way again, Ill break your neck. I-Im sorry! The servant eximed in fear. Seeing this, Johan softened his heart. . . .Well, how could I refuse the request of the Brduhe bloodline. I understand. Thank you for understanding! But, um. . . ? One more person asked. . . Johan counted on his fingers. Three had appeared, so there was one more, the youngest. Johan red at the servant. He was evenly entertaining them in order. . . .Please, please spare me! I wont kill you, just show me the way. He encountered the youngest child on the way back. It was evident that they were the youngest. They were short and slender. Their young age made it difficult to discern their gender by voice. Johan was more lenient on the way back. Hello, Gong. This is such a coincidence. . . Its not a coincidence. Ive been waiting since before Elso-gong spoke to you. Is that so? But why? I didnt want to bother you as you seemed to be going somewhere. . Johan was slightly impressed. To think such a young-looking person would have such thoughts. Of course, he was just going to the bathroom. . . Are you curious about how I caught the werewolf? . . .Yes. I knocked him down and then strangled him to death. Is that true? Why would I lie? . .Understood. The youngest withdrew with that. Johan returned to where Acdda was waiting, along with the servant. Acdda asked curiously, Did you eat up the servant or something? Why did it take you so long? Something even stranger happened. Regardless of what had happened, the banquet was peaceful. The Dukes children politely greeted the knights and exchangedpliments with each other. Wow. They look so friendly, its almost annoying. . . .Sir Knight. I always enjoy your stories, but please be careful in such gatherings! Acdda whispered in rm upon hearing Johans words. Even as a favored child of the tribe loved by the Duke, challenging authority in Dukes presence could cost him his head. Dont worry. I spoke quietly enough not to be heard. Anyway, try this. Isnt this the same meat we were served in the town? Oh. To say that, you still have a long way to go. Its the same meat, but the secret is in the sauce. Hmm. . . meat grease mixed with white wine and a bit of almond milk? . Acdda thought to himself. The image of strangling the Werewolf King after a fierce beating was still vivid in his mind. It was like a warrior from a myth hade to life. But here he was, enjoying the taste of food like some rich, corpulent merchant. . . Wont you have some? No, thank you. Indulging in delicacies makes the body heavy. Then Ill enjoy it myself. . . . . . . Dukes cooks presentedrge cuts of pork and beef, followed by game like pheasants, geese, and moremon meats likemb and veal. Sir Knight. Thank you! Other knights expressed their gratitude to Johan. The warriors present were knights who had joined the werewolf hunt. Originally, only Johan and Acdda would have attended, but Johan had requested the Duke to invite others. Are you enjoying the drink? Yes! Id like to take one of these silver cups home. If you want your wrist cut off, thats fine. Haha! Im not that drunk. But inviting us like this, Sir Knights catch must have been the most impressive, right? The tribal warriors were brash andcked manners. Unlike Johan and Acdda, they were unrestrained, eating heartily and shouting loudly. Despite this, the Duke did not restrain them but instead asked the musicians to y louder, creating a lively and informal atmosphere. . In such a cheerful atmosphere, it was easier to ask questions. After ordering a ve to pour more wine, the Duke spoke. I was truly impressed by this hunt. It wasnt just my effort. ? ??? Eastern warriors, drunk and loud, looked up at Johan with curious eyes. The Duke was puzzled by their gaze. Why are they looking at me like that? Regardless, Johan brazenly continued. Without thebined strength of all the warriors. . . Pfft. . . Hahah. Hey. Dontugh. Sir Knight is speaking. . . .we wouldnt have been able to catch it. The drunken warriors now blushed, trying to hold back theirughter. Combine strength? What nonsense! After he single-handedly beat it down and strangled it. . . Even the Duke couldnt contain his curiosity at this point. What in the world happened? Hunter does not share his secrets even with his lord, unfortunately. Its a pity I couldnt ask. Duke subtly hinted in his speech. He meant to ask indirectly, as it wouldnt suit his dignity to inquire directly. Of course, Johan wasnt oblivious enough to respond with , . No, thats not right. The warriors here, before being hunters, are knights of the Duke, are they not? Answering the lords question is also a matter of knightly honor. Duke, if I may, could I offer my opinion? The Dukes eldest opened the conversation. The warriors looked on with great interest. Could Dukes eldest really guess this correctly? . The Duke read determination in his childrens expressions. It was an opportune moment to test them. The Duke nodded his head. Speak your mind. Chapter 90.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 90.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) The Centaurs are masters of hunting, and the Alcia tribe is the best among them. Surely they have used a deadly poison that even the Werewolf King cannot resist. Oh. . . Acdda marveled. They think we have such skills? Of course, it was impossible. Monsters are not only sensitive but also have strong vitality. They rarely touch poisoned prey, and even if they do eat it, they are likely to survive. The Duke was skeptical too. What do you think? Its wrong, Duke. The first one stepped back with a disappointed expression. Next was the second. She said that it was clear that the werewolves were driven like wild beasts by the tribal warriors and defeated. Wild beasts tire and fall on their own after a long run. If werewolves did the same, they could have been captured without injury. Youck knowledge about monsters. Monsters, unlike beasts, do not tire and die in that manner. Moreover, werewolves are fierce and do not flee in fear even if hunters pursue them. What do you think, Sir Johan? You are wrong. As the second bit her lip and stepped back, the third gave up. The third just wanted to appear humble. Of course, Duke noticed this intention. Its okay to be wrong, but you have to present an answer. Sor. . . Sorry. Alright. What do you think? Finally, the fourth spoke. I was curious and asked Sir Knight earlier. . . . . . . . . . . . . The siblings felt aghast at the younger ones remark. They never expected such a turn. epting ones shorings and giving up on the correct answer was also a way to stand out. Whether it was effective was uncertain, but it seemed better than the previous wrong answers. Really? And? So. . . I think after defeating the werewolf, it was captured by strangling its neck. The Duke staggered momentarily, surprised by the unexpected answer. His rare expression shocked his children present. . . .Wasnt that the answer their father had decided? He told you that? Sir Knight is quite mischievous. There was no need to keep such a secret. Uh. . . Duke. Thats how it was captured. . . .??? Before Johan could speak again, the restless drunk warriors nearby blurted out first. Its true. Duke! You should have seen it. The werewolf was knocked down in one hit and captured by strangtion! . . . . . . Faced with such an extraordinary answer, everyone from the Brduhe family fell into a shocked silence. The Duke was the first to break it. Praise be to the knight who advances fearlessly before any monster. May blessings be upon you, Sir. Blessings be upon you! The Dukes children also eximed, but their voices were filled with disbelief. Who could have thought that was true! . The Duke decided to leave the unfortunate hunter alone. It was not his fault. After the luxurious banquet ended and day broke, The Duke announced the most impressive game to the gathered people. The warriors had to parade inside and outside the city, proudly disying their game behind Dukes procession. The expressions of the warriors who received gold and silver coins as a reward for their bravery were unmistakably joyful. It was rare for the warriors here to be financiallyfortable. Moreover, even if they were wealthy, such rewards were inevitably delightful. As Acdda walked away with a smile, Johan asked with curiosity. Were you that happy? Huh? Oh, its not about being happy for the gold coins. Sir Knight. What do you take me for. Iughed remembering how the stars of Brduhe were surprised. You have a good hobby. How many times will I see such a face in my life? By the way, Sir Knight. Didnt Duke say anything else to you? Although Johans words led to the distribution of rewards to the warriors, The Duke, not being a fool, wouldnt have stopped at that. Even if he outwardly upheld others dignity, behind the scenes, he had to take extra care of truly useful warriors. Otherwise, he would not qualify as a feudal lord. Not yet. What did you receive? I was promised fine horses and flocks of sheep. But such things are unnecessary for you, arent they, Sir Knight? Theres no tribe nearby. Hmm. . . Johan was perceptive too. He could sense that the Duke was preparing something. Surely, it wouldnt be a bad condition, but he wanted to know in advance if possible. Chapter 90.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 90.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) I guess he might leave the soldiers in charge. While Johan was ying with werewolves in the prairie, Suetlg and others toured the city, mingling with the nobles. Thanks to this, they were able to understand what the eastern nobles were thinking. The Dukes power seems great, but there are many surprisingly unstable parts, from the south to the east. Frequent rebellions and invasions. This area is definitely stable, but the fiefdoms to the south and east are on a precarious bnce. They are kingdoms,rge and small, embarrassing to even call kingdoms, fighting among themselves, unknown nomadic tribes, and city-states of the Catalian Penins wary of the Duke. . . There were many forces nearby that could easily collude, so the Duke had to be even more cautious. Seeing him take care of the outside tribes, I thought that would be the case. It wouldnt be surprising if he entrusted the soldiers to you right away. Appeasement was good, but those who opposed the Duke and showed their teeth at the opportunity needed to be strongly sanctioned. And Johan was the Dukes newly acquired sharp sword. If he were a person, he would want to swing that sword. Suppressing rebellions is not too difficult. Personally, I wanted to strike at the Emperors city or town. Thats too much. Of course, the Duke isnt on good terms with Cardirian. Caenerna spoke up. She had been treated as well as Suetlg, but her experiences were different. But he didnt seem to want to fight right now. The Duke, an elector of the Empire, was more interested outside the Empire. He didnt want to get involved in the Empires internal strife, leaving his vastnds unattended. The nobles even threw subtle messages to Caenerna, who would have been treated worse originally. , ! So did the Emperor promise? . . .How would I know? Im here doing this. Caenerna said incredulously. How would she know the Emperors decision while being stuck here? Im asking for your judgment. If I had to guess, maybe he wouldnt pay. It would be crazy to make one more elector an enemy, especially when the western and southern nobles are sharpening their swords. It wasnt unusual for such dealings, like bribing and trading votes during the elector voting to elect the Emperor. Johan looked disappointed. He was thinking of fighting hard under the Duke if he ever aimed for the Emperors fiefdom. Dont be too greedy. Originally, your goal was a knighthood. Now, youve achieved many times more than what you aimed for. Thats true. I will grant the position of standard-bearer to Sir and bestow Dolek and Palmon as fiefs. . . .??! As if he had heard Suetlgs words, the Duke called Johan and made a bombshell announcement. Johan tensed up and said, Your Grace, Duke. I have not yet properly earned merits under Your Grace. The position of standard-bearer under Dukes banner was close to an honorary title, so it was eptable for now. But suddenly a fiefdom? To receive a fief as a knight, one had to be a dog and horse to the lords word and give ones all. Although Johan had performed exceptionally in tournaments and hunting, that reputation alone was not enough. Theres always a catch to an offer that seems too good. Reading Johans concerns, Duke gave a bitter smile and said, I knew you were smarter than other knights, but its inconvenient at times like this, isnt it? Dont worry. Youll understand once you hear the exnation. The Duke spread out a map and pointed to Dolek and Palmon, both port towns lying southward along the coast. This Edene Sea to the west bordered the city-states of the Catalian Penins, and to the east, small duchies and kingdoms clung together, forming a sort of ind sea. It was almost embarrassing to call this the southernmost point of Dukes territory. From city-states to duchies, it was a location where anyones reach wouldnt seem strange. . Above these two towns, the city Umdim was once loyal to me. But either they took Brduhe lightly, or had other beliefs. . . They dyed the promised tax and expelled my people. Sir, what do you think I should do in this situation? The fiefdoms, entangled inplex rights, were headache-inducing just by looking at the map. They were the result of long-standing entanglements through inheritance and independence. Ideally, one would want to wash their hands of it, but such an option didnt exist for the nobility. It was unthinkable for both fame and wealth. It seems necessary to show Brduhes name. Right. Youve exined well. The Duke, with a handsome face, showed a smile and patted Johans shoulder. You know that the towns under Umdims rebellion wouldnt be loyal to me. Those two towns are the same. In essence, those two towns had a just cause for Duke, but in reality, they were towns not in the Dukes control. Reconquer them with your own power! It was more convincing to say it this way. It wasnt too good a condition, but at least there was a just cause. . . . Taking the city was not something Johans small band of mercenaries could do. It would take many times their number. As Johan looked troubled, The Duke decided to reveal hisst card. This knight had the patience to resist tempting bait. Separate troops are being gathered for the Umdim subjugation. I cant offer you the position ofmander-in-chief, no matter how highly I think of you. Leading the army will be someone elses task. ! At Dukes words, Johan felt a burden lifted. It would have been madness to gather and lead an army alone, but joining forces with other nobles armies seemed feasible. , . Plus, he liked the location by the sea. It was a ce where he could engage in trade by sea. And. . . . Though currently weak, the potential as a strategic location was high. The Duke, as if reading Johans thoughts, spoke. In the past, it was said that those who couldnt inherit in their families went to the eastern part of the Empire or to holy ces. The east wees great warriors. With skill, one can shine there, especially a knight as capable as you. Thank you. Although ttered by Duke, Johan had already regained hisposure. When do we depart? As soon as the snow melts. Until then, its best to rest and gather troops. Understood. I will keep that in mind. At Johans words, Suetlg was taken aback. It hadnt been long since hed told him not to be too greedy, and now here was this proposal. What do you think is the intention? At first, I wondered why. . . but in the end, its about wanting a loyal, useful knight to secure that area, isnt it? Umdim and the nearby fiefdoms were too easy to betray. A ce where even a breeze could prompt betrayal. Moreover, not betraying was also a problem. With enemies swarming around, an ipetent person could lose their fiefdom in an instant. From the Dukes perspective, he would want a trustworthy vassal to control the area and pledge loyalty. That was exactly Johan. Without ties to influential families in the region, he would be even more loyal to Duke, and in terms of bravery and strategic insight, there seemed to be no w. . . .Wait. Speaking of which, isnt there an Emperors fiefdom in the south of the penins? If I go by boat, I could reach it, couldnt I? Think about thatter. Is that whats important right now, Johan? Chapter 91.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 91.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Piracy has traditionally been a lucrative business, but it also required choosing the right time and ce. In the Edene Sea, teeming with city-states, attempting piracy would invite the fleets hired by these city-states to attack your town. Next, youd end up hung at the gallows, known as a rogue knight! How do you see me. . . Ah. Sorry. That wasnt my intention? Of course, when engaging in piracy, its about joining hands with the right opponent. Surely, there must be a city wanting to plunder the fiefdoms of the Emperor. . . . . . . Caenerna was honestly impressed. When piracy was mentioned, it wasnt just about profit or risk, but rather finding forces to connect and move in such a manner. This knight possessed the innate instinct of a born plunderer. Rogue acts required not just bravery but also restraint tost long. War has always been profitable if you win. Theres no shortage of enemies around. Caenerna was well aware of the local situation. It was different from the western fiefdoms of the Empire. Nearby, various noble families of the Empire were intricately entangled, making it difficult for knights like Johan to start wars on their own. But here, the situation was much freer from a moral standpoint. With the protection of the Brduhe family, it was feasible to confront other local powers. Johan was notcking in confidence for battle either. . . But for the sake of the dukes dignity, shouldnt there be some preparation? Ive already finished talking with the mercenaries I brought. They agreed to follow. Suetlg nodded, unsurprised. Johans control was remarkable. His natural bravery and generous rewards had earned him the mercenaries absolute loyalty. I also n to mobilize tribal warriors if possible. The eastern tribes?? Is there a problem? Wont they refuse? Caenerna asked incredulously. It wasnt a matter of conditions. The barbarian tribes outside the east had a different mindset from the people of the Empire. While mercenaries within the Empire would rush anywhere for gold, the eastern tribes preferred to directly seize gold. Only someone of the dukes stature could rule them through authority. They agreed toe. They liked the idea of sharing the spoils. ??? Leaving the confused Caenerna behind, Johan discussed detailed ns with Suetlg. They nned to gather as many soldiers as possible and, once the weather cleared, join the dukes army and head for Umdim! People from the Jarpen family, as if it was their own matter, happily offered advice and suggestions. Despite being sent by the Count , Johan had quickly gained the dukes favor, surpassing many other knights. They couldnt help but feel proud. But Suetlg-nim, are you sure you can join us? I heard youre in demand elsewhere. . . Most of those inquiries can wait for a response. Nobles always want to know the future, even though they dont know if its urate. Caenerna nodded in agreement with Suetlgs words. Interpreting prophecies like you might be most beneficial. Anyway, I n to join. Attacking a city will be a big fight, and youll need help. Johan expressed his gratitude. Only with friendship could one refuse such calls and join the army, no matter where a remarkable wizard was summoned. However, Caenernas participation was unexpected. Johan thought she would stay in the city. In the ins, bad luck led to three life-threatening incidents, but in the city, there was no reason for that. There were no nobles wanting to kill her, even for the Emperor. . . .Thats obviously because the reason isme. Do you think there are no Emperors people in this city? Caenerna asked as if she was dumbfounded. She was currently apanying them on the pretext of being captured as a prisoner. If she acted too freely, she would arouse suspicion. Johan looked at Caenerna with a new look in his eyes when he heard that. Its not a question for me to ask, but what are you going to do with the aftermathter? Is the Emperor such a lenient person? No. Hes a strange and belligerent person. And I can handle the aftermath myself, so dont worry. No matter what excuse she made, she would be unable to avoid the suspicious eyes. But she was so calm. ? Without certain confidence in the Emperors trust, this would not have been possible. I see. Then, can I Count on your help during the siege? Of course. Caenerna spoke, shaking her pipe. It was an event she would rather wee. . Johans and the wizards mindsets differed. As Suetlg said, a lifes debt was not light for a wizard. If theres a mental burden, one cant be free, and if not free, magic is restricted. Self-deception was impossible. Moreover, Johans connection with Caenerna seemed quite peculiar to her. Leaving after three oaths and being saved three times seemed almost prophetic. . . . . In a siege, she would have many opportunities to shine. After significant contributions, the mental debt might fade. The three oaths would be consideredter, but for now, the mental debt needed addressing. . . Suetlg is a great philosopher, but his magic is not destructive. Sometimes evil is necessary in war. Must be nice being evil. Although Suetlg sneered, he did not deny Caenernas words. If it was about ruthless tactics, she was a step ahead. After all, the suspicious mysteries that urred in the Emperors court were all probably rted to her. Wait. Can you also summon trolls? I deal with the mes of prophecy, not trolls. . . Perhaps you should have asked the savage of the ck Forest? Hmm. Caenerna seemed surprisingly ignorant about it. Johan asked if there were other wizards under the Emperor. Caenerna nodded as if it were obvious. Every day, dozens iming to be wizardse. Most are fake, but one or two remain. . . There are always bold ones. Suetlg said with a smirk. Being exposed as a fake wizard led to cruel punishment. Comfortable death was out of the question. It was a grave crime to deceive nobles for preferential treatment. , ? But why are you asking me that? Do you know any wizards? No. Just curious. Chapter 91.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 91.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) In this era, there was no army that prepared and marched out inplete secrecy. Rumors inevitably spread while gathering, during preparations, and at the time of departure. It was a matter that took all this into ount. After all, the opponent also had to rely on rumors to make urate judgments. When the army gathered in Baien and a campsite was established near the city, the surroundings began to stir. Winter was about to end, but where exactly were they to march? Count Ganolwood, it is an honor to meet you. Y-You are Sir Johan. I, I have heard much about you. . . .? Johan was surprised but maintained his expression. Only novice knights show their emotions. He learned to keep a straight face and think inwardly since his time in the fiefdom. --? Count Ganolwood, constantly wiping sweat with a handkerchief, appeared timid with his thin and small stature, the dark circles under his eyes making him look more like a scribe. Expecting a boisterous noble or a military-like figure to lead the dukes army. . . Is there something I should keep in mind? No, no. There isnt. You, you lead the army you brought with bravery. The armies of this era were not well-organized units but rather collections of various followers brought by individuals. Even as amander-in-chief, issuing absolutemands wasnt possible, and the nobles who brought their soldiers had the autonomy to act independently. Customarily, at such a gathering, one would at least say , . . . Understood. I will strive to fight honorably. Yes, yes. You may go. After seeing off Johan, Count Ganolwood re-entered his tent, his hands and face sweaty. How was it? In, indeed. Very, very impressive. Inside the tent, an old knight was polishing his sword. He was Sir Karpati, known as the Lion of the East. A loyal retainer of the duke, he was in the city for the punitive expedition. Seeing your words, Lord, he must be a remarkable knight indeed. Not, not as much as you, but, but still a formidable knight. Ganolwood sat down with a groan, weakened by the cold wind. Most knights usually couldnt hide their disappointment when they saw Count Ganolwood, due to his unimposing presence as both a noble and a knight. However, Johan showed no flicker of emotion in his eyes or expression. Whether genuine or not, this was a remarkableposure for someone his age. Moreover, he brought many soldiers, including Eastern barbarians. Those warriors too? Reminds me of my youth, but he surpasses my younger self. Lord. You, you were always great. I am nothingpared to your lordship. As mentioned, Count Ganolwood wasnt popr. Yet, he had managed the County and received the dukes favor, despite such drawbacks. Unseen wisdom. That was Count s true weapon. Knowing this, Sir Karpati was always careful around Count Ganolwood. It was not just about status but also genuine respect. Has His Grace, the duke, promised you the city of Umdim? No way, thats absurd. The Count waved his hand dismissively. Umdim was not a city to be handed over to others. Its well-developed citys ie was immense. One of the stars of Brduhe will receive it. My God. Still? Lord Karpati sighed in disbelief. Both he and the Count knew it. Duke Brduhe was an impable ruler, but the session issue was not. Instead of simply passing it to the eldest, he incitedpetition among his children to choose the most outstanding sessor. Despite warnings from his advisors about the dangers and potential internal conflicts, the dukes stubbornness remained unchanged. Thats something pagans would do. . . N-Now, you try to convince him. If he was going to listen, he would have done so before. The practice of childrenpeting for session wasmon in the pagan empires across the sea. Lord Karpati was ufortable with the Duke adopting such customs. Then, Your Excellency will be overseeing one of the stars. You too. Yes. Justmand me. The dukes children were still inexperienced, but Count Ganolwood and Sir Karpati could sufficiently support them. The duke had likely summoned them for this purpose. Isnt he a weak and fearful stutterer? Watch your words. Acdda shrugged and pulled the bowstring. While waiting for spring, Johan and the warriors kept going out for hunting expeditions. Johan could have stayed idle, but the tribal warriors constantly nagged to go outside. , . . . He was grateful for the eptance of his suggestion, but these warriors could be annoyingly demanding at times. I too was puzzled. But I think there must be a reason why such a weak and fearful stutterer has been favored by the duke for so long. Perhaps heforted the duke with his body after His Grace lost his wife? . . .Listen seriously. Acdda. I am being serious. . . Johan was shocked at Acddas expression. To think that was his idea of being serious. Ultimately, dealing with the Count will be my responsibility, but I still want to warn you to be careful. Dont worry. Youd be surprised how polite I can be when dealing with the nobles of the Empire. The group, returning to the encampment near the city, squinted at the distant g. It was the banner of the Brduhe family. It couldnt be the duke himself leisurely here. . . . Johan dismounted and greeted respectfully. The dukes youngest looked at him intently with clear eyes. Chapter 92.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 92.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Hello, Repiata-gong. Thank you for your answerst time. Under the sun, rather than a dark corridor, it felt all the more peculiar. The youngest of the Brduhe family seemed almost like a half-dead person. The voice was cold and dry, and it had a different vitality from the other brothers and sisters of the family. It was like that of a half-dead person. The escort knight next to him asked Johan. We have prepared some drinks as a token of our appreciation. Would you like to join us? I gratefully ep. . . While speaking, Johan realized that Acdda had run off in the distance, chatting with Gerdolf, Marco, and Stephen. ! . ? . To the centaurs who revered the stars, the stars of Brduhe were a source of constant dread, and for the youngest of them, this fear was even more pronounced. So is that why she ran away like that? If she was the kind of person who would talk to knights he didnt even get along with, then she must have been really scared. , . After all, it seemed that this young Brduhe didnt care much either. There was no need to call others when it was just about showing gratitude to Johan. And soon, Johan woulde to regret this decision. Repiatas camp was unusual. Normally, a nobles fiefdom is organized around the tent of the highest-ranking person. Knights and lower nobles stay inside, while those of lower status are on the outside. Of course, only those of a certain rank should be seen inside. But. . . What kind of arrangement is this? There were knights and lower nobles, but there were too many suspicious-looking characters. It was fine to have wandering alchemists or minstrels. But there were people who looked like thieves or swindlers rolling around. They sat in the corners of the camp with gloomy expressions. The highlight was an orc moneylender. The knights frowned upon seeing an orc dressed morevishly than the nobles, jingling a pouch of gold coins. Please do not misunderstand them. Misunderstand? I dont understand what you mean. Brnhilde, the knight who brought Johan to Repiata, showed a faint satisfaction on her face. She was pleased with Johans tact. Sir. I hope you wont be surprised or startled when you meet gong inside. . . .? Johan suddenly felt uneasy. Whats inside the tent? A trap? Of course not. The inside of the tent was bleak with no decorations. Johan felt an inexplicable chill. It wasnt because of the weather. As he sat down, a servant poured wine into a silver cup. Johan epted it politely. . . .Thank you. , . . . . The silence inside the tent was heavy. The dukes youngest was not sociable. The knights beside him were taciturn, and the servants even more so. Hence, the silence! Johan regretted not bringing Acdda. He hade with a light heart, not expecting such a silentpany. Johan wasnt talkative, but he had to initiate conversation here. You are staying out here like this because. . . are you participating in this expedition? A nod. An affirmation. Are other family members participating too? A shake of the head. A negation. Do you know Count Ganolwood? A nod. An affirmation. Are you moving together? A shake of the head. A negation. . . . Any other knight might have felt insulted. But Johan read the expressions of those around him. They were also nervous about Repiatas silence. If it wasnt intentional, it was fine. Besides, Johan was someone who could sit through insults if it meant gaining an advantage. ? . Johan decided to pass the time without conversation. There was a Go board at the back of the tent. Would you like to y a game? Repiata nodded. Pleased, Johan picked up the Go stones. Johan hadnt considered Repiatas skill to be strong. Given his young age and the closed nature of this world where information was not shared. Here, knowledge was hoarded, not shared. . However, the result was surprising. Repiata yed Go with a calm and deep strategy, seemingly a step or two above Suetlg. . . .I lost. When Repiata conceded defeat and resigned, the waiting knights were even more surprised. It was Repiata who had defeated all the knights under the duke. Johan knew he was a brave knight, but he didnt expect him to be so strong on the board. Would you like to review the game? Repiata nodded again. Johan sighed in relief. It seemed they could pass the time without speaking. Afterpleting the review, Johan stepped outside to find the sun setting. He suddenly thought, , . . . A knight, also a member of the aristocratic ss. One couldnt always just wield a sword. Such social activities were essential. , , . If there are only taciturn people around, its unbearably painful. I fully realized that today. Thank you for epting the invitation today. Gong must have been pleased to build rapport and connections. . . . . . . Johan harbored doubts internally. It didnt seem like they had built any rapport. . . But from Brnhildes perspective, todays conversation was quite talkative. Compared to others, it was the epitome of closeness. Indeed, perhaps because their interests aligned, they couldmunicate so well! Though he was told to build rapport in advance for the expedition, he had not expected such extensive conversation. She bid farewell to Johan with a satisfied expression. May I ask you one thing? Please ask, Sir Johan. I noticed many peculiar people, are they your gongs people? Yes, they are loyal people serving gong. Chapter 92.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 92.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Johan regretted not just keeping silent. It was because Repiata started inviting Johan to his tent every two or three days. Being the child of a duke, he couldnt refuse, and every time he went there, he felt suffocated and exhausted. . . Upon hearing the situation, Acdda was so delighted that he almost died. Didnt I say it was ominous, Sir Knight? Hes just a man of few words, thats all. After thest incident, Acdda had be quite friendly with Gerdolf and Marco. It seemed Gerdolfs taciturnity and Marcos archery skills were quite appealing. . ying against the duke would have been better. Surely there would be something to gain. But if its the youngest child of the duke, the story changes. First, its uncertain whether hes the favorite of the duke, and what will happenter is also unpredictable. . . How was the person? The people around him were quite loyal. At that age, its quite an impressive level. And there were some strange characters around. . . Johan told Suetlg about the various people around him. Suetlg listened as if it was fascinating. Thats certainly interesting. Even with all the talent, to have such people around. Wait. Now that I think about it, arent you the same? I only dealt with people whose identities were certain. Repiata must have checked the identities too. . . I missed asking, why are you bringing the eastern ranger? Ah. That guy. After hunting the werewolf, the rest were forgiven by the duke and released, but Gmbos was not. Johan had a lot of questions. ? -, . . . . . . . , ? , . . ? . . . An ordinary knight might not have shown much interest in a hunters knowledge, but Johan had been asking Joseph various things since he was young. He didnt miss the opportunity to review what he had learned before and to gain new knowledge. Johan made full use of his status and position as a knight. , , . , . . Wouldnt he be useful in a siege? Well. . . Im not sure. Anyway, isnt that kind of thinking simr? I think Im a bit better. Honestly, there doesnt seem to be much difference on the surface. Count Ganolwood issued the departure order a week earlier than nned. The mercenaries, who had been waiting leisurely, grumbled as they packed their bags. Count , ? ? . . . Isnt the Count great? ? Hes doing this so they cant prepare after hearing rumors from the city side. . . .Thats one way to think about it? I thought it was the duke rushing him. Caenerna looked surprised, as if she hadnt thought of that. She hadnt rated Count Ganolwood that highly. She had thought the change in schedule was a minor mistake. A mistake that a timid Count might make. Soldiers moved in groups, following their gs. It was impossible for all the soldiers gathered here to depart at once in an orderly manner. They were not organized that way from the beginning. Themanders of each unit shared their destination and went there on their own, a method akin to a primitive approach. Johan also led his unit towards Umdim. He saw some knights he had met in the city leading mercenaries as they passed by. Sir Knight! Theres a town ahead. Will you attack it? No. Call the vige chief. Acdda ran off again with a look of regret. He wished to break into the towns palisade and loot property at will. . . Johan sternly reprimanded the vige chief who had paid taxes to the city instead of the duke. The vige chief, trembling, paid protection money with the towns collected wealth and pleaded for mercy. I dont understand why youre lenient towards such weak traitors. . Sir Knight must have too. Euclyias words began to reach him faintly. The beginning probably sounded like . . . Did I say something wrong? Such people wont be grateful even if shown mercy. If Sir Knight had fewer soldiers, they would have spat and insulted, and if Sir Knight had retreated in defeat, they would have betrayed and attacked. Well, probably. . . .? Acdda was puzzled when Johan readily agreed. He didnt expect him to concur there. Its not out of honor or pity for them, but for practical reasons. If we loot one town, others wonte out easily, choosing to resist desperately. Our goal is Umdim, and theres no reason to weaken ourselves before reaching it. Although well get less gold. ! Acdda, impressed by Johans words, readily agreed. Youre right. I hadnt thought of it that way. Since well be in this area for a while, its better to make as few enemies as possible. However, not all knights and mercenaries thought as coldly as Johan. Basic supply in this era was terrible. It was rare for supply units to constantly go back and forth between the front and rear, and usually, they had to be self-sufficient locally. And the most convenient form of self-sufficiency was, of course, plundering. There was sufficient justification, and the mercenaries also cheered for such looting. It was an opportunity for a lucrative ie, not just supplies. Knights like Johan, who thoroughly stacked up supplies during the preparation period and additionally replenished from towns and merchants, were a rarity. When about to extract money and supplies from another town, a mercenary came running from afar, holding a g of an unfamiliar mercenary group. Sir Knight! Good news. Our captain has sent a message to attack this town together! No. This town has already received protection money. I swore in my name not to attack it. No. . . Were you, the knight, the one going around doing that sort of thing? The mercenary looked astonished. Hearing rumors that some towns avoided plunder by invoking the name of the knight, the thought, ? ! Apanied by the sound of a whip, the mercenary was thrown off his horse. Gerdolf and Acdda struck the mercenary simultaneously. The two exchanged satisfied nces. This worthless human. . . How dare he be so insolent? I. . . I havemitted a crime worthy of death. I am sorry. The fallen mercenary spat out blood and quickly bowed his head. Chapter 93.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 93.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) The mercenary had lost his nerve and made a ridiculous mistake. He had made a blunder in front of a knight. Mercenaries were not always subservient to knights. If it had been a few dozen mercenaries, the mercenarys envoy could have been arrogant in front of the knight. However, the problem was that there were hundreds of soldiers behind the knight! As the fierce barbarians from the east stared at him with shining eyes and tapped their scabbards, the mercenary felt a chill run down his spine and could not raise his head. Thats enough. Ill overlook your blunder. Go back and tell them. Yes. . . thank you. The mercenary hurriedly mounted his horse and fled. Johan paid attention to the fact that the mercenary had a horse and was also quite well-armed. Which mercenarypany is it? The Wgo Mercenary Group, sir. Marco answered. The Wgo Mercenary Group was a fairlyrge mercenarypany whose leader had also been granted a knights title. Since they had participated in the dukes subjugation, their skills were guaranteed. It wont be over a thousand, will it? They would have received a recruiting permit, so if they had recruited as many people as possible before the subjugation, they could have increased their numbers that much. . . .Are you worried about a sh? The whip was not a friendly greeting. The other side would not dare to start a fight unless they were crazy. Sir Marco. I havent lived that long, but one thing Ive learned is that the world is full of crazy people. Johans words made Acdda burst outughing. Increase your vignce. Euclyia. I would like you to take care of the rear. . Hmm. I dont understand this one. What does it mean? You are giving an order, not a request. I see. I made a mistake. Take care of the rear. Tell the others to increase their vignce as well. It wouldnt be strange to run into the enemy soon. So, captain, the knight and the barbarians were. . . Shut up and go back to your tent. Mercenary leader, Red Axe Gurelic said, pulling out a stiff beard hair. Its getting annoying to meet a strange knight dastard. Isnt he a funny guy? If youre going to say that kind of thing, you should go to a monastery. What is he, a priest? Captain. The knight dastard is acting arrogantly, why are you listening to him? Ignore him! Captain also has a knight title, right! Thats right! Lets ignore the knight dastard and go to town! Haha. Kid. Gurelic looked at the mercenary who had returned after being whipped, as if he was proud of him. When the mercenary looked at him with an expectant gaze, Gurelic punched him in the jaw. Gack! Whos being arrogant right now?! Huh?! To show his position among the rough mercenaries, violence and threats were necessary. Gurelic, who had caught the opportunity, beat the mercenary roughly. After beating the mercenary so much that he could not support his limbs, Gurelic nodded his chin. The ve threw the mercenary out of the tent. Thanks to that, the atmosphere was much more polite. The mercenaries holding the sub-captain position swallowed their saliva. You can talk bullshit as much as you want, but the one who has to take responsibility for that bullshit is me. Why? Because this mercenary band is my mercenary band. The duke will also hold me responsible, and the Count will also hold me responsible. How nice it would be if it could be solved by hanging on the gallows, but is it going to end like that?! Im sorry! In the future, when you talk, know who your opponent is at least before you talk bullshit. Do you understand? I understand! Although he looked like a rough and fat mercenary, Gurelic was a mercenary who had rolled around on the battlefield. It was impossible for a mercenary to receive a knight title with ordinary experience. As soon as Gurelic arrived in Baien, he gathered rumors. Of course, he knew who Johan was. It was understandable that the duke would give him the position of a standard-bearer and favor him, as he had such good results in the tournament and hunting. In any case, it was a fool to provoke someone who was receiving the dukes favor. Although the opponents actions were annoying, there were many nobles who acted more annoying than that. He could tolerate it. Are the materials still okay? Yes. . . Then just move on! Tell those mercenary b*stards to get their asses in gear and start drinking. Its time for the newbies to get a taste of reality. I understand. A few sub-captains smiled slyly. When they were lured to work as mercenaries, they only told good stories, but it was actually difficult to do mercenary work with a clear mind. For the first few days, they were well appeased by feeding them alcohol and meat, but once they were far enough away that it would be difficult to escape, they could show their true colors. Select one person per ten teams and whip them. Discipline them. Yes! They were a typical Empire-style mercenary band, unlike Johans group. Chapter 93.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 93.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) There are a few guys up ahead. Is it a surprise attack? No. The people from the town came to pay tribute. At Acddas words, Johan had a grim expression. Did the mercenaries attack? No sign of them. Sir Knight. I dont trust the Empire, but I dont think theyll attack. Good. I worried for nothing. Is that it? Ha ha. I didnt say that to hear that. But Im in a good mood anyway. Johan scoffed as he received the money from the vige chief. Rumors had spread, and the vige was sending people over to him first. They probably nned to appease him first in case the army came close and caused unnecessary damage. , , . . . . , , , , . . . . . , ? ? -! ! ! After sending the town vige chief away, Johan checked the map. ? ? The map was rudimentary for Johans standards, but he knew they could reach Umdim in a day or two. Count Ganolwoods vanguard had left first, followed by the mercenaries. . . Didnt see the vanguard nearby? Yes. Could it be were the first to arrive? Its possible. Marco, who had been on several campaigns, agreed. Johans march was notably fast. Usually, they would slow down due to looting and resupplying. Huh. . . Didnt expect this, but we arrived first. Might receive some praise. The first to arrive, the first to scale the walls, the first to breach the gates. . . all were rewarded. Johan wasnt particrly eager, but it wasnt bad to receive. Lets stop here for today. Lets prepare for camp. Are you going out again? Its fine if youe with me, but do you want to? No. To be honest, I was really bored. Johanughed at Acddas honest answer. Ill just take Sir Gerdolf with me. Please prepare for camp. It was only natural that Acdda was bored. Johan was drawing a new map every time they stopped. For centaurs, who mostly record things orally, paper and ink were unfamiliar objects. , . Gerdolf. Are you bored? Yes. . . .Im sorry I brought you along. Gerdolf was loyal, but he was also honest. Boredom is boredom! D-Damn it, those s-son of a b*tches. . . I will issue a warning. I-Its no use, i-its counterproductive. Count Ganolwood said while sweating. The town they had just passed through waspletely destroyed. Count also understood the need for supplies and self-sufficiency. But it was clear that the mercenary b*stards were being greedy. Once they had taken the supplies, they should have restrained themselves, but they had taken everything down to the roots. Even though they were blinded by money, it was a bit too much. But he couldnt warn them either. This was one of the customary rights of mercenaries. If he prohibited it, there would be discontent. If he had to choose between serfs and soldiers, he had to take care of the soldiers. T-Tell them that those who arrivete will be severely punished. I-I think that will get their attention. H-Have you found the enemy? No, but. . . they may be surrendering or holding out in the city. The Count thought it was quite likely that Umdim City would surrender before fighting, begging for mercy. The nearby cities and small kingdoms allcked the ability to intervene. In such a situation, it was not strange to surrender to such arge army. T-That may be the case. B-But we need to be careful. I will remember that. Just leave it to me. Sir! Weve been ambushed! The Barba mercenary group in the east has been ambushed! ! Sir Karpati was surprised. He didnt think the Barba mercenary groups were so sloppy that they could be ambushed, but there were always those who made mistakes or were careless. What is the scale? About a hundred barbarian raiders, a mix of cavalry and centaurs, had attacked the merchant caravan! They focused on the merchants and supplies rather than the mercenaries. Count Ganolwood, who was listening, forgot about the situation and was amazed. How could they use those barbarian raiders so effectively? If they fought properly, they would be crushed, but they were enough to slow down the army. The speed was slowed down not only because of the supplies but also because of the fear of being attacked. They managed to hire those barbarian raiders. N-No, they probably didnt hire them. I-It must be the work of the s-small kingdom. T-They could do it. T-Tell them to close the gaps between the troops and s-slow down the speed. Tell them to double the n-number of scouts. The Count responded immediately. It was better to arrive a littlete than to be yed with. Fortunately, the Count had a reputation that would not be tarnished even if rumors spread that he was afraid. I understand. A-And, Sir Karpati. I-I would like you to protect R-Repiata-gong. Sir Karpati nodded. Repiata-gong was also leading the army, but he was honestly worried. He would feel much more at ease if he protected him personally. The duke said I could do whatever I wanted, but I cant do that. Ill be responsible for itter. Even if the duke was serious, a vassal could not do that. As Sir Karpati was leaving, he said, Oh, we should also warn the vanguard. Yes, I will do that. Upon arriving at Umdim, Johan was certain he was the first to reach. People who saw the army were screaming and running into the city. Acdda asked with an expression that suggested itching for action, Shall we pursue? Whats the use in catching them? Wed barely make anything. Lets focus on what needs to be done. After setting up a camp outside the citys shooting range, they controlled those trying to enter and exit the city. It was a basic siege tactic. Siege warfare wasnt just about storming the walls. Most sieges were, in fact, quite tedious. , . . . Regardless of the walls height, attempting to breach it with this force was madness, especially without siege engines. Johan decided to do only what he could. However, Johans arrival caused a greater stir than expected. Unaware of the happenings within the city walls, Johan didnt know that the people of Umdim were imagining the worst. Defense captain! What in the world is happening?! Calm down. Its just the vanguard that has arrived. Theyre not that many. Not many? They fill the horizon! And didnt you hear what those who fled here said? There are barbarians from the east too! Inside Umdim, they barely scraped together a thousand soldiers. Even after hastily hiring more mercenaries, that was all they had. The mercenaries, sensing the tide, were reluctant to join a losing battle. The only reliable figure was a defense captain from a distant small kingdom. He was of lower nobility and had connections to request reinforcements. Ah. . . You must have seen the cavalry wrong. Barbarians are not so easy to deal with. Unless the duke himself is here, their heavy bodies. . . Oh sh*t. ? The defense captain looked down from the wall in horror. Centaurs were visible. Clearly, the eastern barbarian tribes had arrived. ? ?! While the small kingdoms that had previously mingled with the tribes had somewhat assimted with the barbarians, the Empire had not. Even if the duke had pursued a policy of appeasement, participating in the war was unexpected. Chapter 94.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 94.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Barbarian fools, have you no pride? Blinded by the dukes gold coins! The defense captain insulted the tribes. Though it was ironicing from him, who hailed from a small kingdom that acted arrogantly among the nobles of therger kingdom. C-Can we trust this guy? Shh. Be careful with your words. Doubting our own in front of the enemy! Whenints arose, others rebuked him. The defense captain was originally from the Slovak Kingdom, located on the east of the Edene Sea, on the Ulkana Penins. In this situation, the only force that agreed to support Umdim city was from this ce. The people of the Empire mocked them for calling themselves a kingdom, but a kingdom was still a kingdom. Ha. I must speak my mind! What did I say! Surrendering as soon as possible is the only way to appease the dukes anger and save us all! Quiet! Thats just your way of saving yourself! Saving myself?! Then whats your n?! If greed got us into this mess, we should at least think of taking responsibility! The people quickly became divided. Especially in a city where various families had control, these situations became more vulnerable. Some supported the duke, others the small kingdoms, and others various city-states, shing with each other. Whoever lost ground here was as good as dead. They grabbed each other by the cor, growling. Calm down. Its just the vanguard! They are not even approaching here. If we hold out relying on the walls, they will soon retreat. Nonsense! If we are to surrender, it must be before the attack begins! Once it starts, its toote! Siege warfare had its own customs. If a city wanted to surrender, it had to do so before the attack began. If it surrendered after the attack had begun, it was unlikely to receive mercy. Even if themander wanted to show mercy, the soldiers below him would go crazy. Surrender meant that a few people might be executed, but most people would be spared. It was only natural to be tempted by that. Send out the soldiers and drive the members of the council away. Yes, sir. Themotion soon died down. The Umdim city was controlled by nobles who opposed the duke, and the captain of the guard was also one of them. The people retreated in fear as the soldiers threatened them. The captain of the guard let out a sigh of relief. Captain. Are you sure that reinforcements areing? Those barbarian b*stards should be on our side. Those tribesmen are not the only ones on the ins. They are as numerous as acorns that have fallen from a tree. A few greedy and stupid ones havee, so dont worry too much. . . .I understand. By the way, make sure the gate is well-guarded. We dont know who might betray us. Yes, sir. It was frustrating to have to worry about internal betrayal on top of having such a small number of soldiers, but there was nothing he could do. The second army to arrive was the Wgo Mercenary Group. They saw Johans army, which had arrived first and was neatly set up, and flinched. Sir Johan. Hello? I was amazed that you arrived first. You are indeed a knight of the duke. Sir Gurelic. I see the ability of the mercenarypany bying here earlier than others. Gurelic smiled at Johans praise. They knew it was mutual ttery, but they didnt feel bad. By the way, I punished the man who was rude to you severely. Hmm? Oh. Well, you dont have to do that. . . Thank you. . . .? Gurelic was a little surprised. He thought Johan would be happy or satisfied. Whats with this young knight? Why is he so calm? He should be happy, even for his own petty pride. . . Do you have anything to ask or discuss? I think we should wait until the advance party and main force arrive. Uh. . . Have you not heard the news? They will be a littlete. ? Gurelic was able to hear the news by chance because he arrived a stepte. Tribal warriors were roaming around in groups of tens, stirring up the camp. Thats too bad. It will take some time. Thats right, isnt it? I heard that a few of the guys in the nearby town told the location of the marching army. Huh. Is that so? The priests say that we should show mercy, but it seems that the world is a ce where those who show mercy lose. There is no one to trust, so it would be easier to wipe them all out. Gurelic gently mocked Johan within a harmless limit. He thought that this would make him feel a little better. Hmm. . . Were you attacked on the way? . . .No. If I had been attacked, I would haveeter. Thats right. I would have been attacked if I had plundered the town. What do you mean by that? Think about it carefully. Its strange that a few men would report the location of an army of over a thousand people. They must have reported it because they had nothing to lose. What would they hide when the town was in ruins? Only hatred would remain. . . . . . . Since neither you nor I have been attacked, I guess at least the towns we passed did not report it. Isnt mercy quite useful? . . .Isnt it because they were afraid that they didnt report it? That can also be another side of mercy. God does not always appear in one form. Sir Gurelic. Thats enough thanks. If you dont have anything else to say, you should go and prepare for your camp. Gurelic honestly felt like he had been punched by this young knight. It wasnt a punch that made him feel disgusted, but a punch that made sense. He waspletely refuted! He thought he was an immature knight dastard who had no experience leading an army and only had individual strength. . . He was much more of a stumbling block than he thought. Gurelic bowed and withdrew. Without Gurelic knowing it, his attitude when he withdrew was much more respectful. Chapter 94.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 94.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) I want to control the river. Is there any way to get a boat? Most cities are located near or next to a river. Even if the city gates are blocked, if the river is left alone, the effect will be halved. However, the tribal warriors from the east hated the sound of rivers and boats. For them who had lived in the grasnds for their entire lives, a river of a certain width or more was a source of fear. Id rather go over the city walls! Id rather try to break through the city gates than go on water! That, thats right. Even warriors who dont bat an eye at arrows and stones are often weak to superstition. It wasnt surprising that the tribal warriors were afraid of water and superstition. However, it seemed that the tribal warriors interpreted Johans understanding in a different way. Are you disappointed in us? Like a *sshole who cant even cross water. . . Our tribes shaman said that if you cross the river, a water ghost will stick to your back. Thats a rumor, you idiot. Water ghosts just grab your ankles and drown you, they dont stick to you. Damn, really? While the tribal warriors were uneasy with each other, Johan came up with a different n. Since he couldnt find arge boat, he gathered as many small fishing boats as possible from the nearby vige. Gather a few small fishing boats from the nearby vige, then capture arger merchant ship that travels the river, and use that ship to block the narrow passage of the river! . . . . . . Ah, no. Thats too bold, no matter how you look at it. . . Suetlg and Caenerna also looked worried about whether to stop this or let it go. First of all, it was a dangerous task to climb onto arge ship from a low fishing boat, and then there was also a problem. If youre not careful, youll be surrounded on the ship. Even if its a merchant ship, there will be a fair amount of guards, and the sailors who do tough work are as strong as soldiers. If you fall into the river with injuries. . . Shouldnt we stop it? Hmmm. . . ??? Caenerna looked at Suetlg as if he was crazy. However, Suetlg couldnt stop it. It looks doable! The people on the merchant ship would also not be prepared in the same way, and if Johan went wild, there was a high probability that they would be scared and surrender. The tribal warriors gritted their teeth and volunteered. Take us with you, Sir Knight! I volunteer! You said you cant swim? As long as I dont fall in, thats all! No. . . you should at least be able to do some breaststroke. You guys will be usedter, so dont worry. The tribal warriors were crestfallen. Johanforted them and then gave the order again. Since its not a military ship but a merchant ship, it doesnt matter if the number is small. If we capture the ship, I will divide all the goods inside as a reward. In response to the crazy reward, the mercenaries eyes shed and they rushed forward. The mercenaries who had followed Johan since the fortress siege did not hesitate toe forward. A merchant ship sailing leisurely on the river was unexpectedly captured. At first, when people saw several small boats approaching quickly, they thought, ? But Johan threw a spear with a rope and stuck it into the side of the ship, then climbed up instantly by cutting the side with a dagger and an axe. The people who were carelessly on guard were so surprised that they couldnt even shoot an arrow. ! Johan threw a rope down and grabbed the sailors who were attacking him, and the people shouted for surrender in fear. The other ship that wasing from behind is running away! Its fine. They were just trying to block our way. Its enough to block this path. Johan said as he got off the ship. The tribal warriors cheered for Johan as loudly as possible, perhaps because they were stabbed a lot. The soldiers and warriors who were ustomed to Johans crazy bravery showed a rtively calm reaction. The Wgo Mercenary Group, who had set up a camp behind them, was so shocked that they couldnt speak. Did the knight dastard fly up the ship with wings? Yes, thats right! What kind of crazy bullshit is that? No, its not! Dont talk like an *sshole. I thought so. Theres no way a person could have wings So the knight prayed on the ship, , , and suddenly God lifted Sir Knight up and Holy shit, theres a miracle like that? Wheres the priest? Call the priest. Does that make sense? G-God is so great that such a thing is possible, but Hey, the priest said its true! No, I mean its possible, but its not that Cant I just pray? As the ridiculous rumor spread, Gurelic let out a sigh ofughter. What kind of rumor is that It seems that newly arrived hillbillies are especially affected. Tell the priest to hold a prayer meeting, and pick one person out of every ten to whip. It was funny that the mercenaries, who would burn down viges and loot them without a second thought, were superstitious and often turned to God, but what could he do? To rule the mercenaries, he couldnt just whip them. He had to understand things like that too. . . .But he really didnt fly up, did he? They say he just climbed up with his strength. What the hell Gurelic muttered. Knights who had been trained since childhood could show all sorts of superhuman strength. Gurelic had seen it on the battlefield, so he knew it well. Still, he had never seen anything like it. What kind of guy is that knight, anyway? As the soldiers on guard spotted a boating through the river in the darkness, they called Johan. Johan nodded as if he was pleased. Trying to escape in the darkness, I see. It seems that whoever it is is still not fully awake. Two ships would be better. Wake up the sailors! However, Johans expectations were off. The ship wasing with a white g on its bow. Sir! We are people of the Katana Merchant Guild! The merchants immediately prostrated themselves as soon as they got off. If it had been before, they wouldnt have had to do this much. Johan was a wandering knight with no reputation, and they were members of a giant merchant guild. However, things were different now. Johans reputation had reached their ears in such a short time. Get up. How much gratitude have I received from the Katana Merchant Guild. Johan personally helped the merchants to their feet. The merchants were surprised at his attitude. They never imagined that he would personally help them to their feet. Despite the position he held now, Johan was humble and kind. The merchants were trembling with emotion as they spoke. Why have youe here? Have you escaped from the city? No. We came to deliver a proposal from inside. A proposal? A proposal to open the gates. ! The merchant took out a petition signed by the city council members from his bosom and handed it to Johan. He tried to read it to him. I can read. I-Im sorry. Chapter 95.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 95.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) While the merchants were feeling embarrassed, Johan read aloud. It was a message about a few members of the city council colluding once the army entered. Not a surrender? Neither the current captain of the defense nor those inmand are thinking of surrendering. Well, that makes sense. It was unlikely that those who proposed rebellion against the duke and now leading the city would easily surrender. Their heads would surely hang from the gallows. However, other council members had different thoughts. Why should they die alongside them? With the vanguard already here, it was only a matter of time. Once the siege began, surrendering would be even more difficult. Therefore, they secretly asked the merchants of the Katana Merchant Guild to deliver a letter to Johan. . . . Johan thought so, but it was an impossible notion. The council members, treated as nobility within the city, werent actually nobility. They couldnt raise an army for rebellion. It was madness to think of attacking with the citys vagrants,borers, and servants. . . Understood. Give the merchants some wine. I need to gather people and talk. . . Oh, wait. ? The merchants, who were looking forward to the wine, looked at Johan curiously. Youll stay in the camp until the siege is over, right? Yes. . . It seems better that way. . . Good. I have a favor to ask. Johan led the merchants to a tent. It was where the scribe, in charge of finances for the expedition, and the priests were. Help them with the calctions. . . .Us? Cant you Count ? No, its not that. In a noble-led army, financial duties were usually handled by low-ranking nobles or priests skilled in arithmetic. Low-ranking nobles typically learned useful skills likew or theology if they didnt be knights, so taking on such financial roles wasnt unusual. Priests, trained in various knowledge at monasteries, were a natural fit. Merchants were adept at numbers too. However, nobles rarely employed them due to trust issues. Im sick of calcting with ancient Empire numbers. Merchants use Eastern numbers, right? Yes. The merchants of the penins used Arabic numerals, referred to here as Eastern numerals, influenced by trade. Take charge of the calctions. The scribes may take a rest. Thank you! Those who had been forced to handle finances due to some education or because they were from the priesthood sighed in relief. They didnt want to do it either. Moreover, if the counterpart was illiterate, it would have been morefortable, but Johan, as if possessed, kept finding errors in the calctions. . . ? ? . Originally, such financial calctions couldnt be exactly precise. It wasnt because they were embezzling. There were errors in manually doing it every day, and with the additionalplexity of ancient Empire numerals, discrepancies were inevitable. So, they would usually conclude with an approximate level of uracy. . . But the counterpart was Johan. Johan couldnt ept such roughly done calctions. Can we really do the calctions? It doesnt matter. T-Thank you. The reason merchants werent used in such roles was due to distrust, but Johan didnt care about that. After all, he could catch most things with just one nce at the ledger, especially when written in Eastern numerals. Great! Isnt Sir Knight currently blessed with good fortune? We must be . The forces are formidable. The opinions of the people gathered in the meeting room were divided. Acdda, Stephen, and Caenerna thought it was a good opportunity, while Suetlg, Euclyia, and Marco thought they should be careful. Caenerna asked, seemingly not understanding. You said it was okay to capture the ship, didnt you? That was something we could try. We actually seeded, didnt we? . . . . . . What can you say if you seeded? The one who didnt guess is an *sshole. Capturing the ship didnt seem like it would fail, and even if it did, it didnt seem that dangerous. The opponent was a merchant ship, and there were many soldiers here. But this is apletely different matter. Even if the opponent doesnt betray us, a single mistake could be dangerous. Its different from Sangdarju Castle. Sangdarju Castle was a small fortress, and this was a city, even if it was an ancient one. I think we can get away even if something happens. . . Suetlg whispered to Johan so that only he could hear. Think carefully. The tribal warriors you brought with you are all well-respected in the tribe. If they get hurt or captured, youll be in trouble. . . .! Those who were summoned by the duke and received a knighthood were quite good tribal natives. If such people were to die inrge numbers, Johans rtionship with them could be in danger. ? Chapter 95.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 95.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) What? The Wgo Mercenary Group was stunned by Johans sudden proposal. Bas. . .Sir Knight, you are being too generous? . . . . . . The mercenary who was about to say b*stard quickly changed his words. Johans proposal was that unexpected. So youre going to attack the castle because you received a proposal for internal cooperation, and youre going to include us in it? No matter how you looked at it, it was too generous. The Wgo Mercenary Group had no connection with Johan, and there was no reason for him to share this with them. Is it a trap? . . .A dukes knight and a mercenary group working together with the other city to set a trap? Why would they do that? . . .Y-Yeah, I guess youre right. Im sorry. The sub-captain, who felt that Gurelics words made no sense, also kept his mouth shut. He had suspected that the knight would push the mercenaries into a dangerous position first, like a knight would do, but that was not the case. Johan had already dered that he would lead from the front. It was a proposal that had no downsides! Of course, sneaking into the city while deceiving the enemys eyes was a dangerous act in itself, but where was there anything safe in the mercenary business? The most important thing was not the danger of the task, but the reward. Stephen yawned. The mercenaries had kept him waiting too long. What are you doing? If you dont want to ept the proposal, just say so! Im sorry. Please wait a little longer. Stephen, who came as a messenger, looked like a nobleman from head to toe. The disappointed mercenaries were so intimidated that they groveled. In the end, Gurelic made a decision. He would choose the mercenaries who were agile and good at fighting to help out. The offer was too good to refuse, even if he didnt understand it. Gong, there are rumors that reinforcements areing from the kingdom. Soldiers who were marching with the main force were spreading rumors. Reinforcements areing from the Slovak Kingdom! As rumors spread, from the ones who would sneak in and then disappear in groups of dozens to the ominous rumors, the soldiers vignce increased even more. Brnhilde shook her head at Repiatas words. After gathering his strength for a long time to speak, Repiata opened his mouth. If they wereing, they would havee sooner. The fact that they are sending so few means that they dont have the ability to send reinforcements. . . Does that mean they are abandoning the city? Repiata nodded. The kingdom had little ability to help Umdim. So they would be sending small units of soldiers like misers to just poke around. Then I will issue an order to spread the rumors. It was better not to make the soldiers anxious. Repiata nodded again. He had already said all he had to say for the day. Brnhilde, who was faithfully serving as a subordinate and giving orders, was surprised to hear that Johan had already arrived in front of the city. Really? With that much force? Count Ganolwood was also surprised in a simr way. W-Were they not attacked? First of all, the sir himself is bringing tribal warriors, and the viges along the advance route did not snitch. T-They didnt plunder? T-Thats amazing. Count Ganolwood was amazed in a different way. It would not be strange if a young knight, hot blooded, advanced while destroying towns because of his blood. He advanced quickly by skillfully capturing the towns. Unlike the image of being brave and daring, Johan had a strangely simr smell to the Count . It was something unique that only people of the same ss could recognize. Count Ganolwood wondered if he was making a useless mistake. It looked like he was far from him no matter how you looked at it. count. But the reinforcements of the Slovak b*stards. . . Dont worry. They wonte. Count Ganolwood also had simr thoughts to Repiata. If they were the b*stards who would send reinforcements, they wouldnt have been messing around like this in the first ce. And even if they faced each other in front of the city, it didnt matter. He had already confirmed that the citys forces were not many. But. . . I already confirmed it by sending a spy to Slovek. There is no reinforcement. . . .! The knight was surprised. Even though the Count could not withstand a single blow if he fought with a weapon, he felt scared at this moment. Increase the marching speed. Yes! Even though he gave such an order, it took three more days to arrive. The vanguard, which was in front, first confirmed the surroundings. It was to confirm Johan or other mercenaries. However, there was no other visible encampment. . . .? What is it? After confirming for a long time, the vanguard realized that something was strange about the g that was raised on the city wall. It was not the g of the city, but the g of the dukes family. The b*stards of the city surrendered! Go and report it quickly! The vanguard was shocked and turned around. They thought the city could surrender, but they never thought it would surrender so quickly! Considering it was the upation of a city, the mood among the upying forces was not very good. More precisely, it was not good only where themanders were gathered. While the soldiers were inted with expectations of immense rewards. . . A few sub-captains of the Wgo Mercenary Group and their leader Gurelic looked at Caenerna with eyes filled with fear and disgust. If it wasnt for Johan, they would have left the ce immediately. Caenerna had a headache. Not because of their attitude, but due to the aftereffects of magic. She spoke, massaging her face. Didnt I say it was a mistake? That mistake, if it had happened a few more times, would have burned us all to death, wouldnt it! So what do you want me to do? Are you saying I should have refrained from using fire there? The mercenaries were understandably terrified. Caenerna almost burned them all. The n was simple. Enter the city via the river, set fires in various ces to create chaos, and use the opportunity to secure the magistrate and the defense captain, forcing the soldiers to surrender. During this, Johan disyed fiercebat skills. He alone entered a ce guarded by more than a dozen soldiers and ughtered them, which even made the Wgo Mercenary Group gulp. , ! They might have disparaged the knight in his absence, but after witnessing this, their hearts raced and their legs trembled. The problem was Caenerna. , -. . , . Caenerna agreed readily, and joined them under the condition that Johan would protect her. But there were far more ces to set fire to than expected. , . . . . . . . ? ? . . . , . . . . . . . ! ! It was a big deal to procure firewood and kindling in such a ce. The impatient mercenaries urged Caenerna. As a result, Caenernas mes went out of control, ravaging the surroundings. If the direction had been slightly off, the mercenaries would have been reduced to ashes. The mercenaries were about to shoot Caenerna, but Johan stopped them because of his oath. Eventually, Johan dashed through the mes, knocked out the frenzied Caenerna, and carried her out. She was somewhat protected by Gulraks surcoat; otherwise, she would have been engulfed in mes. Anyway, wasnt it a sess? You all urged her too. Seeing that Johan was unlikely to punish Caenerna, Gurelic immediately gave up. After all, its fine as long as they didnt die! True. Thanks to Sir Knight. I sincerely appreciate it. Chapter 96.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 96.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) . There were no mercenaries who clung to that ce after nearly losing their lives. After all, isnt the very job of a mercenary about risking ones life? Above all, having seen Johan ughter the citys soldiers, they were not foolish enough to continue challenging him. Currently, he was treating the mercenaries kindly and respectfully, but who knew if he would take up a sword in anger? If Johan wanted to save that insane wizard, he could. The mercenaries had noints. Any they had melted away at the sight of Johan. . Johan slightly regretted it. He should have calmed down the excited mercenaries. It was the first time he realized how terrifying uncontrolled magic could be. Especially the power of Caenerna, who wielded fire, was even more brutal. Make sure the mercenaries who have entered do not act recklessly. Yes. Since Ive threatened them with whippings and the gallows, none will dare to act rashly. But Sir Knight, we still havent found the defense captain. . . After invading the city and causing chaos, they seeded in capturing the magistrate and some members of the royal faction advisory council. However, the defense captain managed to escape swiftly. They had no choice but to focus on the magistrate first. The mercenaries were still searching, but there was no news yet. It doesnt matter. After all, the defense captain is just another mercenary like us. Gurelic wasnt too worried about missing the defense captain. They might have missed him, but they had captured all the sub-captains. What more could they do with all the actualmanders in custody? By now, the defense captain would be far south, fleeing with his amassed wealth. Theres no need to be unnecessarily scared, but stay vignt. Deploy soldiers in each area and set up guards. Johan spoke firmly. It wasnt just them; the Wgo Mercenary Group had also entered, so the tasks had to be divided. The problem was, while Johan trusted his own men, he couldnt trust those from the Wgo Mercenary Group. There were many experienced veterans, but also many green recruits without proper gear. The most frightening thing was a mistake by ones own allies. Thats why he had to speak strongly. When Johan spoke strongly, it meant his voice was filled with murderous intent and intimidation. The sub-captains felt their mouths dry with tension. Wiping sweat from their hands, they nodded. . Sir Knight. ? I have brought this for you, Sir Knight. Normally, one should take care of such things themselves. Acdda, with a cheerful face, tried to put a golden ne around Johans neck. Although they did not plunder the city, the properties of the kingdom party, city party members, and magistrates had already been confiscated. The confiscated properties were amicably shared among those who arrived first. There was a reason why the mercenaries were so delighted. Thanks for the ne. . . So, did you properly take care of what I asked? I did, but Im not sure if I saw it correctly. Johan had ordered Acdda to separately collect anything like documents or maps that the magistrate hadthat is, anything written in ck ink on white paper. Such items could be lost or burned in the chaos. Satisfied with the collected amount, Johan expressed his gratitude. Thank you. Youve worked hard. Dont you like this more than the golden ne? Acdda looked disappointed. It was the most splendid and beautiful item from the magistrates mansion. He had fought off others who were drooling over it and brought it. . . No. Im certainly grateful for this too. Very happy. Sir Knight is indeed a unique person. Regardless of what Acdda said, Johan separately took care of the maps and estate registers rted to the towns of Dolek and Palmon that he had agreed to receive. He had suspected their existence, and there they were. The registers contained details of properties, ies, residences and names of freemen, serfs, and ves, as well asnd records. Such registers were usuallypiled by the town priests. Johan knew this well as he had learned while working with the priests. The records were detailed, possibly written by a meticulous priest. , . Sir Knight! The main force has arrived! Thats good. Now I can rx a bit. It had been tense controlling the city with only Johans army and the Wgo Mercenary Group. While the mercenaries were happily spirited, Johan was someone who prepared for the worst in such situations. Its often those who worry a lot who end up suffering. Unlike Johan, the mercenaries were quite disappointed to hear that the main force had arrived. Chapter 96.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 96.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) W-What, not a s-surrender but a surprise attack to take over the city? W-Wow, youd deserve the title of a siege expert, w-wouldnt you? You tter me too much. N-No, Im really impressed. I-Ill definitely report this victory to His G-Grace, the duke. Count Ganolwoods face was filled with satisfaction. Unknown to others, but Sir Karpati could tell. . Count Ganolwood was not a bad person, but neither was he kind. He belonged to the category of being particr and quirky. It was surprising to see the Count look at someone with such an affectionate gaze. It made sense though. Had Sir Karpati been younger, he would have openly shown his joy. Although the city had few soldiers, a city was still a city. Holding up against its walls could give the attackers a headache. But to have ended it so swiftly. . . H-How is the city now? There are a few scared people, but overall its peaceful. The magistrate and council members, and sub-captains have been captured and imprisoned. W-What about looting? Except for the residences of the magistrate and council members, we didnt touch anything else. . . .!! Count Ganolwood was more surprised by this than the citys capture. It was astonishing that Johan had restrained himself, but even more so that he had controlled the other mercenaries and warriors. The mercenaries were greedy madmen for gold, and the tribal warriors believed in ? Whatever he did, it was chillingly impressive control. Count Ganolwood felt cold sweat running down his back. Bravery was one thing, but how could someone of his age control his subordinates so strongly? Is there a problem? N-Not at all. As Johan asked with a puzzled look, Count Ganolwood regained his senses and nodded. Now was not the time to be amazed. He had to get back to work as soon as possible. If you looted the magistrates residence, a lot of documents must have been lost. Oh, thats unfortunate. I had the documents separately secured. It seemed important, so I gave the order. . . .W-What in the world. . . w-why did you only appear now? Count Ganolwood looked at Johan with a moved expression. If there had been knights like Johan, or even just one, how much easier would it have been for him? Thinking of the many battles he had fought and the aftermath he had to deal with, his voice couldnt help but tremble. . Johan and his soldiers were given a rest. Even when the main force arrived, it was impossible to bring all the soldiers into the city. If they did, the city would be in chaos. It was only natural that those who showed bravery as the vanguard were given special privileges. Even after the city was upied and the aftermath settled, there were still annoying matters to deal with. Things like showing an example to the towns in the south that remained defiant, even after the change of leadership. Such tasks did not necessarily require Johans intervention. , . Johan wanted to see the town promised by the duke himself. After all, he had to return after appointing a manager there. . . Good. Lets take a walk. Are you looking for something? Quick on the uptake, arent you? Yes. Umdim may not be a big city, but its location is not bad. There could be interesting things to find. The city itself was not veryrge, but the river connected to the Edene Sea, facilitating various trades. It was natural for Suetlg, who was mostly in the Empire, to look for unique items. By the way, did Caenerna run amok? Yes, she shot mes everywhere. You managed not to kill her. We had an agreement beforehand. . . Not many can keep their promises. You did well. I was worried you might be taking magic too lightly. . . Stung by Suetlgs words, Johan felt a twinge of guilt. Suetlg spoke sternly. In magic, arrogance must never be entertained. As seen with Caenerna, even the most skilled and experienced wizard can be consumed by magic. Ill keep that in mind. Yes. Hmm. . . When Suetlg and Johan stopped, the staff of the tradingpany hurried out. They had eyes and ears; they couldnt be unaware of those who had taken over the city. Is thispiszuli? I would prefer if there were other mchite. We have a rare item imported from the east. Bring it. Ill pay a fair price. In a situation where they couldntin even if robbed, they were grateful for such words. The staff carefully brought out the items. Johan, not particrly interested in gems, wandered around, rummaging through various things. The staff watched him with worried expressions. They couldnt stop a knight from rummaging, nor could they just leave him be, feeling uneasy. . . Looking for something? I need to meet Repiata-gong for dinner and am looking for a gift. Ah, its indeed better to prepare that in advance. How about a sword? There seem to be some items from the east, and eastern swords are not bad. Sometimes, swords made by experts in the east were sharper and cooler than those made by Empires experts. Though publicly denounced as heretics and evil, there were no nobles who disliked treasures brought from the east. Im not sure if he can handle a sword. . . Hell learn if necessary. Its the thought that Count s. This one is good. It sounds like theres water inside. Youre not just saying that because youre distracted by the gems, right? Suetlg did not answer, seemingly lost in thought. Johan clicked his tongue and turned his gaze elsewhere. Repiatas invitation was understandable. It was only natural that he should be congratted for sessfullypleting such an expedition. Moreover, rumors had it that this time the city of Umdim would be given to a child of Brduhe. Among Brduhes children, only Repiata had joined the army. Hence, it seemed likely that Repiata would receive governance over the city. Gaining a city without much effort, it would never be too much to call upon him several times. , -. . . . Still, as a knight, one couldnt just go casually. No one would criticize for going empty-handed, but it was better to adhere to customs. . Ah. Now that I think about it, I heard that Repiata-gong is fond of books. Is that so? Johan was delighted. When offering a gift, it was always best to give something the recipient liked. He said to the merchant, If you have any useful books, bring them to me. Just, just a moment, please. Ill call someone who can read the ancient imperialnguage. I can read it, no need to worry. . The duke has employed a demon! How many times must I say its not a demon. It was a human! If thats not a demon, Id rather gouge out my eyes, damn it! The defense captain sighed. Never had he thought the fierce and rough mercenaries would be so terrified. Honestly, he couldnt say he didnt understand their feelings. The enemies that sprung from the darkness were indeed terrifying. No, while others had ambushed, they were merely ordinary mercenaries. Only the knight leading the mercenaries was exceptionally fierce. ! ! ! With one hand, the knight grabbed the spear shaft, snapped it, then grabbed the neck and threw it aside. He handled the well-dressed soldier as if tossing a child. The terrified soldiers ran back, trying to close and bolt the thick door, but the knight smashed it open with his axe and entered. With fires zing all around and the cries growing louder, the situation was chaotic. As the demonic-looking knight approached, the soldiers, petrified with fear, went mad. They abandoned their oaths, dropped their weapons, and fled. Chapter 97.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 97.1: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Even if that knight is a demon, it doesnt matter. Were not asked to fight him, are we? . . . . . . We just need to bring out the magistrate. The defense captain had no particr attachment to this city either. As Gurelic had said, the citys defense captains were usually of mercenary origin. They didnt bury their bones in the city just because they had been paid there for a long time. If the city falls, just take the property and go somewhere else! However, the Slovak Kingdom wanted the magistrate. In case of an emergency, they were to bring out the magistrate. The defense captain couldnt ignore that order. . . . It was unexpected that the enemys vanguard could invade so boldly. Nor did they anticipate the others would betray them so quickly. Anyway, there was only one thing to do now. They had to take the magistrate out somehow. There were no other subordinates left, so they had no choice but to coax and persuade them. ording to the spy, the magistrate is confined in the mansion. He will stay there until the duke decides otherwise. Nobody expects him to be rescued from outside. Moreover, the guards are not that strong. Starting with gold coins and up to fiefs, the mercenaries began to be tempted, forgetting their fears. What does it matter if the opponent is a demon? If they dont meet him, they can make a fortune! . . .Is that true? Im with you guys in this. Its my life at stake too. Would I lie about such a thing? The mercenaries nodded, their eyes shining at the defense captains words. If they could secretly whisk away the magistrate and escape the city, they could livevishly in a town for the rest of their lives. Books were precious and not widely circted. They were not necessarily written in the Empiresnguage. The monks who copied books in the monasteries also used the ancient imperialnguage. Naturally, the books Johan had selected were written in the ancient imperialnguage. Now that I think about it, does Repiata-gong know the ancient imperialnguage? Just because one liked books didnt mean they knew the ancient imperialnguage. Books were held for their value and could be a symbol of dignity in themselves. After all, the nobles could hire readers to read for them. Well. . . It should be fine. ? Even if he doesnt know, he wont admit it out of pride, will he? . . . . . . Johan looked at Suetlg incredulously. Suetlg avoided his gaze, seemingly embarrassed. You said he liked books, didnt you? Whether he likes books or not, thats another matter, isnt it? Thats fine. The books Johan had chosen were not particrly unusual: , , . . . As they were difficult to produce, books usually rted to the church or represented the nobilitys authority. Going beyond this would enter a suspicious category. As soon as Brnhilde saw Johan, she hugged him tightly. Although smaller than Johan, Brnhilde was a knight taller and stronger than most. Johan slowly pushed away Brnhildes arms with his hands. , . Im truly grateful for your bravery! Gong is also pleased. I just did what had to be done. Is Gong inside? Yes! The others have already arrived. Johan rubbed his side and nodded. Caenerna, standing beside him, asked, Is that a book youre holding? Did you bring a book as a gift? Yes. How are you feeling? My magic is not fully restored, and my head aches like a hangover, but its bearable. Suetlg didnt seem eager to join the gathering. In contrast, Caenerna enjoyed interacting with the powerful. Currently aligned with the Emperors faction, but the more options for switching sides, the better. Johan had suggested Caenerna apany him to provide somefort. I regret having pushed you into using magic. . . .? Caenerna looked at Johan strangely. Normally, witnessing a magic surge meant either killing or preparing for trouble. But this knight was apologizing instead. Although Caenerna knew Johan was a unique knight involved with magic, still. . . Why are you looking at me like that? I didnt expect an apology. . .? Its my fault for involving you. Ill be more careful in the future. Youd make a really good feudal lord. Is that sarcasm? No. Its rare for nobles to treat a wizard like that. Normally, they are more. . . Annoying? Arrogant? I was going to say they act like a son of a b*tch, but thats not incorrect either. Many thought court wizard Caenerna manipted the Emperor for her gain, but she had her struggles. For a wizard like her, the rtionship with the employer was everything. A bad rtionship meant life-threatening consequences for her subordinates. Everything she did or didnt do was med on magic. Such was the nature of magic. She had to make even the impossible seem at least feasible. Nobles think magic can do anything. They think paying gold makes everything possible. Do you know what Cardirian wanted? Not sure. He wanted an elixir of youth, to make himself young and healthy again. Caenerna scoffed as she spoke. Is it possible? I dont know. Whats certain is that I dont know how. . . Can you imagine how annoying it was to convince him? Must have been terrible. Why serve such a master? Because of the gold. Theyre all the same, so better serve the one with more money. Johan nodded, finding the exnation oddly convincing. When he nodded in agreement, Caenerna looked astonished. As Caenerna followed Johan, she stopped at the sight of an orc in the courtyard. Wait. . . That orc. What about it? Its from the rhim family. Orcs didnt believe in gods and were greedy for money. Kings and nobles despised orcs but always sought them when in need of money. The rhim family was famously wealthy among orcs. Having such an orc was unusual. Impressive to have such apanion. I dont know how it was managed. . . Ah. Of course, orcs are disrespectful non-believers. Caenerna, admiring the scene, changed her tone, realizing Johan was beside her. It would be hard for a devout knight to appreciate such praise. Wow. That persons family is so wealthy? Do you know how one can be friends with an orc? . . . . . . Chapter 97.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) Chapter 97.2: ???????? ???????????????? (??) The people who came to the ce had expressions of ignorance. Johan smiled satisfactorily. Soon they would also know how silent Repiata-gong is. You guys should suffer too! The knights and mercenary captains were cautious with tense faces. They had already heard the rumors. They had to be more careful, especially since it was the dukes lineage. However, Johan missed something. This was not a private meeting, but a banquet to be enjoyed with others. After Repiata briefly praised and the wine went around a few times, the mercenary captains started talking among themselves. They praised Repiata, the Brduhe family, and insulted the traitors of the city. Repiata didnt need to speak. The mercenaries did the talking for him, agreeing and responding among themselves. . There was no reason to be angry about this, but Johan felt unfairly aggrieved. Caenerna kicked his foot and asked. Is there a problem? No. Its nothing serious. Then it would be good to talk a bit. Its a ce where it doesnt matter if you dont talk. Johans words sounded arrogant, but they were true. All the mercenaries and knights present knew who had crossed the city walls. People with less to their name talked more here, while those with more aplishments sat quietly as praises came to them naturally. ? ? Johan was puzzled. The magistrate sat next to him, looking like a major criminal. Normally, such a person should be imprisoned, at least under house arrest. . ? Johan couldnt know the discussions within the family. If the Brduhe family intended to keep the magistrate alive to govern the city, that must be the reason. The magistrate had lost most of his possessions, but cooperating was still better than dyingpletely. . Karamaf, who had been rolling around in the corner gnawing on meat, came over and tugged at Johans pants. Initially, Johan thought he didnt like the meat, but it seemed like he wanted to say something. Johan excused himself and stepped outside. Is there something strange? . Karamaf growled and kept walking forward, indicating the direction of the smell. It was towards the kitchen. The kitchen of such a mansion wasrge, with many people working. Over a dozen servants were busily moving between the storeroom and kitchen. ? Karamaf stopped in front of a maid and started barking fiercely. Johan didnt know why but he trusted Karamaf. Hmm. Let me have a look at you. What? What is it? The maid was short and had rough skin from longbor. She trembled as if terrified by the sudden approach of a knight. . . .? Johan was slightly confused. Johan had confidence in his instincts too. If Karamaf had his sense of smell and hearing, Johan had his unique animal-like intuition. But he felt no threat from the person in front of him. She seemed like just an ordinary maid. . . . ? Come here for now. The maid, terrified, looked around, but there was no servant who dared to obstruct a knight, especially one recognized by the duke. Johan pulled the maid closer to the firece to get a better look at her face. S-Sir Knight. ? One of the servants, who seemed to hold a higher position, spoke up. If you want this, Ill send it separately, so here. . . No. Thats enough. The servant grumbled internally and stepped back. What a fuss in the kitchen. No matter how much one brightens the colors. Johan was deep in thought. He wanted to force an answer through strength, but he was not sure about the other party. ? It made sense for Karamaf to bark if the maid was emitting a suspicious smell. But could that smell have been a misunderstanding? Working in the kitchen handling various ingredients, one could get smells on them. ? Staring intently at the maid, Johan hesitated. The flesh showing through her torn sleeve, where a snake-like mark appeared. Johan almost instinctively whispered. Nessus? At that moment, the maids eyes transformed. Karamaf fiercely barked, attempting to sink its teeth and ws into the maids neck. But the maids movements were much faster. In her hand, which should have been empty, was a needle-shaped dagger. < >! Recalling the technique he learned from Kaegal, Johan grabbed the maids wrist. The enemys eyes turned to astonishment. If Kaegal had seen it, he would have scolded, , but Johan was not Kaegal. He had no intention of just killing the opponent. I swear to God, I dont intend to kill you. I have something to ask! The maids face melted away, transforming into that of a middle-aged man, simr to a servants face nearby. Johan realized that face belonged to the servant next to him. ?! Kaegal hadnt taught him that! Johan, feeling a bit wronged, tightly gripped the assassin to prevent escape. The assassin was shocked by Johans strength. He had tried to dislocate his joints to escape, but there was no chance for that. Is this really human strength? At that moment, mercenaries wielding swords burst into the kitchen. Nobody move! Move and youll be killed. . . .Who are you guys? Shit. . . Didnt I say theres no need to deal with this?! Chapter 98.1: ???????? ???????????????? (????) Chapter 98.1: ???????? ???????????????? (????) There was an adage that circted like a joke among the mercenaries. It was the saying, . No matter the n, things tend to go awry and change, so just give up and leave it to fate! . . .Still, this was too much. The situation was more messed up than it should have been. ?! ! . , . The mansion, supposed to be devoid of people, was as noisy as if hosting a banquet, shocking the mercenaries who came through the secret passage. But they couldnt just turn back. The defense captain had an idea. , , . , . ? . ! With no other choice, the mercenaries headed to the kitchen as instructed by the defense captain. It seemed better to quietly solve the problem than causing a ruckus and drawing attention. Of course, things in the world dont always go as nned. Why is that knight here?! The cry of the mercenary was desperate. Then someone said. Kill him! Hes unarmed too! . . .! Cornered, the mercenaries desperately sought a way out. No matter how formidable the opponent, they had spent their lives killing enemies. And the opponent was indeed unarmed. It might even be a stroke of luck. Their only chance to kill this demon! Johan sighed. The situation was such a mess that he felt more calm. . The servants screamed, an assassin exerted force, Karamaf growled, and some raiders were causing chaos. . . In such times, it was essential to stay calm andposed. Johan struck the assassins neck. The man fell like a puppet with its strings cut. There was much to ask, but it couldnt be helped. Good luck if he survived, bad luck if he didnt. Karamaf. Make sure he cant escape. . The mercenaries, with bloodshot eyes, rushed into the kitchen. The servants screamed and stepped aside. Knowing that Johan was unarmed, they attacked without hesitation. In haste, Johan grabbed adle nearby. As the sootydle revealed its ancient de from the soup, the mercenary was baffled. What is he doing. . .? Johan stepped forward, swinging thedle from the upper right to the lower left. It was a basic diagonal sh, but a swift and urate strike that caught the opponent off guard. The mercenary couldnt even think to block and was struck on the head. Once, twice, thrice. A flurry of attacks left no time for reaction, and sparks flew from the steel helmet. The mercenary, bleeding from the eyes and nose, fell. Damn Motherfuc. . . Thedle swung again. The dented and damageddle struck the mercenarys temple, ending his life. Johan let go of the handle with a slight regret. Thanks to the two who fell and blocked the way, the worry of being hit by a sword was somewhat reduced. Johan grabbed the fallen mercenary and pushed him like a shield. Those behind hesitated as they no longer had space to swing their weapons. When youre very close, des be a hindrance. Johan threw the corpse and extended his arm to wrap around a guys neck. As he let out a death scream, the mercenarys neck bone snapped. Naturally, the mercenarys short sword came into Johans hand. As Johan grasped the weapon, the mercenariesplexions turned pale. ! ! Leave the knight dastard and run! The magistrate must be taken care of! The defense captain shouted in a voice mixed with despair and struggle. The mercenaries behind could be seen escaping. They didnt show it, but they were relieved. Hey you sons of b*tches!! Where do you think youre going, cough! As the mercenaries ran, Johan also ran. Thinking calmly, if the mercenaries had resolved to die and attacked, they could have inflicted wounds on Johans body. Even if the kitchen was spacious, the space was limited and Johan was not wearing armor. They could have inflicted minor wounds on his arms and legs, if not a fatal blow. However, the mercenaries were terrified. Johan caught the ones trying to flee one by one and ughtered them. A few servants fainted in fear at his demon-like rampage. It was hard to tell whether the raider or Johan was more terrifying. ! ! ! ! The mansions corridor was a total mess. Given the status of those gathered here, guards were on standby, but the number of raiders was too many than expected. Where did all these peoplee from? ? Capture anyone worth taking as a hostage and kill the rest! Magistrate! Magistrate! Come out! Wevee to save you! The magistrate cursed. He hadnt even asked to be saved, yet this chaos could put his life in more danger. The. . . Milord. . . Several guardsy fallen. At their words, Johan nodded. Mercenaries in front were struggling to enter through the wide corridor into the hall. Some knights and mercenary captains inside quickly armed themselves and blocked the door. The mercenaries could only curse, unable to enter. ! Chapter 98.2: ???????? ???????????????? (????) Chapter 98.2: ???????? ???????????????? (????) From a distance, a tall knight could be seen swinging a battle axe, chopping off the head of a mercenary who looked up carelessly. It was Brnhilde. . Johan was relieved. If the entrance wasnt breached, those inside would be safe. The mercenaries were as good as cornered. Spare my life and Ill reward you! What nonsense. . . Kill him! There was another unlucky person outside, caught in trouble like Johan. Even with mercenaries rolling their eyes menacingly with weapons in hand, he shouted confidently. He was quite the madman. ! Even in this tense moment, Johans body moved naturally. At that moment, Brnhilde from the back of the corridor saw mercenaries flying in all directions. . . . ? The shortsword was already broken, and Johan entered, beating up mercenaries with his fists. The orc screamed and eximed. God damn it, God! Have you converted? If its a demon, take the souls of those other guys! My soul is worthless! Stop talking nonsense and stick close! Johan swung his fist and smashed the head of an approaching guy. Only then did the orc seem to realize that Johan was a human. Johan of the Yeats family? ! Ive heard a lot of rumors, but youre really amazing. . . ! . . . . . . ! ! ! Is he a knight or a butcher? Johan was violence incarnate in human form. Some of the mercenaries in the hallway, terrified, took their own lives. Theck of spears and crossbows was so regrettable. Johan threw a sword and pierced the neck of the rushing defense captain. He didnt even know it was the defense captain. Holding two masterless weapons in his hands, Johan stopped. Covered in blood, the mercenary captains in the hall involuntarily shouted. Sir Knight! Sir Knight! We are allies! Please stop! I am sane. T-Thats good. No matter how you looked at it, holding the weapons, it was clear they thought Johan was crazy. Johan cracked his neck and asked. What about the guy who went inside? Theres. . . none. Good. Go out and call the soldiers. Although there was a servant nearby, the mercenary captain didnt think to send them and hurriedly ran out. Milord, I can go. . . After roughly wiping off the blood-soaked cloth turned inside out, Johan looked at the shivering magistrate beside him and asked, When did you collude with them? . . .!!! Those guys didnt just fall from the sky. They must havee out of a passage somewhere around here. And you must have known about it. Repiata showed no change in expression despite suchmotion. For Johan, it was rather convenient. It would have been troublesome in various ways if he had cried and clung to him in fear. I. . . I didnt know! I was locked up and couldnt meet anyone, how could I have colluded! The magistrate cried out in a voice full of injustice. It was sincere. He had never thought the defense captain would do such a thing. May I interrogate him? As long as you dont kill him, its fine. As Johan put his hand on his shoulder, the magistrate screamed. I really dont know anything! I swear to God! I just didnt think of the passage! Please spare me! If you spare me, I will devote my body and soul in loyalty to you! . . .I just put my hand on you. Johan was embarrassed enough to remove his hand as the man broke down like this. It didnt seem like the man was lying. Shall we move to another location for now? Repiata shook his head. . Right now. . . ? . . .I think its safe. Youre talking quite a bit today, arent you? At Johans joke, Repiata smiled slightly. Johan, seeing Repiata smile for the first time, was puzzled. Repiata gestured for Johan toe closer. Please ask about the Slovak Kingdom. Understood. Johan approached the magistrate. The magistrate desperately shouted that he had some contact with the Slovak Kingdom but was not that close and really had nothing to do with it. No one would say anything if we cut off an arm or leg of that b*stard! The returning mercenary captains shouted fiercely. It was natural for them to be discontented, having almost died justing for a meal. It was good to control the city using the magistrate, but managing the dissatisfaction of his subordinates was also an important task for Johan. Johan looked at Repiata. Repiata slightly shook his head. I asked, and it seems he has nothing to do with it. How do you know that! I told you, I asked, didnt I? . . .Now that I hear it, it does seem that way. Thanks for understanding. Johan patted the shoulder of the understanding mercenary captain. The mercenary captain nodded his head, his face frozen with fear. Themotion at the mansion made the people of the city even more fearful. It was not surprising that hundreds could have been massacred if things went wrong. However, Repiata showed leniency instead of capturing and hanging the people. Normally, I should have finished preparations quickly and left for the town, but weve been causing trouble for each other. Johan looked down at the bound assassin, hands and feet tied, while Karamaf red menacingly, baring his teeth. But just as your business is important, so is mine. I cant just leave an assassin who lurked around me alone. Then kill me if you will. The assassins face had changed into one not seen before, neither a maid nor a servant. It seemed they had changed their appearance. The assassin remained silent, head bowed. A captured assassin meant summary execution. Even if beheaded in a single stroke, no one could protest. Johan checked small bottles sealed with cork stoppers. They appeared to be deadly poison. Karamaf had detected a slight odor emanating from them. If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it right there. Wasnt that what you intended? The assassin retorted with a look that questioned how beating them and not intending to kill could make sense. Ive encountered assassins from before. You guys arent so secretive, are you? You think the guild strictly keeps the clients secrets? What a joke. Assassins have no loyalty. They stay silent because they know speaking up means death. Give them assurance of life, and theyll talk readily. Venom of Nessus was somewhat overhyped. This was partly inted intentionally by the assassins affiliated with it, to attractmissions from influential people. But Venom of Nessus was merely an organization made up of selfish assassins. There were a few rules, but the guild members trusted themselves more than these rules. The guild was held together not by rules but by its cell-like structure. The assassin remained silent. Johan demonstrated a simple technique, and a dagger appeared out of nowhere, astonishing the assassin. How? , . . Johan realized that there was no need for fisticuffs in the melee at the mansion. He had a hidden weapon at his waist. Now do you believe Ive encountered assassins before? I owe someone a favor and want to repay it. This is yourst chance. Will you confess and seek forgiveness, or choose death? I wont ask again. . . .I will speak. Chapter 99.1: ???????? ???????????????? (????) Chapter 99.1: ???????? ???????????????? (????) The assassin spoke up as if a glimmer of hope had emerged. People tend to weaken when they have hope. If I speak, swear to God that you will ensure my safety. Alright. I swear to God. Of course, unlike the assassins thoughts, Johan didnt hold oaths in such high regard. Oaths are only meaningful to those who believe and fear God. Even among those who believe in God, there are those who break their oaths, so it was unlikely Johan would care. , . No matter how wee a member of the Venom of Nessus guild might be, Johan had no intention of risking covering for him. After all, hadnt Kaegal said, , , ? I agreed to kill the magistrate and received eight gold coins and thirteen silver coins from the south. Right. To kill Repiata-gong. . . Huh? Johan hesitated. Not Repiata, but the magistrate? Startled by the unexpected name of the opponent, Johan was taken aback. Whomissioned it? How would I know that? The assassin looked at Johan as if to say, ? There was never a case where the person who hired an assassin did it personally. Naturally, it would have been a servant or a maid who paid the money. He spoke Empire with an eastern ent and was wearing quite expensive silk clothing. It even had embroidery. . . Seems like a pretty wealthy guy. If a servant wears such clothes. But still, it was of little significance. There were many who spoke Empire with an eastern ent, from the Empire itself to the nomadic tribes and small kingdoms. Johan gave up on finding out about the client and asked something else. Did you n to use poison to kill the magistrate? Yes. Using poison was a skill hard for themon person to know. An average person wouldnt know where to get the ingredients or how to mix them. Did you learn it at the guild? No, I grew up in a family of herbalists. I bought a few from other guild members in exchange for gold coins. . . Venom of Nessus operated in apletely different way from other guilds. Whether it was a merchant guild or a captains guild, usual guilds actively protected and took care of their members. They defended their rights and nurtured new guild members. . . But this assassins guild only shared a name and nothing else. One either survived long enough to rise or simply died. The transmission of skills was also limited. A new assassin had to figure out how to kill people on their own. If they wanted to learn from others, they had to find a way themselves. Kaegals swordsmanship was what he had umted over his life, not a skill shared throughout the Venom of Nessus. Just as the assassin didnt know Kaegals swordsmanship, Johan didnt know the assassins poison. What about changing faces? Its a curse I received from a pagan temple during an Eastern expedition. Although it seemed like a useful trick, it was more of a curse. At the pagan temple, he had been robbed of his original name, lineage, and face. Changing faces might seem convenient, but there was no magic without a price. In addition to various preparations, each change brought the agony of bones breaking and muscles tearing. Upon hearing the detailed description, Johans expression turned grim. , . From the beginning, the idea of crossing the sea to the east was impractical, and even if he went, it wouldnt have been a skill worth learning. There was too much to lose. An assassin originally couldnt even remember their own body. Having heard everything, Johan opened his mouth. I saved your life. ording to the rules of Nessus, you would repay the debt with a life. Are you prepared for that? . . .Yes. When Johan brought up one of the few principles, the assassin frowned. Someone, unknown, seemed to have told him in great detail. Then kill Cardirian the Second. . . .!!! The assassin looked at Johan with a shocked face. His eyes were saying, ? The assassin had picked his target. Targeting the Emperor was something no assassin would dare to do. Even with hundreds of gold coins, I cant ept such a request! But sometimes, one must ept unavoidable requests. Cardirian the Second has only one life, and so does a magistrate. Johan unsheathed his sword and cut the ropes binding the assassin. Go. Leave this city. If I see you again, I cant guarantee your life. . . . . . . The assassin walked out with a defeated expression, staggering. Johan didnt have high expectations. Whether the assassin targeted the Emperor, didnt, or even failed in the attempt. . . If he seeded, it would be an unimaginable windfall, and even in failure, it would deal a blow to the Emperor. If he ran away without trying, it would remain as a debt. Johan didnt care about oaths, but the assassin seemed to take them seriously. He wouldnt just run away casually. . Chapter 99.2: ???????? ???????????????? (????) Chapter 99.2: ???????? ???????????????? (????) When Johan saw the orc who came to visit, he wondered who it was. Only after the orc spoke did he recognize him. It was the orc from the rhim family he had met at the mansion. May Ie in? Johan shrugged his shoulders and gestured for him toe in. He had wondered why the servants asked, ? It was because the guest was an orc. Many were reluctant to let orcs into their mansions. Letting one in without the masters permission could result in a whipping. Thank you for allowing me. I came to thank you for saving my life. It was what I had to do. The orc was internally amazed at Johans demeanor, treating a guest so naturally. It was too unfamiliar for a young knight. Did you receive your reward properly? Of course. After everything was settled, Johan received heartfelt thanks from both Count Ganolwood and Sir Karpati. Especially for Count Ganolwood, this incident was like a bolt from the blue. The citys conquest, which was the biggest challenge, was easily aplished, and to think such a thing happened within the city. , . . . . , . In return, Count Ganolwood cautiously offered some advice. - , . . . . -. . Count Ganolwood guessed what Johan was thinking. Initially thought to be just a young knight favored by the duke, his insane performance in the punitive expedition drew inevitable attention. Information about what kind of knight he was had already been gathered from the surroundings. While other knights would have already tried to mingle with the children of the Brduhe family, Johan was not like that at all. He was clearly keeping his distance on purpose. -, . - ? -. . - , - . - . - -, ? ? Countughed scornfully. - -. - . . . - , , - . The dukes children were not fools. They wouldnt do such pointless things. Johan understood what Count meant. - , - . - , - . . - - . - . - . Count Ganolwood is a clever person, said the orc, snorting. The expression on his face was not a pleasant one. Is there a problem? Ha! How many times has that guy cunningly extorted money from the orcs through trials. . . Hes a tenacious character. Johan didnt bother to respond. There was nothing to be gained by engaging in nder about the Count . Coaxing and appeasing the wealthy to extract money was a skill. There were more than a few nobles who borrowed money and brazenly failed to repay it. . . So, did youe here just to convey your gratitude? You could have sent a servant for that. Acting grateful in such a manner is something only a rude person would do. If one has self-respect and pride, they cant express gratitude that way. The orc pulled out a rolled-up certificate andid it in front of Johan. Johan looked at it quizzically. If youre a knight, there must be times when youre short of money. I promise you gold in the name of the rhim family. Is this a gift? What are you talking about? Its a loan. Johan was slightly disappointed at the orcs expression, which seemed to say, . But even lending it was a big deal. Merchants lending money to nobles was because of the appropriate coteral. From variousnds to rights. But Johan was a poor knight with almost nothing. All he had was his fists and a sword. Ill ept it gratefully. Johan did not show a reaction like, ! He expressed his gratitude and quickly pocketed it. . . . . . . Normally, other nobles also reacted that way when they were really desperate. But it was strange for Johan, who didnt seem in a hurry, to behave like that. The orc looked at Johan as if he found him peculiar. So, are you following Repiata-gong? Its a contract rtionship. We provide the gold, and Gong will. . . The rest didnt need to be said. They were obviously expecting various rights and privileges. Some fools despise us for colluding with them, but its augh. Is there a noble without a money source? Are the souls of merchants cleaner than ours? Even the normally arrogant nobles beg us in desperation. Thats true. Gold is supreme. . . .???? The orc hesitated in the middle of speaking. Are you ttering me? Why would I tter you? As Johan asked curiously, the orc flinched. He had been speaking as usual, but remembering Johan swinging his fists and killing mercenaries in the mansion made him recall. The orc quickly straightened his posture. He thought it unlikely to be killed, but acting recklessly was foolish. N-Never mind then. I misspoke because I didnt think a knight would understand the value of gold. Please understand. Contrary to the orcs worry, Johan had no intention of killing him. He could extort a huge amount of goldter, so that much misbehavior was tolerable. You really seem strong, where are you nning to go next? Hmm? I have a fief to check on. You could send an administrator for that. Why bother going yourself? Johan, who wasnt setting up a family of knights nor intending to sit as a feudal lord, had no reason to personally visit each town to check. Shouldnt a young knight aspire for greater opportunities, whether following his lord or roaming the battlefield? ? The orc thought to himself. Johan seemed to covet the territories governed by the nearby small kingdoms and city-states, gathering soldiers for this purpose. The area was rife with targets for conquest, and the small kingdoms and city-states were preupied with various matters. It was a good time to attack. However, this was a misconception of the orc. The afterimage he saw in the mansion had left a strong impression. He thought of Johan as a knight forged in blood and violence. Its better to see for myself, then. Why bother seeing the town in person? It might help with managing my fiefdom. Why do you keep questioning my desire to inspect my own fiefdom? N-No reason. Nobles did engage in fiefdom management. A savvy feudal lord would choose crops effectively, hire additional people without family, prepare useful equipment, and increase the annual harvest. But this was typically the work of a bishop-origin feudal lord, not something knights usually did. The management by knights was much simpler: collect taxes, collect more if insufficient, earn elsewhere if stillcking, and suppress any rebellions that arose. . . The orc began to doubt his assessment of this knight. Incredibly, it seemed there might have been a glint of intelligence in the knights eyes, as impossible as it sounded. Chapter 100.1: ???????? ???????????????? (????) Chapter 100.1: ???????? ???????????????? (????) The orc shook his head. It was unthinkable. A knight with intellectual culture was as unlikely as an orc who believed in God. Do you understand the current situation? The orc cleared his throat to enlighten this young knight. The knight was brave and strong, but apparently stillcked the ability to see the bigger picture. It was understandable. Most people only saw what was immediately before them. Only a few wise individuals could see the broader future. Huh. . . Alright. Let me exin. Repiata-gong has received Umdim city. What does this mean? Does it mean that His Grace the duke is going to start a seriouspetition among the stars of the family? Umdim is a threatening ce, so managing it well could be a way to demonstrate ones abilities. . . . . . . Am I right? I just thought of it and said it. . . .T-That. . . Yes. Thats what I was about to talk about. The orc said, hiding his surprise. Why would the stars of the Brduhe family leave their own fief to stay in the dukes pce? To catch the dukes eye more often. The situation around Repiata-gong is simr. Now that Umdim has been obtained, many ces will arise for the capable to shine. Its time to boldly step forward, isnt it? Hmm. I see. Do you understand what Im saying? Thats why, instead of looking at the fiefdom now, you should quickly find a ce near the duke and show your face more often. You are lucky. You have made such achievements this time, and Repiata-gong thinks highly of you. Its important to establish your position at such times. . . The orcs words were not wrong. Lower nobles who did not inherit a fiefdom needed to catch the eyes of higher nobles to advance. Those gathered near Repiata had simr motives. Of course, it wasnt that theycked loyalty to Repiata. But apart from loyalty, its natural for people to have ambitions for the future. Each had their own desired future and ambitions for staying close to it. I heard you received the position of standard-bearer from the duke. But relying on that and having expectations is too impractical. Look. The standard-bearer is honorable and splendid, but its substance is not that great. Moreover, there are many who have served loyally for more than a decade near the duke. Whom would the duke care for first? No matter how great your achievements, there are limits. As Johan listened quietly, the orc became more passionate in his speech. Unbeknownst to himself, he was sincerely making an argument that didnt need to be made. There was also the fact that Johan had saved his life, but that could be repaid with gold. He didnt need to advise this much. It was because of Johans attentive listening. Other nobles didnt listen as seriously. Even the knight dastard, who barely escaped a beggars fate, ignored the orcs advice. The fief youve received is not enough. You must quickly catch the dukes eye to receive more fiefdoms and positions, and arrange a marriage to expand further. . . Wait. Hold on. ? Are you by any chance my vassal? At Johans words, the orc blushed. It seemed he had gone too far with his advice. I appreciate the advice. You speak so seriously, I have to respond seriously too. I understand that being near Repiata-gong is a great opportunity. Indeed, not only Repiata but also the stars of Brduhe were opportunities themselves for the young lower nobility. There was a reason why young people, who did not receive a fiefdom, came trusting in their one talent. Do you think Repiata-gong will inherit the dukes title? How would I know? But being afraid of such a thing and doing nothing is very foolish I asked the wrong question then. Do you think you are worthy to pledge your loyalty to Repiata-gong? Of course, I think so. Thats why I am here, isnt it? A person as smart as you wouldnt need to show their face to know who is loyal to them, right? . . . . . . The orc was at a loss for words. He stammered out his response. W-Well, of course, but the heart of a person tends to lean towards those they see often The lower nobility tried hard to make their presence known at the courts or castles of the nobles they served. They participated in events or hunts hosted by the nobles, and took the lead in wars. . . All of this was a desperate attempt to get noticed. However, Johan did not think it was necessary. Especially in the case of Repiata. , . Checking the fiefdom and inspecting the mercenaries seemed like a more worthwhile task. Of course, since my fief is not too far, I intend to cooperate with the governance as much as possible. That should be enough. I-Is that so Somehow, the conversation had taken a turn where the orc seemed to be trying to pull Johan in. Even though that wasnt the intention. ? Returning to our earlier conversation, do you have anyone in mind who could be rmended as an administrator? . . .Are you seriously asking me that now? Are you sincere? The orc was flustered. Was this a suggestion that he would appoint the orc as an administrator? Usually, they would choose a young lower noble who had studied, or a priest skilled in numbers. . . I dont care much about status if they are only good at numbers. But if they are worse at calctions than me, thats a problem Are you good at calctions? Johan looked at him intently. The orc spoke again, scared. I didnt mean to insult you! I was just surprised and asked. Im better than most since I learned from a priest skilled in arithmetic. . . .Ill give you a problem. A person bequeathed one gold coin and one-seventh of the remainder to the eldest, then two coins and one-seventh of the remainder to the second, and so on in the same way to the youngest, resulting in an equal distribution for all. How many children and how many gold coins 6 children and 36 coins. And if youre not going to introduce someone smart, could you stop the pointless talk? !!! Chapter 100.2: ???????? ???????????????? (????) Chapter 100.2: ???????? ???????????????? (????) The orc was astonished. This was a challenging arithmetic problem posed by a renowned orc schr, not meant to be solved so quickly. Ill personally introduce and send someone suitable for the administrator role. Oh. Thank you. The orc left more tense and surprised than when he arrived. Stephen, watching this, asked in wonder. Why did that orc leave so startled? Well, Im not sure. Stephen was not surprised or displeased even after seeing the orc. Johan realized. . . . . He had heard that profligate noble heirs often borrow money from orcs, but he never expected it to be true right in front of him! Have you been wandering around the city again? Wandering around. . . Its socializing! Stephen was serious. Unlike Johan, for a noble born in a noble family, it was a natural duty to meet and be treated by influential people in the city. Youd be surprised who I met. ? I met Horamric-gong! The third of the Brduhe family. Horamric. Johan looked surprised. It was clear that Horamric was not someone who would normally be in Umdim. Where? At a nobles mansion here. . . Ah, wait. This shouldnt be talked about elsewhere. The lord wanted to keep it quiet. Alright. Ill keep the secret too. Lead the way. Huh? Even if I keep the secret, I should meet and greet him. Isnt that polite? Ah, thats true. S-Sir Johan?! Horamric was startled. He recognized Stephen beside him and looked resentful. He had asked him to keep a secret. The people in the mansion wondered what they had done, but it was a futile tantrum. How could the nobles of the city possibly stop Johan now? Pleased to meet you, Horamric-gong. I came here to pay my respects. Ah, no, Sir Johan. Horamric somehow looked caught off guard. Johan became certain of something in that expression. He hade to test a theory. . . Gong, could you send away the people around us? I have something to say in private. T-That. . . I shall. The dukes third child was more like a merchant than a soldier. He wasnt very strong-willed. Unable to refuse Johans request, he justplied. From this, Johan became even more convinced. No matter how frail, a person of rank wouldnt act like this unless they felt guilty. What brings you to Umdim? I had close friends here, but couldnt contact them due to circumstances, and now. . . Ah. I see. . . .Gong, why did you hire an assassin? !! While Horamric was shocked, Johan grabbed his hand to prevent him from getting up. Gong, I have a wizard in my camp. Its easy to find out who hired someone. N-No way? Really?? Stephen, who was nearby, eximed in surprise. Hearing that, he realized something was amiss. He pointed at Horamric and said, Did you send mercenaries to the mansion, Gong? How could you! What? No! Do you think Im mad to do such a thing?! No. . .! Its quite possible! Stephen pped his hands. Thinking about all the things Ulrike had tried to kill him, it seemed quite usible. At such a misunderstanding, Horamric wept. A monstrous knight suddenly stormed in, growling, the nobles of the mansion didnte to help, and because of Stephen, he was caught in a strange misunderstanding. It was like a nightmare. Killing kin was something not even nobles could easily get away with. Moreover, the duke didnt favor his children. The gallows loomed in his mind. Dont talk nonsense, Stephen. Would Gong do such a heinous thing? No! You just havent seen greedy siblings! Where else would those mercenary scoundrels havee from! Really, its not true. . .! Sir, please believe me! Johan felt the situation was going awry because of Stephen. How did he end up consoling a weeping Horamric? . Gong, dont worry. I believe you. Sir! But, Gong, you did try to kill the magistrate, didnt you? Uhuhu. . . Im sorry. Im so sorry. Horamric might have resisted answering a simple question, but overwhelmed by being wrongly used, he responded unwittingly when spoken to kindly. Why did you do that? It was an unexpected reason indeed. The magistrate, contrary to his foolish image, had many connections. Not just in the Slovak Kingdom, but also with city-states. Repiata didnt try to kill him for nothing but to make use of him. I see! To keep an eye on a younger sibling whos more talented! Thats not true! What Horamric was after wasnt Repiata, but the position of magistrate. By killing the magistrate, the position would be vacant, and he nned to appeal to Repiata with the bonds of blood and his own abilities. He was aiming for a position like a city counselor, magistrate, or treasurer. Please, dont tell Father! Please! Horamric begged Johan with tears and sobs. Johan patted his back. It felt like experiencing a cheapedy. Stephen asked incredulously. No. . . You are older, why would you ask such a thing. . . I dont need a duke title or anything! I dont even have the confidence! I would be satisfied with a position like a counselor or treasurer. . . For a city counselor or treasurer to say was not a statement made lightly. To themon people, it was the pinnacle of sess. Not all children of nobility coveted the highest power. Some of them just wanted to live in luxury andfort. Moreover, Duke Brduhe was a person who tested his children strictly. The frail Horamric had always thought of running away several times. Understanding the situation, Johan spoke to Horamric in a soft and warm voice. Gong. You can rx. I will not let this secret out. . . . . . .R-Really? Johans expression, whileforting Horamric, was cold and devoid of any smile, but Horamric couldnt see his face. Stephen felt a chill. . . . From an outsiders perspective, Horamric seemed like prey bitten by a lion. Chapter 101.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (1) Chapter 101.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (1) Johan was very pleased. He couldnt believe he had the opportunity to be close with the lineage of Brduhe so easily. To be exact, it wasnt just getting close, it was more like having it in his hands. . . , , . In this era, lineage held great value. Especially for a famous family like the Brduhe. Just like Stephen of the Abner family, who had nothing but could use the family name to his advantage, Horamric was the same. But Horamric was different from Stephen. While Stephen had made many mistakes and had almost no assets left, Horamric. . . Even so, you must have received something from the duke, have you already lost it? No! How could that be. Johans guess was urate. Like Repiata who received a city, Horamric also received something from the duke. However, unlike his siblings, Horamric had little confidence in maintaining his fiefdom and wealth. It was because of the location of the fiefdom. But its almost as if youre going to lose it soon. You were given those pathetic inds in the south of Edene Sea, but how many vicious people are there nearby? Its so far from here. . . Horamric, who received an ind in the middle of the sea swarming with small kingdoms, city-states, and pagans in boats(pirates),cked the confidence to defend it. To hire more mercenaries with the gold received and take charge as a feudal lord himself? What if he gets caught there? Horamric didnt have the guts for that. Thats possible, Gong. Its amazing that youve managed to keep it until now. Boo hoo hoo! Sir! Why did I only meet someone like you now. . . Johan doubted that Horamric would have reced the magistrate if he had died. Repiata didnt seem so weak, and Repiata had his own vassals. Of course, it was natural for Horamric to be unable to make a rational decision in this anxious situation, not knowing when he might be penniless. . . After that, Johanpletely won over Horamric by tightening and loosening his control. When Johan and Stephen were about to leave the mansion, Horamric even asked if he could stay in Johans camp. Gong. Dont worry too much. My friendship will protect you. Dont be swayed by what others say, and when its time to make a decision, rely on me. I will do that! I will do so, Sir! Really, all sorts of things happen. Right. I was sure that Horamric-gong had hired the mercenaries. Not everyone in the world tries to kill their kin. . . . . . . . . Stephen looked at Johan with a very lukewarm expression. Then what about me. . .? Anyway, you did very well. Stephen. I didnt know we could get close on such an asion. It turns out that most of Horamrics associates were merchants, artists, and priests. The useful young knights under him were gravitating towards the first and second sons, and Horamric himself wasnt a nobleman who could control knights. In that situation, Johan must have seemed like an angel descended into hell. This is it. Johan moved around Dolek and Palmon while drawing a map. More than dozens of elite soldiers followed him to guard Johan. Passers-by and farmers couldnt even breathe and bowed their heads. The news from the city was slowly spreading. What do you think? It seems like a nice town. Theres a good amount of fish around here, so we can harvest more grain, and the livestock we have. . . The rhim familys orc kept their promise. They sent someone suitable to be an administrator. He asked, and he studied at a university in the Catalian Penins and learned arithmetic under a famous defense schr. Thats why he had no trouble calcting with Eastern numbers instead of ancient Empire numbers. He asked with a slightly tense face. Do you have any specific instructions? No matter how much you learn and gain knowledge under an outstanding person, it means little to a feudal lord. Eventually, you have to work to the nobles liking. Knights like Johan often made excessive demands. Like trying to scrape together a few hundred gold coins in such a town. . . Collect taxes ording to custom. Be generous if the situation is bad, less so if its good. Ah. Yes. Ill do that. Surprised by the unexpectedly generous and lenient words, the administrator was startled. Ill give you some silver, so hire some feudal lords subjects who can work for a year. No need to drive out the orphans of the fiefdom, hire them at a fair price too. Ive spoken to the Katana Merchant Guild, so you should be able to buy farming tools at a good price, use them for the fiefdoms farming. If other serfs see and want to use them, make sure they can buy them at a reasonable price. In the spring, nt beans in the fallownd, and if anyone objects, strongly say its an order and enforce it. When harvesting grain, dont sell it to Umdim just because its close, sell it near Baien even if its a bit far. Also, we need to increase livestock in the spare pastures, buy sheep in the cheap autumn. . . Wait, just a moment. Please wait a moment. The administrator was startled. He didnt expect such detailed and specific instructions. Even a knight whos a feudal lord giving such instructions? He wrote them down one by one, even though he was flustered. He seemed to understand why the rhim family said, , . After the instructions ended, the administrator rushed towards the town with a few soldiers. It was to check Johans instructions. Caenerna asked as if she couldnt understand. Where did you learn such a thing? From a priest in the fiefdom when I was young. Ah, so thats why you were so devout? At Caenernas words, Suetlg had to tightly grip the reins of his horse. Johan nodded seriously. God is my spear and my shield, the armor that protects my heart. . . .Wait. Didnt you sayst time. . .? Chapter 101.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (1) Chapter 101.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (1) So, what do you think about Horamric? If what you said is true, theres nothing to lose. Right. Horamric didnt seem to have many useful knights around him. In such times, someone like you. . . Caenerna stopped mid-sentence. Johan and Suetlg urged her on. Continue what you were going to say, why dont you? What were you about to say? Brave? Bold? Cruel? Fierce? . . .I was going to say that one cant help but be swayed by a knight more remarkable than Cardirian, but. . . Caenerna was perceptive enough to know that Johan disliked not only the anti-Emperor faction but the Emperor himself quite a lot. However, Johan didnt get angry. Instead, he asked curiously. Was the Emperor such a great knight? Ah. . . Cardirian II was a clumsy feudal lord, a despicable Emperor, but. . . as a warrior, he was exceptional. Suetlg nodded as if he understood what was being said. He was really impressive in his youth. Not only did he kill several in tournaments. . . Of course, in my opinion, you seem better. Thank you for thepliment. Its not apliment. Really better. In my opinion, the Emperor still believes hes the brave warrior of his youth. He thinks that by killing his opponents on the battlefield himself, all problems will be solved, even though its not the situation. At Suetlgs words, Caenerna nodded. The court wizard of the Emperor nodding her head gave credibility to the statement. Excessively. . . trying to solve everything with force. Anyway, bing friends with Horamric-gong was a good thing. You really make friends with people well. Thats true. Its curious. . . Caenerna was surprised. Johan didnt seem like a sociable person at all. He had a unique charm, but it didnt seem like the kind of charm that would quickly endear him to high-ranking nobles. If we really be close, we could marry him and then kill him and swallow up his assets. . . Unless the duke is a fool, he wouldnt leave such a thing alone. It should be done after the dukes death. Indeed. . . The two wizards exchanged grim jokes. Though it was a joke made in the absence of others, Johan felt a chill. While Johan was hiring an administrator and touring the town for refurbishment, the mercenaries and warriors were having a carefree, enjoyable time without any worries. Having gained massive spoils and rewards, it was strange for anyone near the city not to indulge. However, as ytime started to bore them, the most hot-tempered ones started to approach Johan and ask where the next expedition would be. Lets attack the petty kingdom, Sir Knight. Theyre out of their minds right now! Plus, among us, there are a few who know a lot about them. . . No! Lets raid the city folks! Do you know how wealthy those city people are? Just looting one city in the southern penins. . . Pirating ships doesnt seem like a bad idea either. Cr. . . Cra. . . Crazy? Go on the sea? Take a ship?? The tribal warriors were intoxicated by the valor Johan disyed and the spoils that followed. They wanted to follow him wherever he went! Of course, some tribal warriors thought, , , but anyway. . . But the next expedition took a direction Johan never expected. An unexpected figure came to Umdim. It was Bishop Biagione from the Republic of Bo. The bishop came to see me? Johan was flustered for the first time in a while. A bishop of such rank not only had high standing within the church but also wielded secr power. There were several bishops like Bishop Biagione who owned fiefdoms. Of course, Johan wasnt flustered because of the power. He was surprised because someone with whom he had no expected interaction hade. Hes waiting outside. Quickly, an answer. . . Buy some time. Suetlg-nim. Quickly think of a reason! How would I know the inner thoughts of a clergyman?! Suetlg grumbled in disbelief at Johans sudden urgency. Hmm. Perhaps hes heard about your devout reputation and hase to see you. I doubt that. ? I know Bishop Biagione. Hes famous. Caenerna said this while forming a circle with her finger. The lower priests working directly in the town and helping people were mostly deeply faithful and frugal individuals. Even if they wanted to be greedy, it was difficult for them. However, the higher one went, the more greed began to appear. It was somewhat expected. Those who had been nurturing their faith since childhood in monasteries didnt usually rise to high positions. To ascend to high ranks in the church, one needed lineage or a background. Being from noble families was basic, and to be a bishop, one either had to perform miracles or spend a vast amount of gold. Bishop Biagione belonged to thetter category. Being a noble from the Republic of Bo and receiving substantial support, he was practically a city person. Then, did hee for a donation? Johan had no intention of donating. He should have gone to the duke or Repiata, whye to him? Surely the bishop wouldnt ask a knight for donations. . . As Caenerna spoke, he sensed something odd. Johans attitude was too nonchnt. Normally, when a bishop visits, devout people should be shedding tears of joy, right? No matter how bad the rumors about the bishop were, a bishop was still a bishop. Ordinary people considered it a lifetime honor just to meet one and shake hands. Its not out of faith, nor gold coins. . . Whats left then, if not force? Ah. That must be it. The wizards immediately epted this reasoning. After all, it made the most sense. This area was a bustling marketce for mercenaries, and it would naturally be a source of anxiety for the republic. The city of Umdim, which had recently fallen to the duke, and its surrounding area were precisely where one wouldnd if they toppled over from the republic. Of course, it was unlikely that the duke harbored the insane delusion of conquering the republic. The scale of Umdim city and the republic were entirely different. However, it was entirely possible to reduce their influence in the vicinity. Oh, brother in faith! To meet like this! Upon meeting, the bishop was overly familiar. He was under a misconception due to the money rumors among the monastic order and priests. ? It felt like a divine opportunity that such a knight would appear before him in these times and under these circumstances. Chapter 102.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (2) Chapter 102.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (2) Johan did not refuse the embracing bishop and epted it. Despite the rumors of having a greasy and corrupt soul, the bishops appearance was usible enough to deceive even Johan. True to being a sheep beastman, he had two well-groomed, stylish horns on his head, his face was slightly emaciated like a priest practicing asceticism, and his voice and eyes were full of restrained power. . Surely, not just anyone could be a bishop. Of course, one needs a supporting family in the background, but personal capability is essential too. After the greetings, Bishop Biagione praised Johan for capturing the troll and wiping out the den of the heretics, pping his hands and stamping his feet in an experienced manner. Even a knight who shunned the bishop upon hearing his rumors couldnt help but be swayed by his reputation and aura once meeting him face to face. Especially after hearing such words directly! . Of course, Johan was thinking about what to have for dinner, letting the bishops words go in one ear and out the other. What was interesting was how well the bishop knew about the events that happened far away. It meant that themunication between the church orders was that detailed. No surprise there. Even now, most of the record-keeping and administration in the fiefdoms were handled by the church. . . Johan waited, then bowed his head and covered his face with his hands. To anyone looking, it seemed like he was overwhelmed with emotion and holding back tears. Whats wrong? I didnt expect to meet you, Bishop. . . Dont be too nervous! I, Biagione, am just a humble servant of God. Karamaf, who was lying next to them, growled indifferently. Biagione flinched. It seemed he was quite afraid of wolves, given Karamafs size. We are all the same souls before God. I, Biagione, consider you a brother in faith, and you should also consider me one. After an awkward moment passed, the bishop began to get to the point. He praised the bravery of the mercenaries and warriors led by Johan, and then asked where he nned to go now that the citys fight was over. I havent decided yet. Then fight for faith and belief, brother. For a moment, Johan thought the bishop was suggesting going on a crusade, but realized the bishop wasnt that insane. It was just a fancy way of saying to fight under the bishops name! . In this era, everyone had many enemies, especially the powers attached to the Edene Sea. For instance, the Bo Republic fought with other city-states in the west, small kingdoms in the east, and pagans and pirates in the southern sea. In this light, the several hundred fierce and brave warriors led by Johan were certainly noteworthy, especially for their aplishments in the recent siege. Fighting for the city? No. Youre fighting for me, Biagione. Remember, thats different. Dont fall for the city folks attempts to corrupt you. The bishop stated it bluntly. Johan was puzzled. Dont people usually say theyre fighting for the city? The path of a faithful person is always lonely. There are many who target me, Biagione. Both outside and inside the city. Will you protect me with your well-honed sword and fiery faith? Of course. Though Johan intended to negotiate depending on how much the other party was willing to pay, he initially agreed. After all, he could alwayse up with an excuse to refuseter. . However, the bishop turned out to be surprisingly generous. He had a servant bring out a chest full of Empire gold coins and insisted that Johan fill his hands with them himself. It was an effective disy of wealth. With this much, he could easily employ people for a year and still have some left. I dont doubt your faith, brother, but those you employ will need gold. Is this sufficient? Its more than enough, thank you. ? Johan felt slightly baffled as his expectations were off. He had thought the bishops friendly demeanor and mention of faith were ploys to hire him cheaply. But with this amount of gold, such tactics were unnecessary. Was it just a conversation to build camaraderie? But, Bishop, I am a knight of His Excellency the Duke, and at the same time, a cavalry officer. . . D-Dont worry about that, brother. I have no intention of shing with His Excellency. Even if I did, I wouldnt send you to such a ce. Do you feel reassured now? Yes, thank you. Chapter 102.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (2) Chapter 102.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (2) I said greedy, not stupid. Caenerna said matter-of-factly. Coming to seek help and being stingy with gold was a fools act. If the bishop had been such a person, he would have died long ago. Any tyrant would at leastvish their subordinates without stint. The gold offered to you is hardly a significant amount for the bishop. If he wants, he can earn much more at any time. In the north, silver, iron and wool from the Empire, and in the south, olive oil, dyes, ss, and crafted jewels, and from the eastern seas, silk and spices flow into this ce, making it the best spot to amass wealth. The bishop, with a diocese here, was as good as having a purse overflowing with gold. So, this friendly approach is because of betrayal, after all? Caenerna smiled broadly. Johan was a pleasant conversationalist. It was rare to find nobility who understood and didnt arrogantly shout their own opinions. I suppose so. The politics of the republic can be somewhat. . . barbaric. ? From the perspective of Caenerna, a typical Empire person, the system of city-states where influential families shared power seemed extremely unstable. Even those elected as magistrates could be gone with a few mistakes. Suetlg agreed and added, In Bo, there are those who can give more gold than the bishop offered. From the bishops point of view, it must be unsettling. After all, mercenaries are reliable when its convenient but be suspicious when the tide turns. Hiring mercenaries was always a dilemma. Even if one pays them well, there is no assurance they wont betray. It was not much different even for soldiers led by knights. Knights were human too. If all knights were so loyal and noble, there would be no talk of rogue knights. Protecting the bishop seems like a profitable business. . . Im not sure if it can be called a business, but I agree its a good opportunity. . Biagione was extremely satisfied. Not only had he spoken with Repiata, but also with Count Ganolwood. He had sincerely conveyed that the republic had no intention of fighting with the duke. Of course, that wasnt the only reason for his satisfaction. It was because of the hundreds of soldiers following him. Johan, as well as Gerdolf and Marco, were reliable, despite their somewhat suspicious appearances. Even warriors like Acdda were dependable. Is there anyone who dares to threaten the bishop? Ah, brother. There are indeed many immoral and corrupt people in the world. The bishop said with a sad expression. Among the families affiliated with the city council, there are those who envy and are jealous of Biagione. How dare they threaten Biagione in the diocese and openly ckmail! Such wretches deserve divine punishment. The republic might only be a council in name, but it was almost like a noble family. The families employed mercenaries like private soldiers and each ruled over their own part of the widespread republics territory. When conflicts arose, it wasmon for them to attack each other, bloodshed ensued. . . .! Dozens of people appeared over a grass-covered hill. Marco was shocked to see the g of one of the families from the south of Catalia. Sir, sir, thats the g of the Orlon family. Should I know that? Well, that family is from the south, and the southern families are. . . Marco hesitated. It was somewhat embarrassing for him to speak, being a captive. Are they a vassal family of the Emperor? . . .Yes. They probably are. Thanks for telling me. Thats good to know. Johan observed the knights and soldiers belonging to the Emperors faction. They were not at all intimidated by the bishops substantial military force. ? Of course not. They rode up to the bishop, stopped, and arrogantly raised their heads. They were polite, but their expressions were not. What are these warriors doing, your grace, bishop? They are here to help Biagione eliminate the rogue bands in his fiefdom and deal with monsters. For such a thing, arent they too. . . rough and untrained? A knight of the Orlon family frowned as he looked at the eastern tribal warriors. The nobles in the southern part of the penins were heavily influenced by the Empire. To them, the eastern nomadic tribes were no different from barbarians. Acdda was chuckling, but his eyes were cold. He seemed ready to draw his bow at a moments notice. Johan gestured for restraint. Its better than borrowing power from the Emperor! Is your master still acting like a loyal servant of the Emperor? You speak too harshly, bishop. The knight red at the bishop as he spoke. In this situation, a sword fight wouldnt break out, so it felt like they were both intent on spewing venomous words to their hearts content. There are rumors that the corruption youmitted has reached the holy one. I hope thats just a rumor. To believe such rumors. I swear to God, this Biagione has never harbored corrupt thoughts. At the bishops words, the knights snickered. Anyone who had spent time in the republic knew that the bishop was a greedy person. Moreover, the bishop was currently under attack for the corruption he hadmitted, which had been reported to the church. They werent afraid of a powerful figure who could crumble with just a little more pressure. Despite the insult that would normally be unthinkable to utter, the bishop remained unshaken. There were times when one must endure. Moreover, since he had brought soldiers with him this time, the opposition wouldnt dare to attack for a while. Well, who would believe that. . . As they idly chatted without any real substance, Johan had finished his calctions. Upon reflection, being employed like this was an opportunity. It wasnt just about receiving the bishops gold. It was an opportunity to act in the name of the bishop! There was no need to just take the offered gold and stay quiet. It was alright to take everything that could be taken while the opportunitysted. , , . Prepare to attack! ?? I am Johan of Yeats. I am the cavalry officer of Brduhe and a knight of the duke. State your names! As Johan suddenly dered an attack, the opposing knights were taken aback. What are you talking about? Didnt you say you were employed by the bishop! Are you acting on your own without the bishops orders? Right now, the bishop is. . . The knights could afford to be so confident with their much smaller force because of the bishop. Biagione, who was under attack for various corruptions, was in a situation where he should have been more restrained. They couldnt even dream of striking first. However, Johan was not a mercenary who simply followed orders obediently. Moreover, the fact that the enemies failed to understand their situation and mocked them gave him a usible justification. A knight who stood up unable to tolerate insults to the bishop! For the insult to the bishop, I will cleanse it with this sword. If you are a knight, reveal your name and face me! Wait, wait a minute. . . The bishop was horrified and tried to stop them. Hiring Johan and his warriors was meant to be a show of force, not to initiate an attack. If they rashly got angry and ran amok, how were they any different from mercenaries! Attack them! Catch every single one of them so they cant escape! Ive been waiting for those words, Sir Knight! Acdda cheered and started to quickly outnk with the tribal warriors. It was a move to block the enemys retreat. Gerdolf, Marco split left and right to charge, and Johan rushed in from the front. Catch that man! He must be captured alive at all costs! At Johans shout, the warriors grinned. Speaking like that, it seemed that their leader was quite valuable. . The battle was short but fierce. Those who had the will to fight were struck by arrows and beaten down first, and the remaining ones quickly surrendered. The difference in numbers was too great from the start. . . .W-We surrender. The remaining knights and soldiers surrendered with faces that couldnt believe what had happened. They couldnt understand what the bishop was thinking when he did this. Was he prepared to lose his position as bishop? Bishop. We will take these prisoners ording to tradition. No. . . No! Brother! What is this madness! What do you think youre doing acting on your own?! But didnt these men insult you, bishop? Chapter 103.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (3) Chapter 103.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (3) Yes, I was insulted. . . We cant just let such an insult go. The words were true, but it all depended on time and ce. If knights drew their swords every time they were insulted, they would have been long gone. ? Bishop looked at Johan with a bewildered look. What were you guys doing instead of stopping this? How could we have intervened? The servants and ves that the bishop brought with himined as if they were wronged. There were only dozens of them, and Johan and his warriors had suddenly started the fight without a word. How could they have stopped it? Bishop, pleasee to your senses. What do you mean,e to my senses! This Biagione has been in his mind from the start. Now that weve caught those who insulted us, shouldnt you give the order on what to do with them? Upon hearing Johans words, the bishop thought, ? However, Johans face was far from such meanness or trickery. A serious and sincere face! Moreover, the rumors and information he had heard earlier were holding the bishop back. He hadnt thought such a knight would be up to tricks. Johan was right. The situation had already urred, and he had to step in to handle it. Although it was a bit annoying to say that the knight who caused it should handle it. . . To think that such an insult would just be overlooked is a misunderstanding. Knight of the Orlon family, I, Biagione, have no regrets about leaving the bishops position. . . .? The knights held captive looked at the bishop with a look as if to say, * ? There was no one who utilized the position of bishop as well as Bishop Biagione. He extorted huge donations from the nobles through sermons and evangelism, and also from the merchants through threats and persuasion. . . This is just whats officially known; unofficially, there must be more. epting bribes, offering suspicious confessions, manipting trials. . . He must have made tens of times more than the gold spent to be a bishop. But what does he mean he has no regrets? Your Excellency, what are you. . . Shh. Be quiet. One of the warriors silenced a knight. Even though they were ridiculed as barbarians, they were useful at times like this. Nobles had their customs, but barbarians from the east didnt care about such things and were ready to take lives. I, Biagione, fear nothing else if I stand righteous before God. . . Tell your master! I wont forgive any more insults! The bishop shouted with a dignified voice. It was evident that he wouldnt endure any more threats or insults and would confront them with force. Of course, the knights who knew the bishops situation were astounded by his response. Are you really insane? Your Excellency! What are you doing. . . Ah. I told you to be quiet. Show some respect! You barbarians! Be grateful Im not killing you. Oh. This guy. Hes got a nice ring. Ill pay the ransom separately, dont touch it! What? Rx before I cut off your finger. As the knights were dragged away, the bishop sighed deeply. He started to get a headache. He bluffed in front of the knights for appearances, but in reality, he was burning inside. He wanted to shout to the knights, , ! Now was not the time for the bishop to be doing this. He needed to be more cautious. The church was using him of corruption, and other families within the republic were seizing the opportunity to attack. . . He wanted a loyal and steadfast mercenary to protect him until this task was finished, not a crazed, wild mercenary. , . . . As Biagione tried to convince himself, he hesitated. About a hundred of them were moving separately. W-Where are they going? I heard theres a manor of that knight nearby. They say theyre going to collect protection money for the insult they received. Thats not good! Looting is not allowed! Its not looting, its just collecting whats rightfully ours. Stop them immediately! Its an order! Oh dear. Im sorry. These rough men dont listen to my orders in such matters. . . Johan lied smoothly without batting an eye. Acdda and Euclyia squinted their eyes and moved forward swiftly. The bishop was frustrated. . . .! However, that did not happen. They returned quickly in less than half a day. There was no smoke rising in the distance, no screams, no people running away. Did you gather everything? Yes! Good. Bishop, we can move now. Shall we head to the diocese? . . .??? The bishop made a decision with a worried expression. In the current situation, entering Bo was too risky. He thought it was better to wait and see. Instead, the bishop stayed in a town a days walk from Bo. It was a fairlyrge town with a temple and priests, and more importantly, it was a ce where the bishops family had considerable influence. About the mercenaries. . . I know. I wont let them inside, so dont worry. The vige chief was relieved at Johans words. The presence of hundreds of warriors near the town was naturally frightening. What if they barged in. . . However, contrary to fears, the warriors led by Johan were well-disciplined. Despite their diverse origins and backgrounds, they were all charmed by Johan. Do you eat something special? Johan put a pot on the fire and added cheese, butter, pork fat, and sprinkled some sugar and spices. Acdda and Euclyia watched curiously. Suetlg-nim agreed too, but cooking is a kind of magic. Would you like to try it? No, thank you, Sir Knight. I respect you, but Ill choose my own food. Acdda was disgusted, but Euclyia willingly took a bowl and began eating faster, seeming to enjoy it. Have the scouts been sent out? Yes, Sir Knight. Well find out first, whatever happens. And dont worry. If we want, we can easily escape. Johan was vignt, preparing for any potential attacks. Of course, he thought the likelihood of an attack was low. Considering the bishops status and his familys influence, it was risky to mobilize hundreds of soldiers for an attack. It was difficult to justify, and failure would bring severe repercussions. The republic might engage in battles in its own way. The bishop might be used. But even if the bishop was used, it was not a problem for Johan. He was just there to look after his own interests. If only there were more foolish ones. . . Chapter 103.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (3) Chapter 103.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (3) Contrary to the bishops worries, such a big problem did not ur. The other families of the city also did not expect the bishop to act so recklessly. Has Bishop Biagione gone mad? Doing such a thing in this situation? No, it must be that hes cornered. Hes really filled with venom. Just to not lose the bishops position, huh? Really. What are you talking about. . . my knights have been captured! Not only that, knights of the Orlon family have been captured too! We must go to the bishop right away and protest strongly! Even if we go and protest, will he listen? He has nothing to lose. Shaking in fear of losing the bishops position might be one thing, but having caused such trouble, it was as if he had dered, . Such a person would not release the prisoners and ask for reconciliation. Honestly, it was surprising. That greedy character was prepared to give up the bishops position. Lets use him! In the name of the Council! If it goes to trial, it will just be more troublesome. Families belonging to the council coveted Bishop Biagiones position, but that was only due to the situation. Biagiones umted misdeeds had be so severe that even the religious order could not ignore them. This was separate from the citys trial. The bishop had his own family and gold to spread as bribes. There was no guarantee of winning even if it went to trial. So, should we just leave it alone? Council noble, Gareld, asked incredulously. Gareld, a noble from the Empire, had several knights under his influence through his connections. They had been captured one after another. Anyway, hearing from the religious order, it seems the bishop will lose his position. Why bother him when he will lose his bishop position and step down on his own? What if we initiate a trial and lose? Thinking of losing is why it doesnt work! Lets just leave it be. The ransom isnt that high anyway. The lukewarm response of the other council members infuriated Gareld. When it was time to say, , they were so cohesive, but now they acted selfishly. If I dont have my knights, wouldnt you also be in trouble? Your weak mercenaries. . . Hah, watch your words. Sir Gareld. This is why those from the Empire. . . There was a fundamental difference between those from the Empire and those from the Catalian Penins. Gareld, from the Empire, naturally thought Empire knights and warriors were the best, and his arrogant pride irritated others. No matter how much Gareld fumed, if the others did not move, it was pointless. In the end, the meeting concluded with no significant oue, deciding to . Look, Bishop. The faithful are always protected by God. Johan found amusement in teasing the bishop. He delighted in the scowling face of Biagione every time he spoke piously. Dont speak of things you know nothing about, brother. How about attacking thends of those who insulted the bishop? They are too ashamed toe forward themselves. Please, calm down! Please! The bishop, rmed, tried to stop Johan. ! In the Empire, it wasmon to gather family soldiers and attack when feeling dishonored. It was an age-old custom, and no one interfered in noble conflicts. ! However, behaving this way in the republic would be seen as barbaric. This was not the Empire. It was headache-inducing, but. . . ? Surprisingly, there was no movement from the enemies. For the bishop, it was an unexpected situation. . . . In the republic, cultured conflicts unfolded like this: First, usations would arise, then the enemys hired citizens would spread rumors. Of course, at this point, they had to counter with their own rumors. If things got worse, it would lead to sword fights, attacks, or even assassinations. . . But now, the opponent was just staying still. ? Biagione couldnt understand. Could they possibly be scared? . . .? Biagione looked at Johan. Though he had recently achieved a great feat. . . ? Bishop, it seems you have a visitor. ? A procession was approaching from afar. Recognizing the g, the bishop quickly identified it as Gareld, one of the council members. Lord Bishop! Surely there has been a misunderstanding? Its no misunderstanding! Johan kicked the table beside him. Gareld staggered back in fright. Johans gaze was like that of a wild beast. It made ones heart race and limbs tremble. Your knights insulted the bishop! And you still im to believe in God? What are you. . .? How dare you behave like this in front of Sir Gareld! Garelds guard tried to calm Johan by reaching for his sword. However, Johan preferred a more straightforward approach. Ack! The guard was grabbed by the cor, pulled over, and then held by the head, automatically kneeling down. The guard couldnt move under Johans terrifying strength. I may be a poor and humble knight, but I know whats right! Make a proper apology and reparation. Otherwise, I cannot release the prisoners. Brother, please, calm down. . . Seeing Johan destroy any chance ofpromise, the bishop despaired. Gareld was astonished. Did this knight not know how corrupt Bishop Biagione was? Chapter 104.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (4) Chapter 104.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (4) While Gareld hesitated, the bishop somehow managed to soothe and calm Johan down. Just step outside for a moment, brother. But what if that person attacks the bishop. . . I understand your concern, brother, but who woulde as an envoy and attack me? There are more than a hundred warriors here. Johan hesitated at those words. The bishop thought Johan hesitated because of worry, but that wasnt the case. , . . . From Johans perspective, who had experienced battles, the bishops words seemed somewhat amusing. The people here had a narrow way of thinking. It wasnt a matter of high or low status, but rather ack of imagination. Anyway, it didnt matter much. From Johans view, it didnt seem like Sir Gareld would attack the bishop. And even if the bishop was captured, it wouldnt be a problem for Johan. To Johan, the bishop had no value as a hostage. Then I shall follow your words. As Johan was about to leave, Gareld urgently signaled a servant. Recognizing the signal, the servant nodded slightly. Sir, I have something to tell you separately. As soon as he stepped outside, Johan nodded to the whispering servant. So, are you saying you will turn to Biagiones side? Ahem. Not a side, rather, it means no longer being hostile. Your Excellency. Gareld spoke cautiously. The two seemed simr but were different. One meant actively working for Biagione, and the other simply meant withdrawing from the fight. Anyway, it was wee news for the bishop. The opposition had been tightly united, spreading rumors in the city, making it hard to breathe. . . Its regrettable, but unavoidable. If youvee to know the truth and changed your heart, thats enough for me. I am ashamed too. To be swayed without knowing anything. God will forgive you, Im sure. The two exchanged formalities. Gareld got straight to the point. Your Excellency. Do you know what Sir Giordano and Sir Bucho are doing? They are writing to the church. They are offering gold to spread bad rumors about you. . . .! The bishop was startled. The politicalndscape within the republic was so intricately entangled that it was often unclear who was attacking whom. The bishop was no exception. He knew many were eyeing the privileges he held, but he didnt know who was leading this. . . . . . .! But these two characters were even bribing the church to nder. How dare! What do they take this Biagione for! Yes, Your Excellency. Punish them sternly. . . and, may I take my knights with me? ! The bishop finally realized Sir Garelds intent. He hadnt joined the fight but provided enemy information, meaning he was asking to release the captured knights without ransom. Gareld was desperately hiring forces to defend the newly conquerednds on the Ulcana Penins. From Empire connections to mercenaries. Losing trustworthy knights in such a situation was critical. Thats. . . As the bishop made a troubled face, Gareld hoped he wouldnt just take and refuse. Their authority lies with the mercenaries. Then, if you could persuade them. . . They are too rough and wild. Its impossible. If Your Excellency could pay the ransom on their behalf. . . Why should this Biagione do that?! The bishop turned stern. His demeanor cooled significantly as soon as gold was mentioned. Gareld was taken aback. Because my situation isnt so good right now. Then reduce those mercenaries youve hired! The diocese isnt in a good state either! Struggling even to help the poor, where do you think such wealthes from! , . . . Everyone in the city knew he was wealthy, but to say such things. Gareld was boiling with anger. He disliked everything about these republic folks. Theycked any sense of honor. . . .Understood. Your Excellency. I misspoke. . ? It wasnt surprising that Gareld hade secretly. The servant had informed in advance. It was that they had exchanged intentions without Biagione knowing. As soon as he arrived, Gareld tried to persuade Johan by talking about what the bishop had done. Initially, Johan intended to ignore it, but changed his mind as Gareld persisted. What would happen if he showed a yielding attitude here? As Johan gradually showed reactions like ! , . . . ? !, Gareld became excited. Finally, he had met someone he couldmunicate with. It seemed they could understand each other being from the same Empire. Those beastmen on this penins were all. . . ted, Gareld revealed more and more. About the bishops situation, the citys state, those pressuring the bishop. . . It was a kind of venting. Oh, to treat a bishop like that. . . These republic fools know nothing of honor. Thats what Im saying! Johan realized that the bishops situation was worse than he thought. The religiousmunity was fiercely attacking him for the corruption he hadmitted, and the rumors in the city were not good. Now, if he loses the bishop position, he would have to retire and live in seclusion. . Johan was relieved that he had received it in advance from the bishop. Even if the bishop retired lonely, Johan and his men could leave happily. . . .Its such a shame we get along so well in conversation. Would you consider taking up the sword with me? While talking, Gareld had confirmed who Johan was. He had heard rumors about Marcels troll yer. At first, he was skeptical whether it was just a rumor or not, but now that he became the dukes standard-bearer, he must have had real skills. His identity was certain, and his honor was great, so there was no harm in pulling him in. The warriors he led were also impressive. . . Chapter 104.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (4) Chapter 104.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (4) But Johan responded with a sad expression. That seems unlikely. Why is that? You are a man of the Emperors faction, arent you? His Grace the duke would be furious if he heard I was mingling with the Emperors people. Ah, no. What! Im not of the Emperors faction! Youre not of the Emperors faction? W-Well, among the knights with me, there are a few vassals of His Majesty. They are certainly knights of Cardirian. But thats just because we share the same goal, Im not of the Emperors faction. Rather, if the others in the city belong to the Emperors faction, they are, but Im not part of that. . . Gareld began to firmly deny it, driven by his desire to recruit Johan. Johan skillfully inted that desire. Is that so? I once heard from His Grace the duke that Sir Gareld was a regrettable knight. He said he would have met you if only you werent one of the Emperors men. I-Is that true?? Would I lie? I am the honorable standard-bearer of Brduhe and a knight of His Grace the duke. And your name was also mentioned by Horamric-gong. Horamric-gong too? Yes. Horamric-gong and I are close friends. Thanks to him being not far, we often keep in touch. Johans face did not look at all like that of a liar. In addition, Johans lies were subtle. Lies like The duke mentioned it once, or The dukes son said it, seemed usible. I. . . I do not like the rule of Cardirian! He is a tyrant of the south. Moreover, he is a despicable man who does not respect the honor of the nobility. To be considered part of the same force as such a man, I cannot bear it! Rather, I respect His Grace the duke. Really? Of course! You see. . . Sir Johan. May I possibly meet His Grace the duke once? I have always admired the dukes renowned name. Im sure sir is busy with his duties, and when will he travel to Baien? How about meeting Horamric-gong? Im sure hed be happy toe all the way here to meet you. !!! Gareld was about to cry now. Though he was a noble in the city, he was tossed around because he was an outsider. But such an opportunity hade his way. Moreover, it was more surprising that the dukes child woulde himself. Such a lie was unimaginable. To him, who was a knight of no significance in the Empire, the name of the dukes family exerted absolute power. He. . . Hesing? Really? Of course. I will. . . I will trust you only! Trust only me. Johan nodded his head with a satisfied expression. It was an unexpected harvest. This city noble would be a suitable pawn for Johan, who had no connections. I came originally to plead for the lives of the knights. . . Sir. Think carefully. What would His Grace the duke think if you associate with knights of the Emperors faction? T-Thats right. You are correct. If Orlons family or other families question you, speak firmly. They have insulted the bishop who serves God andmitted dishonorable acts as knights. It was a statement that would drive the Orlon family or other knightly families crazy. When it was time to beg and plead for help, and now to cut off all ties. However, such thoughts did not reach Gareld, intoxicated by the aura of the duke. It didnt matter what those southern bumpkins from the penins said. I will do so! After Gareld left, Suetlg and Caenerna came out from behind the tent with an astonished expression. As soon as Caenerna came out, she scrutinized Johan from top to bottom. ? . . .Did you use magic? Regardless of the oue, Garelds visit seemed to have given the bishop hope. Its as if one of the enemies had provided information. He became more active and energetic. . . . The irony was that Johan, who knew less about the republic than the knowledgeable bishop, was assessing the situation more calmly. People tend to be blinded when its their own affair. The citys rumors were still bad, and the withdrawal of the bishops position from the church was underway. It meant nothing if this issue was not resolved. , ? It would cost hundreds of times more than the money used to hire Johan and the mercenaries, especially if he were to donate to the citys poor and offer bribes to the order. However, Johan did not say this out loud. He was certain that the bishop wouldnt listen anyway. The bishop would rather hang himself than spend all his wealth. Some people prefer to hold onto what they have and sink with it, rather than throwing everything into a gamble. Now that I think about it, brother. Your actions seem to have improved the situation. Thats good to hear, bishop. Brother, you must be apanied by Gods love. Ah, yes. Now Johan was moving with a select few, along with the bishop, to enter Bo. People like Acdda, Euclyia, and Marco were left outside to control others. Johan had chosen only Gerdolf to apany him. Dont be surprised when we enter the city, brother. Yes. The bishop, aware of his own rumors, admonished Johan earnestly. It would be a problem if Johan wavered upon hearing these rumors. The bishop was now going for negotiations, having learned the name of the enemy. He believed that negotiating with them could resolve everything. . . . Thats what Johan thought. Why would the enemy ept such terms when it seemed the bishop was at a disadvantage? ! ! ! , ! ! ! Over dozens of vagabonds shouted these usations. The citys underbelly,posed of such beggars and wanderers, always came out to y a central role in any disturbance. They were the perfect candidates for inciting riots, demonstrations, or threats! The fact that they appeared as soon as the bishop arrived was clearly intentional. ! ! ? ! ! ! ! ? Johan was taken aback when suddenly people in the crowd began to recognize him. The rumors were somewhat strange, almost as if they were intentionally boosting Johans image. . . Johan smirked upon seeing a familiar face in the crowd. It was Garelds servant. It seemed Gareld had countered by hiring people. . Chapter 105.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (5) Chapter 105.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (5) The determination of a person who had been away from real power all their life and then seized an opportunity was astonishing. Its already this serious even before meeting Horamric. It seemed like they would give away their own heart after meeting Horamric. The gathered vagabonds and beggars were startled when a strange noise began to sound nearby. They were supposed to do work worth the silver they received, but an interference had urred. ? ! ! ! ! As a fight seemed to escte with pushing and shoving, Johan stepped in. Gerdolf. Step in and shut those guys up. Yes. . . .but dont draw your sword. Use a whip. Johan quickly stopped Gerdolf as he was about to draw his sword. A whip would be enough. I understand, Sir. ? Gerdolf rode his horse forward and stopped in front of the beggars. Therge knight looked menacingly, causing the shouting beggar to flinch. What, what is this. . . Ahh! A whip came flying down from above. The beggars were taken aback by the unexpected strike. Although they were beggars, they were a group that could be ferocious at any moment. It was risky for even a knight tosh out with a whip like this, especially if they all attacked at once. However, Gerdolf had something he was relying on. The soldiers behind him had simultaneously drawn their weapons. If a fight escted, it would be them who would die. The beggars, intimidated, backed down. B-Brothers, stop! We cant fight in the city! Of course, the bishop was shocked at this sight. Attacking vagrants in the city would ruin his image. They were about to attack first, Bishop. They didnt attack! They have brains too! Didnt they threaten the citizens. The bishop was incredulous. Such an excuse. . . , ! ! ??? The bishop was confused. It wasnt likely that Johan had hired people in advance. . . Why was he so popr? Of course, the rumors about Johan were the kind that would make him popr. Whether in the past or now, a brave and young knight was a peoples idol. But those were just rumors that would spread in the vicinity, not in a distant city in the Empire. The bishop felt the knight he had enticed was suddenly impressively significant. ? Of course, his abilities were great, but he thought he was ying in his palm. . . Bishop, lets move. Y-Yes, lets do that. The bishops mansion was the epitome of luxury within the city. Even without stepping outside, the mansions courtyard had cold water flowing through channels, and the windows were filled with colored ss. The servants inside the mansion wore silk clothes and ornaments more expensive than what Johan wore, with some even draped in shimmering satin. Johan was freshly reminded of the bishops wealth, and that of the republic. These people really do have a lot of money! ? Toiling as a serf and squeezing them dry felt pitifulpared to the profits of trade. We have agreed to meet in two days, so restfortably. Brother, feel at home here. Thank you, Bishop. The bishop seemed quite pleased with himself, hoping that Johan would be impressed. So Johan pretended to be moved. By the way, where are the bishops wife and children? Oh. . . At Johans question, the servant looked confused and hesitant, wondering if it was okay to speak. The church didnt explicitly forbid priests from marrying. They could marry if they wished. However, priests who didnt marry generally received more respect, as it was seen as a devotion of their desires and lineage to God. Knowing this, the bishop had officially not married and had lovers throughout the city. T-The master is such a steadfast man. . . I see. Understood. The servant changed the subject, but Johan had already figured it out. The bishop seemed to have quite a few lovers. And probably a fair number of illegitimate children too, right? Karamaf. Come here. While waiting, Johan stroked Karamaf and yed chess with Gerdolf. It was mostly Johan teaching him, but it served as a pastime. Karamaf, seemingly in a good mood, purred and kept rubbing his head against Johans leg. Sir, there is a guest outside looking for you. . . ? So, Johan was naturally surprised when a guest came looking for him first. Was it sent by Gareld? There was no one else who would send someone. . . Surprisingly, it wasnt Gareld who sent for him. The one who called Johan was one of the city nobles he had never seen before. He was a river otter beastman named Pilorachi. ? It wasnt that surprising. Thanks to Gareld spreading the rumors, even those who didnt know were whispering, , ? It was a favorite pastime of the nobles to meet a brave knight in person, treat them well, and share in their honor. Johan went with Gerdolf. He thought everyone would be happy to see some tricks. However, the reception Johan received waspletely different from what he expected. ??? Wee! Ive been waiting for you. You know why I called you, right? I have no idea. . . Oh? No. . . Ah. Sorry about that. I forgot what I was saying. The rhim family! Now you understand? I still dont understand. Oh dear! I mentioned the rhim family, why dont you understand? Please, take a seat. Pilorachi was a famous defensive schr and artist. In this era, numerology, dealing with the mysteries of numbers, was no different from arithmetic or mathematics. Every wizard needed a patron, and Pilorachi was sponsored by the rhim family. Naturally, he became curious upon hearing about a knight skilled in numbers. As soon as he sat down, Pilorachi started presenting various riddles, and Johan answered them as best he knew. Gerdolf, listening to their conversation, turned pale and staggered. Johan ordered him to go outside and rest. Amazing! Amazing! Chapter 105.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (5) Chapter 105.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (5) Pilorachi was genuinely amazed by Johans knowledge. Johans talent was strangely twisted. In some areas, he solved problems even Pilorachi couldnt solve faster and more easily, but in others, he showed surprising gaps in knowledge. But one thing was clear: this knight was more adept at arithmetic than many young numerologists or university students, sometimes even more than Pilorachi. You learned this from a priest? Thats too modest. This isnt something you could learn from a priest at all. . . .! Im amazed at how much you must have self-taught to reach this level. Thank you. The fact that Johan dealt with Eastern numbers, not Empire numbers, meant he had deviated from the teachings of a priest, who mostly used Empire numbers. Pilorachi excitedly noted down what he had learned from Johan. Despite the long conversation, he wasnt tired at all, eager to experiment with his new knowledge. I thought it was a joke when I heard about it from the rhim family, but Im truly delighted. Oh, take this. What is this? Its a ne containing the power of numerology. Itll be helpful in these dangerous times in the city. Someone like you deserves to have it. The sponsoring rhim family would have been angry if they knew, but Pilorachi, true to being a wizard, didnt care. Johan felt magical energy from the ne offered to him. ? The ne, made of simplified shapes forming a magic circle, emanated a protective power. Johan gratefully epted it. Even though they shared the same mathematical knowledge, Pilorachi, who found mysticism in mathematics, and Johan, who had no such beliefs, were different. Such a ne wouldnt have been made if Johan had drawn it himself. After finishing their conversation, Pilorachi seemed ready to talk about worldly matters. He had a servant bring drinks and looked at Johan with concern. But I heard youre working with Bishop Biagione, is that okay? Youre not being deceived, are you? Hes not a bad person but. . . hes. . . not exactly a good person either. Pilorachi tried his best to speak positively, but that was his limit. Johan replied with a faint smile. Im keeping that in mind. Thats good to hear. The city is a bit dangerous these days. Its not a good time for outsiders to stay for long. People are hurling insults at the bishop. . . No, not that. Thats always been the case. Insulting someone was a tradition of the city. Before the bishop, they insulted someone else, and they will insult someone else after him. Johan looked uneasy after hearing the exnation. ? Some lunatic keeps attacking citizens. . . There are rumors that a demon is roaming around. ? Johan didnt realize it was true when he heard someone tell the bishop, !. Suddenly, he became curious. Is there any known information about who the raider is? None, none. Its so bad that they even came to me for help. All Pilorachi could do was use numerology to locate the opponent, which was difficult in such a crowded city. I think its a retired mercenary or knight who returned from the East. The raider would wlessly disappear after cutting off the victims breath in the middle of the night. The skill to harm not only wanderers breaking curfew but also people inside their homes was not something anyone could do. Maybe its a mercenary or knight who learned techniques from the East, where many evil assassins reside? What about a monster? A monster. . . could be possible, but wouldnt a monster be much more violent? Too cunning for a monster. Only targeting the victim and then escaping was not the kind of self-control a monster would show. After the conversation, as he saw Johan off, Pilorachi repeatedly admonished him. If you feel something suspicious about the bishop, it wouldnt be bad to back off. Of course, a contract is a matter of faith, but sometimes its okay to break it. . . Pilorachi, unaware that Johan was already ying with the bishop, had no choice but to worry. Johan quietly and gratefully epted the kindness. Send letters often! ? On the way back with Gerdolf, Johan noticed something strange. The ne he had tucked into his pocket was vibrating softly. Looking ahead, he saw two people walking towards them from the far end of a narrow alley, and looking back, there were two moreing their way. All four were wearing long coats, covering one side of their bodies. It was easy to guess that they had swords hidden underneath. The servant guiding Johan seemed oblivious to the situation and kept walking. Johan grabbed him by the nape of his neck and stopped him. W-Why do you do this? Gerdolf. Its an ambush. Be careful. Gerdolf immediately drew his weapon. Since they were in the city, both were only carrying a longsword each. Youre quick on the uptake. The person who had been walking towards them from a distance stopped, swept aside his coat, and drew a shortsword. It was a weapon bordering on a rapier, narrower and longer than an ordinary shortsword. Johan had to admit that the weapons they carried were quite suitable. They were easy to carry and ideal for stabbing in such narrow alleys. Holding a longsword with both hands wouldnt leave room for fancy techniques. Wont you tell me who sent you? Sorry about that. Ill tell you after youre dead. The swordsmen clearly had long training. From their well-developed muscles to their disciplined stance, they were obviously from a swordsmanship guild. Johan, who had briefly hoped to identify the client, clicked his tongue. If a melee broke out, both the servant and Gerdolf could get hurt. Johan lightly tapped the wall beside him. Fortunately, one side was a thick wall made of bricks. There was a space behind it. Johan kicked the stone wall with all his might. . . .???? The swordsmen, approaching from both front and back, were agape. They couldnt understand what was happening right before their eyes. Suddenly, the wall beside them copsed, creating a space. Even though they clearly saw Johan kick it, their minds couldnt make the connection. It defiedmon sense. Theres a space now. Gerdolf. Go to the side and protect the servant! Yes. Johan picked up a piece of the broken stone and threw it. It sounded like something shot from a catapult. The stunned swordsman who was staring nkly got hit and was flung away. Chapter 106.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (6) Chapter 106.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (6) The swordsman who was flung away could not get up, bleeding. It seemed that the swordsmen only began to feel the reality after theirrade had fallen. Like a monster! One of the swordsmen eximed in a horrified voice. The knight dastards had faced several opponents, but this was the first time encountering someone monster-like. Catching trolls or being undefeated in tournaments didnt matter much. Even the most agile knights would fall if struck with a sword in a narrow ce, unarmed. There was a reason why Johan epted the challenge, thinking when he heard the rumors about Johan. But this. . . It was nothing like the knight they had envisioned. Johan raised his sword upward and took position. It was easier thanks to the open side. He had no intention of being careless. Fighting swordsmen who had learned proper swordsmanship was entirely different from fighting mercenaries. With mercenaries, it was okay to aggressively push with strength, but swordsmen required more caution, especially without a shield or armor. As Johan drew his longsword and took position, the swordsmen swallowed hard. Attacking simultaneously in a tight space might work, but in an open area against someone wielding a longsword like that. . . Dont be scared. Attack at once! However, Johan was the first to move. No matter how bravely the swordsmen shouted, their frozen feet wouldnt move. As Johan closed the distance with footwork, the swordsman finally moved. The swordsman was lucky. He didnt try to meet Johans sword with his lighter one. If he had tried to deflect the sword, he would have died instantly from the impact, like the previous opponents. Instead, he jumped back to create distance, timing his thrust as Johan approached. ?! But that was a mistake. Johan, who seemed to have stopped, twisted his body strangely, closing the distance. It was a special footwork technique, more typical of assassins than knights, designed to make the opponent misjudge the distance. Huh! Blood sttered, and the swordsman fell to the side. Having cleared one side, Johan immediately turned to look at the swordsmen behind him. Despite their vignce, the enemies hesitated in an awkward stance. Catch him! As Johans words fell, Gerdolf lunged out. One guy tripped over anothers foot and fell. Then he threw away his weapon and ran. Johan admired the scene. . When chased by a beast, there was no need to be faster than the beast, just faster than the person next to you. This damn thing, cant let it go. . . As the fallen swordsman struggled to draw his dagger, Gerdolf struck his face with a fist. Gerdolf knew well how to bring down a man, beating him brutally enough that even Johan had to intervene. Uh, huh, uh. . . Stop it, Gerdolf. Leave his mouth. We need to listen. Who sent you? G-Giordano-nim. . . Giordano, Giordano. . . Johan pondered. Giordano was a council member belonging to the anti-bishop faction. . It was inevitable. While busy spreading bad rumors about the bishop, herees a knight dastard drawing peoples attention. It was natural for them to send assassins, as it threatened to ruin their carefullyid ns. E-Even if you drag me to court, Giordano-nim wont be used. Probably so. Johan easily agreed. The courts of this world operated systematically. Debates raged fiercely, considering dozens of customaryws, Empirews, cityws, and churchws, along with various evidence and ims. But in such situations, the powerful ones prevailed. A foreign knight with just one witness couldnt expect much from an usation. Johan didnt even anticipate that. Get rid of him. As soon as he finished speaking, Gerdolf swung his weapon, crushing the swordsmans head. Gerdolf nonchntly shook off the blood and pushed the swordsman aside. With themotion, people wille. Better leave before it gets troublesome. Lets go. Chapter 106.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (6) Chapter 106.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (6) A raid?! Bishop looked shocked. While fights did happen in the city, he hadnt expected a direct raid like this. Are you alright?! Yes. Thank you for your concern. God must have helped you. To do such a thing. Despicable people. . . Brother! Do you see? What kind of deeds my enemies are capable of? Seizing the opportunity, Bishop passionately appealed. He had already been worried due to the rumors. It would have been a disaster if a knight like Johan changed sides. The devil is not somewhere else. Its these people who are the devils. I, Biagione, didnt want to say this, but. . . maybe its time for the brother to step in. ? I-I mean, we may have to personally capture those spreading bad rumors about this Biagione. Are you suggesting we cause a brawl in the city? Shh. Thats not what I mean. But if they resist, we may have to swing our swords. Bishop spoke meaningfully and solemnly, but Johan just looked at him incredulously. Is this a joke now? Guarding Bishop and attacking and kidnapping a city council member were entirely different things. It wasnt impossible, but if Johan did it, he would bear all the responsibility. If the bishop betrayed him in such a situation, it would be the end for Johan. If he could escape the city, it would be a relief. If not, it meant the gallows. To speak so solemnly of such a thing. Of course, Johan knew the bishop was treating him like a fool, but it was still outrageous to hear. But isnt fighting within the city against cityw? The one who draws the sword first will be med. Brother. Dont cling to thews of this republic. People like us may discuss dozens ofws, but in the end, theres only onew that matters. The one our Lord above made. Bishop was pouring everything he had learned from a lifetime of persuasion and proselytization into convincing Johan. The voice brimmed with experience learned from various persuasions and teachings. Facing that pious and sincere attitude, even those who doubted the bishop might waver, thinking . Religion had that kind of power. However, Johan, who had not been swayed by wizards words, was not swayed by Bishops words either. Johans soul was not fooled by such ttery. ? Johan realized. Surely, the bishop had also noticed something from the others attitude. That they would not agree to negotiate. Bishop was on the verge of losing his position, and his reputation in the city was at its worst. If the other party refused to negotiate, the bishop would be left with nothing. Thest resort was to threaten with force. It might seem crazy, but those cornered often resort to the unimaginable. It was clear that the bishop wanted to act boldly before the rumors swayed Johan. And this raid seemed like a good opportunity to incite Johan. Bishop! Yes, brother! I refuse. . . .What did you say? My contract was clearly to guard the bishop, not to follow such illegalities. Didnt I tell you! It might seem small, but in the bigger picture, its about guarding this Biagione. . . I do not think so. When Johan cut him off abruptly, the bishop was flustered. He was even more startled because he had seen Johan draw his sword and attack over a few insultsst time. Why is the knight who used to rage so wildly now so meek? Whats the problem, brother? Did you not risk your life for the insult Biagione received! That was a fair fight, and this is a cowardly attack, isnt it? Its not an honorable act. ! The bishopmented the customs of the Empire people. That damn honor, those damn customs! Ive said it many times, but think big. If you do it, I will pay extra gold. Why would I need gold if I am doing what is right in the eyes of God? I dont need it. I will not do it. As Johan remained adamant, the bishop also started to get angry. He couldnt believe Johan was being so obstinate after being offered so much gold. The bishop mmed the table and spoke forcefully. Brother! Think carefully. This is not for me, but for the god we serve. Its about standing up to those whomit vile and dirty acts, those whomit sphemy, so they no longer defile this city. If you do not heed Biagiones words, brother, you aremitting a great sin before God! Yes, an indelible sin! Well, Ill atone for itter. . . .???? The bishop was shocked as if he had been hit in the head. The knight before him was certainly not a devout man. A man faithful to his religion could not show such an unemotional response to the bishops words about sin. He should have been scared or angry. Brother. . . are you not afraid of Gods judgment in the name of the bishop? I am afraid of Gods judgment, but its because of my actions, not because of your light words, Bishop. Gossiping Bishop. When Johan mentioned his nickname, the bishops face turned bright red. Johan continued coldly and rationally. Bishop, I have made an honorable promise with you as a knight and am acting ordingly. The gold I received was enough to escort you, Bishop, but nowhere near enough for attacking a city council member. If you want to attack a council member, pay a fair price. You, you, you. . . The bishop muttered in shock. He thought he had been ying with Johan, but it turned out he was the one being yed. His head was in turmoil with humiliation and shock. Will you pay? Shut up! Johan had a hunch without naming a price. To get a knight like Johan involved in such an attack, he would have to offer a fortune. Y-You. . . in this city. . . Bishop, I am currently guarding you. I hope you do not lose that over a trivial slip of the tongue. The bishop, who was about to threaten Johan, came to his senses and flinched at those words. He was right. What was the point of threatening someone on his side? And it would be better for you not to make clumsy threats. I also have connections in the council. Nonsense. Youve only been here for. . . I may not have been here long, but I have the Brduhe family behind me. That alone brings quite a few people. . . .! Indeed. Johan was the equerry of the duke. It wouldnt have been surprising if people wanting to get close to the duke had approached Johan. . . .! The bishop sat down with a look of despair. Johan looked down at him and said, Why dont you just retire? If you step down and give up your position, you might save your life. You must have hidden wealth, so use that to livefortably in a scenic ce. What nonsense are you talking about. . . Even in his despair, the bishop reacted sensitively to the mention of his power and wealth. He red at Johan with venomous eyes. At that moment, a loud noise came from outside the mansion. It was the sound of something heavy breaking and shattering. Johan looked at the bishop with a look of disbelief. Are you seriously trying to threaten me with something so trivial right now? Bishop, sir. It would be quicker for me to twist your neck than for the mercenaries toe in from outside. . . No, no! The bishop instinctively covered his neck. Johans calm manner of speaking was utterly chilling. The polite demeanor was gone, reced by restrained violence and wildness in his eyes and voice. He looked like a lion gazing down at a sheep. After all, if you were going to hire such low-level mercenaries, you would have done it long ago. Hiring mercenaries whose identities havent been properly verified could end up being a move that backfires, especially for someone like the bishop. Then what was that noise outside? With a loud crash, the door broke open, revealing its true nature. Fierce eyes, ws, and wings. It resembled a dragon, but was clearly different, much smaller and uglier in appearance. It was a gargoyle. Chapter 107.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (7) Chapter 107.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (7) ! Gargoyle. A monster whose entire body is made of stone. Johan recalled a story he had shared with Suetlg in the past. Either the statue, fashioned after the menacing appearance of a monster, had be a monster itself through magical influence, or it was originally a monster capable of disguising itself as a statue, infiltrating the city. The magic circle ne vibrated as if screaming. It seemed to be shouting that there was an evil presence ahead. Thats right. The origin of such a thing wasnt important now. The crucial matter for Johan was how to deal with the gargoyle. ? Gargoyles, known for their stone bodies, were reputed to be impervious to swords and spears. Only weapons imbued with powerful magic could inflict proper damage. Johan drew his sword. It was the famous sword Twilight, a gift from Duke Brduhe. Although not as renowned as the Seal Retriever, this sword was also a masterpiece. Moreover, silver always inflicted damage on evil beings. A monster in broad daylight. . .! The bishop pointed at the gargoyle incredulously and eximed. The sun was still high in the sky. Gargoyles, evil monsters, usually didnt roam around during the day! Your Excellency, please step back! Stirred by Johans forceful shout, the bishop regained his senses. It wasnt the time to wonder why a gargoyle was wandering around in broad daylight. If theres a monster in front, the first thing to do is to get away. . . ! The gargoyle fiercely attacked. Spreading its rigid stone wings, it circled the garden and swooped towards the bishop. Go and call the mercenaries! After giving orders to a servant, Johan kicked and shattered a nearby ornament and threw it. With a loud crash, the ornament flew like a spear. The gargoyle, startled, dodged it. Get inside! Y-Yes! The bishop scurried off. There were quite a few servants working in the vast garden. If they got inside, the gargoyle would seek another victim other than the bishop. However, the gargoyle focused solely on the bishop, ignoring the others. Aaaagh! The bishop screamed and rolled forward as the gargoyles attack grazed by, blood spurting from his back. The wound was shallow, but the bishop screamed as if dying. Johan realized that the gargoyle was targeting only the bishop. It showed no reaction to others throwing objects and shouting. ? ? But the gargoyle wasnt a monster that craved blood and flesh. It wasnt an ordinary creature with flesh; its body was made of stone, and it flowed with magic instead of blood. ? . Jokes about greedy individuals plump souls being coveted by demons weremon. Of course, he didnt take them seriously. . . Brother! Brother! Im on it. With these words, Johan charged in and struck the gargoyles back with Twilight. The gargoyle twisted its body sensitively to dodge, but Johan was quicker. The creatures tough outer skin melted away, creating a wound. ! That attack made the gargoyle even more wary of Johan. It was already apprehensive due to his strong soul and brute strength, and now, armed with a silver sword, it was only natural for the monster to be on alert. . . The ability to fly was very troublesome. If the opponent decided to flee, there was nothing he could do about it. Fortunately, the gargoyle did not back down, seemingly enticed by bishop. It pped around, alternating its gaze between Johan and bishop. It seemed like a predator trying to somehow avoid the shepherd and bite into the sheep. Sir Knight! We have arrived! Hearing the news, the mercenaries hurried over. They had heard about a monster appearing in the city and had taken out their crossbows and bows. Fire! The crossbow was fired and those skilled with the bow drew their strings. As bolts and arrows fiercely struck the gargoyles body, it pped angrily. Does anyone have a silver arrow? Sir Knight, where would we have such wealth?! ! -! However, an arrow pierced the gargoyles rocky thigh. Hidden among dozens of arrows and bolts, the gargoyle didnt notice and got hit directly. It was an arrow shot by Gmbos, a ranger from the east. What?! How did you shoot that? Its a silver arrow! You. . . you had such a thing and still mooched drinks?! *sshole guys! You think I made it with my own money! Just shoot the arrows! Gmbos shouted in a voice full of regret. It was an arrow he had received from an eastern ranger, made to hunt Werewolves, with silver melted and ted on the arrowhead. It wasnt pure silver, but it was effective. It had pierced the hard body of the gargoyle. Well done, Gmbos! At Johans shout, Gmbos bowed his head. He had hesitated even while shooting the arrow, but felt relieved seeing the knights reaction. This knight was certainly not stingy with rewards. From the mercenaries words and his actions, he was definitely trustworthy. -! The gargoyle, hit by the arrow, did something unexpected. It opened its mouth wide and shot out a sharp stone. As Johan dodged by tilting his head, the creature extended its tail long and wrapped it around bishop. ?! Chapter 107.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (7) Chapter 107.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (7) The gargoyle then tried to fly off with the bishop in its grasp. Normally, it would have ended things right there in a fit of rage. But even a gargoyle wouldnt be stubborn in such a situation. With Johan alone being a nuisance, let alone the others. . . Ugh! The bishop started rolling on the ground, being dragged along. The gargoyle, unable to fly high due to the silver arrow lodged in its body, stumbled. The arrow was clearly taking effect. Chase it! Johan, wearing only a surcoat over his shirt, started running with the mercenaries. Does anyone have a spear?! You get arrested for carrying spears in the city! Hand over anything throwable! At Johansmand, the mercenaries started offering everything from throwing axes to daggers. Johan collected them and hurled them at the gargoyle. With each hit, the gargoyle let out a heavy groan. Gmbos was puzzled. The gargoyle was groaning even though the weapons werent silver? Confused, Gmbos advised based on what he knew. Sir Knight! Its hard to cause serious damage without silver or magic! I know. Valkalmur! At Johans call, a malevolent spirit surged, leaving traces on the weapon. The axe changed its trajectory aiming for the gargoyles wing. . . ! The gargoyle turned its head and snapped at the axe with its mouth, wing at it. It seemed that Johans attack was its highest priority to block. Sir Knight. It seems that the creature is only paying attention to you, Sir Knight. It doesnt matter. Were just buying time anyway! We must prevent it from escaping with the bishop. You two, call the city guards! Inform them a monster has appeared! Johan, along with the mercenaries, chased the gargoyle,unching attacks to buy time. Each time, the gargoyle stopped to defend itself. The creature was still unable to fly properly, and thanks to that, the bishop was rolling on the ground, screaming. It would have been less painful for it if it had flown higher. Aaaargh! A monster, a monster! Citizens, go inside your homes! A gargoyle has appeared! There was inevitable chaos as the gargoyle pped and ran down the main road. People screamed, and Johan yelled loudly, his powerful voice echoing. People quickly regained their senses and moved aside. The bishop is being taken away! The bishop has been kidnapped by a demon! It wasnt a demon, but Johan had no time to correct them. He changed his pattern of keeping the creature at bay while pursuing it. Some of his attacks were magical, but the gargoyle got increasingly angry as the non-magical ones continued. It seemed extremely vexed at being toyed with by Johan. . . . But Johan was starting to get anxious. The path they were on led to the square. Considering theyout of the square, it was likely that people wouldnt be able to easily escape. Moreover, seeing so many people, the gargoyle might abandon the bishop and target others. Honestly, Johan was surprised the gargoyle was still fixated on the bishop. . With a scream, people in the square began to run to the side. Johan gripped his weapon tightly. If the gargoyle attacked elsewhere, he was ready to fight with all his might. . . Youve shown your true colors, you knight dastard! Although the rumors were favorable, I never trusted a foreigner like you. How dare you rampage in the city with mercenaries and weapons? A well-dressed man, apanied by several guards, pointed at Johan from across the square and shouted. Johan looked at him in disbelief. You dont see the gargoyle. . . Put down your weapons immediately! The guards are nearby! If you move, we will shoot with crossbows! G-Giordano-nim! Giordano-nim! In front! A monster! So, this knight dastard is the monster? I knew it! The audacity of this foreigne Giordanos guards screamed and ran away. Giordano, puzzled, turned his head. Only then did he see the gargoyle flying towards him. The people had been running and screaming not because the mercenaries were causing a disturbance in the square, but because the gargoyle was flying in. The bystanders closed their eyes tightly. With a loud noise, the gargoyle pounced on Giordano. Its stone ws and teeth mashed Giordanos body beyond recognition. . . . . . . While mourning the noble who hade to strut in the square and met an unexpected fate, Johan red at the creature. While the gargoyle had ignored everyone else, it seemed to have taken a liking to Giordano, enthusiastically swinging its front ws. ? The creature seemed to regain strength after being drenched in Giordanos blood. There was a newfound vitality in its wing beats. Of course, Johan did not just stand by and watch this. He took a throwing axe and then summoned Valkalmur. The single-minded determination to capture the creature taught Johan how to make Valkalmur submit more strongly. Johan spoke with a cry rising from deep within his soul. Submit even more, Valkalmur! In the name of Yeats son, Johan! Before the power that has toppled knights of the kingdom and the Empire, and torn apart the cursed souls of monsters and their flesh! The axe grew hot as if aze, and the malevolent spirit screamed in terror and submission. The gargoyle, soaked in blood as before, tried in vain to block the axe. The axe slid through the gargoyles hand, cutting off one of its wings. Confused, the creature tried to fly but tumbled due to the loss of bnce. Seizing the opportunity, Johan charged in ferociously with his sword. Frightened by the charging Johan, the gargoyle hastily grabbed the bishop with its tail. It seemed to be an attempt to kill and regain strength. I cant let go of this, you cursed creature! ? Both Johan and the gargoyle were surprised. The bishop, who had seemed limp, suddenly woke up as if in a fit. Pretending to be dead in that situation! The bishop, crying out, pulled out arge cross from within and thrust it into the creatures mouth. The body was silver, a valuable object adorned with various treasures. Caught off guard by the sudden insertion of the cross, the gargoyle choked and couldnt close its mouth. The silver cross burned its mouth. That brief moment was enough. Johan had already arrived. He red at the gargoyle with a demonic face, exuding intense murderous intent. The bishop looked at Johan, trembling. It was honestly hard to tell which of the two was more terrifying. A silver sh, and the gargoyles head was cleanly severed. It was as if done by a skilled executioner. ! Johan skewered the gargoyles head with his silver sword. The onlookers roared with cheers. A young knight had decapitated the demon before their eyes. No one could remain silent upon witnessing this. They repeatedly shouted Johans name. Thank you, Bishop! Bishop! You have saved us with a miracle! People also approached the fallen bishop. In their eyes, it seemed like the bishop had immobilized the demon with the cross. Praise be to the bishop! Praise be to the bish. . . P-Please. . . find a skilled doctor. . . The bishop murmured with a pale face, bloodied. Chapter 108.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (8) Chapter 108.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (8) However, people did not hear the bishops desperate muttering. What did you say? Well. . . Someone eximed with a sparkling gaze. He said he prays for our sinful souls! Bishop! Bishop! People surrounded the bishop with tears, looking like he was about to die, covered in blood. They steeled themselves to let the bishop go to heaven. Move aside. Sir Knight, the bishop is about to leave. . . He doesnt seem fatally wounded, does he? Johan was puzzled by peoples reactions. The bishop had been roughed up, but it wasnt fatal. Please let us pray for the bishop! Sir Knight, please pray for the bishop! So that his soul may depart peacefully! Uh. . . Ah. . . The bishop, with hisst strength, waved his hand. The crowd around him felt like a flock of crows. Johan was the only one he could trust. Hes still alive. Move aside. We need to take him for treatment. It seems like hes dead. . . He died as a saint. People secretly hoped that the bishop had died. Not out of malice towards him, but because they were fascinated by the sight of him defeating the devil and copsing from exhaustion. They wished for the bishop to die a holy and noble death, making this square the origin of that miracle, and that they were present in that sacred moment. Already some were tearing off pieces of the bishops robe, holding them in their hands, thinking they would be new relics. Take the bishop. Hey, lead us to a good doctor. . . .Ah, yes! The guards who arrivedte nodded under the influence of Johan and the mercenaries. Considering their usual arrogance, they would have stopped everything and taken control. But now, no one dared to speak up. They were subdued. They obeyed Johan like tame sheep, to the point where one might mistake them for Johans subordinates. Citizens in the square made the sign of the cross and stepped aside, sending sincere thanks to the knight who had in the devil with a silver sword and saved the people. Upon hearing the news, the magistrate sent his personal physician. Not only that, he personally visited to express his gratitude to the bishop and Johan. It wasnt just a greeting, it was praise. ording to the magistrate, the bishop had shown a miracle by binding a demon, and Johan was a knight who swung his sword with the voice of God and beheaded the demon. Johan realized how rumors spread like this. . . . With excessive praise, Johan suspected the magistrate had some guilt. However, Gareld denied it. Not at all, Sir. You are from the Empire, so the republic is still unfamiliar to you. Feudal lords of the Empire held power in their fiefdoms that even the Emperor could not easily challenge. Even such lords would pay attention to the dissatisfaction and public sentiment of the serfs. Moreover, in the cities, the citizens right to speak was even stronger. The magistrate could be considered the lord of the city, but the magistrates election was determined by a vote in the council, and the election of council members was also through voting. . . Now, the bishop had been lying down for over a week. A week was enough time for a disgraced person to transform into a saint. Given the situation outside, if the magistrate did not respect the bishop, a riot could ur. Outside, rumors are already rampant that the bishop is a saint. At Garelds words, Johan chuckled. Gareld also burst intoughter, finding the situation absurd. They both knew how greedy the bishop was. That such a bishop was being treated as a saint. The ways of the world were unpredictable. Moreover, its the same for you, Sir. Perhaps even more extreme. You personally beheaded the demon. . . What would those who saw think? It wasnt a demon, but a gargoyle. To the people, it would have seemed the same. Seeing a monster is not amon urrence. As Gareld spoke, he nced at Johan and then spoke. I always thought you were destined for greatness, Sir. I have been on your side since the beginning. Please remember my contribution. Of course, I am aware. If it werent for Sir Gareld, whom could I trust in this city? Really? Haha. Its reassuring to hear you say that. Although I havent mentioned it, Ive been actively spreading stories about you. . . .I appreciate that. Although the rumors were somewhat exaggerated, exaggeration was essential in those times. The rumor of Johan catching a troll was exceptionally understated, whereas usual rumors were more inted. No one criticized the exaggeration of rumors. It was also a form of honor. Horamric-gong will be arriving soon, and I look forward to your exploits. Is. . . Is that so? I will serve loyally! Just give me the chance! Gareld left happily as if in a dream. Seeing his demeanor, it was clear he would actively advocate for Johan in the council. The caution of a political bacsh seemed to have already vanished. Johan opened the letter sent by Suetlg. It was a letter sent by Suetlg after hearing the news and waiting outside. , . . . . . .(). . . , . . , : , , . . . ! The reason for an inspector or judge from the order toe could only be one: the bishop. Ordinarily, this would have been a situation to resign from the position, but now the story changed. From the orders perspective, it was necessary to verify if the bishop truly performed a miracle. A faithful one who showed a miracle could not be wrongly used and expelled. Chapter 108.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (8) Chapter 108.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????? (8) Bishop, please get up. Hmm. Bishop opened his eyes slightly and looked around. Realizing it was only Johan, Bishop got up. There are many eyes watching. Why did youe? I came to deliver a message. Bishop was already fully recovered. Lying in bed was to shake the citys public opinion even more. Ha. . . Ha ha ha. Bishopughed lowly. At that time, he really thought he was going to die, but now he could onlyugh about it. God really loves me! Who could have expected such a sudden change in the situation? Its said that when one door closes, another opens, but. . . Even just lying here, he could hear the citizens shouting his name outside. He knew without having to go out. There was no one in the city cursing him now. Brother! Oh. Are you calling me brother again? Speak freely. Its not a bad offer for a brother full of ambition. Johan sneered, but Bishop didnt mind. With newfound ease, his mind was working again. In this situation, Johans cooperation was even more crucial. I wont deny that there was a dispute between us, brother. But wasnt it trivial? We fought together against the demon that attacked the city. To be exact, I fought alone. . . .Look, brother. Wouldnt it be good to have a friendly bishop in the order? Do you want to see this Biagione lose his bishopric? Surely not, with the friendship we have built? Biagione appealed to emotion, but Johan didnt bat an eye. Johan spoke coolly. Get to the point, please. With the citys opinion like this, no council member can attack this Biagione anymore. Even those who were attacking me are now silent and anxious. Even unlucky ones like Giordano. . . . . .? Giordano was killed by the gargoyle. What? Is that true? Divine punishment indeed! Bishop, excited, suddenly coughed to cover his embarrassment. It was awkward to rejoice over a person being killed by a monster, even if they were sworn enemies. Anyway, with the city calmed down, the order is next. They wont easily dismiss this Biagione now. Thats exactly why I came. Someone from the order ising. Perhaps an inspector or a judge. ! Bishop was startled. He had thought they woulde, but so soon? Is that true?! Theres no time to waste. We must prepare immediately. So what are you saying? We need to align our stories, brother! Biagiones n was simple. It was Johan who had captured the gargoyle. Bishop, who had been captured and dragged from the mansion, knew it well. From start to finish, it was as if Johan had captured it. Bishops n was almost a desperate struggle not to be outdone. But saying that wouldnt be very saintly. When the gargoyle tried to tear this Biagione apart, I blocked it with a cross. Why do you think it backed off? Because of silver? No! Say that at that moment, this Biagione performed a miracle. Brother, say that I performed a miracle and immobilized the gargoyle! . . . . . . Johan looked at Bishop with an unchanged expression. Before that solid, granite-like face, Bishop suddenly felt anxious and deted. . . .Brother. Give your answer. Bishop pronounced the sacredness and bound the devil. . . lets say. The corpse of the gargoyle was immediately burned. Fearing its resurrection, the people of the city poured oil and burned it, then scattered the ashes in the river. Given the situation, it was possible to make such a im as per the testimony of the person involved. If I concede that much, what do I gain? The order will unconditionally cooperate with anything rted to the brother. The things a bishop of the order could do were boundless. He could send a priest to the fiefdom to the liking of the feudal lord, subtly secure the judicial authority of the temple for the lord, or even support in a fight from a justifiable perspective. . . If one were more daring, it was even possible to tantly scrape up gold. With the help of someone like Bishop Biagione, such lies could be told over a hundred times. The problem was whether one could trust a greedy person like Bishop Biagione. , , . Johan might be scary now, but would that still be the case once hes far away? Johan opened his mouth lightly without much thought. Would you swear in the name of God? Hmm. If that satisfies you, then I swear upon the honor of this Biagione. ? Johan was puzzled. Something was off. No. Not on Biagiones honor, but swear in the name of God. Brother. One should not swear lightly in the name of God. . . Biagione tried to change the subject slyly. Of course, Johan wasnt fooled. It was astonishing. That this more corrupt and greedy bishop had a firm belief and fear in God. This was the power of faith. Just as a ruthless mercenary who even kills children deep down fears the existence of God, people of this world could never escape the existence of God. It was the limit of thought and belief. , , . There is power in an oath, and breaking it brings a curse, but thats because one cares about that oath. If one truly doesnt care about that oath, it has no effect whatsoever. Johan could do that. Swear in the name of God. . . .Please spare me that, brother. There might be situations where I unintentionally fail to fulfill it. Even in such situations, one must do their best, thats why you take an oath. Do it. Unless you want me to go outside and tell everyone that the bishop cheated with a silver cross. Johan was adamant. The bishop, trying to persuade multiple times, was exhausted and copsed. Eventually, he swore in the name of God. All right. Should I say that the bishop performed a miracle with the cross and killed the gargoyle? Yes. . . No! No! What madness is that! Just say I bound it! The bishop, about to agree thoughtlessly, was startled. Such a lie was unnecessary. It would have only aroused suspicion. Chapter 109.1: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (1) Chapter 109.1: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (1) Are you more humble than I thought? Humble? What do you mean. . .! Anyway, I understand. I will speak as the bishop wishes. Upon hearing Johans words, the bishop sighed in relief. The most difficult part had been resolved. But if an inspectores, wont this splendid mansion be a bit risky? Brother, youre still naive. Would an inspector dislike gold? Would a judge refuse gold? Such luxury can easily be overlooked. Of course, they didnt hand over gold coins openly. They would identally find books or valuables that the inspector or judge was interested in and present them as gifts. It was something they had done many times, and it was what the bishop was best at. Arent you the naive one, bishop? If youre going to handle things, do it properly. Normally, it might be fine, but now youre under attack from the order. And yet, you still try to solve things with bribes as usual. . . What if an adversary or opponent sent by your rivales? Or someone who cant be bought with such means? Its a time when not even a minor fault should be found. Johans reproach made the bishops face turn red. He had hit a sore spot. Long stays in high positions dull ones sense of reality and make one insensitive to danger. The bishop was still not out of his reverie. That. . . that makes sense. Far from overlooking, they might use it as a w to exaggerate. I see. Ill have the servants clear out the items in the mansion. Bishop, people are gathered outside praying. How can you move the items? At night, when there are no people. . . These people pray even at night. What?! What are the night guards doing?! Why arent they dispersing them?! Johan looked at the bishop as if he couldnt believe it. Forcing the praying people to leave would only cause trouble. Realizing this, the bishop coughed awkwardly. Brother, what should we do then? Lets distribute them. To the people outside. What. . . what. . . what. . . Bishop clutched his heart, more startled than when he encountered a gargoyle. Absolutely not! How could we do such a thing! , . Watching the bishop, who was more obsessed with gold than merchants, Johan said. Bishop, now is the time to put aside your greed. Isnt there something more important than gold? No! What else is there? For more gold, let it go for a while. Johan held the bishops shoulder, looked into his eyes, and spoke. Bishop felt overwhelmed by the strength of Johans spirit and averted his gaze. . . .I understand. You have many other mansions, bishop. Dont be too sad about clearing out a few things. Cutting off one of ten fingers still hurts! In agony, the bishop eventually agreed. He was convinced by Johans words. Call the mercenaries. With the bishops permission and authority, Johan called the mercenaries. It wasnt to devise a scheme for the greedy bishop. Obviously, he had something else in mind. From now on, well gather items from the mansion and distribute them to the citizens outside. ???? Has His Excellency passed away? One of the mercenaries showed a natural reaction. Otherwise, it wouldnt have made sense. No. He originally intended to distribute them to the citizens, but he was afraid that he might not be able to do so and meet his death. Sir Knight, the bishop may be possessed by a malevolent spirit. Cant you exorcise the malevolent spirit like you did before? Be quiet. From now on, we will gather the gold and treasures inside the mansion and scatter them outside. Everyone pick one thing you want. . . .! The mercenaries faces brightened. Thank you! Thank you! The bishop is perfectly fine! I spoke foolishly! Johan called Gmbos out from among the mercenaries. Gmbos. If it werent for you in this gargoyle hunt, we couldnt have caught it. I acknowledge your contribution, and you will be the first to pick whatever you want. Choose anything you like. Tha. . . Thank you! Gmbos was stunned. Other mercenaries already knew Johan was generous, but Gmbos had less experience with it. ? Gmbos looked around cautiously. The mansion was filled with all sorts ofvish valuables. Silver candlesticks and goblets, a golden cab made from cut marble, rare ss pieces, and more. He worried that if he really chose something, his wrist might be cut off. If you cant choose, Ill pick a few for you. Johan, noticing Gmboss hesitation, picked up a few bracelets and threw them into his arms. Dazzled by the shining gold, Gmbos bowed his head in gratitude. Thank you! Thank you! Hurry up and choose. The other mercenaries are waiting because of you. Gmbos looked back. The other mercenaries were ring with fiery eyes, a silent signal for him to hurry up and make way. Chapter 109.2: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (1) Chapter 109.2: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (1) Thanks to spreading the estates wealth at the mansion, the bishops poprity was skyrocketing when Horamric arrived in the city. Sir! Congrattions indeed! I always believed in your abilities. Having heard the rumors on his way, Horamric incessantly praised Johans achievements. From Horamrics perspective, he felt he had grasped the right opportunity. But why have you called me? Ah, I wanted to introduce you to Sir Gareld, a council member. He owns a fiefdom in the Ulcana Penins and will be of great help to you. Such a noble for me. . .? Thank you. Sir, youre the only one who thinks of me. Haha. Thats high praise. Come, this way. Horamric and Gareld heartily boosted each others morale. Horamric praised Garelds bravery and loyalty, while Garelduded Horamrics noble character and lineage. The conversation was possible because each was under a misconception about the other. Despite having nothing substantial left, both were highly satisfied. Gareld even teared up. It was true that Johan had not lied. If it werent for you, sir, I would still be deceived, doing menial tasks for others. You recognized the value of a sir, didnt you? Now, in the council, no one dares speak ill of the bishop. Everyone is cautious and watchful. Johan nodded. Gareld had been steadily doing well in his role as a spy. And. . . ? As Gareld hesitated, Johan was puzzled. The magistrate wants to see you quietly. The magistrate? In the republic, once elected, a magistrate remained in position until death. Although power was more dispersed, the position was no less significant than that of a feudal lord or king. Having met once and being summoned again. What could it be? I dont know. But, sir. Gareld, holding Johans hand, spoke earnestly. Whatever the magistrate says, you must not forget our friendship! Gareld feared Johan mightpletely fall for the magistrate. The elected magistrate, a council member, came from a historic noble family in the city and had strong connections with others. Inparison, Gareld, of Empire origin, was no match. If such a magistrate tempted Johan with various rights and persuasive words, Gareld would be left hanging. Arent you worrying too much? No! You dont know how dirty the nobles tactics can be here. They bribe and draw people in as naturally as breathing. Would I, of Empire origin, not know honor? You can trust me. However important socializing was, pacifying Horamric and Gareld was quite a hassle. Before long, Johan found himself looking down on Gareld, who was oblivious to it. . . Contrary to Garelds worries, the magistrates intention was not to separate them. Also, the magistrate had no particr intention of making Johan one of his own. If it had been an ordinary knight, or an ordinary mercenary captain, he might have tried to grill them. After all, having many swords was never a bad thing. But Johan was too outstanding. At such a young age, having attained the honor of being a dukes equerry and hunting monsters, it was unlikely that he would be satisfied with the life of a city guard captain. . The magistrate called him for a secret agreement. If you wish to reconcile with His Excellency the Bishop, you should speak with him, not me. . . No, no. Sir. Its not about Bishop Biagione. Of course, given the situation, we should reconcile with Bishop Biagione and not fight anymore, but I wouldnt have called you for that. Just sending the appropriate amount of gold to the bishops family could have ended things amicably. Do you know if the order has sent someone? Did they? Johan feigned ignorance. The magistrate nodded in satisfaction. I heard through my connections. Do you know why they areing? Because Bishop His Excellency showed a miracle, so theyreing to verify. . .? Of course, thats the purpose. They wille and verify. But their main objective is you. ?! Johan tensed up. Had he been caught doing something suspicious? Caught using a malevolent spirit, or using an assassins skills. . . They n to use your strength to attack the fiefdom of Cardirian in the south. Im almost certain of it. . . .! Johan was surprised by the unexpected statement. In the current Catalian Penins, the northern and central parts were filled with city-states and the orders fiefdoms. But in the south, there were territories belonging to the Cardirian family and their vassals. The Empire was not on good terms with the penins. It periodically imed rights over the territories of the penins, and several times it had invaded directly. In such a situation, the fiefdom in the far south served as a dagger thrust at their throat. It was natural for the order and city-states to consider it a thorn in their side. But an attack? ? Johan was deep in thought. The force Johanmanded was less than a thousand strong. Of course, if he had enough gold, he could hire mercenaries as many as he wanted, but Johan was not that kind of lord. There must be dozens of mercenary captains like Johan on the penins. . . The order could not directly raise an army and attack. Inevitably, there had to be an intermediary, and this intermediary had to be trustworthy and capable, meeting several criteria. Firstly, they needed to be excellent in military strength and tactical skill. And since they had to side with the order and not the Empire, someone from a major family of the Empire would not do. Such a person could betray and side with their family. It had to be someone from a humble and weak family, who could not betray. Moreover, it couldnt be someone too brutal and barbaric. Supporting such a person could bring shame to the order. . . . . Johan suddenly realized how attractive he was to the religious order. His family was humble, but his reputation was high and he was faithful, making him a tantalizing prospect for the order. The magistrate was puzzled by Johans silence. He didnt think that Johan had figured out what had happened in such a short time. Whats the matter? No, I was thinking about how to attack Cardirians fiefdom. On what grounds could we do that? Ha-ha. Thinking about that, were you? Its very simple. The order will pick one of the feudal lords there, make up a suitable excuse, and strip him of his title. Then, His Holiness the Pope will personally bestow the title upon you. Of course, nothing had actually changed. Going there didnt mean the feudal lord would just say, , and step aside. Naturally, there would be fierce resistance, and in the end, the fiefdom would have to be taken by force. But that pretext was important. Who could deny the legitimacy of a title publicly proimed and bestowed by the Pope of the order? Wont Cardirian be angry? That guy is too busy with Empire affairs to care. He wont evene down, hell just have to look from afar. Anyway. . . they say theyre going to bestow a title upon you, and theyll also provide various supports. At that time, dont forget to mention our name too. We definitely want to be involved in it. The magistrate did not hide his desire-filled attitude. In his prime, he had wielded iron power with the strength of his family. Now, it was time to confront the enemies he had made then. Once formed, the grudges did not disappear, and those who showed weakness once could not be safe. Chapter 110.1: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (2) Chapter 110.1: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (2) Johan was not surprised. He would have been more surprised if he had met a noble on good terms with the Emperor in this area. There are many people who have a grudge against Cardirian, and it would take a lot of help to attack Cardirians fiefdom. So why would the order refuse help? Although Johan already guessed the reason, he deliberately asked as if he didnt know. The magistrate seemed even more satisfied with Johans attitude. Its human nature to be at a disadvantage when the party youre conspiring with turns out to be more intelligent than you anticipated. Ha. The order wants to drive out the Emperors forces in the south, not wanting new enemies to emerge. The magistrate sneered. In fact, the magistrate would have felt the same even if he represented the orders standpoint. They didnt want to remove an enemy only to create a new one. Right now, the rtionship between the order and the city-states was not bad, but it was uncertain if it would remain the same after the threat of the Empire disappeared. However, the republic was eager to get its hands on the south. It was a republic striving hard to acquire strategic locations in the Catalian Penins and Ulcana Penins, and the inds of the Edene Sea. These were almost essential for stable trade. If what you said is true, will the order give permission? Of course. Your authority is not that weak, after all. Even though the order provided support and received a title in the name of the Pope, it was Johan who led the soldiers down to fight. There were limits to how much the order could control. It was no coincidence that the order was meticulous in choosing people. And our side also has connections with the order. We are continuously creating public opinion. Above all, its not an unreasonable request. Were not asking for a fiefdom, just a few ports. Its enough if you just say the word. Authority over the ports of a fiefdom was very valuable, especially for a republic seeking trade. In truth, they could have given them away easily. After all, Johan didnt currently hold those fiefdoms. And if he came to possess the southern fiefdoms, a few ports would be a fair price to pay. Above all. . . , ? Of course, it wouldnt be just for any reason; a suitable justification would be necessary, but it was definitely doable. If he framed it as the republic conspiring or betraying, he could reim the ports. The magistrate was under a misconception due to Johans good reputation, but Johan had no hesitation in such matters. With our help, it would be much easier for you, wouldnt it? Of course, the order will support you, but the more help, the better. You are right. If we could borrow the fleet of the republic, it would make things several times easier. Pleased with Johans response, the magistrate smiled. He opened his mouth to drive the point home. I heard you are the feudal lord of Dolek and Palmon. Nice towns, but their development is a bit slow due to their location, isnt it? If you agree, we will send our engineers to build a naval base for you. Think about it. If you control the south, you can travel by ship along the Edene Sea all the way to the north. . Johan clicked his tongue, not because the offer was bad, but because it was too good. There was a misunderstanding about Johan, but fundamentally, the magistrate had confidence in himself. Confidence that even if Johan built naval ports in those two towns first, he wouldnt be able to betray them! It was the confidence that if Johan betrayed them, they could cut off the sea to hinder him, and the confidence in their fleet roaming the Edene Sea. . . . . . . . Johan decided to abandon the idea of betrayal and cooperate for now. Just cooperating wasnt a bad condition. If you could do that for me, Id be grateful, but Im worried I might not be able to keep my word. The order might not listen to me. Hahaha. . . The magistrateughed. And then said, No. They will listen to you. Plenty. Using you in that way is a very cheap trick, after all. Chapter 110.2: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (2) Chapter 110.2: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (2) As Suetlg and the magistrate said, the inspector arrived in the city with his escorts. The bishop greeted them from his bed with a devoted performance. The inspector was amazed by the empty mansion and the citizens praising the bishop. ? The inspector was no fool. He knew about the rumors about the bishop that had reached the order. However, despite the rumors, it was true that the bishop had aplished something now. ? ? . . , . The higher echelons of the order were divided into two factions. One was called the aristocratic faction. They were children of quite decent families, who had risen through strong support from their families, even if their faith was a bitcking. Bishop Biagione was a prime example of this. The other was made up of priests who had lived a faithful and frugal life from a young age in the orders monasteries or temples, armed with almost fanatical faith. Surprisingly, most of them had experience showing miracles. It was, in fact, expected. Without doing so, it was impossible for a priest who rose from the bottom without any support to reach a high position. They were called the miracle faction in the order and made various powerful arguments. Normally, the aristocratic faction, backed by families, should have been more dominant, but in the order, the miracle faction always had the upper hand. It was because of long traditions, customs, reputation, and public sentiment. A bishop who had shown a miracle and one who hadnt had different influences in their words. Moreover, traditionally, the Pope was chosen from among bishops who had shown miracles. The miracles shown by the priests were astonishing and powerful. . . But for Bishop Biagione to have done it was almost unbelievable. . . . . . , . ? . , ? . , . , ? . . . . . . . . . . . . Everyone present agreed. Honestly, if he did, that would be truly amazing. , . , . . . . ? , . ? . . . . . . . . . , ? At this, the bishop leaped up in surprise. The nket he was covered with flew off. Johan spoke from beside him. . . The bishop insisted that he would die on the way to the Popes court, even if it meant death. The inspector nodded his head, as if he had expected it. After joining the soldiers who were waiting outside, the group prepared to depart and immediately moved. But is it something to be so excited about? Of course, brother. Do you know how much of an honor it is to meet the Pope in person? Have you never met him? Johan was puzzled. It was customary for someone in the bishops position to go to the Popes court and face the Pope in person. But the bishop spoke as if he had never met him before. Ive never met him in person. . . .? I dont know. Do you know that most priests who reach the bishops position are so devout that they have shown miracles? What did the bishops show? Its not necessary to show it, but anyway. The Pope is the most outstanding among them. Miracles such as ending a drought that hadsted for months, restoring a polluted river to its original state, and healing the blind andme. . . The miracle-oriented bishops all had a strong reputation. In order to be elected Pope, it was not enough for an ordinary miracle. He died but was resurrected. What the. . .? Its true. Ive heard it too. Suetlg added from the side. Most people understood it as simply dying anding back to life, but the reality was a bit different. To be precise, the Pope died and his body did not move. But it did not rot or decay. It just remained as it was alive. Instead, a feather pen began to move and write beside the Pope. It was the Popes handwriting from his lifetime. Everyone was amazed at this wonder. Johans expression distorted strangely after hearing the detailed exnation. He had only thought that the Pope had shown the miracle of resurrection, so he had thought that he had just copsed and gotten up. . . Johan poked Caenerna. Why? Isnt that a malevolent spirit? I thought I was the only one who thought that. . . Im kind of d? Caenerna turned pale. If you treated the churchs miracles as malevolent spirits, you could be treated as malevolent spirits and burned at the stake. Even Suetlg showed a reverent appearance when hearing about such miracles, right? But Caenerna was different. She was skeptical about miracles. She believed that it was just unstable and idental magic. Wait a minute. . . Ive felt it since thest time, but are you really devout? Caenerna poured out her doubts that she had been holding for a long time. Of course, Johans actions were excellent knights of faith. There was no better way for a knight to prove his faith than to hunt monsters. Johan avoided answering and said, So have you ever been to the Popes court? I wasnt there when Cardirian led the army to attack the Popes court, right? Caenerna casually brought up sensitive history. The Emperor had fought with the church several times, and if the dispute became serious, he would not hesitate to send troops to attack. The Popes court is in the sacred Mount Cyrandel, and I heard that Cardirian had a hard time because of that. He keeps talking about that time over and over again when hes drunk. Itsmon for people to act like that as they get older. Suetlg made an excuse on his behalf. Johan chuckled. Acdda spoke with a hint of regret. I wanted to see the capital of the ancient Empire once, but its a shame it didnt happen. Werent you not particrly interested in cities? To the centaurs, a city was nothing more than a target for looting. Therefore, Acddas words were somewhat surprising. The capital of the ancient Empire is different. Im curious how magnificent it is. Dont get too excited. Its not much different from the city of Baien. The cities that date back to the ancient Empire are eachrge and beautiful in their own way. In front of the Syrandel mountain on the in, there was a city known as the capital of the ancient Empire, Uranonium. The city among cities, a nickname like the city of all cities, but Suetlg shook his head. Rather, other cities that werent destroyed might be better. Its one of the most destroyed cities. Please stop saying that. Euclyia is also looking forward to it. Is that so? Im sorry then. Johan said, looking at the two. Since were not going to attack the mountain anyway, there will be plenty of opportunities to show you around. Dont worry. I was counting on you, Sir Knight. Acdda said with a grin. So, how was the city? Well. . . Johan had not yet talked about the secret pact he had been involved in inside the city. In fact, the magistrate might not have fully grasped it. He couldnt be sure until he heard directly from the order. You caught a demon, tell us about that story! Were curious too! Those who hadnt experienced it directly were bursting with curiosity. They envied the mercenaries who had fortunately participated. The inspector listened intently to the conversation. Truth always emerged not from the parties involved but from those around them. Already having heard too many unbelievable things about the bishop, the inspector hoped for a more usible story. Chapter 111.1: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (3) Chapter 111.1: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (3) Shortly after. The inspector looked at the mercenaries who had participated in the gargoyle hunt as if it was absurd. What was even more absurd was the other warriors epting such talks as if they were natural! The inspector felt like the only sane person left among crazy people. . . . , . . . After the discussion about the gargoyle hunt ended, the mercenaries and warriors also talked about werewolves and trolls, which was equally absurd. Was it so bad that the story of the bishop distributing wealth seemed the most usible? I have just one question. At the inspectors words, the mercenaries nodded. Those present were mercenaries from the Empire or tribal warriors seeking to join the order of the Empire. They were favorably inclined towards monotheism and showed much interest in the church. Ask anything, priest. Did Bishop Biagione really scatter gold? Do you not see this bracelet? It was indeed scattered by him. . . .! The mercenaries were simple-minded. They spoke well of those who gave them something. Although it was thanks to Johans instructions, they did not speak ill of the bishop after receiving his wealth. As a result, the inspector, who had only heard overly different stories from the rumors, began to feel confused. As an inspector of the church with long experience, he was not easily swayed or deceived. There was a clear difference between those who were greedy and deceitful and those who sincerely believed in God and lived modestly. However, asionally, there were people who underwent a great shock and changed. It wasnt unheard of for a debauched person to hear the voice of God, repent, and feel remorse. Had Bishop Biagione experienced such a thing? Had he witnessed a miracle and glimpsed the holiness of God? . . .Is there no way to deal with that inspector, brother? What, are you suggesting assassination? The bishop was startled at Johans words. He looked around nervously. Fortunately, there was no one nearby to overhear, given the long procession. Are you mad? Not that. The inspector keeps prying. If the mercenaries say something strange. . . The mercenaries wont speak out of turn. Is that really so? Can you guarantee it? What will you do if I cant? . . .Y-You shouldnt talk like that. Its not like Biagione said anything impossible. The bishop shrank back as Johan spoke sternly. Having seen Johans true nature and owing him a great debt from the gargoyle hunt, he couldnt afford to be arrogant, even as an employer. , . If the magistrates words were true, the church had little interest in dismissing the bishop. Therefore, there was a high chance they would conclude the investigation casually. Of course, Johan had no intention of telling him that. It wouldplicate the story. Weve reached the town. As its a fiefdom of the church, we should be able to restfortably. Send someone to inform the entourage that the bishop and inspector are present and to prepare hospitality. The rest will set up camp outside. Yes, Ill do so. As soon as the order was given, Johans subordinates quickly moved, regardless of their disorderlyposition. The inspector was amazed at the sight of them moving in divisions, such as those who would enter the town to deliver the message, those who would scout around, those who would set up the camp and establish the border, and those who would check the water source and prepare drinking water. Frankly, it was strange that a knight like Johan was carrying such a jumbled group of subordinates, but seeing such a well-ordered appearance made sense. The inspector was curious and asked, Will you not let the mercenaries into the town? If even a few of the more than a hundred mercenaries entered the town, it would be a burden for the town. It would be a huge expense, not to mention the damage if there was any disturbance. But it was also impossible not to let them in. No one likes to camp while being hit by the cold dew. Even if not all of them, those who were captains or above were often allowed in. It doesnt seem like a wealthy town. It would be a heavy burden if they entered. It would be better to have them wait outside, except for the minimum escort. Your honor is truly honorable! The inspector was very satisfied with Johans response. Nobles often preached faith but acted otherwise. If there was surplus, it should be given to the starving and naked serfs, not wasted on luxuries. In this respect, Johans actions, consistent with the rumors, were truly satisfying. It was hoped that other spirited knights would learn from him. Furthermore, it was remarkable that the mercenaries showed no dissatisfaction with such orders. Even with good intentions, controlling rough men required strength. Without it, words were empty. , . ? ? The inspector doubted Bishop Biagione, believing that his abilities could easily manipte this young knight. If so, the bishop would be guilty of yet another sin. . Ah, crazy guys. Why are you wandering around at night? Arent you afraid of monsters? Hey! Stop! Stop with the torches and reveal yourself first! The mercenaries on guard swore as they saw a group of torches approaching from a distance. What? Whats happening? Some guys areing this way. They seem like the kind of b*stards who would skin us alive. I hope theyre just a gang of rogues. The people at the camp were stirred up. Johan, who had been asleep, pushed off the Karamaf covering him and got up. Karamaf let out an annoyed growl. S-Sir Knight. Didnt you go into town? Marco and Gerdolf going is enough. Were not without the orders escort. I can rest alone while you guys are here, cant I? Dont be too kind. Rookies wont adapt if they go somewhere else. The mercenaries spoke nonchntly, but their eyes were filled with emotion. So, who are these people? Chapter 111.2: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (3) Chapter 111.2: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (3) Theyve gone to check now. Theyll be back soon. True to their word, they soon returned with information. The group approaching from afar were also mercenaries. It was a fairlyrge mercenary troop, numbering over a hundred. Are they really mercenaries? Sir Knight. They could also be a gang of rogues. Isnt it strange that mercenaries appear near this road at this time? There wouldnt have been any work around here. Youre right. Moreover, moving at night is suspicious. Unless its something urgent. . . Contrary to what others were saying, Johan thought it was surprisingly likely that they could be mercenaries. If the magistrates words were true, the order would be calling mercenaries from various ces. The order, even in the name of the Pope, would make even the most arrogant mercenaries try their best to be on time. It wouldnt be strange for them to move at night. Theyre making a fuss about wanting to rest quickly, what should we do? Tell him I have no intention of talking to him and to move aside. I need to wake up the vige chief and talk to him directly. Whats going on in front of us thats causing such a fuss in the middle of the night? Some mercenaries are blocking our way into the town! Did the town hire them or something? I dont know. Well find out when their leader shows up. As if he woulde out in the middle of the night. If he doesnte out, well have to resort to force. If he has any sense, he wille. It wasnt just one group of mercenaries here. Other mercenary groups following the same path also arrived one after another. They were exhausted from non-stop movement. Even if they couldnt enter the town, they at least wanted to get some food and drink from the townspeople. But then, there was a group of mercenaries blocking the entrance. It was frustrating. We are soldiers serving Bishop Biagione! If youre mercenaries, behave honorably! What? A bishop? Uh. . . Upon hearing the name of Bishop Biagione, the mercenary captains hesitated, but unfortunately, one of them happened to be overly knowledgeable. Bishop Biagione is not from this diocese, but from that republic! He has no business being here! Oh. . . I thought you were dumb, but not bad. Want to die, you b*stard? Shut up. Everyone. Is now really the time? The mercenary captains hurled insults at each other. Just because they were traveling together didnt mean they were friendly. Not attacking each other on sight was friendly enough. So is that fake? Most likely it is. Hurry and tell their leader toe out. If he doesnt, well attack. Those guys must be getting nervous seeing our numbers increase. Having seen more torch-bearing groups arriving behind the initial arrivals, they must have understood the situation. Gurelic scratched his dusty cheek. While the mercenary captains words werent wrong, something bothered him. The opposing camp was too orderly. He began to wonder if they really were soldiers serving a bishop. Wait. We should check it out just in case. What are we going to do? If they are the ones who are following the bishop, there must be evidence in their camp. Lets go and check it out. What a nuisance. No, honestly, its not a bad idea. Its better to avoid unnecessary fights. Were not getting paid for this. Even among the mercenary captains, there were those who agreed with Gurelics words. The mercenaries who belong to a mercenarypany are each the property of the mercenary captain. They hated to waste soldiers unnecessarily. Gurelic rode his horse quickly with a few guards. He was thinking of seeing what kind of people they were up close. Oh. . . Why are you babbling like an idiot? Cant you speak properly? Oh. . . How dare this b*stard? Gurelic red and became angry when his subordinate ignored his words. He was about to hit the subordinate with his fist. That, thats the monster knight, isnt it? Monster knight? What the hell is that. . . Gurelic turned his head and almost fell off his horse when he saw Johaning out of the front camp. The horse neighed loudly and shook its body. Gurelic hurriedly held on and narrowly avoided making a fool of himself. Gurelic, its been a while. I thought you were in Umdim. . . .Sir Johan. Gurelic expressed gratitude with his sharp eyes and stroked his chest. If he had left it alone out of annoyance, many people would have been troubled. And more people would have died. What brings you here. . . As I said, I am apanying His Excellency the Bishop. What about you? Me and other mercenaries were heading to the front of the Syrandel mountain at the request of the order. Indeed, Johans prediction was correct. Johan nodded without surprise. Were you on a forced march? There is not only the bishop, but also a priest from the Order who came out to work, so we will not be held responsible for arriving a littlete. Tell them to slow down if its okay. T-Thank you. Gurelic inadvertently saluted and then realized. He had beenpletely intimidated and was speaking formally. It wasnt usually like this. Suddenly, he felt immensely embarrassed. There was a subordinate right beside him, what a disgraceful behavior. However, the subordinates seemed not to find it strange at all. Huh, I didnt think it was that monster knight. I never thought Id meet him in this ce. Even if he was with the captain, he still takes care of us, doesnt he? . . . . . . He was confused whether to be grateful that his subordinates were shameless idiots, or to be more humiliated. i. Upon recognizing the opponent, Johan strongly wielded the authority of the bishop along with the name of the g bearer. With Gurelics testimony added, the mercenaries had no choice but to follow reluctantly, as if eating mustard in tears. Really, I didnt know there would be a bishop and an inspector over there. They grumbled andy sprawled out in the field. Why are the mercenaries here? Something seems strange. At Bishop Biagiones words, the inspector coughed. Thanks to the bishop he was apanying, he knew why these mercenaries were gathering here. Is something happening in the order? Could it be that the Emperor is nning to invade? No, the Emperor wouldnt have the resources to do so. Then could it possibly be the King of Ens? It wasnt a good sign that the order was gathering soldiers. The bishop asked various questions, but the inspector evaded them to the end. Sir Knight. It seems you should be careful. The mercenaries are quite discontented. Acdda returned and said. The mercenary captains who arrivedte seemed to be looking at Johan with disdain. They were starved for half a day? Why do you ask when you know? Isnt it because you are too close to the order? In our tribe, families close to the chief also received jealousy. The mercenary captains responding to the call of the order were not simply after gold. Otherwise, they wouldnt have put in so much effort. They desired advancement. Chapter 112.1: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (4) Chapter 112.1: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (4) The highest achievement for mercenaries was to receive a fiefdom and be nobility. Most mercenaries never reached this point, dying of old age or in battle. Even receiving a small town was considered a significant sess. Nobles who owned fiefdoms preferred to employ mercenaries with silver and gold, rather than giving awaynd. However, the situation was a bit different with the order. The order had the power to grant fiefdoms to mercenaries. This was more feasible because they were not giving away their ownnds. The order had the power to strip other nobles of their fiefdoms and legitimately give mercenaries the justification and rights to take over thosends! The order had done simr things several times before. They would call mercenaries to support an attack on the orders enemies and then settle them on thatnd. It was natural to feel envious seeing those who were once mercenaries sitting arrogantly dressed as nobles. . . . . . . . . , ? ? It seems they dont know the exact purpose. Johan muttered. This summoning was not about subduing one or two minor noble families. It was about fighting against all the Emperors nobles in the southern penins. The mercenaries were thinking of titles like lord or baron, but considering the scale of this mission, it wouldnt be surprising if a count title was offered. Eh, what? Is there some other purpose? Ill tell you if its confirmed. Its just a guess for now. Acdda showed no dissatisfaction at Johans words. The ruler of the steppe had to be cunning and know how to hide their intentions. Even if Johan was being vague, it was just another sign of his qualifications. So, Acdda, how did you deal with such discontented people? How did I deal with them? Ignored the insignificant ones and crushed those who got arrogant in front of me. I should do the same then. Ill keep that in mind. Oh. Are you leaving now? No. Ah. . . At Acddas reaction, Johan smiled and said, Cant act now. Just wait a little longer. Johan understood the mercenaries reactions. They were still unaware of the exact details of the mission. Eventually, it was likely that Johan would lead them south. Such people couldnt be subdued by immediate violence. Waiting would naturally create justification and opportunity. At Johans words, Acdda bowed his head. Johan must surely have something in mind. Having trusted him once, Acdda simply followed. . Many people were surprised, but Gurelic, despite his fierce appearance, was a quick-witted and agile person. Thats why he was the first to make a decision this time as well. . After resting, his mind was clearer and more agile. No matter how he looks at it, Johan seems likely to hold a different and significant position in this gathering. ? - . Other mercenary captains seemed not to expect that Johan would take on the role of amander. Though Johan had gained fame for monster hunting, he was still too young and inexperienced. The mercenary captains present here usually had at least a decade, if not more, of experience in the battlefield. Thats why they were even more confident. They thought it was absolutely impossible for that young knight to take on the role of amander in the expedition. But Gurelic had seen Johan himself. He had seen Johan leading nearly a thousand soldiers southward without a hint of hesitation, and being the first to climb the high walls of Umdim and ughter the enemies. If someone were to ask Gurelic, ? Gurelic would honestly have to answer . What if the order had made a simr assessment? . Sir Johan! ? Johan, who was teaching Euclyia how to y Go, turned his head at the sound from outside. Euclyia sneakily hid a Go piece. Anyway, I remember it all. Whats the matter, sir? I came to join you in this endeavor! Please ept my sword! . . .Oh? Johan looked at Gurelic as if he were a curiosity. He had expected one of the mercenary captains to pick a fight first, note to swear allegiance. Really? For what reason? From what I see, you are bound to take on an important role in this gathering. Rather thanpeting fruitlessly, I want to follow your lead and earn a greater reward. Euclyia muttered something in the Eastern tongue beside him, roughly praising Gurelics wisdom. Did you see that much value in it? Youve already shown your worth in the city of Umdim. At that time, it was you and your men who excelled. . . Anyway, good! Ill ept. Johan cheerfully agreed. It was convenient for the mercenaries to kneel ande on their own, especially someone experienced like Gurelic. Wont the other mercenary captains be angry if they find out? Actually, Im already on my way here, skipping the gathering. Let them be as angry as they want. Hmph. Do you think I care about such things? Having already chosen his side, Gurelic did not hesitate. And one couldnt afford to worry about rtions between mercenary groups in this line of work. The most important thing was his own benefit, wasnt it? . Chapter 112.2: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (4) Chapter 112.2: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (4) Gurelics departure created arger reaction than expected. Among the mercenaries following Johans forces, who were under the bishop, an awkward atmosphere lingered. Gurelic himself isnt such a fool. . . Mercenary captains, who knew Gurelics character, groaned. It all seemed very strange, no matter how one looked at it. Johan was known to be a knight who had been achieving great feats recently, but was he so impressive as to switch sides like this? Still young and seemingly inexperienced. . . Some mercenary captains held back their words. If Gurelics judgment was correct, they started to hold back, nning to quietly switch sides. This was especially true for masters of rtively small mercenary groups, numbering around a hundred. Ambitious mercenary captains were very dissatisfied with this departure and gritted their teeth. Brother. Let us pray. For this holy mountain of Cyrandel. As they climbed the hill overlooking the Cirandel mountains, the bishop said to Johan. Johan prayed with even more humble and earnest posture than the bishop. The inspector was truly satisfied. Is that Uranonium over there? The small-looking capital of the ancient Empire seen from afar was, as Suetlg said, more than half in ruins. And yet, the remaining area alone boasted an enormous scale, suggesting how beautiful the city must have been in its heyday. Your Excellency, bishop. One of the mercenary captains approached, riding a horse. Uniquely, this mercenary captain was an elf, clearly a lower noble from the Ens Kingdom. There are swarms of rogues in the forest in front of the mountain. I request your permission for a punitive expedition. Oh. . . Bishop Biagione was flustered. It was an unexpected and ill-fitting proposal. Mercenaries offering to do a job without pay? Johan smiled inwardly. . It seemed the mercenaries wanted to demonstrate their capabilities to the order by dealing with the rogues. But the order wouldnt change their judgment over something like this. He could imagine how frustrated they would feel upon realizing this. Isnt it a good proposal? Please grant your permission, Your Excellency, bishop. The inspector was delighted. The swarms of rogues rampaging in the vast forest below the mountain had been causing pain to nearby towns. Dealing with them would be a service to the serfs. Biagione looked to Johan for guidance. Unlike the inspector, the bishop was aware of the subtle power struggle unfolding between them. It was what he did best. ? Johan signaled with his eyes that it was okay. Gurelic, who was watching this, was shocked. It wasnt the bishop controlling Johan, but Johan controlling the bishop. ? Even upon re-evaluation, it was unbelievable. If Johan wasnt the bishops kin, this rtionship made no sense. . . I permit it. Your dedication is indeedmendable. Yes! Thank you. The inspector asked Johan. Do you also n to join them, sir? No. Someone must stay to protect His Excellency. I and the Wgo mercenary group will guard the bishop here. Once affection is formed, other actions also feel more wee. Johans actions, contrasted with the mistakes of a hot-blooded knight, appeared even more favorable. The inspector nodded in satisfaction. At this point, Gurelic started to feel sorry for the other mercenary captains. They were blinded by pride and stubbornness, failing to make calcted decisions. . . . , . Johans army halted, and the following mercenaries started changing their formations, approaching the forest to search and punish the rogue swarms. s. That elf is the one leading the b*stard of Arkten. He used to hold the position of captain in the Wolves of Arkten. Wolves of Arkten. . . Ive seen them before. Did you lead them? No. Johans words didnt seem to concern Gurelic much. They might have been on opposing sides, after all. The b*stards are quite skilled at riding. Being from the Ens Kingdom, they are better than. . . Oops. Im sorry. Its okay to speak freely. It happens. The elf knights always boasted that their horsemanship was the best, and indeed, people tended to rate the elf knights skills above those of the Empire knights. So thats why elves were often seen. Yes. Elves are foul-tempered and arrogant, so they will likely offend the honor. Please be generous in your judgment. . . No. I like elves. ?? Any other mercenaries to be wary of? The Gorgale Mercenary Group is famous for their crossbowmen. They are so skilled that they sometimes charge double. The mercenary group from Gorgale, armed with expensive crossbows, was known for their deadly attacks. They had even taken down severalrge monsters. And you should also be mindful of the Medusa Mercenary Group and the Mano Mercenary Group. . . Where are you going? Somethings happened in the forest. Johan quickly stood up. Karamaf, realizing something was amiss, raised its head and red. Smoke was rising from various parts of the forest, and faint screams could be heard. Enemy! Its the enemy! Prepare for battle! Prioritize protecting His Excellency! Yes! Johan directed his elite troops near the bishop, then donned his armor and rushed forward. Euclyia followed, wielding a spear. The grass of the meadow rustled, and then dozens of people stood up. They realized they had been discovered. They had hoped to ambush the unsuspecting outside, but their opponents were too formidable. The eastern warriors and mercenaries patrolled tirelessly, making it impossible for anyone, no matter how skilled, to approach undetected. Weve been spotted! Run! Break through! The rogues, though caught, fiercely ignited their fighting spirit. Their approach had been stealthy, but they were no ordinary foes. Could they be mercenaries? Spears! ! Dont let them near the camp! Crush them! Johan and his warriors charged forward on horseback. The rogues, faced with mounted knights on the ins, gritted their teeth. Haaaah! Several of them dodged to the side, screaming wildly, and tried to unseat the horse-riding warriors withssos. However, the eastern warriors either handled their horses as if they were part of their own bodies, or were beings with the bodies of horses themselves. They easily evaded and struck down their foes with their weapons. Even when fatally wounded, the rogues neither retreated nor surrendered. They fiercely red and swung their weapons, seemingly unaware of the blood pouring from their own bodies. Then there was no choice but topletely crush them. Move aside! Johan, wielding a mace, charged in. With each swing, the fierce rogues crumbled. The leader of the rogues looked at Johan in disbelief. Chapter 113.1: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (5) Chapter 113.1: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (5) The rogues present here were not ordinary rogues. They were the ones he had personally trained. Thanks to the secret family recipe used to make the medicine they took, they felt no pain and were fierce to the point of not knowing fear. But in front of that knight, they fell like scarecrows. Its not like his men didnt know how to deal with someone on horseback! You country bumpkin from the Empire! Do you even know who youre dealing with?! Even amidst the chaos, Johan clearly heard the others shout and dismissed it with disdain. Arent they just a bunch of rogues? The three brothers of the Lizarek family! Remember who youre dealing with! Lizarek or whatever, I dont care. Die. Johan sneered. If they wanted to be taken as hostages by shouting about their noble status, they should have been more polite. How audacious to ambush and then be so brazen. . . However, the warrior of the Lizarek family seemed to have no intention of surrendering. He suddenly twisted his body backwards and hurled a dagger with a vicious sound. Normally, Johan could have easily parried it with his arm covered in surcoat and chainmail, as such a thrown weapon wouldnt have the power to prate the armor. But his instincts warned him. ! As he blocked with his shield, a chilling sound came. It was the sound of the dagger piercing the shield. It would have gone right through if it werent steel. ? The techniques passed down in families werent just swordsmanship. It was easy to mistake it for just that because of the knights, but the noble knight families originally included a variety of upations, including looters, farmers, and shepherds. In this world, it wasnt the age where information was widely spread if avable; it was an era of monopolizing it, especially if the technique was valuable. The way that weapon was thrown clearly indicated it was a family secret. Considering what the opponent said, he seemed to be from a knight family. When Johan blocked the attack aimed to pierce his throat, the warrior clicked his tongue and shouted. Come at me! Just try it. Youll rush in like the coward you are. The man had unusually long arms and legs, and his movements were quick. He bounced his body to react nimbly at the moment the horse charged. . Johan always did the opposite of what his opponent wanted. Johan raised his spear in defense as Karamaf came running up to block the front of the horse. With this, the warrior had no choice but to engage first. If he charged at the horse, Karamaf would block him, and if he threw something, Johan would counter with his spear. The warrior cursed at the sight of controlling the wolf. Such a despicable country bumpkin! I wonder if the wolf understands that. Johan tightened his grip on the spear, ready to throw it at the first sign of the opponents vulnerability. Sensing this, the warrior hesitated. His warrior instincts were also at y. One mistake could mean death! Come on! I said attack! Johan ignored him, further infuriating the warrior. The leader was stuck, unable to do this or that, while his men were getting destroyed. Normally, their morale would have broken, and they would have fled, but these few who charged in fought to the end. It took time, but they were soon subdued and surrounded. Then, Johan leisurely spoke. You said youre from the Lizarek family? Will you surrender? A dog with no honor! Id rather die than surrender! My brothers will avenge me. As you wish. As Johan waved his hand, arrows flew from all directions. The Lizarek family warrior leapt but couldnt get far before copsing. Deal with it. Check what the Lizarek family is up to, and send a messenger to the forest. We might need to send reinforcements, considering the situation. The wise always end up cleaning up. Thats how the world works. . The Lizarek brothers were one of the famous rogue gangs. Originally a true knightly family, they turned into rogues after their familys downfall. Among the rogues, these rogue knights were the most difficult to deal with. Well-equipped and skilled, some of these reckless rogue knights evenmitted their misdeeds within their own fiefdoms. About six years ago, there was a major subjugation in the east, and we havent heard from them since then. . . I had no idea they would be here. Upon hearing Gurelics words, Johan asked, Theyre not worth any ransom or bounty, are they? Their family has fallen, so the only ones who could pay a ransom would be their other siblings. . . And a bounty would be difficult, wouldnt it? Its been six years, and the nobles they captured are probably all dead by now. They captured nobles? Yes. They were skilled at hostage situations. Not just extorting tolls and looting from passersby, but kidnapping nobles for ransom. Truly bold, befitting their knightly heritage. We might have to behead him and present it to the city. . . Johan was surprised to find the captured rogue more notable than expected, but his task remained unchanged. Johan had his soldiers positioned near the forest, ready to move at any moment. He nned to decide whether to go in once the messenger returned. The bishop cautiously asked, Shouldnt we go in now? Why would we need to do that? For fear of tarnishing the brothers reputation. You dont need to worry about that. The bishop was needlessly worried. Showing bravado here wouldnt help Johans evaluation. Rather, maintaining calm andposure would likely improve the inspectors assessment. The messengers return coincided with the mercenaries emerging from the forest. The mercenaries areing out! The messenger ran out, and soon after, dozens of disheveled mercenaries crawled out in turn. Johan clicked his tongue. He could tell how much they had been toyed with in the forest. . Fortunately, there werent many casualties. Most were either slightly injured or exhausted. They managed this because they maintained formation while being manipted. This showed that they were not inexperienced mercenaries; they were well-prepared for the forest. The mercenary captains had expressions of frustration and sorrow. Moreover, there was another shocking piece of news for them. Was there a surprise attack? Chapter 113.2: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (5) Chapter 113.2: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (5) Yes. It was too reckless to concentrate on the subjugation and let the main camp be attacked. . . .Im sorry. Lets move out. Upon Johansmand, the mercenary captains looked at him incredulously. Moving while the rogue gang was still in the forest? It was unbelievable. Shouldnt a knight at least try to finish the job himself? It seems the rogue gang is hidden deep in the forest, making them difficult to subdue. It would be rude to spend too much time here when we didnt gather for subjugation. But. . . One of the mercenary captains started to speak but hesitated. There was no real counterargument to Johans words. Besides, this was a fight without pay. Continuing could lead to severe discontent among the mercenaries. . . .Still, isnt there a matter of saving face? An elf spoke up. It was definitely the elf from before, as Gurelic had mentioned. While profit was important, saving face was equally crucial. If they retreated now, the mercenaries who had entered the forest would be made fools. Since weve captured one of the three brothers and beheaded him, weve saved face. The others, losing one of their leaders, will surely be frightened and cower. C-Caught one of the three brothers? When?? During the attack. The inspector nodded in confirmation of this fact. At his words, the faces of the mercenary captains showed a sense of detion. Its said that a lucky person can do anything, and it turned out one of the three brothers led the surprise attack! The youngest, known for his impetuous and aggressive nature, had led the charge himself and ended up captured and killed. Is there still someone who is dissatisfied with the move? If so. . .? Then theres nothing to be done about it. Well leave them behind. If theyre so eager to subdue the rogues, they can do as they please. . . . . . . With that, the meeting came to an end. Johan did not shout at any of the mercenary captains, nor did he threaten them with his authority. Nevertheless, the mercenary captains were caught up in his words without realizing it, and could not say a word. The faces of the mercenary captains entering the Cyrandel mountains were filled with confusion and dismay. is. Beautiful. The papal residence on the mountain boasted beautiful yet powerful defenses. It was surrounded by cliffs as if they were cut out, and the only way up was a narrow, winding path. Moreover, rumors said that it stored enough food and water tost for years. How did the Emperor manage to conquer this ce? This made Johan even more curious. Brother, I need you for a moment. Upon arrival, after unpacking, and while the mercenary captains were resting, Johan was immediately requested. Johan nodded in agreement. He had anticipated such secret dealings. This way. . . What about His Excellency Bishop Biagione? He is resting. . . . . . . Johan felt sympathy for Bishop Biagione. He was excited about the honor of meeting the Pope in person, but other bishops of the miracle faction had not allowed it. What is about to happen must be kept secret, sworn in the name of God. I swear on my honor and faith. Thank you. The inspector smiled warmly. He hadplete trust in Johan. Unbeknownst to Johan, the inspector had already reported on him during their camp in the forest. Please show some respect. In the quiet, spacious room, the smell of sulfur and myrrh was evident. Without being told, one could intuitively sense the Popes presence inside. Johan entered and showed respect. However, his eyes keenly observed the Pope. . Caenerna and Suetlg were very envious of Johan. They, too, as wizards, had wanted to meet the Pope in person. Johan could feel it. The powerful mystique emanating from the Popes body, lying there as if dead. Though the body was a gaunt, lifeless corpse, the mystique was real. The bishops called Johan, marveling. They were bishops of the miracle faction. Sir Johan of the Yeats family, the dukes herald and executioner of trolls and demons. We believe you are here because of your piety. Johan nodded. Then, a feather pen began to move in front of him, writing letters on paper. The bishops read the paper together. Soon Count Coolia will be emunicated, and her position will be vacant. Before other evil ones take her ce and torment the serfs, can you step in? I shall do so rightfully. Johan spoke, concealing his rising sense of achievement. The bishops in front of him were oblivious to his true feelings. They had no doubt that Johan would be their faithful sword and shield. Count Coolias position was one of the most tempting prizes. Located in the southeast of the Catalian Penins, it allowed easy traversal between two peninss and ample opportunity for maritime trade. , - . . Not just a few small towns, but meeting the minimum requirements of a feudal lord. . . .Of course, all this was to be dealt withter. In case of failure, Johan would be left with nothing but the corpses of his mercenaries and the hatred of the Emperors nobles. If he failed, the order would decisively sever ties with Johan. Then swear it. Fight only for God, for your faith. I will fight only for God, for my faith. Johan kissed his sword and took the oath. The orders method of hiring reliable mercenaries and knights to fight its enemies had always been somewhat sessful. Those who seeded did not sever ties with the order. They too needed the orders power. But they were too greedy to be mere puppets. But this time, it would be different. Those gathered were certain of it. Among those entrusted before, there had been no knight so endowed with both piety and force! Chapter 114.1: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (6) Chapter 114.1: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (6) By the way, the bishops. . . are peculiar. Once they confirmed that they agree on the major part, it was time to discuss the details. As the bishops started to exin the detailed n to Johan, he felt it was odd. This was because the bishops insights and abilities were too imbnced. The bishops were very adept in political justifications and situations. How to deprive Count Coolia of her position, how to check other nobles. . . However, in military aspects and governance, they were almost at the level of fools. One bishop even asked, ? and another didnt even think about dispersing and advancing. He just suggested it would be better to advance all together. Bishop Lironero, feeling embarrassed for the other bishops, stopped them from speaking. Brothers. Leading soldiers and managing horses is a knights duty. Let Sir Johan take care of it, and trust him with it. Yes. Understood. But isnt it stronger to gather and send the soldiers. . .? Shh. Thats enough. The bishops of the Miracle Faction were basically ignorant aboutmand. It might have been better if they were from the Nobility Faction. Or maybe a pdin who had served in the order. However, such knights usually preferred to fight alongside their brothers in the battlefield or in the order for their entire lives, and it wasmon to leave the position of bishop to others. In the end, the bishops who rose in the Miracle Faction were mostly theorists who had dedicated their lives to academia and faith, aspiring to . At least Bishop Lironero, when he was young, had been to the battlefield a few times with his order brothers, so he knew how embarrassing what they were saying was. Shouldve asked the captain of the guard for advice. The fewer people know about this, the better. Besides, the captain of the guard has his own duties. I am aware. The orders guard and the captain of the guard were under strict control. They were more like monks. Monitored in their contact with the outside world, they had to live a life dedicated solely to the order. The order did not want them to have contact with the outside. The moment they are tainted by the secr world, desires emerge and betrayals ur. . Johan could sense the atmosphere and direction of the order from the bishops conversation. The current mainstream of the order were the bishops of the Miracle Faction and the Pope they supported. The Pope had a tremendous authority of miracles, influencing dioceses across the continent. . . But the secr monarchs did not view this favorably. They continuously tried to undermine the rights of the order. Even Cardirian led his army to the front of the Cyrandel mountain, and other kings and nobles were no different in their intentions. The most pure order constantly employing mercenaries and struggling to check the nobles above and below, was because it couldnt exist otherwise. Anyway, brother. . . Do you understand a bit now? Yes. The first thing we should target is Count Coolia. This Count is currently in a very delicate position. Originally, this county belonged to the Asada family, a pagan family from the east, who converted a few generations ago and became a vassal of the Emperor. An elderly beastman from the Asada family married an elf from the Ens Kingdom, and they had a child, but the beastman died suddenly. The beastmans siblings were excited to take over the county, petitioning for it, but the elf wife firmly refused. She dered that the right to the county belongs to the child and she would rule as regent until the child came of age. Of course, the siblings did not sit idly by. They used the elf of colluding with pagans to poison and reported her to the church. If the wife was stripped of her title, they could easily manipte their young niece to take the county. The church nned to use this situation. They would call her for a trial at the church, strip her of her title if she came, and also if she didnt, using that as a reason. Next, they would use the siblings of the Asada family of pagan-rted charges and emunicate them. It was a sophisticated justification that the church had worked on for a long time. The opponents wouldnt realize what was wrong until the situation had progressed to a certain extent. . So? Whats the problem? Ignoring the oaths, Johan called Suetlg and Caenerna to discuss the events he had heard from the bishops. I think the justification weve prepared is sufficient. Its not like theyre using you as a scapegoat. . . It definitely wasnt the look of someone intending to be used as a scapegoat. Would they have gone to such lengths if they wanted to use me as a scapegoat? At the reactions of the two, Johan nodded and continued speaking. But isnt the method after the justification a bit strange? To deprive a count of his position and then award it to me after I conquer it. Isnt that too rough? The Asada family had been in power for several generations. There would be several lower nobility families that had built various rtionships under that count. Even if Johan had conquered with an army and the order praised him and granted him a position, how would they react to a sudden outsider ruling over them? I see two reasons for this. Caenerna said in a calm voice. She was better at this kind of political sense than Suetlg. One is, as you already mentioned, the bishops of the order are foolish. Everyone is mistaken, but the bishops of the order arent so intelligent to know everything in the world, right? Its not like everything is solved just by conquering and attaching the name of the order. And the other reason? The second is, even if they vaguely suspect, it doesnt really matter to the order. Its your job to control those nobles. If youre in need, youll have to rely more on the power of the order. . . .! Chapter 114.2: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (6) Chapter 114.2: ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? (6) Johan shivered. He had underestimated them without much thought, but they had been diligently preparing even in these aspects. It was indeed true. The more the lower nobility refused to swear loyalty or rebelled, the more Johan would have to rely on the power of the order. He had been wondering how the order had been sessful while using the power of violent looters or mercenaries, but now it made sense. The intangible power built by the order was something a mere knight couldnt overlook. But are you nning to break ties with the order? No. I actually like the order. Both wizards chuckled at that. It was a statement made without true conviction. Johan felt aggrieved. I know the temple is helpful in governance, and I dont intend to reject its power. But if I be too dependent, itll be impossible to break freeter. Its rare to find someone who thinks like you even before receiving a fiefdom. Usually, people just gratefully ept it and loyally serve. Why, it seems good. Knights should be like this. Better than recklessly rampaging like a dumb bull. Caenerna defended Johan. From her perspective, having seen Cardirian and his knights, it was very refreshing and impressive for Johan to make such statements. Its evidence that knights can also act delicately and consider political implications! I have a good idea. Caenerna said, pping her hands. This method should be enough to repay a debt. It seems deserving of recognition. Lets hear it and then Ill consider. But werent you the one who said to ask for a favor when I need it? Is that the debt youre talking about? Ah, forget what I just said. ? The person currently acting as the representative for Count Coolia is his wife, right? Her name was. . . Iselia of the Bluea family. Right. Just capture that woman, force her into marriage, then find a suitable excuse to strip her of her title, and eliminate her children. When a feudal lord who was trained and had the appropriate skills ruled a fiefdom, it was fine. However, if that feudal lord died, his wife or husband became in a very precarious situation. If there was a family to support them, they would receive some help, but if that was not the case, all sorts of scum would covet the fiefdom. Young and ambitious knights or rtives of the feudal lord often did this. Once they intervened, they could solve the remaining political problems with time. Hmm. . . What? Are you dissatisfied? Its a bit much to kill a child. . . .Then send her to a monastery. No, really, is that the only reason? Suetlg also nodded in admiration at Caenernas words. You must have learned to think this way from working under the Emperor. . . .Are we going to fight now? Caenerna. Ill apologize for him, so please dont be angry. Caenerna looked at Johan with a surprised expression. He never thought he would hear an apology from Johans mouth. No, I wasnt mocking you. It was really an unexpected method. Isnt it okay? The dissatisfaction of the lower nobles will be much less, and even if they show dissatisfaction, their grounds will be weak. And in my opinion, if you stay there for 10 years. . . no, 5 years, those who will show dissatisfaction will disappear. Are you praising me too much? Well, I think its usible. Suetlg highly regarded Johans ability as a ruler. He was definitely not someone who would solve everything with force, like an ignorant knight. Rather, shouldnt we first worry about how to conquer it, rather than managing it afterwards? Caenerna asked Johan. Honestly, such concerns could be addressedter. The fiefdom was not even in their hands yet. The support of the order is crucial, Johan. Honestly, its hard to conquer with just that. Soon after, support wille from right next door. Johan nodded. The order had provided better support than Johan expected. A recruitment permit granted in the name of the Pope and a new family g blessed by the Pope himself. The nonexistent Yeats family suddenly became a family with a holy symbol. Inserting legendary or holy figures into the upper lineage of a family tree is something everyone does, but who would have thought the order would do it directly? Including mercenaries from the northern and central parts of the penins and a thousand dwarf mercenaries. Taking into ount the additional troops to be recruited, the total force almost reached 5,000 to 6,000. Johan added two things to this. One was the support of the republic, and the other was appointing Bishop Biagione to the diocese in Coolia. The former was epted by the bishops, but thetter surprised them. , . . . . . . . Johan stubbornly insisted on these conditions. The reason Johan was so determined to bring in Bishop Biagione was simple. He was a bishop under Johans control and at the same time, someone who could take the hatred of the order on his behalf. If Johans actions went astray, who would the order suspect? Are you confident? Somewhat. Even if they were soldiers of Count Coolias side, they did not exceed a few hundred. There were no variables except for the possibility of support from other nobles of the Emperor faction in the southwest. When do we depart? Right after we get a response from Count Coolias proxy. After more than a month and a half, a message arrived from the counts domain. It was a reply that they would not respond to the orders trial request. The order vehemently criticized this and caused a stir. Simultaneously, Johan dered a punitive expedition, holding the g granted by the order. The mercenary captains gathered in the room realized the truth btedly and felt devastated. From the beginning, the suprememander had been decided. Some mercenary captains were angry or felt unjust, but it couldnt be helped. It was something the order had prepared from the beginning. They were not reckless enough to defy the authority of the order. They silently followed behind Johan. . The siblings of the Asada family were happy to send a letter. They really are pathetic. Upon hearing the news of the scandal, the original counts rtives seemed thrilled. They were misunderstanding Johans army. They thought he was heading south to return the countship to them. Johan sent a letter himself, kindly. It was sweet and gentle. The order and Johan were expecting a lot from them, and the siblings were overjoyed at the suggestion to join hands with the order instead of the corrupt Emperor. Sir Marco. Is your fiefdom in the south as well? Is it alright? No, its not my fiefdom, it belongs to Marquis Crucho. iming a fiefdom as his own was dangerous for an illegitimate son. Marco denied it in horror, but Johan didnt seem to care much. Its all the same. Anyway, you might have to fight against the Marquiss family, is that okay? Chapter 115.1: ???????????????? ?????????? (1) Chapter 115.1: ???????????????? ?????????? (1) Yes. I dont care about that. Marco seemed truly indifferent. The honor of a knight had buried many feelings of guilt. Even if it meant fighting against his own fathers family. , . . . Johan looked at Marco with pity. From what he had felt while living together, Marquis Crucho didnt like Marco as much as he thought. Or, to be more precise, he didnt care. It wasnt that there was nothing for an illegitimate child with no rights. Even illegitimate children who received the love of their parents got something. Stephen is a case in point, although the circumstances are a bit different. However, Marco had not received any contact from either the Alguto family or the Marquis Crucho family. It meant they had no intention of paying the ransom. Would Marquis Crucho be proud if such a discarded child fought on the opposite side to protect his honor as a knight? It was more likely that he would be greatly offended. But Sir, the marquis is a greatmander. If you meet him on the battlefield, even you might not be able to guarantee victory. You should be careful. Johan clicked his tongue at Marcos continued respect for Marquis Crucho. Isnt the marquis currently in the Empire? He must be too busy with the west and south. Couldnt hee by ship? Well, thats possible. Marco was taken aback by Johans easy acknowledgment. Are you okay with that? Hmm. I think it will be fine. From Marcos perspective, Johans attitude was iprehensible. For him, war meant leading a dozen knights and their dozens of servants into battle, showing bravery against visible enemies. Knights believed in the battle itself and didnt make an effort to understand the political aspects of war. In fact, they didnt even think it was necessary. So Johans attitude was bound to be iprehensible. But Johan was different. While the envoy of the order was visiting Count Coolias territory, Johan really prepared thoroughly. He sent people to the Katana Merchant Guild, issued permits to merchants, collected money, and used that money to stock up on supplies. He mobilized all possible connections to grasp the situation around the penins. The fog of war clears as preparation umtes. Johan, having integrated information from various sources like dukes, counts, priests, merchants, and moneylenders, was somewhat confident. . The people on Count Coolias side werecent, and the Emperors faction nobles to the southwest alsocked urate situation awareness. Strike like lightning and finish it. s. Johans first order was to divide the mercenary captains into two groups and send them to different ces. Thend immediately southwest of Count Coolias domain was the fiefdom of the Emperor and his nobles. One group to the north, and one to the east. Plunder as you wish! The mercenary captains asked with a puzzled expression. Wasnt it the order of the order to conquer the Count Coolia territory? Indeed. But if we conquer Count Coolia territory like this, wouldnt your share be too small? At Johans words, the mercenary captains hesitated. Indeed, they had received almost a years sry in advance from the orders immense wealth, but the original mercenary job also had a significant part of earnings from local gains. However, being a mercenary did not always mean plundering. They took into ount the employers perspective, and if it seemed likely they would be employed by that sideter, they restrained themselves ordingly. Currently, they were on their way down, following the ordersmand. They couldnt just plunder as they pleased. If we split, you will have to conquer the Counts territory with about two thousand troops. . . I am fully confident. God is looking after me. , . It would have sounded like nonsense if anyone else said it, but there was a persuasive power in the young knights actions that made such statements believable. As a knight, if I cant look after my subordinates share, it would be embarrassing. I will take responsibility, so one group go north and the other around to the east. . . .! Honestly, the mercenary captains couldnt help but be tempted. Even those grumbling and expressing dissatisfaction swallowed their saliva. The feeling that the bitterness of losing the position of suprememander waspletely melting away! . . .T-Thank you. If you say so, we will follow themand. Originally, these mercenary captains, although paid, did not perfectly obey orders. They could refuse unreasonablemands. But there was no reason to refuse this order. Who would refuse to go down to and flowing with milk and honey and plunder to their hearts content? . Gurelic, who was watching from the side, shook his head. As he observed, the young knights true ability was not his martial prowess. It was his skill in manipting people. Those who let their guard down against that young face were quickly taken in. Will you be alright? Which part are you worried about? The part where you have to conquer the Counts territory with about two thousand troops. . . Of course, the Counts forces are insignificant, but it could be troublesome if the vassal knights start gathering. Plus, you have to conquer theirrge and small castles. . . Ah. You seem to be misunderstanding something. ? Chapter 115.2: ???????????????? ?????????? (1) Chapter 115.2: ???????????????? ?????????? (1) Ill tell you about itter. These mercenary captains follow my orders, but they are not loyal. I thought about using them as cannon fodder, but that would only lower morale. Theyre not so easy to handle. But isnt that how mercenaries are usually managed? Disorderly chaos far from orderliness, unpredictable loyalty, easily shaken morale. . . isnt this what you take into ount when employing mercenaries? There are loyal ones avable, yet I do not wish to employ such individuals. Johan had a thousand men under hismand, and a thousand dwarven mercenaries. He could easily inte the number by recruiting servants, merchants, or vigers from nearby towns. I understand. To be honest, I think Sir Knight could conquer the counts territory with just two thousand men. Dont be too ttering. Gurelic was sincere, but Johanughed it off. But I dont understand why you sent the mercenaries to attack the southwest before conquering the counts territory. I mean, the mercenary captains were very unhappy, but. . . What would you have done instead? I would have raided the rogues den in the forest. They had been defeated once before, and their reputation was infamous, so there was ample justification for it. If they had raided them, the mercenary captains would have been somewhat satisfied. No, thats impossible. Its ridiculous to say that a raid is impossible with six thousand men! I was surprised to find out that the vigers in the nearby town were helping the rogues den. They had really won over the peoples hearts. With such arge forest and the help of the vigers, it would only be a waste of time and effort. And they must have been really angry after their brother was killed. So I turned my attention elsewhere. !! Gurelic was shocked. Johan had already calcted everything? It was up to the lord of that fiefdom to raid them, not me. And even if I had done it, wouldnt the mercenary captains haveinedter if the situation changed? Thats true, but. . . Thats just a natural phenomenon, isnt it? The nobles in the southwest could be angry, or they could call up their troops and suspect your intentions. The Empire could send reinforcements. And most importantly, the church would be angry, wouldnt they? Why? Yes? Well, youre not conquering the counts territory, but youre attacking somewhere else separately. . . I dont think so. Think about it. If the mercenaries just split up and attacked another fiefdom, what would people think? Would they think I ordered it, or would they think they just acted on their own? . . .!! Gurelics body was covered in goosebumps. Johan was right. Neither the nobles nor the church would think that Johan had ordered it. It was not surprising that greedy mercenaries who were dissatisfied with their treatment would act on their own. Were. . . all of those. . . calcted. . .? What do you mean by calcted? I thought it would be more trouble to keep them around, so I sent them to draw attention elsewhere. If Johan sent the mercenaries away, he would have an easier time with logistics, his advance would be faster, and only the loyal ones would remain. In addition, he could confuse the enemy. Even if the churchs intention was not to upy, but to hold a trial, they could not withdraw their troops when thousands of people poured into the fiefdom. They would exhaust their strength fighting the mercenaries who had gone mad with greed. Thats why I sent the mercenaries. Do you understand? Yes. . . Then, lets go back to what we were talking about earlier. I said that we need to capture the countsrge and small castles, right? Yes, isnt that right? Since the Order issued an emunication and Johan proposed a punitive expedition, Count Coolia, or rather the acting count, is probably busy summoning her vassals by now. However, this time the situation was a bit different. Since the enemy forces were sorge, it was likely that they would rather stay huddled in their own fiefdoms than gather for no reason. If we leave it as it is, we will be constantly harassed and beaten from behind. We will ignore them and march directly to the counts territory. Danger. . . its dangerous! We could be attacked from behind. . . No. We will use the emunication of the Order as a pretext, and the stupid younger brothers of the Asada family will stop them. The acting count is going around persuading her vassals about her being a sinner. A war that has been carefully calcted. It even made Gurelic feel dizzy, as if the war was over before it even began. The young knight in front of him felt like a monster in human skin. A few families wille out, but we have the Eastern Warriors anyway. If they want to fight a guerri war, wee. It seems like you have already prepared, but I have one more question. If the siege drags on, they may change sides, and then it will be difficult to supply. . . Thats why we will march along the eastern coast. The republics fleet will support us. . . .I will pledge my loyalty. Thank you for the enlightenment! Your ttery is clumsy, isnt it? Johan treated it as ttery, but Gurelic was sincere. He couldnt tell how much his eyes had opened in such a short time. si. Johan kept his promise. After splitting off from the mercenaries, he immediately marched east and began to advance furiously along the coast. The counts vassals, who were frozen with fear, were taken aback by Johans army, which passed by without looting or fighting. Johan sent an envoy, waving a majestic holy banner. , . ! My guess was wrong. Johan muttered calmly. Not a single one came out. Maybe the count chose the wrong vassals, Sir Knight. Among the vassals, there was not a single family that came out to fight from their fiefdom. It was a waste of time to send out scouts, thinking that there might be a few. A few fiefdoms even brought bribes. This was their kindness to ask not to touch their towns in exchange for this. Even though the lord and vassal were in a contractual rtionship, Johan was embarrassed to the point of being ashamed. 2 weeks. It took 2 weeks for Johan to arrive at the Karis Castle, the main castle of the counts territory, from the time he dered the extermination. It was truly lightning speed. By the time the envoy arrived and had a conversation after the emunication of the church, Johans army was already visible in the distance. Of course, the counts territory was turned upside down. What were the ones who swore allegiance doing? Sister-inw This is the will of the vassals. If you forget to call me deputy count just one more time, I will cut you down ording to thew. Be careful! Iselia brandished her sword with her long blonde hair flowing. The momentum of arge knight drawing her sword overwhelmed the surrounding area. The Asada brothers, who knew Iselias swordsmanship, shut up. Bring me armor. Ill go out and fight! No, sist. . .no, deputy count! Iselias vassals were terrified and stopped her. There were only about two hundred soldiers guarding the castle now. If she went out to fight, she would be defeated immediately, even if she was defending herself. We must try to negotiate and drag out time. No! We must surrender! Dont you see their army? The one leading them is the famous Sir Johan! How can we fight against him, who is strong enough to tear the neck of a troll? The Asada brothers words made the vassals look astonished. Those greedy people could say anything that came out of their mouths. Chapter 116.1: ???????????????? ?????????? (2) Chapter 116.1: ???????????????? ?????????? (2) To tear a trolls neck apart, what. . . One of the vassals spoke incredulously, causing Galen to blush. Frankly, even he found it a bit preposterous when he said it. However, if he was the type to know shame and back down, he wouldnt have tried to seize his nephewsnd in the first ce. Galen stubbornly insisted. I heard it clearly. Travelers in the fiefdom knew it, and so did the pilgrim monks. How can you believe rumors spread among the insignificant and ignorant? Do not be swayed by such baseless rumors. What if its a deception spread by the enemy? At the vassals words, Galen gritted his teeth. It was a statement he had heard directly from a high envoy of the order, but he couldnt reveal that here. Baseless rumors! Ignorant fools! Having received a letter directly from Johan and the order, Galen had been greatly anticipating Johans rumor. Johan was their savior, set to realize their dreams and desires. Of course, the rumor of tearing a trolls neck might have been an exaggeration. But theres always some truth in every rumor. If the rumor of tearing a trolls neck had spread, then he must have participated in troll hunting and made notable contributions. That was enough. For his young age, it was more than sufficient. Galen and his brothers prayed fervently for Johan to enter the castle soon and take Iselia. No matter how great that young knight is, he wont be able to cross the walls of Karis Castle. We have this fortress and our soldiers. Can we hold out for long? The enemy came too quickly. Were not fully prepared. . . Wont reinforcementse? Reinforcements? If the vassals had fought properly. . . The ridiculous rumors put forward by the Asada familys kin were ignored, but there was indeed a division of opinion among the vassals. The shock of Johans rapid advance was significant. The army had already camped in front of us before the meeting could even conclude. . . Because of this, there were suggestions to hold out along the walls, but there were also many suggestions to try negotiations. Going to the order for a trial could open opportunities for bribery or persuasion. As these suggestions came up, Galen and his brothers smirked cunningly. It had been worthwhile to spread the word that negotiations must be made, a trial at the order is necessary. Cant weunch a surprise attack? Your Excellency the Pce Steward, please restrain yourself! If you fall, this fiefdom is finished! Iselia was a well-trained knight butcked experience inrge-scale battles. Her experience was mostly in quelling small bands of rogues or monsters. If they were captured in a surprise attack, the fiefdom would be doomed. Understood. Iprehend. Iselia nodded. She might havecked experience, but she wasnt so obtuse as to not understand the words of her vassals. . A solid fortress indeed. Karis Castle was not located in the middle of a nearby town or city, but a bit further away, on a steep rocky cliff right by the coast. As a result, the only essible path was from the front. Not to mention, the castle walls were not low, so its defensive capabilities were admirable. It seems this area is prone to frequent attacks. There was only one reason to build a castle on such a cliff, leaving therge towns behind. After all, the Asada family itself originated from a pagan family that came from the Eastern Empire. Being a strategic point on the sea route meant it was naturally coveted by many. Hadnt Johan alsoe desiring it? It seems our time to shine has arrived. The Dwarf captain, McKald, spoke up. McKald had quickly be friends with Johan. McKald was a distant rtive of the dwarves from the Balpa family. As dwarves who devoted loyalty once contracted, their steadfastness needed no further mention. Among the dwarves were siege engineers. They had already started gathering materials nearby and were ready to begin preparations. Just give the order, and we will begin construction. No. I dont n to attack head-on. Lets wait a bit. Understood. The dwarves didnt ask why. They simply followed orders. The soldiers on the castle walls seem to be in good condition. It was remarkable in itself to station hundreds of soldiers there ordinarily. Normally, soldiers would just be loafing around. Just like the structure of the castle, it was evident that the area was prone to frequent attacks. This made it understandable that the soldiers were well-trained. It wouldnt be bad to rush in, break the gate with a battering ram, cedders on the walls, andunch an all-out assault with catapults. . . But the urgency was not on Johans side, but the enemys. Besides, Johan had many points of confidence. Send people to the nearby towns and cities to demand tribute for protection. And dont forget to threaten that no supplies should enter the castle, or they will not be forgiven. Yes! By blocking the entrance to the castle and waiting leisurely while receiving supplies from the surroundings, Johan could wait even more resolutely the more advantageous his position became. It was not the persistence and savvy of a young knight. The military priests recorded all these events and reported them upwards. . If a favorable opponent remains still, the disadvantaged side bes more anxious. As the army camped and just waited in front, the atmosphere inside the walls became eerie. The envoys who went outside did not return. If they werent captured, it had to be assumed that the vassals were just watching and waiting. What about marquis Crucho? viscount Ginolen? The marquis was a loyalist of the Emperor, and viscount Ginolen was a proxy ruling the Emperors southern territories. Both were supportive forces that could help from the west. They say they cant make a move. . . . . . . . . Chapter 116.2: ???????????????? ?????????? (2) Chapter 116.2: ???????????????? ?????????? (2) Neither the marquis nor the viscount had the leeway at the moment. They were in a situation where they were pouring into the Empire, even incurring huge debts. On top of that, mercenaries were running amok in their fiefdoms. In such a situation, rtives of the Asada family like Galen strongly argued that This matter arose because Iselias crime was exposed and the order intervened, the situation will be resolved if only Iselia is punished, and a decision was made. Well just stand by for now! From the perspective of the marquis and viscount, as long as the feudal lord remained loyal, they could turn a blind eye to internal power struggles. Ill try to negotiate. . . .Understood. Proceed with that. Iselia spoke with a face full of fatigue. She was originally not trained to be a feudal lord. But after the count died, she had been enduring conflicts with rtives, so it was natural for her to be mentally exhausted. Shouldnt we wait until they send an envoy? Are you still saying that? They have no intention of sending one. They want us to send first. Johans army was exerting pressure by not taking any action. Even the loyal vassals were mentally shaken by this pressure. . Johan wandered around like a feudal lord, meeting vige chiefs and priests. A few silver coins were enough to win their favor. They knelt and bowed their heads in front of Johan. Insignificant rogues and monsters nearby also became targets for subjugation. Though they were just goblin and kobold dens, Johan eradicated them all with the eastern warriors. An envoy has arrived. Theyveeter than I thought. Are any rtives of the Asada family involved? Yes. Let the envoys wait, and call them first. Gulp- Galen swallowed his saliva and walked through the camp. He had seen mercenaries a few times. Unlike the clumsy ones barely dressed in a thousand armors, these mercenaries were well-armed veteran soldiers. As an envoy of the hostile camp, he received murderous res, jeers, and mockery while walking. It was impossible not to feel tense. Stay calm. Hes just a green young knight. The knight had a fearsome reputation but was still young. Galen was confident he could toy with him given the chance. ! The moment Galen entered the tent, it felt like his breath stopped. The figures inside therge tent were each gruesomely distinct. A knight looking like a butcher, a barbarian warrior from the northern east, a suspicious-looking wizard, and a giant wolf lying in the middle. Ah. . . Galen of the Asada family. . . Sir. He nned to enter boldly, but his body reacted on its own upon seeing this. Galen couldnt even meet Johans eyes due to an inexplicable sense of oppression. You may lift your headfortably. Th-thank you. Galen took a deep breath internally andposed himself. Thank you foring like this. I was despairing over how to judge the atrocitiesmitted by the elf of the Bluea family. . . -Grrr- The wolf made a sound, and the young knight calmed it. Is it hungry? . . .Its truly a joy that youvee from the order. Glory to the gods! Glory to the gods. So why isnt the acting counting out? Well, because hes a shameless and unashamed man whos holding out! Sir, you should lead the soldiers and condemn him! The walls are high, the passages narrow, and the soldiers well-trained. ? Are you suggesting I take my soldiers into such a ce? Ah. . . I mean, with you and your soldiers, it should be enough. . . If the elf of the Bluea family receives proper judgment, this countship will be ruled by them. No! Obviously, my nephew. . . Everyone in the room chuckled. It was augh of disbelief. Galen felt humiliated but restrained himself. He was the desperate one, after all. Even so, theres nothing in it for me. . . .Ill try to make the best possible offer. . . Enough. Ill speak, so listen well. Go and open the door. What?! Galen panicked when an arrow flew at him. The castles defense captain and the soldiers were under Iselias directmand. How could he open the gate under their watchful eyes? Sir, the situation inside the castle. . . I dont want to know. I dont want to hurt my soldiers just because its an order from the order. If you want to see Iselia judged, you open the gate. Understand? Johan acted like a mercenary captain in a hurry to avoid losses. Galen was flustered but also relieved. It was reassuring to see the opponent act understandably. It seemed like there were no hidden agendas. But. . . Open it. Answer me. Understand? I. . . I understand. Ill try to open it somehow. The intimidated Galen couldnt reply and retreated. And somehow, he really did manage to open the gate. Two dayster, at dawn. Johan was leading the elite forces and breaking through the castle gate. . The envoys who visited the camp were treated and had fallen asleep. Galen, who had returned earlier, somehow opened the city gate by coaxing a few captains. As soon as the signal was given, Johan rushed in. He first secured the city gate and then called his soldiers. A thousand dwarf soldiers approached, ying their tribes special drums, causing amotion at the city gate. The other soldiers inside the castle were taken by surprise. Close the city gate! Iselia, leading her soldiers, ran from afar. Already, dozens of people were lined up near the city gate. Some of the captains had betrayed and were standing there, including Galens face among them. She gritted her teeth and shouted. Traitors! I will kill you! That, that person is an elf from the Bluea family! You must capture that person! Johan nodded. Anyway, now that the city gate was wide open and under control, it was only a matter of time before the soldiers arrived. Lets go. Johans horse neighed and dashed forward. Fern, the warhorse that had gained much experience following Johan, was no longer easily scared. It didnt stop even as dozens of soldiers charged at it from the front. This guy. . . Argh! An elf knight, cursing and ring at Johan, was flung away. Another soldier trying to stab with a spear was also thrown aside. A soldier pulling out a shortsword with a shield was catapulted into the air. Johan, charging like a man possessed, leaped among the enemies and crushed their formation. In front of Johan, the enemies turned from elites to a disorganized rabble. Damn it, thats not human. . .! It seemed like an invisible giant hand was knocking away anyone who approached Johan. Suddenly, Johan realized that there was no one in front of him. He had broken through the enemy lines. Chapter 117.1: ???????????????? ?????????? (3) Chapter 117.1: ???????????????? ?????????? (3) Johan turned his head back again. As he looked back, the remaining soldiers screamed and scattered in all directions. Even though the captains tried hard to call them back, it was of no use. After that, Johans soldiers could be seen surging forward like a tide. Iselia sighed and threw down her sword. It felt like the situation was already over. . . .I surrender. Please, grant me honorable mercy. i. It took less than two hours to seize Karis Castle. Lower nobles trying to flee were captured and imprisoned, and once the g was changed, the cleanup was almost finished. Johan sat in the castles audience chamber, surveying those gathered. In principle, Johan was not sitting here as the count. He was a judge andmander sent by the order. Knowing this, the rtives of the Asada family couldnt help but be pleased. How could they not favor the foreigner who would dirty his hands instead of theirs and then leave? . ! However, instead of scolding or insulting Iselia, Johan focused on other tasks. He was upied with seemingly trivial things like checking the fiefdoms ledger, gathering maps, and talking with the castles officials like the scribe, treasurer, and ve administrator. Galen of the Asada family wishes to see you. Tell him to wait, Im busy. Indeed, Johan was busy. Although it would have been easier to just seize the fiefdom by force, Johan was trying to acquire it more elegantly. This required a lot of work. I knew you could do it. No, I should call you Your Grace now. . . The envoy from the republic was the first to arrive at the castle. They spoke of the situation in the southwest and praised Johans martial skills. When will the port be avable for use? Ill grant permission within half a year. Dont worry. The envoys faces brightened at Johans firm response. They hadnt expected things to go this smoothly. They had been prepared to participate in the war, but Johan ended the fight like a bolt of lightning. They couldnt be more grateful. But the towns nearby have rtively small ports for their location. What do you n to do about that? If you grant permission, our engineers wille and build anew. We will be using it, so its only right that we do so. In cities with frequent trade, there were special areas for foreigners, usually protected by rights but also financed by them, as was the custom. Oh. . . Johan hesitated. He had been considering how to cut ties as soon as the expedition was over, but thatment made him think differently. . After all, he hadnt fully absorbed the counts territory yet, so there was no need to cut ties just yet. Johan thought this and nodded. Sir! ! Galen, pushing aside the soldiers trying to restrain him, burst into the audience chamber and then hesitated. There were several unfamiliar faces inside, apparently from the republic. Uh. . . What is this rudeness? Johan spoke coldly. At his icy words, Galen felt a chill down his spine. I have something to tell you, Sir, so I took the liberty ofing here despite the rudeness. Whoever you are, why are you so rude? The republics envoy spoke with apparent displeasure. It seemed inappropriate for a lower noble without a title to intrude like this. Take him away and imprison him. Once Galen regained his senses after his outburst, he becamepliant. The soldiers grabbed him and dragged him out. The republics envoy clicked his tongue and then spoke. If youre going to punish that man, please let me know. I will testify. I appreciate that. . After confining Galen, other rtives came and were bothersome. Johan was gradually losing his patience and wondered whether to start by killing these guys first. . . . Once the negotiations were over, everything could be dealt with. Johan endured that way. How is it? For an elf, shes tall and looks tough, doesnt seem like a good opponent. . . .No. I mean, not about appearance, but the negotiation. Ah. Were you talking about that? That should be fine if you just say something. Are you sure you observed properly? Suetlg made a face as if he was wronged. He came to see the imprisoned acting count, only to hear such words. Why ask if you wont believe? I cant believe that someone who could withstand the rtives uproar would readily enter negotiations. Hmm. . . Suetlg stroked his beard and chose his words. Then he said, Dont you think they got scared thinking youre a madman running amok? . . . . . . Caenerna started giggling beside them. Johan had nothing to say. Caenerna stoppedughing and opened her mouth. Its probably because of her child. Thats what the rtives do too. Use the daughter to threaten. The first advice from the rtives led by Galen was to use the daughter. They said if threatened with her, he would admit guilt and willingly undergo trial. They should be more worried about themselves. Thats right. By the way, would it help to have someone intimidating by your side, Johan? If needed, Ill call. Seems like I can manage alone. . Chapter 117.2: ???????????????? ?????????? (3) Chapter 117.2: ???????????????? ?????????? (3) Iselia sat with a calm expression. When Johan entered, she frowned her eyebrows. He was the knight who had caused amotion at the city gate. It was a chaotic surprise attack, but the face of that knight was vividly remembered. As a knight, she thought she had lived far from fear while learning and fighting, but that knight was fear itself. It was unbelievable that the elite troops trained by Iselia had crumbled with just one charge. Are you Sir Gerdolf of the Gn family? ? Johan was puzzled. What is he talking about? Ah. Did you mistake me for Gerdolf? Gerdolf is another knight, and I am Johan of the Yeats family. . . .?! Iselia was shocked. She didnt expect the suprememander to be so young. No, rather than that, is it even permissible for the suprememander to personally lead such a reckless surprise attack? Is it appropriate for the suprememander to participate in such a surprise attack? Would a knight shy away from such dangers and avoid honor? Iselia nodded unconsciously. Seeing this, Johan thought to himself. . The elven nobles of the Ens Kingdom were always beyond Johans imagination. Sir. I have been thinking while imprisoned. What have you been thinking about? Why did the church take this action? Its clear that other rtives of the Asada family have used me. Is that right? If she couldnt figure it out in this situation, she had a problem with her intelligence. Iselia roughly understood the situation. Thats right. They wouldnt move without such an usation. . . .If you guarantee the safety of Amien Asada with your honor, I will admit my guilt and cooperate with the trial. So youre guilty? No! If you haventmitted a crime, you shouldnt admit to it. . . .? Iselia didnt understand. Whyplicate the situation when shes from the order? And even if I guarantee Amiens safety, the fiefdom will be taken away. The rtives eyes are already greedy. . . .Im already prepared for that. Thats good to hear. It makes things easier. ? Johan got to the point. The judgment of the church was also important, but Johans purpose ining here was this county itself. For that, Iselia had to cooperate. . . .!! Iselia looked at Johan with a shocked expression. It was an unexpected proposal. It wouldnt make much sense to lie, so Ill be honest. The countship is destined to fall into my hands anyway. All I can guarantee is the safety of you and your daughter. Then why do I need you? Its different to obtain something easily rather than with difficulty. . . . . . . If its hard to decide now, I can give you some time. Is that your daughter behind you? A young elf was ring at Johan. She seemed unaware of the situation but knew who the aggressor was. Johan suddenly found it amusing. A new daughter not even ten years younger. Not particrly strange. . . Show some respect. Amien. At Iselias words, Amien bowed her head. Johan waved his hand nonchntly. Im not so narrow-minded that I cant understand a child. Is she training as a knight? No. She has a keen interest in theology and medicine, so Im letting her learn that. I see. Both are not bad fields of study. Come here. . . . . . . You may go. Hesitantly, Amien approached at Iselias words. Her eyes were mixed with fear. Johan gifted Amien a mchite ne. The deep green mchite, known for warding off misfortune and restoring vitality, brought a bright smile to Amiens face upon receiving this unexpected gift. Say thank you, Amien. T-Thank you. Its nothing much. Although it was a precious treasure, it wasnt something Johan had bought with his money. After all, it belonged to the bishop. If you want, I can let Amien roam free. No. Amien wants to stay here. . . . . . . Amien looked at Iselia hesitantly. It seemed that she was bored of being locked up in a small room all the time. Amien doesnt seem to want to? . . .I understand. You can do whatever you want. Iselia shook her head. She thought Johan was threatening her to pressure her. He was truly a fearsome man. From his ability tomand an army at such a young age, to his methods of swallowing up fiefdoms. There were many ambitious people, but only a small number of them were able to pursue their ambitions while properly controlling them. Iselia was truly afraid of Johan. She thought she was less afraid of him when she thought he was just a powerful knight. However, Johan did not think much of it. It didnt seem like he needed to pressure her in the first ce, so what kind of threat was that? . Look. Thats my friend, the wolf. Showing Karamaf, Amien clung to him with a cry of joy. Karamaf shook his body as if annoyed, but Amien, elf-like, climbed on skillfully. Im curious about the name! If it doesnt have one, Id like to name it! Sorry about that. His name is Karamaf. Sir Karamaf! A fine knight indeed. Johan exined, considering the young elf. Karamaf was worthy of respect, after all. My mother called him a disgraced pariah, a fallen one. . . .I thought so too, actually. Amien smiled as Johan agreed. Children quickly forget and be friends easily. Unlike the strict Iselia, Johan was much more gentle and kind. . . .Of course, this was possible because she hadnt seen Johans rampage at the city gates. . . Soon, Iselia contacted them. She had decided to ept the proposal. . Greeted by a deeply prostrating Iselia, Johan was taken aback by this unexpected act of submission. ? ? Is this some petty trick to spread bad rumors among the servants if they see her like this? I heard you epted the proposal? Yes. I will do as you wish. Then why dont you get up? As you wish, I will do anything you ask, so please keep your promise. . .! . . .Did you eat something wrong? I asked for cooperation, not submission. Of course, Johan was much morefortable when the other partyplied well, but this was a bit disconcerting. Why is she doing this? Caenerna, who had been waiting outside, poked her head in and asked. Looks like you might need help, Johan? Oh, Caenerna. Do you know why shes acting like this? Here. Give her this iron chain ne as a gift. Its a cursed item that the Emperor once wanted to bestow upon his lover. . . . . . . . . . Hearing that the trial was finally happening, Galen and his rtives rushed there with joy. They had been so dying that they had offered bribes several times. Such greedy ones. Why are they so greedy. . . Didnt those guys have a slightly annoying smile? Thats just how those barbarian guys talk. Every time they gave a bribe, the eastern warriorsughed in theirnguage, saying . It wasnt understandable, but it felt unpleasant. However, they were met by well-armed dwarf mercenaries. Galen of the Asada family. You are under arrest for the suspicion of poisoning your kin! . . .D-Did you guys betray me?! Chapter 118.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (1) Chapter 118.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (1) Galen shouted at his other siblings and rtives. They had united to drive out Iselia, but in truth, they didnt trust each other that much. If Galen disappears, the fiefdom is likely to fall to his younger sibling, how can they trust each other? Still, how could they backstab like this, especially when Iselia hasnt even been tried yet! Stupid fools, which one of you did it! Who is the informer?! Not even understanding the situation! *? Johan, who was watching from the front, looked at Galen in disbelief. Of course, not all nobles learned governance and politics and knew how to act ording to the situation. Just look at Stephen, from the second child onwards, without their own will, theres no answer. They are nobles with noble blood but nothing in their heads. But still, to be so clueless despite being born in a noble family. In a ce where so many eyes were watching, you had to keep iming that you didnt know anything and that it was a nder. You could figure out the situationter. To be angry and insult your own rtives who were supposed to help you? , ? It didnt look strange to see that reaction. Johan thought about asking him, but he decided against it. After all, the truth didnt matter. Galen and his rtives would be dragged to the courtroom on charges of patricide, a serious crime. Since Iselia had promised to submit, or rather cooperate, there was no reason to keep them alive anymore. Plus, they were the perfect ones to take the me for the charges Iselia had received. Galen shouted at Johan as he was being dragged away. Sir! There must have been a misunderstanding. Please clear this up! Shut the mouth of the sinner and interrogate him until he confesses. Sir! No! I dont know what you heard, but thats not true! The dwarves used their strong arms to silence Galen. Galen could no longer speak when a gag was put in his mouth. Seeing this, the priests clicked their tongues and spoke. What a wicked man. How can he be so shameless? The envoys from the republic also used them. The trial was prepared in an instant. Since the church had no intention of handing over the fiefdom to Galen and his brothers at all, the trial process went smoothly. Envoys from the republic, lower nobles who worked as vassals in the fiefdom, and priests from the church attended as witnesses. They understood the situation and cooperated diligently. , , . Numerous people shouted, throwing stones and mud. There were curses and curses mixed in. It was one of the peoples favorite events to disy the sinner in this way. After the interrogation disguised as torture and this event, the sinner would admit their guilt whether they were guilty or not. Galen and his rtives confessed in a daze. Execute the sinners and hang them! Let the people of the fiefdom know who killed Count Coolia. . After the execution was concluded, the priests of the order who had followed Johan to the army were called forward. But arent you going to execute the elf from the Bluea family? Upon interrogation of the rtives of the Asada family, it seemed that her crime was not so severe. Probably thats why Sir Johan also left her alone. Thats indeed a generous decision. The priests also did not like to kill innocent people forcibly. Now that things hade to this, it was sufficient to rescind the emunication and send them to the monastery or city. What is the reason for your summons, Sir? I have something to say, hence I called you all. Brothers. At Johans gentle words, the priests responded with bright expressions. This knight respected the priests without regard to their status. Moreover, he was soon to ascend to the position of a count. Not many among the nobility and knights showed such virtue. The nobles were arrogant, and knights were violent. They only sought the priests when needed, to boast about their faith, but showing it through actions like this was rare. Especially, it was very rare, like Johan, tofort the priests and people of the temple in the vicinity immediately after seizing a fiefdom and bestowing silver coins on the poor. . . Please speak, we are listening attentively. Actually, I am nning to marry. . . .Oh, congrattions! The bishop himself will bless you. But who is your partner? Perhaps a noble from the republic? The priests were slightly worried that it might be a noble from the republic. The republic was an ally of the order, but not a very trustworthy one. They could switch sides ording to their interests at any time. If Johan were to marry a noble from the republic, it was indeed a bit worrying for the order. No, its not. Then, is it a noble from the Empire? It is not that either. My lord, we cannot fathom with our limited perspective. Please enlighten us. I n to marry this elf from the Bluea family. . . . . . . . . . . . . The priests froze. Iselia, who had been sitting unobtrusively beside them, suddenly caught their attention. Um. . . may I. . . ask the reason. . .? Is there a reason for marriage? I fell in love at first sight. The emunication will also be rescinded, so fortunately, there wont be any problem with the marriage. The priests gaped, blinking. They looked Iselia up and down. They couldnt believe what made Johan fall for her at first sight. She was excessively tall for an elf, voluptuous, and even older than Johan. Her face was beautiful, but that alone seemed too little to outweigh many disadvantages. Frankly, even the former count Coolia would have married someone else if not for the drawback of being from a foreign-origin family. Hey, say something. M-Me? Chapter 118.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (1) Chapter 118.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (1) Arent you the most experienced among us? No. . . The eyes turned to the oldest priest, who had taken on the role of assistant priest during this military campaign. He was an outstanding and seasoned priest who had received direct orders from the orders bishop. But even as a priest, there was not much to say in such a situation. Especially to a young person who has fallen in love. Say is he being deceived? There was a high chance of being met with fiery anger. Johan may have been a devout knight, but that did not mean he was weak. When such a person got angry, it was even more frightening. It was the same with saying that they hadmitted a sin or that their family was humble. By simply stating that he had fallen in love, Johan had effectively blocked all rebuttals from the priests. No. . . I mean. . . Do you have anything to say? Con. . . Congrattions. The priest barely managed to speak. Johan nodded with a pleased expression. I am truly happy to receive such a blessing. Iselia. Arent you happy? Y-Yes. My dear. When Johan embraced Iselia next to him, her body stiffened with fear. Johan whispered in disbelief. What are you doing? Someone might think Ive kidnapped you. Ah, ah, I know. My dear. Forgive me. . . .At least act properly. At Johans words, Iselia desperately clung to him. Fortunately, Iselias usually stiff expression was a help. There was no difference even when she was terrified or tense. The priests suppressed their displeasure at Iselia clinging tightly as if hanging on. So frivolous and indecent. . .! It pained their hearts as if a person they cherished like a child had fallen into corruption. . The priests who returned to the temple began to raise their voices when they gathered together. It was that shocking. Why couldnt you say anything?! What should I have said? You should have told him he was being deceived, or to think about it calmly. . . Youve never had a love affair, have you? In response to the assistant priests words, the young priest spoke confidently. Yes, but why is thating up now? Try telling that to a young man whos in love and has blood boiling! The sword will fly! No, its lucky if the sword flies. It could even burn more because of the interference. No, Sir Johan is different from those young men. Oh my God. . . Come to your senses! I know Sir Johan is faithful too. But hes not a priest, hes a knight! Even priests who have made a vow to God suffer because of their youthful blood, how can that knight ovee his desires? No matter how much the priests denied it, the person in love did note back. The priests were troubled. They suddenly realized that Johan was really a wless knight. He had never once caused trouble within the order. It wasnt for nothing that people said that God had sent him. Seeing that such a perfect knight began to be stubborn, they felt sad rather than angry. We have to report to the order, dont we? Ill write it up and send it in. What do you think will happen? What can we do. . . Well just have to wait and see if it doesnt work. It was unimaginable for the order to expel Johan, who was now in control of the troops and was doing well in other areas without any shorings. It was of course impossible to emunicate him again or use coercive methods. Love is said to pass through anywhere, even if it is blocked by the gates and the roads. . . Are you reciting a poem now? Stop talking nonsense. S-Sorry. The priests had no idea about the political benefits that would arise from Johans marriage to Iselia. Johan could now rule the countship with a pretext without the help or support of the order. They just prayed to God that Johan woulde to his senses and get out of love. s. You. . . are you okay? So-so. But I would like you to act more naturally. If you act like that every time you see me, people around you will be suspicious. Iselia nodded frantically at Johans words. From the first meeting to now, Johan had been the embodiment of fear. From his strength to his actions of seizing the fiefdom. Iselia could only tremble in fear and desperately try to please him. Every moment was like walking on thin ice. Oh. Im going hunting with Amien tomorrow. A-Amien? Why? She wanted to go. Hunting by a noble, not by a hunter, was quite an expensive pastime. It was to release soldiers to surround the area and lure monsters and beasts. Of course, Iselia did not allow such luxury. However, Johan had plenty of bored soldiers under him. He could hunt as much as he wanted. Iselias face turned pale. Hunting grounds were the best ce to kill a noble by ident. Could it be because she didnt act properly in front of the priests? You. . . you. I also want to go. You like hunting? Well, youre a knight, so thats understandable. I was careless. Johan said, stroking Iselias cheek. Iselia nodded, her head going pale. i. Eastward warriors ran merrily, whistling as they went. They had also heard the news of the elf of the Bluea family. Amien swayed as she clung to Karamaf. Now, be careful. Karamaf will also dislike it if you pull too hard. . Im sorry. Hold it gently. Now, thats right. Youre doing well. Thats like an elf, isnt it? You have a talent for riding. Johan was a fairly good teacher for his innate talent. Amien, who had bnced herself on Karamaf, cackled and liked it. Iselia was confused by that sight. It was apletely different image from what she had been worried about. There was no need to show off that kind of appearance just because Iselia was apanying her. Moreover, it was natural, not like they had met a few times. Amien! You shouldnt bother Sir Johan. Come here now. . . . . . . Amien looked at Johan with a look of regret. Johan looked at Iselia and said. Its not too much trouble, can you let her y a little longer? . . .O-Okay. Amien was surprised. It was the first time that the strict Iselia had listened to anyones words so readily. Her eyes twinkled with curiosity. Chapter 119.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (2) Chapter 119.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (2) Can you teach me anything else? I dont know. Ill decide after hearing it. The things Im learning right now are too many. Archery, astronomy, and theology are not even fun. . . The things that nobles had to learn were numerous and broad. From theology to medicine,w and history, as well as music and poetry. Of course, as can be seen from Stephen, not all nobles learned these things. If a noble is being raised to be a feudal lord, they prioritize the things that are essential for a feudal lord. If a noble is being raised to be a knight, they prioritize the things that are essential for a knight. Otherwise, they just focus on the things they like. In that sense, Amien was learning quite strictly. She must be learning other things as well. If you dont want to learn archery or astronomy, you dont have to. But you have to learn theology. But the priests words. . . Johan was about to say, . but he stopped himself. He needed to tell her in a roundabout way since she was still young. You have to study theology to know that God loves you. Otherwise, its easy to forget. At Johans words, the priest turned his head and hid his tears of emotion. He never thought he would hear such a touching remark just by apanying him on a hunt! Even the stubborn Amien would be more diligent in listening to Gods words after hearing those words. Johan whipped his horse and threw a carrot. But if you dont want to learn archery or astronomy, you dont have to. Ill talk to Iselia. Of course, Amien was young. She was just so happy that one or two things were missing that she nodded her head repeatedly. Archery is boring? Yes. Every time, its the same thing. I dont know whats so fun about it. Really? Sit down in front. Acdda! Marco! Amien here is curious about whats so great about the bow. Can you show it to her? At Johans words, the two looked at each other. A strange atmosphere flowed between them. Both of them were confident in their archery skills. Ive been waiting, Sir Knight. Just give me the signal. . . .I also dont intend to lose, Sir. As soon as the signal was given, the two quickly raised their bows and aimed at the sky. That was the best ce to show off their skills. As the arrows flew one after another and the birds fell, Amiens eyes widened. I think I caught more. Sir. I guess you didnt see me catch two birds with one arrow. . . .! Sir Knight. What do you think? Who was better? I never told you topete, but well done. Give them both a reward. . . . . . . . . . . . . In any case, they did well. Give them both a reward. No. . . instead of a reward, if you could just tell me who was better. . . Acdda couldnt let go of his regrets and lingered. Then Euclyia dragged him away from behind. How is it? Are you still not interested? Oh, no. I want to try shooting too! Thats right. If you shoot it yourself, youll think differently again. Astronomy will be the same. Johan skillfully appeased Amien. Iselia couldnt help but admire him at the sight. He was much more experienced than her. Iselia was only able to say sternly if she didnt listen. . . More confusing than that was that Johan was taking care of Amien better than she thought. There was no reason to do such a thing if he was going to deal with it in the hunting ground or in a ce where no one else knew. So was he really trying to take care of her? Sir. The soldiers who had gone to find the birds they had shot seemed to have found something and returned. A frightened boy was seen among the soldiers, shaking with fear. He had a rabbit in his hand. What is it? We brought him because he was hunting in the forest. Hunting without permission in the feudal lords forest was strictly forbidden. Even if you touched something as small as a rabbit, you would be severely punished if you were caught. Did you catch a rabbit? What did you catch it with? . . . . . . Didnt you hear Sir ask what you caught it with? Are you deaf?! The soldier shouted angrily when the boy was too scared to speak. Johan reached out to stop him. Thats enough. Dont get excited for no reason. Im sorry. With a rock, with a slingshot. . . You caught it with a slingshot? Your skills are quite good. Johan ordered the trembling boy to return the rabbit. Youre not going to punish him? Whats the point of whipping or hanging someone for a rabbit? You have good skills, so thats nice. Go back. Thank you! Thank you! The boy who hade back from the dead kept bowing his head and quickly ran away. Everyone around him praised Johans mercy. Frankly, Johan felt like he was getting a free ride. Even more so when he heard these words, even though he had forgiven the boy for hunting a rabbit. . . . Even if Johan was determined to be a tyrant, he would be a kind personpared to the other feudal lords here. . Chapter 119.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (2) Chapter 119.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (2) Hunting was almost over and on the way back, Caenerna rode next to Iselia. Iselia looked at Caenerna with a wary look in her eyes. Even if she was not a member of Johans army, Caenerna was a wizard with an ominous charm that made her feel suspicious because she could not tell her identity. Do you have any thoughts? . . .What do you mean? The bad thing about wizards is that they cant just stand by and watch stupid things happen. Im here to give you some advice. No need to be wary, so listen carefully. Caenerna said with a smile, but Iselia seemed to be even more wary. But after all, she was Johans advisor. She couldnt not listen to her. . . .Ill listen. What do you think the knight of the Yeats family wants from you? You didnt think it was an absurd idea that he fell in love with your appearance, did you? Iselias face turned red at Caenernas words. She also knew to some extent what the standard of beauty was among elves. She had to be of a decent height and thin, so she was the opposite of her. I-I know that much. Isnt it necessary to have a stable partner to rule the countship? Thats right. You must have been promised that your safety would be guaranteed if you cooperate. You look uneasy, but let me tell you one thing. That promise will be kept. ! You look like a frightened little bird, but I understand how you feel. Its only natural to be afraid. But think about it calmly. Does that knight look like a man who would break his oath? Has he ever done anything that would make you think that? Caenernas words were persuasive. Johan was a very conscientious and meless man, except for his inherent fear. Iselia smiled involuntarily, relieved to hear the words she wanted to hear. Of course, thats only if you cooperate properly. I am cooperating properly. I have not entertained any other thoughts. Caenerna snorted. Thats not cooperation. Is it cooperation to sit there like a wooden doll? If you go hunting, you should stick to his side and show it to others. The same goes for the castle. You should stick to him in front of the servants and spread rumors, but if youre so scared and stay in the corner, what kind of rumors will spread instead? If you want the other person to keep his promise, dont make him angry. Acting counts. Everyone has their limits of patience. Iselias face turned pale at Caenernas words. Do you know why the Emperor tried to put a ne on his lover? Because the other personmitted adultery, isnt it? No. Its because he couldnt give what the other person wanted. If you were still in love, how could you have dared to put on the ne? Caenerna tapped Iselias head and said. If you want to live, think about it. If youre going to say its impossible because youre a knight, you might as well just die. Caenerna galloped forward. Suetlg asked curiously. What did you say to her like that? A little wise advice. I think Im too lenient. . . .Dont tell me about curses or strange secrets. Bad rumors are already starting to spread. Suetlgs words were true. The reason for the bad rumors was mainly because of the priests. The priests who were torn apart because of Johan were angry and chewed and scratched Iselia. If you only listened to their words, it seemed like Iselia was born with the bloodline of a subus who could enchant people with her eyes. Of course, these rumors were not very effective, unlike Suetlgs worries. If it were a stranger, it would be unknown, but Iselia was a person who had been in the fiefdom for quite a while. People also had a rough idea of what kind of aristocrat Iselia was. Priests fumed that it was a sin of lust to seek each other on Saturdays or Sundays. People, however, had a knack for picking and choosing what to hear from priests. As a result, rumors spread in a different way. , ? , . . . . ? ! . ? , . . . . . , ? , . . . ! is. The church sent a long letter. The letter contained simr content to what the priests felt. They couldnt refuse, but they would like to think about it again. . . If you look at it, you might think the bishops are ex-lovers. Johan smiled and passed it on. The churchs actions were as expected. Once the preparations were finished, the procedure proceeded quickly. The priests swallowed their tears and posted a notice in front of the temple, and prepared a festival for the wedding for the people around them. Before the marriage, there were often sharp negotiations over various rights and property contracts, but this was not the case. In fact, Johan was going to get it all. The marriage was basically concluded with the bishop blessing inside the temple. There was a reason for saying basically. There are more things to do after getting married as a feudal lord. He had to provide a banquet for those who gathered and praise his vassals. Record those who didnte. Now that he had also acquired the fiefdom, he needed to squeeze the vassals who had been standing still while advancing. He also needed to prepare for the cost of the wedding festival and military funds. . . The best thing at this time was a clueless guy. A guy who doesnt know that his reasons are piling up and just stands still. Sir. Sir. Now, you have to stop and go and unite before God. It doesnt sound strange even if you express it in a noble way. What did you say? No. Its nothing. The conclusion of this ritual was the union performed while the priest and attendants waited outside. This marked itsplete end. From Johans perspective, he wondered, ? but he had no choice. It was better to adhere to the custom if possible. You seem to have exerted too much strength. It would be better to rx your body a bit. Im. . . Im rxing. My dear. Youre still tense. It will hurt if you dont rx more. Iselia nodded her head and took deep breaths repeatedly. Johan, after waiting, clicked his tongue and said, Enough. Ill make you rx. Just stay still. Wai. . . Wait. . . Wait a moment! My dear! Just a moment!! Not long after, a voice began to emanate from inside, weeping with exhaustion from pleasure and screaming, with only one persons voice audible. The priests from the order gritted their teeth and grumbled quietly. Such a lewd and vulgar demoness. . . Shh. Be quiet. Its disrespectful. . Congrattions, Your Excellency! The republic envoy greeted Johan with a happy face. They gave generous gifts to the wedding. It was a natural investment considering Johans rtionship. How pleasant it would be to have a reliable ally in the southern part of the penins. Have you prepared the deration to send to the Empire? I am preparing it now. As the count of Coolia, Johan was nning to send a deration to the Emperor. It was filled with well-packaged diplomatic rhetoric, but essentially it was close to . It meant he would stop being a vassal. I have good news and bad news. What would you like to hear first? Lets hear the bad news first. Marquis Cruchonded on his fiefdom by crossing the sea. ! Johans face hardened. He returned even though the situation in the Empire was dire. Was he so impatient with the mercenaries looting? What is the scale? It is estimated to be between 3,000 and 4,000. There are about 500 cavalry and at least 1,000 heavy infantry, I hear. I see. What is the good news? Marquis Crucho was defeated as soon as hended. He is said to have escaped with his life by the skin of his teeth. . . .Whose words are they? Chapter 120.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (3) Chapter 120.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (3) Once a persons fortune starts to decline, it is not easy to break free from it. That was exactly the case with Marquis Crucho. The marquis, an experienced and skilledmander, knew well that the most dangerous time was just before anding. Therefore, he meticulously investigated and nned. He identified the location of the mercenaries currently plundering the fiefdom, anticipated their routes, and contacted the vassals of the fiefdom to block any potential advance. . . Only then did he lead the transport fleet across the sea. Thending point was the rtively safe southern part of the fiefdom. However, the marquiss misfortune started from there. He encountered an unexpected storm, struggled fiercely, and was forced to change course. He had no choice but tond in the north. The second misfortune was the pagan pirates. There were pagan pirates not only in the inds east of the Edene Sea but also in the south of the Catalian Penins. One should not think of pirates as merely wandering rogues. Pagan pirates were skilled warriors who usually based themselves in nearby counties or duchies, receiving support and conducting raids. The pagan pirates, mistaking that the marquis had brought a vast wealth from the Empire, aggressively attacked. The marquis barely managed to evade them and make anding. And then the final misfortune came to the marquis. During thending, he encountered mercenaries roaming for plunder. ! ! Upon calm reflection, even though the marquiss army was tired and injured, they were numerically and qualitatively superior to the mercenaries. . . But the fear of the exhausted soldiers from the voyage exceeded the marquiss expectations. The formation quickly copsed, and they began to scatter in all directions. The oblivious mercenaries, not understanding the situation, surged in their confidence and began to attack. As more mercenaries in the vicinity heard the news and converged, even the soldiers who had been holding their ground became terrified. Eventually, the marquis had no choice but to retreat from the battlefield with his knights. It was a truly absurd defeat. s. It is said that they encountered pagan pirates and were attacked by mercenaries during thending. Even so, is it true that they copsed just because of that? I was surprised as well, but I checked several times. Its said that the marquiss army has copsed. The republics envoy also couldnt believe it and checked multiple times, but the stories they heard were all the same. Could it be that God is punishing the marquiss arrogance? I see. It didnt sound very convincing, but Johan agreed for the time being. ording to the envoy, the marquiss domain and the Emperors fiefdom are inplete chaos now. Not only mercenaries but also pagan pirates havended and are looking to plunder. How will this situation affect Johan? Thats a good excuse. Summon the vassals. Since we have a contract, we must adhere to it. When a lord summons, a vassal must lead their troops. Its a condition of their fiefdom. Your Excellency, you should prepare, but theres no need to worry too much. The seas around here are under the control of the republics fleet. The republics envoy was puzzled. There was no need to gather all the vassals. The pirates also had their wits about them. They didnt specifically target the calm domain of the Count of Coolia. The sea was blocked by the republics fleet, so they had to focus onnd routes. A wrong move could mean getting trapped and killed. No, pagan pirates are wild and barbaric, and their actions are unpredictable. The help of the republic is desperately needed. Yes, we will do our best to help. . .? As long as there is a port, the republic had no choice but to help. The envoy couldnt understand why Johan was making such a fuss. Was it because of his deep faith that he was so upset about the invasion of pagan pirates? To the people of the republic, who trade with anyone regardless of the Eastern Empire or others, it seemed like a foolish attitude. . However, Johans thoughts were different. He had been wondering what excuse to use to squeeze the vassals of his fiefdom, and now he had found a good one. . The crimes of not showing loyalty during Johans advance, not attending the wedding, not responding to the vassals summons. It was more convenient to summon all the vassals and discuss right and wrong like this, rather than addressing these three separately. If they apany Johan in the campaign, they wouldnt dare have other thoughts. When Johan was advancing rapidly, it was a situation where one could take their time, but not anymore. If there is still someone who hasnt grasped the situation after thest wedding, they will be the first to be trampled! . The servants rushed frantically to summon the vassals. The counts vassals were taken aback by the sudden summons. Pagans are invading? Are they Jekyllid scoundrels? Jekyllid is a sizable ind in the southwest of the penins, known as the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms since it was ruled by pagans. As a key transportation hub for both the penins and the continent, pagan pirates often docked with the permission of the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms. Or were they originally from the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms! If its the Jekyllid, isnt it not urgent for us? Shouldnt the marquissnd be the priority? But master. There might be disadvantages if we do not respond to the summons. Didnt you also miss the wedding ceremony? Chapter 120.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (3) Chapter 120.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (3) There were mainly two reasons for the vassals who did not attend the wedding ceremony. One was the substantial congrattory money they would have to give if they attended, and the other was a feeling of unease. It took some courage to attend the wedding ceremony of the acting count after having refused her orders. There were quite a few who decided to save their gold rather than risking it on a dangerous endeavor. Of course, they also had something to believe in. Dont worry. That knight, or should I say Count Yeats now. How long has it been since he became the count of coolia? The marriage of Iselia of the Bluea family, the acting count, was a shock to all the vassals. Did Iselia have that kind of ability? He was a knight who came with an army with the support of the church. He could have just taken over the fiefdom of the Bluea familys elves or the remaining elves of the Asada family by tying them up in a trial. The fact that he went through with the marriage suggests that he was really in love with her. In any case, the wedding has already happened, and. . . Now it was time to think about whates next. No matter how much the church blesses Count Yeats and deres him count, the reality is that Johan has not been count for very long. It will take him some time just to figure out the situation! This situation was like a blessing for the vassals. A count who came from outside with no experience in governing? He would have no choice but to rely on the vassals for many things. But master. . . You didnt respond to the previous summons, and you didnt respond to this summons either. Thats the excuse. . . What a stupid fool. There were more than a few who didnt respond to the previous summons, right? They wont punish them for that. Rather, the count will be wary of his vassals. Johan was underestimated, didnt fully understand the situation, or tried to show off his guts by not responding to the summons with various excuses. Fortunately, those vassals were few in number. Most of the vassals responded to the summons. I dont think the count will ask for my sins. I just followed the churchs orders. Yeah. Im following the summons. . . But just in case, you never know what the world will bring, do you? Even if the new count is young and inexperienced, he can still attack a fiefdom with his army. I hope he wont do that, though. . My dear. May I say something? Anything. Johan kissed Iselia on both cheeks and then stood up. Iselia blushed. She was still not used to such expressions of affection. T-Theres no need to do that with the servants around. Iselia thought Johan was naturally spreading rumors by showing this to the servants or ves. The deeper their rtionship, the more it would help in governing the fiefdom. I do it because I want to. T-That. . . No. . . What do you want to say? The fiefdoms silver reserves are not that plentiful. It will not be enough to entertain the summoned guests, so are you nning to raise taxes? Iselia asked carefully. She was even more careful because she did not want to seem like she was overstepping her bounds as Johans wife. However, Johan did not seem to mind. No. Ive only been granted a title for a short time. Would it be wise to raise taxes and risk being cursed? I n to use someone elses money. ??? Johan then made it clear what he meant by someone elses money. . . , , ? , ! , ! Johan had a reason for checking the fiefdom ledger as soon as he arrived. After the wedding ceremony, he had been spending all of his time investigating the state of the fiefdom. With the help of merchants, a new ledger written in Eastern numerals waspleted, and it revealed individuals who had been skimming off the top. Johan generously forgave them all. As long as they paid several times the value. They wept tears of gratitude for Johans mercy. It was a bit odd that they wet their lower halves, but it was probably tears of joy. . In Johans view, the count-led system operating with the count and his subordinate nobles was the epitome of backwardness. It was aplete mess. Johan ced trustworthy people as treasurer and scribe and had the fiefdoms ounts and ledgers rewritten. He quietly threatened and extorted wealth from greedy priests who had umted riches. Bishop Biagiones help was significant. He had a knack for recognizing his own kind. Once this work was almostpleted, the vassal summoning was also finished. It seemed that everyone expected had arrived. . How dare you not respond to the summons? The vassals, who had brought between ten and dozens of men each, were awestruck by the array of what seemed to be thousands of troops. The numbers were impressive, but the quality was even more so. They were well-armed heavy infantry, not conscripts or ve soldiers, and there were also many cavalry. They hadnt realized it when they saw the army swiftly marching through their territory, but now that they saw it with their own eyes, they broke out in a cold sweat. Those eastern barbarians too. . . Sir. Are you deaf? Why did you not respond to the summons? But the most terrifying thing was the young count who had just taken office. The vassals, who had never faced Johan before, were shocked to the core. The giant wolf at his feet, the retainers ring at him from all sides, and above all, the overwhelming presence he exuded! There is a saying that the eyes show the strength of the soul. Johans eyes subdued the souls of the vassals with their fierce and powerful strength. Once they met his gaze, the vassals could not raise their heads. I am. . . I am ashamed and embarrassed because I was sick. . . Please punish me! Raise your head. I will forgive you. Win glory in this battle to wash away your shame. Johan treated his vassals differently. He treated those who attended his wedding the most warmly, and those who came quickly and presented gifts of congrattions the next most warmly. Those who arrivedte had to listen to more rebuke. Of course, he did not take back their fiefs if they responded to his summons. He made them pay some gold, but it was a cheap pricepared to the fief. The vassals, who were frozen in fear, sighed in relief. This was the best possible oue. Now, their duty as vassals was fulfilled if they remained in their ce during the summons period. Vassals were free if they served under their lords banner for the specified number of days each year. , . . . - , ? They did not always fight when they were summoned. The summons was the lords right, and lords sometimes summoned their vassals even when there was no fighting to show who was the master. Gerdolf. Take eight banners and go to recover the fiefdom of Lord Eduwal. Acdda. Take six banners and go to recover the fiefdom of Lord Beresi. Gurelic. . . However, Johan broke everyones expectations and took the initiative. His opponent was not the pagans, but the vassals. Those who dared not respond to the summons! Those who swore allegiance to me before God have broken their promise and insulted my honor. If the lords are loyal, let them show me their loyalty. The vassals looked at each other with dismay. They felt Johans intention. Anyone could see it. This was a loyalty test. Those who were called out with banners were all those who werete to the summons, werent they! Chapter 121.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (4) Chapter 121.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (4) ? Johan said that with his eyes. Rewards and punishments are essential for the vassals. There were several advantages to having vassals subdue other vassals. First, it was possible to use the vassals soldiers instead of Johans soldiers. Gerdolf or Acdda only had to lead the soldiers and monitor them from behind. Also, the resentment of the vassals who had lost their fiefdom or had their titles revoked was directed elsewhere. They would first resent other vassals, not Johan. To defy the lords will, several vassals would have to unite first, but if they were to be forced to fight each other, they would only start to suspect each other instead of uniting. The only thing that the divided vassals could do was to be even more loyal. The punishment of having their titles revoked for some vassals, and the rewards given to those who were loyal, would only make the bonds of loyalty even stronger. The vassals who were quick-witted realized this and made a disappointed expression. They knew that the new count was an extraordinary knight, but they didnt think he would be so skillful. Although he was young, he ruled the vassals and gave orders as if he were a seasoned feudal lord who had ruled the fiefdom for decades. Depart! I look forward to your performance, knights. As he led the army away, Baron Ginobansi sighed. It seemed that other castens and feudal lords were also in a simr mood. . If a capable lord appeared, the vassals under him had to be very tense. They had to be careful with their every move and read the lords intentions. Sir. Isnt this a bit too much? What do you mean? Lets go together and talk to His Excellency. Its not right to receive such treatment for being a littlete. . . Hehehe. You thought so too, didnt you? No. I was wondering who you were trying to catch with this. The feudal lord was much older than the count, but he was still young. He was also quite close to the barons family, so he would often hear various advice from him. No. You wouldnt actually do that just because of a straightforward suggestion, would you? I have connections with Blueas court, after all. . . Even if it goes over in this ce, there is a high possibility that it will cause resentment. To be honest, even having this conversation is noticeable. No way. . . No way is what. Look behind you. The feudal lord felt a chill run down his spine at the stares of the warriors who were staring at him from behind. Those were not the eyes of allies fighting together, but the eyes of suspicion of possible betrayal. I dont want to say this, but the good old days are over. If you act like the former count or acting count, youll be in danger too. I. . . I will keep that in mind. Thank you for your advice. Thats right. Dont be too sad. Winter has its own kind of fun, doesnt it? Ha ha. . . . Vassals who did not understand the situation were dragged in and pleaded in tears. There were no ones who resisted inside. To resist while holding on is something you do when it makes sense, but there was no fool who would do it when there was no one to help him. Johan forgave some of them by withdrawing their titles and some by extorting their property. He wanted to withdraw them all, but he was restraining himself as much as possible. , . Johan himself didnt know that he could govern his fiefdom so hard and well. When he was a child, he had nned over 50 times how to govern his fiefdom while rolling around in his familysnd. Until autumn, Johan was only focused onpleting administrative work. The system of the counts territory was still like a messy puzzle that made people angry. He bundled together the various customaryws within his fiefdom, finished organizing the taxes, and requested a scribe who was good at numbers from the Katana Merchant Guild or the rhim family. At the same time, he didnt forget to appease the church. He extorted the bishops wealth and donated it to the temple of his fiefdom, and called priests to pray regrly. It was very boring, but Johan had been trained for it since he was a child. , . - . -, . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By the time the ripe grains were swaying, the counts domain had be somewhat presentable, and the vassals had alsoe to understand what kind of person the new count was and finished adapting. And then, an unexpected proposal came flying from the west. . Youre asking for help?? Yes, Your Grace! As brothers in the same faith, please do not turn away the hand of your master who is begging so desperately! No Johan looked at the envoy in disbelief. The envoy was sent from Baron Monrado, who was not Johans vassal, but Marquis Cruchos vassal. I have made no oath to your master, so what are you talking about? I know! But! As brothers who believe in the same faith The envoy pleaded with tears in his eyes. His fiefdom was in ruins thanks to the rampaging mercenaries and pagan pirates. Chapter 121.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (4) Chapter 121.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (4) Marquis Crucho should have been the one to respond, but at the moment, Marquis Crucho was too busy defending his own territory to help his vassals. In the meantime, rumors spread that Johan was gathering his vassals and preparing an army. The vassals of Marquis Crucho who had suffered the most began to waver. ? , ? . ? Johans first act after bing count was to break his oath of vassge to the Emperor. It was then that the nobles, who had not yet understood the situation, finally realized Johans true identity. The vanguard of the church faction! It was clear that he had made a deal with the church to receive support in exchange for suppressing the Emperor faction. It would be as absurd to ask for help from such a count as it would be to ask for help from the republican b*stards. However, when people are desperate, they start to think what they want to think. As the confusion deepened, so did the rumors, and the vassals began to believe what they wanted to believe. The church has always been at the forefront of fighting the pagans! If we ask for help and the marquis bes angry. . . ! ! Finally, the most urgent and desperate vassal sent an envoy first. . . A vassal of the marquis actually requested toe to the fiefdom! The baron would already know. As soon as he calls, he will have to break the vassal oath with the marquis and enter Johans service. Johan will not just leave if he has a head, right? Alright. I cant just leave my brother in faith. ! In the name of Yeats, I will prepare for the expedition. You go back to your master and tell him this! Thank you! Thank you! The date by which the vassals must serve obligatorily was almost over. The lord had to seek their consent if he wanted to drag them into additional battles. . . .So we are going to fight the pagans, and is there anyone who does not want to fulfill this sacred duty? The vassals all enthusiastically agreed. They were also looking out for the new counts eyes, but more importantly, they were so greedy for the rewards. The West was a chaotic ce where you could make a fortune just by going in. All sorts of b*stards were looting, and if they were defeated again, they could save the spoils intact. Even though they were nobles, the vassals here were always in a tight spot. This ie was a big wee. Nobles lost gold coins as they breathed. Even though the vassals here were not particrly luxurious, they spent more money than Johan. It was a natural custom as a noble. Then, all they could do was either default on borrowed money, sellnd, or find somewhere to make money. I am so d that you all have such strong faith. At Johans words, the vassalsughed meaningfully. They all knew what they were expecting. . Suetlg-nim. I ask you to act as the chief minister. Ill do it if you ask me to, but. . . Suetlg reluctantly epted the position of proxy. There is no one else I can trust but Suetlg-nim. I said Ill do it, so you can stop buttering me up. Im just worried because you wont have a wizard to advise you. But theres Caenerna, isnt there? Oh, thats right. Suetlg had genuinely forgotten about Caenerna. He had not considered her an advisor. If Caenerna had heard, she would have been furious. Would you rather leave the elf of the Bluea family as a proxy? Do you still find it hard to believe? Its not that. She wants to go on the campaign herself. Iselia basically saw herself as a knight, not a feudal lord. She asked if she could participate in the campaign as if it were a matter of course. Johan could have refused, but he didnt. It wouldnt hurt to grant Iselias request. Ill leave Gerdolf and the elite behind. And you? The eastern warriors and dwarves are enough. Gerdolf is a stubborn knight like a bull, so hell be quite a help to Suetlg-nim. With the added strength of his vassals, Johan had a lot of room for his troops. He assigned the best of his mercenaries to protect Suetlg. Stephen and Bishop Biagione were not needed, so he left them in the fiefdom. With the cheers of the priests, Johans army set out to the west. ss. To travel from the count of Coolias territory to the western part of the penins, one had to go around the mountain ranges in between. If one did not have to cross the mountains, there were three paths. The northernmost path was too long, and the middle path led to the castle of the marquis. The path that was eventually chosen was the southern path. The path that ran along the coast of the southernmost part of the penins. Baron Ginobansi was chosen to guide the way. He was the most knowledgeable of the vassals gathered here. This forest is famous for its forest trolls. . . Lets be careful and go around. Wont you catch them? Why would we? Were not out here hunting trolls. C-Cough. Baron Ginobansi coughed. Of course, Johan was right. It was better to quickly achieve their goal without doing anything foolish, given that they hade out leading an army. However, not all the formalities and customs of the world were judged by such rationality. The army of a nobleman symbolized the authority and power of the nobleman. The act of hunting or holding a banquet during a march was also for that reason. Johan, despite his reputation as a troll yer, bypassed the forest without even ncing at it. It was a truly agile movement. The vassals followed him, panting, as he led them on a march that squeezed them to the limit. ? , ? Count. When the centaur approached Johan, several vassals looked at him with expectant eyes. The scouts reported that they saw ships on the side of the sea. They look like strange ships, so. . . Do you think the pirates havee ashore nearby? This area was a good ce for pirates to strike and flee. The coastline itself was well-structured for mooring ships. I suppose so, dont you? Do you suspect an ambush? Ive checked all the ces where an ambush could be set. No, but its a bit strange that theyre not showing themselves. If they dont know wereing, theyre ssholes. The answer came soon after. The scouts who had gone ahead began to report back. Your Excellency! On the other side of that hill, the pagans are fighting a horde of monsters! . Monsters tend to move alone, especially the stronger ones. This is a blessing to people, because otherwise there would be many towns destroyed by monsters. Despite this, the struggle against monsters is not an easy path. Monsters in the untamednds constantly appear, and people have to fight them all the time. And sometimes, monsters go crazy and explode their aggressiveness in groups. -! ! -! ! At this very moment! Hundreds of goblins and ghouls attacked fiercely. The pagan pirates were speechless at the shocking experience they had never experienced before. Chapter 122.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (5) Chapter 122.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (5) I never thought Id experience a fairy tale my grandfather told me in person! Dont break formation! Keep your formation! Dont run away, you rats! The pirate captain tried his best to prevent his subordinates from running away. However, it was not easy. They were all already rolling their eyes at the experience they had never had before. Ill behead anyone who runs away! ! A few ghouls broke into the formation. The undead swung their ws with immense hatred for the living. A pirate who was hit by the attack fell down on his poor cotton armor. Arrows flew over him. Goblins are unpredictable creatures that show a variety of appearances depending on the situation and location. Unfortunately, the goblins living near here seemed to have enough leisure to make bows and arrows. Captain! Give the order to retreat! Hey, you stupid b*stard! Youll all die if you turn your back on a monster! We need to somehow make them retreat and then retreat! Thats true, but its not good, is it? Theyre just goblins! Hold on! Can we call ourselves pirates if were scared of goblins! At the pirate leaders shout, the first mate gritted his teeth and nodded. However, not long after their resolve, they felt as though they were suffocating. . . .damn it. . .? Among the goblins, arge monster began to stand out. It had the body size of a human with two to three headsrger, and it bore the head of a bull. The cursed beast, the Minotaur! Its sometimes said that strong monstersmand weaker ones, but who would have thought a Minotaur would be leading goblins! The pirate leader red at the Minotaur and then spat out his saliva in disdain. It seemed that the god he believed in wanted to take him away today. i. The following army stopped and formed up. Johan set out on a reconnaissance mission with his guards and Caenerna. As they climbed the hill, they saw the scene unfolding before them. It was a fierce battle. Caenerna, do you know why there are so many ghouls? It must be because of the war that happened in this area. Everyone was frowning at the ghouls, but Caenerna answered as if it were nothing. As the number of people who died unjustly increases, the power of the undead also increases, so the number of undead will also increase. Only those who cast evil magic will rejoice. But can ghouls and goblins move together? Goblins are monsters that cannotmunicate, but they are not ignorant of spells or magic. Sometimes they do things that even we cannot do. The ability to get along with monsters is one of them. Johan was startled when he saw a minotaur. There was a warrior with a bulls head on his back swinging a heavy club. Thats right. Goblins are definitely talented. Isnt that a minotaur? Humph. He is a poor man who was abandoned by God. . . .? The centaurs pitied the minotaur. They thought that he had received no love from God, which is why he had a bulls head. If the minotaur had heard, he would have been furious, but the minotaur was just standing there, snorting in the distance. Isnt it better to avoid fighting if theres a minotaur? Caenerna asked. The minotaur was a ferocious monster, with nicknames like hero killer and knight killer. With his earth-shattering hooves, sharp horns that could break even mediocre steel armor, and intelligence that ranked high among monsters, it was not umon for knights who came to hunt the minotaur to be hunted themselves. Id like to catch some of those pirates and question them, but. . . are there any who are trying to escape? I dont think theyll be able to escape even if they try. The pirates were a diverse group, including humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, and vampires, but there was not a single cavalryman among them. It is difficult to carry a horse on a ship that sails swiftly across the sea. On the other hand, the goblins and ghouls were already steadilypleting the siege. When a few of the pirates who tried to escape fell to the ground, the pirates gave up and fought. Well have to break through the siege and then capture them. Geoffrey, go to the main camp and ry my orders. When they gathered the knights to charge, Iselia was the first to step forward. Johan realized that Iselia was truly an elf. My dear. Please grant me a chance to earn honor. . . .I dont n on stopping you, but ? Do elves not have the word safety in their minds? If Iselia charged recklessly and died, Amien would be left alone. And she didnt seem to trust Johan that much, yet she was so proactive. The people here had apletely different way of thinking from Johan. He gave up on understanding and shrugged. Alright. Lets charge together. T-Thats a bit ? . . .Embarrassing. Its embarrassing to show off in front of others like that. ???? Why on earth? Johan was about to ask, but then he stopped. It seemed like listening to the elves customs would only confuse him more. Just do what youre going to do and stop talking nonsense. Stand next to me. Aah. Aah. Knights, forward! Remember, I will not forgive anyone who does not obey the retreat order. The knights gathered forward and Johan stood at the front. The holy banner they had received from the church fluttered in the wind. The knights made the sign of the cross and kissed their swords in a reverent manner. Forward, forward! Crush the monsters! Chapter 122.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (5) Chapter 122.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (5) In the name of St. nna! The pirates were so cornered that they didnt notice the charge until the knights had finished preparing on the hill. Only when the knights charge came up to them did they realize and shout in joy. Its a rescue! Were saved! . . .No, theyre the peninsr b*stards! The pirates looked confused, not sure whether to be happy or not. But regardless, the knights faithfully charged. Goblins were thrown back and smashed by the spears that stabbed with massive mass. When the spears broke, the knights drew their swords and swung them. The goblins couldnt stop them and were swept away. Knights riding well-trained warhorses were like lightning and thunder that could not be stopped. Although there were only a few dozen of them, the monsters melted away. And in front of them was Johan. Johan was harvesting the heads of monsters with a mace. Get out of the way! His momentum was so fierce that even though there were so many monsters, a void was created around Johan with not a single monster left. Iselia, who was right next to him, looked at him with amazement and respect. How is it possible for such bravery to be possible with the same flesh of a human? ! ! ! The space began to widen, spreading out like a wave and destroying the formation itself. It was because the monsters, who were scared by Johan, finally started to run away. Johan restrained the knights who were excited and about to run wild, and asked. Where is the minotaur? Johan asked a centaur warrior. The eastern warriors did not participate in the charge and turned to the sides to take up the scout position. This was to prepare for a possible encirclement. He is also retreating! Do you want to chase him? No. Thats enough. The purpose has been achieved anyway. The surviving pirates did not even number a hundred. The pirates looked around with a dazed expression. Johan looked down at them and said. You are my prisoners. Both those who understand Empirenguage and those who do not understand Empirenguage nodded their heads unconsciously. In fact, even if Johan had said, From now on, you are goblins, they would have nodded. That was how terrifying his momentum was. . Johan frowned as he looked at the pirate leader. The pirate leader was scared, but he pretended to be unfazed as he faced Johan. So, your name is Tamir, right? Tamir. You have no assets. How can I have any assets when I met a monster as soon as I came up? I was captured before I could even plunder. Is there no one who will pay your ransom? I heard that pirate b*stards have a lot of connections with the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms. Unlike the pirates who wandered the seas like weeds, the pirates in this area were b*stards who had crawled out of the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms or other kingdoms or principalities to the south of it. So, there was a high possibility that there would be someone who would pay the ransom from that side. Im sorry. There is no one. I think it would be better to just execute him. My dear. At Iselias words, the other knights nodded. The knights were also inevitably disappointed that they had fought to save them, only to find out that they had nothing. I would have just left him to be eaten by monsters. At Johans words, the pirates muttered anxiously. There were a few who could understand empirenguage, even if not as well as Tamir. Youve only been here for a short time, so you dont know anything about this area, you dont have anyone to pay your ransom, and you dont have anything. . . Youre not a pirate, youre a beggar. If you would be so kind as to sell me as a ve, I will never forget your kindness. The pagan pirates were being quite merciful by not executing them and selling them as ves instead. Johan wondered if he should do it. He thought they would fetch a pretty good price. The republic was in such great need of ves. ? Caenerna signaled to him from the side. Johan got up and moved to the back. What is it? Is there a problem? That leader. He seems like a noble. Caenerna knew how to speak Easternnguage. The ent of Easternnguage used by Tamir among other pirates was clearly that of a noble. Just as one could distinguish a noble from a non-noble by the way they pronounce Empirenguage, it was the same with Easternnguage. Hes a noble, then why refuse to pay the ransom? There could be various reasons. Maybe the family cant afford it, or the person is a second son or lower, or perhaps they took an oath. . . I dont know much about the customs of the Eastern pagans. Isnt that pipe brought from the East? So should I find its origin before smoking it? Caenerna replied with a look of disbelief. He was right. Caenerna couldnt be expected to know the customs of the East either. If youre worried, just execute them or sell them into very. Theyre just a pagan noble family. It doesnt matter if we ignore them. There are less than a hundred of them. Well keep them captive for now. There was no harm in keeping them captive. He could also brag about his aplishments in front of the baron and take credit for it. When Johan said that he would not execute them immediately but would keep them captive and take them to the barons territory, his vassals were not particrly surprised. . It was clear that he was trying to console the baron, who had suffered a great loss, and give him an opportunity to vent his anger. That made sense. As Johans army approached, the pirates lurking around the area disappeared. The monsters that were sneaking around also ran away in fear. An army of several thousand can make enemies flee simply by moving. This will make the Minotaur a headache. What do you mean? The baron will beg us to catch him on his knees. . . Iselia understood what he meant and nodded. The baron of Monrado would try to ask for the Minotaurs subjugation in any way. Even if the pirates ran away, the monsters would cling to them and cause trouble. With that number, it would be difficult to solve it with force alone. Johan wanted to listen if possible, but he didnt want to y hide-and-seek with the clever monsters. Theints of his vassals were also aint, and there was too much left. It would have been better if it were pirates. . . It wouldnt be bad to refuse depending on the situation. How do you n to refuse? Well. . . there are many ways to do it. But you fought well. Iselia blushed at Johans praise. Like other elves, Iselia was weak to praise for her swordsmanship. She hid her reddened ears behind her hair and said. I can only feel ashamed inparison to you. Theres no need topare yourself with anyone. Would you like to spar with me if thats alright? . . .If you are okay with it, then I, I would be delighted. Haha. . Johan smirked at the thrill of coaxing and taming the wary, tall elf. Hisugh seemed like a sneer, making Iselia anxious. She wondered if she had behaved too poorly. Upon reflection, she felt that volunteering to lead the charge with the knights was a bit absurd. Johans expression seemed ambiguous too. . . , ? Count. There is the baron. Yes. I see him. Johan clicked his tongue and looked ahead. Unlike expectations, the baron was not waiting in the castle for Johan but was prostrated in front of the fiefdom. He was almost like a beggar. ? As soon as Johan thought this, the baron burst into tears. Chapter 123.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (6) Chapter 123.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (6) Peasants and serfs had illusions about the nobility. Blue-blooded noblemen! Even if hundreds of serfs gathered together, they would bow their heads and kneel when a nobleman passed by. It was because of the deeply ingrained notion. Nobles are different at the root, nobles are noble, the touch of a noble heals wounds. . . The nobles themselves did not bother to correct these prejudices. Rather, they exaggerated them. The unique ent, behavior,plex rituals and customs used only by nobles made them even more special. However, even if all the people in the world believed in such things, Johan did not fall for it. All the things that the nobles imed were nothing more than superstition or baseless nonsense to Johan. . Even a noble could be quite ugly if cornered. Like the Baron Monrado in front of him now. Get up. Baron. Uh-huh. . . uh-huh! Count Yeats, thank you so much foring! Baron Monrado kissed Johans ankle and held his hand. The vassals of Johan, who were watching behind him, smiled with satisfaction. If the lord was toopetent, the vassals would find it hard to breathe, but they shouldnt be too ipetent either. Especially on such an expedition. Baron Monrados attitude confirmed and revealed Johans strength. The vassals, who confirmed that their lord was strong, felt fulfilled. s. Johan met the baron outside the castle instead of going inside. It was better for the other party to feel a little pressure if he wanted to have afortable conversation. And the barons small wooden castle was difficult for all the vassals present to enter. Geoffrey. Talk to the chief merchants from the Katana Merchant Guild and let them release some food to the surrounding serfs. Yes, master. Johan ordered his ves to release some extra food. After all, the supplies were still plentiful, and most importantly, that was the property of the chief merchants. The loss would be seen by the chief merchants and the praise would be heard by Johan. The merchants would be a little aggrieved, but they could not refuse. They were already earning a huge profit just by following the army behind the scenes. The chief merchants of the army had such good profits that there was a saying that you can be rich if you go on a campaign once. It was better than refusing the lords request and being expelled. So, Baron. . . the situation around here is not very good, is it? It is all my fault for being foolish and serving a lord like Marquis Crucho. Baron Monrado was desperate to get into Johans eyes. He was a canine beastman who wagged his tail and kept talking. The rtionship between a lord and a vassal was not one of absolute loyalty, but more like a contractual rtionship based on mutual need. From the barons perspective, the marquis was in the wrong first by not providing the promised support when his fiefdom was burning. Of course, it was rare for a baron to actively take the opposite side like this. After all, if the lord is not a fool, he will not retaliate. Monrado, the baron, had put his life and title on the line. It was clear that he was desperate and impatient. I understand. So, what about the pirates that were discovered? What is the situation around them? Johan listened to the barons ttery with half an ear and focused on assessing the situation. The scale of the pirates wasrger than he had thought. If you add up all the pirates whonded, it seemed like there were thousands of them. Even though they were not well-trained heavy cavalry or elite soldiers, numbers were power. In addition, the pirates who had been divided into groups of dozens or hundreds of people were now slowly running out of things to plunder and were gathering together to target arger goal. They are targeting nobles? Yes. It was much more profitable to kidnap a decent noble and demand a ransom than to plunder a few viges. It would just be difficult to catch that noble. Nobles are usually found inside castles with their soldiers. However, that was not a problem for the pirates, whose momentum was rising. Attacks on castles where nobles resided urred in various ces. Most of them failed, but a few seeded. Count! I am truly afraid. Those cruel and vile pirate b*stards mighte and take me and my family away. . . May I say something? The captured pirate leader, Tamir, spoke up. The baron looked at him with great displeasure. Where is this pagan pirate trash talking? Prepare your words for the gallows. Baron. It wouldnt hurt to listen, would it? Ah. . . Yes. . . Tell me, Tamir. I also heard rumors among other pirates. Their target is Marquis Crucho. ! W-What. . . How can those b*stards capture Marquis Crucho? How should I know? I am just telling you what I heard. The Emperor is currently staying mostly in the Empire, so Marquis Crucho is the de facto leader of the vassals in the southwest. His castle is alsorge and sturdy, and even if he lost a lot of soldiers, he was notparable to the vassals. He was not someone that pirates could easily take away. However, Johan had a gut feeling that what he heard was true as soon as he heard it. They were pirates who had already plundered as much as they could around them. The longer they stayed, the more dangerous it was. After all, it was a hostile ce all around. It took a tremendous amount of effort to even capture a small castle. It was better to aim for a big hit rather than wasting it that way. The ransom for the marquis was over a hundred times more if he was caught. Then, it is highly likely that the pirates who ran away after seeing my army joined them. They would have been scared to see an army of over a thousand people, so they would have gone to join arge force somehow. Thats good. Baron. Well see less pirates. Th. . . Thats right. The baron was wondering whether he should believe the pagans words. If it were true, it would be good news, but if it were false. . . Baron, what is the marquis doing? He is raising an army in his fiefdom, but will it be ready soon? The baron spoke with a voice filled with resentment. It was resentment for not receiving help. . Chapter 123.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (6) Chapter 123.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (6) The nobles did not like to conscript serfs to fight. They were all their property. However, if thousands of pirates were to swarm into the fiefdom, they had to fight back first. , . . .? He wanted to leave the marquis alone because he is detestable, but if the pirates looted everything, the fiefdom would bepletely ruined, and it would be a shame for Johan, who was targeting the fiefdom. After all, there would be nothing left to eat. Should he just waitfortably, or should he intervene somehow? Johans worried expression was interpreted in a different way by the baron. When it seemed that Johan would leave soon, the baron became anxious. It looks like the soldiers are tired. Please rest well before you go. There is some wine prepared for the knights. . . Do you see that elven maid over there? She is the daughter of my rtive. She is quite beautiful, isnt she? If you like, I will take her away for you. Baron. Dont be so anxious. Johan interrupted the barons words. He felt the need to somehow clear things up. What are you afraid of right now, baron? Pirates and monsters, right? . . .Yes. . . There is nothing to be afraid of from pirates. I brought soldiers, so the smart ones will run away, and the stupid ones will be dealt with. Of course, you want to ask what if the guys from other arease after I leave? Tell the other vassals that the marquis has brought all sorts of treasures from the Empire. Yes. . .? Spread the rumors to all possible ces. And also, let this message be spread subtly. Those who do note here and swear allegiance to me may be the first to be subjugated. . . .! Johans army will soon be rumored. The anxious pirates will be forced to unite. If the rumor of the marquiss treasure is also spread, the pirates will actually gather in one ce. That was enough. While the marquis is dealing with the pirates, Johan ns to take control of the other vassals. There will be more than a few desperate people like the baron, so it would be easy to make them swear allegiance with carrots and whips. Of course, Johan will not attack the lords here without any reason, but. . . It was enough for the lords to be mistaken and scared. I will be staying here until the work is done. I will see the barons ability by how many vassalse. I-I will do my best! . The monsters are the problem. Johan muttered as he stroked Iselias skin. The desperate baron had mobilized all his connections and friendships to gather the marquis vassals from the nearby area. The vassals didnt want to be beaten up by the pirates and then by Johan as well. They came and knelt down to perform the vassal ceremony. ording to the reports from the scouts he had sent out, the pirates were also fleeing in a hurry. Most of them seemed to be heading for the marquis territory. Things were going well ording to n. But Johan wanted to deal with the monsters decisively. Especially in front of the marquis vassals. There was no more impressive deration than to go out and sweep away the monsters when the marquis could not fulfill his duty! , . . . .My dear. Why are you stroking me? Your muscles are a bit tense. Ill loosen them up. Oh. Is that so? Im sorry for misunderstanding. Iselia was slowly starting to rx. She had slept with Johan several times and fought side by side with him, and these experiences had helped her to let down her guard. She tried to stay focused, but it was hard to resist her instincts. Thats not. . . the swollen part. . .? Oh, really? My dear. You deceived me. . . eep. Ahh. Johan covered Iselias mouth and pressed her down. Iselias breathing became ragged. The elf, who had once been so stiff, was now responding quite tenderly. But. . . my dear. ? Why did you refuse the barons maid? What? You wanted me to hold that elf? Youre pretty bold to say that to me. I thought people didnt talk about their lovers when they were having sex. I-I dont want you to hold her! Iselia was shocked by the misunderstanding. She didnt have a problem with people having lovers, but she didnt have that kind of interest herself. In fact, she was already feeling overwhelmed by Johan. However, Johans behavior was strange. His marriage to her was political, and his young blood was boiling. In addition, the barons maid was a traditional elf beauty. Why didnt I hold her? If I hold the barons maid, things will getplicated. I dont want to see the baron crying with joy. I have to exin this to you, Iselia. I told you to read books instead of just swinging swords. I. . . I read. So that was it. . . Of course, it was also because you were much more attractive. Who would pick up a fairy tale over a gold coin? Youre lying again. Im not lying, Iselia. Youre still not good at discerning lies. Come on. Does this still look like a lie? While feeling the weight of his body pressing down on her, Iselia gasped and felt a strange sense of satisfaction welling up inside her. It was a feeling she had never felt before. . I heard that you are looking for the minotaur. The rumors even reached the prisoners? Johan agreed to meet Tamir when he asked. Tamir took a deep breath several times. Why are you so nervous? Because I am afraid of you, Sir Knight. . . .Youre honest. Hiding your fear is a sign of weakness. The stronger a warrior bes, the more he epts and ovees his fears. Alright. Ill hear about your customster, so lets hear what you have to say. I have a way to call the minotaur. ! Johans eyes widened. What method is that? One of my subordinates is from a family of alchemists. He knows a secret form that can definitely lure the minotaur. What do you want? I would like to be sold as a ve. Every vassal who came to the camp spat on and insulted the pirates. Of course, the soldiers were also talking about how they would soon be executed. The pirates were people too, so it was only natural that they would not want to die. If there was a way, they would have done anything, but frankly, there was no answer. Pagan, pirate. It was a situation where two elements of summary execution coincided. At this point, being sold as a ve was a tremendous mercy. Only you alone? . . .My subordinates and I too. . . Tamir spoke with a bit of trepidation. There was another way for Johan. He dered not to negotiate with the pagans, torturing his subordinates to extract nder. Originally, it would have been a disgraceful act, but it wasnt a sin against pagans. Pirates would have thought the same if they captured these people. Impressive. Fine. If youre useful, Ill sell you as a ve. ! Tamir was surprised by Johans too ready agreement. No swearing, no mocking, no insult, just epting it? Chapter 124.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (7) Chapter 124.1: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (7) Why, you dont believe me? No. . . no, its not that. To be honest, I didnt expect you to ept it right away. You thought I was going to curse you a few times, hit you a few times, and then try to ckmail you. I dont have any intention of doing that. If the curse you mentioned is useful, I will pay you the appropriate price. The words knowledge is power were even more strongly felt in this world. It was good to know anything. Suetlg didnt know all the mysteries, and Caenerna was the same. So was the ranger Gmbos from the east. Honestly, if its a curse that can summon a Minotaur, he could have let it slide. He even epted it when he asked him to sell himself as a ve. . . . On the night of the crescent moon, a white cow is tied up and five wooden pirs with characters inscribed with magical meanings from the East are inserted around it. A mixture of elm, cinnabar, and salt is ced and burned to produce smoke. Caenerna watched all of this process with an excited expression. Any wizard would be interested in the mysteries of the East, even if it is evil pagan magic. The philosopher of Ipal River will be sorry to miss this. Caenernaughed maliciously. She seemed quite happy that Suetlg could not see this mystery firsthand. Cant you just tell him about itter? Itspletely different from seeing it in person. Besides, you rejected the barons proposal? Is the elf of the Bluea family so beautiful? Its not because of that, but she is beautiful. Really, it was just a matter of taste? Caenerna was surprised. Even though it was for political purposes, she thought it was too much, but it was really a matter of taste. Bluea n elves are beautiful in the face, but they are far from the standard of beauty in other ways. Caenerna, who had seen many beautiful elves in the emperors court, could not help but be stricter. Be careful when handling mercury. Tell the soldiers not to breathe in the smoke. Yes, I understand. The smoke from burning mercury contains mercury vapor. Caenerna, who did not know this, asked in a puzzled way. Why not breathe in the smoke? Because its poisonous. Poison?! Caenerna was surprised. Mercury is also handled by many alchemists. She did not use it much, but there were those who deliberately inhaled the smoke of burning mercury. Really poisonous? If you dont believe it, feel free to try it. You have a very nice way of speaking. Caenerna unconsciously believed Johans words. She herself did not know it, but Johan made Caenerna, a wizard like herself, believe in his words. It was truly a powerful force. Originally, the vassal army is on the left. The army of the neers is on the right. In the center are the dwarves and mercenaries. . . Is it okay not to mix the newly arrived vassals? I was going to, but then I thought better of it. If the number had been small, he would have just mixed them together and made them into one group. It would have been easier tomand and monitor. After all, the vassals who had served the marquis were a risk factor. However, an unexpected situation urred. The number of vassals who came to visit was muchrger than he had expected. In this case, it was better to use a straightforward method rather than a trick that was too obvious. If there were only a few, he could have coaxed and threatened them, but it would have been impossible with that many. Johan also felt it. In the end, if you want to truly subdue and make people loyal to you, you have to show them that you are worthy of it. Not just silver or guaranteed rights, but to prove that you have the right to rule and dominate in front of countless people! . . . The preparations were finally finished. Various spells were prepared along with a cow at the edge of the barons forest. Dwarf engineers had made traps and siege weapons. As soon as he steps on the ce where the mark is carved, the ballista will fire and kill him. Dwarves often use powerful siege weapons like ballista for monster hunting. The dwarves were confident because they had not just fired a few shots. Caenerna asked in a puzzled voice. But you werent close with the priests of the church, were you? How did you get their permission for this? Following the nder of the pagans was enough to give the priests a heart attack. No matter how Johan was praised by the priests, this was Ah. I borrowed your name a bit. . . . . . . Caenerna frowned. This count dared to use whose name? Since you said it was Caenernas nder, they didnt curse me. Ill count it as paying off a debt. It doesnt matter anyway But more than that, I felt itst time, but are you keeping track of the debts you owe separately? He knew that wizards had a unique way of thinking. Even beyond the requests he had to listen to, it seemed like Caenerna was keeping track of the debts separately. There is something like that. Thats right. Even if I say its okay, it wont mean much to a wizard. Serve me diligently until the debt of your heart is gone. . . . . . . Caenerna stopped herself from cursing. Usually, she was angry that the lord didnt know enough about wizards, but now that she saw it, it was also a problem that the lord knew too much about wizards. She couldnt y with him at all, right? . Chapter 124.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (7) Chapter 124.2: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (7) All were holding their breath when the Minotaur appeared, bellowing under the faint moonlight. The curse had worked. The army that had surrounded the forest was silent. They could not move until the Minotaur was captured. Normally, a few knights eager for glory would have rushed out on their own in such an army, but there were no such men to be seen. It was not only because Johan had spoken strongly, but also because the Minotaur was so overwhelming. . Send the signal. Johan was satisfied. In fact, he had never seen a properlymanded army in this world since he came. Because each person brought their own army to gather, there were often sudden actions that vited orders, and they were even considered a right. At least he didnt have to see that. If any man had stepped out, he would have thought of recovering that mans fiefdom by any means necessary. With the sound of ropes being released from the darkness, sharp spears flew. Even from a distance, it seemed like a piercing sound could be heard. The Minotaur, trapped in a trap, let out a dying scream, twisted its body, and knelt down. And then he fell with a thud. Where did the dwarves get that? The centaurs were amazed. They were far from such technology, so they could not help but be surprised. Even in ancient times, when the centaurs invaded the Empire, the most annoying thing was the fortresses built by the dwarves. The leader has been defeated. Send a signal to the left and right wings. We will surround them and finish them off. The goblins and ghouls who followed the minotaur were gathered clumsily around the forest. They were nning to surround them from three sides andpletely wipe them out. Along with the drumbeats, the gs began to flutter incessantly. Finally, those who received the signal began to move happily. The vassals who came out with Johan were looking for an opportunity to shine in front of their new lord, and the vassals who came out by abandoning the marquis were looking for an opportunity to somehow catch his eye. Each of them thought about their own thoughts and moved. Are you not going, count? Acdda, as well as Euclyia, tapped the ground with her hooves as if disappointed next to her. Johan shook his head. Since I have obtained the title of count, I should also give my vassals the opportunity to shine. Always leading the charge and defeating the enemy was not always the best course of action. As a lord, one should give their vassals the opportunity to shine. It was also a virtue for a lord to be magnanimous and generous. Wait. Does that mean I have to go too? You need to protect me. Johans words caused the centaurs tough as if he had told a ridiculous joke. Iselia, who was listening nearby, even hardened her face. My dear. Are they really loyal? Even though they look like that, they are loyal. Theyre just a bit unique. The centaurs were the ones who had the hardest time understanding when Johan was giving out fiefs to those who had distinguished themselves in battle. Acdda, at least, understood what it meant and epted it, but Euclyia couldnt understand why she had to stay on a small piece ofnd. At first, Euclyia thought it was a punishment and began to cry. Johan managed to convince her by saying, , . . . ? Euclyia asked Johan in Eastern dialect. If Iselia had heard it, she would have blushed and trembled all over. My dear. What are you saying? It sounds like youre talking to me. You are so beautiful. Wh. . . What? What kind of harassment is this. Euclyia nodded with a smile. Johans words were not tranted incorrectly. There was only a slight difference in ent and vocabry. In fact, she also meant it as apliment. Euclyia said this time in clumsy Empirenguage. We will protect you. Th. . . Thank you. Iselia was a born knight. She was grateful for Euclyias favor, who looked like a strong warrior. Johan thought to himself. Im d I dont know Easternnguage. Count! Count! What is it? This pirate brat is crazy enough to die! Cant you just sit still?! It seemed that there had been amotion among the pirates behind them. A captain red and shouted. Let me kill him right away! This pirate brat dares! In itself, causing amotion during battle was a serious crime. It was only natural to suspect of desertion. The mercenaries were about to kill him immediately. However, Johan stopped the mercenaries. Tamir, who was caught and had his face pressed to the ground, was surprised at Johans patience. Lets hear whats going on and deal with itter. Tell me. Huff, huff. . . Count! You have to be careful! The minotaur is not dead!! What nonsense are you talking about. . .! Everyone be quiet. Johans words made the captains fall silent. Even though his voice was calm, it felt like a cold de had brushed past their backs. The minotaur is dead. If it were alive, it would have crawled out of the trap. The left and right wings were happily surrounding the monsters and beating them up. The monsters that had emerged with great momentum were screaming and being smashed to pieces. If it could endure this, it was not a monster. If the minotaur really died, the goblins would at least have to run away! . . .! Johan instinctively knew that Tamirs words were true. But the fact that the minotaur was dead was also true. What is it? At that moment, a sh of light went through Johans mind, and he came to a conclusion. . . .Could it be two? This is hell. Acdda muttered a curse under his breath. The thought of another minotaur jumping out among the knights who were happily running amok made him feel dizzy. It was easy because we trapped it with a trap and then cut off its breath with a siege weapon, but otherwise the minotaur was a monster close to a nightmare. Is the poison ready, Acdda? I can shoot it at any time! Order the centaurs to follow us! Im going to help! Johan immediately started riding his horse and running out. The soldiers who were guarding their positions were surprised, but quickly made a path. Send a retreat order! Tell them not to go deep into the forest! Johan urged the messenger, but he didnt expect much. In the first ce, even if the messenger sent a retreat order, the knights who were blinded by achievement would fight. My dear! I understand that you are worried about your vassals, but you must not do anything reckless! Iselia, who was following Johan on horseback, shouted in a hurry. She was worried about what Johan was going to do. Dont worry, Iselia. I have never done anything reckless. ???? The centaurs followed and threw a questioning look at Johan. Yes? However, Iselia naively believed Johans words. Johan led dozens of cavalrymen to quickly break through the formation and enter the forest. Inside, soldiers were fighting with monsters. I, Johan of Yeats, order you to retreat! B-But, my lord! Why. . .? A knight asked in a puzzled manner after defeating three goblins. The reason soon became clear. A thick tree flew from behind. ! Arge shadow began to grow rapidly from between the trees. It was a minotaur charging at full speed without even breathing. Its eyes were red and its mouth smelled like hell. Johan stared at it without dodging. He could feel his horse trembling. As the third tree broke, a spear tore through the air and flew towards the minotaur. Chapter 125: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (8) Chapter 125: ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? (8) Sir Knight! You cant! Acdda shouted urgently. In his haste, he blurted out the old title he used to call him. Acdda, with his sharp eyes, noticed something off about the minotaurs bronze hide. Minotaurs are monsters cursed by the gods into madness. The stronger the curse, the tougher and more metallic their hides be. Unlike the one they caught earlier, this one had a much duller and darker color. There was a high chance their spear des wouldnt prate it properly. ! But the spear Johan threw pierced deep into the minotaurs belly and stuck fast. He threw it with such force that the spear tip burst out from the beasts back. ??? What the! Acdda! Did I see wrong? No. . . Shoot it! Protect the count! The centaurs immediately drew their bows and took aim at the minotaur. Their unique archery, Solenarion, handled short and sharp arrows suited for taking down agile monsters. But all that resulted were dull thuds as the arrows failed to prate the thick hide. The usually prating arrows couldnt get through. The centaurs looked at the beast in disbelief. Didnt I tell you! The minotaur that had been charging madly suddenly stopped in its tracks. It was the first time in its life feeling such pain. It broke off the spear stuck in its belly and bellowed loudly. Urgh! Gah! Even the seasoned warriors covered their ears and grimaced. Thats how loud and intense the beasts cries were. The centaurs only had to cover their ears, but Iselias horse was different. Iselias horse neighed in distress, bucked off its rider, then turned to flee. Iselia, flung to the ground, called out to her horse in confusion. For a warhorse that had fought countless monsters to desert like this. Johan! ? Johan asked what her horses name was, but she didnt answer him. And then suddenly reveals the name now? Well, it was probably named after some ancient hero from centuries ago. . . Run to Iselia, Fern! Johan jumped off his horse and shouted. The horse ran towards Iselia at full speed. Johan looked around at the other knights who had fallen off their horses and said: Those who have lost their horses should get out! Count, I can still fight. . . Annoyed, Johan grabbed the knight by the cor and threw him back. The knight screamed as he flew through the air. The only weapons left were two longswords at his waist and two spears on his back. Johans blood boiled at the sight of the enemy. His hands twitched and his eyes shone like those of a hunter. The magical pendant around his neck vibrated like crazy. Aim for its eyes and mouth! The parts not covered by leather! The centaurs quickly weaved between the trees, provoking the minotaur. The minotaur was irritated but couldnt catch the centaurs. Who set Sir Knight on fire? Why are you just standing there?! Ill go set him on fire! Euclyia ran off quickly. Johan grabbed her shoulder and jumped on right away. The strong scent of Euclyias excitement from the heat of battle wafted strongly. Euclyia didnt bother asking where they should go. Just Johan grabbing her shoulder and giving her strength was enough to convey his intent. Having approached the minotaur, Johan immediately threw his spear to inflict a second wound. Valkalmur! He had tried to pierce its throat but the reaction was astonishing. The minotaur blocked the spear with its left arm. It protected the vital point but the pain was severe. ! , . While trolls have the regenerative power to heal all sorts of wounds, the minotaur had the endurance to withstand all sorts of wounds. Even amidst dozens of archers taking aim, it was certainly protecting its vital areas so no poison had entered. ! ! The minotaur seemed to have clearly chosen its target. It realized Johan was the most dangerous. The beast began to desperately chase Johan with all its might. At that moment, Iselia jumped out from the side and rammed into it. Johan thought for a moment that she had gone crazy like an elf. But that wasnt the case. Iselia had tilted her shield diagonally to deflect the impact to the side, throwing off the beasts bnce. For a stunt using someone elses horse, it was truly an astounding feat of horsemanship. Rammed from the side while running at full speed, the minotaurs legs got tangled and it tumbled forward. Iselia cleanly withdrew without indulging in needless greed. She was well aware that her spearhead wouldnt prate the beasts leather. Johan immediately threw his spear. Although the minotaur covered its head with its arms, Johan was aiming for the other side. The spear pierced the beasts thigh and went through its knee. Unable to move, the minotaur swung its giant club in frustration. Whenever it swung once, the ground would shake and trees would scream. It was an overwhelming pressure that no one dared approach. However, Johan went in wielding his longsword like a stick. Noisy and ferocious as it was, it wasnt so bad that he had to dodge. The Brduhe familys sword, Twilight, shone brightly as it severed the minotaurs wrist. Euclyia raised her spear and shoved it into the beasts gaping maw. At the same time, Johan swung his sword and severed its neck in one fell swoop. Silver burned as it scorched the vile monsters blood. . . .Fortunately, there isnt too much damage. Since the centaurs led by Johan had rushed right over, if that hadnt happened then all the knights in this area would probably have met a wretched end. As if she didnt care about such things, Euclyia ignored that and collected the minotaurs blood in a cup. Then in an innocent voice, she offered: Please have the first drink. . . .Thank you. Being able to drink the preys blood first was a privilege. Since he was well aware of the centaurs customs, Johan couldnt refuse. Its hot. I feel like my body is heating up? Minotaur blood has fortifying effects, doesnt it? What?! What, it has effects like that? Johan stopped mid-drink, startled. It seemed better to share it with the other older vassals rather than the vigorous Johan. The remaining monsters were all dead or had fled. Nearby vassals gradually congregated towards Johan. Word of the minotaur kill had quickly spread. The gathered vassals witnessed Johan standing tall atop the corpse of a massive beast he had struck down. An almost mythological surreal sight. One vassal seemed enthralled as he unconsciously dismounted and knelt on one knee. Seeing that, the other vassals also followed suit, dismounting to kneel one by one. The new count encircled by kneeling vassals. A symbolic scene demonstrating just who was the new seat of power in the south. You have had a hard time. Yes. Who could have expected a second minotaur to show up. Johan clicked his tongue. Luckily the casualties were light. Otherwise this gathering could have turned into one of consoling grieving families instead. But a good result is a good result, no matter how it turned out. The minotaur now was being expertly skinned and butchered by seasoned hands. Its hide and meat would be prize distributions for the vassals. Would it be eptable to share such spoils with us? Those who put their lives front and center fighting deserve such rewards. What most vassals wanted were the hides, the centaurs sought the sinews, Caenerna asked for peculiar parts like the eyeballs and bone marrow. . . This two minotaur hunt turned out to be quite a windfall. Iparable to mundane trolls. My lord. Viscount Palmito has arrived to swear fealty at your side. Have him wait. With increased vassals, makingters wait a bit was reasonable. There should be some distinction between those who came promptly and those tardy. My lord. Viscount Ginolen has sent envoys, however. . . ? But for the caretaker Viscount overseeing the Emperorsnds to send people to Johan was unexpected. I wonder what this is about? Greetings Count Yeats. It is an honor to meet you. The envoy sent by the viscount was courteous and polite. You could feel the current power dynamics at y. Seeing this, the former vassals of the nearby marquis murmured among themselves. The envoy felt bitter. As an envoy, he was well aware of how the situation was unfolding. Had not arge number of the marquiss vassals defected and gone over to Count Yeats in the east? This kind of courtesy now would only help Count Yeats. It would make clear who the real power holder was. But there was no choice. Its not like he could be rude. We are honored that you personally led an army here to dispel the pagan pirates. You have my thanks. For what purpose have youe? Compared to the chaos in the marquiss territory, the Emperors fiefdom was rtively stable. It was located south of the marquissnd, and being nked by mountains to the west, it had suffered less from pirate raids. By the Emperorsmand, I havee to pay the ransom for Wizard Caenerna. The envoy gestured. ves began cingrge chests in front of him and opened them. Dazzling gold coins glittered. Despite himself, the envoy gasped at the enormous quantity. He had known, but seeing it again was still shocking. Now was not the time to spend this gold here. Of course Caenerna was an excellent wizard, the Emperors advisor, but he could not make thousands of troops retreat. They should be hiring mercenaries to support the marquis instead. But the Emperor was stubborn. After several failures, the Marquis of Crucho was branded in the Emperors eyes. . . . . . . The vassals around him red at the envoy. Only then did he realize he had lost hisposure. He hastily cleared his throat and shouted. I have prepared this ording to custom. I hope you will ept it. Johan bit his tongue. He could not refuse payment of the ransom. To vite the customs between nobles would be uneptable. Moreover, if he released Caenerna without epting such arge ransom, it could raise suspicions about his rtionship with Caenerna. It could lead to doubts that he had not been captured as a prisoner but had switched sides. ? To be honest, it was unbelievable. He had assumed payment would be impossible, yet here it was in full. I guess it cant be helped. I expected Cardirian would pay it. But I didnt expect payment so soon. Caenerna was not that surprised. The Emperor loved and was fascinated by magic. Naturally he would seek out the best wizard among those around him, which was her. But for him to pay such a ransom in gold at a time like this ande looking for her personally. . . Something was definitely driving him hard. . . . Magic was cruel to those who became too enthralled by it. The more Cardirian clung to magic, the more fate would oppose him. Why the look on your face? Do you not want to go? Honestly, it would be a lie to say I havent grown fond of you. Caenerna was genuinely surprised to hear those words from Johans mouth. Something prickly churned inside. Even though you say you have no intention of showing me respect? Even if you dont demonstrate loyalty to me, friendship can still be shown. . . While he may not respect her as a wizard, the bond of having campaigned together still held asrades. Johans words were not what a lord should say, but they resonated strongly. I dont intend to detain you. Im just concerned, thats all. Will you be alright under Cardirian? . . .Theres no need to worry. Ill be fine. . . My position at court is much higher than you think. . . Seeing Johan look at Caenerna with worried eyes, the prickling feeling grew stronger. As if resisting the emotion, Caenerna hastily pulled out a treasure from her robe. . . .Why did you take out the iron ne the emperor was going to give to his lover? W-Wrong one. What she had meant to take out was the Fire Goblet. Caenerna had exined to Johan how to check the Fire Goblets status and read the signals. It worked on a principle simr to Morse code. You understood that quickly? Is it okay to send messages like this? It doesnt matter. No one else can read it anyway. Instead of sending pointless messages, pay attention to your own safety. Johan was worried for Caenerna. Of course he had affection for Caenerna, but more than anything. . . . Having seen Caenerna make mistakes over and over, Johan didnt quite trust her to be reliable. If she knew he kept talking because of reasons like this, Caenerna would have been furious. Ill give you the ne as a bonus. Use it on that elf or something. Ah, to obtain such an interesting material and then. . . She could not take it back with her. Not only would she have to travel a long distance, the likelihood of damage was high. Just leave it as it is. What? You wont be spending the rest of your life in the Empire anyway. Ill return it to youter when youe back. . . . . . . Caenerna forcibly swallowed the surge of loyalty arising within her and bowed her head in farewell. Chapter 126.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (1) Chapter 126.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (1) The work had to go on even after the wizard left. Thanks to the ransom paid for Caenerna, there was no need to worry about coins for a while. Lavish rewards were given to the vassals who built great achievements, and preparations were made for the winter with additional supplies. . . Smooth supply from the sea was possible thanks to the fleet of the republic. Merchants from othermercial associations also came pulling their merchant ships under the escort of the republic fleet. Johan gave them gold and granted them the authority to trade. The merchants would earn it back from the soldiers nearby. It was a kind of cirction. My dear. Will you be okay without the philosopher? Phi. . .philosopher? Iselias worry made Johan confused for a moment. It seemed Iselia had misunderstood about Caenerna. Caenerna is not a philosopher. I wouldnt know about Suetlg, but not everyone wearing long robes and using suspicious magic is a philosopher. Dont be fooled, Iselia. Is. . .is that so? By default, wizards had an image of being wise and excellent advisers. But after dealing with Suetlg and Caenerna, and being involved in magic himself, Johan thought that was a misconception. Caenerna was just a wizard. Not really a philosopher. The things Im doing now are decisions I made by thinking by myself, its not really Caenernas advice or anything. Because Johan was so young, there was a natural misunderstanding from those around him. Handling the situation skillfully and presenting strategies made those around think ? Im disappointed that you thought of me that way. N-No, my dear. I didnt mean it that way. Seeing Johan pretending to be sad, Iselia became flustered. Johan secretlyughed at the amusing reaction he was toying with. Count, the subjugation is over. Good work. Go in and rest. Give them rewards. Geoffrey nodded and moved with the ves. Johan was now embarking on arge-scale pirate hunt. With most of thergest monster groups in the nearby area defeated, and most of the vassals joining under Johan, there was no reason to wait any longer. Johan moved aggressively. The main targets were the pirate groups still lurking around unsuspectingly. Cavalry units mainly formed in tens, hundreds attacked the pirates swiftly. The small pirate groups, slowed byck of horses and the temptation of plundered goods, were annihted here and there. The subjugation was ruthlessly carried out even for those who felt safe being a bit far from the Barons territory of Monrado. Johan personally led knights and cavalry and swept them away. Take the gold and treasure, but return the livestock and food to nearby viges and towns. Even while going around each vassals territory, Johan did not neglect careful management. Although it was all originally okay for Johan to take care of, he did not do that. To win peoples hearts, perseverance was needed. The charity given in Johans name would eventually bear fruit ande back. Even now, priests here and there were extolling Johans name. Even the serfs who knew nothing were aware of who was driving out the pirates and providing the charity. The nobles tended to underestimate the powermanded by the loyalty of these towns, but Johan did not. Of course, the vassals did hold the substantial power. The towns master was, after all, the vassal who ruled over that town, and Johan could not interfere with the exercising of those rights. But that did not mean invisible power did not exist. Peasant revolts and city revolts do not happen for no reason. The loyalty these people held put cors around the necks of the vassals. It would make them hesitate even if they tried to betray Johan againter. There had been six battles of considerable scale, and dozens of smaller skirmishes. As a result, the pirates in the southwest either fled back to the sea, or joined up with pirate groups in the Marquis territory. The vassals who had held territories breathed a sigh of relief for the moment, but none of them thought the fighting was over. Everyone could feel just how strong and ambitious this young new Count was. The fighting would clearly not end until the showdown came with the Marquis, not to mention the remaining pirate groups. And the vassals wanted that too. For whatever reason, now that they had betrayed the Marquis and weed this young Count as their new lord, the Marquis had to be destroyed. Otherwise, someday the Marquis would remain and take revenge for this betrayal! . Im starting to feel like calling in those mercenaries, but what are those guys up to? At Johans question, Gurelic broke out in a sweat. As the pirate suppression progressed, Johan began attempting contact with the mercenaries above. Having secured not only the county of count but most of the southern vassals, Johan too spent a plentiful year, but the mercenaries hired by the Church also spent a plentiful year. Thanks to the pirates chaos, the mercenaries plundering became even easier. The army of Marquis Crucho also foundered midway. . . Having split into two branches plundering thends of the Marquis and the nearby fiefs above, Johan sought to call them in again. The mercenaries were greedy but not ignorant of hierarchies. Having plundered the fiefdom of the Marquis, they had to show loyalty to the Marquis opposition. Attacking both sides would have been madness. But there was no answer. The envoy sent also did not return. Panicking, Gurelic sent mercenaries again but they too did not return. I apologize, my lord. It seems the men had other ideas. Hmm. Johan was puzzled by Gurelics words. Would the mercenaries be so stupid? Of course, they had taken all the loot they could get, so they might want to just stay put and not get involved anymore. But if thats what they wanted, theyd have to make all kinds of excuses and send an envoy. Ignoring contact altogether was something only a madman would do. Of course, when someone wants to die, theres nothing they cant do. . . Are you going to leave the mercenaries alone and move on? Chapter 126.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (1) Chapter 126.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (1) No. It would be a shame to throw away 2,3 thousand troops. Its not that far anyway. Bringing all the troops here up north and checking it out would be too conspicuous. It was better to check it out himself rather than keep sending envoys that didnte back. I will prepare the elites. Leave out the centaurs. I think it would stand out too much. Leave out the eastern tribes too. . . Just pick those who are good at horsemanship among the mercenaries. Reconnaissance could be sent out but Johan preferred to take the lead whenever possible. Hadnt he kepting to the forefront in the fight against the pirates? At first nce, it seemed like dangerous behavior, but for a nobleman it was an honorable and valiant act. There was a reason why ipetent feudal lords bothered to put on armor and take the lead. For the nobility, honor and fame were much more important than thought, and the rumor of being a coward was fatal to their reputation. In that regard, Johan was above reproach. With the courage of a lions honor and the purity of white snow faith. That was something even vassals who had no choice but to surrender out of fear had to acknowledge. Of course, Johan himself was not acting that way precisely because he was such a rogue knight. . . . . . .They didnt betray us after all. Johan clicked his tongue. There were corpses around the destroyed town wearing the attire of mercenaries. It seemed they had been attacked while staying in the town. They were attacked by pirates? Wouldnt that be the case? Those a**holes? Hearing Johans words, Goran suppressed his urge tough. Even though this young knight had be a count, he still acted as reckless as ever. While it was pleasing, he had to grasp the situation as a mere mercenary. Goran straightened his posture and said, There must have been a reason. Guys who make a living like this got hit by pirates and couldnt do anything about it. . . Judging by the traces, at least over a hundred pirates had charged in. For this scale, the mercenaries should have banded together to respond. But they just got hit without resisting. Theres someone over there! When one of the mercenaries shouted, Johan turned his head. A wounded mercenary who came out from a copsed house seemed surprised. Catch him. Waaah! The man seemed to have mistaken Johans group as pirates and tried to flee. Even if they werent pirates, it was never good to encounter armed men in a ce like this. There was now saying they wouldnt stab a fellow mercenary. However, the wounded man was slow due to his injury and got caught right away. The kneeling mercenary looked at Johan with trembling eyes. Greet Count Yeats properly, you fool. Si-Sir Knight. . . No. Are you Count. . . Only after hearing the mercenaries words did the man realize Johans identity. No wonder he looked so damn intimidating. He was the Sir Knight who led the soldiers at the forefront whenever the Order marched out. He had heard rumors of that Sir Knight bing a Count but never expected to see him here like this. It was surprising but rather assuring given the current situation. What happened? The man was a mercenary belonging to a small mercenary group called the Walgyesu Mercenary Group. During this expedition, he had made quite a profit and was staying in this town, being treated by his colleagues. However, pirates had shown up. The mercenaries panicked and tried to fight but were vastly outnumbered. In the end, he alone survived by hiding. Where are the other mercenaries? You should be thinking about fighting back against the pirates rather than partying by yourselves when theyvee this far. At Johans words, the other mercenaries nodded. Most of the pirates were gathered near the Marquis territory right now. They were preparing to target the Marquis. With things as they were, the ones who came here wouldnt be that strong either. To be defeated like this without stopping them. . . Did you not hear, Count? The mercenary captains are cursed. . . .What? Theyre cursed, Count! An extremely cruel curse! The man spoke with a shudder. While Johan was dumbfounded, the other mercenaries made holy signs and cowered in fear. No one was more obsessed with superstitions than mercenaries. The atmosphere among the mercenaries was great when they advanced separately from Johan. The enemies couldnt even defend properly and all sorts of fortunes piled up with each passing day. But then, the captain of the Gorgale Mercenary Group suddenly copsed. Next was the captain leading the b*stards of Arkiten. Then the captain of the Medusa Mercenary Group copsed. . . After that, it was the sub-captains. Seeing the sub-captains writhing in pain, the mercenaries were stricken by fear. By then, a rumor had spread. The captains leading the mercenary groups must havemitted some sacrilegious acts and got cursed. Naturally, the mercenaries couldnt do anything in that state. Some minor mercenary groups and quick-witted mercenaries who feared the curse swiftly deserted. The remaining mercenaries had to hold their positions as theirmanders had copsed. Of course, morale hit rock bottom. No one knew when the curse might transfer to them. ? The envoys must have either been attacked by pirates or went to the mercenaries camp and got infected by the curse. Johan raised an obvious question. Isnt it an epidemic? The difference between these mercenaries and Johan was their mindset. While they feared gods, superstitions, and everything in the world, Johan did not believe any of them at all. Malevolent spirits feared those who did not fear them, and it was the same for curses. Naturally, Johans soul was strong. Its not an epidemic! Count. It doesnt seem to be an epidemic. Theres no way the mercenaries couldnt distinguish that much, right? The mercenaries agreed with the man. It was too suspiciouspared to a normal epidemic. Hmm. . . I need to take a look at their condition. W-Wait, Count. What if the curse infects you once we get there. . . While they were mercenaries willing to follow Johan and attack the pirates main force, they shuddered at the mention of seeing the cursed mercenaries. Curses are frightening! Johan almost snapped at them but held it in. At least they were loyal when needed. In situations like this, he had to adapt his words to his audience. Look at me. I, Johan of House Yeats, am a knight blessed by God. Have I not been certified in the Orders name? Hearing Johans words, the mercenaries unconsciously nodded. Johans words certainly sounded convincing. If this Count had not received blessings, then who else could have? Just as the priests exorcise evil by anointing, divine power flows in my soul and bloodline blessed by God and praised by His Holiness the Pope and the bishops. No wicked curse would dare approach me. Ohh. . . The mercenaries made holy signs. Maybe because the noon sun was especially hot, it felt like Johan had a halo behind him. C-Could you hold my hand, Count? . . .I dont mind but why? When I was young, a priest told me that just by touching the hands of those born from noble bloodlines, one could heal illnesses. . . . ? Chapter 127.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (2) Chapter 127.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (2) Johan thought so, but in fact it was not the priests fault. It was amon tale that the miracle of healing wounds with the touch of a noble saints hands was recognized as a miracle by the church itself. Of course, the church did not seriously believe that a petty nobleman could perform the miracles of a saint. But the church always had to be mindful of the feudal lords. They could say that there was divine value in the bloodline of noble nobles. Yeah. Grab it. Oh oh. . . Oh oh oh. . .! Johans divinity was not formed by such noble bloodline, but by his own mythical feats. It was natural that the mercenaries who saw him up close believed so. I. . . Can I also. . . Where did this rude guye from! Were you crazy about getting hit! The mercenary from the Walgyesu Mercenary Group had to hear vicious curses mixed with words for even saying one word. Johans mercenaries did not want to share their employers divinity, much less in a situation like this where they had to deal with curses. s. They are pirates. Should we hit them from behind? Lets hit them. It can get annoying. When he spotted pirates moving carts full of loot in the distance, Johan immediately gave orders. The pirate guys wouldnt mess with a cavalry troop either, but if they went back and reported it, a tail could be attached for no reason. , . After the battle with the minotaurs ended, Johan kept his promise. Not only that, but he showed more mercy. He released them in return for telling him that there was one more minotaur. At Johansmand, the merchants of the republic took the pirates as if they were going to sell them as ves, then released them at a midpoint. . The pirates were not valuable enough to fetch a high price. Of course, ves were always selling well in republics and cities, but even ves had different grades. To sell at a high price, the ve had to be talented, learned, or beautiful. The pirates were none of these. They were most likely to be sold cheaply asborers. In a situation where selling them wouldnt make much money and killing them wouldnt leave anything behind, keeping them would only drain food supplies. In such a situation, Johan had little regret in showing mercy. On top of that, there was Caenerna telling him that Tamir seemed to be a nobleman. He thought that showing mercy mighte back around someday. Of course, Caenerna did not like such vague calctions. She preferred the cash that came directly into her hands. It would be easier to just sell some nobleman they didnt even know and forget about him. In fact, that wasnt apletely wrong thing to say. Enemy! By the time the pirates were panicking and pulling out their weapons, the mercenaries had already arrived ahead of them. Johans cavalry guards, all mounted, had superior mobility from the start. Crossbow bolts pierced through a pirates head and Johans spear pierced two men at once. Realizing they were facing elite mounted soldiers, the pirates panicked and tried to flee. You idiot! Come back! One pirate who seemed to have some sense desperately called out to hisrades. What good would running away on t ground like this do with cavalry behind them? However, the terrified pirates scattered every which way. It was the belief that of course they would be chased down. Kill everyone except one of them! Thanks to that, Johan could huntfortably. They all fell except for the one who seemed to have some sense. That one was also hit by a sword while resisting. Where are you from? Geoffrey took over the interpretation. He wasnt very fluent, but he could speak the easternnguage to some extent. The pirate answered in pain and fear that he was from the Marquis territory. Ask how many there are, what they do, and why they came here. The pirate obediently answered. There were over thousands of pirates gathered in the Marquis territory, he was a squad leader level, and they came out here to plunder. As the main Marquis castle did not fall and only umted damage, some pirates started deserting. . Sieges in this world overwhelmingly favored the defenders. Marquis Crucho was an experiencedmander, and although he may have lost soldiers during thending, he had elite troops with him. With replenishments as well, he would have enough to defend the castle. . Even though Johan regretted it, there was nothing he could do about it. It wasnt as if he could make the Marquis make mistakes from afar. The pirate groaned and muttered something. Please show mercy. Just end it in one breath. . . End it. The mercenaries showed their mercy. Fortunately, they were stragglers who hade out. There would be no tail. I wonder if there really could be thousands of pirates gathered? I dont know. At best, a squad leader level guy wouldnt have urately grasped the scale, but still it wouldnt be that weird. Pirates scraped together as many as theynded and often relied on numbers. They would also arm kidnapped serfs and ves and make themrades. With groups of such guys gathering and banding together, thousands was not a surprising number. The old mercenary, Khan, opened his mouth. If so many pirates have gathered, I suspect they are being led by nobles. No, Mr. Khan. What do nobles regret that they would turn to piracy? Dont talk nonsense. Youve seen nobles leading mercenaries. Those pagan nobles below directly lead pirates, plundering merchant ships and capturing ves. Goodness. The deeds those pagan guys do are really despicable. . . . Johan thought so to himself, but did not interrupt the mercenaries conversation. s. Chapter 127.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (2) Chapter 127.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (2) It was obvious where the mercenaries were staying. If there were no pirates in sight and the town looked rtively intact, thats where the mercenaries were staying. Even the mercenaries did some looting while assessing the situation. When staying in one ce for a long time, they did notpletely devastate the surrounding area. Thanks to this, nearby towns maintained a tense atmosphere but looked quite intact. Where are those mercenary b*stards? O-Over there is their camp. The serfs were so frightened when they encountered Johans cavalry that they couldnt continue talking. They thought the neers were mercenaries. The exhausted mercenaries standing guard, upon discovering Johans group, extended their spears and said, Halt. Where are you from? Count Yeats. . . . . . . The mercenaries stared nkly as if they had been hit on the back of the head with a hammer. The name was so unexpected. Originally, no matter how noble, they should have kept them waiting, reported above, prepared properly, and weed them formally. . . But Johan did not give them that chance. I need to go in. Step aside. Ah. . . yes. P-Pleasee in. The mercenaries unconsciously stepped aside. Johans confident attitude, posture, tone, gaze, voice. . . all of these convinced them. The orderly mercenaries ring from behind also intimidated them. Despite Johan only being their employer without the authority tomand all these mercenaries. . . Nevertheless, the mercenaries unconsciously epted Johan as theirmander. Are you from the Gorgale Mercenary Group? Where is your captain? He is lying in the tent. Take me to him. I need to see his face directly. While riding into the camp, Johan looked around. There were quite a few copsed mercenaries. But it seemed more like an epidemic than a curse. There was no magical aura. It wasmon for disease to spread when many men gathered in one ce. Moreover, mercenary men moved urgently and brought whatever they could grab, making it even more likely. . ? Johan thought so as he approached the tent. The captains guards were taken aback and tried to stop him, but the mercenaries of the mercenary corps shouted even louder. Its the Count! Get out of the way! Get away quickly! Stupid b*stards! Ah, no. Without telling the captain. . . Before they knew it, Johan had already opened the tent and gone inside. The guards watched dumbfounded from their posts. . . .Wha, crazy! What the hell are the guards doing! Mercenary Captain Deosam panicked and shouted. With his finger, the crow beastman, Deosam, pointed at Johan. Intruder! Intruder! Calm down, Captain. Its Count Yeats. What kind of bullshit. . . Cough, cough. Deosam was angry, shouting and coughing before blinking. It was a young human man that looked very familiar. . . .S-Sorry. Count cough. Lets forget about the rudeness. Johan looked up and down at Deosam. The mercenary captain lying there was clearly very ill. He was different from the mercenaries outside. Magic energy could be felt from the mercenary captain. Moreover, it was vicious and ugly energy. The magic square amulet trembled when brought near. . . . . Johan was embarrassed. To be honest, he thought the mercenary captains had also caught the epidemic. , . . . ? It was an absurd andughable situation, but it was not a trivial matter. If they did not respond quickly, the mercenaries could fall apart. You dont look well. I will takemand of the mercenary corps instead. A-Absolutely not! Despite lying down, Deosam panicked and tried to resist. Command over the mercenaries he led was like life itself for a mercenary captain. There was no *sshole who would hand it over to his employer. The seal and sword are here. I will use them well. W-Wait! Johan grabbed Deosams shoulder, preventing him from getting up. Deosams face twisted from the pain he felt in his shoulder. The Order trusted you with this job, yet look at you now? If youre in too much pain to get up, you should have left it to the deputy captain, or if he couldnt do it, the next person. Johans scolding was tantamount to naked threats. The guards were outside, and Johan with his drawn sword stood alone in front of the captain. Deosam fell into terror that Johan might use this situation as an excuse to kill him. Ugh. . . Ugh. . . Looks like you need to rest. Take it easy. Johans words would not allow any more dissent. Deosam could only nod his head. I heard envoys came. Did any happen to arrive here? Yes, they arrived. They are also bedridden. . . .Really? Again Johan was surprised. To be honest, he thought they had been attacked by pirates. . . ? It was astonishing. Most of the mercenaries were not cursed, yet the envoys who had just arrived recently were. Theres no need to check now. Captain has handedmand to me. This sword and seal are proof. From now on Im in charge! All sub-captains who can move, assemble! Those who cannot move send representatives! At Johans shout, the mercenaries hurriedly moved. The rough, greedy men who would normally be vicious obeyed Johan likembs. The sub-captains were confused that a noble, no matter how high-ranking, had suddenly entered and started ordering them around. Even with the seal and sword, it was too strange. ? ? . . ., . . . However, none of the sub-captains opened their mouths. Among the mercenaries, sub-captains had roamed battlefields for quite a long time. As such, they had some situational awareness and senses. Above all, their instincts were warning them. Yes! We pledge our loyalty! Johan looked around at the mercenaries and separated those in poor condition. He then ordered them to find a new water source. . While Johan did not have professional knowledge, he knew the basic countermeasures. Bathe, clean up unsanitary conditions, find uncontaminated drinking water. . . Boil water and dissolve salt in it. Is there any honey? There is some left in the warehouse. Youve been living in luxury. For those in poor health, mix honey into their drink. Make simple oral rehydration solution and have them drink it. . . Johan reacted quickly. This much should quickly suppress the epidemic. Fortunately, despite the rumors caused by the curse, the situation was not serious. As some of the healthy mercenaries started getting up, the atmosphere was instantly reversed. The mercenaries murmured Johans name in astonishment. Indeed, the holy knight blessed by God is different no matter what! Chapter 128.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (3) Chapter 128.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (3) It was an era when all kinds of superstitions and rumors were rampant. People wanted an entity they could believe in and rely on. The young count who appeared like aet amidst the circting curses was a perfect fit. The rumors started from Johan receiving the approval and blessing of the order, and grew to the point where people said he was a descendant of St. Julianius. Considering the honorable knight St. Julianius lived and died a celibate, it was truly a ridiculous rumor. . Though it would have been more amusing if the mercenaries actually studied theology. . . Rumors were spreading and growing, but Johan saw no need to stop them. As silly as they were, they were also helpful. To begin with, it was risky for an outsider to seizemand from the leader of a mercenarypany. It wasnt about status or rank. Mercenaries would not stand by idly while an outsider took over. Yet thanks to these rumors, there had been no problems at all. Even the sub-captains had started believing them and were oddly deferential. . . .Count, are you by any chance obtaining holy water? The funniest moment was when a priest apanying the mercenaries came up to Johan and asked seriously. Johan had no choice but to bite his lip and reply. No, I just prepared some clean water. If there are miracles, they must be gifts from God. Oh! Indeed. . .! Could that truly be holy water? Well. . . I suppose you could call it that. I knew it! As the priest walked away looking pleased, as if he had gotten the answer he wanted, Johan couldnt help but click his tongue. . Count, forgive me. Didnt I tell you several times that if you were not sick or cursed, there would be no reason for you to hold my hand? Oh, uh, no, thats not it. The sub-captain turned red with embarrassment. The mercenaries, who were of the rank of sub-captain or captain, used their positions to approach Johan. Wouldnt it be more effective to hold hands directly instead of just drinking water? I have something to say about the curse. Oh. Go ahead. Johan readily agreed. Now that the soldiers were gradually recovering, he was thinking of looking into the curse anyway. A sub-captain would have been quite involved in the big and small affairs of the mercenary corps. He might have told him if the captain was hiding something. While we have all recovered, there is a reason why those led by the captain have not recovered. What is that? It is because they have umted sins so great throughout their lives that they cannot be cured even with Your Excellency the Counts prayers. . . . . . . Johan was at a loss for words. However, the sub-captain spoke in a very serious tone. In order to prevent the curse from spreading any further, the captain must be killed, burned, and then buried. ! The authority of the captain was absolute within the mercenary corps. No one challenged the authority of the captain, and the captain absolutely maintained his authority. It was absurd in itself that sub-captains were gathered like this and talked about killing him. However, fear of curses and superstitions sometimes made the absurd possible. Judging by the sub-captains expression, it seemed he had already finished talking with the other guys. . A rebellion within the mercenary corps was the ultimate disgrace for a captain. If Your Excellency the Count does not want to get your hands dirty, we will step up. . . Calm down. We still dont know what the curse is. Theres no rush to kill him. Johan calmed down the sub-captain. It would be troublesome for Johan if the sub-captains raged here. It would be annoying for Johan too if a rumor spread that he identally killed the mercenary captain and took over the mercenary corps. It was more convenient to keep the captain alive and use him. . . .Yes. Im sorry. . Johan interrogated the sub-captain and made him tell everything that had happened. Johans expression became stranger and stranger as he listened to the story. . . . . Looting temples, destroying idols, killing resisters and robbing their property. . . To be honest, it was understandable that the mercenaries were sensitive to curses. Everything they did was just asking to be cursed. . ? If the curse was due to the things they had done, the envoys could not have been cursed. Johan decided to check the envoys first. . Im. . . Im sorry, Count. Thats enough. Lie down. The dark curse writhed on the skin of the envoys. It was only natural for the mercenaries to fear them. The magic square amulet vibrated madly. Even though he had not gone near the envoys. Johan turned his head. Behind the tent where the envoys were staying, there was a golden statue he saw for the first time. It looked like an icon, but its appearance was clearly different. It was a lewd and vulgar shape. ? ? Where did this thinge from? We got it from the mercenaries. To offer to the Count. . . Johan sneered. He couldnt tell if the envoys really intended to offer it or if they were trying to sneak it away. Thetter seemed more likely. It wouldnt hurt for the mercenaries to offer bribes to the envoys either. As he approached the statue, the amulet vibrated more violently. Even with Johans eyes, he could feel the curse pooling inside. It was ready to spill out at any opportunity and contaminate people. ?? Even though he reached out carefully, the curse did note out. It seemed he had to do something to be afflicted by the curse. Deosam. Johan went to find Deosam lying down. The pagan idol was held in his hand. Where did this thinge from? ! Deosam was startled with surprise. He did not expect Johan to bring that thing. A subordinate brought it from plunder. . . Chapter 128.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (3) Chapter 128.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (3) Oh my. Johan poked Deosams body with his sword. It was an obvious threat. Within the mercenary group camp, no one came forward even though he was wielding a sword at the groupmanders body. Deosam was horrified. What. . . what is this, Count? Im checking if the sword is working well. No matter how high your status, you cannot do this. If I call people outside now. . . As he was speaking, Deosams eyes widened. He realized one thing as he was talking. . . .Did these b*stards betray me?! Dont get too angry. Its not good for your health. The curse must have been scary. Damn those who will receive this curse! All the curses on earth and underground. . . Cursing like that wont do much good anyway. Stop the pointless talk and make a choice. If you tell the truth properly Ill let you live. If the curse is lifted and your body gets better, you can lead the mercenary group again. But if you keep talking nonsense, Ill have no choice but to test how well this sword cuts on your neck. Dont test my patience. . . . . . . Deosam sweated profusely then opened his mouth. . . .Keep the secret. Alright. If you want me to dig that desperately. . . Johan raised his sword. Deosam desperately shouted. Ill tell! Ill tell everything! Please forgive me, Count! There. Shouldve done that from the start. Deosam hastily confessed everything. While happily plundering territories, they discovered a suspicious temple underground in a vige. The doctrine strictly forbids the plunder of such temples and rmends proper procedures for subjugation, but mercenaries would never follow such principles. More than anything, relics from the ancient Empire contain countless treasures that could overturn ones life. There was no way they would stand by watching those things get confiscated and burned by the doctrine. The mercenary captains took only mouth-heavy ves into the temple. And they swept out all the gold, silver and valuables inside. What happened after that? . . .Yes. Then they started dropping one by one. All those who had set foot in the temple. Of course they couldnt confess to the doctrine or priests either. If unlucky, it could lead to emunication. Who would confess something like this? . . .Looks like Ill have to retrieve those treasures. Whos going to do that? Dont worry. Ill take care of it myself. . . .?! Deosam was surprised by Johans words. He had never even imagined it. To enter a cursed pagan temple? He was confused whether this knight was too brave to be afraid or just simple-minded. What, do you have anyints? Do you still regret the treasures? No. . . no! If you help me, I will never forget this grace for the rest of my life. I swear to God. Of course you should. After the curse is lifted, I expect your loyalty. Deosam kept nodding. Even if he had to be Johans ve to lift this curse, he could ept it. The curse was so painful. Give me the location of the temple and the names of everyone who went there. Yes. . . Johan was not only trying to lift the captains curse, but more than anything, the fact that it was a relic from the ancient Empire piqued his interest. A treasure from the ancient Empire! Of course the mercenaries had swept everything away, but the mercenaries had no eyes to discern. There was a high chance they missed something. s. Johan headed to the camp of another mercenary group staying nearby with his guards and the elites of the Gorgale Mercenary Group. Before Johan could shout, the mercenaries of the Gorgale Mercenary Group yelled loudly. You blind fools with no eyes! Kneel down at once if you dont want the count to pass this camp! If you want to lift the curse, kneel down miserably! ! Since the rumor had already spread to other ces, the mercenaries hurriedly knelt down. The curse seemed to be terribly scary. Johan did the same thing he did in the Gorgale Mercenary Group. Cleaning the dirty stuff, separating the injured to treat them separately. . . The rumor was so well spread that there was no need to take away the leaders sword and seal. Johans words alone carried tremendous authority. All done. After properly disguising the cart full of treasures, Johan headed to the temple entrance with his guards. There was a secret entrance underground in the ruined town. But, master. ? What if the curse is not lifted even though we returned this? Geoffrey asked as if worried. Johan answered briefly. Then I guess well have to kill all the cursed guys, what can we do? Indeed. . . Geoffrey nodded. It was meant to be a joke, but Johan was slightly embarrassed as he took it too seriously. . He couldnt keep waiting forever if the curse wasnt lifted. Time would not wait forever. Light up the torch. Yes, its so creepy. What the mercenaries had mistaken for a pagan temple was an underground tomb from the ancient Empire era. Narrow passages intricately intertwined in aplex way. Skulls and coffins were abundant. However, finding the way was not difficult. Johan focused on the aura of magic with his eyes closed. Like the flow of air, the aura flowing through the tomb was heading in one direction. Cou. . . Count! ? There, theres a monster! A monster! One mercenary screamed, wielding his sword. However, Johan saw nothing. At that moment, Johan acted quickly. ! Johan grabbed the mercenary and pped his cheek hard. Then he shouted fiercely. Get a grip! Uh. . . uh. . . uh. Whether it was because of the violence or the power in his voice, the clouded eyes of the mercenary regained their color. Only then did the mercenary look around and say, Where did that monster go? You were cursed. Did you have any weird thoughts? . . .Uh, that. . . I wondered if I could secretly take some treasures if there were any good ones here. . . I see. Everyone, do not have any greedy thoughts. Seeing that only this mercenary was affected unlike the others, his impious greed was surely the cause. At Johans words, the mercenaries nodded their heads in fear. However, after that, a few more people affected by the curse appeared. Whenever that happened, Johan would p their cheeks and bring them back to their senses. Thanks to that, the mercenaries were slowly regaining theirposure. Its no big deal? The p hurts like hell, but. . . Following the flow, a huge hall appeared. The aura gushing out from the pagan statue was fluctuating and flowing toward the empty space, like mas attracting each other by force. Johan picked up the statues himself and put them back in their original spots. He also returned the other treasures ordingly. When all the work was done, Johan briefly bowed to the pagan statue. It was customary etiquette. As someone with absolutely no religious faith, he could do something a believer would never have done. Chapter 129.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (4) Chapter 129.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (4) At that moment, the scenery changed. The dark, damp smell that lingered in the cold underground tomb suddenly turned into a warm meadow under the sunshine. Johan was standing in front of a secluded pond. The lush greenery brought a calm peace to his mind. However, Johan paled in astonishment and drew out his sword. It was because of a mystery he had never experienced before. As Suetlg and Caenerna both testified, Johans soul was truly strong and steadfast. Impervious tomon mysteries or curses. Thats why Johan dared to touch the cursed idol, isnt it? Yet now Johan walked into the pagan mystery without any resistance. He couldnt help but be surprised. The sound of water was heard. A naked priestess was walking out of the pond. It was a beautiful figure that looked exactly like the pagan idol, but Johan didnt care. Pointing his sword, he said coldly. Send me back. But the priestess just smiled. Before Johan got closer and swung his sword, treasures appeared in front of him. It was a golden mountain that even kings would be tempted by. With this much gold, an army of ten thousand could be maintained for years, it seemed. The priestess pointed at the treasure as if telling him to take it. Johan shook his head. He wasnt stupid enough to ept something whose identity was unknown. I told you to send me back. The priestessughed again. This time, elves looking like Iselia appeared next to him. Iselia made seductive expressions that she could never make, and the elves tried to cling to Johan. Johan pushed them away. The priestess did not give up and presented gifts over and over. But Johan stabbed his sword into the ground and said, Ill say this onest time. Send me back. The priestess shrugged as if she had no choice. It looked like she was frustrated. At that moment, Johan realized that his body was soaking in the pond. ?! The priestess scooped the water with her hand and poured it over Johans head. As the cool, clear water flowed down his head, he felt strength gushing through his body. While the evil spirit Valkalmur had violent, crude power, the priestesss power was gentle and wise. The moment that power lingered in his body, Johan was able to realize that none of this was a trap. . . .Wait a minute. Then if I had received the gold. . . Before the thought was over, Johan found himself back in the original tomb. The mercenaries had the exact same expressions as just before. Faces filled with fear and tension. They didnt have astonished faces as if Johan had disappeared and returned. ? Master, Count! Look at that! The pagan idol in front of them crumbled and fell apart. The mercenaries were horrified at the surreal sight. It looked as if Johans faith had defeated the pagan faith. The mercenaries couldnt help but make the sign of the cross. . . On the way back, Johan tried hard to discern the new power flowing through his veins. But he couldnt figure it out at all. Count, you are truly amazing. Topletely sweep away the temple of those wicked pagans with such an ursed ce. The mercenaries spoke sincerely. Not knowing the details, they had no choice but to show their respect. If Johan hadnt been there, who knew how many would have died inside that tomb. Even so, if the curse had not been lifted, it would have been the fault of the mercenary leaders for umting sins. I will testify to that. Thats right. We should have just burned those b*stards to death. . . The more respect and awe they felt towards Johan, the more hostility grew towards the mercenary gang. How corrupted must they be to carry around such curses, they wondered. If the curse had not been lifted even after this, the escorts would have personally stabbed the mercenary captains to death. Fortunately, as they returned to the mercenary camp, Deosam walked out supported by ves. Are you well? Y-Yes. . . I can endure. The curse marks on Deosams skin were slowly disappearing as he walked out supported by the ves. The magical energy was the same. Can you lead the mercenaries? No one would answer no to this question. Deosam desperately nodded his head. Of course I can lead them, Count. Please leave it to me. I will follow you loyally! Due to your curse, our schedule has been dyed quite a bit. Lead the mercenaries south and join the army. If you arete, I will not forgive you. Understand? Johan gave orders to Deosam in front of the other sub-captains. It was as if Deosam was the sub-captain and Johan was the leader of the mercenaries. For a nobleman to clearly show the hierarchy and give orders to a mercenary captain like this within a mercenary group was rare. When nobles hired mercenary groups, they would generally show some respect to the captain and give autonomy as custom. However, Johan forcibly ordered Deosam in front of all the mercenaries. As if the entire mercenary group had fallen into Johans hands. Yet no oneined. Rather, they listened as if it was natural for Deosam to follow Johans orders. . . . . . . Deosam broke into a cold sweat at thepletely changed atmosphere of the mercenary group. Just what on earth happened while he was bedridden from the curse? It wasnt just borrowingmand. It felt like the entire mercenary group had been handed over to Johan. . . .? When the atmosphere of a mercenary group became like this, there was nothing a captain could do. While a captains authority was absolute, operating a mercenary group surprisingly required reading the mood of the mercenaries themselves. If Count Yeats orders were ignored or dyed, a riot could break out immediately. That was the kind of atmosphere it was. Yes! Your Excellency Count. I pledge my name and honor to serve you. Good. Ill trust you then. Deosam. Simr conversations urred in the other camp as well. The atmosphere in the mercenary camp, which had been like a graveyard, quickly regained morale and prepared to advance. It was like a bolt from the blue for the pirates. s. Chapter 129.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (4) Chapter 129.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (4) Mercenaries are on the move. Isnt that a problem? What are their intentions ining down here? The pirate leaders gathered at Marquis Crucho fief frowned. They knew that mercenary groups numbering several thousand were wandering around the northwest. But shes were surprisingly few. It was a kind of unspoken agreement. The mercenaries also came to plunder, and the pirates also came to plunder. There was no need for the two to fight and drain each others strength. Except when fighting over treasure, they avoided each other. But theyreing down now. They had no choice but to be vignt. Didnt they say the mercenaries were cursed? It seems they have recovered. They say an excellent priest lifted the curse. . . Dont talk nonsense. How could a priest of the Outsider God be that excellent. To the pirates, the monotheistic denomination was a heretical religion. To those who worshiped the Father God and Mother God of the ditheistic religion, the monotheistic denomination was insignificant. But an excellent priest was instinctively respected. No matter how pagan the priest was, it was inevitable. No, a saint has appeared. He has shown miracles that heal illnesses just by touching. . . What the f**k. . . One of the pirate leaders spat out a swear word as if he couldnt believe it. But he wasnt the only one saying it. As several of them spoke in unison, even the leader had to back down. Dont spread the word that a saint has appeared over there. The rumor has already spread widely. . . These assh**e b*stards! Whats so scary about a saint! Quiet. The important thing now isnt that. When the young vampire spoke, everyone became quiet. It was a scene revealing the mans authority. Even though there was a noble right next to him from the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms. Ahir Mulc. He was the second son of the prestigious Mulc family from the Eastern Empire. The Mulc family also had fiefs in the not too distant Ulcana Penins, so it was natural for the pirates to be wary. If the mercenaries are aiming for us? Why would mercenaries aim for us if they werent crazy? . . .Unless they were out of their minds. There are plenty of reasons. Its not impossible either. Whether they had gone mad with greed or were ordered to, it wasnt impossible. At Ahirs words, the others made thoughtful expressions. Taking over the Marquis fief in high spirits was good, but they hadnt been able to conquer the essence of Marquis Crucho himself. Marquis Crucho was holding on with astonishing ability. Now winter was about toe. If they kept staying here, things could getplicated. Shall we divide the army in two to intercept them? What about the Marquiss castle still remaining? Its just a handful of men relying on the castle walls anyway. Dividing wont matter. Leave it to me. I will tear those weak mercenaries to shreds ande back. Terrible news! What?? The enemy, the enemys reinforcements have arrived at the front of Marquis fief! It was Johans main force, which had advanced swiftly to Marquis fief. It was an advance that pierced the pirates negligence after remaining still for a while to the south. . Weve passed the first barrier at least. After entering the Marquis fief, Johan inspected his troops while talking. While crossing the river behind them, all the boats were burned and the remaining bridges were broken. Now that this was the case, the pirates could not escape. The pirates had to either cross the bridge behind Johans troops or turn around and get out of the Marquis fief. Both were impossible. His troops couldnt possibly fail to chase the movement of such an army. The pirates had no cavalry, and mercenaries wereing down from above. When the mercenariese down from the north, the pirates will be surrounded from front and back, Your Excellency! How will the pirates follow Your Excellencys strategy? The vassals desperately tried to impress Johan. Especially since this was the Marquis fief. By leading the army here, they had truly crossed a river of no return. . ! Those who had been vassals of the Marquis rather than Johan were desperate. They were determined to make Johan capture the Marquis no matter what. Otherwise, it was dangerous for them. I must say that I will take the vanguard. I must break the fervor of the enemies! Youre right. We must show the pagans the valor of knights! Some knights came looking for Johan. It was quitemon for knights toe forward and demonstrate their skills before a fight. It looked absurd to Johan, but it was directly rted to the soldiers morale. You just went out on patrol. ?! s. Johan himself was leading his guards and approaching the pirates forces. Far in the distance, the faint figure of the Marquiss castle could be seen. It was a castle located on a mountain, focused on defense. It seemed it could hold out for a while. Nearby were scattered pirate camps. Johan narrowed his eyes and red at them. ? But since he hadnt, he had to get closer now. Though his guards would worry, Johan was determined to persuade them to bring him along. However, there was no need. . . .?! As he red into the distance, the pirate forces seemed to get closer and closer into view. It felt as if he was using a telescope even though he wasnt. Johan didnt have bad eyesight, but this was like an eagles eyes. Johan was startled and blinked. ? The mysterious power flowing through his body seemed to invigorate his eyes. . . .? ? . Anyway, there was no reason not to see what the power was lending. Johan narrowed his eyes and red at the enemies. Some camps were quite orderly despite the disorder. Several banners that looked like noble family crests could also be seen. There really are nobles. You. . .you can see that?! The guards were surprised. Then the priest next to him spoke. If God himself has revealed it, of course you can see it. The priests regarded the pagan temple purge as a kind of revtion. With a big fight ahead, it was a natural thing. A few areing from that hill! Although the guards warned of horsemen discovered below the hill, it was unnecessary. The opponents had a white g attached. They were envoysing for negotiations. Chapter 130.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (5) Chapter 130.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (5) It wasughable that the pirates were sending an envoy, but with the scale of pirates gathered it was questionable to call them just a rogue band. It was not surprising they sent an envoy since there seemed to be some pagan nobles among them. Count Yeatss knight? The pirate envoys who found Johan spoke in a strange Empire ent. As envoys they at least knew how to speak the Empirenguage. Seeing his well-equipped armaments, it was clear he was a knight, and since he was young, they judged he did not have his own fiefdom. At those words, Johans escorts bristled. How dare these pirate b*stards be so insolent. . . Im not a pirate, Im a noble. What noble! Just a rogue thief and plunderer! If youre a noble then Im the Emperor! The mercenaries were angry at the shamelessness, but the envoys were speaking sincerely. The pagan pirates did not see themselves as rogues. To them it was a justified war. Whats wrong with attacking the enemys fiefdom and taking spoils? Dont you do the same? . . .We, we do it with permission. . . And if you lose ground there? Enough. Stop the quarrel. Seeing his mercenaries losing the verbal fight, Johan cut them off, fed up. Were Count Yeatss knight. It seems youre out on reconnaissance. We havee as envoys of Ahir-gong. We ask that you provide proper guidance as custom dictates. Hearing the pagan pirate mention envoy customs, the mercenaries bristled even more. However, Johan did not care at all and nodded. I will guide you to the camp. . Entering the tent, Johan sat down in the chief seat as is. Seeing that, the envoys who followed him in blinked in surprise and stammered. . . .My, my lord Count? Thats right. Did you not say you were a knight. . .? They were my knights. I didnt lie. Hearing Johans words, the envoys twisted their faces in embarrassment for not recognizing their counterpart. For envoys toe and not even guess the status of the other side revealed ipetence. You are truly young and beautiful, my lord. And strong, Im sure. Anyway, what business brings you here? My lord has received the oaths of allegiance from southern nobles and defeated hordes of evil monsters. Serfs, priests, and nobles alike sing praises of your fame, how can this not be a great feat? Johan had to hold back a yawn. Unlike other nobles, hearing such praises did not really move Johan. For a honorable noble, praise was not simplypliment, but proof of their authority and reason for being. In fact, Iselia had a joyful expression as if she was the one hearing praise. They were pagan envoys, but fame was still fame. After the tedious ttery, the envoys finally got to the point. Hearing the unexpected proposal, Johans expression stiffened. Shall we make peace? Stripping the flowery diplomatic phrasing, it was simply a request for ceasefire. The pirates did not want to fight Johans forces and wished to withdraw from here. They regretted not capturing the Marquis, but securing spoils and safely withdrawing took priority. The pirates promised that in return they would hand over half of the plunder. As payment for avoiding battle, was it not enough? . Hearing the proposal, Johan fell into thought. It was certainly a sweet and tempting offer. Receiving half the plunder the pirates scraped together without fighting was tempting. But looking closely, it was not an offer to ept lightly. First, half the plunder was ambiguous. The pirates likely skimmed off quite a bit. Of course even ounting for that the amount would be tremendous, but it wasnt a total loss for the pirates either. Can the plunder be verified? Send someone at any time. Hearing the confident envoy, Johan was certain. The truly valuable treasures were surely smuggled elsewhere. Even if I promise, it will be hard for both sides to trust. . . Who would doubt the honor of my lord?! Of course the envoys would not solely trust Johans honor with their lives either. First they would hand over half of the promised treasure, then once the pirates safely crossed the river they would deliver the other half. For that promise, the pirates offered hostages. Honorable pagan knights volunteered themselves. It held little meaning to Johan though. Frankly, there was no telling if the pirates sent real knights or disguised ves to pose as hostages. Not only that, we will release all the nobles captured here as prisoners. That is only natural. The envoys flinched at Johans arrogance. But they had no choice. The advantageous position was held by the other side. . . .You are correct my lord. I beg you to show us mercy. If my lord showspassion just once, we will never be arrogant again and live quietly. . Fine. I need time to decide, wait until then. Yes. Thank you. The envoys left. By now some of the quicker witted vassals probably noticed the envoys arrival. The vassals might actually wee a ceasefire. . Since the priests did not know the details, they could easily be deceived. Telling them the enemies secretly retreated would be enough. The priests would be satisfied with just that. But Johan was conflicted. If he was a mercenary captain hired to subjugate pirates, he would have shook hands and sent them away. But Johan was a Count. How could he end this situation even more perfectly? s. Chapter 130.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (5) Chapter 130.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (5) The pirates. . . This is really a good thing, isnt it?? How do you know if they will properly give the treasure? Think about it. They made this offer because they are afraid now. Do you think they would openly try to deceive us? Of course they might skim off some, but they will hand over a sufficient amount of gold. That should be enough. Johan summoned some of his most loyal vassals and told them the story. While some were disappointed they couldnt fight, they didnt dislike the offer. Why does the Count have to listen to those b*stards offer? Lets ignore them and fight! Dont talk nonsense. Marquis Crucho is still out there. Do we need to fight the pirate gang when we are already short on strength? You are right. If the pirate fellows know their ce, there is no need topletely wipe them out. More than anything, the vassals wanted to capture Marquis Crucho for sure. They wouldnt be able to sleep well if they didnt deal with him now. By the way, isnt it interesting? Ahir-gong is from the Mulc family, so why did a nobleman from the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms send the envoy? What do you mean? Johan was puzzled by Baron Ginobansis words. As you know, south of here is the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms. The inds southwest of the penins were the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms. A ce pirates were bound to love. It was traditionally the nobles from the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms who tookmand of the pirates, so its peculiar that Ahir-gong sent the envoy. Who sent the envoy was an unexpectedly important issue. Unlike when there was a singlemander like Johan, it was even more so for the pirates who acted so recklessly. It was directly rted to their face and honor. And yet a nobleman from the distant Mulc family took charge. It was very unusual. Interesting. Please continue. At Johans words, the vassals gazes stabbed the old baron. He panicked at the sudden attention. Among the vassals here, the baron did not actually have that much power. Seeing some vassals look at him jealously, his heart shrank. D-Did this old baron make some kind of mistake? No. Baron, I told you to continue because its an interesting story. So what happened? Wouldnt the nobles of the J-Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms be non-existent. . .? No. After checking, the nobles of the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms did exist. After verifying the family crests of the nobles, Johanpared the information as soon as he returned. He was told they were small noble families of the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms. Then, isnt it that the nobles of the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms conceded due to Mulc familys fame. . .? Conceded. . . I see. While Baron Ginobansi also found it a bit strange, Johan thought of something else after hearing it. Good. Baron, thanks to you, I just had a nice idea. . . .? . When Count Yeats envoy arrived, the pirates breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it seemed the Count was also willing topromise. Ivee to convey Count Yeats will. Where are the nobles of the Nusard family? Nusard family? Wasnt it Ahir-gong? The ones who came out to greet them were perplexed. The Counts envoy was looking for the wrong nobles. While the Nusard family was a powerful family in the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms, the one in charge this time was Ahir-gong. It appears there has been some misunderstanding. Let me guide you to Ahir-gong. Are you telling us to disobey Counts will? Nonsense. If you dont guide us to the Nusard family, we will leave. The envoys shouted stiffly. Showing they didnt care one bit. They could not send away the messy and arrogant envoys. The pirates hurriedly reported to their superiors. After some chatter, a knight from the Nusard family decided to receive the envoy. Considering just the family status, the Nusard knight was also fully qualified to receive envoys. The envoys who came just rattled off some formalities. Since Johan originally sent them just to say hello, they didnt have much else to say. Greetings delivered and received well, came to confirm the spoils, decision will be made after some time passes. . . Still, the pirates were very satisfied. The fact that the other party responded at all was a sess. Ahir-gong! Your n worked out. It seems the Count wants to negotiate. What n. . . Who wouldnt take money to use a bridge? One of the leaders grumbled. It was Ahir who proposed negotiations before being surrounded from both sides, while they still had a chance. The pirates agreed, but that didnt mean they liked giving up gold. Having to hand over that much gold to the opponent. . . Didnt we already talk about this! Are you thinking of saying something else now? What did I say? I just said it doesnt take a n to propose something like that. If it was really a scheme, shouldnt it be enough to take down that solid castle? There was discontent building up among the pirates over not being able to take the castle. That discontent could only be directed at themander. The envoy came, so shouldnt we guide them to Ahir-gong? Why is the Nusard family receiving them? What do you want me to do when the Counts envoys insist? Is it wrong for even the pagan b*stards to know the name of the Nusard family? Suchints were prone to bursting at the slightest issues. . Hmm. Johan stared intently at Iselia as they yed chess. Iselia asked in puzzlement, Why so, my dear? I knew you were better than your fake. . . .I have a fake?! At Iselias words, Johan nodded. He said he saw such an illusion while suppressing the pagan temple. Since it was an illusion that looked like me, you wouldnt have been fooled. It must not have been very charming. No. It was nothingpared to you, so I ignored it. Iselias face turned bright red and she bowed her head. Then she made a wicked move. Johan immediately took her queen with a knight and called checkmate. Checkmate. Cow. . .cowardly. My dear. Such an underhanded tactic. It wasnt underhanded though, was it? . . .May I ask exactly what was different? Iselia cautiously asked. It was a question she would never have asked before. First of all, she was a lot more undressed. . . . . . . . . Her expression was like she was intoxicated. . . Shall I stop there? Yes, you can stop. My dear. Iselia couldnt stand the embarrassment. She changed the subject. May I ask the reason for keeping the envoys waiting? From what I heard, it doesnt seem like the pirates are very united, so I thought it would be better to wait. If its disadvantageous, wont they offer better terms? The more they doubt and argue with each other, the more anxious they will be and bring better terms. Thats what Johan thought. Your excellency! Your excellency! What is it? Did those guys already send new envoys? The pirates seem to have gone crazy!! ?! Chapter 131.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (6) Chapter 131.1: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (6) The pirates have gone crazy. Johan was also confused by the sudden report. What is this all about? However, after hearing the details, Johan also had no choice but to understand. . . .It seems the pirate b*stards have gone crazy. Some of the pirates who were lower nobility escaped. They were shouting surrender and demanding their rights and safety be guaranteed. It would have been nonsense if the opponent was a pirate, but it was a viable argument since they were nobility. But there was a more important issue for Johan. Why did they run away? ! . . . ? . Surprisingly, the pirates had taken the Marquis ancestral home, Idra Castle. They had conquered the sturdy castle that had not taken a scratch even after being bombarded for over a month. Of course it was not through normal siege tactics. The pirates had thoroughly searched the vicinity and found rtives of people working inside the castle. And they continually tried to bribe them. Threats, bribes, persuasion. . . It was still not an easy path since the pirates were pagans. Persuasion was even more difficult. But in the end there was a traitor. It was one of the Marquis servants. A servant of a high ranked noble like a Marquis would usually be a position taken by a petty noble, and as such was sensitive to rumors. The trigger for the Marquis servant changing sides was ironically because of Johan. He had misunderstood Johans troops as reinforcements for the pirates, and turned sides to save his own life. , . ? . . . The Nusard brothers had a lot ofints about Ahir. It was natural for the old family of the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms to have to hand overmand to an outsider. With Johan adding fuel to their dissatisfaction, they started moving more actively. They tried to capture Ahir and his close aides to take overmand. They didnt intend to kill them. They only wanted to threaten them after capturing them to take overmand. It was still very much in the manageable range. . . .But the day they decided to take action happened to be the day Ahir opened the gates and took the enemy castle. Ahir had not informed those around him about the bribery process for security reasons, and as a result things had be terribly entangled. First the castle was taken. When the gates opened and the enemy gs were raised on the castle walls, the Marquis panicked. The Marquis escaped with just his guards, and the remaining soldiers immediately copsed losing their will. After that a fierce civil war broke out inside the castle. The Nusard brothers led the warriors and charged in. Ahir also resisted with his men but they were unprepared and helpless. Ahir also escaped somewhere with just his guards. Then those among the pirates who followed Ahir or were on Ahirs side also fled in fear. The Nusard brothers tried to persuade them somehow but such persuasion was useless. The situation of those who fled was also hopeless. They were surrounded by enemies. ss. So they came to surrender to me? It was better to properly surrender to the military of nobility. If they fell into the hands of mercenaries by mistake, they could suffer all kinds of humiliation and die. Yes. . . . . . . . . No matter how foggy the battlefield was, it was such a chaotic situation. The vassals were also at a loss for words due to the confusion. It was too sudden a change. At this time, only Johan could make a decision. Johan shouted firmly. Call the vassals! We will attack the pirates right now! . . .We shall follow your words! Johans vassals who followed him shouted with joy on their faces. In such turmoil, masters who radiate light are trustworthy lords. To the vassals, Johan seemed full of conviction. If God had not allowed it, how could he have such conviction in this situation? . . Johan checked his mind. There were too many things happening that even Johans mind wasplicated. . . . . ? . . Although his mind wasplicated, his body moved without the slightest hesitation. In an instant the vassals awoke the troops and finished preparations to advance. With the sacred mission given by God, we will subjugate the pirates. Follow me! A roar like thunder followed after. A huge army began charging across the in. No matter how the pirates fought amongst themselves and dwindled in number, they still held the castle. Johan was not reckless enough to attack outright. Johan selected dozens of well-dressed men then charged forward. The pirates were taken aback by the sudden approach. Are they envoys? There were still quite a few pirates outside the castle, but they stood aside cluelessly. They did not look like enemies at all. Open the gates! Seeing Johans bold stance as he shouted loudly in Eastern, the pirates hesitated before opening the castle gates. They wondered if the men who came so boldly could really be enemies. Besides, there were only dozens of them. The gates are open. Charge! ?????! Johan charged right in. The cavalrys assault as they raced in and broke through the castle gates caused the pirates to panic and scatter. At that moment, the main force led by Johan on the other side of the castle came into view. Seeing the orderly, huge army of over a thousand approaching, the pirates outside the castle jumped in fright. Block the gates! The enemy ising en masse! It seemed the pirates had not properly taken control of the castle yet. Despite the gates opening, not more than a few dozen charged in. They were likely drunk and plundering inside the castle. Johan cut down, crushed, and trampled the enemies. When Karamaf roared ferociously and shed his ws, a pond of blood formed in front of the gates. Surrender! We surrender! Kill those still holding weapons first! Chapter 131.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (6) Chapter 131.2: ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? (6) Your Excellency ! We havee! Allow us to stand before you! We fear you may get hurt! The vassals who btedly arrived shouted as they saw the blood-drenched Johan. Johan paid them no mind and said, Were going into the inner castle! Catch them so they cannot escape! The entrance to the inner castle had long, winding staircases designed to make it difficult for enemies to enter easily. The marquis castle was also built ording to this design. Johan dismounted then rushed into the inner castle entrance with the knights. The pirates who btedly heard the news and came out wielding weapons screamed. Close the door! The door. . . As the pulley lowered the heavy door downwards, Johan grabbed it with one hand and lifted it upwards. ! Seeing the heavy door that could not be lifted by a mans strength go up, a few pirates pissed themselves. De. . . Demon! A demon has entered the castle! Charge! Following Johans shout, the knights and mercenaries behind him attacked. The pirates scattered inside the castle were ughtered as they were. Hiiiik! Johans figure walking out ominously from the darkness was like a demon spewing fire as it approached from the darkness of hell. The Nusard familys brothers offered drinks to the other bosses and sub-captains who followed them. They were heavily drunk. Nevermind the coward from the Mulc family running away! Anyway he couldnt do anything. Lets enjoy this victory today! Whats that sounding from outside? Hearing the sound from outside, the pirates opened the door in confusion. Then a head came flying in. It was the head of the guard they had posted outside. F**king. . .?! The sub-captain turned pale and drew his sword. He was a master swordsman, unmatched with the sword. However, before the sub-captain could swing his sword, Johan swung his shield. The moment they collided, the sub-captain tumbled over without being able to use any of his swordsmanship or skills. Johan kicked the fallen sub-captains chin. The sub-captain trembled violently then fell still. Are you nobles of the Nusard family? Wha. . . What is this! Werent we negotiating?! Johan looked at the protesting pirate. The pirate suddenly felt uneasy. ! The pirates neck cleanly separated from his body. Johan said calmly, How dare petty thieves who make a living by plundering speak so arrogantly to Count Yeats? If examined closely, it was aplicated issue. They were pirates, but negotiations had unofficially begun. . . But with such ambiguous problems, everything is settled if you win. Whats the problem when theres no one left to argue? Rather than give a long,plicated response, Johan decided to silence them. Its only natural for others to quiet down when one dies. The knights standing behind wore satisfied expressions and nodded. Their lords authority was not something mere pirate scums could be arrogant towards. W-What about. . . the soldiers outside? The Nusard familys brothers asked with a glimmer of hope. They hoped the sub-captains leading the pirates outside would send aid somehow. They either surrendered or ran away long ago. . . . . . . The pirates paled. How could this make sense? There were hundreds inside the castle and over a thousand outside. . . . The battle ended a full dayter. There were so many remnants of the enemies. The pirates who btedly grasped the situation and tried to do something were trampled as they were, and those who tried to escape were caught by the chasing troops. Its hard to believe, but the nearly thousand pirates copsed pitifully like dust. As the victory was easy, the loyalty and respect of the vassals pierced the sky. Congrattions on your great victory, Your Excellency! If it wasnt for Your Excellency, who else could have repelled these reckless pirates and rescued the brothers of faith?! When the pirates were strong, the vassals were so afraid that they didnt even dare to go out of the castle. To see them scattered like sand in an instant. . . In the eyes of the vassals, this was all due to Johans power. It would have been an impossible feat without the blessing of God. Even those vassals who were not so loyal to Johan had to admit it. Otherwise, how could those many pirate groups copse so easily? Johan lightly raised his fist. Then the vassals shut their mouths. . . . Johan also felt the gaze and expectations of the vassals. It was a look as if they saw Johan as the god of war. Loyalty was good, but excessive expectations were no good for Johan either. To be honest, it was mostly luck to take over the Marquis castle. If those damn pirates had defended it properly, we couldnt have broken through. Johan originally nned to just surround the castle if he couldnt take it, and then chase the Marquis or the Ahir first. Since they took the castle, theyre kind of letting their guard down. . . But since things turned out this way, he had to meet the expectations the vassals wanted. Saying was not the right answer. I already knew this would happen. Oh. . .! As expected. . . A few days ago, I had a dream where a sacred symbol fell on the castle walls. That dream told me we would be victorious. Hearing Johans words, the vassals made the sign of the cross in unison. Whenever there was an unbelievable victory, it was always faith that made it believable. It wasnt because of Johans ability, but because there was Gods blessing! That was a much more appealing story to the vassals. A capable lord is one thing, but a lord blessed by God is even better to follow. Your Excellency. Marquis Crucho is a coward and corrupt man who colluded with pirates and surrendered the castle. Such a man has no qualifications to rule this fiefdom. Youre right, Your Excellency! Those who were vassals of Marquis Crucho took the lead. They were trying to drive the wedge so Marquis Crucho could note back. The bishop who was present at the venue also chimed in. He must have already heard the words of the church. What you say is true, Your Excellency. If Your Excellency does not rule over this fiefdom, countless brothers in this fiefdom will suffer again at the hands of pirates. Please include this fiefdom in Your Excellencys countdom and rule over it! All the vassals present here want that as well! Voices gathered and the excitement rose. It was a kind of madness. If any single vassal opposed, they might be torn apart on the spot by the maddened loyalty! Chapter 132.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (1) Chapter 132.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (1) However, Johan was cold. Unshaken. He could have had it in his hands at once but he held back and spoke instead. No. We will capture Marquis Crucho and put him on trial. We need to confirm before God whether he conspired with the pagans or not. Your Excellency! The charges against the Marquis are already clear and there are so many witnesses here, there is no need to show such mercy. Did not even his servant take the stand to testify! If Marquis Crucho had seen this, he would have shed tears of rage. It was the work of his vassals conspiring together to fabricate false charges against him. The vassals were embellishing things that did or did not happen, painting the Marquis as a depraved man who conspired with pagans. It hurts more when those who were once your allies stab you in the back. However, Johan had no intention of hastily dering the title. , . By now, the south could be considered to be almostpletely under Johans control. It was a blessing of heaven that a foreigner who just arrived was able to wield such influence over the vassals in such a short period of time. However, the Emperors fief still remained like a thorn, and he did not know which of the vassals harbored disloyal feelings. Johan did not have high expectations for peoples loyalty. They may be blinded by the valor and miracles Johan has shown now, but can that impressionst forever? If the Marquis flees to the Empire, and steadily bribes vassals in an attempt to return, it will lead to a tedious war of attrition. In any case, the de facto authority of the fief already lies with Johan now. There was no need to rush. . Here, Sir Marco of the Algato family is of Marquis Cruchos lineage. He will take over as steward and casten and rule over the Marquis territory until the Marquis returns. Eh. . .??? Marco, who was sitting in his seat, was taken aback and raised his head in surprise. It was like lightning struck him out of nowhere when he was just sitting there minding his own business. Ah. . . no, Your Highness. That position is too much for me. He was a b*stard son of Marquis Crucho after all. If he took over as the acting feudal lord, he would be aughing stock. How would the vassals look down on him? But that was exactly what Johan wanted. He had the qualifications to rule over the fief, butcked the ability to betray. Marco was a perfect fit. . . .! Baron Ginobansi was horrified. Not only Baron, but some clever vassals were also surprised upon hearing Marcos name. To think that the knight who followed Johan was the b*stard son of the marquis! In that case, it meant that Johan had been eyeing and preparing to take over the Marquis territory from the very beginning! There was no way of knowing just how long he had been preparing. Cold sweat poured down the backs of the vassals. Today is a joyous day. Let us raise our sses and give thanks to God! Hearing Johans words, the vassals enthusiastically echoed after him. Whether afraid or not, now was the time to get on Johans good side. They all tried their best to heap more praises. So much so that even Marco the nobody b*stard was receiving warm words. . Despite having upied the castle, the vassals did not rest. To eradicate the remnants of pirates who had plundered the area in the name of faith. . . was of course not the reason. Search! Find the marquis! Tell the soldiers! Whoever finds the marquis will be given gold coins!! Cant we also quickly pass the order to the surrounding serfs? The vassals of the marquis, with bloodshot eyes, fiercely shouted. The vassals of the count of Coolia could afford to be leisurely, but the marquis vassals could not. Johan could return to the counts domain after leaving Marco, but the vassals had to deal with the aftermath. They definitely did not want the Empires mercenaries tond ande after them. Haha. Everyone is diligently loyal. My dear, it would be better not tough like that. When Johanughed wickedly, Iselia, paying attention to the surroundings, spoke. Iselia wanted Johan to be revered by those around, not feared. How did Iugh? Youughed as if you had some sneaky n. Like. . . Iselia, about to speak, blushed. Johan was puzzled. Dont tell me you were going to say Iughed like I did before embracing you? W-What nonsense are you talking about. . . . As Iselia trembled in embarrassment, Johan considerately changed the topic. Holding a beautiful bracelet found in the marquis castle, he said. I was thinking of giving this to Amien. What do you think? My dear, theres no need for that. If Amien starts indulging in luxury so early. . . That would be the case if she were a knight, but I dont think Amien will live as one. Besides, as a noble, she should know and enjoy the value of treasures. Iselia couldnt outtalk Johan and simply nodded her head in defeat. And after returning from a victorious expedition, it would be disappointing not to give anything as a present. . . . . . . Iselia, who hadnt thought of giving a gift, fidgeted with her fingers, feeling embarrassed. The bond between blood rtives in this world shouldnt be judged by modern standards. It was much colder and drier. Ulrikes attempt to kill Stephen was not even considered exceptional. Of course, there were parents who cherished their children with affection, but that was the exception. Typically, the rtionship between noble parents and children was more like a rivalry between current powerholders andpetitors. It was inevitable. Chapter 132.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (1) Chapter 132.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (1) In childhood, one received education from hired tutors or trained elsewhere. As one aged, the heir received their own title and took their first step as a ruler. From then on, they only awaited their parents remaining titles with covetousness. Hoping for a strong familial bond in such a process was an unreasonable expectation. In fact, Johans behavior towards Amien was surprisingly friendly, much kinder than the usual count. Why? Are you worried Amien might hate you? H-How do you always read my thoughts? I didnt expect to guess right. Maybe youre just too easy to read. ?? Iselia was flustered. She had never heard such a thing before. Amien respects you more than you think, so dont worry unnecessarily. Is that true. . .? I heard it myself, so it must be true. She said that? To you? Yes. So just ept this. Receiving the sword Johan handed her, Iselia tilted her head in confusion. The sword, from the marquis castle, was unusually sharp, seemingly of Eastern origin. Wouldnt it be better to give it directly to Amien? Its not for Amien, its a gift for you, Iselia. Since you didnt take anything from the castle. . . .! Johan smiled and caressed Iselias cheek, then casually spurred his horse forward. The other knights cheered as Johan rode towards them. Your Excellency. ? I came like this because there might be prying eyes inside. Speak. I am listening. As the priest of the order approached on horseback, Johan looked puzzled. Currently, the vicinity was noisy with the pursuit of the marquis. Even Johan himself was running around the area, eradicating the remnants of pirates and searching. The people of the republic seem to be acting suspiciously. I thought I should report it to your Excellency. . . The republic? At this moment, the republic was leading a fleet along the coast. To cut off the pirates escape route and supply them with materials. Johan was bewildered by the news that those who were solid allies until a moment ago were acting suspiciously. There is a report that they received an envoy from the viscount. Viscount Ginolen. He was the agent ruling the remaining fiefdom of the Emperor in the south. Contact with such a noble couldnt be ignored. , ? His momentum is truly terrifying. Hmm. . . Its understandable that they say he is blessed. . . The captains of the republic were deep in thought. It was an unexpected dilemma. Johans momentum was like a storm. When they secretly allied with Johan and provided support, no one expected such an oue. At best, they thought he would upy the count of Coolias territory and linger there. Swallowing an entire county wasnt easy, even with the help of the order. The republic thought it would take Johan years just to deal with the rebellious vassals. But Johan, having married and called his vassals, quickly sifted them out and stabilized the fiefdom in no time. There was no sign of the chaos typical of an upation. One could mistake him for a feudal lord who had ruled for a long time. It was astounding, but still eptable. It was shocking, but understandable. Even so, Johan was still in a difficult position and couldnt refuse the requests of the republic. But suddenly, the pirates wreaked havoc, the marquis was defeated, and the western vassals called for Johan. The order, excited to suppress pagans, joined the republics fleet in support. As a result, Johan advanced like lightning, swallowing the western vassals unexpectedly. His momentum was terrifying, but the republic still had a glimmer of hope. The marquiss stronghold remained, and the pirates forces were intact. After dealing with these, Johans main force would be in disarray, and he would have to focus solely on recovery! . . .But then, the insane pirates suffered a major defeat. Johans forces took the marquiss stronghold without a scratch. At this point, Johan was virtually the overlord of the south. There was no one left in the south to oppose Johan, except for Viscount Ginolen, but the viscount was too preupied with defending his own fiefdom. . . When a seemingly easy opponent suddenly grows strong, its natural to feel anxious. The people of the republic were deeply worried. They couldnt openly oppose Johan given the favorable conditions theyd received, but the future was frightening. If they werent fools, they would know Johans next move after dominating the south would be to control the nearby seas and expand trade. A troubling future for the republic. Amidst this, an envoy from Viscount Ginolen arrived. The envoy was also pale due to recent events. . . ! . . . ? ! ? . . . . The envoy was desperate. Everyone thought the marquis would hold out, but he copsed. The viscounts fiefdom was also in a state of panic. The Emperor may have abandoned the marquis, but he didnt expect this oue. If we smuggle out the marquis. . . It will be a check. They will aim again with support from the Empire. Hmm. The bribe offered by the viscounts envoy was tempting, but smuggling out the marquis seemed an easy way to make a significant impact Lets make a decision. It seems we are all in agreement. . . .Fine. If the marquiss family escapes, we will secretly send a ship to the Empire. Thank you! Thank you! The envoy sighed in relief and eximed. Now, all that remained was for the marquiss family to escape. The area was thoroughly searched, but the marquiss family had deep roots in the vicinity. They were not only knowledgeable about the geography but also had many who would hide them. Surely, they could escape. The marquis has been captured!! What???!! . Johan looked at the marquis with pity. The marquis was already a cold corpse. The vassals who found him immediately killed the marquis and his family. From their perspective, if the marquis was proven innocent in a trial, it would be their end. The vige chief of the town where he was hiding informed us through a serf. Well done. Give them a reward. The marquis believed in his status and authority. Even though he was fleeing and had lost soldiers, he was confident that the serfs and vige chiefs who had been under his family for a long time would not betray him. However, that was the marquiss misconception. Had he known how much Johan had taken control of the area during his confinement, he would never have done so. Chapter 133.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (2) Chapter 133.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (2) Johan made great efforts to win over the hearts of the people around him, even as he advanced rapidly. It was a rare virtue to see someone distribute his own wealth for relief, even in regions not part of his fiefdom. Charity and benevolence were considered inherent values even among the nobility, but few truly adhered to them. Typically, such acts of charity were more for show, shy butcking in substance. Thats why the vassals were quite perplexed by Johans actions. . , . ? The church might shout, , , , but nobles usually turned a deaf ear. Nobles like Johan, who actually listened, were rare. But Johans actions were not motivated by the church. Of course, it was amusing to see the priests praise him every time he made a charitable act. . . Ultimately, he did it to gain control over the area. Frankly, the nobles greatly underestimated the serfs. The nobles might argue, , ? but it was not about that, it was a matter of mindset. Seeing others as mere beings to tax and exploit for more money when needed, as entirely different from themselves, was the problem. This limited way of thinking was inevitable. The result was right there with the marquis. Such a miserable end for acting as if it was all natural. Arrange for the bodies to be collected and given proper funerals. As Johan spoke, he looked at his knights. They could not meet his gaze and bowed their heads. It was natural for them to avoid his gaze, having in the marquis instead of capturing him. Everyone present wasplicit. The marquiss knights resisted fiercely, so it couldnt be helped. Yes. . . Yes, Your Excellency. They attacked us despite our offer of surrender. Johan nodded. Only when their lord closed his eyes to their actions did the vassals finally breathe a sigh of relief. But behind Johan, the eyes of others held a faint contempt. . Johan had not wanted to kill the marquis himself. It was better not to stain his hands directly with blood. The best scenario was for his vassals to take such initiative. . . Since the marquiss vassals acted as expected, he had to be grateful. Of course, they would bear any suspicion or contempt, but Johan was prepared to take full responsibility for that. Loyalty among vassals was built in this way. . ? . . . Envoys from the republic moved quickly. They traveled up the river from the western port and then rode quickly to the marquiss territory. It was eerily quiet nearby, as if the recent uproar with pirates was just a lie. It felt real that the pirates had been thoroughly defeated. In the distance, they saw figures with gs moving. They were vassals returning to their fiefdoms after the battle. It was noticeable that following them were ves with carts. Clearly, they were spoils from the battle. Good heavens. How much had those pirates amassed? The republics envoys were astounded. The amount seemed enough topensate for the vassals losses and more. The captured pirates would either be sold as ves or distributed among the towns. Considering that this was just the share given to the vassals, Johan, themander, must have taken many times more. The envoy clicked his tongue without realizing it. Shh. Be mindful of your demeanor. Im aware. The vassal of the town where the republics fleet was anchored, and thend they were passing through, also belonged to vassals serving Johan. Are you from the republic? Mercenaries patrolling the area approached, having recognized the g of the republic. Even as the vassals returned to their fiefdoms, Johans direct mercenaries remained. They were well-armed and looked prosperous. The envoys involuntarily pulled their coats closer. The winter in the south wasnt very cold unless it rained, but now, even without rain, it felt chillingly cold. It was due to a sense of guilt. Yes. Please guide us to His Excellency. Certainly. Follow me. Fortunately, the mercenaries were courteous. The envoys felt somewhat relieved at their demeanor. Johans main force was not in the marquiss castle near the mountains, but in the ins below. Despite having the option to stay in the castle, Johan chose to stay in the same camp as his soldiers. What is that? Those are the ves captured recently. Are you nning to train them as ve soldiers? The republics envoys looked on curiously. There seemed to be at least a few hundred young ves running around, sweating. Are you training these pagans for some purpose? His Excellency has converted them. . The envoys didnt understand Johans actions. Pagan ves were typically sold or used as servants, not trained from the start. What if they started a rebellion? In the Eastern Empire, training ves as soldiers was a practice, but to the people of the republic, it seemed ludicrous. Handing swords to ves because of ack of warriors? Chapter 133.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (2) Chapter 133.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (2) I think the title of duke is premature. But Your Excellency. . . God does not favor the arrogant. Its not a title I should covet. Johan spoke decisively. The envoy of the order looked genuinely disappointed. The order was simr to the republic. They hadnt expected Johan to go so far. Yet, the order still trusted Johan. Despite attempts at doubt, reports from the field were stered with praise for Johan, leaving them no choice. Moreover, the Emperors forces that had been threatening the south from the order vanished overnight. This was indeed a significant achievement. Therefore, the order approached things differently than the republic. They intended to empower Johan further, making him a proper shield. The result was the new grant of the duke title, ruling the south. It was meant to give him a status befitting the lord of the area, a true honor. , . With the title of duke, he could fight more, using his name as a pretext. Whether it was the Emperors fiefdom trapped in the south, the inds of pagans infested with pirates, or even the eastern penins. . . It was a tempting proposition, but Johan restrained himself. Having already taken the title of count from the marquis was enough for now. He had no reason to cling to the honor of being a duke. . Already, there was a sense that Johan was being watched from all sides. There was no need to exacerbate that by gaining another honor. ! The envoy of the order thought this to himself and withdrew. Any other young knight would have been intoxicated with honor, but Johan instead gave glory to God. It was a beautiful gesture, but also a pity. Compared to other nobles without merit, Johan deserved the title. Refusing a good offer can be quite tiring. But havent the nobles gone back now? Yes. Thats some constion. Acdda chewed on wild grass andughed. His hands and neck were glittering with various ornaments. Not just Acdda, but Euclyia and other centaurs were the same. . . . The eastern tribes preferred to carry their wealth in gold or treasures. Having plundered pirates, they adorned themselves with such spoils. To Johan, it was aesthetically displeasing, but it seemed to be quite fashionable among the eastern tribes. The way they boasted to each other was astounding. Right, count. Euclyia was grumbling about why youre raising such ridiculous people. !!! Angered by the tattling, Euclyia attempted to kick Acdda with her front hoof. Johan waved his hand as if to calm her. Are you talking about the ve soldiers? The heap of captured pirates left Johan pondering their fate. The neatest way to deal with them was to sell them or distribute them among his vassals, but as he had more leeway, greed arose. Well-trained soldiers were expensive. Even the cheapest mercenaries ate up daily silver coins, and conscripting serfs wasnt even worth considering. What if Johan had a personal guard loyal only to hismands? This required a few conditions. They had to be young, with no other ties or ces to rely on. . . Upon reflection, it seemed like a good idea. So, Johan selected rtively young pirates and encouraged them to convert. None were so foolish as to refuse a chance at life. He ended up choosing hundreds. Of course, they are weakpared to a great warrior like Euclyia. Euclyia beamed with joy at Johans praise, while Acdda clicked his tongue. But if they continue training like this, wont they reach at least half of Euclyias level? I. . . I was short-sighted. Ill repay you by taking charge of their training. Ah, its reassuring that Euclyia will train them. When Euclyia left, Acdda snorted. Isnt that stupid? Help out together. No more hunting. Its an order. . . . . . . Acdda looked taken aback. He hadnt expected Euclyias foolishness to affect him too. My dear, I have some advice regarding training the ves. Iselia approached Johan with this proposal, and he looked puzzled. Do you dislike teaching the ves? Im just trying it out as a hobby, so dont feel too repulsed. No. Ive seen it, and I think we need to raise the training level. If you allow, Ill step in and teach them myself. . . .No, its fine. . . . . . . Johan had carefully nned the curriculum himself. Starting with training fit for elven knights would leave half unable to get up. But Iselia looked unusually downcast, so Johan had to reassure her. s. Count Yeats, it is a great honor to meet you like this. The envoys greeted him with much more formality than theirst meeting. Johan nodded. The republic yed a big role in this matter. I appreciate it. Our contribution is nothingpared to the achievements you have made, Your Excellency. I see. ? When Johan agreed and said nothing more, the envoys were perplexed. Werent they supposed to beuded for their efforts? But Johan remained silent. The sudden quiet made the envoys feel uneasy. . . . . . . The silence continued. It was so awkward that it was hard to tell who had started it. Just when Johan thought it was time, he spoke up. I heard the viscount sent an envoy to incite an attack against me. . . .? ??! The envoys were shocked. It was conceivable that the visit of the viscounts envoy had been exposed. Even discreet visits could be known. But they hadnte with that intention. They had no idea where such a rumor had originated. No, Your Excellency! What do you mean no? That the envoy didnte, or that they did but didnt make such a proposal? . . .The viscounts envoy dide. But they never made such a proposal, and we did not ept any offers from the viscount! Why didnt you report it immediately? It was a ludicrous offer, and we thought it was a trick to sow discord between us and Your Excellency, so it wasnt worth reporting. . . Enough of this nonsense. Ive already been informed by the priests of the order. The knights of the confraternity interrogated the viscounts envoy. . . .??! Realizing the situation, the envoys eyes sparked with anger. They had thought they were in control, but the order had outmaneuvered them. As much as they didnt get along, it was clear that the order was trying to drive a wedge between the republic and Johan. Chapter 134.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (3) Chapter 134.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (3) The most astonishing thing was that there was no way to respond. The order had precisely hit the weak point of the republic. From Johans perspective, he had no choice but to doubt the republic. They would have doubted Johan too. What could have possibly been discussed when the envoy of the viscount came? ! The envoys bit their lips. It was pointless to argue for a face-to-face with the envoy of the viscount. If there was a problem, they could simply kill the envoy. The order was more than capable of that. The republic received much criticism for being despicable and sly from surrounding forces, but from the republics point of view, the order was no easy adversary. Both were the same in not hesitating to use any means for their purposes. Cant you answer? I take it as an acknowledgement of the orders report. No, Your Excellency! Its a misunderstanding! Please allow a meeting with the envoy! What difference would it make. Truly disappointing. I thought the republic would uphold our friendship and tell the truth. But such trivial lies. Johan spoke in a tone as if he had already made a decision. His expression was one of certainty about the collusion between the republic and the viscount. If they had reported from the beginning, they might have had a way to defend against such an attack, but once hidden, they had no choice but to be cornered. I will restrict the republics passage through Yeatsnd and revoke its duty-free rights. The rights to the port will also be revoked. !! Regardless of anything else, the port in Coolia territory was essential for smooth control and trade in the Edene Sea. Your Excellency! Please reconsider. If you do so, the trade routes in Dolek and Palmon that you own will also. . . Are you threatening me now? N-Not at all. I can handle that much. Better than entrusting my back to those I cannot trust. . . . . . . The envoy urgently spoke up. Your Excellency. Please wait regarding the port. I understand your misunderstanding. An evil demon has sown plots among us. We will prove our innocence. How so? We will lead a fleet and attack the Emperors fiefdom. Attacking the Emperors fiefdom, governed by the viscount, was not a difficult task. It wasnt about capturing the castle but rather raiding a few nearby towns to show off. Of course, this would terribly worsen rtions with the Emperor, but the republic had never been friendly with the Empire anyway. Thats not enough. Despite Johans words, the envoys saw hope. Despite the orders interference, Johan didnt seem to want topletely cut ties with the republic. . . . . . Your Excellency. What should we do to prove our innocence? Since the republic is so close with the viscount, I will assign a task fitting that rtionship. . . . . . . The envoys sweat at Johans meaningful words. What is it? Persuade the viscount and his vassals to swear allegiance to me. . . .??! The envoys of the republic were shocked by Johans unexpected proposal. The situation in the south was extremely favorable to Johan. Most vassals had already sworn allegiance to him, and the viscounts fiefdom was surrounded like an ind onnd. But persuading them was a different matter. It was uncertain whether the viscount and his vassals, who had been loyal to the Emperors family, would easily surrender under unfavorable conditions. That. . . thats. . . If youre close, such persuasion should be possible. . . . . . . And one more thing. The envoys were shocked at Johans words. The task they had just heard was already headache-inducing, and now there was one more? Dont worry. This isnt a difficult task. Send an envoy to the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms. I want the ransom for the nobles of the Hundred Kingdoms captured in this battle. Ah. . . Yes. Fortunately, it was really easy. All they had to do was pick a few people who were familiar with Easternnguages and send a few ships to the ind. They must have been scared stiff by the recent battle, so they will surely pay the ransom. If you aplish these two tasks, I will reconsider revoking the rights to the port. Thank you. Your Excellency. I am truly grateful for your kindness! The envoys in a disadvantaged position had no choice but to express their gratitude. Johan nodded in satisfaction. For just one envoy of the viscount, it was a truly satisfactory oue. Slyly revoking the transit and duty-free rights. It was like stealing two golden-eggying geese. Although the order continued to nder and insult the republic, the pdins of the order did not arrest the viscounts envoy. There was never an opportunity for that. The envoys of the republic were unable to doubt Johans lies and were easily deceived. The rtionship between the two was so poor that it was possible. , . . . The situation of the viscount and his vassals was highly unfavorable, so there was a definite chance of them being persuaded. Moreover, the Emperor was struggling in the north with the Empire. However, Johan didnt know viscount Ginolen well. Persuasion requires knowing the other party well. He could only hope that the well-informed envoys of the republic would perform effectively. s. Chapter 134.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (3) Chapter 134.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (3) Surprisingly, Johan treated the high-ranking pagan pirates among those captured quite well. Even pirates, if they were leaders of a sizable group, typically held a rank equivalent to a knight. Originally, it was customary among nobles not to kill each other but to take prisoners, but this did not apply to pagan pirates. No one would haveined if they had been killed. But Johan held back. . The thought of the ransom he would receive filled him with anticipation. Count, I am grateful for your honor. There are few values I hold in as high regard as honor. At Johans words, several leaders expressed their respect. They had to behave wisely towards the count who was responsible for their lives, especially because they were pagans. Have you sent an envoy? They should be returning soon, right? That they should. Johan looked at the brothers of the Nusard family with a pleased expression. The brothers of the Nusard family felt intimidated by his gaze. The immense strength Johan had shown when he burst through the door was still vivid in their memory. They had thought, -?, butter found out he was a count. It was both absurd and frightening. . . However, contrary to their worries, Johan was in a very friendly state. Still, the nobles and attendants of the Mulc family have not been caught yet. Do you really not know where they went? It was surprising that the marquis, who was familiar with the local geography, had been caught, but Ahir, a foreigner from afar, had not. Upon Johans question, one of the leaders jumped up and said. Why would we hide where Ahir-gong went if we knew? Especially when you, count, are showing us such mercy! Youre more suspicious when you get so agitated. No! If only I could split my chest open to show you my sincerity! The pirate knight pounded his chest, shouting in frustration. . . . The Mulc family seemed to be quite famous in the east. The thought of the ransom was too tempting. ? In this world, it was honestly hard to find someone who decided to hide. There were too many undeveloped forests and mountains. Of course, hiding in such ces was also tough for the hider, having to face monsters and wild beasts barehanded. . . But desperate people would still enter. Just as Johan had escaped through the forest, so could the nobles of the Mulc family. Your Excellency. The envoys from the republic have returned. Ah, good. The faces of the hostages brightened at the servants words. They would soon be released and able to return home. . . .What in the world is this? Johan looked at the people of the republic with disbelief. Their heads werepletely shaved, and they had tattoos on their foreheads. They trembled and burst into tears. Your Excellency! Please appease our resentment! Upon Johans order, the envoy of the republic didnt hesitate and headed towards the hundred kingdoms. The order was furious, saying , but few forces in the penins listened to that. The city-states were making huge profits from trade with the East, and even the Empires nobles coveted the wealth of the East. Naturally, the republic also had connections with the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms. Sending an envoy was not difficult. . . .But upon facing the face of the count of Jekyllid, all such thoughts vanished. , ?? , , . . . . ! , . ! To the newly appeared Johan, the count of Jekyllid saw nothing but a lucky, upstart mercenary captain. It was outrageous for someone not from a deeply rooted noble family from the south to audaciously demand a ransom. The republic envoy was stunned. It seemed that the Count of Jekyllid was miscalcting the situation. Did he not know that the man he had just insulted as a wandering mercenary was the leader of the south? Even a mercenary captain with no background, if he had an army of ten thousand, would have the power of a king of a country. And if he was a nobleman of Johans legitimacy, he was not someone the count of Jekyllid should insult. With the support of the church and vassals, what kind of courage was this? . ! . , . . . .he said that. . . . . . . Johan snickered. Sometimes, in the face of utterly ridiculous situations, people are more prone tough than to get angry. Just like now. This son of a b*tch. . . Ill kill him! If I dont rip out his heart and offer it, Im no warrior! Fierce cries erupted among Johans warriors. Their eyes were ferocious with rage. If the count had been in front of them, they would have torn him to pieces. Calm down. Theres no need to react to every insult of these pagans. . . . . . . ? If he wasnt crazed with a desire for battle, there was no reason for such provocation. Johan was truly a wonder. Why do nobles act on their whims without considering the consequences? If they want war, well give them war. Dont worry! We will surely avenge this grudge. A cheer erupted among Johans subordinates. The vassals forces had returned to their fiefdoms, but there were still mercenaries who pledged their loyalty to Johan. They were very angry at the insult Johan had received. . . . . . Although he shouted firmly in front of others, Johan was not someone who lived as he pleased, like the Count of Jekyllid. It was winter, and the matter with Viscount Ginolen was still unresolved. He had no intention of leaving it be and going on an expedition. Ultimately, stability was key. Johan did not intend to govern his fiefdom precariously like other nobles. He didnt want to suffer from rebellion by just leaving it to the administrator and vige chiefs and extorting taxes. During the winter, Johan hunted the remaining pirate remnants, rogue bands, and monsters, and made charitable donations to the serfs. It was possible because there were surplus mercenaries and arge amount of spoils. Your Excellency. A vampire has been spotted in the Viazo forest. ! During his rounds, an enticing report came in. Vampires were usually nobles from the Eastern Empire. It was definitely the escaped person from the Mulc family. Guide me. We must capture him! . The servant thought so. It was evident from the chatter of the surrounding priests and the fact that Johan was personally intervening. Surely, he wasnt doing this out of greed for the ransom. Chapter 135.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (4) Chapter 135.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (4) The serfs near the Viazo forest looked tense as they watched in the distance. The new Count was approaching with his escorts and attendants. Is that the Count over there? Whats different about himpared to the Baron? How foolish. . . Hes like the Barons master. So, does the Baron go to his castle to carry stones? Stop talking nonsense and scatter! Lest we get whipped for just standing here. Thankfully, the vige chief dispersed the crowd. There was no good in gathering like this unless called upon by the nobility. ? The vige chief squinted at Johans army. The chief, a position only the rtively wealthy could hold, was quite prestigious. It was a position to deal with the nobilitys administrator and, in some cases, represent the serfs to make certain demands. Despite being respected and relied upon by the townspeople, to those in real power, the vige chief was insignificant. The chief had hardly seen the nobility or their armies, except for a brief glimpse at the Barons castle. The mercenaries roaming near the town were all he had seen. Even so, the chief could tell that the escorts leading Johan were impressive. With sturdy horses and bodies covered in gleaming armor, their intimidating presence was evident. Behind them fluttered a g with a sacred emblem, a stark contrast to the ragged mercenaries. . The vige chief moved on, clicking his tongue. Whenever such a procession of nobles passed, young men, deluded, would follow, dreaming of sess. Thats enough, Baron. No need for a banquet. But. . . Johan gestured for him to step back. The Baron, wiping his sweat with a handkerchief, retreated. Johan had hurried to seize a noble of the Mulc family quietly and quickly, but for the nearby Baron, it was a different story. With the marquis dead and the pirates scattered, Johans authority soared. Not rushing out to greet Johan couldter be seen as an offense, a risk not worth taking. Is there a capable huntsman to guide us through the forest? I apologize. Im not fond of hunting. . . The Baron bowed his head in shame. Nobility didnt necessarily have to be knights, but not being knightly was not a matter of pride. Hunting was a way to showcase a knights honor. You dont enjoy hunting? Wise indeed. The order will praise your piety. . . . . . . If anyone could turn a word into gold, it was Johan. The Baron was moved by his unexpectedly kind words. The order might not fancy hunting or duels, but it was rare for a noble to turn that into apliment. Just a moment, please! Ill have my servants prepare a meal. No, its. . . The Baron, without waiting for a response, began giving orders. Johan thought to himself. . Its really okay. . . s. Wouldnt it be dangerous if theres no guide in the hunting ground? Thats true. Do not enter a forest you are unfamiliar with. It was a rule among the mercenaries. Entering an unknown forest without a guide was considered reckless. , . But we have Gmbos here. I-I am honored. Mercenary Gmbos, formerly a ranger from the east, was at a loss when the focus suddenly turned to him. The young knight was known to value skills regardless of status, which was something even the mercenaries admired, but it always made Gmbos heart skip a beat. And Karamaf has good ears and nose to guide us. . Seemingly understanding Johans words, Karamaf grinned happily. And not just Gmbos, but Johan himself was trained as a hunter. He could detect most traps in advance. There are no traps. Are you sure there are none? Check properly! If the count gets hurt, youre heading to the gallows! . . . . . . Chided by the mercenaries, Gmbos checked again, but no new traps had appeared. . Acdda and Euclyia were excited to follow Johan on his hunt, but he did not allow it. The two were too good at training the ve soldiers. I assure you on my honor as a former eastern ranger, there really are no traps. After all, those hiding from human eyes wouldnt have set traps at the entrance. Exactly. At the mercenaries words, Gmbos gritted his teeth. These country bumpkins whod never even seen this mountain just kept yapping. . . . Karamaf. Did you catch a scent? Good. Lets follow. Karamaf was a natural hunter. He traced scents from invisible footprints and found the way. As faint smoke and signs of an encampment started appearing in the distance, the mercenaries tensed up. Max. Lead a team of ten to the left. Henneke. Go right and check for ambushes. The mercenaries quickly dispersed around the encampment. No ambushes were in sight. . Good. Attack! With a shout, the mercenaries stormed in. It was a war cry to confuse the enemy within the camp. However, no enemies were visible inside the encampment. Johan clicked his tongue at the silent scene. Did they leave for another ce? It looks too intact for that. The embers are still warm. . . Maybe they went hunting. For the runaways, food was a significant issue. Unable to buy or plunder from towns, hunting was their only option. Theres someone here! ! Chapter 135.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (4) Chapter 135.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (4) Johan turned his head. A vampire in expensive clothes was staggering to his feet, apanied by a flustered servant. Johan smiled in satisfaction. It was undoubtedly a noble from the Mulc family. As a prisoner, what are you doing now? Id rather end my life than be caught miserably! The vampire, still wounded, heroically dered while pointing a sword at his own throat. Johan and the mercenaries looked on in disbelief. Why would nobles who know better act like this? Caught nobles should quietly receive treatment and send an envoy from their family to negotiate a ransom. This was unheard of. . . .What should we do? The mercenaries asked Johan. If they were alone, they might have just killed the noble, but they couldnt act recklessly in front of Johan. Especially since the captive was quite valuable. Is he truly of the Mulc family? Yes. The Mulc family can surely pay a ransom. Is there a need to take your own life? I swore before the temples idol to make a name for myself. I wont beg my family for a shameful ransom. ? Even now, several people from the Nusard family and others were captured in Johans fiefdom. The republics envoys were insulted, and Johan could have executed them, but he chose mercy, waiting a bit longer. Of course, that was just a pretext; the real intention was to collect a ransomter. . . Master, please calm down! Your wounds havent healed. You need to rest! As the servant pleaded urgently, Johan inwardly cheered him on. Such a loyal servant. Let go. Let me. . . go. I cant! Better to strike me down! The mercenaries watched the two argue with annoyance. If they were going to surrender, then do it; if not, then stop fussing, they thought, annoyed at the audaciousness of these pagan pirates. ? ? The dispute between Ahir and the servant ended in the servants victory. Ahir, bloodied, couldnt hold the sword for long and dropped it. Grab that vampire! Gently! We cant let him die! Seeing this, the mercenaries rushed in. They pushed aside the servant and restrained Ahir, who was barely able to stand. Count, he seems to be passing out. . . Step aside. He needs treatment. Johan took out blessed water he received from Suetlg and applied it to Ahirs wounds, which healed rapidly. Ahirs servant pointed and ranted in astonishment. The mercenaries boasted. This is a miracle. Pagans, behold the miracle only our blessed count can perform. Have you ever seen a miracle that heals wounds at a touch? Your false gods are nothingpared to this. . . . . . . Johan had much to say but held back. The loyalty of the mercenaries was, after all, a good thing. . Ahirs attendants, who arrivedte, were horrified to realize that the camp had been attacked while they were wandering around. Master! These scoundrels, how dare they! How dare they what? Where do these pirates get off speaking like that? The mercenaries aimed their crossbows, indifferent to the opposition. They were superior in number, equipment, and condition. Plus, Ahir was here as well. Knowing this, the attendants chose not to engage easily. I treated your master. By custom, his life is now in my hands. Lay down your weapons. ! ! An excited knight rambled on in Easternnguage, clearly cursing. Ahirs servant spoke up. Lets settle this with a duel. . . Tell them to stop talking nonsense. The servant ryed the message. Other attendants also restrained the knight, knowing their disadvantage. Theyid down their weapons. A regained Ahir stumbled out. The mercenaries watched him closely to prevent any foul y. . . .Young knight, I am in your debt. Not a knight, but a count. Show respect in the presence of Count Yeats. Ahir was surprised at Johans words. The count was much younger than he had thought. He showed respect once again. Please forgive my childs rudeness. ? It seemed that the excited knight was Ahirs son. Despite his excitement, the knight appeared to be of the same age or older than Johan. . . , ? Johan, who had assumed Ahir was his age, felt awkward. Are you alright, master? Count Yeats performed a miracle and healed my wounds. Is that true?! Believing in a solitary god and still performing such miracles. . .? Ahir and his attendants had heard rumors from the pirates camp. Rumors that Johan had healed diseases among the mercenaries with his hands. They were skeptical when they heard the rumors, but seeing him heal wounds made them believe. Count Johan truly had the power to perform miracles. Do you still refuse to pay the ransom? . . .No. I have been saved, and I will not act dishonorably. I will send an envoy to arrange for the ransom. Being captured meant Ahirs life was now Johans. Ignoring that and dying would be dishonorable. , . . . . What are they babbling about? They say we must find masters horse. The horse? ording to the servant, Ahirs horse had been kidnapped in the forest. Ahirs children and attendants were wandering around to find it. . . . Johan, not wanting to waste more time, seemed to be understood by Ahir, who then spoke. If you find my horse, I will gratefully gift it to you in honor of Count. Even if you cant find it alive, I will pay its value. I ask this of you. . . .Alright. I ept. Ahirs attendants were grateful for Johans generous behavior. Despite being a pagan, the count seemed to understand honor. Otherwise, he wouldnt have offered such an opportunity. , . Chapter 136.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (5) Chapter 136.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (5) The Elven knights in the West boasted that their warhorses were the fiercest and bravest, while the Empire knights insisted that the warhorses of the Empire were the sturdiest and toughest. However, even they could not hide their greed for the crossbred horses with Eastern blood. It was rumored that the Eastern warhorses had beautiful figures and strong perseverance. A horse that was considered so precious, it was inevitable not to covet it. Noticing Johans thoughts, the warhorse Fern made a dissatisfied snort. Johan stroked its head apologetically. Sorry. Youre a good horse too. s. Ahirs sons and daughters were decent enough knights. You could tell just by looking. Their armors were different from those of the Empire, but they were well-kept and the des sharp. Of course, a decent knight didnt necessarily mean good natured. He keeps mumbling. Whats he saying? Um, that. . . As the servant hesitated, Johan asked Geoffrey directly. Geoffrey. Whats he saying? It seems hes mumbling that he could have won if given the chance. Tell him if he keeps mumbling Ill cut his tongue out along with his ransom. And if he fails to convey my words properly again and hesitates, Ill cut his throat. Johans warning left the servant pale and he nodded vigorously. Only now he truly realized what kind of man the Count before him was. At that, Ahirs children finally shut their mouths. They were clearly quite upset about surrendering without even crossing swords. With that level of grumbling, it must have been quite clever. To steal away without making a sound means a monster, no? Yes. Besides, there are no bears around here. With no tracks left behind, it must have been quite arge monster. Gmbos nodded in agreement as he answered. The more they talked about it, the more Johan felt it with his knowledge as a hunter. A hunters knowledge was different from hunting proficiency. Many nobles enjoyed and were skilled at hunting but did not possess a hunters knowledge. One could not obtain a hunters knowledge by taking dozens of attendants and guides into the forest. It could only be learned by being alone and breathing with the forest. Naturally, nobles who looked down on such things never even tried to learn it. Johan was truly an exceptional noble. . Dont be disappointed if you cant find it. Unable to pick up a scent, Karamaf seemed deted like a withered nt. Monsters were often more cunning than ordinary beasts, perfectly capable of erasing their scent. We found tracks! We found tracks! ? Thus Johan could not help but be puzzled when the pagan pirates said they had found tracks that even Karamaf could not. But there really were tracks. Horse prints were messily stamped on the other side of the shallow stream. It made sense for the scent to disappear after crossing water, but Johan found it strange. Any scent, Karamaf? Karamaf shook his head. Meaning there was no scent over there either. We will follow these tracks, Count. Isnt it odd? Id understand if the horse ran away on its own, but if it was taken by someone else, why leave tracks like this? But. . . it could have been captured and dragged away. Then it would be messier. Despite Johans words, his attendants did not seem ready to give up. It was natural, since it was their masters warhorse. . Johan gave up on trying to dissuade them. He realized there was no reason to stop them from walking their own difficult path. . . . . Fine. Do as you please. Ill follow behind. Thank you! Hearing Johan grant permission, Ahirs son who had been behind them brightened up and gave his thanks. He didnt know what Johan was thinking to enable that thanks. Why did you let them go? No matter how I look its suspicious. I thought if there is a monster it might show itself when it sees them. . . . . . . Gmbos looked at Johan with a disgusted expression. What a ruthless move, even for the oldest of the Eastern Rangers. . .! ss. The horses hoofprints continued unbroken, only created by walking at a steady pace with even intervals. The knights and attendants ahead were simply excited by the joy of discovery, and chased after it, but Johan gradually became ufortable. , ? The knights even doubted it! Just in case, he spread the mercenaries on both sides, but nothing was discovered. At this point, Johan began to be curious. What the hell kind of monster is doing this? Wow. . .! Those ahead stopped first and eximed. Ahead was a beautiful golden-furred horse with pure eastern blood. It was clearly a rare warhorse. Even the mercenaries eximed at the sight. Is that Ahir-gongs horse? Yes. Thats right. The servant said in a happy voice, then carefully approached. The horse may have forgotten its master while wandering the forest, so he nned to firmly grab the reins. However, the horse turned its head and ran forward. Chase it! The attendants hurriedly followed it. Running through the narrow path and emerging into a wide open in spread out like a clearing inside the forest. In the middle of theke, a few horses were resting their necks. The attendants were amazed at the fantastic sight. Are they wild horses? Its good. Lets catch a few and offer them to the count. . . .That wouldnt be bad either. Ahirs sons agreed. Although they were resentful and angry to be captured without swinging their swords once as knights, the fact that Count Yeats had shown them mercy remained unchanged. If they did not properly repay as knights, that would also be shameful. The eldest, Fahid, discovered something strange. Wait. . . why is there a fence? Chapter 136.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (5) Chapter 136.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (5) Isnt it one the town serfs secretly raised? This deep inside? Beasts wille and eat them. The attendants approached the fence questioningly. All the horses were well-fed, with good fur and glossy coats. The second son, Nudar, pointed to the ck horse in the middle and said, That one looks good. Its certainly a fine horse. It has arge body and muscr build, and its fur. . . Johan and the mercenaries also arrivedte. Seeing the attendants gathered close to the fence and approaching the ck horse, Gmbos blinked. Get back! Get back!! You *ssholes! What is it, Gmbos? Thats a bicorn! It doesnt have a shadow, does it! The bicorn, a two-horned beast. If the unicorn symbolized purity, the bicorn was at the opposite end as an evil monster. The b*stard not only bewitched ordinary horses, but sometimes also hunted travelers by hiding its horns. The moment you get close, it pulls out the sharp two horns and stabs the vital point. Realizing it had been found out, the bicorns eyes changed viciously and it pulled out its horns. One of the attendants was startled and took out his shield. The horns shattered the thick wooden shield like steel. ! ! As the bicorn roared, the eyes of the horses nearby turned red and they began to re at the attendants. Even Ahirs horse changed like that, and the knights were startled and shouted. Dont you know Grace! Do you not recognize my face! *. Johan responded coldly. He pulled out a spear, took aim at the bicorn and threw it. Valkalmur! Frightened by the evil spirit power, the bicorn fled in panic. It was so fast it left afterimages. With ck fur fluttering, it dodged the spear. ? The bicorn was also a monster with evil magic in its bloodline. It was able to avoid the curse of the spirit. ! As the bicorn fled back, it roared. Johan thought it was frightened and would block the path of the horses before escaping by itself. But that was not the case. A one-eyed giant wielding a warhammer appeared from the forest behind. Only then could people understand who had put up the fence. So the bicorn b*stard was inside the fence, and was being taken care of by the cyclops b*stard! The cyclops looked to be 1.5 times Johans size. People gulped at the huge size. , , , , , . It babbled in ancient imperialnguage. Since Johan was the only one there who could speak ancient imperialnguage, the others did not understand. Strike it! Ahirs first and third sons drew their swords and charged from both sides. Even though it was a giant, the horse-riding knights were not afraid. They swiftly went around the cyclops, aiming for its exposed torso. The cyclops grinned sinisterly and kicked up a boulder. Startled, the first sons horse turned to the side, and the third sons horse whinnied and raised its front legs. Then the cyclops swung its warhammer and mmed the third son. He hurriedly raised his shield to deflect it, but the impact was huge. He was knocked off the horse and tumbled to the side. *Cough!* The cyclops grabbed the third son and quickly threw him under his feet, applying force. The third son, whose breath was cut off, struggled in vain but could not move an inch. . The guy threw away his warhammer with a thud and raised both arms invitingly. What a cunning guy! ! Karamaf red at the cyclops, seeming offended, and growled. The cyclops guy was ying tricks now. He was deliberately not killing them so the others wouldnt run away! Count, please give us an order. We will follow! Shall we kill this damned guy? However, the cyclops had misjudged the person. Despite the cyclops appearance, the mercenaries behind Johan were not afraid at all. Their eyes were burning with faith and loyalty. No need to get close to the guy. Shoot him with bolts and arrows. Yes! The mercenaries dispersed to the left and right, then poured bolts and arrows on the cyclops. The cyclops screamed, covering one eye. He was irritated by the stinging pain. Let go of my brother, you damned guy! The eldest drew his sword and stabbed the cyclops back. As if waiting, the cyclops nimbly grabbed it with his fist. Although the cyclops hand was slightly torn, the sword stopped as it was. It was formidable strength. Unable to stop his galloping horse, the eldest was thrown off by the impact. The cyclops caught him with the other foot. Johan burst into emptyughter and charged. What is this monster guy doing. . . Retreat! Retreat! Count! Retreat! Seeing Johan charge, the second son panicked. He was having the entourage retreat, yet the count was charging. If the count dies here, they will all go to the gallows, including Ahir! Retreat! Do you not understand?! Retreat! . Johan jumped off his horse and ran at full speed. Holding his sword with both hands, he stabbed the cyclops. The cyclops grinned sinisterly as before, trying to grab it with his hand. ? Surprised that the sword did not stop, the cyclops caught the de with both hands. But the sword did not stop, only making his hands bleed more. ???? You should have checked your opponent before showing off your strength, giant guy. Johanughed cruelly, stabbing his sword deep. As the sword pierced his chest, the cyclops howled and desperately summoned all his strength. Johan pushed harder. It was amusing to see the guy struggle. ! ! The famous sword Twilight, gifted by Duke Brduhe, broke. Johan was shocked. Though he had broken many swords, this famous one was the first. With half the de stuck in his chest, the cyclops grinned, seeming to find it funny. Furious, Johan picked up the warhammer the guy had thrown aside. It was two to three times thicker than a normal warhammer, befitting the giant. With a powerful blow, the cyclops jaw and chest shattered. Johan pounded the cyclops head once more. After the third fierce attack, the cyclops face waspletely disfigured beyond recognition. Watching crouched on the ground, Ahirs first and third son unknowingly closed their eyes. It was a fierce and oppressive fight too horrifying to behold. To think one could defeat such a monster. . . What crazy delusion was I having? Chapter 137.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (6) Chapter 137.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (6) When Johan came to his senses after stopping the cyclops breath, he spat to the side. . . . It was no small loss to break the famous sword Duke gave to kill the cyclops. It left a bad taste in his mouth. He should have just thrown spears from afar or used poison to catch it instead of doing foolish things and incurring greater losses. Seeing Johans gloomy expression, the first and third sons were perplexed. As a knight who had just killed such a monster, he should have been proud and boastful, but Johans expression was serious and solemn. Is he offering a prayer to God? Did you search it? Ah. . . no. At Johans call, the first and third sons awkwardly got up. Although their whole bodies ached as if they had been beaten, they could endure it as vampire knights. Johan looked at the warhammer covered with the giants blood and brain fluid. , . The warhammer had a heavy mallet and de hammered to the end, so the end was not originally particrlyrge or heavy. If you make a weapon that people have to swing around like that, the user will get tired or hurt first. However, the warhammer the cyclops used was unique. From the shaft to the body, it was made of solid metal, and the mallet and de at the end were several timesrger. An ordinary person would have difficulty wielding it with both hands, but Johan liked it. Above all, it was suitable as a riding weapon. < , .> ! As the blood was shaken off, the inscription engraved on the side of the warhammer was revealed. It was written in the ancient imperialnguage. < >. Johan was surprised by the ancient imperialnguage he had not expected. ? Seeing that the cyclops used the ancient imperialnguage, it was a very possible story. It was ironic that the giant used a weapon made to kill giants, but. . . . Johan suddenly became feel better and more generous. Enough to show kindness to the pagans lying next to him. Here. Lend you a hand. Get up. Thank. . . thank you. The first and third sons dusted themselves off and politely greeted him. There was not a hint of disrespect in their attitude. It was like they were treating their father, Ahir-gong. Even if they were hostages who had to pay ransom, quite a few privileges were customarily allowed to the nobles. Starting with the possession of weapons to rude words against the other party. But that was just a general story. If there is someone who just killed a giant and is holding that warhammer in front of you, even vampires can only be polite. So. . . Johan turned his head. The horses that had escaped were startled to see Johan. For some reason, fear could be felt in their eyes. Dont even think about running away, you foals. Johan growled lowly. His words seemed to be properly conveyed to the bicorn. It pawed the ground then stopped walking. The wild horses around unanimously gave way. Johan looked at Ahirs warhorse. The one who was raging without recognizing its master, seduced by the bicorn, obediently lowered its head. You go back to your master. At Johans word, the warhorse stumbled to Ahirs sons. Now only the bicorn was left. The bicorn shivered as the other horses escaped domination. Johan grabbed it by the scruff of its neck. If you want to attack, pull out your horns and attack. The bicorn stamped the ground with its feet and struggled violently, but did not pull out its horn. Johan used one arm to strangle its neck and added strength. The bicorn whimpered piteously as it bent its front legs forward. It gave up resisting and swore obedience with its eyes. Johan released his strength on his arm and patted its cheek. Dont pull out your horn if you dont want to die. The bicorn nodded instinctively. Although it had a symbiotic rtionship with the cyclops, after feeling that the newly arrived human was much stronger than it, it was very submissive, befitting a monster. is. Did you catch it?! Is there any bad tradition? Gmbos shook his head. A bicorn had the opposite taste to a unicorn but acted simrly. Both could be tamed and trained into a fine horse if caught. If you want to keep it and ride it, you have to lure it with what it likes, quickly grab it, and endure until it gets exhausted. It was a simple method, but one that even quite skilled hunters couldnt pull off. There were many in the eastern rangers who went out to catch a unicorn and sell it at a high price but died. Since its shadow has appeared, you dont have to worry. If you tame it properly, whether its a unicorn or bicorn, a shadow will appear. Why wasnt there one when it was under that cyclops? Because they are monsters, they must have cooperated with each other. Since the appetite of the cyclops was so voracious. . . The cyclops would eat travelers who chased the horses, and the bicorn would be protected from other predators in return. Symbiosis between monsters was rare but not unseen. Gmbos carefully approached the bicorn. He knew it had surrendered but the fear still did not disappear anywhere. The memory of colleagues who went out to catch unicorns but failed was still vivid. . The bicorn blew air from its nostrils but did not reject Gmbos. Seeing this, the mercenaries murmured. Didnt they say the bicorn likes rotten and corrupted guys? That b*stard does make a lot of dirty money. It scraped together a lot like that with dicest time. . . .Count, why not have those guys tested by the bicorn too? That would be fun. At Johans words, the mercenaries made ugly expressions. The bicorn was very creepy. Most of the mercenaries were given passing points by the bicorn. Greedy and rotten guys were bound to be liked by the bicorn. Ahem. Count. Ahirs men who had rounded up the horses cleared their throats and called Johan. Is everything finished? Chapter 137.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (6) Chapter 137.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (6) Yes. Thanks to your help. Ahirs sons politely greeted him. It made them dizzy to think about what would have happened without Johan. The cyclops was a violent and cunning monster, and they could not have defeated it alone with the people here. We swear on the names of our father and mother god that we will not forget this debt. Enough. As a knight I couldnt leave the monster be, I just did my job. Johan was in a very generous state, having also gained a horse and weapon. Otherwise, he would have been fierce and rough due to breaking his sword. However, it could not but appear different to the followers. Because their master Ahir was caught, dissatisfaction had piled up due to surrendering, but now they had no choice but to admit it. That the count before their eyes was a knight qualified to receive their surrender. Although he was a pagan, his skills and honor were genuine. Ahir was bbergasted when he heard the news. It was natural since he almost killed the count to find his mare. He bowed his head several times. Thats enough. Its already over, and you didnt mean to do it, so why would you be held responsible? Please listen to me. I wish it was at least a little repayment for Counts honor. No. The public mare should belong to the public. As a knight, it is not right to take away such a loyal horse. Ahir looked at Johan in surprise at his words. It was hard to believe thepassion shown by this pagan nobleman. , , . Now that he had gotten the bicorn, he didnt need Ahirs warhorse. In that case, it was better to receive it in gold. If Ahir had any sense, he would naturally repay with more gold. In addition, he could gain the good graces of the Mulc family for free, so there was no reason to be greedy for just one horse. . . .Your honor will be known even to the most evil enemies. Its not a very pleasant story. Despite Ahirs praise, Johan was nonchnt. He did not deny the power that honor and fame held, but Johan was not the kind of person who felt pride from it. I heard that you were insulted by Emir Jekyllid. Yes. That count is quite petty. While resting after returning, Ahir contemted. Johan was an enemy of a different faith. Count of Jekyllid was rude and greedy, and although his retainers had betrayed Ahir, was it okay to abandon a brother of the same faith and help a pagan? . . .But Johans actions were too honorable to just let go, and the Mulc familys bloodline owed a great debt. Not repaying it would mean he was not a knight. If you allow it, I will help the Northern Expedition. . . .? Johan turned his gaze in puzzlement. Words he had never expected came flying out. ? ? However, Ahir did not say he wouldpensate with this. He really seemed to just want to help. Do you know what it means to aid the Northern Expedition? Would I not know? Of course I know. If you help, Ill dly ept it, but. . . Johan epted it readily without any doubt. In a situation where someone else might have said , Johans actions in respecting his honor moved Ahir greatly, even if he did not show it outwardly. This, I feel like Im burdening you with too much debt. Should I give you the heads of the Nusard brothers? . . .No, its fine. Ahir was embarrassed by Johans grim joke. Whatever else, this counts jokes were a bit creepy. . Youve had a lot of hard work. Suetlg seemed thinner. His face was full of fatigue. Even though Johan had brought in merchants and orc scribes, it was not an easy task to overturn the system of the fiefdom and take it under his control. Moreover, Johan had unnecessarily high standards. The simple fist-like operation of , , and , was simply intolerable. Johan wanted at least a bureaucratic system that kept up appearances. The result was Suetlgs fatigue. Gerdolf assisting beside him clearly looked bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, showing he had not worked hard at all. It reminds me of when I studied under master. Ah. . . Johan personally supported Suetlg. Despite being a count, his candid attitude made Suetlg chuckle. There was nothing as joyful as when proof came that his friendship was not mistaken. Still, Ive prepared various things to give to Suetlg-nim. Ive heard the rumors. Hunting evil, vicious monsters for the peasants. Johan pped. Servants and ves brought in the byproducts of the monsters. Seeing the well-tanned minotaur leather and cyclops bodies, Suetlg was moved to tears. Are you crying? . . .Move. I might have to send some to Gulrak. Johan waited about an hour. Suetlg walked out with a satisfied expression, having picked out several materials he could use. Yes, theres a lot to talk about after not seeing each other for a while. Lets start simple. . . you said you got a weapon from that cyclops? Yes. This is something the dwarves made. How do you know? Dwarves engrave patterns like this to indicate they made it themselves. Your famous sword didnt have that, so I guess it probably wasnt made by elves. Johan realized Suetlg was talking about the < >. Speaking of which, I should be able to use that sword soon, right? Hmm. Well. Its hard for me to easily answer. Of course your position is now fairly solid. . . Solid was a very gentle way of putting it. Every time news came in from the west, Suetlg had to doubt his ears and burst into emptyughter. Who could have dominated this southern region in less than a year? It would have been an impossible feat without the love of God. You can use it now. But that sword is so famous that questions about its origins wille up. If you dont answer usibly, it will lead to misunderstandings. Without a usible reason, rumors of theft or dishonor may circte. Suetlg did not want that. The best thing would be to dere it after fighting Karamaf. Everyone will ept that. Isnt Karamaf dead? There can be an imposter. Chapter 138.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (7) Chapter 138.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (7) The death of Karamaf is still unknown. Externally, Karamaf was known to bemanding knights in the emperors faction. It was suspicious that he didnt show his face, but Karamafs reputation was too high to suspect that he died in some nameless forest. Therefore, the nobles murmured that Sir Karamaf must have contracted a serious illness or been cursed. Given the grudges umted so far, it was nothing unusual. How can I catch a fake who doesnt even exist? You can pretend with a fake wearing fake armor at an appropriate banquet or festival, but you wont do that in battle. If you lose, it would be irreparable. Now that you have obtained the title of count, think ordingly. If you im at the right time, will people believe you or the Emperor? Suetlg was right. The Emperors poprity was currently close to the worst. On the other hand, Johan was a rising knight. Not only did he have the full support of the order, his own achievements were bound to be popr. The reason wandering knights charged at monsters was because of honor. Once you catch a monster, that honor glitters on the knights chest like a medal. Such honor was also proof to receive treatment at any nobles court, and a quick proof of the knights own skills. Johan was a knight among the knights who had already killed four or five such monsters. In effect, he had achievements that could not be matched at any court banquet. They will believe me. Yes. Given the Emperors personality, he wont shy away from a fight, so there will definitely be opportunities. By cutting off all of the Emperors vassals in the southern penins, Johan had effectively dered war. If the Emperor resolves the chaotic situation of the Empire, he will naturally want revenge, so a fight was scheduled even if the timing was unknown. When he collided with Karamafs g and took out the < >, the enemies would have no choice but to be confused. Isnt <> more important than that sword? Breaking <>. . . It wasnt on purpose. It was quite difficult for Johan as a knight to break the sword gifted by the duke. It had a glorious end, breaking while catching a monster, but still, he couldnt just leave it like that. Did you call a good cksmith? I requested a good cksmith from the order. Suetlg nodded. There were many good cksmiths on the penins. The order would send an excellent cksmith. Is it true you tamed a bicorn? Yeah. I named it Cardirian. . . . . . . Suetlg was about to say something but stopped. The bicorn, Cardirian, had a talent for enthalling other horses. Johans warhorses, Fern and Donum, were heavily breathing while chasing Cardirian, having been enthralled. Its a clever monster. I look forward to its offspring. Huh? Are the children of bicorns also bicorns? As far as I know, no. If it mates with a horse and gives birth, its an ordinary horse. But still, it would have a much better pedigree than a normal warhorse. Famous horses with monster blood in their ancestry were usually born this way. Johan suddenly felt hopeful. . Has anything happened in the county? If something happened, I would have reported it. Nothing happened. As if themotion in the west was a lie, the county was peaceful. It was just merchants from the small eastern penins kingdoms across the sea and merchants under eastern Empire nobles sending people. They wanted to know what kind of person the new count was. While the previous count had implemented quite istionist policies, this count started off by allowing merchants from the republic and showed a fairly free attitude towards trade. If he doesnt refuse foreign merchants from docking in his fief, they have no reason to just stay put. Before the harbor construction ispleted, it would be good to designate an association and districts separately for foreign merchants. Is it the republics method? Republics with frequent foreign trade set up separate districts for foreigners. Gathering various facilities such as associations, warehouses, etc. in one ce was advantageous in attracting merchants when they came. Of course, traditional nobles did not bother with such things. Many were negative about inviting foreign merchants to fiefs in the first ce, no matter how profitable it was. It will also be easy to impose restrictions in an emergency. I dont think we need to go that far, but. . . I understand. I will issue an order. Suetlg was wise and experienced, but not well versed in trade andmerce. He did not feel the need to treat foreign merchants who came that well. He already felt that permitting entry was a great favor. I heard that the Count of Jekyllid insulted you. Yes. I n to retaliate. Johan told him about securing the cooperation of Ahir of the Mulc family. Suetlg nodded. No matter how small the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms ind was, it was a family that had established itself on the ind for a long time. They would be prepared to deal with invaders from outside at the very least. Having a coborator would be a great help. But arent you doubtful about proper cooperation? Knowing you, you would have handled it well. Suetlg had no particr doubts. He knew Johan was thorough about such things. ? On the contrary, Johan was anxious. He thought Suetlg would tell him to be more suspicious of Ahir. . . Although the Hundred Kingdoms are not easy opponents, I believe you can handle it. The mercenaries are still highly spirited, so you can definitely cross over. In fact, Suetlg was puzzled. What exactly did the Count of Jekyllid believe to make such an insult? Did he think Johan couldnte over because he hadnt finished organizing the south yet? Or was he ignored as an unknown family he had never heard of? . . . Is Amien well? She must be well, right? There was no report. Suetlg had no particr interest in the daughter of Iselia. To begin with, noble education was not something feudal lords or stewards were supposed to be interested in, but those in charge of that education. If there is no special report, it means she is doing fine. I should go meet her and bring presents. No matter how enamored you are of the Bluea familys elf, isnt that too much. . . Well, do as you please. Suetlg could not understand Johans taste, but he let it go. After all, the passion of young people is always hot when it is ignited. And tastes are diverse, right? . Chapter 138.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (7) Chapter 138.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (7) Is that what you mean? Yes. Amiens eyes lit up as she stroked the bicorns mane. The bicorn grimaced and tried to shy away. Johan grabbed the the bicorns hair. ! The bicorn red at them indignantly but endured it. Excited, Amien stroked the bicorns mane. I heard youve been studying hard. Here. Johan gave Amien a present. Amien was surprised by the luxurious gifts she had never received in her life. She looked around. What are you looking for? Her Excellency. . . I mean, now its. . . Bluea. . . You can call her motherfortably. But shell scold me. Iselia wanted Amien to behave properly like a noble in front of Johan. A proper noble should know how to speak formally. Of course, Johan didnt think it was necessary to go that far. Having to be attended by servants and maids to get dressed up just to bow to someone and then go back in seemed. . .inefficient. I told her not to scold you for things like that. Theres no way shed get angry over something so trivial. And I already said Id give you the treasures in advance, so dont worry. Amiens face brightened as she hugged Johan. With not much difference in age, they looked almost like siblings. Ill treasure these! No. Let me give you some homework. Try to guess which of these is expensive and which is cheap. . . .??? Amien was confused by the unexpected assignment. If I cant guess right. . .will you take them back. . .? No. These are your things now. But to keep treasures, you need to know what kind of treasures they are, dont you? If you guess exactly right, Ill give you this ring. Amien nodded hurriedly. There was no reason to refuse the offer. Yes, Count. I, I practiced archery hard. Would you take a look? Oh? Apparently the archery demonstrated by Johans subordinates had aroused Amiens interest. It seemed she had practiced quite a bit while he was away, as evidenced by the calluses on her fingers. I was going to get you some decent bows anyway since you might need them. If your skills improve enough, you can use them. ! Ah, wait. On their way to the castles archery range, Johan stopped. Come to think of it, he had promised Iselia to patrol the fiefdom together. ? To hunt mutated insects as well, Johan called a maid and said, Tell Iselia well postpone our appointment to tomorrow. Amien wants to learn archery. Understood. Beside him, Amien asked worriedly, She wont feel bad, will she? Iselias not that kind of person. Here, hold the bow. Lets see how familiar youve be with it. s. My dear. This coast is my favorite coast. You can see the waves of the Edene Sea crashing next to it. The people around here often described it as the hair of a goddess. I see. Beautiful. Though not as much as you. . . . . . . ? Johan was puzzled. Usually, Iselia would blush and be embarrassed when he said something like that. But Iselia was looking down and didnt say anything. Iselia. Are you not listening? Oh, my dear. What did you say? Its nothing. . . Forget it. No, its not. Im sorry. I was wrong. Dont be angry. Im not angry. Iselia fidgeted for a moment before finally speaking. I. . . I was just thinking that you dont seem to enjoy these patrols very much. No? I was listening with pleasure, thinking there are ces like this in the fiefdom. . . You made excuses for Amien yesterday to postpone too. . . Thats because Amien wanted to show off. A count wouldnt normally teach archery himself even to his own children. Usually they would have a professional knight or another mentor teach them. So naturally Iselia couldnt help but misunderstand that Johan didnt like going with her and was making excuses. To be honest, whether going around outside the fiefdom together would be more enjoyable for Iselia or Johan was hard to tell. Ande to think of it, it did feel a bit boring and tedious. . . Come here, Iselia. ?! Johan grabbed Iselia with one hand and lifted her onto hisp. The bicorn thrashed wildly. It seemed to greatly detest Iselia. Stay still or Ill kill you. There was murderous intent in Johans voice. The bicorn shivered violently before quieting down. . . .M-My dear. I was staying still. I wasnt talking to you but to the horse. Johan hugged the shivering Iselia. As he gently nibbled her long ears, her rigid body instantly softened. He could feel it despite the solid armor she wore. Th. . .this is a bit embarrassing. . . Do you still think I dont like patrols? No! You must like them! Please, not here. . . Whatever misunderstanding Iselia had, Johan was just holding her. As Johan stayed still, Iselia also seemed to calm down. Shall we walk a bit more like this? . . . . . . Not answering means you like it. Fine. Count! The family envoy has arrived with the ransom. . . Ahirs third son rode excitedly on horseback but stopped abruptly. Iselias face was crimson with embarrassment. I. . .I saw nothing, Count. Chapter 139.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (8) Chapter 139.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (8) Ahirs third son was taken aback and avoided his gaze. Harmonious rtionships between married nobles were rare. It was the same in the East. Usually political reasons took priority, so they just held the wedding ceremony for show and let each other be, which wasmon. But looking at them, it seemed Johan genuinely cherished Iselia. The vampires sense of aesthetics was simr to that of elves. It was quite odd to see a knight like Johan, wless in every way, acting like this. . . . . ? Johans religious devotion was renowned even among the pagan heathens across the strait. Naturally so, given the miracles he had shown. If he was acting this way because of the Churchs doctrine to be faithful to ones spouse, it was understandable. Hmm. Iselia. Youre not asking to be let go. Did you take a liking to me? Ah, no. . . Johan smiled smugly, tightening his arms around Iselia. Iselia was about to protest but faltered. You granted my wish, so I wanted to grant yours too. Really? You want to fulfil my wish? Iselia nodded. Johan brought his mouth to her long ear and whispered. Hearing the unexpected words, Iselias face flushed red again. Count. . . Oh. Sorry. I forgot you were here. Yes. Since the envoy is here, I must go greet them. ? s. The Mulc n envoy courteously expressed his gratitude. Boxes filled with eastern gold coins and rare ancient jewelleries passed down from the Empire era were given aspensation for the Mulc bloodline. Good gracious. All this for the second son of the n? . . . . . . Seeing Stephen murmur, Johan felt a little bad. Not all siblings of ns tried to kill each other. Although Ahir was the second son, he was militarily capable, had assisted his older brother, the Mulc n head, achieving great feats several times, and had shown loyalty. It was only natural for the wealthy Mulc n to pay this price. As you said, Your Excellency, I brought merchants as well but. . . are you sure this is alright? Its fine. In this peculiar situation of a pagan envoy worrying over Johans rtionship with the order, Stephen looked at him curiously. But considering the debt of honour the Mulc n had just paid, such worry was natural. The republics and other petty kingdoms on the penins also trade with you. Ive no reason not to trade with you also. Johan was starved for gold. Although thousands of fanatically loyal mercenaries were at hismand, they did note free. Johan had to pay their wages by next year. Moreover, Johans personal elite heavy infantry, and the new ve soldiers he was raising. No matter how frugally Johan himself lived, this expense was unavoidable. To maintain that scale, he had to keep earning. And the best business in this age was war and. . . . . . . .taxation. However, types of taxes were manifold. Taxes directly squeezed from serfs did not amount to much and only incited rebellion. Johan did not want to be that kind of fool. . Import duties, tolls, salt tax, liquor tax etc. not only were these taxes less painfully felt, they were also very juicy. Johan would never understand feudal lords who refused foreign entry due to dislike, and did not have such worries. Bring in as many foreigners as possible to vitalize trade and milk taxes! The issue was the refusal shown by the order. . . Johan had already donated charity to nearby temples as well as removed administrative workload from priests by assigning it to scribes. Ostensibly it allowed priests to focus on their faith, but in truth it was to seize administrative power into Johans hands. Whenever counting subjects and collecting taxes, help from priests was indispensable. Regardless of such ulterior motives, Johans actionsbined with his fame had earned absolute support. So absolute that even if Johan ransacked a temple priest for himself, people would still believe him. The republics made intense demands. . . the Order will understand too. Finally, Johan had the republic shield. If he told the Church , the order would turn their arrows on the republics instead of Johan. . ? During his stay, Stephen mingled with local lower nobles and merchants. Some were from the republics. The notion of republics making such demands was unheard of. It takes only a few hours to get to Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms by the nearest sea route. Gilsina City prospered as a hub of transportation and a prosperous city where all kinds of forces would stop by, thanks to its location. It took only a few hours to get there from the end of the penins. A kind of free city that paid a huge amount of gold to the Count of Jekyllid and obtained autonomy! But it was still a city loyal to the Count of Jekyllid. As it was the best ce to cross over, fighting was inevitable. The problem is. . . The Emperors fief. The Emperors fief located in the corner of the southeast end of the penins. He felt uneasy leaving this ce ruled by a viscount behind and crossing over. Yes. Wouldnt it be better to take a ship directly from Jalleno City andnd near Jekyllid Castle to target the count? Jalleno City was one of the cities Johan had newly acquired. While Coolia was a hub of eastern maritime traffic, Jalleno City was a hub of western maritime traffic. It was a prosperous port city, and the republic fleet also relied heavily on it. Strike the enemys head directly bynding right away without attacking far cities! Ahirs n pleased Johan, but Johan had some doubts to resolve. What if the counts vassals swarm in? Combined, they would be negligiblepared to Your Majestys army, and half of them wouldnt even show up. Just Gilsina City alone. . . They are b*stards who will defect if I guarantee their interests? Johan grinned wickedly. Ahir nodded. Cities always swayed like reeds in the wind for profit. I like that. And I need guides familiar with the nearby sea routes and terrain around here. . . I brought them in by sending envoys to the ns. The captains will guide the way. Indeed, like a seasoned vampire who had rolled on the battlefield for decades, Ahirs ns were wless. Once he decided to help Johan, he was providing solid assistance. Johan asked onest question. Let me ask you onest thing. What is it? Chapter 139.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (8) Chapter 139.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (8) No matter how much I ask around and investigate, the Count of Jekyllids troops wont exceed a few hundred at best. And thats if Im being really generous. A few hundred poorly armed infantry and knights scraped together rather than well-equipped heavy infantry. In contrast, Johan alone had well over a thousand heavy infantry. And that was just his personal mercenary forces. That is correct. Then what the hell was the count believing when he did this nonsense? Thats the one thing I cant understand. . . . Stumped by the sharp question, Ahir was lost for words. Indeed, Ahir could not understand it either. Just what was he believing to act like this? Even if all his vassals led their armies to help, it would still be difficult. . . As the story was ending, Ahir praised Johans mastery of Easternnguage. It had improved considerably. It was thanks to Ahirs children who taught him directly. With that level of fluency in the Empire, you would certainly be recognized as a noble. ent was also important among the nobles in the Asman Empire of the East. Nobles had their own distinct ents. Ahir was very surprised that Johan had picked it up so quickly. Although he was an outstanding knight, learning anguage was a different matter altogether. - . . . . . Johan confessed to Suetlg about what had happened at the pagan temple. Suetlg nodded in agreement. . ? . ? ? ? , , . . . , , . . . . , . . . . . , . ? , , . Even Elder Suetlg could not pinpoint exactly what blessing the goddess had given Johan. Johan could only feel it intuitively. When he focused his eyes, his vision would strengthen. When he focused on a wound, it would heal quickly. When he focused on anguage, he could learn it swiftly. . . An unidentifiable vitality circting through his veins, assisting Johan. To define it, it was the blessing of vitality. , . Ive learned some Eastern profanity. It would be nice if I could use it on the count. What rude fool taught His Excellency things like that? Ahir was bbergasted. Theres no way his children would teach the Count such profanity without going insane. ss. Greetings, Count Yeats! Ive heard about you from the head of the Balpa family. Its truly an honor to be able to repay your kindness like this! The dwarf artisan expert summoned by the clergy, Vndrunt, arrived at the fief with his apprentices. You heard that from the Balpa Head? How embarrassing. No, the grace shown to the Balpa family will be repaid collectively by us dwarves. Vndrunt had the typical face of an artisan, gruff and diligent. Johan took an immediate liking to this dwarf. Take a look at this sword. Oh my. . . For such an outstanding sword to break. That cyclops strength must have been absurd. Hmm. Johan nodded. After all, the cyclops had also grabbed <>, so it could have been partly responsible for the sword breaking as well. A silver sword broken by a monster. It must have been an incredible beast! Hey! Come take a look, everyone. Proof that the Count here struck down a wicked monster. The apprentices came over and eximed in admiration. If the cyclops had monstrous strength, enough to break a fine silver sword like this, it was news to them. . . .Ahem. Can it be fixed? It wont be as good as before, but I can melt it down and remake it. Please do. Vndrunt spoke with humility, but also confidence. Johan showed him the newly acquired < >. Vndrunt was amazed, then slightly flustered. Whats the matter? Is there some issue with the weapon? Oh, uh, its nothing, Count. Just a trivial thing. Vndrunt. I respect your skills as an artisan. Just as I cultivate martial arts before God, you have cultivated your craft. Why would I not carefully heed the words of someone like you? Dont hide anything, speak your mind. Vndrunt was so moved by Johans words that tears welled up in his aged eyes. Most nobles did not take this kind of attitude. Usually nobles would say things like, , , , or , . . . .The truth is, this weapon has no issues at all. Our ancestors techniques were far superior. They even made weapons out of meteoric iron. So a weapon like this wont be damaged. . . However. . . However? This weapon is, from my dwarven perspective, something that was made but found to be unusable after it was finished. . . So I suspect it was discarded instead of destroyed. . . A weapon made to kill giants but when finished, it was found to be too blunt and heavy for dwarves to actually use. That was the < >. . . .How could you tell? Weapons made to be gifted usually have the name of the receiving family inscribed. . . Theck of any such inscription means it likely had. . . ws. . . ording to our customs. . . Johan was at a loss for words. It was unexpectedly a rather shoddy weapon after all. But Your Excellency can truly wield such a weapon? Having set aside his cautious attitude, Vndrunt looked upon Johan with great curiosity, inevitable for a craftsman. Chapter 140.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (9) Chapter 140.1: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (9) . . .I can use it. Amazing! If God had not helped, how could such a thing be possible? Vndrunts disciples next to him also nodded their heads in agreement. Thats a real miracle. To think theres someone using a weapon like that. . . The people here had a nasty habit of dismissing anything they didnt understand as a miracle and moving on. Johan clicked his tongue and said. However it happened, as long as theres no problem with the weapon, thats good. Vndrunt. I have something to discuss with you privately, can you keep a secret? I guard the secrets entrusted by my client like my own heart and fingers, Count. I can swear on the honor of my ancestors. Vndrunt spoke firmly as a rock. Johan nodded. Johan had two things to ask. One was whether he could buy the dwarf nobles full body armored te armor. In fact, there was no need to hide this story. Although it was said to be worth a castle, Johan was now at a level where he could start eyeing it. And the other was the ancient Empires striking clock he had obtained and hidden just in case, thinking now that Johans position allowed him to ask openly even about any suspicious item, since he could make up some excuse. If I ask the dwarf experts to make me a suit of te armor, how long would it take and how much would it cost? ? ? Johans question perplexed Vndrunt, and Johan was puzzled by his confusion. Whats going on? . . .Count, did you happen to think that dwarves make te armor themselves? . . .They dont? Vndrunt spoke very awkwardly. Im sorry. You must have heard rumors spread by the elders. In the Empire, the dwarf nobles wielded power that no feudal lord could ignore. The dwarves, ensconced in the mountains and guarding the traditions and rights passed down from the ancient Empire. They amassed enormous wealth by trading metals and armaments from their mines. One of the Empire Twelve Electors was from a dwarf family, and the dwarves held the rights to mint the Empires gold and silver coins, considered higher quality than any other currency, so there was no need to borate further on their power. Not satisfied with that, the dwarves enjoyed spreading certain rumors. That unlike weapons made by elves or eastern pagans, the blessings of spirits and gods reside in weapons made by dwarves. That te armor made by dwarves can even block the spears of giants. . . These rumors allowed dwarf families to surpass continentalpetitors and stand at the top. . . .They cant make te armor?! Thats the thing. . . Commonly known te armor was not just armor. It had to wrap around the body as if the metal itself was alive, light and soft so as not to get tired even after wearing it for a long time. It also had to be able to repair itself to some extent even after being damaged. . . Dwarf craftsmen often guessed that such skills involved . And all such skills were magical techniques perfected during the ancient Empire era. Present-day dwarves did not have the skill to make such things. Then what about the ones worn by people? Those are armors from the ancient Empire era that were excavated and then only repaired by the dwarves. . . .! Vndrunt looked quite ashamed. It was only natural since a count had been fooled by the dwarves tactics. Even now, dwarf exploration teams were turning over ces not yet reached by human hands, looking for ancient Empire ruins. They coveted various things, but the main purpose was such ancient Empire artifacts. So its not a money issue. Count. First you need the item. . . . . . . Johan feltplicated, but not because of Vndrunts words. . . . . . . Even though he was sure he had struck with all his might. . . Out of regret and frustration, Johan covered his face with his hand. Misunderstanding that, Vndrunt cried out urgently. My apprentices and I are excellent craftsmen, Count. We will use the hides and rare metals from the monsters youve captured to make you new armor. Vndrunt eagerly exined the design he envisioned. It was a mboyant brigandine style armor made by attaching thin sheets of rare metal to tough monster leather. It could certainly be called armor suited for Johan the knight who hunted many ferocious monsters. Alright. . .do that for me. However, Johans voice stillcked strength. Vndrunt fidgeted anxiously. Johan collected himself and said, Im ashamed to have shown such an unsightly appearance out of disappointment. No, not at all! I see. Later when I manage to find some armor, Ill ask if you can repair it. Yes. Vndrunt answered lightly. He didnt have much expectation that Johan would be able to find ancient Empire era armor. It wasnt the kind of item you could find even if you looked. , . Materials from monsters like minotaurs and cyclopes were too good to throw away. Just cutting the leather and sewing it together made excellent leather armor, and twisting and tying together horns and sinews made tremendousposite bows. In Acddas case, he would take out his bow when bored and giggle to himself, so one could tell how amazing the item was. With armor made from such materials, and wearing Gulraks surcoat over it, the defense was practically sufficient. By the way, were you asking about that? No. What needs to be kept secret is this item. Johan took out the ancient Empire striking clock he had picked up in a town long ago. Vndrunt looked at it with fascination. A dwarf artifact. Its rare, where did you get this, Count? Artifact? Isnt it just a clock? Ah, yes its a clock too. Vndrunt took the striking clock and skillfully wound the mainspring. It probably wont work since its broken. Dwarf wares do not break, Count. Speaking confidently, Vndrunt made a small cut on his fingertip with a dagger and let a drop of blood fall in. The striking clock, receiving dwarf blood, began to breathe again. . . .! Chapter 140.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (9) Chapter 140.2: ?????????? ???? ?????????? (9) Youll see that sort of activation method on many ancient Empire items. Whys that? Um. . .probably to prevent the client from taking it without paying, I guess. . .but I dont know the exact reason either. . . . Somehow convinced by the practical-sounding reason, Johan nodded. But artifact? Isnt it just a clock? In the ancient Empire era, outstanding dwarf wizards did not simply make works. Along with technique, they would breathe magic into it. Even then, such a striking clock was a very valuable item. It was highly likely that at the clients request, desired magic had been engraved inside. Oh. . .how do you activate it? . . .Count, I know nothing at all about magic. Just as he finished exining and had to admit not knowing what magic it contained, Vndrunt also looked embarrassed. Fortunately, Johan knew how to handle the power of magic. When he summoned Valkalmurs power, the striking clock resonated, producing a beautiful song. It was a sweet, enchanting song. . . . ? Johan was taken aback. Well, it was surely a good function. Being able to hear such a song while socializing with nobles would earn him praise. However, Johan had expected some different magic. Something to kill enemies, or deceive them, or break things. . . Cou. . .Count, please. . .stop the song. . . ! Johan was shocked to see Vndrunts condition. Vndrunts eyes lost focus and he started acting as if enchanted. Johan hurriedly closed the clock in panic. I-Its a sirens song. A sirens song that enchants the listener with illusion. To think it was made to contain such a thing. Vndrunt shuddered at his ancestors nasty taste. Were you alright, Count? God always protects me. I see. . . , . Johan rather thought this was better. Since it was this kind of magic, there would definitely be a way to use it. It was better than apletely useless song and poetry. . It was inevitable that news would leak out about Johans side patiently preparing for war while waiting for spring. Of course, all sorts of rumors started circting in the Jekyllid Hundred Kingdoms. Despite the lords crazy personality, some vassals carefully brought up whether they should summon vassals or hire mercenaries. However, the Count of Jekyllid justughed scornfully. Dont talk nonsense. Hes a novice who hasnt even heard of a family. Do you think someone like that would cross over here for his position? Its just bluster so its fine to ignore him. My lord. Please reconsider one more time. ording to the words of merchants and pirates who have fled, his momentum does not seem normal. He says he has upied the entire south. . . Do you think that makes sense! In fact, the Count of Jekyllid was notpletely wrong. In the south, there were many long-established families swirling about, from Marquis Crucho to the viscounts who ruled the Emperors fiefs in his stead. It was unbelievable that such a ce had beenpletely overtaken in less than a year as the rumors said. Although the mercenary captain brags about having quite a lot of troops, rebellions will break out from all sides as time goes by and tear him apart. Dont worry. I sent a bribe to the Emperor to attack him. The Count of Jekyllid was overflowing with confidence. In this era where it was difficult to obtain proper information, the judgment made by the count was an inevitable fate. Still, just in case, please allow me to hire more mercenaries. About how many? If its about a hundred. . . Isnt that too many? Then about fifty. . . Alright. While they were having that conversation, Johan had already finished his preparations and was leaving the port. s. Dwarven Captain Mackald was not happy with the southern expedition. That was because they did not make a proper contribution. Dont be angry, Captain. We won, didnt we? Thats why youre the problem. . . . . . . The sub-captain, who was scolded for saying a word offort, was discouraged. The other guys were all active. The centaurs also made such a contribution, but we only. . . There was no need for a siege, so it couldnt be helped, could it? Youd better just shut up. The other sub-captains stopped the young dwarf sub-captain. No matter how you looked at it, he seemed like the kind of guy who would get scolded more and more if he spoke. Dwarven mercenaries were especially famous among mercenaries. Mackalds dwarves had one more special talent in addition to this. That was just siege technology. From the past, these siege engineers were highly valued and received expensive payments. The order had such expectations when they hired them at great expense. However, while following Johan, although they were winning, there wasnt much work making siege weapons. The marquiss castles, they were also looking forward to it thinking ? but theirbor was disrupted because of the pirates. . . Being like this, it was inevitable for the captain to be anxious. Failing to make decent achievements despite being hired by the order at great expense was a disgrace among disgraces. At this rate, it seemed like it would damage the honor built by his ancestors. Dont worry. This time there will definitely be opportunities. Didnt the count say words of expectation when he left? . . . . . . Macalds expression softened slightly at the sub-captains words. Thats right. Johan had great expectations for the dwarf mercenaries on this expedition. Fierce siege warfare was expected. They had brought so many siege weapon materials that they had to greatly reduce the number of warhorses. It was already a great hassle to move warhorses when going on expeditions by fleet. Johan left the eastern warriors and centaurs behind and organized the expeditionary force with infantry only. Only Johan and the elite heavy infantry protecting Johan could bring horses. This was encouraging for the dwarves. It was proof that he had high hopes for them. Youre right. I swear on my ancestors beard that I will definitely bring down the enemys castle walls. Excellent! Aside from siege technology, the dwarf mercenaries were soldiers as hard as steel. There were very few mercenaries who could resist the charge of cavalry by gathering tightly together. Dwarves were one of those few. Hmm. Although the difficultnding went smoothly, I must not fail to thank my ancestors and show them an embarrassing sight. The army had finishednding and was now heading towards the Count of Jekyllids castle. At this rate, they would arrive in a few days. It was time to encourage morale rather thanin. . . .Theres big trouble. What is it? It is said that the enemy hase out of the castle and is heading this way. . . .Why is that troubleOh. Ah. . . Chapter 141.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (1) Chapter 141.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (1) The dwarf sub-captains unconsciously nced at Mackald. If this happened, there was a high possibility that the battle would be decided in an encounter battle. If that was the case, the siege warfare that Mackald wanted. . . . . .Im fine. Even if its not a siege, cant we still show our bravery? Youre right! Lets show the vampires the fearsome might of the dwarves. Even without siege warfare, the dwarf mercenaries were powerful. Armed with spears, axes and shields, their approach was like a solid fortress. . Looks like information leaked out. Johan muttered dissatisfiedly. At those words, the mercenary captains tensed up. Although the gue and curse had ended, Johans authority was still absolute. The mercenaries still worshipped Johan. If someone stood in front of the mercenaries and shouted !, they would rush like mad dogs to hang theirmanders. Since Johan spoke like that, they couldnt help but feel nervous. If there was a culprit among them who leaked information. . . What makes you think so? Among the mercenary captains, only Gurelic could open his mouth. Thanks to being the first to change sides. Initially ridiculed with ?, Gurelic was now praised as . The other mercenary captains also nced at Gurelic. The adjutant of the powerful was always more fearful than the powerful themselves. They practically held the power over life and death of their underlings with their tongues. The speed at which the vassals are joining seems faster than I thought. The Count of Jekyllid didnte to attack with less than a hundred soldiers just because he went crazy. He was able to do this because his vassals were rallying. The situation was different from when Johan had broken through the south with the full support of the Order and seized the county. At that time, Johan had justification with the unconditional support of the Order. Plus the Asada family brothers were busily ndering the duke from behind. The atmosphere was such that the vassals didnt need to stand up. However, Johan was a pagan foreign invader. No vassal would fail to respond to such an invasion. No matter how much they didnt want to go, they had to at least answer the summons. But. . . Didnt you already expect this? Well, thats true. Johan had anticipated that the counts vassals woulde running. In a situation where they were facing off against each other and had dered war, it was unlikely that the enemy would not prepare. However, the movements of the enemy were too fastpared to the intelligence that had been heard. Johan thought the enemies would gather around the middle of the siege. He had even made ns for skirmishes. He was about to eat them raw, but when the enemies moved normally, he felt regretful for no reason. , . I. . . I didnt tell my sub-captains about the expedition either, Your Excellency. Deosam, the head of the Gorgale Mercenary Group, stepped forward and spoke. Johan asked curiously. Didnt I say you could tell the sub-captains? No. . . because security was important. . . You did something unnecessary. You should have told the sub-captains to reduce confusion. It must have been hard for the mercenaries to prepare. When he was treated like an idiot after saying something unnecessary, smiles spread across the mouths of the other mercenary captains. There was nothing more enjoyable than seeing arrogant people get humiliated. It was probably the hostages who smuggled out the information. It wouldnt have been difficult for them to pass on news to envoys and servantsing and going. Oh. . . Youre right! That makes sense! The mercenary captains were relieved. Johan wasnt suspecting them. To think they dare betray His Excellency that allows them to preserve their lives. . . We should take them out right now and execute them! And those who were quick-witted moved even faster here. The others made regretful expressions. I should have spoken first! No. We cannot execute nobles for uncertain reasons. It goes against honor. Johan tly refused. Of course, it wasnt because of honor but because of their ransom value. The hostages captured now were from the noble families of the Hundred Kingdoms. They were guys who would be useful to exploitter. His mood was unpleasant but Johan could wait as long as necessary. He would collect several times more for this incident. Dont allow their servants to go out and double the surveince. What is the scale of the enemy? ording to the report, the enemy forces numbered three to four thousand. Most were lightly armed or hastily conscripted soldiers. Hearing that report, the mercenary captains openly ridiculed them. Their number was a whopping five thousand. And that was after filtering out the ragtag and neers to pick only elite troops. Most were well armed and experienced, and there were many heavy infantry as well. They were amused that the enemies dared to attack with that kind of force. ? . . . Dont be arrogant. This is enemy territory. Sorry. Closely identify enemy cavalry. Unforeseen situations may arise. Yes, understood. Despite the overwhelmingly advantageous situation, Johan thoroughly prepared. As before, they approached along the coast with the fleets escort. They could receive supplies and support in case of emergency. , . ? . Chapter 141.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (1) Chapter 141.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (1) Seeing the high morale and orderly military discipline of the enemy, I wonder if it would have been better to defend inside the castle walls. . . Shh. Be quiet. Yesterday, a knight from the Dahya family was whipped for saying that. The vassals of the Count of Jekyllid were also anxious. The rumors they had heard before and the reports about thended enemies were quite. . . very different. Just from the reports, it was not the appearance of a disorderly gang of thieves, but a properly organized strong army. However, the Count of Jekyllid answered with whips to vassals who gave straight talk and advice. ? ! The counts im was not wrong either. By some miracle, they were able to summon the vassals first, but that army had be a poison. They could not withstand such an army inside the castle. Food and supplies would quickly run out. They could also buy time by abandoning the castle and maneuvering ind to avoid the enemies, but that was something the count could never do for the sake of face. After the gangs of thieves finish their plundering, how will I deal with the aftermath? However, if the count properly knew now who he was up against, he might have chosen that method instead. s. Does the count have a lot of military experience? No. Emir would only have experience subjugating bands of rogue serfs or rebelling peasants at most. Then what do you think that looks like? . . .It looks like he wants to try his luck. . . Ahir opened his mouth carefully. Below the hill in front of them, dozens of banners were fluttering as the enemy formation unfolded. It was the army of the Count of Jekyllid taking position to deploy. . . , . ? . . Johan was confused. Was it really purely a contest of strength? Was the Count an *sshole? ? Send orders to the left and right nks. Give the signal to advance. Yes! As Johans forces slowly advanced, a knight on horseback charged out from the enemy formation. Screaming at the top of his lungs in rehearsed Empire tongue, he shouted. Whats that guy babbling about? Hes challenging you to a duel, saying that if you dont ept hell mock and insult your honor. . . Singlebat before battles was amon custom. Glory and praise awaited the winner, while mockery and death found the loser. Of course, these were not just personal matters. Such contests greatly influenced morale on both sides. The soldiers believed the side loved by the gods would win the battle. The result of the duel was an indicator they could use to guess at that. Geoffrey. Give me a weapon. Johan mounted Cardirian, which let out a satisfied roar at the scent of blood from the weapon handed over by the ve. As another knight charged out from their own ranks, cheers erupted behind him. Realizing it was the Count himself, the cheers grew even louder, seemingly enough to shake the earth. ? As he rode out wielding his mount, Johan thought this. Of course, Johan was confident in his own victory, but if the lord he served rushed out saying he would duel, Johan would have been worried and tried to stop him. However, the warriors gathered on the in epted all these things as natural and obvious. The honorable nobles had to be the bravest and most excellent knights. It was obvious that theirmander would participate in such duels. Along with the sound of horse hooves, the enemy began toe into view. It was a vampire knight with a scar on his cheek. The guy who was running at them, shaking his spear, seemed to flinch when he saw Johans figure. With hisrge, bnced build, and riding an imposing bicorn, Johan was clearly no ordinary knight from his outward appearance. The armor exposed between his surcoat caught the sunlight and gave off a strange color. However, that was just the beginning of the shock. The other weapon held in Johans hand, which did not hold a shield, revealed its form. It was a war hammer of uncouth size. . . .That crazy b*stard! Having studied Eastern, he had the advantage of being able to understand the screams of the enemy. The enemy knight possessed excellent horsemanship and spearmanship. Even in his surprise, he did not falter, keeping his back straight and stabbing with his spear like lightning. . Johan put strength into his body and angled his shield to smash the spearpoint sideways. The enemys fierce attack left a scar on the shield before disappearing to the side. At the same time, Johans counterattack came flying. The giant killer swung down from top to bottom. The knights pupils were dyed with shock that such a heavy weapon could be swung so nimbly. . . .! The knight heard thunder ringing in his ears. But that wasnt thunder. It was the sound of Johans giant killer shattering his shield and severing his windpipe. The knight spewed blood and tumbled off his horse. The duel was merciless to the loser. Dust rose up, covering the knight. Johan looked on with a cold expression as he raised his war hammer. It was an honor only permitted to the winner. Then a roar like thunder burst from Johans camp. Along with jeers, ridicule, and curses towards the enemy. Na. . . Nahud-nim lost?! That cant be. . .! The enemy nobles were unable to open their mouths, their faces shocked. Knight Nahud had survived and won dozens of duels. Thats why he had the honor of being the first from the enemy side to rush out and challenge Johan. And yet he was struck down with one blow. They simply could not believe it. That b*stard is calling for Jekyllid! That guy. . .! Johan fluently called for the Count of Jekyllid in Eastern. It was a request for the honorable nobleman toe out and determine the victor between them. After all, the fight was between him and Johan, so why shed the blood of others, he said. Upon hearing this, the Count gritted his teeth. Having been challenged like that, if he didnt ept, his own sides honor would be in the gutter. The Count looked for his champion. You expect me to just watch as that b*stard speaks like that? You want me to be humiliated?! . . . . . . Your Excellency, allow me to stand as your champion! Good! Kill that b*stard! A new knight sprang out. Johan waited and then briskly charged forward. I am of the Hatoc. . . Oof! The knight realized why that great Nahud had died as he copsed. Johans strength exceeded imagination. He wielded that enormous war hammer as if it were a dagger. Just the attack where he would spring out from his fallen posture and smash was terrifying, but if you tried to block with a shield, the shield itself would be reduced to scraps. Johan blew apart the shield with one strike, then took the enemy knights head off with his second. . . . . . . . . . . . . The next knight, and the one after, simrly copsed. Count Jekyllids camp became as silent as a graveyard. Shock and horror rendered them speechless. Chapter 142.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (2) Chapter 142.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (2) ? No more knights came out from the enemys camp. Instead, the soldiers started to advance. If they send out more knights here, the morale will just drop to the floor, but doing nothing would have the same effect. What will the soldiers who just witnessed what happened be thinking? The shock from earlier must be washed away by the heat of battle. With the enemiesing out like that, Johan didnt need to hold on any longer. Johan mocked the enemies as he returned to his allies camp. Cheers for the honorable knight who was victorious in the duel erupted. . Gorgale Mercenary Group, forward! What the Gorgale Mercenary Group prided themselves on were their unique crossbowmen. The crossbowmen who charged out carrying shields took their positions and fired bolts. Enemy soldiers who were not properly equipped with armor or were poorly equipped screamed as they tumbled about. Already, some parts of their formation were copsing. Although the enemies counterattacked, the crossbowmen did not falter. Their skill level was different from the hastily conscripted soldiers. ! ! Realizing they were no match, enemy knights gritted their teeth as they hurried their soldiers. gs fluttered here and there as their movements quickened. The sh will ur soon. Confirm the locations of the enemy knights. Yes. Paying attention. Johan was in the central camp carefully observing the enemies movements. If they really shed head-on like this, it didnt look like there were any factors for defeat. However, the other side also had brains. They would do something. The most textbook move would be to deploy the reserves of elite troops they had set aside to ces their forces were being pushed back. Although the enemy knights were rtively lightly armored, they were still cavalry on horseback. If they wildly charged in, the momentum of that spot could bepletely reversed. Those damn elves fight really well. Gurelics murmur could be heard. He was talking about the Akitens b*stards. Although they had dismounted to fight, elves were inherently militant. Also, their equipment was outstanding. In the name of St. Ka! Smash the enemies heads! The elves shed at the enemies as they swung their swords and shields. It wasnt only the elves who were fighting well. In ces, the mercenaries were overwhelming the enemies. Although the centers had not shed yet, the mercenaries were pushing back the opponents on the left and right nks. It already looked like the opponents were being forced back. The gs were fluttering as they retreated. It was strange they were being pushed back when they had greater numbers, more experience, and were better equipped than the enemies. Could it be a trap? With those conscripted soldiers, would they really be able to carry out a feigned retreat to lure the enemies and set up an ambush? Wouldnt that take divine skills? Ahir asked as if finding it preposterous. It wasnt something just anyone could do to feign a retreat. If morale was high and loyalty wascking, there was a chance they could disperse for real after pretending to retreat. It was good Johan did not look down on the Count of Jekyllid too much, but he also seemed to be overestimating him a bit iprehensibly. Why on earth would such a brave person. . .? Ahirs sons also nodded their heads in agreement with his meaning. Well, you have a point there. What are you doing? Dont retreat and advance forward. If you retreat, themanders will be held responsible! Understood, Your Excellency. Although the messenger ran off, the expressions of the nobles nearby were not good. The situation would not change just because Jekyllid was angry. Although they could not grasp the full situation, they could tell at the very least that the left and right nks were being overwhelmed now. After all, messengers kept franticallying asking for reinforcements. Although they were somehow stubbornly fighting back, copse seemed imminent at any time. For the first time, unease began to set in for the Count. Could the enemies really be elites and not nobodies? What if it wasnt that someone of no renown was unable to restrain his greed and only conscripted a bunch of green troops, but a genuine contender to be the hegemon of the south who had made proper preparations beforeing? We ced experienced knights and veteran mercenaries at the center. If we breakthrough the enemies center, we can turn the situation around. I. . . I see. At his vassals words, the count nodded as he looked ahead. At that moment, the enemy center swayed and the gs on both nks started moving. At a nce, it looked like movements right before retreat and defeat. The enemy is copsing! ?! ? A few nobles looked at the center in puzzlement. Unless the enemies had only stationed *ssholes at the center, there was no way they would copse already after shing for just a few hours. . . The nobles thoughts were correct. Those were not copse movements, but cavalry making space to charge. A path opened and Johan and his guards charged out. The enemies they were fighting in front cried out in panic. Johans appearance had already left a strong impression in the soldiers minds. D. . . D. . . The demon! The demon! The demon has appeared! ? The soldiers screams fully entered Johans ears, which could now somewhat understand the easternnguage. Strike! Johan shouted as he swung the Giant yer up and down, left and right. Each time he swung, a wide area opened up. His momentum was so fierce that the enemies could not even take aim with their weapons as they retreated. Although experienced soldiers had gathered at the enemy center as well, they were useless in this situation. As if they had encountered some ferocious monster, they were frightened out of their wits, shoving and trampling theirrades as they fled. If you retreat, Ill behead you! Fight and stand your ground! Although the knights and sub-captains shouted desperately, the soldiers did not listen. Johan grabbed a spear and threw it. It pierced straight through the neck of a shouting sub-captain who copsed. Kill all who stand still! Chapter 142.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (2) Chapter 142.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (2) Drunk on the excitement of battle, Cardirian howled. Johan pulled on the reins to stop him from stomping the enemies with his hooves and drinking their blood. With the vanguard formation broken, the following cavalry riders spread out and struck from all sides. The enemy center waspletely split up and scattered raggedly. I will take on this damned demon. . .! ! With one blow, Johan took down nobles who were bearing several gs and approaching. Chaotic battlefields emphasized brawn over skill. The enemies were trying to be cautious after watching the earlier fight, but there was no such leisure to begin with. Follow me! Johan divided the cavalry into three and sent one to the left nk and one to the right nk to attack from the side. He personally aimed for the enemy rear with the remainder. Despite the swirling sweltering heat and clouds of dust, the pagan goddess protection kept Johans blood vessels and vision clear, allowing him to distinctly see his surroundings. He could make out the counts g fluttering far away. Capture him! Lets end this fight today! When the central forces they had high hopes for werepletely destroyed, the shock of the count and his vassals behind was beyond imagination. No. . . no way. That cant be. How could a human have such strength? Winning and losing in battle was natural. But shattering well-trained elite troops with one charge and ughtering nobles. . . Your Excellency! You must retreat! The vassals urgently shouted at the count who still couldnt let go. Given the situation, they had to retreat unconditionally. However, the Count of Jekyllid couldnt back down. It was because of his pride and honor. If he fled now after boasting like that, how would people see him? Your Excellency! . . . The vassals were frustrated. If this continued, it seemed they would die with him. Surrender is better received when both sides have calmed down and can be rational, not when blood is boiling like now. Otherwise, it could cost ones head. Fortunately, Johan helped persuade them. !!! Seeing Johan charging through the center line, the count instinctively turned his horse. Then he desperately whipped the horse to flee. Your Excellency! Your Excellency! The vassals around had bewildered expressions. If you wanted to retreat, why not just order it instead of doing this? What was he thinking? Retreat! Fall back! . It was an overwhelming victory. After the count escaped, the rest of them copsed faster. It was natural that themanders g disappeared. Hes damn fast. Johan licked his lips regretfully. The count of Jekyllids hidden trick was to run away. Once he decided to flee, he ran away very quickly. Theres no need to chase him anyway. Hes so badly defeated that he wont have the strength to resist. Youve worked hard. Reward those who have made merit and gather the prisoners on one side. The escaped count was a count, and now it was time to check the spoils. The nobles who were caught without escaping would pay a high ransom. He fought fiercely when he fought, but when the fight was over, he felt anew that war was a business. Especially in the sense that he searched everywhere to find his own profit. Even now, the mercenaries were searching everywhere for valuables. . . .Isnt the number too small? Johan was surprised to see the nobles captured as prisoners. He didnt count the gs of each family before the fight, but this was too small. That. . . thats what Im saying. Gurelic spoke cautiously with a look of not knowing what to say. ? Your Excellency. . . You killed most of them. . . . . . . . . Thats right. The center was filled with elites, and the counts vassals, knights, and nobles were in ce. When Johan went in there and killed them as they came, the nobles were also smashed. . Usually, even if they lost in battle, the nobles didnt die that much. The first ones to die were the soldiers who didnt have to pay the ransom, and if the fight was unfavorable, the nobles could run away or surrender. Besides, the nobles were usually well-armed, so they could withstand fatal attacks as minor injuries. . . .But Johans charge didnt apply to any of this. Johan broke and killed them as he wanted to win first. Besides, Johans attack was too strong. Even the nobles who wore well-equipped armor couldnt get up if they got hit once. The captured nobles looked at Johan and trembled in fear. They muttered something like a demon or a monster. He came with his blood properly wiped and his armor off, but seeing him say that, Johans charge must have left a deep impression. I wanted to get a ransom, but its a shame. I didnt know they would all die. . . Shall I trante it? Are you crazy? Tell them to mourn the honorable nobles who died. Bolstered by the victory, Johans buoyant army marched towards Jekyllid Castle. Bearing the Counts family name, the castle was solid and robust. Johan first sent envoys again to the captured families. The meaning was different from when he asked for ransom money across the sea. After this battle, everyone would know. , ! The vassals of the ind nation who doubted Johans strength now knew for certain. That Johan fully had such capability. Now the situation flowed into a battle of wits. Would they continue being loyal to the count? Or switch sides? . . .Aside from the political situation, Johan silently focused on his tasks. Namely, capturing the castle. I believe in you guys. Thank you. . . Thank you, Your Excellency! The dwarf mercenaries shed hot tears at Johans rewards. Of all things, they couldnt contribute again in the ins battle. As elites among elites, Johan had kept them in reserve. But the cavalry led by Johan simply ended the battle. Tears of blood flowed from the dwarves eyes as a result. Still, Johan divided and gave rewards to them as well. Nothing motivated troops more than an employers thoughtful care like this. Indeed, the dwarves were moved to tears. The weapons we make will never disappoint Your Excellency. Good. Take it easy. Dont overexert yourselves. The dwarves eyes seemed rather sunken and their gaze glittered madly. Johan was worried. They did nothing wrong yet why act like that needlessly. It was just pitiful. After Johan left, the dwarves focused on their work. Determined to smash through the castle walls. But what if they surrender beforepletion? . . .Shut your trap. Chapter 143.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (3) Chapter 143.1: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (3) In the old dwarfnguage, there was a word . It was used when referring to things that were predetermined, that were fate. When they saw the envoys rushing towards them holding white gs in the distance, the dwarves could not help but murmur that old word. . . . Some of the younger dwarves said more directly, Damn it. . . . . .How undignified. . It was natural for the disadvantaged side to attempt negotiations. Neither Johan nor the mercenary captains under Johan were particrly surprised. The problem was what kind of negotiations they were attempting! Will you pay all the ransom and pay for the insult? Yes, Your Excellency. Nonsense. When Johan scoffed mockingly, the envoy flinched. There was a custom not to kill envoys, but that did not prevent fear. Moreover, having personally witnessed Johan ughtering soldiers and charging, the envoy was even more afraid. Tell your master. Open the gates ande out in person to kneel before me. Then I will promise mercy. . . . . . . The envoy wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead. Johans prestige was more than enough. But for his master, it was an offer that could not be epted. The moment he came out and knelt, Jekyllids fate would be in Johans hands. No one knew whether he would be executed on the spot, taken somewhere far away and imprisoned. The noble who had strutted about as the master of the hundred kingdoms would never ept such a humiliating offer. If hostages are needed, I will offer the bloodline of my house. I dont need them. The count muste out himself. Johan was frustrated. With an extremely advantageous situation, there was no need to make concessions unlike an unfavorable situation. The hundred kingdoms stuck to the south had always been a thorny presence. They posed irritation by turning into pirates at times, merchants at other times, and invaders at yet other times. The southern nobles did not have the means to leave them alone, but Johan did. Now that the opportunity presented itself, he would make sure to grab them. How great of you, Your Excellency. There is no need to show mercy to these pagan b*stards. The republic envoy opened his mouth with a satisfied look on his face. They were the ones making huge profits from trade with the pagans, so they were in no ce to say this. There was only one reason why they were saying this. It was because the current situation favored the republic. , . The republic envoy thought to himself. To be honest, it was fortunate that he was an ally, if he thought of him as an enemy, his heart would have dropped. Those in the homnd of the republic might react nonchntly, saying , , . However, the thoughts of those who witnessed it on site werepletely different. The valor Count Yeats showed on the battlefield could not simply be exined as that of a knight. There was something transcendental that chilled the bones of onlookers and made them flee in terror. The power to tear apart the majority and shake them in a ce where screams erupted from all sides and arrows rained down, with the strength of one individual, was nothing short of mythological. . The republic wanted to maintain as good rtions as possible with Count Yeats if they could. The two had manymon enemies. The Emperor of the Holy Empire, the petty kingdoms of the eastern penins, the declining descendants of the ancient Empire, and the strongest and most threatening enemy, the Empire of the East. . . The republic, with its base deep inside the Edene Sea, wanted fighters who would fight instead outside. If Johan were to be the hegemon of the south, nothing could be better. And. . . , . This ce waspletely different from the south. The authority of the Order did not work here, rather it only obstructed. While there would be those who would switch sides watching how things developed, there would also be quite a few houses who would uphold their honor and loyalty. Additionally, Johan seemed intent onpletely destroying the Jekyllid house out of fury and religious zeal. . If that were to happen, the houses that turned their backs might also get angry and start a rebellion. Honor and justification were important to the pagans as well. If that happened, the hundred kingdoms would continue to torment Count Yeats, and the only ce Count could ask for help would be the republic. A ce that continuously trades with the nobles of these Northern Lands, possesses a fleet, and also has the ability to persuade! When negotiations ended, the republic would wee it. After all, there was no way this expedition would end in defeat. Seeing Johan, it didnt seem at all like he would lose. . . If so, it was best to consider the gains that would follow. May I offer a piece of advice? Johan nodded. Ahir carefully opened his mouth. There will be considerable pushback among the vassals of the hundred kingdoms if you wipe out the Jekyllid family. What do you mean? Hmm? Hmm? Ahir looked at Johan with puzzlement. Rumors were raging wildly around the camp. It was because of the incident where the envoy who hade to request negotiations was humiliated and chased away. Even among the nobles held hostage, the rumor was circting. Emir. . . I mean, the Count has to pay the price. I cant just let someone who openly insulted my honor go. But I dont intend to wipe out the Counts family. Why would I do that? Regardless of the republics misunderstanding, Johan was extremely rational. Even dealing with the Count was necessary for that reason, he didnt really have much personal resentment. He wasnt the type to get worked up just because someone else insulted his honor. I-I was mistaken. No need to make unnecessary concessions when theres nothing to regret. It would be good if the other partypletely surrendered and opened the gates, but if not, he was prepared to sh as it was. Johan didnt like wasting his strength, but sometimes it was necessary to properly demonstrate his power. The scene of breaking down the Counts walls and dragging him out would make it very clear to the people around here who the master was. Chapter 143.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (3) Chapter 143.2: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (3) The leader of the newly arrived expeditionary force is said to be a demon-like figure. Keep your voice down. Youre too loud. Envoys came one after another from Johans camp surrounding the castle. They were not envoys sent by the Count. They were envoys quietly sent by families who had to pay ransom. Their faces were full of tension. Of course. The reason they came here was not simply to negotiate the ransom. The entire ind was simmering because of the newly arrived expeditionary force. Some families were already scratching their heads wondering what to do. The purpose of this delegation of envoys was to judge what kind of person themander of the newly arrived expeditionary force was, and to grasp how they would treat them in the future. It was inevitable they would be nervous. Besides, various exaggerated rumors about Johan were circting around. Nobles who had participated in the battle and fled described Johan as a knight with light shining in his eyes and breathing fire like a demon from hell. Wee. ??? When Johan weed them with a soft voice, the envoys were taken aback for a moment, thinking ? The Counts son? No. . . they say its the Count himself. . .? Johan pretended not to hear the murmuring voices of the envoys. Johan had prepared a banquet to entertain the envoys. It wasmon for nobles to hold banquets even in the midst of fighting, so it was nothing unusual. However, the order of the banquet waspletely different. Surprisingly, Johan had prepared the banquet hall to suit the customs of these pagan guests. !!! The envoys were truly surprised. The priests have all been removed, right? Yes. Right now my men are annoying them. Johan ordered the mercenaries to remove the priests from this area because if the priests from the religious order saw this scene their hearts would stop. Right now the priests must be hearing the mercenaries confessions and praying for them. The envoys sat down, stunned. Instead of alcohol, a refreshing drink made from fermented fruit was served, along with soups and fritters using fresh seafood caught nearby and spices. Compared to the meat, cabbage and onion dishes they usually ate, the mercenary captains reached for the seafood. Although they were different races and backgrounds, they had one appetite inmon. . . . . Unlike the orders envoys, the mercenary captains were not surprised that Johan would do anything in front of the pagans. Originally, mercenaries would work under pagans as long as they were paid money. There were also mercenaries who went to work under the petty kingdoms of the eastern penins, and the truly fearless ones would even go as far as the Eastern Empire. They were not surprised by acting a little differently in front of their employer. Johan nodded while eating a sd of cheese made from sheeps milk mixed with olive oil. Johan opened his mouth in the Easternnguage. The food of thisnd is truly abundant. . . .! You praise us too highly, Your Excelleny. The envoys were even more surprised to find out Johan could speak the Easternnguage. It was so different from the rumors. From the rumors alone, one would expect a tyrant who would make people crawl to the camp entrance on their knees, and cut off their heads or humiliate them for saying a single wrong word. . . The figure Johan showed at this banquet was the very image of a young and wise monarch. If anything, the Count of Jekyllid whipping his subordinate nobles seemed more tyrannical. Moreover, there were several vampire knights from the Mulc family by Johans side. Their presence made him even more trustworthy. To think such people were serving in the ranks. Johan singled out and highly praised the names of each family whose envoys hade. After half a day passed, the envoys werepletely drunk on Johan. Although I raised an army because the Count of the Jekyllid family insulted my honor, I didnt want to retaliate beyond reason. But the Count still refuses toe out from behind the castle walls. It is truly regrettable, Your Excellency. I clearly told him lets decide this between the two of us in a duel, but the Count refused. The envoys nodded at Johans words. They had also heard about the pre-battle duel. About how Johan had properly ughtered several knights. . . This whole situation was brought about by the Count himself. I understand, Your Excellency. Its as if God lent your hand to punish him. Some of the drunk envoys crossed the line with reckless remarks. Those who had tried rtively hard to restrain themselves were surprised. Even so, wasnt that a bit too harsh? You were the envoy from the Dahya family, were you not? Your words are truly moving. I will remember your name. Thank you, Your Excellency! Johan clearly rewarded him. With the unexpected flow of the atmosphere, the look in the others eyes also started to change. i. Talking is more tiring than fighting. Well done. The envoys were quite confused. The banquet was a sess. Most of the envoys had satisfied expressions as they left, while some had moreplicated expressions. It was clear which side they would take based on the atmosphere. Nobles are inherently greedy, so theyll happily ept food ced in front of them. The ones who bow their knees and wag their tails are not an issue, but the ones still stubbornly tensing their necks are the problem. Not only the Count of Jekyllid, but several families still had their hackles raised. The Nusard brothers were like that, as were the vassal families of the other Count of Jekyllid. They are so close to the count that they cannot rashly make the first move. Well, things turned out alright. ? Geoffrey was puzzled. If everyone bows their head, theres no justification left to seize their fiefs. I was already nning to make them pay for secretly leaking information, but if theye out like this, it makes things easier for me too. Those inside the castle were still clearly lost in pipe dreams. Either enduring until Johan retreats, or forcing Johan to negotiate their safety. However, Johan was determined to take Jekyllid Castle no matter what. Ideally he wanted to gain a few more ces if possible, but held back due tock of justification. But if those familiese out like that. . . He had shaken the carrot sufficiently. Now was the time to crack the whip. Your Excellency! All preparations areplete! The dwarves came running with excited voices. Their eyes shone brightly with ambition. Good. They will not even ept envoys now. Commence the attack! Chapter 144.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (1) Chapter 144.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (1) With the dawn, the dwarves merrily began pushing the siege engines. The dwarves had always been the leading technologists of the age. As the state-of-the-art trebuchets boasted their mighty power, the dwarves let out cheers of joy. Those crazy dwarf b*stards. . . What did they make? The mercenaries looked at the dwarves with bored eyes. The mercenaries fundamentally respected the dwarves. The reputation of the dwarf warriors had always been great. But seeing them stacking those up, they couldnt think anything but that it was ridiculous. ? Is the siege tower really not necessary? Yes. Please trust us, Your Excellency. Mackald spoke resolutely. Although the siege tower itself, moving the huge tower and attaching it to the wall to attack, was a powerful weapon in sieges, there was no need for it this time. The dwarves had already finished their calctions. Its enough to copse the wall. No need for a siege tower. I see. I trust you. Yes. The and the will be especially active. ? Those two trebuchets, we put in some new technologies in particr. . . . . Johan grumbled to himself. The dwarves naming sense wasnt great, but he couldnt say that. They were names passed down from dwarf ancestors. That aside, it was a pain to keep listening to the principles of siege technology he had no interest in. Still, Johan endured and responded enthusiastically. I see. Using the principles of pendulums and fulcrums tounch them, truly remarkable. Ah! You perfectly understand this device! . The dwarves were greatly moved by Johans casual words. There were many employers who rushed and harassed them, but few who showed genuine interest like this. I have something I want to build next, but. . . . The sight of the approaching trebuchets was seen by those inside the castle as well. Trebuchets! What did you do while those were being built?! The dwarves cleverly used angles to hide the work process. Still, some intelligence should havee in from outside, yet there were no reports at all. More than the trebuchets themselves, not knowing the situation was more terrifying. It felt like everyone else had been reced. Should we try negotiating again? And say what when His Excellency refuses? Currently, the Count of Jekyllid was barricaded inside the inner castle. It was due to the shock from the battle. Thanks to that, only the other retainers had headaches. They had to get help from other feudal lords, call back children of the family who were away as hostages, or scrape the vaults empty toe up with ransom money, when the lord was barricaded in his room, only caressing his lovers. . . It wasnt only Jekyllid who was shocked. Other nobles were also trembling in fear. The battle in the ins was one thing, but insulting the opponent in this situation. . . If negotiations failed and the gates copsed, they could all die. Lets buy some time at least. If we can get them to stop, a chance to destroy them may arise. The nobles nodded. They needed time even to try to destroy the trebuchets. Another envoy visited again. But this time, they didnt even see Johans face. . . .Count Yeats refused an audience! What did you say? ! The answer came from the castle walls instead. It was the sound of a huge boulder hitting the wall. The earth-shaking sound startled those inside the castle. Stay calm! Dont panic! The vassals who entered the castle with the Count encouraged their troops to maintain morale. Meanwhile, the retainers exchanged nces. While the vassals received fiefdoms from the Count and had families who would pay ransoms for them, the retainers who did odd jobs under the Count had no such fiefdoms or families. Most were minor nobles from insignificant families. If the walls copsed, the chances of them dying were very high. Well bring His Excellency here! Some of the retainers headed inside with soldiers. The nobles were too distraught to even notice. The walls have copsed! Order an advance! Johan nodded. The mercenaries morale was sky high as they began to approach. The defending troops who had been waiting on top of the walls werepletely demoralized by the raining boulders and didnt even stick their heads out. Taking advantage of their superior forces upying the castle exterior, the mercenaries poured bolts as they pleased through the copsed walls. Block the walls! Dont let them. . . Ugh! The shouting knight dropped his weapon in terror. A familiar face had appeared among the mercenaries. It was Johan wielding the Giant yer. Though the walls had copsed, the terrain was still quite narrow, so it could have been blocked if they tried. But Johans appearance shattered that premise. Every time he swung his weapon, empty spaces appeared and soldiers copsed. His fierce attacks also forced knights who tried to fight back to retreat. His Excellency fights with us! Charge forward! Thanks to that, the mercenaries morale couldnt get any higher. Among mercenaries, there was nothing more respected than an employer who fought shoulder to shoulder with them. Moreover one whose opponent was the knight among knights. After fighting for over a day, the g of the Yeats Family flew over the castle walls. Your Excellency! We have captured the count we were chasing after. Johan looked at the vassals of the Jekyllid family with a tired expression. After fighting all day, Johan was drenched in blood and sweat. As a result, his voice came out rough. But why is he dead? Because he violently resisted. . . The vassals kowtowed as they spoke. The Count of Jekyllid had been captured. As a corpse. *. . . Instead of answering, Johan covered his face with his hand. He was going to keep the count alive and exploit him in various ways! The vassals seemed to be trying to win Johans favor by capturing Jekyllid and offering him up. The drunken Jekyllid brandished his sword and raged around, and the desperate vassals also fought back. . . As a result, blood was shed and the fight intensified. As Johan remained silent, the vassals seemed a bit anxious. They cautiously opened their mouths. Your Excellency. We have captured the count for you. ording to custom, please give us a reward for this. . . Custom? Reward? Oh my. Pay them for killing their own master. Chapter 144.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (1) Chapter 144.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (1) At Johans words, the mercenaries became excited and stepped forward. They grabbed the vassals by the arms and dragged them away. As the atmosphere turned strange, the vassals panicked and shouted. Your Excellency! We have surrendered! It is against the rules to treat those who have surrendered like this! We do not ept surrenders after an attack has begun. Execute them. How many have died so far? At Johans question, the mercenary captains answered awkwardly. Not only the count but also his wives. . . it seems several vassals have died as well. The rumors will spread terribly. Johan clicked his tongue. Now that it hade to this, he didnt even know to what extent bloodshed to expect. He had gone through the trouble of hosting a banquet to cate the nobles of this kingdom. . . , . Clean up the castle. Stop the looting and find the b*stards property. Catch his scribes, attendants and servants, and make them spill what theyve hidden. . . What should we do with the captured nobles? Lock them up for now. Ill decide after reviewing the situation. Originally, he was going to leave the count alone and ruthlessly exploit the meddling vassal families by threatening to leak secrets and refusing ransoms. . . But now that this had happened, his thoughts becameplicated. ? However, the situation unfolded a bit differently from Johans expectations. There was less bacsh than he had anticipated. The families who hade to the banquet sent envoys to congratte him on his victory and dere that they would be his new vassals. Your rights will remain as they are. Your Excellency! Shouldnt you stop them from adhering to their improper religion?! I have no choice. The republic envoys strongly demanded it. If we force conversions, many merchants will flee across the sea and chaos will ensue. From the republics perspective, trade will be too difficult. Of course, it wasnt actually a demand from the republics. In fact, ifrge numbers of merchants fled, the biggest loss would be to Johan rather than to them. However, it wasnt apletely false statement either. The priests of the religious order couldnt help but resent the republics. We will make generous donations to the new temple being built for you all, so please dont resent the republic people too much. . . .Yes. We understand. After appeasing the order, Johan casually asked those who hade: What are the reactions of the other families? They are delighted with Your Excellencys victory. Speak appropriately and tell me the truth. At Johans words, the envoy became embarrassed and opened his mouth. While there are some expressing discontent, such fellows can be ignored. They know nothing and are small in number. They say its no big deal that the count died? Yes. In any case, it wasnt Your Highness who caused the incident. Moreover, did you not execute those unruly fellows in his ce? No one brings up that matter. !! Johan was surprised. He was seeing an unexpected effect thanks to appeasing the nobles at the banquet. The nobles ready to switch sides staunchly defended the counts death. Since the captured men also had to read the situation now, they agreed with those words. As a result, rumors did not spread as badly as Johan had anticipated. , ? The new count seems to be a much more sensible man than the rumors say. The captured nobles nodded their heads. On the battlefield Johan had seemed like a mad demon, but after calmly cooling their heads and piecing together the rumors, he appeared in a slightly different light. From weing the families who came to properly holding the counts funeral. . . It didnt seem like he was just oppressing them by force and looting before leaving, but rather that he truly intended to govern. When they realized they werent dealing with a demon who didnt understand dialogue, they became more at ease. Its always the most frightening when you dont know who youre dealing with. Then is the reason hes treating us so well and not executing us precisely to gain our cooperation? That must be it. Since our families have quite some influence in this kingdom. . . If we cooperate, others will follow suit. Then instead of chattering away, lets go request it. If we say well pledge loyalty so let us go, Im sure even the count will be overjoyed. How much should we pay for ransom? Half? What are you saying. . . Are you trying not to pay any? No, paying nothing at all is a bit. . . Even if we pay a little, we have to speak strongly when negotiating. The count seems like the far-sighted type, so hell know whats most important. The nobles called a servant and requested an audience. They eagerly prattled on in front of Johan. After listening to it all, Johan nodded and replied. Cut the bullshit and prepare the ransom within the deadline. Anyone who fails to do so will have their neck severed. . . .!!! . Even after alternating between carrots and sticks, it took a solid six months to stabilize the kingdom. In fact, this speed was enormously fast. It would have beenpletely impossible without Johan. During this time, Johan tenaciously suppressed rebellions, appeased families, and solicited new supporters. ? . ? . . . ! The wealthy orcs of the kingdom were surprised yet delighted by the new counts friendly overtures. They had never imagined that the invader from across the sea would show them favor. Envoys havee from Gilsina, Your Excellency. Gilsina, the port city closest to the penins across the kingdom. It was a city that had purchased autonomy from the former count. Johan clicked his tongue. They probably came to grumble over their loss, right? I suppose so. The city had nothing to be regretful over. Not only were they financially affluent, but they also had a decent number of mercenaries. They were also connected to the Emperor across the sea. As such, Johan could not casually issue orders to them either. In fact, despite having just ascended the throne here, Johan had not made any particr demands of Gilsina. He hadnt even demanded the customary congrattory gift. . . . No matter how tenacious Johan was, it seemed he would explode. . . . . However, as soon as the envoys finished their greetings, they began weeping and pleading. Please help us, Your Excellency! ? Chapter 145.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (2) Chapter 145.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (2) . . .What are you talking about? If what he was crying about was asking for tax cuts, then the name Giant yer might as well change to Merchant Killer. However, the envoys from the city were not so fearless. They knew that the new conqueror could make reckless decisions if he wanted to, so they wouldnt dare provoke the conqueror who showed consideration for them. No matter how satisfactory the city was and how much confidence it had, the envoys didnt dare provoke the conqueror whose spirit was piercing the sky. They hade because it was truly urgent. You came to say you couldnt catch a monster? Johan asked back incredulously. He found the envoys words hard to believe. In this world with much more unexplored territory, monsters were a serious threat. Knights wandering to catch monsters and collect bounties were not just for fun. However, it didnt make sense for Gilsina City to send people just because they couldnt catch a single monster. They had quite a few mercenaries and could also ask nearby knights for help. . . .? Fahid, the first son of Ahir next to him, was puzzled by Johans reaction. He carefully opened his mouth. Count, is it hard to believe that they request help from a hero like you because they couldnt catch a monster? It doesnt seem that strange to me. . . ? Johan then realized that he was misunderstanding something. Of course, weak monsters could be caught by vigntes or mercenaries. But if it was at least a minotaur or cyclops level, emergency alerts went out nearby. There were very few knights who volunteered to catch such monsters, and the sess rate was not high either. Not everyone could recklessly beat monsters like Johan. It was not that strange to ask knights with feats like Johan for help with catching monsters. I see. Tell me the details. Gilsina was located between the penins and the hundred kingdoms, a transportation hub and blessed port city. A ce where people of southern polytheism and northern monotheisme and go alternately, and people of the hundred kingdoms in the west and penins people in the east live together in great numbers. Naturally, the lifeline here was the port. That port waspletely blocked by a single monster. Its name was Noptius the Marine Dragon. With the legend that it had mixed dragon blood in its ancestry, it had a gigantic and enormous body, tough and leathery skin, evil and cunning intelligence an evil dragon of the sea. , ? Looking at the exnation and drawings brought by the flustered envoys, Johan roughly pictured it in his head. It seemed that thinking of it as a lizard-like creature going between sea andnd would suffice. After listening to the whole exnation, Johan didnt answer and just stayed silent. As expected of envoys from the city, they were quick-witted. They promptly spoke up. We have brought gifts to congratte you on your legitimate session to the position. Please take a look at the most beautiful ship in the city and the treasures that fill it. Isnt it toote considering when my session ceremony was? We are guilty! Because of that monster beast rampaging at sea, the sailors were too afraid to prepare to set sail. There werend routes, and it didnt seem like the monster had been on a rampage for that long. Also, even without the monster, it was doubtful whether they would have bowed and scraped like this. But instead of probing, Johan decided to y along with them. Indeed, it is the monsters fault. Please ept this document presented in the name of our Council. Instead of passing it to the scribe next to him to read, Johan just took it himself and read it. The envoys were surprised at that. They didnt expect the new Count to be able to read without the scribes help. Aside from the long rhetorical expressions, what the city of Gilsina was saying was simple. Catch this monster and we will give you everything except autonomy. . The autonomy of the city was the citys life and soul. Even if the city starved to death, at least a few families would be burned at the stake if they handed that over. Johan didnt intend to take that either. As long as they pay taxes properly and show obedience, he had no intention of forcibly disturbing the city as it busily went about its business. It wasnt like Johan had some crazy ambition. . . Alright. Ill think about it. Well be waiting. Your Excellency! The envoys bowed politely and withdrew. Desperation could be seen in their withdrawing figures. Though they were withdrawing now, their determination to not leave this fiefdom before hearing a response could be felt. . Chapter 145.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (2) Chapter 145.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (2) He is lowering his right hand instead of his left hand. Ah. I see. How about the rest? Yes. Perfect. Fahid nodded in admiration at Johans etiquette. It was a rare virtue for a conqueror from across the sea to pay attention to the etiquette and customs of thatnd. Seeing this, it felt like a lie that Johan swung his warhammer like a madman, tearing apart enemies on the battlefield. With his formal Easternnguage and behavior, if Johan imed to be from an aristocratic family of the hundred kingdoms, no one would doubt it at all. But is it really okay not to hang your family banner? I told you not to worry about it. Johan epted the envoys offer after pushing and pulling a few times. It was worth epting the rights equivalent to several years of tax revenue in exchange for ying a single monster. , . Having made his decision, Johan led thousands of mercenaries and set out for Gilsina City. . . . . .except he didnt. Bringing thousands of mercenaries to y a single monster was a meaningless waste. It also seemed unlikely to seed. Johan gathered only the elite of the elite. He decided to move with only dozens of cavalrymen and knights. Even this much was more than enough force for the journey. Up to this point, nothing seemed too strange. However, Johan traveled under the banners of minor noble families instead of the sacred banner of the Yeats family. They were such low-ranking noble families that one would not recognize them unless knowledgeable about the heraldry of the hundred kingdoms. Wont it draw too much attention if we fly a family banner? Do you think so. . .? For a noble, it was custom to disy ones banner even when passing through the fiefdoms of rivals. Johans actions were difficult toprehend. asionally, feudal lords would conceal their identity to visit taverns and overhear gossip about their fiefdoms, but that was always temporary. Concealing ones family banner for such a long journey must have been rather painful for an honorable knight. That fool Pirval must have been running his mouth unnecessarily. Surely not. . . The second son cursed at the third. The third had a fiery temperament. Wasnt the third the one who said at first meeting Johan that ? Of course, in Fahids eyes, the second son also had quite a fiery temperament. Wasnt the second the one who, when facing the cyclops, yelled at Johan to , ! in Eastern cursing? Of course, since he had cursed in Eastern, he assumed Johan would not understand, but Fahid believed Johan had grasped the Easternnguage to some degree at that time. He likely caught the gist of what was being said. Gmbos. How does one y a sea dragon? M-My lord. Us eastern rangers wander the forests, mountains, and rivers, but do not go to sea. Gmbos broke into a cold sweat behind his back. For a hunter who had only met nobles who looked down on him, finding a lord who properly evaluated his abilities was honestly a blessing. Thinking back to their first meeting made it even more so. However, if that lord overestimated him too much, that was scary in its own way. The mercenaries mocked Gmbos. That b*stards clearly gotten toofortable. Take his town back, my lord. A man whos received that much should be able to figure something out even if theres no way. . . Among the mercenaries who had followed Johan from the beginning and distinguished themselves, some possessed a small town or two. For mercenaries, it was unbelievable sess. Yet most chose to wander after Johan rather than settling down and ruling those towns. It could have been wanderlust, or loyalty. Only the mercenaries themselves knew the reason. Oh look. Thats young lord Neuris family right? We should dismount. Dont we have a lord too? You crazy b*stard, you cantpare a town. . . to having a single town. Just one town? Whered a guy with nothing get a town? If I told my hometown I became town master, no one would believe me. Well we dont believe you either. As the mercenaries chattered, the heirs of the ruling family of the fiefdom rode by on horseback in the distance. Johan and his knights lightly greeted them. The other party returned the greeting rather arrogantly. . . .Want to smack the shit out of those damn heathens. . . Steady. Knights wandering and passing through fiefdoms were nobles too, but their houses were of meager influence. If it had been the banner of a famous house, they would havee greet them personally and offer invitations, but for little-known houses, there was no need to take the initiative. Even if they hade asking politely, it would not have been enough. Well done, young master. If they do note forward and dismount first, go fetch them. Yes, I will do so. The servant nodded. At that moment, mercenaries began emerging one after another from the forest behind. As their numbers swelled from six or so to tens of men, the servants expressions paled. They were not simply wandering knights, but men leading bands of mercenaries. S-Should I. . .? Are you crazy? Stand down! I think I scared them unnecessarily. Seeing armed men passing by in numbers, its only natural to feel tense. Fahid nodded and said, Wandering knights are fine, but knights leading bands of mercenaries are frightening. They are the kind that can turn into bands of rogues at the slightest provocation. Did I fly too modest a banner? Johan did not fly the Yeats family banner to directly assess the atmosphere in the Back Country as they traveled. Although the reports said , Johan knew very well that such reports were usually somewhat embellished before being submitted. He flew a modest family banner so as not to attract unnecessary attention, but it seemed to have aroused vignce in a different sense. I think it would be fine if you went yourself and spoke to them directly. Simply stating which region and family he was from and his purpose would have been enough to dispel the fear of the rogue knights. Johan shook his head. No. They were so frightened, I dont want to talk to them unnecessarily. At the next ce, I will first send someone to ask for permission. Yes, very well, sir. Johan raised his hand. Following the signal, the mercenaries began to leave the fiefdom one by one. Only then could the servants heave a sigh of relief. They. . . they werent a band of rogues. There seem to be some Peninsrs mixed in too. They must work under the new Count. ! Realizing btedly, the young nobleman had an expression of sudden awareness. Why mention that only now! S-Sorry. Clearly from their well-trained behavior of leaving straight away without any troublemaking, and the elite quality of their equipped gear, they were likely mercenaries under the Count. The newly appeared conqueror enjoyed a fierce reputation among the nearby families. Aside from some rebellious families, the rest were making efforts to adapt, willingly or not. Call them! We must demonstrate the generosity of our house. Yes, yes. . Indeed they were warriors working under Count Yeats. The nobleman who called them back was barely a few years older than Johan, still with a touch of boyishness. The servants would have called him young master. And yet, from his efforts to disy the dignity and prestige of a nobleman,ughter slipped out, but the mercenaries were used to bowing their heads before others. They pretended not to notice. The food was also delicious. . . However hastily prepared, it was still a feastid out by a noble family. Besides, the Back Country was abundant in provisions. The mercenaries downed wine and chorused along at appropriate moments. The Count is truly a hero! Ive heard hes a knight among knights. But isnt he a pagan, and dont various rumors circte that he is cruel and greedy? . . . . . . . . . . . . The knights and mercenaries clenched their teeth. Watching Johan casually insult himself turned their faces rigid. Chapter 146.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (3) Chapter 146.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (3) Dont be fooled, young pagan noble! The mercenary cheered for the opponent without realizing it. Saying the wrong thing here could cause trouble for the familys future. Of course Johan wasnt the kind of narrow-minded person who would drastically reduce the familys status just because he heard a few words of dissatisfaction. But the mercenaries didnt know that. To the mercenaries, the young noble had just dipped his toe into the abyss of hell. Whether you believe in one god or two gods, what does it matter! Its our nobles who rule these countries, not the priests! Johans words seemed to have struck the young nobles pride. Because the countries were mixed with all kinds of races flowing in, religion was also quite diverse. From the monotheistic denomination on the continent to the polytheistic religions of the East, and the old indigenous faiths that were hard to find on the continent. . . On the outside, they would believe in polytheism ording to the previous Counts religion, but ording to their roots, some nobles still believed in the indigenous gods. To these nobles, the priests of polytheism were quite annoying. Those who carry gods on their backs and strut about! Why are you getting angry? Ahem. It seems His Excellency is a little drunk. A servant quickly interrupted. The noble also realized he had made a mistake and shut his mouth. It wouldnt be good to let everyone know he didnt have faith. Um. . . And the rumors that he is cruel and greedy are false. He has shown such mercy to his enemies, how can he be called cruel? Johan was surprised by the unexpectedly favorable evaluation. He got a better reaction than he expected. He had thought there would be an uproar, shouting ! But. . . In addition to Johans patience shown in the countries, his reputation as a knight also yed a big role. Although reputation had no substance, its power was formidable. Once built, that reputation carried over to foreignnds. And arent you warriors working under the new Count? Is it okay to insult your employer like that? To be precise, we are looking for a new master now, so no. The nobles expression was contemptuous at Johans words. He was going to treat them as mercenaries working under the Count, but it turned out they were deserters running away like stray dogs! If he had known from the beginning, he wouldnt have treated them this way. He whispered to his servant. After that, no more alcohol or food was refilled. As the bottom became visible, the banquet also ended. The mercenaries left, grumbling. No, you should have just kept saying you were working under Count instead of denying it for no reason. . . No mercenary disliked good alcohol and food. Besides, if the truth came outter, that noble would probably cry and give them silver too. But you are working under me, no? . . . . . . Im kidding. I just wanted to see a proper reaction for once. You probably be more careful with your words in front of mercenaries working under you too. Are you satisfied? To some extent. The people who sent the report didnt lie. At Johans words, the mercenaries nodded in satisfaction. Although they didnt get good alcohol, food, or soft beds, they were still happy that their master was building a proper reputation. Mercenaries who covet gold also have their pride. They were sensitive about what their superiors or masters said about others. . After that, Johan visited several more families. Thanks to his experience, the mercenaries also became skilled at acting. . . . . . . ? ? . . . ? Most showed satisfactory reactions. They were friendly, pledged loyalty. . . It was encouraging that they at least showed neutral reactions. It was enough if they said they would judge based on future rule. In fact, those who were hostile enough to rebel had already rebelled and been suppressed by Johan. But still, this was something. Seeing the situation, they didnt seem to dream of a new rebellion. It was fine to allow them toin behind his back to some extent. The weather is quite hot. Do you want to rest for a bit? Its not that bad. The sunlight was quite hot, but the air was not humid so it was bearable. When you ride along the forest, it cooled down immediately. I heard that vampires dont feel the heat, is that true? Our blood is rather cold. The thin, pale skin of the vampires maintained its coldness no matter how hot it was outside. They imed it was thanks to their cold blood. Johan wondered if that made sense, but. . . Thanks to that, its quite easy to endure even when the weather is hot as long as we avoid sunlight. I see. It is said that if you hug a vampire lover to sleep on a hot day, you can sleep well until the next day. . . .Are you joking with me now? Johan was confused by Fahids words. It was a bit surprising to hear such words from a vampire knight who looked so sincere. Mercenaries love vulgar jokes very much, but. . . I-Im sorry. No, it was funny. You can talk about Eastern stories anytime. Fahids facial expression brightened at Johans words. Despite his fiercebat power, Johan had a talent for listening to others words. When talking in front of him, people would casually reveal what was on their minds, forgetting about status and position. Johans sincere interest in Eastern stories moved the Mulc family knights. I said it because I thought you would enjoy it, but its not a joke. Vampires, or vampyrs in the Empirenguage, right? Thats right, just speak however you like. I dont really care. Right now, the Sultans most favored concubine is also a vampyr. . Chapter 146.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (3) Chapter 146.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (3) There was an overwhelmingck of entertainment in this era. People had to find their own entertainment. asionally when Johan was bored, he would adapt stories from A Thousand and One Nights and tell them to the mercenaries. They would be so entertained that they seemed to want to die listening. The Sultans sex life far away was useless, but it was fun to listen to. Gilsina seems to be near. As the sea began to appear next to the mountain, the mercenaries intuitively felt that Gilsina was near. Stopping on a suitable hill, a beautiful port city was visible below. Some of the mercenaries unconsciously whistled. Among them, there were few who had actually seen Gilsina, only heard about it. It looks freaking unique. Ive never seen buildings like that before in my life. Is that Oriental style? Thats not an Oriental building, its a building that has been passed down since the ancient Empire. Now, isnt that hunting something? Everyone was puzzled by Johans words. Their eyesight was not as good as Johans. What do you see? It looks like they have ballistas lined up in the port. Soldiers hiding and silently waiting with huge iron crossbows for sieges seemed to have been prepared all over the port. You could tell what they were doing at a nce. They were trying to hunt the sea dragon. . It was understandable. If trade was cut off for just one day, the damage would snowball. They couldnt just wait until Johan arrived. Also, there was no guarantee that Johan could definitely catch it. They had to try whatever means they had. Above all, if they caught it before Johan arrived, the profits were unimaginable. Johan himself would feel meaningless, but the city people could end with gratitude and gifts like ! Although some gold would be spent, it was petty cashpared to the citys rights. Uh. . .then shouldnt it be considered a failure? I guess you have a point there. Hearing Johans reply, the mercenary made a disappointed expression. The other mercenaries quickly agreed with what Johan said. I thought the same, Count. As a follower of monotheism, cheering for the monster isnt something we should do. As expected, the Count cant bepared to such a vulgar fellow. . . The mercenaries seemed offended that their own thoughts were exposed, and intensely condemned theirrade. The mercenary who had spoken up first made a wronged expression for beingbeled a son of a b*tch for no reason. , . Johan looked down with expectant eyes. He had heard and read a lot about it, but seeing it in person was iparable. A galley ship departed from the harbor, heading towards the horizon. Johan sensed the people on the ship were scared and nervous. That was natural, since they knew what they were getting into. After sailing some distance, a massive front limb suddenly burst out from under the seawater, grabbing onto the galley. Even for a rtivelyrge ship, getting shaken around like that was extremely dangerous. A giant mutant marine iguana. In Johans standards, that was the best way to describe the sea monster. Calling that thing a dragon didnt seem right. . . ! The ballistas hidden around the harbor fired. With a loud sound, massive arrows flew towards it. People who thought they had struck true cheered. But the beast was clever. Like how Johan noticed something off about the people on the ship, it likely sensed something as well. It immediately dove under, avoiding the attack. ! Incredibly, one of the arrows managed to pierce its body, staining the seawater with blood. But no one expected a single arrow could take down a monster like that. . . .It looks like that failed. A mercenary with sharp eyes muttered. While not seeing as clearly as Johan, he grasped that something had gone wrong out there on the sea. Did we just make it angry for no reason? Let me say again, it wasnt because of what I said? Damn these foolish city people. . . What can you do about it? What to do about it? Go down there and talk to them. Johan shrugged his shoulders. For hunters tasked with ying the beast, a blunder like that was extremely irritating. But Johan stayedposed. From his seasoned conduct, the Mulc House scions felt a sense of reliability. A knight amongst knights, who had hunted many monsters in the past, and would continue hunting many more in the future. To such a knight, a setback like this likely didnt faze him. , . . Those who came out to wee Johan had expressions that were extremely frustrated. On the day the new count wasing, they had to show their failure after recklessly going out to hunt. . . Did you not believe me when I said I wasing? A-Ah, no. In fact, it was true they did not believe it. It was because Johan moved around disguising himself and his mercenaries. Originally, there should have been continuous rumors about where Count Yeats came from, where he went, where he moved. . . With none of that and just silence, from the perspective of the city council members, suspicion was inevitable. ? . . . In fact, from Johans perspective, it was a proposal he could refuse at any time. No matter how great a knight, he would not volunteer to catch all the monsters. Refusing depending on the situation and circumstances was natural. Even if Johan refused, the city was not in a position to start a rebellion, they had to say , if he refused. , . Understanding the situation from the words of the council members, Johan smiled wryly. He could not believe this misunderstanding happened because he moved without putting up his banner. However, since the other party made a mistake, they had to realize it themselves. We wanted to inflict as much damage as possible on the beast before Your Excellency arrived. So did you? . . . . . . . . . . . . One of those who came out to wee them rolled their eyes and opened their mouth. Actually, Count. . . Recently there were suspicious mercenaries wandering around asking about Your Excellency. They spread unpleasant rumors, so we thought it would take more time for Your Excellency to arrive. Please forgive us! A mercenary listening from behind murmured. Are there guys like that too? They must be swollen bundles of kelp. Chapter 147.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (4) Chapter 147.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (4) Uh. . . One sharp mercenary was startled. Do you know them? Isnt that us theyre talking about? . . .?! The mercenaries were horrified. Come to think of it, it made sense. If they werent crazy, theres no way they would be spreading rumors about Johan in the hundred kingdoms now. If he got wrongly involved, he would be sent straight to the gallows for associating with the rebels. What kind of unpleasant rumor? Johan also roughly grasped what was going on. It seemed that the things Johan did after arriving were beginning to circte as rumors. It could have been the remnants of the defeated troops, but the possibility was low. Those guys didnt have much contact with the nobles to spread rumors widely. How could I repeat such rude words. . . Its fine, go ahead and tell me. There are insulting rumors circting that His Excellency is violent and ferocious, and that he cruelly punished the nobles. . . . Johan thought to himself. Seeing how urately his test words had reached the city, the nobles who weed Johan must have talked quite diligently. , . ? , . , . The nobles who didnt want to get involved with the suspicious guys eagerly med the mercenaries. . . Thanks to that, the rumors spread quite quickly and reached the city. It is also said that despite his young age, he spends all his time cooped up in his estate, killing and torturing nobles instead of enjoying worldly pleasures. . . . . Johan was startled. No matter how he looked at it, that was not something Johan said. Apletely different kind of rumor. The mercenaries also seemed to realize this as they murmured among themselves. The b*stards. . . didnt they mix in their own thoughts? Where did the stone-brained b*stards get the nerve to. . . When His Excellency is so enthusiastic about his sex life! Ariku from the Masons Guild, unaware of the situation he was in, continued talking. I was misled into thinking that you would note to help this city because of such false rumors! Please forgive me! I see. Johans voice was slightly cold, but the council members did not notice. Seeing that Johan seemed to ept it, others also pleaded for Ariku. We will surely hang those mercenaries in the square if we catch them. Please forgive us! Please rely on Your Excellencys generouspassion! I understand. You are forgiven. Oh. . .! Inwardly, Johan greatly lowered his evaluation of Ariku, but the people did not notice. They were just satisfied that they could get past this incident. . After the reception ended, Johan got right to the point. He came here to catch the monster after all. The city soldiers will dly follow Your Excellencys orders. That goes without saying. Ah. Yes. The council members tried to save face somehow, but it was not an easy task. Making that kind of mistake right on the day Johan arrived. . . The most important thing is luring it out. How many times has ite up before? At Johans question, some people nodded their heads. Although the sea dragon attacked ships from underwater, when ships became scarce it woulde up to the harbor itself looking for prey. Do you see the broken part down there by the harbor? Thats where it came up and thrashed around. Ariku pointed below the fortress as he spoke. Johan nodded. Then is it likely toe up again if we keep waiting? . . . . . . . . . . . . Everyone was silent. At first it aggressively came up onto the harbor several times and rampaged violently. But it was intelligent. After being fiercely counterattacked several times, it seemed to have learned that the harbor was disadvantageous. The frequency gradually decreased, only making surprise attacks on dark and rainy days, and recently it had note up from the sea at all. No wonder its been troublesome. With nothing to say, they could only bow their heads. Johan spoke with a sullen expression. Even if you want to fight it, you have to lure it out first. Offer a reward. I will reward anyone whoes up with a way to lure it out. Johans words surprised the people. They had consulted some experienced captains and hunters before, but never thought to ask the whole citys opinion like Johan was now. Knowledge and experience had always been monopolized by a minority. What would be the point of telling those who were excluded? There was a high possibility that people who were only greedy for the reward would make useless trouble. Theres no need to go that far. . . Enough. I wont say it twice. . . .Understood. What are Your Excellencys ns for dealing with it when it appears? The people gathered here roughly knew about the monsters Johan had defeated. But they didnt know the details. Rumors tend to be embellished and mixed up, so nothing can be fully believed until hearing it directly from the source. The council members wanted to hear the real story. Especially since many of the stories about Johan defeating monsters were quite unbelievable. . . Well think about it when we find a way. For now. May we hear the story of you defeating the cyclops? Everyone here is quite curious about it. Well, Im a bit tired right now. Johans refusal could not hide peoples disappointment. To not hear the story directly from the person himself! But Johan was a count. If he were just a mercenary they would have said Is that how you should act now? Answer properly if you want money! But they could not do that to Johan. The council members suppressed their disappointment and bowed their heads in understanding. Chapter 147.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (4) Chapter 147.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (4) I dont really know what good this kind of behavior does. Im sure he has reasons. Whats the point of asking for wisdom from people who know nothing? Unless you want to be mocked. Gilsina was a ce where the guilds were strong. Instead of electing a magistrate, the city was run by some administrative officials chosen from among the council members, who were usually guild representatives. As such, guild members had tremendous pride in their knowledge and experience. In Gilsina, the masters of powerful guilds like the Merchants Guild, Masons Guild, Sailors Guild were practically city nobles. The Sailors Guild and the Captains Guild had the loudest voices in the hunt for the monster this time. To take their advice and offer a reward to the whole city. . . They were worried that the citys beggars might mock the guilds ipetence. Id like to hear how they n to catch it. . . I want to hear how he caught the cyclops. Surely not all of that was a lie. Watch what you say. Dont provoke someone you shouldnt. Why, are you going to report me? I should be allowed to say this much. The people of the city had acknowledged Johan as the new master, but they did not immediately show undying loyalty. Loyalty did note so easily. Whilemoners might be fooled by fame and rumors into singing praises, even the thick-headed council members did not do the same. Rumors tend to be exaggerated, but thats not the new counts fault. Its the fault of gossipers. That may be so, but. . . the idea that he fought and defeated a cyclops with his bare hands is just absurd. I even made a bet on it. Big, big trouble! ? As Ariku, representing the Masons Guild, came running urgently without even minding his ves, the guild craftsmen were puzzled. Why was a guy who would sooner die than abandon the sedan chair carried by his ves in such a state? The Emperors envoy is here! What? Which Emperor? It must be the Holy Empire. Why would the old blind Empire send envoys to us? Anyway, Ariku, whats with the fuss? You idiot. . . Ariku looked at them in disbelief. Do you know the rtionship between the new count and the Emperor and still say things like that? We were barely able to smooth things over, and now you want to make things worse by offending them? Everything we worked for, the hunts and everything else, could be ruined! Ah. . . dont you think youre overworrying? Mr. Ariku is right. This does call for some concern. The mistake on the day Johan arrived was barely smoothed over by ming some unidentified stragglers, which Johan would hardly have taken happily. It was a matter of honor. And just when theyd barely patched that up, an imperial envoy had arrived. The townspeople wanted to weep. Why send an envoy so tactlessly? Is His Excellency aware? Of course it would have reached his ears! As if that could be called an arrival. No. It wasnt noisy. They didnt arrive like that. ?? The imperial envoy arrived without any noise? To be precise, it wasnt an officially sanctioned imperial envoy carrying a letter directly from the Emperor, but rather an envoy party sent by Viscount Ginolen, one of the Emperors proxies. And not even a formal envoy party at that. They hade quasi-officially, only to meet with certain people from Johans domain, visiting in the name of Ginolens house and several other houses. They arrived quietly? Out of consideration for the citys situation. . . No, thats unlikely. That guess was quickly shot down by a craftsmans derision. They didnt have the money. Hahaha. . . The townspeople didnt have an especially bad rtionship with the viscount ruling a fiefdom across the sea under the Emperor. They engaged in trade, and would sometimes cooperate depending on circumstances. But business was business. The more the Emperor lost his mind and paid no attention here, the better for the city. They knew the viscount was in dire political straitstely. For him to barely send a shabby delegation like this, unable to afford the real thing. . . theirughter came naturally. If theyvee as personal friends rather than an official delegation, theres no problem, is there? Im sure His Excellency the Count will be very understanding. When someone sneered sarcastically, another craftsman shouted angrily. Who does this cheeky dyer think hes talking to? A craftsman who cant even handle a single monster is mocking me? Quiet! This is no time to fight. Besides, even if they im its not an official delegation, it clearly is. Our blustering means nothing. Lets just kick them out quietly. The people nodded. If the viscounts party didnt want trouble, they would act carefully. Johan had barely been here long and was clearly a foreigner to the city. Since they were rxing inside the keep where the delegation couldnt discover them, if they just kicked them out quietly. . . . Your Highness. There is incredible news. It seems the viscount has unofficially sent envoys. Oh my. Is there no one but you to tell me stuff like this? The others loyalty isnt as deep as my loyalty, is why. The orc wearing emerald spectacles, Partutti, the representative of the Alchemists Guild, grinned wickedly. One thing Johan was careful about in dealing with the previous Count and gaining a foothold was the orcs. A wealthy and powerful group that had been mistreated. They were good targets for gaining loyalty. Furthermore, Johan showed his goodwill toward the orcs, having an orc scribe in the military encampment, starting with the rhim family. The intelligent orc families soon realized about the new Counts actions! Surprisingly, he was well-disposed toward them! Orcs were never really a popr race anywhere. As essentially atheists, they disliked any religion. Actually, they didnt tell me either. Oh my. Even though you represent a guild? Theyre ignorant fools who dont even know whats right. Partutti spoke with characteristic orcish pride. It wasnt for nothing that orcs had a bad reputation with other races for being unlucky, arrogant, and money-grubbing. My spies have given me reports. Quite ingenious. I dont know why such an orc as yourself is so mistreated in this city. Thats what Im saying! Though Partutti had met Johan only recently, he was already smitten as though reunited with a lifelong friend. This Count, soothing his itches and praising his remarkable intellect, what had he been up to beforeing now? Chapter 148.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (5) Chapter 148.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (5) Partutti said in a firm voice. Your Excellency. The scoundrels of this city do not appreciate Your Excellencys grace at all. Even though You have shown suchpassion. The orc was egging Johan on as if he had made up his mind. In fact, he was confident. From Johans position, he had no choice but to be dissatisfied with this city! Although Johan had be the new master of the hundred kingdoms, he was extremely cautious in wielding his power. His caution was unbelievable for a violent conqueror. They didnt show any loyalty in return for being so considerate of the city. Its no wonder the new Count would be angry enough to wave his sword around. It is frustrating. However, Johan didnt think much of it. Because his concepts of honor, loyalty and obedience were quite different. The nobles thought themselves naturally honorable and that others should respect that honor, and they got angry when that was vited because they felt their own value was damaged. But Johan reacted like or . In the first ce, he didnt even expect genuine loyalty from the hundred kingdoms nobles. Call the soldiers and have them arrest these scoundrels and put them on trial. I will testify. . Partuttis words reeked of blood. He seemed to have built up quite a grudge against the masters of other guilds. The grudge of not receiving proper treatment as the guild representative and being ignored did not disappear easily. Partutti was determined to take revenge on them and seize control of the city if he could. The city soldiers are also there, if we try that, they wont just stand still. On the pretext of monsters, call additional soldiers. In the meantime, I will bribe the mercenary officers. If you want, I can set the city on fire, so take that chance to subdue the masters. . . . . . . . . Johan was slightly refreshed. There was a reason why Partutti pretended to be clever with his own brain. It must have been clear that whenever he was ignored by the city guys, he mentally pictured how to burn down the city. . . For a moment, Johan was also tempted to be refreshed, but held back. It would be nice to just sweep away with force, but the aftermath was entirely Johans share. Contrary to what many believed, Johan was not a conqueror who solely believed in and pushed with force. The most powerful of Johans virtues was precisely that patience. Its too extreme. I dont want to see the blood of the innocent. Partutti pouted when Johan wasnt looking. He seemed to want to see quite a bit of blood. Still, shouldnt I hear how this happened? Of course! Call the guild representatives. Partutti grinned slyly. Seeing the mercenaries rushing out, it looked like it was going to be a good day. . I trusted you. At Johans words, the guild representatives looked at each other in puzzlement. As veterans, they sensed something was wrong in Johans words. Even when the nobles were chattering about your disloyalty, I didnt believe it. Because I believed you would not be disloyal even though you received autonomy. Yo. . . Your Excellency. Have we done something wrong? Instead of answering, Johan mmed his fist angrily on the armrest. The chair, made of rock hewn from solid rock, shattered into pieces. In an instant, the atmosphere became brutal and the council members couldnt even breathe, bowing their heads. When someone who was originally gentle gets angry, it is even more scary. Those who had gotten used to Johans magnanimous appearance until now were scared to death. . . . . Inwardly Johan clicked his tongue. It wasnt even a shabby chair, so it was a pity. My words are not over yet. S-Sorry! I can understand hastily going hunting after hearing false rumors, but I can never forgive conspiring secretly with the Emperors envoys. !!!!! Johans words hit them like getting hit in the head with a sledgehammer. They didnt expect to be called because of this. ?? ? Only a few knew about this. . . No answer, huh. Ah. . . no! Your Excellency! There has been a misunderstanding! That misunderstanding produces quite a bit, doesnt it? Will there be more misunderstandings in the future? So confused, the representatives couldnt evene up withme excuses. They panicked and hemmed and hawed. Next to him, Fahid of the Mulc family carefully opened his mouth. Your Excellency. Would they really conspire with the Emperor? There must have been some mistake. Give them a chance to prove their loyalty. What chance are you talking about? If they are loyal to Your Excellency, they will capture and offer up the Emperors envoys now. Please allow them to do so. No. . . wait. . . As the flustered master tried to stop Fahid, Johans intense gaze poured down on him. He hastily bowed his head. , , ! He couldnt think that Fahid was colluding with Johan, so he could onlyin inwardly. If they captured and offered up the envoys in the name of the city, the aftermath would be the citys responsibility. How would the viscount or the Emperor judge them. No matter how much they pleaded their case, it wouldnt be epted. That would be good. They wont be able to offer it. Right? We. . . we will offer them. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty! First of all, you have to solve the problem at hand. With tears held back, the representatives shouted. Thinking about the damage of assets that would ur in the Emperors fiefdom because of this, their hearts already ached. Chapter 148.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (5) Chapter 148.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (5) What is this nonsense! I apologize. Please understand. There is no such rude behavior in the world! Untie us at once! How could you do this to nobles who came to help the city! Sir Padovesi and Sir Gyrto shook their tails quickly, showing their anger. It was natural for them to react that way. Because the unofficial reason they came here was to help the city. . , . . . . . . .? . , . . The Emperors fiefdom, alone at the southern tip of the penins, was in a truly precarious state. Johan did not attack immediately but they did not know when he would. In that situation, Gilsina City right next to the sea was one of the strongest potential allies. But it was difficult to pay a huge amount of money or form a marriage alliance. The monster that appeared in the city seemed like an opportunity. The viscount asked the Emperor and summoned skilled knights and experienced wizards to hunt the monster. And he gave them secret orders and sent them to the city. If they seed, it would help greatly! . . .But when they arrived at the city, there were rumors of a new count, and when they tried to confirm what those rumors were, the city folks suddenly held a big feast to wee them. . . When they came to, they were tied up. It was unbelievable. The knights must have known the current situation. Is Count Yeats really in this city! No matter what, capturing and handing over nobles who came as guests is not something people of honor would do! I will never forgive you! . . .Shut your mouth! Its natural to get angry when someone speaks the truth against wrongdoers. The guild master told the mercenaries to shut the knights mouths. The mercenaries gagged the knights. Who do these tactless people think they are. . . Youre right. They dont even know how much trouble they caused us. The council members self-justified and insulted the knights like that. If Johan had seen this from the side, he would have been amazed they were cutting ties themselves. They cant even properly exin themselves to the angered nobles whose hospitality was betrayed, yet they act so shamelessly! It was an attitude that would create resentment out of nothing. And that attitude came back at them immediately. Count Yeats, please arrest me! I understand. But please grant me one request! What the hell, why did you bring this b*stard here? Johan was puzzled. Of course anyone would be angry if they were caughting into the city, but this knight had an expression like he was so wronged he could die. Please let me duel with those dishonorable men! They are vile cowards who broke the honorable custom! They deserve to be cursed by God! Their children shall die in the womb and their neighbors shall. . . S-Shut up! Do you want me to make him shut up? The city garrison soldiers asked in confusion, but Johan shook his head. Since he wasnt cursing at him, there was no need to make him stop. The Emperors knight had a talent for insults. Starting from the citys ancestors, he strung them together one by one with delicate care, making Johan admire him. Of course, the faces of the city council members turned all sorts of colors from embarrassment. No matter how much they were in the wrong, there were few who could just stand there and take such humiliation in front of so many people. Especially given their high status in this city. . . . . .you demons spawn shall wander the scorched wastnd! Are you done? Yes? Y. . . Yes, I am. I cannot allow a duel. For the Emperors envoy toe here in secret is the height of discourtesy. To try to divide the city on top of that, what. . . At Johans words, the council members nodded. The knights gritted their teeth. These b*stards! No! Your Excellency! We only came to help! Help with what? A vile monster has defiled the city, so with pure and honorable intentions. . . As you are an excellent knight yourself, surely you understand! I swear to God we came to y the monster! Sir Gyrto appealed to Johans sense of honor. Recently, Johan had be famous even among the Emperor faction knights. It wasnt just his shocking rise in status, his aplishments as a knight were simply too great. They had no choice but to respect him, even as an enemy. As such, Sir Gyrto believed in Johan and Johans honor. Though these greedy city b*stards had captured them, the honorable knight Johan would show them respect and set them free! ? Johan felt a little bad looking at Sir Gyrtos innocent gaze. He seemed even more innocent because he was a dog beastman. Is that so? You came to y a monster? Yes! Then I shall help you y this monster. Yes! . . .Huh? You said you came here to y a monster, did you not? It matters not who ys it, as long as the deed is done. . . . . . . The knights were taken aback. Unfortunately, they were not savvy enough toe up with a suitable excuse here. It would only benefit Johan for them to y the monster under hismand. When the viscount hears of this. . . Why can you not answer? Oh. . . no, youre right. Please help us. Good. When the monster is in, your words will be proven true, and I shall release you. Until then, though it may be ufortable, please endure it. Without waiting for a response, Johan gestured with his hand. The mercenaries muted the knights and dragged them away. The council members cursed the knights for their rudeness. s. Youre a wizard working under Cardirian? Yes. But please believe me, Your Excellency. I am loyal not only to Emperor Cardirian. To any who pays me fairly, I offer my loyalty. The wizard who introduced herself as Jyanina had red hair. Seeing this, Johan thought to himself. ? Thest time, when he was acting as the Emperors vassal, Baron Einbeck also had red hair. . . Seeing as you apanied the monster hunt, you must be skilled in that area. I know a bit about handling monsters, though Im embarrassed to admit it. Known as the tamer of monsters and beasts, Jyanina was exceptionally talented with such magic. A thought urred to Johan and he asked, Have you ever tamed trolls before? . . .No? It was an extremely subtle difference, but Johan sensed something off about her reply. Since Johan himself was both an outstanding warrior and wizard. Chapter 149.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (6) Chapter 149.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (6) That was enough, Johan was confident of it. The wizard in front of him was helping the wizard who was fooling around with the troll. ? . ? , . . . . Surprisingly, Caenerna was considered one of the respected ones. The clergy did not like wizards very much, but they did not condemn Caenernas magic as heresy or sphemy. There were many more evil, selfish and suspicious wizards in the Empire than Caenerna. The old Emperor increasingly believed in magic and superstition, and he called not only officially recognized wizards but also suspicious and questionable people like them around him. It was possible because he had power, but it was not a wise act. Because it brought suspicion, contempt and hostility from those around him. And. . . . The magic to control monsters could be considered really risky magic. You could be killed by townspeople before being caught as a heretic or sphemer. If Jyanina had really manipted the troll, it would have been natural to catch him like that. If he had admitted it, there was no telling what would have happened. I see. Jyanina also was not insignificant. It seemed that he sensed the danger in the moment when Johan hesitated briefly. His smile became softer, and the moles under his eyes twinkled slightly. Wizards who dealt with mysteries knew how to put power into their voices. It was easy for them to further magnify their charm if they were already attractive people. But Johan resisted with the power of a strong soul. He could not be tempted by such charm when he was not shaken even by stronger pressure. . They would try to manipte like this whenever there was a chance, so where could wizards interactfortably? Do you know Caenerna-gong? Of course I do! Im close with Caenerna-gong. Jyanina was certainly clever. She had sharply captured the faint hint of favor for Caenerna in Johans voice. She knew that Caenerna was being held hostage in Johans camp, but it was not something anyone could do to urately pierce between the two in a short period of time. However, that confidence was a mistake. The rtionship Jyanina had in mind was that of the Emperor and her. A feudal lord and an advisor. A rtionship in which they exchanged what they wanted. But Johan was a person who had talked to Caenerna about a lot more than Jyanina had thought. Its nice to hear that youre close to Caenerna-gong. I didnt think Id be able to see you like this. Ive only heard about you. . . Tie up that wizard! Whip her until she says the right thing! Youre Excellency! Youre Excellency! Why are you doing this?! Jyanina shouted with fear on her young face. She was so pitiful that even the guards hesitated. ? But Johans mercenaries grabbed Jyanina and stood her up without any change in expression. It didnt matter if Jyanina was a peerless beauty, the mercenaries would unconditionally follow Johans orders. Where do you get off trying to insult me with your ridiculous lies? Caenerna-gong has no friends. . . . . . . Jyanina was dumbfounded. She was caught off guard in an unexpected area. She had no idea how that young count figured it out. There is no excuse for treating a guest like this! If you really work under the Emperor, I will treat you as a hostage. But if a proper reply does note back from the letter I send to the Emperor, I will execute you for deceiving me. This time, Johan poked at Jyaninas weak spot. Unlike Caenerna, she did not have an official position as an imperial wizard at court. So it was only natural for her to be using suspicious magic. If he were to send a letter to the Emperor asking him to pay the ransom for such a person, the Emperor would surely be disgusted. Not just the Emperor, anyone would. Ive brought a whip. Get ready. Ill talk! Your Excellency, please! Spare me! Speak in that state. You may still need the whip. Jyanina realized that her charm had no effect on Johans cold words at all. He had a truly powerful soul. Jyanina had firm values. She could tolerate insulting the Emperor, insulting the gods, and insulting her ancestors and parents, but she could not tolerate insulting herself. Pain was the same. Jyanina confessed that she had controlled the trolls. She spilled that she could temporarily control trolls with spells, potions, and the power of visions. Oh my God! No matter how vicious, how could you think of using monsters! The guards and city council members listening nearby were horrified. They knew the Emperor was reckless, but they could not believe she had tried to use monsters. Johan, who was diligently memorizing the method to control trolls, did not change his expression at all and agreed. Youre right. As believers of God, how could we do such a thing? I talked, so its okay now, right? Jyanina asked urgently. Originally, when the knights were caught, she was not that worried. She was an attractive wizard, so as long as she could twist someone around her finger, she was confident she could act freely even with the knights held hostage. But the situation changed in an instant. At this rate, it would not be strange for her to be drowned in the sea ahead. That wizard must die! Your Excellency. Who knows when they might summon another monster to the city! They may harbor resentment and summon a monster again someday. She must be killed immediately! * . . .! Jyanina swore in her head. Just because she knew magic to control monsters didnt mean she could easily summon monsters like that. If so, she would have escaped long ago. Magic was a profound academic discipline and required a lot of preparation. ? . . Alright. I understand your worries but help is needed to catch the sea dragon. Jyanina kept nodding her head. The city people looked at Jyanina with veryplex expressions. Jyanina read the malice contained in those looks. Your Highness, please increase security for me. Im afraid they will kill me. What nonsense. . .! When have we ever! How dare you question our honor! Truly more corruption from a fallen wizard! The provoked city people red up. When did she find out that they were nning to secretly send someone to kill her at night? . Chapter 149.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (6) Chapter 149.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (6) The way to lure the sea dragon is to choose the most beautiful person in the city, bathe them cleanly, sprinkle them with rosewater and perfume, decorate them, then tie them to a pir near the seashore on the night of the full moon. You speak well. Johan marveled. If there was a mercenary next to him wielding a whip, Jyaninas glib tongue would spin incredibly. ? At first he didnt know, but as the opponent became scared, the unique pupils and split tongue of the snake people revealed themselves. Then does ite out? Can I whip her if it doesnte out? . . .Of course. Jyanina was about to say No but seeing the whip about tosh out, he affirmed. If it doesnt work out, she can think about the aftermath then. All good, but. . . Your Excellency. How can we know who is the most beautiful person in the city? Youre right. I would have asked Iselia if she was here. ?? ?? The knight and Jyanina thought it was nonsense, but they quietly closed their mouths. Johan had a sword at his waist, and even without pulling out the sword, he could break a neck. Isnt Jyanina here conspicuously beautiful? Cant she be used as bait? She is also well versed in magic. . . . . I. . .Im verycking! Dont you look too skinny and unattractive? . . . . . . No? Well, if you are that confident in yourself. . . Ah, no, youre right! Johan thought about using Jyanina as bait if the knights and Jyanina agreed. Of course Jyanina was disgusted. It was better to be uglier than bait. In the end, magic is more about belief than truth. If you can create that belief, the objective truth may not matter. ?! Johan said something so wizard-like that Jyanina was surprised. It wasnt something an outsider nobleman could say. Did he learn it from Caenerna? No, if Caenerna didnt get shot in the head with an arrow, she wouldnt have done that. . .? Gather the city people and give them pottery shards. Tell them to write the name of the person they think is the most beautiful in the city on it. Thats. . .thats a really good idea! . . .? For a moment Johan thought Fahid was making fun of him. But Fahid was speaking sincerely. Which nobleman would ask the people directly and decide? Of course as a nobleman he would decide himself, or at most, ask a priest if he makes a lot of concessions. Who would divide his authority and honor and give it to others. Choosing that was also authority and honor. . Asking the city people now wasnt ttering them. . . But Fahids innocent pupils were telling the truth. Even Jyanina there was surprised. She didnt know it could be resolved so easily. While I didnt know, Your Excellency has the wisdom of a philosopher. Do as youre told. ?! ss. Congrattions, Ariku. You are the most beautiful person. This is a misunderstanding, Your Excellency! This is a misunderstanding! The citizens must have misunderstood something! We dont have time to exin again since the full moon is near. We need to resolve this quickly as the damage piles up day by day. The head of the Masons Guild, Ariku, resisted violently, but the servants hands relentlessly washed and stripped him. I didnt know well either, but I guess thats the aesthetic standard of the city. No! No! Ariku was old with wrinkles on him face and rough skin, but the city people took this as a kind of test. They chose Ariku thinking that if the harshest, most vengeful master among the guilds was selected, there would be no repercussions. Your Excellency. Im in tears seeing such a sight. Seeing the dolled up Ariku, Partutti was overjoyed. Hes just bait, not a sacrifice, so dont get the wrong idea. Cant he unfortunately die? Dont say unlucky things and did you bring what I asked for? Yes. There was a clinking sound. It was the sound of a viscous ck liquid sloshing around in a jar. I didnt know you knew how to make fire with demon blood, Your Excellency. Outstanding alchemists knew how to make mmable substances using petroleum. The liquid made this way would not easily go out once lit, and continued to burn. Johan originally wanted to brainstorm with Partutti and the craftsmens guilds to find abination using petroleum for a long burning fire. It was a matter of finding aposition that would burn for a long time. Surprisingly, however, Partutti and the craftsmen already knew this method. They just didnt use it. It was an unwee item, deemed sinister. Johan felt like a fool. They even told him theposition. It was originally a secret that should not have been divulged, but Partutti told without a moments hesitation, a true representative of the Guild. . From the failures of the city people, Johan learned a lesson. In the parts where several traps all failed, Johan felt the sensitivity of its senses. Siege weapons were inevitably conspicuous if ced nearby, no matter how small. Beasts could be deceived but monsters were impossible. But the sealed jars filled with quenchless fire were not suspicious at all when sealed. There was nothing strange about being nearby. Its out! With a nking sound, a huge creature crawled out from the water. It was definitely the water dragon. Everyone present was relieved. Everyone had been worried about the same thing. ? Chapter 150.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (7) Chapter 150.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (7) But the sea dragon seemed quite satisfied with the bait. It howled deeply and lowly. Its howl was mixed with satisfaction. . . Johan was surprised. Of course he thought it would work, but it was still amazing to actually see it happen. As the beast crawled out of the sea and set its feet on the harbors brick walls, even thest faint re disappeared, blurring its outline. Someone swallowed nervously in tension. Losing sight of the monsters position at a time like this was the most tense moment. Are you okay? Dont worry. Fortunately, among the soldiers there was Gmbos. As an Eastern Ranger, Gmbos was skilled at disguising scents and ambushing. The garrison soldiers and mercenaries were on standby at their assigned positions as ordered. Just in case, they only wore dark colored armor and smeared harbor filth over it. Gmbos was confident that the monster did not notice them. An experienced hunter can read the emotions of his prey. If anything, it seemed distracted. Count, its heading your way. Even without Gmbos telling him, Johan had Sir Padovesi and Sir Gyrto by his side. These two knights had achieved many hunting feats with their unique abilities their excellent sense of smell. With a sense of smell several times keener than a average hunting dogs, they could locate the position of their prey. Itsing. Johan nodded. He was the youngest among them but in terms of experience, his was so deep and profound that no one could match it. He no longer feared things like this. If anything, he was so calm that he had to warn himself. The most terrified was Ariku. Tears streamed down Arikus face as he slumped limply. He couldnt even scream as he was too tightly bound. He was on the verge of exhaustion. His pitiful appearance seemed to soften the sinister heart of the sea dragon even more. It stood in front of Ariku and roared loudly once again. It was hard to believe it could be such a cunning monster when it was acting so carelessly. Just before Ariku cursed all the people of the city, Johan made his move. The assassins steps were quiet and stealthy. The knights were amazed that he approached the sea dragon without making a sound, even in his light armor. It was a scene befitting a knight who had struck down countless monsters. Johan swung the Giant yer horizontally at its slimy, outstretched face. An unpleasant squelchy sound rang out as if someone had picked up and thrown a huge rubber ball. ! !! The knights watching clenched their fists. The attack had clearly struck true. Shoot it! Dont let it get away! Fires lit up all around and fire arrows took aim from every direction. All who could shoot a bow took up their bows. The moment the jars were thrown, all sparks and mes would fly. However, those about to throw jars were confused. The beasts form was strange. . . .Isnt it dead? . . .! Despite the lights and noisy mor, the sea dragon did not move an inch. No matter! Burn its corpse and all! But. . . The garrison troops had a different mindset than the mercenaries. To them, this ce was home. Even though they had prepared fire attacks because of the monster, it still hurt. While they had tried to be careful about positioning, once a fire started it could spread and damage surrounding buildings. If it really was dead, they didnt want to needlessly set it on fire. . Johan clicked his tongue. He had not anticipated the psychology of the city people. Still wary of the beast, Johan gave an order. Shoot it with a bolt. If its dead it wont react. Yes. Bolts pierced into the beasts torso with a thunk thunk sound. They didnt pierce deeply but it must have been quite painful. Still the beast did not move at all. . . .Is it really dead?? With one blow? The knights were shocked and murmured among themselves. Shrouded in darkness, they couldnt see clearly, but they found it hard to believe it had been felled with one strike. Could something that huge copse with just one warhammer blow? Johan asked Karamaf. What do you think? ? Karamaf also tilted his head. Looking at it, it seemed dead. . . One brave soldier stepped forward and waved his hand near the beasts nostrils. Its not breathing. I think it really is dead but. . . . . .I see. Then stop the fire attack for now. Its better to just coat an appropriate amount on its body and burn it. Your Excellency. Please allow the city people to boast of this ugly beasts demise. They should see the feat you have aplished. Spreading word of achievements was also Johans work. Moreover, the reason he hade all the way here was to win over the hearts of the city people, wasnt it? It was necessary to properly show who had in the monster and what kind of beast it was. It was better than burning the whole thing. . Johan realized why. The notion of the beast copsing from one hammer blow was too absurd. But the other knights seemed to already ept it. God has aided us! Gods assistance is certain. Seeing the knights readily write it off as a miracle and ept it, Johan felt a headacheing on despite having none earlier. Monster expert, go take a look. My names Jyanina. . . Still, Jyanina went to check it out. Seeing no sign of life left in the beasts body, it was truly dead. Its dead. Is that so? By this point, Johan decided to ept it as well. Perhaps it really did get hit in a vital spot somehow. . . Still, cut off its neck and limbs. . . Your Excellency. The sea dragons blood is a precious treasure. It would be best to prepare facilities and harvest it all at once. At Jyaninas words, the city people kept nodding their heads. It was rare for that foul wizard to say something good. It was certainly true. While alive the sea dragon was a fearsome monster, but dead there was nothing on its body they could afford to waste. Your Highness, give us an hour to properly secure and process the beast. . . .Very well. Just in case, dont let your guard down. . Chapter 150.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (7) Chapter 150.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (7) Dawn was already breaking. The swift errand boy was ringing the temple bell and calling people, to the extent that the citys threat was dead and the sleepless people had already arrived. The sailors quickly mobilized chains and thick ropes to tie the monster up tightly and brought barrels around. It was to not spill a drop of blood anywhere while drawing blood from him. My god. Was that guy so big? How did they catch that? I heard the count caught it with just one weapon. Is that even possible? No, really. The priest said so too. The gathered people murmured in astonishment. Since there were no siege weapons stuck in his body, they couldnt imagine what caught him. Ariku had regained his spirit and was chattering. Look here. This is the guy! Mr. Ariku! Is it true that Mr. Ariku voluntarily offered to act as bait to lure the monster?! For our city, for honor, I swear its true! Good gracious! By the names of the two gods, Mr. Ariku is truly a valiant man! Seeing Ariku boast to the townspeople, the knightsined angrily. Even the Emperors knights were dissatisfied enough to express dissatisfaction. Should we just let that guy who did nothing talk? He yed good bait, let him have his moment. The one who gained great honor did not care about personal honor. Soon the fame that Johan hunted will spread throughout the city, so they could overlook Arikus boasting. Of course, Partutti was looking at Ariku with an expression like his chest was torn apart. If he had done the magic properly, he could have boasted as the master of the Alchemist Guild. Johan was suddenly reminded of the dwarves and felt bad for Partutti. Dont be too sad that it wasnt your feat. Your Excellency. . .! Your Excellency. . .! Ariku, who was excitedly chattering, came to Johan and asked. Your Excellency! The citizens have gathered. Shall I order them to draw the monsters blood? Do so. Listen, citizens! To the valor of the intrepid Count Yeats! Let us inform that wicked monster of the wrath of God and choke off its wretched breath. . . Ariku was not a city council member for nothing. Although he had only fooled around in front of Johan, he knew how to give speeches that stirred the hearts of the gathered people. Every time Ariku shouted about the damage caused by the monster, the townspeople stomped their feet, and every time he told the story of Johan catching the monster, the townspeople cheered. Now we will receive its blood and offer it to the gods! Thanks to His Excellency the Count who gave us this honor! Ariku held up a dagger and stabbed the dragon turtle deeply. However, its scale was so tough and thick that not a drop of blood came out. , , . . .Uh. Help me out a bit. Ah. Yes. A guard came out with a short sword and stabbed hard, shook it and only then did blood starting out. The barrels around were filled with blood. Johan called Jyanina and asked. Monster expert. What do you use that blood for? Lots of stuff. Its used as medicine, building material. . . After all the blood is drained, oil can be extracted from the meat too. With just one sea dragon, the recent damage is more than covered. Thats why the townspeople were frugally collecting it despite the hardship. I should send some to Suetlg-nim. While thinking to set some precious parts aside and send them, Karamaf suddenly barked. ? At the same time, the sea dragon opened its eyes. The guy who was unconscious was enraged at the fact that he was tied up and being drained of blood all over his body. Raaaargh! Ariku, who was near his head, became the target of his wrath. The sea dragon bit Ariku in its mouth. Sh. . . shoot it?! Gmbos asked urgently. Fortunately, his lord had not rxed his vignce. The jars filled with undying fire were still arranged around. Besides, since it was tied up, all he had to do was give an order. . . No, leave it. Johan picked up the warhammer and approached again. He had been worried that it would run away if it moved freely, but when tied up like this, it wasnt very scary. There was no need to even use magic. ! As the Giant yer struck the side of the monster, the sea dragon spit Ariku out. Johan did not stop and struck again. This time the sea dragon vomited a lump of blood. As it staggered, Johan smashed its head. Once, twice, three times, four times. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The citizens gathered in the square witnessed exactly how the new Count caught the sea dragon. Even the drunk who had nagged , dropped the beer ss he was holding. Thats how. . . Thats how he caught it! Its a shame the head is gone. Make sure there are no injured citizens? Just in case, have the citizens back away and finish up the work. . . .Yes, yes! The Mulc family knights were more furious than Johan. If it wasnt for the greed of the damn city people, Count Yeats would have been in danger. Although Count Yeats had been considerate of the city, even in this situation, they couldnt just stand still as knights. Wretched people! How dare they ignore Your Excellencys orders and arbitrarily tie up the beast! Those who refused magic, those who spared blood, they shall be held ountable! Oh. . . no. Im, Im sorry! Your Highness! We really thought it was dead! Not just me, several people confirmed it! Normally the city guard only followed the orders of the city council, of course. Following an outsiders orders and making arrests was out of the question. But now they were swept up in the atmosphere and first grabbed the council members. The atmosphere was so grim right now that if they hadnt, they felt the citizens would have killed them. That wizard confirmed its death too! N-No! I didnt! Jyaninas lie made everyone think for a moment that she really hadnt. Such was her charm. Then Johan kindly refreshed their memory. That wizard confirmed it too. . . .Catch that damn wizard too! Count!! Count!!! f*ck, for real! No one objected to the count from the outside arbitrarily grabbing council members and dragging them away. Rather, everyone chanted Johans name and cheered. Jyanina, who was being dragged away, suddenly realized the atmosphere of the city and shuddered. Seeing this sight, which Gilsina folks would think it? Chapter 151.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (8) Chapter 151.1: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (8) Will you execute them? Partutti asked in an excited voice. Even if he had met his first love again, it wouldnt have been to this extent. Johan shook his head. We need to punish them appropriately and then release them. If he was going to spill blood, he would have done so already. Isnt that why he didnte straight here and went around in circles instead? Now that hes here, there was no reason to freshly see blood spill. It would be refreshing to execute the council members recklessly, but Johan would have to deal with the chaos that followed. It was better to show mercy and gain their hearts. Yes. . . Dont worry. Ill guarantee your position in the council. You worked so hard that you deserve a reward. Thank you! Partutti properly expressed his gratitude with etiquette. Johan was nning to raise the authority of some loyal individuals in the city within the council and have them sit in administrative positions, not just Partutti. He may have gained the support of the city people, but that was just support. Delicate work was required to turn that into power. Johan was someone who knew very well how to act in times like these. The council members still thought of Johan as just an excellent knight since he was still young, but that was a misunderstanding. Bring that fellow over there whos passed out too! Cough, cough. . . Huh, what, whats going on? What is it?? Despite being bitten by the sea dragon, Ariku was somehow still alive. On top of that, he looked very healthy. Of course, that didnt mean he could escape this situation. Ariku was dragged away with both his arms grabbed. He didnt understand this situation until his hands and feet were tied up. The captured people were scared out of their wits, but Johan did not hang or torture them. After making them walk around the za with their hands tied, he let them go with a fine. Of course, they had to endure jeers and showers of filth from the citizens while that was happening. They almost ruined the hunt and released the monster into the city, so it was only natural. We were wrong! We will never do that again! Please give us a chance to serve the city! Apanying the boo jeers were globs of mud flying through the air. The metallic ngs were quite cheerful. Johan watched on with satisfaction. It was always enjoyable to see hated people suffer a terrible fate. Thats enough. They must have reflected. Have them offer gold to the city. Ill forgive them if they do that. When Johan stepped in to mediate, the citizens praised his mercy. Jyanina spat curses in her heart as she was covered in mud. No matter how she looked at it, it was clear Johan could have stepped in earlier, but deliberately waited for the optimal impact. ! If he had stopped it from the beginning, Johan would have gained nothing. But by waiting and then stepping in, he earned gratitude from the council members and captains, and praise from the citizens. Anyone could see there was no better saint. When she had only heard rumors, she thought Johan was a knight with deep, unwavering faith, but this was more cunning than a snake. Seeing him wave and smile made shivers run down her spine. Thank you, thank you! The released people expressed their gratitude to the citizens one by one, and for Johans mercy as well. In their hearts they thought, , , but now was not the time for that. If they acted obliviously, they could be tied up again and made to walk around a few moreps. They had to kneel obediently. Thank you. . . Kill the wizard! Kill the wizard! ??! Jyanina, who had casually stepped up when it was her turn, was startled by the intense reaction. Come to think of it, she was the only outsider of the city here. W-Wait a minute. It wasnt only my mistake. . . The sea dragon appearing dead wasnt her fault alone, was it? When countless experts had agreed that it was dead. . . However, the council members who were released first pretended not to know her, hastily wiping away the filth with rags. *! Will you leave her to die? The vampires asked slyly. Their expressions clearly showed they hoped for that. No. I n to release her. Then should we stop them? No. Watch her get hit a bit more. Johanughed merrily watching the filth fly. Enjoyable sights were scarce in this world, so he had to relish such moments. Ow! Ow! . Indeed, you have worked very hard. If not for the contributions of those here, how could we have defeated the evil dragon? No, the hunt was entirely Your Excellencys achievement. There was sincerity in Sir Padovesis ceremonial words. In effect, Johan had made the greatest contribution. To be honest, even without the knights here, Johan could have caught the dragon. Is that so? Then Ill take it as my achievement. . . . . . . . . . . . . Sir Padovesi and Sir Gyrto were at a loss for words. Johan moved on without waiting for a reply. Since I caught the dragon with the help of you knights, Ill keep my promise. The knights faces brightened. Right now they were Johans hostages, caught by the city folk. Under normal circumstances they would have had to pay a ransom to get free, but they were not wealthy knights. So Johans promise to free them if they caught the dragon was very wee. By the way, where are you knights from? Pardon? You did note from your own fiefs, I presume. Do you have fiefs? Ah. No, we dont. Sir Padovesi shook his head. If they had fiefs, they wouldnt have worried about the ransom. They were knights who served in the court without fiefs. We came from Viscount Ginolens court. Since it was already known they were knights serving under the Emperor, there was no need to hide it. Viscount Ginolen was the steward and advisor who ruled the Emperors fiefdom in the south of the penins on his behalf. However, the Emperor had spent most of his life in the Empire and considered himself a man of the Empire. He had barely even been to the penins fiefdom. Where there is no lion, the fox bes king. Viscount Ginolen was simr. In the area he had quite some authority as a senior nobleman. The knights had no qualms about saying they came from Viscount Ginolen. I see. What kind of man is the Viscount? Chapter 151.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (8) Chapter 151.2: ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? (8) The Viscount is very wise and experienced. He has ruled the fiefdom on behalf of His Majesty for a long time. Emperor Cardirian was old, but Viscount Ginolen was just as old. That meant he had ruled for just as long. For that long, even a steward would seem like the feudal lord to the serfs. Johan asked various questions, digging for information on Viscount Ginolen. The intel from the Republic was useful, but information was best gathered from multiple sources. And the intel from nobles on the Emperors side offered another perspective. . . By the way, why does His Excellency ask about the Viscount? Does he perhaps n to pay him a visit? Sir Padovesi jokingly suggested a visit. That he could joke around while being held hostage showed his respect and goodwill towards Johan. Any knight would feel that way after witnessing that hunt. Yes. I n to visit him when I release you knights. ???! Sir Padovesi doubted his ears. A, a vi. . .sit. . . did you say? Yes. The Viscount was worried enough about me to send his knights, so it would be rude not to visit him in return. No, he didnt send us because he was worried, but because of ties between the city and his household. . . Either way, you came to help me, no? It wasnt for some other reason, was it? . . .No, but. Then Ill go visit him. Oh, yes. . . The knights wondered why on earth Johan would do that. Of course nobles visiting each other wasmon. It was customary and an honorable duty. But that was between houses with ties to each other. Right now Johan was in no position to visit the Viscounts fiefdom. Politically they were in sharp opposition! ? . . . ? Visiting enemy territory was crazy. Of course the Viscount wouldnt attack a guest, but it was still incredibly risky. No matter how they thought about it, it seemed reckless. Then Ill pass on the message. Please do. Ill be visiting the Viscounts fiefdom with you knights, so Im relying on you to guide me. It will be our honor. After the knights left, Johan gave orders to the mercenaries. Capture and imprison the servant the knights sent. Also send men to Jekyllid Castle to gather all the mercenaries. Yes sir! Johan imprisoned the knights servant so the Viscount wouldnt realize what Johan was up to and prepare countermeasures. Seeing whates next, hell surely freak out and try to prepare! Of course Johan nned to visit the Emperors fiefdom as a guest. But hispany would be a bit different from what the knights imagined. Johan would visit with thousands of mercenary troops as his escort. ? Hmm. Let me think about this. Please go ahead. To uphold a knights honor, right? Indeed, isnt that so? I thought the same. . . .??? Jyanina, who was listening nearby, tilted her head. She didnt understand the knights conversation. Something. . .something is strange? Did he say the count is visiting as a guest? Thats right. Isnt that odd? Thats why I said so. Because of a knights honor. But thats. . . Jyanina felt a chill down her spine as she was about to speak. The servants and ves around her were staring at Jyanina. The knights didnt notice, but Jyanina was very sensitive to such things. ! They must be monitoring the conversation on the counts orders. If she acted obliviously in this situation and offended the counts feelings. . . The consequences could be dozens of times worse than being tied up and doused in filth. Jyaninas face turned pale. . . .Youre right. A knight should naturally do that. What? A wizard doesnt understand a knights honor? Haha! Isnt this interesting? The knights burst intoughter at Jyaninas words. They didnt dislike Jyanina. In fact, Jyanina had won the knights favor from working under the Emperor. However, that didnt make their perceptions of wizards disappear. They liked her, but she was still a wizard, far removed from the honorable ones. * . Jyanina heaved a deep sigh. She wanted to leave this city and set foot on the penins as soon as possible. The scenery was beautiful, the food and drinks tasty, but mentally, it was too exhausting. Id rather listen to the Emperors nagging. . . As soon as my work here is done, Ill flee to the Emperors court without looking back. Wizard. His Excellency is calling for you. Come out. Jyanina knocked over the ss she was holding. The oblivious knights next to her made her even more irritated. Oh. Jyanina-gong is so lucky. Its frustrating that His Excellency calls for a wizard rather than a knight. He probably wants advice or a divination. Things we cant do, right? Jyanina was about to curse but held back and got up. She muttered under her breath. F**k. . . What did you just say? Nothing. . I presume. . . theyve been captured. . . . . . . Gloom hung in the viscounts court. If the intelligence from the city was correct, the knights he had sent were certainly captured. And it just had to coincide with the counts visit to the city. Lets protest to the city! Seize the property of merchants from the city in our fiefdom. . . Stop it. That wont help at all. If they arrested the fiefdoms merchants now, there would only be retaliation. Reduced ie meant losses for the viscount too. They couldnt cause unnecessarymotion. Then what should we do? We have to do what we can. Hire more mercenaries and expand the fiefdoms borders. The new count enjoys lightning-fast raids. If we get hitter, there will be nothing but regret. They knew all too well how Count Yeats would sweep through the south with lightning speed that stunned onlookers. The current mercenaries are asking to be paid their overdue wages, but. . . Go to the temple and ask for their cooperation. The temple had a lot of silver items. A ce they could reach out to when in urgent need of money. The problem was dealing with the aftermath. . . . Chapter 152.1: ?????????????????? ?????????? (1) Chapter 152.1: ?????????????????? ?????????? (1) The grudges from dissatisfaction could be dealt withter. That wasnt the urgent matter right now. Right now, we had to increase the number of mercenaries by at least one person and heighten our vignce. None of the vassals who were present opposed. Some may have said, . . But still. Johans momentum was that threatening. No one underestimated the new count. Dont you think about making peace, Your Excellency? . Some of the vassals grumbled to themselves. There had been some contacts from the republic. While being conscious of the nces around them, they spoke round and round but eventually their suggestion was this. ? Of course, the viscount rejected it tly and other vassals were also furious and chased away the envoys. However, their suggestion remained in peoples minds. It was certainly a dishonorable and humiliating thing to ignore the oath made to ones lord and switch sides. However, there is no such thing as absolute in this world. While the loyal vassals to the Emperor did not have any other thoughts, vassals other than them thought making peace was also possible. After all, isnt the important thing their rights? The viscount was the Emperors agent but he had ruled the fief for a long time and was the de facto feudal lord. If he made up his mind, he would be able to do that much. While it would be humiliating for the viscount, that humiliation would not be the vassals own. Hmm. However, the vassals held back. No matter how they looked at it, it did not seem like the viscount would listen to their words. They were afraid that if they brought it up improperly, they might get branded by the vassals loyal to the Emperor or it might even be reported upwards. . . Your Excellency, there is an envoy from the city! !! The people present became tense at the servants urgent shout. What would the new count demand? However, contrary to such worries, the envoy only talked about very sensible matters. To release the captured knights and in exchange, he would also send guests from his side and asked to treat them well. Since the viscount also sent knights, it was not an unreasonable demand that could not be epted. Rather, it was an exceptionally moderate proposal. . . .? Isnt this showing mercy honorably as fellow knights? One of the vassals gave his opinion. The mask of fame that Johan was using had its influence at times like this. There were still people who thought of Johan as an honorable and faithful knight. If thats the case, then mercy without asking for ransom could also be understood. How will you respond, Your Excellency? . . .If theye as guests, is there any reason to reject them? The viscount answered slowly and reasonably. Refusing could give the other party justification so he was being careful. Send people to the port and tell them guests wille. To treat them properly. So they cant find any excuse. The vassals nodded their heads. Surely things like this could be an excuse. While they couldnt make unreasonable usations, there was no harm in being careful. Who do you think wille? It seems like it would be the knights serving under the count, but just in case, prepare for other possibilities as well. Yes! . While mercenaries gathered and fleets assembled, Johan enjoyed the culture of the city at ease, restingfortably. The sweetest wine and the citys finest musicians adorned the ce. . . . . . . Lying diagonally, Johans figure resembled azy beast. Jyanina gulped. Karamaf, lying under Johan, blinked and looked at her. I heard you were quiet in front of the knights. Express your gratitude. Its nothing, Your Excellency. I can do it whenever you want. It seems the mud bath has made you humble. Yes. It was very educational. *. . . ! !!! As Karamaf growled low, Jyanina was startled. That beast had absurdly sensed her true feelings. Johan snorted. Did you swear inside? No way! Jyanina tried magic as she looked into Karamafs pupils the magic of affinity to let the monster know . . Karamaf shook his head as if annoyed, theny down. The magic had failed. This was because mystical power surrounded the area. ? Jyanina was slightly surprised. She thought there was no one around who looked like a wizard. . . Do you remember why I called you? Count, about the dragon ying dead, I swear to the name of gods and magic. . . Seeing her bring up an oath she didnt even make, she seemed quite upset. Johan shook his head. I guess that could be possible. Thank you. . , ? The reason I called you. . . is to ask something to you who is called the handler of monsters and beasts. Can you build a monster army? What??? Jyanina doubted her ears. ? Jyanina unconsciously looked around. This could be a trap, and the judges of the Order might be hiding. But there was no one around. Even Cardirians people who tamed a few decent monsters and secretly used them never thought of building a monster army. In the first ce, as a follower of the One Truth Faith, they couldnt have such wicked thoughts. I. . . Ive never had such thoughts in my life, Count. I didnt ask if youve thought about it. Is it possible or impossible? Impossible. Do you swear its impossible in the name of magic? . . . . . . Chapter 152.2: ?????????????????? ?????????? (1) Chapter 152.2: ?????????????????? ?????????? (1) Jyanina cursed Caenerna. No matter how she thought about it, this Count knew too much about magic and wizards. The only person who could have told him was Caenerna. Yes! Impossible! This was not a lie. The magic tomand a monster army was not something humans could use. Even leading a few monsters around required tremendous magic. Johan clicked his tongue in disappointment. Jyanina clearly saw it. And she was convinced. This Count is definitely not a devout man! Your abilities seem toockingpared to Caenerna-gong. Originally, Jyanina was not stupid enough to fall for such shabby provocations. But as people get pushed around in difficult situations, their level drops. Jyaninas voice changed bitterly. I dont know who His Excellency trusts more for you to say that. Does my voice sound. . . dissatisfied to you? Oh no. No no no. Her voice instantly turned sweet and mellow again. Johan put a few grapes in his mouth and said, I see. Even if your magic is weak, I can expect other abilities. Is there a way to persuade the viscount? . . .? Johan unconsciously looked at Karamaf. But Karamaf stomped his front paws in irritation, pointing at Jyanina. Jyanina was shivering in humiliation. Are you hungry? The city people did not treat Jyanina or the Emperors knights with extreme hospitality. Of course they didnt give them something bad like hard ck bread. They gave them warm bread, soup, freshly roasted meat. The knights ate and drank well with that, but Jyanina could not. Wizards were more delicate than knights by nature. Being pushed around and attacked so much killed her appetite too. Seeing the luxurious feastid out before Johan while she was starving, her stomach moved on its own. Did the knights take your meals? . . . . . . Tsk tsk. Hey. Bring food and drink to this wizard. It was even more humiliating that he arbitrarily took care of her, but her stomach awakened from hunger made Jyanina obedient. She meekly epted the treatment. . Jyanina really ate well. Having lived in the Emperors pce, her every move followed etiquette, but there was a hint of wildness. About the viscount. . . it will be hard to persuade, Your Excellency. What about persuading his children instead? His children? The viscounts children are young, so they have moreints and less loyalty. Oh. But should you tell me that? . . . . . . Jyanina was perplexed as she wiped her mouth with a napkin. . . .Have I gone crazy? As the fleet gathered, the city people enthusiastically saw off the new Counts departure. Johan waved and boarded the ship. Among those seeing him off were nearby nobles. Having heard rumors of the new Counts arrival in the city, they came to at least greet him out of courtesy. They didnt really need to, but it was best to bootlick when possible. There wouldnt be a better time than this. . , . The nobles rode to the port. And following the soldiers guidance, they stood before Johan. . . ???? . . . . . .? I appreciate your loyalty. May Gods blessings be with you. Nobles from territories Johan didnt recognize graciously epted his greeting, but a few nobles who seemed to recognize Johan froze. Come to think of it, the mercenaries behind also looked very familiar. . . .- ? . . . The knights splendidly fulfilled their promises and duties. When they arrive at thend, it would be good to depart with Sir Ahir. The vampires bowed their heads at Johans words. Though it was not a long journey together, Johan was a knight deserving of respect. Your honor and bravery will echo untarnished even amongst your enemies. I appreciate it. May I ask where you knights are headed? We will go east to the Ulcana Penins. Our uncle has summoned us. The Ulcana Penins was in turmoil due to petty kingdoms, the old Empire, and the Empire expanding from the east. Excellent knights were always in demand. If youe to the Mulc family fiefdom, you must visit us. If that happens, I will certainly stop by. Your Excellency! Your Excellency! Sir Padovesi and Sir Gyrto appeared, tails wagging in the distinctive manner of dog-men. Their expressions were filled with consternation. After the fleetunched, Johan had refused their request for an audience. There was no reason to listen to their obviousints. Jyanina had already anticipated this and was half resigned to waiting quietly, but the knights protested violently. Only after ranting and raving were they barely allowed to stand before Johan. Why do this? Your Excellency! This is different from what you told us!! What did I say before? You, you clearly said you would visit as a guest. . . Am I not going as a guest? The mercenaries around Johan smiled slyly at his equivocating words. You say you go as a guest, but what about all these ships. . . They are my escort. You arent worried about my safety. So I decided to be a bit more careful as well. The sub-captains beside him chimed in agreement. We really couldnt send you off alone, Your Excellency. Thank you for heeding our advice! . . . . . . The two knights gaped, at a loss for words. There had to be at least a thousand to two thousand troops. What guest would visit with such forces? You should have told us beforehand at the very least! Didnt I say I would visit? Y-Yes, you did. Of course, the servant he sent was currently imprisoned on another ship. He would be released with his mouth tightly shut after theynded. Oblivious to this, the knights groaned. Why was Johan acting this way? Did he want to impress others with his might? Or did he have some other n? Dont worry too much. Huh? On second thought, while we didnt know, the viscount and his men likely realized it. They probably prepared for any surprise moves from Count Yeats. . . .! Hearing this, it made sense. If Johan said he would visit as a guest, they probably werent surprised. A seasoned viscount would have noticed and made preparations. . We wouldnt leave an honored guest waiting outside for long. . . .??!! As the weing nobles panicked, the fleet smoothly docked and finished disembarking like flowing water. The mercenaries loudly shouted war cries as they set foot onnd. Y-You havent made any preparations? What preparations?! Chapter 153.1: ?????????????????? ?????????? (2) Chapter 153.1: ?????????????????? ?????????? (2) The knights were frustrated at the administrative officialscent response, as rushing to make preparations now was impossible for them. With an astonished expression, Sir Padovesi looked around. Indeed, there seemed to be no preparation whatsoever. The harbor was the same as always, with merchant ships peacefully sailing up the river. The Earldom of Carquno, owned by the Emperors family and administered by the Viscount, was a fiefdom located at the southernmost tip of the penins. With mountain ranges curled around it above, it actually had more trade with the hundred kingdoms nearer to the sea. That isted geographic trait allowed it to stand firm even amidst the chaotic situation on the penins. . . ! They should have somehow blocked or desperately prevented thoseing by sea fromnding. The knights were frustrated at the administrative officialscent response. We received orders from above to treat them as esteemed guests! Should we have told them to turn their ships around? The administrative officials had plenty to say as well. Though there were forceful orders from above, still. . . Even if they had blocked them, would that fleet have just stayed put? It would have immediately led to bloodshed. Why suchmotion on this fine day? Johan, having set all this in motion, breezily spoke as he walked over. The administrative officials quickly bowed their heads in courtesy. The soldiers behind Johan were why, as much as the orders from above. The voyage seems to have tired my soldiers. I would appreciate some food and drink. We will. . .prepare them shortly. Im grateful for your generous hospitality. And Sir Padovesi, dont be too harsh on your subordinates. It is because proper preparations were not made above. We. . .did not even hear that you would being. . . ?? Hmm. Seems to be a mistake. Well, just show me the way. I dont want to keep standing here. Johan cut off the administrative officials words. After all, the most difficult part was solved. If he could justnd, the rest would be easy. He was lucky to have taken advantage of the opponents confusion. Mackald, why do you look so worried? We are not prepared enough to make siege weapons. Your Grace. . . .Didnt I say that I didnt intend to fight a siege this time? You never know what will happen in the future, do you? To those who prepare stone and wood. . . I know the dwarven proverb that says luck follows. When Johan remembered their proverb, Mackalds face brightened. If that happens, I will use all my means to bring you the necessary materials. I promise. Thank you, Your Excellency! As the dwarves withdrew, this time the captain sent by the republic approached Johan. Johans face brightened. The anchorage isplete. Your Excellency. Bishop Biagione worked hard to repay Johan in kind. As a result, Giada Zepol was newly elected to lead the ship. He was Bishop Biagiones cousin and one of the republics captains, and above all, he was greedy for his own greed. If Johan provided him with the appropriate benefits, he would be a person who would be more loyal to Johan than to the republic. It was a brilliant strategy. The nobles of the Emperor wont evene to their senses. What about the people of the republic? Well. . . nothing much has changed. Some are worried, and some say to shake hands. . . The republic had to cooperate with Johan because it had many other enemies, but Johans growth was too threatening. Within the republic, there was a steady stream of caution. Still, no one will hinder this matter. The republic needs Edene Sea, you know. Edene Sea, the sea in front of the republic, was like the republics lifeline. In order to safely travel through this ce, the republic also needed Johans cooperation. In order topletely dispel the misunderstanding that they had colluded with the Emperor, they had to persuade the viscount. The people of the republic were also putting their heart and soul into this matter as much as Johan. . Count Yeats is here to see you! They must have quickly sent word that an army hadnded, because envoys came rushing from a distance, kicking up clouds of dirt. Some who looked to be nobles hurriedly dismounted their horses and entered the encampment. Under normal circumstances, they would have acted more slowly and deliberately, conscious of keeping up appearances, but they seemed to have no time for that now. Your Excellency, upon hearing rumors that you led troops here, I rushed to greet you. A, the viscounts eldest daughter, spoke with propriety. Johan recalled what Jyanina had told him. Giada beside him smiled faintly. . . . Indeed. We have been weed and are restingfortably. A nodded. She did not say things like, , or . She understood well enough that it would be useless. That alone warranted a decent evaluation. I havee to escort you. Please grant me the honor. If preparations areplete, there is no reason we shouldnt head out. Are the territories properly prepared? As eyebrows shot up. Johans words had wounded her noble pride. We are always prepared to receive guests, Your Excellency. Chapter 153.2: ?????????????????? ?????????? (2) Chapter 153.2: ?????????????????? ?????????? (2) It was a situation that could have caused panic, but the viscount kept hisposure. Thanks to the viscountsposure, his retainers also regained theirposure to some extent. Gather all the mercenaries. We must be prepared for any situation. Dont worry, Viscount. The castle walls are solid, high and we have a lot of stockpiled supplies. We can hold out for years. The fight hasnt started yet, has it? We need to know what the counts intention is. What would his intention be! Hes trying to take it by force with swords and spears. If he wanted to fight, wouldnt he have plundered the harbor first? I received a report that it is surprisingly quiet. Then it could also be that hes not trying to fight, but trying to boast of his might. He wants to gain an advantage in negotiation. He darese with an army and expect us to ept his negotiation? We can fight relying on the castle walls, we dont need to ept such negotiations! Chief of Security. If we dont ept the negotiation, the count may plunder everything around. . . . . . . At that one remark, the retainers fell silent. While they could endure by hiding behind the castle walls, the surrounding towns would surely be plundered. To make matters worse, it was harvest season, an extremely advantageous situation for the opponent. Prepare to treat them. Call musicians, dancers, jesters and hold a feast. The viscount also seemed to know that as he had no intention to break off the negotiation whatsoever. As per custom, no, even morevish than custom, he decided to prepare to treat them. As the host, the preparations reflected on their dignity. Although it would cost a fortune, no nobles would skimp on this. Will you call the count into the castle? Then how else would I do it? He came with those soldiers, and now only takes a few men into the castle. What could the count be dissatisfied about to do such a thing? Why do you keep taking the counts side? Thats not my intention, Im just thinking rationally! Enough! Hes not wrong. Set up tents in the ins and prepare to treat them there. We also have soldiers here, so they cant make empty threats. Oh. Is it a festival period? Its preparation to treat an honored guest. A answered simply, but her voice was full of pride. The tents filling the ins, and people gathering to see them were a familiar sight. He had seen something simr in front of the dukes castle. However, the duke was wealthy, while the Emperor was continuously going into debt hiringrge numbers of mercenaries in the Empire. ? Johan wondered. From various sources, he heard that the Emperors situation was not that affluent. If they held such avish feast like this. . . Of course, he wasnt the one who triggered this so it wasnt his concern. Ugh. . . Is that the new Count? The mercenaries on the viscounts side tensed up seeing the gs approaching from afar. They also knew of Johans fame. Also, the mercenaries under him were elites, so they couldnt help but be nervous as fellow mercenaries. If a fight urred, they would sh first. As Johan approached, nobles came one after another, raising their gs and conveying greetings. Their attitudes varied. Some seemed to be spying, some wary, and some showed curiosity and goodwill at the same time. The Emperor has made too many mistakes. See, Your Excellency. Such figures are already appearing. Do not harbor vain hopes about the viscount before even meeting him, Sir Giada. I know, Your Excellency. Of course, some want to keep him in check among them. Giadas words soon became reality. After one of the nobles greeted Johan, he made a different suggestion. How about we determine the winner with archery? Its just a small entertainment, Count. The middle-aged dark elf who spoke to him exuded a sense of hostility and determination. He was adamant about scoring a hit against Johan. Seeing his one arm slightly more muscr, he was surely an excellent archer. A seemed conflicted next to him, pondering whether to stop this or not. While the talk was of simple entertainment, winning here would be a lifetime story to boast. It would also boost the morale of the viscounts side as a bonus. Though the setting was a banquet for hospitality and fellowship, in essence it was a battlefield without swinging swords. He absolutely could not show any weakness. ? If the knight won, the count might get angry. She couldnt be certain if this was the right choice. Fine, lets have a match. Will you call a representative? No, I will shoot personally. Hearing Johans words, Gophredo smiled satisfiedly. While winning against the counts representative would also be honorable, it couldntpare to defeating the count himself. Furthermore, Count Yeats was a worthwhile opponent overflowing with valor. Letspete here. ? At the suggestion topete right here instead of going somewhere else, Gophredo nodded. He was confident he could win anywhere, in any situation. Such was Gophredos skill as an archer. i. . . . . . . . It was a good match. From the beginning when Johan epted the match, he nned to borrow Valkalmurs power. An archer could not ovee the archery blessed by the evil god and supported by malevolent spirits. Gophredo was at a loss for words with an expression like he had seen a ghost. Only after his squire spoke up was he barely able to convey his greetings. Cough. . . An outstanding archery skill. Today was the first time I realized Your Excellency is also adept with the bow. I was just fortunate. Sirs skill was also excellent. At Johans words, people around cheered. Though from the viscounts territory, apuse usually went to the winner in such matches. Furthermore, Johan did not exercise particr caution against the viscounts nobles or serfs and merchants under them. Rather, the rumor as an outstanding knight was more widespread. Witnessing the exploits as such a knight, they couldnt help but cheer. With a dejected expression, Gophredo withdrew. He intended to showcase his exploits for the viscount, but instead had the opposite effect. Master. Whats wrong? That archery skill is unbelievable. The match is already over. At his squires words, Gophredo spoke resolutely. However, shaking his head, the squire replied. I know. If you didnt borrow the power of magic, such archery skills wouldnt make sense, right? The choice to use a bow and arrows imbued with magical power is also the counts freedom. Do you not know that nitpicking over it only makes me aughingstock? Thats not it. Doesnt the count have a wizard in his camp who can imbue arrows with magical power? Just give the order and I will go to scout them out for recruitment. !! Frankly, Gophredo didnt pay attention to his squires remarks. The very fact that he attributed it to magic just because the opponents skill was outstanding was proof that he was still immature. But if that was true. . . Enough. It was an already finished match. His squire clicked his tongue as if unsatisfied. Chapter 154.1: ?????????????????? ?????????? (3) Chapter 154.1: ?????????????????? ?????????? (3) It seemed like magic to him. Gophredo had some honor and dignity as a knight, so he did not im that his opponent had magical powers even though he lost. That would have been too embarrassing. But Gophredos squire did not have much reputation to uphold yet. He thought to himself. . . If Gophredo knew, he would have whipped the squire for spouting nonsense, but the squire only thought to himself so Gophredo did not notice. Thanks to that, Gophredo did not realize anything. I will definitely find the magic and reveal its secret to receive praise and des! Sometimes even a fool can stumble onto the truth. The squire snooped around Johans camp, asking about this and that. Since battle had not started yet, the atmosphere was not too hostile towards outsiders. Is there anyone here who can use magic? Magic? Ah, the count performs miracles. How else could all those sick people stand up from their beds? Its an incredible story. . . No, not that. I mean things like a mystical enchanted bow, or arrows that precisely hit the target. Hahahaha! Get a load of this guy! Where are you from to be spouting this nonsense? ?? The mercenariesughed loudly at the squire. It sounded like something a country bumpkin would say. Serf youths from quiet rural viges often harbored such strange fantasies. Mythical weapons or magic and the like. But aftering to the city with a few pennies in hand, they realized those things only existed in fairy tales. Anyone seriously looking for those things was an *sshole. Dontugh too much. Since weve been to so many ces, its not inconceivable that someone might have those kinds of treasures. Well, the treasures of the hundred kingdoms were pretty amazing. The mercenaries here became wealthy by following Johan. Exotic spoils from the hundred kingdoms fetched several times the price back on the penins. Naturally, rumors would surround such things. The mercenaries themselves enjoyed spreading embellished rumors, making them spread further. Hey kid. I dont know if youre trying to make an archery bet somewhere, or want to be a mercenary archer, but theres only one way to properly hit your target. Practice. Hahahaha! The mercenariesughter made the squires face turn red. He wanted to say which knight he was serving under, but the squire was not that stupid. He gritted his teeth and withdrew. With that level of idiocy, he wontst long as a mercenary. Who would take him in? But the squire did not give up. Now he was motivated. After asking around several times, he got a satisfactory answer. Come to think of it, there was a wizard. . . !! The squire was surprised. And excited. W-Who? Where can I meet them? Hmm, my hands feel empty. . . . . .Here you go. The squire silently cursed as he handed over coins. Grinning, the mercenary said, I just heard this from some servants, but seems theres a pretty amazing wizard. Jyanina or something like that? Did that wizard offer magic to Count Johan? Huh? Well, I wouldnt know but if he had useful magic, wouldnt he have used it already? Thinking about monster hunting, the mercenary said that even if he didnt know well, a wizard would probably have cast decent magic. Thats good enough, thank you! Desperate not to forget the information he obtained, the squire hurried out of the camp. . Johan Yeats is victorious! After archery came horseback riding and camel ridingpetitions. Johan did not send a proxy andpeted directly. Knights who initially charged ferociously soon changed to tired expressions after Johan was victorious seven times in the duels. They knew he was an excellent knight, but did not expect him to be this good. Wonderful. Their faces turned pale. Johan took off his helmet. ves brought water and washed the dust and sweat from his face. Is there no one left? None. Very quiet now. Arent you happy you won so decisively? More tired than happy. He epted their challenges since they kept asking to fight, but Johan himself was bored. It did not make much difference even as cheers erupted from all around. Having to pay attention to his surroundings and behave himself properly while regting his strength to not kill the opponents was more tiring than realbat. . He was doing it because there was time left, but he was getting quite tired. He wanted to hurry and capture the viscount to get to the main issue. No one else says that after winning besides you, sir. A horn sounded three times outside. Meanwhile, no announcement could be heard from the herald. It signified that no more knights were charging forth. Finally over. Johan was relieved. But it was too early to feel at ease. Negotiation was just beginning now. ? Johan fell into serious contemtion. Should I just lead the mercenaries andunch a night raid, capture the viscount so he cant escape, and capture the other vassals as well? Wouldnt the people inside the castle surrender then? Of course, it was nonsense. If hemitted such a rude act while receiving hospitality, Johans hard-earned reputation would fall into the sewer. However, this negotiation process was. . . Excessively long, slow,plicated, and tested his patience. What was more absurd was that other people did not seem to find this procedure particrly strange. Giada of the republic also reacted like ? During the day, he met people from all walks of life gathered here, graced the asion, and enjoyed the banquets they prepared. Various entertainments such as hunting,petitions, ys, and songs were a bonus. They had to eat and drink again in the evening as well. As a ce to entertain the count, luxury was required. There was enough wine prepared to fill a river. Meanwhile, no words about the negotiations could be brought up. He was being treated as a guest! Only after enduring this could negotiations begin. Its good to swear peace. Our republic has no dissatisfaction with that. But how many times has Cardirian broken its promises? Watch what you say! Insulting our lord is tantamount to insulting us! Chapter 154.2: ?????????????????? ?????????? (3) Chapter 154.2: ?????????????????? ?????????? (3) If its an insult to tell the truth, whose fault is that? Giada pressed the viscounts vassals as the captain of the republic. The situation was disadvantageous for the viscounts side. There was no backing from the surroundings, and Johans power was in full swing. Time was needed. Even the vassals most loyal to the Emperor did not refuse to make peace with Johan. The problem was that Johans side had no reason to ept it. If so, something had to be taken from the other party. Then what do you suggest? Send a high-ranking rtive of Your Excellency as a hostage. Youll have to do that much for us to believe you. !! At the same time, as an expression of your repentance for the past sacrileges, make offerings to the church. The vassals faces stiffened. Of course, they didnt think the other party would just ept it, but it came out stronger than they had anticipated. To send a high-ranking rtive of the viscount as a hostage and make offerings for what they had done to the church. Both were difficult conditions to easily ept. That. . . thats too much to ask. Right! To take your excellencys own flesh and blood as hostage. Isnt that absurd? Then lets just say there was no peace agreement! It doesnt seem like either side would regret it! Giada bluffed with confidence. As always, he could yell loudly from the advantageous side. The vassals sweated as they begged for time. It was too extreme a demand that they needed time to discuss. Do you think theyll ept it? They cantpletely reject it, but I think theyll ept it to some extent. How far are you willing to amodate them, Your Excellency? Giada asked, counting with his fingers. Sending a lower-ranking rtive among the kin and reducing the amount of the donation is eptable. Of course, the donation was to the church, not shared between the church and Johan. Perhaps the viscounts circumstances were dire now, so he would not be able to contribute it all at once, but would send it steadily over several years. At Johans cold remarks, Giada was honestly surprised. For a young count with a reputation around here, he was tooposed. If it had been his cousin the bishop or other knights, they would not have epted such apromise. As the situation was advantageous, they would have tried to get everything. However, Johan was showing restraint here. It was a rare virtue. Dont you feel tempted? You must be seeing them as an eyesore. This Carquno is a nice ce to defend, but not so nice toe out of, so its not much of a threat. If they swear not to attack by sacrificing their rtives as hostages, I can turn a blind eye. He would like to get this fief or gain the loyalty of the viscount, but world affairs cant always go as you want. Johan was prepared topromise. , . . A siege, if it went wrong, could waste years for nothing. Johan, who had justpleted his territory, was not allowed such waste. Your Excellency is truly wise. Johan had one more expectation that he did not tell Giada. Would the Emperor stand still after the viscount makes peace with Johan? Of course, there was friendship between them, so the Emperor might understand. However, the viscount was old. After the viscount dies and his children inherit the position, will the Emperor still trust them? This hospitality and negotiation was a process of nting seeds. They may not know now, but these seeds will sproutter. Even if he cant capture it now,ter. . . ! ! While walking lost in thought, Johan felt something dart towards him and grabbed it with his hand. A well-made arrow was caught firmly in his palm. . . .?! ! The situation was so sudden that even the soldiers escorting Johan couldnt react. They still hadnt realized something had flown towards their employer. . . .Fall down, Your Highness! Fall down! In this chaotic situation, Giada came up with an amazing idea next to him. Hearing Giadas whisper, Johan immediately understood his intention. Ugh! Johan bowed his body pretending he was hit by the arrow. The mercenaries screamedte. Giada shouted loudly. His Highness was hit by an arrow!! His Highness was hit by an arrow!! Your Highness! Your Highness! Im fine, calm down. The escorts were crying before they froze in surprise. Johans voice was perfectly fine. Huh? What are you doing?! Cry, Your Highness! Ah, I see. Sorry. Ill cry again. Uh. . .sob sob! Wah wah! Take His Highness to a safe ce! As the day was getting darker quickly, torches lit up everywhere in an instant. The mercenaries had screamed so loudly. Get out of the way! Get out of the way! His Highness has copsed! s. Emergency was dered in the Viscounts camp. Due to his old age, the Viscount couldnt move around vigorously like Johan and was resting his tired body inside the castle. The etiquette of hospitality had also worn him out. Even such a Viscount jumped up with a scream upon hearing the news. What kind of nonsense is that! Could it be. . .a lie? Sev. . .several ves who were there saw and confirmed it! They said an arrow really flew in! The retainers faces were ashen blue, unable to get any paler. If an arrow really flew towards the Count. . . The only ones who could have shot it were nobles under the Viscount. Outsiders couldnt enter wherever the Count went. Only nobles under the Viscount were possible. What lunatic did that! We must find and kill him! This is not the time for that! How are the Counts soldiers reacting?! A loyal army goes berserk several times more frighteningly when enraged. Upon hearing that their employer was hit by an arrow, the mercenaries must have been extremely furious. Chapter 155.1: ?????????????????? ?????????? (4) Chapter 155.1: ?????????????????? ?????????? (4) ! ! ! ! ! . . . . . Johans sub-captains tried to calm them down, but their anger was too strong. They turned around immediately, fearing that they would be hanged if they continued to block them. , ! , ! The enraged mercenaries marched on the viscounts camp, destroying and smashing everything in their path. The arenas prepared for the games were destroyed, and the seats for the nobles also caught fire. The mercenaries also smashed the viscounts seat without mercy and spat on it. ?! , ! The viscounts mercenaries rushed out to stop them. They knew that Johans mercenaries were fierce and skilled, but they had to do their job if they had been paid. . The viscounts mercenaries thought so and were brave. No matter how strong their opponents were, having a noble behind them gave them great confidence. . However, the viscounts mercenaries should have noticed why the other nobles were nowhere to be seen. The quick-witted nobles had hurriedly mounted their horses and fled to the castle. ! * ? ! ? ! ! The mercenaries who were foolishly fooling around werepletely destroyed. The mercenaries were still angry, so they went around the nobles campsite, destroying everything in their path and looting the remaining items. ! , . The mercenary captains sent a message to the dwarven mercenaries camp. However, the dwarven mercenaries did not listen to the request. It was because they were already burning down the surroundings. The dwarves were using Johans devil fire to burn down the campsite. . It was a nameless knight who shot Johan. He was captured right away since there were many eyewitnesses around and he did not even try to hide. The viscount red at the knight with a purplish red face. What is this nonsense that a knight without a single fiefdom has done? Do you know what you have just done? I could not stand that he insulted Your Excellencys family and the lord to whom I swore allegiance! Shut up. I want to skin you alive but I will hold back! Who sent you? Did Cardirian send you? No! I acted solely based on my honor. Silence that b*stard! A country bumpkin who does not even know what honor is. . . The viscount spat out. If he really knew what honor was, he would not have shot randomly like that. It would have been less preposterous if the Emperor had sent him. The viscount would have been simrly angry but at least he would have understood. But a rookie who just came from the countryside did this nonsense just because he was drunk on public zeal and honor. It was unbelievable. He even wondered if the Emperor might have sent him after all. Mercenaries are raging outside. We cannot even go out the castle gate. Some of the soldiers we hired were attacked and some fled. Seeing the situation unfold strangely, the smarter ones among the hired soldiers fled quickly. Fortunately, many had entered the castle but morale was terrible. They must have heard the rumor that someone under the viscount shot the count. There were rules even on the battlefield and for mercenaries. Those who did not follow these customary rules were ignored or scorned. . . .Those with a n, speak up. Hearing the viscounts words, the vassals began to size up the situation. They were also in a difficult spot. First we need to capture that knight dastard and take him to the count. We need him to exin himself, right? You think that will be the end of it? The end? So you are saying we should just stay put? Anyway even if we capture the knight dastard and hand him over, there is no way the count will forgive us. Now that things havee to this, we have lost face. We might as well attack! ! Emperor faction vassals began to speak aggressively. This is our chance. If the count falls, the nobles under him will no longer be wary of us! Lets attack before he wakes up! Are you crazy? If we attack now, where will the viscounts honor go? There was still room for excuse if his knight had attacked on his own, but the moment we take advantage of that, the attack will no longer be seen as an act of his knight, but as an order from the viscount himself. Even if we deny it, who will believe us? No matter what honor is, this is too good an opportunity, isnt it? If we miss this, it will nevere again! Are you saying that now? Shut your mouth! The viscounts children shouted in anger. Even though they were Emperor faction vassals, they were not concerned about the familys honor at all. The vassal flinched, but did not back down. Please do not persecute me, your graces. I am here by legitimate right. Lets see if you still say that after youre stabbed by a sword. Keep talking! Whose honor is nothing? T-Thats enough. Stop it. The viscounts voice was strange, unlike usual. The people gathered around looked at the viscount in surprise. The viscount was staggering. ! The viscount copsed forward. He was already old, and he was overworked. It was only natural that he would find it difficult to bear such a situation. The viscount has copsed! Chapter 155.2: ?????????????????? ?????????? (4) Chapter 155.2: ?????????????????? ?????????? (4) What? The viscount copsed too? Johan asked in disbelief. Geoffrey nodded. Yes. Hes not mimicking me, is he? How could that be? Giada said as he entered. At his sign, the ves hemanded brought in medicine. There is an outstanding doctor among those working under other captains. He brought good medicine for the body. Im fine so let Geoffrey drink it. Oh my, thank you! Geoffrey gave an exaggerated expression of gratitude. Being able to take medicine made by doctors from the republic was a luxury not easily enjoyed. While Geoffrey was making faces drinking the bitter medicine, Johan talked with Giada. Your tricks are several times better than those of your cousin. No, I am still very muchckingpared to the bishop. Giadas voice contained sincerity. Johan was frankly surprised. Was Bishop Biagione that capable? , . Do you know who shot the arrow? From the rumors I heard he was captured. Just some no-name knight dastard. The Emperor must have sent him, right? The Emperor must have ordered it. They both agreed on this point. It was just too coincidental. I should have thought of the Emperor. From the Emperors perspective, he could shake the situation with just one arrow, so he had to aim for it. Johan reflected. I thought it would be okay because no one could have predicted that it woulde like this, but even if it wasnt directly ordered by the Emperor, his subordinates could have issued it. It was a situation. It was a good thing he was wearing armor and had good senses, but if he had really been injured, it would have been dangerous. Have the mercenaries calmed down a bit? Yes. As soon as you gave the order, everyone returned obediently. The mercenaries returned to their ces in an incredibly obedient manner, as if they were demons who had been running rampant. It was a surprising thing, even though it is usually difficult to find order again once it goes into a state of plunder. If it was something ordered by the Emperor, fighting would only be doing him a favor. I was even more determined to solve it through negotiations, but. . . Viscount suddenly copsed, so I thought he might be imitating me. Viscount is not stupid, so he will not do that. Isnt itpletely different from you being shot? Who would sympathize with him if he fell down alone? Even if the nobles under viscount were agitated, there was no benefit. Do you think the negotiations will proceed even though the viscount has copsed? On the contrary, now that he has fallen, he will be more likely to negotiate, dont you think? His subordinates will be in a hurry. If theye, you can chase them away a few times and then ept them. Johan nodded. In case, order them to be careful of a surprise attack. Would they do that? It is human nature to do something that is not expected. There are many crazy people in the world. Johan said with a smile. . Giadas prediction came true. Envoys of the viscount holding white gs came. They were barely able to enter and deliver the message after being chased away several times. The leader of the envoys was the viscounts first daughter, A-gong. She prostrated herself in front of Johans tent. Johan came out with bandages wrapped around him. He had toe out or else it would have caused strange misunderstandings. ? Johan noticed that some of the envoys seemed disappointed. They seemed very sad that Johan wasnt killed. Apletely unrted person acted on their own? Those around Johan also scoffed at his words. Who would believe that? Even if the perpetrator himself said that, no one would believe it. I swear to God, really. . . Well, alright. Ill believe you. ?! Didnt you want me to believe you? Oh? Yes. . . In a situation where he was shot by an arrow and almost died. It wouldnt have been strange to attack the castle or kill the envoys. But the envoys were confused by his calm response. ! They knew the Count before them was a young upstart, but it was terrifying that he could remain so calm after being shot by an arrow. So what did you bring? My two younger siblings will go as hostages, and the amount ofpensation has also been increased. . . The Viscount was sending his second and third children as hostages. It showed how urgent the situation was over there. Johan nodded and confirmed the conditions. It was the condition he wanted. He could have tried to take more, but Johan didnt intend to go that far. Gold was gold, but the hostages were more important. Were there any particrints from inside? . . .Its not for them to make the decision, so its fine. I heard the viscount has fallen, Im very worried. Its fine. Johans concern probably didnt sound like concern to the other party. As expression was actually twisted with humiliation and defeat. Prepare the donation to the church within a week. When I receive it, I will leave. . . .Yes. Johan nodded. The envoys behind breathed a long sigh of relief as they wiped away cold sweat. They came with generous terms, but the reason they were nervous was because of Johan. They were afraid Johan would ughter the envoys with a knife after being shot by an arrow. With the negotiations over, it felt like the tension in their bodies was released. The Count is quite an extraordinary figure to be so extraordinary. To act like that after being shot by an arrow. Arent you praising the invader too much? Its the truth, isnt it? Hes quite magnanimous. After surviving a near-death experience, even the envoy party couldnt help but say good things about Johan. To them, Johans attitude was the epitome of generosity. Although they had no choice but to agree when the Viscount fell and his children came forward to negotiate, they didnt expect to get out alive like this. Sir Gophredo, who was with the party, also nodded. To remain soposed after being shot by an arrow, he really is quite an extraordinary knight. Speaking of which, Your Excellencys man was saying strange things. . . What did that guy say? That wizard Jyanina lent the Count the power of magic, and thats why his wounds have healed so quickly this time. That Jyanina-gong, isnt she the wizard who camest time? I dont know what that wizard is doing. Of course, Jyanina was being held until the negotiations ended, and that happened because the negotiations took longer. . . But that wasnt very important to the nobles there. Lets question that when we get back. Isnt that going too far even if she was being held? Healing the counts wounds too! Dont be too harsh. Thanks to her we were able to get out alive. Seeing the ring mercenaries sent a chill down his spine. The noble quickly nodded. Its better that Your Excellency copsed. Its also a matter of finding a skilled wizard. I guess so. . . Chapter 156: ?????????????????? ?????????? (5) Chapter 156: ?????????????????? ?????????? (5) Whether you hated or liked wizards, one thing was certain. If you were going to borrow the power of wizards, you might as well get an excellent one. Johan or Jyanina who knew magic well would have said , but to nobles, magic was like a fairy that conveniently granted wishes. I will serve you well. . . I pledge my loyalty. . . The viscount kept his promise. Before the end of the agreed period, the first donation came with the envoys. The second and third sons of the viscount looked at Johan with a mix of fear and respect. . He had expected them to show more disgust or hatred. No matter how high Johans reputation was and how much mercy he had shown during the negotiations, Johan was still an invader after all. It was only natural for them to be emotionally shaken to go and serve in the court of the count they were born in. But the viscounts children did not look very disturbed. They had received good education as nobles, and they understood well what kind of situation this was. They were not stupid enough to recklessly reveal their emotions in such a situation. And excluding that, staying in Johans court was not the worst thing for nobles anyway. Since they were born as nobles, it was more umon for them to keep staying where they were born. It wasmon for various reasons to wander around. If they were going to be priests, they would go to the city with the university or head for the parish, if they had intentions for merchants or simr, they would also head to the city where themercial association was located, and if they were knights, they would leave for their lords court. , . Now that the shock of the change of the counts had subsided and they had sworn allegiance, it was time for customs to gradually return. Those among the vassals who had sworn allegiance to Johan who were trying to raise their children as knights wanted to send them under Johan as much as possible to teach them. This was also a kind of opportunity. Raising one knight was not an easy task. It was much better for them to serve together with the children of other knight families in the court of nobility and learn, rather than a poor knight wandering around teaching them one by one. Not only could they learn knightly virtues from excellent teachers swordsmanship, archery, horsemanship, hunting, chess games, etc. but they could also learn other studies such as tactics, theology, andw. And most of all, the good thing was that it was an opportunity towork. Not only get to know other knights, but also build rtionships with their lord. For poor knights, their lords favor was the most important thing above all else. Because the lord would hold an appointment ceremony for them, provide them with armor and equipment, and make their new life as knights more abundant. Johan had to take such a long way back after not even receiving such an introduction at first. . Of course these things were expensive, but it was not a loss for Johan in the long run. On the contrary, it was beneficial. The children of each family were a kind of hostage, while being trained under the court, they nurtured their loyalty to their lord. After sweating and fighting elsewhere since childhood, loyalty to the lord became stronger than affection for rtives. Thats why it was natural that incidents where a parent and child waved swords at each other demanding the others fief were frequent. March along the east coast, then head to Coolia. Be careful as there is a lot of loot to carry. Yes!!! The mercenaries roared loudly. They had swept everything they could get from the hundred kingdoms to the Emperors fief. Seeing their employer recover from his injuries, their morale was extremely high. Giada and the other captains finished preparing to lead the republic fleet out. While the vanguard moved in turns, Johan waited at the very back. In the meantime, Johan discovered a group of cavalry moving from afar. Whats that? ? The mercenaries next to him didnt have eyes as good as Johans. They tilted their heads, not knowing what he was talking about. Johan asked the viscounts rtives next to him. Cant you see it? I-Im sorry, Your Excellency. I dont know what you mean. The viscounts second child said with a flustered expression, thinking Johan was testing him. However, Johan was not particrly trying to test him. He was just curious. It was strange to see nearly a hundred cavalrying from the west to the viscounts castle. ? . The viscount had copsed, and had given away a fortune topensate for that mad knights riot, so he should be lying low and enduring for a while. And yet he called such expensive mercenaries. It didnt make sense. Could it be theyre trying to attack Your Excellency? After the arrow sniping incident, the guards showed a slightly obsessive reaction. It was natural, as they had let their guard down and their master who they were protecting got hit by an arrow. Attack here with those cavalry? Oh. . .right. Combined with the fleet on the coast, they could mobilize an army of thousands. No sane person would charge in with a hundred cavalry unless they were crazy. Even though the army was scattered at the moment due to the march, they could send signals to gather again if necessary. ? Judging by the movement, the purpose of the cavalry seemed to be the viscounts castle. Johan was so puzzled why he was so worried. He had gotten everything he wanted, and even if the other party had any suspicious intentions, a surprise attack was absolutely impossible, so he could just rx and retreat. . . . Johan realized why he was worried. Right now, wasnt this situation exactly the same as his households fief! Of course, tthe viscount and Sir Gessen werepletely different people, but there were definitely simrities in this situation. . . . ? The conclusion informed by instinct was so bewildering that Johan was lost in thought again. Was there any reason for the Emperor to kill the viscount like he did to Sir Gessen? Even in this situation, the viscount continued to serve the Emperor loyally without betraying him to the end. He kept sending gold to the Empire even while being overwhelmed. If his loyalty wascking even a little, he would havepletely joined Johan. No matter how unscrupulous the Emperor was, he wouldnt kill the viscount. It was different from Sir Gessen. . . .. Johan bit his tongue. One situation had changed. Hadnt the viscount just sworn peace with Johan and offered his rtives as hostages! Of course, from the viscounts perspective, it must have been negotiation results desperately squeezed out with all his might, but he couldnt have known how that might look to the other party. There was enough possibility that it could be seen as betrayal. . . . Then such a guy might fabricate treason that did not exist! I heard the counts army passed by. Damn. Good thing we didnt run into them. Youre right, sir. ! The man backhanded his subordinate with a gauntlet. The subordinate looked at him in confusion. You son of a b*tch! Im sorry, Baron. * . . . Baron Gartner was a warrior of mercenary origins who had received both a knighthood and a barony. The fact that someone of such lowly birth and boorish manners had be a baron was proof of the blood he had spilled. Despite being a violent mercenary, he had pledged steadfast loyalty to the Emperor. Even a hound needs to recognize its master if it hopes to live long. And so he had been given this mission. The baron had two orders. One was to confirm the Viscounts loyalty. The chaotic situation in the southern penins had reached the Emperors ears. Naturally, wild rumors had also spread. Although the viscount stood firm, the Emperor had started to doubt whether he could betray them. . Even this much was special treatment. If it had been anyone other than the Viscount, the Emperor would have acted without checking. And the second order was. . . If the Viscount showed signs of wavering, to arrest him and his family and bring them to the Empire. To prevent any potential betrayal. Up to this point, it was understandable. But the choice of envoy had been a mistake. While it was good to choose someone who would not be swayed by the Viscounts connections or eloquence, he should at least be willing and able to talk. Baron Gartner had no such intentions. His eyes and hands trembled with greed. The baron intended to manufacture a crime whether one existed or not. , ! Of course the Emperor would not give a hound that kind of authority. But there was no one to tell that to Baron Gartner. He was lost in his pipe dream. And damn it, are you afraid of the counts army? Cowardly b*stards. Im sorry, sir. Enough. Go around and gather some news! We need to know what the count did and where he went! Baron Gartner was cruel but no fool. He had no intention of fighting Johans army. It wasnt just the numbers, but the rumors were too vicious. While believing all rumors was foolish, there were no mercenaries whopletely ignored them either. Even if only half the rumors were true, it was a monster he did not want to oppose. In front of others, Gartner shouted that he would stab Johan to death if they met, but in his heart he felt the opposite. Why court such danger needlessly? But Baron, sir. What? If you really end up ruling this ce, wed get a position too, right? You dare doubt my word? Ah. . . no, sir. Its just, if the Viscount gets captured, his children will still be around. . . Capture them too! If we send them to the capital but they get releasedter, what then? ! Surprisingly, his subordinate had hit the crux of the matter. The baron froze at those words. Youre right. . . Oh, I dont need an position, sir. Just give me a nice fat purse. . . Cant you shut up?! Are you saying I wont get anything?! T-Thats not what I meant. . . Gartner nodded repeatedly. His subordinates words had sparked a new idea. Then shouldnt he just kill them? Sir! Sir! Sir! Big trouble! The counts army is headed this way! What the f*ck?! Has some idiot gone around bbing about who we are and where we came from?! Waving banners around?! With most of the south fallen, even the Emperors men had to move carefully. The baron and his mercenaries had prepared entirely new banners, and their permits were forged to be from a noble unrted to the Emperor. It was fine once they entered the Viscounts territory, but outside it was dangerous. But secrets always find a tiny hole to slip out from. If loose lips spread rumors. . . Ah, sorry. It was a false rm! They left a while ago! . . .string up that son of a b*tch this instant! Mercy, sir knight! Spare me this once! Gartner waved his hand, seeing no need to hear more. The mercenary was strung up on the gallows for the crime of speaking without thinking. No Count, is there a problem? The viscounts second and third sons looked puzzled. Johan had suddenly stopped the army and picked only a few elite soldiers to disguise and move. Of course, the two, who knew the viscounts territory well, were also included. When things turned out this way, all kinds of thoughts came to mind. There is no problem. I just need your help. W-What? ? Are you trying to attack the castle? With this number of people, you think you can attack the castle? Johan asked in disbelief. At most, there were only dozens of people. Besides, they were disguised, so there was not a single proper siege weapon. If they could conquer the castle with this, they were not human. But you, Count, have conquered a castle alone, havent you? At the third sons words, the mercenaries had to bite their lips to keep theughter from bursting out. Johan had been perfectly refuted. Thats a rumor. Isnt it embarrassing to be a knight and believe such a rumor? Oh so thats the case. I apologize, Count. My brother and I are still young Then, what exactly happened? Im curious. How do we get into the castle quietly? Johan changed the subject. Chapter 157: ?????????????????? ?????????? (6) Chapter 157: ?????????????????? ?????????? (6) The outer castle is easy to enter, but the inner castle is not for anyone to enter, the defense captain. . . no. Excuse me. Your Excellency. The second one who was about to speak paused again. No matter how much he thought about it, it was too strange. If its Count Yeats, he can proudly hold the family g and stand in front of the outer castle and call people, why is he trying to sneak in? Please tell me the reason. Hmm. Johan felt troubled. He felt a little sorry for the second and third ones who were scared and trembling but strongly resisting. But it was also ambiguous to exin. The reason was purely dependent on Johans intuition and experience. , ? , , , . , , . . , ?! . . .It was bound to be like this. Johan said what came to mind. Actually, I had a dreamst night. In that dream, I heard the words of a prophet with a holy symbol. ! ? ? Even after saying it, he regretted a little thinking ?, but the second and third ones were listening with a devout attitude, even making a cross. Johan, who was speaking, was embarrassed to the point. They believe so easily. . . Oh. . . . . . . . . When the escorts next to him also fell for it, Johan was dumbfounded. Isnt this naive? But there was no choice. The religious authority that Johan had was much stronger than Johan thought. The church imed, and his own words and actions were there, but above all, Johans journey proved that faith. If a knight who wins like that is not loved by God, then who is the loved one? Of course, from the churchs point of view, . , , . . . such words would naturallye out, but among ordinary nobles and knights, there was no choice. Honor and custom inevitably influenced faith in the world. What, what did the prophet say? The ones who came to the Viscounts castle are trying to harm the Viscount. He asked me to stop it as an honorable knight. Indeed. . .! Your Excellency. Im sorry! How dare I doubt that! . . . . . . Although the persuasion was sessful, Johan felt a sense of frustration for some reason. As befitting a castle built during the days of the Old Empire, Carquno Viscounts castle was massive and sturdy. Just the area between the outer and inner wall was considerable. Naturally, the inner wall is where the viscount and his vassals resided. While the gates of the outer wall were easy to pass through, the inner wall was not. Cooperation from someone familiar with this castle was necessary. I know a garrison captain here. Ill send someone to get him to open the gates of the inner wall. Excellent. Some will disguise themselves asborers, others as merchants. . . .Uh, will we be doing that too? I see. Are you two going to proudly enter through the gates and dere you are the viscounts kin? . . .Y-Yes, we will. The second and third sons had anxious expressions as they changed into clothes and roughly applied makeup to their faces. The mercenaries seemed well ustomed to this. Well hide the weapons inside the wagons. Do not draw your weapons until I give the signal. Things may getplicated if you draw them prematurely. The worst case would be if the other party genuinely came as envoys and Johan came charging in wielding his sword. To the viscount, Johan would look insane. To suddenly return and cut down envoys then run amok. . . To prevent that, they first had to wait and confirm the other partys purpose, then make their move when the opponents revealed their true colors. . , . Did he make a mistake in telling them about his dream? Sir. Why dont they just raise a g? Uhm, Im sorry, Captain. Arent those guys mercenaries? The city gates were not always opened to armed men who imed to be envoys. Especially in this chaotic situation, it was even more so for secret envoys. First, they had to submit a certificate and permit, and then present a token proving their envoy status. After that, they would be called in after being confirmed inside. Why do they seem to be wandering around separately? Isnt it obvious? Theyve been traveling for a long time, and their bodies are burning up. How can they just sit still? Look at them. Dont they look like theyre looking for a beer and a gamble? Thats good. Bring them here. Yes. Geoffrey and rtively harmless-looking guards approached the other side, pretending to be merchants. The other side was overjoyed when they lost a little silver in a game of dice. Oh, its already thiste. I need to go. Going? Going where? y a bit more before you go! Oh my. My master will get angry if I stay out. . . How about this then? Since I only need to go back and report, wait here for a bit outside. Is that alright? Shall we do that then? The opponents naively followed them out. After turning a corner into an alley, Johan and his subordinates appeared from both sides. Their intimidating act resembled city gangsters. The mercenaries scoffed as if they couldnt believe it. If they got scared of petty gangsters wandering the city, they wouldnt have survived on the battlefield. What the hell, this son of a b*tch, trying to pull something because he lost some dice? Looks like you took us lightly. Were mercenaries who fought over ten battles on the battlefield. Dont even think of pulling out your dagger-sized knife, just put your hands up ni. . .Guh Rather than answering, Johan swung his club at their torsos. The men let out a Guh as they copsed. Move them over there. Ill have to thank that garrison captainter. Having an empty warehouse lent for their use made things several times easier. Johan began interrogating the mercenaries. Karamaf stuck their heads between his thighs. As the mercenaries crotches grew damp, their mouths promptly opened up. Any. . .anything! Ill tell you anything! Good to see you catch on quickly. As expected of mercenaries who fought over ten battles. As Johan smiled satisfactorily, the viscounts third child took out paper and a pen, seeming intent on recording the mercenaries testimonies. Oh. Smart move. Hm Ginolen. . . Ardta. I am Ardta, Your Excellency. I see. Ill remember that name. Johan expected the mercenaries would make up some story for him. Even trivial words could be exaggerated several fold. It was the baron! The baron plotted all this! I have nothing to do with it! Tell me in more detail. What is this baron trying to do? However, things went more simply than Johan anticipated. Baron Gartner was a more violent and quick-tempered warrior than Sir Karamaf. He constantly bbered to his subordinates about what he wanted. Ardtas hands shook as she wrote. She couldnt help but rage at the gall of some lowly outsider to ignore and trample on her Houses contributions. I see. Did Baron Gartner also pige around here? Huh? No, he didnt. Karamaf. He seems quitefortable. Put some strength into those teeth. Ah! No, no! He did! Now that I think about it, he did! There were some burnt down buildings around. Did the baron do that too? Yes! Yes! . . . . . . The guards beside Johan had very awkward expressions. Werent those things done by Johans men running amok after he copsed? Got everything written down? This should be good enough. Let us go see His Excellency. . . .Sir Count. ? The viscount is still recovering right now, so A-gong is acting as regent. And A-gong. . . She wont readily believe me? . . . . . . Ardta hesitated before nodding her head. Despite her young age, Johan found her conduct quite unique and refreshing. What do you think? I. . . I dont really know. He seemed even more trustworthy than the second son. Johan decided to listen to the advice of this young noble. Ah sh*t. . . Jyanina muttered curses as she prepared the medicine. The gazes of the servants watching her like hawks were uneasy. In such a guarded state, it was difficult to persuade them with charm. ? ? ? ? . . . . . , . , . . . . . . . . . . As a wizard, there were times when things like this happened. When forced to do somethingpletely beyond ones ability. A wizard had to be skilled at slipping away cleverly at times like this. Although Jyanina had slipped away cleverly many times before, this time the situation was terribly tangled. There was nothing she could do in this state of bound hands and feet. And this waspletely foreign territory at that. , ? ? . . .*. . . . . . While she knew how to control monsters and use their power, healing a fallen elderly man was not a mysticism she explored. For now, she was using medicine with no effect to buy time, but soon if she didnt show some results. . . I wondered, so you are a wizard after all. What are you doing? . . .Kek! Jyanina tried to scream. Or rather, she tried before Johannded a blow to her throat. She was unable to breathe, choking and gagging. Ah. My apologies. Cough. . .cough. . . yo. . .ba. . . Johan waited until Jyanina calmed down. It seemed her anger was also under control once her voice returned. How did you get in here?! I came to see the viscount, and happened to see a familiar face in the adjacent room. . . .Your Excellency! Please help me! Jyanina grabbed Johans hand. When she left Johans side, she had walked away with her middle finger raised, cursing ! ! Yet upon entering the viscounts side, Johans suddenly seemed preferable. How can I help you? These sons of b*tches are trying to kill me! How so His Majestys loyal subject? Thats what Im saying, theyre empty-headed fools! They dont even know who I am and are daring to threaten me! Jyanina clung to Johan and poured out her story. Johan had to hold back hisughter as he listened. Was this not the misunderstanding wizards often suffered, as Suetlg had told him many times? The wizard I know could revive injured people. Why cant you? . . . . . . Jyanina moved to curse but stopped upon seeing Johans fist. It looked plenty capable of crushing her neck. Its good fortune I came. My purpose ining here is simr. ? Follow me. Im going to see the viscount. Where did the servants go? Ah. . .dont worry, theyre not dead. I wasnt worried at all. How very wizard-like. ? Ardta had said it would be best to speak directly with the viscount rather than A-gong, whocked experience. The viscount could make a much cooler judgement than young A, she said. Johan took her advice. While Johan had been outside and did not know the precise condition of the Viscount, he seemed capable of at least holding a conversation. That was enough. . . .? The reclining Viscount showed surprise at the sudden guest, blinking his eyes. ? Johan picked up a nearby silver cup and discreetly poured some water that had been blessed with an assassins movements. He didnt necessarily have to hide it, but there was no need to explicitly say anything either. Johan offered a simple prayer and made the sign of the cross over the cup before raising it to the viscounts mouth to drink. Jyanina was exasperated. No. . .Count, Count doing that wont work even if you were a bishop. . . As Jyanina spoke, she flinched. The viscounts finger had twitched. Chapter 158: ?????????????????? ?????????? (7) Chapter 158: ?????????????????? ?????????? (7) Dont joke around here, count. ? Johan was puzzled. What was Jyanina talking about? The count is just provoking. . . .You really have a strong faith. While it was unbelievable to immediately believe the story about the sacred dream, it was also unbelievable to openly not believe in miracles like this. In this age, faith was something people were naturally born with. Even the most brutal murderer had fear of God deep down in their hearts, so theres no need to borate further. While Suetlg and Caenerna didntpletely deny the existence of God. . . This wizard. . . Isnt it an issue of intelligence rather than faith? If someone copses and stands up after drawing a cross over spilt water, thats not a miracle but the copsed person pretending. . . Get. . .away. . .from me. In a dry, hoarse voice, the viscount spoke to Jyanina. Jyanina was so startled that she copsed. The viscount had somehow stood up. - ? Jyanina trembled in fear. It was as if a chain that held her tongue in check around Johan hade loose, and her tongue moved freely. If the viscount felt offended by what she just said. . . Fortunately, the viscount had no interest in Jyanina. Are you Count Yeats? Thats right. You are much younger than I expected. . . And you are much weaker and older than I expected. The viscount chuckled. Time defeats everyone. . . Please ept my apology once again for the sneak attack. Enough. Ive already receivedpensation. Arrow wounds wont fully disappear even if covered in gold. I will forget the grudge, trusting the viscounts honor. Jyanina was genuinely surprised by Johans words. If she had been hit by the arrow, she would have harbored grudges against the archer, the archers family, the archers lord, and even the lords family. . . Is this how Count Yeats built up his reputation? In hisposure in forgiving after taking an arrow and sparing the enemys life, there was an intense aura that a person swayed by gains and losses could not show. Johan was the first nobleman she had seen demonstrate such demeanor. His attitude now waspletely different from his usual sacrilegious behavior, leaving Jyanina confused. . . .May I ask what miracle allowed me to freely move my limbs that felt like boulders? I couldnt move them at all earlier. . . I used the sacred water received from the Order. Johan imed it was from the Order instead of Suetlg. It would make the listener feel better. The Order wouldnt like this though. . . The rtionship between the current Emperor and the Order was not very good. The Emperor wanted the power and authority held by the Order, and wished to install a more docile Pope. When he was younger, he even sent troops to the Ordersnd. . . Using the Orders treasure on the viscount, a loyal subject of the Emperor, would displease the Order. But it couldnt be helped. The viscount reverently gestured with trembling hands. The young count before him deserved this treatment. A knight whoes to aid his enemy out ofpassion is the most knightly knight. The counts honor. . . willst longer than the most beautiful royal pce, longer than the most magnificent bad of a great knight. . . Lets save those words forter. We have a lot to discuss. ? Johan cut right to the main topic. Hearing that the Emperors envoys were after his family, the viscounts wrinkled face stiffened. If you cant believe it, I will bring the viscounts child. He is clever despite his young age and can testify what happened. No. . . I can believe you. . . .! Johan was taken aback by how readily the viscount believed him. He didnt expect such unquestioning faith after decades of loyalty. The viscount seemed to have noticed his reaction and said wistfully. It is because I have been loyal for so long that I know certain things. If you know that well, then you should know what needs to be done. Count. . . Look. . . I am old and dont have much time left. I dont want to abandon my honor at this point. Johan clicked his tongue internally at the viscounts words. The main reason Johan came here was to prevent the dissolution of the alliances the viscount had painstakingly built over the years that would happen with the disappearance of the viscount and his family. Whoever took over was unlikely to respect the agreements. Still, it was true that he had shown generosity here in the process that warranted some loyalty. ? He couldnt forcibly make the viscount betray when he was unwilling. He could only hope the oaths pledged would be properly kept. . . .But thats just my own story. I dont intend to stubbornly cling to principles at the cost of dragging in rest of my family. I will call A. Please instruct her. ! Johan was delighted that the viscount was finally extending an olive branch. Even if the other party is violent and greedy, using force will only invite more suspicion. Will it be okay? Im prepared. . . .Ill leave it to you, count. The viscount carefully paid his respects. His words were not just about the present situation. They were about things afterwards. Once he made a move against the Emperors envoys, there would be no turning back, for better or worse. With nowhere else to turn, his only recourse then would be the southern overlord, Johan. While the viscount himself may avoid trouble, his children going forward certainly wouldnt. Ill do my best. Johans words were met with a nod from the viscount. A new era was dawning before him. While he may not see it, his children would get to experience that era. The viscounts proxy who was called, A-gong, was not surprised by the sudden words and epted them easily. In the first ce, the most loyal person in the viscounts family was the viscount himself. Below him, there was more antipathy towards the Emperor than loyalty. They were wary of Johan because he threatened the rights of the family, but unlike the viscount, they were prepared to swear allegiance to Johan if he recognized the rights of the family. Johans actions in stopping the withdrawal and rushing through the night road to help the viscount were actions that deserved respect. If he was a nobleman who coveted this fiefdom, he could not have done such a thing. Johan had proven his own good faith. Thanks to that, As voice changed to be more friendly. It was a voice mixed with gratitude, respect and reverence. . . . . . .Thank you, Your Excellency. I will not forget this favor. I will disarm the baron as soon as he enters and take care of him. No. Wait until you hear what he has to say and deal with it then. Why do we have to do that? Hes not even worth it. No matter what, he is still the Emperors envoy. Even if we wave swords at him, we should at least hear what he has to say. It will only undermine the authority of the family in front of the people. . . .M-May we go take a look? In the midst of the fierce confrontation between the ruthless parent and child, Jyanina carefully opened her mouth. To be honest, she didnt feel good right now. Too many outsiders had heard too much. From the viscount and the viscounts family swearing allegiance to Johan, to wanting to kill the baron. The only reason she could stay here was that the viscount was a loyal subject to the Emperor. But if the viscount changes sides, she would just be. . . An annoying outsider who knows too much sensitive information. Did you happen to help the viscount get better? Not really. The medicine didnt help much. Then I will kill you. At As cold words, she drew her sword. After all, the wizard was as good as a direct retainer of the Emperor. There was no point in keeping her alive to just make useless noises. The viscount didnt really try to stop her either. He had received favors from Johan, not from Jyanina. Anyway, swords would be swung and a wizards blood drop wouldnt make a difference. Your Excellency! Save me! Will you repay the favor in the name of magic and mysteries if I save you? How on earth am I supposed. . . Jyanina cursed Caenerna. She was a wizard who was not to her liking in any way. If you save me, I promise as a human I will repay the favor! Johan snorted with amusement. Jyanina was heartened by thatugh. It seemed there was hope to live. Of course it was a misunderstanding. You still dont seem desperate enough. Try to block the sword well yourself. Your Excellency. Please step aside. Im worried blood will ssh on your clothes. At As words, Johan obedientlyplied. Jyanina hurriedly said. . . .I swear on the name of magic and mysteries! Your Excellency. There is no point in keeping such an unbelievable person alive. If she runs away. . . I dont really believe her. She cant run away anyway. ? Jyanina was puzzled by Johans words. What made him say that? I could run away and repay the favorter if I wanted to. Seeing Jyaninas reaction, Johan clicked his tongue in irritation. You seem tock political insight, unlike Caenerna-gong. * . . . Beingpared to the person she hates the most made her feel several times more angry. Ill give this to you for free, not as a favor. After all this chaos ends and you go back alone, what do you think the Emperor will think? Well. . . Jyanina was confident. She was confident that she could perfectly justify the situation to the Emperor and regain his trust. It was the confidence that only a wizard could show. The confidence of having nobles in the palm of her hand was difficult for anyone other than a wizard to demonstrate. Do you really think you can do that? The Emperor lost a fiefdom and the vassals attached to it. Wont he be furious? He has such a fiery temper, what if he redirects his anger somewhere else? Are you really that trusted by the Emperor? . . . . . . Upon hearing Johans words, Jyanina frowned. Johans words spread through her mind like poison. And the most poisonous point was that there was no w in what he said. It was as vivid as if she had seen the Emperors court herself. The Emperor was fiery and fickle. It would be no surprise if he dismissed his retainers at any time. A looked at Jyanina from the side as if she really wanted to kill her. She had the look of someone who would send an assassin when Johan wasnt looking. Jyanina hurriedly whispered to Johan. Your Excellency. Please get a promise from her that she wont kill me. Oh, theres no way she would do that. Your Excellency, please. . .! Baron Gartner smirked gleefully. It wasnt because of the luxurious and extravagant treatment that had been prepared, nor was it because he and his men had easily been granted permission to enter fully armed. They made an agreement with the count? Is that really true? Yes. We captured some of the men working at the castle and confirmed it. Gartner rubbed his palms together with an expectant look. He was nning to fabricate evidence even though there was none, but wasnt this too easy from the start? After arresting him and escorting him to the Empire, taking the opportunity to kill him then, he and his men would take over this fiefdom. Baron Gartner. Making the agreement was unavoidable. The viscount did his best. Still, isnt it betrayal? No matter how you try to justify it, its useless. Are you trying to defend the betrayal too? The vassal was angered by the barons reckless insults. He was one of the few remaining Emperor faction vassals in the fiefdom. He hade to help when he heard that this baron hade as an imperial envoy on the Emperors orders. To show such disrespect even though, how rude could he be. Watch your mouth, baron! Our honor is no less than yours. The viscount did his best to make the agreement. He did not give in even though the republic pressed hard and the count threatened him. Even to the hardcore Emperor faction vassal, this agreement was really the best they could make under the extremely unfavorable circumstances. The fact that they produced such a result itself deserved praise. And yet an ignorant foreigner was arrogantly making judgements. It was unavoidably annoying. Shut your mouth. If enemiese you should fight them off, not cower in fear and make useless noises! If I were in his ce I would have beheaded all those cowards and taught them what fighting means by kicking their dead bodies! . . . . . . The unworthy insults made the vassals face turn purple with rage. We brought new wine here. Take it away! The eyes of the servants who left with the wine shone dangerously. It was to remember the mercenaries who hadughed and chatted arrogantly while insulting Johans honor. They would definitely not let them die easy! Chapter 159: ?????????????????? ?????????? (8) Chapter 159: ?????????????????? ?????????? (8) Those empire peasants are slurring drunk with swollen balls. . . Shh. Calm down. The mercenaries who were protected by Johan must have had some skills or were the elites among elites seasoned from the battlefield to follow him this far. Even if they were mercenaries sent by the Emperor, they were not afraid. Moreover, their loyalty was sky high. They wanted to kill those arrogant Empire nobles in front of them as much as the next person. Regardless of the hostages, to the point of wanting to see blood. Wait for the signal. Give them poisonous drinks. They are quite restraining themselves too. Wouldnt they drink anyway? Rece the beer with poisonous drinks. They will pretend they cant handle it and drink. In the meantime, Baron Gartner only drank beer lightly and wiped his mouth. The other subordinates also had some tact, so they would restrain themselves ordingly. I heard the viscount had copsed. Is it true hesing out? He will be out soon. I heard hes not well. He shouldnt push himself. Theres no need for that. The baron said those words but his attitude was enthusiastic. It was because the work had be much easier. , . . .? ! . , . Unlike a noble, the baron did not bother with means and methods. If it was any other noble, they would have spoken in front of the viscount and given him a chance to exin before arresting him, at least for dignity and honor. . . But the baron had no intention for that and did not want to give the viscount a chance to escape either. Who cares if he gets cursed at a little? . . . If Johan saw this, he would have sneered. Such crude methods that went against customs may be convenient now but woulde to strangle your own neckter. Johan did not arbitrarily endure and obsess over righteousness for nothing. The viscount ising out! As the servant shouted, the viscount appeared, supported by others. The baron nodded satisfactorily and said, Take the Viscount! As soon as he finished talking, the mercenaries kicked the tables away and pulled out their weapons. The nearby ministers were so startled they screamed. The minister from the Emperors side who was talking earlier shouted in horror. What are you doing?! Im trying to arrest a traitorous noble who abandoned his loyalty! Dont spout nonsense! The viscount never had any other intentions, he said so himself! And drawing swords at a banquet like ruffians, what is the meaning of this. . .! Shut your mouth. With a dull sound, the minister copsed. The baron grinned wickedly. This is why surprise attacks were so good. Most of the soldiers were outside and there were only servant herds and a few guards in the banquet hall. No matter how they wanted to talk about etiquette, with the viscount captured first, the other side could not do anything. Capture him! There is a reward! Excited, the barons subordinates charged into the banquet hall. They did not even bother to look at the servants next to them. ? Suddenly, the servants took off the cloth covering the box and took out crossbows. At the same time, servants from outside came in aiming crossbows as well. And the young servant next to the Viscount punched and smashed an approaching mercenarys head and said, Shoot down everyone except the leader. Words apanied bolts firing and screams rang out. The mercenaries were massacred just like that. From the seating arrangements, they had prepared to shoot crossbows from all sides. Ahhhhhhh! Da*n. . .! Captain! Captain! The remaining few mercenaries hurriedly grouped around the baron. Like driven rats, their eyes rolled around seeking a way out. But without shields or obstacles, there was no way to break through the siege of crossbows. Johan spoke slowly. What disrespect in front of you. What the f*ck. . . Do you even know who the hell youre touching right now?! Emperors son of a b*tch who wants to abandon his loyal subject, I bet. Seeing the vassals copsed at Johans words, they nodded their heads with angry expressions. Even in this shaky situation, if they were still loyal, they were not human. . . .Fine! I surrender! Cant I just surrender! Not even acknowledging the Emperors name and realizing that the situation was overwhelmingly unfavorable, the baron raised both hands and shouted. Somehow he didnt know what had happened, but he had to save his life first. However, neither Johan nor the viscount had any intention of sparing the barons life. Even if they spared him and sent him back to the Emperor, he would not have anything good to say. I heard you were trying to arrest His Excellency and his rtives and take his ce? What nonsense! Absolutely not! Johan already expected the baron would deny it. He asked the mercenary next to him. Did your boss say that, yes or no? No. . . no, sir. Shoot him. Even before the words ended, a bolt flew in and cut off the mercenarys breath. The atmosphere turned icy cold. Did he say that, yes or no? Y-Yes sir! He said he would secretly kill the viscount after arresting him! Well said. Shoot him. No I didnt sa. . . ack! Did you think I would spare the one who tried to kill His Excellency? Now that the truth is confirmed, wipe them all out. Although there were witnesses and testimonies, Johan wanted to hear the confession in front of everyone. The impact would be doubled when everyone present was excited. From today on, no vassal would openly proim their loyalty to the Emperor here! Ugh! The baron quickly realized what was happening. Although he didnt know exactly what had happened, he sensed that everyone here would be killed. He gritted his teeth and suddenly grabbed the neck of a mercenary next to him. Then he pulled him forward and used him as a shield. Cough. . . let. . . go. . . With gurgling sounds, bolts pierced the mercenarys body. The mercenary staggered and died. The baron lifted the mercenary like a bull and charged forward. It was the will to break through the encirclement somehow. Get out of my way. Ill take him on. Johan strode forward with the Giant yer. The baron stabbed frantically with his spear. His movements were agile and nimble, contrary to his size. If you are a warrior, get your men out of the way and fight me fair and square! A duel is for those qualified enough to do so. You dont have that qualification. The baron, who was trying to provoke him, was provoked by Johan instead. The baron screamed and thrusted his spear. He moved with footwork, not easily allowing Johan to get close. ? Johan wondered. Usually the Empires knights were not afraid to get close with their weapons. Getting close, shing weapons, then subduing the opponent with strength and technique. Of course, trying that against Johan would mean immediate death. Falling down losing bnce of the body before even showing technique, overwhelmed by brute strength. Now the baron kept his distance as much as possible, just ring. It was as if he knew Johans strengths. * . . . Of course, the baron didnt even know who Johan was. That was just how the baron wielded his spear. The baron became more and more impatient. Drawing out time was disadvantageous for him. He had to quickly subdue the viscount and escape. . . At that moment, Johans warhammer spun around and pped the barons spear. Unlike usual where he would brush off the impact by swinging the spear to the side, the baron was horrified. More than half of the spears tip was gone. With the weapon length shortened, Johan approached with ease. The baron panicked and pulled out a dagger. With one strike. With one single strike, the baron spat out blood and tumbled forward. His whole body in armor seemed to be smashed, unmoving. . . . . . . . . . . . . The vassals watching just kept blinking their eyes, with astonished expressions. They knew Count Yeats was a great warrior, but seeing him up close, his imposing manner was no joke. They could newly realize how much he held back during thepetition. Remove the corpses and escort His Excellency inside. No one else got hurt, right? Ah, yes. Count sir. Im fine. The vassals nodded their heads, answering promptly. Their attitudes had be very polite without them realizing. When he returned to Coolia, snow had already begun falling. Ardta said in a clear voice, Snow rarely falls in this area, so the fact that its snowing as soon as the count has arrived means the count has received the blessing of the gods. Your praise makes me happy. The third child of the viscount was full of ambition and enthusiasm. At first she feared Johan, but when she realized Johan wasnt overly hostile, she immediately made efforts to assert herself. For nobles without inheritances, asserting themselves like this was only natural. It was just surprising that someone Amiens age would act this way. What do you think about this? Uh. . .its a beautiful fiefdom? I see. Thanks for thepliment. The second child giggled foolishly. Johan was reminded of the attitude shown by A, the viscounts eldest. . While chatting during the aftermath, A tried to dig up how much advice Ardta had given. If Johan had told the truth, the captain and several servants likely would have been kicked out of the castle. It was rare for an heir to like a clever younger sibling. A was no exception. , . . . . The county was changing so much day by day it was hard to believe. Technicians from the Republic were pushing hard on port construction, and a new city was being prepared ordingly. The dawn of the city unfolding around the castle was moving not just to Johan but the people here as well, and that emotion was directly tranted into enthusiastic support for Johan. Good to see you again, Sir Knight! The centaurs were the first to wee Johan back. Teaching the ve soldiers, they were writhing in boredom and tedium. While peaceful and prosperous, the county was a ce that fattened warriors and made themzy. When will you head out on a new expedition? I should think about it after winter passes, no? Count! When will you head out on a new expedition? Did I not just get back? I need to give the mercenaries time to rest too. Count! When will. . . Geoffrey. Go around shouting for a while that there will be no expeditions for some time. Johan looked around the barracks of the ve soldiers. The elite forces of several hundred were an expensive experiment. Truthfully Johan wasnt doing this with clear benefits in mind either. . .he was just doing it because he currently had the means. The spoils of war from the expeditions, the gold offered by new surrendered vassals, plus trade tariffs that were now seriously being levied. Although hastily built up and still unstable, this southern kingdom was already spewing gold. Wheres Iselia? Hes inside preparing. Johan made a subtle expression. Iselia would likely be showing maximum sincerity and respect for Johan, fully equipping herself before meeting Johan, but. . . From Johans perspective, why make such a big deal when they werent even at war? He understood Iselia was an elven knight, but still. Oh. . .is that Sir Iselia? Jyanina became curious and asked. Thanks to Johans high praises of her beauty, she had be quite interested. From rumors, apart from her smooth face, she was far from a beauty. . .? Here shees. ??? Whats with that expression? . . .There are quite a few southern races among those soldiers, did you buy and gather ve soldiers? Its really amazing. It seems like no army could beat them. They havent experienced realbat yet, have they? A wizard I havent heard of before? . . . . . . Suetlgs reaction made Jyaninas face crumble. Unlike the court wizard Caenerna, who was given official status at the Emperors court, Jyanina was an unofficial figure even within the Emperors court. It couldnt be helped given the magic she practiced. . . .Its an honor to meet the philosopher of the Ipal River. Is there any reason to bring along someone so insignificant? While wizards are rare, its not like theyre impossible to find. . . . Chapter 160: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (1) Chapter 160: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (1) Suetlg was not particrly rude. By default, an outstanding wizard would naturally have a reputation. From that perspective, it was hard not to doubt the skills of a wizard that Suetlg had never even heard of. Besides, there were more frauds that impersonated wizards than actual wizards. People who were not wizards could not distinguish real magic from tricks well. Of course, regardless of that, hearing someone openly say your skills are meager right to your face is very humiliating for a wizard. Even if you dont pursue fame, you wouldnt expect to hear such things said about you. Her skills are not meager, they are quite decent. Johan exined who Jyanina was to Suetlg. That she was skilled enough to work unofficially in the Emperors court, and that she excelled at controlling monsters. Fortunately, Suetlg seemed interested in what he said. Being able to control monsters. Its a skill thats hard to boast about openly, but it will earn you respect wherever you go. Jyanina was happy with Suetlgs words. After all, only fellow wizards could properly appreciate a wizards skills. Then why did shee here? As you know, there was a whole mess in the fiefdom that the viscount is governing on the Emperors behalf. If she went back there. . . Ah. I see. Johan stroked his throat and Suetlg nodded in understanding. Jyanina made a disgusted expression. Should a mere count speak so crudely? So once things settle down you n on leaving? Suetlg asked casually. He didnt expect that kind of loyalty from a wizard to begin with. Suetlg was by Johans side out of friendship, not because of his status. But Jyanina became flustered and nced around nervously. . . .? Why wouldnt she leave when the timees? The Emperor isnt the only one looking for skilled wizards. Johan didnt have high expectations for Jyanina either. Once Jyanina fulfilled the value she promised, he nned to let her go wherever she wanted. . . . . . . The refreshing response was different from what she expected, leaving her somewhat deted instead. Jyanina made a subtle expression. While the expectation for absolute loyalty like with the Emperor was burdensome, being told outright was still a bit. . . Johan spoke to Jyanina with a generous andpassionate face. Isnt this generous terms already? Ah, yes. . . youre very right. . . Help Suetlg-nim while youre here. There will be plenty for you to do. That works out well! Suetlg was happy about it. Jyanina didnt notice the sense of difort in his reaction. She assumed helping with work meant assisting with making potions or elixirs. He would probably ask her about useful monster parts. That wouldnt be too difficult. Jyanina felt relieved. Contrary to her worries, it seemed she would be able to livefortably in the counts estate. Just being able to rx and restfortably, receiving the treatment of ves and servants, was extremely satisfying to her. Now, point out any documents that stand out as needing my personal attention. Uh, why are you. . . shouldnt the scribes, administrators and servants be. . . Theyre doing it too. Those who can read are working on the lower levels. These have already been filtered once. Your job is to pick out what needs a wizards touch. For reports and requestsing in from all over, if there was something Suetlg felt he really needed to handle personally, he would head out with Gerdolf as an escort. They were usually matters rted to monsters or curses, things Suetlg could resolve easily. While Johan was down south swinging his sword, Suetlg and his administrative staff were governing the fiefdom like this. Jyanina was starting to get a bad feeling. Besides, why was it so difficult to govern this fiefdom? Shouldnt taxese in easily by sending administrators or merchants with tax collection rights. . .? Is all this really necessary? The lower people dont evenprehend your grace, they just crawl their way up. . . I feel the same way, but the Count does not see it that way. His orders are to urately grasp the circumstances of each fiefdom as if having a picture drawn right before his eyes, so youll have to follow as well. Before Jyanina could react with huh, what, she was handed a thick stack of papers. Reading through some, she felt awkward. . . .Suetlg-nim. Im sorry, but I cant read ancient imperial characters. . . You dont know the ancient imperialnguage. . .? Thats unfortunate. Just read the others then. While Suetlg didnt say anything out loud, his gaze clearly showed his evaluation of her dropping another level. Jyanina felt humiliation coursing through her veins. , . . . Did you just curse? What? No way? Jyanina clicked her tongue, surprised at Suetlgs sharp hearing catching the disturbance in the air currents. My dear. It is truly a great achievement. I was thinking the same thing. The piles of spoils brought from the hundred kingdoms were ostentatiously disyed for the people of the fiefdom to see as they were moved. Among the merchants who were in the fiefdom, the quick-witted ones were already sniffing out opportunities. They were looking for ways to gain early ess by offering bribes. Exotic objects from the East sold for high prices in the Empire and cities of the Penins. Moreover, if it was a treasure used by the lord of the hundred kingdoms, it would be even more so. They could ask however much they wanted. Iselia. I heard that gilded bookvishly decorated in gold leaf originally belonged to the count. Isnt the cover decorated with those unique Eastern patterns beautiful? Indeed it is, my dear. Next to it is a bottle made of porcin. I heard even the skilled craftsmen of the East would have difficulty making something like this. This is beautiful too, my dear. The geometric patterns reminiscent of arabesque designs, the beautifully zed porcin bottles. . . The fabrics adorning the walls, the gold foil, the jewel-encrusted goblets. . . Although Johan was not a particrly avaricious man, the treasures brought from the hundred kingdoms were splendid enough to boast about. And there were few opportunities to show them off to someone. If he bragged about them to the centaurs, they would likely just nkly go ? And Gerdolf would probably just go ???. . . .? Johan nced at Iselias face. Behind that sculpted, beautiful face hid very faint difort. Iselia was poor at hiding her emotions. Johan asked in disbelief. . . .Iselia. Do you see those eastern swords and armor over there? Ah. . .! Truly dazzling armaments! Even if there are many skilled artisans, there would only be a handful in the East who could make such pieces. The count who owned these armaments must have had astounding luck. My dear, do you see the wave pattern on that longsword? That pattern can only be found in the unique steel of the East. . . Swords with that pattern have sharp yet resilient characteristics, so. . . . . . . . . Seeing Iselia enthusiastically prattling on, Johan felt conflicted. She didnt feel anything when looking at those works of art, but had so much to say about the sword and armor. , . Johan decided to just call over the orcs in the fiefdom. They would probably know quite well just how amazing these masterpieces were. My dear. My dear. Are you listening? Yes. Yes, Im listening. It was nice to see Iselia, who usually looked at Johan with an unusually suspicious eye, being so proactive. Johan nodded and said. Iselia. If you want, Ill give you those swords and weapons as a gift. I, I, I, I cant do that. Its too much of a gift, my dear. Unlike her stuttering and waving her hands to refuse, Iselia was ncing at the weapons. She seemed to be really impressed. . . . I thought of you when I looted. . . no, I collected those things, so I hope youll ept them. My dear. I, I have never received such a beautiful gift in my life. ?! Iselia really cried. Johan was amazed by the sight of Iselia wiping her eyes with a sob. He couldnt believe that the actions he had taken to tame Iselia were worse than those weapons. , . Johan hugged Iselia and consoled her. Then, jokingly, he said, I hope you donte into the bedroom wearing that armor. . . .W-Wha, what are you implying, my dear? . . . . . . Johan felt a chill down his spine at Iselias tastes. Ardta was cleverly getting along with Amien. Admiring her quick wit, Johan called Amien. Its a gift for you. The astronomical observatory made of gold looked like a precious item at first nce. Amien let out a scream of joy and hugged Johan. Ardta. There is also a gift here for you. Youve erected great achievements in Carquno. Y-Your Excellency. I havent done anything great enough to receive something like this. Its not you who gets to judge that, its me. Im sorry. Ardta bowed his head and epted the dagger. There are descendants of other families who havee to be knights at the pce. Are you interested in joining them? . . . . . . Im just asking, so feel free to answerfortably. I, I dont have much interest in bing a knight, Your Excellency. Is that so? Then I cant help it. Can I possibly learn under wizard-nim? What? Under Jyanina? Why would you do that? N-No. Not her. . .someone else. Flustered, Ardtas words quickened. Only then did Johan nod his head as if he understood. I see, you meant Suetlg-nim. Hmm. I can ask, but if Suetlg-nim refuses then I cannot allow it. Thats enough for me! Thank you! Theres nothing wrong with that, but I wonder if shellst long. Suetlg showed no particr reluctance unexpectedly. The second or third child of a noble had to find their own path, and magic was a very old disciplineparable to theology orw. Even if their social status wascking, once they built up a reputation even a monarch would not ignore them, and above all the charm magic itself possessed seduced countless young people. It looks like youve taught before? Ive taught a few times. And they all ran away. Magic cannot be learned unless you devote everything to the mysteries youre interested in. With a frivolous mind. . . As Suetlg was speaking, he looked at Johan. Come to think of it, before him was a knight who had subdued a malevolent spirit and attained magical enlightenment. . . .Well, it can work with a frivolous mind too, but those are extremely rare cases. Why are you suddenly changing what you say? Anyway, I dont care if youre a noble. All I can teach is the method of approaching mysteries, and even if you fail to master magic after that, it wont be my fault. Since you know that well yourself, you dont need to worry about that. Hmm. . . Learning from Jyanina-gong doesnt seem so bad either. That might be morefortable. Hey, what kind of nonsense is that? Of course Jyanina-gong isnt of noble birth but. . . Im an old man and Jyanina-gong is young. Im a man but Jyanina-gong is a woman. Wouldnt it be morefortable? Hes sharp enough as it is, I dont want him getting strange influences. Rather than that, why dont you just chase Jyanina away? That shes not of noble birth, what do you mean? Ah. Its not certain but. . . Judging by her actions, she doesnt seem to be of noble birth. Johan also agreed with Suetlgs words. It certainly seemed usible. While she definitely had the proper etiquette, Jyaninas actions often gave off the smell of a street ruffian. Is that so. Anyway, dont leave it to Jyanina, you might as well just chase her away instead. I know well how you evaluate things. Well of course. . . Chapter 161: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (2) Chapter 161: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (2) They are not envoys from the republic? Oh? Johan was puzzled. Aside from the republic, there were not many ces that would send envoys now. Did the merchants from the city send envoys? The Republic of Bo was not the only city-state. In the central and northern parts of the penins, there were several city-states. They also had great interest in the trade led by the southern overlord. Of course, it was inevitable that the closest partner, the republic, received benefits in many ways. Still, considering that, it was worth jumping into the southern trade. To the east sea was trade with the Eastern Empire, and to the west sea was trade with the hundred kingdoms and south of there. It was blessed with being an optimal location. No, Your Excellency. The envoys came from the Vynashchtym. The Vynashchtym empire. Originally it had a long ancient imperialnguage name starting with Vidonaiteparotrarara, but even the Vynashchtym people did not call it that in unofficial settings. Moreover, the current Vynashchtym empire was a declining and copsing empire. To the north it was threatened by the petty kingdoms of the Ulcana Penins, and to the east by the eastern pagan empire. Its no wonder its called the Blind Old empire among the empires and peninss. But however old and sick, a lion was still a lion and an empire was still an empire. As they proudly carry on the lineage of the ancient empire, their tenacity remained. This is why magistrates of the republic have titles of the empire, and nearby petty nobles covet the titles of the empire. The legitimacy and prestige held by the oldest empire still held tremendous power. Oh. . . From Johans position, it wasnt bad news either. There was no harm in adding authority to the authority he already held. It was even more so in the situation where he had just taken control of the south. I see. . . Is there some kind of problem with the Vynashchtym people? You would be the problem. Suetlg said in disbelief. From the hundred kingdoms to the south, this was originally the Vynashchtym empires fief. It was lost when it was upied by the pagans and then upied by the empire people. That was ages ago. Why would it be a problem now? Unless theyre crazy b*tches, they wont ask to hand over territory or be a vassal. Hmm. Certainly so. Asking for ancientnd back after hundreds of years would beughable. So would proposing Johan, master of the south, to be a vassal of their empire. If they made such a proposal, they would have to offer Johan mostly honorary privileges with barely any actual obligations. Otherwise Johan wouldnt ept. They would have to offer to practically treat him like a petty king, otherwise the Vynashchtym side would gain nothing from it. Rather, there was a high chance Vynashchtym nobles would fiercely oppose, ? Are the Vynashchtym nobles really that crazy? . . .Ahem. There are such rumors about them. Suetlg looked around. It was to preserve Johans count dignity. Fortunately no one was listening. Perhaps because Vynashchtym customs are so different. . . The Holy Empire was an empire in name, but really a collective built on countless feudal lords fiefdoms. In contrast, the Vynashchtym emperor truly held the authority of an emperor, and the state itself could be called an empire to an extent. At the very least there was an administrative organization governing the entire empire, and the fact that the emperor could appoint viceroys,manders, positions and titles was already impressive. To Johan, it warranted saying ! He was disgusted by the primitive system of sending an official to collect taxes from a fief and calling a priest to ask ? However, that didnt mean the Vynashchtyms emperor could do anything. In some ways he had to be more careful than the Holy Empire. He had to have the support of the capital citizens, priests of religious orders, Vynashchtym nobles, and the military. Lose any of that support, and another noble could instantly dere himself emperor and take the throne, as was customarily tolerated. So while he had authority on paper, he had to maintain bnce under tremendous checks. The Vynashchtym emperor must be exhausted. Anyway, empire nobles ridicule Vynashchtym for things like that. From the perspective of the Holy Empire where even a feudal lord held king-like power in his fief, Vynashchtym probably seemed strange. Still, arent you envious of the well-established administrative organization? One thats been maintained for over hundreds of years? . . .Of so many things, is that really what youre jealous of? Instead of being envious of the lineage from the ancient empire or the name, he was envious of the administrative organization. . . Propose marriage?? Johan asked in a bewildered voice. It was a proposal he had never even imagined. The envoy was satisfied with Johans surprise and continued speaking. Yes! Your Excellency. Would it not be an honor befitting Your Excellency, who has be the master of the south? Having multiple spouses is frowned upon by the church but not prohibited. Moreover, if the other party is royalty from the Vynashchtym Empire, there would be more honorable praise than criticism from the public. They have had noble bloodlines since the days of the ancient empire. The Vynashchtym have tremendous pride in their bloodlines and do not easily divulge it to outsiders. The fact that they made this offer proves how highly they value Johan. With many enemies, the Vynashchtym Empire needed a sturdy ally. The problem is. . . Prince Agarpos is known for his handsome looks and is wise, faithful, and without any scandals. You will surely find him agreeable. . . . , . . . Johan fell into thought with a troubled expression. He had only heard of same-sex marriages, so it wasplicated now that the offer came to him directly. Of course, no one would say anything if they just married but lived separately. But human hearts are not so simple. Complete assimtion was difficult for Johan the foreigner. The following dowry has been prepared. A dowry befitting Your Excellencys honor. Annual tributes of Vynashchtym gold and honorable positions. Johan almost said Ill take it at the tempting offer. I understand. I will consider the proposal. Yes. Thank you. The Vynashchtym have sent an envoy for marriage!! The people of the Republic residing in the city hall of the district given to the Republic were astonished. The fastest possible message was sent racing back home. We must stop it! We must stop it no matter what! What were these idiots doing that they didnt notice a proposal like this was exchanged?! A proposal like this was not for the emperor to decide on a whim. It required discussion from the elders and nobles before approval could be given. Merchants of the Republic actively operated in cities of the Vynashchtym Empire as well. In addition to being merchants, they also yed the role of spies. And yet they didnt notice this. Giada! I heard you are close with Count Yeats. You must persuade the Count. Of course! I will do my best! . Inside, Giada was bbergasted. Who would reject generous dowries and a partner with a prestigious lineage? But it couldnt be helped from the perspective of the Republics merchants. The rtionship between the Republic and the Vynashchtym Empire had always been delicate. In the distant past they were vassals, but now they were independent in practice. Looking only at their aggressive expansion in all directions, it seemed the Republic was overwhelming the Vynashchtym Empire. In eastern trade and colonies in the Ulcana Penins, the two werepetitors. Clearly not enemies, but not intimate allies either. If the Vynashchtym joined hands with Johan in this situation, the Republic would be strangled immediately. It absolutely could not happen. Its a good opportunity. My dear. Isnt the bloodline of the Vynashchtym the bloodline of a dragon? It will be more honorable if you ept him as your spouse. The world is not all about honor, Iselia. Ah. I think I know what youre saying. Are you worried about having to march out as an ally? It wont be too difficultpared to what youll get in return. You just need to show a minimum of sincerity. If it burdens you, I will take up arms and go out. As an elven knight, Iselia was very supportive. It was an honorable thing in itself, and marriage alliances were familiar to elven knights. It wasmon for poor elven knights to go out and fight in exchange for gold. If you buy force that expensively, you obviously have to sell it as a knight. . . . Master. Someone wants to see the master in secret, avoiding peoples eyes. . . A republic envoy? Tell him not toe in. Giada had already told him. The republic peoples territory was zing like it was on fire now. He didnt want to be bothered by meeting them before making a decision. No. Its Horamric-gong. Horamric? Let him in. Johan was puzzled but weed the third son of Brduhe Dukes houseing to find him. Oh my, arent you covered in dust? If you had revealed your status I could have prepared. . . No, Count Yeats! Horamric properly showed courtesy. Johan was no longer the former Johan. If he was insolent like before, he might not even get a word out before being chased out. Johan smiled warmly and said, Considering our friendship has been so deep for so long, whats the need for formality? Please sitfortably. ? Iselia cocked her head. They didnt look particrly close. Rather, they looked more like a servant and master. Johan took Horamrics overclothes with his own hands and handed him a basin full of warm water. Seeing that attentive action, tears welled up in Horamrics eyes. Waaaaah! No one is as honorable as you, your excellency. Dont mention it. What brings you here like this? To tell you. . . the treachery of the Vynashchtym b*stards! ! Having gotten close with Sir Gareld, Horamric went to the Vynashchtym Empire thinking things had worked out well. As he was from a dukes bloodline, he was able to receive some decent treatment in the empire as well. The Vynashchtym ce was beautiful and Horamric was enthralled. As he met with various nobles and mingled, he looked around for any opportunities he could take. In the middle of that, he heard unbelievable talk. The one called Agarpos is no royal! Hes just from a low ranking noble house. Hes disguising himself as a dragon beastman of the same race. . . .?! Horamric was often invited to debauched banquets. At the banquet gathering of a certain region, Horamric overheard talk that . Out of curiosity he looked into it and asked around, and even more shocking words followed. That the fake is being prepared to be sent to Count Yeats! The moment Horamric heard those words, he dashed across thend, boarded a ship, and headed for Johans court. It was truly dazzling loyalty. , . Johan felt proud for no reason. He didnt think he would do this much. You have to keep it secret that I told you this, your excellency! Of course. No one will be able to know. Johan had nothing to fear but Horamric did not. The Vynashchtym nobles might be enraged immediately and could even attack his tiny inds. It wasnt for nothing that he secretly met Johan, hiding his status. How dare these crude and vicious fools try to deceive someone?! They should be cut down! Iselia was extremely angry. No matter how precious they felt their bloodline was, to try tomit fraud. . . Calm yourself, Iselia. Its not like well be staining swords with blood either. Anyway, it might be a bit awkward when talking about this if I cant say Horamric-gong told me. . . Oh. Johan thought of a good idea. The republic people already said so. There is no such royal in the imperial pce! Are you trying make fun of me by bringing out a fake?! No, your excellency! Its a misunderstanding! Bring the republic person who said those words to meet face to face!! Chapter 162: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (3) Chapter 162: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (3) The envoys reactions to the unexpected situation were all simr. First of all, they insisted on meeting the person who said it while denying it and trying to somehow grasp the situation. If they got to meet the person who said it, they would have been able to somehow understand the situation while protesting or making excuses. Your Excellency. The people of the Republic are greedy, crafty, and cunning! You must not believe everything they say. There was no sign of a lie in the envoys voice. He really seemed to genuinely believe it. , . Come to think of it, it was unlikely that the envoys knew the truth. After all, it was about creating a fake royal family member. It was enough for only the rted nobles and some people in the imperial pce to know. From the envoys perspective, it must have felt like a bolt from the blue, but it couldnt be helped. Johan began tosh out with the information he had heard from Horamric. Ive already heard about Agarposs family. Hes the fourth son of the Hadonus family, isnt he? Did you think that just because he was a dragon beastman I wouldnt be able to trace his bloodline? ??!! The envoys who were listening were stunned as Johan spoke in detail about the powerful noble families in the empire. It turned out Johan knew far more about the situation inside the empire than they had thought. Moreover, hearing him talk extensively and in detail about who Agarpos was made them really wonder if Agarpos had not actually been royalty after all. Is this making any sense? Could it really be that Agarpos-gong was not royalty? . . .Um. I dont really know much about things inside the imperial pce. . . What went on inside the imperial pce was difficult to find out about unless one was royalty, a eunuch, or one of the top officials. So from the outside, it would be hard to verify if someone brought in a minor noble and imed he was fake. Surely the chambein could not have nned such a thing. . . . . .Thats not to say he couldnt have. . . .Thats right. It certainly. . . Are you admitting it? ?!! The envoys were shocked by Johans words. They were speaking in the ancient imperialnguage at the time. As descendants of the empire, the Vynashchtyms nobles naturally used the ancient imperialnguage. When exchanging private words outside, they would instinctively use the ancientnguage. . . Yet Johan wasprehending and responding far too naturally. How could this knight from the Holy Empire, who was no better than a barbarian, possibly. . .! Theres no need to watch any longer. Imprison the envoys and confiscate the assets they had on them! I will send envoys to Vynashchtym to reprimand them about this matter. If they cannot give a proper exnation, they shall face my sword! Your Excellency! Your Excellency, please wait a moment. . . The envoys desperately tried to quell Johans anger, but it was futile. Johan wasnt angry in the first ce. If Johan had really been a noble, he would have been furious and resentful at the lost opportunity to connect with the esteemed bloodline. But in fact, Johan had little interest in the ancient empires lineage. Everyone makes such a big fuss about the dragon beastman bloodline, but I dont even know whats so great about it. . . , , , , ? . . At a nce, Jyanina, who was also a snake beastman, looked simr to the dragon beastmen. Of course, saying this out loud in Vynashchtym would get you stabbed in broad daylight. In any case, while Johan could not empathize, he did understand the symbolism and legitimacy that this lineage possessed. Anythingsting long enough gains authority. So now was the time to be furious at the scammers trying to take advantage of it. After detaining the envoys, Johan called Horamric to apud and praise him. He also gifted him one of the beautiful treasures from among the spoils of the hundred kingdoms. Loyalty must be reciprocated tit for tat in order to be maintained well. Horamric sobbed and swore fealty to Johan. Johan boosted him up a few more times before getting to the main point. In what the envoys were saying, the chambein person came up. Do you happen to know who he is? Ah. . . that man. Yes, I know him. Hes the power broker in the empire. At a nce it was easy to mistake, but high-ranking nobles chambeins were simrly prestigious positions held by nobles. The position of Head Chambein overseeing those chambeins was one of the core roles in any court. Currently, Vynashchtym is ruled by two co-emperors. However, both are quite young, so their uncle is in the position of Head Chambein, helping out as regent. Are they very young? Around ten years old? The older brother would be in his twenties. . . .I see. Johan almost asked Horamric if he had forgotten how old he himself was. Vynashchtym had a unique political system. Having multiple emperors was also a convention that was frequently seen, and the people epted it matter-of-factly. And in fact, being in ones twenties was not an odd age to have a regent ruling on ones behalf. Having little political experience would be nothing out of the ordinary at that age. This uncle seems quite ambitious? Yes. Leoanos-gong has a reputation for. . . being very capable. Isnt he trying to sit on the throne himself instead? Johan was puzzled. Young emperor(s) and an ambitious uncle. It would be nothing strange for the uncle to draw his sword and usurp the throne. Moreover, from what he had heard, regime changes happened very frequently in Vynashchtym. With enough support, it would be easy pickings. Hahaha. Thats impossible. For one, Leoanos-gong is of illegitimate birth, and also does not have dragon blood in him. . . If he is politically inconvenient, there must be more distant rtives of royal blood besides those two. Could he not incite a rebellion by bringing one of them in? . . .Ah. Youre right. Horamric was rendered speechless. On reflection, what Johan said made sense. I thought it was just a rumor, but hearing you say that, it seems there was reason behind the whispers going around. As expected, Horamric-gong is a truly capable talent. Horamric giggled at Johans praise. His abilities with numbers and paperwork were decent, but it turns out his political instincts werecking. , . There was no need for one person to possess every skill. Johan promised Horamric the finance official position he had so desired. With several new fiefdoms obtained, appointing one finance official would be easy. Once more amidst tears, Horamric swore his allegiance. In the name of St. Gratedi, a toast to the Giepol family! To the Giepol family! The people of the republic cheered and apuded Giadas family. Giada looked bewildered. I must report this to the homnd. Although some used you, I did not believe it. Were you not the fastest to sail ships and bring the most profit? Well done in your work. Y-Yes, thank you. To the humble Giepol family! To the Vynashchtym scammers! At first, the people of the republic were in a state of panic, but after hearing the news, they regained theirposure. It turned out that the Vynashchtym scoundrels had tried to scam but were caught and jailed. From the republics point of view, it was a stroke of luck and a miracle. How did Count Yeats know about it? It was undoubtedly because Giada of the renowned Giepol family, a close acquaintance of the republic, swiftly gathered information and reported it. Long live Giada! Long live the republic! Keep quiet, you flock ofmbs! If you keep yelling like this Ill call the soldiers! As the drunk people of the republic were shouted out of the hall, merchants from other countries in the next hall hurled insults. The republic and their drunkenness meant nothing to them. What a joke. The most favored here in this port is still our republic. . . Oh hey, are those soldiersing over? . . . . . . The republic merchants fell silent instantly. In front of other merchants they boasted , but Count Yeats temper was a different story. It wouldnt do to boast of favor and get banished or fined. . . Giada-nim of the Giepol family? His Excellency requests your presence. Oh, yes. Ill go right away. Giada. Hes surely calling tomend you for this matter. Go well! The drunken people of the republic cheerfully sent Giada off as if it were their own business. But of course for Giada it was an utterly absurd situation. * . . . Ah. That. I have connections within the empire, so I got a tip. . . .! Johans simple and concise exnation gave Giada chills. While it was easy to say, establishing an intelligencework across the sea in the empire was by no means an easy task. The republics rtively good understanding of Vynashchtyms situation was thanks to the republics long-standing rtionships. The republics embassies and residential areas in Vynashchtym dated back several hundred years. However, Johan was still a foreigner in this penins, and had built up his own power and influence through force and the sword, just the same. And yet he was one step ahead of the republic in obtaining information. He didnt even have a guess as to when and how he had aplished that. It was awe-inspiring. Why are you making that face? Its nothing, Count. Now then, what can I assist you with? Johan smiled slyly. Giadas pragmatic attitude suited Johans personality well. They could get right down to business. Since things have turned out this way, Id like to get as much as I can. But I dont know much about how things work in Vynashchtym, do I? I want to hear your advice. Truly humble of you, Your Excellency. ? Johan wondered what he meant. Why humility? From Giadas perspective, given that Johan already knew Vynashchtym well, asking for advice seemed different. Even though he already knew a lot, the humility to still seek counsel for reassurance made him tense up a little as he opened his mouth. What exactly are you looking for, Your Excellency? Is it the ancient empires royal bloodline, I presume? The ancient empires royal bloodline had value not only for its symbolism and legitimacy, but also one more thing. And that was the right topete for the Vynashchtym session! There was a reason why Vynashchtym was wary about its royal bloodline leaking outwards. No, I have little interest in that. However, Johan had little interest in the position of the emperor in Vynashchtym. Frankly, it would be better if another feudal lord took over, having to bnce and govern while appeasing countless factions. Besides, Johan was a foreigner among foreigners, so it would be much more difficult. If you dont want the bloodline, it will be much easier. I want an official apology andpensation. Do you think thats possible? One will be difficult, I think. Ispensation the hard part then? Johan said regretfully. He had already confiscated the gold brought by the envoys. If Johan was in the empires shoes, he probably wouldnt want to provide additionalpensation either. Oh no, Your Excellency. Compensation will be easy. Didnt I say I confiscated the envoys gold? . . .Your Excellency, Vynashchtym is the wealthiest ce in the world. We people of the republic are reluctant to admit it, but Vynashchtyms capital is several timesrger and more beautiful than the republics, and they have enough gold stored in their treasuries to fill up the entire city. Although they had lost much territory and weakened militarily, Vynashchtym was still wealthy. Thanks to its divinely blessed location, goods and treasures from all over the world flowed into the citys ports. Not only people from the republic, but merchants from every foreign nation came to Vynashchtym to trade for a reason. . . .! Upon hearing this, Johan was slightly shaken. He had heard they were wealthy and rich, but didnt realize they had that much gold. So the amount of gold offered to Your Excellency will be easy for them to pay out. On the other hand, formally apologizing is a bit. . . You mean it will be difficult. I understand what you mean. The more destitute a ce became, the stronger its pride tended to be. This wasnt something that could be resolved through rational logic. Being exposed by an upstart count was humiliating enough without having to apologize too? The nobles within the Vynashchtym Empire would immediately fly into a rage. In fact, what I really want is gold. I can take an unofficial apology. Then it should be quite possible, no? If you do not receive it. . . If not? You could bring your army there and simply demonstrate, that would be enough. Seeing it in person will have an impact. But will things go that far? Chapter 163: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (4) Chapter 163: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (4) Giada was confident that the Vynashchtym would look for a diplomatic solution. Those bordering Vynashchtyms long border were all either enemies orpetitors. They could not confront them all with the limited soldiers. Besides, diplomacy was the empires specialty. With abundant wealth and powerful symbolism, Vynashchtym had always been skilled at dealing with and appeasing surrounding powers. Even though it was revealed to be false, the fact that they sent such an envoy to Johan itself meant they saw Johan as an interlocutor they could talk to. There was no need to add fuel to the fire here. They would somehow appease him one way or another. Giada. What do you think of me? You were born with the heart of a lion and the cunning of a fox, a hero beloved by God. . . .Did you memorize that to say? Johan was also surprised that such ttery came out in 1 second t after asking. Johan shook off the surprise and continued speaking. As I felt during the hundred kingdoms expedition, apart from the nobles and priests of the Penins who met me face to face, there were unexpectedly many who looked down on me. It was a world where it was difficult to properly confirm what was happening even in the neighboring fiefdoms. Information was conveyed narrowly, slowly and uncertainly, and most of it was false rumors. It wasnt because the former Count of the hundred kingdoms was particrly arrogant that he ignored Johan, but because in hismon sense Johan seemed really insignificant. How could one know if the guy sending a letter with mercenaries led by a young knight who suddenly appeared, not from an old family, was really the dominant power in the south, or just a lucky mercenary captain? To Johan, Vynashchtym didnt look much different either. There would still be many nobles doubting and questioning Johans power and fame. I understand what you mean, but still they wont act stupidly like the Hundred Kingdoms. Vynashchtym is different from the Hundred Kingdoms. Vynashchtym was much bigger, much older, with many more figures than the Hundred Kingdoms. Giada had no doubts that Vynashchtym would make wise judgments. Still preparations should be made. Where would be good if we have to demonstrate military force? First we have to cross the Edene Sea andnd, so. . . Like a captain well-versed in sailing, Giada contemted. Vynashchtym was an opponent of apletely different ss than the Hundred Kingdoms. With the Hundred Kingdoms it was possible to suddenlynd and go catch feudal lords, but that itself was impossible with Vynashchtym. The purpose of the demonstration of force was also closer to drawing the opponent into negotiations. As such, the expedition had to be prepared with careful consideration. A ce realistic enough to aim at, and profitable once upied, that would make Vynashchtym flinch ande to negotiations. Wouldnt the port cities on the west coast of the Penins be good? Port cities were always wealthy, coveted ces. Vynashchtyms west coast port cities had been staunchly holding up despite threats from barbarian petty kingdoms above and pagan empires below. I heard Vynashchtyms fleet is formidable. Ah. You dont have to worry about Vynashchtyms fleet because most of it is on the Eastern Empire side. The Vynashchtym fleet in the Edene Sea was insignificant. The main force was further east, deployed near the capital and surrounding inds, to fight the pagans. However, um. . . its a bit risky to sail straight there andnd right away. The waters are treacherous with frequent storms. I think we should first conquer somewhere that can be used as a bridgehead. . . Should I have my subordinates look for a suitable ind? I would appreciate that. Oh, speaking of which. . . Johan called Horamric again. He needed his help. Gong, if I remember correctly, you had a few inds in the Edene Sea as your fiefdoms. Is that right? Ah. . . yes. Horamric nodded. The Duke Brduhe gave fiefdoms to his children to test their abilities. Some showed great abilities, but Horamric did not. If I were to lead a fleet and sail, would it be alright for me to stop at those inds? . . .I-Im sorry. No. ! Rather than being upset by Horamrics refusal, Johan was surprised. He did not expect Horamric to refuse. Is it because you are wary of the Vynashchtyms reaction? If you are concerned about the Vynashchtyms reaction, you can tell me that they have upied the inds. Thats not why. . . its just. . . Hesitating, Horamric eventually closed his eyes tightly and said. . . . . .They have already been taken away. . . . . . . . . Johan was at a loss for words. The ces the duke gave to his children were all ces to test their abilities. The small inds in the turbulent southern Edene Sea, swarming with pagan pirates and warriors, were even more brutal. Originally, he should have hired mercenaries, then gone to the ind and fortified it before holding out, but the master had left it half abandoned, so it was a wonder he had held out this long. You mean pirates have upied it? Dont you n to recapture it? To recapture it, I would have to gather mercenaries, and to gather mercenaries, I would need gold, and to get gold, I would have to go into debt, which is a bit. . . Horamrics strength was his realistic judgment. Another nobleman would have gone into debt to hire mercenaries and then attacked, but Horamric simply gave up. . Then it works out perfectly. When we go on the expedition, we will recapture those inds. !! Horamric was surprised. It was an unexpected favor. Thank you, Your Excellency! Thank you! Isnt it natural for someone of the same faith to recapture fiefdoms from pagans? Since this was the case, Johan decided to secure the inds first. The justification was sufficient, there was no need to worry about suppressing those pirate b*stards. The envoys who had gone to Vynashchtym had not yet returned, so the external reason was the subjugation of the pagan pirates. The priests of the Order were ecstatic. The inds are not that big, and even if you add them all up, there are only hundreds of people, so you dont need to mobilize arge force. A thousand-man unit should be enough. Johan asked if any of the mercenaries who had returned from the expedition wanted to participate. All of them, even those who had just returned from the expedition, wanted to participate. With burning loyalty to you, I will follow you even into hell! . . . . . . The eyes of the shouting mercenary glinted with greed for gold. So far, none of the expeditions Johan had undertaken had failed, and none had been unprofitable. They felt this suppression of pirates would be the same. Exclude those who have not been back long from the expedition. No. . .! Sub-captains, pick out decent ones from the newly recruited mercenaries. And mobilize a hundred-man unit from the ve soldiers as well. The veteran mercenaries grumbled, but Johans order did not change. Nimble galleys were prepared in the port and the mercenaries prepared for the expedition with swollen faces. . . . . . . Iselia. I want to go together. . . Of course, my dear! . . .But is that okay? You should have asked before agreeing if you were going to ask if its okay or not. At Johans words, Iselia bowed her head as if embarrassed. Now that you are not holding your position as acting count and the fiefdom is running well without you, there is no harm in you participating in the expedition with me. It was natural for the fiefdom to run well after he had ruthlessly beaten the administrative officials. In fact, Iselias administrative abilities werecking. . . at the level of an average elf knight. . . Blushing with tears of joy in her eyes, Iselia was delighted. She took Johans hand and said, I. . . I will. . . surely dedicate the first head I take and the spoils to you. Watch me. . . . . . . Why was she saying such brutal things in such an affectionate voice. . .? Iselia waited shyly for Johans reply. She seemed to think she had said something very romantic. , , . . . I look forward to the head you dedicate. Iselia. Iselia hugged Johan tightly. Her embrace was filled with trust and anticipation. Stroking her long hair, Johanforted her. Your Highness. We have reforged the Twilight once more. Excellent. Vndrunt. I will bestow additional rewards. As Johan gestured, gold from the Hundred Kingdoms was ced before them. Vndrunt and his disciples bowed their heads in gratitude. Better than an employer who could appraise weapons was one who could appraise weapons and was also generous with his purse. The armor was easilypleted, but Duke Brduhes silver sword was not so simple. It was due to the magic contained within. Only after employing every method could Vndrunt and his disciplesplete it. However, the color is. . . At Johans words, Vndrunt flinched. The originally pure silver de now had a red glow swirling about it. I havemitted a mortal sin, Your Highness! No. . . As long as the sword swings well, that will suffice. Johan brandished it, testing the bnce. The magical power he felt from the sword remained, as did the sharpness of the de and bnce. He would not forgo using the dwarf over the silver color changing a bit. Why did this happen? With my limited knowledge, I suspect the lingering grudge of the cyclops blood affected it. . . but that is only my guess. Does this happen often? Sometimes powerful monsters leave traces on weapons. I tried to remove it but failed. Leave it be. I shall use it as it is. Johan sheathed the Twilight at his waist. With Johan rtively frequently confronting monsters, the Twilight was always a useful weapon. He would not refrain from using it over the silver color changing. , . . Johan drew the Twilight and aimed it at Jyanina. Jyanina was startled and cried out. I havent done anything yet! Yet? I havent done anything, Your Excellency! I see. Understood. . . .Ah. So thats what it was. Jyanina heaved a sigh of relief. She had been shocked thinking Johan would cut her down as soon as she boarded. When Johan said he would lead an expedition to subjugate the pirates, Jyanina directly appealed to Suetlg, ? One could never know what evil spells the pagan pirates might attempt. . . , . ? . . . . ? . . . ? . ? , ??! Because she did not know even one word of the ancient imperialnguage, Suetlg doubted Jyaninas abilities. Through desperate persuasion and boasting of her skills, Jyanina was able to join the expedition. , , . The expedition would not afford as much luxury as here but Jyanina needed the change of pace. The letters flickered before her eyes to the point of madness. Could it be. . . the lingering blood of a monster touched the broken sword? Jyanina altered her tone of voice and gazed at Johan strangely, a sight only a wizard could present. ! In truth, she had not divined anything by magic. For a dubious wizard risen from the lower rungs to survive at an emperors court, she had to be skilled with rumors. With a single rumor, the looks directed at a wizard would change. Jyanina had already heard while working as a scribe that the Twilight had broken and was being reforged. It was insignificant gossip but utilized well, she could be acknowledged as an amazing wizard. As expected, Iselia looked upon Jyanina with admiring eyes. Did you hear rumors from the fiefs yet pretend to know nothing? Wish to be chased off this ship? . . .I just wanted to check and make sure. . . But Johan was one step ahead. With an indifferent tone, he brushed Jyanina off and she swallowed her words. Jyanina exined in a drained voice. Typically, weapons touched by the lingering blood of monsters take on aspects of those monsters. And how might that be verified? As I am no knight I do not know precisely but knights say weapons acknowledge knights as they wield them over time. Then the power contained in the weapon. . . Johan grasped her meaning. Mysteries did not impart power to unworthy masters. Of course, it was a different story for Johan. Johan summoned Valkalmur and forcibly drew out the power contained in the Twilight. The power sealed in the Twilight screamed as it was dragged out. . . .It doesnt seem to have changed at all? Ah, no, thats impossible. . .? Chapter 164: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (5) Chapter 164: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (5) Jyanina was flustered. As she was about to say , she flinched at the mysticism oozing from Johans silver sword. Mysticism was clearly pulsating from the swords spirit. Didnt you notice, Your Excellency? Something must have changed for sure! Do you know me as an *sshole? No, thats not what I meant. . . Jyanina desperately racked her brains. She had to prove her point now that things hade to this. Cyclops, if it was a cyclops. . . There was a high possibility that its unique power was contained. Dont you feel a surging sense of power? This dagger is. . . Guh! As soon as Jyanina drew the dagger, Iselia punched Jyanina in the stomach and grabbed her by the neck. It was a knights instinctive action. Jyanina, who was grabbed, dropped the dagger and desperately opened and closed her empty palms as if she had nothing. Misunderstanding, *cough cough*, misunderstanding. . .! Iselia. You can let her go. She cant do much with just a dagger in her hand. From now on, open your mouth before taking out a dagger. . . .! While coughing with her neck grabbed, Jyanina cursed the elves. When she met Iselia in the fiefdom, she was slightly attracted to her as a gentle and kind noble. But elves were still elves. Their races unique militant and daring personality did not suit her at all. Im. . . Im sorry, Your Excellency. Hmm. Its good to apologize for mistakes. You can fix them as you go. As Iselia said this sincerely, Jyanina got even more angry. ! So what do you want me to do with this dagger? I thought that if it was the power of the cyclops, it would be able to easily break a dagger. . . Johan nodded and gripped the dagger with force. Although it was made of quite solid steel, it snapped in an instant with a pop. Jyaninas expression brightened. I told you, Your Highness! Jyanina. I dont have a sword in my hand right now. . . .???? Only then did Jyanina realize that Johan had a sword at his waist. He had put it back in its sheath when Iselia hit her earlier. Draw it again and. . . try it. . . Hmm. Doesnt seem to have changed. Johan still didnt feel much of a difference. The mysticism from the sword did not enhance Johans power. Something flickered past Jyaninas confused mind. Ah, thats why, Your Highness! Because youve already tapped into power, receiving the cyclops power wouldnt make much of a. . . My dear. That wizard seems a bit. . . hard to believe. Iselia whispered softly. As a noblewoman, Iselia was also well aware of con artists posing as wizards. While Suetlg was an exceptionally gifted wizard that could not be denied, Jyanina was found quitecking. Well anyway, I get it. Ill try to believe it. Your Excellency, this is real. . .! There can be no other reason. . .! Ask Suetlg-nim too! How can I ask when were on a ship? Good ce for pirates to show up. Yes. You can see all sorts of pirate scums gathered here from all over. Monotheistic pirates, polytheistic pirates, ve pirates, noble pirates. . . The inds around here were intricately intertwined with small inds, and the currents were also strong and rough. It felt like a great ce for pirates to prowl and engage in roguery. The republic keeps trying to expand into the Ulcana Penins. Arent they drooling over these inds too? How could they not be drooling? Not only the Republic of Bo, but other city republics and petty kingdoms were also eyeing Vynashchtyms rich and abundantnds. Properly utilizing these inds could turn them into both outposts and trading ports. But upying suitable inds isnt easy, so theyre just putting it off for now. The inds Horamric received as fiefs were on the small side, only good enough to serve as fortresses or outposts and nothing more. The republic wanted bigger inds with cities on them. Where is that? Further south from where were headed, the Korhe Ind. Its quite arge ind, with many coveting it. . . Hey. Giada flinched at the g waving from another ship while speaking. A signal had gone up. It looks like pirates have appeared, Your Excellency! I will demonstrate my skills. Looking forward to it. The skills of republic sailors were famous. They were ustomed to naval battles and read the Edene Sea like the back of their hand. Recognizing the unique galley shape of the republics ships, the pirates did not engage and instead fled in panic, turning their ship around. Naval battles in this world were quite primitive. Colliding into each other for meleebat, showering iron shells and arrows and getting more intense by mobilizing siege weapons like catapults. In these fights, the most important factor was the tonnage of the ships. The bigger and taller ships had an absolute advantage. Well-versed in building these galleys, the republic was the nightmare of pirates with theirrge and powerful galleys. Running away. . . .Dont worry, Your Excellency, theyll be back soon. Pirates are ferocious and brutal but not stupid enough to just run away in situations like this. Retreat when disadvantaged and wait for another day. It may have sounded obvious when heard briefly, but not everyone could pull it off. Shaking off pursuit while fleeing without scattering requires more than just a motley crew. Let alone pirates being able to demonstrate such close-knit solidarity and loyalty. Retreating like this would only disperse them. They probably knew this well themselves. Noting? . . . . . . However, there was no counterattack even as the ships approached the ind. Giada looked around with a perplexed expression. Hey. Where are they? Check the ambushers properly. Searched twice over. Looks like the b*stards abandoned ship and went up the ind but. . . Really none? Good spot to attack here, isnt it? Well, its not my responsibility if cowardly b*stards got scared and ran away. . . Giada had no words for the sailors protest. Alright. We have tond right away if the pirates fled. Tell them to dock the ship. Yes. Got it. Giada exined to Johan as if making excuses. They probably went up to ambush afternding. Please wait a bit. I will show you how republic sailorsnd. I didnt say anything though. As Giada said, the pirates were waiting for them tond and ambush. As soon as the soldiers disembarked after the ship had anchored, the pirates sent envoys carrying white gs. It was a proposal to abandon the ind in exchange for guaranteeing their assets and lives. Are you crazy asking me to guarantee your property? T-Then, just our lives. . . Hmm, Ill think about that much. Johans harsh words quickly discouraged the pirate envoys. Judging by their looks, it seemed the pirates hadnt expected much property guarantee either. They had good numbers and nothing to lose, so why would they guarantee property as well? Guaranteeing their lives was the most important. Just not being sold into very would be a huge blessing. . Giada and Iselia, who hadnt gotten to show their skills in naval battles or take any heads, sat with subtle, frustrated expressions. The pirate envoys nced around nervously without a clue. Fine. Once the inspection is over, Ill release you from the ind. Thank you, Your Excellency! Your generosity is. . . Go back and send more people. Afternding, Johan toured the inds fortress. It was quite sturdy for a small ind. It was in disorder after being upied by pirates, but looked usable for a long time after repairs. . Double the patrols in case the enemies ambush after letting down their guards. Mercenaries will take turns standing watch. Mounted warriors, follow me. Well patrol the vicinity. Giada and Iselia enthusiastically prepared for raids. Rather than actually preparing for raids, they seemed to hope for one to happen. It was absurd enough for Iselia, but even Giada was acting like that. It made Johan wonder what was up with their pride. Ill be resting in the tent. Call me if anything happens. Yes, sir. Shall I keep youpany? Jyanina cautiously asked. While it was true Johan feared thedies, he couldnt always avoid them. He had to establish himself and gain favor to get introduced to other nobles while staying at court. I dont think thats something you can help with. . . .What is it? Im quite good at chess, you know. No. I was thinking of reading a book written in the ancient imperialnguage. But you dont know it, do you? . . . . . . Jyanina wasnt always wise in her life, but she had never lost her position as a mystical advisor among nobles. Yet now she was being looked down upon in terms of academic knowledge even by a noble knight. Unable to refute, she felt even more upset. . . .Y-You could just tell me about it. Ha, ha, haha. . . Hmm. Maybe I should. Jyanina was more nervous than when she lied to the emperor for gold. My dear, Ive caught a spy. ?! Lit by a fire fueled by dragon oil, Johan was startled by Iselias voice while testing Jyaninas knowledge as he read ancient books in the bright tentte at night. Wheres the spy? Vynashchtym? Pirate? A pirate. Look. Iselia proudly held up a pirate by the nape of his neck. He seemed to have been beaten up so badly that he didnt dare resist. I. . . Im not a spy. No spy ever admits theyre a spy. That may be so, but. . . you look familiar? The pirate brightened at Johans words. Fortunately, Johan remembered his face. Yes, Your Excellency. You showed me mercy and released me. The pirate was Tamir. He was released for his exploits against southern pirates when suppressing them on the penins. Even after Count Yeats showed you mercy, you went back to piracy. You are not worth forgiveness. But. . . I didnt raid Count Yeatss fief. . . Tamir spoke as if very wronged. Hearing that, Iselia was convinced. That is true. Dont get convinced so easily, Iselia. . . So why did youe here, Tamir? To show gratitude for mercy and be shown it again? Or to ask for guaranteed property? Neither. There is a noble from the empire here. There are more than three empires here, which one? There was the Holy Empire, Vynashchtym empire, and Eastern Empire, etc. Oh, sorry, the Eastern Empire, Your Highness. Why has a noble from the Eastern Empiree here? While the Eastern Empire was encroaching north after upying the southern part of the Ulcana Penins, they were still far away. Most advances were blocked with little gains. But the sea was different. The Eastern viceroys and nobles wanted to upy inds and ports through the sea. The western coasts were difficult to upy and hold viand due to mountain ranges, so the sea was preferable. Naval power was important here. Pirates were always good pawns. The pagan ones often worked as mercenaries for the Eastern Empire as well. The noble who came here was an envoy sent to persuade local pirates to serve them. But meeting the sudden raid fleet here was terribly unlucky for the Eastern Empir noble envoy. We need to capture him. Yes, we do. They almost let him sneak away among the pirates. Johan nodded. Thank you, Tamir. Thanks to you, we didnt lose the noble. I merely returned the favor, Your Excellency. Tamir spoke with dignity. He would have looked more credible if not beaten up by Iselia. As is, he just looked pitiful. Take him and treat his wounds. And capture that noble before the pirates leave. We need to collect ransom for him. Chapter 165: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (6) Chapter 165: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (6) Your Excellency, this makes the situation a bit difficult. . . Giada said worriedly. Although the Vynashchtym and the Republic were inseparable, they always joined forces when facing the pagan empire to the east. The easterners were enemies of both. I thought they were too preupied fighting the Vynashchtym far away to the north, but from what Im hearing now, it seems they were aiming for the west coast of Ulkana along the seaways. This would mean wed have to worry about those pagan b*stards first, rather than taking any military action against the Vynashchtym. Hasnt the southern ind been safely holding out? Theres probably no need to worry just yet. That may be so. . . But to be frank, the Vynashchtym guys arent very good at fighting. Giadas concern was justified. Right now the Vynashchtym empires soldiers were few in number andcking in discipline. Their recent pathetic defeats were quite notorious. Apart from some units, frankly they were hard to rely on as fighting forces. As you know, once defeated in battle, things can spiral out of control. Im worried that could happen. I understand. Well be vignt. Johan took Giadas worries on board. He didnt think things woulde to that, but his concerns were reasonable. Here, small-scale skirmishes made up most of the fighting. Groups of dozens would patrol and reconnoitre, shing if they met. Large forces gathering for pitched battles were rare. However, if collisions urred and units couldnt retreat properly, defeated wholesale, those areas would be left bare. The enemy could sweep in in no time. Just because the enemy was distant,cency was uneptable. . Pass! The mercenaries thoroughly searched the pirates. Every piece of property they found here was a huge ie for the mercenaries. The pirates boarded the ship with curses. They wanted to rush in, but seeing the number of gathered soldiers and their armed state, they thought it was good that they didnt fight. Is that Count Yeats? Isnt he younger than expected? More than that, he doesnt look like a warrior. He looks like a merchant. He looks crazy. Be quiet. He wont understand us anyway. Giada spat out profanity in disbelief. How dare you shitheads chatter without knowing gratitude after we spared you?! If you dont shut up, Ill rip out your tongue and throw it into the sea! !! And that count is not me, but that man over there! Seeing Johan walk out, the pirates were surprised at his much softer face than expected. He looked like a young boy in his early twenties. As Johan walked over, he turned his head, noticing their gaze. Johans eyes pulsated with the intense power of his soul. The pirates who met his gaze couldnt dare to look straight and bowed deeply. It felt like their hearts were grabbed. Any problems? No. Were emptying the fortress anding out. Be careful not to miss that noble. Johan and the mercenaries waited without overtly showing it. If the other party became wary and secretly ran away at night, it would be troublesome. , , , . Knowing the appearance made finding the opponent easy. Found him. Arrest him and bring him here. When the mercenaries came to grab him, Bashkhar was startled. The pirate disguises next to him immediately reached for the swords at their waists. Johans ve soldiers aimed their bows. The ve soldiers learned not only how to use crossbows, but also how to use longbows. Thanks to the eastern tribes. As dozens of archers aimed their bows, the guards shuddered and could not move. Why, why are you doing this? Count? Theres no need to honor me that much just because of my noble status. Bashkhar-gong. Come this way. I dont want to see blood. At first Bashkhar was horrified, but then resigned. He obediently came out. ording to custom, rights. . . I know. Take your weapons. My master will not take kindly to this. Did your master originally think well of me? Unable to refute Johans words, Bashkhar shut his mouth. Some of the puzzled pirates asked. Bashkhar-nim. So what happens now? . . .! Seeing the idiots reveal in front of the count that they hade to hire them, Bashkhar felt his chest tighten. Johan sneered. It must be difficult to hire pirates. Right? Go north. If I see you heading south, Ill sink you. . . . . . . The pirates murmured and at least set sail on the ship for now. It was unclear whether some of them would follow the order, but there didnt seem to be many who would risk their lives to keep the promise. Youll release me if I pay ransom? Of course. Reassured by Johans promise, Bashkhar rxed for the moment. Although customs regarding prisoners of war were the same on the maind and in the east, exceptions were made when religions differed. Beliefs sometimes ignore even gold and wield swords. Thank you. Then, trusting that promise. . . Your Excellency! A warship has appeared! The heads of those present turned abruptly. It was a gaze that would grab Bashkhar and his guards immediately. Bashkhar was confused. He had been aiming for this area, but preparations for the fleet were still far fromplete. There was no way they could havee this far. Ah. Its the Vynashchtyms g. Phew. . . Bashkhar breathed a sigh of relief. It felt like his neck was about to be hung for a moment. The official who came on the warship with the Vynashchtym was courteous. Seeing this, Johan was slightly pleased. However, when the official opened his mouth, Johans expression froze stiff. Although the attitude was very courteous, the message conveyed was rude. Get out of here? Your. . . Your Excellency. This ce was originally Vynashchtyms territory. They didnt care if pirate gangs of thieves upied the nearby inds. At best, they could only attack small fishing boats and merchant ships, nothing more. However, it was a different story for Count Yeats to upy the ind with the republic fleet. It looked like preparations to go up to the maind to anyone. The viceroy of the nearby port who received the report that the fleet had arrived was startled and sent an official. ? ! Neither the viceroy nor the official seemed to have properly grasped Johan yet. Moreover, the news waste. The marriage alliance was practically already invalidated. How to deal with the aftermath after the fake one was exposed? As far as I know, its different. After Duke Brduhe hired mercenaries and upied it, it became the Brduhe familys territory. Horamric-gong inherited it from the duke and took it upon request to subjugate the pirates. Ah. . . no. The official was confused that Johan had prepared a much more proper justification than expected. In the first ce, there was noparison between him and Johan in terms of status. An official of lower noble birth versus the overlord of the south? And the marriage alliance ended because you b*stardsmitted fraud, so what the hell are you talking about? Huh? What do you mean. . . Go back and find out what Im talking about. I wont punish you out of consideration for Vynashchtyms dignity, but if you say such nonsense one more time, you wont be able to return alive. Get lost! When Johan yelled, the official fled in fright. And boarded the ship before hastily departing. . . . . .did not leave. The official returned from the ship leading dozens of soldiers. Johan was confused by that ridiculous reaction. What the? A crazy b*tch? The soldiers also seemed simrly surprised. Unless all those dozens were outstanding warriors. . . Is he trying tomit suicide? Your Excellency! It seems there has been a misunderstanding. Please forgive me! However, the soldiers who came out were not because of the raid. They were the new nobles escort and servants. Different from the official earlier, a man in morous clothes came out and prostrated himself. Who are you? Im Semeonus, a lowly man. Your Excellency! I work as the citys financial officer. The official from before exined Semeonuss status instead. Semeonus-nim is the viceroys brother. Ah. Is that so? Your Highness. Please allow us to treat you and resolve this misunderstanding a little! ??! Johan was perplexed by the sudden invitation. ? They came to drive him out but failed, now they invite him to the city. It was too blunt like a trap. But even a 3 year old wouldnt set such an obvious trap. Oh my. The viceroy is sharp. ? Youre probably doing this because youre worried His Excellency would attack. You want to treat His Excellency well and ask not to attack the city, right? ! Giadas words made Johan realize what the other party wanted. The Vynashchtym viceroys were officials appointed by the emperor to rule each fiefdom, but in fact they had a position simr to feudal lords of those fiefdoms. If the city gets plundered and attacked, who suffers the most losses? Of course the viceroy. Thats why when the viceroy sent the envoys, he also ordered his own brother just in case. , , . ! As long as he doesnt touch his own city, it doesnt matter whether hends and advances somewhere else. Johan admired the loyalty of the Vynashchtym viceroys. What was more surprising was that Giada and Jyanina were not particrly surprised by this attitude. It would be more convenient if the viceroy cooperates. Do you think they can set a trap? Them? Hahahahaha! Are you joking. . . No. Youre serious? Cant anyone set a trap? They absolutely wouldnt do that if they werent crazy. Giadaughed as if what he said was preposterous. If the city soldiers attack, Your Excellency can take out half with one arm, and I and my sailors will take out the other half. Then we can leisurely get on the ship and slip away. Isnt that too overconfident, Giada? When you see it, Your Excellency will know that my words were not wrong. Alright. In any case, we can go back anytime before we disembark. . . Johan said suspiciously. Giada shrugged his shoulders as if to say wait and see. And Giada was right. As soon as the port came into view, Johan was able to understand why he had said that. Merchants from the republic and their employees. Servants and ves too. Those who had heard the news in advance weed them. This ce was different from the cities of the hundred kingdoms. Over a third of the people here were outsiders, not Vynashchtym people. Starting with merchants from the republic, theposition was so diverse it was impossible to categorize them all, including mercenaries and travelers who had drifted in. They ounted for one of the major pirs of the city. If the viceroy tries to set some kind of trap on a whim, defectors will immediatelye pouring out, and some will incite rebellion in the city. I see. So thats why you were so confident? There is honor and custom, but apart from that, the viceroy does not have the capacity to stop any crazy acts, no matter how hard he tries. The viceroy here was simr to a feudal lord, but his authority was absolutely different. If he makes a small mistake, he will be attacked by the citizens. Therefore, it was impossible to dishonorably ambush a Count who had been invited from afar and had strong support from part of the city. What kind of person is the viceroy here? I havent met him either, Ive only heard rumors. . . hes probably not very important. Hell be eager to make requests since hes in an unfortunate position. You dont need to worry about him. Still, you cant be too careless when facing the master of a city. I really think you dont need to worry. . . This is all because of that young and foolish emperor! How dare he insult you like that. Its truly unforgivable. What is this? Your ss is empty. Let me pour you more! After greeting very familiarly upon meeting and seating him, then pouring some wine, his skill at cursing the emperor was dazzling and it made Johan dizzy. I didnt expect him to jump in like this without reserve. I wish I could send my own child! If my child was a little more decent, I would have sent them to you. No. . . its alright. He tly refused because it looked like he would seriously bring up marriage talks as a joke if he showed any interest. The viceroys appearance was not one that inspired hopes for children. Chapter 166: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (7) Chapter 166: ???????????????????? ???????????????? (7) The viceroy sighed as if in regret. Count Yeats and forming a personal alliance with him would have been reassuring, but it seemed the count did not feel the need for it. It made sense. He had almost formed an alliance with the imperial bloodline, so there was no reason to form one separately with the viceroy. It seems the viceroy has manyints about the emperor. Comints? This is hardly worthy of being called aint. The viceroy snorted. Despite being criticized for what he said, he did not seem to care much about it. This level of expression was ordinary in Vynashchtym. . Even in the feudal Holy Empire, one did not casually address their lord in such a manner. Johan listened quietly to the viceroys words with a sense of freshness. Even though he had poured Johan wine, the viceroy got drunk first. He opened his mouth with a slight slurred tongue. Of. . . Of course, of course. I am grateful to His Majesty the emperor. I owe a great debt to the previous emperor as well. Brother, youre drunk. Why? Let me be. Its fun. . . . The viceroys brother, Semeonus, withdrew in confusion. It was rare for only one side to get drunk when they drank together normally. The viceroy himself was no lightweight with alcohol and even whenever Johans ss was empty, a ve refilled it to the brim. . . Were you appointed by the previous emperor? Yes, thats right. Those were truly. . . good times. But the current emperors, neither are very admirable. As an opportunity arose for Johan to hear from a high-ranking official in Vynashchtym, his interest was piqued. Based only on what he heard from Horamric or Giada, Vynashchtym seemed too vast andplex. Johan provoked the viceroy further. Come on, spill it openly. What kind of people are the two? The viceroy huped and opened his mouth. His Majesty Gaaros is. . . too frugal and miserly. Frugal and miserly? In what way? Just look at the clothes he wears. For an emperor to wear coarse green clothes, is that even possible?! Dyes to color clothes were preciousmodities and the rarer the color, the more expensive it was. And green was one of the easier colors to obtain. It was not suitable for clothes meant for an emperor to wear. The previous emperor would always appear robed in crimson. When you saw his horns and eyes, you felt glory and splendor. . Johan felt a slight fondness even for this Gaaros he had never met. It was rare for him to find people who thought like him. It couldnt be helped. The way of thinking in this world was different from Johans. For nobles, extravagance and unting their dignity was not a choice but an obligation. If they had no money, they had to go into debt to be extravagant ordingly. How could one live in a way unfitting for the bloodline and authority they were born with? Frugal nobles had no choice but to be called miserly tightwads or, like Johan, be seen as piously virtuous. At least in Johans case, he was from the Holy Empire so that was possible. But for Gaaros the emperor, even that was impossible. Once in the position of emperor, splendor and dignity appropriate to the position were absolutely necessary. Ever since His Majesty Gaaros ascended the throne, the banquets have decreased and even the reduced banquets he does not attend much. diatorial games have decreased, chariot races have decreased, boxing matches have decreased, ys have decreased, what else decreased. . . Yeah. It must be terribly sad with less entertainment. I understand your sad feelings. The drunken viceroy was moved even by Johans taunting words. He kept nodding vigorously. Then what does His Majesty Gaaros do? He just stays in the barracks. He hardly stays in the imperial pce either! Even though he grew up and was raised in the military, is it even possible now to eat and sleep with the soldiers like before? Huh?? Perhaps he attends to state affairs while training the soldiers? No, he attends to state affairs there too. . . .? If the emperor trains soldiers and also attends to Empire state affairs, Johan found it nonsense for the viceroy to onlyin without praise. In many ways, I sometimes think it would have been better if he just remained a general. Compared to the previous emperor, he seems toocking. Hes short, not very handsome, and bald. . . . . .Whats wrong with baldness? Itcks dignity. The viceroy was very serious. For a popr emperor, splendor, grandeur, and a likable appearance were essential qualifications. They had to constantly appear before countless citizens and influence and cement their existence. Compared to him, His Majesty Gaoalkana is still too young except for that. He has a sturdy and beautiful appearance. Dignified too. Seeing how favorably you speak of him, I wonder if this person freely uses gold like water? You got it right. His Majesty is veryvish. !! Johan joked lightly, but the viceroy took it seriously at once, making Johan perplexed. During the y , I saw him throwing gold coins aroundvishly which everyone cheered at. Shouldnt you hire soldiers with those gold coins? Hahaha! Your Excellency, you joke well too. The soldiers can be hired separately. After all, dont people drink water without drinking wine to eat grapes? Without Johan asking, the viceroy proudly recounted the deeds of Gaoalkana. He hosted banquets wearing the most expensive jewelry and clothes imported from the East, and amazed the nobles attending with creative dishes like small birds inside big birds, and because all the actresses of the troupe became his lovers, there were even fights with swords inside. . . To Johans ear he was a tyrant, but the viceroy seemed to think . Its basically impossible for him not to be popr with the citizens of the capital anyway because of his personality. By the way, I heard the chambein is the ruling now. Ah. Leoanos-gong, right. Yes, thats right. The chambein Leoanos-gong probably takes care of many state affairs. Hes been working since the previous dynasty and many nobles support him too. . . Then wouldnt this chambein be involved in the false proposal from the pce? Its hard to think hes not involved. Uh. . . The viceroy suddenly wore a startled expression as if the alcohol had worn off. He hesitantly said. That, that may be possible, Your Excellency. It seems the chambein is scary? Not so much scary, but he has quite a fiery personality, you see. . . Seeing him look around furtively even though no one was around, it seems he really was scared. Young emperors may not be scary, but nasty underlings can be scary. I dont fear Leoanos-gong at all, Your Excellency. I absolutely do not fear. . .him. . .its just. . .just. . . The viceroy who had been stammering suddenly keeled over backward and smashed his forehead on the table. He seemedpletely drunk. Take the viceroy away. Todays banquet was pleasant. Thank you very much, Your Excellency. Waking hungover from the alcohol, the hurried viceroy found Johan again after hasty preparations. Johan prevented the viceroy from proposing another banquet and cut to the core issue. The treatment was good enough, no need to give more. I want to bring in more soldiers, and Im curious about the viceroys opinion. Of course, please bring in as many as you like. Having received a promise from Johan not to attack or loot the city, the viceroy readily agreed. Until now, it had been very advantageous for him considering Johans umted fame. If he had not shown such patience, the imperial house of Vynashchtym or the viceroy himself would not have considered Johan a negotiable partner. But. . . wouldnt you face reprimands from above? Your Excellency. . .! The viceroy wore a touched expression at Johans words. Please dont worry. Its very easy to make excuses. Just say I hired Your Excellency with gold coins. ? Surprisingly, it was a usible excuse. The viceroy had that right. In any case, with the viceroys permission, there was no more reason to dy. The fleet began transporting soldiers from inds and the maind. They startednding on Vynashchtyms territory, from dwarves to eastern tribes. Each was well-trained, and there were over a thousand heavy infantry. Not to mention if you counted centaurs and eastern tribes, it was much more. Oncending seemed to end and camps were made, Johan sent out scouts around the area. The nimble scouts returned with astonishing news. Are you out of your mind! Chambein! The nobles gathered in the hall of the pceshed out and attacked Leoanos. It is disgraceful enough to send dragon blood out, but to prepare a fake! While sending out the royal bloodline of the noble house was a disgraceful thing, it was something that could be endured as there were some precedents. Even the arrogant nobles acknowledged that it was something inevitable due to the times. However, attempting to pass off a fake as dragon blood was a separate matter. If this came to light, even the lowliest citizens in the city would ridicule dragon blood. Its a misunderstanding. Do you take us for blind and deaf?! Weve already interrogated the eunuchs and heard the story! Even if you are a guardian, this matter has crossed the line! Step down! . . . Leoanos red at the nobles, but the nobles only red back at Leoanos as if threatening him. While Leoanos wielded absolute power, this mistake was something that could never be overlooked. If the citizens of the city came to know of it, all citizens would rise up saying Leoanos must be killed. . . . Even before the envoy dispatched by Johan arrived, the republican merchants brought usations to the nobles first upon hearing the news, and the young emperor ordingly sought Leoanos responsibility. Experienced but cornered Leoanos had no choice but to take a step back this time. I understand. I will retire from my position as Head Chambein and go into seclusion. . . Ironically, it was also Johan who saved Leoanos when he was in crisis despite being pushed into a tight spot because of Johan. It was because news of thending arrivedte. Ive heard that the counts army hasnded on the western coast! ! While it wasnt an actual upation but cooperation, that didnt matter now. At the news that the ambitious young count had finallynded, the nobles faces hardened. If that ambitious Count Yeats really. . .! We need to send reinforcements to the mountain passes immediately. Add more soldiers to the checkpoints. . . The checkpoints are already sufficient! That Count wont be able to cross the mountains. The harbors along the connected coast are more dangerous! Most of Vynashchtyms western region was mountainous and difficult to pass through, but the coast was separate. The harbor cities formed along the coast were passageways themselves with immense value. I will take charge. I will drive out and make the count pay the price for daring to set foot on Vynashchtymsnd. . . . . . . While the nobles hadplex expressions upon Leoanos offer, as he hadmitted offenses, allowing Leoanos to take charge was a temptation difficult to refuse. He had military experience and excellent generals under his personal fiefdoms employed soldiers. In such a situation, there was no one more capable than Leoanos. In the end, the nobles permitted Leoanos to lead the soldiers towards the mountain passes. This was how Leoanos seeded in escaping the capital and avoiding imminent crises of being lynched or assassinated. Leoanos-gong. Ive heard the counts army is formidable and ferocious. With just these soldiers, it may be difficult. . . We just need to defend the mountain passes. . . .? Originally, my aim was just to escape from the capital. I got lucky to narrowly avoid danger but am now outside. The emperor wont casually trifle with me either. A general leading troops outside was not something an emperor could carelessly provoke. Let alone one so deeply rooted among the nobles as a royal by blood. But what if the count makes a move. . . The other cities also have garrison troops. They can handle themselves. If the harbor cities fell, that was an opportunity in itself. It would damage the young emperors authority. For one watching for opportunities, it was a weing situation. Did the emperor dispatch an envoy? Chapter 167: ???????? ?????? ???????? (1) Chapter 167: ???????? ?????? ???????? (1) The centaurs nodded their heads around the envoy they had captured. The envoy looked at the centaurs with fearful expressions. The centaur tribe had not only flowed in from the east of the Holy Empire. Their tribe had also flowed in from the north of Vynashchtym and most of them had settled down in small kingdoms and transformed into ruthless marauders. Vynashchtym was trying to control them with gold and honor but they were beings whose transformations were unpredictable. And yet, to encounter centaurs here all of a sudden. The envoy opened his mouth in ancient imperialnguage out of fear. W-Why do you keep such frightening and violent beings with you? What is he mumbling about? Acdda cocked his head and asked. He could guess that he was talking about them. He says you guys are frightening and violent. Oh. . . such praise. . . does this guy have the skill to embarrass people? Acdda and the other centaurs were bashful and pleased. To them, being violent and frightening was praise rather than an insult. From their attitude, the envoy realized that Johan had the centaurs loyalty. It was an unbelievable sight for a noble from the empire. How? If youvee as an envoy, take out the letter youve brought. The letter the envoy took out was sealed with the emperors stamp. Magic power could be felt from the purple wax where the pattern was imprinted. It was probably the power of the emperors seal ring. , ? Johan took out the letter with curiosity. From Johans behavior of reading it without calling anyone else, the envoy realized that Johan was fluent in speaking and reading ancient imperialnguage. !! The envoy was bewildered by the intellectual demeanor that was too different from the rumors. To be honest, he had not expected a noble from the Holy Empire, moreover a knight, to be this cultivated. . . . , , , , . . , . , . . ? . . . . . What. . . To be so shameless as to openly state there is none when you have to find and send someone from anywhere in this situation? Johan stopped reading and raised his head at this point. The envoy felt thick beads of sweat flowing down his forehead. He realized what part Johan had stopped at. . . . Dragon blood did not simply refer to the blood of dragon beastmen or those rted to the imperial family. They had to be born as the emperors direct son during his reign and educated in the imperial pce. They were that precious an existence and small in number. Moreover, most of them were already married so it wouldnt be easy to find someone suitable to send. Still, even if you send an envoy to appease the other party, it doesnt seem like the best choice to say . No matter how sincere you are, if the other party cannot believe you, whats the point? . . ., . . Hmm. If you pay in gold. . . ?! The envoy was bewildered. Johan had epted it too readily. While it was fortunate that the other party understood, as a noble of the esteemed Vynashchtym, he could notprehend it. Dragon blood can be appeased with gold to the extent of being considered cheap?? Why do you have that unwilling expression? Do you want me to refuse? Ah, no! Why would that be so?! The envoy waved his hands in panic. If this matter went awry because of his expression, hanging himself would not be enough. If there is no lingering attachment to the dragon blood and adequate gold is provided aspensation, Im willing to forgive. Your Excellency. Dragon blood is the most noble and powerful magic imbued with power that has been passed down since the times of the ancient empire. . . Yeah yeah. It probably is. . . . . ! The messenger internally cursed the Holy Empire and other monotheistic ones in his mind. After all, they were barbarians with no respect for tradition. Johan finished reading. He wondered if the messenger would make any requests in exchange for the promised gold, but there were none. In the first ce, Johan had no intention of granting such requests either. Instead, there was detailed information about the troops led by Head Chambein Leoanos. The goat beastmen were particrlycking in loyalty, and the personal guards of the Head Chambein were such and such people. . . Does he want me to defeat this Leoanos person? I know nothing, Your Highness. What do you mean you know nothing. Anyway, I understand. Go back and tell your master that I will consider it positively. The emissarys face brightened at Johans words. Just being able to leave without his head cut off and hear such a response was an enormous aplishment. Most of all, being able to grasp Count Yeats intentions was big. Surprisingly, Count Yeats did not seem to have much interest in Vynashchtyms territory itself. The fact that he had no obsession with dragon blood proved that. That alone relieved his worries several fold. After the spy left, Johan asked the centaurs. I heard that Leoanos fellow has arrived at the border fortress. How did it look? It looked difficult to prate. Euclyia said, and the other centaurs nodded their heads. The vast mountain range covering the west acted as a natural barrier all by itself. To cross the mountain range, one had to move along the ancient imperial highway that ran between them. Vynashchtym was no fool either. They had prepared the fortress at the border pass rtively thoroughly. He wouldnte out unless hes a fool, right? I think so. What about looting the surroundings to lure him out? Since we have the cooperation of the viceroy here, we cant do that. Even if we loot other cities, its doubtful he woulde out. I heard he is quite old and weary. It didnt seem like the old, power-hungry noble would rush out just because a few cities that werent even his were looted. I dont think we need to attack. . . Dont need to attack! Did youe here to y?! What nonsense are you saying?! The eastern tribes got angry at the words of a sub-captain. Unlike the mercenaries, the eastern tribes hadnt fought in far too long. But we cant climb up that cliff and attack the gates! Are you suggesting wey siege?! . . . The centaurs didnt dare suggest charging the fortress walls either. Since the emperor sent a letter, we dont necessarily need to attack. Johan took the side of the sub-captain. In the first ce, the purpose ofing here was pretty much achieved. The purpose was to retaliate and receivepensation by making a show of force in response to the fake proposal. Since the opponent folded first this time. There was no need to forcibly move if the opponent endured, but who knows. What if they dont keep their promise? They shouldnt be stupid enough, but if that timees, well just move ordingly. Even if they couldnt cross the mountain range and border fortress, they could still easily pige the port cities along the coast. Their current stationing here also meant a threat in that sense. Time is on our side. Well wait. Make sure the troops dont be toocent. Keep scouting towards the border fortress intermittently, just in case. Yes. . . Dont feel too upset that you cant fight. Okay. . . The enemies inside the fortress wont stay inside forever either. Wont theye out to scout regrly? I look forward to your exploits. Yes! When Johan consoled them, the centaurs cheered up at his words again. Thats right. This was theirnd too. Wouldnt they keep sending out troops? . . .Johans expectations were off. Leoanos did not send a single soldier outside the border fortress. It was a shameless act that even made the viceroy go isnt this a bit much?. They should at least send people to the cities to find out what happened and get an understanding of the situation. . . Why is that count just standing still?! Contrary to outside thoughts, Leoanos was also quite anxious. He thought Johan would move like a crazy b*stard and plunder, but for some reason, as if he had eaten something wrong, he just took his position and did not move. Vynashchtym should be confused so that Leoanos himself can move more easily, so why is that count just standing still for over a month? Would it not be better to send an envoy? Hmm. How shall I put it? If you insult him. . . ! It was certainly not a bad choice. Attacking the pass was good in its own way, and plundering other cities out of anger did not concern him. It is indeed a good idea. Send someone to mock that b*stard! Brave men with the guts to go to the counts camp and mock the count were selected. Not long after they left, reports came in from nearby merchants. Army gs were seen! An army ising this way! Coming this way? That count b*stard has no fear. Prepare for battle! Leoanos was confident. Hiding behind the castle walls, even cowards could be brave. Not knowing much about Johan, Leoanos had no fear at all. Defeating and subduing that barbaric foreign count was not a bad choice either. It couldpletely cover up this blunder and allow him to return. . . The rebellion would just be dyed. . . Leoanos-gong! What is it? Its not the counts army! Not the counts army, what nonsense is that? Did the little kingdom fellowse down this far? No. The army of the pagans hase right up to here! . . .??! No way. How did they get here? Johan was dumbfounded when he heard a report that a pagan army hadnded not too far from the city and wasing up. Surely there were several fortified inds to the south, how did they get through that? It should still be intact. It seems they took a roundabout path through the open seas. Giada was also apparently taken by surprise. He certainly did not expect such a crude method of going north. Even if they fail, how will they go back? However pitifully Vynashchtym is seen. . . Sir! Sir! The viceroy came running first. He had a look of fear on his face, worried that Johan might leave. He tried to make excuses that he had hired the count and his soldiers as mercenaries, but he really hired them as mercenaries! You must not leave! Im not leaving. Calm down and speak. They wille here and burn everything and take it all away. Please do not abandon me and my city! The viceroy piled up gold and kowtowed. Johan calmed the viceroy down. Johan had no intention of abandoning this city anyway. There were also republic merchants, and most importantly, it was Johans central supply point. I will have soldiers deployed on the walls and prepare to defend. Thank you! Thank you! I will never forget this favor! . . .However, the viceroy forgot that favor exactly three dayster. The pagan army had started heading towards the mountain pass, leaving the city alone. The viceroy regretted inside. 3 . . .! Of course, Johans mercenaries could havee to the city and made the enemies flee, but from the position of losing immense gold, it was not a very convincing argument. Its good the city is safe now. Viceroy? Im really tearfully happy. . . Sir. . . The pagan army thatnded just south of the port city headed straight for the mountain pass after looting some viges along the way. Leaving the city behind and advancing, what confidence. What guts do they have? They must be confident they can win if wee out, given their numbers. . . There were rumors that the enemy forces thatnded were close to ten thousand. While not exact, it was a scale that could only be intimidating. If they breakthrough the pass, they can rapidly advance east on the highways. Whoever themander is, they have tremendous guts. Came to get gold but things are gettingplicated. . . But why does it seem they did not attack here? I dont know about that either, but could it be they avoided this ce after hearing of you, Your Excellency? Dont say such nonsense. Chapter 168: ???????? ?????? ???????? (2) Chapter 168: ???????? ?????? ???????? (2) Johan closed his mouth in embarrassment as if offended by Giada. He had spoken quite seriously, but he seemed to think it waspletely absurd. . . . Considering his feats in the hundred kingdoms and the Southern Penins, it wouldnt have been surprising if rumors reached the ears of the pagans. Rumors spread faster than one might expect. Hmm. If not that, wouldnt the gates be more important than the cities? The enemy had not breached Vynashchtyms fortress guarding the south, nor had they captured the inds at sea. All this was in preparation for a surprise attack. The lifeblood of a surprise attack is speed and decisiveness. If they could breach the gates and advance eastward to upy that territory and its fiefdoms, the coastal port cities would be unnecessary. If sessful, they could be capturedter! My, how. . .daring, or rather reckless. . . Whenever Johan saw men like these, he was amazed. Johan carefully considered all possibilities before cautiously taking action, but these people had no fear. Of course Johan was no longer afraid to charge alone into a group of dozens of enemies, but that was after making his own judgments and calctions. Other knights simply charged in with no such assurances, believing the gods would protect them if they seeded. If God grants favor, they simply believe they will live and be victorious. Things areplicated, but fortunately not as bad as they could be. If you were not here, the cities may have been attacked. It would have been a disaster for the republic if the coastal cities were looted or upied. Not only would trade routes be severed, theyd have to worry about the pagansing straight here. While the republic had always mocked and checked Vynashchtym, they did not wish for their downfall. If they donte to the city, is there no need to move right now? You need not move now, Your Excellency. Others will be frantic. The republic must bemunicating back and forth with the homnd, surprised by this sudden attack. The navy stationed on the inds below cannot avoid usations of negligence for missing this. Vynashchtym must be in chaos as well after such a surprise attack, naturally. Viceroy, about how long do you expect itll take to receive a report? A report has already arrived, has it not? Vynashchtyms capital was at the eastern end, while the viceroys city was at the western end. Even running along the roads, it would take a messenger at least a week to cover such an enormous distance. . . I see. Was it magic then? What artifacts did they use? Excuse me? No. Just signal fires. . . .I see. Vynashchtym had an intricate, sophisticated system of signal fires dating back to the ancient empire days. In a matter of hours, they couldmunicate reports over me across vast distances. Johan felt quite embarrassed. , . To not even think of signal fires. . . If the Republic and Vynashchtym are also going to provide support, there is no need for us to make the first move. Tell the soldiers to rest and prepare for the uing battle. The army of the Eastern Empire was also a potential enemy to Johan. Of course, Johan did not hate them in the way of Die pagan scums!, but they did hate Johan in the way of Die pagan scum!. Basically, they would loot Johans merchant ships (it was okay to loot pagan ships), and trade would be difficult in ces they upied. There seemed to be no benefit in letting them run amok in this area. The problem was. . . . In the first ce, there were several parties responsible here. Right now there was Vynashchtym, the Republic, and those small kingdoms up north could also send reinforcements. . . Among so many, there was no need for Johan, who would suffer the least damage, to fight with his army first. If the situation looks like , ?, then he can jump in at that time! Your Excellency. An envoy has arrived at the gate. The chambein? Before Johan could say anything, the viceroy stepped forward first. He grabbed Johans hand and said, Your Excellency. You must not believe the head chambeins words. He is crafty and cunning! . . . It was quite impressive to see someone usually fearful and careful of Leoanos speak like this. The viceroy was afraid that Johan might lead the army out of the city. Of course, Johan had no intention of doing what others should be doing first, but Johans reputation made the viceroy misunderstand. As the bannerman and knight of the order, it is impossible for him to just stand there in front of the pagan army! You must not leave! We do not know when the new enemy fleet will arrive again! Those soldiers may be a decoy! If a new fleet arrives in this situation, it means that either Vynashchtym or the republics fleet is an *sshole. There is a possibility that it is true! Giada frowned from the side. Even so, how could he treat the republics fleet as an *sshole? I understand. I will not leave the city without telling you, even if the chambein begs me to. Do you think I would break a promise I made earlier? I am sorry, Your Excellency. I doubted you. . . I thought you would immediately ride your horse and chase after the pagan army. ? The envoy sent by the chambein soon entered. He was clearing his throat with an extremely tense look on his face. I know this is an unreasonable request. Speak, you inferior mongrel of the barbaric Yeats Family! . . .? ???? Those present were more surprised than angry. It was really an unexpected diplomatic rhetoric. Is this how Vynashchtym makes a request for cooperation? Ah. . . No, Your Excellency. I too. . . If you dont retreat from thisnd immediately. . . He wanted to hear more, but the centaurs rushed in first and trampled the envoys with their hooves. They were already irritated, and flew into a rage at this rude fellow insulting their master. Dont kill them. Retreat! The centaurs grumbled as they retreated. Johan looked at the battered messengers and said, Go tell your master that before insulting me, it would be better for him to first save his own life from the pagans. Bewildered, the envoys retreated. Having been beaten and nearly killed, they didnt immediately grasp his words. It was only after returning that they understood the meaning of Johans words. Its too bad we couldnt attack the city. Theres no harm in listening to the advice of the Mulc family. Yeheyman nodded at the attendants words. Yeheyman was a fierce and valiant warrior, but he was no fool. When theynded, they found an army under an unknown banner at the city they had first sought to plunder. Yeheyman sent scouts to identify the opponent. It turned out to be the banner of Count Yeats to the west. . . It would have been fun to determine victory against an excellent warrior, but Yeheyman had work to do now. He gave up and turned his army in a different direction. In any case, they still had plenty of food, and morale was high after piging nearby towns. Breach the gates! If we take this fortress, my name shall be inscribed upon an unrivaled achievement! Like the Holy Empire, the Eastern Empire was also a feudal state that revolved around its emperor. Under the Sultan on the emperors seat were countless nobles intricately intertwined. The Eastern Empire was a brutal conqueror that divvied up newly upiednds among nobles. Thispensation drove the nobles back to the battlefield. Vynashchtym was the most bountifulnd. The nobles who had brought their soldiers under Yeheyman were blinded by Vynashchtyms riches. Your Excellency! Allow me to take the vanguard! No, give me the honor of the vanguard! Yeheyman ced the eagerly volunteering knights at the front. As nobles, it was only natural they wished to achieve great merits at the vanguard. May I ask you to step aside? The attendant looked puzzled. Yeheyman was a warrior obsessed with blood and glory. To hand that over to others was odd. They wont breach the walls anyway. Yeheyman sneered at the knights taking the lead. The western monotheists usually hired mercenaries as troops, but the eastern pagans would conscript anyone and hand them clubs or spears to instantly create troops. As a result, the quality was all over the ce. Despite the intimidating size of the army, Yeheyman knew well that less than half were decent soldiers. They will tire out the ones inside the walls. That will be enough! When they are tired, scared, and starving inside, my subordinates and I will step up. The knights would have been furious to hear this, but Yeheyman held no responsibility towards the knights here. Just as they held no loyalty to Yeheyman. The ones here were simply those gathered from all over to pige together. Sound the horns! Keep sending them forward! Cut down any who retreat! Do not fear! Rain fire and thunder upon these pagan b*stards! Leoanos shouted around him. But the exhaustion on his face was impossible to hide. That showed just how fiercely the enemy pressed on. Regardless of quality, numbers were a weapon in themselves. The defenders were exhausted from the relentless assault, so much that arrows on the walls were depleted. Leoanos-gong. Were out of arrows. The east wall has copsed, and the engineers are refusing repairs. When will reinforcements arrive? . . . Leoanos clutched his head in anguish. The situation was too dire, he could barely breathe. , ! The pagans had a different goal. Their determination to take the fortress at any cost was palpable, no matter the casualties. He had underestimated Johan. But who knew the enemy would be a pagan army? His heart wanted to flee immediately, but that was political suicide. On top of one mistake already, if he. . . His only hope were reinforcements, but it was questionable whether the emperor would really intervene. It made more sense to seek aid from the nearby republics, duchies, or the army of that closest count. At least they would unite against the pagans. . . .The problem was he had just recently insulted Johan. No matter how sensibly he pleaded or what great conditions he offered, it would not easily sway the counts heart. Sever the messengers head who went and send it to the Count! Tell him there was a misunderstanding! Leoanos desperately schemed. Under the nights cover, a spy took the poor messengers head and raced off. Johan took the gold but said he would think about the army before sending it back. Leoanos sent another messenger. He praised Johans aplishments and appealed to his honor, iming that leading troops to battle would eternalize his fame. Johan took more gold but sent it back again. Finally, Leoanos sent a messenger proposing marriage between his child and Johans, and alliance. One day when he, a noble, bes the new emperor, plentiful fiefdoms would fall to Johan. At the same time, the most noble and pure position in Vynashchtym would be Johans, the chambein imed. If neither gold nor honor worked, this was an attempt to stimte ambition. If even this failed, Leoanos nned to escape with some through the gates. But fortunately, reinforcements appeared in the distance. Were saved!! The defenders cried out in joy. Exhausted and wounded, they thanked the heavens. Leoanos also sighed in relief. But Leoanos-gong, you wouldnt really give the count. . . You think I would? I have no such child, nor did I ever intend to. What can the count do when he eventually realizes hes been fooled? The follower nodded in relief at Leoanos words. To cede so much to a foreigner was preposterous. Uh. . . the banner is. . . ??? Leoanos climbed the walls and squinted. To the far right was Count Yeats banner with the holy orders symbol. To the left was the republics banner. That made sense for them to join. Finally, in the center was a banner with a dragon. The banner only the emperor may use. . . . . . . Leoanos froze, unable to ept the shifting circumstances. Chapter 169: ???????? ?????? ???????? (3) Chapter 169: ???????? ?????? ???????? (3) Jyanina inadvertently swallowed her saliva. She had often seen hundreds of soldierse and go, but it was the first time she had seen so many gathered in one ce. The soldiers seemed to fill the horizon from one end to the other. She could not even guess how many enemies there were. The sight of hundreds of fluttering banners made her heart sink. On the battlefield, each individual was like a speck of dust. The brilliant and precisemander who could control the battlefield was just someone from a story, and the reality was much more chaotic and messy. During battle, it was impossible to know who would win, and sometimes it was difficult to know who had won even after the fighting ended ¨C that was the nature of a pitched battle. While knights would dly be specks of dust and charge into the dirt and dust, Jyanina was not one of them. She racked her brains for a way to get out of this somehow. ¡°Y-Your Excellency, aren¡¯t the enemy¡¯s numbers too great?¡± ¡°It appears so.¡± ¡°In the city. . .¡± ¡°They could have stayed, yet they chose to follow us out. Their loyalty moves me.¡± Johan preemptively cut off Jyanina¡¯s attempt to suggest they retreat to the city. Crestfallen, Jyanina withdrew. Though Jyanina was no wizard like Suetlg or Caenerna, she was still a wizard. There was no telling when Johan might need her skills. ¡®?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ????????????.¡¯ Johan was casually contemting thoughts that would rm any priest. ¡°Acdda. You must retreat when the retreat signal sounds. You understand?¡± ¡°. . .Sir Knight. That¡¯s the tenth time you¡¯ve said that.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll say it an eleventh time. Retreat when the signal sounds.¡± ¡°Why only say it to us. . .¡± ¡°Do you really not know why?¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn Acdda and Euclyia pouted at Johan¡¯s words, having no real rebuttal. What he said was true. Right now, gathered on this battlefield were countless nobles and knights flying the banners of their houses. It was the same for both enemy and ally. Unified, seamlessmand was of course impossible, and any orders from the suprememander often took a long time to ry or failed entirely. In the end, they had to divide the field themselves and fight well on their own. Johan was responsible for the right nk. The dwarf mercenaries and ve soldiers were unlikely to act without orders, but the eastern tribes and cavalry led by Iselia were concerning. Unlike infantry, once cavalry burst out it was hard to order them to fall back. On top of that, the eastern tribes were known for being aggressive, and Iselia¡¯s cavalry loved to charge as much as any knight. . . Johan nned to personally lead Iselia¡¯s mercenary cavalry to maintain control over them. Heavily armed and armored cavalry could smash through enemy lines with devastating impact once they charged, and had to bemitted at the right decisive moment. But the eastern tribes were more suited to nimbly harassing the enemy and pursuing them. Though rtively lightly equipped, they possessed excellent archery and riding skills. ¡°Now, when the horns sound?¡± ¡°We retreat! Ah, I swear by my sword and bow that I will not let my eyes wander and give chase.¡± ¡°I swear too.¡± Hearing the centaurs¡¯ oaths, Johan nodded approvingly. That much could be trusted. Johan called the mercenary captains for final orders. The various human sub-captains looked to Johan with excitement and anticipation in their eyes. ¡°Listen well. This battle takes ce on another¡¯s field. I trust none of you will cause unnecessary trouble or endanger yourselves. Do only as much as you are paid for. Understand?¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the mercenaries smirked. When he spoke like this, it was hard to tell if this renowned count was really a nobleman or just another mercenary. But one thing was certain ¨C such words were far more reassuring than any cheers or battle cries. ???????????? Johan¡¯s move was not because of Leoanos¡¯ envoy. Leoanos¡¯ proposals had no influence on Johan. ©¥???????? ????????????????????. . . ????????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ????????? ©¥?????? ????????????. ????????¡¯?? ?? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ??????????????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????? ©¥???????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ????, ???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?? ???????? ????????. ©¥???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ????.¡± ©¥????????????. . . ???????????? ???? ????????????¡¯?? ???? ????????? ©¥????????????, ?? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ???? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????????. ???????? ????????????, ?????????? ??????. ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ????????. Giada was frustrated, but Johan cut him off like a knife and sent the envoys back. It was others who changed Johan¡¯s mind. ¡°I am Jusvan from the republic of Bo. Please take good care of me, Your Excellency.¡± Captain Jusvan of the republic mercenary corps came down south with his army. ©¥???????????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????. ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????. The republic¡¯s territory was not far north. They had no intention of just watching the pagans¡¯ raids. But still, to hire an army ande down so swiftly. . . ©¥???????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ??????????????. ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????, ???? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????????????. . . Giyada¡¯s prediction was correct. The day after Jusvan arrived with his army, Vynashchtym¡¯s emperor himself came with his imperial guard. Though they came down the northern highway, their speed was unbelievable. The emperor headed directly to join with Jusvan instead of the pass. Together with Jusvan, they came to Johan and pleaded their case. ©¥?????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ??????????????. ?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????????????????????????. ©¥???? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??????????, ?? ?????????????? ??????. ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? ????????????. Evenbined, their armies were only four to five thousand. Still too insecurepared to the enemy¡¯s scale. They desperately wanted Johan¡¯s soldiers to join. ©¥?? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ????? ©¥?? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????.¡± ©¥?? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????. ???? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??????????. Vynashchtym really did have a lot of gold. Johan responded explosively to their fiery offer. Seeing Johan respond immediately, the emperor made a puzzled expression, but Johan paid it no mind. In that regretful position, the emperor and Jusvan had no choice but to offer thanks and withdraw. And so the army of the republic, the count, and the emperor waspleted. They headed grandly for the pass. ???????????? ¡°Can he really be trusted?¡± ¡°Trust me, Your Majesty. Count Yeats will not disappoint you.¡± At Jusvan¡¯s confident words, the emperor nodded. Johan¡¯s first impression wasn¡¯t very good. First of all, he was too young. The emperor had imagined a veteran in his forties from Johan¡¯s reputation. But the emperor wasn¡¯t much older himself, was he? Jusvan returned to lead the left wing. Though the emperor was suprememander, he couldn¡¯t issue orders directly to the left or right wings. If Jusvan didn¡¯t issue orders himself, the mercenaries wouldn¡¯t obey. ¡°Jusvan isn¡¯t deceiving me, is he?¡± Jusvan was a pro-Vynashchtym noble, but he wasn¡¯t the type to sacrifice the republic to help Vynashchtym. Betrayal could happen at any time. An old eunuch attending the emperor cautiously asked. ¡°Why do you think so?¡± ¡°Despite the rumors, isn¡¯t he too young? Yet he has that reputation. I suspect the republic is deceiving me.¡± Having lived in the military since childhood, the emperor knew well how difficultmand was. He found it hard to believe someone as young as Johan had that much achievement. ¡°The republic has no reason to deceive Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Perhaps so. But there is no such thing as absolute.¡± ¡°If he does anything suspicious, I will take Jusvan¡¯s head myself.¡± At the eunuch¡¯s words, the emperor finally rxed his expression. It was the eunuchs and officials supporting the still inexperienced emperor. Their seasoned experience reassured the emperor. ¡°Anyway, the wings are just there to fill space. Trust the soldiers Your Majesty has personally trained. They will take care of it.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± The emperor nodded. He hadn¡¯t expected much from Jusvan or Count Yeats from the beginning. It would be none other than him and his imperial guard who would trample and crush the enemy¡¯s center. If Johan heard this, he would have been happy they were of the same mind. ???????????? Both sides suddenly went into battle formation. There were no greetings, no pre-battle duels, no scouting. Seeing the enemies approaching from behind, the nobles of the Eastern Empire shouted fiercely and charged into battle. Cavalry and infantry units burst out from the left and right wings, and the battlemenced. ¡°Dwarves forward! His Excellency watches over us. Do not retreat!¡± ¡°Think of your master who owns your lives! It¡¯s time to repay the grace!¡± Though their robes were different, their weapons and armor were much the same. Enemy knights wearing chainmail charged to trample the ranks, brandishing longswords. But the dwarves did not flinch, stubbornly holding their ground. Crossbow bolts and arrows rained down relentlessly on the knights. Pitiful screams rang out as some fell. Then Johan stepped up. Soldiers parted behind him, and Johan and Iselia burst out fiercely leading the cavalry. ¡°The count! The count! Get him!¡± Recognizing Johan¡¯s banner, the pagan knights shouted and rushed at him. But before they could reach Johan, their heads were lopped off by Iselia. ¡°Die! Die! Die!¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan pulled up alongside the berserk Iselia with a look of bewilderment. ¡°Iselia. Calm down.¡± ¡°Am I not calm?¡± ¡°Ah. . .I see. . .¡± Surprisingly, Iselia¡¯s blood-spattered face looked very serene. It was merely the elven war cry. Once more the enemies charged. This time Johan stepped up first. As the Giantyer swung around, flesh and blood sprayed everywhere, quickly opening up space. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö! Demon ¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡± Unable to make out their gibberish in the eastern dialect, he could guess the gist of their shrieks. Johan industriously harvested heads with the Warhammer. After charging in and pulling back five times, the enemies around him were routed and retreating. ¡°The enemies retreat!¡± ¡°Reform ranks! Reform ranks!¡± ¡°Wounded fall back!¡± ¡°Your Excellency, we will lure them out.¡± ¡°Acdda, don¡¯t forget what I promised.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The eastern tribesmen burst out in clouds of dust. Making full use of the battlefield, they rushed forth. Arrows pierced the backs of the retreating men, and the heads of those still inside the enemy camp. Those who had recklessly charged out in anger became easy prey. About six enemy banners fell and groups became scattered. For a while, a lull settled on the right wing. ¡°The enemies aren¡¯ting.¡± ¡°They must be realigning their ranks.¡± Unbeknownst to Johan, the enemies were too frightened to approach. ¡°Shall we advance?¡± ¡°No, let¡¯s align timing.¡± If he advanced alone and another ally happened to lose, even Johan would be unable to retreat from that situation. ¡®?????? ????????????. ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ Johan frowned, surveying the dusty battlefield. No matter how good his eyes, there were limits to what he could discern from here. The only fight he could vaguely make out was the one nearby in the center. What would have been invisible to others, Johan¡¯s blessed vision pierced through the swirling grit to grasp the situation. Enemy banners were desperately converging on the center. It was a distress signal. ¡°I will reinforce the center! Follow me!¡± Johan selected the freshest, swiftest cavalry and raced forth. He nned to harass the enemies¡¯ nks while their attention was diverted. ???????????? ¡°Capturing the emperor here will bring all glory in this world to you nobles!¡± Even without Yeheman¡¯s shouts, all the nobles with swords and spears were blind with bloodlust as they swarmed in. The loyal imperial guards resisted fiercely with their weapons, but the enemies¡¯ momentum was rming. The finest warriors gathered on this battlefield were all charging in to capture the emperor. ¡°Storm and shatter their ranks! Storm and shatter their. . .¡± The shouting noble felt a chill amidst the battlefield¡¯s sweltering heat. What¡¯s this? Chapter 170: ???????? ?????? ???????? (4) Chapter 170: ???????? ?????? ???????? (4) That was Johan. ¡°What? Who is it?¡± ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö?¡± When a group of western knights charged in like lightning, the warriors were not confused. Their morale was too high and ferocious to crumble from the ambush. They immediately turned their horses and fought back. Combative shouts weed Johan. Johan advanced, defeating those warriors. Only warriors who would not shame their father god and mother goddess were gathered here. The colorful banners standing out even among the dust showed evidence that these warriors were from noble families.Warriors carrying those banners charged at Johan with spears. The wind blew fiercely with the smell of blood. Johan ughtered those warriors as he advanced. Garhatzha, who had defeated three Vynashchtym knights today and received silk and a ne from Yeheyman, charged at Johan with a sharp glittering spear. Mobhrahim, who had defeated the sub-captain of the imperial guard and captured a small g, also charged at Johan with a battle axe. Igar, who was said to have unparalleled swordsmanship as a ve guard of the sultan, also charged at Johan with a longsword. Johan butchered those warriors as he advanced. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö! ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡± ¡°Send reinforcements! A mad ¡ö¡ö b*stard has appeared!¡± As the renowned warriors fell to the dagger and their decorated spears were broken, the warriors on the other side began to grasp the situation. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It seems an ambush hase from the left nk.¡± ¡°What are you saying? They are no more than a small group at best. However they obsessed about capturing the emperor, you mean to say they was ambushed by that? I will provide soldiers, go stop them!¡± Yeheyman¡¯s deputy nodded and rushed out. Yeheyman looked annoyed. No matter how blindly ambitious, to be ambushed like that. . . The elite had gathered here at the center. To be shaken by such an ambush itself was shameful. ¡°. . .!!¡± Yeheyman¡¯s eyes grew wide as he watched the situation. He could not believe the scene before him. The formation was crumbling before a single man. As a western knight swung an abnormally massive warhammer, warriors around him tumbled like rotten trees. Hit on the armor, bodies were smashed beyond recognition. Blocked by shields, shields were smashed along with the bodies. The enthusiastic Eastern knights and warriors who had fought bravely soon lost morale and fled. Centered on Johan¡¯s charge, the formation copsed like a broken dam. ¡°A demon has appeared! The pagan b*stards of the West have brought a demon!¡± ¡°Dear gods! Banish that demon!¡± Seeing each other¡¯s backs as they screamed and fled, the formation copsed even faster. Johan fiercely chased the enemy, spurring his bloodthirsty bicorn. Yeheyman was so angry he saw red. The fierce elites of the center were scattering like diseased son of a b*tches. Warriors who should have charged into the emperor¡¯s camp were now struggling just to defend their own banners. The emperor¡¯s banner was seen retreating. The emperor¡¯s imperial guard had barely reorganized their formation and were pulling the emperor back. It was hopeless to try capturing the emperor now. ¡°Ye. . . Yeheyman-nim.¡± ¡°Sound the retreat! Withdraw to camp and regroup!¡± Like a veteran knight of many battles, Yeheyman grasped the situation. To leave things as they were would only deepen the wound. That fearsome Western knight dastard leading the cavalry had torn up the formation with nightmarish fighting ability, but fortunately their numbers were small. Now was the time to retreat if they hoped to. If the emperor¡¯s imperial guard regained their senses and counterattacked, the damage could be far worse. ¡°Retreat! Retreat!¡± At the unpleasant re of horns, the warriors in the center began hastily falling back. Though they might have felt wronged and resentful to retreat from the emperor¡¯s tent, none remained to grumble. They fled, grateful to escape from Johan raging around them. The pagan warriors slipped away like an ebbing tide. Fearing Johan¡¯s pursuit, they nced around nervously as they rode off. Those without horses discarded armor and weapons and sprinted away. ¡°What is this, is it over?¡± ¡°The enemy is retreating! My dear, shall we pursue?¡± ¡°With these numbers? Are you joking?¡± Hearing Johan¡¯s words after his mad rampage, Iselia was dumbfounded. But it was certainly reckless to reengage with their current numbers. Johan aside, the others were exhausted from the fight. Even Iselia¡¯s steed looked weary. If it was about glory, they had overflowed with it just now. Iselia did not know exactly how many foes they had struck down, but she felt they had properly ravaged this area. She wiped the blood and sweat from Johan¡¯s face. ¡°Ah, thank you.¡± ¡°I can do this much anytime.¡± Johan looked around. The right wing where Johan¡¯s army was seemed to have no more fighting, and the enemy seemed to be retreating from the left wing as well. ¡®???? ???????????????¡¯ Hitting the enemy¡¯s backs as they retreated was basic tactics, but it depended on the situation. The enemy was not retreating in disorder but withdrawing in formation. If youcked confidence, reckless pursuit was dangerous. ¡®???? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????¡¯ Johan sensed it. And his intuition was not wrong. ???????????? ¡°Great victory, Your Excellency! A great victory!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t calling it a great victory going too far?¡± ¡°If this isn¡¯t a great victory, then all triumphs will feel worthless! Humility is a virtue, but going too far will embarrass others as well, Your Majesty.¡± The mercenary captain Jusvan from the Republic shouted while wrapping bandages around himself. Despite being quite seriously injured, he looked full of joy. It was thanks to the victory in battle. The captain himself was injured in the fierce battle. The center almost saw the Emperor captured, and the left nk nearly copsed from the enemy¡¯s charge. The enemies were much stronger than expected. However, they were victorious in the end. The enemies retreated first, abandoned their camp in front of the fortress, and withdrew elsewhere. Johan thought capturing the suprememander was necessary for a decisive victory, but others did not think the same. If they somehow drove back and defeated the enemies, couldn¡¯t that be called a great victory? ¡°I¡¯ve heard of Your Excellency¡¯s valor. They say you came alone on a warhorse to save the center. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite an exaggeration. I charged with other knights and cavalry.¡± ¡°Even just that is tremendously impressive, Your Excellency. Without your charge, the center would have copsed.¡± To calm his excitement, Jusvan downed a shot of strong liquor. He didn¡¯t see it himself as hemanded the left nk, but he heard the story from imperial guards and other soldiers after the battle ended. ©¥???????? ???????? ?? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??*???????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????????. ???????????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ????????. ??¡¯?? ?????? ??????????, ?? ???????????? ?????? ?? ????????. ?????????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ??????. ©¥?? ????????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????, ???? ?? ?????????????? ?????????????? ??????????. It wasn¡¯t just the soldiers¡¯ testimonies. The broken poles and gs of the enemies evidenced the fierce battle. The g symbolized the honor of a noble house and would never be abandoned even in a hasty retreat. They would rather die than lose their g. Yet the battlefield at the center was littered with gs and corpses of nobles. They were annihted by Johan¡¯s charge without even a chance to flee. ¡°It was an honor to fight alongside you, Captain. Now I realize there was no exaggeration in your report at all.¡± Jusvan expressed his gratitude to Giada. He had received reports about Johan¡¯s might a few times but didn¡¯t know it was to this extent. ¡®?? ?????? ???????????????????? ?? ??????. . .¡¯ Giada felt slightly embarrassed. Since he wouldn¡¯t be held responsible anyway, he had passed on only good words about Johan, so the high praise made him feel awkward. ¡°Are you nning to pursue the retreating enemies?¡± ¡°Well. . . I¡¯m not sure. Wouldn¡¯t His Excellency make that decision? Many of my men have died or were injured as well. . .¡± Jusvan hesitated as he scratched his wound. Although not as much as the center, the left nk led by Jusvan also suffered considerable damage. The enemies were just too numerous. They had forced a retreat, but the enemies still had remaining forces. He didn¡¯t want to attack their camp first. The tent curtains parted and the eunuchs came out, followed by the Emperor revealing himself. Johan and Jusvan got up from their seats and briefly paid their respects. ¡°You all fought very well. Victory would have been uncertain without everyone¡¯s dedication. I thank Count Yeats once again in particr.¡± This overt disy of gratitude, not just a simple thank you, was highly unusual, yet no one present found it odd. Considering Johan¡¯s exploits, it was still a very modest remark. ¡°Will you continue attacking the enemies?¡± ¡°The soldiers are tired and injured. I don¡¯t want to make mistakes by forcing things. And. . .¡± There was a chambein inside the fortress that he didn¡¯t want to risk danger for. But the Emperor left his trailing words unsaid. There was no need to reveal his intentions in front of others yet. ¡°And?¡± ¡°The enemies have sent an envoy. They offer gold if we let them withdraw.¡± Jusvan¡¯s face brightened. Representing the Republic, he had no thoughts of fighting to the death against the pagans. Didn¡¯t the Republic also trade with Eastern Empire¡¯s merchants to begin with? As long as they stayed away from here, he was happy to turn a blind eye. ¡°What will you do?¡± ¡°I want to hear both of your opinions.¡± ¡°I agree, Your Majesty. The enemies still have significant numbers left. Attacking their entrenched position is dangerous. And if they move elsewhere to pige, how will we handle that damage? epting their offer to save face shows mercy and authority.¡± ¡°That will be all, I think.¡± When Jusvan finished speaking, Johan raised his hand. The Emperor nodded as if to say speak. ¡°Couldn¡¯t the enemies have set a trap?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think they would do something so dishonorable. . .?¡± Basic respect for honor did not change even for pagans. No matter how pagan, oaths and promises made between each other were sacred. Those who broke them were effectively throwing their own honor into the gutter. But Johan was the type to suspect first regardless of honor or anything else. ¡°We should be vignt until they leave, just in case.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you wish, make it so.¡± Surprisingly, the Emperor readily epted Johan¡¯s request. Even though it required not just Johan¡¯s troops but also the Emperor¡¯s and the Republic¡¯s mercenaries to carry out. ¡®??????. ???????? ?????????????????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan wondered if this was the Emperor returning the favor foring to the center¡¯s aid. If so, he deserved at least this much in return. However, the Emperor was not doing this out of mere goodwill. He valued Johan much higher than Johan realized. Because of yesterday¡¯s battle. ¡®???? ??????!!¡¯ Ga?aros had witnessed Johan¡¯s charge from afar. The shock still hadn¡¯t worn off. That lightning strike of a charge in the middle of disadvantageous terrain swarming with enemies! After the charge ended, the Emperor realized the mercenary captain¡¯s ount was actually closer to understatement. With that kind of battle behind them, Johan¡¯s words carried undeniable authority. If Johan had strongly advocated attacking, the Emperor would have seriously considered it. ¡®???????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????, ?????????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? ??????????. ???? ???????????? ?????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ ¡°Anything else to suggest?¡± ¡°Not particrly. . .?¡± Johan felt the Emperor¡¯s question was slightly ufortable. The nominal suprememander was the Emperor, and the Republic¡¯s mercenary captain was next to them as well, so why keep asking him? ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????, ???? ????. . .¡¯ Chapter 171: ???????? ?????? ???????? (5) Chapter 171: ???????? ?????? ???????? (5) Regardless of Johan¡¯s suspicions, those words were purely well-intentioned. Both Jusvan and the emperor had no intention of putting Johan in the vanguard. It wasn¡¯t just because of the goodwill from the battle. Anyone with a brain wouldn¡¯t make an outsider who could leave at any time do thankless tasks in this situation. On top of that, Johan¡¯s subordinates were the ones with the most intact fighting strength. ¡°I understand. I will order the soldiers to stand watch.¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s soldiers?¡± ¡°?¡± The emperor was puzzled. Did he think he would order Johan¡¯s soldiers instead? Since the emperor reacted like that, Johan didn¡¯t say anything more. He was taken aback but if the other party was willing to do the dirty work, who was he toin?¡°Still, please allow my soldiers to also participate in the watch.¡± ¡°Will you do that? I¡¯m grateful for your goodwill.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thankful for Your Majesty¡¯s kindness.¡± Jusvan¡¯s face brightened. Leading andmanding an army, the problem was always people. It would be less troublesome to alwaysmand alone but a mercenary captain could not do that. Sometimes he had to meet employers, sometimes he had to cooperate with others hired by the same employer, sometimes he even had to negotiate with former enemies. In cases like that, you really appreciated someone you saw eye-to-eye with. Johan was like that. Despite his great contributions, he didn¡¯t act arrogantly or greedily. His way of speaking was the same before and after the battle. Even with the same capabilities, you could trust and rely on someone like this. ¡°I will also order my subordinates to stand watch.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Just a casual remark to be cautious turned into the emperor and Jusvan offering to participate, leaving Johan puzzled. What¡¯s up with these guys? ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????? ???????¡¯ ???????????? Count Yeats himself has ordered it directly. Do not neglect vignce. ©¥?????????? ??????????. . . The sub-captains and captains had tensely stood guard in response to the order from above. The enemies were not right before their eyes, and had retreated far away to the west to set up a new camp, but since Count Yeats had said so, there must be something there. Despite him not being theirmander, the soldiers tentatively trusted him for now. It is human nature that when one witnesses a miracle, they start believing even in a foreign stranger they just met. Moreover, the post-battle chaos and excitement was very conducive to spreading rumors. ¡°Uh. . .we¡¯re just going like this?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t they have something hidden?¡± ¡°Scouts went and checked the vicinity and found nothing though?¡± However, the pagan army quietly withdrew after concluding negotiations, without any tricks. Of course they were not leaving happily, so morale was low and they were cautious, but there were no hidden plots whatsoever. The soldiers were confused but soon realized why. ¡°Ah, I see. They couldn¡¯t do anything because the count noticed.¡± ¡°That must have been it.¡± Once an impression sets in, it does not disappear easily. There could have beenints about giving useless orders, but not a word was uttered. ???????????? ¡°. . .I swear I will definitely return.¡± Yeheyman turned around and looked back with anguish. The half-broken fortress gate came into view painfully. ¡°Master is not defeated.¡± ¡°Ifing all the way here and gaining nothing and returning is not defeat, then what is it!¡± Yeheyman had been excited about taking over the fortress and advancing eastward. He was exceptionally angry as all of that was foiled. Vynashchtym still had their fangs alive and the republicans were quite decent too. Of course that much was expected. He didn¡¯t expect the emperor himself woulde, but it was rather a better opportunity. Count Yeats¡¯ g fluttering could be seen from afar. Some of the nobles who were nearby let out agonizing noises. Just seeing the g made them shake in fear. Yeheyman was about to rebuke them but stopped himself. They were returning after failing the expedition. Their hearts must already be uneasy enough without berating them. ¡°Bashkhar-gong.¡± ¡°Yes, Yeheyman-nim.¡± Bashkhar, who was captured by Johan butter released after paying ransom during negotiations, shivered. The atmosphere was horrible and dangerous due to the defeat. If any me were to fall on him, his head could roll. Fortunately, Yeheyman did not do so. Beheading a valuable talent who watched the situation alongside Johan was a fool¡¯s act. ¡°What kind of man was Count Yeats?¡± ¡°He was. . . he was quite cultured and courteous.¡± ¡°. . .What?¡± Yeheyman unconsciously repeated the question. The nobles nearby also questioned their ears and repeated the question. ¡°What nonsense is that?¡± ¡°Did you get money from the pagan?¡± ¡°Quiet, everyone! Do not interrupt when he hasn¡¯t finished speaking!¡± The surroundings quieted again at Yeheyman¡¯s shout. Bashkhar broke into a cold sweat. The others had expressions showing they absolutely could not believe it but they had no choice. He could not speak falsely. Bashkhar stuttered as he spoke of the experiences he had. That the count knew not only the ancient imperialnguage but also spoke Easternnguage and treated Bashkhar quite courteously. Sometimes he would take up Go stones and y against Bashkhar, and his skills were formidable. ¡°It must have been someone else.¡± ¡°Maybe a twin. . .¡± ¡°Bashkhar is not someone who would lie. All of you stop.¡± Yeheyman said so and turned away. It was too shocking that he needed some time alone to think. But not so for the other nobles. They grabbed Bashkhar and tried to get an exnation they could ept until the end. ¡°Didn¡¯t he torture offerings during break and sacrifice them to the demon? Think of the power he had, it must have been impossible without a pact with the demon!¡± ¡°The cultured and schrly attitude could also be something you were fooled by. The demon is exceedingly crafty by nature. Ordinary people cannot withstand his glib tongue!¡± Exhausted by the barrage of questions, Bashkhar finally gave them the answer they wanted. ¡°Now that you mention it, he did seem a bit devilish.¡± ¡°I knew it. . .!¡± ¡°He had a wizard under him, and took that wizard into his tent at night.¡± ¡°A wicked sorcerer indeed.¡± ¡°And under him were elves who served him. They were violent, and skilled at horsemanship, spearmanship and swordsmanship. . .¡± The noble warriors, who found every action of Johan¡¯s mystical, reacted very realistically about the elves. ¡°Elves are like that originally.¡± ¡°Vicious long-eared b*stards.¡± The elven race of western nobles had an infamous reputation even among the eastern warriors. Knights who would show up and be equipped with sturdy warhorses, solid armor, and sharp spears, able to pierce through even the walls of the ancient empire with their charges. Even well-equipped eastern knights were inferiorpared to elven knights. Seeing the warriors be sullen, Bashkhar was perplexed. Honestly, what felt most vicious and brutal in Johan¡¯s camp were the elves, yet they reacted this way hearing about them. ¡°T-Those elf b*stards were especially ferocious.¡± ¡°Elves are originally like that, didn¡¯t you say? It¡¯s in their bloodline. Rather, tell us more about the wizard under the Count. What magic did he use?¡± ???????????? Only after the fleets disappeared beyond the horizon could Johan let down the tension in his mind. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ Honestly, he found it hard to believe. Of course it was a cold and rational judgement, but humans do not act solely rational. If they were in such a situation, it would not be strange for them to stubbornly cling on in hopes of recouping their losses. . . ¡°Why do you look like that?¡± ¡°It seems the enemies have retreated.¡± Iselia rubbed her eyes and got up from the makeshift bed. Next to her were the armaments she had looted piled up. There was originally a severed head too but Johan got scared and made her take it outside. ¡°You must be tired, rest a bit more won¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t feel tired at all.¡± Hearing that, Johan turned to look at Iselia. Misunderstanding his gaze, Iselia blushed and waved her hands. ¡°I-I mean not enough to do it in the morning.¡± ¡°. . .I didn¡¯t think anything. Anyway if you¡¯re not tired call the attendants and get ready to go out. I want to look around.¡± The enemies were gone and Johan got the gold he was after. Originally they could leave immediately but life was not so simple. Right now the viceroy of the port wanted Johan to stay a bit longer. Things like this happened, no one would let down their guard just because the enemies left. Considering their future rtions, he could afford to do this much. Reassuring them by staying a few more months was good business. ¡®????. ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ??????.¡¯ Cooped up in the fortress he had forgotten, but thinking about it the chambein was the b*stard who insulted Johan by sending an envoy. He left it while busy but now that the emperor was gone too, it was time to settle ounts. ¡°Your Excellency. Are you going hunting? May I join you?¡± ¡°Hunting?¡± Hearing Jusvan¡¯s words, Johan was slightly taken aback. Of course he knew nobles would enjoy everything on campaign, bringing personal chefs and attendants despite being on the battlefield, but he didn¡¯t know Jusvan was that kind of person. He seemed quite practical so Johan didn¡¯t think he would do so needlessly. . . ¡®?? ??????.¡¯ From Jusvan¡¯s expression Johan realized there was something he wanted to say, so he nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± ???????????? As Iselia dashed out to chase her prey, Jusvan opened his mouth as if he had been waiting. ¡°Your Excellency. What do you think of Leoanos?¡± ¡°I have no thoughts in particr?¡± He did owe him a debt, but it wasn¡¯t some grudge. In the first ce, Johan wasn¡¯t the sort to be shaken by such insults. Jusvan seemed satisfied with Johan¡¯s answer. He looked around and lowered his voice. ¡°Then, Your Excellency, would you have any issue with killing Leoanos?¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± Johan was surprised at Jusvan¡¯s words. Johan, who was about to ask if he could move as he pleased, flinched. Come to think of it, he wouldn¡¯t do such a thing on a whim. ¡°Did His Majesty request it?¡± ¡°. . .!¡± This time it was Jusvan¡¯s turn to be surprised. No matter what, it was surprising how he guessed it right away after just hearing it. Despite being practically the same age as Jusvan¡¯s son, his actions were those of a seasoned noble. ¡°Y-Yes. How did you know?¡± ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t the sort to act arbitrarily. Hmm. . . Is it possible to kill Leoanos?¡± ¡°Not only are there already mistakes he made, but His Majesty also built up great merit from this battle. The timing couldn¡¯t be more perfect.¡± The young Emperor needed military exploits. To suppress other political enemies and establish his position, he needed them even more. ¡®???? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Having won that gamble, now was the time to take bold action. Most people would take the Emperor¡¯s side. ¡°It¡¯s not ¡®?????? ?? ???????? ??????¡¯ but ¡®?????? ???? ???? ????????????¡¯. He looks quite thorough from what I¡¯ve seen.¡± ¡°Ah, my apologies, I misunderstood. Yes. In fact, His Majesty has invited Leoanos to the banquet.¡± With the battle over, a grand banquet was nned near the city with the purpose of celebration and praise. Of course, hearing this alone, the other side would still be suspicious. And so Jusvan would also attend, hoping Johan would as well. Surely they wouldn¡¯t intend bloodshed in front of many other people. ¡°Not even Leoanos could refuse.¡± Leoanos certainly didn¡¯t expect the Emperor toe with an army and win. In that situation, making excuses to miss a celebratory feast would be an enormous burden. ¡°So you want my permission?¡± ¡°Yes. Taking action without informing the Count would be extremely discourteous.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sir Jusvan. To think you¡¯d consider my honor so.¡± ¡°Ah, it was His Majesty who asked me to ry the message.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan was slightly taken aback. Wouldn¡¯t they usually just knock the target out and say ¡®?????????? ?????????? ????????, ????????????¡¯?? ???? ????????????¡¯ter? Of course Johan would be quite annoyed, but such affairs were normally endured. Security was important, was it not? Even Johan would have done the same. Annoyance could be soothed with goldter. . . ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????????????????????? ????????, ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????????????????????.¡¯ When he had nothing to lose, the goodwill of others wouldn¡¯t warrant doubt, but now that he had much to lose, it made him inexplicably doubtful. Still, this proposal didn¡¯t particrly matter. Johan nodded. ¡°Tell him I said to do as he pleases.¡± ¡°Yes! Thank you very much.¡± Chapter 172: ???????????????? ?????????????? (1) Chapter 172: ???????????????? ?????????????? (1) While such sinister proposals were being exchanged on one side, Leoanos was having simr thoughts. Originally, the tradition of Vynashchtym was assassination and rebellion. It was customary to assassinate when the opponent showed a gap and rebel when poprity declined. The old royal Leoanos could not have not known this. When the armies of the emperor, republic, and counts shed with the armies of the pagans, Leoanos was confused about who to cheer for. It would be troublesome if the pagan b*stards won, and it would be troublesome if the emperor won. . . It would be better if both were devastated enough to annihte each other. But the situation flowed opposite to expectations. The emperor¡¯s army endured and repelled the fierce attack of the pagan army. Negotiations followed, and the pagan army left miserably. ©¥?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ???????? ???????? ????????! ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ????????! Leoanos was bbergasted. The pagan army was one of the fiercest he had ever experienced. The guys who didn¡¯t care if theirrades fell and stacked corpses to climb the fortress walls.How could guys like that give up and retreat after just one battle? ©¥????. . .??????????????-????????. ?????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ????????????????????. Upon hearing his subordinates¡¯ words, Leoanos regained hisposure. He had failed to restrain himself due to umting misfortunes. His subordinates were right. He could no longer call back those who had left. Moreover, if he really called them back, the fortress soldiers would not sit still. Leoanos, it¡¯s okay to run away if things don¡¯t work out, but from the soldiers¡¯ perspective, it was crazy nonsense. ©¥???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ??????????????. ?????????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????????????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????????? ?????? ??????????????. ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????????. ©¥. . .???????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ??????, ??????????? They had simr concerns that it might be a rtive or something. Leoanos worried about assassination first. ©¥???????????? ??????. . . ?????? ??????????????, ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ??????, ??????????? At his subordinate¡¯s words, Leoanos nodded. He would also bring skilled guards with him. He had caught dozens of them disguised as rogues before. He could notice anything more than that first, and. . . ©¥??????¡¯???? ??????????. ?? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????. ??????. ?????? ?????????????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ??????????????????????. ??????¡¯?? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ??????????????. . . ©¥????????¡¯?? ??????????. ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ??????, ???? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ????????????. ???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????, ???? ????????. ©¥. . . ©¥??-?????? ?? ?????? ?????????????????? ??????????? ©¥????. ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ????????. ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ??????????????????????. ???????????? The viceroy looked very happy. The pagans were leaving, and Johan¡¯s army had promised to stay for a few more months. ¡°But I¡¯m counting on you for the customs duties.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a given? Trust me.¡± Johan managed to secure tax exemptions for the merchant shipsing and going from the port. The goods transported by sea were on a different scale fromnd routes, and the associated duties constituted tremendous ie. The privilege of tax exemption was not something just anyone could get. ¡°It¡¯lle out eventually, but please don¡¯t tell the republicans for now.¡± ¡°Of course. Do you think I have no tact?¡± Johan wrapped up a good deal with the viceroy, mutually beneficial. ¡°Clean up the corpses and sprinkle ck powder and medicinal herbs so monsters don¡¯te. It¡¯s a headache when monsters get tangled up.¡± After a major battle, powerful monsters tended to appear nearby. Ignorant people would prattle on about ¡®?????? ?????????????????? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????????????,¡¯ but to Johan it seemed because there was ample prey. It would be stranger if they didn¡¯t grow when there¡¯s so much to eat. ©¥????????! ¡°Right on target.¡± Johan and the centaurs went around exterminating monsters. Karamaf sniffed out monsters hiding in wait. It was best to eliminate threats that could harm the city prematurely. Besides, creatures like these made for good shows of force to the city. ¡°Sir Knight, do you by any chance have ns to go to Vynashchtym?¡± Vynashchtym was the name of the empire and also its capital. Johan looked puzzled by Acdda¡¯s question and answered. ¡°Why Vynashchtym?¡± ¡°It must be so, since I heard it was the city within the city.¡± ¡°Even if we raid it, we probably can¡¯t take anything. I heard its walls have never fallen.¡± ¡°What? Do you think I¡¯m asking if I can just raid it unconditionally? Do you think I¡¯m only interested in raids? Of course I¡¯m only interested in raids, but. . .¡± Acdda trailed off, seemingly embarrassed by what he just said. ¡°I was just curious. And I heard rumors that the emperor there covets Sir Knight¡¯s skills. I wondered if you might be hired to go there. The Vynashchtym often do that, don¡¯t they?¡± The weak Vynashchtym often hired external mercenaries. Nobles and mercenary captains from small kingdoms and republics, and sometimes even aristocrats from the Orthodoxy would do so. The emperor¡¯s elite guards, known for their loyalty, were also descendants of those external mercenaries. ¡°There were such rumors? I didn¡¯t really get that sense. . . Rather, the viceroy was the one coveting me.¡± Johan was skeptical. He hadn¡¯t gotten that sense from the emperor¡¯s attitude. ¡°Besides, just hiring some of the soldiers for a year costs a fortune. Unless his gold was rotting away, there¡¯d be no reason to hire more. ¡° The mercenaries Johan had brought were expensive. Dwarves, trained ve soldiers, eastern mounted archers ¨C they were irreceable elite forces. Also, there were many well-armed, experienced mercenaries, like the skilled Gorgale Mercenary Group and illegitimate children from Akiten who owned multiple horses. Unless the enemy forces were swarming the walls like now, there¡¯d be no need to specially hire those expensive mercenaries. With that money, Johan could have hired numerous cheaper mercenaries. ¡°Is that so. . . Oh, isn¡¯t that the guy?¡± ¡°Which guy are you referring to?¡± ¡°The one who insulted you. There aren¡¯t many who have insulted you, right?¡± Acdda was pointing at Leoanos¡¯s procession. He remembered the emblem on the g of the envoy Leoanos had sent earlier. ¡°Looks like he came after getting invited.¡± ¡°That b*stard who should get trampled under hooves, where is he getting the nerve to shamelessly show his face. . .¡± More than Johan, the other centaurs like Acdda were agitated. Invited or not, they looked ready to charge down and shoot arrows at them immediately. Johan restrained them. ¡°Don¡¯t threaten them unprompted when they¡¯vee after getting invited.¡± ¡°We were just hunting here. Who knows what nonsense they¡¯re thinking.¡± The centaurs red threateningly down the hill at the processions. Those approaching noticed them and flinched. ¡°Why are there centaurs here?¡± ¡°I heard they¡¯re count Yeats¡¯s subordinates.¡± ¡°. . .¡± They wanted to say something about that temper, but the attendants couldn¡¯t bring themselves to. They were cowed by the centaurs¡¯ imposing manner. What¡¯s more, Johan¡¯s reputation made it hard for them to act lightly. They meekly bowed their heads and passed by. Johan briefly considered going over to Leoanos and greeting them, but decided against it. They would soon be crushed ording to the emperor¡¯s n anyway, and Johan didn¡¯t feel positively enough about them to bother exchanging pleasantries. ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????, ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????. . .¡¯ It was only expected for high nobles to have a crowd of servants, maids, and entertainers. Johan had only heard rumors, but he knew of nobles taking nearly a hundred servants, jesters, courtesans, and concubines with them even on campaigns. Still, Johan¡¯s eyes picked out those among the entourage with a swordsman¡¯s bearing. Muscles developed differently, steps seemingly light yet firmly bnced ¨C these were traits unique to prosecutor, not obvious at a nce. Johan also sensed it intuitively first before thinking it through. It wasn¡¯t apparent from the start. ¡®???????????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ ???????????? ¡°Ah. They are from the Silk Corridor, aren¡¯t they?¡± The viceroy had Johan sit in the seat of honor and then ordered the ves to fan him. His deferential attitude as he waited was like that between a retainer and his lord. After popping a piece of fruit in his mouth, Johan wiped his hands on silk and asked, ¡°Since I¡¯m not from Vynashchtym, I wouldn¡¯t know, so why do you say that?¡± ¡°My apologies, Your Excellency. They are excellent performers. And dancers as well.¡± The capital had several massive theaters. The oldest andrgest was nicknamed the Silk Corridor. It was because of the unique silks hanging on the walls of the corridor. Although it was a theater, it was run with rules like those of a temple or monastery. They took oaths when joining and were locked inside to receive a closed education. ording to rumors, these were vestiges of native faiths from before the Advent. In any case, due to these rules, they were outstanding actors and dancers. To say someone was from the Corridor meant they were a recognized performer in Vynashchtym. ¡°Theater is. . . isn¡¯t it clumsy priests and monksing out and stumbling over their lines?¡± The Holy Empire had theater as well. Usually priests and monks dressed up clumsily and put on edifying ys with terrible acting. When he was young, Johan had helped out a priest and participated before. ¡°Heh heh. . . Your Excellency, not like the primitive theater done by rural bumpkins in the Holy Empire. We truly enjoy sophisticated secr and satirical ys.¡± Seeing the viceroy babbling excitedly, Johan asked with pure curiosity. ¡°Did you forget I¡¯m from the Holy Empire?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m very sorry.¡± The viceroy who had momentarily lost hisposure hurriedly apologized. Of all times for the pride of a Vynashchtym person to re up. ¡°In any case, so they¡¯re actors? The atmosphere seemed off for that.¡± ¡°You are perceptive, Your Excellency. The actors from the Silk Corridor are also excellent swordsmen.¡± ¡°Actors and yet. . .?¡± ¡°They are masters of swordsmanship as well.¡± Like monks training swordsmanship within the monastery, they did the same. It wasn¡¯t that surprising for those of other professions to learn the sword. ¡®???? ???????? ???????¡¯ After hearing the viceroy¡¯s exnation, Johan realized the chambein had also been quite attentive in bringing escorts. Not just soldiers, but the pages had also been chosen as ones skilled in swordsmanship. He suddenly thought the feast might not go as smoothly as the emperor anticipated. It seemed the will to not be easily cowed had already been felt. Of course the emperor probably also knew guards had been brought like this. . . ¡°Hmm. Maybe I should hide some soldiers as well.¡± The banquet was held in tents pitched near the city, and you had to leave your weapons before entering. The emperor had hidden guards with swords in nearby tents, nning to ambush and finish off Leoanos. If things went ording to n, even if Leoanos brought some guards, he would be going ¡°Oh, oh¡± before dying, but world events never unfold as expected, as he had experienced many times. ¡°A good idea. Just give me a signal and I¡¯ll draw my sword and go in.¡± ¡°Dwarves. . . no, centaurs. . . no, I don¡¯t like elves.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Iselia sulked. However, Johan did not change his mind. Elven mercenaries stood out too much, and it was difficult to expect patience from them. ¡°It¡¯s better to pick from the ve soldiers.¡± The ve soldiers were generally young, so they could be thrown in anywhere credibly. They fit in well enough as servants or ves. ¡°I understand. Then just give the signal and I¡¯ll. . .¡± ¡°Iselia. You need to be by my side. Why are you trying to take on that kind of role?¡± ¡°I. . . I can fight better than the others, so. . .¡± ¡°If you put it that way, then I should be the one hiding in the back. They¡¯ll ask where you¡¯ve gone if you¡¯re not there, so you have to be by my side.¡± ¡°!¡± Johan inserted ve soldiers among his retinue. They could skillfully procure weapons once inside anyway. ¡®?????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???? ????????.¡¯ ¡°My dear, just in case, wouldn¡¯t it be better to strongly insist on bringing a sword inside?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll be fine. I have a belt I can use as a sword.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen you use it before. . .?¡± ¡°There just hasn¡¯t been an asion to use it yet.¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Iselia epted it readily. This time, Johan thought that if a situation arose, he should fight in a way that preserved some dignity. Chapter 173: ???????????????? ?????????????? (2) Chapter 173: ???????????????? ?????????????? (2) When the promised date came, the city and nearby nobles all came as expected. It was an opportunity to get on the emperor¡¯s good side. There were no fools stupid enough to miss such a joyous asion celebrating victory. ¡°We hope the glory flowing through the dragon¡¯s bloodline continues endlessly, Your Majesty!¡± ¡°We thank you once again for saving the city, Count.¡± People gathered around Johan as much as around the emperor. Everyone in the city knew the role Johan had yed. ¡°. . .Thank you for overlooking this matter, Count.¡± ¡°It was nothing.¡± The young emperor seemed more nervous than Johan. His expression was unchanged, but his hands were sweaty. Come to think of it, the emperor was as young as Johan. He kept mistakenly thinking he was old because of his aged face, but it was natural for him to be nervous.¡®?????????? ??????, ????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????????? ?????????? ??????????????????, ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ????????????, ?????? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ????????.¡¯ While the highest position was coveted by all, sometimes a rural feudal lord could be more carefree. ¡°Do you have any other advice?¡± ¡®??????¡¯?? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????¡¯ The emperor seemed to have strange expectations of Johan¡¯s abilities. While the high regard was good, the burden was also real. If he were to fail and flee. . .who would they me? Johan decided to give some safe advice. ¡°Are you wearing armor underneath?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Anyway it¡¯d be hidden by your outer garments, and with the fighting over, who would scowl if you had some armor on.¡± It was traditional to remove weapons and armor at feasts, but this much could be overlooked if discovered. Besides, the emperor had a reputation for not following orders and fraternizing with his own soldiers. This rumor wouldn¡¯t change much. ¡°I guess there¡¯s no harm in wearing it. . .¡± The emperor calmly put on the armor. It seemed unnecessary and could draw pointlessints, but he trusted Johan¡¯s advice. What meaning could it hold! ???????????? The n was simple. The chambein sits down and when the alcohol circtes a bit, the emperor rebukes his rudeness and disloyalty and throws a ss to send a signal. ©¥?????????????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????, ???????? ??????????????. ©¥???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ????????????. ©¥????????¡¯?? ???????? ??????. . . ©¥???????? ?????? ???? ?? ????????. ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ???????????????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ??????. Leoanos arrived at the front. Despite recent mistakes, the political authority held by the chambein was considerable. The surrounding nobles flocked to somehow get a word. Leoanos was pleased with the reaction. Whenever he saw this, he felt the power he had. Power is like a drug, once you grab it, you can never let it go. ¡°Leave your weapons outside. The chambein can only bring one escort in.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Leoanos obediently left the escorts outside and went inside. A lower nobleman chambein followed him inside, holding Leoanos¡¯s hem. Seeing that, Johan wondered, holding a silver cup and stretching his neck. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???? ?????? ???????¡¯ No matter if the escorts were swordsmanship masters or not, they had to get closer to do something. Shouldn¡¯t they be able to run right up and intervene? But the distance was too far. ¡®?????? ?? ?????????? ?????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ The chambein knelt down in front and kissed the emperor¡¯s hand. It was a sign of obedience and loyalty. ¡°Thank you foring like this. Your Excellency.¡± ¡°It was something I had to do.¡± ¡°I appreciate the other people here as well.¡± ¡°Does the person who knows that send an insult?¡± Johan was sarcastic. Considering the major he set up this time and the soldiers he was leading, Johan was qualified to say this. He was sarcastic openly, but the chambein couldn¡¯t refute. He nodded his head in acknowledgement. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Your Excellency. It seems there was a misunderstanding. Would you ept my apology?¡± ¡°Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, we¡¯ll have to checkter to find out. I¡¯ll decide whether to ept the apology then.¡± He could have bothered him more, but Johan decided to leave him alone. The host of this ce was the emperor, not him. Since Johan didn¡¯t say anything more, the chambein spat out a relieved curse mixed with profanity and withdrew. The music that had been interrupted resumed and the liquor began circting again. ¡°Didn¡¯t you request a duel?¡± ¡°What duel. . .not even the Holy Empire. . .and even if I requested it, they would only send out the decent warrior.¡± An unusual scene entered Johan¡¯s eyes as he chatted with Iselia next to him. The fingertips of the attendant Leoanos brought were darkly discolored. The eyes of the attendant and Johan met as he stared at it. The attendant quickly bowed his head, but Johan felt ufortable. The difort of meeting a colleague who can do the same skills! ¡®???????? ???? ????? ?????????????¡¯ He wondered if he had seen it wrong, but that possibility seemed small. Besides, if that attendant was the assassin Leoanos brought, it would be the right guess. It would have been more surprising if that sly guy came without any thoughts. ¡®?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ????????????, ?????? ???????????? ???? ????????????????. . .???????? ?? ?????????????????? ??????????????.¡¯ The customs of Vynashchtym were really amazing. Johan was suddenly reminded of Kaegal¡¯s teachings. ©¥?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????????. ?????????? ???????? ????????, ?????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ??????????????????. ??????????, ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????. ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ??????. . . ????????????¡¯?? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????? ©¥?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????? ©¥?????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ????????????, ????????????, ?????? ?????????????????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ????. ???? ?????? ???????? ????????????????????, ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????. ?????? ???? ?????????????? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ¨C ?????????????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????????. ?????? ???????????????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????. ?????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????????????, ?? ???????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ???????????????? ¡°?? ???????? ?????????? ????????????, ???? ?? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????¡± ©¥????, ??¡¯?? ?????? ???????????????? ????????. Johan called Jusvan. Jusvan was so absorbed in the Vynashchtym dancer that he was pping andughing, but he came to his senses when he heard Johan¡¯s call. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Just in case, please tell His Majesty not to eat or drink anymore.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Jusvan had some tact. He quietly passed the message on to the emperor. The emperor looked like he wanted to ask ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????¡¯ but he didn¡¯t ask again. ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????¡¯ The emperor had a surprised expression then nodded slightly at Johan. He seemed to have misunderstood something, as his eyes were full of gratitude. Johan felt a little embarrassed because he still wasn¡¯t sure if the other party had poisoned the drink yet. ¡°I didn¡¯t even consider that. Your Majesty. It should be enough for the ve to taste it first. But you¡¯re certainly right to be cautious.¡± Once someone builds a reputation, their actions tend to be interpreted favorably. Bold actions be decisive, while timid ones seem prudent. Jusvan and the emperor seemed to understand and appreciate the misunderstanding. The one feeling anxious because the emperor wouldn¡¯t even lift the cup to his lips was Leoanos. He had gone through the trouble of pouring the wine, but the emperor wouldn¡¯t drink it. The poison he had brought with the assassin was quite intricate ¨C it would take effect only after drinking several cups, twisting in the stomach before spewing out poison. But if he didn¡¯t drink at all, there was no poison to speak of. Leoanos licked his lips and waited, but the emperor didn¡¯t budge. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do if he doesn¡¯t drink it.¡± Leoanos was sharp. From the emperor¡¯s stiff expression and tense posture, he sensed preparations in ce. After the banquet ended, he might be ambushed on his way out or arrested. He had to make the first move. ¡°If poison doesn¡¯t work, don¡¯t you have a dagger?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll stop me as soon as I get close.¡± ¡°. . .Fine. Hand over the dagger.¡± Having secretly received the assassin¡¯s hidden dagger, Leoanos slipped it into his sleeve. He wanted to finish the job with poison if possible. . . But it couldn¡¯t be helped now. Once the emperor copsed, it would cause chaos, allowing him to escape with his guards in the confusion. That was why he had summoned guards in the first ce ¨C not tounch an attack, but to escape safely. When the song ended and the dance stopped, Leoanos approached the emperor with the box he had brought. ¡°Your Majesty. I want to present you with a treasure fitting of that song, as an expression of my gratitude. Please ept it.¡± Leoanos carefully opened the box. The gems inside shone dazzlingly. Seeing nothing suspicious, the emperor nodded. At that moment, Leoanos swiftly pulled out his dagger and stabbed the emperor¡¯s chest. A dull thud ¨C the dagger was blocked and didn¡¯t pierce him. But Leoanos¡¯ body moved instinctively. This time the dagger moved towards his face and neck. ??????????! Instead of the sound of a dagger piercing flesh, there was the dull thud of something smashing into a head. Still clutching his dagger, Leoanos dropped dead. Beside his head, a crushed silver cup had fallen. ¡°. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± The sudden series of events stunned everyone. Jusvan was the first to scream. ¡°Assassination attempt! Escort His Majesty inside!¡± Btedly, the imperial guards behind rushed over. ¡°Cut down anyone who moves! Don¡¯t move!¡± ¡°Your Majesty! Are you alright!¡± ¡°I. . . I¡¯m fine. What happened?¡± ¡°The count saved Your Majesty¡¯s life. He. . . threw that cup.¡± Jusvan exined the situation then tripped over his words, seemingly finding it unbelievable himself. Jusvan, beside Johan, saw it clearly. The moment Leoanos stabbed with his dagger, Johan picked up a silver cup from the table and hurled it squarely at his head. He threw it with such force that his opponent smashed heads and couldn¡¯t get back up. It would have been legendary material for war annals if it hadn¡¯t been a mere silver cup. . . ¡°I-I don¡¯t know anything! Today was my first time meeting the chambein.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve only met once, years ago. . . we barely know each other.¡± The nobles seated there hurriedly spewed excuses, afraid they might get involved with the chambein. The emperor shoved them aside and had all of the chambein¡¯s attendants arrested. He had no intention of interrogating the nearby nobles, but not the chambein¡¯s subordinates. ¡°On your knees!¡± ¡°We. . . we didn¡¯t know anything either! About his ns. . .¡± Violence rained down in response to their pleas. Screams erupted from all sides as Johan¡¯s ve troops rushed over. Johan signaled he was alright. ¡®???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????????.¡¯ And the belt. ???????????? While the emperor and his subordinates were oppressing guilty and innocent people alike, Johan waited. It was natural for there to be chaos for a while in such tumultuous times. When the situation had calmed down somewhat, Johan went with Jusvan. ¡°Are you alright, Your Majesty?¡± ¡°Thanks to you I survived, Count.¡± It was not merely courteous words, but heartfelt sincerity. Those who had interrogated the emperor¡¯s attendant were shocked at first when told poison had been prepared. If not for Johan¡¯s advice, he could have copsed much sooner. ¡°Not only the poison, but the armor too. Did you happen to have some information beforehand?¡± ¡°How could that be so?¡± ¡°Your Majesty, if I¡¯d had such information, I would have told you first.¡± Jusvan spoke with the pride of a republican. The emperor nodded. The emperor chatted about this and that before sending Jusvan out. Then he asked Johan, ¡°Count, I heard from the viceroy that you¡¯d be staying in the city until autumn after receiving payment. Is that correct?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s alright with you, I¡¯d like to buy out that contract.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, my soldiers are expensive and great in number.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t intend to hire them all. Half of the soldiers here would be sufficient.¡± With only a thousand or so soldiers, what could be aplished was limited. Johan immediately grasped what the emperor wanted. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????????????????????¡¯ When one¡¯s position was unstable, reliable soldiers were necessary. ¡°I will pay three times the amount the viceroy mentioned. And I will promise privileges at the harbor. Would this be enough as payment for the count and his brave subordinates?¡± ¡°. . .!¡± For a moment, Johan envisioned piles of gold coins behind the emperor. Chapter 174: ???????? ?????????????? (1) Chapter 174: ???????? ?????????????? (1) Johan remained silent as he was overwhelmed by the wealth, so the emperor misunderstood his attitude and exined further. ¡°Hmm. I hope you don¡¯t find this suspicious. I¡¯m only trying to pay the price for the count¡¯s abilities.¡± Sometimes an excessive price makes the other person doubtful. The emperor borated so Johan wouldn¡¯t get the wrong idea. If Johan epted the offer, he would have to serve as the emperor¡¯s right arm for a while. He couldn¡¯t leave any distrust. ¡°Of course I have my imperial guards. The captain is loyal. . . But their abilities are. . . somewhat limited. They know how to wield swords and fight on the battlefield, but that¡¯s not enough for the current situation.¡± The emperor was young, but he knew well what hecked. He was very unpopr. When he had to meet citizens, merchants, nobles and foreigners around the capital, being cooped up in the barracks was bound to cause that. His younger sister was actively helping on his behalf, but the situation didn¡¯t change easily. His recent military exploit might raise his poprity a bit, but the fundamentals remained the same. There were still many political enemies, and his position was unstable. A single rebellion could cost him the throne.At times like this, the captain of the imperial guard at his side needed to bepetent in various ways. Able to deal with discontent among the nobles, well-read and schrly, with some reputation, able to foil assassination attempts. . . And such a person was rare. The emperor was willing to pay any price. ¡®????, ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ????????????.¡¯ Johan grew tense even though it was someone else¡¯s business. From his words, it seemed there had been several more assassination attempts or rebellions. In truth, even if assassination or rebellion erupted in the capital, it wouldn¡¯t be too dangerous for Johan. He was an outsider, a count from another fiefdom. There were no idiots who would stir up trouble by provoking a ho¡¯s nest for no reason. Even if things really went awry, Johan had his elite troops. He could just slip away to the republic¡¯s territory or elsewhere, borrow a ship and sail off. But after receiving all the rewards, it would sting if the emperor died. ¡®?????????? ??????, ???????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ??????????????, ?????? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°The privileges at the port, specifically. . .?¡± Seeing Johan show interest, the emperor¡¯s expression brightened. He nodded and answered. ¡°Privileges regarding tariffs, of course, and ports prohibited to foreigners will also be permitted to the count. Not only will lodging be provided, but all of this will be documented with the emperor¡¯s gold seal.¡± ¡°!¡± The emperor¡¯s offer was irresistible. In short, he would give Johan top priority on Vynashchtym¡¯s seas. ¡®????¡¯?? ???? ???????????????? ??¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ ¡°Very well. I will do my best even though my abilities arecking.¡± ¡± . . .!¡± ???????????? Once a decision was made, subsequent actions were quick. Johan organized the spoils and gold and sent the soldiers back to their fiefdoms. Iselia was very disappointed. ©¥???????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????? ©¥?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ????????????. ©¥?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ????????. . . ©¥???????? ???????? ???? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????, ??¡¯???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????. ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????. ??¡¯???? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????? ????????. ©¥?????? ?????????????????? ?? ?????????????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ??????????, ???? ????????. . . ©¥???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ??????????? Johan did not intend to take Iselia with him. Although Suetlg is there, he was still a foreigner within the fiefdom. It would not be good to leave Iselia empty for too long either. Besides, despite her looks, Iselia was an elven knight from the Ens Kingdom. She had sufficientbat power to deal with any incidents arising in the fiefdom. ¡°I¡¯m worried the citizens might be terrified when they see you guys. . .¡± ¡°What are you saying, Sir Knight? We asked around already. No one has been scared of centaurs in a thousand years. They say people don¡¯t even bat an eye these days.¡± Johan¡¯s elite escort consisted of dwarves and centaurs. The dwarves were chosen not only for theirbat power, but also for their unique talents, while the centaurs were chosen simply for being centaurs. ¡°Are the preparationsplete?¡± ¡°Yes, just give the order.¡± While waiting, Johan was able to get quite close with the emperor. The emperor was not a miser who skimped on people to guard his side. He provided Johan with various privileges to win him over. And contrary to the viceroy¡¯s evaluation that he was frugal and difficult to deal with, Johan got along well with the emperor. Fundamentally, they were both rational, hated unnecessary etiquette. . . Seeing the viceroy bidding them farewell, Johan remarked as if recalling: ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t the viceroy say you were frugal?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The emperor stiffened and nced at the viceroy. The viceroy, who was far away, kept waving goodbye with a bright smile, oblivious. ¡°He didn¡¯t say anything else?¡± ¡°Was there anything else to say?¡± ¡°Like I dress shabbily. . .¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± The same outfit could look peculiarly sloppy depending on who wore it and how. In Johan¡¯s eyes, that was precisely the emperor¡¯s case. It was an amusing story, but these things mattered too. Wasn¡¯t fashion one of the virtues knights learned? Even a wandering poor knight could look dignified with skill and an eye for style. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think he said things like that. But do buy and wear some expensive clothes if it bothers you.¡± ¡°Expensive clothes weaken and tear easily.¡± ¡°Then bring multiple sets.¡± The emperor let out a rather annoyed groan. He seemed quite displeased. But to Johan, it was a necessary thing. Perhaps due to Johan riding beside him now, the emperor looked particrly shabby. Johan had the talent to capture the gazes around him whether on or off a horse. Not only was he tall and well-built, his armor and overcoat were imbued with magical power. In contrast, the emperor looked just like a sub-captain. ¡°Is it true that there is so much silk in the imperial pce?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± During a break, Jyanina carefully asked. Fortunately, the emperor did not take offense and kindly answered. She must have thought him as Johan¡¯s subordinate. Rumors about Vynashchtym¡¯s imperial pce spread around like legends, and little of them could be confirmed. Catching a chance to ask someone who was born and raised there now, Jyanina did not miss it. ¡°So the stories about its outer walls covered in gold and corridors lined with silk to dampen footsteps. . .¡± ¡°What nonsense is that?¡± Johan scolded Jyanina. It was nonsense indeed. ¡°It¡¯s not nonsense. It¡¯s true.¡± ¡°?!¡± ¡°There is such an imperial pce. That¡¯s probably where those rumors came from.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Johan thought he should not tell this story to the centaurs. If they heard it, it might spawn a whole new legend among them. ¡°And gold and silk are not important. The key here is the brick.¡± ¡°You speak correctly. Yes. His Majesty¡¯s words are true. Jyanina.¡± ¡®???? ?????????? ???????????????? ????????????.¡¯ Jyaninained internally about getting used of greed when she only asked about a rumor. Johan and the emperor sat side by side, chattering on about how magnificent these roads dating back to the ancient empire were. ¡°Is there no way to recreate them?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s beyond us. Even the best wizards in the imperial pce don¡¯t know the secret methods.¡± Structures built with the lost ancient empire¡¯s construction secrets remained unbroken over time, proudly disying their majesty. Despite countless wars and turmoil, they connected different parts of the nation like a spider web. ¡®????????????-?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????????.¡¯ Perhaps because it was a ce where many ancient empire traditions and customs survived, every story was fascinating. The emperor also seemed quite excited to have such an appreciative audience for this boring topic, chattering lively. ¡°In Vynashchtym, the elite forces learn how to build fortifications before learning how to fight. The pioneers securend first, then theter arrivals dig into the ground and erect walls. . .¡± ¡°Oh. Shoveling ability is definitely a key ability.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ???????????? Walking along the path was pleasant and fast, but not without danger. The centaurs galloping ahead found the soldiers lying by the roadside and signaled. ¡°There¡¯s a monster, Your Majesty! And it¡¯s quite a big one.¡± The soldiers seemed to be out on a raid or reconnaissance. They were already dead, and nearby was an overturned cart. ¡°Let¡¯s move to the nearest castle. Guard His Majesty.¡± Johan made the judgement right away. Protecting the emperor took priority over chasing the monster. The imperial guards also looked relieved at Johan¡¯s decision. ¡°Who¡¯s the casten?¡± ¡°Zertao. A loyal one.¡± ¡°Then we can stay therefortably.¡± The emperor didn¡¯t mind camping at all, which suited Johan as well, but it was customary to be weed and amodated at a nearby noble¡¯s castle or fiefdom. Preferring to sleep outside like this was unusual. . . The centaurs took the emperor¡¯s message and raced to the nearby castle. And before long they returned with embarrassed expressions. ¡°They won¡¯t open the door. . .?¡± ¡°. . .¡± Perhaps noticing Johan¡¯s gaze, the emperor hastily spoke. ¡°It must be because they¡¯re centaurs.¡± ¡°That may be it. . .¡± ¡°What? What did we do wrong?¡± ¡°You guys look scary. Step aside. Let the normal looking imperial guards try.¡± Handsome, noble-looking imperial guards raced out. Soon they too returned with the same embarrassed faces. ¡°Y-Your Majesty. They won¡¯t open the door.¡± ¡°Those insolent fools!¡± Even if one didn¡¯t care much for honor, this was an insult. And having received this insult in front of the outsider Johan, the emperor was furious. ¡°Shall we attack??¡± ¡°Shh. Don¡¯t spout nonsense.¡± The dwarves whispered, and Johan whispered back. Seeing the emperor¡¯s expression, he seemed ready to attempt an attack. ¡°Your Majesty. As much as I understand, it¡¯s not wise to waste your power here. . .¡± ¡°I cannot let such an insult slide! I don¡¯t even need your troops. I will attack with my imperial guards alone.¡± ¡°Just in case, let¡¯s send onest notice.¡± This time Johan stepped up himself, along with the centaurs. The castle was neither big nor small, but it was still a castle. It looked difficult to hastily attack. ¡®?????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ ¡°Why do you look around so, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°I was looking for weaknesses.¡± ¡°. . .You aren¡¯t thinking of going yourself, are you??¡± Not all centaurs were as fearless as Acdda. Any centaur in their right mind had to stop him. ¡°No. I was just looking around. What nonsense are you spouting?¡± ¡°S-Sorry, Your Excellency would never do that. Haha. Hahaha.¡± ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???????¡¯ While their mouths said no, their eyes still shone with suspicion. ¡°Listen, people inside the castle! His Majesty Ga?aros with the righteous dragon¡¯s blood has arrived. If you open the gates now, he will graciously forgive the previous disrespect, but if not, the dragon¡¯s wrath will befall you. Open the gates!¡± ¡°We. . . We can¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°What? Does this g look fake to you?¡± ¡°W-We have no choice! Please understand!¡± Desperate cries came from inside the castle. Sensing something amiss, Johan looked around. Though there should have been some sign of people near the tightly shut castle, there was not a soul in sight. It did seem a bit strange. ¡°Exin yourselves. If you don¡¯t, we attack!¡± ¡°A-A monster disguised as one of us might enter the castle!¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Chapter 175: ???????? ?????????????? (2) Chapter 175: ???????? ?????????????? (2) Fear of monsters and magic has always overwhelmed reason. If you are scared of a monster, barricading the gates and hunkering down is understandable. ¡°How about threatening them to call the soldiers andy siege?¡± ¡°Forget it. It doesn¡¯t seem like a very good idea.¡± Even if they told them over a thousand soldiers wereing down the nearby roads, the fear-stricken people inside the castle would not believe it. All they could see were the few dozen soldiers who had just arrived near the castle walls. It would take quite some time for all the soldiers to gather, and waiting that long didn¡¯t seem like a very wise idea. Plus, if that happened, the people inside the castle might barricade the gates for a different reason, out of fear. ¡°???????? ????????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ????????. . .¡± ¡°Tell me in detail what kind of monster it is. And where is the casten?¡±¡°The casten is injured.¡± ¡°!¡± No wonder the garrison soldiers were acting strange. . . At Johan¡¯s urging, the soldiers inside the castle hesitated before opening their mouths. If what the knight said was true, leaving them outside the walls was very dangerous as well. They had to make excuses in advance. ording to the soldiers, the raid that urred outside the castle was also the work of the monster they were now talking about. What originally only happened in raids outside had escted after they repeatedly failed to subdue it. In fact, minor feudal lords were not very good at dealing with powerful monsters that appeared on their fiefdoms. Only a handful of knights like Johan could rush out armed and capture them personally, most had to choose other methods. Hiring mercenaries or wandering knights. . . Of course, these methods failed more often than not. At that point, they would have to request assistance from other nobles or their lord. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you request support?¡± Vynashchtym, unlike the Holy Empire where nobles yed on their own, was a country bound by a rtively robust system of institutions. They could have asked nearby militarymanders for help, or asked other nobles for support. ¡°We sent word! We sent word but there¡¯s still no news!¡± Either the messenger got captured or it was taking time for the other side to prepare as well. It made no difference to those inside the castle. ¡°What do you mean it disguises itself as a person when you say it¡¯s arge beast?¡± ¡°The b*stard freely enters the castle and harms people. Even the casten was victimized by it!¡± ¡°A truly fascinating story.¡± A beast that rampaged outside in arge form but disguised itself as a person to stage raids inside the castle. Johan was quite worldly himself, but it was his first time encountering such a monster. There were plenty ofrge monsters and monsters that could disguise themselves as people, but. . . ¡°?¡± Preupied with the story, the garrison soldiers blinked in surprise as Johan had quietly made his way to the castle gates at some point. Fortunately, there was a moat dug in front of the castle walls and a drawbridge, but why was he. . .? The answer came soon. ??????????! Johan threw one of the spears he had brought. The chain supporting the raised drawbridge emitted a loud noise as it snapped. Before they could react, the next spear flew. Another chain broke. ????????! The soldiers were shocked at Johan¡¯s skill in urately throwing spears to break the thick chains connecting the bridge. Johan crossed over the lowered drawbridge and grabbed the castle gate. Fortunately, the gate was rtively small and an easy to grasp grid pattern. It would have been tricky if it wasrger or a different shape. Of course, the gate was made of iron so a single person could not lift something so heavy on their own. It took multiple soldiers pulling together on a winss to raise it. However, Johan grabbed the gate with one hand and lifted it. The soldiers in front of the gate were so bewildered at the suddenly rising gate that they dropped their weapons in a daze. ¡°A monster has entered the castle. . .¡± ¡°Who are you calling a monster?¡± Johan grabbed one of the soldiers by the cor and lifted him up. The soldier choked and gasped for breath. ¡°What do I look like to you?¡± ¡°A-A knight, Sir Knight. You look like a Sir Knight!¡± ¡°Good. You finally know how to see properly. Open the gate and let the soldiers in. I¡¯ll overlook this insult to His Majesty just this once.¡± The garrison soldiers who came running after hearing themotion were confused at the sight of an unfamiliar knight barging in and barking orders. ¡°Who are yo- ugh!¡± ¡°There are no second chances! If you want to live, don¡¯t make mistakes. Understand?¡± Johan¡¯smanding aura and spirit weighed down upon the soldiers. Despite clearly being in the position of a brigand who had broken in from outside, the soldiers obeyed his orders awkwardly. Even the garrison captain was too bewildered not toply. ¡°Um, Sir Knight. Are you really. . .?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If you want mercy, moving quickly would be best.¡± With the gate closed it would have been one thing, but with it now open, the soldiers shivered in fear of the emperor possibly doling out punishment. Even if they were all captured and punished, they would have no words of excuse. At best, the injured casten could put in a word for them, but it didn¡¯t seem like he would make excuses for the situation either. Who would take their side in such absurd circumstances? As the soldiers hesitated, Johan spoke again. ¡°I¡¯ll exin the situation properly, so get moving. Given the circumstances, His Majesty will also show leniency.¡± ¡°R-Really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Thank you! Sir Knight. We will not forget this favor!¡± As the gate opened and the soldiers rushed out like lightning, the centaurs waiting outside stared intently at Johan. ¡°. . .What, why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing. Your Excellency. Haha.¡± ???????????? Johan never intended to bring many people into the castle in the first ce. The castle wasn¡¯t that big, and there would be chaos right away. Let alone inside the castle when we are dividing the troops outside. Besides, the rumors of the monster made Johan feel uneasy too. Johan picked only those he could trust. He checked the emperor¡¯s servants and ves carefully. ¡®???? ???????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? .¡¯ Johan believed in his own senses, and Karamaf¡¯s smell. The emperor frowned, annoyed by what the people inside the castle had done. It was natural for him to be upset. ¡°Did they really open the door for us?¡± ¡°Then what? You think I went and opened the door myself?¡± ¡°. . .You¡¯re right. I¡¯m doubting too much. I apologize.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The centaurs following behind bit their lips to manage their expressions. Euclyia was puzzled. Why are they like that? When the emperor¡¯s g entered, the people inside the castle gasped. The emperor really came to such a shabby castle. The people prostrated themselves without moving. The soldiers did the same. The scales on his cheek unique to the dragon beastman, and the two horns above his head clearly showed the blood of a dragon. After the emperor passed by, people raised their heads and prostrated again. Because Jyanina was seen. As they only caught a glimpse of Jyanina from afar, they mistook her for a dragon beastman. ¡°???¡± ???????????? The casten¡¯s wife weed the emperor with a mix of joy and embarrassment on her face. ¡°You look a little embarrassed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d Your Majesty came leading an army in this situation, but as a noble, it¡¯s shameful that I can¡¯t treat you properly.¡± The emperor nodded at her words. As if to tell her not to worry, the emperor said, ¡°No need to worry. We just came to this castle to avoid the rain. Don¡¯t hold any useless banquets. Giving the soldiers alcohol and warm food is enough.¡± ¡°Oh but still, I should be able to. . .¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Now is not the time. I¡¯d appreciate your help in gathering intel.¡± The wife looked at Johan, bewildered. She knew who the emperor was but Johan was an unfamiliar face to her. His race was also different from the captain of the imperial guard that she had heard rumors about. ¡°This is Count Yeats. He¡¯s from the Holy Empire and I hired him as a guard. He¡¯s a brave and excellent knight.¡± ¡°i-I see, Count. Got it.¡± The wife didn¡¯t seem too surprised to hear that an outsider noble was newly hired. It wasn¡¯t such a bold move in Vynashchtym. Rather, she looked relieved to have a capable knight by his side. ¡°Bring the servants, maids, and ves. We need to question them one by one.¡± ¡°Do you really think that will help. . .?¡± ¡°Thisdy is a wizard well-versed in monsters. She can gain wise insights from every word.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina wanted to stop Johan but the atmosphere wasn¡¯t right for that. If this fails, will she be the only *sshole? Seeing how adamant Johan was, the wife looked at Jyanina in surprise. At first nce, she looked like she had dragon blood. . .? ¡°Your Excellency. Your Excellency! We can¡¯t go that far!¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°We still don¡¯t know what that monster is. If you say that and still can¡¯t find it. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t have a single guess?¡± Johan looked at Jyanina with an expression that said, ¡®As a wizard, can¡¯t you even do that much?¡¯ His sincerity made it even more insulting. Jyanina gritted her teeth and said, ¡°I can¡¯t possibly know every monster in the world!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think you wouldn¡¯t have a single guess and know nothing. Fine. Tell the wife the truth when shees back.¡± ¡°But. . .we don¡¯t need to do that right now! It would¡¯ve been nice if you just praised me a bit. . .¡± Johan had a very annoying look on his face. Johan was talented at sending messages with his eyes. His eyes were now saying ¡®???? ?????????????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????????¡¯. Jyanina thought she should at least suggest something that came to mind. Otherwise, she would really bebeled as ipetent. ¡°Well, there are several monsters that can attack like that but few can disguise themselves as humans. ording to legend, there are monsters like the doppelganger. . .¡± ¡°Are they real?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen one myself. But isn¡¯t it very likely they exist?¡± While Johan was skeptical, the people here tended to believe in superstitions and rumors. ¡®?????????? ???????? ???? ?? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ??????????,¡¯ they thought. ¡°Can they disguise themselves asrge creatures too?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°How do you get rid of a doppelganger then?¡± ¡°There are no known ways to eliminate them.¡± ¡°Then what do you know how to do?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± While Jyanina despaired, Johan started his own countermeasures. ¡®???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????? ????, ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ If he released Karamaf to sniff out suspicious guys, that¡¯s all he needed to do. No matter what creature it disguised itself as, it wouldn¡¯t die easily. ¡°But how did you know it was a monster disguised as a human?¡± ¡°Oh, who was it again? The second son of the miller said he saw someone who looked just like him passing by. Not just him but a soldier from the garrison saw the same. . .¡± ¡°A ve who was working saw it too.¡± There were quite a lot of testimonies. Johan knocked on his scabbard, lost in thought. It was hard to believe someone could change their face but it wasn¡¯t impossible. Hadn¡¯t Johan seen it himself? Assassins used magic that monsters could use too. ¡®???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????????? ????¡¯?? ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????, ????¡¯???? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????????.¡¯ If it was outside and then entered, there was nothing Johan could do. He couldn¡¯t keep waiting. . . Then he¡¯d just have to leave but. . . ¡°?¡± Johan raised his head. Someone who looked exactly like Johan was staring straight at Johan in the courtyard. When their eyes met, he turned his head then started running away swiftly. He moved very quickly. ¡°Where are you going!¡± Without any hesitation Johan dashed out. Karamaf who was prostrating under him let out a fierce growl and raced forward. ¡°!!!¡± The opponent had underestimated Johan. When normal people see a doppelganger, their body freezes in fear and suspicion and they avoid eye contact but Johan didn¡¯t think for even 1 second before drawing his sword and running towards it. His eyes showed the intense killing intent to check what color blood doppelgangers had. ¡®?? ????????????!¡¯ Chapter 176: ???????? ?????????????? (3) Chapter 176: ???????? ?????????????? (3) I wondered why the other party was not afraid at all, but now was not the time for that. I had to run away first. Fortunately, unlike the other knight, I knew this area well. I was confident I could easily lose him. The man grabbed a low stone wall and jumped over it. Going over the low wall in front of the inner castle and jumping down to the exit on the other side was faster than going out the main entrance. ??????????! ¡°??!!¡± When he heard the loud noise from behind, the man unconsciously turned his head. Johan had kicked over the stones and was running towards him. Even though it was a low wall, he kicked it down with his foot?! ¡®???????? ?????????? ??*??????????!!¡¯ In desperation, the man gave the horse next to him a hard kick on the butt. The horse screamed and ran forward. The road was too narrow to dodge easily. ??????????! Johan grabbed the galloping horse firmly and forced it down hard. Frightened by his fierce momentum, the horse trembled and became docile. ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????!¡¯ He heard that he was a nobleman from the Holy Empire hired by the emperor, but his actions seemed to be mixed with blood other than human blood, no matter how you looked at him. The man was so desperate that he threw himself into the moat outside the castle. It was a dangerous act that could have been seriously injured if there was anything inside, but the opponent was bold. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Euclyia!¡± Johan smiled when he met Euclyia and the other centaurs. He said that he was chasing someone right now. Euclyia didn¡¯t listen anymore and immediately put Johan on her back. ¡°But what kind of guy are you chasing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a kind of doppelganger.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Euclyia didn¡¯t stop, but he made a very subtle expression. Johan, who was riding behind her, could feel the emotions rising through Euclyia¡¯s muscles. If you saw a doppelganger-like guy, why would you chase him instead of running away or finding a priest? ¡°Um, the legend says that if you meet someone who is exactly like you, you will die.¡± ¡°One of the two will die, so the opponent will die.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± That was certainly true. Euclyia didn¡¯t refute and increased her speed. ???????????? Chasing was easy. The hard part was controlling his strength. He couldn¡¯t kill it by mistake. Euclyia looked at him tensely. She was afraid that if Johan became two and both imed to be Johan, she wouldn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°The monster speaks well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a monster! I¡¯m sorry!¡± But the man was not a doppelganger. He was just a person disguised quite simrly to Johan. His disguise skills were convincing enough that he could be mistaken for Johan from a distance. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything! Please! Please!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already tortured him. . .?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Seeing the man trembling without Johan touching him at all, Euclyia tilted her head. He was trembling terribly without even being tortured. . . ¡°That guy is a ve of the Casten family. I¡¯ve seen him before.¡± ¡°!¡± The man nced around and nodded his head. In fact, the doppelganger was just a groundless rumor spread by the Casten¡¯s wife. She had ordered a nimble and skilled ve to create the rumor. When people see false things a few times, rumors naturally spread, expand and grow on their own. ¡°What crazy nonsense. . . The monsters outside too?¡± ¡°Ah, no. The monsters outside are real monsters.¡± ¡°I need to see the Casten. Guide me.¡± ¡°The Casten. . . has already passed away.¡± ¡°?!¡± The Casten had died not because of the doppelganger, but while hunting monsters outside. It was inevitable that the apanying soldiers were annihted, so the Casten could not have survived either. Under normal circumstances, his death should have been announced and aftermath handled properly, but the Casten¡¯s wife did not do so. ¡®?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ A marriage is between two people, but in reality it is a matter between two families. If one dies, the assets should originally be inherited by their children, but worldly matters are not so simple. Hadn¡¯t Iselia herself also been threatened by ambitious rtives? From what I heard, the wife¡¯s situation seemed even worse. Just hiding it until the child bes an adult would have greatly improved the situation. The doppelganger rumor was a clever rumor ¨C diverting people¡¯s attention and making them ept the Casten¡¯s absence outside. Euclyia drew her sword. Surprised, Johan asked. ¡°Why take it out?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t he be killed for deceiving you?¡± ¡°No. This isn¡¯t even mynd, and even if it was, I wouldn¡¯t just behead someone.¡± ¡°Then cutting off only the tongue and ears?¡± With every word Euclyia spoke, the man trembled more and more in fear. Johan shook his head. ¡°Report it above first.¡± Now that capturing just one of the two monsters was sufficient, in a way the situation had be simpler, but having stumbled into unexpected events left aplicated feeling. ???????????? After hearing the story, the emperor quietly called the wife over. Seeing the captured ve, the wife immediately confessed and bowed her head, saying she would ept the punishment. The emperor frowned and spoke. ¡°I never thought Zertao would die. . .¡± ¡°But let¡¯s be thankful the doppelganger isn¡¯t here.¡± ¡°What do you think is the best thing to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a guard, so. . .?¡± ¡°Just give me your opinion freely. I¡¯m only listening.¡± ¡°If you forgive her, she and his whole family including her children will bepletely loyal. Anyway, no matter who fills the position, it will just be thick-headed, ruthless ambition-seekers.¡± The emperor nodded his head satisfactorily. He definitely liked Johan¡¯s opinion. Aside from him being young and a knight, Johan¡¯s political senses were astonishing at times. This was despite not having been born and raised in the Vynashchtym imperial pce but rathering in as an outsider. ¡°Even if we leave them alone they probably won¡¯t get caught, but if we add just one more word that His Majesty met the casten, they definitely won¡¯t get caught for several years. Her child will soone of age and inherit the position.¡± In the first ce, it was notmon for amoner to see the face of a feudal lord. If a feudal lord wanted to, he could seclude himself as much as he wished. The problem was the nobles, but if he used the excuse of being injured or because of the doppelganger they would probably ept it. Moreover, if the emperor adds that he met him, who would doubt it? ¡°However, leaving that monster outside the fiefdom just because of that crime is a great sin. They should have requested support.¡± ¡°The request for support was. . . sent. . .?¡± ¡°?!¡± Since the casten had died and the doppelganger was fake, he had thought a request for support had obviously not been sent. But the casten¡¯s wife was not the sort of person tock a sense of responsibility to that extent. Even if it risked exposure, she had at least called for support first. ¡°. . .That was well done. But given that still no one hase, they were clearly ambushed along the way. We will send out soldiers at first light tomorrow to search.¡± Since it was known the doppelganger did not exist, there was nothing to fear. The emperor was determined that he had to hunt the outside beast. Not only stabilizing the surroundings but also a great military achievement would be established. Moreover, there was the dependable count by his side. ¡°Your majesty, I have received word that the support troops have just arrived now.¡± ¡°. . .Are you joking right now??¡± ???????????? Despite the emperor¡¯s anger, the arriving support could not be avoided. The ones from the St. Guntsalva Knight Order spread their gs and took their ces near the castle. ¡°Are they from a monastery?¡± ¡°They¡¯re from a monastery but not the kind of devout people you¡¯re thinking of.¡± The emperor¡¯s words seemed to be true. It was a monastery knight order but their clothes were shy, wearing lots of essories. No matter how you looked at them, they were just nobles. Vynashchtym had a slightly different sect of the religion that shared its roots with the Vynashchtym religion. Still, even they emphasized poverty and humility. Monks openly wearing stuff like that. . . They were monks in name only. ¡®???????? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ ¡°Your Majesty. I sincerely wish God¡¯s glory be with this meeting!¡± When they came across the emperor¡¯s g, they were surprised but hurried over to pay their respects. The emperor nodded. ¡°I heard the casten¡¯s request as I was passing by the capital. Are you here to catch the monster?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. You know our Order¡¯s capabilities well, no?¡± ¡°How would I not know the St. Guntsalva Order¡¯s capabilities? Imend you foring out of your faith.¡± They were exchanging pleasantries but for some reason, the emperor¡¯s expression seemed displeased. Johan immediately understood why. ¡°Your Majesty. Hunting monsters is very dangerous work. Please leave it to us instead of going out yourself.¡± ¡°. . . I have experiencemanding armies and fighting many battles. Are you looking down on me?¡± ¡°How dare we? But isn¡¯t fighting battles very different from hunting monsters? Please understand.¡± Johan looked at them curiously. Weren¡¯t these people that the emperor could destroy with one word? Yet they spoke so brazenly. Anyone would think this was the Holy Empire. ¡°Are those knights particrly disloyal?¡± ¡°No. Just average.¡± Ideals and reality were always different things. Long ago, the Vynashchtym Empire¡¯s efficient bureaucracy only moved at the emperor¡¯smand but that was no longer the case. With enemies attacking from all sides, the Vynashchtym army alone was not enough. They had to hire mercenaries and give local nobles real hereditary positions and feudalnds in exchange for raising troops. . . This was almost customary so even if the emperor wanted change, it would immediately spur a rebellion. His authority was nominal at best. ¡°It¡¯s just the Holy Empire.¡± ¡°I have nothing more to say.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s that St. Guntsalva Knight Order?¡± ¡°They¡¯re from a monastery but enjoy both the privileges of monasteries and nobles.¡± Monasteries originally received some privileges. When such a monastery grewrger and became more secr but kept its monastery name, that was the St. Guntsalva Knight Order. It¡¯s an educational institution and social club for local noble youths! ¡®????, ???????? ???????????¡¯ Johan was slightly impressed by their trick. If he wasn¡¯t a feudal lord, he would¡¯ve used that trick when he returned to the Holy Empire. In any case, their skills were assured. The skills of nobles who did nothing but train in their spare time couldn¡¯t be matched by serfs. Some famous monsters had fallen to the St. Guntsalva Order¡¯s swords. ¡°Can¡¯t you just hold your sword to their necks and give orders?¡± When Euclyia asked, Johan kindly exined. ¡°It¡¯s better not to force them to do more than what we¡¯re gaining. I probably don¡¯t want the hostility of the local nobles either.¡± ¡°Then can¡¯t you just kill them all?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to pass on that advice to His Majesty.¡± Euclyia nodded enthusiastically, not understanding Johan¡¯s joke. She sincerely believed that was the answer. Johan approached the grumbling emperor. ¡°If you¡¯re that dissatisfied, catching it first might not be bad.¡± ¡°Catch it first?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But. . . my soldiers aren¡¯t skilled at hunting monsters.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t heard that I¡¯ve caught trolls and various monsters starting from the bottom. And those centaurs behind you are also hunting experts.¡± The emperor asked in great surprise. ¡°You caught a troll? How?¡± ¡°Anyway, if you permit it, I¡¯d like to show some Holy Empire-style hunting.¡± ¡°Then I can ask for nothing better. But how did you catch that troll?¡± ¡°Alright, it¡¯s a hunt! I believe we won¡¯t lose to those Vynashchtym guys!¡± The centaurs were very excited by Johan¡¯s words and cheered. Wherever they wandered, hunting was the most thrilling and fulfilling thing for them. It was like a farmer sowing seeds and tilling the soil. Hunting game was in a centaur¡¯s nature. ¡®??¡¯???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?? ???????????????????? ??????¡¯?? ??????.¡¯ Johan had personally experienced how powerful fame was in the Holy Empire and the penins. Wasn¡¯t it the power of his reputation that enabled Johan, who had nothing as a lowly noble, to grow so quickly? Giving grace to the casten¡¯s wife¡¯s family this time and hunting the monsters disturbing this area would alsoe back to Johan¡¯s glory. While Johan and the centaurs prepared to hunt, the knight order knights passing by were greatly surprised to see Jyanina. ¡°Miss over there, are you descended from dragons?¡± ¡°Could it be. . . the emperor¡¯s distant rtive?¡± Chapter 177: ???????? ?????????????? (4) Chapter 177: ???????? ?????????????? (4) Johan¡¯s question about whether there was really much difference between dragon beastmen and snake beastmen was not entirely incorrect. Except for the very drunk in Vynashchtym, no one would make such remarks, but from a distance their appearance with ears and head hair covered makes it hard not to mistake them. The knights of the Order of St. Guntsalva mistakenly identified Jyanina when they saw her appearance. ¡°Hey. Tell that noble one over there our name.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The knights sent a servant to speak to Jyanina. The servant addressed Jyanina in the ancient imperialnguage. Of course, Jyanina did not understand. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö, ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö. . .¡± ¡°. . .?????¡± Jyanina¡¯s face turned pale. The Vynashchtym guys were iprehensible in their stubbornness in using thenguage of those who perished in ancient times long ago. As Jyanina kept silent and only bowed her head, the servant misunderstood her intention and retreated apologetically. ¡°What was that about?¡± Johan, who was just returning, was puzzled to see the servant address Jyanina and then retreat. Since Jyanina had no particr connection to the Vynashchtym nobles, why would someone approach her first? ¡°We exchanged brief greetings.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t she understand the ancient imperialnguage? Then how. . .?¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan was sharper than Jyanina had thought. Caught right away, Jyanina blushed and said, ¡°Actually, he just said something over there and left on his own. . .¡± ¡°He must have thought you were too shy to reply.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± Jyanina was relieved. It was good that the other party misunderstood like that. It counted as saving face, didn¡¯t it? ¡®???????? ?????? ????, ???????????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ????, ?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°I wonder why he spoke to you in the first ce.¡± Johan approached the Vynashchtym knights. When the knight from the Holy Empire fluently addressed them in the ancient imperialnguage, they were surprised but willingly answered. After Johan introduced himself, the knights were astonished. ¡°Has His Majesty employed Count you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Johan was not just a foreign noble, but a captain of the imperial guard appointed by the emperor. This position, meaning ¡°the one who wields the sword¡± in the ancient imperialnguage, was an honorable and symbolic one. Even the proud and prideful young nobles from all over Vynashchtym had no choice but to be courteous. However, their eyes shed withpetitiveness, caution, and jealousy. ¡°I will also go hunting for the beast. It will be a good match.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± When Johan said he would participate, their eyes grew even hotter. ¡°. . .In this hunt, I will show you how honorable the banner of the Order of St. Guntsalva is. Even you will have to admit it, Your Excellency.¡± They were already in front of the emperor after all. They could not afford to be judged inferior to an outsider. The knights were determined to make Johan have no choice but to admit defeat. ¡°Well, sure. . .I look forward to it.¡± While the proper knightly response would have been to me up equally hotly to match the knights¡¯ ardent reactions, Johan had little reaction. He had already seen such reactions overflowing from the elven knights from Ens. In fact,pared to the elven knights, the nobles of Vynashchtym had rather cool blood. The Vynashchtym knights were a bit confused by Johan¡¯s unexpected reaction. It takes two hands to p after all. . . ¡°To tell the truth, while I¡¯m going hunting on His Majesty¡¯s orders, I don¡¯t expect much chance of winning. The Order of St. Guntsalva¡¯s reputation reaches even the Holy Empire, so going up against such knights in a monster hunt and expecting to win. . .how preposterous would that be?¡± Of course, the Order of St. Guntsalva¡¯s name was not actually famous at all in the Holy Empire. Even Vynashchtym¡¯s emperor was barely known, so how could the name of a mere order of knights spread so far? But no one disliked praise, and praise about honor and fame was all the sweeter. Compared to Johan, the nobles of the Order of St. Guntsalva was just brats. While they may have been a few years older, the extent of where they had lived was just their families¡¯ fiefdoms and the area near the monastery. Such guys didn¡¯t stand a chance against Johan¡¯s glib tongue. Their expressions instantly softened. Johan¡¯s praise had melted their hearts. ¡°Is that really true?¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°That thing about the order¡¯s name spreading to the Holy Empire. . .¡± ¡°Of course. Why would I lie about something like this?¡± ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????????? ???????????????¡¯ It was so easy from the position of the liar that it was bewildering. The guys who were just shouting ¡®???? ???????????????????? ??????¡¯?? ????????!¡¯ a moment ago were now fawning like puppies. . . Of course, that was Johan¡¯s perspective, while for the young nobles knights, it was different. A foreign noble with a position recognized by the emperor was praising and extolling them. The authority was on a different dimension, and so was the effect. It was only natural for the young knights, who until now had only received praise from the serfs on their fiefdoms, to be thrilled. ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????????¡¯ ¡®???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????. ?????????????????? ?????? ????. . .!¡¯ ¡°No, you are excellent as well, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We may be familiar with the terrain here and have more experience, but you are certainly no less capable, Your Excellency.¡± Now the knights had started encouraging Johan instead. Johan nodded, keeping his expression under control. ¡°With you saying that, I¡¯m grateful. As expected, the Order of St. Guntsalva is as humble and impoverished. . .no, honorable as I had heard.¡± Johan had almost said impoverished but caught himself. In conscience that would have been somewhat true. And honestly it might have sounded sarcastic. The knights didn¡¯t notice at all and were happy. Most foreigners who came to Vynashchtym tended to be unlucky or arrogant, but this Count seemed a little different. He seems to understand honor! After that, Johan continued toying with the knights using usible words. The knights werepletely caught in his trap without even realizing it. ???????????? ¡°It seems to be a manticore.¡± ¡°!¡± The young knights of the Order of St. Guntsalvacked political sense, but they certainly had a lot of experience hunting monsters. Just from listening to the castle servants¡¯ chatter, they were able to guess what kind of monster it was. ¡°How did you figure it out? I didn¡¯t think they would tell you stuff like that?¡± ¡°Hmm. Well. They spoke well so I asked them nicely.¡± ¡°???¡± The centaurs were perplexed. The nobles here in Vynashchtym were a bit. . .lenient? Or if not lenient, then foolish, or they had some custom of sharing information about prey. The manticore. It was one of the more violent and threatening monster beasts that appeared from time to time. A hideous human face, the body of arge beast, devil-like wings on its back, and a tail with sharp, venomous barbs that glinted dangerously. It was like all the threatening aspects of nature gathered together and fused into one creature. And its personality was even more wicked than its physical form. Extremely violent, cunning and cruelty incarnate. ¡°A manticore! We¡¯ve never hunted one before.¡± The centaurs shouted in eager and tense voices. Manticores had never appeared around where they lived. ¡°Have those knights hunted one before?¡± ¡°No. The young ones say they haven¡¯t. But there are records in the monastery that they n to follow.¡± For most people, encountering a monster like a manticore once in their life was considered a lot. It wasn¡¯t strange that the young knightscked experience. Fortunately, the monastery recorded everything. Records of battles with previous generations of knights became weapons forter knights. ¡°Your Excellency. Please give the order! We will follow.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .I was going to see what the knight b*stards nned to do first.¡± ¡°. . .Yes?¡± The centaurs were perplexed. Was this not Johan who ripped off a troll¡¯s arm and strangled a werewolf to death? Why was he speaking so weakly? ¡°Um, aren¡¯t you afraid they¡¯ll die?¡± ¡°Since we know so little about the beast, I wanted to see them fight it once.¡± ¡°But what if they get caught?¡± ¡°If they get caught, there¡¯s nothing that can be done. But since they¡¯re also inexperienced, I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll catch them that easily.¡± The centaurs nodded. A manticore from legend wasn¡¯t something you could catch just by reading a record once. It would probably take chasing it several times to figure it out. ¡°I was startled because I thought you were injured, Your Excellency. When you opened the gates, I thought you had overexerted yourself and were hurt. . .¡± ¡°What did you think happened?¡± ???????????? ¡°Mercenaries.¡± The Knights of St. Guntsalva were not fools. Of course they seemed a bit foolish in Johan¡¯s eyes, but that was just how most young, inexperienced knights were. . . Even though they had never caught a manticore, the fact that they had experience hunting various monsters was a great weapon. There is a difference between a knight who has hunted monsters before and one who hasn¡¯t. Thus, the knights¡¯ movements were systematic and seasoned. First of all, their skill in recruiting nearby mercenaries showed this. ¡®???? ?????????? ????????????.¡¯ He wondered if there was really any need to hire them when they weren¡¯t professional monster hunters, but in fact the knights didn¡¯t expect them to fulfill such a role. Payingrge sums to hire mercenaries was ultimately to use them as arrow fodder. To a monster, nobles and mercenaries are both equally appetizing prey. ¡°They look dissatisfied.¡± ¡°I wonder if the knights properly exined things to the mercenaries?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like it.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a fair deal.¡± The emperor looked at the dozens of mercenaries setting up camp with dissatisfaction. The knights¡¯ displeasure made him even more dissatisfied. ¡°Should we go tell them?¡± ¡°No. . .we can¡¯t do that.¡± But regardless of his dissatisfaction, taking the mercenaries¡¯ side was a different matter. Meddling and earning the knights¡¯ ire would be madness. ¡°Hmm. No, I think it might not be so bad to tell them.¡± ¡°???¡± The emperor was confused by Johan¡¯s words. What was he thinking, telling the mercenaries? ¡°If it causes bigger problems somehow. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s only if you directly tell them and get directly caught.¡± ¡°Even you can¡¯t get too friendly with the mercenaries. You¡¯ll only get misunderstood. Stop.¡± Just as nobles looked down on mercenaries, mercenaries didn¡¯t trust nobles much either. Johan could only get misunderstood if he tried to show kindness. And weren¡¯t mercenaries originally endlessly greedy? They were betrayers, even when shown consideration. ¡°Just watch.¡± Johan dismounted his horse and walked over to where the mercenaries were. The emperor watched with slightly tense eyes. The mercenaries looked at Johan with confusion and wariness. Of course they would be on guard when a man who looked like a high noble or knight approached them openly. ¡®??????, ???????? ???? ???????? ?? ????????.¡¯ The emperor grumbled to himself. Those mercenary fools wouldn¡¯t fall for an approach like this. ¡°. . .?!¡± However, after a short while, the mercenaries burst into snickeringughter, pping and pping their knees as they guffawed. Johan must have said something quite funny. Johan sat down naturally among them as if he were one of the mercenaries and started chattering away. Passing mercenaries also plopped down, wondering what he was talking about. ¡®???? ????????. . .???????????¡¯ The emperor rubbed his eyes. No matter how he looked, this seemed like magic. How did he integrate so easily among the difficult mercenaries? ???????????? ¡°Wow, Count is the first noble I¡¯ve met so generous and open-minded. Are all the nobles from the Holy Empire like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a bit exceptionally tolerant, I¡¯d say.¡± At first nce, Johan¡¯s remark could seem arrogant. But to the mercenaries who already liked him, it was merely amusing. They nodded in agreement, tittering away. ¡°By the by, you¡¯ve been hired by the knights. . .what did they tell you?¡± ¡°Huh? To hunt monsters and scout ahead.¡± The knights hadn¡¯t told the mercenaries their true quarry was Manticore. Half would have deserted instantly, and the other half demanded ten times the price. . . iming they hunted an unknown monster was disclosure enough. Using mercenaries in such a way was standard practice, after all. Chapter 178: ???????? ?????????????? (5) Chapter 178: ???????? ?????????????? (5) ¡°Today I will rest well and starting tomorrow I will thoroughly dig into the prices.¡± ¡°I see. Have you caught many monsters before?¡± ¡°Not many.¡± The captain of the Minema mercenary group received a request from the order of knights to go hunting, so he came running after recruiting several more nearby. Although there were several new recruits whose skills were not yet verified, the mercenaries who were used to working together were decent enough. Even those who did not professionally hunt, it was rare for a mercenary to not have caught a monster at least once before. ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan was someone who learned directly from a ranger-turned-hunter from the Eastern region. Just looking at the mercenaries¡¯ preparation, he could estimate their capabilities to an extent. Hunters going after monsters, especially monsters whose identity is unknown, basically wear light clothing and minimize any noisy equipment. nging metal armor was prohibited. Monsters can quickly detect such noises. In addition, to eliminate scent, they burn animal feces or use various herbs, but these mercenaries did not seem well prepared in that regard.¡®?????????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????????, ?????????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ It was not particrly unusual. Mercenaries who specialized exclusively in hunting monsters were a rare breed, and mercenaries typically took on any profitable job that came their way. Besides, hunting humans tended to be easier than hunting monsters. ¡°It¡¯s good that you have experience. I was thinking of doing reconnaissance myself as well, so it¡¯ll be reassuring to have you along.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯reing along, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°Is that a problem?¡± ¡°No, not at all. . .¡± The captain was hesitant. Of course this count was more casual than other nobles, but he was still a count. There was toorge a gap in status from the mercenaries. He was worried that if something happened while they were together and his subordinates made a mistake or acted rudely, their heads would roll along with the count¡¯s. ¡°Could it be you don¡¯t trust my abilities?¡± ¡°Oh no, of course not! Absolutely not.¡± When Johan spoke like this, the captain had nothing more to say. He had no choice but to say it was fine for Johan toe along. ¡°Why are you so nervous about this?¡± ¡°Dealing with these foolish men. . . Gather around. Listen carefully to my instructions from now on. First, do not speak to the count first.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± A fist flew at the clueless new recruit. The captain spoke again. ¡°Second, do not speak to the count first.¡± ¡°Is the third the same too?¡± ¡°A bit different. Never speak to the count first no matter what. If someone speaks to him first while drunk, I will personally strangle them to death.¡± While the mercenary captain was nervous about the count joining them, the other mercenaries did not take it so gravely. Besides, considering Johan¡¯s amiable attitude from their recent conversation, it did not seem like he would give them a hard time during the reconnaissance either. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why he¡¯s being like that to the nice-looking Count.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so naive. When dealing with nobles, you always have to be careful. Well, this count is a bit more lenient.¡± ???????????? ¡°Your Excellency. Why do you associate with such lowly men?¡± The St. Guntsalva knights were flustered and tried to stop Johan. They were not flustered at the thought of using the mercenaries as decoys. Even if they were caught, the nobles would blink at them and say ¡®?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ What flustered them was that Johan would join the reconnaissance with the mercenaries. As a noble, was it not proper to leisurely wait until receiving a report of discovery, then make a move to hunt? ¡°My subordinates are skilled at tracking monster trails. It would be much faster for me to take action directly rather than leave it all to those mercenaries. More than anything, if left only to those mercenary men, things may not go well. It would be better in many ways for me to issue orders directly.¡± ¡°Uh. . .¡± ¡®???? ???? ?????????????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????¡¯ There were rumors of nobles from the Holy Empire moving together with their hired mercenaries, even joining foreheads to confer or fight, but seeing it in person was fascinating. The knights pleaded onest time. ¡°Your Excellency. To be honest, we don¡¯t even know how well those mercenaries can fight, and if a skirmish urs they likely won¡¯t be of much help. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just wait?¡± ¡°It¡¯s irrelevant if those mercenary men all flee, since my subordinates are still with me.¡± Johan had his reasons for taking this approach. But it was not to protect the abandoned mercenaries. . . it was to find the manticore first. If the mercenaries were left alone, regardless of how torn to shreds the mercenaries were, once the manticore was discovered a report would be submitted to the knights. Out of courtesy, Johan¡¯s party would then have to wait for their turn. But by joining forces first, if they discovered it before submitting a report, they couldunch a preemptive strike and deal with it then and there. The knights would likely panic if they heard this idea, but given the opportunity, Johan also intended to take down the manticore or anything else they discovered immediately. ¡®?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????????????, ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ????????????.¡¯ Besides, the mercenaries were warriors bearing arms nheless. With many whom Johan could exploit, there was little downside that he could see. The knights withdrew at Johan¡¯s firm statement. Or at least, that was what Johan believed. In fact, they scurried to inform the Emperor. ¡°Your Majesty. Please order Count Yeats to refrain. We fear he may get hurt associating needlessly with those mercenaries.¡± ¡°. . .Since when were they so close. . .?¡± ¡°Is it not a knight¡¯s virtue to respect honorable nobles, Your Majesty?¡± Watching the knights speak so solemnly, the Emperor could only feel bewildered. ???????????? ¡°There are rumors of a manticore.¡± ¡°What???????¡± As soon as they left the base and got some distance away, Johan quietly told the mercenary captain what they were chasing. The mercenary captain was horrified. ¡°A manticore?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s best to keep your voice down. Newer mercenaries might run away.¡± ¡°Oh no. . .¡± He had heard that there was an unidentified monster, but he thought it would be something like a wild boar or a wolf, or a water spirit or a swamp spirit. But a manticore? For mercenaries, it didn¡¯t matter if they could hunt the monster or not. What mattered was how dangerous the monster was, and how much it liked to kill people. And manticores were known for their love of killing people. ¡®?????? ???? ?? ??*??????????. . .¡¯ Even if they were nobles, it was only natural for a man to be angry when he was tricked. The mercenary captain gritted his teeth at the thought of being taken advantage of. If Johan hadn¡¯t been there, he would have cursed right away. ¡°I didn¡¯t know. What do you think we should do?¡± ¡°How do I do. . . what do you want me to do? I have to look hard.¡± A lie was a lie, and a contract was a contract. If you don¡¯t work after getting paid, rumors will spread. And before the rumors spread, the nobles could have held them ountable and punished them. . . Mercenary work was originally like this. In the process, such misfortunes also happen. Even in this situation, if you¡¯re lucky, you might survive. ¡°Even in this situation, you don¡¯t run away. Impressive.¡± ¡°No. . . it¡¯s natural.¡± In fact, it was that he couldn¡¯t escape, but still it felt good to be praised. Moreover, if the other party was a count, it was even more so. He was already grateful for letting him know It was a Manticore, anyway. The mercenary captain swore allegiance to Johan in his heart. Unlike those untrustworthy Knights Order guys, this cunt seemed like a truthful noble who knew honor. ¡°The Knights Order people were too much.¡± ¡°No. . .¡± ¡°You can speakfortably to me.¡± ¡°Those guys, weren¡¯t they too much??¡± ¡®??????¡¯?? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ The mercenary captain took out all the rumors, true or not, cursing the Knights Order. Not only did those who took vows of poverty in monasteries enjoy luxurious lives, but they also embezzled taxes that should have been paid up. . . ¡°Oh. Tell me more.¡± Johan was excited and urged the captain. It was not easy to get these disgraces just by catching the Knights Order or their servants and asking them. In order to spill it out like this, one had to be well-versed in local rumors and harbor resentment. Johan remembered it piece by piece so as not to forget and use itter. ¡°Do you know how the Knights Order guys catch monsters?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard they use weapons enchanted with magic, but I¡¯ve never seen them myself.¡± Johan was refreshed by the usible remark. If it was magic passed down for generations in the Knights Order, he was curious. If it was true, it would be the kind of magic that could damage monsters as well. ¡°Your Excellency. Something is wrong.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t hear the cry of birds, even if it¡¯s not manticore, you should be cautious.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Johan nodded at the centaurs¡¯ report. Jyanina had said this beforeing here. ©¥?????????????? ?? ?????????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????. ©¥?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ????. ©¥ . . .?????? ??*?????????? ?????? ?? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????, ???? ???? ???????????? ???????? ????????????, ???? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ??????????. ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ????????????, ?????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ????????. ©¥???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ????????????? ©¥????????????????. ©¥????????????????? ??????¡¯???? ?????? ????????? ©¥?????????????? ??¡¯???? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ??????????. . . ?? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ???????????????? ???????? ????????. . . Jyanina was not confident, but Johan took her opinion highly. Monsters were basically impatient. Manticores even more so. ¡°Can I get some water? My throat is dry.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The centaurs guarding the surroundings and the mercenary captain looked at the clueless mercenary with incredulous eyes. Going to the waterside for water in this situation. He was brave in his ignorance. When there were many colleagues, it was easy to mistakenly think that one would not die. But a person could be killed by a single arrow. It was even more so when dealing with monsters. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see what happens. Get ready to shoot arrows.¡± Johan picked up his spear and the centaurs inserted short arrows into their quivers. There were quite a few trees, but there were not many leaves, so it was impossible to ambush from any direction. If a manticore came out, they would be able to spot it first. The mercenary approached the stream and started drinking water. At that moment, a pir of water erupted. ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????????!¡¯ Johan admired the manticore¡¯s trick and threw his spear. Although it was not clearly visible, it didn¡¯t matter anyway since the beast¡¯s bulk would be there. The centaurs seemed to think the same way and fired arrows. ¡°Ahhhhhhh!¡± The mercenary screamed, not even knowing what had appeared. He managed to grab his dagger and threw it. But the Manticore¡¯s skin didn¡¯t have a single scratch. It was the same with the arrows the centaurs shot. ¡°The thing¡¯s skin is much tougher than I thought. Aim for the eyes!¡± The centaurs had faced many monsters with tough skin many times. They were not startled by some arrows bouncing off. ¡°W-What is that! It¡¯s a monster!¡± ¡°What the hell kind of monster is it!¡± The mercenaries looked at the Manticore in horror. It was so ugly they couldn¡¯t even figure out what kind of monster it was right away. Just then, Johan¡¯s spear flew at the Manticore¡¯s neck. The Manticore nimbly rose up and grabbed the spear shaft with its thick ws. Then it mmed it into the ground with astounding solidity and strength. ©¥?????? ???????????? ?? ?????? ??????????? ?????? ???????????? ?? ?????? ???????????¡± The human face on the Manticore¡¯s head made an awkward and eerie voice. If a Siren lures men with a sweet voice, the Manticore had exactly the opposite kind of voice. The mercenaries¡¯ faces turned white as sheets as they trembled violently. ©¥?????? ???????????? ?? ?????? ??????©¥ The Manticore¡¯s head exploded, blood spurting like a fountain. Its huge, ugly body shook violently before copsing. Its thick, sharp tail with lethal venom didn¡¯t have the strength to move. ¡°Lucky.¡± Johan said as he lowered the Giant yer. After throwing his spear and shooting arrows, Johan immediately erased his presence and went around to the side. The arrogant Manticore was so focused on its prey it didn¡¯t notice Johan stealthily approaching from the side. The result was instant death. It probably didn¡¯t expect that it couldn¡¯t withstand a single hit from Johan either. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The mercenaries looked at Johan with astonished expressions. Chapter 179: ???????? ?????????????? (6) Chapter 179: ???????? ?????????????? (6) Only then did the mercenaries understand why Johan had said he would lead them. That count was confident he could catch it, which is why he said that! In the way he calmly examined the manticore¡¯s corpse while holding an oddly huge warhammer, the dignified bearing of an experienced knight that could never be shown after hunting monsters just once or twice could be glimpsed. ¡®???? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?? ??????????. . .!¡¯ ¡°Is it dead?¡± ¡°It¡¯s dead. Fortunately, the thing was more stupid than I thought. Many would have died if it had thrashed around.¡± ¡°I worry that if I stay with Your Excellency, my hands will be numb. If you take them down like that alone, when will we ever get a chance to step up?¡± The centaursined. Originally, monster hunting wasn¡¯t about knocking them down in one blow like this. It was about chasing the enemy, gradually injuring it and weakening it.That process was long and dangerous, but it was a process warriors who went hunting had to naturally endure. And it¡¯s through experiencing that that a warrior grows more. But to sneak up from behind and smash its face like this. . . ¡°Should I bring the dead one back to life then?¡± ¡°Ah, why do you say that? I onlyined a little.¡± ¡°Frankly, it¡¯s better that a thing like manticore was dealt with quickly, Your Excellency. Who knows what nonsense it could have stirred up if left alone.¡± The centaurs skillfully cated him as they approached manticore. Euclyia stabbed manticore¡¯s neck and chest to peel off its skin. Its muscles were so incredibly steel-like that it wasn¡¯t easy. ¡°Can we eat its organs?¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably poisonous so I don¡¯t think you should.¡± The centaurs, who would have normally torn out the liver or lungs, were dealing with manticore for the first time as well. Rather than eating something unknown and getting hurt, they chose safety. That being the case, although they had caught it with such effort, there wasn¡¯t much left that was worth taking. Its head was crushed, its skin that had looked so splendid wasn¡¯t actually that good without the muscr body underneath it. . . ¡°But its sinews are good.¡± ¡°And its ws are hard and sharp too. They might be useful.¡± ¡°Be careful extracting the stingers on its back. Gotta drain the poison.¡± The centaurs were skilled at handling poison. The toxins from monsters were much more powerful and deadly than herbs that grew in nature. Johan asked with interest as well. ¡°Save me some poison if you extract it.¡± ¡°What. . . why does Your Excellency need poison?¡± The centaurs asked, seemingly baffled. Why use poison when you have good weapons? The mercenaries observing on the side were anxious. No matter how generous the count was, the centaurs were being too brazen, it seemed. Besides, the Johan who joked around with the mercenaries and the Johan who smashed the manticore¡¯s body while holding a warhammer felt like twopletely different people. However, Johan didn¡¯t get angry at the centaurs even once and wrapped up. Only then did he look back at the mercenaries. ¡°Take care of the corpse. We should head back to camp.¡± ¡°Y-Yes! We¡¯ll move right now!¡± From the quick-witted mercenaries to the obtuse ones, from the most senior mercenary to the greenest, they became one body and yelled out simultaneously while moving. They hastily took the manticore¡¯s body and then ran ahead in front. ¡°Why are you all in such a hurry? You can go slowly.¡± ¡°Sorry! We¡¯ll move faster!¡± ¡°No, I said you can move slowly. . .¡± ¡°Sorry! We¡¯ll stop!¡± ¡°Am I speaking unclearly right now?¡± It was good that the mercenaries were tense but they seemed too tense. They were treating Johan as if he were a monster wearing a human mask. ¡°Your Excellency, Your Excellency,¡± Euclyia whispered into Johan¡¯s ear. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about managing people but I think it¡¯d be good if you washed the blood off that warhammer first before talking, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Only then did Johan realize he was still holding the warhammer. To the mercenaries, he must have looked scary enough to piss themselves. ???????????? Whether it was fear or anything else, loyalty was a good thing. The mercenary captain had never seen mercenaries who didn¡¯t look away even once and tried their best like this while running around as mercenaries so far. Originally, mercenaries were the kind of people who really didn¡¯t listen to a single word among many. While others were plowing fields and raising pigs in their hometowns, the ones who ran out alone, holding a weapon in one hand and a few coppers in the other, bragging about how great they were, it was even stranger if they listened well. Most of them were arrogant with unfounded confidence, even new recruits who had never caught a single goblin before. Nevertheless, one of the three mercenaries now was a newly hired guy, but he didn¡¯tin at all and sweated profusely as he moved his feet. Originally there should have been wordsing slowly from behind like ¡°Damn it, let¡¯s take a break¡± or ¡°You¡¯re the mercenary captain? I¡¯ve participated in battles three times too.¡± ¡°Are you really okay without taking a break?¡± The centaurs and Johan were riding horses, but the mercenaries were not. It looked very unusual to see them desperately running through the uncleared forest. ¡°It¡¯s okay! It¡¯s okay!¡± ¡°I can move more!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t those guys going to kick the bucket if they keep doing that?¡± One of the centaurs muttered in a low voice. ¡°If they kick the bucket, should we tie them up and drag them?¡± ¡°We wouldn¡¯t have to carry them on our backs, would we?¡± ¡°Are you crazy? The count would never give us such an insult. He¡¯ll just leave them in the woods.¡± ¡°Yeah, right.¡± While Johan was worrying about whether he should tie them up or abandon them if they suddenly kick the bucket, the mercenaries¡¯ forced march brought unexpected results. ¡°. . .Why is the atmosphere like this?¡± Johan frowned. Something was wrong with the atmosphere near the barracks. Soldiers were running around busily everywhere, and the groans of the wounded leaked from inside. ¡°What happened? Is Your Majesty okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Before the frightened soldier could answer, the emperor came out from inside when he heard that Johan and the mercenaries had returned. Seeing that Johan was unharmed, the emperor sighed in relief. ¡°Were you worried? You didn¡¯t believe in my skills.¡± ¡°Is that something to say now?¡± The emperor asked back as if he was absurd at Johan¡¯s words. Apparently the young count didn¡¯t know what had happened. Originally, when Johan volunteered to catch the manticore, the emperor was not too worried. ording to Johan¡¯s im, he had hunted several strong monsters before, and the emperor had seen Johan¡¯s skills with his own eyes, which were simply tremendous. With that level, even if the opponent was a manticore, it wouldn¡¯t be so dangerous, he judged. However, that idea was immediately reversed. Thanks to witnessing the manticore himself. ¡°Did the manticoree here?¡± ¡°Yes. It came and went on a rampage.¡± While Johan was away, the manticore attacked the camp and left. The soldiers and guards were not weak enough to hand over the emperor to the manticore, but it was enough just to see it from a distance. It toyed with the soldiers like a lion mauling a flock of sheep. The spears stabbed by the soldiers could not prate its thick skin, and every time the manticore breathed out, the soldiers¡¯ faces turned blue as they screamed. If the knights had not charged in anger, the damage would have been much greater. Although the St. Guntsalva knights were arrogant, cocky, and did not listen to the emperor well, still they were knights after all. There were none who fled at the sight of a monster. Wearing armor and grasping spears, they charged at the manticore as if to prove something. ¡°So did you catch it?¡± ¡°Would we be like this if we caught it?¡± The emperor answered in a dissatisfied voice. One look and you could tell they didn¡¯t catch it. Although the spears of the knights pierced the manticore¡¯s skin and inflicted wounds, that was it. They failed to prate deep into the muscles. The wounded manticore raged violently as if to prove they had just yed with it until now. It rushed in like crazy. In an instant, the knights were smashed, shattered and blown away. Every time its ws shed, shields were severed and armor was torn. Even while rampaging like that, it did not lose its wit. It seemed to notice the soldiers gathering around it, so it quickly retreated after seeing enough blood. Carrying several injured knights on its back, holding some in its front paws, and some in its mouth. ¡°As if saying, ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ????????, ???????????? ????¡¯ right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably it. Of course we¡¯re not stupid enough to follow it. I didn¡¯t want the knights to get hurt so badly, although they were annoying. . .¡± The emperor clicked his tongue. The manticore was much stronger than he thought. He wondered if he should call the wizards from the imperial pce or summon hunters separately. ¡°How was the search?¡± ¡°Um. We did catch a manticore.¡± ¡°I see. You caught a manticore. . . what?¡± The emperor, who had asked without much thought, doubted his ears. They caught one? ¡°We found a manticore lying in ambush during our search and caught it. I guess there were two.¡± ¡°You caught what??¡± ¡°Look back there. The mercenaries are bringing it.¡± The emperor turned his head quickly. As Johan said, the mercenaries were dragging the corpse of a huge monster. Although the head was missing and could not be seen, the body was definitely that of a manticore. ¡°You caught the manticore?¡± ¡°No way. . . *gasp*.¡± The soldiers around them also gasped when they saw the manticore¡¯s corpse. Those who saw it directly could all feel it. This is a real manticore! ¡°Hey. How did you catch it? How did you guys do it?¡± The soldiers did not dare to ask Johan or the centaurs, but grabbed the harmless mercenaries and asked. The mercenaries felt good as the soldiers, who usually bragged about their rank and authority, mored and asked like this. ¡°He was nothing special. An easy target for us.¡± ????????????! ¡°Ugh. . .¡± ¡°Who does this mercenary punk think he is. . .to make light of a captain¡¯s name? Can¡¯t even speak properly?¡± They immediately let the mercenary know his ce for acting arrogantly. This was a military base and the mercenaries were just hired hands. Even a mercenary captain would be lower ranked than a soldier, let alone a regr mercenary. ¡°H-His Excellency the count caught him.¡± ¡°With what? How?¡± ¡°Swung his warhammer and took him out in one blow. . .¡± The mercenary made a decapitation gesture and said. This angered the soldiers even more. Theirrades were already injured and bedridden, and he still dared to spout nonsense. ¡°This won¡¯t do. Bring me a whip.¡± ¡°Ah, no, I¡¯m telling the truth! Really! It¡¯s true!¡± ¡°They don¡¯t seem to be lying. Leave them be.¡± The passing centaurs interjected. The mercenaries were moved to tears. ¡°R-Really?¡± ¡°Are you saying the count is lying then, huh?¡± The centaurs were even more hot-tempered than the soldiers. Seeing them immediately reach for their swords, the soldiers panicked and shouted. ¡°No, no!¡± ¡°Watch your mouth. You Vynashchtym punks. And don¡¯t forget to spread the word. . . of the great Yeats family¡¯s name. . .¡± While the centaurs prattled on, Johan called out from afar. ¡°What¡¯re you doing? Aren¡¯t youing?¡± ¡°Ah, yes! Coming! We¡¯reing now!¡± ???????????? The knights¡¯ faces were covered with humiliation, shame, frustration, despair and agony. Johan had wanted to prod the mercenary captain about the tax evasion case he heard about, but the other¡¯s expression was so stiff that it was hard to bring up. ¡®???????????? ???? ???????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????????????. . .¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I was just lucky.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it up to God whether an attack can hit one¡¯s vital point or not? Don¡¯t be like that.¡± Despite Johan¡¯s constion, the knights could not raise their heads. The emperor found the sight both absurd and unbelievable. He had wanted to take them down a peg, but not like this. ¡°I. . . I am not qualified to be a knight. I¡¯m just trash.¡± ¡°Why say that? It was just bad luck.¡± ¡°Myrade fell and I couldn¡¯t charge. . . I¡¯m just ashamed in front of St. Guntsalva.¡± ¡°Not blindly charging against a stronger opponent is the act of a wise man.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not qualified as a knight. . .¡± ¡°Oh, stop your whining. Annoyingly whiny.¡± ¡°??!¡± Chapter 180: ???????? ?????????????? (7) Chapter 180: ???????? ?????????????? (7) The emperor looked at Johan with a bewildered expression. His eyes seemed to say ?. Of course, the emperor was also very dissatisfied with the stiff nobles of the Order of St. Guntzalva, but he did not insult them to their faces. So there was nothing good about it. What does he mean by saying that in front of them? No matter how defeated a knight is, he should draw his sword and. . . . . .Im sorry. ??! Instead of drawing his sword, the knight next to him apologized, making the emperor even more dumbfounded. Where did the arrogant guy who said in front of the emperor go, is this the group talking so calmly? He seemed like a different knight. Count! Isnt what you said too harsh! Sir Leocos is not whining!There were not only Johan and the knights who were chattering, but also those with rtively high status among the Order of St. Guntzalva were in the tent. In fact, except for the leader, the organization of the Order was an almost equal organization. Since most of the knights were of noble origin, there was no one giving orders to anyone. Therefore, the fame of the family or the length of the career became proof of status within the knight order. When Sir Leocos was insulted, the knights who had not talked with Johan reacted as if it was their own matter. No, its not the counts fault. Thats right. The count didnt mean any harm, so you shouldnt misunderstand. . . .??!?! Starting with Sir Leocos himself, the other knights took Johans side. The angry knight shut his mouth in frustration. Ill give you a chance to clear your dishonor. You just have to chase down and dispose of the fleeing Manticore. The people present shuddered. It was something everyone had thought in their heads but no one dared say out loud. The Order of St. Guntzalva, who were arrogant enough about hunting monsters, were beyond their imagination when it came to manticores. The techniques and visions they had honed copsedpletely in front of a mere monster. But Johan was different. As if the rumors that he hunted Manticores were true, he confidently suggested catching another one without any fear. Its just a monster after all. If you know how to catch it, its not that scary. . . .I will go with you! I will regain the honor of the Order! Before the knights knew it, they shouted as they sprang from their seats. As if their previous fear was a lie, the knights grew passionate. . The emperor shook his head from side to side. Get off your horses and walk. As the knights were of noble origin, they brought with them several horses and servants. Riding a horse was a kind of privilege. However, Johan said they had to get off their horses and walk. If we meet the Manticore, the horses will be startled. It would be good if we dont get thrown off. Youre right. Having already experienced it, the knights did notin about Johans words. A knight should be able to fight even when dismounted. The mercenaries. . . have copsed from fatigue. The mercenaries were exhausted from carrying corpses and forced marching. They could not be brought along again. How about asking His Majesty to conscript some soldiers? Unlike you who care about honor, the soldiers are more likely to run away in fear. You saw the chaos back then. The knights made embarrassed expressions and looked proud. Of course, Johan did not say this to please the knights. . The situation was different from when he took the centaurs and mercenaries to hunt. Back then, the purpose was reconnaissance, and the opponent did not know much about Johan. In the worst case, he thought the damage woulde from among the mercenaries. But now, the opponent was openly waiting for them. The likelihood of damage had increased. He did not want to take his men or the emperors imperial guards to such a ce. , . Are the servants not enough? Although called servants, the servants who followed the knights were practically half retainers. They were also decently armed and knew how to fight fairly well. They were better than mediocre mercenaries or conscripts. If its your servants, I can trust their skills. No, theyre not that good. Ahem. Johan was about to ept the proposal to boost the knights morale, but he flinched. He had a thought that suddenly came to mind. Ask for the prisoners? Wont it be bad to use them? Of course it will be bad! What if they escape? If they escape, well have to kill them. Johan was talking about the prosecutors who had been employed by the chambein and were now captured as prisoners. They were the actors and dancers from Vynashchtym who had been arrested and were being transported as prisoners because of their ties to the chambein. When the emperor frowned, Johan took a step back. If he disliked it that much, there was no need to insist on using them. If your grudge isnt resolved, forget what I just said. I dont have any grudges. Why would I harbor grudges against lowly scums? Im just questioning whether we need to use people like them. What if they stab you in the back? Oh. . . I didnt think of that. No, why didnt you think of that? Well, I didnt think they were capable of something like that. Johans words were full of absolute confidence. The emperor was overwhelmed by that confidence for a moment. Something absurd sounded convincing. I have centaurs guarding me and knights as well. Prisoners wont be able to sneak up and slit my throat no matter how skilled they are. Well. . . they may be able to escape, but theyll be caught right away if they try to escape around here. After hearing Johans exnation, the emperor had a much more convinced expression. After all, they are excellent in swordsmanship. Besides, they are prisoners so theres no room forint even if they die. Do you understand Im trying to spare the imperial guards? Im so grateful Im moved to tears. . . But are you really confident you can catch the monster? Do I have to catch the monster? . . .We do have to catch the monster but not necessarily at all costs. Johan understood what the emperor was saying. It would be great to capture the monster as a military exploit since the monster was causing havoc here, but sacrificing the knights all the way up to Johan to catch the monster was another story. I know because Ive caught the monster once. Its not so hard I cant catch the monster. Just. . . Just? Itll be hard to catch the monster alone. Since the monster is so observant, hell notice if I approach him alone. Others need to distract the monsters attention. Not too weak or else the monster will notice, but strong enough. . . .You mean the knights and the prisoners? The knights and prisoners, yes. Ill do my best to catch the monster but there may be some damage. Keep that in mind. Doesnt matter as long as you dont get hurt. Getting hurt trying to catch the likes of manticore would be foolish. The emperor had little interest in the honor or glory of knighthood. What he liked was not a knight charging in alone with a spear, but an organized army as a group. What if the knights are. . . No, they wont be dissatisfied. He was worried the knights might be dissatisfied, but on second thought it didnt seem likely. He didnt know how Johan handled them, but the knights didnt show much dissatisfaction with Johanmanding despite being an outsider. It wasnt simply because of the feat of capturing manticore. If they were the type to be so nonchnt about someone capturing manticore when they themselves failed, it would have been much easier to deal with them. . . . What are you thinking? I was briefly worried the knights might be dissatisfied. Well have to be careful about that. . Tell the prisoners their crimes will be pardoned and theyll be released if they distinguish themselves. Do we have to? Is that okay? We need them to fight harder. This much I can promise them at least. To Johan, going after the monster himself but not even keeping this promise was not just a matter of pride but conscience. Johan nodded at the emperors words. He had no reason to decline if it was offered. On a moonlit night, bless water filled in a silver chalice positioned to capture the moons reflection. Let it boil and wait until. . . Johan was listening very seriously to the knights vision. The vision of the Order of St. Gonsalvo was also something Johan wanted to know. Although it wasnt enough to suffocate the manticores, the tips of their spears pierced the muscles and inflicted wounds. It was powerful enough magic. . . .after singing the hymn three times and praying, weapons blessed by God for about a week, bing extremely sharp. I see. Are the spears and swords youre holding now blessed in that way? Yes. Johan thought it seemed like pagan magic, but he didnt say it out loud out of consideration for the knights. Count, thank you for the opportunity. Whether it bes an opportunity or not remains to be seen. Have you seen the manticore going wild? The muscr prosecutors shook their heads. The prisoners were tied up behind them, so they hadnt seen the manticore directly. If they had seen them directly, they would have been much more afraid and terrified. You mainly use shortswords? Yes. I can use other swords too, but I mainly use shortswords. They knew how to use several swords, but these actor-turned-prosecutors were most ustomed to one-handed swords. Johan held up small shields one by one. No need to inflict wounds, just attract its attention and dodge its body. Youre confident in your movements, right? The prosecutors smiled confidently. It was a smile that said they could show it if given the opportunity. At the banquet, they were surrounded without even having a chance to draw a sword, but the people here were confident in their swordsmanship. Even against the count in front of them, they were confident they could win in a one-on-one sword fight. Of course, Your Excellency! Count, dont you think those guys are being a bit arrogant? Seeing the bragging prosecutors, the centaurs had displeased expressions. The Silk Corridor prosecutors had sturdy builds, which did not seem very trustworthy to the centaurs. They may boast about their superior swordsmanship, but what good would that do against monsters? No matter how much they practiced swords with other humans, fighting monsters was apletely different matter. You think theyll run away? Thats not what I meant. . . Oh, of course, they might run away if a monster appears. Since their purpose is just to attract its attention anyway, dont be too harsh on them. As long as they dodge quickly, thats good enough. Johan did not have high expectations for the knights or prosecutors here. While they were thinking of ways to inflict wounds on the manticore , what was the point of doing that? The only chance was for Johan to get an opportunity to strike it down. If he grabbed that chance just once, he could suffocate it. Alright, stop here. It wasnt difficult to track the target. It had left a clear trail, as if inviting them to follow. Moreover, as they got closer. . . Chapter 181: ???????? ?????????????? (8) Chapter 181: ???????? ?????????????? (8) Johan wasn¡¯t so sure about this course of action either. Although he had learned a lot about monsters as a hunter, he didn¡¯t know everything about every monster. Still, he knew ferocious monsters often shared certain traits, so he tried to exploit those weaknesses. He didn¡¯t have much to lose by trying, and it proved surprisingly effective. The manticore had probably never been provoked by a human before. It seemed really pissed off. ¡°Your excellency is amazing!¡± The knights of St. Guntsalva shouted in awe, drawing their weapons. Johan¡¯s unbelievable wisdom had given them courage. When facing the manticore, its intelligence, ferocity, or lethal physique weren¡¯t the most difficult things to ovee. However powerful a monster it was, it would have trouble easily fighting dozens of well-armed, trained humans. The hardest thing about facing the manticore was the fear it provoked. Facing a monster they had never encountered before was terrifying. Even veteran knights would freeze up and tremble unless they had exceptionally strong spirits. That trauma still lingered among the knights. But when Johan lured out the manticore with blood and words, it seemed to wash away. What stood before them was not an invincible monster, but a mere monster. ¡°Strike it down! Avenge yourrades!¡± ¡°In St. Guntsalva¡¯s name, charge!¡± The knights charged fearlessly, gripping their spears and swords. Their courage, regained, made them bold. The manticore, which had been charging at them, faltered in the face of their unexpected attack. It reared up threateningly, looking around to assess the situation. ¡°I told you to draw its attention, not to charge.¡± Johan shouted in disbelief from behind them, but the knights were already stabbing it with their blessed weapons. They stabbed skillfully and then pulled back. ¡®???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????¡¯ Charging was good, but why so recklessly? If the manticore regained itsposure, half the knights would be ughtered. Seeing the reckless charge of the knights, the prosecutors¡¯ blood boiled as well, and they couldn¡¯t resist joining despite being prisoners. Moving nimbly, they targeted the manticore¡¯s vital points. ¡°. . .What are they up to?¡± ¡°Trying to get pardoned, I bet.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Come to think of it, that made sense. The emperor had promised pardons, so staying put would have been stranger. At least they had to make a show of risking their lives to earn a pardon. As a result, almost everyone present ended up charging the manticore. Lacking blessed weapons like the knights, the prosecutors had only their quick feet and sharp swordsmanship. They annoyed the manticore by targeting its wing membranes and sinister tail. Their speed even impressed the knights. But that was it. The manticore, which had paused in confusion, seemed to realize their attacks weren¡¯t that strong. It turned its head with bristling fur and a stiff, venomous tail. And a boulder flew through the air. ¡°What?!¡± The centaurs aiming arrows at the manticore¡¯s blubber and eyes gaped. A heavy boulder whizzed through the air with a whoosh. It flew swift and sharp, as ifunched from a skilled sling. The only difference was it being a giant rock rather than a stone. ¡°Oh, I see!¡± The centaurs who had been wondering earlier could now understand why Johan had said ¡°Stop here.¡± He had found a ce with many boulders to throw! With a dull thud, the manticore that was about to charge rolled to the side. A boulder had hit it squarely in the body. The manticore¡¯s body was so tough and strong that it managed to withstand the blow, but the impact was unavoidable. The knights and swordsmen who had been flinching at the manticore¡¯s counterattacks wore puzzled expressions. ¡°What the¡ª?¡± But that was just the beginning. ¡°Retreat!¡± Boulder after boulder flew through the air. Johan threw and threw and threw at the fallen manticore. The manticore screamed in pain every time it was hit. Originally, the best way to defeat the manticore would have been to approach it from behind and blow its head off in one shot. However, unlike the manticore, Johan did not overestimate himself. He thought that the manticore was also a cunning creature and might notice or suspect something. That¡¯s why he had found things that could be thrown to inflict damage. If the manticore would not allow him to approach, he had nned to knock it down this way. ¡®?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????.¡¯ The manticore was able to move around even with a spear stuck in its body, so he had chosen rocks. It seemed like a good decision. The manticore was staggering and unable to get up. ¡°What are you doing? Shoot!¡± ¡°S-Sorry!¡± The centaurs finally came to their senses and aimed at the manticore¡¯s eyes and mouth. It was unbelievable that these experienced hunters had made such a mistake. But they also had an excuse. No matter how much better rocks were than spears, where was there a human who would prepare boulders and throw them alone? Even now, as they drew back their bows, they were still stunned. ¡°Got it!¡± The centaurs roared. Poisoned arrows that smeared venom into manticore¡¯s eyes flew and pierced it. Even though it was resistant to poison, losing its eyes must have greatly weakened it. Originally, it would not have easily exposed its vital spots, but the shock from the baptism of rocks must have been great since it was still staggering. ¡°It¡¯s our chance! It has been weakened! Charge and cut off its breath!¡± ¡°Stop this foolishness and retreat!¡± One knight either did not hear Johan¡¯s words or heard them but ignored them, turned to the side of the beast with a longsword in hand. His eyes twinkled with greed for honor and achievements. ??????????! Even while falling and staggering, manticore swung its tail and pierced through the knight¡¯s body. The knight screamed as he coughed up blood and died. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to retreat?!¡± Only then did the knights seem to regain their senses as they hurriedly retreated. It was as if cold water had been poured on them upon that meaningless death. ¡°Your Excellency, it is dangerous to approach that creature. . .!¡± Even before the words were finished, Johan charged in like an arrow and smashed the bleeding manticore¡¯s head with his warhammer. With a boom, manticore¡¯s body copsed limply like a puppet whose strings had been cut. ¡°Check on that fallen knight over there.¡± ¡°He has already passed away.¡± ¡°Tch.¡± Johan clicked his tongue as if unsatisfied. He had witnessed a meaningless death. ¡°It was an honorable death, Your Excellency.¡± ¡®???????? ???? ??????.¡¯ ¡°We will mourn his death. Recover the body. The nest of those beasts is not far, go and recover any other bodies.¡± Johan did not me or reprimand the already fallen knight for not obeying orders or listening. His heart wanted to scold these knight b*stards with ¡®?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ?????????????????????¡¯ but. . . He figured it would be useless anyway no matter what he said. Knights charging recklessly on their own was a chronic problem everywhere. Johan magnanimously decided to give them credit. ¡°This achievement could never have been possible without the dedication of the Order of Knights.¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not¡­¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± A clumsy centaur tried to speak but was hit on the back of the head by hispanion and fell silent. The prisoners, who seemed to have noticed the situation, suppressed theirughter. To be honest, it was questionable whether the knights were even necessary, considering Johan¡¯s overwhelming strength. Even if only soldiers had been deployed, the damage would have been slightly reduced, but Johan would have been able to catch it. However, the knights did not realize that such a silent conversation was taking ce. They were simply moved by Johan¡¯s praise and nodded with intoxicated expressions. The heat of a fierce battle easily intoxicated the knights. They were convinced that they were in a scene from an epic. ¡°No, Your Excellency. It was possible only because you led us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Shut up, I told you.¡± Ignoring the whispers of the centaurs, Johan continued. ¡°I will give credit for the capture of the manticore today to the Order of St. Guntsalva. The body of this manticore will prove for generations toe the achievements of the knights today, so may God bless their bravery!¡± ¡°!!¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Excellency! Thank you!¡± Some knights even made the sign of the cross, overwhelmed with unexpected favor. They had not expected for him to even cede rights over the corpse. In monster hunting, the monster¡¯s body was the greatest proof of achievement that could only be taken by whoever made the biggest contribution. Nobles would have it taxidermied or painted on tapestry to pass down for generations. Despite being able to fully im it as his own, the count¡¯s gesture of goodwill moved the knights to the point tears welled up in gratitude. That count fully understood what true knightly honor was to overflowing extents. He was a foreigner but even the feudal lords of Vynashchtym could notpare in nobility. ¡°May we take the manticore corpse?¡± ¡°. . .Didn¡¯t you say there was hardly anything worthwhile? You¡¯re not saying there actually is something worthwhile now, are you?¡± Johan¡¯s expression hardened. He had shown good faith based solely on the centaurs¡¯ words. If the centaurs had said ¡®????????, ?????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ???????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ????????!¡¯ then even for centaurs he would not have let it slide. ¡°N-No. Only things like the muscles, ws, and tail are somewhat worthwhile for it.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s to that degree then fine. The outer skin I¡¯m giving to the Order is meaningless to me anyway.¡± ¡°And also the head. . .¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be helped so make do somehow.¡± The most crucial part to boast one¡¯s feat was the outer skin when preserving it for taxidermy. Things inside like the muscles, ws, and tail could be taken by Johan. The Order of Knights would not be so shameless as to be greedy over such things. There was no big deal allowing the Order the glory of taxidermy and boasting rights. Johan already had more than plenty. ???????????? It was confirmed that the second manticore¡¯s airway waspletely cut off, and a banquet was held to celebrate after the knights¡¯ corpses were recovered. In this world, banquets were held for many diverse reasons. To prove one¡¯s authority, to entertain guests, to celebrate happy events, to mourn sad events. . . The casten should havee out, but the emperor ignored it. With the emperor acting like that, no one bothered to point it out. In fact,pared to killing the monster, the casten noting out was no big deal. ¡°Thank you for speaking well, count.¡± ¡°I just said what had to be said.¡± And Johan was surrounded by several people before he could even get to his seat, receiving words of gratitude. The prisoners who participated in the raid were able to be released thanks to Johan¡¯s words. They kept bowing their heads repeatedly. ¡°When you arrive at the capital, you¡¯ll be able to tour that beautiful city, so please be sure to visit the theater.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll have the opportunity, but understood.¡± The mercenaries also came over to express their gratitude. Having heard that the manticore ran wild while they were resting after returning, the mercenaries realized how dangerous the ce was where they had stuck their necks in. If not for the count¡¯s mercy and bravery, most of them would have died. ¡°If you call, I will lead the mercenaries to participate in battle at any time.¡± ¡°And get paid?¡± ¡°Money. . . money, well. . . if I don¡¯t get paid my men will try to kill me. . . I¡¯ll scrape together all my assets.¡± ¡°I¡¯m joking. It won¡¯te to that.¡± ¡°T-Thank you, Your Excellency! And since you seem curious about the St. Guntsalva Knights, I brought a mercenary who worked there as a soldier. If you need him. . .¡± ¡°Oh. Tell him toe to my tent.¡± Only after dealing with those who couldn¡¯t find a seat was Johan able to sit next to the emperor. As the emperor personally poured drinks, he said, ¡°You really went through a lot.¡± ¡°I was lucky in many ways.¡± ¡°. . .You should be careful of those knight b*stards.¡± The emperor was worried about Johan, who was unfamiliar with Vynashchtym¡¯s customs. That¡¯s how Vynashchtym¡¯s nobles were, not easily epting outsiders¡¯ achievements. ¡°Be careful of the knights?¡± ¡°Yes. Now that the manticore b*stard¡¯s been caught, they¡¯ll show their true colors. They¡¯ll try to tear you down out of jealousy.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan tilted his head. Chapter 182: ???????? ?????????????? (9) Chapter 182: ???????? ?????????????? (9) ¡®?? ????????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????¡¯ Johan wondered. Johan did not believe the honor and conscience of the knights of the St. Guntsalva Knight Order, he just thought about what they had received. The knight order received a lot from this hunt. If Johan had not stood up, how much bigger would their damage have been, how much more embarrassing it would have been to guess. In such a situation, if the knights are going to be jealous of Johan and try to undermine him, wouldn¡¯t Johan respond if he¡¯s not an a**hole? Right before the banquet atmosphere cools down, he will yell that the knights¡¯ help was useless. The knights should know that well, so why are they doing that? ¡®?????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ?? ???????????????¡¯ Johan did not ignore the emperor¡¯s words. Although the emperor was young, wasn¡¯t he a royal who had lived in Vynashchtym all his life? He would know much better than Johan. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ????????????.¡¯ Just before the conversation with the emperor ended, a knight from the knight order approached. Looking unfamiliar without armor and wearing an expensive silk tunic with jewelry on it, the knight was closer to a nobleman than a monastery knight. ¡°Your Excellency! There was a shameful incident on this expedition. Do you know what it is?¡± ¡°Are you iming that I didn¡¯t kill the first manticore alone?¡± ¡°Yes. . .? Ah, no. What do you mean?¡± The knight was surprised and denied it. He wondered what Johan was talking about. ¡°It was really embarrassing that the knights didn¡¯t finish off the beast properly and had to move Your Excellency twice. I want to offer you a drink for your honor.¡± ¡°. . .I see.¡± Johan awkwardly epted the drink. Only mercenaries and Johan¡¯s subordinates participated in the first hunt, so he thought they would aim for that side, but it wasn¡¯t at all. The next knight came. Seeing his unfamiliar face, he was not a knight who went hunting with Johan. Come to think of it, he was the knight who was angry at Johan¡¯s rudeness at the meeting. ¡°Honorable Your Excellency. You made a mistake.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Johan grabbed the ss he was holding. The emperor saw it clearly. The shape of the solid metal ss changing. ¡®???????? ?? ?????????? ??*??????????. . .¡¯ ¡°You should have punished me for daring to intervene when you were reprimanding the other knights. Give me a punishment now!¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s over and it¡¯s a pleasant asion, how can I punish you? It seems like you¡¯re already reflecting on your own. That¡¯s enough. Go enjoy yourself.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± After that, the knights did not reallye to quarrel. They came to thank, praise honor, offer a drink, ask to visit their fiefdomter. . . As this happened repeatedly, the emperor became very embarrassed. When Johan looked at him with an expression of ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????¡¯, the emperor avoided his gaze. ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??*????????????.¡¯ The local nobles were known for their arrogance and arrogance. Pride in Vynashchtym, power established as the local tycoon for a long time. They were not so dignified even in front of the emperor, let alone outsiders. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ????????, ???????? ???????? ????????????????, ?????? ?????????? ????????. . .!¡¯ If they had been kind, polite and respectful of others from the beginning, the emperor would have been very happy. However, the guys who insulted and talked nonsense to another foreign mercenary captain in various ways a few years ago are acting like they are weing their first night. . . It felt like they could have acted politely until now but didn¡¯t, which was more irritating. I wanted to ssh alcohol on their faces. ¡°Is this some kind of trick? Will they make trickster when it gets a littlete?¡± ¡°No. Just. . . it doesn¡¯t seem like anything. Just drink.¡± ¡°What is it. Stingy.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know those guys would act like that either!¡± ¡°Or stop it, why are you angry?¡± When the emperor grumbled, the knights next to him seemed to have misunderstood his meaning. He came over and spoke politely. ¡°Your Majesty. I know you regret not hunting the monster directly. But isn¡¯t hunting monsters a very dangerous thing? Let alone this manticore was a really formidable opponent. If Your Majesty had participated directly. . .¡± The emperor angrily drove away the knight. The knight withdrew in a panic without knowing why. ???????????? After the banquet ended, Johan woke upte. Vynashchtym¡¯s banquets tended to go on longer, more extravagantly and more decadently than the Empire¡¯s. Nobles who had drunkte into the night were still passed out. After washing up with the water Geoffrey had brought, Johan wondered at the centaurs. They were grinning from ear to ear. They only acted like that when something good happened. Like when they had plundered something good, or found someone good to plunder, or received orders that they were allowed to plunder. . . ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????, ???????????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????¡¯ ¡°Why are you looking at us like that?¡± The centaurs were as sensitive as they were savage. But Johan didn¡¯t change his expression one bit as he spoke. ¡°I was just thinking how reassuring it is to have such strong warriors like you all.¡± ¡°Oh, how. . .embarrassing. . .¡± The centaurs turned red and avoided his gaze. It was a very innocent reaction for ones who enjoyed skinning the heads of others. ¡°So why have youe? To ask me to go hunting?¡± ¡°Would we ask you to go hunting again after such a big hunt? We rest when it¡¯s time to rest too. We came to give you this.¡± The centaurs grinned as they held out a coarse rope to Johan. Like little children showing off a toy. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Try pulling on it hard once.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan tilted his head quizzically then said, ¡°Won¡¯t the rope tear?¡± The words could have sounded arrogant and cheeky, but it was eptable between Johan and the centaurs. Not just anyone could tear through such a thick and dense rough rope by hand after all. But the centaurs knew of Johan¡¯s monstrous strength. Those who had seen flying boulders would know of course. ¡°Teehee. Just try pulling on it anyway.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Thinking to humor the centaurs, Johan gripped the rope tightly and pulled with all his might. With a ¡®thwack¡¯ the rope cleanly tore apart. ¡°. . .It tore?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡®?????????? ???????? ???? ????????¡¯?? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????????????.¡¯ Seeing the centaurs¡¯ jaws drop in dismay, Johan felt a little apologetic. It seemed like the rope wasn¡¯t supposed to tear. Focusing his senses on it, he could feel traces of magicing from the rope. What¡¯s more the material was also unusual. It had a reddish tint to it. . .from a monster¡¯s. . .? ¡°That wizard tricked us?!¡± ¡°Wait wait. . .¡± Before Johan could even call out, the centaurs had already turned and ran off. It was clearly in the direction of Jyanina¡¯s tent. Johan yawned and headed over to stop them. ???????????? The heart of the manticore emanated powerful mystification. The mystification it emanated could be felt even with eyes closed. Jyanina carefully affixed the heart to the end of her wand before finishing up her work. Johan was a rough noble who looked down on wizards, thinking himself rather sophisticated, but he was generous towards such spoils. Now she could understand a bit why wizards like Caenerna and Suetlg would follow him. ¡®??????????????????, ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????????. . .¡¯ What noble would so easily give away the corpse of a monster like this? They would usually stuff and disy it, or if giving it to a wizard, impose conditions on what to make from it. ¡®?????????????????????? ???????? ??¡¯???? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ??????, ?? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Jyanina brandished her wand. With this, weaker monsters would be overwhelmed by fear. Her purpose was simple. To find a sponsor in Vynashchtym. The capital Vynashchtym was thergest and most beautiful city in the world. It¡¯s said that everything in the world gathers there, trulycking nothing. Naturally, there would be many excellent wizards and nobles seeking them. Unlike Cardirian, Johan said ¡®???? ??????¡¯???? ?????? ??????????, ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????????????,¡¯ seeming to mock her a bit, and so Jyanina decided to treat this journey as that opportunity. Come to think of it, this crisis could be a chance. Under such robust backing, when would she ever get the opportunity to go to Vynashchtym like this in her lifetime? If she was trying to go there alone, she would have to scour the city from the underground up in the guise of a pilgrim. ¡°Wizard,e out you rascal!¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Where¡¯d you get this fake?!¡± The centaurs of the ins were always terrifying. As soon as Euclyia entered, she nimbly grabbed Jyanina¡¯s hair, making escape to the back of the tent difficult. Ovee with fear, Jyanina cried out. ¡°Why are you doing this! Why!¡± ¡°You said an absolutely unbreakable rope made from manticore tendons!¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t break! You couldn¡¯t break it!¡± Jyanina shouted as if wronged. The threat to her life made her more desperate. ¡°We couldn¡¯t break it, but His Excellency the Count ripped it easily by hand.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! Bring it here!¡± ¡°I told you not to harass wizards didn¡¯t I, Euclyia? Let her go.¡± At Johan¡¯s word, Euclyia slyly released her hand, then hid it behind her back. Anyone watching would think she hadn¡¯t done anything. Jyanina red at Euclyia, aggrieved, but Euclyia¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change one bit. ¡°What did the wizard say?¡± ¡°We asked her to make something so she that, saying it¡¯s an absolutely unbreakable rope to use capturing monsters. But it tore!¡± ¡°Hmm. . . I doubt it would tear capturing monsters. Just consider it a sturdy rope. That much is certainly impressive enough.¡± Hearing Johan¡¯s words, the centaurs calmed down with convinced expressions, nodding. ¡°True, even just that much is certainly usable enough.¡± ¡°Once it¡¯s thrown and wraps something up, it probably couldn¡¯t escape easily.¡± ¡°Monsters who use brute strength as clumsily as His Excellency are rare. . .¡± ¡°His Excellency can hear you, you know.¡± ¡°Oh dear.¡± Seeing the centaurs convinced by Johan¡¯s words, Jyanina hurriedly added: ¡°That¡¯s right. His Excellency here hunted many powerful monsters, so his soul¡¯s power must have grown tremendously strong. That¡¯s why he can exhibit such power.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Speaking wizard-like tales like Suetlg or Caenerna, Johan was a bit surprised by Jyanina. He hadn¡¯t thought she was anything more than a goblin shaman grunting like a warthog, but it turns out she can speak properly about magic. As life grows to what it should be, soul power naturally strengthens. That¡¯s why wizards try to live lives fitting of mystification, no? It wasn¡¯t just in folk tales and bards¡¯ songs that knights aplishing great feats gained transcendental abilities. Here such miracles truly existed. ¡®????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Even capturing something like manticore, Valkalmur was already obedient enough that nothing more woulde of it. If Johan were another knight, he might have used manticore to make that spirit even more subservient, gaining more power. . . ¡°Alright, let¡¯s let it slide this time. But be more careful from now on, got it?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be watching to see if you properly use magic.¡± Seeing the vulgar brutes threatening her then leaving like it¡¯s nothing, Jyanina wanted to swear but held back. Magic was far off while the centaurs¡¯ fists were near, after all. Johan wondered aloud: ¡°That wand, you set manticore¡¯s heart in it?¡± ¡°What?!¡± Jyanina was stunned, as if fainting. Of course she didn¡¯t just leave manticore¡¯s heart exposed at the end of the wand. She wrapped it in silk and leather so it wouldn¡¯t be visible from the outside, then carefully affixed it. Yet he just guessed it like that? As if he had eyes that could see through or something, or maybe. . . ¡°Uh, how did you know?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve traveled with wizards so much, don¡¯t I have eyes for seeing magic? I can feel the power of magic from within.¡± ¡°Wow. . .!!¡± Only then did Jyanina realize Johan was versed in magic. ¡°Can I see that wand a bit?¡± ¡°No, I absolutely can¡¯t let it be taken away!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . .I-I¡¯m not doubting you, Your Excellency.¡± Chapter 183: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (1) Chapter 183: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (1) Saying that something should not be taken away in front of a noble was itself an insult to the other person¡¯s honor. Originally, she should not have spoken without thinking. However, if the other person knew the mysteries of magic, the story would have been different. It would not be strange for them to covet the wand made by Jyanina. ¡°. . .I won¡¯t take it away.¡± Of course, that was just Jyanina¡¯s thought. From Johan¡¯s perspective, who was listening, it was just absurd. Johan looked at Jyanina with a look of contempt and absurdity. Jyanina blushed and avoided his gaze. ¡°What kind of magic can you do by putting the heart of a manticore like this?¡± ¡°There are usually two ways to control and manipte monsters. Either scare and subdue the other party, or seduce and befriend them. The manticore¡¯s heart is. . .¡± ¡°The former, right?¡± ¡°You know it well.¡± ¡°But we¡¯ll soon arrive at Vynashchtym. Is it okay to carry such a sinister item around?¡± ¡°Oh, Your Grace. You seem to not know anything.¡± Jyanina smiled and shrank back under Johan¡¯s stern gaze. She cleared her throat and said, ¡°Um. . . It¡¯s not like I¡¯m openly carrying it around. As you can see, it¡¯s hidden well, right? Most people won¡¯t even know what this is.¡± Magic often had ambiguous parts. Unless you were a wizard who could sense the mysteries within, it was difficult to recognize them. Ordinary people thought things were magic if they looked peculiar or strange in some way. From that perspective, Jyanina¡¯s wand was just an ordinary, nondescript wand. Even if you uncovered the heart attached inside by peeling off the silk and leather, people still wouldn¡¯t know what it was. ¡°Is that so? If you say that much, I guess it¡¯s fine. Vynashchtym is different from the Holy Empire, so be careful. If a problem arises inside, I may not be able to help you.¡± Jyanina didn¡¯t really take Johan¡¯s words to heart. The Holy Empire and Vynashchtym were both empires, and nobles were nobles. And when it came to dealing with nobles, Jyanina was a wizard with experience. She knew well what greedy, arrogant nobles wanted, what words they liked, what magic they desired. ¡°. . .So if I just have the appropriate status backing me up, I can handle them no problem.¡± Johan asked in pure puzzlement at her words. ¡°Then why couldn¡¯t you make use of your skills in my fiefdom?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina cursed Johan in her head. ???????????? Emperor and Johan left the fiefdom with a splendid send-off. The knights of the order voluntarily followed the emperor¡¯s procession to see them off. It was natural for knights to see off precious people, but their attitude was strangely polite and devoted, which made the emperor ufortable. Those guys who don¡¯t even do well usually. . . ¡°Can¡¯t they at least wave their hands to the ones waving gs from afar?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really feel like it.¡± Even if there were thousands of soldiers, they would move fragmentedly when on the move. Moreover, they were even more fragmented when moving along the avenue. After the advance party passed by, the emperor and Johan moved quickly with only dozens of elites. Johan waved at the knights who came out to escort them nearby. As they raced down the avenue and got closer to Vynashchtym, Johan began to worry about what he had to do. ¡°So what did you usually do?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s the thing. . .¡± The emperor had various imperial guards and personal guards around him. There were imperial guards protecting the pce, personal guards dedicated to the imperial family, security guards in charge of capital security, or aristocratic personal guards made up of nobles from Vynashchtym. But the most trusted by the emperor were the Draconian personal guards with history and tradition, and the ones he had been taking care of for a long time and could trust. They wereposed of outsiders who had always shown unwavering loyalty. As such, to ask what Johan had to do as the captain of the emperor¡¯s personal guard, it was best to ask the captain of the personal guard nearby. ¡°Your Excellency, I really. . . I really don¡¯t have any advice to offer.¡± The burly captain of the guard with a thick, bushy beard spoke awkwardly, not matching his stature. If he had asked the aristocratic personal guards instead, Johan might have gotten the answer he wanted, but the Draconian personal guards did not know much about the politics of Vynashchtym. As a result, what the captain of the guard did was simple. Train in the barracks near the capital when ordered, lead the subordinates and move. If it¡¯s not a big enough issue to mobilize everyone, pick some excellent sub-captains and dispatch them. These were people who did not mingle well with other personal guards or imperial guards, and the emperor did not want that either. Mixing them would mean losing their value. The problem was that Johan¡¯s chest felt stuffy when he heard that. ¡®?????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ????????????, ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????????????????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ It was too difficult a task to demonstrate military prowess as a warrior as well as political prowess. Most knights could not do that. It¡¯s always harder forpetent people. Clicking his tongue, Johan said, ¡°Never mind the advice, just tell me what you know so I can get a feel for things.¡± Even if he couldn¡¯t get direct advice, he thought he could figure it out by picking up bits and pieces here and there. The captain nodded and said, ¡°First of all, His Majesty usually sleeps near the barracks.¡± ¡°. . .Don¡¯t tell me he keeps doing that even in the capital?¡± ¡°Oh no. Of course he doesn¡¯t sleep in the barracks. There¡¯s a pce next to it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. . . I guess?¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking the wrong guy. . .¡± The capital was veryrge, and befitting its history, there were many pces inside. Although he usually stayed in one of these pces, the emperor had a small pce built near the outer wall of the barracks and stayed there. ¡°When he wakes up, he trains the soldiers, inspects equipment, examines the training status of the soldiers. . . I guess that¡¯s about it?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t he do anything else?¡± ¡°asionally he rides a horse. . .¡± ¡°At least tell me he summons nobles and goes hunting or something.¡± ¡°. . .He goes to other barracks to check on the soldiers. . .¡± Johan sighed. Of course, treating his soldiers well was a good thing. The loyalty that money couldn¡¯t buy came from parts like this. But still, he couldn¡¯t only care about soldiers in that vast capital. If he didn¡¯t care about the nobles and citizens, a rebellion would be a natural urrence. Seeing Johan¡¯s face darken so much, the captain of the guard hastily defended himself. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, Your Highness. His younger sister, Her other Majesty, takes care of those duties.¡± ¡°Oh right.¡± Vynashchtym had two co-emperors. Come to think of it, the emperor wanted a captain who could take care of external affairs so that he could focus on the military. Upon arriving at the capital, there was a high possibility that Johan would mingle more with his younger sister. ¡°Your Majesty. Do you by any chance n to attend some nobles¡¯ banquets, go around theaters, and watch diator fights?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Quite a firm answer. . .¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I pay a lot of money?¡± When he asked the emperor, he got a very firm answer. Johan gave up. He had to respect the emperor¡¯s stubbornness after receiving such gold and privileges. That¡¯s the power of gold. Johan asked the captain of the imperial guard again. ¡°Younger sister. . . Gaoalkana was it? What kind of person is she?¡± ¡°Uh. . . Um. . . That. . .¡± The captain pulled at his stiff beard as if he was going to pluck it out, hesitating. Johan felt a very bad feeling from that reaction. Usually when a subordinate hesitates like that, something is up. . . ¡°Do you have anything to say about my younger sister?¡± ¡°No, Your Majesty! I didn¡¯t say anything!¡± ¡°You can be honest about my younger sister. I permit it.¡± If it was Johan, he would have been honest, but the captain had a lot to lose and was a loyal man. He could not do it. ¡°I¡¯ll say it. She¡¯s a cheerful and easygoing younger sister.¡± ¡°Oh. Is she easy to handle?¡± ¡°Whether she¡¯s. . . easy to handle, I don¡¯t really know?¡± The young emperor tilted his head. He was his younger sister, but whether he was easy to handle was questionable. ¡°She¡¯s a bit stubborn.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°What does that ¡®hmm¡¯ mean?¡± Johan was a little surprised by the sharp point, thinking ¡®???? ???? ?????????????? ????????¡¯???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????????¡¯ ¡°Well, since we¡¯ll have to live together, I was just a little worried that she¡¯s stubborn.¡± ¡°Uh-huh. That¡¯s certainly. . .¡± The young emperor seemed to not have thought that far as he frowned. Johan¡¯s political ability and military force were unquestionable, bute to think of it, for various events, it would be his younger sister apanying him. It could cause problems if they don¡¯t get along. ¡°I should have thought of that beforehand. . ?¡± ¡°How can you think that far when recruiting talent?¡± The emperor clicked his tongue. Embedded in those words was a firm trust in Johan¡¯s abilities, and Johan felt a little proud. The emperor had various shorings, but he had a definite strength in aspects like this. Once convinced, he pushes forward unwaveringly. ¡°If you¡¯re worried, Your Majesty should make efforts in socializing with me. . .¡± ¡°Ah, I said no.¡± The emperor refused outright, even putting on a serious face. It was clear he genuinely didn¡¯t want to do it. Johan was about to say ¡®???????? ???? ??????¡¯???? ?????? ??????????????, ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????¡¯, but held back. Honestly, from the emperor¡¯s position, it¡¯s not Johan¡¯s business and he could say ¡®??¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ??¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????, ??????¡¯?? ?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????¡¯. ¡°Then. . . I¡¯ll make efforts to get along with your younger sister.¡± ¡°Hmm. I¡¯ll ask him to.¡± The frugal emperor who liked the military, training, and tactics got along quite well with Johan, but whether his opposite younger sister would as well was questionable. Johan wondered what he should do when he arrives at Vynashchtym. ¡®???????????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ ???????????? As they arrived at the mountain peak after galloping along the road, the group stopped in their tracks. Both centaurs and dwarves were at a loss for words. The majestic sight of a gigantic city,rger than any they had seen in their lives, was revealing its splendor before them. For the centaurs roaming the meadows, even a town of a few thousand was considered big, and a city of over ten thousand was regarded as a metropolis. But Vynashchtym dwarfed those metropoleis over tenfold. Even the dwarves who had seen some cities in the Holy Empire with poptions surpassing tens of thousands were not much different from the centaurs. Stroking their beards, they kept letting out exmations of wonder. Seeing their reactions, the people of Vynashchtym, from the highest nobility down to the lowestmoners, all felt a sense of pride for their city. This was Vynashchtym, the sessor of the ancient empire. ¡®?????? ????????????. . .¡¯ The emperor looked expectantly at Johan, but there seemed to be little change in Johan¡¯s expression. He didn¡¯t appear to be too surprised either. ¡°Have you been here before by any chance?¡± ¡°No.¡± Hearing Johan say he had never been here, the emperor grew even more puzzled. Of course, deep down Johan was quite impressed. ¡®???????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ?? ????????????????.¡¯ The architectural feats of the ancient empire had often left Johan in awe. The long, imposing walls majestically enveloped the city, and countless ships gracefully traversed the sea above. This alone could pass for a small kingdom, not just a city. ¡°The pce is near the eastern Gate of Cadal. Let¡¯s head that way.¡± The walls were endless, and the gates were too numerous to count. As they rode down the road, the emperor pointed to the distance. Near the city walls stood a small pce and drilling grounds for the armies. Having traveled long, the emperor nned to rest there, catch up on work, and summon the nobles to update them on matters that had piled up. ¡°Won¡¯t the noblesin if you summon us to the pce?¡± ¡°They might.¡± ¡®. . .?????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???????????????¡¯ It could turn into an awkward situation. . . Seeing the emperor¡¯s banner, the guards at the gate hastily showed courtesy and pushed back the bystanders. As they passed the gate, a lively celebration unfolded on a nearby field. Severalrge jars were filled to the brim with wine, which people poured into their cups as if sprinkling around. Already heavily drunk, their clothes were stained the color of wine. Some sang boisterously, some recited poems, and some mimicked short skits. Among them, a tall female dragon beastman with lush golden hair climbed onto a horse sculpture and bellowed, imitating the unique harmonics of centaur voices. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t say this, but don¡¯t centaurs have a rather negative image in Vynashchtym? To mimic them like that seems either fearless or foolish. . .¡± ¡°Ahem. That¡¯s my sister.¡± ¡°. . .On second thought, she seems valiant beyond measure.¡± Chapter 184: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (2) Chapter 184: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (2) Johan seemed to think he should defend his younger sister a little in response to what he said, as the emperor continued speaking. ¡°Hmm. My younger sister isn¡¯t the only one pretending to be a centaur among the young nobles in Vynashchtym. There are quite a few guys among the young nobles who pretend to be centaurs.¡± ¡°Family issues aren¡¯t something that just work out easily, so there¡¯s no need to make excuses like that. I have some useless younger brothers too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not an excuse. . .¡± Among the various races, the centaurs were an exceptionally militant and powerful people. Born with sturdy lungs that could run thousands of miles and hooves from birth, they were threatening destroyers of civilizations. Just look at the legends from when the ancient Empire fell ¨C weren¡¯t the fierce centaurs a major factor? Even now, empires and minor kingdoms don¡¯t forget that history and are wary of centaur tribes beyond their borders. Of course, it wasn¡¯t like you never saw centaurs within Vynashchtym at all. If you went to the borders or provinces, you could see many centaur tribes. They were employed as mercenaries or epted as nobles. But even so, it was nonsense that young nobles in the capital were pretending to be centaurs. If there was nothing to emte, why were they emting it? ¡°Hey. Exin.¡± ¡°Your Excellency, it really is a trend among the young nobles. . .¡± ¡°. . .??¡± The attendant¡¯s words left Johan bbergasted. What trend? But the attendant wasn¡¯t lying. It really was a kind of trend among the young nobles for them to pretend to be centaurs. Young people always tend to be hot-blooded and rebellious. It wasn¡¯t strange at all that pretending to be a centaur was a trend among wealthy, idle young nobles as a symbol of rebellion. The fact that centaurs were a symbol of fear was actually an advantage. ¡°Huh, they¡¯re pretending to be us?¡± The centaurs standing nearby were dumbfounded when they overheard. Those arrogant young nobles were pretending to be them? ¡°I didn¡¯t even know they were pretending to be us.¡± ¡°Why are they imitating us anyway?¡± ¡°City folks have nomon sense.¡± As the centaurs muttered amongst themselves, the banquet was bing more and more lively. The dragon beastwoman whipped the horse sculpture and screamed. The nobles excitedly apuded. ¡°. . .I wish I could go stop them.¡± ¡°Why? The mood is good.¡± Johan said it half-teasingly, but it was true that the mood was good. Everyone around them looked happy. Isn¡¯t it a superior¡¯s duty to make their subordinates happy and drunk? Of course, Johan wouldn¡¯t stand on a horse sculpture and theatrically make themoners happy even if you gave him a pile of coins. . . ¡°There aren¡¯t just young nobles following my younger sister around Vynashchtym.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Johan immediately understood. The old nobles definitely wouldn¡¯t like such an impersonation. The emperor of Vynashchtym should be splendid, noble, and generous, but there was a limit. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to ruin the banquet, but I couldn¡¯t help it.¡± Johan got off his horse and walked towards the lively banquet hall. He wasn¡¯t unguarded, but his escort was smaller than the emperor¡¯s. On top of that, they were quite drunk. ¡®???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ??????????, ??????????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????????????????¡¯ With the emperor and her imperial guards stopped on the roadside, unaware and chatting among themselves. . . that was a bit. . . ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on? ¡° ¡°. . .An interesting guard.¡± Looking at the drunk elf guard, Johan shook his head. Only then did the guard be convinced that Johan was approaching, and spoke strongly. ¡°Stop right there. I don¡¯t know who you are, but if youe any closer, you¡¯ll see heaven early!¡± ¡°Have you seen heaven before?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It looks like you haven¡¯t. Let me show you something simr.¡± Johan stood in front of the elf guard, grabbed him by the armpits, and threw him straight up. At that moment, people could see an elf flying through the sky. ¡°Woahhh!¡± ¡°Did you see heaven?¡± After catching the falling elf, Johan asked without waiting for an answer and threw him back up again. After touring the skies twice, the elf was too dizzy to stand back up, vomiting instead. ¡°Your Majesty! Where did you find such a talented performer? Amazing!¡± ¡°Huh? What did you say?¡± ¡°That actor, didn¡¯t Your Majesty hire him? I mean that actor who looks like a knight.¡± ¡°??¡± The nobles next to them thought Johan was an actor hired by Gaoalkana. He really looked like a convincing knight. They made way for Johan to pass. ¡°Come now, show Her Majesty your might! Sing praises of that majesty you cannot withstand!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The power of the drunks was tremendous. Being among them made Johan feel drunk even though he didn¡¯t drink. Gaoalkana looked at Johan in surprise. I don¡¯t know who he is, but judging by his knightly looks, did another noble call him? ¡°Hear me, I am Tanggur. I am the wrath and me of god that came to destroy this world. All the crowns and treasures of the world muste into my hands, young knight, so fall before me!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°I said fall! Why don¡¯t you fall?¡± ¡°Your Majesty. I havee to serve Your Majesty as the newly hired captain of the royal guard.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recall hiring you. . . Oh. Ga?aros hired you? I see. But wait a little. My y hasn¡¯t finished yet.¡± Johan didn¡¯t intend to talk long with a drunk person. He politely set the emperor down then started walking carrying her in one arm. The nobles shouted excitedly. ¡°In the end the knight defeats the centaur, isn¡¯t that too clich¨¦?¡± ¡°Clich¨¦? This is tradition! This too is drama! Is an avant-garde drama necessarily good?¡± ¡°Where does a talentless hack who knows nothing of drama get off criticizing?¡± The drunk nobles fought throwing cups at each other. Since they were all drunk there was little danger but it did make a mess. As jugs were knocked over and wine spilled they all yelled. The emperor held in Johan¡¯s armmented as if heartbroken. ¡°My y has not yet ended! Put me down, young knight!¡± ¡°The y is now over, let¡¯s apud.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that. . . No. That¡¯s not bad actually. Say that line one more time.¡± ???????????? ¡°Euclyia. May I politely ask to take care of Your Majesty?¡± ¡°Although I would feel like shit, if Your Excellencymands it, I will certainly do so.¡± ¡°. . .Then I guess I¡¯ll just have to carry her on my back.¡± Gaoalkana sobered up from the alcohol rather quickly. She looked around and was surprised to see the centaurs. Was she finally seeing hallucinations beyond her status as an actress? ¡°Gaoalkana. They are my new imperial guard, so don¡¯t think strangely.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± At his words, Gaoalkana nodded. Her brother had always loved the military and enjoyed hiring and training imperial guards. Adding a centaur was nothing surprising. ¡°It works out well. I needed centaurs for my y. Who wants the honorable position of participating? The spots are limited so firste first serve!¡± The centaurs collectively gave her the cold shoulder. No matter how fascinated they were with the city, they were not so obsessed as to appear in a y. Gaoalkana was taken aback. ¡°Why is no one volunteering? What, no confidence in acting? Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t give you that difficult of a role.¡± ¡°Gaoalkana. The centaurs have little interest in ys.¡± ¡°That makes no sense?¡± ¡°And the one in front is the newly hired imperial guard captain, Johan from the Yeats family, holding the title of count. Now that you¡¯re sober, get down from his horse and show some manners.¡± ¡°Johan? I see. Please treat me well.¡± ¡°You should call him Count Yeats. . .nevermind.¡± The emperor started to say but gave up. He was annoyed. Ga?aros did not like interfering in hispetent younger sister¡¯s affairs. It was not out of consideration for his sister but because he personally found it tiresome. ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ????.¡¯ On the way to the pce riding her horse, Gaoalkana chattered nonstop. About what region Johan was from, what he used to do, what family he was part of, what weapon he used as a knight, what monsters he hunted, how he leads the centaurs and dwarves around, and so on. Beside her, Euclyia whispered in Eastern: ¡°Just give the order and I will gag her.¡± ¡°No.¡± Seeing Euclyia, Gaoalkana curiously reached out her hand to touch her©¥Johan sai ¡°Your Majesty. centaurs consider it very rude for someone they are not engaged with to touch them.¡± ¡°Is that so? I didn¡¯t know. Surprising.¡± Gaoalkana made a mental note forter use. Inspiration was already striking. ???????????? Upon entering the pce, eunuchs and mutted ves were waiting. After Johan was bathed in fragrant water and had the toxins sweated out under their service, he came back out wearing typical Vynashchtym attire. Various nobles were alreadying and going, trying to get an audience with the emperor. Ga?aros didn¡¯t dy even though he could have. He wanted to get it over with quickly and deal with his own business. ¡°Count Yeats?¡± ¡°Do you know me?¡± ¡°While you do not know me, I know you. To have gained so much of His Majesty¡¯s trust.¡± The other party was from the senate nobility but had strong Republic of Bo blood mixed in. With support from the republic, he helped represent the republic¡¯s interests within Vynashchtym. From the ¡®outsider¡¯ perspective, the emergence of a young noble like Johan who gets along well with centaurs and has the emperor¡¯s deep trust could only be weing. Moreover, Johan¡¯s rtionship with the republic was also special. ¡°I was just lucky.¡± ¡°The love you receive from God is not luck but a blessing. As you already know, Vynashchtym is truly overflowing with gold.¡± All the wealth in the world gathered here. The republic desperately lobbied and bribed nobles to grab even a tiny bit more influence. It was more intense than the wars happening outside their territory. ¡°If you ever need help, please call me anytime.¡± The noble left meaningfully. The will to join hands for mutual benefit could be strongly felt. Johan nodded his head. In the meantime, the young emperor was receiving praises and oaths of loyalty from the gathered nobles. With the chambein purged and the recent victory against the eastern pagans, the emperor¡¯s authority was at its peak. No one currently coveted his seat. ¡°Your Majesty. Your hunting of the manticore is surely a sign from God. The manticore is a monster from the east. Catching it means that Your Majesty will crush the eastern pagans and ce the empire on a firm foundation.¡± While Johan didn¡¯t believe in such superstitions, the nobles present had quite refreshed expressions. ¡®???????? ???????????????? ?? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????¡¯ He was curious what meaning catching a troll held but Johan decided to just observe. ¡°Your Majesty. I wish to hold a victory celebration tomemorate this triumph. If both Your Majesties attend and grace the event, it will be a truly honorable asion for the citizens of the capital.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°So will you attend?¡± ¡°No. Gaoalkana will go instead.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The gathered nobles¡¯ faces twisted a little. If not for the emperor¡¯s recent victory, they might have said something. ¡°Your Majesty. It would beplete if both of you attend.¡± ¡°I know. But I¡¯m unwell.¡± ¡°There¡¯s still time before the celebration. Surely you¡¯ll recover by then?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a chronic condition so I should rest in the quiet pce.¡± Johan was amazed. He asserted he would live however he wanted despite the atmosphere and expectations. Does one need this level of mental fortitude to be emperor of the empire? The fight between the prideful nobles and emperor ended in the emperor¡¯s victory. Since the emperor had nothing to lose from the start, by insisting ¡®????¡¯, ¡®?????????? ????¡¯, and ¡®?? ???????????????????? ?????? ????¡¯, the nobles had nothing they could do. ¡°Count Yeats over there will help Gaoalkana attend instead. If there¡¯s nothing else to say, I should go rest.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The emperor slipped away on the excuse of being sick. What remained were the Vynashchtym nobles staring intently at Johan. Their gazes showed their determination to use Johan as leverage to make the emperor move. ¡®???????????? ?? ?????????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????????????????¡¯ Chapter 185: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (3) Chapter 185: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (3) Of course, such nonsensical excuses were not epted. The nobles came over and started talking. Like an excellent prosecutor casually throwing out attacks to gauge the opponent¡¯s skills, the nobles here also lightly tossed out questions to get a sense of Johan. Those hired from outside Vynashchtym may be good at battles but are often greedy and ambitious or ignorant of politics. Not all virtues desired by the nobles. But if there was one among them that could be tolerated. . . ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ??????????????????, ???? ???????? ???? ????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?? ?????? ???????? ????.¡¯ ¡®??¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ????????????????????.¡¯ I wish he was at least politically conversant! Not all elders, nobles, or wealthymoner representatives wanted to tear down the emperor. Just a few ambitious ones had such dangerous thoughts. Most only wanted to maximize their own interests as long as Vynashchtym was running smoothly. For that, the emperor had to lend an ear to the words of various groups in the capital and govern beautifully. And for this to be possible, the emperor had to get out more and actively socialize. . . Ga?aros did not. ©¥????????????, ???????? ???????? ??????! As an army general, not an emperor, he was only training his own troops in the barracks. At least his younger sister Gaoalkana was sociable and charming, but had no interest in politics. She simply passed on any petition to his older brother. It was enough to drive the people she interacted with crazy. It was like talking to a wall. The only option was to persuade the emperor¡¯s aides to prod him out. . . But so far most had failed. In the case of the Draconian Guards and other barbarian groups,nguage itself was a barrier. . . ¡®???? ????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ????????????.¡¯ ¡®???????????????? ???? ???????? ?? ??????????, ???? ???? ?????????? ????????????????????. . .¡¯? In that sense, Johan earned points just for knowing the ancient imperialnguage. Any Vynashchtym noble should know ancient imperial. And contrary to rumors, he was quite learned in theology and academics. They thought he¡¯d be a typical battlemander noble, but he can actually hold a conversation! The nobles¡¯ faces brightened a bit. ¡®?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????????¡¯ Johan noticed the change in the people¡¯s expressions and felt ufortable. It was awkward to have strangers strike up a conversation then get happy among themselves. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Count Yeats.¡± ¡°By the way, I¡¯m hosting a banquet at my estate tomorrow. Won¡¯t youe? I dare say my chef is among the best in the capital.¡± ¡°A banquet is nice, but for someone newly arrived, there¡¯s no ce more fun than the Colosseum. What do you enjoy? Chariot races? No. You must like fights. Do you want to see battles against monsters? Or fights among warriors?¡± The Vynashchtym people indulged in pleasures and amusements on a scale unimaginable in the west like the Holy Empire. Pitting monsters and diators against each other in a massive circr arena for people to spectate. Of course, it was a literal gamble with their lives. The more warriors killed, the more the excitement and thrill multiplied. ¡®?????????? ??¡¯?? ????????, ???????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ??????????????????????.¡¯ In the Holy Empire, when knights gathered topete on horseback, countless people woulde to watch. With so few entertainments in this world, such equestrian events were a rare spectacle. Even such non-lethalpetitions saw many knights killed and injured. So fights with real swords. . . ¡°But what does the Order say about this in Vynashchtym?¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the nobles made awkward expressions. The maind¡¯s unified church and Vynashchtym¡¯s imperial church did not get along but had no major doctrinal differences. Gluttony, debauchery and killing could hardly be condoned. ¡°Worry not, Johan. I know a good method.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°After enjoying pleasures, I always go to the temple the next day to pay penance money.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°As expected of Her Majesty!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡®??????. ???????? ?? ?????????????????????????? ???????????????? ????????.¡¯ Seeing the noblesugh happily, Johan could understand why the emperor had withdrawn. Surely talking to them would cause headaches! ???????????? At first meeting, work was work. Johan gathered the centaurs and dwarves to distribute roles. They were certainly skilled enough not to fail at work. ¡°Johan. Why do we need more guards?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it strange to have that level of guard originally escorting someone of high status?¡± ¡°I told you to speakfortably. I allow it. Was it dangerous even with that escort before?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no guarantee it¡¯ll stay safe in the future.¡± ¡°Haha. . . What foolish person would target me first? They¡¯d target Ga?aros first.¡± ¡°!¡± Johan was slightly surprised at Gaoalkana¡¯s words. He thought she lived without much thought, but her insight was unexpectedly urate. It was true. Even for an assassination, they¡¯d target Ga?aros who held the military and handled politics rather than the powerless Gaoalkana. ¡°The opponent might be a madman.¡± ¡°Ah, certainly that¡¯s true.¡± Gaoalkana nodded convincingly. ¡°Then why are they all dwarves? What about the centaurs?¡± ¡°Centaurs aren¡¯t suitable to escort and guard.¡± Truthfully, the centaurs didn¡¯t seem to want to associate much with Gaoalkana either. ¡°Ugh. . . I was trying to talk. Nevermind. Follow me.¡± ¡°?¡± Gaoalkana started walking towards the kitchen of the mansion. Johan was puzzled about what could be in the kitchen. ¡°Of course the excellent knight Johan would¡¯ve known as soon as he saw her, but this one is a great artist.¡± ¡°Uh. . .¡± One of the dwarves was seen tightly stroking his beard. Facial management was also the role of a guard. ¡°I also sponsor city artists and help them out.¡± ¡°Truly admirable.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have topliment. Anyway, preparing the banquet is also where an artist can show their genius. . .¡± Gaoalkana looked at Johan testingly. She¡¯d heard he was an amazing noble knight, but for her, the important thing was his skill in this area. ¡°I didn¡¯te as a cook though, I¡¯m a guard.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t a noble naturally have an aesthetic sense?¡± Johan was about to say that western nobles and knights, unlike the royals who grew up inside the imperial pce, were rather roughly raised, but held his tongue. She probably wouldn¡¯t be interested anyway. . . Seeing Johan disinterested, Gaoalkana coaxed, ¡°If you do well, I will listen attentively to what Johan says. Okay?¡± ¡°And if I don¡¯t do well?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t do well, Johan has to listen attentively to what I say.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already listening attentively though. . .?¡± Since he had to keep apanying Gaoalkana, Johan decided to at least ask first. ¡°What do I have to do?¡± ¡°Think of something more to add to this perfect banquet I have prepared. If you share a good opinion, I will give you a prize.¡± Seeing Johan remain seated and fall deep in thought, Gaoalkana grinned gleefully. If he was another barbarian captain of the imperial guards, he might¡¯ve yelled ¡®?????? ???????? ?? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ??????????!¡¯ and stormed off, but Johan was seriously pondering it quite unexpectedly. That alone deserved quite high praise. He certainly had at least a little of an artist¡¯s heart. ¡°It¡¯s not like some kind of god-given inspiration. . .¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a legend from my hometown. A story where a duke boastfully promised a thousand gold coins if anyone could remove or add even one letter from a book he wrote. . .¡± Though it was a legend not from the Holy Empire but Johan¡¯s actual homnd, there was no one who would know that. Gaoalkana seemed to really like that vigor. ¡°Great story! I will remember it! If I write a book in the future, I must include it.¡± ¡®???? ????. . . ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????????¡¯ While Johan had tried improving the barren Holy Empire cuisine in his spare time, he doubted it would be of use for such avish banquet. ¡°Is this cream? There¡¯s no sweet taste.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not for eating, it¡¯s meant to be spread to enjoy. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan, who was sampling the cream, quieted and red at Gaoalkana. His gaze was so fierce that Gaoalkana exined without realizing. ¡°I-It hasn¡¯t been used yet! Okay?¡± Johan found some nearby sugar and started vigorously whipping it into the cream. Cream was often used as a sauce in Vynashchtym but not whipped with sugar like this, so Gaoalkana was puzzled. ¡°Hmm. It¡¯s pretty good. As expected, taste improves when ingredients are used extravagantly.¡± ¡°Wha. . . Really not bad, right?¡± Not expecting Johan to instantly make something, Gaoalkana was very surprised. ¡°Johan. Think of more!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°If you think of one more thing, I promise to never make you do this again! I promise!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Stop ring at me! It¡¯s scary!¡± ???????????? Digging through faint memories, Gaoalkana was very satisfied to take out several luxurious dishes that existed in history. She insisted that Johan was clearly born for art. Not only that, she shouted loudly that she would introduce him as an artist in front of people, so Johan had to keep a straight face. ¡°What do you think about the Vynashchtymyu still not perishing?¡± The dwarf next to him whispered. Johan chuckled. The nobles of Vynashchtym ate and drank like crazy, to the point that the dwarf said that. At the banquet Gaoalkana hosted at her vi, the nobles werepletely absorbed in making loud noises. ¡°Well, if they want to do that, there¡¯s no need to stop them. . . Wait.¡± ¡°?¡± The dwarf was puzzled as Johan frowned. ¡°Do you not hear any sound?¡± ¡°All I hear are big drunks vomiting. . .?¡± ¡°No. Monster sound.¡± ¡°!¡± The dwarf had great faith in his employer¡¯s abilities. If Johan said there was one, there was one. ¡°Grab your weapons!¡± The physical abilities of the dwarves were one of the best among their race. They picked up their shields and battle axes and tensed their nerves. Their eyes seemed to radiate a fierce light. ¡®?????? ?????? ?? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ As if answering the dwarf¡¯s question, noisy sounds gradually started to be heard. Screams of people, sounds of things colliding and copsing were heard. ¡°Drake! Drake!¡± ¡°A drake escaped from us!¡± ¡°. . .Don¡¯t tell me these crazy guys had a drake locked up?!¡± The dwarves shouted in disbelief, but now was not the time to worry about that. First we had to assess and handle the situation. ¡°Check which way it¡¯sing and stop it from rampaging once it gets here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t we need siege weapons for a drake?¡± Drakes, which look like two-legged dinosaurs, have low intelligence but strong vitality. Siege weapons were needed to kill them in one blow. ¡°Your excellency will kill it in one shot.¡± ¡°Well, his excellency is. . .¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s not my ce, but don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being too casual towards your master?¡± Even as he spoke like that, Johan took out several spears and staked them into the ground. He figured one spear would be enough to kill something centaur sized. ¡®??¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Appeasing the dissatisfaction of the capital was one of the emperor¡¯s greatest roles. If dissatisfaction grew, riots could happen and the emperor could lose his position. That¡¯s why so many feasts and victory parades were held. And now an ident like this happened. My luck is the worst for things like this to ur. ¡°What¡¯s with the noise?¡± ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s going on?¡± The loud noises seemed to reach the ears of the drunk nobles as well, as people came out from the vi into the courtyard. Johan shouted angrily. ¡°What are you doing? Get them back inside!¡± ¡°We¡¯re sorry!¡± The dwarves tried to push the nobles back in. The drunk nobles resisted tipsily. ¡°Why are you pushing, you midgets!¡± ¡°. . .¡± ¡°What? Want a beating?!¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier!¡± The dwarves immediately swung their axe handles to hit and knock down the nobles. The nobles shrieked ¡®Ow ow!¡¯ and scrambled hastily back inside. Just then the drake appeared from the road below. Fortunately it wasn¡¯t very big. Johan threw his spear down like lightning. Chapter 186: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (4) Chapter 186: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (4) The spear tore through the air as it flew. Valkalmur¡¯s power twisted the spear¡¯s trajectory, aiming for the vital point of the drake. ©¥¡ö! Despite the drake¡¯s muscr body making it difficult for the spearhead to prate, the spear smoothly entered the chest and precisely pierced the heart. It was thrown with such force that the spearhead exited the other side after piercing the heart. Unlike other monsters that can endure even with their hearts pierced, the drake did not possess such skill. It let out a miserable cry and copsed with a thud. ¡°Excellent!¡± The dwarves shouted with admiration. The scene of taking down the monster with a single spear was heroic like in the ancient epics. ¡°Its breath may not have stopped yet. Do not let your guard down!¡± ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????????????. . .¡¯ The experienced dwarf mercenaries thought to themselves. It was because Johan had fought many tenaciously strong monsters that he said that. Normal monsters would die instantly with their hearts pierced like this. What skills could the drake have to survive in that condition, it wasn¡¯t even a Hydra. Still, the dwarves faithfully followed Johan¡¯s order. Thanks to that, they would not be surprised by the next situation. ¡°One more! One more ising out!¡± ¡°. . .I don¡¯t know who manages this arena, but I will snap his neck when he falls into my hands.¡± Johan gritted his teeth and lifted his spear. Fortunately, the drake rushed at him recklessly. With another throw, the drake¡¯s breath was cut off. ¡°Your excellency, your excellency!¡± The centaurs came galloping urgently. Johan asked with an irritated expression. ¡°Please tell me you bring good news.¡± ¡°Monsters are wandering the streets. We should move quickly.¡± It wasn¡¯t only the drake that escaped. It seemed someone, though unknown who, had released all the monsters inside the arena. It was chaotic with incidents continuing one after another. ¡°Dwarves, guard the nobles in the mansion. Do not let theme out. Beat them if they try toe out to watch.¡± ¡°Thank you, your excellency!¡± ¡°Ride on my back.¡± With Euclyia¡¯s help, Johan climbed onto her back. It was faster to subdue the city together with the centaurs than to find a horse. ¡°Let¡¯s go! We will dispose of the monsters and hang the arena administrator by his neck!¡± ???????????? It was easy to imagine countless people fleeing the city in a panic when a monster appeared, but in reality it wasn¡¯t that extreme. Most monsters were beasts like wild animals. Even when a monster appeared in a small town, people tried to surround and capture it or drive it away rather than flee. Moreover, even if a monster appeared somewhere in such arge city, it was unlikely to endanger oneself. Rather than fleeing in fear, citizens chatted with excitement. ¡°Where did they say the monster appeared?¡± ¡°I heard it went towards the Temple of Wisdom. The goblins were running away in a panic earlier.¡± ¡°What are those arena guys doing? Can¡¯t even catch a single goblin. I could catch that much too.¡± ¡°This is all because of the emperor. . . Ahh! It¡¯s a centaur!!¡± ¡°The centaurs escaped too?!¡± Citizens who were casually lounging on the street recoiled backwards in surprise as a group of centaurs galloped by. Of course centaurs weren¡¯t monsters, but to those unfamiliar there wasn¡¯t much difference. Whether it¡¯s a monster or a barbarian, it¡¯s the same if they want to split your head open. However, the centaurs did not threaten the citizens. Galloping swiftly, they shot arrows to hunt and strike down the monsters. Especially Johan was formidable. If a monster endured the arrows without dying or tried to flee, he would charge fiercely and ughter it with his spear and warhammer. For monsters like drakes, fighting in such narrow spaces would inevitably lead to damage. They had strong vitality so fights tended to drag on. Johan who could take down such monsters with a single spear thrust or hammer blow was a nightmare to them. By the time the sun set, the escaped monsters had all been thoroughly handled. Drenched in blood and sweat, Johan and the centaurs returned to the pce while cursing. What a pain all because of some crazy b*stard. ¡°I hope the arena administrator didn¡¯t get away.¡± ¡°Please let me skin that b*stard alive.¡± ???????????? ¡°What did the new captain of the imperial guard do??¡± The nobles had looks of shock on their faces. Those who were lying sideways also got up in surprise. Those with the dragon¡¯s bloodline who harbored enemies within the imperial court were more like adversaries and rivals of the emperor¡¯s supporters rather than allies. When a rebellion breaks out in Vynashchtym, who will take the empty seat? Although the Head Chambein¡¯s head is flying around so they are being careful, they still harbored some discontent and jealousy deep down. When the foreign noble became the new captain this time, they jeered. ¡°Even though he is a mercenary, why do we keep epting these foreign b*stards? Do they not care about Vynashchtym¡¯s traditions? I¡¯m already sick of seeing the republicans and the Eastern Empire fellows roaming around here. . .¡± ¡°He is a noble from the Holy Empire, isn¡¯t he? Someone with apletely different religion?¡± ¡°What would that young count know? He probably cavorts with the republican fellows.¡± Regardless of their displeasure, they thought the young count from a foreignnd would not assimte so quickly. Like other captains of the imperial guard and mercenary leaders in the past, outsiders had a hard time adapting to Vynashchtym. Starting from the culture and customs to refinement, it was not easy to deal with people who were so different. Moreover, people who had only swung swords on battlefields all their lives could seem barbaric to Vynashchtym¡¯s people with long traditions, even if they were knights. But then the report came in that the ident in the arena from yesterday was resolved in less than a day. By the newly arrived captain of the imperial guard. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say a lot of monsters got loose? It should have taken days, no weeks!¡± The city was big andplex. It wasmon for monsters to hide in alleys and undergrounds. This was not something that could be wrapped up in a day. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bluff?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s a bluff or not, but the citizens are chanting his name. It seems his feats were quite remarkable.¡± ¡°These fools. . .! They don¡¯t even know if all the monsters have been caught or not!¡± Someone burst out angrily. The citizens were absurdly celebrating without even knowing if all the monsters were really caught. But the citizens¡¯ reactions were also natural. What they personally saw and heard was the young count swiftly ying the monsters¡¯ lives with his sword. It would have been stranger not to react after seeing and hearing that. In this situation, no one cared if everyst monster was caught or not. Everyone was frenzied with excitement over the new captain¡¯s might. ¡°We might as well call out the count to persuade him instead.¡± ¡°Persuade him. . . How can we trust a foreigner? They are not trustworthy people.¡± It was an overstatement, but there was reason behind the nobles¡¯ words. In Vynashchtym¡¯s history, there had been many nobles who were backstabbed after joining hands with foreign nobles. It wasn¡¯t just one or two people or one or two asions. This was distrust built up over a long history. It would have been better if he was just a mercenary captain. They could easily employ and control him. But foreign nobles were different. They could grow their power as much as they liked with external backing. ¡°But the count¡¯s territory is across the sea and he does not have any fiefs around here. He did not bring many soldiers either. What trouble could holding his hand a little cause? The emperor summoned him knowing that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Now that he¡¯s suddenly gained such poprity, he¡¯ll strut around for a while. Poking around and containing him for no reason will only garner bacsh. He must have gotten quite arrogant so he won¡¯t be easy to cate either, will he?¡± ¡°And isn¡¯t Count Johan much more trustworthy than the republican fellows? I gathered some rumors that say he has strong faith and guards his honor like his life as a knight.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Some people¡¯s words were persuasive. Certainly, Johan felt oddly sincerepared to the republican fellows. ¡°Let¡¯s call him out and see.¡± ???????????? ¡°After locking the outermost prison door, locking the inside door, locking the small door inside, he came out saying he came out? Is that what you call words?¡± The judge shouted angrily and then nced at Johan. He heard that the new imperial guard captain had suffered. The colosseum manager was a rather powerful job. Scheduling the games and receiving kickbacks from the diators¡¯ masters was lucrative. As such, the bribes given to other high officials were also considerable. However, with Johan next to him being so intimidating, even the lighter punishment of a huge fine and imprisonment for failing to prevent what someone else did seemed too grave in this situation. The judge happened to personally witness Johan smashing a monster¡¯s skull with a warhammer in front of his mansion. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ??????????¡¯?? ??????????????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????. . .!¡¯ ¡°Please, spare me! Believe me! Anything but death!¡± Whether it was opened intentionally or by mistake, the punishment was death; even if it was epted that someone else did it, there would still be responsibility for failing to stop it, warranting a huge fine and imprisonment. But given the current circumstances, even thetter was fortunate. The manager pleaded and pleaded. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to be lying about what he¡¯s saying.¡± ¡°. . .What?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel any sincerity. We will show mercy.¡± ¡°S-Since your excellency says so. . .¡± The judge was trembling but nodded. The manager shed tears of gratitude. His fortune was gone but he could earn money again. Wasn¡¯t life most important? ¡®?????????? ??????, ?????????? ??????!¡¯ He was saved by this foreign count he had never met before. The manager cursed the judge and thanked Johan. ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???? ??????????. . . ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????¡¯ Johan¡¯s reason for helping the manager was simple. He really didn¡¯t seem to be lying. His ount was convincing. ¡®?????????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ????????. ?????????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°Count, the sun is still harsh, it may hurt your throat. It would be my honor if you would drink this, paltry as it is.¡± ¡°Ah, thanks.¡± Seeing Johan walking down the street, a merchant took out cold water in a jug mixed with vinegar, herbs and salt, a kind of beverage. ¡°Count, thanks to you I was able to save my life! Thank you. This is a cape made from Gaboro, please take it if it suits you. . .¡± ¡°Count, Count. . .¡± The following dwarves were surprised at the citizens who kept greeting Johan. Of course Johan was a good employer, good noble, good knight. But they had heard the Vynashchtym were usually rude and arrogant. . . ¡°Johan,e here.¡± Hearing the voice, Gaoalkana, who was lying down, pushed away the servant giving her a massage and got up. Above her eyes were ck and blue bruises. ¡°. . .What is this? Who did you get it from?¡± ¡°Huh? This? I got drunk and fell over. I was trying to watch and bumped into others and fell over.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was beginning to understand the Emperor. No matter how much family, how do you keep taking care of someone like this? ¡°Right. Those dwarves! I was trying to go out but they blocked me. Can you believe it?¡± ¡°Why were you trying to go out?¡± ¡°To look around?¡± Johan didn¡¯t reply and ignored her. Gaoalkana wasn¡¯t bothered and continued talking. ¡°In any case, it was a truly great banquet. Johan. Everyone was satisfied. The hunt as well.¡± ¡°No ns today?¡± ¡°No. There¡¯s someone who wants to meet Johan and say thanks for not getting hurt this time.¡± Johan made a very unpleasant expression. Whoever Gaoalkana introduced was a noble, and a low ranking one at that, who yed around wildly. Young nobles absorbed in theater and banquets were usually either nobles without inheritance rights or from not very high ranking families. They were of no help and always drunk. ¡°For what purpose?¡± ¡°They said they want to thank Johan for not getting hurt this time.¡± ¡°I see. . .¡± He could ept a thanks at least. ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ????????.¡¯ Johan followed Gaoalkana to a small pce outside. Being dimly lit and shaded, it looked more like a monastery than a pce. ¡®. . .?¡¯ ¡°Not a noble?¡± ¡°Huh? Strictly speaking, imperial family right?¡± Along with her words, vampires in Eastern Empire attire appeared beyond the gate. Johan was quite surprised. Chapter 187: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (5) Chapter 187: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (5) ¡°Why are you surprised?¡± Gaoalkana looked at Johan with a puzzled expression. Vynashchtym was constantly at war with the pagan Easterners, but it wasn¡¯t a war where they cut off all rtions and fought until one side was dead. Vynashchtym had its circumstances and the Eastern Empire had theirs, so envoys andmunication openly and privately went back and forth between them. Just as the various petty kingdoms and republics around Vynashchtym¡¯s ports had their own missions, merchant halls, and exclusive zones, so did the Eastern Empire. ¡®????????, ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ????????????.¡¯ It was easy to think that the Sultan ruled the vast Eastern Empire with an iron fist, but even there the power of provincial nobles was considerable. Politically it was unstable, to say the least. Such nobles didn¡¯t care much whether they traded with enemies or demons as long as it served their interests. Even now countless trade ships would be carrying goods along sea routes. ¡°Wait. Even if they¡¯re nobles from the Eastern Empire that¡¯s one thing, but royalty?¡±¡°Yeah. Someone in exile.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Johan immediately grasped the situation. Session disputes were also quite fierce in the Eastern Empire, and defeat in those battles awaited only death, both in the past and present. In such times the safest ce was ironically the enemy nation ¨C the Sultan¡¯s hand wouldn¡¯t easily reach there. ¡°Her Majesty has arrived. Everyonee out and greet her.¡± The vampires discovered Gaoalkana and streamed out. While exiled nobles had to be careful around an emperor, their reaction seemed rather familiar. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan thought Gaoalkana really got around a lot. As an emperor, was there a need to be so friendly with pagan exiles? ¡°. . .Don¡¯t tell me you came by often because you wanted to hear Eastern tales?¡± ¡°Oh! How did you know?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Gaoalkana looked at Johan with genuinely surprised eyes. She felt it every time they talked, but this count from the west was a truly unique man. The people of the west, even those of noble bloodlines, find it hard to shake off the customs of barbarians. Yet this count could converse freely with Vynashchtym¡¯s other nobles, cultured as he was. What¡¯s more, he had a sense for art above all else. Even among Vynashchtym¡¯s nobles this was a rare talent. Perhaps that was why their conversations always seemed to flow well. ¡®?????? ?????????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ????????????????. ???????????? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ????¡¯???? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan was suspicious of Gaoalkana¡¯s gaze. She wasn¡¯t a tyrant or arrogant, just liked to do as she pleased a bit too much. To Johan, who had lived wearing restraint and patience like armor, Gaoalkana¡¯s debauched hedonism was simply beyondprehension. ¡°While we talk, stay by my side and don¡¯t wander off anywhere.¡± ¡°Seeing how you¡¯re relying on me, are you feeling good?¡± Misunderstanding Johan¡¯s suspicion, Gaoalkana was instead in an even better mood. She would have frowned if she knew his true feelings. ???????????? Barhan, an old and blind vampire of the Eastern imperial family, sniffed and said, ¡°Your Majesty. Seeing that you havee with a human. . . Could it be Count Yeats?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I brought him with me.¡± It was quite amazing to see him identify races by smell. Despite Johan not saying anything, Barhan looked towards Johan and spoke. ¡°When you lose your eyesight, other senses be more acute. It¡¯s not really an amazing talent.¡± ¡°. . .I see. People must be quite surprised.¡± Barhan was surprised at Johan¡¯s words. Usually when people saw a blind man identify races like that, they would be caught off guard. By mentioning it first, as if he already knew, the mystery grew even more. But Johan did not fall for it. ¡°Thank you foring all this way. Your Excellency Count. You must have already heard the reason, but let me thank you again.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Regardless of Barhan¡¯s words, Johan honestly did not remember well what monster they were talking about. He had hunted down so many monsters that day. He felt like he had caught some around here too, but he couldn¡¯t remember which one they were referring to. ¡°It was the right thing to do.¡± Johan did not show an ounce of arrogance in his attitude. The noble attendant escorting Barhan was slightly moved by that attitude. Even if he was a pagan, such a humble attitude deserved respect. Especially since the other party was a Count Knight. ¡°Actually, the people of Vynashchtym don¡¯t really like me or my entourage that much. . . So I thought you might not want to help. . .¡± Barhan¡¯s voice was sincere. He was restingfortably in the small pce he had been given, but that was separate from the citizens¡¯ favor. When monsters run amok, the ces that must be protected first are where the nobles are, then the merchants, and then. . . But the newly arrived captain ignored these customs and rushed in to strike down the monsters. From their perspective, they had no choice but to be grateful. ¡®???? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan worried to himself. The centaurs had lost control and recklessly chased after wherever the monsters were, but the vampires seemed to think whatever they wanted. In any case, he had no intention of interfering if they wanted to express gratitude. ¡®?????? ???????????????????? ???? ????????, ???? ?? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ??¡¯?? ?????????????? ??????????.¡¯ It was not often that he had the opportunity to hear directly from an Eastern imperial prince. Johan asked him various things. About the envoy he had captured, the family of themander he had fought against in the previous battle, and the status of the Mulc family, the family of the knight Ahir who had helped Johan. The old vampire seemed to know much more than Johan had thought, smoothly answering everything. What was most surprising was his status. Barhan was currently the Sultan¡¯s uncle. The Eastern Sultans had children like rabbits, so their bloodline was as numerous as grains of sand. But to meet an uncle-level person here. . . ¡°Yeheyman is an excellent warrior andmander. A warrior who sees beheading enemies and offering their heads to the gods as a virtue. After one defeat, wouldn¡¯t he try to avenge that humiliation by any means?¡± ¡°. . .No. I did not want to know that much.¡± Johan had simply asked what kind of guy he was and why he hadnded with so many troops, but it just made him feel dirty. Johan frowned. From the sounds of it, he seemed like quite a rough guy. Johan worried that he would be troublesome to deal withter. ¡°I may be old and sick, but I do not forget the grace I must repay. If not for this situation, I would have properly repaid you. . .¡± By seeking asylum, their lives were safe but the power they had was gone. As Barhan vaguely trailed off in regret, Johan shrugged and said, ¡°I did not do this seekingpensation, so do not worry about repaying me.¡± Johan was not so destitute that he would forcibly wring repayment from an exiled imperial prince. In the first ce, he had not even considered it. Simply hearing various things about the Eastern Empire was satisfying enough. At least it was much more constructive than being dragged to Gaoalkana¡¯s banquets. ¡°Barhan-nim, what do you think about calling over Sir Lumahr and introducing the count to him? Would Sir Lumahr not be sufficiently helpful?¡± Sir Lumahr was an Eastern nobleman residing in Vynashchtym. He himself was also an excellent diplomat, and his family¡¯s assets were considerable. Thanks to a past connection, Barhan was quite close with Lumahr. However, acquainting a newly arrived captain with an Eastern noble was not a good idea. More than caring about public opinion, the proud noble count himself might find it offensive. No matter how wide his connections or vast his assets, he was decidedly still a pagan. ¡°Don¡¯t speak nonsense. Would you insult His Excellency the Count? Hising here alone is enough.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Who is Sir Lumahr?¡± Johan, who had been listening, asked curiously. Gaoalkana exined next to him who it was. Hearing that, Johan immediately replied, ¡°I don¡¯t mind meeting him.¡± ¡°Will it really be alright?¡± ¡°If he is your friend, there should be no dishonor in befriending him.¡± Of course, Johan was saying this after hearing that he was wealthy with many connections back home. Such a person would be good to get close to. As it was, Johan was already shamelessly securing interests however he could to increase trade routes in his fief. If he could get special privileges in the Eastern Empire like he did in Vynashchtym, it would be perfect. ¡°Then I will call for him. Your Excellency.¡± The vampires there looked at Johan with newfound eyes. While there were rampant rumors about the newly arrived captain, seeing him in person made the feeling different. What stood out the most was his modesty and how he respected Barhan. Such an attitude among pagans was rare. ???????????? ¡°The new personal guard captain? Ah, Count Yeats?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Is he really an okay person? I heard something a bit different.¡± Lumahr moved his steps in wonder after receiving the vampire attendant¡¯s message. Unlike Barhan, who was semi-retired, Lumahr was still active and energetic. He was in contact with the nobles of Vynashchtym, sending envoys to the emperor, reporting to the sultan, asionally negotiating with the republicans. . . As such, he heard a lot. Generous and magnanimous were not words that suited Count Yeats. ¡°A knight who participated in the battle told me. . .¡± ¡°What did he say to make you say that?¡± ¡°He said it was like a warrior born from the demon mating with a monster.¡± ©¥???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????????, ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ????????????????????, ???????????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????, ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????. ???? ?????????????????????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ??????????. ??????????, ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????, ???? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?? ??????????????. . . ¡°What! He is not that kind of person.¡± Seeing the attendant take his side, Lumahr became even more puzzled. No matter how many monsters he defeated and saved lives, can he really react like this? ¡°Anyway, Barhan-nim saved me, I guess I have to repay that debt.¡± Lumahr owed Barhan a debt when he was young. He took it for granted to at least pay him back. ¡°A decent sword and shield might work.¡± ¡°How is the matter you told me aboutst time?¡± ¡°The petty kingdoms? The atmosphere was not good. Those guys have nothing yet want so freaking much. The republicans are better.¡± The duchies and kingdoms near Vynashchtym always greedily coveted Vynashchtym. Rather thannd, the privileges and gold that Vynashchtym possessed were the main goals. ¡°The emperor clenched his purse of coins so they got frustrated. They asked me if I was going to get up with them.¡± ¡°Do you have to say things like that?¡± ¡°Then it would be treason, wouldn¡¯t it? I¡¯m not even a vassal of Vynashchtym.¡± He wouldn¡¯t participate but had no intention of reporting it either. The duchies were still cooperative partners of a sort, so he couldn¡¯t ruin the rtionship like that. ¡°Just refusing is enough loyalty. Come to think of it, the monster outbreak is also pretty suspicious. Was it those guys?¡± With those words, Lumahr arrived and opened the door. Inside, there was a familiar old vampire and an unfamiliar human facing each other across a low table. ¡®???? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????????????¡¯ Of course, he felt strong and sturdy, but it was a bit different from the expressions of the knights who had participated in the battle. No light or fire spilled from his eyes and mouth either. ¡°?!?¡± Lumahr was surprised in session. It was good to y baduk. It was Barhan¡¯s hobby and Lumahr also enjoyed ying it. However, when he looked at the low table, Barhan was being crushed into a mess. ¡®????. . . ??????¡¯?? ????????????-?????? ?????????????? ???????????¡¯ He wondered if he hadid down a few stones and passed, but that was not the case either. Barhan hesitated while cing stones. ¡°Your excellency. Since Sir Lumahr has arrived, I think it would be best to stop this game here.¡± ¡®?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???? ????????. . .¡¯ Chapter 188: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (6) Chapter 188: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (6) Johan was about to say that, but stopped. There were cases where even a wise and calm person outside the game would change personality once they grabbed a stone. The strong can afford to be generous. Johan was not narrow-minded to the point of clinging like a leech to the board Barhan took out just for fun. Lumahr politely greeted Johan and then spoke to Barhan in Easternnguage. ¡°Barhan-nim. You really like to tease people.¡± ¡°?¡± Barhan was puzzled by Lumahr¡¯s words. What is he talking about? ¡°I won¡¯t fall for such a trick just to surprise me.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡±Barhan reflected a little. Although blind and old, Barhan had yed quite a few mischievous tricks. Tricks that seemed to read the minds of visitors were one of his weaker ones. Was that why Lumahr had such a strange misunderstanding? ¡°I¡¯m not a snotty brat anymore either. I won¡¯t fall for such tricks.¡± ¡°. . .Sir Lumahr. I don¡¯t know about other things, but to deceive a lord, wouldn¡¯t you underestimate his skills instead of overestimating them?¡± It was a usible argument, but it didn¡¯t work for Lumahr. Lumahrughed and said, ¡°Have you ever yed a trick on me for a reason?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Barhan, lost for words, awkwardly cleared his throat. Although unable to see, he could feel Johan staring intently at him. It was quite embarrassing to hear about the mischievous tricks he yed in his youth in front of a lord he was indebted to. ¡®?????????????¡¯ Meanwhile, Lumahr was surprised. From Johan¡¯s expression, it seemed he understood Easternnguage. ¡°Can you speak Easternnguage by any chance?¡± ¡°I had the opportunity to learn from a great teacher.¡± ¡°. . .!!¡± Quite fluent pronunciation surprised Lumahr again. He didn¡¯t know Johan could even speak Easternnguage. Among the western nobles, no one would bother to master Easternnguage. Moreover, judging by the way Johan socialized with the Vynashchtym nobles, he was sure to be able to speak the ancient imperialnguage as well. . . ¡®??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????????¡¯ The intelligent demeanor, so different from what he had heard, made Lumahr doubt again. In fact, he might not be Count Yeats at all, but an imposter. It could be another mischievous trick by Barhan. . . ¡°Then how about you two y a game?¡± It was Barhan¡¯s voice that ended Lumahr¡¯s unnecessary suspicion. Barhan thought it was just in time. In order to pay back the debt he owed to Johan, he called Lumar. However, it was a bit awkward and embarrassing to speak directly about it. Although he owed him a favor, asking him for one was a matter of face. In that situation, this game could serve as a suitable excuse. ¡°Barhan-nim. I told you I won¡¯t fall for it.¡± ¡°Then there shouldn¡¯t be any problem ying a game, right?¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t make things difficult for the Count.¡± At Lumahr¡¯s words, Johan also nodded and said, ¡°I wonder if I really need to y. . .¡± Johan¡¯s reaction assured Lumahr. It was clear they were conspiring to y a trick on him. Of course, what Johan said was out of consideration for Lumahr. If he lost badly in the game, it would be embarrassing to get scolded. ¡°I don¡¯t think Sir Lumahr is scared. Hey, would a master like Sir Lumahr be scared. . .?¡± ¡°. . .Fine! Let¡¯s do it!¡± ¡®???? ???? ?? ?????????????¡¯ Seeing Lumahr getting carried away by just one line from Barhan, Johan¡¯s evaluation of Lumahr dropped inside. From what he had heard, he thought Lumahr was quite an impressive noble, but his actions were somewhat disappointing. . . ¡°Instead of just ying for nothing, how about the losing side grants a request from the winner? ¡° ¡°Well. . .¡± Johan tried to show consideration for Lumahr again, but for the already suspicious Lumahr, it only had a different implication. ¡®????¡¯?? ???????????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ????.¡¯ Now he seemed to know. They were trying to ay each other¡¯s doubts this way, then Barhan would secretly make fun of him from the side. That must be what they were trying to do. But Lumahr was not a snotty brat anymore either. He had no intention of falling for Barhan¡¯s tricks at all. ¡°It¡¯s fine with me, Count. There is no need to consider me, just y as you wish.¡± ¡°. . .Is that so?¡± Johan looked at Lumahr as if to ask if he really meant it. Lying askew behind him, Gaoalkana tilted her head and asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you ept some consideration?¡± ¡°No, Your Majesty. A good game oftenes with a worthy prize. Even if I lose, I¡¯ll just take it as a profound lesson, so I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll lose anything.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Johan stroked his chin in admiration at Lumahr¡¯s words. It was reassuring to have the opponente out like that. ¡°Barhan-nim, may I have the servants step back?¡± ¡°Please do.¡± ¡°And forgive my rudeness, but Barhan-nim, can you sit next to me?¡± ¡®????, ???????? ??????. . .¡¯ Inside, Barhan chuckled. He realized what kind of misunderstanding Lumahr had. ???????????? ¡°. . .¡± Lumahr opened his mouth wide and stared at Johan. Then he looked at the tabletop. Then he stared at Johan again. Gaoalkana said sympathetically, ¡°I guess he¡¯s just being considerate.¡± ¡°No. . .¡± How could an eastern nobleman who¡¯s been holding stones since childhood lose to a western count? Not just one game, but three. After narrowly losing the first round, Lumahr shouted ¡®?????? ???????? ??????????!¡¯ twice. Only after losing three rounds in a row did he realize. It wasn¡¯t that they were evenly matched, the opponent was just going easy on him. ¡°You were going easy on me, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say such rude things.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry.¡± Lumahr came to his senses at Barhan¡¯s words. He might be able to get away with saying that when they were alone, but it would be rude in front of Johan. ¡°It¡¯s alright, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°T-Thank you.¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯ve lost, will you grant my request?¡± ¡°. . .Yes.¡± Still rattled, Lumahr answered. Barhan¡¯s next words made his mind even moreplicated. ???????????? ¡°. . .I can introduce you to the nobles, but I cannot grant privileges. . .¡± He could have engaged in trade if that was all. Many merchants still entered Eastern Empire¡¯s numerous ports, harboring their dreams and hopes. But what Johan wanted was a kind of privilege. Privileges regarding tariffs, port entry, and trade were like golden goose eggs. The reason he immediately took the position of the emperor¡¯s imperial guard captain was also because of this. ¡°I don¡¯t want extraordinary privileges. Just basic courtesies between nobles will suffice.¡± The ships carrying regr merchants were treated differently from those transporting nobles¡¯ goods. What Barhan was referring to was thetter. ¡°Barhan-nim. That is between nobles who believe in the same gods, but the count. . .¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Republic also receive preferential treatment in some ports?¡± Even pagan nobles could expect noble treatment if they had built rapport with port area feudal lords. Their paganism was not an issue. ¡°. . .No. Please hear me out. The count has quite an infamous reputation. . .¡± ¡°?¡± Johan was puzzled. ¡°I have neither engaged in piracy nor piged the republic side, so what notoriety?¡± ¡°The knights who fought Count have returned, so rumors must have naturally spread. . .?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Anyway, some feudal lords may refuse out of fear because of such rumors.¡± Logically there was no reason to reject trade, but here a noble¡¯s personal grudge could overturn any decision. ¡°That is not something I can do anything about. . .¡± ¡°I see. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± Johan inwardly sighed, blindsided by an unexpected reason. Many nobles and even a mercenary captain from the Republic had participated in the battle, yet he felt singled out. ¡®?????? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°Also. . .¡± Lumahr seemed to tense up as he licked his dry lips. What he was about to say was slightly awkward. He spoke in Easternnguage so Gaoalkana could not understand. ¡°There is much discontent from the Duchy of Runoa side. I was told something once, it seemed they were plotting something. There may be trouble. . .¡± ¡°I see.¡± Johan nodded. The Duchy of Runoa was one of the petty kingdoms near Vynashchtym. Though called a duchy, they were more like centaurs or nomadic tribes who had settled under Vynashchtym¡¯s influence. In short, they were as militant and rough as eastern warriors! They could not bepared to western principality. ¡°I swear on my name that. . .¡± ¡°I trust you. No need to say more.¡± Reassured by Johan¡¯s guarantee, Lumahr nodded in relief. Even for him, revealing this was quite stressful. He would not have spoken up if not for Barhan. After ending the long conversation and leaving with Gaoalkana, Lumahr let out a sigh, rxing from the tension. It had been a devilish day. ¡°Barhan-nim. Please be honest with me. How on earth did you teach him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ???????????? After finishing his report to the emperor, Johan increased security and put people from the principality in the capital under surveince. ¡°What do you think about the Duchy of Runoa?¡± ¡°Barbarians?¡± ¡°. . . Never say that in front of people from the principality.¡± The bear beastmen of the principality were warriors as aggressive and brutal as the centaurs. They wanted more gold, more supplies for fighting for Vynashchtym. ¡®????????, ?? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ????????¡¯???? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ The emperor delegated full authority to Johan, and Johan was lost in thought about what to do. He wanted to call the people of the duchy into the capital and punish them, but then even those withoutints would startining. . . ¡°I have a good idea.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°The duke¡¯s son will soone up to Vynashchtym. Let¡¯s catch him then and hold him responsible.¡± ¡°. . . That¡¯s also a way to get even those withoutints toin.¡± The surrounding duchies and petty kingdoms periodically sent nobles and royalty to confirm their rtionship with Vynashchtym. They served as both hostages and envoys. But meeting them in person to check their level of dissatisfaction, what they want, whether we canpromise, etc. was still a good idea even if they don¡¯t capture and interrogate them. That kind of information was important. ¡°I guess he wouldn¡¯t dislike hunting? I should take the opportunity to meet him while hunting.¡± ¡°!¡± Gaoalkana¡¯s face lit up. She was happy not because of the hunting itself, but because Johan was going out. Because of potential dangers, Johan had forbidden Gaoalkana from sneaking out at night. From Gaoalkana¡¯s perspective, it was incredibly frustrating. ¡°You can ride well, right? No, now that I think about it, of course you can.¡± ¡°. . . Are you going out too?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t he be so touched if the emperor herself came out to wee him? We should take advantage of that.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t necessarily have to move him. . . Ga?aros is the one who likes hunting, not you.¡± ¡°Ga?aros likes the military, not hunting. Don¡¯t lie and say you don¡¯t want to go.¡± Gaoalkana made a sullen expression. ¡°Then at least station few guards near my quarters tonight.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°I don¡¯t n on sneaking out. Anyway, when there are a lot of people around, I can¡¯t sleep deeply. If I do sneak out, feel free to hit me with a rod. I swear!¡± ¡°All right, I¡¯ll allow it.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Gaoalkana¡¯s face brightened. She hugged Johan and kissed his cheek. And that night, Gaoalkana, about to sneak out in dark clothing, came face to face in the corridor with Johan holding a rod. ¡°. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± ¡°You won¡¯t really hit me with the rod, right?¡± ???????????? ¡°Your excellency. An amazing thing has happened.¡± ¡°Oh. . . Did you really find a sponsor?¡± Johan looked at Jyanina in surprise. To be honest, he didn¡¯t have high expectations. Given thenguage barrier and the questionable nature of magic rted to monsters. But with a reaction like that. . . Jyanina nodded with a confident expression. ¡°He came over as soon as he heard what I had to say?¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure the interpreter didn¡¯t mess up the trantion?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°I¡¯m joking. Well done. So what did he ask you to do?¡± ¡°To demonstrate my abilities in front of master.¡± ¡°Who is this person?¡± ¡°From the Duchy of Runoa.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Chapter 189: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (7) Chapter 189: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (7) It seemed Jyanina had misunderstood what Johan was trying to say. With an even more arrogant tone of voice, she said, ¡°Of course the people of the duchy are a bit barbaric, but I¡¯ve worked under Cardirian before.¡± It would have been an insult for which the distant emperor would have immediately cut off Jyanina¡¯s head, had he heard it. No matter how bad-tempered and brutal the emperor was,paring him to the barbarians of the Duchy of Runoa. . . ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ??????????, ???????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ???? ???????????????¡¯ There¡¯s a saying that mice hear night words and birds hear day words. . . Even Johan, who was listening, was puzzled. ¡°I see. Use that experience well to gain the trust of the duchy people.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°If you gain the trust of the duchy people, can you help me out a bit with my work?¡±At Johan¡¯s words, Jyanina¡¯s face brightened slightly. It was almost the first time she had been recognized for her abilities by Johan. If it was in her original nature, she would have spat at him to get revenge for the humiliations she had received so far, but for some reason, she was strangely moved by those words. Jyanina struggled to manage her expression and said, ¡°I¡¯ll try to do that if possible.¡± ¡°Attach a few guards to escort the wizard who will sit in a high position in the future.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to go that far. . . If you give them to me, I¡¯ll gratefully ept them.¡± Although flustered by Johan¡¯s favor, Jyanina epted it. Had Johan finally opened his eyes to her abilities? ???????????? ¡°Your Excellency. Your Excellency.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Johan was busy preparing for a hunt with Gaoalkana. If this was Johan¡¯s fiefdom, he could have just brought along a few guards and be on his way. But this was Vynashchtym. He had to prepare the proper attire and procedures befitting tradition before stepping out grandly for the sake of keeping face. More than ten people had to move in orderly unison. Even though his subordinates were elite, preparation was necessary. So amidst all that, it was perplexing for Johan that someone from the Republic came looking for him. ¡°Still, it¡¯s not good to reject the nobles¡¯ invitations too much. You know you¡¯re close with His Majesty the Emperor, but their authority isn¡¯t weak either.¡± ¡°Ah. Did youe to say that?¡± The nobles did send their attendants. Johan refused in the unique rhetoric of Vynashchtym, though not outright. It was along the lines of ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????, ??¡¯???? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????????????????.¡¯ Johan already had a promise with the Emperor, so he had no reason to ept such an invitation. So Johan also politely declined, conveying ¡¯?? ??????¡¯?? ????.¡¯ But. . . ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be more troublesome if I pointlessly attend? Rather than that, if I say I can¡¯t attend as the Captain of the Imperial Guard, it may be fine. But once a rtionship is established, it¡¯ll be a headache.¡± The young count¡¯s words surprised the noble from the Republic. He didn¡¯t know Johan had such thoughts. Aside from whether his judgment was right or wrong, it was astonishing that someone so young could exhibit such self-restraint. At that age, wouldn¡¯t it be normal to happily rush over when invited by nobles, intoxicated by the honor? ¡°Of. . . Of course, you¡¯re right. But if you¡¯re too curt, that causes its own rumors. I heard you¡¯ll be going hunting. How about inviting some others as well?¡± ¡°Hunting? Of course it¡¯s not a hunt by hunters, but we don¡¯t n on easily catching something in a day to return.¡± Aftering to Vynashchtym, Johan felt the nobles here were slightly morezy and extravagant than nobles in the West. In the Holy Empire, even nobles not formerly knights would go hunting quite often. Hunting was a good sport to demonstrate a noble¡¯s honor and pride. Of course, such hunts made use of the help from beaters and soldiers, so they were luxurious hunts. But usually, people were prepared to be drenched in night dew. Rather than immediately returning, losing oneself in the wilderness for a few weeks to a few months did more to help one¡¯s dignity. But Vynashchtym¡¯s nobles frowned upon such hunts as inconvenient. Johan didn¡¯t think the nobles would enjoy this hunt. ¡°It will be a matter of some importance that you have invited them, Your Excellency. It will at least save the Imperial Family¡¯s face a little. Of course, they will refuse, so Your Excellency¡¯s face may be a little tarnished. . .¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really care about that.¡± Nobles often took proposals or invitations as a matter of honor and became unnecessarily angry if they were rejected, but Johan didn¡¯t think much of it. In this respect, he was well-matched with the people from the republic. The man nodded. ¡°I knew Your Excellency would not be attached to such things.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You said a good thing. Thank you. Please tell them that I am always grateful for the Republic¡¯s efforts. In this foreignnd, the only people I can rely on are the people of the Republic.¡± ¡°The others will be very happy too!¡± Johan¡¯s skill at manipting people was bing more and more skillful. His natural bearing and dignity,bined with his title and fame, made his words strongly shake the other person. The republic nobleman left happily with the expression of having been seduced by his lover. ¡°Well, of course the Imperial Family won¡¯te to such a ce.¡± Johan decided to send someone to invite them anyway. It wouldn¡¯t be bad if they refused and rxed a little among themselves. ???????????? ¡°. . .uh, I don¡¯t really know, but why do we need to bring the other nobles?¡± Gaoalkana was not stupid for not using her head. She was puzzled when she saw the nobles who came out dressed up. They were close to ceremonial armors decorated gorgeously, but still functioning. The nobles were checking their bows and swords and showing off quite a bit. ¡°I thought they would refuse the invitation because they were so dissatisfied. . .?¡± ¡°You should have asked me.¡± Gaoalkana spoke as if it was obvious. ¡°They must have been curious about Johan, and rejecting a proposal from a far-away noble outright could also hurt their pride. Citizens are sensitive to such things.¡± If Johan was not so popr, it would have been fine, but since citizens were loving him at the moment, those who rejected the proposal could have looked pathetic. Such rumors spread easily and quickly, so in less than a month, it would have been enough for the story to grow that ¡®?????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ????????¡¯. ¡°And if they refused, I would have mocked them in a y.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do that.¡± Gaoalkana wanted to add fuel to the fire because the situation was young and inexperienced, and they needed to slowly win over the support of other nobles, but Johan firmly stopped her. Johan looked around at the nobles who were attending. They were rtively young (although still much older than Johan or Gaoalkana), quite decent at wielding weapons, their guards also seemed very skilled. Also, from what they heard, their faces were full of determination. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????¡¯ If Gaoalkana¡¯s words were true, the nobles here had made some resolution when they came. They were picked as decent people so as not to be mocked, given excellent guards. . . It was unlikely the nobles suddenly started training hard and honing their swordsmanship, so it was the guards who were easy. One could guess how much they were pressed. ¡°!¡± One of the guards with a familiar face bowed his head. He was the prosecutor who used to be an actor that Johan asked the emperor to release. It seemed he was employed by a noble now. Johan lightly greeted him with his eyes. While it was not a very difficult thing for Johan, it must have been an enormous favor for the other. ¡°Since preparations areplete, send the departure signal.¡± With the trumpet sound, the procession left magnificently. Thanks to Gaoalkana¡¯s guard in attendance followed by some nobles, outwardly there was nothing to fault. The schedule was simple. Go up the street, hunt around Sararom fortress, and wait for the duchy¡¯s parade. When those from the duchy join, n to hunt together with them. Wasn¡¯t it a schedule with nothing to pick on in and of itself? ???????????? ¡°Your excellency. This is a bit of a problem.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The centaurs said with serious expressions. Johan also nodded his head seriously. The nobles. . . Were really bad at hunting. The noble, who was around the cousin of the great great emperor (he didn¡¯t remember the exact rtion), put down his bow with a bright red face. It was because the arrow he had just shot missed again. When the nobles eagerly said ¡®??????????, ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????????????????¡¯ as they were going up the path, Johan said ¡®????, ???????????? ????.¡¯ Johan wasn¡¯t in such a dire situation that he had topete with these nobles for prey to save his dignity, rather he was satisfied if the opponent was happy about it. It was a really cheap deal, wasn¡¯t it? . . .The problem was that the abilities of the nobles were less than he thought. He didn¡¯t even dream that they would miss a deer from that distance. At first the atmosphere was friendly with ¡®???? ????, ???????? ?????? ????????????, ??????¡¯???? ??????????????¡¯ but after the second, third and fourth failures it started to be chilly. The nobles¡¯ entourages were sweating profusely with their heads deeply bowed, and Gaoalkana, who had a big smile on her face every time they missed, was now biting her lips to endure it. ¡°Those assholes? Why the hell can¡¯t they catch it?¡± ¡°There are several reasons.¡± The master hunter centaur analyzed seriously. ¡°First there¡¯s theck of skill with the bow, but more than that, their sense for the hunt is toocking. Who¡¯s going to get hit straight on with all that noise? Besides, the skills of the entourage aren¡¯t that great either.¡± Johan understood what he meant. A hunter¡¯s abilities couldn¡¯t just be swordmanship and archery. They had to understand the environment and know how to lure the prey. But the nobles¡¯ entourages were just guys who were good with swords and bows, so. . . ¡°I¡¯m suffocating here. I need to ask you guys a favor.¡± ¡°Should we drive them over for those assholes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call them assholes. What if they understand Eastern. Anyway, driving them over is right. Go and drive them over!¡± The most seasoned centaurs ran out. Meanwhile Johan started tofort the nobles. They had a look on their faces as if they would cry if he didn¡¯t talk. ¡°I understand that gong is merciful, but if he continues to show mercy like this, won¡¯t it be embarrassing for his subordinates to take the initiative?¡± ¡°. .!¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard for others to step up if their superiors don¡¯t catch them. I wish you would catch just one, even if you don¡¯t really want to.¡± No matter how he looked, hecked skill, but with just one word from Johan, he had missed on purpose out of mercifulness. The noble hurriedly nodded his head. ¡°Ye. . . yes, I¡¯m sorry. It seems I killed the mood.¡± ¡°Everyone was moved, how did you kill the mood?¡± ¡°You¡¯re. . . you¡¯re right, master. Everyone was moved by master¡¯s mercy.¡± When the quick-witted ve opened his mouth, the other entourages hurriedly nodded their heads. Inwardly, they were thankful to Johan. Thanks to him, this suffocating air had cleared. Since he was a count, he could say such things, but if a ve had said such things, he would have been pped in the face immediately. ¡°Re. . . really? Is that how it is?¡± It was easy for many people to make one person an asshole. As everyone praised him highly, the mood of the noble brightened immediately. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö-!¡± The special sound of the centaurs signaling from afar could be heard. It was the sound indicating they were driving the prey over. ¡°Gong, the prey ising over there.¡± ¡°. . .H-How about the count catches it?¡± ¡°Being too generous is also a problem. Here!¡± The noble was about to slyly take his foot out, thinking he probably wouldn¡¯t hit it, but Johan grabbed the noble¡¯s hand and pulled the bowstring taut before setting his posture properly for him. At that moment, Johan¡¯s eyes met with the eyes of the approaching centaur. Without words, they understood each other. ¡®?????????? ???? ???????????????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡®???? ????????????.¡¯ The arrow flew and the deer copsed. The noble who hit it looked more surprised. He had hit targets before but hitting fast running prey was a first. ¡°I hit it! I hit it!¡± ¡°Great! Hitting it right in the vitals while running fast! Even outstanding knights with the bow find it hard to hit fast running deer!¡± ¡°R-Really?¡± ¡°Really. Even western knights would be jealous seeing this. To think there was a knight with such skills here! Now I see there is someone else qualified to receive a knighthood!¡± The centaurs who followed behind looked at Johan with astonished expressions. No matter how much gold they were given, there¡¯s no way they could say such things! Chapter 190: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (8) Chapter 190: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (8) ¡°Why don¡¯t we try to catch one more? It would be a sin to let this skill go to waste.¡± ¡°But I think one is enough. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Here.¡± Johan gestured. The centaurs grunted lowly in Eastern Language and ran off to find new prey. The royal, who had been uncertain earlier, now seemed to have gained some confidence. When you keep getting praised from those around you, even a calm person tends to perk up. Moreover, Johan¡¯s skill at roasting humans had risen sinceing to Vynashchtym. The royal blew out a breath and nodded. Judging by his facial expression alone, he was the very image of a knight about to charge. ¡°Here theye charging again. But look ¨C that one¡¯s younger and fiercer than thest, so it¡¯ll be harder to hit.¡± ¡°I. . . I see. Then I have no choice.¡±¡°But with Your Highness¡¯s skill, perhaps. . . you may be able to hit it. Give it a shot. Even if you miss, that can¡¯t be helped.¡± As if spellbound, the royal nodded and fired another arrow. Of course, with the centaurs madly driving the prey so it couldn¡¯t escape, there was no way he could miss. ¡°Bullseye!¡± ¡°Amazing! To think you¡¯d be able to hit even that one. When we go back west, I must speak your name!¡± ¡°There¡¯s. . . there¡¯s no need to go that far.¡± The royal flushed shyly. He already knew Sir Johan was an exceptional knight. The rumors of him bursting the heads of pagans like ripe fruit could not be ignored no matter how hard one tried. A great knight like him wouldn¡¯t tell lies. What he was saying now was surely from the heart. ¡®???? ??. . . ???? ?? ???? ???????? ???????????¡¯ Although he hadin indolently in luxurious pces for most of his life, hunting awakened man¡¯s most primal desires. The royal gripped his bow tightly and said, ¡°I¡¯ll show you once more. Count!¡± ¡°Oh my. There can¡¯t be much game left in the forest for the hunters to take.¡± ¡°Uhaahahaha! What a jest!¡± The centaurs charged out, ring at the clueless whelp. . . ???????????? Johan worked really hard to entertain the nobles. Not only the centaurs but Karamaf also had to run through the forest and herd the prey. The nobles were such bad shots that they used a method to exhaust the prey. The nobles didn¡¯t really understand why the prey came running to them and suddenly copsed. ¡°Your excellency, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s going a bit too far to make the prey copse for your excellency to shoot them?¡± ¡°They won¡¯t notice anyway.¡± ¡°I think some of the guards have noticed. . .¡± ¡°If they care about their lives, they won¡¯t say anything. Bring me another prey.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Later when it got tedious, Johan knocked down the prey with his fist and then brought the nobles to shoot them. The nobles didn¡¯t seem to think that Johan had knocked down the prey with his fist. They were thrilled to grab their bows and shoot. Some of the guards in the back had expressions like ¡®?????? ????????. . . ???????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????¡¯ ¡®???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????¡¯ but if they didn¡¯t want to die, they wouldn¡¯t bring that up to their master. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t this be something I learn instead of something Johan does?¡± Gaoalkana looked at Johan as if it was absurd. She knew he was a great knight but today¡¯s hospitality was on another level. Look! Those arrogant, cocky nobles hadpletely melted expressions as they gingerly spoke to Johan. Anyone who saw them would think they were lovers. ¡°I just put in some effort.¡± ¡°Is that what you call effort? They are my n but have awful temperaments, especially towards outsiders.¡± The Holy Empire was especially an object of love-hate for Vynashchtym. The collisions in their long history had instilled in the people of Vynashchtym apulsion that they could not lose to the people of the Holy Empire. It was absurd in itself for a Vynashchtym noble to fawn over an outside noble like that, but even more absurd that he was from the Holy Empire. But the nobles who attended this hunt seemed to have forgotten all that and werepletely drunk on glory. The words they had heard from other nobles beforeing here, like ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????, ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????,¡¯ had long disappeared from their memory. ¡°The sun hasn¡¯t set yet. Can¡¯t we catch one more? Huh, Count?¡± ¡°Barfolos. Haven¡¯t you already caught three?¡± ¡°Are you jealous of what I¡¯ve caught now? Could it be because I¡¯m taking the greatest glory?¡± ¡°What did you say? This brat has no shame. Do you know who you¡¯re in front of. . .¡± ¡°Now, now. Don¡¯t fight. There¡¯s still plenty of prey, we can catch more tomorrow.¡± When Johan intervened, the nobles stopped bickering. Johan called each noble by name, talked about the prey they caught, and showered them withpliments. ¡°I¡¯m ashamed to say I misunderstood you, Count.¡± ¡°Did you now?¡± After the hunt ended and during the modest banquet held in the tents in the evening, the youngest royal (though much older than Johan) whispered to Johan. ¡°The others were talking behind the count¡¯s back. . . Ah. I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Of course I believe in the count. There is no knight as excellent as him who would lie.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, of course. Anyway, those who insult a knight like the Count should be ashamed of themselves.¡± ¡°Wait. I didn¡¯t either.¡± Another royal who was listening nearby chimed in quietly. Johan nodded and said, ¡°There is no honorable knight here who would spread such rumors. Of course not.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Seeing some royals unable to open their mouths, they seemed a bit pricked. Johan raised his ss and shouted, ¡°For the dragon bloodline, cheers! For the honor of the excellent knights, cheers!¡± ¡°For the Yeats Family, cheers. For our brothers who became the shield of faith, defeating the pagans!¡± Soon the atmosphere became amicable and cheerful. Only then Johan was able to sigh in relief. The participation of the royals was unexpected, but it was easier than he thought to butter them up. Judging by their reaction, they would probably not antagonize Johan even after they left. While not everyone would actively assist, at least some of them would take Johan¡¯s side. ¡®????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ??????????????.¡¯ The royals had not been able to correct their chronic drinking habits even from distant fiefs. Although Johan was fine, more than half of the royals already could not hold their heads up. The ss of the royal who still looked sober was being recklessly filled with wine by Gaoalkana. There was no better moment to interrogate them when they were so drunk like this. ¡°Speaking of which. Has anyone approached you?¡± ¡°Wha. . . what appr. . .approach?¡± ¡°Dissatisfied or needing this count¡¯s help or something. Anything from the Duchy of Runoa?¡± ¡°Uh. . . uh-huh. Those bea. . .bear guys. I think they sa. . .something like that. . . Didn¡¯t to me but, uh, other ro. . .royals? They were worrying. But not me! Count! You believe me right? Righ. . .?¡± ¡°Of course I believe you. Go to sleep.¡± ¡°Yesss, yesss.¡± The royal passed out again. Having obtained all he could, Johan was satisfied. ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ????????????.¡¯ Going to all those royals would be crazy. They were not united either. If there was only one traitor among them, things could go wrong. It was enough to subtly convey intentions to an appropriate one or two in advance. ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????? ??????????. ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ It would be easy if he could bring those people from the duchy on a hunt and make them drunk and pliable like these naive royals, but that would not happen. Should I make them bleed? ???????????? ¡°Let¡¯s catch one more before entering the fortress.¡± ¡°You punk, what?¡± Gaoalkana was dumbfounded, but the obsession of the nobles who had a taste was scary. He started whining to hunt some more instead of entering the fortress in the distance. Johan didn¡¯t expect this either. ¡°. . .Well, let¡¯s try to catch some more.¡± There was no harm in wandering outside a little more. Of course, the entourage wouldin a little, but still. Johan moved the procession deeper into the forest. ¡°?¡± Karamaf and Cardirian suddenly lifted their heads. And they made an effort to convey their meaning to Johan. It was rare for the two of them to act like this. ¡°Did a fight break out?¡± The two immediately nodded. They were the first to smell the blood scent that Johan hadn¡¯t noticed yet. The fortress was not very close, but it was not far enough to ignore. There were more good ces to go rogue than here. There was no reason to do it in a ce like this. ¡®????¡¯?? ??????????????.¡¯ ¡°There seems to be a problem. Protect His Majesty just in case. Officers,e inside!¡± ¡°????¡± Johan¡¯s sudden order confused the nobles. However, the hospitality that Johan had steadily built up came into y at times like this. Although the nobles were confused, they followed Johan¡¯s words. ¡°Your Excellency. We didn¡¯t notice it during the reconnaissance. . .?¡± ¡°It seems Karamaf¡¯s nose is better than yours. Karamaf, take the lead! We need to find out what¡¯s going on.¡± Johan took some agile centaurs and went on a reconnaissance. At times like these, it was faster to see the situation directly and judge. ¡°. . .!¡± The shouting grew louder and louder. It was the kind of sound that could only be made by dozens of banners shing together. Based on that, it looked like there were at least tens of people. ¡®Bear beastmen!¡¯ In the open space where the avenue was, a fierce battle was unfolding. The raiders surrounded therge bear beastmen and pressed them. At a nce, there were clearly more than a hundred, and although they looked like mercenaries on the outside, they were well equipped and orderly. Although the bear beastmen were also fighting impressively well armed, they seemed disadvantaged being surrounded. Between the axes swinging, arrows flying, swords breaking, and blood sttering, Johan quickly deliberated and made a judgment. ¡°Blow the horn! They are the envoys from the duchy!¡± If he left them to die because they were troublesome, it would be even more troublesome. Since they came as envoys, they must have decent status in the duchy, and there was a possibility of causing trouble if something happened. ¡°Retreat, I won¡¯t chase if you retreat!¡± ¡°!!!¡± Suddenly, a roar came from behind that seemed to p the ears of the raiders. Even in the midst of the heat of battle, the raiders were surprised and turned their heads. Could it be reinforcements arrived? Or was it Vynashchtym¡¯s patrol? ¡°. . .?¡± However, what was charging at them was a lone knight. The raiders were dumbfounded and unconsciously burst outughing. That was the mercenary¡¯sstugh in his lifetime. Johan blew the mercenary standing awkwardly at the crossroads to the side as is. ????????! Seeing a heavily armed soldier fly away like a scarecrow, therade next to him widened his eyes in shock. Cardirian immediately lifted his hooves and mmed the guy¡¯s ribs. Karamaf puffed up his body and jumped among the mercenaries. Johan held the Giant yer in one hand and drew out a longsword. The silver de flowing with red energy shed as it reflected the light. Although it looked like a freakishlyrge war hammer that one hand wouldn¡¯t be enough to hold, he held it easily in one hand, not looking precarious at all. Rather, a beastly wildness could be felt from that figure. And that wildness exploded. Johan swung his longsword recklessly, ughtering those in front of him. Since he was alone, he had no leisure to show mercy to the enemy. More than cutting down the enemies, he had to inflict damage to their souls. Through several battles, Johan had already learned the trick to copsing groups. Even if he cut down one guy, he had to instill fear in the dozens around him. It was a solo charge, yet the mercenaries were pushed back in confusion. If they pulled themselves together, reorganized the formation, and unleashed a barrage of arrows and bolts, it would be easy, but Johan didn¡¯t give them that chance. ?????? ?????? ??????©¥ ¡®???????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Hearing the sound from behind, Johan felt relieved. It seemed the centaurs who heard the sound were running with all their might. ¡°Count! I have arrived!¡± ¡°. . .!!!!¡± For the first time in a while, Johan¡¯s face was filled with astonishment. The nobles were charging even further ahead than the centaurs. Chapter 191: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (9) Chapter 191: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (9) ¡®???????? ??????. . ., ?????? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ??*?????????????¡¯ Johan looked at the centaurs with bewildered eyes. But the centaurs had their own excuses. All the nobles who participated in the hunt led their own troops. Aside from Johan, the centaurs couldn¡¯t order them around. Of course, even if they could, they probably didn¡¯t want to! With a short shout, another sh urred. The nobles and centaurs charged into formation. At this point, there wasn¡¯t much Johan could do. He could only hope none of those damn nobles got killed or taken hostage. ¡°Count! I will help you!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Contrary to Johan¡¯s worries, the nobles were not that weak.Just being on horseback and properly armored already scored them high points. The foot soldiers simply could not recklessly charge them. Also, Johan had already wrecked havoc once before. The soldiers around were too busy avoiding Johan, pushing and trampling over each other. The nobles who arrivedter did not receive much attacks. The escorts who followed the nobles also knew they must protect the surroundings at all cost, so there was not as much to worry about as Johan had thought. ¡®????????¡¯?? ??????????????????.¡¯ Johan turned his gaze forward again. Separate from his worries about the nobles, the support had arrived at an opportune time. The enemies who were trying to regain their bearings from the shock were nowpletely rattled. ¡°Block them! Buy time!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let them get through!¡± The enemies shouted in a mix of Eastern and Vynashchtymnguages, with strong ents. Johan was puzzled that the enemies were not trying to retreat. If they were typical mercenaries, they should have retreated by now. The current situation was beyond their expectations. Yet they persisted despite being relentlessly hammered from behind? ¡°!¡± At some point, instead of the fleeing mercenaries, others came charging in, shield and spears held high. Johan realized there were others mixed among the mercenaries. Even in this situation, they encouraged their allies and held their ground instead of retreating. . .? ¡°Kill them! You must kill them!¡± There was only one objective. Johan turned his gaze forward again. The raiders were now eyeing the bear tribe in an even more vicious manner than before. They must have realized time was running out. The bloodlust was so intense it pierced through the chaos of the battlefield and reached Johan. ¡®?????? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????????????? ??????????!¡¯ Still, Johan could not leave things as they were. He had to save the envoys now that he was here. Johan shouted at the nobles beside him. ¡°???????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ????????!¡± ¡°Understood, Count! You can trust me!¡± The noble responded passionately to Johan¡¯s heated shout. The heat of the battlefield must have set his fat veins aze as well. By responding to Johan¡¯s yell, he was like amander from the old tales of history. Of course, Johan was referring to the soldiers led by the nobles, not the nobles themselves. They had to charge forward together for Johan to have free rein. ¡°Follow me! I swear on the blood of dragons, I will make sure none of those gathered here die!¡± ¡°Should we just leave that guy alone?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let him die.¡± The centaurs grumbledints from behind. A short arrow glinted as it flew, striking down a mercenary up front. It slipped right through a gap in the well-fitted armor. While the nobles were not up to par, their subordinates were certainly decent. Useless during the hunt, this formation battle was different. Even the centaurs were amazed by their skill at pushing back a well-armed opponent. Johan may be a knight born with monstrous strength, capable of crumbling formations single-handedly, but normal people could not do the same. When facing those d and armed in armor, battles tended to drag out. However, the nobles¡¯ subordinates parried des and shifted their bnce, before slipping their swords into gaps in the armor. The former actor-turned-prosecutors, whom Johan had shown mercy, were especially eye-catching. Their sword wielding skill was truly splendid. The mercenaries who blocked their way spewed blood as they copsed. Thanks to them, Johan was able to approach much more smoothly. Over half of the bear tribe were already injured and bleeding. Johan¡¯s heart grew urgent. ???????????? ¡°You cowardly, dishonorable sons of b*tches! May the curse of the gods be upon you and your offspring and their offspring!¡± Hurik shouted in a furious voice. He was now angry at the dishonor of his opponents. The attackers were a n that had been enemies with his n for generations. They had fought each other in civil wars many times and eventually the opponents lost their fiefdom and were driven out. The small kingdoms outside Vynashchtym had adopted the faith and culture but still had many rough and barbaric traits. Even the Holy Empire that the people of Vynashchtym looked down upon was the epitome of sophisticationpared to those small kingdoms. As a result, the civil wars were like washing blood with more blood. Both sides had so much blood debt to pay back that it was hard to keep count. The problem was that they were trying to collect that debt through this surprise attack! If they hade honorably and requested a duel, Hurik would have dly epted it. But these cowards chose to ambush them on the road to Vynashchtym like a band of rogues. ¡°Aren¡¯t you ashamed, you sons of b*tches! Say something!¡± Instead of answering, the raiders brandished their swords. They intended to speak with their des rather than their mouths since they had little to say anyway. Hurik himself was an excellent warrior and there were several skilled fighters among the envoys. But they were taken by surprise and outnumbered. At this rate. . . ¡°Fall back, I won¡¯t pursue if you fall back!¡± ¡°???¡± Hurik stopped swinging his battleaxe in surprise. A knight had suddenly charged out from behind them into a reckless attack. ¡®???????? ???????¡¯ He was grateful for the help, but this was not a situation where a wandering knight could just recklessly charge in out of outrage. It would be one thing if only he died, but. . . Hurik expected the knight to be taken down after felling some six opponents or so. ¡®. . .?!?!¡¯ But the unbelievable happened. As the knight let out a war cry and swung his weapon, those seasoned mercenaries began to crumble. His strikes were so powerful that the mercenaries toppled over one after another regardless of whether they were hit on the helmet or a vital spot. Without realizing it, Hurik cheered for the mysterious knight. There was something about him single-handedly pushing back the enemy in a frenzy that stirred a warrior¡¯s heart. And soon, reinforcements arrived from Vynashchtym. Only then did Hurik realize who they were. His pride was hurt but he was relieved. ¡°You cowardly b*stards!¡± But things flowed differently from what he expected. The raiders whom he thought would flee were now rushing in with bloodshot eyes. If we¡¯re going to die anyway, let¡¯s take down one more with us! ¡°Hurik, I will cut off your head and offer it at your n¡¯s altar!¡± ¡°Oh yeah! Come and get it, you son of a b*tch! My neck is right here!¡± The enemy n¡¯s knight, Norga, came into view. He was an opponent Hurik had crossed weapons with several times. His skills were so outstanding that Hurik had never bested him. Especially skilled with the mace, once he started attacking, one would have bones shattered or broken before they could get away. But Hurik did not fear him despite the dire situation. Even if I die today and go to the spirits, I will take this b*stard down with me! ¡°Uwaaahhh!¡± But there was interference. Norga turned his head at the screaming from behind. The mysterious knight had arrived right in front of them somehow after fighting through all those soldiers. With eyes shooting sparks, Norga charged forward. When he swung his mace with that bulk of his, there was a ominous sound. ????????????! Like a puppet with its strings cut, Norga went flying limply to the side. He looked like a man hit by a horse. The exchange was so quick that the soldier next to them just blinked, notprehending what just happened. ¡®??????????????!¡¯ Hurik was the only one who saw it and forgot his wounds and fatigue to admire what happened. To batter the charging Norga and send him flying to the side. . . This knight was no ordinary one. And Norga was only the beginning. After dealing with him, Johan swung his sword instead of using his mount. The glint of the de shed and blood sprayed. Even the soldiers barely holding on seemed to lose heart here. ¡°Run! It¡¯s over!¡± ¡°Even Norga-nim is dead! Retreat!¡± The enemies began fleeing one by one. Only then could Johan let down his guard a little. The bear warriors who were fighting fell down. Some of them were so drunk from the heat that they didn¡¯t even recognize Johan and tried to attack him. ¡°Stop! They¡¯re not the en. . .¡± ????????????! Johan blocked his opponent¡¯s strike and smashed his gauntleted fist onto the armor. His opponent copsed despite the thick armor. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Seeing this, Hurik¡¯s jaws dropped open. ???????????? The envoys from the recently returned duchy held a banquet to express their gratitude despite the many injured. Hurik, with bandages wrapped all over his body, raised a cup of wine. ¡°Count. I have never seen a warrior like you in my life! Not even the spirits have seen one like that. To be able to fight like that! Damn the spirits!¡± ¡°Um, uh. . . Hurik-nim. Please allow me to ry the message on your behalf.¡± The interpreter next to him spoke with a nervous expression on his face. Hurik had insisted on speaking for himself despite his thick Vynashchtym ent andck of etiquette and customs. The proud Vynashchtym people despised such a sight. The nobles sitting at the other tables were already frowning. ¡°You can understand well enough, no problem.¡± ¡°The count doesn¡¯t mind. Now piss off!¡± Hurik pushed the interpreter aside. He seemed even more irritated after Johan said it was fine. ¡°Did you bathe in the Spirits¡¯ Fountain? Or did you y a monster and gain its power?¡± ¡°No. I was just born this way.¡± ¡°Born this way?! You¡¯ve been blessed! Damn blessed! My cousin happens to have a daughter, are you thinking of sowing your seed?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°Then you don¡¯t have children? I don¡¯t need to be first! I just want that powerful bloodline of yours, Count!¡± The offended nobles interjected. This was why they disliked these barbarians. ¡°Such rude words are uneptable, Hurik-gong. Even if you represent the duchy.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t even say this much! While you oily city folkfortably live, me and my men split heads open across the bordends!¡± The duchy people were proud of what they did for Vynashchtym. Who else would pick up arms and fight if not them? Though they would normally be ignored for being dirty and vulgar, this time the nobles had something to say. ¡°And who saved that great warrior this time?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Hurik seemed to be struck speechless. The nobles excitedly pressed on. That violent, barbaric man was difficult to deal with normally. Now was a good opportunity. ¡°Who saved you? Hmm? Hurik-gong?¡± ¡°. . .You all saved me.¡± ¡°Speak up. Hurik-gong!¡± ¡°Thank you, damn it! Didn¡¯t I say thanks already!¡± Hurik grew irritated. He couldn¡¯t deny receiving their aid but admitting he needed help from these slick fellows made his blood boil. ¡°It was only natural for us to help, don¡¯t make too much of it.¡± Johan stepped in to mediate. Even the nobles couldn¡¯t refute Johan¡¯s words. With the nobles quieted, Hurik shouted as if he had the right idea. ¡°Right! If the Count hadn¡¯t stepped in, you b*stards wouldn¡¯t havee either! When you think about it, you should all be thanking the Count!¡± ¡°Wha, what insolence. . . Count! Say something to put him in his ce!¡± ¡°Count. No need to consider those men. Speak freely!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± With nonsenseing at him from both sides, even Johan¡¯s resilient eardrums were nearing their limit. He made an effort not to lose his patience. The centaurs looked at Johan nervously. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????????, ???? ?????¡¯ It was like children from rival tribes childishly arguing over who was on their side. Chapter 192: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (10) Chapter 192: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? (10) Fortunately, Johan did not draw his sword and swing it around. No matter how irritating it was to be caught between the two tribes, Johan¡¯s patience remained steadfast. Johan mediated between the Hurik and royal folks. The two tribes, drunk as they were, had no choice but to ept Johan¡¯s mediation. ¡°By the way, count, are you really working under the Emperor?¡± ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°I find it hard to believe a warrior like the count working under the Emperor.¡± Hurik spoke bluntly without hesitation. Yet he himself held the position of Vynashchtym and served the emperor. But Hurik¡¯s doubt was understandable. He had seen many imperial guards serving the emperor, but never a warrior like Johan. Wherever he came from, bringing someone like him here was surprising indeed. ¡°Aren¡¯t you working under the emperor as well?¡±¡°Ah, that¡¯s right!¡± As if recalling something, Hurik pped his palm with his fist. ¡°What a timely coincidence! count, here is a chance to repay me for saving your life.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nning to ask the Emperor for more gold in exchange for the blood and iron I provide. What do you think if countes along? For a warrior like yourself, shouldn¡¯t he pile up gold to equal your weight?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Seeing Hurik so boldly suggest they pressure the Emperor, Johan grew a bit nervous. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ????????????, ?????? ???????????????? ????????????. . .!¡¯ ¡°I have noints.¡± Johan was almost entirely sincere. He had already obtained everything he wanted promised. With nothing left to desire, there was no reason to join hands with Hurik. Moreover, hadn¡¯t hee to stop Hurik from making trouble in the capital in the first ce? ¡®???? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????. . . ?????? ????????????????????.¡¯ ¡°Noints? There should beints! It¡¯s warriors like me and my men who protect these Vynashchtym b*stards!¡± Seeing the grumbling Hurik, Johan prepared his next question. Would he really answer something like this obediently? ¡°Even if we just show up and make demands, they won¡¯t listen. Do you have some kind of n?¡± ¡°Count! Do you take me for a fool? Of course I have a n! Among the nobles in the capital, there are those who have offered to help me, they will aid in persuading the Emperor.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Johan nodded. There were also many nobles rted to the republic side, so it was no surprise that there were imperials rted to the duchy side. ¡°I¡¯m curious who it is. Can you tell me their name?¡± ¡°If the count is curious, I can at least let you know that much. Hey. Bring it here.¡± The attendant looked at Hurik in dismay. When the imperials contacted Hurik, they must have thought their identities would obviously be kept secret. Isn¡¯t that a given! The duchy needed someone in the capital who could argue on their behalf, and the imperials needed military force in case of emergency. It was a good deal for both sides, which is why they joined hands in the first ce. . . ¡°You¡¯re not bringing it!!?¡± ¡°I will, I will bring it.¡± The attendant who knew Hurik¡¯s temper hurriedly ran off. Even if the royals caused amotionter, his neck was on the line right now. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????????????? ??????. . . ???????? ?????????????? ??????????.¡¯ Even when elves used coarsenguage, they still acted with basic courtesy. It was the result of deeply ingrained customs. The blood may be hot but the umted honor bound them like shackles. In contrast, the bear beastmen simply blurted out whatever came to mind and did as they pleased, unrestricted. Put together, the two seemed quite simr. Johan took the name and nodded. ¡°I see. It¡¯s them.¡± The most dangerous people to be warned against and driven out as soon as they returned to the capital! ¡°Hurik-gong. These people cannot be trusted much. They are the kind to gobble you up when useful and spit you out when not.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I have tremendous faith in those b*stards either. But they¡¯re still useful so I join hands with them! Until I get what I want, don¡¯t I have to hold hands with those oily pigs sometimes?¡± ¡°Of course, but if it¡¯s not disadvantageous, what¡¯s the point in doing that? When there are more trustworthy partners.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Is he not in front of you?¡± ¡°Huh. . . the count? The count will help me?¡± Hurik looked at Johan in disbelief. Come to think of it, Johan was fully capable of that. Wasn¡¯t he the captain of the imperial guard with a tremendous amount of the emperor¡¯s trust? It felt a bit absurd to pour out his grievances to someone who was like the emperor¡¯s arms and legs, but Johan¡¯s voice quelled such turmoil. ¡°If you wish, I will mediate well. Have you not experienced much on the battlefield? The real danger is always the ipetent ally.¡± ¡°I. . . I never even considered that.¡± Hurik murmured while scratching his cheek. ¡°To join hands with the untrustworthy imperial b*stards or the true warrior count. . . damn right it¡¯s thetter! I¡¯m counting on you, Count!¡± Amidst the others who had mostly passed out drunk, Hurik, the eldest son of the duchy, shook off the dubious imperials and took Johan¡¯s hand. ???????????? After the banquet ended, Johan gave the envoy some time to rest for a few days. Many were injured and tired so he had to give them this much time. When he went to see Hurik, Hurik was already waving his weapons around. As Johan arrived, he greeted him with a delighted expression. ¡°Monster? Ah. Are you talking about the one from the capital? I don¡¯t know anything about that.¡± When asked if he knew anything about the incident where a monster was released in the capital, Hurik shook his head. ¡®???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????? ??*???????????? ??????, ?????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ After doing it, they even tried to push the me onto the duchy just in case. He didn¡¯t know who it was but they were a master politician. The duchy¡¯s warriors are good at killing enemies outside but they are outsiders when ites to the subtle political struggles happening inside Vynashchtym. It would have been easy to subtly push the me onto them. ¡°But when I heard about that incident, I thought it would be nice if we could threaten them with summoned monsters. It works out well, Count. My men have found an expert in that field in Vynashchtym.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan, who was listening, flinched. Wait. . .? ¡°Could it be a wizard from the Holy Empire?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± This premonition was never wrong. When Johan saw Jyanina among the new envoy from the duchy, he shook his head repeatedly. ¡®???? ?????????? ??????????¡¯?? ????????.¡¯ If the duchy guys didn¡¯t agree or were finicky, Jyanina¡¯s position would have been precarious, but since the conversation ended well, there wasn¡¯t any particr problem. If Jyanina wanted, she just had to properly demonstrate her abilities and gain recognition. ¡°Hurik-nim. I¡¯m a little ufortable.¡± ¡°Yes. Summoning monsters. Can we really believe such evil magic?¡± ¡°Ugh! Well, damn, you¡¯re right.¡± When they joined hands with the royals, they needed a lot, so they called even suspicious wizards, but the story was different now. Was such magic really necessary? ¡°Still, I can¡¯t reject her when she came at my request! It¡¯ll be a headache if the wizard curses, so let¡¯s take a look.¡± ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± The bear beastmen from the duchy came pouring out, and as Johan and the royals also came pouring out, Jyanina looked around with a bewildered expression. Were there too many people? ¡°Y-Your Excellency. What brings you here?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear I came to hunt with His Majesty?¡± ¡°I heard but why here. . .?¡± ¡°To wee the duchy people as well.¡± Jyanina was flustered but raised her wand. Now that it hade to this, she had to demonstrate her abilities. But. . . ¡®????????????. . . ???????? ?????? ??????????????. . .!¡¯ Jyanina was perceptive. If it was just the duchy people in a discreet setting it would be one thing, but with so many people watching like this, she had to be careful when using magic. The magic she used was among the most suspicious types of magic. It was not unheard of for careless wizards seeking recognition to end up dragged to the gallows. ¡°Your Excellency.¡± ¡°?¡± Next to him, Johan was puzzled when Jyanina desperately signaled to him. ¡°What is it. Is there a problem with the magic?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just. . . I can¡¯t properly demonstrate the magic in a setting like this!¡± ¡°Ah. Because of the summoned monsters?¡± Johan understood what Jyanina meant. While the duchy people might ept it, some of the imperials might freak out. ¡°Can you not just end this gathering somehow?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible but didn¡¯t you want the duchy to recognize your abilities? If you just end it here, they will never recognize you no matter what you say in the future, you know?¡± ¡°Not as important as my life.¡± ¡°I see. I can do at least that much.¡± Being seen as a braggart was better than dying. Jyanina sighed in relief. It was the first time she felt so relieved to have an acquaintance with the count. No matter where you went, it was difficult in many ways without connections to the influential people there. Thankfully Johan was there, otherwise if she made a mistake. . . ©¥???????? ????????????????! ????????? ????????????? ?????????????????? ???? ????????????????????. . . ©¥???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?? ??????????????! ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ??????. . .?¡¯ Seeing the duchy people burst intoughter at Johan¡¯s words, she became uneasy. Just what did he say? ???????????? As soon as Johan returned to the capital, he acted like lightning. After speaking to the emperor, he arrested the nobles who were involved in this incident. ¡°Even if we don¡¯t kill them because of other people¡¯s gaze, we should at least confiscate their assets and exile them.¡± The emperor also agreed. Johan called on the nobles he had befriended and suggested dividing up the assets some of the nobles had. At the same time, he also called on the nobles he had gotten close with during this hunt and instigated them. ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ??????????, ?????? ???????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????????????. ?????????? ?????????????????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????????. ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????????, ?? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????????. As long as he had backing, Johan could practically do anything in the capital. After all, he was the one who practicallymanded the soldiers. The suddenly arrested nobles were so confused that they couldn¡¯t even make proper excuses. ©¥???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ????????, ??????????! ?????? ???????????? ??????. . . ©¥?? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ????????????. ©¥?????? ?????????? ????????????. . . ©¥?? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????. ©¥. . .???????? ?????????? ???? ??????????! ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, feel free to check. But now, the only thing you can do is to either quietly admit your crime and be exiled, or resist to the end and be executed. The choice is yours.¡± ©¥?????? ??????????. . . ¡°I have also persuaded the people of the duchy, so stop bringing that up.¡± ¡°!!!¡± The nobles could only gape at Johan¡¯s words that he had taken all of the allied troops that hade into contact with him. They couldn¡¯t understand what kind of magic this foreigner had used. ¡®?? ???????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????????! ?????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ????????!¡¯ Even if the nobles had been bribed, it was hard to believe that the nobles who had participated in the hunt had just stayed still. If something like this had happened, they should have noticed earlier and reported it. They couldn¡¯t even imagine that Johan had perfectly roasted the nobles who had participated in the hunt in that short time. Having finished his work, Johan was able to heave a sigh of relief. He can take it easy with work now. ¡°Now I can rx a bit.¡± Gaoalkana looked at Johan in awe. Johan¡¯s actions over the past few days had been nothing short of impressive. The way he enthusiastically cleaned up Vynashchtym one by one was almost like a portrait of a consummate politician. ¡°I. . . didn¡¯t think I could do much. But seeing Johan makes me change my mind a bit.¡± ¡°Now that you know, are you going to behave more diligently from now on?¡± ¡°Yes. I promise.¡± Seeing an outsider devote himself to the work as if it were his own caused even the usually wanton Gaoalkana to feel a sense of shame. ¡°You¡¯d better not run away at night.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Gaoalkana was about to throw the ss she was holding, but stopped herself. She had just made a serious resolution, and yet. . . Chapter 193: ???????????? (1) Chapter 193: ???????????? (1) Johan stayed in Vynashchtym until the next year. After themotion, there wasn¡¯t much bother. Johan recruited and trained new soldiers nearby. He socialized with the nobles of the capital and gave Gaoalkana political education. Even Ga?aros, who had no interest in everything, was amazed at what his younger sibling was doing. Vynashchtym was a prosperous and beautiful ce. Johan¡¯s subordinates were also satisfied. There were annoying nobles, but it was not enough for Johan to deal with, and the friendship with the dragon siblings gave more reason to stay longer. This was one of the most luxurious andfortable times in Johan¡¯s life. There was a reason why such a Johan had to urgently return to Count territory. It was because the Fire Goblet, exchanged with Caenerna, red up after a long time and conveyed that message. ©¥?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ????????????. ???????????? ??????????????????. It was a short remark, but the meaning was sufficient. ???????????? ¡°Ugh.¡± As he raced his horse down the path, Johan let out a groan. The surrounding centaurs looked at him with concern. ¡°What is the matter?¡±¡°I just realized something, although it¡¯s a bitte. There¡¯s no one around I can ask about this.¡± Johan was smart enough to roughly understand the meaning of Caenerna¡¯s message. That some of the emperor¡¯s faction are targeting the Order. . . .But among those around him, there was hardly anyone with the ability to analyze this properly. He wanted to ask the friendly republican nobles, but. . . ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ Johan was on good terms with the republicans from Vynashchtym, but he did notpletely trust them. Since Caenerna had secretly informed him, it was very likely this information had not spread yet. If he carelessly asked and it leaked out or the other person suspected the source, it would be troublesome. Hearing Johan¡¯s words, the centaurs spoke seriously. ¡°Count. We are thankful that you do not rely on us for such matters. Truly, thank you.¡± ¡°. . .Yes, thank you.¡± The centaurs were grateful that Johan was handling theplex political thoughts alone. They simply wanted to gallop quickly and pierce the enemy¡¯s throat with arrows. ¡°I have no choice. Jyanina,e here.¡± ¡°??¡± Jyanina, who had been focused on steering her horse, raised her head in surprise at the sudden call. ¡°I need your abilities.¡± ¡°. . .You¡¯re not joking, are you?¡± Having repeatedly failed to demonstrate her abilities in Vynashchtym, Jyanina¡¯s voice contained a hint of irritation. If she had seeded, she would not have followed Johan back. ¡°I¡¯m serious. Does the emperor have the leisure to aim for the south of the mountain range now?¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°I mean Cardirian.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Jyanina was confused at first about what Johan meant, but understood btedly and nodded. ¡°Hmm. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The centaurs next to her looked at Jyanina incredulously. Their eyes said they could not believe it. ¡°. . .I expected too much. I see.¡± ¡°Your excellency! Your excellency! Hear me out! It¡¯s been a while since I left, so it¡¯s stranger if I could give a definite answer right away!¡± Jyanina also felt wronged. She had been one of the emperor¡¯s advisors, upying a seat in his court. Though unofficial, it was quite a powerful position. But no matter the position, utilizing it depended on the person. Those without proper training or experience would struggle to see the big picture even if they sat in such a seat. While Johan was a prodigy in political maneuvering despite his age, that was a special case. As someone of non-noble origin, it was difficult for Jyanina to grasp that broader perspective. Also, having been away from the scene for a while. . . Jyanina hurriedly continued. ¡°I doubt he has the leisure. Cardirian was already struggling with the rebellion that broke out in the southern empire. Some powerful feudal lords in the central region were also showing support. . .¡± The atmosphere was already tense, but the emperor himself poured fuel on the fire. Harshly executing some nobles had the opposite effect. Considering the heavy price he was paying, it was a rash act done in anger. With the western region, empire, closely watching for a chance by colluding with Ens Kingdom and getting distracted by the political situation of the western region, the eastern region not paying attention to the west and focusing on the east, the southern region openly starting a rebellion. . . In effect, many considered the Cardirian family line to be finished. The republic people he met in Vynashchtym said simr things. ©¥???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ????????????????. ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????? ????????????????. ???????? ???? ????????, ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ????????. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????.¡¯ Jyanina¡¯s opinion was themon opinion. However, the message sent by Caenerna was theplete opposite. ¡®?????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????????????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????¡¯ However it went, what he had to do now was clear. He had to return as quickly as possible and lead the army up. If the Order was threatened, it would not bode well for Johan either. It was akin to losing an immediate partner. Fortunately, the highways of Vynashchtym allowed Johan¡¯s army to move as light as a feather. They dashed ahead at a speed that surprised even themselves. ¡°Where are those pilgrims going?¡± ¡°The pilgrims? They must be going east.¡± Seeing the procession of knights that seemed to havee from the west, the centaurs were curious. To them, who were still in the realm of whether to ept the monoreligion or not, such religious pilgrimage was just novel. ¡°What do you think, Count?¡± ¡°Would I go crazy and head east like that? Come on! Let¡¯s move! We have a long way to go!¡± ???????????? Johan¡¯s return surprised his allies first. He arrived faster than the advance notifications from Vynashchtym¡¯s port to Coolia¡¯s port. Iselia came running with the spear she was holding. She came running with a bright expression. For some reason, Johan thought of a puppy. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you came back, but I¡¯m d you¡¯re back!¡± ¡°I heard you were governing the fiefdom well? Thank you. You worked hard.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do much.¡± That¡¯s what Iselia said, but from the fleeting expression, it seemed to have been quite a hardbor to govern. It¡¯s natural for people to suffer without knowing anything, but once you know there are other ways, you tend to feel miserable in vain. From Iselia¡¯s perspective, who realized how convenient it was when Johan took over the duties of a feudal lord, she could only miss those times. ¡°Now you will govern directly, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m nning to go on an expedition right away.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Come with me on the expedition instead.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go get my armor!¡± ¡®????????????-?????? ???????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ However, unexpectedly, Suetlg was not angry. ¡°Whether I¡¯m here or not, the annoying stuff was being done by the people below anyway.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°By the way, did Caenerna really send that message?¡± ¡°Yes. I will leave tomorrow.¡± The fiefdom had changed a lot, and he felt regret that he didn¡¯t have time to waste scattering the treasures brought from Vynashchtym. He wanted to arrive as soon as possible. ¡°Caenerna is also great. To be honest, I thought she would betray.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too harsh. . .¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t those wizard guys all like that?¡± ¡°Anyway, I need your help with this, Suetlg-nim. Can you leave the fiefdom?¡± ¡°The scribes have settled in quite a bit, so it shouldn¡¯t matter much. There were no signs of a rebellion nearby either. If you need a wizard¡¯s help that snake charmer. . . Oh. I guess she wasn¡¯t much help.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that she wasn¡¯t helpful, but aren¡¯t experience and wisdom needed?¡± ¡°Experience and wisdom are. . .¡± As Suetlg said that, he looked pleased. ¡°How about Ardta?¡± ¡°She¡¯s quite talented. I¡¯m worried because she¡¯s ambitious as well. . .¡± ¡°Did she cause any problems?¡± ¡°No. She secretly tried to get me to bequeath her the things the viscount owned. It would be fortunate if it was just a childish wish, but such desires are bound to ruin oneself.¡± Johan looked at Suetlg with a slightly touched look. That humane gesture of worrying about his disciple was touching. ¡°. . .Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°I was a little touched by your thoughtfulness.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t act like it¡¯s someone else¡¯s business. Ardta has be very close with Amien. It will affect you if she causes trouble.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Johan was taken aback by the unexpected blow. Certainly such a friendship was not something that could be easily severed. ¡°. . .She¡¯s still young, so there¡¯s plenty of time. I¡¯ll think about it again after finishing this matter.¡± ¡°Do that. But isn¡¯t the age difference between you and her not that big?¡± ???????????? Due to the wars in the southern part of the penins, Johan had a terrifying number of mercenaries, but he did not keep all of them in peacetime. It was the same with the mercenary groups. In normal times, only veterans and elites were kept. When a contract was made, they would go around towns with conscription permits to recruit people. Nevertheless, the number of people Johan kept on permanent hire was tremendous. From centaurs to dwarves, some mercenary groups, and ve soldiers. His mind was urgent and the situation was confusing, but Johan did not lose hisposure. Bringing everyone in a hurry would cause problems in itself. ¡°Only bring those who can move quickly. The rest, recruit soldiers while waiting for the call.¡± The prosecutors brought from Vynashchtym wanted to prove their skills, but Johan attached them to the ve soldiers. The escort was sufficient anyway. Johan¡¯s sudden return and march stirred up the surroundings. The vassals did not understand Johan¡¯s intentions and were confused. And some of them tried to join with greedy faces. ¡°My lords do not necessarily have toe out, right?¡± The vassal contract was literally a mutual contract, so Johan could not arbitrarily summon them as needed. Fiefdoms could not be attacked, or they had to serve a limited number of days per year, or moreplicatedbinations like that. But when knights who had not even been requested tried to join the procession with innocent faces, it could only be puzzling. ¡°They want gold.¡± Suetlg murmured next to him. Johan also nodded. It was easy to understand because it was so tant. Poor knights were always starving. Not just knights, but impoverished lords starved just the same. To them, Johan, who returned from Vynashchtym filled with gold, was a lord radiating glory. ¡°If you serve under me, there will be nothing more reassuring.¡± The knights¡¯ faces brightened at Johan¡¯s words. They joined with smiles. ¡°How¡¯s my boy doing?¡± ¡°I heard his horsemanship is as good as the centaurs, and his spear skills surpass even elves. He will make a great knight.¡± Suetlg, who was listening, tilted his head. They were the children of knights trained in Johan¡¯s fiefdom, but Johan had barely met them. How did he recognize them? ¡°. . .Are you pretending to know them?¡± ¡°I guessed roughly.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ???????????? They moved while sending envoys, but still the movement was too fast. The Holy See was so surprised and flustered. Just by carefully asking what had happened without the visiting envoy giving a warning, it was possible to know the trust the Holy See had in Johan. ¡°What on earth has happened?! Your Excellency?!¡± ¡°I heard a sacred voice in my dream. It told me. The Holy See is in danger.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± The envoy had a bewildered expression. It was a face that did not know whether to believe those words. Johan was not the kind of person to lie with something like this, but there is never an absolute in worldly affairs. There was no one who couldfortably receive a nobleman who suddenly led an army and marched north. ¡°That is. . . I mean. . .¡± ¡°I know what you are worried about. Do not worry. I will stop here in Ajalka and will not go any further.¡± Ajalka was a town under the fiefdom of the Holy See. Stopping there proved Johan¡¯s sincerity. So did this count reallye this long distance with nothing but pure faith? Chapter 194: ???????????? (2) Chapter 194: ???????????? (2) The envoy returned half-convinced. However, Johan really kept his promise. As he did not even move to build a camp near the town, public opinion within the religious order also changed rapidly. Johan already had considerable trust built up within the religious order. ©¥?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ????????. ??????????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????, ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ??????????? ©¥???? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ??????????????????. ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ????????????????. ©¥?????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????. ???? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????????? ????????, ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????! There was a long history of bad blood between the religious order and Cardiria. The order had always tried to increase the authority and rights it held within the Empire, starting with ordainment rights. The various rights held by the bishops could not be handed over to the greedy Emperor. The Emperor could not have looked kindly on such attempts. To the Emperor, the order was merely an ornament that supported his authority and provided justification for his rule, nothing more. It was only natural that he would not appreciate their continued vocalization. There had been a time in the past when the Emperor himself led an army right up to the gates of the Papal See, such was the depth of discord between them.©¥?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ???? ????! ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ??????????????????! ©¥?????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ????????????????????? While the Emperor was distracted, the religious order was doing whatever it wanted, even ignoring the Emperor¡¯s request to emunicate the rebellious nobles. From the Emperor¡¯s perspective, they would surely seem like the enemy. It would make things much easier if he could capture the Pope and bishops and install his own people. ©¥????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????, ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????????. . . ©¥???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ??????. ???? ?????? ????????, ???? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ??????????.¡± While there were differing opinions, they were unified in agreeing that, even if it proved fruitless, the order should make preparations in advance. Hearing the news, Johan heaved a sigh of relief. There were few things more frustrating than stupid allies when fighting together. He was fortunate that the other side had listened. ¡®???? ???????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????.¡¯ ???????????? Although he had set up a camp and stopped, there was still work to be done. An army is like a living organism that is constantly moving even when left alone. Johan set up a camp along the river. If there was one thing that impressed Johan in Vynashchtym, it was their fortification skills. The elite soldiers of Vynashchtym built fortifications much faster and sturdier than mercenaries digging trenches and setting up defenses. The knowledge he had learned there was also evident in setting up the current camp. ¡°Your excellency. We have received permission from the Order.¡± ¡°Finally? That¡¯s a relief.¡± Johan was d to hear that he could bring some of the soldiers into the Order¡¯s fiefdom. He nned to send knights and sub-captains to take care of defense and reconnaissance. Unless there was a special purpose, there was no need to gather many personnel in one ce. It was better to divide them appropriately and scatter them for supplies andbat. An army in this era was just a loose cluster of dozens or hundreds of groups. Since the enemies could not charge all at once, the allies had to prepare ordingly. Since knights also participated in battles with their soldiers, it would be sufficient help just to position them at key locations. ¡°Go north along the highway. There is a small castle nearby, so defend using that castle if needed. Report the number of enemies that appear, no matter how many there are.¡± ¡°Yes, your excellency. I will not disappoint you!¡± After giving orders to some knights, Johan himself moved with the elite troops. His own eyes were always the best. ¡°Fortunately, the atmosphere does not seem too bad.¡± ¡°There are benefits to gaining trust.¡± Suetlg nodded at Johan¡¯s words. No one would be unafraid when over a hundred armed heavy infantry passed by. However, the vigers did not seem too frightened, just cautious. Thanks to Count Yeats¡¯ g. There could be no easier way to earn cooperation in the region. Johan stayed and enjoyed the enthusiastic hospitality of the vige chief. ¡°But my dear.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°What if the enemies do note?¡± ¡°. . .¡± In fact, it was more problematic if the enemy did note than if they came. Johan was quite embarrassed. Of course, given Johan¡¯s position, he would not be mocked, but it would have been better if they came. That way Johan¡¯s suffering would have been recognized. ¡°Hmm. Bluea-gong made a perceptive point.¡± ¡°Caenerna is not. . . the type of person to betray. . .¡± ¡°Even if she is not the type to betray, she could still make a mistake. She could have been deceived.¡± ¡°Caenerna is not even Jyanina. . .¡± Although Johan spoke like that, his voice waspletely deted. Iselia, thinking she had spoken nonsense, fretted trying tofort Johan. ¡°I-It¡¯s alright. My dear. Even prophets make mistakes asionally. Even if that happens, I think it¡¯s thanks to you that the invaders could note.¡± ¡°Thank you, Iselia.¡± ¡°If anyone insults you for this, I will challenge them to a duel.¡± Johan changed the subject, pretending not to hear. ¡°. . .Just in case, it would be good to prepare some excuses or exnations.¡± ¡°It should be enough just to subdue some monsters or rogue gangs. From what I¡¯ve seen, the Order people will be satisfied with just that.¡± With the persuasive power of the Orderbined with Johan¡¯s reputation, even raiding a goblinir could be turned into a heroic legend. Of course, Johan would not boast about raiding a goblinir, but. . . ¡®. . .???? ?????????? ?? ?????????????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ Using Jyanina¡¯s skills to somehow disguise a manticore corpse and. . . ¡°Count! Count!¡± ¡°?¡± Hearing the desperate cries from outside, Johan turned his head. A serf holding a torch was desperately shouting in the darkness. ¡°Honorable and faithful Count Yeats, I beg you to listen to me. . .¡± ¡°Catch him! Fool!¡± ¡°Marak, who is this guy trying to catch! Stay still!¡± Before his subordinates could even move, the vigers came running hastily and grabbed the serf. It was quite rude to just run up to a nobleman and make a request, but more than that, this was not even Count Yeats¡¯ fiefdom. It was inappropriate in itself to plead for help from a count who was not their lord, and it could insult their own master¡¯s dignity. Why ask another count for help when they have a perfectly fine master? ¡°That¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s hear what he has to say.¡± Johan gestured to the vige chief. The young count¡¯s attitude reassured the vige chief for now. He did not seem annoyed or irritated at the disruption of his rest. ¡°It¡¯s really nothing much. It¡¯s just some local rogues, our feudal lord will soon take care of them.¡± ¡°If that were really so, would there be any reason to shout so desperately?¡± ¡°. . .¡± ¡°Give him some liquor. It¡¯ll loosen his tongue. I won¡¯t forgive any more interference.¡± Unexpectedly, Johan was even more cordial. After some drinks, the serf seemed to gain some courage. He babbled on about the rogues he encountered while herding pigs. ¡°As soon as they saw me, they shot arrows at me! After that I was too scared to even enter the woods. . .¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hire any mercenaries?¡± Whenever there are monsters, rogues or too many mercenaries near a town, isn¡¯t itmon to hire more mercenaries? The vige chief looked embarrassed as he said: ¡°We sent them twice but both times they did not return. . .¡± ¡°I see.¡± Johan nodded. He was rather bored of visiting around and just waiting to be treated. This was good timing. Not only would he get to express his thanks, cutting off several necks would also serve as a good excuseter. Even if he imed to have driven off the mercenaries, it was obvious these vigers did not have the means to afford decent quality mercenaries. No matter how many rogues there were, they would melt away when facing Johan¡¯s elites. ¡°It¡¯ll be a hunt at dawn. Let¡¯s take a look at the faces hiding in the woods!¡± Hearing Johan¡¯s shout, his subordinates cheered loudly. The serfs seemed stunned, unable to even lift their heads. ¡°M-My lord Count. To trouble his lordship the Count with such nuisance. . . Our feudal lord will. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯ll exin it to your feudal lord. As a knight I cannot bear to stand still when facing enemies, he¡¯ll understand.¡± Iselia nodded. Johan¡¯s wordspletely resonated with her. ???????????? ¡°How boring.¡± ¡°Go to sleep.¡± ¡°I just stretched out and slept a while ago.¡± ¡°Sleep more. Once you start moving, you won¡¯t be able to sleep even if you want to.¡± ¡°What nonsense. . .¡± The rogues grumbled as they rolled old bone dice. There were many things they had to give up when they abandoned the town and hid in the forest. One of them wasfort. Their bodies grew restless as they had to keep waiting in the forest to divide up their shares and head into town or the city. ¡°But that job the captain brought in, is it really true?¡± ¡°You doubt the captain?¡± ¡°No. . . Why would a well-off noble give us something like that when they have hundreds of soldiers?¡± ¡°Sometimes a quiet de that can be used without a sound is necessary.¡± The rogues were decently sessful former mercenaries. Their captain was even acquainted with some lower nobles. After some trouble, they made a living as rogues. One day, the rogue captain came back with an excited look on his face and shouted. ©¥????¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ????????! ©¥????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????????? ????????? ©¥???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????. ©¥??????, ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ©¥?? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ????. ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ????, ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????????. Mereine City, one of the cities in the northern part of the penins, had amassed enormous wealth through the trade of textiles and wool. The observant rogue captain recognized the origin at a nce. ©¥???? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ????????????, ?????????? ????? ©¥???? ???????????? ??????. ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ??????????. ???????? ???????? ???? ????????! The reason didn¡¯t matter to the rogues. The point was they could raid some easy towns and receive more gold coins. Any loot they got while raiding was a bonus. ¡°Wait. I hear something.¡± A shrill sound was heard from afar. It was the sound when something got caught in their traps. ¡°A boar must have gotten caught!¡± ¡°Our captain has great skills. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Bring it back neatly.¡± The rogues praised their captain¡¯s skill and ran over. The rogue captain had been a hunter and served as a soldier before. He had many skills. Especially, his trap skills made it difficult for anyone to carelessly step foot in this forest. In the past, he had caught eight pursuers with his traps alone. ¡°. . .?¡± What burst out from the bushes wasn¡¯t a boar, but a well-dressed young noble. The young noble was intrigued by the trap, turning it over in his hands. ¡°Kill him!¡± The rogues followed orders and pulled out their short swords, moving to strike the young noble¡¯s head. ¡®????????, ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ??????????!¡¯ It would be such a waste to just kill a noble! ????????????! With a dull thud, the sword in their hand disappeared. The rogues blinked, looking baffled. What just happened? ¡°Are you rogues who have beenmitting murder, pige, rape, arson, and theft in this forest?¡± ¡°Uh. . .¡± That was when the rogues noticed their surroundings. Dozens of heavily armed infantry were coldly staring at them. They were decked out in mismatched gear, while the rogues were thinly equipped after their long life on the run. ¡°The count asked you a question!¡± ¡°!!!¡± Violence rained down immediately. The soldiers gagged the rogues and beat them. While the men were being beaten up nicely, Johan looked over the traps. ¡®?????????? ????????????.¡¯ If Hunter Joseph saw this, he would haveughed. Just in case, he purposely triggered it to make a sound. He didn¡¯t expect something to get caught so perfectly. He was lucky he didn¡¯t have to search the forest. Johan threw away the trap and turned his gaze. ¡°Remove their gags.¡± ¡°Urk, count, Count. I, I didn¡¯t know it was you, please forgive my rudeness. . .¡± How to Live as a Wandering KnightChapter [NaN] How to Live as a Wandering KnightChapter [NaN] ???????????????????? ???? ?????????????? - Ch30 - The Viin Carries the Holy Sword(????-TL: Jonny16) ¨C ???? ?????????????????????? ??????????????????! - Ch224 - Dark Fantasy: Magical Eye Knight(????-TL: Potato-tan) ¨C ???? ?????????????? - Ch134 - Magicless Extra: The Viin¡¯s Survival Method(????) ¨C ???? ?????????????? - Ch223 - The Late Game Healer Is Way Too Strong(????) ¨C ???? ?????????????? - Ch288 - I Became the Academy¡¯s Genius Shikigami Summoner(????) ¨C ???? ?????????????????????? ??????????????????! - Ch180 - My Children Swarm the Cosmos(????) ¨C ???? ?????????????????????? ??????????????????! - Ch383 - How to Live as a Wandering Knight(????) ¨C ???????????????????? Chapter 195Chapter [NaN] Chapter 195Chapter [NaN] The rogue was quick to assess the situation. He wasn¡¯t just some ignorant bumpkin who had wandered into the forest, but a mercenary turned rogue, so it was only natural. Even seeing this sight now, if he didn¡¯t realize it, he was an asshole. ¡°The punitive force. . . There was no news about the punitive force. . .?¡± The local feudal lord around here waszy and dull, so he didn¡¯t even care about the gang of rogues that had appeared near this town. Besides, he didn¡¯t have many soldiers either. If he had hired this level of elite force, there would surely have been rumors. . . ¡°You don¡¯t seem to realize your rudeness. Where is your captain?¡± ¡°C-Captain? We¡¯re just poor folks who fled to the forest because it was hard to make a living. . .¡± Seeing the rogue trying to talk his way out, Johan shook his head. ¡°I gave you a chance, yet you spout nonsense. Gerdolf. You¡¯ll have to prove your skill.¡± ¡°Yes.¡±Gerdolf walked forward. He had been following Suetlg quite peacefully and quietly, but he hadn¡¯t been able to change Gerdolf¡¯s true nature. It seemed the rogues had sensed what kind of being Gerdolf was. They instinctively shuddered. The gag was removed and another suppressed scream burst out. Before long, the rogues had spilled everything they knew. As he wiped the blood sttered on his face, Gerdolf said, ¡°It¡¯s over, Count.¡± ¡°Well done, Sir Gerdolf. Your skills are as excellent as ever.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ???????????? Completely surrounds the surroundings, rains arrows and bolts, and then wields swords mercilessly at those standing. It was a short battle but intense. After a storm of iron passed by, there were less than five rogues left breathing hard. ¡°Damn, f*ck, crazy. . .!¡± The rogue captain who was caught was quicker than his subordinates. Lying to an opponent who would not back down until he got the answer he wanted was crazy. As the rogue captain babbled in a panic, Johan¡¯s face stiffened. ¡°From Mairene City. . .?¡± ¡°It¡¯s be a headache.¡± Mairene City had a lot of gold. That meant it could hire a lot of mercenaries. If such a city joined hands with the emperor, it would be a headache. ¡°Isn¡¯t Mairene City a free city in its own right? What¡¯s so unsatisfactory?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t every free city have different circumstances? Mairene City has been close to the empire from the past. I suspect they must have been promised rights within the empire. . .¡± Johan understood what Suetlg meant. Cities originally banded together to escape interference from their former feudal lords, but once they reached a certain size, the story changed. They attempt to interfere within the empire, believing in their own power. Especially the free cities around here found it difficult to escape the sphere of influence of the Holy Empire. Even if they actually enjoy freedom, they could notpletely break free. ¡°Do you think they were promised a title?¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible. A duchy instead of one of the hundred kingdoms. . .¡± No matter how the emperor had lost his fangs, he was still the emperor, and the rights he held were respected. The imperial titles guaranteed by the emperor were worthwhile. From the past, the people of Mairene had frequent conflicts with their surroundings and wanted to establish themselves as the dominant power in the region. To them, the Order must have felt like an annoyingpetitor. Taking advantage of the emperor¡¯s unfortunate situation to seize rights within the empire, while at the same time striking down theirpetitor. It was a worthwhile n. ¡°Don¡¯t make such a serious face. The situation is not that worrying, I tell you.¡± But as Suetlg said, now that they found out in advance, there was no need to be so afraid. The other side was strong, but this side was not weak either. Mairene City may be prosperous, but Johan was not inferior in terms of gold either. He did not have as abundant sources of ie as a city, but the amount of gold he had umted here and there was tremendous. If things went badly, he could hire more at any time. Besides, the Order must have quite a bit of assets too. . . ¡°You¡¯re right. Clearly the current situation is lucky.¡± The people of Mairene probably don¡¯t even know why they were exposed now. Putting together the information leaked from the imperial side, to the information spilled by a rogue, the outline of the matter could barely be seen. Johan felt a little sympathy for the person who had worked hard preparing. Making ns from above, leaks from the side, leaks from below, what¡¯s the point? ???????????? Adviko who rules over the city of Mairene. If you trace back his family line, mercenaries came out. It was not umon for mercenary captains who protect the city to increase their power and fame and be new nobles sitting in the magistrate¡¯s seat. Adviko¡¯s ancestors did the same. However, after a few generations, the bloodline was closer to a noble than a mercenary. Nevertheless, Adviko often relied on his mercenary origins to gain the trust of mercenary captains. ¡°This fight shouldn¡¯t be prolonged.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Adviko said to the gathered mercenary captains. Wars were best when they were short if you were the employer, even if they were better when they were long when you were hired. ¡®???? ???????????? ???????? ?? ??????, ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ????????????.¡¯ The hired mercenaries prioritized their own safety over great political purpose. No matter how much he told them to end it quickly, they wouldn¡¯t listen. ¡°You know what it means to attack the fiefdom of the clergy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve killed priests before. What¡¯s new?¡± ¡°If we install a new Pope, our sins will be washed away, right?¡± The mercenary captains were not very afraid. Regardless of their faith, they could destroy icons and set fire to holy ces for gold. ¡°Listen to the end. If this gets prolonged, reinforcements maye from elsewhere. You don¡¯t want to fight other mercenaries, do you?¡± At Adviko¡¯s words, the mercenaries nodded their heads. What they wanted was easy plunder, not a fight with other hired mercenaries. ¡°Don¡¯t have silly thoughts and focus on plunder. Don¡¯t even think about bing a feudal lord after capturing a town.¡± One of the mercenary captains flinched. By his attitude, it seemed he had such thoughts. Sometimes there were those among the mercenary captains who dreamed of bing the feudal lord of the ce they upied. It wasn¡¯t impossible. After all, a fiefdom only needed people to rule over and the force to maintain it. But now there was no time to waste on such frivolous things. ¡°If you betray me, I swear to God that I will thoroughly take revenge. Remember my words.¡± ¡°. . .I understand.¡± ¡°You must also keep your promise to lead the army yourself, My Lord.¡± First, the hired mercenaries and rogue gangs would loot and riot all over the fiefdom, throwing the whole territory into chaos. When the confused people there lost their minds, Adviko¡¯s main force would attack the clergy like lightning, capture the Pope, and install a new Pope. If Adviko¡¯s main force leading the vanguard did not arrive here, the mercenaries who had set off as the advance troops would be in considerable trouble. What good would it do to fill their pockets if they couldn¡¯t get out? ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Why would I deceive you after paying you expensive gold?¡± Rather than meaningless words, Adviko appealed to the mercenaries¡¯ greed. His words seemed to convince the mercenaries. ¡°Go! When this fight is over, your pockets will be filled with gold. Some of you who have achieved merit may even be nobles with titles!¡± The mercenary captains departed one by one. Divided into tens and hundreds, they would cause havoc as they wandered around. ???????????? ¡°Indeed a good spot.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean to plunder. You fool. How many merchantsing up the path wouldn¡¯t there be?¡± ¡°Ah, there they are! As expected, you are brilliant.¡± ¡°Yes. Those merchants over there. . . uh. . .¡± ¡°Why do you hesitate?¡± ¡°They are centaurs! Why are those crazy horse b*stards over there!¡± The nimble centaurs swept the surroundings and suppressed the unfortunate gangs of rogues. The rogues, who the feudal lords thought wouldn¡¯t be able to respond properly, were ambushed properly and annihted. ¡°String up the corpses.¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you! Count!¡± The townspeople came out and shed tears. They had only heard rumors, never expecting Count Yeats would actuallye. When a merchant from the next town over said ¡®?? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????,¡¯ it seemed unbelievable, but it was true. Centaur knights did seem a bit strange, but still. . . ¡°The rogues¡¯ skills are quite good, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t hire just anyone from the city. Don¡¯t underestimate them too much since they have mercenary backgrounds.¡± Acdda nodded. While most rogues would scream and try to flee when ambushed, some fierce ones among them would charge recklessly. They were those with the blood of warriors flowing in their veins. Of course, even they could not withstand the baptism of arrows. ¡®?? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ??¡¯???? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ??????.¡¯ Suppressing gangs of rogues was almost like doing chores. What¡¯s more annoying was that they could easily disguise themselves and hide. It was best to move around as quickly as possible and eradicate them before the news spread. ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ While the gangs of rogues did not openly attack towns, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if they did someday. If something happened, the knights would be a great force. Not long after he had that thought, a messenger came running from afar. Covered in wounds and dust, the messenger ran past Johan¡¯s troops without even recognizing them. ¡°Catch him. It seems something has happened.¡± ???????????? Oragon was one of the poor knights of Count Yeats who participated in Johan¡¯s expedition this time. In fact, it was poor, but Oragon was in the wealthy sspared to all knights. First of all, he had a small town as his fiefdom, and he had proper weapons. But with that ie alone, he couldn¡¯t afford the knight¡¯s expenses. Money went out just by breathing as a knight. Let alone taking care of the people under him. In the meantime, the newly appeared Count Yeats was an opportunity among opportunities. Starting with the fact that he himself was a young knight, he had been shaking the surroundings by establishing all kinds of achievements and honors. Apart from such admiration, just looking at the realistic conditions, Count Yeats was exceptional. There was no one around who piled up so much gold and called knights. If it wasn¡¯t Count Yeats, he¡¯d have to go up north and be a mercenary. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ??????????. ?? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ??????????.¡¯ It was basic to receive money in return for service. To get more than that, he had to show something. He had to earn the admiration of the count by establishing outstanding exploits and dedicating his honor. Looking at the knights around the count now, they were really diverse. Ability, not blood or power of the family! If I can show that ability. . . ¡°A group of rogues ising to town!¡± ¡°Impudent guys. Get ready to fight!¡± Oragon went out in front of the town armed and ready to fight. Oragon¡¯s followers and servants also armed themselves and stood together. The townspeople cheered at the sight. To the eyes of those who did not know well, the appearance of Oragon and his subordinates was reassurance itself. ¡°Master. The rogue guys are quite well equipped. . .¡± ¡°I wonder where they got dressed up. Aim the catapults!¡± Although the subordinates were slightly discouraged by the ostentatious appearance of what looked like dozens of mercenaries, Oragon did not care. Anyway, this number was enough to be overturned in defense. The opponent was just a ragtag group. ¡°. . .?!¡± Oragon was surprised to see the mercenaries holding shields standing in front and charging in an orderly manner. The discipline was better than he thought. What was more surprising was next. ¡°Our captain said to fight one-on-one to determine the winner and loser.¡± ¡°. . .what did you say?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear already?¡± Oragon was angry at the sight of the mercenary giggling. How dare! ???????????? ¡°No way he lost, right?¡± While moving with the messenger, Johan asked. ¡°The victory or defeat was not decided in one fight, so they fought three times. . . In the third fight, the other guy cowardly shot an arrow and was seriously injured. . .¡± Johan clicked his tongue. He wondered if it would happen, but really to fall for such a trick! ¡°He was enduring inside the town.¡± ¡°I see. By the way, the opponent is a knight?¡± ¡°Yes. He said he was a knight from the empire. . .¡± PREVINDEX ???????????????????? ???? ?????????????? - Ch10 - The Choosing the Baby¡¯s Father From the Following(????-TL: Potato-tan) ¨C ???? ?????????????? - Ch80 - The Viin Carries the Holy Sword(????-TL: Jonny16) ¨C ???? ?????????????????????? ??????????????????! - Ch224 - Dark Fantasy: Magical Eye Knight(????-TL: Potato-tan) ¨C ???? ?????????????? - Ch155 - Magicless Extra: The Viin¡¯s Survival Method(????) ¨C ???? ?????????????? - Ch232 - The Late Game Healer Is Way Too Strong(????) ¨C ???? ?????????????? - Ch300 - I Became the Academy¡¯s Genius Shikigami Summoner(????) ¨C ???? ?????????????????????? ??????????????????! - Ch180 - My Children Swarm the Cosmos(????) ¨C ???? ?????????????????????? ??????????????????! - Ch383 - How to Live as a Wandering Knight(????) ¨C ???????????????????? Chapter 195: ???????????? (3) Chapter 195: ???????????? (3) The rogue was quick to assess the situation. He wasn¡¯t just some ignorant bumpkin who had wandered into the forest, but a mercenary turned rogue, so it was only natural. Even seeing this sight now, if he didn¡¯t realize it, he was an asshole. ¡°The punitive force. . . There was no news about the punitive force. . .?¡± The local feudal lord around here waszy and dull, so he didn¡¯t even care about the gang of rogues that had appeared near this town. Besides, he didn¡¯t have many soldiers either. If he had hired this level of elite force, there would surely have been rumors. . . ¡°You don¡¯t seem to realize your rudeness. Where is your captain?¡± ¡°C-Captain? We¡¯re just poor folks who fled to the forest because it was hard to make a living. . .¡± Seeing the rogue trying to talk his way out, Johan shook his head. ¡°I gave you a chance, yet you spout nonsense. Gerdolf. You¡¯ll have to prove your skill.¡± ¡°Yes.¡±Gerdolf walked forward. He had been following Suetlg quite peacefully and quietly, but he hadn¡¯t been able to change Gerdolf¡¯s true nature. It seemed the rogues had sensed what kind of being Gerdolf was. They instinctively shuddered. The gag was removed and another suppressed scream burst out. Before long, the rogues had spilled everything they knew. As he wiped the blood sttered on his face, Gerdolf said, ¡°It¡¯s over, Count.¡± ¡°Well done, Sir Gerdolf. Your skills are as excellent as ever.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ???????????? Completely surrounds the surroundings, rains arrows and bolts, and then wields swords mercilessly at those standing. It was a short battle but intense. After a storm of iron passed by, there were less than five rogues left breathing hard. ¡°Damn, f*ck, crazy. . .!¡± The rogue captain who was caught was quicker than his subordinates. Lying to an opponent who would not back down until he got the answer he wanted was crazy. As the rogue captain babbled in a panic, Johan¡¯s face stiffened. ¡°From Mairene City. . .?¡± ¡°It¡¯s be a headache.¡± Mairene City had a lot of gold. That meant it could hire a lot of mercenaries. If such a city joined hands with the emperor, it would be a headache. ¡°Isn¡¯t Mairene City a free city in its own right? What¡¯s so unsatisfactory?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t every free city have different circumstances? Mairene City has been close to the empire from the past. I suspect they must have been promised rights within the empire. . .¡± Johan understood what Suetlg meant. Cities originally banded together to escape interference from their former feudal lords, but once they reached a certain size, the story changed. They attempt to interfere within the empire, believing in their own power. Especially the free cities around here found it difficult to escape the sphere of influence of the Holy Empire. Even if they actually enjoy freedom, they could notpletely break free. ¡°Do you think they were promised a title?¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible. A duchy instead of one of the hundred kingdoms. . .¡± No matter how the emperor had lost his fangs, he was still the emperor, and the rights he held were respected. The imperial titles guaranteed by the emperor were worthwhile. From the past, the people of Mairene had frequent conflicts with their surroundings and wanted to establish themselves as the dominant power in the region. To them, the Order must have felt like an annoyingpetitor. Taking advantage of the emperor¡¯s unfortunate situation to seize rights within the empire, while at the same time striking down theirpetitor. It was a worthwhile n. ¡°Don¡¯t make such a serious face. The situation is not that worrying, I tell you.¡± But as Suetlg said, now that they found out in advance, there was no need to be so afraid. The other side was strong, but this side was not weak either. Mairene City may be prosperous, but Johan was not inferior in terms of gold either. He did not have as abundant sources of ie as a city, but the amount of gold he had umted here and there was tremendous. If things went badly, he could hire more at any time. Besides, the Order must have quite a bit of assets too. . . ¡°You¡¯re right. Clearly the current situation is lucky.¡± The people of Mairene probably don¡¯t even know why they were exposed now. Putting together the information leaked from the imperial side, to the information spilled by a rogue, the outline of the matter could barely be seen. Johan felt a little sympathy for the person who had worked hard preparing. Making ns from above, leaks from the side, leaks from below, what¡¯s the point? ???????????? Adviko who rules over the city of Mairene. If you trace back his family line, mercenaries came out. It was not umon for mercenary captains who protect the city to increase their power and fame and be new nobles sitting in the magistrate¡¯s seat. Adviko¡¯s ancestors did the same. However, after a few generations, the bloodline was closer to a noble than a mercenary. Nevertheless, Adviko often relied on his mercenary origins to gain the trust of mercenary captains. ¡°This fight shouldn¡¯t be prolonged.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Adviko said to the gathered mercenary captains. Wars were best when they were short if you were the employer, even if they were better when they were long when you were hired. ¡®???? ???????????? ???????? ?? ??????, ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ????????????.¡¯ The hired mercenaries prioritized their own safety over great political purpose. No matter how much he told them to end it quickly, they wouldn¡¯t listen. ¡°You know what it means to attack the fiefdom of the clergy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve killed priests before. What¡¯s new?¡± ¡°If we install a new Pope, our sins will be washed away, right?¡± The mercenary captains were not very afraid. Regardless of their faith, they could destroy icons and set fire to holy ces for gold. ¡°Listen to the end. If this gets prolonged, reinforcements maye from elsewhere. You don¡¯t want to fight other mercenaries, do you?¡± At Adviko¡¯s words, the mercenaries nodded their heads. What they wanted was easy plunder, not a fight with other hired mercenaries. ¡°Don¡¯t have silly thoughts and focus on plunder. Don¡¯t even think about bing a feudal lord after capturing a town.¡± One of the mercenary captains flinched. By his attitude, it seemed he had such thoughts. Sometimes there were those among the mercenary captains who dreamed of bing the feudal lord of the ce they upied. It wasn¡¯t impossible. After all, a fiefdom only needed people to rule over and the force to maintain it. But now there was no time to waste on such frivolous things. ¡°If you betray me, I swear to God that I will thoroughly take revenge. Remember my words.¡± ¡°. . .I understand.¡± ¡°You must also keep your promise to lead the army yourself, My Lord.¡± First, the hired mercenaries and rogue gangs would loot and riot all over the fiefdom, throwing the whole territory into chaos. When the confused people there lost their minds, Adviko¡¯s main force would attack the clergy like lightning, capture the Pope, and install a new Pope. If Adviko¡¯s main force leading the vanguard did not arrive here, the mercenaries who had set off as the advance troops would be in considerable trouble. What good would it do to fill their pockets if they couldn¡¯t get out? ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Why would I deceive you after paying you expensive gold?¡± Rather than meaningless words, Adviko appealed to the mercenaries¡¯ greed. His words seemed to convince the mercenaries. ¡°Go! When this fight is over, your pockets will be filled with gold. Some of you who have achieved merit may even be nobles with titles!¡± The mercenary captains departed one by one. Divided into tens and hundreds, they would cause havoc as they wandered around. ???????????? ¡°Indeed a good spot.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean to plunder. You fool. How many merchantsing up the path wouldn¡¯t there be?¡± ¡°Ah, there they are! As expected, you are brilliant.¡± ¡°Yes. Those merchants over there. . . uh. . .¡± ¡°Why do you hesitate?¡± ¡°They are centaurs! Why are those crazy horse b*stards over there!¡± The nimble centaurs swept the surroundings and suppressed the unfortunate gangs of rogues. The rogues, who the feudal lords thought wouldn¡¯t be able to respond properly, were ambushed properly and annihted. ¡°String up the corpses.¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you! Count!¡± The townspeople came out and shed tears. They had only heard rumors, never expecting Count Yeats would actuallye. When a merchant from the next town over said ¡®?? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????,¡¯ it seemed unbelievable, but it was true. Centaur knights did seem a bit strange, but still. . . ¡°The rogues¡¯ skills are quite good, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t hire just anyone from the city. Don¡¯t underestimate them too much since they have mercenary backgrounds.¡± Acdda nodded. While most rogues would scream and try to flee when ambushed, some fierce ones among them would charge recklessly. They were those with the blood of warriors flowing in their veins. Of course, even they could not withstand the baptism of arrows. ¡®?? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ??¡¯???? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ??????.¡¯ Suppressing gangs of rogues was almost like doing chores. What¡¯s more annoying was that they could easily disguise themselves and hide. It was best to move around as quickly as possible and eradicate them before the news spread. ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ While the gangs of rogues did not openly attack towns, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if they did someday. If something happened, the knights would be a great force. Not long after he had that thought, a messenger came running from afar. Covered in wounds and dust, the messenger ran past Johan¡¯s troops without even recognizing them. ¡°Catch him. It seems something has happened.¡± ???????????? Oragon was one of the poor knights of Count Yeats who participated in Johan¡¯s expedition this time. In fact, it was poor, but Oragon was in the wealthy sspared to all knights. First of all, he had a small town as his fiefdom, and he had proper weapons. But with that ie alone, he couldn¡¯t afford the knight¡¯s expenses. Money went out just by breathing as a knight. Let alone taking care of the people under him. In the meantime, the newly appeared Count Yeats was an opportunity among opportunities. Starting with the fact that he himself was a young knight, he had been shaking the surroundings by establishing all kinds of achievements and honors. Apart from such admiration, just looking at the realistic conditions, Count Yeats was exceptional. There was no one around who piled up so much gold and called knights. If it wasn¡¯t Count Yeats, he¡¯d have to go up north and be a mercenary. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ??????????. ?? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ??????????.¡¯ It was basic to receive money in return for service. To get more than that, he had to show something. He had to earn the admiration of the count by establishing outstanding exploits and dedicating his honor. Looking at the knights around the count now, they were really diverse. Ability, not blood or power of the family! If I can show that ability. . . ¡°A group of rogues ising to town!¡± ¡°Impudent guys. Get ready to fight!¡± Oragon went out in front of the town armed and ready to fight. Oragon¡¯s followers and servants also armed themselves and stood together. The townspeople cheered at the sight. To the eyes of those who did not know well, the appearance of Oragon and his subordinates was reassurance itself. ¡°Master. The rogue guys are quite well equipped. . .¡± ¡°I wonder where they got dressed up. Aim the catapults!¡± Although the subordinates were slightly discouraged by the ostentatious appearance of what looked like dozens of mercenaries, Oragon did not care. Anyway, this number was enough to be overturned in defense. The opponent was just a ragtag group. ¡°. . .?!¡± Oragon was surprised to see the mercenaries holding shields standing in front and charging in an orderly manner. The discipline was better than he thought. What was more surprising was next. ¡°Our captain said to fight one-on-one to determine the winner and loser.¡± ¡°. . .what did you say?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear already?¡± Oragon was angry at the sight of the mercenary giggling. How dare! ???????????? ¡°No way he lost, right?¡± While moving with the messenger, Johan asked. ¡°The victory or defeat was not decided in one fight, so they fought three times. . . In the third fight, the other guy cowardly shot an arrow and was seriously injured. . .¡± Johan clicked his tongue. He wondered if it would happen, but really to fall for such a trick! ¡°He was enduring inside the town.¡± ¡°I see. By the way, the opponent is a knight?¡± ¡°Yes. He said he was a knight from the empire. . .¡± Chapter 196: ???????????? (4) Chapter 196: ???????????? (4) As the civil war dragged on, it becamemon to see knights from the Empire outside of it as well, for various reasons. While the elves of Ens boasted that only they were true knights, the knights of the Empire were no ckers either. They were especially well-regarded in this conflict-ridden penins. Suetlg frowned and said, ¡°We must be cautious. If they are nobles from a fallen house, they may be concealing their talents.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bear that in mind.¡± Johan nodded. Not only the guilds passed down techniques ¨C the noble households did as well. It would be no surprise if a knight from a fallen noble house possessed some visions. And from what he heard, this opponent had a style of taking action right away without bothering about honor or anything once he judged the situation unfavorable. Johan persistently grilled the messenger, one thing at a time, to the point where the messenger grew tired of answering first. It was an improper thought, but the messenger felt like the count was intentionally beating around the bush.From the count¡¯s position, it was just a band of thieves, not even a handful. Wasn¡¯t he asking too much while dealing with them? ???????????? Sir Zeraman was a knight from the Empire and a mercenary captain who was rtively well-regarded for his clean work and abilities. Thanks to his noble bloodline as a knight, he was easily able to catch Adviko¡¯s attention for this task. ¡°Push forward quickly. We need to conquer it before sunset!¡± At Zeraman¡¯s shout, his subordinates roared out a battlecry as they charged towards the town entrance. The makeshift battering ram struck the front gate. It was a crude and ugly weapon, but it was effective enough. ??????????! But Oragon¡¯s subordinates who had retreated into the town were no pushovers either. Arrows came flying out immediately. Zeraman raised his shield to block them, then looked ahead. ¡°Knight dastard¡¯s men are not to be trifled with.¡± ¡°Why is knight dastard even at a town?¡± Zeraman spat out. This should have been a much easier job originally. They should have quickly piged the town and set fire to it. . . He couldn¡¯t help but feel irritated that knight dastard had shown up out of nowhere with his men. Their abilities were better than he had anticipated, forcing them tounch a surprise attack. While his mercenary subordinates didn¡¯t care much for honor, if word spread, it would ultimately be Zeraman¡¯s loss. Nobles didn¡¯t like associating with dishonorable people, whether they were allies or enemies. As someone aspiring to rise up in status, Zeraman had no choice but to find this situation vexing. ¡°Could it be that the magistrate was deceiving us. . .?¡± At his subordinate¡¯s words, Zeraman flushed with anger. ¡°Nonsense. Why would the magistrate do that? You know how many troops he prepared! The gathered mercenaries number in the thousands, and the knights from the empire are as numerous as grains of wheat. Wizards havee as well!¡± ¡°Y-You¡¯re right.¡± As someone who had personally seen the forces gathering in Mairene City, Zeraman was certain of Adviko¡¯s sincerity. The knights sent by the emperor, and even the wizards. By achieving great merits here, he would be introduced by Adviko to meet the emperor! This was what he had decided. ¡°Captain! Captain! Enemies behind us!¡± At the sudden report, the mercenaries tensed up. A scout came rushing over the hill behind them, urging them to surrender. Zeramanughed derisively and rejected him, saying: ¡°I don¡¯t know who leads you all, but if he has any honor as a warrior, he should fight me one-on-one to decide the victor! Don¡¯t retreat like a coward!¡± ¡°I will convey your message.¡± As the scout left, Zeraman whistled. He didn¡¯t know their numbers, but the enemy likely thought of them as just a gang of rogues and would be caught unprepared. It would be great if they let their guard down. ¡°Captain. Should I shoot him when hees out?¡± ¡°Hm? . . .Yeah. If by some chance he puts up a decent fight, just shoot him down.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± He felt somewhat uneasy about it, but there was now saying you couldn¡¯t resort to the same tactic twice. Among his subordinates was one who was skilled with the bow. Zeraman gave the order, then rode his horse forward. The enemy was also approaching with their men. ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ????????. . .¡¯ They were well-equipped, but not too great in number. If their leader fell, they would likely fall into great chaos. Their leader was also well-armed, but looked rather young. He was clearly an inexperienced knight. An easy opponent to toy with. Zeraman leapt down from his horse, then held up his sword and shield. He called out: ¡°I am Zeraman from Drelux! Who are you?¡± ¡°Johan of the Yeats Family.¡± Johan gave a curt reply, then slowly walked forward while holding his warhammer. He seemed more like an executioner than a knight about to duel. Zeraman felt Johan¡¯s words echo strangely in his ears, refusing to fade away. What was this feeling. . .? ¡°C-Count Yeats?!¡± Zeraman called out in rm as he stared at Johan, finally realizing the meaning of those words that now rang in his head like temple bells. ¡°Wait, Count Yeats! Wait a moment! There¡¯s been a misunderstanding. . .¡± Despite being active in the empire, even Zeraman had heard of Johan¡¯s fame. Rumors told of the young count borrowing the power of God to achieve victory in many battles, ying over ten monsters. While Zeraman was a cunning knight, he was no fool who would willingly fight an unwinnable battle. He had no intentions of facing one-on-one a knight who could be considered one of the finest in the empire. But Johan paid no heed to Zeraman¡¯s words. Zeraman had to pay the price for his underhanded surprise arrow attack. The warhammer swung around and a guarding Zeraman was smashed sideways from the shattering impact. ¡°Gahhh!¡± In the past, when a giant had appeared, he had wondered ¡®?? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????¡¯. Zeraman felt he now understood indirectly. His whole body went limp, unable to breath. Behind him, his shocked subordinate scrambled to ready his bow. ??????????! But it wasn¡¯t an arrow shot by Zeraman¡¯s subordinate. It was an arrow shot by a centaur. At some point, centaurs who had been hiding behind the hill revealed themselves, drawing their bows. Zeraman¡¯s subordinate grabbed his throat and copsed. ¡°Wai©¥¡± Johan didn¡¯t even listen to Zeraman¡¯s words, immediately cutting off his breath. There was a dull sound as blood spurted out. Only then did Johan look towards the scout andin: ¡°Despite your dramatic report, his skills weren¡¯t that great, were they? I got worried over nothing.¡± Due to the scout¡¯s exaggerated report, Johan had also been quite nervous. ¡°. . .S-Sorry.¡± The scout cursed himself for even having such impious thoughts for a moment. If his true feelings were revealed, he would probably end up a corpse. ???????????? After that, Johan kept uprooting enemies one by one as he surveyed the area. It was to prepare for the enemy¡¯s attack, but to others it just looked like an honorable deed. Some feudal lords harbored slight discontent, but not many people could openly express their displeasure to Johan, who was permitted by the Order andmanded a formidable army. While mercenaries and rogues were being suppressed and executed before they could do anything across thend, the main force led by Adviko departed from the city and started heading south. ¡°. . .What did you just say?¡± Adviko couldn¡¯t believe the unbelievable report. But no matter what, nothing changed. The soldier repeated in a frightened voice, ¡°The Order has finished preparations to fight by hiring mercenaries. I asked merchants several times and they all gave the same answer. . .¡± The Order properly heeded Johan¡¯s warning. They hired mercenaries, summoned feudal lords within their sphere of influence, and requested support from other free cities. Of course they didn¡¯t all gather at once, but even with some gathered it was enough force. Adviko was bbergasted at the report that nearly a thousand troops had gathered in front of Mount Cyrandel. Even though I was so careful. . .! ¡°No need to worry too much, Adviko-gong. It seems the enemy hastily prepared, but even so, we have the advantage.¡± ¡°Those knight dastards won¡¯t be able to withstand my spear.¡± Adviko was somewhat reassured by the words of the knights sent by the emperor from the Empire. Usually they arrogantly look down on these mainders as being from the Holy Empire, but when it came to fighting, they were tremendously reliable. The knights of the Holy Empire were known to be as good at fighting as the elves of Ens. So much so that they were even called barbaric. Moreover, these knights were famished. ¡°Give me and my men the vanguard.¡± ¡°No. Shouldn¡¯t we still look at the situation? It¡¯s too early to split up. . .¡± ¡°Are you ordering me now?¡± ¡°Of course not! I respect you, but the situation is still unclear so let¡¯s be cautious.¡± Neither did the Emperor trust Adviko to send his trusted knights, nor did the knightse down this far with overflowing loyalty. The reason the Emperor sent them was because he himself could no longer control them. Fighting so much in the southern Empire but with no decent gains, coins owed kept piling up. . . The vassal contract was not some absolute loyalty pledge. If one side couldn¡¯t keep their promise, the other side could betray them without argument. The emperor, driven to desperation, sent many of his knights south inrge numbers. It was a desperate measure, but the effect was unexpectedly good. Because the knights had their eyes wide open to plunder the abundant penins. . . .From Adviko¡¯s position though, the difficulty ofmand had gone up quite a bit. The knights weremanders of their own troops, each bringing their own men. In times like these considerable rights were customarily permitted. Charging recklessly, ignoring orders and going out to scout alone. . . It wasmon for them to refuse orders and act independently even whenmanded by their liege lord in a vassal contract, let alone equal-standing Adviko. ¡°If not you lords, who can I trust? Mercenaries? Wizards? I only trust you lords.¡± ¡°Hahahaha! Yes, just keep trusting only us, Adviko-gong.¡± Adviko barely cated the knights to prevent them from acting separately. Though they didn¡¯t listen to words, they were one of the most powerful forces. He had to keep them there until he grasped the situation. ¡®???? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????????, ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ????????????.¡¯ It was rare for nobles to obediently follow orders when their own fiefs were burning. Quite arge number would likely defect. ???????????? Bishops, nobles from the city, and greater and lesser feudal lords. . . They received reports that an enemy army wasing down, but those present did not look too worried. If they had heard this news by surprise, half of them would have fled and the other half would have hidden in the mountains. But now there was confidence. The confidence of knowing in advance and being prepared. It didn¡¯t matter that the enemy had slightly greater numbers. Isn¡¯t the defensive side always at an advantage? Just as those from the empire looked down on them, they looked down on the imperials as well. When you gain the confidence that you can win, it naturally leads to further thoughts. The nobles present nced at each other, subtly taking stock. ¡°The honorable vanguard position. . .¡± ¡°Since I¡¯m participating anyway, I should distinguish myself properly.¡± ¡°The problem is Count Yeats.¡± They had also heard the rumors about Count Yeats. He had received a revtion in a dream, passed it on to the people of the denomination, and summoned the armies in this vicinity. Who wouldn¡¯t have brought their own troops to participate? But the aplishments and words of Count Yeats carried different weight. If such a count offered to take the vanguard, who could step forward to stop him? ¡°Your Excellency Count, will you take the vanguard?¡± ¡°I appreciate the honorable offer, but my subordinates are tired and need some rest.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°!!¡± Johan¡¯s unexpected refusal surprised the nobles. ¡°With the other lords gathered here, I think it should be sufficient.¡± ¡°You make an excellent point, Count!¡± ¡°I agree with that!¡± Fearing Johan might change his mind, the nobles hurriedly concurred. Nodding repeatedly, they shouted. ¡®???? ?? ???????? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ????????????????, ????¡¯???? ???? ??????????????????????.¡¯ Those without fame or aplishments would covet the honor of the vanguard, but Johan had no need. Even just sitting still, he could hear the praises around him. Why would he covet such trivial things? More important were the interests of the order. If Johan went out to fight and in the meantime the order was attacked and the Pope kidnapped and reced. . . The worst case scenario! ¡®???? ?????????????????? ??????????????, ??¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ The bishop didn¡¯t notice Johan¡¯s ulterior motives at all, and was impressed by his humility. Chapter 197: ???????????? (5) Chapter 197: ???????????? (5) ¡°Are you really alright, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°I told you I¡¯m fine.¡± Hearing the bishop¡¯s words, Johan firmly rejected again. Seeing his resolved attitude, others hurriedly spoke up, worried that he might change his mind. ¡°You have already aplished great merits, Count. Your men must be exhausted too. Shouldn¡¯t you give them time to rest?¡± ¡°I appreciate your consideration. Will you lead the vanguard then?¡± Hearing Johan¡¯s words, the nobles were startled. The man straightened his attire and spoke hastily. ¡°If Count says so, I dare not refuse. I will earn merits under my family¡¯s banner.¡± ¡®????.¡¯ Seeing the man answering without taking a breath, Johan was a bit taken aback this time.Did he really take my joking words so seriously? Fortunately, other nobles came to help Johan. They interrupted very urgently as well. ¡°We know Count has made great achievements, but the vanguard can¡¯t be decided arbitrarily.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Doesn¡¯t His Excellency the Bishop think so too?¡± Seeing their desperate manner like children who got their toys snatched away, Johan realized these attending nobles had great expectations. ¡®???? ????????????. . . ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ????????????, ????¡¯?? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ In this era, war was business. It was the same for knights leading dozens of men, nobles leading hundreds, and feudal lords leading thousands. They had to feed the troops they brought, pay the mercenaries if any, obtain spoils of war and fame, then go home. The suprememander would pay a share, but often it would get dyed or turned into debt. Johan scattering gold coins to feudal lords under him was actually a rare case. If they wanted to aplish something, getting loans from money holders came first. Then they would sell or exploit privileges ¨C that was themon practice for nobles. Those present today included city nobles from nearby free cities, and feudal lords in the Order¡¯s territory. More tempting than the spoils was the privileges guaranteed by the Church. Even in the distant Holy Empire, the Order¡¯s power was immense. It was even stronger in this penins. Holding both justification and profits, the Order could theoretically do anything. Squeezing more taxes, seizing desired vassals¡¯ fiefdoms, defaulting on loans from merchants, killing disliked family members. . . The Order¡¯s power allowed all these without repercussion. It¡¯s only natural they coveted such power that allowed them to do anything unchecked. To obtain it, they had to build military exploits. Like how Johan earned the Order¡¯s praise by defeating various monsters and nobles of the Emperor¡¯s faction. The bishop fell into brief contemtion before speaking humbly. ¡°But Ickmand experience, so I think it¡¯s better to heed Count¡¯s advice.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The nominal suprememander was the Bishop from the Church. Just because one¡¯s a Bishop didn¡¯t mean one couldn¡¯t lead an army. There were capable fighters among them too. This Bishop also had some military experience. But with a reliable right arm, there was no need to insist on personalmand. The Bishop was willing to take Johan¡¯s advice fully. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ????????. . . ?????? ????¡¯?? ??????????????????????.¡¯ Themander ignoring subordinates would be problematic, but there was no harm being listened to attentively. The situation now was a bit different though. Look at those gazes! They stared as if ready to make even Johan flinch on a battlefield. If not for keeping up appearances, they would have swarmed forth pleading their case. Seeing such eager gazes, how could he just pick a vanguard casually? ¡°. . .Hmm. Since you say so, I should reconsider.¡± Only then did the crowd breathe a sigh of relief. Then they rposed themselves, this time to appeal themselves to Johan¡¯s eyes. ???????????? Bishop Castillon was a bishop belonging to the miracle faction in the order . When he was young, he had shown the miracle of curing the vigers of a town who were suffering from the gue. Most of the miracle bishops liked Johan. But Bishop Castillon liked him especially. It was because of the rumor that Johan had healed the injured and sick mercenaries. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan felt a bit embarrassed to be called a miracle even if it was him, for just taking care of the mercenaries and being conscious of hygiene. ¡°Your Excellency Count. Would it be okay not to go out? The escort is enough, so you can move.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it would make much difference if it was just me not being there. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Too much humility can be a poison.¡± The bishop said while moving pieces on the chessboard. The fierce fight over the vanguard position ended with the victory of themander from the nearby free city. It wasn¡¯t because Johan valued the leadership of the city nobles highly. . . it was simply because the trade volume going back and forth between that free city and Johan¡¯s direct territory was considerable. If we take care of this side, the other side will also return the favorter. It was good to prepare when there was an opportunity. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Your Excellency Count, the enemies would have already rushed up to here.¡± The enemies that should have rushed up vigorously in an unexpected situation seemed to not be actively attacking, confounded by the unusual circumstances. Instead, they were looting other towns to fill their supplies and spoils. We couldn¡¯t just watch them do that, so many went out to fight. . . In this way, small-scale skirmishes kept happening continuously. Although the scale was in the tens to hundreds, it could not be taken lightly at all. In many cases, the disadvantaged side would retreat and the fight would end. Large-scale engagements with thousands shing were rare. ¡®???? ????????????¡¯?? ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Johan¡¯s purpose was to maintain status quo from the beginning. As long as the Pope seat doesn¡¯t get taken, it was fine. It wouldn¡¯t be bad to attack the enemies from behind and take some spoils when they retreat, but that would just be a bonus. ¡°I heard in the reports that quite a few knights from the Empire came too. Your Excellency Count. Although I have stepped into priesthood, I am not ignorant about the honor of knighthood. Your Excellency must also feel your blood boiling, wanting topete with them.¡± ¡°??¡± Johan almost dropped the piece he was holding. Far from blood boiling, he was in a very cool state. . . ¡®?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????¡¯ Well, since he had been rampaging around swinging weapons here and there like a crazy b*stard, it was no wonder he got such a misunderstanding. ¡°I will not forget that you held back such ardor and guarded this position. There will certainly be blessings.¡± ¡°I see.¡± After Johan moved thest piece, he solidified his defense tightly. In the meantime, a servant came in and gave a report ¨C that Iselia had called for him. ¡°Iselia called? Tell her to wait.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Bishop Castillon¡¯s expression wrinkled slightly then rxed. Not because of the servant¡¯s interruption, but because of Iselia¡¯s name. The order did not like Iselia very much. Since the very faithful Count was stubborn when it came to Iselia, from the order¡¯s standpoint, they could only suspect that Iselia had him bewitched. ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡°There are two more moves left.¡± ¡°Ah. I¡¯ll put them down now.¡± ???????????? Except for the centaurs roaming around for reconnaissance, Johan did not send out the mercenaries. There was no need to. ¡°Are you feeling frustrated?¡± Iselia Unlike other noblemen who ride horses and fight, being cooped up all the time can be stressful. Although Johanforts her at night, it has its limits. ¡°Ah. You came?¡± Iselia was delighted when Johan came. She didn¡¯t look particrly frustrated. ¡°What is it? You didn¡¯t call me to ask me to let you go out?¡± ¡°. . .My dear. What did you think of me?¡± Iselia asked as if she was dumbfounded. Of course she loved charging out on a horse and piercing the enemymander¡¯s chest with a spear the most, but she wasn¡¯t the kind of person to whine and ask to be let out thoughtlessly. ¡°Of course I knew you wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°If that¡¯s not the case, why did you call me?¡± ¡°Someone brought an interesting story, so I called you to ry it.¡± As Iselia ryed the story, she grumbled a little. She seemed quite upset that Johan thought of her that way. Johan stroked Iselia¡¯s hair tofort her. ¡°Tell me. What story did you bring?¡± ¡°I havee to convey my master¡¯s honorable words to Your Excellency.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Who is your master and why are you talking like this. . .? ¡°If I am given honorable treatment as a knight, I wish to swear allegiance to Your Excellency while holding my sword reversed. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± At first he wondered what he was talking about, but Johan soon understood. Although he added polite words, in short he wants to surrender! ¡®???????? ?????? ??????????. ???? ???? ???? ???????????¡¯ The enemies must also be gradually realizing that the n has gone awry. If rogue gangs are wrecking havoc from behind, these feudal lords wouldn¡¯t be able to hold out so stubbornly. And how one reacts when things go wrong determines life and death. It was not surprising for a knight to betray like this. ¡°Are you thinking of epting it?¡± ¡°There is no reason not to ept the opponent¡¯s surrender.¡± The enemy¡¯s surrender is always helpful. On top of that, being a former knight, he would know more. ¡°But my dear, isn¡¯t it a bit suspicious? For a knight to surrender so easily.¡± ¡°Knights from the Empire do tend to switch sides easily. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????, ???????????? ?????? ?? ??????????.¡¯ Betraying right away makes sense, and not betraying also makes sense. In the end, the only way to find out was to see for myself. ¡°Tell your master. If hees to the front of the camp alone fully armed, I will ept his surrender.¡± ¡°Yes. I will convey it that way. Thank you for listening!¡± ???????????? Adviko scowled at the emperor¡¯s envoys. ¡°Is that what you call an answer? Did you think I brought this up to hear ¡®????¡¯?? ????????????????????, ?? ??????¡¯?? ???? ????¡¯? Shouldn¡¯t you figure out a way no matter what?¡± The envoys broke into a cold sweat. As the situation grewplicated, Adviko asked the emperor for more support. He offered money in exchange for sending over more knights. It was a reasonable enough request, and Adviko wanted Karamaf, known as the most outstanding among the knights, toe here. He believed that with his own transcendent might, Karamaf would be needed to rein in andmand the knights here. But the emperor¡¯s envoys kept making excuses like ¡®????¡¯???? ???? ??????????????????¡¯ and ¡®????????¡¯?? ?? ????????????,¡¯ obscuring their words. . . ¡°It seems you misunderstand the situation, Your Excellency. If I withdraw the army, it will be just as troubling for Your Majesty! There will be significant bacsh if we start something like this and then fail.¡± ¡°Of course we know that! However, Sir Karamaf is really. . .¡± ¡°Unless he¡¯s cursed, there¡¯s no reason he can¡¯t move, is there? Enough! Get out!¡± Adviko threw his ss. The envoys were startled and fled the tent. Adviko grumbled and nced over the map. Originally, they should be advancing faster, but now they were practically immobilized. There was no real impact yet, but if this dragged on, it would clearly disadvantage them. He wanted to fight a decisive battle in more favorable conditions, but should he start an all-out war in this state? ¡°Advik-nim.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The servant you sent into enemy territory has returned with a positive response.¡± ¡°Good news!¡± Adviko was delighted. Tricking the enemy with a false surrender to obtain intelligence was his n. Most of all, he had to find a way to get to the Pope. If he could manage that,plex battles would be unnecessary. Ideally the empire knights would handle this, but they would never agree to such a dishonorable task. One mercenary captain volunteered, disguising himself as a knight instead. ¡°Best send him before they get suspicious. Have him gain their trust first before sending back information.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ve pretended to be a knight countless times.¡± The mercenary grinned. With countless minor houses of no renown or fiefs, there was no need to worry about exposure. Chapter 198: ???????????? (6) Chapter 198: ???????????? (6) In addition, recently there have been many families in the empire who have lost their fiefdoms. Using them as an excuse made the disguise even easier. ¡°How do I look?¡± ¡°You look very credible.¡± The mercenary who took on the role of a knight, Fulleriesi, had a skill that others did not have, even though his position was only a sub-captain. He was skilled at disguise and camouge. He had an impressive record, impersonating barons with fiefdoms in cities or famous knights in towns. Having experienced near-death situations several times, Fulleriesi was not afraid of such things. ¡°The other sub-captain b*stards can¡¯t take on this mission. Let alone those plump knights on the ship. If I didn¡¯t have Adviko-nim¡¯s trust, how could I have taken on such a mission?¡± ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right!¡± The ves agreed with Fulleriesi¡¯s words. His subordinate mercenaries also agreed. Of course, to Adviko, Fulleriesi was just a receable horse. If he was really a valued subordinate, he would not have sent him to such a dangerous ce.But to the mercenaries, it seemed like a tremendous opportunity. It was a line cast by the ruler of a city. From the perspective of mercenaries who wandered the roads, slept rough, and killed each other over a single silver coin, it was a refreshing offer. ¡°But I heard Count Yeats is a great knight. . .¡± One of the mercenaries said worriedly. Johan¡¯s reputation had spread beyond the mountain range to the Holy Empire. Few were as sensitive to rumors as mercenaries, and those participating this time had roughly checked the rumors. The mix of exaggerated rumors made it even more daunting. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s just a kid. How many nobles have I dealt with?¡± Fulleriesi set off confidently. It was natural for him to be confident. Although Johan¡¯s achievements as a knight were great, Fulleriesi was not going to cross swords with Johan now. Since he was just trying to gain trust by stirring things up a bit and then send back information, there was no need to be afraid. Fulleriesi actually thought it was even better. If someone so young has achieved such merits, they would be arrogant. Especially if they were nobility. Such people were easy to deal with. ???????????? ¡°. . . . . .¡± When Fulleriesi faced Johan, he froze instinctively. The huge wolf sitting next to Johan growled and red at Fulleriesi. ¡°You must have had a hard timeing here, Sir.¡± ¡°Oh. . .no, Your Excellency Count. I¡¯m just grateful that you epted my surrender.¡± After finishing the procedures, Fulleriesi, who came to the front of Johan¡¯s tent, tried his best to straighten his copsing posture. It was much more oppressive than he had thought. The atmosphere of Count Yeats¡¯ camp waspletely different from that of other nobles¡¯ camps. Starting with centaurs and dwarves, there was an inexplicable sense of alienation. The wolf next to Johanpleted that atmosphere. Even though he knew that beast would not pounce without the Count¡¯s order, he was still scared. ¡°Have a seat. Pour yourself a drink.¡± ¡°Yes. . .thank you.¡± Jyanina peeked out from behind the tent. Johan had instructed her to speak out if she recognized the visitor¡¯s face. But it was an unfamiliar face. Suetlg next to her asked. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Well. . .I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. I didn¡¯t expect much anyway.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Sitting down, Fulleriesi carefully received the ss. The deep, aromatic wine sloshed inside. Originally, he was going to tease and seduce the other party as soon as they met, but strangely his mouth wouldn¡¯t open. It was because of the unique presence the Count in front of him exuded. At first he thought it was because of the wolf, but as he got used to it, he could distinguish who was emitting that presence. ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ????. . .¡¯ Fortunately, as the alcohol went in, the tension in his body rxed a bit. Fulleriesi cursed Adviko and the other nobles, the expedition soldiers, and the knights from the empire. Johan asionally asked about theposition of the expedition and famous knights. Fulleriesi did not deliberately hide anything. There was no information worth hiding, and often a mere knight would not know much confidential information anyway. He could just say he didn¡¯t know. ¡°Are you from the empire too?¡± ¡°Yes, I am. I got caught up in the southern conquest and had to leave the empire. . .¡± Johan looked at Fulleriesi as if puzzled. He could not have expected it. That a participant who left during the southern rebellion in the empire would be right in front of him. ¡°Oh my. You were unlucky. Who did you serve?¡± ¡°I was serving Baron Zinen.¡± Fulleriesi spoke smoothly. This part was already prepared. The baron was in fact a quite influential noble in the southwest of the empire. He also employed several mercenary knights, so iming to be one of them made sense. ¡°Baron Zinen. . .¡± ¡°Do you know him?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ve only heard the name.¡± In fact, he knew him well. His territory wasn¡¯t very far from Johan¡¯s hometown. He was on apletely different level than a knight like Sir Gessen who only had a small town, but still. . . In any case, nobles of that level would have rumors floating around about them even if they just stayed put. His brothers used to entertain vain hopes of making sessful marriages with the baron¡¯s children. ¡°I heard the baron¡¯s forest is very good for hunting.¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve been in a few times myself, and the beasts were quite docile, barely fleeing. . .¡± ¡°That must have been fun. How was the town?¡± ¡°There was a monastery that made pretty good beer, so that was nice.¡± Fulleriesi¡¯s answers were usible and vivid. Even Johan who had been suspicious was a bit confused. ¡®?????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????¡¯ Johan felt something suspicious while talking with Fulleriesi. To confirm, he asked various questions and the other answered very well. But one cannot torture and interrogate an innocent knight just because. . . ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ?? ???????????? ????????????.¡¯ Johan waited patiently. As a human, if one keeps talking, they are bound to make a mistake somewhere. Fulleriesi had ignored Johan as a young count, but it was he who got caught. Without even realizing, he just kept chattering on while Johan listened. He hadn¡¯t even begun his original n to charm Johan. ¡°I heard the baron handles his spear very well, is it true?¡± ¡°Ah yes, that¡¯s true, count. He has hunted down a beast as big as a house all by himself without his subordinates¡¯ help.¡± ¡°So the rumors were true.¡± ¡°Of course not as good as you, count. . .¡± ¡°I heard the baron¡¯s firstborn is very good with the bow, how about that?¡± When the baron¡¯s children were mentioned, Fulleriesi was flustered. He didn¡¯t even know about the children¡¯s talents. But there was no need to panic. He just had to find an opening in Johan¡¯s question and make up a satisfying answer. ¡°He can shoot two birds flying in the sky with one arrow. Amazing skill.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Johan nodded and called Gerdolf over. Fulleriesi, not fully grasping the situation, was puzzled. ¡°This is Sir Gerdolf. One of my most loyal knights.¡± Gerdolf¡¯s eyes showed his pride. Fulleriesi greeted Gerdolf, feeling things were going rather well. He already felt quite friendly with him. ¡°Nice to meet you, Sir Gerdolf.¡± ¡°Gerdolf. Take him out and make him spill everything.¡± ¡°. . .????¡± Fulleriesi wondered what he meant. Johan said coldly. ¡°The baron¡¯s firstborn doesn¡¯t have one arm. What bow skill?¡± ¡°. . .!!!!¡± It was like having cold water poured on him. More than the fear, Fulleriesi was shocked to realize he had been dancing on the count¡¯s palm. He knew the baron?? Then could it be. . . all those casual questions from earlier. . .? ¡°You said you didn¡¯t know the baron. . .?¡± ¡°Not just you can lie.¡± ¡°. . .!!!¡± Gerdolf grabbed Fulleriesi¡¯s shoulder and said slowly. ¡°Come with me.¡± Fulleriesi struggled instinctively. Just a habitual resistance. But his opponent was Gerdolf. ????????! Gerdolf mercilessly pped and kicked and trampled Fulleriesi. Fulleriesi screamed and tumbled around. ¡°Gerdolf. Don¡¯t kill him. We need to make him cooperate.¡± In less than an hour of being dragged out, Fulleriesi spilled everything and swore to cooperate. ???????????? ¡°Baron, take the left side. Gong, take the right side.¡± As Johan gave the order, the nobles had expressions mixed with anticipation, anxiety, andpetitiveness. Now they were preparing an ambush. Since it was already known that Fulleriesi was a spy, there was no choice but to take advantage of that. Johan spread information through Fulleriesi. He said that a bishop from the Order would stop by a town not too far away while traveling. Capturing one bishop did not have tremendous strategic value, but the bishop had a ransom value. There would be quite a few among the enemies whose eyes lit up for gold. Speed was life in things like this, and the scale would not be too big either, perfect for ambushing and striking. ¡®???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ????????????, ?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ Although he remained at the headquarters, Johan was also greedy for money. The more ransom the better. Also, for opponents in a messy situation like the enemy, even a defeat like this would deal a bigger blow. If lucky, some unexpected effects could also be expected. . . .The problem was that the eyes of the others were not easy either. Despite Johan conceding the vanguard, no one had achieved any particrly noticeable feats. They had just fought decent battles. In this situation, the ambush was an attractive opportunity. They had to establish clear achievements here and obtain war booty. ¡°Ambush around the town, and when theye in, charge in all at once. No one should charge early orte. Understand?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, count. We¡¯ll do that.¡± ¡°We shall do as the count says. No need to worry.¡± ¡®?????? ?????????? ????????¡¯ ???????? ?????? ???????????????????¡¯ Johan swore to himself. It was different from when he was a mere knight leading soldiers around. Dealing with these tangled nobles was an entirely different matter. In short. . . Annoyingly disobedient people! When there were so many who charged and rushed recklessly even at the king¡¯s summons, how much would the words of a count, not even their own lord, mean? ¡°Does it matter? Anyway, it won¡¯t need to be perfect. Even if there¡¯s some difference, the moment they step in, they won¡¯t be able to run away.¡± Suetlg was much more ustomed to such behavior from nobles than Johan. He didn¡¯t find it particrly strange. ¡°That may be so, but it is frustrating.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it always like that whenmanding forces gathered from many ces? Don¡¯t let it trouble you too much.¡± Suetlgforted Johan. ¡°Even though it¡¯s annoying, it was a good decision to give them this opportunity. Their eyes may be bloodshot now, unable to think straight, but after achieving merits, their minds will return and they will be grateful for your grace.¡± It was customary for people to express gratitude when their stomachs were a bit fuller. Although they were blinded by greed now, after gaining some achievements, they would suddenly be appreciative of the opportunity Johan had given them. It was natural since it was rted to their own honor. Johan nodded. That¡¯s why he called those guys in the first ce, because he agreed with that judgment. ¡°Head to the center. Move out!¡± ???????????? The ambush was almost sessful. At least hundreds of enemies swarmed into the town under the cover of darkness. Although they were not visible, the hidden friendly forces seemed to be thrilled. ¡°Charge! Charge!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let the enemies get away!!¡± ¡®?? ???????????????? ????????.¡¯ But what happened next was also as expected. As soon as it was confirmed that the enemies had entered the town, the assault began without Johan¡¯s order. The left nk rushed out first, and the right nk also started the assault for fear of missing out. Instead of an orderly encirclement, a messy melee ensued. Johan, who was leading the soldiers, clicked his tongue. ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?? ???????? ????.¡¯ It seemed better to observe the situation than to get mixed up and have his own troops fight each other. Although it was chaotic, his troops still overwhelmingly outmatched the enemy. After all, they had them surrounded. If the enemies copsed like this, then the pursuit. . . ¡°Count, Your Excellency! Count, Your Excellency!¡± ¡°Have youe to get permission to pursue?¡± Johan asked without much thought as a messenger rushed over from the right nk. It looked like quite a few were already fleeing. ¡°Please help us!¡± ¡°. . .What?¡± Johan was surprised and double checked. Surprisingly, it was his own troops that were fleeing. Chapter 199: ???????????? (7) Chapter 199: ???????????? (7) ¡®???????? ???????? ???? *???????????? ???????? ?????? ????????. . .?¡¯ Johan was dumbfounded for a moment, at a loss for words. The current situation was not like they were facing each other on an open field in broad daylight. It was an ambush outside the town. Naturally, the opponents would be confused and chaotic. And yet, there were guys who couldn¡¯t handle it and ran away? ¡°It seems the knights on the right wing brought soldiers who were inadequately trained orcked experience.¡± ¡°How shameful.¡± Iselia and Suetlg clicked their tongues, but were not too surprised. In the first ce, Johan¡¯s standards were rather peculiar. Johan basically wanted his subordinates to have a high level of training and tight discipline. Of course it¡¯s not bad if soldiers are well trained, but it¡¯s not something you can have just because you want it. It was realistically impossible.Most of the soldiers participating in the conscription were mercenaries or conscripts. It was impossible to move as one body in this situation, synchronizing hands and feet through daily training. Wealthy feudal lords could keep mercenary corps for a long time and train them like private soldiers, but the lords here were far from that. Why would they waste money on something they didn¡¯t even need? If they didn¡¯t have the orderly ability to fight each other, the battle would ultimately be greatly affected by the abilities of individuals like knights. With just a few skilled knights among the enemies, this kind of thing could easily happen. ¡°It seems the enemy can fight better than I thought.¡± ¡°If we leave them alone any longer, it willpletely copse.¡± It was upsetting, but Johan prepared to go help. If the right wing was breached, things could get bigger. Visibility was poor due to the darkness. Fear was infectious. ¡°Centaurs, it¡¯s time to fight! Follow me!¡± Happy shouts burst out behind Johan at his call. The time for battle had finallye. ???????????? ¡°Do not back down! Those Penins b*stards are cowards who do not even know how to wield weapons! Even if you get hit, you will not get hurt!¡± ¡°Sir Felix! Please provide some support over here! There are too many enemies!¡± ¡°I¡¯m on my way now! Hold on!¡± The knights from the Holy Empire, under the emperor¡¯smand, were fighting fiercely in the town. Despite readily rushing into the town with Adviko¡¯s boastful words, what awaited them was an abrupt ambush. As expected of seasoned knights, they were fighting well even against such a surprise attack, but the enemies pouring in from all directions put great pressure on them. They could not even guess how many enemies were hidden in the darkness. The first ones to start running away were the inexperienced mercenary recruits. ¡°Don¡¯t scatter! Maintain formation against the fence! I¡¯ll behead any deserters!¡± As some of the mercenaries tried to flee, a knight stepped forward and cut them down with his sword. Only then did the others take notice and divert their gazes. ¡°That idiot mongrel Adviko!¡± ¡°Did you send a request for reinforcements?!¡± ¡°I sent it, but it will take some time! We have to endure!¡± ¡°It¡¯s as if Adviko conspired with a petty thief to bear this. . .!¡± They had no idea what Adviko did or how they were found out. The knights raised their weapons, vowing to capture Adviko by the cor when they returned as they retreated. ¡°My brothers! Crises like today are neither the first nor thest. Raise your swords and seize glory!¡± The surrounded Empire knights raged like beasts. They pushed back even the ambushers with their momentum. As the mercenaries fell while bleeding, soldiers hurriedly ran over to report. ¡°The empire knights are over there!¡± ¡°They¡¯re terribly feisty! Go and show them your skill!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± A knight also stepped forward from the Baron¡¯s side, but copsed miserably against the joint attack of the empire knights. The baron¡¯s face was dyed in bewilderment. ¡°. . . . . .¡± At that, the empire knights¡¯ morale rose even higher. Hearing the cheers from the opponent¡¯s side amidst the chaos, some of the ambushing mercenaries mistakenly assessed the situation and began to flee. ¡°Now¡¯s our chance! They¡¯re shaken! Charge!¡± ¡°These *sshole b*stards. . .! Get them back here!¡± ¡°There¡¯s the enemymander! Take down theirmander!¡± While the mercenaries were of simr caliber, the empire knights were far more seasoned than the ambushing knights. Having followed the Emperor and fought on battlefields, they had ample experience. In such chaotic situations with no grasp of who is who, targeting themander was the most effective approach. ¡°Taking him down will open up the path! Seize him! I¡¯ll give half the ransom to whichever mercenary captures that noble!¡± ¡°Protect the Baron! Do not back down!¡± They shed, but the momentum was with the Empire knights. The bewildered Baron tried to flee, but with the abundance of soldiers nearby and the darkness, slipping away was no easy feat. The distance rapidly narrowed. ¡°If you are a noble who understands honor, fight me fair and square!¡± Despite the Empire knight¡¯s provocation, the Baron ignored him. Why would he want to help the opponent out? But regardless, no escape path could be seen. Perhaps getting off the horse earlier and slipping away amidst the soldiers would have been better. When he wondered if he really had to surrender, the trumpet sounded from behind. ¡°?¡± The trumpet sounded once more. At the same time, the thundering sound of galloping horses began to be heard. Piercing through the darkness, Johan was leading his cavalry. ¡°Guh!¡± ¡°Geh!¡± Some of the fighting mercenaries suddenly grabbed their necks and faces as they copsed. The flying arrows were so fast they could not even be seen before striking them. ¡°More enemies have gathered!¡± ¡°No need to fear! With terrain like this, they can¡¯t charge all at once no matter their numbers! Maintain formation!¡± However, contrary to the Empire knights¡¯ boasts, Johan¡¯s forces began prating and copsing their formation like the sharp points of spears. As the mercenaries quickly crumbled, the Empire knights realized the situation and were shocked. ¡°The enemy¡¯s knight is quite skilled! We must face him!¡± ¡°Sir Aneat, follow me! Let us take him down together!¡± The Empire knights halted their pursuit of the Baron and charged towards Johan instead. Amidst the flickering fires swaying in the darkness, they spotted Johan¡¯s shining figure and shouted: ¡°If you are an honorable knight, dere your family name!¡± ¡°Johan of Yeats Family.¡± Along with his horse, Johan swung his sword. Sir Aneat, as he was called, quickly lowered his head, but the attack narrowly grazed above his helmet. ¡°?!?¡± Ah! Her vision shook and she couldn¡¯t keep her bnce so she copsed. To the knights watching from the side, it was iprehensible. How could she copse from that attack? Johan looked around at the knights and said, ¡°Surrender. If you surrender, I promise honorable treatment ording to custom.¡± Being attacked from all sides in an encircled situation. It was natural to consider surrendering in this situation. If they were mercenary captains, they would have certainly surrendered. But the knights were a bit different. Whether because they were fearless, didn¡¯t care about their lives, or unconsciously, because of their self-worth and customs, they were confident they wouldn¡¯t die. They don¡¯t easily surrender until after being hit by a spear and falling off a horse and getting caught. ¡°If you want us to surrender,e take us yourself!¡± ¡°I see.¡± Johan didn¡¯t seem particrly surprised, as if he had expected it. Especially Ens elves, but Empire knights weren¡¯t very cultured and sensible either. ¡°Iselia. Take the one on the right.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Iselia gripped her spear and rode to the side. Although elven knights were known to be powerful in the Empire, the knights here focused on Johan rather than Iselia. There¡¯s something about that guy! ¡°Sir Khoti, be careful. Seeing Sir Aneat copse, he may be using some strange magic.¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯ll be careful.¡± Just because they were knights didn¡¯t mean they always insisted on decent methods. They would poison their swords and sell their honor to evil magic. The Empire knights suspected Johan¡¯s sword was cursed with evil magic. ¡°I will go first!¡± Sir Khoti¡¯s swordsmanship was known to be solid and wless within the Empire. It was so firm that the knights who faced him would be anxious without realizing it and make mistakes. With Sir Khoti, even if the enemy had a magic sword, he would be able to withstand it for a while and find out its identity. ¡°I am of House Barver. . .¡± Before he could finish speaking, Johan charged in like lightning. Caught off guard by Johan¡¯s attack at an unthinkable speed, Sir Khoti was startled. But his battle-hardened body moved on its own without him realizing. Sir Khoti bent back to avoid the first attack. ¡®??????!¡¯ The sound from above was so fierce that his bones chilled. Sir Khoti hurriedly raised his sword to restrain Johan. It wasn¡¯t an ancient Empire heirloom, but Sir Khoti¡¯s sword was a decent heirloom that had been passed down through his family for generations. Thanks to the magical aura embedded in the steel, the sword was sturdy and slick. But no matter how good the sword, it was meaningless if the wielder couldn¡¯t handle it. As he swung it to restrain Johan, the sword he was using to parry suddenly slipped out of control and Sir Khoti was so startled that he let go of it. ¡®???????? ??????????????????.¡¯ If he had held on, he would have died, stabbed by his own sword. Now empty-handed, Sir Khoti rolled to the side. The watching knights were dismayed. Even Sir Khoti couldn¡¯t withstand him? ¡°Your Excellency the Count! Let me help you!¡± Perhaps his mind cleared a bit since Johan hade and pushed everyone away, the Baron shouted. His guards also gathered around again, and the knights brought some more men to prepare to fight again. ¡°Count? . . .Count Yeats! Was it Count Yeats?!¡± Before Johan finished speaking, Iselia took down a knight. The price for taking his eyes off his opponent. Johan didn¡¯t let up either and targeted another one. Sir Felix, aware of Johan¡¯s reputation, tried his best to avoid shing swords with him directly and kept circling around. Johan took out Warhammer and threw it. Sir Felix tried to block it in surprise and copsed vomiting blood. ¡°I surrender. I have no confidence in defeating the Count!¡± The Empire knights around them gave up on further fighting and lowered their swords. When actually facing him, it was suffocatingly intense. Three knights had already fallen and were writhing on the ground. Seeing the knights surrender, the mercenaries around also quietly lowered their weapons, gauging the situation. In fact, looking at the situation, they could have kept fighting. There were still many soldiers left, and many knights remained, so if Johan dodged well and broke through the encirclement, an opportunity could have emerged. However, having lost in battle, the Empire knights honorably chose to surrender by custom. Although it may seem foolish at first nce, such customs held greater value to the knights. ¡°Sir Knight! Reinforcements areing! Adviko-nim has sent support, so please hold on a little longer!¡± A messenger ran over shouting from afar. It seemed he still didn¡¯t have a full grasp of the situation. Due to the noisy surroundings and many still fighting, he thought the knights were still battling. The Empire knights looked at the messenger with bewildered and embarrassed expressions. If reinforcements areing, they should havee sooner, not after we¡¯ve all surrendered! ¡°You surely won¡¯t go back on your surrender?¡± ¡°. . .T-That won¡¯t happen.¡± Although they spoke like that, their dissatisfied feelings showed as the knights stammered. ???????????? Upon hearing the request for support, Adviko was surprised and urged his soldiers. He didn¡¯t expect to have to use the soldiers he had kept on standby like this. This was not just a problem of a few hundred people getting annihted if the expedition group got caught. It was about many of the Emperor¡¯s knights getting caught. From Adviko¡¯s perspective, who didn¡¯t want to make regretful noises towards the Emperor¡¯s side, this was the worst situation. ¡°Wake up the mercenaries and get them moving! Request support from the remaining knights as well. Move as fast as possible!¡± Although it was chaotic and frantic, Adviko seeded in preparing the soldiers quickly. Troops close to the entire army dashed towards the town in the darkness. Including Adviko, no one could have expected that they would sh against each other so greatly in such an unexpected situation! Chapter 200: ???????????? (8) Chapter 200: ???????????? (8) Fortunately, Johan had time to prepare. Thanks to the enemy messenger who came and said that reinforcements were on the way. After sending someone to inform the main force, Johan pressed the enemies remaining in the town. With the knights also caught, the rest could not hold out very well. They quickly copsed and the escape began. ¡°Truly excellent, count! Today¡¯s victory was achieved solely by the count¡¯s sword.¡± The gathered nobles sent sincere thanks. Before the battle began, their eyes were wide open to establish military exploits, but as the battle was roughly over, they came to their senses. Even in the midst of a fierce battle, shing gs, it was clear that Johan was leading the charge. Hepletely copsed the enemies who were holding out well and charged in, if you didn¡¯t see that, you had to be blind. It¡¯s a shame they couldn¡¯t establish exploits, but they should be grateful for the situation. They were thankful that Johan had brought adequate support. Of course, Johan was annoyed. ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ????.¡¯. . .wordsing up to my throat! But Johan endured. Dealing well with guys who always want to smack the back of the head was Johan¡¯s talent. ¡°Without valiant knights like you, how could I have won alone? Your contributions are great.¡± To be honest, if the ambushing knights and feudal lords had done a little better, the encirclement would have rolled out neatly as well. After calmly setting up the encirclement, hitting them with fire attack, showering arrows on those scattered, then the knights could have intercepted and attacked those just fleeing under Johan¡¯s directmand, there would have been no idiots left to escape without capturing them all. . . Suetlg coughed. He looked worried that Johan would get angry and start swearing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m calm.¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s a relief. No matter how angry, don¡¯t insult them. It won¡¯t do any good.¡± Although he hadn¡¯t established himself for long, Johan was like the southern overlord. He directly controlled major port cities, most of his fief¡¯s vassals were loyal, and his coffers were abundant from recent battles. In addition, he had close ties with religious orders and republics, so feudal lords and free city nobles in the central and northern parts couldn¡¯t help but be wary of Johan. Johan himself didn¡¯t have ambitions like bing the great king ruling the penins, but others couldn¡¯t know his true intentions. To others, Johan in his early twenties was an ambitious man who had taken over the southernnds with a single sword. In that situation, there was no need to unnecessarily make nobles anxious or hostile. Johan knew that well, which is why he kept giving them opportunities even though they kept messing up and failing to meet his expectations. ¡®?? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ??????????.¡¯ He wanted to make an example out of any arrogant nobles among those who couldn¡¯t even properly besiege, but no such foolish guys appeared. Frustrating! In the meantime, Iselia came back after suppressing the remnants. As Iselia looked around at the nobles, Johan felt an intuition sh by in an instant. ¡°Iselia. Good work. Come here.¡± ¡°Huh? My dear. I have something to say to them. . .¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. I know you want to tell them good job. My lords. Iselia of the Bluea family wants to praise you all.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I was trying to. . .¡± Johan cut off Iselia¡¯s words and covered her mouth. The knights greeted gratefully, seeming quite puzzled that Iselia was praising them. It was rare for elven knights to praise Penins knights since most elven knights were arrogant and proud. They would never praise knights they considered one step below them. ¡°It is said that you are outstanding whether fighting on horseback or dismounted, even when wielding shields smaller than the enemy¡¯s and shorter swords, not retreating.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Haha. . . I¡¯m embarrassed to hear such words.¡± ¡°Iselia-gong of the Bluea family is generous and magnanimous.¡± Anyone would be happy to receive unexpected praise. The knights were moved by Iselia¡¯s praise. They wondered why a knight like Johan married such a tall and voluptuous elf, but it was clearly because of her generous and magnanimous character. It was a virtue that could not be seen in elven knights. After the knights left, Iselia asked in disbelief. ¡°Why did you stop me?¡± ¡°You can probably guess, but what were you trying to say?¡± ¡°Um. First of all, wouldn¡¯t it be better if they carried sticks instead of swords. . .¡± ¡°I see. Good thing I stopped you. Iselia. From now on, ask me before saying anything to the nobles.¡± ¡°??? Alright. I don¡¯t know why though. . .¡± Johan felt Iselia¡¯s elven nature anew. ¡°Iselia is an elf after all. I keep forgetting that despite the frequent reminders. . .¡± ¡°You forget that even after she gives you severed enemy heads as gifts?¡± Suetlg said in disbelief. To Suetlg, there was no elf more elven than Iselia. ???????????? The enemy army could be seen from afar. As the day gradually brightened, they could not hide their lights and sounds. The enemies must have given up the idea ofunching a surprise attack. ¡°Prepare to retreat. There is no need to fight over the town.¡± Johan intended to retreat. From a defensive position, there was no reason to fight. If they barricaded themselves behind the castle walls, the pain would be felt by the opponent, not Johan. However, when he saw the reinforcements on the other side forming up and entering battle, those thoughts disappeared. ¡°What. . .?¡± While there were reports that enemy reinforcements wereing, those were just reports, not requests for reinforcements. Why did so many gather? ¡°Why did theye?¡± Johan¡¯s voice turned sinister. The knight next to him flinched unconsciously at that murderous aura. Until just now, he thought of the young count as generous, but now he felt fear to the point. ¡°Yo. . . Your Excellency. . . to set up an attack? Of course they woulde when the enemies areing. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan almost swore at the knight next to him. He probably didn¡¯t have any malice in saying that. The knight must have truly believed that with the enemy forcesing like that, it was natural for them to counterattack. That thinking wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. Looking at the morale and situation now, the allies seemed to have an advantage. But wouldn¡¯t it be more advantageous to just barricade themselves behind the castle walls?? ¡®?????????? ?????????? ??????????????.¡¯ He could no longer make those who had already left the field and formed up retreat. Johan sighed and ordered battle preparations. Now that it hade to this, they had no choice but to join the battle and win. ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????¡¯ The town troops were on the right nk. The center was the Order¡¯s troops. The left nk was mainly the remaining City State troops. ¡°Count. Count.¡± ¡°?¡± One of the surrendered Empire knights called out to Johan. ¡°To repay the honor Count has shown, I will tell you one thing. If you fight, beware of Sir Kruger.¡± ¡°Who is that knight?¡± ¡°We are not close so I do not know the details. But I heard rumors about him since serving under His Majesty.¡± They were the knights who suspected Johan had made a wicked contract with magic. But there was a knight with an even deeper rumor. That was Sir Kruger. ¡°Does he breathe fire from his mouth?¡± ¡°No, not that.¡± ¡°Does he rot and crumble anything he touches?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it either but. . .¡± ¡®???? ????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????¡¯ Johan made up his mind that after this battle ended, he would try to avoid leading armies with other nobles as much as possible. He prided himself on having a rtively patient personality, but he felt like his personality kept getting corrupted. The captured Empire knights eagerly exined. He uses strange swordsmanship, and the knights who fought him suffered strange misfortunes, they said. The more Johan listened, the more scornfully he looked at the knights. ¡°Thanks for telling me. I¡¯ll be careful if I face him.¡± ¡°No need to thank me. I don¡¯t want to see a knight like Count lose to such dishonorable means.¡± ¡®?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ In fact, listening only to the Empire knights¡¯ words, Emperor¡¯s wizards under him were more concerning than Sir Kruger. No matter how trivial the magic, it could change the tide of battle depending on its use ¨C hadn¡¯t he experienced that personally already? ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here, and aren¡¯t you also skilled in magic? Besides, there¡¯s surprisingly little wizards can do on a battlefield like this, so there¡¯s no need to worry too much.¡± At Suetlg¡¯s words, Johan nodded. And he suddenly realized something. ¡®???????? ?? ????????????. ??????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????????????¡¯ ???????????? The battle began on both sides. It wasn¡¯t for any tactical reason, it was because both nks arrived first. Once they formed up and started advancing, it was pretty much each side fighting on its own from then on. There were noplex tactics or anything like that. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry too much, Adviko-gong. Our numbers are greater.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Adviko¡¯s expression did not rx at the wizards¡¯ words sent by the emperor. Even if their numbers were slightly greater, it didn¡¯t mean much on a battlefield with thousands shing. Adviko knew well that the tide of battle could turnpletely with a single mistake causing morale to copse and a rout. What irritated him was how a number of the Empire knights were ambushed at night and suffered a major defeat. They had been a rather substantial force. . . As a result, Adviko mobilized all the forces he had kept hidden. Among them were the monsters the wizards brought from the emperor. ¡°Are you still worried?¡± ¡°If it gets out I used monsters, it will tarnish my reputation.¡± ¡°You needn¡¯t worry. We won¡¯t be so sloppy as to let it leak.¡± The wizard was brimming with confidence. In truth, Adviko didn¡¯t know that most of them hardly deserved to be called wizards, so deficient were their abilities. Any truly outstanding wizard would not have been sent by the emperor in such great numbers. But that didn¡¯t matter formanding monsters. All they had to do was use the established methods of feeding and medicine. The only one among them with skills that could genuinely be called a wizard, Uterman, opened his mouth. ¡°While we wizards will take the left nk, you must handle the right nk well, your excellency.¡± ¡°Not your excellency, but your grace.¡± ¡°Ah, my apologies, your grace.¡± Although Uterman changed his words, they still grated on Adviko¡¯s ears. It sounded mocking to him. ¡°I¡¯ve deployed my finest on the right nk. We¡¯ll push the enemy back and surround them.¡± ¡°We trust in your grace.¡± Push the right nk and break the enemy, then exploit that momentum to copse the center and left. It was an ordinary tactic, but in truth no moreplex maneuver was even possible. Besides, the point of tactics was to win, not to show off clever tricks. However, the emperor faction¡¯s wizards¡¯ n went awry from the start. Unbeknownst to them at a distance, even as they spoke, their left nk was being smashed to pieces. ???????????? It was amon sight for the mounted troops to sh first, followed by the dismounted ones. In other words, if the mounted troops clearly prevail, whates after can only flow one way. The fighting near the town was a perfect example. The Mairene army, which had formed up and approached, collided with Johan¡¯s cavalry charge and was smashed to bits. The knights copsed first, followed by the heavy infantry. Soldiers around them dispersed in an instant. Johan plunged in fiercely as if to vent his rage. The wizards waiting to seize opportunities behind were so bewildered they froze in ce. The mercenary captains guarding them cried out urgently. ¡°Do something quick, wizard!¡± ¡°Wai-, wait. I¡¯m. . .I¡¯m doing it now. I¡¯m doing it now. . .¡± ¡°Do it faster!! At this rate we¡¯ll all be killed!¡± The previouslyposed mercenaries spat out curses in panicked voices. That¡¯s how terrified they were of the onrushing knights. Chapter 201: ???????????? (9) Chapter 201: ???????????? (9) ¡°Uh. . . no. . .¡± Even though Johan was blowing away the enemy line like a crazy b*stard, the distance was still quite far. Looking at it objectively, the situation was not that bad yet. However, saying that to those blinded by fear would not get through. Additionally, the wizards were no different, scared as well. ¡°Hurry!!!¡± One of the mercenaries aimed a sword. His eyes filled with malice. If it was Suetlg, Caenerna, or even Jyanina, they would have shown their abilities and done something. But the wizards here were socking in skill that it was embarrassing to call them wizards. They could only mimic what Uterman had taught them, at the level of disciples or servants. There was not much they could do even if one made a fuss and demanded something from them. . . .However, people were naturally inclined to do something when a knife was at their throat. As a result, the wizards made the worst mistake.¡°Alright, alright! Get out of the way. I¡¯ll release the monster!¡± The mercenaries guarding them could only guess what the wizards behind them were handling, not knowing exactly. Not only handling monsters but even using them inbat was not a disgusting act. ¡°What? You brought a monster?¡± ¡°These f*cking crazy wizards. . .¡± ¡°Is that important now? Get out of the way!¡± The mercenaries got out of the way in horror. More frightening than the monster was the knightsing at them. ?????????? ??????????©¥ With noisy sounds, the cloth was pulled back and the lock on the iron cage was opened. Originally they should have moved to the forest next to them under the chaos of battle to release the monsters. One might wonder why go through the hassle, but even if the results were the same, the process was different. While the mercenaries had nothing to lose, the nobles stuck here had a lot to lose. Getting involved in the rumors of releasing monsters would not bode well. However, the hurried wizards simply opened the cage. A troll and three swamp drakes growled as they walked out. The mercenaries who at most expected goblins or ferocious monster pigs were horrified and stumbled back. ¡°What the f*ck. . . What, what are you carrying around? What the hell were you nning to do by releasing such bullsh*t monsters?!¡± Even the mercenaries who were only afraid of the knights in front regained their sanity. Unlike other dangerous monsters, trolls were amon dangerous monster that mercenaries often encountered. Having to suddenly face trolls while suppressing rogue monsters or bandit groups was a nightmare. As a result, their reaction was intense. ¡°Did you not tell us to do it?!¡± ¡°When did I ever say to release a troll! You crazy wizard!¡± While they were arguing, Johan killed three mercenaries next to him and knocked down the captain, breaking his g. ¡®?????? ?????????????????? ????. . .¡¯ Anyone who has set foot on a battlefield even once would know how difficultmand is on the battlefield. Dust rises from all over, soldiers entangled soplexly it¡¯s hard to distinguish allegiances. gs fall everywhere as the sounds of drums and war cries assault the ears. Most of all, spears and arrows fly at you as well. Caught up in the desperate fight for survival, the overall situation soon fades far out of mind. It wasmon for fighting troops to charge or give chase on their own, forgetting orders. So at every moment Johan had to devote all his effort to grasp the situation. This was perhaps even harder than the fighting itself, but Johan was blessed with an exceptional physique. ¡°What are they doing?!¡± Thanks to that he was quickest to notice. Johan pointed his spear ahead in disbelief. Some crazy b*stards back there were releasing monsters. They were so brazen it was unbelievable. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????????¡¯ ¡°How about we retreat for now?!¡± Suetlg shouted, straining his throat. He didn¡¯t know what the enemy was thinking doing that, but there was no benefit in facing them like this. They had to retreat first. He didn¡¯t know how they did it but they wouldn¡¯t be able to control the monsters for long. Even if they could hold out longer, giving them time would allow discovery of weaknesses. Fortunately, the enemy in this area was fleeing from Johan and the cavalry¡¯s charge. The atmosphere made falling back eptable. However, Johan hesitated. ¡°Why do that?!¡± ¡°I think we should crush this side as quickly as possible and provide support elsewhere.¡± Johan had little experience leading an army in alliance with other feudal lords, but now he had a feel for things. Such wars were a structure where capable people took losses. No, since they receivedpensation ordingly, it was not a loss. . . In any case, there was no doubt that capable people had to take on more roles. And the armies led by the feudal lords were more disorderly and weaker than expected. As a result, Johan¡¯s intuition was screaming. Don¡¯t wish for others to win for you, you must win yourself, it said. ¡°It won¡¯t copse just because we retreat!¡± Conscripted soldiers with low morale and training would sometimes panic and flee when given a retreat order, but Johan¡¯s subordinates were not like that. ¡°But that would give the enemy a chance to regroup.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true but. . .¡± From the perspective of the enemies they were facing, Johan would look like a fearless knight who made a deal with the devil, but Johan himself was always on high alert. After all, even Johan could be seriously injured by a stray spear or arrow. ¡®???? ?????? ??????, ???? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ????????.¡¯ If hundreds of them surrounded him and charged at once, even Johan would inevitably get hurt. Not allowing that was key. He couldn¡¯t just take them down one by one. If several frenzied mercenaries came at him waving their weapons, he would be overwhelmed. First, he had to break their formation and terrify them. Knocking down even a mercenary with a shield ruthlessly spread fear like a tidal wave. In fights like these, terror was a bigger weapon than spears and swords. But if you gave them time to regroup, that terror would disappear. They would find ways to prepare themselves. If possible, he wanted to crush them now while charging. ¡°But even for you, to face those monsters as well as the enemies at the same time. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s when I¡¯ll step in.¡± Jyanina said grimly. Johan and Suetlg looked genuinely surprised as they stared at Jyanina. Their faces said they really hadn¡¯t expected this at all. That attitude irritated Jyanina even more. Did they really forgetpletely?? ¡°The magic to tame and cage trolls was something I offered to the Emperor, remember??¡± ¡°Ah. . . right.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll. . . rely on you then.¡± Johan and Suetlg spoke very awkwardly. It was a day they never imagined experiencing in their lives. ???????????? ¡°The right wing is pushing well as nned!¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s order the troops at the center to advance as well!¡± As Uterman urged him on, Adviko nodded with an irritated expression. ¡°I understand, don¡¯t rush me. Order them to advance!¡± The troops moved forward making intimidating noises. The enemies seemed visibly tense. The report that they were winning on the right wing reassured Adviko. Things were going ording to n. Now if they could push through the center and crush them. . . ¡°Adviko-nim!¡± As a messenger came running from the left wing, Adviko turned his head. Strangely, the messenger¡¯s expression was distorted. The left wing couldn¡¯t have copsed yet. What was going on? ¡°Did the mercenary captain die or something? Why are you rushing here?¡± ¡°How. . . How did you know, sir?¡± ¡°?!?!¡± Adviko was shocked. Though the left wing was weaker than the right, it was led by a veteran mercenary captain with several knights deployed. Could he have been unlucky enough to be hit in a vital spot by an arrow? ¡°If Aligaro has fallen, his lieutenant would be takingmand, no?¡± ¡°The lieutenant has fallen as well.¡± ¡°The wizards! What about the wizards!¡± ¡°S-Some seem to have been captured. . . and the rest fled.¡± Both Adviko and Uterman¡¯s mouths dropped wide open. Unless they were drunk and gave foolish orders, there¡¯s no way they would lose that quickly. While they were in disbelief and denial of reality, telltale signs began to reveal themselves. Knights fleeing, throwing up dust, mercenaries abandoning weapons and escaping into the woods. . . And amidst it all, enemy cavalry proudly revealing themselves! ¡°Order a retreat! Give the order to retreat!¡± ¡°Order a retreat!¡± Adviko had no time to be annoyed at Uterman barking orders as if he was someone important. He hurriedly ryed the order. The mercenaries at the center who were unaware of the situation were confused by the sudden order to rapidly retreat while the enemy was right before their eyes. ¡°Retreat now?¡± ¡°Are they crazy?¡± ¡°Captain, do we really need to retreat?¡± It wasn¡¯t easy for even the bravest mercenary to retreat with the enemy right in front of them. Some mercenarypanies retreated, some ignored the order, some hesitated. While the troops at the center wasted time, Johan broke through the enemy front and discovered a juicy target. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that the enemymander?¡± ¡°It seems so!¡± Arge tent and fluttering banners. And the well-dressed men around it were clearly visible to Johan¡¯s eyes. While Johan preferred wielding a sword himself and fighting amidst knights at the front,manders were often positioned to the rear like this. It was good for issuing orders, getting a view of the situation, and avoiding danger. . . But it had one drawback when the enemy poured in like this ¨C no troops nearby! ¡°Capture him! You must capture him!¡± Even without Johan saying so, the mercenaries and warriors around him had their eyes wide open staring at Adviko. They could sense he was a big catch without exnation. As over a hundred fierce cavalry began charging at them, Adviko realized things had gone disastrously wrong. ¡°Adviko-gong, you must retreat!¡± If they didn¡¯t flee now, they would definitely be captured. Resisting with a few dozen guards was impossible. They would be annihted before the advancing mercenaries could turn back. Adviko quickly mounted his horse, and the other nobles grabbed theirs as well. Ordering their guards to block the path, they madly spurred their horses to gallop off. Of the mercenaries advancing from the center, the rearmost mercenary cocked his head and spoke to his captain. ¡°Captain. . . I know this sounds crazy but isn¡¯t themander retreating?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you spewing? Even an idiot born half-witted wouldn¡¯t say something so stupid. . .¡± As the captain absentmindedly nced back, he was horrified. Unfamiliar enemies were raging through like a storm. ???????????? ¡°Let¡¯s retreat!¡± ¡°It¡¯s too dishonorable! We should have waited a little longer!¡± Meanwhile, on the left nk of the order¡¯s army, a conversation was unfolding that would have made Johan grab the back of his neck if he had heard it. The battle here was very conventionalpared to the other side. Several dozen knights on horses tangled with each other, went back to their camps, switched horses, came back out and tangled again. In the meantime, the infantrymen without horses gradually closed the distance between them, colliding. . . There were no knights who could break the enemy¡¯s lines in one charge like others. It was a conventional battle. Such a battle was rtively slow-paced and allowed room for the nobles to observe the situation and decide whether to surrender or not. As knights fell and the mercenaries sensed this side was losing ground, the courage of the nobles who had joined the battle quickly faded. They were eager to retreat as soon as possible to avoid paying ransoms. The knights serving under Johan were furious and chased after them. ¡°How do you think His Excellency the Count would feel seeing your cowardice?!¡± ¡°Retreating when disadvantaged also takes courage, sir.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still neck and neck! We can¡¯t retreat!¡± ¡°Neck and neck? As someone who has faced countless pagans on the battlefield, I¡¯m telling you it¡¯s dangerous not to retreat now! It¡¯s not like they¡¯ll suddenly disperse like sand. . .¡± Before he could finish, the sound of trumpets signaled the enemy¡¯s hasty retreat. Chapter 202: Those on the Run (1) Chapter 202: Those on the Run (1) ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± An awkward silence filled the tent where the nobles were gathered. The pagan expert noble who had been arguing that they should retreat earlier awkwardly avoided eye contact. A noble who had no battle experience and knew little aboutmand spoke up quizzically. Are they trying to lure us? Unless they areplete fools, they would not try to lure us like that. One of the nobles murmured. Indeed, what he said was true. If they wait a little, the opponent was retreating at full speed. To lure someone, you need to match the speed to some extent, but the opponent was abandoning the spoils and supplies they had gathered and was running away. The nobles did not know whether they should be happy or embarrassed about this situation, so they just kept looking at each other. ????????????It would have been best if they had captured several guys from Adviko and the Empire, but they ran away first. Johan was regretful, but did not chase after Adviko. There was too much to do. ¡°Chase after those b*stards!¡± Both the center and left were worried. If we had chased after Adviko and their allied camp copsed, there would be nothing more absurd. The warriors seemed regretful as they turned their heads in session to look in the direction Adviko had escaped. ¡°Still. . . even if His Excellency is not here, there¡¯s no way the others, who are not *ssholes, would immediately copse, right?¡± ¡°Assume they are *ssholes.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the warriors who were grumbling closed their mouths. They could feel genuine anger mixed in. If Johan¡¯s leadership was weak, there would have been people who refused the order and ran out, but Johan¡¯s presence was too great for that. The warriors attacked the crumbling center of the enemies. Realizing theirmanders had fled, the helpless enemies copsed and fled. In such chaos, having several times more in number meant nothing. ¡°Don¡¯t bother chasing the escaping ones! Maintain formation! Take care of the remaining guys first!¡± When the enemy¡¯s center copsed beyond recognition, Johan received a report that the enemy¡¯s right wing was also escaping. ¡®????????.¡¯ Johan heaved a sigh of relief. The enemies on the other side clearly panicked and fled hastily, realizing the allied army had escaped over there. From Johan¡¯s perspective, it was rather fortunate. After all, they had just gone through several intense battles without rest. He did not really want to sh with still robust enemies in this condition. While his side had the enemies surrounded, to be honest, the allied encirclement was far from robust enough. . . ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ ¡°Those guys are escaping! Let¡¯s fight fair and square!¡± ¡°Come back, you cowardly cravens!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Seeing the warriors next to him yelling tirelessly, Johan was dumbfounded. Even the veteran mercenaries, elites to some extent, were now sprawled on their horses, exhausted. . . In fact, the mercenaries were hesitating whether to stop the warriors or not, staring at them. ¡®??????????, ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan looked over the battlefield with a strange sense of catharsis mixed in. The disorganized escape of countless enemies was a luxury only the victor could enjoy. . . .Of course, for Johan, this allied force was one that made him grit his teeth, swearing never to join forces and fight again. . . ¡°Good job. With this, it should be quiet for a while. No need to think too far ahead for now.¡± Starting with chasing the remaining enemies, and how to requestpensation from Mairene City which dared attack the Order. . . These were not issues Johan had to worry about now. ¡°We were very lucky in many ways.¡± Seeing how things were going, if Johan had note out early, it could have really be dangerous. If the center and left had copsed, even Johan¡¯s elite troops would have had to retreat first, no matter how outstanding they were. ¡°Yes. We were really lucky. Especially Jyanina. . .¡± At Suetlg¡¯s words, Johan nodded. Jyanina¡¯s feats were unexpected to both Johan and Suetlg. Jyanina drove the suddenly appearing trolls and swamp drakes into a frenzy before they even reached this side. They started rampaging amidst the enemies, and the effect was tremendous. Johan reflected. He had underestimated Jyanina too much. Every skill has its use. . . ¡°She was a great wizard. From now on, I should treat her with more courtesy.¡± Iselia went ¡®??????, ??????¡¯ and nodded. Jyanina¡¯s feats seemed to have left a strong impression on her. ¡°No, there¡¯s no need for that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not to that extent. Iselia.¡± The two spoke decisively. Iselia had an elven demeanor, which could be troublesome if handled poorly. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. Giving her a proper reward will satisfy her.¡± ¡°I intend to do so. However. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Seeing the opponents, they seemed to be wizards from the Empire. Was it okay for her to step up and be so active?¡± It would be good if the wizards did not recognize Jyanina in that situation, but that seemed unlikely given the circumstances. They would surely report back about Jyanina¡¯s impression. ¡°. . .Well, she already had a grudge against the emperor faction. Adding a bit more to that. . .¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to just be a small addition.¡± While Jyanina could not return due to messing up the viscount-rted affairs, what she did today was on another level. The nobles who had forgotten about Jyanina¡¯s existence might be furious when they hear about today¡¯s events, to the point of sending assassins after her. Jyanina was highly likely unaware of such a situation. She was far removed from political insight or capabilities after all. ¡°I think I should tell her about this.¡± ¡°You really are a generous man.¡± ¡°I think so too. My dear.¡± ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ ???????????? To wee Johan who had returned with his army, Bishop Castilionne went to Johan¡¯s tent in person, leading his guards. It might have seemed excessive, but no one said so. In the central camp, there were many who had witnessed Johan¡¯s charge. When Johan led the soldiers at the very front and charged, the enemies just copsed. While there were people who fought shoulder to shoulder with Johan, the only one that caught the eye was the young count. Those who had underestimated the young count¡¯s military prowess shut their mouths after witnessing the battle in person. Whether a heavily armed knight or a bare conscript, they were equal before Johan¡¯s sword. Every time he swung his sword, the enemies fell, andter they couldn¡¯t even put up a fight and fled. The bishop blessed Johan in person with the relics he had prepared, praising his exploits. ¡°Your Excellency Count. What Your Excellency Count has done for the Order will never be forgotten!¡± Johan humbly epted the praise. The nobles who hade with the bishop cautiously joined in the praise. As they had many sore spots, they participated in the praise much more exaggeratedly. As the nobles who led the soldiers were given considerable rights ordingly, so was their responsibility. The nobles were not so generous as to just let those who had caused disturbances be. If another nobleman in charge of another area fled even when one fought hard himself, wouldn¡¯t he be furious? If they had lost, the bishop wouldn¡¯t have stopped Johan from challenging anyone to a duel out of anger. ¡°How dare you butt in! I heard it all. You tried to flee like a coward, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s a misunderstanding. I just stepped back temporarily to regroup because the situation was unfavorable. . .¡± ¡°That excuse is for cowards!¡± While Johan, who should be angry, remained silent, the nobles who were with Johan on the right erupted in condemnation. They were confident and overflowing with righteous indignation. As the opponents also knew it, they couldn¡¯t properly make excuses. ¡°What were you doing while the count was cutting, smashing, and stabbing the enemies with his sword, spear, and mace! I fought at the very front with the count. Arrows pierced my skin and swords grazed my face, yet I did not stop!¡± They harshly condemned the nobles on the left who had tried to flee. They were proud and overflowing with legitimate confidence. As the opponents also knew it, they couldn¡¯t properly make excuses. However, Johan found it preposterous. ¡®???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ??????.¡¯ From Johan¡¯s perspective, it was absurd that those who couldn¡¯t properly ambush and caused disturbances med others for not fighting well. Of course they desperately fought with the soldiers afterwards, but. . . Honestly, it seemed it wouldn¡¯t have made much difference if they weren¡¯t there. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we stop them?¡± Johan quietly asked the bishop. The battle hadn¡¯tpletely finished yet, so it wasn¡¯t good for them to bite and tear at each other like that. ¡°Why should we stop them?¡± ¡°. . .¡± The Bishop of Castilionne looked at Johan as if he really didn¡¯t understand. Just because one is a bishop doesn¡¯t mean one unconditionally loves peace and encourages reconciliation. If one was that slow-witted, one wouldn¡¯t have been able to rise to the position of bishop either. While it made sense to stop the quarrel since the fight wasn¡¯t over yet, the bishop preferred punishing the useless cowards. Besides, it wasn¡¯t the bishop but other nobles who stepped forward and fought. Johan realized he was the only one in this ce who could stop the fight. ¡°Everyone, stop. They probably didn¡¯t act cowardly on purpose either. ording to the knights who were with them, I heard they fought quite bravely too.¡± ¡°???¡± Johan¡¯s knights looked at Johan in puzzlement. They were the ones who hurriedly came to him as soon as the battle ended, saying ¡¯?????????? ???????????????? ??*????????????! ?????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????? ????????????????. . .!¡¯ And now they bravely fought? ¡°If His Excellency says so. . .¡± The feudal lords who were angry also hesitated, wondering what more they could say when the person who should be angriest said that. The nobles who were condemned sent Johan grateful looks from their hearts and slightly bowed their heads. The grace given at times like this left a deeper impression than a hundred words of courtesy or gift boxes full of gold coins. They sincerely thanked Johan in their hearts. ¡®?????????? ??????????. ?????????? ??????! ?? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????????.¡¯ ???????????? As the fighting was more or less over, one knight cautiously opened his mouth. ¡°Should we not chase after the escaping enemies?¡± At those words, all those who had just fought nodded their heads at the same time. It was something worth doing. Although the spoils of war and hostages gained from today¡¯s battle were considerable, many had escaped. Adviko and his adjutants, as well as the knights and wizards from the Empire, and so on. If they were captured, they could extract a huge ransom. Originally, even if they escaped, it would not have been easy to chase them with so many soldiers. But this time was different. They had escaped with only their bodies from apletely copsed state. If we can catch them before they get out of this region! ¡°You¡¯re right. Let¡¯s organize a pursuit team quickly!¡± ¡°Your Excellency Count, will youe with us?¡± ¡°No.¡± Johan tly refused. He would never agree to catch them alone and then catch them together with these nobles who would turn them inside out. ¡°Your Excellency must be worried about the baron. To match your words, the baron may have to fall down.¡± ¡°These guys. . .¡± As the other nobles added as if they were being condescending, the baron red at them angrily. ¡°Fine. I will definitely catch those city b*stards and show them to you!¡± ¡°I want to go too. Bishop, you will allow me to join the pursuit, won¡¯t you?¡± Since the number was like grains of sand from the beginning, it was simr during the pursuit. The nobles were stimted by thepetitive spirit mixed with the resentment that had just urred. The nobles who had subordinates who could ride horses embarked on the pursuit without hesitation. ¡°. . .Your Excellency Count. Our family has a horse with good lineage that we would like to give you as a gift. Would you like to join us?¡± Some feudal lords cautiously approached Johan despite having seen him be tly rejected just before. It was more because they wanted to build closer ties with Johan rather than wanting to capture the enemy. Chapter 203: Those on the Run (2) Chapter 203: Those on the Run (2) Of course Johan refused. ¡°I appreciate the casten¡¯s offer, but I want to join the pursuit with my subordinates.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you wish, then I can¡¯t insist.¡± The other party reluctantly backed down, convinced by Johan¡¯s reasoning. Originally, arge number was not necessary for this kind of pursuit. After the pursuit team exceeds a certain number, it can often be more disadvantageous. The speed slows down and the enemy can discover them first. Since the opponent was fleeing anyway, they would be moving in small groups, so what Johan needed was the ability to track them down, not fighting ability. If the opponents were unexpectedly numerous, they could simply turn around without fighting and call the main troops. It seemed the young count intended to take only his knights and pursue quickly. It would be difficult to forcepany on him. ¡®???? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????????? ????????. ???? ???? ???????????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ????????, ???? ???????????????????? ??????.¡¯ After achieving victory and receiving acim, it would be natural for someone to bex, but seeing that he did not rx his guard at all and intended to set out, the casten honestly admired him.As he watched those preparing to set out, Johan thought to himself, ¡®???? ?????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????????, ????????¡¯?? ?? ????????????.¡¯ If he had been together with them during the pursuit as well, he really might have shot one of them with an arrow out of irritation. ???????????? ¡°Do you guys know how to hunt and track here?¡± At Acdda¡¯s words, the others nodded as if in agreement. The veteran mercenaries and eastern warriors serving under Johan were all from different ces, and ordingly, their pride was strong. This chase was also a fight for their self-esteem. One of the mercenaries opened his mouth. Originally, he was in a position where he could not dare open his mouth, but Johan did not care about such things. Whether he was a ten-manmander or a baron, he could speak if he had something to say. ¡°The guys are probably trying to get back as quickly as possible now. Let¡¯s block the road and catch people.¡± The highway that had been handed down since the days of the ancient Empire was one of the best built roads. From the perspective of those escaping, following that road would feel quite tempting. Iselia nodded at those words. It was a reasonable thing to say. However, Johan and Suetlg shook their heads. ¡°The likelihood seems low.¡± ¡°His Excellency the Count is right. The enemy will think that far. Everyone will chase them on the road first, but they won¡¯t do that without blocking troops.¡± After Adviko took only a few escorts and withdrew from the battlefield, the right wing of the enemy that had somehow withdrawn safely from the battlefield also scattered. Since the situation had already gone bad, there was no reason to join together and fight anymore. Knights fleeing to return to their fiefdoms, mercenaries escaping with their property. . . In a situation like this where just saving one¡¯s own life was busy enough, Adviko¡¯smands, leadership, andmunications did not work. Adviko himself would also prioritize his own safety first, of course. ¡°You might be able to escape by riding a horse at full speed along the road for a day or two. But Mairene City is not that close, and Adviko hase too deep into the territory of the Order.¡± Driving horses at full speed was not an easy task either. Viges along the road were needed to exchange horses. But around here were the fiefs of the Order or nobles strongly influenced by the Order. Even if they took Adviko¡¯s side, seeing the penniless Adviko, the possibility of betrayal was high. ¡°Of course, this is all just my guess. As a nobleman, Adviko may also have pride and is going back dignifiedly along the road.¡± ¡°In any case, wouldn¡¯t others have caught him first in that case? Let¡¯s go with the less likely possibility. So what do you think happened?¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Suetlg smiled thinly. If he were another nobleman, he would have only heard what he wanted to hear. But no matter how high Johan¡¯s position became, he never changed his original attitude. ¡°If it were me, I would pretend to be a mercenary or a merchant.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that too far-fetched, wizard-nim?¡± ¡°Of course it could be humiliating. . . but isn¡¯t it the best method?¡± The escaping soldiers and the merchants apanying the army were countless now. Pretending to be one of them would not arouse much suspicion. Iselia tilted her head as if puzzled. ¡®???? ???? ???????? ????, ?? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ?????????????????¡¯ Elf knights rarely used such tactics unless absolutely necessary due to their racial pride. But Adviko was not an elf, and neither were the Empire figures apanying him. The idea of disguising themselves and escaping was quite usible. ¡°Alright. Assuming they disguised themselves. . . How can we catch these guys then?¡± ¡°The escaping side always has the advantage. If you hide and escape like that, it¡¯s hard to even get rumors. There¡¯s no choice but to get ahead of them and wait in a ce they¡¯re likely to stop by, right?¡± Everyone present nodded their heads. There were several forks in the road back to Mairene City, but there were a few towns located at the ces where those roads diverged. Of course, even if you get to those towns first, you could still miss them if you diverge. But Johan was willing to ept that much misfortune. It was better than blindly chasing the enemy¡¯s trail like other nobles, wasn¡¯t it? ¡®?????? ???????????????????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ????????. . . ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ????????????.¡¯ He could be sufficiently satisfied just by winning the battle. Johan decided to empty his mind and chase. ???????????? The mood of Adviko and the Empire people was as heavy as a lump of lead. It was because of the unexpected shocking defeat. Winning and losing in battle is asmon as eating, but it is notmon to lose so badly. It ismon for small skirmishes to ur several times, the side that is disadvantageous leads the army to retreat, but it is rare for the entire army to be destroyed and flee like this. But now that this has happened, they had to ept reality. ¡°. . .You should go back to the city to deal with the situation.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± At Uterman¡¯s words, Adviko nodded. He wanted to get angry but he didn¡¯t even have the energy for that. However, even if they returned to the city, it was doubtful whether there would be a solution. Having lost most of the army they brought out, it would not be surprising if the city people rebelled and drove Adviko and his family out. Considering the rtionship with the Order, the possibility was high. ¡°Sir Uterman. Isn¡¯t this a bit too much, even if you say that?¡± Comints came from among the knights about the appearance of pulling shabby carts while walking, wearing rough cloth over armor, and deliberately dirtying the horse¡¯s fur. At that time, they were disguising themselves as merchants. ¡°We must be prepared for the enemy to chase us.¡± ¡°How can those guys chase us to the ce we escaped when they don¡¯t even have wings?¡± ¡°I see. But in the viges we visit from now on, there could be someone who poisons the food you eat, right?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± At Uterman¡¯s words, the knight shut his mouth, unable to retort. It seemed the matter was settled, but one irritable knight was unconvinced and persisted. ¡°Are you telling me to just bear it when those damned serfs go crazy? I can cut them down as soon as they charge.¡± ¡°Sir Metzger. That¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. It¡¯s frustrating enough to be defeated in battle, and Sir Uterman keeps insulting the honor of knights!¡± The current party consisted of Adviko and the Empire people, along with their attendants. Among the Empire people, aside from Uterman and his ves, all were knights and squires. It was only natural they harbored much discontent about this defeat. In their eyes, the wizards on the left nk were greatly to me. What did they do to copse and get prated so quickly? It wouldn¡¯t have happened if they just stood still. ¡°Arguing now won¡¯t do any good.¡± The other knights tried to pacify Metzger, but he kept on ranting. The knights even apologized to Uterman on his behalf. ¡°Sor. . . Sorry, Sir Uterman.¡± ¡°I understand. It¡¯s only natural for a knight to react like that.¡± Uterman smiled benevolently. Then he called Metzger. ¡°Sir Metzger. Come here.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Although puzzled, Metzger stood in front of Uterman. Then in an instant, his face turned ck and he coughed up blood before copsing to the side. ¡°Cough, cough. . .!¡± ¡°!!¡± Uterman looked down at the convulsing Metzger with small, jet-ck pupils devoid of any trace ofughter. Eventually Metzger¡¯s breathing stopped. ¡°It seems Sir Metzger had a chronic illness. Hey. You need to take care of your master¡¯s corpse.¡± ¡°. . .Y-Yes!¡± Despite his master dying right before his eyes, the squire didn¡¯t even dare to meet Uterman¡¯s eyes as he dealt with Metzger¡¯s corpse. The knights who wereining earlier didn¡¯t even dare to breathe loudly as they nced at Uterman. Only now did Uterman¡¯s reputation ur to them. Uterman the Hexer! It was said he had killed many nobles on the emperor¡¯s orders, and seeing his actions today, it seemed those rumors were not unfounded. ¡°Be more careful in your speech and conduct henceforth. Someone else might contract a chronic illness!¡± Uterman said in a raspy voice. Then he turned to Adviko. ¡°We should move quickly.¡± ¡°O-Okay.¡± Adviko felt a chill down his spine, having caught a glimpse of Uterman¡¯s true nature. He had thought Uterman was a supporter sent by the emperor, but he was much more sinister than expected. ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????????, ???? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????!¡¯ ???????????? The mercenaries smirked as they looked at Johan. His Excellency the Count had lowered his banner and taken off his characteristic surcoat, dressing up like a mercenary. Johan was an easygoing master, but disguising himself like this was another matter. If it had been another nobleman, the mercenary¡¯s suggestion would have cost him his head. ¡°Do I look like a mercenary?¡± ¡°You look like a country bumpkin who¡¯s juste up from the countryside, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°I guess the disguise is decent.¡± Since he was pursuing anyway, Johan decided to disguise himself as a mercenary. If he had wandered around carrying his family¡¯s banner, his target might have escaped. Surely even the most cautious fugitive would not expect his pursuers to don disguises and give chase. ¡°Your Excellency need only remain still. If you remain still, no one will suspect you.¡± When looking at a mercenary, the first thing that was assessed along with their equipment was their face. The rougher, more scarred and weathered the face, the more it symbolized experience. In that regard, Johan¡¯s still somewhat youthful face was practically announcing ¡¯??¡¯?? ?? ?????? ??????????????!¡¯. ¡°You shall say that I am the master who hired you mercenaries.¡± ¡°A role that suits you perfectly.¡± Suetlg said with a satisfied expression. However, Jyanina did not have a satisfied look. She had taken on the role of Iselia¡¯s maid. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you well. No need to worry.¡± When Iselia patted Jyanina¡¯s head as she said this, Jyanina swore to herself. Phemoia was a fairlyrge town with over a thousand residents. While not on the Empire Highway, it was connected to several other major roads, and had multiple routes leading north. ¡°From asking around, it seems those guys haven¡¯t arrived yet.¡± The mercenaries who had gone on reconnaissance returned with bright expressions. It had been worth recklessly riding their horses. ¡°They could have gone elsewhere, but isn¡¯t this enough to be hopeful?¡± ¡°I suppose so. But don¡¯t let your guard down, they could be disguising themselves as something other than mercenaries or merchants. You mustn¡¯t rouse suspicion and act normally.¡± ???????????? Lhese, a merchant of the Katana Merchant Guild, took interest when he heard unfamiliar mercenaries had arrived in town. This town had been growing nonstop recently, attracting more and more people. Naturally, the number of shady types had grown as well. Lhese had been getting by with just two guards so far, but he was starting to think about expanding. He had to prepare for bandits and monsters, after all. ¡°The mercenaries who camest time were useless. Did this new group seempetent?¡± ¡°Yes. Solid numbers, seemed disciplined, and their equipment looked good above all.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Lhese said, rubbing his hands together as he walked off, an expectant look on his face. Chapter 204: Those on the Run (3) Chapter 204: Those on the Run (3) If mercenaries hade to the town, they would be sprawled out drunkenly drinking beer by now. Whether experienced or not, whether they had a lot of money or little, it would be the same. Wouldn¡¯t those who wandered long distances all think the same? ¡°It would be easier to talk if you¡¯re pleasantly drunk. Did you say you were at the ¡®Drunken Giant¡¯ inn?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The food the master there serves is pretty good. It will make for good conversation. Follow me. I want to meet the mercenary captain.¡± ???????????? ¡°How are you going to deal with the aftermath?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the present now, even if I get hangedter. When will I ever tell the count that I ran an errand for him?¡± ¡°What a crazy b*stard.¡±The veteran mercenaries were inside, and the new recruits were outside. It was a visible custom everywhere. The first floor of the ¡®Drunken Giant¡¯ inn was bustling with newly arrived mercenaries. Some who couldn¡¯t find seats were sitting outside in the yard, drinking. The local mercenaries who would have normally picked fights with these foreign neers didn¡¯t dare approach them either, reluctantly leaving with frustrated expressions on their faces. There were simply too many of them. ¡°Indeed. They look decent.¡± You didn¡¯t need to be an outstanding mercenary yourself to recognize one. Experienced merchants were also good at identifying outstanding mercenaries. From their conduct and atmosphere, equipment and weapons. . . they could make aprehensive judgment at a nce. ¡°Shall we go in right away?¡± ¡°Oh people. You¡¯re still so clumsy about work.¡± Hearing the words of the young employee at the trading firm, Lhese clicked his tongue and shook his head. ¡°You can¡¯t just barge in and ost the mercenary captain if you¡¯re an outstanding merchant. Don¡¯t rush. Watch me and learn well.¡± ¡°Yes, sir. I understand.¡± Lhese looked around at the mercenaries sitting in the yard. Among the mercenaries, those with the least experience and most junior tended to be tight on cash. As such, they were also easier to curry favor with. They would tear up at even a small act of goodwill. ¡°Hey. Here¡¯s some silver. Go get enough drinks for all the mercenaries here.¡± ¡°Understood. Mr. Lhese.¡± As his servant went inside to fetch drinks, Lhese slowly approached the mercenaries. ¡®?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ Lhese took note of a mercenary sitting with his back turned. Based on how the other mercenaries were watching him, this man seemed to be their captain. With a physique like that, it made sense. ¡°Ahem. You there.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan, who was eating the stew in the wooden bowl, turned his head at the sudden call. A merchant was calling him. Judging by his clothes, he clearly had quite a status in the town. And that pattern. . .? ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????????¡¯ Johan was confused as he had not grasped the situation yet. But he was not as confused as Lhese. No matter how he looked, the person in front of him was. . . ¡®?????????? ???????????¡¯ Lhese had seen Johan riding a horse from afar when he visited Coolia County before, and he had heard about the count¡¯s appearance several times. The Katana Merchant Guild had quite a close rtionship with Johan. Even after Johan became a count, he gave the guild a lot of convenience. It was a consideration based on their connection. For the guild, it was like money falling into their hands for no reason. From their perspective, they had embezzled a fortune. So Lhese also respected Count Yeats. As a knight, he appreciated his abilities, but merchants tend to like people who fill their pockets anyway. ¡®. . .?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????????¡¯ Lhese just gulped, not knowing what to say. No matter how he looked, it seemed to be Count Yeats, but Count Yeats wouldn¡¯t be sitting here eating stew with mercenaries. Yet no matter how he looked, it really seemed to be Count Yeats. . . It was Johan who saved the confused Lhese. Seeing that the other person recognized his face, Johan sighed and said, ¡°Sit down. It¡¯s probably who you think it is.¡± ¡°Ah. . . B-But why would such an esteemed person be in a ce like this. . .?¡± The mercenaries murmured at Lhese¡¯s tangled words. The merchant seemed crazy. ¡°There are some circumstances.¡± Johan briefly exined the situation. Hearing that, Lhese was surprised. He understood chasing after the fleeing enemymanders. It was natural for knights and nobles to do. It was a better pastime than hunting. However, even if they missed their target, nobles would chase with dignity. It was rare for people to chase at the risk of their lives. It wasn¡¯t like they would die if they lost them. To disguise himself as a mercenary and pursue. . . Moreover, for a count to move together with mercenaries like this. . . Honestly, Lhese was touched. He had heard many say the count was easygoing, but he didn¡¯t know he was this unabashed. It was something he could never see from other feudal lords. ¡°I will help you!¡± ¡°Oh good. It must be tiring with so many outsidersing into town, but if you notice any suspicious people, please let me know right away.¡± ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t worry. Since I¡¯ve been in this town for quite a while, I know it well.¡± ???????????? ¡°Go check it out ande back.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± When the town came into view, Uterman immediately gave orders. Despite being in disguise, Uterman was thorough. First, he sent someone to check if there were any knights or nobles staying in the town. Since they had moved rtively slowly, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if others had arrived first. ¡®???????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????????, ????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????.¡¯ But from the perspective of the ones doing the checking, it was maddening. To be honest, if a pursuing group led by nobles or knights had arrived in the town first, there would have already been signs. Wouldn¡¯t the travelers and merchantsing and going from the town be noisy about it? But from the shepherds nearby to everyone else, no one said such people hade, yet he was still making them go in and check again. ¡°There¡¯s no one.¡± ¡°I see. Let¡¯s go in.¡± The group packed up their belongings and moved again. Even so, the escape had been sessful so far. They still hadn¡¯t encountered a pursuing group. But the human mind is so petty ¨C now that it hade to this, as Uterman said, was it really necessary to be so thorough? Shouldn¡¯t they have just let the horses go and raced along the road? Would that have been so bad? ¡°We¡¯ll rest for a night, get the things we need, then cross the mountain. Once we cross, we won¡¯t have to worry about pursuit anymore.¡± ¡°Do we really need to go over the mountain. . .?¡± ¡°If you want to keep fretting as we travel, that¡¯s fine too. Do you want that?¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Unlike other roads leading back, if they crossed over the mountain road, from then on there would only be fiefdoms friendly to Mairene. Then they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about pursuit. While everyone disliked walking along the unpaved mountain paths, Uterman didn¡¯t care about such things. More than theints of the men below, it was important that there were no ws in his perfect n. No matter how many pursuers there were, by now they would be wandering aroundpletely lost. ???????????? ¡°Why do you find it suspicious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that these days it¡¯s unusual for someone to be crossing over the mountain paths. Unless it¡¯s really urgent. And from the looks of it, they didn¡¯t seem to be carrying light luggage either. Isn¡¯t that strange?¡± It seemed odd that a peddler carrying heavy loads like a porter would take the mountain paths. As soon as Lhese grew suspicious, he came running to report it. Johan nodded and went to investigate. The mercenaries immediately surrounded the inn. ¡°. . .?¡± The knight, who had gone outside for some fresh air with no shirt on and no particr thoughts, was shocked to see some unfamiliar faces. If it had been Johan, he would have pretended not to know anything, but the knight was inexperienced at acting. ¡°What are you guys doing?!¡± ¡°He¡¯s a knight. Get him!¡± The noble ent gave the knight away. Johan immediately gave the order and drew his sword. ¡°They¡¯re pursuers! Mercenaries are chasing us!¡± Johan shoved the knight in front of him and went inside. Another knight had hastily drawn his sword and came running over. It seemed he had underestimated Johan, mistaking him for a mere mercenary. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have just rushed in to cross swords. The swords shed. The knight used his skills to destroy Johan¡¯s bnce then tried to wound him with his de. ¡°??!¡± The knight was shocked. It was as if his opponent had cast some magic ¨C he didn¡¯t budge an inch despite being struck. It felt like he was using his techniques against a boulder. ????????! Johan used his strength to pin the knight down. The knight¡¯s bones broke and he screamed. Hearing that scream, the other knight shouted. ¡°It¡¯s Count Yeats!!! Count Yeats is here!!¡± ¡°What?! How did we not notice?!¡± ¡°If you try to capture him so crudely, even a one-eyed man would recognize him!¡± A nearby mercenary cried out in disbelief. The knight stared at Johan in astonishment. ¡°Even though you¡¯re a Count, why are you chasing us in that state?!¡± ¡°Well. . . isn¡¯t it shameful for you to be running away looking like that?¡± Johan¡¯s words had hit the mark, as the knight¡¯s face turned red. ¡°We had no choice!¡± ¡°Surrender. I promise you¡¯ll be treated honorably ording to tradition.¡± ¡°. . .Very well.¡± With the pursuit hot on his heels, the knight had no reason to stubbornly resist. He threw down his weapon dejectedly. ¡°The b*stards are getting away!¡± ¡°!¡± Hearing the shout from behind, Johan turned to look. Johan asked the knight, ¡°Can you tell me what happened?¡± ¡°Adviko-gong and the wizard are staying elsewhere. It seems they fled when they heard themotion.¡± If Uterman had been there, he would have strangled with his own hands any knight who so openly gave away vital information. But the knight respected Johan as a fellow knight who had fairly imed victory, and treated him with honor. ¡°Damn. What a pointless hassle.¡± ¡°Will you pursue them?¡± ¡°First let¡¯s capture the knights here, then chase after them. Rushing into a pursuit may lead to foolish mistakes.¡± Johan captured the remaining knights and squires. They looked at Johan dressed as a mercenary with bewilderment. What kind of vicious count is this? ???????????? ¡°It seems we¡¯re being pursued. Shouldn¡¯t we surrender?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. At most some mercenary scums might be chasing us. We were ambushed in the town but here outside we should have enough strength to win, no?¡± At Uterman¡¯s words, the knights reluctantly nodded. Though few in number, there were no knights so weak as to lose to some mercenary riffraffs. It was a blessing that they had stayed separately in different ces. Thanks to that they were able to grab their belongings and slip out of the town when themotion happened. But morale was at rock bottom. As Uterman tly rejected the proposal, the knights secretly approached Adviko. ¡°Adviko-nim. What do you think about surrendering and paying ransom?¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± It was rare among the nobles who jumped into battle to not have been captured even once. Surrender and paying ransom wasmon practice. Unless under special circumstances, there was no reason to fight to the death. It was better to surrender honorably and pay the ransom. Originally, Adviko might have also not fled so shamefully and would have proudly fled only to be captured and simply surrendered and paid the ransom. But now was not a good time. With the dangerous situation, even going straight back to the city to sort things out was risky. And being held hostage by the count would blow his family apart. But as the pursuit closed in just below his chin, Adviko¡¯s mind also began to waver. Maybe it would be better to just surrender? ¡°You go check if there¡¯s still pursuit. You go ahead and check for any possible ambush.¡± ¡°More nonsense??¡± Uterman gestured at Sir Kruger. He was the knight who was most strongly loyal among the knights, practically Uterman¡¯s bodyguard. As Sir Kruger walked over, the squires yelled urgently. ¡°We¡¯ll go check ande back!¡± The squires moved forward, cursing at the bad-tempered wizard. There was absolutely no sign of people around the narrow mountain path. ¡°Nothing there?¡± ¡°Nothing. But what¡¯s this?¡± The squires were puzzled to see the path blocked by some huge boulders. They wondered if some rogues had put them there but rogues wouldn¡¯t block the path so crudely. ¡°Move them. If you see it, you¡¯ll be damned.¡± ¡°Was there a rockslide or something. . .?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too neat for that. . .¡± Chapter 205: Those on the Run (4) Chapter 205: Those on the Run (4) It wasmon for the top of the mountain to copse and block the road, but the rubble was never arranged this neatly. Just in case, they checked again to see if some rogue fellows were hiding, but didn¡¯t see any. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Huff. . .¡± The squires grunted as they moved the boulders. Even though squires training to be knights are generally better trained than the average mercenary, the boulders were still too big and heavy to move easily. Why in the world were these here? ???????????? Sir Kruger spoke in a low voice. A raspy voice spread out from inside the helmet. ¡°Isn¡¯t that too much? They may harbor dissatisfaction.¡±¡°Even if those b*stards harbor any, this is better than scrambling with mountain bandits and thieves, no? Are you raising an objection to my words now?¡± ¡°No.¡± Sir Kruger answered promptly. He knew of Uterman¡¯s nasty temperament. Even if that wasn¡¯t the case, being greatly indebted to Uterman made it difficult for him to speak strongly. ¡°What do you n to do after we cross the mountain?¡± ¡°I¡¯m worrying about that too.¡± Uterman spat out. What he was worrying about now was not only Adviko. ¡°I have to stabilize the city by helping that guy and maintain our alliance, but. . .¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about whether it¡¯s possible or impossible. It has to be done.¡± Uterman spoke, putting thick venom in his voice. It was a voice that sent chills down the listener¡¯s spine. ¡°As soon as we arrive at the city, convene the emperor faction figures. The rumors probably haven¡¯t spread clearly yet, so they¡¯ll be on the fence. If we suppress the opposition b*stards, there¡¯s a chance.¡± Uterman nned to suppress them before the city rose up and rebelled. It was a scheme typical of Uterman ¨C even if things were unfavorable, he would suppress them first through brute force and bloodshed. It was precarious, but after losing so badly in battle, there weren¡¯t many other options. Sir Kruger nodded. ¡°That young count was more of a monster than I thought.¡± ¡°He was a strong knight.¡± ¡°Yes. Now I understand why he¡¯s called the Knight of Strength, the Knight of Valor.¡± Uterman had underestimated Johan. No matter how many rumors came up from the south, Johan was too young, and his built up reputation was too abrupt. Calling himself the southern overlord, but at that short of a time, would he be able to easily rule over his newly gained vassals and direct territories? At best he was the church¡¯s hunting dog, and at worst he would soon be driven out like a mercenary captain. That¡¯s what Uterman had thought. But experiencing it firsthand in this battle changed that thinking. Even from afar, he was a knight with enough force to send a chill down your spine. ¡°He reminded me of Cardirian in his prime.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Of course he¡¯spletely opposite to Cardirian. It¡¯s a shame his faith runs so deep. If I could just get my hands on the Pope, he would have been useful to exploit.¡± As they were chattering, the servants returned. They were covered in dust. Uterman clicked his tongue and spoke in a sarcastic voice. ¡°Did you tumble around with the bandits?¡± ¡°There was a rock in the way so we moved it.¡± ¡°Was there andslide or something?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like it?¡± At the servant¡¯s words, the knights who were waiting spoke up. ¡°Whatever happened, let¡¯s move quickly. I don¡¯t want to spend the night here.¡± ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Uterman stopped them because something seemed off. ¡°What did the rock look like?¡± ¡°What did the rock look like. . .? It was big and about this size. . .¡± ¡°Was the top t and were there letters carved into it??¡± ¡°Letters? Ah, it did seem like there was something. . .? Uterman¡¯s wrinkled face twisted in anger and horror. ¡°These crazy b*stards! What do you think you¡¯re doing touching a giant¡¯s stone!¡± ¡°Gi, giant¡¯s stone?¡± ¡°Everyone get ready to move! Since you touched the stone, the giant will chase us! When hees chasing. . .¡± As Uterman was speaking, he choked on his words and stopped. A giant with a huge body about the size of two men was staring this way. ???????????? Although theyined that it was harsh, the knights cooperated surprisingly well. ¡°While we had no choice but to flee, disguising ourselves as mercenaries is still not honorable. . .¡± ¡°So who¡¯s left then?¡± ¡°Uterman-gong. One of the court wizards favored by His Majesty and holds the position of High Wizard of the Empire.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Anyway, Your Excellency Count. No matter what, disguising ourselves as mercenaries. . .¡± ¡°How many knights are left?¡± ¡°There should be about six knights left. There are separate ves attending Adviko-gong. Your Excellency Count, there is no need to disguise yourself as a mercenary. . .¡± ¡°I see.¡± After hearing the number of knights, he could roughly estimate the total number including the rest of the servants, ves, etc. Johan immediately began preparing to pursue them. ¡°Your Excellency Count, please leave such matters to your subordinates and talk some more. . .¡± The captured knights seemed eager to converse more with Johan. After telling them they could chatterter when it was over, Johan set out right away. ¡°They shouldn¡¯t have realized our identities yet, right?¡± ¡°Most likely they don¡¯t know. Since they fled in a hurry, at best they probably think we¡¯re mercenaries.¡± ¡°In that case, they may try to fight us.¡± Being the first party to arrive gave them an advantage in preparation, but Johan was not too worried. Their side simply had an overwhelming number. Moreover, Karamaf and Cardirian following Johan were wild and sharp-edged monsters. He wanted to say to try an ambush if they wanted to do an ambush once. ¡°. . .¡± ¡°What is it?¡± The mercenaries sent ahead to scout came back with confused expressions on their faces. They reported traces of blood and scattered weapons up ahead. ¡°Looks like there was a fight?¡± ¡°Were there bandits here?¡± Johan asked in puzzlement. ording to Lhese¡¯s words, there shouldn¡¯t be any bandits around. The steep and rugged mountains with little traffic were not a ce for bands of thieves to reside. ¡°New ones passing through?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± As the captured knight cut in to answer in a fairly calm tone, Euclyia looked at him in disbelief. Why is this captive pping her gums?? However, Johan had learned patience many times over while working with the allied forces. Johan smiled generously and spoke to the knight. ¡°I¡¯d like to hear your opinion.¡± ¡°While small in number, the remaining knights are elite among elites. Renowned for their excellent skills even within the Empire. How could they possibly lose to a band of thieves?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Euclyia looked at Johan with an expression asking if there was something he wanted to say. Johan shook his head. Nothing good woulde from meaningless talk. ¡®????????, ??????¡¯?? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Well-trained knights were like human weapons. Even if a bunch of thieves attacked, they could easily handle it. ¡°Let¡¯s check it out first.¡± Johan walked ahead with Karamaf. The surroundings were as chaotic as reported. Traces of blood and broken weapons. Looks like quite a fierce fight took ce. ¡®???????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????? ????????, ?????????? ????????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ????. . .¡¯ With the need to capture Adviko, Johan¡¯s mind grewplicated due to the unexpected situation. ©¥????????! Karamaf stumbled to the side of the road, seeming to spot something that made him cry out. Puzzled, Johan turned his gaze. ¡°!¡± Enormous footprints no human could make were there. ¡°A giant?!¡± Jyanina eximed in surprise. To think a giant had wandered here and settled in this ce! ¡°There¡¯s a boulder up ahead blocking the path. What should we do?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch it!¡± She shouted urgently. ¡°That¡¯s a giant¡¯s rock! I said don¡¯t touch it no matter what!¡± ¡°What¡¯s a giant¡¯s rock?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a rock giants ce to mark their territory.¡± With the topic being something she knew, Jyanina eagerly opened her mouth. Giants were a race that enjoyed blocking roads with rocks like this and collecting tolls. If you came across a road blocked by boulders, you had to stop and wait before paying the toll, otherwise touching the rocks carelessly could incur the wrath of the giants. Suetlg nodded profusely. ¡°They must have touched it in their haste and gotten attacked by the giant.¡± ¡°Do you think they died?¡± ¡°Well. . . I don¡¯t know much about giants either. . .¡± As Johan and Suetlg looked at Jyanina, her shoulders tensed up even more. She let out a haughty cough. ¡°Come to think of it, what¡¯s the difference between a giant and a cyclops?¡± Iselia, who was listening, stated matter-of-factly: ¡°The number of eyes, no?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina looked at Iselia with eyes filled with contempt and shock. Then, afraid Johan would see, she immediately cast her gaze downwards. ¡°Cyclopes tend to be more violent and cruel. Giants can be reasonable depending on the situation.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. In cases like these, giants will usually let you through if you just pay the toll.¡± ¡°How do we get someone back if they¡¯re captured?¡± ¡°Oh. . . That¡¯s. . .¡± She didn¡¯t even know how to get someone back from a giant, so Jyanina was at a loss for words. Luckily, before she had to answer, a giant appeared. Half again as tall as Johan, the giant emerged from a hidden path to the side and carefully examined the boulders. Satisfied that no one had touched them, the giant nodded in approval. ¡°Paying toll. You pay.¡± As if unable to ept this, Acdda yelled at the giant. ¡°Why should I pay you to pass through?¡± ¡°Cleared road. Leveled ground, moved trees.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Acdda was rendered speechless. Euclyia looked at him pityingly from the side. Don¡¯t try to argue with a giant or you¡¯ll lose. ¡°Should we shoot?¡± ¡°No. Let¡¯s ask first.¡± Johan took a step towards the giant and spoke. ¡°Is the toll paid in silver?¡± ¡°No need. Shiny stuff useless. Want living things.¡± The giant looked longingly at Cardirian, as if wanting to eat him. Cardirian stamped his hooves in irritation. ¡°One enough. That horse. Or five beasts.¡± The giant held up his stubby fingers as he spoke. He meant either Cardirian or five other horses. He really seemed to want to eat Cardirian. ¡°What if we can¡¯t pay and want to turn back?¡± ¡°No, no, the one is enough.¡± ©¥??????????! The giant was anxious that Johan¡¯s group would leave without paying. Johan subtly manipted the conversation while figuring out the giant¡¯s personality. When he felt the time was right, he got to the point. ¡°Was anyone else here earlier?¡± ¡°Yes. Captured them. Didn¡¯t pay toll.¡± ¡°Was there someone who looked like this?¡± Johan described Adviko¡¯s appearance. The giant nodded and said he recognized him. ¡°Will return him.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°That guy. For that horse.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± It was an uneptable offer. Johan shook his head, refusing. Then he whispered to Jyanina. ¡°Is there anything giants particrly like?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t care much for gold, silver, or gems. Other than food. . .¡± ¡°Should¡¯ve brought a couple pack horses to give him.¡± Johan briefly considered ordering an attack, but gave up on the idea. The narrow road meant a fight would likely injure several of them. He wanted to resolve this through dialogue if possible. Plus they¡¯d have to figure out where the giant was hiding the hostage. . . ¡°Betting fun too. Stake that horse. I bet that guy.¡± As Johan muttered to himself, the giant grew even more anxious. He was the first to suggest a wager. ¡°A wager?¡± ¡°How about an archery contest or something?¡± At Acdda¡¯s words, the giant looked at her contemptuously. Acdda wilted under his scathing gaze. ¡°Nonsense.¡± The giant suggested each choosing onepetition, then picking a tiebreaker if needed to determine a winner. ¡°Then you choose first.¡± ¡°Javelin throw.¡± Hearing the giant¡¯s choice, the mercenaries in the back immediately jeered. The giant was shamelessly unreasonable. Oblivious, the giant arrogantly turned his head. However, Johan asked calmly, unaffected: ¡°What¡¯s the target?¡± ¡°Throw towards the cliff over there. Farthest throw wins.¡± The giant was confident. He¡¯d thrown far enough to hit the cliff before, but it was impossible for a small human. Thunk! ¡°. . .????¡± The giant blinked. Just now, the human had casually drawn and lobbed a javelin. . . Somehow it was already stuck in the distant cliff. CH386(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 206: Those on the Run (5) Chapter 206: Those on the Run (5) ¡°What, not even going to throw anything?¡± The giant was visibly disconcerted by Johan¡¯s words. He fidgeted for a bit before reluctantly picking up his spear. He wanted to use the human of trickery. But he had no idea how the human could have tricked him. The giant hurled his spear forcefully. It had decent momentum but failed to reach the cliffside, instead falling straight down. The mercenaries in the back whistled and jeered. The giant¡¯s face flushed red with embarrassment. ¡°Enough. Act with honor.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the mercenaries immediately shut their mouths. Though he didn¡¯t show it outright, the giant seemed very grateful. He appeared to have a weaker disposition than expected. ¡°I win, no?¡± ¡°Yes. . .you win. Choose the next contest.¡±The giant red at Johan, determined to win no matter the contest. ¡®??????, ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan fell deep in thought. He wanted to end this soon but wasn¡¯ting up with any good ideas. The only thing he was confident in was Go, but the giant likely wouldn¡¯t suggest that. . . ¡°Propose a riddle.¡± ¡°A riddle?¡± ¡°Yes. Giants enjoy riddles so you¡¯ll probably get this one easily.¡± ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Johan was intrigued to learn this new fact. Jyanina seemed to agree, nodding beside him. ¡°But are you confident you can win?¡± ¡°Humans. How many wizards are here? Can¡¯t we beat one giant?¡± When Suetlg said that, Johan decided to go along with it. When asked topete in a riddle contest, the giant happily nodded with a smile. Suetlg whispered with Jyanina and cleared his throat after aligning their story. ¡°Now, listen. O being of arge ancient race. This monster is extremely vicious and nothing can escape its jaws. No hero has been able to defeat this monster, and no fortress or kingdom has been able to stop it. This monster is. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s it! Time!¡± The giant shouted as if it were easy. Suetlg had a shocked expression. Jyanina was simrly startled. ¡°. . .you two?¡± ¡°Ah, can¡¯t we guess it too?¡± It was the first time in a while Johan had seen Suetlg make a mistake. He let out an emptyugh but nodded. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????????¡¯ From the giant¡¯s expression, it seemed so. The giant acted as if he was very happy to y like this now, regardless of the contest. ¡°In the morning it walks on four legs. . .¡± ¡°Are you talking about a person?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The giant looked sadly at Johan. His woeful eyes made Johan feel guilty for answering so quickly without even hearing the full riddle. ¡°. . .your turn again.¡± Having their turne so swiftly, Suetlg and Jyanina apparently hadn¡¯t prepared a riddle yet. They whispered to each other, unable to provide one immediately. The giant impatiently tapped the floor. ¡°Can¡¯t think of one?¡± ¡°Just this once, you try making one. We¡¯ll need to look through some books first, it seems.¡± ¡®?????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????????????¡¯ The wizards were quite shocked by the giant¡¯s higher-than-expected skill. Johan clicked his tongue. He wracked his brain for passable riddles he knew. The best he coulde up with was. . . ¡°This burns like fire but is not fire. When you growzy, it cools; when you seed, it burns bright. What is it?¡± The giant struggled, unable to answer. ¡®????????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ Johan was surprised by the unexpected reaction. He only suggested an easy riddle to buy time. . . Behind him, Suetlg couldn¡¯t restrain himself and whispered softly. ¡°What¡¯s the answer?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a chance he might overhear. . . I¡¯ll tell you after this ends.¡± ???????????? ¡°I don¡¯t know! You win. Tell me the answer.¡± ¡°I appreciate your honorable admission. The answer is blood.¡± The giant heaved a sigh. Suetlg also heaved a sigh. Jyanina also heaved a sigh. Johan looked back in disbelief. The two embarrassed wizards straightened their clothes. The giant regretfully muttered. ¡°Are you not thinking of making another bet? Bet on that other guy this time.¡± ¡°What are you thinking of betting?¡± ¡°I will bet on all the other guys.¡± The giant wanted to bet on all the remaining hostages, as he enjoyed the betting. ¡®?????? ?????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ?? ???????????? ????????????.¡¯ Johan quickly finished his calctions. Suetlg said from the side. ¡°From listening to the knights¡¯ words, there must be a court wizard. We need to secure him.¡± While an individual knight wouldn¡¯t fetch more than a ransom, a court wizard was a different story. He would know about the covert affairs and ns happening inside the emperor¡¯s court. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll take you up on that.¡± ¡°This time it¡¯ll be a single round match.¡± ¡°Do as you wish. What¡¯s the contest?¡± ¡°. . .¡± The giant hesitated. He seemed about to speak but hesitated. ¡°?¡± ¡°Grabbing and pushing each other down. . . The one who makes the other fall is the winner.¡± In simple terms, he was suggesting something like wrestling or grappling. Unlike spears, this overwhelmingly favored the giant with hisrger build. ¡°What a shameless fellow!¡± ¡°Did you leave your honor behind in your cave?!¡± The giant himself also seemed to know this as he couldn¡¯t respond to the mercenaries¡¯ curses and just blushed. Johan thought to himself. ¡®?? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ??????. . .¡¯ From the spear throwing earlier, it looked like he could win despite the size difference. As Johan put down his weapons and stepped forward, the shocked mercenaries tried to stop him. ¡°Y-Your Excellency. There¡¯s no need to entertain such underhanded tricks!¡± ¡°Shut it! Didn¡¯t I say I¡¯ll do it?!¡± Fearing Johan would change his mind, the giant hurriedly grabbed him. Having gone this far to save face, he had to secure a win. The giant grasped Johan¡¯s hands and started exerting his strength. Apanied by the sound of straining,rge beads of sweat poured down like rain. However, it was the giant¡¯s body that kept bending instead. ¡°!¡± The watching mercenaries couldn¡¯t help but gasp in surprise. They knew from experience that the count¡¯s strength came from God, but who would¡¯ve thought he could go head-to-head against a giant in a game of strength without losing ground! While the mercenaries were surprised, the Empire knights following behind were shocked speechless with eyes wide open. The impact was just too great. Is that a human¡¯s strength? With a heavy thud, the giant¡¯s knees hit the floor. His face the picture of defeat, the giant conceded. ???????????? As the giant grudgingly moved the boulder, a hidden path leading down the cliffside was revealed. A cave appeared where the giant slept and kept prisoners. ¡°Take them.¡± ¡°Oh my.¡± The prisoners who were trapped inside were surprised by the sudden appearance of the group. Adviko asked in a bewildered voice. ¡°Who are you?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s His Excellency Count Yeats, Adviko-nim.¡± The Empire knight who was captured first stepped up to exin instead. Although it was absurd for the captured man to shamelessly step forward, Adviko was in no position toin. Getting ambushed and captured for not having enough toll to pay while escaping was not amon experience. He felt like his soul had left his body halfway. ¡°. . .How did you get here?¡± ¡°His Excellency the Count won a bet against the giant.¡± ¡°??????¡± It was such an absurd im that even Adviko and the other prisoners turned their heads. ¡°What. . . what?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get out first. I don¡¯t want to chatter here.¡± Johan said so and looked inside the cave. Although Adviko was still Adviko, he was concerned about the wizard who came from the Empire. Where is he? ¡°Where¡¯s the wizard?¡± ¡°. . .He¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°!?¡± A ve brought out the wizard¡¯s clothes, wand, and essories from outside. When the giant appeared, Uterman tried to curse the giant. However, the giant remembered an ancient adage that had been passed down since the ancient Empire era. Kill the wizard first. As the giant¡¯s club swung around, even the great Uterman turned into a piece of meat. It was so brutal that the others were so frightened that they threw down their weapons and shouted surrender. ¡°He¡¯s dead?!¡± ¡°He. . . he didn¡¯t pay the toll. It was his fault.¡± The giant, who was watching from behind, unconsciously justified himself. Johan sighed as if exhausted. ¡°. . .Can¡¯t be helped.¡± The dead wizard could not be brought back to life. He had to be grateful for having rescued those who were here. ¡°Human hero. You can pass without paying the toll next time.¡± ¡°Thanks. But staying here long doesn¡¯t seem like a good choice. There¡¯s a town not too far from here. I rmend you move somewhere else.¡± Johan bid the giant farewell and led his party down the mountain. Having obtained Adviko, his goal was achieved anyway. ¡°Adviko-gong, are you okay?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan chatted lively, but Adviko only nodded with a soulless face. ¡°I¡¯ll allow you to send someone to the city to prepare the ransom andpensation.¡± ¡°I. . . I. . . .¡± ¡°You seem to be in great shock. Rest with the others until you regain your senses before sending someone.¡± Since the other party was somewhat of a nobleman, and they were all captured, there was no need to act roughly. It was time to show magnanimity. Adviko would have no choice but to ept Johan¡¯s offer. After the prisoners left, Suetlg came over and spoke up. ¡°I have a concern.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°The city folks might drive that guy out.¡± ¡°No matter how defeated, isn¡¯t he the city master?¡± It was extremely rare for a feudal lord to be driven out of his fiefdom after being defeated. But cities were different. Various city noble families and mercenary leaders were intricately intertwined, vying for power. It wasmon to see nobles get kicked out over trivial mistakes in cities. ¡°. . .I don¡¯t think things would go that badly. Even if it does, they can still pay the ransom.¡± ¡°That may be so, but it will probably take longer. It¡¯s never good to drag out things like this for too long. We should get the money as soon as possible.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. He seems to be halfway out of his mind, so he¡¯ll be easy to cooperate with.¡± ???????????? He left as a mercenary but when he returned, he came back flying the banner of the count. The townspeople were surprised by the sudden visit of the count and tidied up the town. The cleanest andrgest building in the town was provided and Johan imprisoned the prisoners there. At the same time, he sent messengers to stop the wandering nobles who must still be wandering around. After hurriedly drinking three cups of pure alcohol brought from the monastery near the town, without even diluting it, Adviko opened his mouth as if his mind had returned. ¡°The count was disguised and ambushed as a mercenary?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Ah. . .¡± Adviko shook his head around. From the giant¡¯s bet, there were things that were simply unbelievable. The knights on the Empire side were not as desperate as Adviko. Of course it was regrettable and frustrating to be caught, but they had a bright future. They just had to contact the family on the Empire side and receive a ransom. So even while they were captured, the knights talked about the courage and valor of the young count. Honestly, it was a story that couldn¡¯t be talked about other than betting directly with the giant and having the guts and power for it. A ve attending Adviko carefully spoke up. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you send someone to receive the ransom, Master?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the problem right now. Even if I get the ransom, there is a high chance the city will be overturned before I can go back.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you ask the emperor for help?¡± ¡°That side doesn¡¯t even have one soldier to spare right now.¡± ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t you ask the count for help?¡± Adviko looked at the ve¡¯s simple question as if it was absurd. ¡°Are you saying that now? The count wouldn¡¯t unless he was crazy. . .¡± As Adviko was speaking, he shuddered. It was a crazy idea but when he thought about it, it was a proposal with nothing to lose. He didn¡¯t know if he would have to offer up the many nobles of the Empire faction in the city and the envoys from the Empire, but above all, it was Adviko grasping power with Johan¡¯s help. Shouldn¡¯t he at least try something rather than just die? CH386(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 207: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (1) Chapter 207: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (1) ¡°Where are you going, Adviko-gong?¡± As Adviko stood up from his seat to request an audience with Johan, the knights looked at him with puzzlement, as if finding it odd. They were suspicious that Adviko might try to escape. While others escaping might not be a big deal to Johan, it was a major issue for the knights present there. Having surrendered to Johan, turning a blind eye if Adviko escaped would be a dishonorable act. ¡°To see the count.¡± ¡°Ah. I thought. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Seeing the Empire knights chatter away with their wine sses in hand, as if it were someone else¡¯s business, Adviko spat in disgust. Worthless allies they were, in this world where no one can be trusted.???????????? ¡°Uh. . .what did you just say?¡± Johan looked at Adviko in confusion. He hade to talk about payingpensation, but his counterpart brought up apletely unexpected topic. ¡°I pledge my loyalty to you, Your Excellency Count!¡± ¡°Stand up. It¡¯s too generous an offer to ept easily.¡± Johan wondered why Adviko was acting this way. Could he be trying to pay lesspensation? He fought fiercely on the side of the Order, but that was only to help the Order and not lose the Order¡¯s friendly influence to John. John did not think at all about taking the city of Mairene. ¡®???? ?????? ?????????? ??????????, ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?? ????????????.¡¯ As a fiefdom grewrger, it tended to try to break away from its original feudal lord. When it was at the town level it would remain quiet, but as its scale grewrger andrger, bing a city, the council members and powerful families inside would stand up and struggle for freedom. There were various methods. They could bribe the feudal lord with money, hire mercenaries to dere independence, or borrow the power of other nobles, and so on. . . Because of this, it wasn¡¯t easy to subjugate a city that had already obtained its freedom. The people inside would resist that much more fiercely. For now, Johan was also leaving the cities within his personal territory alone, only collecting taxes from them. He didn¡¯t want to face rebellions all over like the Emperor. But suddenly pledging loyalty was quite a burden. However, Adviko did not back down. It was like he had already climbed onto a galloping horse. Somehow Johan had to persuade him. ¡°Without Your Excellency Count¡¯s help, my life is as good as forfeit. I beg you, please help me!¡± Adviko exined his situation. Considering his various rivals in the city, if he returned he would be assassinated or driven out within a year, so he asked Johan toe with an army together with other nobles and stay. ¡°As far as I know, didn¡¯t you join hands with the Emperor? Joining hands with me is tantamount to joining hands with the Order. Will you be able to handle the consequences?¡± ¡°It would be many times better than doing nothing! If I just go back, I will hand over the nobles on the Empire¡¯s side to you. I will show you a loyalty that I would not hesitate to offer even my own children as tributes.¡± ¡®??????. ????¡¯?? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan clicked his tongue at the reckless behavior of the city noble. After losing a war he had led, borrowing armies from enemy nobles to return to the city, then suppressing dissatisfied opponents and selling out former allies. . . It was something Johan could never do even if his back was against the wall. Unless he was nning to take his assets and flee. . . ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?? ???????????¡¯ Rather than abandon what he had and run away, stubbornly sticking it out to the end even if things gotplicated and he died. . .His mindset waspletely different from Johan¡¯s. ¡°We could have the Order¡¯s bishop certify and record the conversation we just had in writing?¡± Somehow Johan¡¯s tone had changed. It was an attitude like addressing a subordinate, but Adviko didn¡¯t seem to mind at all as he replied. ¡°Of course. If that is what it takes, what objection could I have?¡± ¡°. . .Very well! I¡¯ll give it a shot. But the other nobles will have to agree as well.¡± Johan had no intention at all of leading an army to the city of Mairene alone. If he did that, even with Adviko¡¯s help he would have to shoulder the resentment of the city residents alone. And If he led an army there in this setting, he would have to bring along other feudal lords and Order figures. The armies of Count Yeats and the Order hadpletely different meanings. ¡°I trust in Your Excellency Count alone!¡± ???????????? ¡°Did the story turn out like that?¡± ¡°Were you expecting it?¡± ¡°Even though I have the nickname of a prophet, I couldn¡¯t have known that much. I just said it because I¡¯ve seen those city leaders die off one after another. They may be called the city¡¯s masters, but sometimes they seem less valuable than a fly.¡± The city¡¯s representative, elected after fierce political strife, wields power that most feudal lords wouldn¡¯t dare to, but dies just as easily. As soon as he makes one mistake, his political enemies behind his back swing their swords. ¡°But do you think he will be loyal?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trusting his loyalty, I¡¯m trusting his self-interest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good attitude.¡± Suetlg smiled faintly. He was about to say that you can¡¯t trust someone like Adviko, but Johan already seemed to know. Fortunately, the guy had nowhere to betray them to. He was driven into a corner, so if they threw him a rope, he would grab it and cling on for dear life. ¡°And I¡¯m not expecting much.¡± At its foundation were the ransom andpensation. On top of that, eliminating the emperor faction¡¯s influence in the city. That was all Johan wanted. It would be bad news if a city close to the Empire joined hands with the emperor. Johan had no ns to aggressively pursue revenge beyond the Empire, even though he held a grudge. He was too realistic to take such an uncertain gamble based on resentment alone. But the other side would be different. The territories Johan currently held used to belong to the emperor or emperor-faction feudal lords, so as soon as the Empire stabilized, they would immediately send troops down. ¡®?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ??????, ???? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????. . .¡¯ ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be good in many ways if the city pledged its loyalty?¡± ¡°Of course it would be good if they did, but do things in the world go so smoothly? I heard Mairene Free City has more than 10,000. . .¡± ¡°What¡¯s 10,000. It must have over 20,000, no, 30,000.¡± ¡°Yes. Anyway, it¡¯s that kind of city. And a city that gained its freedom several generations ago. It¡¯s not a ce that would wee an outsider leading an army.¡± ¡°. . .Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re waiting for other nobles because of that?!¡± Suetlg asked in surprise. Considering they didn¡¯t have that many soldiers and Adviko was there, it seemed like they could depart at any time, so why were they waiting. . . ¡°Yes. I can¡¯t go alone and tarnish my name for nothing.¡± ¡°Uh. . .¡± Suetlg was genuinely impressed by the patience of this young count. The knights from the Empire were distracted by Johan¡¯s might, but this count¡¯s true mettley within. Compared to nobles who couldn¡¯t control their temper and made mistakes over and over, his patience shone even brighter. ¡°My dear. An Empire knight says he wants to learn a thing or two from you, would it be okay to duel him?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan and Suetlg looked at Iselia with awkward expressions. While such duels weremon custom between knights, it was an absurd notion to Suetlg the wizard and Johan the knight merely in appearance. What if the opponent, who they needed to impensation from, died? Or what if Iselia got hurt? ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh. I understand. . .¡± Iselia¡¯s shoulders drooped as she turned away. Suetlg jabbed Johan in the side. ¡°Gofort her.¡± ¡°. . .Do you want me to ask her to duel?¡± ¡°No! Honestly. . . is fighting all there is tofort someone? Isn¡¯t there something else she likes?¡± ¡°But Iselia is an elf, Sir Suetlg.¡± ¡°. . .At least gift her a sword or something.¡± ???????????? ¡°To the city? I agree!¡± The nobles who came after receiving the messenger¡¯s contact were delighted with Johan¡¯s words. Before they could even feel disappointed at the news that the young Count had captured prisoners, they heard words that pleased their ears. Leading an army to the city folks and showing them a lesson. More than thepensation, they felt the pleasure of showing the greedy, arrogant city folks a lesson. It was an opportunity to enjoy the legitimate honor and treatment as the victor of the battle. ¡°I will join you, Your Excellency Count.¡± ¡°If they close the gates and resist, I will be the first to climb over the walls!¡± ¡°No, this is not the ce for that.¡± Seeing the misunderstanding nobles, Johan put on the brakes. They were not going there to plunder, just to sit until the city paidpensation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Your Excellency Count. If the greedy pigs of the city keep their promise, we too will act with honor.¡± It was rare for reassuring words to be so unconvincing. Johan gave up on saying anything. ¡®???? ????????. ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ????.¡¯ Fortunately, the nobles agreed more readily than expected. They responded immediately as if they had expected it. ¡°I thought you¡¯d hesitate more.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because it¡¯s a matter of honor.¡± Iselia had another short sword tucked into her belt, a less than bnced choice, but Johan wasn¡¯t going to say anything if she liked it. ¡°What honor?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just about defeating the enemy. It¡¯s about raising your family crest on the enemy¡¯s base. Clearly two different things.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Johan was about to say it¡¯s the same whether you win or lose, why obsess over such formalities, but he stopped when he saw Iselia¡¯s expression. Clearly not an expression that could be persuaded. Iselia continued excitedly, ¡°We must prepare to raise your crest first when we arrive at the city.¡± ¡°My crest? Is that necessary?¡± ¡°If not your crest, whose coward¡¯s crest would we raise!?¡± Iselia eximed as if it was absurd. Being the first to raise the g on the castle wall was an important right. It showed who was the master of this army, and who contributed the most to capturing the castle. Although he didn¡¯t directly upy the city himself, based on his aplishments in battle the honor rightly belonged to Johan. ¡®???? ???? ?????????? ???? ??????????, ???? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ In a situation where he had brought several nobles to share the resentment, he didn¡¯t want to take it all himself. ¡°Iselia, God teaches us to be humble.¡± ¡°No, my dear. Some people don¡¯t need to be humble. You don¡¯t need to be humble.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Do elf nobles get separate religious education? ¡°Didn¡¯t they teach you not to be arrogant?¡± ¡°They did. . . but isn¡¯t that a natural right, not arrogance?¡± Johan decided to exin it a different way. ¡°Iselia, look here, there¡¯s one arrow.¡± ¡°I see it, my dear.¡± ¡°With just one, it¡¯s easy to break. But three bound together?¡± ¡°My dear, surely you could still break them easily?¡± ¡°. . .I made a useless analogy. My mistake. I just want to consider the nobles here. They didn¡¯t aplish much in battle or even capture the fleeing prisoners, it¡¯s understandable if they feel dissatisfied, right?¡± ¡°Oh, I understand, my dear. Among the knights I trained with, some had no ability at all yet were full ofints. Is it the same with them?¡± ¡°. . .I didn¡¯t necessarily mean that. Don¡¯t say that to them.¡± Iselia wasn¡¯t stupid just because she was an elf. Understanding Johan wanted to amodate the nobles, she caught on quickly even as she regretted it. ¡®???? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?????? ????????????, ????????¡¯???? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ????. ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ??????????.¡¯ ©¥???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ??????????, ?????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????? ©¥???????? ????????????????????. . . ???????? ????????????????????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ????! ???????????? The huge city was surrounded by forests, rivers and mountain ranges. The civilized form amidst nature that was still undeveloped showed an heterogeneous majesty. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since Ist saw the Dwarf Mountains.¡± Suetlg murmured involuntarily. The long Dwarf Mountains separating the Holy Empire and the Penins. He had seen its figure from afar many times, but this time he was seeing it from thepletely opposite direction. ¡°Why are there so many mercenaries going towards the mountains?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got good eyes. They¡¯re probably hired by those going into the mountains.¡± The mountains contained treasures worth risking your life to hire mercenaries and go inside. CH386(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 208: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (2) Chapter 208: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (2) The mountain range of Mairene was one of the main reasons why it could be one of the most influential free cities amidst the power struggles between the Empire and the Order. With its rare medicinal herbs and animal fur from the mountains, along with precious metal mines. ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ ¡°Do even herbalists, miners. . .and merchants go up the mountains?¡± ¡°There must be small pioneer viges scattered across the mountains. They probably go there to deliver goods. They won¡¯t haggle over prices when money is flowing.¡± ¡°Despite the asional monsters, I¡¯m envious there¡¯s such a mountain range.¡± ¡°Now, now. Don¡¯t be too envious. Your fiefdom also has potential. It could be one of the most prominent cities in the region within ten years.¡± It wasn¡¯t just to raise Johan¡¯s spirits. Suetlg saw great potential in Johan¡¯s direct territory as well. Johan¡¯s fief was situated amidst bustling trade by the sea routes. Merchants from all over were already staying in the built guild halls.¡°Compared to Your Excellency the Count¡¯s territory, it¡¯s just a tiny ce.¡± Adviko desperately tried to get on Johan¡¯s good side as he led the army towards the city. He kept brown-nosing all the while. ¡°Hmm. . . It doesn¡¯t look that small to me. . . So how¡¯s the atmosphere in the city?¡± ¡°You may enter right away.¡± Luckily for Adviko, fortune was on his side. Word of his defeat in battle had reached the city, but Adviko¡¯s political opponents did not react swiftly. Doubting the rumors and fighting amongst themselves on what to do, they wasted time and were unable to prepare properly. As a result, Adviko¡¯s position and powers remained as they were. Adviko used that to easily open the city gates. ¡®?????????? ????????????????. ?? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ The more he fought, the more he wanted to avoid fighting. And an arduous battle like breaching walls even more so. ¡°If you wish, you may enter at the very front carrying the banner.¡± ¡°No. I will enter under the Order¡¯s banner.¡± ¡°Huh? Are you. . . as you wish.¡± Adviko almost blurted something out before stopping himself. Johan knew what he was thinking. ¡®???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ Noblescking in faith were not a rare existence. Especially so for nobles from cities with pragmatic and independent tendencies. From Adviko¡¯s perspective, why earn des and cede the honor to the Church? When he could proudly strut at the forefront instead. But to Johan who used the Church as his shield, he could only scoff. Why don¡¯t others do the same when they can gain such a shield with a little disy of faith? ¡°Open the gates!¡± ¡°Open the gates!¡± As Adviko said, the gates opened easily. Pdins and priests from the Order went ahead carrying banners. ¡®???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ????????.¡¯ From atop the walls to the city gates, all the city folk watched the nobles¡¯ army with eyes filled with fear and wariness. A natural reaction towards an external army. With the battle having ended not long ago, it would be no surprise if they turned into plunderers and razed the city. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ??????????????.¡¯ Luckily, Johan had some experience in this area. There were a few methods to put the cowering city folk at ease. ¡°Raise the banners higher!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°. . .¡± Of course, the other nobles enthusiastically raised the banners high. As if to warn the people watching from the walls, they puffed up their chests and raised their swords. Seeing that, Johan¡¯s mood lightened. ¡®???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ??*???????????? ?????????? ????????????*??, ????????¡¯???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ ???????????? Soldiers brought by nobles were deployed throughout the city, and Adviko¡¯s work began amidst the chaos. He wanted to carry the soldiers on his back, call the rebels, stab himself with a sword, but if he did that, a rebellion would break out immediately. The city nobles also have brains and swords. Slowly, steadily, manufacture conspiracy and usations to overwhelm, assimte those who can be assimted. . . Of course, in this process, resentment against Adviko, who is imposing a reign of terror despite being defeated, will build up like a river, but he couldn¡¯t afford to worry about that yet. ¡°Hey, that Empire guy over there! Hey, that Empire guy!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let him get away!¡± The centaurs charged with whips in their hands. It turned out to be the envoys of the Empire who were startled and trying to escape the city, not expecting the allied forces of the Order to upy the city. The lowly merchants and the like could just be left alone, but the envoys with some status couldn¡¯t. ¡°I told you I wasing here, right? Hand over the bet ne.¡± ¡°Ah. . . why did this jerke this way?¡± Thanks to those who were hiding in the city and trying to escape secretly, the centaurs were having as much fun as hunting. ¡°You barbarians! Do you know who I am!¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t he be worth gold coins if offered to the Count? Shut your mouth and stay still unless you want to be dragged away missing a body part somewhere.¡± The belligerent nature of the centaurs was well known even in the Empire. The captured envoy was scared silent. ¡°Wait. Aren¡¯t those knights over there? Why are you guys chasing them with mercenaries?¡± ¡°???¡± ???????????? Johan was puzzled at the sight of the nobles who came to the luxurious mansion where he was resting. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Your Excellency Count. We heard that there are indeed many enemies in this city.¡± From rogues to monsters flowing from the mountains. There was a reason why there were many mercenaries in the city. ¡°That¡¯s understandable.¡± ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????¡¯ Johan thought to himself but did not say it out loud. The Casten of Duino, pleased with Johan¡¯s affirmation, smiled and said, ¡°As a proper responsibility of a noble who has nted a g, we intend to hire mercenaries to suppress the monsters.¡± ¡°Oh. Is that hiring done with your silver?¡± ¡°No, Your Excellency. Of course, it must be provided by Adviko-gong.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± For the first time, Johan sympathized with Adviko. While he was squeezing his coffers to prepare ransom and bounties, the allied nobles who flocked in were even threatening to pay for hiring mercenaries. But for the nobles it was a matter of course. Why should they pay for the sake of the city? ¡°Will Your Excellency join us too?¡± ¡°I think I should let my soldiers rest a bit.¡± Johan nced at Bishop Baek, one of the people who came with him, who seemed most likely to understand. Unlike other feudal lords, he was a feudal lord rooted in the religious order from the beginning, so he had no choice but to understand. ¡°Hiring mercenaries to crack down on monsters. Is that really necessary?¡± ¡°No, Your Excellency. Is it not the natural duty of the faithful to drive away evil monsters and save innocentmbs?¡± While the other nobles were burning with a desire for honor, Bishop Baek was burning with zeal for his faith. ¡®?? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡°. . .I see. I hope it goes well.¡± Johan did not feel the need to intervene, so he did not participate, but in fact there was no harm in such an crackdown. One of the mostmon activities nobles do to demonstrate their authority to serfs is monster suppression. The very act of warriors hunting monsters and returning carried great symbolic power. It would be no different in the city. If the crackdown was sessful, the anxiety and vignce of the city people would surely decrease. Of course, the money to hire the mercenaries woulde out of Adviko¡¯s pocket. . . ???????????? ¡°A lowly mercenary is destroying the city!¡± The nobles gathered in the luxurious mansion shouted with anger in their voices. The lowly mercenary they were referring to was Adviko. They were ridiculing the fact that his ancestor was a mercenary captain. They could tolerate him unterally joining hands with the emperor and starting a war, but seeing him arrogantly waving his sword after failing made the nobles¡¯ anger reach its limit. ¡°Let¡¯s kill him!¡± ¡°Yesterday, the representative of the fur guild had his assets confiscated and was exiled. He said he would expel anyone who doesn¡¯t listen to him! If we leave him be, we¡¯ll end up like that.¡± ¡°But doesn¡¯t he have the church¡¯s army behind him?¡± One of the city nobles spoke fearfully. With the church¡¯s army present in various parts of the city, if they killed Adviko, the enraged army might burn down the city. ¡°No need to worry. I¡¯ve looked into what¡¯s going on! Adviko doesn¡¯t have a close rtionship with the church.¡± ¡°Is that really true?¡± ¡°Yes! How could someone who raised an army to kidnap the Pope initially have a good rtionship with them. They probably appeased them with excuses to wait forpensation and ransom money.¡± The city noble¡¯s spection was quite urate. While the church¡¯s army was behind Adviko, they were not people Adviko could order around. ¡°The church upation army won¡¯t go wild just because Adviko dies. We can negotiatepensation and ransom after killing Adviko and his n.¡± At those words, the atmosphere began to heat up. They plotted how to kill Adviko. Fortunately, there were many skilled mercenaries in the city. ¡°Wait. I have something to say.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be careful of Count Yeats instead? I¡¯ve heard rumors he¡¯s no ordinary knight.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Some city nobles nodded their heads as if they knew. It was inevitable for rumors to spread about such battles. People nced over curiously. Among them were some who had met Johan when he entered the city. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯ve met him before? What was he like?¡± Those asking the question imagined a rough, beastly knight covered in scars, growling with each breath, an experienced veteran knight. That seemed to fit the rumors. ¡°He was quite friendly and sincere?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . .What?¡± At their colleague¡¯s words, the other city nobles were dumbfounded. What kind of nonsense was he spewing? ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you received something from him?¡± ¡°W-What are you implying. Take that back immediately!¡± ¡°Now, now. That was too harsh. But you should exin properly too.¡± ¡°He really was a nice guy, what do you want me to say! Do you want me to lie?!¡± The city noble raised his voice as if wronged. He was the one who went to meet the Count with gifts to find out what kind of person he was. Rather than ept gifts, Johan had told him to donate them to a nearby temple and gave him a precious gift instead. It was kindness that the city noble could not help but be swayed by. ¡°I¡¯ve heard Count Yeats is a great knight. But we¡¯re trying to kill Adviko, not the Count.¡± ¡°I agree. Isn¡¯t it enough to just have one excellent archer or musketeer?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll find a skilled mercenary. Now, let¡¯s all swear secrecy before God.¡± The city nobles swore to keep the secret and fueled their determination. Hiring ten people, even one sess would send Adviko to the afterlife! ???????????? As the nobles were hiring mercenaries and the city nobles were also hiring mercenaries, Johan was dealing with Empire side prisoners in the city. Johan visited the mansion where those captured stayed every day and talked to them. Even though he could have just ordered them toe or just ryed the news, Johan did not do that. There was no better opportunity to show off than this. ¡°Count, Your Excellency. Are youing again? If you had sent someone, I would have gone. . .¡± ¡°That wouldn¡¯t do. Even though I was fortunate enough to capture you as a prisoner, I cannot arbitrarily give orders to a knight like you.¡± Of course, he had never heard the name even when he was in the Empire, but Johan nodded as if he had heard it a lot. The other party was at a loss for what to do. Johan maintained a kind and gentle smile and continued speaking. ¡°You must know very well that Cardirian¡¯s power will notst long. It will soon copse. What elector would listen to his words.¡± ¡°But, but. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯m so angry that a knight like you is fighting under such a dishonorable tyrant!¡± CH386(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 209: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (3) Chapter 209: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (3) ¡®????¡¯?? ????????????????.¡¯ Johan was certain. As he gained more experience dealing with various people, he became better at reading the subtle reactions of his opponents. The captured envoy was clearly wavering. His anxious, blinking eyes and conspicuously dripping beads of sweat. His fidgety hands that couldn¡¯t stay still. The envoy also knew full well. That the current situation of the Emperor faction was not very good. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan thought to himself. Surprisingly, the nobles of this world rarely broke their oaths and defected even when their lord lost several wars. There were issues of honor and trust, but more than that, the oues of wars were not usually so extreme. Unless there were special circumstances, losing a war did not mean losing everything. Of course they would have to pay reparations and ransoms, but in the case of great feudal lords, they would notpletely copse just from that. Even now as the Emperor was failing to properly suppress the southern rebellion and continuing to make more enemies, no one thought that losing here would make the Emperor¡¯s family lose everything. Even rich families that go bankrupt take three years to fall. Along with massive reparations, the southern vassals may defect and the next Emperor title may be lost as well but. . . Still, the Emperor family¡¯s personal domains in the north and central regions would remain. This kind of situation was probably why the Emperor¡¯s vassals continued to show loyalty despite the incessant tyranny and disadvantageous circumstances. The influence built up by the family over a long period did not disappear easily. That¡¯s why Johan attacked the Emperor as an individual rather than the currently unfavorable situation. ¡°Think about Cardirian¡¯s dishonorable actions. He arbitrarily executed many nobles.¡± ¡°T-That was because of the rebellion and his collusion with the pagan wizards. . .¡± ¡°You know full well those were false usations. If they were true, why would the southern nobles be so angry?¡± No matter how deep-rooted the Emperor and his power seemed, defection was inevitable if the one wielding that power was dishonorable and immoral. Johan attacking the Emperor made him look even more contrasted. On one side was a sphemer who arbitrarily executed nobles and attacked the religious order, on the other was a faithful knight earning the praise of nobles. ¡°B-But I still cannot betray my oath of fealty.¡± ¡®???????? ????.¡¯ Johan clicked his tongue inwardly. He thought the envoy was hooked. If the other party was a mercenary captain or greedy noble, they would have defected immediately. But the other party was trying to keep his honor as a noble and oath as a vassal. ¡®????¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ??????¡¯??.¡¯ Johan regretfully decided to withdraw cleanly. Pushing further would just reveal his true intentions. ¡°I see. It¡¯s a shame but I will respect your loyalty.¡± ¡°Your Excellency Count. As repayment for the favor you have shown me, I have some information to share.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve received intelligence that many nobles in the western Empire are gathering troops. Judging by the circumstances, the King of Ens and several high nobles will likely join forces against His Majesty the Emperor.¡± ¡°!¡± Traditionally, the feudal lords of the western Empire maintained close ties with the nearby Ens Kingdom. Just as the Empire¡¯s feudal lords took great interest in the Kingdom, the Kingdom¡¯s feudal lords were also very interested in the Empire. In particr, the Elf King was very interested in the Empire¡¯s session line. ¡°I knew rtions weren¡¯t very good but. . . they¡¯re really gathering a coalition army to fight?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m almost certain.¡± With our feet bound in the south, and arge armying from the west. . . ¡°I heard because of that news, the southern nobles who were scattered and protesting have gathered to fight. . .¡± ¡°Then isn¡¯t it even more dangerous?¡± ¡°To be honest. . . yes. I think so too.¡± The envoy thought the emperor would give up and retreat to his fiefdom. Facing suchrge armies was suicidal. ¡°So Your Excellency Count need not worry about His Majesty.¡± ¡°!¡± Johan was slightly moved. He had been cursing to himself a bit because they didn¡¯t give in after all that persuasion, so this reciprocation surprised him. It was worthwhileing here everyday and spewing unwanted words. ¡°Thanks for letting me know. Of course I didn¡¯t think Cardirian would bring an army over the mountain range, but it puts my mind at ease a bit.¡± ¡°Eh? No, that¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan was puzzled. If that¡¯s not what he meant, then what did he mean by that? ¡°Um, weren¡¯t you going to attack the cities to the west that are loyal to His Majesty?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The free cities gained their freedom through negotiations or struggles, but if you trace their history back, they originally belonged to someone. Of course not all cities gained their freedom, and there were many that remained loyal to the emperor. The envoys from the Empire thought that would be Count¡¯s next target. Not just the envoys, but the captured knights had simr thoughts. ©¥???????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????????? ???? ?? ??????????, ?????????????????? ?????????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ??????????????. ©¥?? ?????????? ???? ??????. ???? ?? ????????????, ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????????????¡¯?? ????????. ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????????? ¡°. . . . . .¡± It was just outrageous talk to Johan, who had no such thoughts. ¡®????, ?????????????????? ???? ????, ???? ?????????????????? ?????????? ????.¡¯ After hearing what the envoy said, Johan thought that it might look that way to others too. To others, Johan¡¯s appearance might not be that of a young ambitious man armed with devout faith, but rather. Even without such intentions, the cities could have been frightened. ¡°. . .I didn¡¯t really intend to, but thanks for letting me know.¡± ¡°And Your Excellency. This is a rumor, but I¡¯ve heard that influential people in the city are trying to assassinate Adviko-gong.¡± ¡°I know that too.¡± Johan was not very surprised. There had already been three attempts just found. He had earned hatred from such a wide range of sses that the attempts were also diverse. Adviko also knew this, so he was living extremely cautiously with maximum security. In Johan¡¯s eyes, it looked like he should just bolt out of the city, but. . . ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ If he wants to die embracing power, it¡¯s his choice. Johan had no intention of intervening. ¡°Adviko-gong will prepare well himself. But we can¡¯t interrogate innocent citizens with no crimes, can we?¡± ¡°Yes. In fact, I¡¯m not too concerned about it either.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Unlike his respectful attitude towards Johan, the envoy was very cold towards Adviko. It was none of his business whether the despicable man who had betrayed and was now wielding his sword around lived or died. ¡°It¡¯s just that there are a lot of ominous rumors, from hiring pagan wizards and more, so I had to let you know just in case any harmes to Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Your honor touches me deeply.¡± ¡°Compared to Your Excellency¡¯s honor?¡± The sight of hostile knights respecting each other and fostering friendship was truly heartwarming and beautiful. . . .At least to the knights. If Uterman were alive, his guts would have crumbled seeing this. Is that what you inform me of! Even if the pagan magic goes awry and the count gets hurt, we should be thankful rather than trying to prevent it. . . ???????????? ¡°It is true that there are many pagan wizards around here.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Well, there are mountain ranges here, right? Not only dwarves live on the mountains, but there are also viges of other races. Some of them believe in different faiths that have been passed down from ancient times.¡± ¡°Oh. What kind of faiths? Do you know of any ces?¡± Johan held the title of Guardian of the Order, Sword of the Order, but he himself was very interested in pagan faiths. From Johan¡¯s perspective, having received the blessings of a pagan goddess himself, it was like ¡®????????, ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????, ????????????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????¡¯ ¡°. . .This is not something I should say, but please keep your voice down!¡± Suetlg said as if he was bbergasted. There was no one else listening in therge manor, but who knows what might happen in this world. If a priest happened to overhear, he might have a heart attack. ¡°There is no one here.¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t even watch what you say. . . Anyway, the magic those wizards use does tend to be obscure and creepy. I suppose ancient magic had quite a bit of savagery.¡± While Suetlg did not care much for the Monotheist Order, he did not deny that they had brought civilization instead of savagery. If it hadn¡¯t been for the Order¡¯s priests, nobles would still be stabbing each other in drunken brawls. ¡°Besides, curses don¡¯t single out individuals like arrows do. I understand that envoy¡¯s worries. . . .Wait. Why did you tell him all this?¡± ¡°Is it not the honor of a knight to do so?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg seemed to be at a loss for words for a moment before speaking again. ¡°In any case, regardless of the grudge against Adviko, it would be better to prevent such things from happening beforehand.¡± ¡°I agree, your excellency.¡± Suetlg nodded at Johan¡¯s words. It was natural for him as a wizard to step in for matters involving magic. ¡°. . .But. . .¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t thisposition a bit much?¡± Suetlg whispered while looking at those gathered. While they were lightly armed, their postures felt out of the ordinary. It was the aura that only well-trained knights could emit. The problem was. . . these were Empire knights! Those who had been taken prisoner in thest war! ¡°The other knights went to subdue monsters with hired mercenaries, right?¡± ¡°What! No matter what, this is too much! Where are the other troops? Don¡¯t you have mercenary captains and warriors too?¡± While not knights skilled in pitched battles, the skills of seasoned mercenaries could not be looked down on either. And there were the nomadic warriors from the east. They were formidable fighters even when dismounted. ¡°They have to maintain order as well, and the eastern warriors are not used to fighting in cities either. . . Most of all, wouldn¡¯t it be a waste if they got caught up in pointless business like this and got hurt?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg was at a loss for words. So in other words, he didn¡¯t want his own subordinates getting hurt, and that¡¯s why he called on these knights whom he didn¡¯t care if they got hurt or not. It would have been a grave insult if the knights heard this. However, the knights gathered had no idea what Johan and Suetlg were talking about. On the contrary, they were delighted at Johan¡¯s suggestion. Giving back the armor and swords to the prisoners was proof of trust. One could not show them such treatment without respecting and trusting them as knights. ¡°What were you two discussing?¡± ¡°Oh. Suetlg was saying that I shouldn¡¯t send knights who aren¡¯t even my vassals to fight filthy wizards.¡± ¡°What! Suetlg-gong. As knights, it is our duty to step forward! This is about subduing evil pagans!¡± ¡®?????????? ??????????. . .¡¯ Suetlg bit his tongue as he looked at the knights. When dealing with knights as a wizard, he sometimes felt a sense of helplessness as if he was dealing with an entirely different species. That didn¡¯t change even as he aged. ¡°Yes. Seeing you step forward reassures me. You are indeed knights who understand honor.¡± ¡°We thank you for the praise.¡± The knights quickly grew bashful at Suetlg¡¯s praise. They were quite easy to handle. ???????????? ¡°Don¡¯t theye at once?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t even know who the enemies are or where they are. It¡¯s impossible. And if we all swarm like that, there will be rumors.¡± Although Johan had gathered the knights, he had no intention to charge in with them. Johan ordered them to move separately like seeds. There were many people in the city and wandering knights from the Empire often appeared, so it wasn¡¯t strange. Not many people knew the faces of the knights, so they wouldn¡¯t be suspected if they wandered separately. ¡°Pretend to be wandering knights and ask around if there¡¯s anything you can do. You know what I mean?¡± ¡°Haha. Count. Someone as noble as you may not have experienced this, but when I was young, I wandered the Empire as a wandering knight.¡± ¡°I-I see. Trustworthy?¡± Suetlg looked at the Empire knight as if he was bbergasted by their conversation. CH386(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 210: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (4) Chapter 210: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (4) It was ridiculous for the knight to boast about being a wandering knight in front of Johan. Not all wandering knights are the same. Judging by the way that knight was talking, he probably wandered around the Empire after his knighting ceremony, carrying the coins his family gave him. Groups of young knights wandering with squires and servants to seek fame weremon enough. That was fine, but it was hard to put up with them talking as if they had gone through times of hardship and perseverance aftervishly spending those coins wandering around. ¡®?? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????????. . .¡¯ ¡°How trustworthy. . .¡± ¡°Why make a fuss over something like that? It¡¯s fine as long as they do the job properly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±Suetlg agreed with Johan¡¯s words. Although they may have wanderedvishly, the knights were not ipetent. Especially when ites to dealing with people, they would be quite skilled. It¡¯s not like they only learned how to swing a sword around. ¡°And I¡¯m also thinking of stepping up to ask them myself, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°That¡¯s reassuring but. . . also confusing?¡± Suetlg looked at Johan with aplex expression. Who would expect the person sitting in the count¡¯s seat to step up personally? They usually bezy and their butts get heavy, but Johan showed no hesitation in taking the initiative. However, the knights responded very favorably to Johan¡¯s offer. Before they were nobles, they were knights first. Nobles who upheld the customs of knighthood despite their status were worthy of respect. ¡°You really have a knack for things like this.¡± ¡°Just sitting around won¡¯t get anything done.¡± ¡°Not many people step up for that reason. Did I ever tell you about the count I met before? He was obese with an incurable disease. No doctor could figure it out so I got called in.¡± ¡°Oh? Did you heal him with the Water of Life?¡± ¡°No, the Water of Life couldn¡¯t heal that count either.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°So every morning and night, I made that count walk and run. I reduced his fatty foods and alcohol. After that, not only could he sleep soundly, but breathing also became much easier, so he said.¡± ¡°. . .Um, this is supposed to be a funny story, right?¡± ¡°It really happened to me. . . Anyway, do you understand the moral of this story?¡± ¡°Eat and drink in moderation and exercise? Abstain from sexual activity?¡± ¡°No. Among nobles, especially the wealthy ones, many be uncontroblyzy.¡± ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll continue to be diligent.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it. . . you¡¯re already quite hardworking.¡± Although the story was funny, when they went out into the city streets, the one who would rouse the least suspicion was Johan, who had the highest status. Regardless of his position as count, he looked young and inexperienced, so he wasn¡¯t easy to doubt. Johan called Gerdolf to move together. Gerdolf, who had been guarding Suetlg, was excited by the long-awaited call and came running. ¡°Gerdolf. You¡¯ll be. . . my brother.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound bad. Should we add a setting where you¡¯re mute to avoid verbal slip-ups? It¡¯ll suit your intimidating looks.¡± ¡°Sounds usible. We can say you lost your tongue after encountering a malevolent spirit.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Gerdolf made a grim expression. But he was a knight with an unwavering loyalty to Johan. He nodded as if epting the idea. ???????????? ¡°Did youe from the Empire? Well, I wish you had participated in subjugating the monster.¡± There was a set way for the swordsmen who came to the city to find work. Asking a family they knew or going around ces where there might be work and putting out feelers. Inns were good, and so were respectable guild buildings. The guilds in the city were often intertwined, so if word spread, they would find out right away. ¡°Are you going to subdue the monster? If you go now, it won¡¯t be toote I think.¡± ¡®???????????¡¯ He didn¡¯t think the nobles who came with him would interfere like this with their subjugation. ¡°My brother and I are more adept at dealing with people than monsters.¡± ¡°There are so many mercenaries in the city these days. . .¡± The money changer murmured awkwardly. He had a basic respect for knights, but he didn¡¯t seem particrly afraid of the two. If the knight in front had proper family ties and connections, he wouldn¡¯t havee to a ce like this and would have gone to the nobles. So the knights standing in front of him now were not much different from mercenaries, fallen nobles. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Oh. The knights here were asking if there was any work for them. Do you know anything?¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± The foreigner who suddenly appeared looked at Johan and Gerdolf. Johan looked a bit young, so he was less trusted, but Gerdolf had a rather decent atmosphere. ¡°A friend of mine was recruiting multiple escorts.¡± ¡°Oh. Good. Here, Empire silver. Thank you for exchanging it.¡± The money changer happily exchanged the city silver Johan handed over for Empire silver as if it were his own business. Johan was slightly disappointed by his attitude. ¡®?? ???????????????? ?? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ????????????????????. . .¡¯ If it turned out like this, it could be a very wholesome escort job. Guarding a nobleman¡¯s vi or escorting a caravan. . . Gerdolf seemed to think the same, blinking at Johan. It was a signal to follow along and see. ¡°What are your knight¡¯s names?¡± ¡°My brother is Leon, and I am Lauren.¡± Johan used the names of elf knights he had met before. The foreigner spoke as if puzzled. ¡°Huh? Are you not from the Empire but the Kingdom? Those sound like elven names.¡± ¡°My family is mixed with a kingdom side family.¡± ¡°I see. So that¡¯s how it is.¡± It would anger Empire knights to hear this, but people tended to esteem elf knights highly. They respected them for simply being elves before even seeing their skills. Hearing that he had mixed blood with a kingdom side noble family, the other man¡¯s face brightened. ¡°So. . . what job do you want my brother and I to take on?¡± ¡°Protecting people. You know the ominous atmosphere in the city recently, right?¡± ¡°Of cour. . . Did you take me for blind?¡± ¡®???? ????????¡¯?? ????????.¡¯ The man smiled bitterly at Johan¡¯s reaction. His loud voice felt amusing. Even if he said he was a well-trained knight, at best he was a green boy who had only rolled around his own fief. The man reveled in the slight sense of superiority rising up. ¡°With the church armying in, and the magistrate stepping in, it¡¯s very ominous. At times like this, nothing is more reliable than the sword, right?¡± ¡°You chose very well.¡± ¡°Ha ha. That¡¯s not for me to judge. . .¡± From his words, the man seemed to hold an internal position like a steward. That level to be able to lead conspicuous mercenaries around. ¡®???? ????????????????, ???? ??????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ???? ????????????????.¡¯ It didn¡¯t look like they were headed to the district where nobles stayed. It seemed they wanted to gather them somewhere else to protect secrets. ¡°Come in. It¡¯s a bit cramped, but you¡¯ll be helping out while the servants stay.¡± ¡°Are there other mercenaries?¡± ¡°Yes, of course. I hope you get along well.¡± Gerdolf looked at Johan and spoke with his eyes. In a ce like this, it was very difficult to get friendly with mercenaries. Moreover, weren¡¯t the two of them conspicuous knights? They were bound to be checked right away. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ??????. ?? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ Johan was passing through the low gate and corridors when he ran into mercenariesing from the front. It was clear who had arrived first. ¡± . . .? ¡° Their eyes met and Johan instinctively felt like the other was staring at him peculiarly. He realized something was off. The man seemed unfamiliar yet regarded Johan as if he knew him. They brushed past each other but Johan did not rx his guard. His muscles tensed and he gripped the longsword at his waist. As expected, his bad premonition was spot on. ¡°Get him!¡± ¡± ! ¡° When the man shouted and charged at him, Johan had already turned his body to counterattack. The opponent wielded a single-edged, thickly curved short sword. Its speed was much faster than Johan had anticipated. ¡°What, what are you doing!?! Stop! I said stop!¡± The attendant who had brought Johan was shocked. He had gathered the mercenaries only for these crazy b*stards to start waving their swords at each other. ¡°Kill that b*stard! If you don¡¯t kill him now, you¡¯ll never get another chance!¡± The man shouted at the other mercenaries. He seemed to be their leader. Although they did not seem to know Johan, at their boss¡¯ order, they drew their weapons. ¡°I¡¯ll kill anyone whoes close!¡± Gerdolf bared his teeth and pulled out his mace. Meanwhile, Johan wracked his brain but could not remember anything. ¡°Avenge the Lizarek family with this b*stard¡¯s blood!¡± ¡± ! ¡° Only then did Johan guess the man¡¯s identity. On his way to the Cyrandel Mountains where the Holy See was located, Johan had worked with mercenaries to subdue a band of rogues. It was the vicious Lizarek brothers. The mercenaries had insisted on chasing them into the forest but Johan had only captured and executed the youngest brother who hade out. He hadn¡¯t wanted to get too embroiled in the situation. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? I¡¯ve never even heard of the Lizarek family.¡± ¡± . . . . . . ¡° Seeing Johan feign ignorance so slickly, the Lizarek man faltered, seemingly doubting himself. Since he had never actually seen Johan up close, he wasn¡¯t fully confident. Furthermore, why would Count Yeats be in a ce like this? ¡®?????? ?? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????¡¯ Seizing the brief moment of hesitation, Johan charged like lightning. His longsword swung diagonally with a loud swoosh. A subordinate who had tried to block the attack was sliced cleanly in half. ¡°Kyaahhh!¡± Hearing his subordinate scream, Lizarek came to his senses. Come to think of it, what a foolish thing he was trying to do. He could always confirm the man¡¯s identity after killing him first. ¡°I won¡¯t let you die easily. I¡¯ll drown you in your own blood!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, you crazy murderer. Recklessly swinging your sword around.¡± Seeing Johan standing amidst the bisected body yet pretending not to know anything, the Lizarek guy was furious. The situation was suspicious but his instincts screamed that he had identified his target correctly. With loud thuds, the Lizarek guy began circling sideways. The helpless attendant tried to flee only to be captured by the Lizarek guy and used as a hostage. Although unclear of their rtions, having a hostage could prove useful. Hiding behind pirs and watching for an opportunity, the Lizarek guy clicked his tongue at Johan¡¯s behavior. ¡°If you call yourself a warrior,e out and fight me fair and square!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The Lizarek guy ignored Johan¡¯s words. Being in a position to know well what kind of monster strength the opponent has, he had no intention at all of crossing swords. He would buy time and attack after making the b*stard tired. However, the Lizarek guy had forgotten about his subordinates. From the subordinates¡¯ perspective, Lizarek¡¯s behavior could only seem bizarre. ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯ve finally drawn your sword and. . . Ugh!¡± The mercenary grabbed by Johan groaned. The b*stard¡¯s strength was beyond imagination. With the sound of a cracked neckbone, the mercenary went limp. Once caught, he couldn¡¯t do anything and died just like that. ¡°Don¡¯t get close! Think of him as a monster!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± It was an unbelievable situation, but the subordinates somehow epted it. They hurriedly tried to widen the distance. ¡®???????????¡¯ Reading the subordinates¡¯ intentions and calmly chasing after them, Johan was puzzled by the magical energy emanating from the one from the Lizarek family. A unique magical energy was spewing from the b*stard¡¯s arms. If that earlier rapid strike borrowed the power of magic, it made sense. Johan made up his mind to be careful if he had to face it. That kind of attack could cause serious injury if you didn¡¯t know about it. The Lizarek guy focused all his nerves on Johan. He probably hadn¡¯t been this focused even when he met a ferocious ogre. Everything around him faded and only Johan entered his eyes. Although the b*stard was frighteningly chasing him, he gained the confidence that he could keep escaping and oppose him. At that moment, an arrow flying from the 2nd floor pierced the Lizarek guy¡¯s torso. CH386(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 211: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (5) Chapter 211: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (5) ¡°!¡± The Lizarek guy looked up in shock and horror. An arrow had flown from a ce where it was impossible to shoot from. Who dares! The Lizarek guy did not have time to spare. Johan had found an opening and pounced on him like a fierce lion. Johan threw the longsword he was holding, impaling a mercenary next to The Lizarek guy, then grabbed the Lizarek guy¡¯s arms. One must always be wary of magic being felt first. The Lizarek guy desperately tried to break free, but Johan crushed his arms with tremendous strength. A silent scream burst from the Lizarek guy¡¯s throat. With his arms smashed, the magical energy that was felt from him also disappeared. With an arrow in his trunk and his magical energy gone, the Lizarek guy coughed up blood and fell to his knees. ¡°Don¡¯t. . .don¡¯t get cocky just because you won today. . .! There are many who want to see your blood. . .!¡± ¡°Thanks for the advice.¡± With those words, Johan smashed the Lizarek guy¡¯s ribcage. In the meantime, Gerdolf ughtered the remaining enemies. The attendant who had been captured seemed to have fainted earlier, lying there drooling. When Gerdolf tried to p his cheek, Johan stopped him. ¡°Be careful, Gerdolf. There¡¯s an excellent archer.¡± Still not letting down his guard, Johan hid behind a pir and shouted. He had received help from an opponent, but could not trust them. Especially a distant archer. ¡°Reveal yourself! If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll think of you as arade of this gang.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, Johan-nim. I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Hearing that the opponent knew his name, Johan¡¯s wariness sharpened even more. Gripping his longsword, Johan red at the building¡¯s door. What walked out was. . .Joseph. ¡± . . .!¡± Seeing him walk out unsteadily in the style unique to the Eastern Rangers, grasping a bow in his right hand, Johan jumped up. ¡°You¡¯re alive!¡± ¡°So are you, Johan-nim.¡± Without hesitation, Johan pulled Joseph into an embrace. Although from a fallen knightly house, Johan was a nobleman with a fief. Faced with Johan¡¯s intimate attitude, Joseph was moved once again. Whether at his fief or after leaving it, Johan had not changed. ¡°How have you been?¡± ¡°If I¡¯m not dead and still alive, doesn¡¯t that mean I¡¯m well? And you, Johan-nim?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Johan realized that Joseph did not know his identity. Naturally so from Joseph¡¯s position. Who would have imagined a wandering knight from a fallen knightly house bing a count down south? ¡°It¡¯s a long story to exin. . . For now, let¡¯s move. And wake up that attendant. Can you fix him up a bit?¡± ¡°What can I not do for you, Johan-nim.¡± ???????????? The attendant vomited several times before regaining consciousness. He cursed the barbaric attitude of the mercenaries then seemed to give up after realizing that it would change nothing. ¡°How dare they fight with swords in my master¡¯s manor yard after all the effort I put in to prepare. . .¡± ¡°My apologies. I tried to restrain myself but my opponent was blinded by resentment that I had no choice.¡± Johan pleaded self-defense. He imed that his opponent brought the grudge from the battlefield here. The butler cursed the corpse again then nodded reluctantly. ¡°I understand. I will go report this so please wait here.¡± Although the situation was annoying, when his head cleared he couldn¡¯t help but acknowledge his opponent¡¯s skills. They had defeated the group of mercenaries that attacked them first, just the two of them. The mercenaries also lost quite a few men. Wouldn¡¯t someone who could send fighters of such caliber have more in store? After the attendant called some ves to clean up and left the manor, Joseph immediately said to Johan, ¡°Johan-nim. I apologize for your troubleing all the way here but it would be best if you leave immediately.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what brought you here but this matter doesn¡¯t seem likely to end well. If things go wrong, it could be quite troublesome. Moreover. . .¡± Joseph lowered his voice further. ¡°I hear that they are targeting Count Yeats.¡± ¡°Count Yeats instead of Adviko?¡± Johan was surprised to hear that he was being targeted. He had been careful to avoid resentment and had no reason to be targeted at all. Why? ¡°While it¡¯s true they¡¯re aiming for the magistrate, there were several suspicious men among the mercenaries who seemed to harbor grudges against the count.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan made a gloomy expression. He thought he had decisively killed those who resented him and cleanly resolved things with those who didn¡¯t. Yet resentment was festering in ces he couldn¡¯t have imagined. ¡®???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????¡¯ ¡°Taking down a magistrate alone would be hard to handle. If by any chance the count gets involved too, the aftermath would be tremendous. Wouldn¡¯t the count send his army after you? You¡¯re a knight so it¡¯ll draw even more attentionpared to me who can just escape into the mountains.¡± Joseph had associated with mercenaries extensively in the past. Mercenaries didn¡¯t always act as their employers wished. While the employers might want a clean assassination of just Adviko, the mercenaries wanted their reward in gold as well as to settle their own grudges. ¡°Could you tell me more about those suspicious men who seemed to harbor resentment against the count. . .?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get close enough to chat since they weren¡¯t friends but. . .?¡± Unfortunately, Joseph had only overheard them talking and didn¡¯t know anything beyond that. ¡°If it¡¯s such a dangerous matter, why are you sticking it out here Joseph?¡± ¡°Well. . . I¡¯m a bit embarrassed to say this but,¡± Joseph hesitated which made Johan curious. For someone of Joseph¡¯s caliber to be unable to leave meant that there were unspeakable circumstances holding him back. ¡°I owe a lot of debt.¡± ¡°I see. . .¡± It was a much more realistic reason than Johan had imagined. ???????????? As Johan did not leave, Joseph made a worried expression but did not say anything more. It would have been ridiculous for him to say more. ¡°Can I go in here?¡± Johan looked around another mansion that the attendant guided him to. Unlike the vi from before, it felt lived in. ¡°You may enter after leaving your weapons.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I wanted to do this. Are there other mercenaries gathered here too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°All of them?¡± ¡°All of what are you referring to?¡± ¡°I want to mingle with some decent folks, that¡¯s why.¡± ¡°They will be decent people. I¡¯m just saying this in case, but do not cause a ruckus like before.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Along with his words, Johan sent a signal. Surprised by his sudden action, both the attendant and Joseph looked at Johan. ¡°What, what did you do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m offering the traitorous b*stards to his Excellency the Count.¡± If it weren¡¯t for what Joseph said, he would have observed more prudently. If there were several mercenaries who held grudges against Johan rather than nobles, it would be better to subdue them right away instead of waiting. If he left them be and they caused trouble, it would give him a headache. ¡®???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????¡¯ Johan clicked his tongue in frustration. He only intended to threaten Adviko but unexpectedly there were des of resentment waiting behind him. ¡°. . .!!!¡± The attendant¡¯s face turned pale at those words. The other person was a spy for the Count. ¡°Oh. . . There¡¯s been a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!¡± ¡°But I haven¡¯t said anything yet?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t gathering mercenaries to rebel against His Excellency the Count!¡± ¡°That¡¯s something we¡¯ll have to ask your master directly to find out.¡± The attendant tried to make as many excuses as he could, taking advantage of the fact that he hadn¡¯t revealed his purpose yet, but Johan coldly brushed him off. In fact, Johan could have made anyone spit out the facts he wanted if he was determined, but he was holding back because he didn¡¯t want to take unnecessary abuse. ¡°Tell those inside to throw down their weapons and surrender. Those holding weapons will be punished for treason.¡± After finishing speaking, Johan looked at Joseph. Joseph had a hesitant expression on his face, as if wondering whether he should run away or stay put. ¡°What, am I going to punish you?¡± ¡°. . .Thank you, Johan-nim. So you were working under the Count.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s a long story if you want to talk about it. I¡¯ll exinter.¡± In the meantime, soldiers came rushing in to surround the mansion. Although it was called a mansion, it was close to a small fortress. With the walls utilized, it would be hard to attack from outside if one defended from the inside. As if expecting that, the dwarves brought siege weapons straight away. Without waiting, they immediately battered down the front gate. ¡°Throw down your weapons! Those holding weapons will be summarily executed!¡± ¡°You rebel scums! Go to the gallows if you don¡¯t want to throw down your weapons!¡± The mercenaries inside responded in a flustered posture to counterattack. First they tried to block the front gate and prevent the enemies from entering, but it was already half copsed. Even though it was a sudden ambush, experienced mercenaries should be able to immediately realize that the current situation was very bad. It looked like they were surrounded, and judging by the soundsing from outside, it seemed they were involved in something bad. . . ¡°F*ck. We need to get out!¡± ¡°Block them from entering! Block them fir. . . Urgh!¡± As the dwarves were unable to push in and got their feet tangled, Johan stepped forward. Johan grabbed a mercenary and threw him. Due to the sudden flying person, the formation of the mercenaries blocking the door copsed. ¡°This b*stard. . .¡± One of the mercenaries supported his neck with spite in his voice as he charged forward with a shield. Johan swung his longsword without hesitation. With a spark, the shield split and the mercenary tumbled over. Every time Johan swung once, the mercenaries around him crumbled as they were. Joseph¡¯s eyes grew wide. He knew Johan¡¯s strength was tremendous, but this was beyondmon sense. The mercenaries didn¡¯t dare to fight and tried to flee inside or find somewhere else to hide. ¡°Go inside and turn everything over. Don¡¯t let a single one get away! Capture that attendant. He probably knows quite a lot.¡± ¡®???? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ His manner ofmanding people seemed neither unfamiliar nor unnatural, rather it looked like he had a lot of experience. Also, judging by the number of people hemanded, he seemed to have the count¡¯s deep trust. ¡°I heard Gerdolf was attacked, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°I must have been toocent. There¡¯s no way you don¡¯t have enemies.¡± Suetlg spoke in a regretful tone. It would be no surprise for Johan to have enemies, being different from the other nobles of the allied forces and thoroughly managing himself. It was only natural given the number of foes he had brought down. ¡°If they attacked the magistrate while targeting you. . . They¡¯re probably remnants of the gangs you destroyed or some petty noble¡¯s minion.¡± Johan nodded. Suetlg¡¯s thoughts were simr to his. However, their guesses missed the mark. The raiders targeting Johan were an entirely different group. ???????????? The dwarves who entered the building dragged out those inside by opening the door. In the midst of doing so, they witnessed a peculiar scene. In a spacious room, a nearly naked human man was sitting crouched down with creepy and gaudy tattoos all over his body. Although he did not hold any weapons, he looked like a mercenary, so the dwarves shouted. ¡°Come out with us!¡± ????????! Instead of answering, the dwarves were thrown out the window. Seeing the dwarves flying through the window, theirrades were dumbfounded. ¡°What the hell??¡± ¡°T-There¡¯s some kind of monster inside! Urgh. . .¡± The thrown dwarf was bbergasted. As a dwarf, he was pushed by a human using strength. It was humiliating. ¡°You worthless count who is a servant and ve of the Order! Showing up with your gang without shame! A curse be upon you!¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan was perplexed by the harsh voiceing from inside. ¡°Do you know what that guy is doing?¡± ¡°Is there magic that can identify a person just by their voice? Judging by him mentioning the name of the Order, he seems like a follower of paganism.¡± ¡°Even if he¡¯s a pagan follower, shouldn¡¯t he be on his knees praying instead of harboring resentment against me whom he¡¯s never met?¡± ¡°Well. . . because you¡¯re the Order¡¯s sword. . .?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan had no choice but to ept it. Trantion-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 212: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (6) Chapter 212: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (6) Despite his title as the bravest knight, Johan tried quite hard not to make enemies. His realistic personality and preference for the safe path led him to act that way. If Johan had an upromising personality like Cardirian, at least a third of the nobles in the southern half of the penins would have died, and the nobles in the central region would now be struggling to survive against Johan¡¯s army. But instead, Johan dealt with them with patience and persuasion. No matter how much support he had from the Order and his own charisma, the few rebellions were thanks to Johan¡¯s concessions and patience. But inevitably, there were things Johan couldn¡¯t handle. The nobles opposed to Johan and the followers of the pagan faith could only be hostile to Johan. While Johan himself didn¡¯t care whether people believed in paganism, believed in rolling stones ced on the altar, the others felt differently. With embarrassing titles like Sword chosen by the Order, Sword forged by the Order, Sword sent by the Only God, resentment and hostility had built up. ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s nowhere to run. Surrender!¡±¡°You cowards may flee, but I will not! The god who looks after me is not inferior to your god!¡± ¡®?????????? ??*??????????.¡¯ Johan grumbled to himself. Of course, people who thought like Johan were rare in this world. Most people showed dogmatic attitudes about the values they believed in. Nobles obsessed with honor, priests obsessed with faith, knights obsessed with the custom of chivalry. . . But the pagan believer before him was especially unpleasant to deal with among them. An opponent who readily epts even his own death. Suetlg replied instead. ¡°If you¡¯re so bold, reveal the name of the god you believe in.¡± ¡°Old wizard! I am Beltazen, the warrior sent by Teshuka. Count! If you¡¯re not a coward, fight me one-on-one!¡± Suetlg frowned and whispered. ¡°Do you know him?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen the name in documents. I remember he was a god of wilderness and life, thought to be forgotten. . .¡± Johan recalled the dwarf flying out the window. No ordinary strength could easily throw a dwarf like that. It was surely due to some mystical power. ¡°No need to deal with whatever god he believes in. Order them to burn down the mansion at once.¡± ¡°There are too many watching eyes, it¡¯s a bit difficult.¡± If the opponent was just a mercenary, Johan could have ignored him and killed him. But with the mention of the Order and faith and the request for a duel, Johan had to consider appearances. No one would openly speak ill before Johan, but rumors of avoidance could spread. ¡°Also, if we just kill him, we can¡¯t hear what he knows.¡± Johan wanted to know exactly what Beltazen had done. Who he joined hands with and what deeds he hadmitted. How much he was targeting Johan, etc. ¡®???????????????????? ?????? ????????. . .¡¯ Johan recalled the second child of the Lizarek family. The guy had tireless arms and tenacious vitality. Johan had wondered where he had obtained his magic since it wasn¡¯t easy to acquire. . . At least Johan could tell he was simr to the guy before him. ¡®???????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????.¡¯ Johan finished his calctions. The opponent didn¡¯t know Johan well, but Johan grasped the opponent to some extent. Plus, the situation overwhelmingly favored Johan. ¡°Come out, Beltazen! Your honor is worthless but I will ept your request for a one-on-one duel. I pledge my honor.¡± ¡°You have some courage at least, Count!¡± Beltazen walked out, breaking through the window frame. A physique to match Johan, with magical energy emanating from the tattoos covering his body. ¡°If you lose, don¡¯t flee and answer my questions.¡± ¡°Go ahead if you can.¡± Beltazen was overflowing with confidence. Even Johan who had calcted everything regretted for a moment that he had picked a wrong fight. Johan¡¯s subordinates watched the duel with eyes mixed with excitement and worry. As much as they wanted to beat up the arrogant barbarian, this was a duel their master had personally epted. There were many nobles who shouted about honor, but there were few who would personally fight to defend that honor. Johan¡¯s men didn¡¯t want to tarnish the honor that he took the initiative to fight without relying on others. The fight began with Beltazen¡¯s attack. Beltazen wore no armor, not even a small piece. The god he believed in hated steel. Instead, Beltazen wielded an iron club as hard as steel. It was as powerful as a mace that could turn an armored head into mush. Johan did not confront him and carefully assessed his opponent¡¯s strength while stepping back. He had faced a simr opponent before but Johan was not arrogant about it. Being humble even against a rabbit was one of Johan¡¯s greatest weapons. ¡®?????? ???????????????? ???? ????????????????????????.¡¯ Johan did not let his guard down. He could be killed by any opponent if he was careless. Johan had no intention of baring his fangs until he was sure. As Johan evaded and retreated, Beltazen growled like a beast. His growl contained satisfaction. Johan¡¯s retreat emboldened him. ¡°Cowardly b*stard! Are you running away?!¡± ording to the rumors he had heard, the count used such rough and powerful swordsmanship. The fact that such an opponent was retreating like this was proof that he had the upper hand. Beltazen attacked even more fiercely. It was crude and vulgar but had an overwhelming pressure that was hard to face. It could feel simr to Johan in a way, but. . . In fact, it waspletely different. It wasn¡¯t that Johan didn¡¯t know various techniques. He just didn¡¯t use them because he didn¡¯t need them. He had learned them but didn¡¯t use them when unnecessary. One well-aimed blow was enough to sink Beltazen who kept charging at him. ??????????! The warhammer swung without any sign. Usually there should be at least a little preparatory movement before an attackes out, but Johan¡¯s monstrous strength made the attack possible ignoring that. The swiftly swinging warhammer brushed Beltazen¡¯s chest. ¡°!!!¡± Shocked and horrified, Beltazen still grabbed the warhammer. His ribs were broken and he had dropped his club, but he endured. There were astonished shouts among the mercenaries. ¡°Freaking monster!¡± ¡°What the hell is that guy. . .?!¡± However, Johan was not surprised by this. He had expected that the opponent¡¯s vitality could be tenacious. Instead of wrestling for the warhammer, Johan smashed the kneeling opponent¡¯s face. ¡°Gah. . .!¡± There were so many things he wanted to ask before his breath was cut off. Johan pounced on his opponent who was falling to the side. As soon as he squeezed the guy¡¯s neck with his arm and applied force, Beltazen¡¯splexion began to change. ????????????! Beltazen tried his best to break free. As he scratched the floor with his thick stubby fingers, the stone floor broke and cracked. The mercenaries watching were so confused about whether that guy was a monster or Johan who was subduing him was the monster. ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????¡¯ Johan wondered if he had made a mistake. Even though his neck was about to break, his opponent was unfazed. ¡°Admit defeat. If you don¡¯t want your neck to break like this.¡± ¡°Nonsense! I. . . haven¡¯t lost yet!¡± At that moment, Johan was able to witness an astonishing phenomenon. The magical energy that had been coiling around Beltazen¡¯s body disappeared in an instant. It wasn¡¯t because his vitality had gone out. He was still alive, but the magical energy alone had disappeared as if a candle had been blown out. That power surged into Johan. Beltazen was horrified at the unbelievable sight. His god had abandoned him. ¡°Ah, no! No!¡± The warrior who was strong enough to fight Johan screamed in fear. Despite the pain that would surge through his body now that the magical power was gone, he desperately sought to regain his strength. ¡®. . .?????? ???? ?????????????? ?? ???????????¡¯ As a wizard, Johan could guess what had happened. A wizard¡¯s words were not the only thing that held power. Strong oaths also held strong power. The story of people being cursed for breaking oaths was not unique to just wizards. Although he doesn¡¯t know how Beltazen gained magical power, he clearly vited something when he gained that power. Once a taboo has been vited, the power is destined to leave. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be cursed by your god, keep your oath.¡± Johan spoke firmly to Beltazen. Even as his life was fading, Beltazen slowly nodded his head. ???????????? Emano-gong, who was out for business, was startled to hear that his residence was under attack and rushed back. However, by the time he arrived, the situation had already been dealt with. Count Yeats looked at him with cold eyes. The other knights had expressions like they would draw their swords at any moment. ¡®. . .¡± No matter how thick-skinned Emano-gong was in the city, he couldn¡¯t help but sweat in this situation. Especially with armed men on both sides of the yard of his residence ring at him. ????????©¥ First, he knelt down and bowed forward. Although there was no need to show such subservience to a count with no position in the city when the charges were still unclear. . . If he had any sense, now was the time to do something. ¡°Do you know why we¡¯re here, Emano-gong?¡± ¡°I. . . I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. Your Excellency.¡± ¡°. . .????¡± Joseph turned his head in confusion. Johan was sitting arrogantly in his seat, but no one said anything, so he thought he had the lord¡¯s trust. But he just heard something strange. ¡°Did you say. . . count?¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± The dwarf next to him looked at Joseph as if wondering. I thought they were quite close from the conversation with Johan, why doesn¡¯t he even know the count¡¯s status? ¡°Hasn¡¯t Your Excellency Count arrived yet?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Isn¡¯t he right there?¡± The dwarf pointed directly at Johan. ¡°In the first ce, didn¡¯t that crazy b*stard attack Your Excellency Count earlier? What did you hear then?¡± ¡°I thought the crazy b*stard was just rambling. . .¡± ¡°So who did you think the Count was?¡± At the dwarf¡¯s question, Joseph was at a loss for words. He gave up trying to say something, thinking he would look strange no matter what he said. ¡°. . .I was just joking around.¡± ¡°What a frivolous human.¡± The dwarf shrugged his shoulders as if to say ¡¯??¡¯???? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ????????????¡¯ and stepped back. Joseph began to wonder when things started to go strangely. ¡®?????? ?? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????????????¡¯ Meanwhile, Johan looked down at the city nobleman and said, ¡°I heard you gathered mercenaries to attack me. Don¡¯t even think about making excuses. Many testimonies have already been heard.¡± ¡°No! Absolutely not! I swear to God!¡± Emano-gong shouted with all his heart. His words were true. He was trying to kill Adviko, not Johan. Why would he provoke a madman? His enraged subordinates would take revenge by burning down the city. ¡®???? ????????.¡¯ Johan realized that the other party was not lying. Fortunately, it seemed the city nobles were not seriously trying to kill Johan. ¡°Present the witnesses for confirmation!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance. Lock him up inside. Bring the nobles from the other families associated with this man too.¡± Emano-gong struggled as he was dragged away. He still seemed to think he could prove his innocence if the witnesses were confirmed. Suetlg clicked his tongue. ¡°Even if the witnesses are confirmed, it¡¯ll only get worse for him. . .¡± The mercenaries who were with him were intricately involved in the count¡¯s assassination plot along with heretics. His sins would only deepen, not lighten. Not to mention, everyone from the servants to ves in the residence witnessed it. It would be hard to deny it. ¡°Are you thinking of executing him?¡± ¡°I¡¯m deliberating a bit.¡± Johan was thinking about how to gain the most benefit out of this. His demeanor didn¡¯t show any resentment over the attempt on his life at all. Suetlg was freshly impressed. Trantion-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 213: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (7) Chapter 213: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (7) ¡°Indeed, His Excellency is very merciful. As a monotheist, if you want to showpassion, wouldn¡¯t it be enough to just cut out their tongue and gouge out their eyes?¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan grimaced slightly at the knight next to him who spoke as if it were a matter of course. What was more ridiculous was that the other knights were nodding their heads as if it made perfect sense. Having one¡¯s tongue burnt and eyes gouged out while sparing their life was still considered light punishmentpared to the charges. ¡°No. . . I have no such intentions.¡± ¡°Then could Your Excellency be considering exile instead? That wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea either.¡± This time, another knight spoke up. Exile meant stripping them of all their assets and ves before banishing them. It was practically telling them to go die outside. Suetlg signaled Johan, asking if he could step in. Johan nodded, as if to say please do. ¡°Young knights. Why do you think so narrowly?¡±¡°Suetlg-gong. What have we judged incorrectly?¡± ¡°When the Count entered the city gates, what did he dere?¡± ¡°. . .?¡± The knights in the room looked at Suetlg in puzzlement. ¡°Did he not say he would respect the honorable surrender of the city residents and refrain from shedding the blood of innocents?¡± ¡°But they¡¯re not innocent!¡± ¡°How can they be innocent when they harbored evil intentions?¡± Once branded a sinner, it was much easier to get entangled further. Although a noble status usually helped shield against ordinary crimes, in cases like these, it only dragged them down. It was very suspicious. ¡°I understand what you¡¯re saying, Suetlg-gong.¡± The oldest knight among the Empire¡¯s spoke up. Seeing that, Suetlg felt a slight relief. ¡°It is God who separates the sinners. You mean to say they should be executed in the presence of the Bishop to bear witness?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan and Suetlg were at a loss for words. Absurd as it was, the knight¡¯s argument was more logical than they had anticipated. Unlike the priests who had deep faith and acute judgement honed by years of theological studies, the faith of knights and nobles tended to be vague and ambiguous. For example, thinking of trial bybat, which the clergy frowned upon, as a God-given right was one such case. What was just said followed simr logic. First, kill them. If they are innocent, God will stop it! Moreover, having the Bishop present would make it even more effective. Of course, the Bishop himself would be bbergasted at being used for such a purpose. . . ¡®??????????, ?? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?? ???????????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s not what it means. His Excellency the Count does not wish to see any more bloodshed.¡± ¡°But. . .¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t kill guys like them. . .¡± ¡°When we can kill them, is there a reason not to?¡± ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????¡¯ Johan was suddenly bewildered as he listened. To begin with, Johan was part of the anti-Emperor faction. And most of those knights were captured pro-Emperor faction knights. Although the city nobles here weren¡¯t that loyal, they were still closer to the pro-Emperor side first and foremost. Then shouldn¡¯t they be trying to argue for their rescue instead of readily demanding their execution first? ¡®?????????????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ The reason was simple. Right now, they were speaking not as vassals of the Emperor¡¯s faction but as virtuous knights. They may have been defeated by Johan but that was an honorable defeat. To them, Johan was a respected opponent worth acknowledging as a knight. The noble leading the charge at the frontlines was an exemr to knights. On the other hand, the schemes concocted by the city nobles were cowardly ambushes, so it was only natural for them to immediately call for executions regardless of the bnce of power. Suetlg argued desperately with the knights, citing all sorts of old tales and monotheist virtues until they finally nodded their heads. ???????????? The proposal to cover up the matter that would ruin several families by sacrificing assets was a proposal that was hard to expect even from a very generous noble. Any decent person gets violent when ites to matters involving his life. Those who were caught could not believe Johan¡¯s proposal at first, and then hastily epted it for fear that he might change his mind. Adviko wanted to take this opportunity to kill them, but did not dare say it out loud. In the meantime, Johan made efforts to handle the magical power he obtained from Beltazen. ¡°Is it going well?¡± ¡°It feels simr to a malevolent spirit. It should get better once tamed.¡± Johan, who had unexpectedly summoned Suetlg and even Jyanina to ask for opinions. Why did Beltazen¡¯s power disappear ande to Johan? After a long discussion, the three concluded that it had flowed into the one closest by because Beltazen had broken the taboo he had sworn. ¡°Although I shouldn¡¯t say this in front of the believers. . . I sometimes wonder if the miracles the priests show are not the power of spirits or malevolent spirits.¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± Jyanina broke into a cold sweat at the unscrupulous conversation between the two wizards. She could not believe that even the count was talking like that. Even now, if she goes outside, the priests of the order in the city are praising Johan¡¯s name and handing out bread and alcohol to the poor. . . ¡°The problem is that this malevolent spirit is a bit. . .¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not call it a malevolent spirit.¡± There was no need to offend the spirit. Johan nodded and said, ¡°This spirit has a weird personality.¡± ¡°In what way?¡± ¡°Just attaching a small piece of iron causes intense resistance.¡± ¡°I see. . .¡± Suetlgughed. He knew how Johan had subdued Valkalmur, so it was augh that came out. It was also the most chattering gossip when meeting other wizards. Not knowing the circumstances, Jyanina asked as if it were natural. ¡°Isn¡¯t it natural to adapt to the spirit¡¯s rules when dealing with spirits?¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°Jyanina is right. Originally, dealing with spirits means acting ording to the rules of those spirits. In your case, it was a bit of an exceptional case. . . It seems to be a spirit that hates iron. Is that why you were wearing in clothes?¡± Johan had taken off his usual armor and was only wearing in clothes. He wondered why, and it turned out it was to appease the spirit. ¡°I think you can tame it more. . . So what brings us here?¡± Johan stopped taming the spirit and put on his clothes. The mystery that was going around the room disappeared as it was. ¡°The pursuit team I sent has returned.¡± Although Beltazen died from his injuries, he kept his promise before he died. Unlike his shabby appearance, the guy was a priest of Teshuka. It was fortunate that there were no other priests hiding in the city, but the mercenaries who were empowered by him fled quickly. There were many others besides the rogue from the Lizarek family who were enthralled by Beltazen¡¯s power and entered into a contract. They fled towards the Empire, so catching them was virtually impossible. ¡°That¡¯s fine. I didn¡¯t expect much anyway. They¡¯re not even in the city, and those mercenary guys won¡¯t be able to do anything.¡± The reason Johan was concerned about the remnants was because they had dabbled in magic. If they were ordinary mercenaries, they would try to flee at the prospect of fighting a count, but mercenaries who had dabbled in magic were a different story. They would act ording to the magic they had contracted with, not their own lives or profits. ¡¯?? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????, ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????, ?????????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°And um. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°A messenger came from the expedition to the mountain range.¡± ¡°Oh. The suppression must be over. Good.¡± Johan was d. Although the nobles on the religious order side were recklessly seeking glory without listening to words properly, it wasn¡¯t a bad thing for them to go on an expedition to suppress the monsters in the mountains. Thanks to being generously forgiving the city nobles, all kinds of gratitude and appreciation were already being received, and if the suppression was over, the atmosphere in the city might changepletely. ¡°Um. . .¡± ¡°?¡± As Suetlg couldn¡¯t continue speaking, Johan was starting to get angry. Could it be. . . ???????????? Although He wanted to get angry after seeing the messenger with a battered body wearing ragged clothes that looked like patches, his anger disappeared. . .notpletely. ¡®?????? ???? ???????????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????????¡¯ That¡¯s the only suspicion he has! Of course, the messenger had no such suspicious intentions. He had to deliver the message to the Count as soon as possible, so he ran without even having time to tidy himself up. ¡°There are dozens of knights gathered from all over the penins, and more than hundreds of mercenaries skilled in the geography of the mountain range. But you¡¯re telling me now that you need support?¡± ¡°I. . . I have nothing more to say, Your Excellency.¡± The messenger didn¡¯t dare lift his head at the anger in Johan¡¯s voice. It was even more frightening to see the count, who was rumored to be generous, look like this. Suetlg red at him, meaning to calm his anger. Although it was nonsense in this situation, Johan managed to calm down. ¡°. . .Maybe it¡¯s just bad luck piling up. Tell me the details.¡± The expedition that entered ind after crossing the mountain range was active without hesitation. Although Johan swore at them, saying ¡®?????????? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ????????????????????,¡¯ the individual fighting power of the knights could not be ignored. In addition, the mercenaries gathered around here had a lot of experience crossing mountains. Even if a lot of monsters gathered at once, it would be unlikely for there to be more than a few dozen, not enough to defeat the army. As things stood, the expedition seemed to have no problems at all, until the ambush happened. Suddenly, some tribes living in the mountains became furious and sent envoys to the expedition telling them to retreat. When that wasn¡¯t enough, they started attacking. The expedition was annoyed and tried to fight back, but the tribes entrenched in the mountains were no fools. They cleverly utilized the terrain to corner the expedition and cut off their path, surrounding them. After several unsessful escape attempts, the expedition urgently requested support. ¡°Your excellency, please do not abandon them!¡± The bishop pleaded desperately. Not only the nobility of the religious order but also high priests like the sub-bishop participated in the expedition. Johan swallowed a sigh and opened his mouth. Anyway, since it was something he had to do, he had to at least pretend to do it willingly. ¡°If I were to abandon the brothers with whom I raised my shield and sword, what meaning would there be in being a knight? Do not worry! I will rush carrying my sword myself!¡± The knights who had been captured as prisoners were the first to cheer. The others present looked at the knights with bewildered eyes. Their eyes were asking why they were doing that when they were hostages. It seemed they realizedte, as they sat down again with embarrassed expressions. ???????????? ¡°The tribes from the mountain ranges are not violent people. . .¡± Suetlg murmured, and some of the dwarf mercenary captains cautiously stepped forward. ¡°Your Excellency. We dwarves are loyal to Your Excellency. Please allow us to stand at the very front.¡± There were many dwarves among the tribes from the mountain ranges, and the dwarf ns were the ones with the closest blood ties among the races. There would be quite a few among the dwarf tribes from the mountains who are acquainted with these dwarf mercenaries here. ¡°I have never doubted your loyalty. You may remain where you are.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Johan did not doubt the dwarves. Even if he did doubt them, randomly changing their positions would be a foolish thing to do. Where would you find someone who openly deres ¡®?? ?????????? ??????¡¯? ¡°What do you think, Joseph?¡± ¡°Joseph. His Excellency is asking.¡± Gmbos, also an Eastern Ranger like Joseph, called out to Joseph. Still not ustomed to things, Joseph awkwardly cleared his throat. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like they charged for no reason. . . Your Excellency.¡± After dealing with the nobles, Johan sent some soldiers with Joseph to the merchant house where he was in debt. Compared to the gold coins obtained from the city, Joseph¡¯s debt was a trivial amount. The merchants were so frightened that they didn¡¯t even want to ept the boxes of silver carried in by the Count¡¯s men. ¡°But did Joseph really teach Your Excellency. . .?¡± ¡°Yes. It was a precious connection.¡± ¡°Oh my god. If the other Eastern Rangers hear about this, they will be shocked. When else in their lives would they have had the experience of teaching His Excellency the Count?¡± Gmbos was very surprised. Of course he had learned some hunter techniques when he met a hunter during his time as a wandering knight, but it was surprising that a knight learned techniques from a hunter, and that this connection hade full circle like this. If it was Gmbos himself, he would have chattered about it to every friend he met back in the Eastern Empire, bragging that he had taught the Count before. Breathing ufortably in a very awkward and ufortable posture, Joseph inhaled. He was being treated too deferentially now, and it was suffocating. Trantion-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 214: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (8) Chapter 214: ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? (8) ¡®?????? ?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ??????????. . .?¡¯ The Eastern Rangers were quite well-known among the various armed groups on the continent, but ultimately they were just mercenaries and riffraff if you looked at their essence. The nobles of the East had elevated them, but that was only because they were useful mercenaries, not because they respected their status. That¡¯s why some Eastern Rangers dreamed of performing feats of arms and receiving knighthoods, but Joseph had no interest in such titles. He thought that even if amoner received a title, it would only bring troublesome things. . . .Yet now the knights were casually striking up a conversation with Joseph. They were knights from the Empire side that Johan had brought. To be honest, their presence made him ufortable. ¡®?????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°Tell us about your meeting with His Excellency the Count, Joseph. Did you encounter any monsters while chasing them? You must have fought against a strong opponent.¡± As the knights kept prodding him, Johan stepped in to stop them. ¡°Leave the Rangers alone. If you keep talking to them, they won¡¯t be able to focus.¡±¡°Oh really?¡± ¡°The Eastern Rangers have a talent for concentrating all their senses to find traces spread out and discover new paths. You shouldn¡¯t talk to them when they¡¯re focusing.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°??¡± Gmbos and Joseph looked at Johan as if asking what he was talking about. It was the first time they had heard such a thing. There was no reason for Eastern Rangers to have some kind of rule that they couldn¡¯t talk while working, they weren¡¯t priests or anything. ¡°Indeed. . .¡± ¡°So there was such a custom.¡± However, the Empire knights who were not from the East passed it by without any doubt. ¡°But why are they following us this far?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± Johan immediately answered Suetlg¡¯s question. Johan really didn¡¯t know. If they were prisoners, they would just stay put quietly and get released after paying ransom, so why ¡®?? ???????? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ????????????????????!¡¯ ¡°But wouldn¡¯t they still fight well?¡± ¡°From what I see, what this rescue team needs now is not excellent warriors but docile people who won¡¯t dig into your and my insides.¡± Johan selected the strong and agile ones among the dwarf mercenaries to form the rescue team. It didn¡¯t seem necessary to form arge-scale rescue team since they would be wandering the mountains. The supply issue would only get moreplicated. In the first ce, Johan¡¯s goal was primarily negotiation. He had no intention of getting into a bloody battle to wash blood with blood with the tribes in this mountain range. While the disgraced nobles might want an opportunity to regain their honor, that was their problem and. . . In that sense, it wasn¡¯t bad for the Empire knights to participate. Excluding the fact that they didn¡¯t match Johan and Suetlg¡¯s personalities. ¡°Once we get over this pass, there will be a decent basin. I think it would be good to set up a camp there. . .¡± ¡°Do you have something to say?¡± ¡°There are many ces around here where you can graze, and you can find quite a few herbs, so shepherds from distant tribese here too.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be nice to ambush and attack them right away, Your Excellency?¡± Iselia, who had been listening to the knights¡¯ words with great interest, shook her head and said. ¡°Looking at the terrain of the mountain range, it is more likely that the shepherd will spot us first if a shepherdes. Then wouldn¡¯t the shepherd go back and report or call the main force instead ofing back? Since there is still some daylight left, I think it would be better to move to a better ce.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± ¡°!¡± Hearing Iselia¡¯s words, Johan and Suetlg were so surprised they stared at her. Iselia smiled awkwardly. ¡°Why do you look at me like that, my dear? Did I say something wrong?¡± ????????????! Johan hugged Iselia. Caught off guard by the sudden public disy of affection, Iselia¡¯s face turned red. But she didn¡¯t push Johan away. ¡°Save this for when the sun sets. . .¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Johan patted Iselia¡¯s back once as if delighted and stepped back. Her unexpected reaction had put him in slightly high spirits. ¡°Let¡¯s move. There¡¯s still time, so we might be able to find a better campsite. Gmbos, go with the dwarf scouts.¡± ¡°I will go with you as well.¡± ¡°Ohe on, Joseph. You don¡¯t seem to need to go, do you? Stay here.¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± Joseph heaved a sigh of relief on the inside as he managed to subtly slip away from the suffocating atmosphere. He had wanted to stand at the vanguard. ???????????? The mercenary, Heojen, licked his parched lips. Of all things,ck of water was an unbearable suffering. When the rumors first spread through the city, he hadn¡¯t imagined things would turn out like this. It was just a job extermination mountain monsters for a generous payment. Usually monsters were only dangerous when less than a dozen mercenaries were sent to exterminate them. With over a hundred, there was little risk. But to end up trapped on this high ground, that waspletely unexpected. ¡°Have the nobles said anything?¡± ¡°No. They still seem to be in conference.¡± At first the mercenaries were in good spirits, but now the mood was ominous. With supplies cut off, they had to make do with what they had brought along. Understandably so. They were rationing their food and could eat their pack animals if need be, butck of water was the real issue. They hade to a ce where water was hard to obtain. ¡°I heard a rumor that if we lower our gs, the dwarves will let us withdraw.¡± ¡°What? Is that really true??¡± The envoys sent by the tribes only spoke with the nobles in their tents, but rumors were bound to spread. Mercenaries fished for information from servants and attendants and were now gossiping amongst themselves. Lowering their gs and withdrawing might be a greater humiliation for the nobles than dying, but the mercenaries didn¡¯t care. If they could just get away from here and spend the silver they had been paid, they were fine with anything. ¡°Eh. . . What are those dwarves doing down there?¡± ¡°Looks like firewood. . .¡± ¡°Damn it all. Hey! The dwarves are trying to send smoke this way!¡± The dwarves who had long stayed in the mountains knew well how to fight here. They were using the wind to send smoke to torment the mercenaries. A simple yet effective tactic. ¡°Cough, cough. . .¡± ¡°Do you think a relief force ising?¡± ¡°How should I know.¡± The mercenaries could only pin their hopes on a relief force of unknown arrival. But waiting without assurance was its own torment. ¡°Hey. Are you thinking of running away?¡± ¡°Make a break for it? We¡¯ll just get caught if we go back to the city.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go somewhere else. The sooner the better, before security tightens up. We should run away under cover of night.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± And there were more than just one or two mercenaries having this sort of discussion ¨C mutiny, desertion. Seeing the mercenary morale, neither would have been surprising. ???????????? ¡°Why are they doing that?¡± ¡°My friend. I hear they have offended the sensibilities of the tribes here.¡± ¡°How foolish. Picking fights with the mountain tribes for no reason.¡± The elf knights remarked on themotion happening across the valley. Toe to subdue monsters and end up fighting the tribesmen and trapped like that. It was a foolish thing to do. ¡°Should we not help them?¡± ¡°Help those beast-smelling half-breeds?¡± ¡°You make a fair point.¡± Without a banner of a noble house they recognized, they had no intention to stand up for nobles they barely knew. Besides, they had their own mission. Armored in shining armor without a speck of mud, the elves turned their horses around. Just then, they spotted another marching partying from the other direction. ¡°I wonder why so many keeping. It will only get noisy and troublesome.¡± ¡°Indeed, my friend.¡± ¡°Wait. Wait. . . Isn¡¯t that the banner of the Yeats House?!¡± ¡°The Yeats House? You mean the Count?¡± ¡°Yes! What luck meeting him here! Follow me!¡± Recognizing Johan¡¯s banner, one of the elf knights waved his arm and spurred his horse forward. Dozens of elf knights chased after him. Their skill at riding at great speed even on the rough mountain paths was truly wondrous. ???????????? ¡°It¡¯s an ambush!! It¡¯s an ambush!!!¡± An Empire Knight who hade out to scout directly drew his sword in a hurry and shouted. The main unit that was following behind began to stir in response to the sudden report. ¡°Which tribe is it? Speak!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the elves, Your Excellency!¡± ¡°Elves. . .elves? There are elves living in these mountains too?¡± Suetlg also had an expression that seemed to indicate this was his first time hearing of it. Though it¡¯s said that Dwarf Mountains harbor secrets living people don¡¯t know about within them, at least no one had heard anything about elves. ¡°Your Excellency. You must prepare for battle! Sound the battle signal! I will go out first!¡± ¡°A status reportes first. It will still take time for enemies to arrive on a road like this, so report properly. Any gs? Were the opponents prepared to fight?¡± ¡°That was not the case.¡± ¡°. . .Then why is it an ambush?¡± ¡°Because they are elves, Your Excellency.¡± The other Empire Knights who had not witnessed the situation spoke as if it were natural. ¡°Your Excellency, if they are elves, then it is indeed an ambush.¡± ¡°I think it is likely an ambush as well, my dear.¡± ¡®??????¡¯???? ???? ?????? ??????. . .¡¯ Johan was at a loss for words seeing even the elf Iselia speaking seriously that it was an ambush. That¡¯s how renowned the elven knights¡¯ reputation was. He didn¡¯t know why elven knights were in these mountains, but in any case, it was best to prepare for anything that could happen. If they charged forward, their ranks would crumble at once. ¡°I am Lauren of the Atoris Family, son of Telphord! I subjugated hellhounds in Silvaron and participated in troll hunting in Marcel! These honorable feats prove who I am!¡± However, instead of charging, one elf came forward from the elven knights and began shouting. Everyone murmured at the sudden shout. Johan flinched as he recognized the name of the family from somewhere. ¡°With proof of my family¡¯s bloodline and feats, I havee to ask a question of you! Is His Excellency Johan of the Yeats Family present here?!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Seems it wasn¡¯t actually an ambush then?¡± The Empire Knight holding a halberd lowered his weapon with an embarrassed expression. Another knight next to him was even holding a mace. ¡®????. . . ?????????? ??????????. . .¡¯ Only then could Johan figure out who his opponents were. Lauren of the Atoris Family ¨C one of the elven knights who had fought together with Johan to subjugate trolls in Marcel. ???????????? ¡°I thought your excellency would surely build great achievements. I am so d to meet you!¡± ¡°Thank you, Sir Lauren.¡± The elf knight was genuinely happy to reunite with Johan. He had only vaguely guessed from the rumors he heard, but meeting him in person made the feeling special. Johan, who held a sword as a knight and built up his fiefdom, was someone he had no choice but to respect. ¡°Are you from the Bluea family¡¯s Iselia?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ??????¡¯???? ???????????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????. .¡¯ Lauren thought so but did not say it out loud. In the first ce, marriages out of love were even rarer. Marriage was a union of families, individuals were not very important. ¡°So. . . what brings you here? This doesn¡¯t seem like a ce fit for elf knights.¡± ¡°Hahaha. You¡¯re right about that. My friends back there are wandering to build their reputations.¡± Many young knights wandered the continent to build achievements in order to gain fame. It wasn¡¯t just impoverished wandering knights who did so. Poor knights were poor, and rich knights were rich. Such wandering was like a pilgrim¡¯s pilgrimage. Valuable and meaningful in itself as a custom. ¡°Did youe here to hunt monsters?¡± ¡°A bit different. Um. This is a secret, I hope your excellency will keep it to yourself.¡± Lauren stopped talking. And stared hard at the Empire knights. It meant go away. The Empire knights grumbled and stepped back. It meant the elves were annoyed. ¡°We came to hunt the basilisk in the mountain range.¡± ¡°!¡± Johan looked at Lauren in surprise. The evil-eyed monster, the basilisk. Its gaze alone could turn enemies into stone, and the poison it breathed from its body was strong enough to melt rock. Needless to say, it was not an easy target even for knights. ¡°Isn¡¯t it dangerous?¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s not something his excellency should say, is it?¡± Lauren looked at Johan as if he couldn¡¯t believe what he just said. Trantion-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 215: ??????????, ??????????????, ?????????????????? (1) Chapter 215: ??????????, ??????????????, ?????????????????? (1) Johan was at a loss for words after being hit hard for the first time in a long while. He didn¡¯t expect to be rendered speechless in front of the elf knights. Iselia, who was next to him, came to his defense as his spouse. ¡°Johan is a brave knight. He always charges first into the enemy lines with the knights and is thest to retreat. He never backs down from a duel. However, he never abuses his power.¡± ¡®??????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ????????????????????????????. . .¡¯ Isn¡¯t that abuse of power already? In any case, Iselia continued speaking. ¡°He has the courage of a lion in his chest, but the cunning of a fox in his head. Hmm hmm.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t His Excellency tear off and rip apart the arm of a troll?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡±At a loss for words, Iselia looked at Johan. Johan looked away. ¡°Yes. Still, isn¡¯t this going too far?¡± ¡°Jumping into that danger and grasping glory, isn¡¯t that the mission and duty of a knight? His Excellency must surely know this, right?¡± ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ????????.¡¯ Iselia was somehow moved and nodded as if in agreement. I wanted to hit her on the back of the head. ¡°No matter what, isn¡¯t this too much? Aren¡¯t there many evil enemies in the kingdom as well?¡± ¡°Of course there¡¯s a reason. This is a secret of the kingdom, but I can trust and tell His Excellency.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± It shouldn¡¯t matter if there¡¯s honor or not, right? The nobles¡¯ sense of security amazed Johan from time to time. Of course, this wasrgely due to the customs of the kingdom and the Empire. Although they serve the king as their lord and devote their loyalty and duty, this is not absolute loyalty, but loyalty akin to a contract. Right now the nobles are like feudal lords to their own fiefdoms, and the king¡¯s orders are often refused if deemed unreasonable. This was the same not only in the Holy Empire, but also in the Elven Kingdom. From that position, even if it was called a secret of the kingdom, they did not protect it with absolute loyalty. They readily told those they deemed eptable by their standards. ¡°I¡¯m grateful you trust me.¡± Of course Johan had no intention of refusing. If the other person told him secrets, he should gratefully listen. ¡°Our young king, Angoldolph III, intends to stand against the fallen emperor of the corrupted Empire for glory.¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m really surprised!¡± Johan made an effort to pretend to be surprised. Of course he had already obtained information in advance from the Empire envoys, but he couldn¡¯t make things awkward. Lauren nodded and continued speaking. ¡°It¡¯s surprising, but if you think about it, it¡¯s reasonable. In fact, His Majesty is an unfortunate person. Unlike the blessed, honored His Excellency born with a fate where he can gain honor, His Majesty was not born with such a fate.¡± ¡®. . .?????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????.¡¯ Of course there was no malice from the elf¡¯s point of view, but Johan felt bad. If given a choice, why would one be born as a mediocre knight instead of the Elf King? However, he roughly understood the other person¡¯s meaning. What a young new monarch does is the same whether it¡¯s a kingdom or a fiefdom. Build one¡¯s own new authority to cover the authority of one¡¯s parents. In the fiefdom lurked retainers loyal to the previous lord and potential political enemies coveting his position. To rule through that web, the young lord needed an achievement to shine light on him. Although the current Elf King sat on the co-monarch¡¯s seat with the dowager, the old king was seriously ill, so the acting king was Angoldolph. For the young king, the turbulent situation in the chaotic Empire seemed well suited for raising his authority and building achievements. ¡®?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ??????, ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????????? ????????. . .¡¯ ¡°But what does His Majesty personally taking to the field have to do with you guys being here?¡± ¡°When His Majesty draws his sword and fights evil, how can a knight like me just sit still? I intend to rip out and offer up the heart of a basilisk. For the other bedridden King.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± The old ill king could not be cured by any wizard or priest. Obviously every possible method had been tried since he was in the king¡¯s seat. At this time some wizards said this. To loosen his stone-like body, the heart of a basilisk was needed. Hearing this, the elf knights bravely stepped forward. ¡°I see. So that¡¯s what happened.¡± Only then did Johan understand. Johan would have done the same. A young king who had just ascended the throne. This was a once in a lifetime great opportunity in his eyes. Would he not be able to sit in the empty retainers¡¯ seats? ¡®?? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Of course, regardless of Johan¡¯s thoughts, the elf knights were not making such political calctions. In the midst of the Elf King firing up their blood, the basilisk story came out so they just flooded in. And in fact, considering stability alone, following the Elf King on the campaign was better. ???????????? Johan exchanged greetings with the elf knights in turn. They were the Empire knights who used to ignore him, but they were courteous to Johan. It was because they respected his achievements. ¡®??????????????.¡¯ Johan was surprised. He thought the knights here didn¡¯t have fiefdoms. But unexpectedly, some knights who participated in the hunt had fiefdoms. Among them, the one with the highest status was Count Puakonyu. It was hard to guess the age of an elf, but he was close to three times Johan¡¯s age. Naturally, he took on the role of leading this group. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot of rumors. I didn¡¯t expect to meet you here like this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just embarrassed because the rumors seem to be exaggerated.¡± Johan nced at the armor Puakonyu was wearing. Surprisingly, the shape of the armor was familiar to his eyes. ¡®??????????????. . .?¡¯ Amazingly, the shape of that armor resembled the one Sir Karamaf wore. It felt a littlecking and worn out, but the shape was usible. So is that the dwarf-made te armor from the ancient Empire era? ¡°Oh. Are you curious about this armor?¡± The count pointed at his armor and smiled proudly. ¡°It¡¯s a family treasure that¡¯s been passed down for generations. It¡¯s a treasure that¡¯s been passed down since the days of the old Empire. Although the neck and leg parts are damaged, it¡¯s still great armor.¡± Even if it could not cover the neck and legs, the armor of the ancient Empire was worth wearing. Johan, who had dealt with it directly, could tell. Where else could he find lighter yet tougher armor? ¡°It¡¯s really great armor.¡± ¡°I appreciate thepliment. I¡¯m d a count knight like you said that.¡± Count Puakonyu was a little excited to receive apliment about his family¡¯s treasure. Compliments about the family treasure were always nice to hear. ¡°So are we going to chase the basilisk like this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m thinking. But I¡¯m a little worried because basilisks are sensitive and violent monsters.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan wondered what he meant, then nodded as he saw where Count Puakonyu was pointing. ¡°The mercenaries seem to be trapped on the high ground. Do you know them?¡± ¡°. . .They are people who fought under the banner of the Order with me.¡± Johan wanted to pretend he didn¡¯t know, but he couldn¡¯t. Count Puakonyu looked at Johan with a serious expression, seemingly worried about him. ¡°It might be better not to get involved with such profligate fellows. You never know when they might drag you down.¡± Basically, elves looked down on the Holy Empire. There was a long-standing grudge between the two. As such, they were unlikely to react positively to seeing Holy Empire knights being humiliated. ¡°There¡¯s an old saying in my hometown. On the battlefield, elves are the onlyrades you can trust.¡± ¡®????????, ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?????????? ????????????????. . .¡¯ Honestly, the elves didn¡¯t look much different to Johan. If the elves were gone, it was highly likely that elves would be trapped there. ¡°Anyway, it would be fortunate if the Count rescued them. We¡¯ll be able to chase the basilisk without any disturbances.¡± ¡°Count Puakonyu, Your Excellency, may I help you for a moment?¡± At Lauren¡¯s words, the other elf knights spoke up as well. ¡°My friend. I must go wherever you go. Let us stand shoulder to shoulder and wield our swords together!¡± ¡°Truly beautiful! If you act for the sake of honor, how could this old count stop you?¡± Before Johan could even speak, the elves ended the conversation themselves. Johan looked at them incredulously. I haven¡¯t even given permission yet. . .? But before he could open his mouth, the situation began to change abruptly. Screams and thick smoke began to rise in the distance. ???????????? ¡°Let those running away be! I have no intention of seeing useless blood!¡± The dwarves shouted in coarse voices. Mercenaries gathered in small groups and fled in all directions. Starving, thirsty, and with smoke rising, they started running away. ¡°Foolish people. To not even be able to control your subordinates!¡± The young dwarves ridiculed them when they saw that spectacle. The nobles looked pathetic to them. ¡°The situation seems to be much worse than I thought.¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°There is only one reason why they are not capturing and executing those running away. It might cause a rebellion in this situation.¡± The nobles were notpletely oblivious. If they acted too violently in this tense situation, it could trigger riots. ¡°Send an envoy once more.¡± ¡°Should we not just let them starve to death?¡± ¡°Foolish talk. There is nothing good about creating bad ties with those outside the mountain range.¡± Unlike the hot-blooded young dwarves, the old dwarves were very experienced. The mountain range was not invincible. From the past, countless warriors had led armies into this mountain range, and some of them were truly threatening enemies. Aside from that danger, fighting with the outside was not good. The inside of the mountain range was barren andcked many things, and the goods from the outside obtained through trade were significant. Also, were dwarf mercenaries not employed by feudal lords outside? ¡°Be honored, dwarves! His Excellency Count Yeats wishes to meet with you!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The dwarves were dumbfounded at the sight of the elf knights who appeared below them, riding horses. While they kept some decorum, their words provoked the temperament of the dwarves. As the young dwarves tried to take out their crossbows, the old dwarves stopped them. ¡°Calm down. Save your crossbow bolts forter.¡± ¡°That damn elf isn¡¯t even getting off his horse!¡± ¡°Get off that horse right now!¡± Shouts flew among the dwarves, but the elf knight did not even pretend to listen. ¡°I came as a messenger and so will not get off my horse. I only dismount when received as a guest! Will you receive me as a guest?¡± ¡°Hey! Get him off that horse!¡± ¡°Everyone, calm down. Count Yeats is a count whose household the Balpa n owes.¡± ¡°Oh! Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes. Call the keeper of favors.¡± In the offices of Empire and Kingdom nobles, there were heralds who managed family banners and crests, organizing the banners and crests of other families. The dwarves had something simr. Though instead of crests, they tended to record favors and grudges. The dwarf tasked with the office of keeper of favors, blessed with good memory, nodded his head and said, ¡°Captain Mackald and Captain Vndrunt owe him their lives too.¡± ¡°Hmm. In that case. . .¡± ¡°He cannot bepletely ignored.¡± Adding and subtracting these favors and grudges, the dwarves decided how to treat the other party. ¡°Very well! Prepare to receive them!¡± ¡°How long do you n to keep me waiting!¡± ¡°Shut your mouth, elf! Be grateful we do not drag you off that horse!¡± ¡°These dwarves have no honor! Come out at once!¡± As the young dwarves quarreled with the elf knight, the old dwarf shook his head. ¡°Quiet everyone down.¡± ???????????? ¡°Why are you so anxious?¡± ¡°Um. It¡¯s a bit awkward to say this now, but. . .¡± Suetlg spoke carefully. ¡°Sending the elves as messengers may have been a mistake.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it better than sending the ones here?¡± If he had sent the knights Johan brought, or the dwarves Johan hired, it could have been misunderstood as a provocation. Sending neutral parties as messengers to convey intent was the priority. ¡°Right. The elves¡¯ unique customs and attitudes could anger the dwarves.¡± ¡°The knights would know that much. Besides, would they dare provoke while alone in enemy territory?¡± ¡°Well, you have a point there. Oh. The dwarves areing. It¡¯s fortunate that things seem to have worked out.¡± Trantion-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 216: ??????????, ??????????????, ?????????????????? (2) Chapter 216: ??????????, ??????????????, ?????????????????? (2) Johan and Suetlg felt a little sorry for suspecting the elf knight, so they smiled and said, ¡°Good work. Sir Knight. Thank you for handling the dangerous task well.¡± ¡°If there is honor and courage, how difficult can such a task be? It¡¯s just easy.¡± The elf knight answered arrogantly. Seeing his attitude, Johan and Suetlg admired him once again. It seemed that the two had misunderstood the elf knight. ¡°Your Excellency. In the honorable name of the Golden Hammer tribe, I would like to invite Your Excellency and have your name recorded in the dwarven silver circle if you honor us with epting the invitation.¡± ¡°I gratefully ept.¡± Johan already knew well that dwarves do not easily forget grudges when dealing with them. He had to be especially careful. ¡°Bring alcohol. It has to be a gift.¡± Johan had the squire bring over the barrel of alcohol that he had prepared when departing the city. It was an item he was going to gift as a token of goodwill when meeting the dwarf tribes.Seeing that, the elf knight said, ¡°Does Your Excellency Count need to give something like that?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this much needed when meeting angry dwarves?¡± ¡°Even without that, those frozen fellows will figure it out themselves. While Your Excellency¡¯s generosity is certainly a virtue, I fear the dwarves may take advantage of it.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan became puzzled. Seeing the way the elf knight spoke, no matter how he looked at it, there was no way to not offend the dwarves¡¯ temperament. Did he keep his mouth shut when he went as a messenger? ???????????? Johan dismounted from his horse and walked with the dwarf mercenaries. Seeing that, the dwarves made satisfied expressions. ¡°You got off your horse and walked here. His Excellency the Count knows courtesy.¡± ¡°Yes, we knew you¡¯d be different from those damn elves. ording to the stories of the Silver Circle, elves aren¡¯t the kind of people you get along with.¡± Hearing the dwarves¡¯ words, Johan concealed his bewildered feelings. Just getting off his horse and walking here was already too courteous. Of course, Johan did have some prior dealings with the dwarves, but the main reason was that the elf knight who went ahead had umted a lot of resentment. It made for too much contrast in the eyes of the young dwarves. In fact, the elf knights in the rear encampment were so angry that Johan was walking that some were even tearfully grinding their teeth in frustration. They regretted not stopping Johan. ¡°Your Excellency Count Yeats. Twenty casks of the finest ale! A debt of gratitude!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Hearing the dwarf Silver Circle¡¯s loud roar, Johan moved his steps toward the interior of the dwarf encampment. ¡°Your Excellency Count. We harbor no resentment towards that army. What skills could we dwarves, stuck in these mountains, have to arrogantly attack anyone?¡± The old dwarf, Kranxton, cautiously opened his mouth. Unlike the young dwarf, as the long-time leader of the tribe, he was a wise and sagacious dwarf. He knew well what would happen if the dwarves living within the mountain range fought with outsiders. Whatever the reason, their opponent¡¯s pride had clearly been hurt right now. After all, nobles of the same alliance had been attacked. ¡°I also harbor no resentment towards the dwarves.¡± ¡± . . .???¡± ¡°In life, misfortunes pile up and misunderstandings mix in, inevitably making us point des and spears at each other.¡± ¡°Well said.¡± At the appropriate moment, Suetlg supplemented Johan¡¯s words. Johan nodded as if he had spoken very well. Bewildered by the eloquence of the two wizards pushing and pulling, the dwarf elders seated stared nkly. The other side was more mild-mannered than they had expected. That old wizard makes sense, but the young count next to him should be boiling with youthful vigor, no? ording to rumors he wasn¡¯t a coward either. It wouldn¡¯t have been strange for him to erupt in anger as soon as he sat down. . .? ¡°So I want to hear what misunderstanding urred. I will listen attentively so tell me.¡± ¡°Y-Yes. I will exin right away, Your Excellency.¡± The dwarves collected themselves from their confusion and began speaking. The tribes settled in the mountain ranges were often misunderstood as barbaric and ferocious but in reality were far from that. The mountains were also a ce where people lived. Those who only had brutality could not survive long there. What was Johan necessary in the mountain ranges was instead wisdom. The wisdom to find edible things, the wisdom to read omens and prepare in advance, the wisdom to avoid danger. In a way, you could say thest was the most important. And in the mountain ranges, the greatest danger was usually monsters. While knights and the like tried to hunt monsters, ordinary people prioritized avoiding monsters or making them retreat. The dwarves were the same. However. . . ¡°. . .The expedition woke up a basilisk?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right, Your Excellency. Because of that, twenty of the mountain goats we were raising turned to stone.¡± For a moment, Johan and Suetlg were at a loss for words. If they had woken up some other monster that would be one thing, but for waking up a basilisk, there was nothing they could say. It was understandable for the dwarves to be enraged and try to demandpensation. ¡°Not only did they wake it up, but even when we told them to return without further provoking the creature, they ignored us. I cannot even guess how much more havoc the basilisk would have wreaked if we had not driven it off like that.¡± ¡°. . .If Ipensate you for the mountain goats and take those people back with me, could you forget about this incident?¡± Hearing Johan¡¯s words, the dwarves froze. Guessing why they were hesitating, Johan nodded and spoke again. ¡°I swear on my honor that there will be no retaliation for this matter.¡± The nobles gathered on the heights swallowing the choking smoke may feel differently, but Johan harbored no resentment towards the dwarves. Seeing Johan speak, the dwarves¡¯ faces brightened. ¡°If His Excellency the Count shows such favor, we will not forget the grace.¡± ???????????? ¡°We¡¯ve been tricked by those dwarf b*stards!¡± The elf knights shouted decisively as soon as they heard it. The situation had not yet been fully exined. ¡°. . .Goat prices aren¡¯t that expensive. Instead of fighting in such cramped quarters, can¡¯t we settle this matter honorably?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it wound Your Excellency Count¡¯s honorable pride? My friend here has studiedw and knows it well. If you leave it to him, he¡¯ll expose their despicable lies.¡± His fidgeting with the sword at his waist made it seem like the Count was considering a judicial duel. Johan ignored him and said: ¡°I¡¯ll pay in silver coins and bring an expedition. When the expedition arrives, prepare food so they can eat. Count Puakonyu. From what the dwarves said, it seems they know the basilisk¡¯s location. Shouldn¡¯t we ask them about it?¡± Instead of speaking to the other elves, Johan addressed Count Puakonyu. As the oldest among them, he should know how to bend his stubbornness and bow. ¡°Hmm. I see. But rather than ask the dwarves, we¡¯ll find it with our own strength.¡± ¡°. . .I see. As you wish.¡± Johan looked at Iselia beside him with renewed interest. Iselia tilted her head and asked: ¡°Do you have something to say, my dear?¡± ¡°I was just thinking how fortunate I am that the elf I met is you, Iselia.¡± ¡°Wha, wha, what. . .¡± Iselia¡¯s face turned red at his sudden words. ???????????? Johan, who had been wondering whether to get angry, scold them sternly, orfort them, couldn¡¯t get angry when he saw the state the returning expedition was in. Regardless of their status, high or low, they had be so destitute that they were extremely hungry. ¡°Count. . .¡± Seeing them trying to keep up appearances despite their condition, Johan shook his head and waved his hand. Then the servants brought in millet porridge served in bowls. The mercenaries were taken aback at the sight. It was too in a dish for a count to eat. The noble who received the bowl with trembling hands looked puzzled and nced at the sub-bishop next to him. ¡°Isn¡¯t this. . . too simple?¡± ¡°Is it not to uphold the virtue of frugality?¡± Unlike the other nobles, the sub-bishop was someone who had gotten used to coarse food. He scooped the porridge without hesitation. Despite his hunger, it was much more ptable than he had expected. Suetlg casually took a spoonful and looked at Johan in wonder as he brought it to his mouth. ¡°Did you order this? It¡¯s surprisingly tasty for something made by servants.¡± ¡°After boiling the millet, I drained off the water, added milk and eggs, then some spices and meat juice.¡± ¡°Quite skilled. I wondered why you served this, but now that I¡¯ve heard about it and tasted it, I almost regret it.¡± ¡°If you gorged on greasy food right away and copsed, how would that look?¡± ¡®???? ???? ???????????? ?? ?????????????¡¯ Who would have thought a knight who wielded a warhammer and ughtered enemies in their armor would have this kind of skill? Suetlg was increasingly amazed the more he looked. Seeing the sub-bishop eat with relish, the other starving nobles also started eating. Naturally they ate more desperately than Suetlg since they were much hungrier. It was a rare sight one would not see normally. ¡°Bring meat and wine in a while.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± There was one good thing about the nobles being extremely hungry. Too exhausted and worn out to do anything but eat and rest, there were none who thought of revenge. ¡®????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°Um. . . Count.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°The skills of the servant who made this porridge are pretty decent. You wouldn¡¯t sell him for a high price when we get back, would you?¡± ¡°. . . . .¡± ???????????? Although they rescued the expedition team, they couldn¡¯t return right away. From the mercenaries to nobles¡¯ servants, there were many who found it difficult to walk on their own feet. They had to eat, rest for a few days, then march. Upon hearing of the basilisk, the elven knights eagerly prepared to go find it. Asking the dwarves would make things much easier, but they chose to discover it themselves. It seemed everything was resolved without any issues. . . . . .until the dwarves came to mediate, that is. ¡°Say that again. Who kidnapped who?¡± ¡°Those damn dwarves kidnapped Sir Lauren out of resentment!¡± ¡°Nonsense! Why would we kidnap your whelps? If anything, you abducted the shield-bearer¡¯s son, and now you¡¯re making a fuss!¡± ¡°As if we care about your filthy, stench-ridden, half-grown dwarfling!¡± ¡°Say one more word, and I swear on my beard I¡¯ll stick a bolt down your ugly gob. . .¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you all shut up?!¡± Johan growled viciously. The ferocious voice made the air tremble, and the nearby Karamaf jolted up in surprise. When a usually generous, easygoing man gets angry, it feels more terrifying no matter the race. Seeing the friendly count¡¯s first outburst stunned both races into silence. ¡°Anyone who speaks without my permission from now on, I¡¯ll take as insulting my honor. State the situation in order.¡± As Johan listened to the dwarves and elves exin in order, his expression strangely changed. An elven knight and a young dwarf had gone missing. It didn¡¯t seem like they kidnapped each other, rather. . . ¡°It seems the basilisk¡¯s doing. . .?¡± Jyanina cautiously spoke up. The dwarves and elves red at Jyanina. A dwarf raised his hand, asking permission to speak. ¡°When a basilisk looks for prey, it turns anything in its way to stone as itzily feeds. It doesn¡¯t sneak around stealing things like a thief in the night!¡± ¡°But it only acts so confidently when it thinks it can win. If its prey looks difficult, it may resort to stealthily stealing morsels.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The dwarf seemed at a loss for words and said no more. Johan nodded at Jyanina¡¯s argument. ¡°It¡¯s highly likely the basilisk took them.¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s. . .¡± ¡°If so, shouldn¡¯t your two racesbine strength to find it instead of arguing like this?¡± At Suetlg¡¯s words, the elven count and chieftain looked at each other. Regardless of animosity, they couldn¡¯t deny the need to cooperate. ¡°. . .Count, if you aid me in finding Sir Lauren on the honor of my n, I swear on my beard to repay you. To join strength with them requires the count¡¯s help.¡± ¡°Your Excellency, if you help find him sworn on the honorable name of your ancestors, I swear to repay you. Without your leadership, it¡¯s absolutely impossible to fight alongside them.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan regretted not whipping the expedition team down from the mountain. Trantion-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 217: ??????????, ??????????????, ?????????????????? (3) Chapter 217: ??????????, ??????????????, ?????????????????? (3) Sometimes built up fame can also shackle one¡¯s ankles. ¡°. . .Despite my inadequate abilities, I will daringly take on themand.¡± At those words, the elves and dwarves seated roared in unison. They were beings who could never fully understand each other, but at this moment, their thoughts aligned. ???????????? ¡°The only constion is that the basilisk took them instead of killing them.¡± At Jyanina¡¯s words, the elves and dwarves red at her. If she hadn¡¯t been Johan¡¯s subordinate, they would haveshed out at her. Realizing btedly, Jyanina hurriedly changed her words. ¡°I mean, I didn¡¯t say it¡¯s fortunate they were captured. . . I mean. . .¡± ¡®???????? ????. . .¡¯¡°Does it mean there¡¯s a higher chance they¡¯re still alive since the basilisk took them?¡± ¡°Yes! That¡¯s exactly what I meant!¡± The basilisk had the power of petrification in its eyes to turn its enemies into stone. But it too was a living creature. It couldn¡¯t turn its preypletely into stone for food. So usually it would petrify its enemies to death, but subdue its prey with its thick body and tail to take them. If they were dead, they would be left petrified into stone. So the high chance is that those who were taken still have intact flesh, bones and blood. ¡°What¡¯s more fortunate is. . .¡± Johan beckoned Jyanina toe closer. Jyanina stopped speaking and approached him puzzledly. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be left behind, it¡¯s better not to talk about good fortune.¡± ¡°. . .Y-Yes. Since basilisks go hunting when they are hungry, there¡¯s a chance the captured ones are still intact until it digests its meal. . .¡± It was the only piece of good news. Johan nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not very difficult to track it down. There are excellent hunters here, and dwarves who know the terrain well. Plus my wolf is good at picking up the scent of monsters. The basilisk is a brutal magical beast but it doesn¡¯t have the skill to cover its tracks.¡± The stronger the monster, the clumsier it is at hiding its trail. On the other hand, there were overwhelmingly many here who were skilled at tracking. Tracking it down wasn¡¯t the issue. ¡°The problem is how to capture it. . .¡± Silence fell over the ce. Not only capturing the basilisk, but they had to rescue the hostages it took as well. An already difficult task became several times more difficult. ¡°Your Excellency. If Sir Lauren bes a hindrance, you don¡¯t have to rescue him. Sir Lauren is already prepared. He would feel more humiliated if he bes a hindrance to you.¡± ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????¡¯ But surprisingly, none of the elves objected. And honestly, Johan thought Lauren would think that way. On the other hand, the dwarves couldn¡¯t bring themselves to say it so lightly. A child was captured. Johan spoke considerately for them. ¡°I have no ns to give up rescuing the hostages. Rest assured I have no ns to demand sacrifice.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Excellency!¡± ¡°How were you knights originally nning to capture it?¡± The elves took out bronze mirrors from their bags. Though they called them mirrors, they were almost as big as small shields. The finely polished mirrors radiated dazzling light. As the most basic method against magical beasts with petrification, there were of course mirrors. ¡°Does it die if it looks into the mirror?¡± ¡°No. It has resistance so it won¡¯t die even if it looks into the mirror, only stunned for a moment.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s enough.¡± The elven knights took out their spears. Faint traces of magic pulsated through them, as if they were weapons passed down through generations of the families. They would bind and surround the beast and stab at it from all sides like a hunting party. It was a simple and daring method, one that elves would choose. In the first ce, methods to capture magical beasts without casualties were rare. It was a life-or-death fight of whether the beast died or the knights died. ¡°How do dwarves fight such monsters?¡± ¡°We have weapons made specifically to fight such beasts.¡± As expected of the skilled dwarven race, they took out siege weapons. Not to break castle walls or buildings, but smaller in size to capturerge monsters. They looked like huge iron ballistas, but were modified with dwarven techniques to be automatic repeating ballistas. Attached to the arrows were ropes, specially barbed arrowheads that wouldn¡¯te out easily once lodged in. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????????, ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????????¡¯ This too was a daring method. The will to capture it even if several died could be felt. Of course, if Johan was satisfied with such crude methods, he wouldn¡¯t have asked in the first ce. As Johan was pondering, he suddenly recalled the clock in his pocket, the one with the siren¡¯s song sealed within. He had never used it before but was certain it would have an effect. ¡°Jyanina, if the basilisk were to hear a siren¡¯s song, do you think it¡¯ll be enchanted? Bewitched?¡± ¡°Your Excellency, why ask such a childish question at a time like this?¡± ¡°. . .Just answer the question.¡± ¡°Um. . . it might be? Since sirens turn into stone too if they meet a basilisk¡¯s eyes.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± Hearing that, Johan felt the outline of a n forming. ???????????? The trail of the basilisk ended abruptly in a dark and gloomy cave. Johan instinctively felt that there was a monster inside. Karamaf seemed to sense it too, growling fiercely. ¡°Settle down. I don¡¯t want to wake it up yet.¡± ¡°You think something¡¯s in there?¡± ¡°Looks like it. Good work.¡± The two rangers bowed their heads. They were relieved they didn¡¯t lose face in front of Johan. Outwardly they were calmly tracking the basilisk, but inside they were desperate. ¡°Silence your steps and get into position.¡± The dwarves nodded and began cing therge irons they had brought in their carts around the cave. The elf knights asked excitedly and nervously: ¡°Isn¡¯t this unnecessarily provoking it?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t use them until its movementspletely stop, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Johan looked around with a frown. A nearby tree branch had turned to stone. The bird-shaped fragments still attached told of what had happened. ¡°Suetlg-nim, if you could assure me your magic could revive even those turned to stone, it would set my mind at ease.¡± ¡°. . .While I can¡¯t guarantee anything else, if you were to be injured, I pledge my honor I would certainly revive you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s somewhatforting.¡± Johan grabbed his Giant yer. He was strangely amazed at how, even in this situation, calmness took precedence over fear. He felt as if he hadpletely be a person of this world. ¡°Plug your ears. Have your mirrors ready. If anyone draws their sword before I signal, I will take it as an insult to my honor.¡± The elf knights nodded. They were about to enter the cave where the basilisk resided. As knights walking the path of glory and danger, they had no choice but to believe in the one at the vanguard. The light disappeared and darkness emerged. Johan strained all his senses to get a feel for the inside of the cave. The Vitality Blessing he had received in the temple of an unknown pagan god amplified Johan¡¯s senses. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????. ????????. . . ???? ???? ?????????????? ????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ It was unfortunate the beast wasn¡¯t in a deep sleep, but there was no useining. At least it was asleep at all. Johan opened his pocket watch and let a song spill out. ¡°. . .??¡± The elf knights following behind looked at Johan in confusion. In the darkness where they could barely see, Johan¡¯s sudden actions seemed abrupt. What was this young count thinking? ¡®???????? ??????????.¡¯ Count Puakonyu unhesitatingly followed Johan. They had pledged to follow the vanguard knight with their elf hearts and lives. As time passed, the siren song grew sadder and more wicked. Its power was nothing like what he had heard in front of Vndrunt. As the echo of the siren song flowed through the cave, even with their ears plugged, the spirits inside Johan writhed in agony. Valkalmur and Teshuka screamed to be set free. ¡®?? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ??????.¡¯ Feeling goosebumps rise on his skin, Johan walked forward. The basilisk¡¯s breathing was growing deeper. Whoosh! Johan boldly lit the torch. The knights bit their lips in dismay. Blood seeped out. But no angry roars of the basilisk were heard. What they saw was the long, gigantic snake filling up the inside of the cave. ¡®????????.¡¯ One of the elf knights nearly stepped on the basilisk, they were so close. Cold sweat covered his body. Johan gestured. While everyone was distracted by the basilisk, only Johan had checked inside. Count Puakonyu felt a thrill bordering on admiration at the young count¡¯sposure. Even with a monster in front of him that could kill him in three different ways in a second, what he felt was confidence rather than fear. He had never seen any knight disy such a bearing. Inside where Johan pointed, there was a deep pit with an elf and dwarf trapped. They too seemed out of their minds from the siren song. Johan grabbed a rope and climbed down, seizing the two. ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????¡¯ Bewildered, they couldn¡¯t convey words or stop mistakes from happening whileing out. The elf knights wondered how Johan was going to take the two out. ????????????! ¡°. . . . . .¡± With a dull sound, the elf and dwarf copsed. Johan plugged their ears and tied them up with rope before carrying them out. ¡®??????????????.¡¯ Despite not even being inside the cave for a full hour, it felt like decades had passed. The knights slowly took steps, feeling like the massive snake woulde shrieking and chasing after them at any moment. ????????©¥ Suddenly, the song ended and the spirit fell silent. The song contained in the clock had finished. At the same time, the basilisk¡¯s breathing changed sharply. As the beast began to seethe noisily, Johan hurriedly sent a signal. ??????! Seeing the knights emerge unharmed with anxious expressions, they unconsciously clenched their fists without realizing. What¡¯s more, the young Count had even brought the captured people with him! It was an unbelievable feat. Not only did he catch the basilisk, but he entered itsir and brought back the captured people alive. Shocked by witnessing something straight out of legend with their own two eyes, it was Johan who awakened them. Johan threw off the earmuffs and shouted. ¡°Get ready!¡± ¡°!¡± The dwarves hurriedly aimed the giant iron cannon. The bronze mirrors were arranged like a shield wall. Sunlight shed and shot into the cave. The basilisk would be attacked as soon as it came out, and if it stopped moving, its body would be pierced by arrows. From inside came the sounds of furious screams and rolling. People swallowed their saliva and waited. ¡°. . .¡± However, the beast did note out immediately. ¡®???????? ???? ????????? ?????? ???? ?????????????¡¯ ©¥????????????! Karamaf began howling and pounding the floor. At that moment, Johan instinctively picked up the Giant yer. Everyone was surprised by Johan abruptly grabbing the Giant yer and turned their gazes. Following the inexplicable superhuman intuition, Johan swung the Giant yer with all his might. The basilisk, who was trying to melt through the poisonous hard rock and burst out, shrieked as it was struck by the powerful blow from above. ¡°It appeared on this side!¡± Seeing the basilisk moving by digging through the ground for the first time, people were horrified and hurriedly moved. Who would¡¯ve thought the arrogant tyrant basilisk was capable of such sly tricks. ¡°Close your eyes!¡± However, there was no need. The basilisk¡¯s head was half blown off at the top. People who unconsciously nced at its hideous missing piece couldn¡¯t close their mouths. They didn¡¯t know whether to be shocked by Johan¡¯s monstrous strength,nding such a degree of damage despite a grazing blow, or by the vitality of the basilisk that was still alive and moving despite having its head and eyes blown off. ¡°Were you aiming for that!??!¡± ¡°Would I aim for that? Stop it from escaping!¡± Even in that injured state, it tried to escape by throwing its body into the hole. In an instant, half its body disappeared inside. As the knights were confused about what to do, Johan grabbed its tail with both arms. And pulled. ¡°Count! What kind of crazy. . .¡± The elf knight tried to stop him, but blinked. It was being dragged out of the hole. Trantion-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 218: ??????????, ??????????????, ?????????????????? (4) Chapter 218: ??????????, ??????????????, ?????????????????? (4) Is it really possible for one person to defeat a monstrous giant in a contest of strength? Most would likely say no. If Sir Lauren were here, he may have imed ¡®??????, ?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ??????????¡¯?? ?????? ??????????????!¡¯ but now hey defeated. . . Blood gushed forth. The elven knights were shocked and rushed to assist Johan. They thought it was Johan¡¯s blood. However, it was not Johan¡¯s blood but the basilisk¡¯s that flowed out. Its blood scorched the earth and gave off a foul stench. ¡°. . .!!!¡± The onlookers were stunned. Johan had grasped the basilisk¡¯s tail with powerful arms, and blood poured from between his clenched fists. Its scales were torn and muscles ripped apart as it thrashed violently. Johan tore through the monster¡¯s tough muscle with the strength of his grip. A fierce pulse could be felt at his fingertips. Still focused, Johan uttered through gritted teeth. ¡°. . .would you mind lending a hand?¡±¡°Y-Yes! We apologize!!¡± It was then that people finally came to their senses. The chaotic ce was quickly brought under control. The dwarves aimed their ballistas towards the hole. They were determined to pierce and nail it down if it got dragged out a bit more. The elf knights tightly bound their spears before mercilessly stabbing the exposed basilisk¡¯s tail. Every time they stabbed, sounds of rupture and screams burst out. ¡°It¡¯s struggling! Don¡¯t let your guard down!¡± Even though more than five spears had pierced it, the basilisk¡¯s movements did not stop. The dwarves waved their hands and shouted. Those damn elves were just getting in the way without even catching their breath. ¡°Get out of the way! You elf b*stards!¡± ????????????! An even bigger sound than before rang out as arge heavy arrow pierced its body. Still, the basilisk moved. Its vitality was truly astonishing. ¡°How. . . How can this be?¡± ¡°You guys borrow that kind of device and still can¡¯t catch it!¡± Now it was the elf knights¡¯ turn to criticize. Johan wanted to tell everyone to shut their traps, but he couldn¡¯t because he was so focused. The basilisk had been dragged out about halfway, but somehow its strength still overflowed vigorously. Johan had the advantage in strength, but as the b*stard kept enduring, fatigue began to umte in his muscles. It was then that the spirit sleeping inside Johan moved. Strength returned to his tired muscles, and ferocity wrapped around his fingertips. Johan¡¯s pupils shone vibrantly like those of a beast. At first, he thought his body had fully recovered. However, Johan realized that wasn¡¯t it. His fingertips felt rugged and thicker, like a dragon¡¯s ws. ¡°What. . .?!¡± What shed through Johan¡¯s mind at that moment was Gulrak, the barbarian of the ck Forest. The wizard who knew the mysteries of the forest and could transform into a bear. The spirit was trying to transform Johan like that now. ¡®?????? ???? ???????? ??*??????????. . .?¡¯ Johan soon realized why. He had taken off his metal armor to enter the basilisk¡¯s den, and had even thrown aside the Giant yer. With the restraint removed and he was facing a strong enemy empty-handed, the spirit was delighted. ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????????!¡¯ But Johan strongly rejected it. Some wizards took pride in showing off their skills by transforming into all sorts of things, but Johan had no interest in that. Besides, he was more afraid of missing this opportunity by transforming incorrectly now. The spirit, Teshuka, gave up on transforming Johan after being rejected and withdrew inside. Thanks to that, Johan¡¯s strength recovered and he pulled the basilisk out with all his might. As if its spirit waspletely broken, the basilisk began to get dragged out limply. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö! As if trying to resist one final time, the basilisk violently thrashed its body. Johan tightly embraced the upper part of its dragged out body and started squeezing with all his might. ??????????! The sound of bones breaking rang out. It abruptly went limp after struggling, and could no longer move. After making sure its breath was cut off, Johan released his hands. He had grabbed it so strongly that his fingers pierced through its scales and skin into its muscles. A roar of cheers erupted after a brief silence. It was the cheers of those who had witnessed this unbelievable miracle before their eyes. ???????????? ¡°Is your body okay? Tell me right away if there¡¯s anything strange. Don¡¯t hide it for no reason.¡± ¡°I¡¯mpletely fine.¡± While others were cleaning up, Johan was resting. He had borrowed the power of spirits to catch the beast, so his fatigue was no joke. Suetlg was worried about Johan who had engaged in closebat with the basilisk. He was concerned whether he had been exposed to its venom or gaze. Fortunately though, Johan was unharmed. Other than the heavy fatigue, there were no injuries. ¡°Sir Lauren.¡± ¡°I sincerely thank you for saving me, Your Excellency.¡± Lauren entered the tent politely. He had bandages wrapped around the area where he had been injured when kidnapped by the basilisk. ¡°Why are you walking around instead of resting if you¡¯re injured?¡± ¡°Wounds like these are trivial for a knight. I didn¡¯t think I was hurt by that old dwarf, but when I opened my eyes, it turned out to be painful.¡± Lauren murmured as he touched his bruised areas. Lauren had beenpletely unharmed when he was abducted as prey by the cunning basilisk. He had even been looking for a chance to escape. ¡®. . .???????? ?? ????????????.¡¯ Johan realized the area Lauren had bandaged was where he had struck. ¡°If Your Excellency hadn¡¯te, I would have died with that old dwarf.¡± ¡°That dwarf was a boy.¡± ¡°. . .Really?! No wonder he was shaking in fear. . .¡± ¡°I hope you didn¡¯t insult him in that situation.¡± Hearing Johan¡¯s words, Lauren scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t bother insulting those weaker than me. I was thinking of escaping together with him.¡± ¡®?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ????????????, ?? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ However, surprisingly, Lauren¡¯s words were true. The rescued young dwarf spoke favorably of Lauren. Thanks to this, the dwarves no longer red and even slightly thanked Lauren. ¡°Not insulting the weak is natural for a knight. You guys may not know, but. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough nonsense.¡± Seeing the dwarves with expressions like ¡®???????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ??*??????????,¡¯ Johan shut the elf¡¯s mouth. In the meantime, the dwarf workers skillfully butchered the basilisk. Its scales and skin were stripped and its meat was chopped up. Only its shattered bones remained, making it look eerie. ¡®?????????????? ???? ??????????????.¡¯ She was excitedly bossing the workers around after being told to take anything necessary or useful. While the basilisk¡¯s heart was famous, other parts weren¡¯t useless either. ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate its eyes didn¡¯t remain, it would have been nice.¡± ¡°Who could have known things would turn out like this.¡± Its gaze was one of the most powerful magical reagents, but there was little hope left after its head was blown off. When the organizing was mostly finished, elves carrying a heavy chest came looking for Johan. It was painted without gaps, and magical energy could even be felt from it. Johan knew well what was inside. ¡°Did you safely collect the heart?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Excellency. But we decided the rights to this heart belong to Your Excellency.¡± The elven knights all nodded as if in agreement. Count Puakonyu stepped forward as representative. ¡°Count. We offer this heart in respect of the valor and honor the count has shown. It is only fitting the count should receive this rightful spoil of war.¡± ¡°. . .No. Since I didn¡¯t catch it with my strength alone, the honor should be shared.¡± Johan declined. It wasn¡¯t because he really thought that way, but out of respect for the elven knights¡¯ dignity. Of course, the elven knights weren¡¯t petty enough to resent Johan over a single heart, but thinking about the future, it was better to yield this heart. Johan had fully realized what kind of power fame and honor held. For that power, he could yield the basilisk heart. ¡°But still. . .¡± ¡°No. . .¡± ¡°Of course but. . .¡± ¡°However. . .¡± After the tedious conversation, the elven knights epted the heart. They swore they would make sure the knight¡¯s name who obtained this heart would be known. ???????????? ¡°Count Yeats. Basilisk hunting! Recorded in grace!¡± The party started their descent with the farewell of the dwarves. It was the opposite of when they had climbed up. The nobles of the Alliance were surprised to hear that Johan had hunted basilisks with the elf knights. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me?? ¡°Why do you think? The elves must have been jealous.¡± The nobles asked and answered their own questions. Since there was no need to deny it, Johan did not say much. In the first ce, wasn¡¯t it because he didn¡¯t want to take them again and moved like lightning with a minimum number of people? ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????????*?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡°At least we have some spoils that won¡¯t hurt our dignity too much.¡± One of the nobles said in a relieved voice. Having set out to subdue the monster and then being surrounded on the mountain, the embarrassment was not ordinary, but now there was a chance to rectify that. The basilisk¡¯s skin and bones would serve as proof that the expedition was sessful. The byproducts of the evil monster had a more intense power than any evidence or testimony. ¡°If the nobles hadn¡¯te forward to fight, how could I have brought down the basilisk? It¡¯s all thanks to you.¡± ¡°???¡° Those with even a little conscience or brains were bewildered by Johan¡¯s words, but the nobles readily epted Johan¡¯s consideration. It was shameless, but their embarrassment had been that deep. Johan didn¡¯t really care if he said he caught the basilisk alone or if several people caught it together. As long as this made the nobles touched and shut up for a while, anything was fine. Despite securing the heart, the elf knights did not leave immediately. They joined Johan¡¯s party and came down to the city. ¡°Whye down to the city instead of going straight to the kingdom?¡± ¡°There is no hurry and no benefit to crossing the mountain range for no reason. Especially with such a treasure.¡± Many dangersy dormant in the Dwarf Mountains. From monsters and tribes to natural disasters. For the elf knights who had to offer the basilisk¡¯s heart, crossing the mountain range was an unnecessary risk they did not have to take. Johan suddenly remembered and said to the elf knights. ¡°Oh right. Don¡¯t insult the nobles about the basilisk hunt when you get to the city.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Seeing the embarrassed expressions of the elf knights, Johan realized what the elves were about to say. Johan had just prevented a near swordfight from happening in the city. ???????????? ¡°Your excellency. I thought I shoulde directly to inform you of this!¡± Before the returning procession had even passed through the city gates, Adviko stopped them along with the servants. Johan, who had wanted to restfortably in the city, looked at Adviko with displeased eyes and asked, ¡°What is it? Did an assassination happen? Or is someone plotting a rebellion?¡± Neither seemed very likely. While there may have been attempts to assassinate Adviko, that was something Adviko would have to deal with himself. . . After all that chaos, there shouldn¡¯t be any more fools plotting something. However, Adviko¡¯s pale face did not return. He carefully said, ¡°Your excellency. . . I¡¯ve received reports that Cardirian has achieved a great victory in the south. . .¡± ¡°. . .?!?!¡± It was news that shocked his tired mind awake. Johan asked in disbelief, ¡°What did you say? Didn¡¯t Cardirian¡¯s forces get bogged down in the south?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, I thought so too. . .¡± ¡°What about the intelligence? It could just be a rumor.¡± ¡°I-I wish it were just a rumor, but from hearing it from several ces, it doesn¡¯t seem to be false information.¡± With his forces unable to suppress the southern rebellion and other feudal lords now pointing their spears at the emperor. . . Given that even the Elf King had brought troops to intervene, retreating north seemed to be Cardirian¡¯s only option. And yet, victory? Could he really have overturned that disadvantageous situation and won? Trantion-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 219: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (1) Chapter 219: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (1) ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! That can¡¯t be possible! Are you saying that His Majesty lost??¡± Due to the shocking news, the expressions of those present were filled with confusion. The elven knights reacted most sensitively to the news. It was unbelievable to them that their young king personally led the army and was defeated. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????????. . .¡¯ And Johan was the one who epted the situation fastest. While it was shocking and unbelievable, denying reality wouldn¡¯t change anything. I wish it was just a rumor, but I had to ept it as the truth and think about it. ¡°Let¡¯s hypothetically assume the emperor miraculously won. How would the situation change?¡± ¡°First of all, our Free City is in danger, Your Excellency!¡± Even though Johan didn¡¯t ask Adviko specifically, he was the first to step forward. Adviko was the most eager. After switching from the emperor faction to the church faction, he had been wielding the iron fist to demonstrate his loyalty. In order to survive, he had captured some people the emperor had sent and offered them to Johan, and executed some emperor faction members in the city. . . Aside from the defeat in battle, Adviko had umted a lot of grudges. Even if the brutal emperor didn¡¯t try to kill him, other nobles under him would seek revenge. ¡°You are exaggerating too much.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. There are mountains in between and the southern nobles won¡¯t simply let it happen either.¡± However, the church faction nobles did not agree with Adviko¡¯s words. In the first ce, whether Adviko perished or the city burned down, it was not a big issue for them. Realizing they were nonchnt, Adviko panicked. He shouted desperately. ¡°No! Your Excellency! Even though there are mountains in between, they can bypass and advance from the west without much difficulty! Hasn¡¯t this happened several times before?! And even if some southern feudal lords of the Empire remain, after such a major defeat they won¡¯t have the courage to make a move for a while either! After thising winter passes, the emperor will send an army to this city! Please consider this seriously!¡± ¡°Alright, calm down first.¡± What Adviko said was not wrong. They could simply march around the mountains instead of crossing over them. The cities around there were Empire cities for now, so they would not obstruct the emperor. Moreover, right after the emperor had imed a great victory, they would be even more cautious. With the spoils of war he had gained, even if the southern feudal lords resisted, hiring a new army to send to the city would be very possible. ¡®???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????.¡¯ Most of all, if this Free City was upied, it would inevitably make the church and Johan feel uneasy. It could serve as a bridgehead for the emperor¡¯s army to descend at any time. ¡®?????? ?????????????? ???? ???????????????????? ?????????? ???????????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ????????. . .¡¯ When the enemy army had advanced to the heart of the churchnds, it was easy to gather allies, but the current situation was different from that time. It was also unclear whether the emperor would invade or not, but most of all, this was not an issue right in front of their own fiefdoms. It seemed unlikely that the participating feudal lords would listen. ¡®?????????? ???? ??????, ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????????, ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????. ?? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ??????????. . .¡¯ ¡°Your Excellency. If you fight, I will join you.¡± ¡°?!¡± Johan was surprised by the sudden words of the noble. What? ¡°Ah. Are you after money?¡± I would understand if he was after gold. Not only penniless knights were after gold. Among feudal lords, there were many who were poor and deep in debt. Although he obtained quite a bit of gold from this victory, the extravagance of the nobles was enough to startle even Johan. It was understandable that they would step forward for more coins. . . .However, Johan¡¯s thoughts were off the mark. ¡°Your Excellency seems to be worried about respecting the face and rights of the nobles here. But at least for me, I owe my life twice over to Your Excellency. Even though You told me not to worry about it, I want to repay Your Excellency¡¯s grace if possible. If Your Excellency wishes, I will lead my soldiers to serve in the military.¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± Johan was surprised and looked at the baron. He was always disobeying orders, charging ahead on his own, climbing up Dwarf Mountains only to get surrounded, and doing all sorts of exasperating things. But speaking with such sincerity made him seem like a different person. It is more effective when someone who doesn¡¯t usually act like this shows their good side. The elf knights who were listening were moved and apuded. ¡°So there is a noble here who values honor!¡± ¡°When I return to my fiefdom, I must speak of the baron¡¯s honorable name!¡± As the elf knights sang his praises, the baron waved his hand in embarrassment. His actions were modest but his face looked quite pleased. Influenced by this, the other nobles followed suit. Whether they genuinely thought so or were just reading the atmosphere, they swore from their seats that they too would serve in the military if Johan wished. ¡°Staking the honor and name of my house, I will follow behind Your Excellency the Count to fight the rebels!¡± Seeing the nobles one by one drawing their swords to swear their oaths, Suetlg whispered to Johan in an admiring voice. ¡°No matter what, I thought they put up with your personality well, but was this your n? I¡¯m truly impressed.¡± ¡°. . .Who would n something like this? It¡¯s just a coincidence.¡± ???????????? The city people prayed the rumors of the emperor¡¯s victory were false. Although it was Adviko¡¯s doing, if the emperor¡¯s armyes, things will not end with his neck, so. . . The emperor¡¯s army will not be as honorable as the Order¡¯s army. However, despite such prayers, the rumors became more solid and began to have a sense of reality. The emperor¡¯s victory was heard from various sources such as merchants who came down from there, additionally sent people, and trustworthy messengers. ¡°It was said to be three to four times as many, no? How did he win?¡± ording to the rumors, the army personally led by the emperor was around ten thousand. Thebined forces of the allied forces they faced were said to be thirty to forty thousand. Thirty to forty thousand. It was an unimaginable scale. Literally scraping together all their power to finish off the emperor. ¡°Cardirian. . .when he was young he was a formidablemander. When I was young, rted rumors would sprout up one by one every time I woke up.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they say he was old and sick?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. I guess there must have been an excellentmander among the lower nobles.¡± Separate from the shock Johan received, Suetlg was not that surprised. More precisely, it was closer to believing in Johan. To be honest, Johan seemed stranger to Suetlg. Johan was a knight who could stack up achievements like Cardirian if given the opportunity. ¡°Since he won the battle, more mercenaries will be hired and defecting nobles will appear. I don¡¯t know how many there will be.¡± The Order¡¯s army led by Johan now was about five thousand. Even if they sent all the mercenaries from the fiefs, it would not have been easy to reach ten thousand. For Johan to expand the scale here, he had to make a resolution and uproot the pirs. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. There¡¯s some good news too.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°For one, the Elf King was not captured.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a relief at least.¡± If the Elf King had been captured, the kingdom¡¯s army would have been as good as deserted. The Elf King had seeded in retreating with the army. ¡°While the southern feudal lords¡¯ defeat must hurt, things won¡¯t copse immediately. The western feudal lords are still intact, so they will somehow find a way.¡± Suetlg¡¯s prediction fell strangely in ce. As the first snow began to fall, a delegation arrived from the Empire. It was a delegation sent by Count Jarpen and Count Abner. ???????????? Some members of the envoy were acquainted with Johan. It was natural since it was a fiefdom Johan had visited during his wandering days. However, they did not show it and acted with utmost courtesy. It was understandable given their regretful position. If they identally offended Johan and something went wrong, they would have no way to take responsibility. ¡°I see. So we really lost.¡± After hearing the urate report from the envoys, Johan frowned. The emperor precisely stabbed the loose allied forces¡¯ negligence. The emperor¡¯s troops, who attacked at night after a long march,pletely crushed the exhausted allied forces. In the darkness where one couldn¡¯t see an inch ahead, the spread chaos and fear caused a chain reaction, and the nobles started fleeing without seeing who went first, taking their banners. When morning came, only corpses remained on the battlefield. ¡°So why did the two counts send a letter?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Excellency. My master wishes to propose an alliance.¡± Johan was not very surprised. The envoys who came all the way would not just greet him and leave. From the position of feudal lords who would have to face the emperor¡¯s sword if left alone, bringing in more allies was essential. And there was no nobleman more suitable for that than Johan. He¡¯s young yet highly reputed, with a record of having crossed swords with the emperor. Rather, they called him toote. The reason there had been no contact so far was probably. . . ¡®?????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan had shown himself to be excessively faithful and loyal to the Order. Such an attitude would usually earn respect from other nobles, but the story was a bit different in situations like war. The empire¡¯s feudal lords disliked the tyrant-like emperor, but they didn¡¯t like the Order¡¯s power growing too strong either. However, as the situation became urgent, even the nobles who had opposed called whoever they could if an alliance was possible. ¡°Here is a gift my master sent.¡± As the box opened, gold shone brightly. It was a gift that had to be sent from the side proposing an alliance. Although the people present held their breath at the dazzling gold coins and gem-studded jewelry, Johan¡¯s pupils were not looking at them. ¡®???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????!¡¯ The envoy couldn¡¯t help but admire internally. He had seen Johan at his fiefdom a few years ago. At that time, he was truly a young knight that the expression bluer than blue would suit. However, Johan had now be a nobleman equipped with dignity and grace. Even while sitting, he overwhelmed the nearby nobles with his gaze alone. Johan was soposed that the expensive gifts brought felt humiliating. Forgetting the valuables, Johan pondered deeply over the current situation. Should they fight now? Or evade with time as a barrier together with others? ¡®????¡¯???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?? ???????????????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ????????????.¡¯ Johan seemed to understand why the emperor was trying to strike the Order first and the other nobles first like a crazy b*stard. When resentment built up between them, the peace between the two sides became meaningless. Even if the other side said they wouldn¡¯t attack, one side couldn¡¯t believe it. It was better to fight together while the empire¡¯s feudal lords had not yet lost their fighting spirit than to kneel before the emperor¡¯s troops first and fight after they came down south. Those gathered held their breath and waited only for Johan¡¯s reply. ¡°I ept the proposal. Let¡¯s fight together! Let¡¯s bring Cardirian down, who sphemed God and smeared the honor of nobles!¡± The elven knights responded first with cheers. Then, other nobles also pulled out their swords, raised them up high. Thus, the expeditionary force marching north to the Empire was formed. ???????????? ¡°The Allied forces are gathered near the city of Lebuten now.¡± There were set ces suitable for the main forces. Originally an emperor¡¯s city, Lebuten was now upied by the anti-emperor faction. Close to the west of the Empire and not too far from Count Abner¡¯s fiefdom, Lebuten was a good ce for the main forces to be stationed. ¡°The nearby situation is chaotic, I think we need to pay attention to the direction of advance as well.¡± ¡°Yes. We n to go up to Lebuten through Parre. The feudal lord of Parre is a feudal lord affiliated with the Allied forces, so it will be easy to supply.¡± The Allied forces also took the path that went around the mountain range. Although there are cities nearby, they are not so stupid or brave enough to charge in blindly, so there was no particr problem on the road. The fight began when they entered the territory of the Empire. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± And what greeted the Allied forces when they arrived in Parre was a castle that was about to fall. Trantion-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 220: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (2) Chapter 220: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (2) ¡°Is Parre really safe?¡± One of the elf knights looked at the envoys with disdain and asked. To be precise, although it was a ce a bit far west even in the south of the Empire, away from the turmoil of war, the envoys also had something to say. How could they know how the situation around here would change as they left their fiefdom, went around the mountain range, and headed south? ¡°It looks like those who covet merit have brought their troops here.¡± Count Puakonyu murmured as he identified the enemy¡¯s military. At best, it was a force of less than a thousand. After the emperor had won a great victory, the feudal lords of the south would have shrivelled up, and the nobles under the emperor would naturally have been swaggering around the south. Originally, war was more often a series of small forces attacking and upying towns, rather than hundreds of thousands gathering in one ce to fight. It was closer to a tediousnd grab than something dramatic. ¡°Should we wait for the follow-up troops, or attack right away. . .¡±¡°Let¡¯s attack right away, Your Excellency!¡± Johan was currently leading the vanguard of several hundred at the very front. Behind them, the rest of the mercenaries and feudal lords of the Order faction followed, leading their troops separately. To exert all their power, they had to wait for the whole army to gather, but the elf knights, as well as the mercenaries and centaurs, also wanted to attack immediately. And this wasmon. Whether nobles ormoners, they did not particrly want to share merit with others. ¡®????. ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ????????????????????.¡¯ In fact, charging was not a bad judgement either. Johan¡¯s vanguard consisted of some of the best warriors among the eastern tribes, and seasoned veterans among the mercenaries who were also well armed. The fighting strength of the elf knights and the envoys was also considerable, so they were confident they could win even if they charged as they were. Giving the enemy little time to judge was also basic tactics. . . ¡°It looks like the enemy has noticed. They¡¯ve started to retreat.¡± ¡°!¡± ???????????? There were many nobles from traditional families under Cardirian, but there were also quite a few upstart nobles. They were mainly former mercenary captains who had rendered merit and received peerage. The emperor employed far more troops than the strained finances could afford, and had to utilize various methods to pay their wages. One was conferring titles and certain rights. Sir Torsten was one of them. Though to be precise, he was from a knightly family and worked as a mercenary captain before rising in status, other nobles didn¡¯t care much about that fact. Mercenary captains and petty nobles looked much the same to them. ¡°Where did the relief troopse from? Could they be from Count Jarpen? I heard he doesn¡¯t have any to spare??¡± ¡°I think you should retreat.¡± ¡°Damn it. We¡¯re just about to take it. . .¡± Sir Torsten looked at the castle walls with an expression full of regret. Originally, castles big and small were hard to capture swiftly, but Parre Castle was an exception. Its walls hadn¡¯t been properly repaired since copsing a few years prior. Thanks to that, they could push rtively quickly, and the enemy was nearly beaten. . . ¡°Captain! Their numbers are smaller than expected! We can ignore them and push through! They probably can¡¯t charge easily either!¡± ¡°And what if that¡¯s just the vanguard?¡± As the staff argued contradictory opinions noisily, Sir Torsten was getting a headache. Both sides had a point. Reluctant to retreat after spending all that money, yet worried about the unknown reinforcements that could arrive anytime. . . ¡°The banners have been identified! It¡¯s Count Yeats¡¯ banner!¡± ¡°We retreat! Damn it! What¡¯s that guy doing here?¡± Upon learning which family the enemy banners belonged to, Sir Torsten made his decision instantly. His dilemma disappeared. Some glory-hungry nobles and knights bragged about wanting to cross des with Johan one day, but Sir Torsten didn¡¯t have such lofty goals. He simply aimed to rise in status and wealth. ???????????? ¡°Is it a trap?¡± Johan was puzzled. The opponent who had been aggressively trying to siege suddenly retreated, getting entangled and confused. The defenders along the city walls suddenly gained momentum andunched a counterattack. Seeing them stumbling around like that even though they¡¯re fine. . . ¡°We¡¯ll find out if it¡¯s a trap or not. Permission to advance!¡± Euclyia shouted confidently. Johan nodded. The centaurs would detour to the right to block the opponent¡¯s escape route. Even if it was a trap, they would be able to get out immediately. ¡°We request permission to charge as well!¡± Johan ignored the shout of the elf knights and waited. There didn¡¯t seem to be any particr movement in the nearby forest either. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like a trap, does it?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem so.¡± ¡°We request permission to charge as well!! Your Excellency!¡± ¡°Hmm. But let¡¯s wait a little more.¡± ¡°Please give us permission to charge!! The centaurs will take them all!¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound too bad either. . .¡± The elf knights were panting as if they were out of breath. Johan gave them permission, as he was worried they might challenge him to a duel if he left them alone any longer. ¡®???????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ The elf knights charged into the center like hungry hounds, brandishing their swords and maces. Iselia watched them with an envious expression. She couldn¡¯t join the charge because she had to guard Johan. ¡°The other side is requesting negotiations, Your Excellency!¡± ¡°Tell them to go negotiate in the afterlife.¡± Johan sneered. Why would they want to negotiate when the situation was not unfavorable at all? However, the expressions of the envoys were strange. After hearing the terms of the negotiations, their faces turned pale as they spoke. ¡°. . .Your Excellency. It appears that Cia-nim has been captured by those people.¡± ¡°!¡± Cia Jarpen. The youngest daughter of Count Jarpen and the wife of Ulrike. The envoys¡¯ faces turned blue when they heard that such a noblewoman had been taken hostage by the opponent. Iselia asked in puzzlement. ¡°What was she doing when she got caught?¡± ¡°She was probably walking around the area with some guards when she was ambushed. . .¡± The envoy said in an anxious voice. Marriages between major noble families were quite dry. Since there were no regrets or deficiencies on either side, they respected each other¡¯s territories and didn¡¯t interfere with what the other was doing. ¡°Even so, she should have brought more guards with her when going hunting.¡± ¡°Iselia. She probably wasn¡¯t out hunting.¡± Although Johan didn¡¯t know the Jarpen family¡¯s bloodline in detail, he had never heard that the youngest daughter enjoyed hunting. He had heard talk about her having a beautiful appearance, talent for managing assets, and various other qualities that made her a good match. . . ¡°We have no choice. Tell them we ept the negotiations.¡± He couldn¡¯t abandon a noblewoman from the Jarpen family to capture some nameless knights and mercenaries. Johan¡¯s words brightened the faces of the envoys. ???????????? The battle was temporarily halted, and people came out from each camp. Sir Torsten looked ahead with a tense expression. ¡®????????. ?? ???????? ?? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ??????????????????????.¡¯ Although Count Yeats was not a nobleman who did not keep his faith, apart from that, facing someone from the central region was an extreme burden. On one side was a mere mercenary captain, while on the other was the overlord of the south. He wanted to avoid umting resentment by facing him or drawing attention. The count was younger than expected. The elven knights were escorting him. With the handsome count already surrounded by the elven knights, the pressure felt even greater. ¡°Sir Torsten, I presume?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, Count.¡± Sir Torsten had to hold back the honorifics that wanted toe out. ¡°I will promise to not pursue you if you hand over the hostage.¡± ¡°Swear on your honor.¡± ¡°How dare a vulgar rascal like you doubt the honor of the Count!¡± As the elven knight drew his sword, there were gasps around them. Johan stretched out his hand to stop him. ¡°I swear on my honor. Hand over the hostage.¡± ¡°I-I will do that.¡± ¡°You must be very angry. You were just about to take the castle, and then you got a hostage on top of that. . .¡± ¡°We were just lucky.¡± They really were lucky. They happened to catch them because some people who looked valuable were wandering around, and it turned out to be the youngest daughter of the Jarpen family. ¡°A knight¡¯s achievement is not determined by luck. Remember this knight¡¯s name.¡± Johan spoke as if making small talk. He meant for the other to save face by hearing this much since he must be very angry. However, the look on the other¡¯s face was not very good. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°Cia-nim!¡± The envoys were delighted to see Jarpen¡¯s lineage. Other than looking a little tired, Cia did not seem to have any other issues. It was natural since she was a precious hostage, but still it felt reassuring to see her in person. ¡°Your Excellency Count Yeats. You are the valiant knight who has visited the family fiefdom in the past.¡± The envoy group was indebted to Johan so they sang his praises as much as possible. Even if they didn¡¯t like it, they had to givepliments in this situation and with this debt, the ttery was inevitable. Johan¡¯s feats were exaggerated and the things he did for the Order were packaged as sacred devotion. Seeing this, a dreamy look appeared on Cia¡¯s sullen face. Cia looked at Johan with shining eyes and said, ¡°Sir Knight. You risked your life and honor to save me.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me but my subordinates who fought. . .¡± The returning centaurs could be seen waving their hands behind, carrying two or three backpacks each on their backs. Cia held Johan¡¯s hand, disregarding everything else. ¡°But it was Sir Knight who saved me.¡± ¡°If that is what mydy thinks, I can only feel honored. Hey, take Cia-gong.¡± At Johan¡¯s gesture, the servants politely led Cia away but Cia shook off the servants¡¯ hands and pressed a handkerchief into Johan¡¯s hand. Then he walked away proudly. Seeing this, the envoys¡¯ expressions grew perplexed. This. . . Atmosphere. . .? Suetlg whispered from the side. ¡°My friend, I think you¡¯ve gotten yourself into big trouble.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking the same thing right now, Your Excellency.¡± Iselia, the only one who didn¡¯t grasp the mood, cocked her head and asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a handkerchief given as thanks and reward? When I was little, I also received one after saving a young maiden.¡± ¡°You should have looked into that maiden¡¯s eyes. . . Were they the eyes of pure reward? They were the eyes of desire and longing!¡± ¡°Suetlg-nim. There are people from other families here too.¡± The envoys pretended not to hear and awkwardly coughed. Suetlg waved his hand in irritation. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend not to hear ande here. I don¡¯t want things to getplicated so be honest with me. Who is Cia-gong?¡± ¡°A kind and generous person.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m asking right now.¡± ¡°. . .She likes tales of chivalry and courtly love and dreams about them.¡± Suetlg and Johan understood the situation just from that and held their tongues. Despite being wrapped up in various stories and bads, neither Suetlg nor Johan were the types to fall for such romance. For nobledies staying in castles, there were no more exciting partners than young and gant knights. Frankly put, it was just a fancy packaging for them to hook up when they were in heat. The problem was that the nobles themselves were fooled by these stories made to trick others. The custom of swearing secret loyalty to an already married partner provided intense immersion and stimtion to knights and spouses alike. Suetlg asked Johan. ¡°Isn¡¯t she married to Duke Ulrike?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Ulrike-gong is the power behind the Abner family?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Does Duke Ulrike happen to be the type to tolerate her wife openly having an affair with a nobleman?¡± ¡°. . .She¡¯d kill them both.¡± While it was customary not to care who hooked up with whom, that was only when it wasn¡¯t public. Having an affair with a visiting count was a matter of face for Ulrike. With his understanding of Ulrike¡¯s temperament, the future was clearlyid out before Johan. ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine. We just have to prevent her from approaching him.¡± ¡°. . .You still don¡¯t know the blindness of love.¡± Trantion-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 221: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (3) Chapter 221: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (3) Iselia also nodded at Suetlg¡¯s words. ¡°My dear. It¡¯s better not to underestimate love. Love is like a ghost that goes anywhere and a spear that pierces all shields.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear a lesson about love from you.¡± Johan was dumbfounded. Getting a lesson on love from a tribe that cuts off enemies¡¯ necks and hangs them under their lover¡¯s window. Judging by what she just said, it sounded like an elf¡¯s lyric poem. As Iselia was also trained as a knight, she must have memorized a few lyrical verses suitable for courtly love. Of course, it was questionable whether she understood the meaning. . . ¡°For several reasons, it¡¯s not good to block the approach. First of all, love is blind, so blocking it can make it even more fierce. You should know that much.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s assume so. What¡¯s the next reason?¡± ¡°And rumors don¡¯t stop spreading just because you block them. If the other person clings on, they will inevitably spread. It¡¯s not like you can whip the youngdy of the Jarpen family either.¡±Regardless of Johan trying to stop it, if Cia clings on, the rumor would spread. And when Ulrike hears about it, she will be very angry. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????? ???? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ Thinking of Ulrike¡¯s knightsing to challenge him to a duel made him unable to hold back hisughter. ¡°Then is there a good way?¡± ¡°For now, keep a distance that is neither too close nor too far, and deal with her as much as possible in front of others. That way, even if a rumor spreads, there will be people to defend you. Where is Stephen?¡± ¡°He must be following the procession.¡± ¡°It would be good to call him over and hear what he has to say about the Jarpen family or the Abner family. He probably knows them best.¡± ¡°He is an expert when ites to receiving death threats from Ulrike-gong after all.¡± Stephen, who was happily eating and ying with the nobles. Johan had no intention of bothering him, but things were different on this expedition. Since he had to deal with many Empire nobles, it was convenient in many ways to have a son of the Abner family with him. Besides, the current Abner Count cherishes Stephen in many ways, so it wouldn¡¯t hurt to show off ¡®??¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ????????¡¯. ¡°I didn¡¯t know this career would be used like this.¡± ???????????? ¡°How dare you. . .?!¡± After hearing the exnation, Stephen looked at Johan with a frightened face. He could not believe it. Out of all the people in the world, he had to seduce Ulrike¡¯s wife. Of course, Johan was at an absolute advantage when it came to such seduction. He was young, brave, and had achievements. If he was with other knights, Johan would stand out. But still, to seduce Ulrike¡¯s wife! ¡°Stop it now. No matter how your lust boils, this is too much. There are many beauties in the world other than Cia of the Jarpen family.¡± Iselia, who was listening nearby, said to Johan in a small voice. ¡°I don¡¯t think it will help much, my dear.¡± ¡°I was thinking the same, your excellency.¡± Johan asked Stephen. ¡°I was going to ask how you think Ulrike will react, but I guess there¡¯s no need to ask.¡± ¡°Do you really need to ask?! You experienced her bullsh*t temper yourself!¡± Stephen eximed in disbelief. Although it had been a few years since he left the fiefdom, the memory of almost being assassinated was still vivid. ¡°I don¡¯t think you received that much bullsh*t. . .¡± ¡°What. . . what?! She tried to kill me!¡± ¡°That was because you did something to provoke her.¡± When Johan took Ulrike¡¯s side instead of his, Stephen grumbled. ¡°I thought Ulrike would calmly respond to groundless rumors since she¡¯s quite cold-hearted and wouldn¡¯t make a fuss over something involving self-interest, but I guess not.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing cold-hearted about Ulrike!¡± Although she looked cold on the outside, Ulrike had a fiery passion inside. Stephen was certain that Ulrike would draw her sword when she heard the rumors. ¡°Now that I think about it, you held a grudge against Ulrike, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°So now you can¡¯t believe what I say because of that?!¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not necessarily the case. I just wanted to keep that in mind as a reference.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the same as not believing me?!¡± ¡°Anyway, go meet Cia while you¡¯re at it. I hope Cia changes her mind.¡± ¡°I. . . I just want to stay here.¡± Stephen was frightened. He was afraid of getting involved with Ulrike¡¯s wife again and having his life threatened. ???????????? ¡°It seems difficult to hold out for long.¡± Johan was discussingter matters with the captain of the guards who had been fighting to defend Parre, Originally, the castle itself could withstand attacks for years, but now Parre was too damaged to expect such defensive capabilities. Moreover, since the enemies had retreated, there was no telling when more troops would swarm this way. ¡°It would be best to pull back our troops and people westward. The fiefdom of the Count is not far, so if we retreat nearby, the enemies would not dare chase us.¡± Johan suggested this to save face before the Count as well as for his own reputation. Since he did not abandon the Count¡¯s men and took them along, the Count would be grateful. And Johan would earn praise. Also, moving with these people would reduce the chances of rumors about him and Cia spreading. This was a far better option than taking only Cia. ¡°But we don¡¯t have permission from His Excellency the Count,¡± The captain said awkwardly. The allied forces were gathered near the city of Lebuten in the north, so Count Jarpen would naturally be staying there with his men. Such lower nobles were wary of acting arrogantly. ¡°I will speak to His Excellency the Count about this. Count Jarpen is not foolish enough to forbid retreat in this situation.¡± ¡°Th. . . Thank you!¡± The knights escorting Cia responded with slightly dissatisfied expressions after Johan¡¯s order. ¡°Your Excellency Count. The walls have copsed a lot and the soldiers are injured, but isn¡¯t abandoning the castle too. . . regrettable?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°?¡± Before the knights could finish speaking, Cia denied firmly. ¡°The Count has made the right judgment. We don¡¯t know when the enemies might charge in, do we?¡± ¡°Ah. . . Is that so. . .?¡± The knights were at a loss for words with Cia speaking like that. There was no way to argue back. Johan nodded and said, ¡°We must prepare for when more enemiese.¡± ¡°But to do this in an uncertain situation. . .¡± Before the knights couldplete their words, the centaur scouts returned from the east. ¡°Your Excellency! Enemies have appeared across the forest! They seem to be chasing us this way!¡± ¡°!¡± Johan was surprised. He had acted in preparation for such a situation, but for the chasers to actually show up! ¡®???? ???? ???????? ???????????? ??????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??????????, ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????????????¡¯ But Johan and the knights were surprised for different reasons. The knights were astonished that Johan had predicted this situation perfectly. No matter what, it was unbelievable for a count who had been away from the Empire to read the enemies¡¯ movements like this. ¡°Sorry for doubting you! Your Excellency!¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. It was reasonable.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The knights moved with an even more loyal attitude. Johan asked Iselia and the elven knights to escort and guard Cia. ¡°It¡¯s not a difficult task. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Iselia readily agreed and gathered around Cia with the elven knights. Cia asked curiously, ¡°Your Excellency¡¯s knights?¡± ¡°Knights bound by the promise of friendship.¡± Lauren spoke proudly. Hearing that, Cia nodded. They seemed to be knights who had fought shoulder to shoulder with Johan. Since he was an outstanding knight himself, it was nothing strange for him to have built friendship with elven knights. ¡°As expected, you are an excellent knight, Count.¡± ¡°Hmm. I think so too.¡± Iselia agreed. Although Johan tended to go a bit mad at times, he was mostly honorable and excellent, close to an ideal knight. ¡°Is this person the closest to Your Excellency?¡± Cia pointed at Iselia and asked another elven knight. The knight nodded in agreement. Cia assumed Iselia to be Johan¡¯s top guard knight. She also looked quite strong. . . ¡°Brave Sir Knight. I have a request. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ???????????? ¡°Excellent. Sir Torsten! I will not forget this favor!¡± ¡°But, you see. Biorarn-gong. There were more enemies than we expected. And also. I heard more areing after them. Count Yeats is famous and has many followers, so it would not be strange if other nobles¡¯ armies arrive afterward. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Sir Torsten did not know how big Johan¡¯s allied army was. He also did not know that what Johan had brought was only the advance guard. So he did not realize that the random words he had picked up were urately stabbing at the truth. ¡®????, ???????? ????. ???? ?????? ????????????. . .¡¯ Sir Torsten was from a free city on the penins, not from the Empire. Thanks to that, he could hear rumors about Johan more vividly and exaggeratedly than other Empire nobles. The martial valor he had heard about Johan from close rtives was almost monstrous. That¡¯s why, even though he had failed to destroy the castle and lost his precious ransom, Sir Torsten was not too desperate. He was much more delighted to have barely escaped from that situation. But while retreating, he happened to encounter a series of armed forces led by Biorarn. The third son of the emperor, Biorarn. He was a knight who was rumored to have inherited the most valor from Cardirian¡¯s children. Living up to those rumors, Biorarn immediately turned around and started a pursuit as soon as he heard. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting topete with that young count once! What a blessing this opportunity hase! If this is not God blessing me, what is it??¡± ¡°Maybe God cursing you. . .¡± ¡°What did you say! I can¡¯t hear because it¡¯s too noisy!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Sir Torsten exaggerated Johan¡¯s armed forces when he told Biorarn about them, but Biorarn paid them no mind. He charged ahead leading hundreds of his men. Torsten and his men were included, of course. Although Biorarn¡¯s men were several times better equipped and more experienced elites than Torsten¡¯s, Torsten felt very uneasy. Aren¡¯t we chasing too deep when we still don¡¯t have enough men? ¡°Oh. Biorarn-gong. That castle over there looks empty! That castle is on the verge of copsing. What do you think about attacking that castle?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of attacking a crumbling castle like that! Count Yeats is not far from here right now! Abandoning him to upy a castle! Sir Torsten! Are you really a noble knight!? Let¡¯s go!¡± Biorarn had no interest in the castle. Anyway, it would be difficult to hold this area for long even if upied. More than that, he wanted topete with the enemymander who was not far away. ¡°Go and tell the count! Biorarn hase to fight him!¡± ???????????? ¡°That¡¯s all you can do? It¡¯s not a trap?¡± ¡°Did you know His Excellency would say that and went around three more times? There was nothing there?¡± Euclyia nodded her head at the centaurs¡¯ words. The number of enemies was simr or less than those led by Johan. With what guts are they chasing us? ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??¡¯?? ?????? ????????????????? ???? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ????????????. . .¡¯ ¡°If we maintain our distance and protect therger ones, they won¡¯t be able to charge easily. I will order them to be vignt. . . It would be better if I was in the rear.¡± ¡°We will escort you ourselves.¡± ¡°Thank you. I don¡¯t know what they are doing.¡± After about thirty minutes, Johan was able to understand what they were doing. He was dumbfounded by the words that the emperor¡¯s child hade in person to fight. ¡°I will go out!¡± ¡°No! Me!¡± The elven knights volunteered eagerly, extremely excited that the opponent had requested a duel. Johan made an incredulous expression when he discovered Iselia sneakily mixed in among those volunteering. Trantion-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 222: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (4) Chapter 222: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (4) ¡°Among them. . .¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°. . .I will give the honor of stepping forward first to the one who knows Biorarn the best.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the elf knights were taken aback. It was a condition they had never even imagined. While they had heard the name and rumors quite a bit, few knew him well. In this era, information was still heavily reliant on word-of-mouth stories and ounts from those who knew. This was the same even among nobles. The murmuring elves began to volunteer what little they knew, one by one. ¡°He has quite decent sword skills. Of the emperor¡¯s bloodline, he is the most knightly.¡± One of the elf knights said so. For an elf knight, it was quite high praise. Of course, the word ¡°knightly¡± could be used in various senses. It could mean brave and strong, but also recklessly foolish. Sometimes it meant both.¡®?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ????????????????.¡¯ Biorarn hade with not arge army and boldly requested a duel to decide the contest. While it was amon enough custom to gamble a contest on individual martial prowess rather than armies, even allowing for that, the sheer audacity he showed in not considering the consequences if he lost was puzzling. Reinforcements could arrive for Johan¡¯s side at any moment, potentially hemming Biorarn¡¯s forces in or encircling them, yet he seemed not to consider that in requesting a duel. Seeing nobles who did just as they pleased without thought for the consequences, Johan asionally wondered if he himself thought too much. ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors of bad blood between him and the emperor, and that they¡¯ve crossed swords.¡± ¡°That he has caught an ice drake before. . .¡± Taking advantage of the elf knights¡¯ chatter, Suetlg quietly asked, probing Johan¡¯s intentions, ¡°Are you perhaps averse to a duel?¡± ¡°No. To be honest, if it can be settled with a duel, I would prefer that.¡± A sh between hundreds of warriors with spears and swords held many variables. As the emperor¡¯s son, the opponent would doubtless be elite as well, and there were many on Johan¡¯s own side to consider too. In contrast, Johan had several contacts who were confident of victory in a duel. Just the elf knights alone were warriors who had rarely bowed their heads anywhere. ¡°I¡¯m just concerned about whatever power Biorarnmands as Cardirian¡¯s son.¡± ¡°Certainly, the rumors depict Biorarn-gong as the most valiant of the emperor¡¯s sons. His exploits in the north are widely known.¡± In addition to hunting numerous northern monsters alongside other knights, as the emperor¡¯s son he was likely to possess magically enhanced armor and weapons. In a duel with its uncertainties, knowing one¡¯s opponent was most vital. As the others talked, one of the elf knights simply smiled to himself. When it grew somewhat quieter, the knight stepped forward and spoke: ¡°Your excellency, I have personally seen Biorarn-gong fight in a tournament. As I would know him best among all here, I ask that you give me this chance!¡± And so the knight to step forth first was decided. The other elves looked at him with envy. ???????????? As the elf knight came out instead of Johan, Biorarn sent out one of his subordinates. Biorarn had led several knights befitting his fame and wealth. He didn¡¯t exactly im to be a knight order, but people naturally called Biorarn¡¯s knights the Crimson Knights. It was because of the color of the surcoats they wore around. ¡°Are they bringing around arrogant elves?¡± Biorarn murmured in a strained voice. The knight next to him took his words. ¡°Elves are excellent knights, so we must not be careless.¡± ¡°There should be no knight among those present careless enough to be caught off guard! Isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡®???????? ????.¡¯ Torsten kept looking around. He was afraid of being surrounded here or having to leave for some reason. While Biorarn was confident in his skills and other knights would sacrifice their lives to protect him, he was not. One from each side jumped out. When the distance narrowed, Biorarn¡¯s knight dismounted from his horse. Seeing this, the elf knight shouted decisively. ¡°Get on your horse! If you¡¯re not a coward!¡± ¡°Get off your horse, if you don¡¯t know how to fight without hiding behind it!¡± Knights of the Empire, especially those from the north, usually got off their horses to duel. On the other hand, elves preferred to duel on horseback. Their quarrel was settled by the elven knight dismounting from his horse. After all, this was thend of the Empire, so it seemed the elven knight had backed down. The two knights tangled and shed fiercely. When they exchanged the fifteenth blow, the Empire knight¡¯s sword broke. The elven knight shouted for him to admit defeat, but the Empire knight refused, drawing out another weapon. Another sh urred, and this time the elven knight copsed to the side. He seemed quite precarious as he dripped blood through the gap in his helmet. ¡®???? ????.¡¯ Johan frowned and red. Fortunately, the elven knight was still moving. The elf knight who got up struck the opponent¡¯s side hard. The Empire knight¡¯s balls popped out and he admitted defeat, which the elven knight epted. ¡°Fighting twice would be too much. Tell him toe back.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The elf next to Johan happily called back hisrade. The elven knight nodded his head angrily as if annoyed to retreat without even pulling out Biorarn. After that, other knights came out and shed swords. Meanwhile, Johan was slowly realizing something. ¡®??????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ Biorarn¡¯s knights were quitepetent as well, making it difficult for even the elven knights to take down more than one. Besides, being in a position to serve Biorarn, they did not want Biorarn to expend unnecessary strength. Perhaps the other side was thinking the same thing after several duels took ce, as Biorarn¡¯s attendant came and politely conveyed a message. ¡°If Your Excellencyes forward, my master says he will alsoe forward. Please be kind enough to ept.¡± ¡°. . .Fine. Tell him we¡¯ll meet in the middle and test our strength.¡± Johan said, trying to restrain his boiling blood. Despite theck of confidence in the opponent, confidence preceded fear. The subjugated spirits boasted as if taking them down was nothing. Johan focused deeply to shake off his arrogance. No matter how much his instincts or spirits whispered he could win, Johan himself always had to stay calm. ???????????? ¡°Johan of the Yeats family.¡± ¡°Biorarn of the Bizalpirk family!¡± The two knights did not bother to list their aplishments. Johan had no interest and Biorarn thought his opponent would already know. ¡®???? ????????????????, ????¡¯?? ??????????.¡¯ Johan keenly sensed various magical aurasing from Biorarn. Biorarn could hardly be a wizard like Johan, it must be the power of the weapon he held. Biorarn raised his eyebrows in a warlike expression. He had heard the rumors about Count Yeats¡¯ superhuman strength several times. He wanted to see if those rumors were true today. ??????????! As soon as his opponent entered striking distance, Johan swung his Giant yer like lightning. Just as Johan didn¡¯t know much about his opponent, his opponent likely didn¡¯t know much about him either. It was best to overwhelm him before he got used to fighting. ¡®??¡¯???? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????? ????????!¡¯ ¡°!?¡± The skill of an assassin is to deceive the opponent¡¯s eyes, confuse their senses, and precisely stab a single lethal blow. Biorarn was horrified that Johan¡¯s warhammer smashed his chest before he could even react. The heavy impact. However, Johan clicked his tongue and retreated to widen the gap between them. He had hit urately but his opponent was still alive. Fortunately there was no counterattack, perhaps because his opponent was equally shocked. ¡°I admit I underestimated you, Count!¡± Biorarn flung the shield he was holding to the side. As soon as the shield hit the ground, the magical energy disappeared and it turned to dust. Saint Gohark¡¯s shield, said to block even a giant¡¯s attack, turned to dust from one blow. Biorarn red at Johan as he gripped his sword with both hands. His stance was even more cautious than before. Though he didn¡¯t say it out loud, he was already thinking of his opponent as a monster. ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???? ?????? ????.¡¯ Johan clicked his tongue in frustration. He thought he had finished it, he didn¡¯t expect an interference like this. ¡°Count, this time I¡¯ll show you my sword!¡± As Biorarn swung his sword, the mystery contained within pulsated and turned into cold air. The tip of the Giant yer froze and slowed. It was a deceptive level of magic. An average knight would have been unable to wield the heavy slowed weapon and gotten cut somewhere. However, Johan gripped the Giant yer even harder and swung it more strongly. The ice stuck to the Giant yer broke and scattered. Though Biorarn was the one on the offense, he was also the one who retreated. Not daring toe into striking distance, Biorarn backed away. His face flushed red with humiliation. As his opponent retreated, Johan approached. As he retreated, Biorarn watched for an opportunity. Sensing an opening, Johan realized what his opponent was aiming for. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?????????????¡¯ It seemed Biorarn intended to use the nearby forest trees to limit Johan¡¯s free swinging warhammer. ¡®???????????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ ¡°Isn¡¯t His Excellency being pushed back?!¡± The observing Torsten blurted out in confusion. Shouldn¡¯t the knights intervene and stop the fight now? Dishonorable yes, but better than dying right? However the Empire knights didn¡¯t seem to consider it. Knowing Biorarn¡¯s personality, he would hate that more than dying. More than anything, they believed in Biorarn. ¡°Look. Though the Count¡¯s strength is monstrous, Biorarn-gong has cleverly maneuvered him into position! Now he won¡¯t be able to swing that warhammer.¡± ¡°I see. . .!¡± Judging that he had lured Johan in, Biorarn stood his sword again and charged. At that moment, Johan¡¯s eyes shed beastly. Biorarn instinctively halted his steps and jumped back. ??????????! Johan swung his warhammer, smashing through the thick interfering tree as he tried to strike Biorarn. It was a trulymon sense defying blow. But he missed again, only scraping the edge of the armor. The sound of the tree falling and dust swirling up filled the air. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too much like a rat running away?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan, who often killed before provoking so he was not good at provoking, thought provocation would be necessary this time. The opponent was avoiding better than expected. Anyway, there was no one here to listen even if he talked, Johan wondered what kind of swear words he should use. Which of the opponent¡¯s father and mother should I swear at first? But without having to say such things, Biorarn¡¯s face was flushed red with shame and humiliation. He had kept avoiding without shing his swordmanship that he had honed so much. He had nothing to say even when called a rat. ¡®????????¡¯?? ???? ???????????????????¡¯ Johan was refreshed by the unexpected effect. It¡¯s already at that level even though I haven¡¯t even started swearing yet. If Johan enumerated his usual views on Cardirian, the blood vessels on his face would surely burst. Biorarn braced himself and raised his sword again. He was going to give the count a proper blow even if he had to give up one of his limbs. Whether that determination was conveyed, the surroundings suddenly became quiet. The chirping sounds of birds were no longer heard. The sunlighting in between the leaves also disappeared. Johan¡¯s face was filled with horror. An ogre was standing behind Biorarn. The monster of the forest, the master of the forest, the nightmare of the forest, the ogre. The ogre, who appeared like a ghost, was looking down at Biorarn with a dull and fierce look. ¡°Bow down!¡± Johan shouted and threw the Giant yer. Biorarn unknowingly bowed his head low and prostrated himself. He made the absurd act of following the words of the enemy. ????????! With a dull sound, the Giant yer broke the ogre¡¯s breastbone. Even though Johan did not order it, Valkalmur manipted the Giant yer on its own to make it return like a boomerang. ¡®???????? ????????, ??????????????????!¡¯ He felt the evil spirit at his fingertips feeling proud. Johan grabbed the Giant yer and threw it again. Trantion-(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight Chapter 223: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (5) Chapter 223: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (5) However, this time the ogre did not give in so easily either. Despite being hit hard in the chest, the ogre viciously counterattacked. Damn! The flying Giant yer was met by the ogre¡¯s huge axe swinging down hard. Biorarn couldn¡¯t hear it, but Johan could clearly hear Valkalmur screaming. Having taken a hard hit, Valkalmur retreated inside Johan, hanging his head. As Johan threw his body to regain hold of the Giant yer stuck in the ground, Biorarn stepped forward to buy some time. ¡°Face me, you filthy b*stard!¡± Biorarn swung his sword so hard that even his gauntlets froze from the intense cold. The fierce chill grabbed the ground andpletely immobilized one of the ogre¡¯s legs. The unnatural cold seemed to have startled even the ogre as he paused briefly. That was enough. Johan circled around to the ogre¡¯s side, gripping the Giant yer. Following Johan¡¯s path, the axe came flying with a roar. Small for the ogre¡¯s size, the axe was still clumsily hugepared to a human. All the more agile and faster as it flew at the ogre. The basic principle for a knight facing arge monster was to attack and retreat. No knight fought head-on or contested strength. No matter how much one trains their strength and builds their muscles, the human limit was clearpared to monsters. That¡¯s why when Biorarn saw Johan blocking the ogre¡¯s axe, his chest sank with shocking impact. ¡°Damn. . .¡± The axe flew in but nced off course, shattering the ogre¡¯s hand. Johan swung the end of the Giant yer, leaving a deep gash in the ogre¡¯s palm. Johan preferred simple, fast attacks due to his innate strength, but that didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t know any techniques. He could use them whenever necessary. Seeing the forest monster demonstrate such strength surpassing even trolls, Johan felt it difficult to face and used his techniques for the first time in a while. The technique struck true, tearing apart the ogre¡¯s hand. Never having suffered such a counterattack in his life, the ogre howled. It was a scream that threatened to tear eardrums. Johan felt the blessings given and taken by the pagan goddess course through his veins, protecting his body. Johan unconsciously nced at Biorarn. The armor he wore emanated a strong aura of mystery. Though not made by the craftsmen of the ancient Empire, it contained magic breathed in by the Empire¡¯s wizards. ¡°Come at me too, b*stard! If you have the guts to attack, thene on!¡± Seeing Johan demonstrate his technique against the monster seemed to ignite Biorarn¡¯s fighting spirit. Not just anyone could show off techniques against monsters. Although techniques can subdue strength, there were no fools recklessly using them against monsters. When the difference in strength bes too great, techniques lose all meaning. Biorarn was fired up to see thismon knowledge shattered head-on. If that doesn¡¯t light your fire as a knight, something was wrong. The ogre turned his head towards Biorarn. At that moment, Johan¡¯s Giant yer shattered the unfreezing knee. -¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö! The ogre spewed coarse curses in a painced voice. The excited Teshuka whispered to take off his armor and weapons and charge with the power of the wild. ¡®?????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????????. . .!¡¯ Giving such an absurd suggestion to charge naked in this situation. Johan ignored it and swung the Giant yer once more. Cornered, the monster exploded with savagery and blocked the attack in an unexpected way. Using his body to withstand the Giant yer¡¯s sharp edge. Releasing the strength of his tough, sturdy muscles, the tip of the Giant yer sank deeply in. The ogre staggered, grasping his weapon with one hand. Then he sneered ferociously at Johan. It was augh that said what are you going to do now. Johan looked at the ogre and chuckled. Biorarn thought Johan had gone mad from thatughter. ????????! The sound of bones breaking was heard. It was the sound of the ogre¡¯s bones breaking. Blood vessels popped out in Johan¡¯s eyes and the muscles in both arms swelled as if they were about to burst. The horrified ogre even dropped his ax to try to get rid of the iron bar that was prating his body. However, Johan¡¯s momentum and monstrous strength continued to increase like a boulder rolling downhill. It felt endless like water rising from the bottom of a bottomless well. The Giant yer tore into the ogre¡¯s ribs, exposing the insides widely. Suddenly, the Giant yer spun around and pulled back out. Weakened, the ogre staggered, and Johan spun around once, concentrating all his strength at the tip of his weapon. With the sound of the world copsing, the ogre¡¯s head waspletely smashed. ¡®????????.¡¯ Johan realized he had poured out too much strength. How could he exert so much force with Biorarn right in front? His nape tingled. ¡°. . .Count. I lost. Victory belongs to the count who did not back down in the face of the forest devil!¡± Biorarn shouted as if spitting out words full of resentment. ¡°I will never forget the grace I received today. Just you wait and see!¡± ¡®. . .????. ???????? ??????????.¡¯ At first, he thought Biorarn was fiercely growling to dere enmity on the spot. Biorarn was about to leave but hesitated. ¡°Count. I¡¯m not the only one aiming for the count¡¯s neck. Every famous knight of the Empire is aiming for it too.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Now, no matter who said they were aiming for Johan¡¯s fame, he didn¡¯t care much. He just thought,e at me. ¡°I don¡¯t want a knight like the count to lose to dirty tricks. It would be best to head south if possible.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± As Johan looked at him wondering what he was talking about, Biorarn hesitated before speaking. ¡°When you meet the nobles, watch out for the traitors. I don¡¯t want you to fall victim to traitors.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± ???????????? The knights who rushed to face the ogre praised the sight of the fallen monster. It was just the two who defeated the ogre. The feat aplished here today will live forever. ¡®?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????¡¯ Of course, even if someone suggested it, Johan was in a position to refuse with watching eyes, but still, no one was bringing up that topic. Everyone was just excited about the duel and chattering on. ¡°Load his corpse onto the cart whole! We must make Your Excellency Count¡¯s feat known to the world.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we just cut off the head and ask Jyanina to take only the important parts?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? We must take everything!¡± ¡°Your Excellency Count. I respect and admire Your Excellency Count, but this time I think the elf knights are right. How can you take such a moderate corpse with you.¡± Even the envoys and the Empire knights took the elves¡¯ side. Even if they had to dismount from their horses, they wanted to take the ogre¡¯s body with them. How spectacr would this hunting record be as a story with all the nobles gathered? ¡°I understand. Of course there¡¯s not much usable stuff on the ogre¡¯s body, but wouldn¡¯t it look great if we disyed it in the city?¡± ¡°. . .What are you talking about?¡± If it was a dragon, that would be one thing, disying the fat and ugly body of a giant was something Johan could not understand with his aesthetic sense. ¡°Isn¡¯t it cool?¡± ¡°It may be so, but I¡¯ve heard a strange story.¡± Johan spilled out the story he had heard from Biorarn. Suetlg¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°Did Cardirian¡¯s son make up tricks to divide us?¡± ¡°. . .What? No. Isn¡¯t that not it?¡± Suetlg was confused by Johan¡¯s novel interpretation. No matter what, aren¡¯t you treating your opponent too much like a viin? ¡°Unless Biorarn-gong was born a cursed bloodline without a father, I don¡¯t think he would tell such a lie. And betrayers. . .it¡¯s no wonder there are betrayers. The situation is good for betrayal in many ways. The more critical the moment, the more valuable they be.¡± Suetlg¡¯s remarks made sense. Now that the allied forces had been defeated and retreated, and the emperor-side army that had been declining had revived. If there were no eyes watching, that would have been stranger. It was obvious what kind of reward awaited those who picked up the g and switched sides at this point. Many talked about the honor of nobles, but Johan and Suetlg knew well. If necessary, nobles could arbitrarily interpret that honor however they wanted. ¡°I don¡¯t want to prolong the war, but. . .¡± Johan bit his tongue. He already felt like he had one foot stuck in the mud. For Johan, the best future was to make the emperor faction surrender without a fight and conclude a peace agreement. Of course, since the other side¡¯s morale was up and Cardirian had a bullsh*t personality, he was aware that would be difficult. The next best future was concluding a peace agreement after defeating the power of the emperor faction in a few battles. He thought this was the most likely. Johan himself had a desire to personally defeat Cardirian, but he had no intention of jumping into the mes for revenge. Revenge was revenge, and the living had to live. The problem was that with betrayals like this urring and things gettingplicated, the fog of war would thicken. ¡°Find and kill the b*stard.¡± ¡°Are you serious? What do you want to hear?¡± Although he was from the Empire, Johan was strictly a foreign noble. If he arbitrarily killed the nobles of the alliance, even if they were on the same side, he didn¡¯t know what kind of restraint he would receive. However, Suetlg stroked his beard and said again. ¡°For your level, that¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Johan realized the meaning of Suetlg¡¯s words. The reputation he had built up, the support of the church he relied on, the army of southern nobles he had brought with him, and even his ability as a knight who had defeated an ogre. . . If he just gave a decent pretext of betrayal, Johan had enough power to cut someone down on the spot and smooth it over. ¡°Your virtue is enduring, but sometimes you don¡¯t have to. Especially not here in this alliance. If things go terribly wrong, just withdraw.¡± Johanughed incredulously at Suetlg¡¯s irresponsible words and asked: ¡°What will you do when the emperor¡¯s armyes downter?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll worry about that when the timees. And honestly, that¡¯s fine too. You try to prepare for things too thoroughly. Isn¡¯t it enough to ept those whoe after you? While Johan¡¯s strategy of fighting together when there was an alliance made sense, Suetlg thought Johan wouldn¡¯t fall too far behind even if he fought alone. Of course he wouldn¡¯t be able to attack the Empire, but if hebined forces with the church, those nobles, and the free cities of the penins, he thought they would be able to fend off the emperor¡¯s army if it came down. The emperor would be choked just paying back the debt and aftermath of the civil war he had started. He might even die of illness before that. Johan could afford to think a little less about the future and trust in his own power. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s try it that way once!¡± ???????????? Johan¡¯s vanguard led the residents of the castle to a nearby fiefdom, then traveled north along the road. As they passed along the road, they saw groups of three or five mercenaries gathered together and passing by. Like flies swarming a corpse, you could always see mercenaries divided up and passing by like this wherever there was war. Johan asked them about the situation. ¡°It looks like things are worse than I thought.¡± The allied forces that should have gathered near Lebuten City had quite a few nobles who left their posts and returned to their fiefdoms, from what he heard. Their intention was to prioritize protecting their own fiefdoms first. It wasn¡¯t that they had withdrawn from the alliance, but there was no telling how they might turn their backs if things went poorly. ¡°Isn¡¯t this for the best?¡± ¡°In what sense is this for the best?¡± ¡°Won¡¯t your influence be greater?¡± ¡°It is positive in that regard, I suppose.¡± Johan nodded at Iselia¡¯s words. ¡°Is Cia-gong doing well?¡± ¡°At first she was fine, buttely it seems she¡¯s be reserved around me again, and I¡¯m hurt. Have I done something wrong?¡± ¡°Ah. . . no. It¡¯s not your fault. If anything, you¡¯ve done well.¡± It was clear she had btedly realized who Iselia was. From Cia¡¯s position, it must have been very awkward and made her cheeks burn. ¡°Please continue guarding Cia.¡± ¡°Of course. Other knights are also guarding her, so there¡¯s no need to worry.¡± ¡°I trust your skills the most out of them all, Iselia.¡± ¡°There are others here, isn¡¯t this an embarrassing thing to say?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The elves¡¯ customs could be baffling at times. Chapter 224: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (6) Chapter 224: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (6) Seeing such an unfavorable situation, Johan headed towards Lebuten, but when he arrived near the city, the scene that weed him was quite peculiar. It was the height of prosperity and thriving. On the river crossing the city, water transportation was busily ongoing, and in the distant horizons above the forests, countless carts wereboriously rolling out. This was on the scale that could only be seen in Vynashchtym. Even if other cities were prosperous, they could not showcase this level of scale. ¡°My, it¡¯s like the imperial court.¡± Suetlg seemed to think simrly as he murmured. The imperial court where the Holy Empire¡¯s emperor stayed was not fixed. The emperor would lead his vassals and move from city to city, or castle to castle. It was a kind of mobile imperial pce. Naturally, wherever the emperor stayed became crowded with the emperor and his vassals, lower aristocrats who hade to visit, vassals who hade to pay their respects, merchants who had gathered to offer what they desired, and so on. Lebuten currently looked just like that. ¡°It probably isn¡¯t the emperor, what do you think it is?¡± ¡°It looks like the Elf King brought quite a lot of his vassals.¡± Unlike Johan, an entric noble who would shoulder his soldiers and live frugally, trying to end the battle as swiftly as possible when on a campaign, most nobles would try to maintain their usual lifestyle even when participating in a war. Even when leading an army, they would bring servants, ves, excellent chefs and musicians, beauticians and so on to uphold their dignity. While it looked extravagant and debauched to Johan, it was iprehensible to the nobles¡¯ perspective. Being a noble was not proven simply through titles alone. It had to be demonstrated through various aspects like lineage, behavior, and so on. If they acted the same asmoners, how could the two be distinguished? ¡°With just the Elf King, it wouldn¡¯t be this much. There are probably other feudal lords too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s likely.¡± Suetlg agreed as well. Since other major feudal lords had also joined the alliance, it was not strange for them to be staying around here. To feed and sustain the many nobles, and the soldiers that numbered several dozen times more, this area was bustling hotly. ¡°Even so, is it okay for them to be so nonchnt after losing in battle?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like they can wallow in grief and despair to mourn.¡± That was certainly true. If they despaired after losing one battle, even nobles who had no thoughts of betrayal might start pondering betrayal. Besides, the situation was not so hopeless. Nobles who had retreated from the previous battle were returning with their troops, and feudal lords were hiring new mercenaries. Johan suddenly realized. ¡®?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ If it were Johan, after losing a battle he would have burned the fields, poisoned the wells, brought mercenaries and went rogue as a robber, but feudal lords of this scale would not have done that. Even if they did, they could just paypensation or at worst, pay weregild. ¡°Go and say that Count Yeats came from the south with other nobles.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ???????????? If Johan had been a knight, he would have only needed to bring a few servants with him to kneel and pay his respects before the Elf King or a feudal lord, but Johan was no longer of such status. There were customs befitting one¡¯s position and dignity that Johan had to follow. Even if Johan himself wanted to act with more ease, the other nobles apanying him would have objected. It was also a matter of saving face for them. ¡°Three days from now. I understand.¡± It would take at least three days to finish preparations to wee the count who hade seeking an alliance. Johan nodded. Pushing them to hurry here would not change anything. ¡°Would it not be best to greet Cia-gong first?¡± ¡°You are most certainly a knight.¡± It was meant as an attempt to deal with a nuisance, but the Jarpen family¡¯s knights looked at him with admiration. Johan did not bother to correct them and simply urged them to get moving. To be honest, once she was out of the way he felt much more at ease. ¡°While it would be good to meet and greet them first, I can¡¯t say I really rmend it. Nothing good wille of it.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Johan considered meeting first with nobles he was friendly with to exchange information and gather intel, but held back on Suetlg¡¯s advice. While sending a servant to exchange letters or pass along a message would be fine, it could seem odd for a nobleman to personally seek out others before even being formally weed. He was told he could secretly meet under the cover of night, but he did not want to take on that risk. . . ¡°Your excellency, there are some who wish to meet you. What should I tell them?¡± ¡°Ah. Let them in.¡± And there were many ways to hear about the situation without meeting the nobles directly. Many people wanted to meet the newly arrived southern count, including merchants, knights, wizards, and more. While those unbefitting his status could be turned away, Johan allowed them in. Any information had value. ???????????? The temporary court of the young Elf King was boisterous. Not only because of the arrival of Count Yeats, but also because the knights who had set out on the journey had returned. The rumor that they had brought back the heart of a basilisk quickly spread. Even the most insignificant ves were murmuring and ncing with expectant eyes. ¡°Brave and honorable knights. Knights who face the cold dew in the farthest ce from the castle, aiming their spears. Knights who draw their swords when their spears break, and draw their daggers when their swords break. Wee the return of the knights!¡± The knights walked forward arrogantly and proudly. They deserved it. As the heart of the basilisk revealed itself with a thud, the surroundings fell silent. ¡°Isn¡¯t it great? What do you think, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°Indeed it is.¡± Count Jarpen suppressed his annoyance and nodded. The Elf King¡¯s question about whether it was great or not was not about the heart of the basilisk. He was asking about the Elven knights. The nobles of the western Empire, whether they liked it or not, had a lot to do with the elves of the kingdom. Naturally, the count was also bound to know the elves well. The young Elf King was neither a bad nor despicable person, but he was an elf. Even the most patient person would get tired of hearing praise for the elves¡¯ etiquette once a day. He saw the other nobles also smiling bitterly beside him. ©¥????????, ???????? ?????? ???? ????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????????. After concluding the ceremony, the Elf King called the knights separately. It was to hear the details and record them. The Empire nobles stayed in their seats for propriety¡¯s sake, although they were bored. In fact, they were a little curious. Basilisk hunting was not amon urrence. After chattering for half an hour about the elven ancestors, their ancestor¡¯s ancestors, the beauty of the oak tree in the corner of the fiefdom, and yet the heart of the knight who set out on the expedition, the story finally began. ¡°. . .and there we met some extremely rude dwarves.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t happen to get help from those dwarves do you!¡± The Elf King shrieked. The Empire nobles on the side were slightly excited. What kind of expression would this young king make if he said he got the help of dwarves? ¡°Of course the dwarves were no help at all. Aren¡¯t those guyszy and slow?¡± ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ????????.¡¯ The dwarven nobles of the Empire had note to such an asion. Even if they hade, Count Jarpen would have stopped them. While the dwarves of the mountain range would have been furious at these words, the elven knights sincerely believed so. ¡°Instead, it was the young Count Yeats who was active.¡± ¡°Why was Count Yeats there in the first ce?¡± ¡°It was because those evil and greedy dwarf guys had trapped and imprisoned nobles from the south in a trap.¡± ¡°Ha! That¡¯s the kind of thing they¡¯re always up to.¡± ¡°The young Count rushed alone into the dwarven camp. The dwarves were so ashamed of his bravery that they couldn¡¯t lift their heads.¡± ¡°That is indeed a believable story!¡± Count Jarpen felt something was strange. The dwarves of the mountain range were not such easy pushovers. They were not reckless enough to ignore the situation and be violent, but they were not so spineless as to endure insults either. ¡°After the Count¡¯s rebuke, the dwarves realized how ashamed they should be of what they were doing, and swore not to interfere with the basilisk hunt.¡± ¡°Did they keep that oath?¡± ¡°Surprisingly, they did, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Sometimes even the oldest hound catches a rabbit.¡± ¡°Calling them the oldest hound is indeed an astute observation, Your Majesty. Because the dwarves¡¯ mistakes did not end there yet. Amazingly, it was because these dwarves failed to stand guard that the basilisk kidnapped our own in the middle of the night!¡± ¡°What! Are there such clumsy, fat dunces?!¡± ¡°Did the basilisk kidnap someone?¡± A baron who had been quietly listening couldn¡¯t help but blurt out. It was so different from what he knew. Count Jarpen smiled wryly and nced at him as if to ask why he said that. The baron made a small apology gesture. ¡°That¡¯s a very good point, your excellency. It¡¯s very rare for a basilisk to do this. What could be the reason?¡± ¡°. . .could it be that it fears the knights?¡± The baron asked a pointless question thinking his excellency would see it as such. ¡°A good guess but wrong. It fears the young count.¡± The Empire nobles stirred in surprise. They wondered if the elves had eaten something weird. Or did Count Yeats be an elf when Sir Lauren wasn¡¯t looking? ¡°The count? Wasn¡¯t the captured killed?¡± ¡°Your Majesty, Sir Lauren shared a deep friendship with the count. The count refused to leave while his friend fought the monster.¡± ¡°As a knight should!¡± ¡°The count even persuaded the dwarves to join the hunt.¡± ¡°Ah, that was a mistake. They would have only gotten in the way.¡± ¡°Maybe he intended to use them as bait. In any case, we found the cave where the creature lived. What do you think happened next, Your Majesty?¡± Count Puakonyu smiled faintly as he asked. The young king listened intently then snapped out of it to guess. ¡°They would have blocked the entrance and smoked it out.¡± ¡°The dwarves would have dug pits and traps.¡± The Empire nobles who came with no expectations also joined in the spection. Stories like these were quite entertaining. ¡°The count took off all his armor and entered the cave naked to save his friend.¡± ¡°???!¡± Count Jarpen was startled mid-listen. That was beyond courage and into recklessness. Was the count that extreme? ¡®. . .?????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ????, ???? ?????? ???????? ????.¡¯ He had forgotten because of theposure the count usually showed. But didn¡¯t he grab and tear off a troll¡¯s arm? What Sir Lauren thought was Johan¡¯s facade could be his true nature. No way to know for sure. ¡°The count had wizards under hismand. The philosopher of the Ipa?l River aided him, and his disciple, though one, had considerable skill.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of the river philosopher. Wise as expected, he saw the count¡¯s fate as a knight.¡± ¡°With their magic, the count safely rescued his captured knight. Oh, and there was a dwarf too.¡± ¡°What¡¯s important about that?¡± The Elf King waved his hand as if annoyed. As if to say exclude such unimportant things. ¡°Robbed of its prey, the wicked monster hatched a cunning plot. It dug through the ground and appeared from behind.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°But the count had anticipated its move! It lost its malicious eye to the count¡¯s strike.¡± ¡°??¡± ¡°Badly injured, it tried to flee but the count caught it. He seized it and dragged it out violently.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°Wait. . . Just a moment. . .¡± Even the Elf King who had listened quietly stopped the story. He wondered if these knights were mocking the young count. ???????????? ¡°My orc friends. My wisest and most sagacious friends. Please, have a seat!¡± Johan himself brought chairs before the orcs. The orcs were astonished and cautiously took their seats. It was extremely rare for a feudal lord like Johan to show such courtesy. They¡¯ve heard a lot from the rhim n, but the didn¡¯t really expect this. The orcs exchanged nces and decided to ask bluntly. They wanted to grant the count¡¯s request if possible. ¡°Your excellency. . .How much gold do you require?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t particrly need financial assistance.¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± Chapter 225: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (7) Chapter 225: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (7) The orcs were perplexed. Usually the nobles were only kind to the orcs when they needed to borrow money. The nobles who usually mocked them as arrogant and soulless b*stards also always sought out the orc nouveau riches whenever they needed funds. They were much easier to borrowrge sums from than the various guilds and merchants. However, Johan did not really need financial assistance. He had umted some gold from several campaigns, and the nobles participating in this campaign were paying for the expedition costs out of their own fortunes. ¡°Is that really true?¡± ¡°Yes. Why would I lie about something like this?¡± The orcs nodded nervously with mixed feelings of relief and disappointment. Lending money meant being able to influence that person. They didn¡¯t have to put up the money anymore but that was still a bit disappointing. ¡°Part of why I called you in was that I wanted to meet my wisest and most brilliant friends and exchange greetings, but I also wanted to hear more details about what¡¯s going on around here.¡± ¡°Ah. . . Was that what you meant, Your Excellency?¡± The orcs understood Johan¡¯s intention andughed awkwardly. When the count summoned them, they came with various thoughts and steeled themselves, but it turned out to be a trivial summon. ¡°Then I¡¯m d you found us. Where else would you find ones as sensitive to rumors as us?¡± Even nobles found it difficult to properly obtain information from distant ces in this era. Good information was valuable in itself. There were more of those who were sensitive to such rumors and knew how to handle information on the other side rather than nobles. Merchants and orcs were exactly like that. Orcs, who gathered in families, outwardly resembled dwarves at a nce, but they were much more active in external activities. While dwarves usually settle within mountain ranges, orcs settle in cities or towns. Istionism was impossible from the start. With an old vision handed down over generations, there was a rumor that news was delivered even between distant families, so the orcs¡¯ information gathering ability had some outstanding parts. ¡°The current situation. . . to be honest, I¡¯d say we¡¯re in the fog.¡± The orcs trailed off as if it was difficult. ¡°While the Emperor secured an unexpected victory that no one anticipated, that didn¡¯t end or resolve the situation. In fact, several feudal lords escaped unharmed and are reorganizing like this as we speak. There is a high possibility that a long, tedious battle will continue.¡± ¡°With morale likely high, wouldn¡¯t the Emperor¡¯s troops advance west?¡± ¡°Haha. The weather still isn¡¯tpletely cleared up yet. . . More than anything, the Emperor¡¯s situation isn¡¯t exactly affluent. The mercenaries below must be very dissatisfied. Their wages have been dyed quite a bit, you see.¡± Mercenaries who indiscriminately plunder the area after a battle ended. This wasn¡¯t because themander failed tomand. It was impossible to stop that. This was included in customary rights, so if it was stopped, it could lead to desertion at first and even riots or rebellions at worst. After giving them about a few weeks to plunder, they would want to depart immediately but unfortunately that wasn¡¯t possible. The Emperor had many debts, so he had to repay some of them to be able to borrow anew again, replenish the troops lost while subjugating the south, consider how to dispose of the fiefs of rebel nobles. . . The Emperor had been running on a very precarious line, so once he won, there were many ces where he had to rest his hands. The Emperor was now catching his breath and reorganizing. ¡°Also, there is a gue around central and southern nearby.¡± ¡°A gue?¡± ¡°Yes. With many people dying, it¡¯s only natural for a gue to spread.¡± The gue here meant something slightly different. It meant that evil energy that summoned undead monsters everywhere. The hordes of undead rampaging here and there were a headache for many feudal lords. ¡°If something like that happens in the central region, it would definitely be impossible to lead the army and go up. . . Are they going to stop the subjugation of the south as well?¡± Johan asked with expectation. It would be good news for Johan if the subjugation of the south stops. Would it not harm the emperor? ¡°I don¡¯t think it will stop.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Well, if the emperor was the kind of person to stop because of something like that, the situation wouldn¡¯t have be like this in the first ce, right?¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s true.¡± Cardirian was not the kind of person to give up just because some undead are swarming. No matter how much damage urs, he will slowly conquer the cities and towns of the south one by one. ¡°When there¡¯s one lunatic, it tires out many others.¡± ¡°But Your Excellency, I¡¯ve heard rumors that the Elf King is in a simr situation. . .¡± ¡°?¡± The Elf King needed a replenishment as much as the emperor. The probability of him leading the army back down south after preparations areplete is high. With dozens of castles in the south between them, he intends to have a stubborn skirmish with the emperor. ¡°Is no one dissatisfied?¡± He was worried because there were also talks of traitors amidst all this. ¡°It¡¯splicated. They don¡¯t like having to keep leading soldiers into battle but they also don¡¯t want to abandon the emperor.¡± The psychology of the nobles on both sides would be simr. In a situation like this where the end is uncertain, they don¡¯t want to keep leading armies but still, they can¡¯t lose to the opponent! In fact, if the emperor and the elf kingpromise with each other and negotiate, the surrounding nobles might be even more delighted. ¡°It¡¯s a muddy fight.¡± ¡°Indeed. I wonder when this war will end. . .¡± To the orcs, it looked like the war wouldst at least a few more years. It was very rare for the emperor¡¯s grand army to sh with the allied grand army, and they usually just wasted time pushing each other back and forth overnd. ¡°If Your Excellency has no more questions, may we take out the gift we brought?¡± ¡°You brought a gift?¡± ¡°Of course. Come in!¡± As two elves who looked quite old entered, Suetlg murmured. ¡°They¡¯re from the White Tower.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s the White Tower. . .¡± At the westernmost end of the elves¡¯ kingdom, there was a white tower situated on an ind. It was a structure that existed since the days of the ancient empire. The tower itself did not hold any special power but various talented individuals who took this building as their symbol gathered there, settling on the ind for generations and forming something like a university. ¡°It¡¯s like the elves¡¯ university. More meticulous and mystical.¡± Like those who graduated inw or theology from the universities in the Free Cities having insignia on their bodies as they walk about, the elves from the White Tower also had markings on their white clothes. ¡°These two Arnoos are skilled wizards and painters. They will vividly capture Your Excellency¡¯s visage on a painting.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Because of thepletely unexpected gift, Johan had to make an effort to manage his expression. ¡°Really. . .thank you so much.¡± ¡°The orcs put quite a bit of thought into this. Painters of such caliber would cost quite a lot.¡± Suetlg nodded as if genuinely impressed. The orcs gave a thoughtful gift. The majestic portrait to be painted with expensive materials symbolized the dignity of nobility. Anyone who sees it would bow their heads at Johan¡¯s dignity. ¡®????????????¡¯???? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ ???????????? He thought it was a useless gift, but the two elves were surprisingly skillful. When they heard Johan had hunted an ogre, they opened their mouths. ¡°We heard Your Excellency hunted an ogre.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, we will show you magicter.¡± Johan became curious at their words and asked. ¡°What kind of magic?¡± ¡°Please let us use the ogre¡¯s intestines.¡± ¡°We can tell fortunes to answer any questions you have or the future.¡± Telling fortunes by looking at animal intestines was quite an old form of magic. Suetlg asked with interest. ¡°I can¡¯t say I really want my fortune told, are you that confident?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the intestines of other monsters, but an ogre¡¯s.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right.¡± If they couldn¡¯t properly tell fortunes using the intestines of the king of the forest and monster, they weren¡¯t qualified as wizards. The Arnoos spoke firmly. ¡°Very well. Shall we try telling fortunes then?¡± ¡°The preparations aren¡¯t finished yet. . .?¡± ¡°Do itter. I want to see the fortunes first.¡± The Arnoos got up with a reluctant look. On the way to where the ogre corpse was, Johan asked a question. ¡°I heard you have a variety of talents, do you have any other skills?¡± ¡°We are skilled in alchemy and witchcraft.¡± ¡°In magic, we are good at telling fortunes and we also have talent in drawing.¡± ¡®?????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Johan was impressed. Not only the way they chatted as if they were one person, but there seemed to be few areas they hadn¡¯t learned from the White Tower. ¡°We also know how to tan hides.¡± ¡°If any moderate ogre leather remains we could even make armor out of it for you.¡± ¡°What? You can do that?¡± Ogre leather was said to be tougher than troll skin, but actually catching one and making armor out of it was nearly an impossible pipe dream. It was difficult to tan the hides and craft them into armor because the leather was so tough and sturdy. ¡®???????? ?????????????? ??????. . .¡¯ The armor Johan was wearing wasn¡¯t bad either. The brigandine style armor woven with the leather of hunted monsters and rare metals was so fancy even the makers nicknamed it dragon scale. The greatcoat given by Gulrak also wasn¡¯t like a normal greatcoat with its magical enhancements. However, he wanted to wear better armor if he could. Monster leather armor was flexible, lightweight and possessed traits of the monster, which were advantages. With ogre leather, additional metal backing tes wouldn¡¯t be needed to have sufficient defense. ¡°You two really are exceptionally talented.¡± ¡°¡°Thank you, Your Excellency.¡±¡± ¡°Then rather than fortunes, I¡¯d prefer if you make the armor first since quite a bit of leather remains.¡± ¡°?¡± The Arnoos was puzzled. Ogre hunts often turned into long drawn out battles, so it was rare for the ogre corpses to remain intact after the hunt ended. But from the count¡¯s words, it sounded as if its body was quite preserved. They couldn¡¯t imagine how that was possible. ¡°!!¡± That puzzlement was resolved after seeing it themselves. At the ogre corpse caught with practically no damage, the Arnoos were so amazed they couldn¡¯t close their mouths. The two drew the ogre as if spellbound. ¡°But Your Excellency. We still have a lot of fortune telling and portraits left to draw, if we start on the armor first. . .¡± ¡°Ah, then we need to set priorities.¡± Arnoos was relieved. If they finished the painting first, they could easily focus on their work. ¡°Make the armor first.¡± ¡°. . .Your Excellency. You don¡¯t happen to dislike our painting, do you?¡± Arnoos asked just in case. Johan didn¡¯t know, but among the extravagant nobles, the Arnoos¡¯s name was quite well known. The portraits the two had painted were said to be as vivid and vibrant as if they were alive. Thanks to the reputation they had built up, they now had so manymissions piled up that even nobles who wanted their portraits painted had to be turned down. But the Count in front of them seemed strangely indifferent. Was it his mood? ¡°I just want to see the most perfect and beautiful onest. Now, make the armor first.¡± With an awkward feeling, the Arnoos started on the work. Of course, making armor and appraising gems were also among their talents, but their proudest skill was painting. As they skinned the ogre leather, they thought to themselves. They should avoid boasting about their other talents if possible. ???????????? ¡°Ulrike-gong isn¡¯t here?¡± ¡°Yes. She went on an expedition to defeat the undead.¡± ¡°Phew. . .¡± Stephen openly showed his relief. His instinct was somehow telling him for some reason that it wouldn¡¯t be good to meet Ulrike. In fact, he didn¡¯t even need to use his instinct to know. ¡°If I¡¯m lucky, won¡¯t I be able to avoid seeing her face until she returns?¡± ¡°That¡¯s too much to hope for. . . Besides, an expedition to defeat the undead? What a nice excuse. Makes me want to go along.¡± ¡°. . .What? Why? Why would you go? Why?¡± Stephen was startled by Johan¡¯s words. Thanks to God¡¯s favor towards Johan, they had avoided meeting each other, so why would he willingly walk into his own grave? Chapter 226: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (8) Chapter 226: ???????????????? ???? ???????????? (8) ¡°Why. . .do you need me to exin this to you?¡± Johan started exining as if asking why he was asking something so obvious. ¡°The only ce worth fighting over right now is the south. You know that, right?¡± ¡°I know that much. . .¡± The southern region where the emperor was leading troops and wrestling with the anti-emperor nobles. The emperor was trying to somehow subjugate the south with the support of his direct territory in the rear and the pro-emperor free cities, but there was an undead gue raging in that rear area and the war had been going on for a long time. In Johan¡¯s thinking, as more time passed, it was very likely that the emperor¡¯s other vassals or free cities would be the first to step forward and request negotiations. Just looking at this alliance, didn¡¯t everyone except the Elf King say they wanted negotiations? ¡®???? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????????, ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ The Elf King would also be satisfied after gaining some war trophies, so if time simply passed like this, the possibility of resolution was high. Then there was no reason to wastefully deplete troops in meaningless battles by going into the south. If we went there, we would just have to repeat the boring fight of waiting in front of or attacking a castle several times. ¡°Purging the undead nearby can be a usible reason. It would also be good to get help from the monastery nearby.¡± ¡°But we have to meet Ulrike.¡± ¡°Well. . .we can¡¯t refuse.¡± To Johan, it seemed a bit coincidental that Ulrike had left to subdue the undead. Ulrike¡¯s fiefdom wasn¡¯t currently suffering damage from the gue. It could be seen that she had set out with a kind heart for the sake of nearby nobles or towns, but Ulrike probably. . . ¡®???????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ????????????.¡¯ Rather, it was more likely that Ulrike had thought simrly to Johan. In a situation where they didn¡¯t have the ability to finish each other off with the war dragging on, she didn¡¯t want tomit troops pointlessly. ¡°Speak honestly! Aren¡¯t you also not even a little reluctant to meet Ulrike?!¡± ¡°. . .I am very righteous.¡± ¡°It sounds like you just thought about it for a second before answering. . .¡± Stephen bowed his head gloomily. He enjoyed greeting and socializing with the other lesser nobles of the Empire, but he was afraid of getting close to the army led by Ulrike. ¡°She won¡¯t kill me, right?¡± ¡°If you clearly show an attitude of submission when you meet, the probability of survival may increase.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to protect me. . .?¡± ???????????? ¡®?????? ???????????????????? ???? ??????????????.¡¯ After the preparations werepleted, Johan, who was waiting with the servants and ves in front, wondered at the atmosphere when he went to meet the nobles. All the nobles from the Empire side and the nobles brought by the Elf King were looking at Johan with hopeful eyes. ¡°With this body? Of course, the frame is tall, but I think my head should be bigger.¡± ¡°Despite his appearance, he has a beast-like strength inside. Once he explodes, no one can withstand it.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Hearing the quiet conversation from afar, Johan realized what had happened. The elf knights must have been gossiping. ¡®?????????? ??????????-????????????. . .¡¯ After all, it would be stranger if rumors did not spread after dragging an ogre corpse to the city. Moreover, there was nothing bad about spreading such rumors. When nobles meet each other for the first time, what backs those nobles are the family history and personal reputation. Even without an army to pull from behind, Johan had proven himself to be a respectable noble. ¡°It is an honor to meet you, Count Yeats. After hearing about the young Count¡¯s valor, I have been waiting to meet you in person.¡± King Angoldolph of the Elves looked at Johan with a gaze mixed with goodwill and ambition, befitting an elf king. He had the most elven temperament. ¡°I too have been waiting to meet the young king, hearing of his reputation.¡± Johan¡¯s words made the Elf Kingugh sincerely. There was nothing more joyful than being recognized by a knight you recognize. ¡°I heard about the basilisk. I want to repay you even a little for it.¡± ¡°No, doing something to getpensation. . .¡± He was right, but Johan refused at first out of courtesy. Fortunately, the Elf King was not the type to give up just because he refused. ¡°Please ept it.¡± Two elf attendants carefully brought a shield. From their cautious actions alone, one could tell how precious that shield was. ¡°Ognar¡¯s Shield, an item that has been passed down in my family for generations.¡± ¡°!¡± Surprised by a much more surprising gift than expected, Johan was taken aback. Of course, he did not show it outwardly. Seeing his calm reaction, the Elf King slightly clicked his tongue as if disappointed. ¡°I believe that as a Count, you can handle it sufficiently. That shield tests the master.¡± ¡®. . .?¡¯ Johan, who had been delighted, stiffened at the words of the Elf King. Listening to his words, the magical energy emanating from the shield was not normal. ¡®???????????? ?? ?????? ???????????? ????.¡¯ ???????????? After the grandiose wee ended, wine and food were generously given to the crowds gathered outside, while the nobles went into the tents and took their seats. It was an asion only attended by prestigious nobles, to the point that it would have been difficult to attend without bringing at least a hundred soldiers. The Elf King, the feudal lords of the west, the castens of the south, representatives from the free cities, orcs who were allowed to participate in exchange for providing massive funds even though they were not nobles. . . One of the orcs saw Johan and gestured at him. Johan also looked back and gestured. The young Elf King started speaking in an arrogant tone. One of his hands was tightly grasping a sword while the other was reaching out towards the nobles present. ¡°God always sends down revtions. And as I see it, this is one! Count Yeats brought thousands with him. With strong arms and legs, sturdy armor and shields, what is there to fear with them here?¡± At the young king¡¯s words, the Empire nobles nodded as if in agreement. But the words from their mouths were theplete opposite. ¡°But Your Majesty. The situation in the south is not very good right now. Even if we lead arge army on a march, it will be difficult to feed them.¡± ¡°Supplies can be delivered from the rear. The orcs have promised to provide gold again. Right?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± However, despite that, the Empire nobles did not readily ept it. ¡°Even if supplies are delivered, if there is no guarantee we can win, it is still a waste in my opinion. Unfortunately, with the previous victory, the emperor has obtained the impregnable fortress, Gashturt Castle. The emperor¡¯s army will retreat into the castle if they are disadvantaged.¡± ¡°For Gashturt Castle, they can receive supplies from the rear. . .¡± The Elf King let out a frustrated sound at the various oppositions. But he could not strongly rebuke them. Not only were these nobles not his subjects, but more importantly, their arguments made sense. If this side has arger army, the opponent enters the castle, and if the opponent¡¯s army isrger, this side enters the castle. The attacking side was always at a disadvantage. ¡°Then tell me what we should do!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s station half of the soldiers near cities where they can receive supplies, and divide and support the southern castens with the other half. The castles in the south are sturdy and solid, so even with just a small number of soldiers, huge effects can be seen. Once the situation stabilizes, counterattacks can also beunched.¡± ¡®????????.¡¯ Listening in, Johan cheered on the Empire nobles. Starting with Count Jarpen, they were all quite seasoned, their heads worked well even without Johan¡¯s intervention. Since this side had nothing to regret, enduring while pulling in the opponent was good. However, the Elf King was different from them. He wanted to take his knights and properly exact revenge. Taking shelter like mice in castles was out of the question. ¡®?? ???????????? ?????????? ????.¡¯ Johan felt the need to intervene. He had prepared a scheme beforehand. ¡°I have something to say.¡± ¡°Oh. Please speak, Count.¡± When Johan opened his mouth, the Empire nobles present looked at him with interest. Some of them had uneasy expressions. They were clearly viewing Johan on the same level as the emperor or the Elf King. A militant and wild knight before a ruler! . . .Of course, if Johan heard this notorious reputation, he would have felt very wronged, but the Empire nobles had already heard the stories of basilisks and ogres at least three times. ¡°Are you thinking of advancing, Count?¡± The Elf King looked at Johan with eager eyes. His authoritative demeanor faded slightly, revealing the Elves¡¯ inherent sincerity. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Having tangled bodies with Iselia countless times, Johan was able to read the emotions revealed in his movements. That slight drooping of the ear tips meant sincerity. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s for me to judge when to advance. Rather, I want to bring in the eastern elector. Let¡¯s also bring in the eastern nobles into our alliance. If we have enemies on both sides, even the emperor won¡¯t be able to act so arrogantly.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± The faces of the imperial nobles lit up. This young count had presented an unexpectedly sweet opinion that they hadn¡¯t even considered. They heard that Count Yeats starts by leading the eastern nomadic tribes around and is close with Duke Brduhe. The eastern nobles enjoyed watching the civil war in the Empire while maintaining neutrality, but they wondered if they could be persuaded to participate with the right persuasion. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea!¡± ¡°Will the rough folks from the east agree to negotiate?¡± In an effort not to show his distaste too much, the Elf King spoke with a sullen face. He didn¡¯t like making concessions to the eastern nobles, and he felt the situation was moving further and further away from what he wanted. How much more time would be wasted with the negotiations and their participation. . . ¡°I don¡¯t think trying would hurt, your excellency.¡± ¡°I agree as well.¡± ¡°As long as we seed, it shouldn¡¯t be bad.¡± As the majority agreed, the Elf King reluctantly nodded. No matter how militant and arrogant he was, he had no intention of voicing dissent to all those present here. ¡®???? ?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ????????, ????¡¯???? ???????????? ????.¡¯ He had unintentionally obstructed the Elf King. He should have shown some consideration. He had even received his family treasure. . . Johan opened his mouth. ¡°Your Majesty. We don¡¯t necessarily have to advance south. I¡¯ve heard rumors that an undead gue is raging in the central region. Ulrike-gong has already set out to subdue it. How about joining her?¡± ¡°That subjugation which no one knows when will end. . .¡± The Elf King,ining as he was about to refuse, stopped short. Why would Count Yeats volunteer for such a nasty job that no one knows when it would end? While the other nobles thought, ¡¯???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ????¡¯?? ???? ????????????????,¡¯ the Elf King was unable toe up with such an idea. Why would a knight of that caliber do that? At that moment, something shed through the Elf King¡¯s mind. Currently, the undead gue was spreading near the central and southern regions. If we use this subjugation as an excuse, we can approach not only the fiefdoms of nearby feudal lords, but also the fiefdoms and free cities that were suspiciously taking the emperor¡¯s side while using neutrality as an excuse. While these central nobles had dered neutrality and were caught up in the fighting, just selling supplies to the emperor rather than blocking his logistics was tantamount to taking the emperor¡¯s side. Something had to be done about these shady guys. It would be good to threaten them with force or take the opportunity to upy them when it arose. While the nobles of the Empire wouldn¡¯t dare do such things because they cared about their prestige and reputation within the Empire, he was different. ¡®????????????! ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ????????????.¡¯ The Elf King cast an approving nce at Johan. ¡°?¡± ¡®???????¡¯ Of course, from Johan¡¯s perspective, it was just a nce whose meaning he couldn¡¯t grasp. Was it thanks for the suggestion? ¡°. . .Good! Waiting around is less appealing than dealing with the hordes of undead pouring into this city. My knights will also need enemies to cut down. ¡°It¡¯s an honor that your Majesty will join us.¡± Johan was privately relieved that the other party¡¯s reaction was better than expected. The other imperial nobles were also happy that the Elf King¡¯s interest had been diverted. They had been worried what kind of person the young count might be, but he turned out to be a much more reasonable person to talk to than expected. ¡®???? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ????.¡¯ ¡®???? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????????????????????¡¯ It was a satisfying meeting for everyone. When it came time for the meeting to end, Johan suddenly realized. ¡®????, ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ Chapter 227: ???????????? ???????????? (1) Chapter 227: ???????????? ???????????? (1) I had forgotten the traitor. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????????? ????????????, ??????. . .¡¯ Among the nobles, there were neither eternal enemies nor eternal allies. The feudal lords here now could have joined the emperor faction at any time for whatever reason, and the opposite was also possible. Moreover, there were many watching eyes around, so anything one did was bound to reach the ears of others to some extent. ¡®?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ Still, Johan wanted to identify the traitor beforehand. The more usable cards, the better. ¡®?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ??????????????????????, ???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Even if he found out, given his personality, he woulde forward to distinguish right from wrong rather than y tricks. Johan decided to first figure out who the other party was. ???????????? ¡°It really looks great.¡± Iselia also nodded as if agreeing with Johan¡¯s words. Johan was someone who often said slick words from his mouth, but the ogre leather armor made by the Arnoos deserved to hear such words. ¡°Even a ballista wouldn¡¯t be able to pierce through it.¡± ¡°But if I get hit by a ballista, won¡¯t I die even if the armor is intact?¡± ¡°. . .W-Well, that¡¯s true.¡± Johan stroked the armor with his finger. It felt firm as it moved sticly as if it were alive. It was amazing that such a lightweight and easy to move armor could be so sturdy. Karamaf growled as he put on the armor over his shirt and leather pants. Johan exuded the aura of a forest bandit chief. ¡®???? ???????? ???????? ????????????????.¡¯ Even when mystical monsters died, their mystique remained. Johan looked at Iselia and said, ¡°I wish you could wear my armor, Iselia.¡± ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay?¡± Iselia was surprised by Johan¡¯s gift and asked. Even if she couldn¡¯t reach the level of the ogre leather, the armor Johan originally wore was also a tremendous armament. ¡°Yes. I would be happy if you wear it.¡± ¡°My dear. . .¡± As they suddenly started intensely staring at each other with lustful mood, the Arnoos became embarrassed. Should they leave them alone? ¡°Your excellency, may I start painting your portrait now? I have been longing to paint your excellency¡¯s portrait.¡± Originally, painting portraits was a job done for nobles for money, but sometimes it could also be an honor for the painter themselves. When the subject was a knight who had aplished great feats, it was one of those cases. ¡°It seems you have high expectations.¡± ¡°Yes. We have a superstition that whenever we paint great people on canvas, we be more like their greatness.¡± ¡°Then read my fortune first. I¡¯m curious about my fortune.¡± ¡°Yo. . .your fortune?¡± ¡°Yes. They say you can tell the future by looking at entrails? I want to see the White Tower graduate¡¯s magic once. Those renowned philosophers from the prestigious White Tower.¡± Johan¡¯s words were more jest than sincerity. Of course, the White Tower had its own reputation, but it wasn¡¯t a ce Johan would praise that much. Law or theology would be better, but mystical subjects like alchemy or medicine were more likely to be regarded as shady. White Tower itself was a shady ce where mostly illegitimate children of nobility entered when examined closely. However, with Johan praising it like that, the Arnoos could not dare to refuse out of bewilderment. ¡°Ahem. Then let me tell your fortune first.¡± ¡°Thank you. Shall we go take a look?¡± Following Johan who was walking ahead of the the Arnoos, Iselia whispered by his side, ¡°My dear, as far as I know, your departure for the expedition is drawing near. Is it okay? The painting will take quite some time.¡± ¡°Well if there¡¯s not enough time, it¡¯ll have to be paintedter.¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m not good at reading people but I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll like it too much.¡± What Iselia said was true. After Johan led the elite troops with the Elf King and departed for the expedition, the Arnoos who heard the news btedly hurried over, grabbed the mercenaries remaining in the camp and made hopeless expressions. ???????????? ¡°Count, Count.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Those elves have piled up silver like a mountain! Isn¡¯t that crazy?!¡± One of the centaurs said excitedly to Johan. Johan shook his head and said, ¡°You probably just saw their weapons ted with silver.¡± Hearing Johan¡¯s words, the centaurs had disappointed expressions. Of course they had no intentions of stealing or plundering, but the absence of piles of silver brought an inexplicable feeling of disappointment. Silver was always the most effective against the undead. It was expensive so they couldn¡¯t use too much, but the more they had the better. And the Elf King had enough wealth tovishly use silver. Of course, Johan had no intentions of wastefully using silver for weapons. Johan brought dwarf mercenaries with him. When they discovered a group of undead they would set up camp and systematically take them down. Would it not be sufficient to clean them up with fire and iron without using silver? ¡°How were the omens?¡± ¡°Bizarre.¡± ¡°Elves can be like that.¡± Iselia¡¯s ears drooped down. Flustered, Suetlg said, ¡°I don¡¯t mean that His Majesty said that, it¡¯s just elves have a kind of wild, primitive magic that¡¯s a bit. . . overwhelming.¡± The act of plunging one¡¯s hand into an ogre¡¯s entrails and searching for omens covered in blood up to one¡¯s shoulders had a bizarre, maddened quality to it. The Arnoos werepletely absorbed in the omens with a madness in their eyes. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ???????¡¯ ¡°What did you ask?¡± ¡°I asked if we could know who the traitor was.¡± ¡°And what did they say?¡± ¡°They said the bravest one would be the traitor.¡± ¡°. . .Isn¡¯t that me?¡± Johan replied in disbelief. The bravest one. From the people gathered here, Johan would probably be the most cowardly. The elves had no fear in their minds, the centaurs were simrly martial, and the dwarves were quite arrogant and fearless as well. . . ¡°Who do you think is the bravest among your vassals?¡± ¡°Well, bravery isn¡¯t something you can quantify.¡± Essentially all the nobles who considered themselves knights were quite brave. Whether it was due to their innate temperament or because they truly believed in their code of chivalry, it was hard to say. It¡¯s normally impossible for a sane mind to be able to charge towards hundreds of enemies at the front line. ¡°For now, let¡¯s focus on subjugating the undead.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much cause for concern. With forces like these we could subjugate things far worse than mere undead.¡± With dozens of knights, it was an astounding military power. Suetlg¡¯sck of worry was understandable. ¡°And you requested support from the monastery as well.¡± ¡°The more help the better, right?¡± When dealing with undead like this, pdins from the monasteries demonstrated seasoned expertise. More help was always wee. ¡°They don¡¯t normally agree to juste when called by unrted nobles like you. You sure are popr.¡± ¡°It¡¯s thanks to the excellent pious faith I¡¯ve cultivated all this time, no?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense.¡± But regardless of Suetlg¡¯s grumbling, few doubted Johan¡¯s pious faith. The nearby monastery had readily epted his requestrgely thanks to Johan¡¯s reputation. The ce they stopped by was the Maeldal Monastery. The monastery was armed with sturdy stone walls and moats like a small castle. The monks who had been notified in advance happily came out to greet them. ¡°Please,e inside. Esteemed guests.¡± Passing through corridors smelling of herbs and dust, prepared meals were awaiting them inside. The Elf King whispered to Johan, ¡°Did you have to stay at a monastery like this?¡± ¡°I judged this ce to be most suitable.¡± ¡°If I had known it would be such an impoverished ce I wouldn¡¯t have agreed.¡± The Elf King stated bluntly. There were rich monasteries and poor monasteries. And the ces the Elf King stayed at were usually quite wealthy monasteries. A monastery where pheasant and pork dishes are served at every meal, and good quality wine is served, with the abbot dressed in velvet robes. Compared to that, this Maeldal Monastery was very frugal. The monks only drank in beer, and ate hard bread and cheese with barely any vor. ¡°Well, what can you do. You just have to endure it.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Count, a knight like you, indignant about receiving this kind of treatment?¡± The Elf King couldn¡¯t genuinely understand why Johan was acting like that. To him, he simply couldn¡¯tprehend Johan¡¯s behavior. It was a knight¡¯s right to demand treatment befitting their fame and achievements. There was no reason not to pursue that right. Fortunately, Johan had a convenient excuse prepared. ¡°God always whispers humility and frugality to me.¡± Hearing Johan¡¯s words, the monks who had been looking at the Elf King in dissatisfaction next to him had admiring expressions. That was true faith. Then the Elf King shook his head with a serious look and said, ¡°Count, I will tell you out of respect for you, my count. You are being deceived by the priests.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was impressed by Elf King¡¯s passionate persuasion. Of course the monks wouldn¡¯t stab the Elf King to death for insulting God, but still, wasn¡¯t this a sacred ce for those who believed in God to some extent? Tomit sphemy in such a ce. . . ¡°The priests are those who live their lives with the goal of hindering all the joys and pleasures of the world. It¡¯s one thing to torment themselves, but they torment others as well. Of course, passionate faith beats in my heart too. But you only need to open your heart and take it out when you pray, at other times there is no need to take it out unnecessarily.¡± As he spoke, the Elf King raised his wine ss. The flustered monk said, ¡°Your majesty, it¡¯s not time for prayer yet. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trying to drink during prayer.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to pray while drinking. So it¡¯s okay to drink.¡± ¡®??????. ??????????????.¡¯ The Elf King made excuses skillfully, as if he had done it more than once or twice. Johan admired it inwardly, but the monks must have sworn inside. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by the priests, Count. They are the ones trying to lure your glory into their white veil.¡± The young king spoke earnestly with genuine sincerity. If it wasn¡¯t sincere, such persuasive power would have been hard to convey. Of course, Johan himself was just dumbfounded. In the first ce, who was using whom. . . ¡°I understand. From now on, I will think it over a few times when the priests speak.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what you should do! Damn it, the meat here looks older than my helmet.¡± The Elf King spat out the cured meat. It wasn¡¯t just the king. The elf knights had more painful expressions tearing the bread than when their stomachs were stabbed by the enemy. ???????????? ¡°Your excellency.¡± ¡°?¡± After the dinner that was very painful for the elves, Johany embracing Iselia with one arm as he entered the residence. He was puzzled at the sound of knocking on the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Guyma, the abbot of the monastery. Your excellency. There is a monk who wants to see Your Excellency, so I brought him here.¡± Johan had Iselia put down the sword she was holding. No matter what, it would have been rude in front of the abbot. ¡°If you had something to say, why did youe looking for me like this instead of earlier?¡± He had already heard all the information there was to hear from the people of the monastery. The horde of undead was found in a ce that would take several more days to the east, and had not yet affected this Maeldal Monastery. As soon as daylight breaks, the party will head east towards Pelheim Castle. Is there more to say here? ¡°I. . . I. . . swore an oath of secrecy, so I couldn¡¯t say it in front of other people.¡± The old monk said with a face strained by tension. Johan offered him liquor to calm him down. Iselia still couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the sword. Karamaf licked Iselia¡¯s palm with the tip of his tongue. It seemed to mean snap out of it. ¡°Rx and speakfortably.¡± ¡°The casten of Pel. . . Pel. . .heim Castle knows about the undead gue but is pretending. . . pretending not to know.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan was not very surprised. Wealthy feudal lords can hire armies to sweep away the undead, but poor feudal lords have to grit their teeth and endure. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ???????????????????????? ?????????????? ??????????, ???? ?????¡¯ ¡°There is a holy relic in the castle basement to ward off the undead, but he is not using it.¡± ¡°!¡± Chapter 228: ???????????? ???????????? (2) Chapter 228: ???????????? ???????????? (2) When the noble faction bishops in the church rose to power being pampered infort with immense support from their families, the miracle faction bishops rose after showing miracles in the most remote and dangerous ces. Miracles like quelling gues and oveing droughts were not even worth boasting about among the miracle faction bishops. And those who showed such miracles over and over again, to the point where it was unbelievable, were given the title of saint. What those saints left behind were relics. No matter how trivial the item, it surely contained immense divinity. ¡°It was a bit much to have relics and not use them.¡± ¡°Yes! I thought so too.¡± The old monk¡¯s courage seemed to swell as Johan affirmed him, nodding his head repeatedly. The trembling of his wrinkled, bent hands stopped. ¡°A few years ago I went to the Pelheim Castle temple for confession, and the priest there thought highly of me and showed me the relics. He made me swear to secrecy, but. . .¡± Relics were so precious that those who had them did not easily speak of it. More powerful and authoritative people could have coveted them. The old monk knew that, which is why he kept his mouth shut, but with the undead gue raging and no news forting, he couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated. He asked a servant at the monastery to contact Pelheim Castle, but only got the reply that the temple priest was ill and unavable. ¡°Thank you for trusting me and telling me.¡± ¡°Yo. . . Your Excellency is the true sword of faith. I really wanted to tell you.¡± When someone bundled with such pure, ardent faith spoke like that, even Johan¡¯s steely conscience was slightly wounded. Johan grimaced inwardly and said, ¡°I swear I will do my best to resolve this.¡± ¡°Your Excellency. But. . .¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want me to tell Angoldolph?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m perceptive enough to know that much. Don¡¯t worry.¡± The monk was afraid that the Elf King would covet those relics and take them back to the kingdom. Just thinking about the Empire¡¯s relics being transferred to the kingdom made his chest feel torn apart. ???????????? ¡°It is shameful that the casten of Pelheim was hiding the relic.¡± ¡°Why do you think so?¡± ¡°Hmm. . . maybe because he didn¡¯t want the power of the relic to disappear?¡± Iselia thought about it before giving a usible answer. It made sense. If the power of the relic disappeared after using it once, what would they do? Also, even if the power of the relic didn¡¯t disappear, it would inevitably attract attention if the relic became famous. ¡°That¡¯s likely.¡± ¡°Then what are you thinking of doing?¡± ¡°What do you think we should do, Iselia?¡± Johan casually asked, resting his chin on Iselia¡¯s shoulder. Iselia didn¡¯t push Johan away and thought about it before answering: ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we meet the casten, hold a sword to him, and demand that he take out the relic? With your reputation and the Elf King¡¯s authority, the casten wouldn¡¯t be able to refuse.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think of that, but it might work.¡± The reason Johan hadn¡¯t thought of it was that he was too honest. He didn¡¯t have much to gain. Johan was thinking about how to make a deal with the casten separately. If he dealt with the undead around without the help of the relic, and then pressed the casten about the relic, the casten of Pelheim would be in considerable trouble. Some feudal lords of the central region were subtly dering neutrality. This could be an opportunity to persuade them. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like there would be any problem subjugating the undead without the help of the relic. Have you seen the Elf King and his knights charge?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen the elf knights.¡± ¡°Seeing their might once is better than hearing about it.¡± When she was young, Iselia had seen the Elf King charge with his knights. Extraordinary might was contained in that fierce charge. ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????¡¯ It wouldn¡¯t be strange for someone like the Elf King to have several magics. Having crossed swords with Cardirian¡¯s son, Johan had learned anew how annoying the power of magic could be. ¡°They will charge even if I stop them, so I will be able to see it.¡± Johan lifted his chin from Iselia¡¯s nape and kissed her neck. In the past, Iselia would freeze up like a stone, but now she didn¡¯t get particrly surprised. She turned her head and ovepped her lips with his. Johan smiled as he lifted his head. Iselia asked in confusion: ¡°My dear, what did I do wrong?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m happy.¡± Johan hugged Iselia again. Iselia was confused but gently put her arms around him. ???????????? The face of the Elf King leaving the monastery looked unexpectedly happy. He looked like a prisoner released from prison. The opportunity Iselia spoke of came soon. When the Elf King discovered a herd of ghouls walking out of the forest, he immediately drew his sword. It was as if he was in a hurry for fear that Johan would attack first. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???? ??????.¡¯ ¡°Count. I will show you first.¡± ¡°I look forward to it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go! My knights! Raise your swords and spears! Comfort the souls of those who have lost their flesh with steel!¡± As the Elf King stepped forward, the knights who had sworn allegiance to that king followed. As they stood shoulder to shoulder, thrusting their spears forward, a powerful mystical force began to be felt from them. Suetlg eximed with an admiring expression. ¡°How many generations have sworn an oath of allegiance!¡± The bloodline that had sworn loyalty over many generations, not just this one, gave the gathered knights a powerful blessing. Seeing the Elf knights charging together, he had an intuition that even if he shot arrows or threw spears at them, they wouldn¡¯t hit and would nce off. The Elf King wearing that blessing charged bravely. He held a shield in one hand but barely used that shield. The King split and trampled the heads of ghouls, wielding his longsword. The Elf knights protecting him on both sides were equally formidable. With the resolve to protect the King, the knights showing their loyalty tried not to let a single filthy drop of ghoul blood touch the King. After one charge ended, the pack of ghouls looked battered, as if they had encountered a storm. Even those belligerent centaurs had weary looks in their eyes. ¡°Have you ever seen beasts like those?¡± ¡°Compared to those foul creatures, we are refined nobles.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± The heavily armed Elf knights were just as terrifying. Returning after finishing his charge, the Elf King spoke in a relieved tone. ¡°What do you think, Count?¡± ¡°It was a tremendous assault. I have never seen such an assault, not even in Vynashchtym.¡± ¡°Is that so??¡± Johan already had plenty of experience in dealing with elf knights. He knew how to handle elves. The Elf King was not much different. He could be considered the most elven of elves. When Johanplimented him and even mentioned the storied name of Vynashchtym, the Elf King was so delighted he could barely maintain hisposure. ¡°Heh heh hmm. I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t give you the chance, Count.¡± ¡°In that case, next time we could. . .¡± ¡°Why say such things.¡± Jabbing Iselia in the side, Johan interrupted. With the elf knights fighting bravely, he could just watch from behind. Even the battle-loving centaurs did not volunteer for the undead subjugation. What they liked was catching enemies and plundering their gold, silver and jewels. They had no interest in already dead corpses. ¡°There are more hordes to roast over there. Would you show me once more?¡± ¡°When the Count speaks so, I cannot remain still. Wait and see.¡± ???????????? ¡°Ulrike-nim. A messenger has arrived.¡± Ulrike took off her helmet and looked down at the messenger from Pelheim with cold eyes. The messenger from Pelheim swallowed hard several times due to the parched feeling in his mouth. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the casten havee in person? Since when did Pelheim have a new casten?¡± ¡°The casten is really not well, your excellency!¡± ¡°Then tell him to get better ande back. Remember that you still have your neck only by my mercy. Crawl out on your knees!¡± The messenger crawled out humiliatingly but he was d to have kept his life. ¡°The casten could really be ill. Ulrike-nim.¡± ¡°If he¡¯s truly ill, then that would be the end for Pelheim.¡± Ulrike, who led her knights and army to subdue the undead gue, was not on a charity mission. Like how a wandering knight makes a promise of reward from the local feudal lord before fighting monsters, nobles leading armies were no different. They did not fight without anypensation. Even if the undead hordes grew out of control and pushed west, that was a problem forter. She would not fight without rewards. Ulrike had carried out three subjugations, dealing with hundreds of ghouls in each. And every time, she had receivedpensation from the local feudal lords. But the casten of Pelheim, with some audacity, instead of promisingpensation, had made vague pleas for her to subdue the undead. When he kept beating around the bush despite her sending him two angry letters demanding hee in person, this time he merely sent an excuse that he was ill. The casten of Pelheim seemed to think Ulrike would subdue the undead out of reputation or pride, but she had no intention of doing so whatsoever. Even if the vicinity turned into a hellhole because of the undead, Ulrike had no ns to fight without properpensation. ¡°One week. I¡¯ll wait one more week for an answer, then we move out.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The knights gave a unanimous reply despite having some objections. Ulrike¡¯s charisma did not allow for dissent. ¡°Ulrike-nim! Reinforcements have arrived from the west!¡± ¡°What?¡± Ulrike asked back in an irritated tone. The knights were perplexed by her response. Shouldn¡¯t more warriors against the undead be a good thing? At first thought, it seemed having more troops to fight the undead could only be wee. But politically, there were downsides. If the vicinity was subjugated too quickly, excuses to stay would need to be invented. With other nobles around, actions required more tact. Additionally, manymanders do not necessarily work well together. Those she could notmunicate with or control would only be more annoying. ¡®?? ???????? ???????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ???? ????.¡¯ ¡°So who are they?¡± ¡°Yes. His Majesty Angoldolph and Count Yeats have arrived leading knights. They are passing through the oak trail beneath the western hill.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Hearing the unexpected names, Ulrike¡¯s granite-like face shook ever so slightly. ???????????? ¡°I swear by the name of Ipa?l River, that forest is no different than thend of the dead!¡± All those who walked with magic could feel the aura of death permeating from deep within the vast forest. It seemed the undead had made their nest there. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Ulrike-gong was here? Why didn¡¯t she subdue them?¡± Jyanina asked, seeming not to understand. ¡°It was difficult to subdue them so she waited. . . No, that can¡¯t be. Someone of Ulrike-gong¡¯s caliber wouldn¡¯t avoid subduing them.¡± ¡°Was the casten in a bad mood?¡± Stephen sneered. Hearing that, Johan made an expression as if it were usible. ¡°That seems likely.¡± ¡°. . .What? Really?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t get anything for subduing undead this size, the math doesn¡¯t work out. They may be bncing the scales as we speak.¡± ¡°As expected of Ulrike. . .¡± ¡°Stephen. I¡¯ll protect you if you¡¯re within my sight, but if you don¡¯t want to get stabbed in the back and die when no one¡¯s around, it would be best to watch what you say from now on.¡± ¡°. . .I only meant to say you are wise, Sir.¡± ¡°Good. Well done.¡± A knight bearing a banner came running this way, and a knight with a banner went running that way. After they dered their family names and identities and confirmation waspleted, Johan and the Elf King rode their horses forward. ¡°It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°The honor is mine as well, Ulrike-gong.¡± ¡°It is an honor to meet you, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°It brings me boundless joy to see you again after so long looking so well, Ulrike-gong.¡± The Elf King addressed Ulrike more distantly than he did Johan. His attitude gave the impression he had no particr desire to be friendly with her. Ulrike also did not seem too fond of the Elf King. Her posture was wless with no openings, but Johan somehow knew. ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ Chapter 229: ???????????? ???????????? (3) Johan¡¯s conjecture was true. Despite the rtively intimate geographical rtionship between the Western Empire and the Kingdom, the two proud nobles despised each other. ¡®?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ????????????¡¯?? ??????????????. ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ ¡®?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?? ?????????????????¡¯ Nevertheless, they were extremely polite and kind to each other outwardly. Johan, who was nearby, only vaguely noticed the signs with his intuition, while the knights behind nodded their heads with joy at the mellow appearance. ¡°Here are my knights escorting me, Ulrike-gong.¡± ¡°My, what great knights they are. No one will be able to defeat you with knights like these, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°. . .You¡¯re right. Although the Empire¡¯s knights are decent knights, I know they rarely defeat elf knights.¡± ¡®???? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????¡¯Both the Elf King and Ulrike were throwing words at each other with extreme courtesy that they did not usually show. Although courteous, it was felt that emotions were slowly boiling inside. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside. I want to hear the situation.¡± Johan cut in. The two nobles nodded and dismounted from their horses. Seeing this, Johan felt a sense of foreboding. There¡¯s no way I have to y the mediator between these two here too, right? ¡®Why do I feel like I¡¯m always put in bullsh*t situations as if I didn¡¯t sin much in my past life?¡¯ ???????????? Fortunately, the conflict Johan had imagined did not happen. Surprisingly, the two agreed. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you subdue the undead in that forest and just left them alone, Ulrike-gong?¡± ¡°The casten is not paying properpensation, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Then it couldn¡¯t be helped.¡± The Elf King was convinced right away. He understood why the army did not move ifpensation was not paid. Having heard the details, Angoldolph immediately replied. ¡°Let¡¯s subdue them.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Count, isn¡¯t the suggestion to subdue them inappropriate?¡± ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????????????.¡¯ Johan said to the Elf King inwardly. This situation was not really one to fill him with such a sense of betrayal. It was quite nonsensical for him to look this way with a hurt expression. ¡°Pelheim Castle has high walls and its inner castle is also sturdy. It also has well stocked supplies. It would not be easy to siege. Also, keeping still the other nobles nearby could make them uneasy, so please be cautious.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already considered that much Ulrike-gong. Count here also came with the intention to demonstrate power, considering that.¡± ¡°?¡± Seeing the Elf King speak of a conversation that never happened, Johan was perplexed. Noticing that Johan did not immediately respond, Ulrikeughed wryly and said, ¡°Your Majesty. Everyone here knows Your Majesty is a valiant knight. However, not everyone understands Your Majesty¡¯s inner thoughts. Have You properly discussed this with His Excellency the Count?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t discussed it, but surely in my mind. . .¡± ¡°Until properly discussed, it¡¯s just talk.¡± Since a simr situation had happened before, Ulrike was relieved. As expected, the young king had unterally thought and determined something. Although Angoldolph could not refute, he clenched his fist tightly for a moment. Anyone could see that his contempt for Ulrike hadyered even more. ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????????¡¯ Intimidate the nobles around with force to join the alliance. It was grandiose, but realistically impossible. Seeing that the emperor could not even subjugate the nobles entrenched in the south with thatrge army, one could tell. If they withdrew behind well-built castle walls and held out, it would be nearly impossible to force them to surrender quickly. And on top of that, the emperor still had both eyes wide open and alive. . . To redirect the atmosphere, Johan spoke up. ¡°If the casten does notply, let¡¯s wait and then move. It¡¯s regrettable for the fiefdom, but it¡¯s the casten¡¯s responsibility.¡± Ulrike nodded in agreement, and the Elf King reluctantly conceded as well. ???????????? ¡°I did not expect this kind of situation.¡± Ulrike clicked her tongue as she spoke. There was irritation mixed in her voice. Two formidable people havee here. ¡°In a way, this could be a good thing, Ulrike-nim.¡± ¡°It would be best if you exin your reasoning well.¡± Despite Ulrike¡¯s threat, the knight did not seem flustered and said familiarly. ¡°Although His Majesty Angoldolph is difficult to deal with, Count Yeats who hase with him can be reasoned with. Also, Count has ties with Ulrike-nim¡¯s family. If you get on the same page with Count Yeats, you should be able to control His Majesty Angoldolph to some extent.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± In principle, the knight¡¯s words were not wrong. Even if the Elf King was militant, he was not stupid enough to ignore the words of the other two feudal lords and act recklessly. And at first nce, Count Yeats seemed to have quite some connection with the Abner family. . . But in reality, the rtionship was quiteplicated. First of all, the one Johan was close to was Ulrike¡¯s mother, the current Count Abner. They had a rather close rtionship, exchanging various deals regarding Stephen. On the other hand, Ulrike was not particrly close with Johan. Although they moved together during the siege, they did not get close. Looking back on their conversations, there seemed to be more blunt threats, and if anything, it was Johan considering the rights of the town Ulrike received. It could be considered a favor, but Ulrike did not think it had much significance. Unless Johan was so poor that he could not even keep his own knights, he was a Count who led a considerable army. ¡®???? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ In just a few years, a knight who wandered around without a fiefdom has returned with elite troops and nobles under hismand. It was surprising. The atmosphere he exuded had also qualitatively changed. In the past, he seemed like a rough knight, but now, just by being there quietly, one could feel him as a master of a group. Such a leader who could mesmerize his subordinates just by his presence was rare. ¡°How about inviting and treating them?¡± ¡°Understood. I will make preparations.¡± If there was a proper reason to do it, Ulrike would do it even if she did not want to. She now needed to get along well with Johan. ???????????? ¡°You¡¯re good at this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s our specialty, isn¡¯t it?¡± The dwarves smiled as they finished setting up the camp. They were the mercenaries who had gone with Johan all the way to Vynashchtym. Thanks to the dwarves¡¯ already excellent skills and the Vynashchtym-style fortification techniques they had learned, the hastily constructed camp was solid and sturdy. At first nce, the small fortress erected in front of Pelheim Castle might have seemed odd, but Johan always liked being prepared. If you don¡¯t know when the undead might crawl out of the forest, isn¡¯t it better to build walls thicker than palisades? ¡°It¡¯s not our specialty. . .¡± Of course, the centaurs groaned. While dwarves instinctively enjoy digging holes and building things, it was annoying for the centaurs. And it¡¯s not like they couldin when Johan himself was hauling lumber. . . ¡°Thanks to you working hard, it will be finished by today.¡± ¡°If we had really worked hard, as a reward, shouldn¡¯t you take us to hunt something other than the undead, Your Excellency?¡± The centaurs pulled the logs as they pleaded their case. The dwarves apuded and guided them. Johan dragged a huge tree over by himself and received a round of apuse. ¡°Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Yes, what is it?¡± The elven knight was surprised to see Johan covered in dirt, but didn¡¯t show it and delivered his message. ¡°My master asked me to ry this message to the Count.¡± ¡°Oh. . . Thank you.¡± The horse with fur as dazzlingly white as snow was clearly a purebred and precious breed among En horses. It had a well-proportioned physique and smooth gaits. Johan¡¯s horse, Cardirian, looked at the white horse greedily. ¡°Does it have a name?¡± ¡°Yes. Its name is Lochtein.¡± ¡®?????????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????¡¯ ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll be sure to take good care of it.¡± ¡°Yes. My master will be pleased too.¡± After the elven knight left, Johan called Suetlg and Iselia. ¡°What does this mean?¡± ¡°Uh. . . isn¡¯t sending a horse an elven love confession?¡± Suetlg asked Iselia in a flustered voice. That¡¯s what he knew. Iselia shook her head and said, ¡°That¡¯s when you ride the horse naked. . . This is a ratherplicated custom that needs to be examined in writing. Simply sending a horse is a sign of respect.¡± ¡°So he wants to get along well?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a really good horse.¡± Iselia was already stroking the horse fondly. Johan frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t someone suddenly wanting to get along just as suspicious?¡± ¡°He might want to join hands with you and oppose Ulrike-gong.¡± That¡¯s exactly what Johan was expecting. ¡°No need to worry too much.¡± ¡°Did you have a n, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°No. . . I didn¡¯t have a n. I just wanted to tell you to console them well so we can sessfully defeat the undead.¡± Johan looked at Suetlg with a gaze mixed with disappointment, betrayal and contempt. Flustered, Suetlg said, ¡°Was that such a terrible thing to say?¡± ¡°Please attend the next meeting with me. Their extreme dislike for each other is quite something.¡± ¡°From what I see, you have charmed even worse individuals and reconciled them.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± While Johan was struck speechless, a knight under Ulrike came this time. ¡°Your Excellency, my master wishes to have a chance to entertain Your Excellency the Count. Pleasee with Iselia-nim of the Bluea family.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± While he didn¡¯t exactly have a feud with Ulrike at the moment, remembering how her wife had clung to him obsessively in love made him feel awkward. But he couldn¡¯t refuse the situation either. ¡°Alright. I will dly ept. Suetlg-nim, pleasee along too.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think anything will change just because I¡¯m there.¡± Before leaving, the knight added one more thing. ¡°Sir Stephen is also wee toe, she said.¡± ¡°. . .Really?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After the knight left, Johan asked in confusion, ¡°Should I bring him along, or does she n to kill him if I do?¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± ???????????? Johan went to Ulrike¡¯s camp with Iselia. Servants immediately came running to attend to the party. Even Stephen did. Stephen looked like he could barely breathe properly. Thinking that Suetlg felt sorry for him, she said. ¡°Ulrike-gong wouldn¡¯t kill anyone here. So rx, just keep your mouth shut and stay still until it¡¯s time to leave.¡± ¡°Yes. . . Yes.¡± Stephen stuck close to Gerdolf¡¯s side. At least next to Gerdolf he wouldn¡¯t scream to death. ¡®?? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ?? ???????????? ?????¡¯ Johan thought to himself. While Gerdolf was loyal to Johan, he didn¡¯t seem like he would be too enthusiastic about protecting Stephen. . . Ulrike gifted Iselia a sword. ording to her investigation, this elf from the Bluea house quite liked weapons. ¡®?????? ???????? ???? ??????????????????. . . ?????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ???????????? ?????????¡¯ She had heard they were close, but Iselia¡¯s appearance made Ulrike puzzled. She didn¡¯t look like someone who would seduce and corrupt others as the rumors said. Johan had shown quite an ascetic side when he stayed at her fiefdom, so when Ulrike heard the rumors she thought it must have been quite a fall from grace. Ulrike had seen charms that invoke lust a few times before. Those who knew how to use lust charms had a unique, tempting scent about them. In contrast, the only smellsing from Iselia were the oil on her armor and the sweet scent of freshly baked bread. ¡°Congrattions on yourte marriage with the Jarpen house.¡± ¡°. . .Thank you?¡± Johan threw out questions like bait and nced at Ulrike¡¯s reactions. It seemed she still hadn¡¯t heard about Cia yet. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?? ????????????.¡¯ Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» Chapter 230: ???????????? ???????????? (4) ¡®?????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Ulrike sensed something odd with her unique experience, but it was too much to figure out its identity. ¡°Deliver the gift.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Johan¡¯s servant brought out the jewelry. The gorgeous jewelry brought from Vynashchtym made people admire regardless of their status. Although they were treated like a blind old declining noble on the outside, Vynashchtym had a long tradition and authority, which the nobles of the Empire envied. The item from Vynashchtym was a decent gift. ¡°Cia-nim of the Jarpen family will like it.¡± ¡°I heard you saved her, I¡¯m just grateful. Cia will be happy.¡± ¡°. . .¡±Johan instinctively tensed at Ulrike¡¯s words. Stephen, who was sitting in the corner, turned as white as a sheet, but hisplexion was already so pale that it did not stand out much. ¡®???????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ Johan¡¯s mind becameplicated at Ulrike¡¯s calm reaction. Come to think of it, it was unlikely that she hadn¡¯t heard about it at all. With peopleing and going, she must have heard that Johan had saved Cia of the Jarpen family. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Judging by her attitude, she clearly doesn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°She¡¯s so hard to read, it¡¯s hard to feel relieved.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As a proud noble, no matter how calm she tries to be, if she had such a misunderstanding, she would have shown some emotion.¡± What Suetlg said was true. Even if Ulrike had invited Johan out of necessity, if she had known that fact, she would have shown more emotion. ¡°So just act calm and confident.¡± ¡°I wish you could experience this kind of situation yourself before saying that, Suetlg-nim.¡± ¡°Ha ha. I¡¯m too old to get caught up in this kind of trouble.¡± In fact, Suetlg found this whole situation ridiculously amusing. Who would have thought a knight like Johan would end up in this kind of situation? During the banquet, Ulrike kept talking to Iselia andplimenting her. It was a strategic action. Rather than convincing Johan himself to gain his favor, it was more effective to persuade the person closest to Johan. However, from Johan¡¯s point of view, Ulrike¡¯s behavior, which she didn¡¯t normally do, felt strangely bizarre. ¡°Isn¡¯t Ulrike-gong trying to seduce Iselia?¡± ¡°Uh. . . I don¡¯t think so, but who knows.¡± In Suetlg¡¯s opinion, that was unlikely. For one, he didn¡¯t know what Johan thought about it, but Iselia didn¡¯t seem like the type to be easily seduced. ¡°She¡¯s probably just trying to get on your good side.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little beneath Ulrike-gong¡¯s dignity?¡± ¡°When you live as nobility, sometimes you have to do things that are beneath your dignity. Ulrike-gong now and when you met her as a knight before are in different situations with different priorities. Since she¡¯s showing you favor, just enjoy it and ept it. What, you don¡¯t like it?¡± ¡°To be honest, it kind of creeps me out how Ulrike-gong is acting.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Suetlg felt bad for Ulrike. She was just trying to be nice, but got this kind of treatment. Among the nobility, it was normal to give and receive favors as needed depending on the situation. While Johan didn¡¯t have to deal with this kind of thing when he met Ulrike as a knight before, now that he was an equal feudal lord, this wasn¡¯t so abnormal. ¡°Should I warn Iselia to be careful around Ulrike-gong?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t act like a jealous spouse. It wouldn¡¯t look good on the outside.¡± A noble¡¯s dignity was determined by various customs. Restraining your spouse for having an affair was beneath one¡¯s dignity. The proper behavior was to take a lover of your own in retaliation. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like. . . nevermind about those customs. . .¡± ¡°Ulrike-gong! The undead areing out of the forest!¡± ¡°!¡± During the banquet, Ulrike frowned at the news that came in. The ce she had prepared to treat was disrupted. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Can you distinguish between good and bad times when dealing with demons? No need to be sorry at all.¡± Johan rather thought it was good. If he kept eating here, he wouldn¡¯t have digested well anyway. Stephen still hadn¡¯t eaten a single bread and. . . ¡°Are you going to fight here?¡± ¡°No. This is someone else¡¯s camp and someone else¡¯s ce. If I take the lead arbitrarily, it will also be an insult to the knights here.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± Iselia was discouraged. She wanted to test her newly acquired equipment once. Although Ulrike-gong seemed kinder than expected and seemed like she could ask for a favor, she couldn¡¯t take the lead when Johan said that. As a knight, she had to keep the virtue of being loyal to the lord¡¯s order. ¡°Since the undead were grunting so much, it¡¯s about time they burst out.¡± ¡°It looks like they¡¯reing this way.¡± Unfortunately, the undead were heading towards Ulrike¡¯s camp, not Johan¡¯s camp or the Elf King¡¯s camp. ¡°How many are there?¡± ¡°A few dozen.¡± ¡°Not a big deal. I can see the ability of Ulrike-gong¡¯s knights.¡± At best, it couldn¡¯t even scratch the camp with a few dozen roasted bodies. It seemed that only some of the undead in the forest had crawled out. ¡°Prepare for battle! Get ready for battle!¡± ¡°Take the nobles inside! Bring the catapults!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let them get close to the camp!¡± Knights under Ulrike jumped out and shouted at the soldiers to prepare for battle outside the camp. The soldiers cursed the clueless undead as they prepared their weapons. ¡°Shoot!¡± After Bolte¡¯s storm passed, the rotten flesh of the Ghouls could not endure. There was no need for heavier siege weapons, ten Ghouls fell down. ©¥???????????? ????????????! ¡°?¡± Johan was puzzled by Karamaf¡¯s scream as he sat watching. Karamaf was barking like crazy. ¡°This is. . .¡± ¡°. . .strange.¡± Having seen Karamaf for a long time, Suetlg immediately realized something was wrong. Suetlg nodded. Johan immediately stood up and shouted at the knights. ¡°It¡¯s not just the Ghouls! Be careful!¡± ¡°Yes? Count.¡± ¡°Watch out.¡± Johan pushed the knights aside and climbed up the outpost. The enhanced vision from the blessings of other religions showed the hidden figure among the approaching Ghouls. It was a familiar figure he had seen before. A knight emanating a chill qualitatively different from the winter cold, with turquoise glowing eyes. It was the death knight. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????????????????!¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s a death knight! There is a death knight among the ghouls. Bring holy water and silver!¡± ¡°Yes!!¡± Despite being amand from apletely unrted count, the knights moved first. Johan¡¯s voice had an unquestionable power. ¡°What happened? Why is the death knight wandering around in broad daylight?¡± ¡°If they can ovee the power of the sun, they can wander around!¡± ¡°They don¡¯t follow any rules like those damned monsters. . .¡± Johan drew his sword with unreasonableints. The red silver de shone in the sunlight. The re-casted Twilight would be more advantageous against the undead than the Giant yer. ¡°You two go inside.¡± ¡°Can I go inside too?¡± ¡°I told you to go in.¡± Jyanina, who asked again without realizing, deeply bowed her head after only getting curtly rebuked. Johan was lost in thought. ¡®???? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????????????, ???? ???? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°Do you think you can resolve the resentment likest time?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think about that, Your Excellency. That was really just luck.¡± ¡°??? Jyanina heard their conversation and doubted her ears. Could these humans have defeated the death knight before? ¡°It¡¯s not an easy task to relieve the grudges held by the death knight . In most cases, those grudges are unreasonable. You usually have to get rid of him.¡± ¡°For example?¡± ¡°If you were to wipe out this entire forest and eliminate the aura of death, he would be much weaker.¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s not an option right now.¡± This was the scary thing about the undead gue. Even when just groups of ghouls wandered around, a monster awakened by the aura of death created by the ghouls. ¡°Gerdolf, bring Suetlg. You can retreat immediately if it¡¯s dangerous.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I hope the knights under Ulrike can stop him. . .¡± As Johan spoke, he had a feeling that wouldn¡¯t happen. And that premonition became fact. ???????????? The servants were swept away together, but the death knight silently marched on. The shield he held was a rotten wooden shield, but it did not break and firmly maintained its shape. ¡°Lock the camp gates and prevent him from entering! Bring silver arrows!¡± The mercenaries prepared oil and holy water to intercept the Death Knight. At that moment, the death knight disappeared like mist dispersing. ¡°. . .?¡± At the same time, screams erupted. The death knight had appeared inside the camp. It was a skill so astonishing that even the wizards here had never seen anything like it. With a chilling roar, the death knight made the servants and ves scurry away. He had no interest in the lives of such lowly beings. ©¥¡ö? As the Death Knight charged, Ulrike drew her sword. Though not very skilled, as a noblewoman she had received proper training. She had no intention of fleeing shamefully. ¡°Come!¡± With those words, the death knight flew sideways as if struck by a horse. It was a violent motion. ¡°. . .??!¡± ???????????? Johan looked at the death knight with the Giant yer in his hand. There was no movement from the one flung far away and stuck there. ©¥????????! ¡°Karamaf. You are notpatible. Back off.¡± Although the death knight flew far away, breaking the table and furniture after being hit by Johan with all his might, Johan did not think it would die with this one blow. What he wanted was to make everyone back off. He didn¡¯t always fight monsters to the bitter end. When its strength faded and it got tired, it would retreat into that forest. ¡°. . .Thank you sir.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not Sir, it¡¯s Count.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Ulrike¡¯s face turned red. In her panic, she had reverted to her old way of speaking. ¡°I misspoke.¡± ¡°Given the sudden situation, that can happen. Please feel free to speak casually, I don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°If your excellency speaks casually first, I will do so as well.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you want.¡± When Johan immediately spoke informally, Ulrike was taken aback. She had thought he would refuse because of his memories as a knight. ¡°Surprised I would?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°If you¡¯re ufortable, I can be more formal again. . .¡± ¡°No. No. Anyway, tha. . . ¡° Just as she was about to properly say her thanks seriously, an even louder shout than the death knight¡¯s was heard. It was the knights led by the Elf King. ¡°We came to help, Count!¡± ¡°That b*stard is really. . .¡± ¡°. . .?¡± As Johan looked at her in confusion, Ulrike pretended not to know anything. ???????????? ¡°Come at me, you vile monster!¡± Angoldolph charged at the death knight. The magical power contained in his sword inflicted wounds upon the death knight. The ck aura writhed, forcing the death knight to retreat. The Elf King¡¯s attacks were fierce and savage, and the death knight seemed to be continuously pushed back on the defensive. But Johan, who had faced him once before, knew better. That the battle with the death knight was not a fair duel as a righteous knight, but one where one side would lose their life with a single defeat while the other would not yield no matter how many times they lost. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö! The death knight, who had been battered, suddenly shed a wicked technique. He stepped strangely forward and received the Elf King¡¯s sword with his chest, then whipped his sword around for a counterattack. It was an odd swordsmanship that only the dead could demonstrate. ¡°!¡± The sword sh sted toward the Elf King but he did not copse. Instead, the expressions of all the elven knights twisted in unison. And it was not because they were watching the fight. It was because they had shared the injury that the Elf King should have taken. ¡®???????? ???? ????????. . .!¡¯ Johan was amazed. He felt like he understood why Sutleg had called it sorcery. He had never seen nor heard of such magic before. The death knight also seemed to realize the Elf King¡¯s secret. He retreated backward then suddenly began fleeing in a different direction. ¡°You b*stard! Where do you think you¡¯re running off to? Come back!¡± No matter how desperately the Elf King called out, the death knight did not even look back as he escaped. To be precise, he was not fleeing. He was headed straight for Pelheim Castle, not the forest. Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» Chapter 232: ???????????? ???????????? (6) The young king blurted out reflexively in surprise at the unexpected words. ¡°It¡¯s a trap!¡± And he changed his words again. ¡°No, if it was a trap, they would have called someone like Ulrike-gong. They wouldn¡¯t have called the count for sure.¡± ¡°. . .What do you mean?¡± ¡°Oh. . .that¡¯s. . .um. . .¡± Angoldolph had excellent swordsmanship and undaunted courage, but he wasn¡¯t very eloquent. Ulrike also knew that well, so she didn¡¯t bother to interrogate him. Although she despised the elf king, it would be of no benefit for the rtionship between them to worsen. ¡°It definitely doesn¡¯t look like a trap. Saying we can even enter armed.¡±Johan also didn¡¯t think it was a trap. There would be no trap that says toe armed while asking to meet. Rather, there was a high possibility that he had something he wanted to tell Johan first. From Johan¡¯s position, it was a wee thing. Because he could negotiate ahead of others. ¡°Still, let¡¯s just ignore it. What reason could there be to send the count for no reason?¡± The elf king said to Ulrike. He wanted to avoid any possible idents. He was against Johan entering, even though Ulrike entering would be fine. ¡°Certainly. . .¡± Surprisingly, Ulrike had a simr thought. While the elf king entering would be fine, Johan entering was a bit. . . ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s respect the casten¡¯s honor. If we refuse after he¡¯s gone this far, the casten will have no path forward either.¡± ¡°A cornered rat. . .¡± ¡°Shh. Shh.¡± Johan stopped the elf king¡¯s mouth. If he insulted like that in front of the casten¡¯s attendant, it would go straight to his ears. No matter how driven into a corner the casten¡¯s situation was, excessive insults were not good. Because who knows what desperate people might do. ¡°I¡¯ll go in ande back.¡± ¡°Wait a moment. Listen. Go in and try to pass on to try to meet with other nobles. If you convey it properly, I¡¯ll give you a reward, but if you don¡¯t convey it properly, you¡¯ll be held responsible. . .¡± ¡°Enough. Stop it.¡± Johan stopped him and headed towards the inner gate with his escorts. Ulrike realizedte. ¡®???????? ?? ????????????. . .??¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????!¡¯ This b*stard. . . ???????????? In fact, Johan was calm, but the middle-aged soldiers escorting Johan were extremely tense. They would growl at the slightest movement of the servants. ¡°Stay calm.¡± ¡°. . .Yes. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ©¥??????. On the contrary, Karamaf looked calmer. Karamaf¡¯s attitude was one of the reasons why Johan could stay calm. Karamaf often showed sharper instincts than Johan. ¡°Pleasee inside.¡± The casten of Pelheim looked on the verge of copse. The casten, whose height barely reached Johan¡¯s chest, couldn¡¯t even make proper eye contact. He was so shaken that the attendant next to him had to clear his throat to help the casten. ¡°. . .Casten. Let¡¯s start with a greeting first. I am Johan of Yeats. If you are ufortable, please take a seat.¡± Johan decided to reassure him first. He felt he had to restore the other¡¯s mental state in order to hear the story he wanted. ¡°I-I¡¯m honored to meet you, Your Excellency Count.¡± ¡°No need for honorifics. This is the casten¡¯snd, and I respect the casten¡¯s rights.¡± ¡°Th. . . Thank you.¡± There was warm power in Johan¡¯s words, and every time those words struck the eardrum, the casten seemed to regain his senses. As his blurred vision returned and the dizziness in his head disappeared, the casten gathered the courage to open his mouth. ¡°Your Excellency Count. . . Can you guess why I dared to meet Your Excellency Count first?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Because I couldn¡¯t trust the other two outside.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan wondered what he was talking about. However, the casten was serious. While Johan knew Ulrike¡¯s temperament, he had never feared her that seriously. They had kept an appropriate distance from each other, and since then they had been so far away that it was difficult to even hear news of one another. In contrast, central nobles had a firm perception that the Abner family was a ambitious family. It was almost impossible topletely innocently believe the heir of the Abner family leading an army and touring fiefdoms. ¡°But Casten, didn¡¯t Ulrike-gong swear to eradicate the undead?¡± ¡°Your Excellency Count. . . You won¡¯t let anything I say leak out. . . right?¡± ¡°I swear on my honor to keep silence. Go ahead and tell me.¡± ¡°To be honest, I couldn¡¯t trust the oath made by the heir of the Abner family.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± If Ulrike had heard this, she would have drawn her sword, but there was nothing to be done. While the casten was a bit overly timid, many other nobles would likely think the same. ¡°So you rejected the proposal because of that?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Fear yed a big part in both refusing toe out to greet them and refusing their request to be admitted inside. He didn¡¯t know what kind of scheme the heir of the Abner family might be plotting. ¡°You should have at least offered the payment.¡± Even if the casten did note out, he could have given the money. However, the casten shook his head and said, ¡°That¡¯s something Your Excellency says because you don¡¯t know the Abner family. They could have used that as an excuse to plot something.¡± ¡°Huh. . .¡± Johan felt a little sorry for Ulrike. While it was the family¡¯s fault, it must have felt bad to be suspected like that when trying to build friendship without any ulterior motives. A fox that had bitten and killed several deer wouldn¡¯t be trusted if it came to another deer and offered to get rid of other enemies in its burrow. Not even payingpensation and just forcing their way in was a bit much, but. . . ¡°By the way, what does that have to do with me meeting you first?¡± ¡°Well, I could trust Your Excellency. . .¡± ¡°. . .I see, thank you.¡± Johan was perplexed, but the Casten was sincere. Compared to the belligerent and ferocious Elf King or the notorious heir of the Abner family, Johan looked like a saint. ¡°If Your Excellency the Count promises me my rights, I should rightly open the gates of my castle and treat the others as well. I should also be able to pay the proper price.¡± ¡°Uh. . . yes, that should be fine. I¡¯ll help.¡± Johan nodded nervously. He didn¡¯t know why the other person was trusting him like this, but when someone puts so much faith in him, he can¡¯t say ¡®I¡¯m not trustworthy.¡¯ ¡°I, Johan of House Yeats. . . if Ulrike-gong of the Abner family takes this castle by scheme and tries to attack the Casten, I swear I will mediate from the middle.¡± ¡°Tell His Majesty Angoldolph as well.¡± ¡°Alright. Alright. If the young Elf King tries to take it, I will also properly mediate from the middle.¡± ¡°Thank you! Now I can rest easy!¡± The Casten smiled happily, seeming genuinely delighted. Johan thought things were going well for him, even though nothing much had changed. ¡°By the way, Casten. . . I heard you have a relic. . .¡± ¡°Oh! You knew?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s alright, I¡¯d like to borrow it. I¡¯ll give it back once the undead subjugation ends.¡± ¡°. . .I can lend it to you, but one of my people is sick. The priest who was handling that relic is also in poor health, so he¡¯s waiting.¡± ¡°Hmm. In that case. . . I have an excellent wizard in my camp. Let me introduce you.¡± When contacted, Suetlg hurried over in puzzlement. After checking the Casten¡¯s sick person¡¯s pulse, he said: ¡°Hmm. . . Have you been unusually dizzytely, lost your appetite, be irritable, and had frequent fits of temper?¡± ¡°Yes. . . yes!¡± ¡°A malevolent spirit has possessed you. Fortunately I can exorcise it.¡± ¡°!¡± The Casten grabbed Suetlg¡¯s hands excitedly and shook them several times before letting go. Johan asked doubtfully: ¡°I didn¡¯t sense any magical energy though?¡± ¡°What malevolent spirit. If you don¡¯t eat proper meals and only drink alcohol and eat fruit, this is what happens.¡± Suetlg didn¡¯t seem particrly surprised, as if he had done this several times before. In times like these, it was better to me a malevolent spirit rather than alcohol and meals. If you tell them to drink some hot water to warm their blood and have proper meals so the malevolent spirit flees, even nobles will listen. ¡°On the other hand, the priest really is in poor health. With his age and a cold on top of that weak body, even if he recovers, he¡¯ll need further recuperation.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to tell the Casten to prepare a new priest.¡± ¡°Did you borrow the relic?¡± ¡°Yes. Thanks to you, I was able to borrow it smoothly.¡± ¡°Then why was the door barred and locked when I came in?¡± Johan exined what had transpired between him and the Casten. Suetlgughed a few times and nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°What do you understand?¡± ¡°You¡¯re close so it¡¯s fine, but for unrted feudal lords, the Abner family can only be distasteful. Weren¡¯t they just in dispute with the Jarpen family?¡± ¡°Alright. I should go tell them they cane in now.¡± ¡°Break it to them gently so they aren¡¯t shocked.¡± Suetlg¡¯s advice hit the nail on the head. The two proud nobles might not be able to bear the blunt truth. ???????????? ¡°. . .So the casten had some misunderstandings because of the rumors. He apologized for that and promised to treat us properly. He said he called me first because he didn¡¯t dare face you two.¡± ¡°Is that so? What a timid man. I see. Let¡¯s go in!¡± Angoldolph didn¡¯t think too deeply about it and called the elf knights. In the first ce, the casten of a ce like this wasn¡¯t someone he was very interested in. It was annoying that we weren¡¯t treated properly right away, but it could have been overlooked if he regretted his mistake. ¡°. . .Something¡¯s weird.¡± However, Ulrike did not let it go easily. She realized something was off right away. Johan nodded and said, ¡°I was worried it might upset you so I hid some of what he said.¡± ¡°What did you hide?¡± ¡°He said they were too afraid to open the gates for the two of you. Of course they would pay the fee.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Ulrike wondered what he meant, then realizedte and frowned. So in other words, they were afraid she would take over the castle. . .?! ¡°Wait. Just a moment. And the count believed that?!¡± ¡°Well, he said he believed me so I couldn¡¯t exactly tell him not to.¡± Ulrike was bbergasted but had no choice but to ept it. From the casten¡¯s position, there was nothing else he could do. Heir to a family that has territory not far away and constantly causes conflict. Compared to that, a honorable knight with strong faith who had hunted monsters here several times and had no particr interests. ¡®???????? ?????? ???? ?? ??*??????. . .¡¯ Of course she understood, but she couldn¡¯t help cursing internally. If you can¡¯t trust someone then you should at leastmunicate to narrow the distance instead of shutting them out thinking ¡®I might get caught in a scheme the moment I answer¡¯. ¡°They must have paid a proper fee. We¡¯ll finish off the undead in the forest as soon as we¡¯re ready.¡± Ulrike nodded. Despite the absurd situation, they had gained something. ¡®They¡¯re more vignt than I thought.¡¯ She had thought the western nobles might seem more moderatepared to the insane emperor, but it didn¡¯t seem to be the case. To the central feudal lords he probably seemed just as he was. Thinking ahead, she should have cated them earlier. Since force could not suppress them, seduction was all that remained. Ulrike thought of several methods as she walked. They were considerably wary so they wouldn¡¯t be easily swayed, but there were several ways. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?? ??????.¡¯ ???????????? . . .Despite Ulrike¡¯s determination, the casten had a very sociable and friendly attitude. ¡°When Count Yeats was. . . Are you listening? Are you listening?¡± ¡°I¡¯m listening, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Yes. He rushed in like lightning and broke his neck.¡± ¡°Good heavens! Such a thing!¡± The elf king and the casten sat with Johan in between them. Every time the young king drained a cup, the casten obligingly refilled it. Then the king would happily pour himself another. It was the elven custom to drink the harsh, nearly undiluted wine straight, without adding any water. Johan had an expression that said he was bored and annoyed, but the other two kept Johan there, chatting away happily. They seemed quite drunk. ¡®???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????¡¯ Ulrike found it disgusting and looked away. Seeing the two she hated clinging to Johan when they weren¡¯t giving him anything made her naturally recoil. Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» Chapter 231: ???????????? ???????????? (5) ¡°That b*stard is heading towards Pelheim Castle!¡± As Johan rode off on his horse shouting, the elf king also got on his horse without dy and shouted. ¡°He¡¯s heading towards Pelheim Castle. Chase him!¡± ¡°Acdda, Euclyia, go ahead and evacuate the people!¡± ¡°. . .Huh?¡± The elf king was confused by Johan¡¯s words and looked at Johan. It was really an unexpected thing to say. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Oh, no reason.¡± ¡®?????? ?????????? ???? ????????, ?????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯If he were the elf king, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered evacuating the merchants and travelers in front of the castle. Not because he had any grudges or hostility towards them. It was just that there was no reason to do so. Above all, there was no reason to waste the knights¡¯ strength on such tasks. That was something for monks to do. However, if he acknowledged the opponent as a knight, he had to respect even the opponent¡¯s foolish actions. The elf king swallowed his words to himself. ???????????? ¡°I will kill it if it doesn¡¯t die out!¡± ¡°Ahhhhh!¡± While the death knight was a horror that could appear in stories, the centaurs were a realistic horror. The nomadic warriors that would only appear in the east showing up here surprised the merchants and made them run away. ¡°Get out from the gate! The undead areing!¡± ¡°Whip those who don¡¯t leave!¡± The guards on the walls were confused by the sudden attack but did not daree out and lowered their heads. They were afraid of getting hit by the centaur¡¯s arrows. ¡°Ugh!¡± The merchant who fell while running away shivered in fear. Now that his legs were tied the scary half-man half-horse creatures will butcher him. ????????????! The merchant closed his eyes shut. Someone grabbed him by his neck and lifted him up with force. Surprisingly, it was the centaur. ¡°Did I tell you to smash your head into the ground? Did you break your leg?!¡± ¡°Y-Yes? Yes?¡± ¡°Run! You dumb idiot wandering around without your mind! Run!¡± ¡°Y-Yes!¡± The centaurs skillfully herded the people to make space like they were herding horses and sheep. The people who scattered to the sides and the guards on the walls soon realized why the centaurs tried the clumsy attack. It was because the death knight was standing in front of the Dogye bridge oozing cold air. It approached so quietly, so silently that at first people thought the death knight was just another traveler. However, the people who met its eyes instinctively knew that it was a being that refused the natural order. ¡°S-Shoot! Shoot!¡± The guards who did not attack to not provoke while the centaurs were charging took out their crossbows without listening to orders once the death knight approached. ¡°It¡¯s useless. At least light a fire in front to buy some time!¡± The Elf King shouted in a husky voice while running from afar. However, the guards did not listen to him and fired their crossbolts. The death knight staggered back a few times before regaining its bnce and charged towards the gate on top of the Dogye bridge. Despite the absurdity of a solo charge towards the closed gate, the guards¡¯ hearts turned cold. ¡°How can that thing breach the gate?¡± ¡°It turned into a specter and passed through the fortress¡¯s wall before. There is now saying it can¡¯t do it a second time. . .¡± Johan¡¯s words did not even finish before the death knight disappeared. Then, screams erupted from behind the walls. Seeing that, the Elf King nodded. ¡°Thanks to you the number of times it can turn into a specter has decreased.¡± ¡®????????¡¯?? ???????? ????????????????.¡¯ Johan thought to himself. Not everyone could think like that after seeing something like this. ¡°Let¡¯s go! With the situation like this not even the casten can refuse our help!¡± Angoldolph actually thought it was good in a way. If he had forcefully broken into the gate with his army during normal times it would have been as good as a deration of war, but it was an exception when monsters were raging. If the valiant Count and the honorable King personally took care of the death knight, and if knights had arrived at the outer walls during that time, what arrogant noble would dare be rude? ¡°Open the gate!¡± ¡°Soldiers of Pelheim Castle! See who hase to defeat the death knight! Open the gate!¡± The gate did not open. Johan btedly realized that the guards must have fled. It was certain that no one was left near the gate at least. Luckily the gate was small enough to lift with a pulley. With that form, it must have been opened once before already in the past. ¡°We got lucky.¡± ¡°. . .What do you mean count?! It seems like all the soldiers ran away?!¡± Even the usually bold Elf King couldn¡¯t help but be flustered by Johan¡¯s words. However, that fluster soon changed into incredulity and shock. ??????????©¥ The iron gate lifted up with a scraping noise. Johan¡¯s soldiers rushed in and hurriedly pulled and fixed the pulley. It was skill from having done it more than just once or twice. ¡°It is done, Count!¡± ¡°Come inside!¡± ¡°Oh. . . I see. T-Thank you.¡± The Elf King ran on top of the Dogye bridge with an enchanted expression. Unbeknownst to him, the people watching from behind also had shocked expressions as they buzzed among themselves. So he caught ogres like that! No wonder he was able to capture them! ???????????? Within the walls of Pelheim Castle, there was chaos. The merchants who hadid out their wares inside the walls were screaming and running away, while the guards desperately called for theirrades as they tried to form ranks. ¡°When are the knightsing?!¡± ¡°Shut your mouth and pick up your spear!¡± The soldiers had to hold out until the casten¡¯s knights arrived from the inner castle. The death knight kept looking around. It seemed to be in confusion, as if not knowing who to kill first despite needing to clear the path. ¡°Get out of the way, pathetic ones!¡± And then the Elf King arrived with the knights. The soldiers were so moved they shed tears of joy. When they were outside the castle walls, they didn¡¯t know what he might do so they were afraid, but meeting him in this situation, there were no more reassuring people. ¡°Let¡¯s fight together, Count!¡± At the Elf King¡¯s earnest shout, Johan nodded in response. Angoldolph pointed his sword at the death knight and shouted. ¡°You coward! You are unworthy to be called a knight, pathetically avoiding a duel and running away!¡± ©¥???????? ¡ö¡ö¡ö??¡ö???? ¡ö????? ¡°Let¡¯s see you try to run away this time too!¡± The Elf King¡¯s sword blow rained down on the death knight once more. At the same time, Johan¡¯s crimson sword also slid towards the knight¡¯s nape. The fierce and powerful joint attack of the two young warriors forced the death knight to barely evade and defend. Over the course of dozens of exchanges, the death knight was pressed into defense. ¡®??????????????. . .¡¯ If this was a duel between knights, it would have been their overwhelming victory, but this was a fight against the undead. No matter how much they pushed their opponent around and injured them, a single mistake could lead to a fatal wound for themselves. In any case, the Elf King seemed to be really excited. With a reliable knight guarding his back as he faced the enemy, he had an expression of not knowing what to do with his joy. Because of that excitement, Angoldolph took more liberties. After getting close to the death knight, he swiftly drew his silver dagger like lightning and stabbed between the armor tes. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö??!!! The silver that prated inside the armor certainly had an effect. However, that attack rather provoked the death knight. As the death knight roared and mmed its sword into the ground, the strange energy that spread from it turned chilly. That chill instantly changed into cold that swept the surroundings. ¡°!!¡± The Elf King was horrified. Looks of pain mixed with distress rose on the faces of the knights who followed behind. It was because they each received a share of the peculiar energy released by the death knight. Although the harsh, merciless cold made the footsteps of the knights in ce slow, Johan gritted his teeth and approached. The hot energy rising from his heart repelled the cold wrapped around the outside. Teshuka shouted for Johan to put down the sword he was holding. Leaving his frozen sword, he approached with bare hands. As he did so, the cold did not dare approach and fled. ¡®???????? ???? ???? ???????????? ???? ????!¡¯ With his feet bound in ce, Angoldolph stared at the young Count. It was amazing how he moved within this cold, but he couldn¡¯t even guess how he would defeat that guy without his sword. ????????! Johan took the most straightforward method. Grabbing the death knight with both hands and strangling its neck. Even the death knight seemed quite dumbfounded, its eye sockets trembling. As Teshuka tore apart and repelled the death energy trying to prate inside, Johan¡¯s grip grew increasingly vicious, choking off the death knight¡¯s breath. Though no one else present heard it, Johan definitely heard it. The sound of its neckbone cracking and breaking. ??????????! With that sound, the aura emitted by the death knight disappeared, and the cold vanished instantly. All that remained were the shabby and battered armor and traces left by the death knight as it rampaged around. As the fight ended, the Elf King shed tears. Seeing the elf cry, Johan clenched and released his fist, taken aback. ¡®?????? ???? ???????? ???????????¡¯ He desperately wished that the Elf King wasn¡¯t crying because Johan had finished off the death knight. Thankfully that wasn¡¯t the case. These were tears of excitement. ¡°That was. . .a really amazing fight, Count.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t have captured it without Your Majesty¡¯s help.¡± ¡°Is that really true?¡± The Elf King was overjoyed at Johan¡¯s words, like a little child. While he wouldn¡¯t be this happy with a typicalpliment, words from the Count who fought alongside him carried special meaning. ¡°There¡¯s a beautiful forest in my homnd, Count.¡± As he sheathed his sword, Angoldolph spoke up. Johan wondered what he was talking about. ¡°In that forest lives a very old monster. I¡¯ve tried to defeat it before, but I won¡¯t recklessly fight it alone. I¡¯ll wait until the Countes to join me.¡± ¡°Oh no. . .¡± Johan was dumbfounded by the Elf King¡¯s sudden invitation to hunt some monster he¡¯d never heard of. The Elf King spoke as if he was tempting Johan with hidden treasure, but Johan wasn¡¯t thrilled at all. ¡°I¡¯ll. . .think about it.¡± ¡°Of course! I knew you¡¯d ept! The Count is nothing like that schemer Abner!¡± ¡®?????? ???? ???????? ?????????¡¯ ???????????? Angoldolph and Ulrike despised each other, but they agreed in this situation. Since they had already opened the outer castle gate and entered, they decided to pressure the casten toe out. It was rude to enter someone else¡¯s fiefdom and make demands, but they had a valid argument after defeating a death knight-level monster inside the castle. The knights who entered took positions in front of the inner castle gate and controlled the surroundings. The remaining soldiers didn¡¯t make a peep and obediently followed along. They didn¡¯t want to lose their lives to the elf knights after barely surviving against the death knight. ¡°Shout louder.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Some soldiers with good voices stepped forward. They shouted in session. ¡°The honorable knights fought against the wicked undead, yet the casten still refuses to show his face?! How shameless!!¡± ¡°If this continues, they will mock the honor of this castle!¡± They weren¡¯t shouting for the casten to hear. They wanted the other people inside the castle to hear. As a feudal lord, face was more important than anything. No one trusted a cowardly feudal lord who broke promises. Even though they had already entered and defeated the death knight, if the lord continued to note out, those inside would also distrust him. Sure enough, it had an effect. A steward came out from the castle. The steward spoke carefully. ¡°The casten said he will greet the guests.¡± ¡°Finally! He should have done that sooner!¡± The elf king shouted harshly. His blood was still hot from the earlier battle with the death knight. Ulrike didn¡¯t stop Angoldolph¡¯s words either. She agreed. ¡°However, there is one condition.¡± ¡°What is it? Don¡¯t even think about unreasonable conditions. If you tell us to disarm, I¡¯ll break your neck like we broke the death knight.¡± ¡°Um. . .?¡± At the elf king¡¯s words, Ulrike tilted her head. What is he saying? ¡°Ah, no. Of course you may enter armed. It¡¯s just. . . he wants to meet Count Yeats first.¡± ¡°!¡± Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» Chapter 233: ???????????? ???????????? (7) However, whether or not Ulrike cursed him in her heart, it probably wouldn¡¯t have made the elf king cling to Johan any less. It wouldn¡¯t have been any different if she had cursed him aloud. On the contrary, as a schemer who does not know the heart of the knight, she was excited that she was jealous. . . Ulrike knew that too, so Ulrike just turned her gaze quietly. ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ????!¡¯ Elves had a knack for making feasts lively and rowdy. They loved alcohol and had a custom of drinking it roughly. Already, several elven knights were drunk, throwing their sses of wine, drinking barrels of wine, and snatching tters from the hands of servants and greedily devouring them. To put it nicely, it was to eat and drink well to make the person who served them feel good, and to put it badly, it was to eat and drink without thinking twice. Empire knights did not dislike alcohol either, but they did not shake it like elven knights. ¡°They really eat and drink like crazy.¡±¡°My knights are not the ones who eat less, but they look like they¡¯re eating a snack.¡± Ulrike¡¯s knights said in a tired voice. However, even so, the feast was quite sessful. Above all, it was important to relieve the casten¡¯s anxiety and narrow the gap between each other. After having a feast like this, the awkward rtionship is narrowed and suspicion is resolved. In addition, the dissatisfaction of the knights also disappeared after this kind of feast. Knights are infinitely simple people (in Ulrike¡¯s view), so they growl until the day before, but if they agree at the feast, they work together. If you think about it that way, even those disgusting guys could be passed over. ???????????? ¡°. . .Did you say he got drunk?¡± Ulrike asked back incredulously. The elf servant bowed his head apologetically. ¡°The casten didn¡¯t put anything in the alcohol, right?¡± ¡°I already checked, and there was nothing.¡± ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ????????.¡¯ The elf king trusted the casten as little as Ulrike did. When the wine bottle came out, he would have suspected the casten first. ¡°After fighting the undead like that without taking care of himself, it¡¯s no wonder he¡¯s having a hangover from drinking.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also a talent to talk so proudly about guys who passed out from drinking too much.¡± Even though she said that, Ulrike didn¡¯t say anything more. After all, the elf king wasn¡¯t under hermand, and above all, he had actually fought fiercely with the undead. ¡°Hmm. . . Then shall we leave like this?¡± Ulrike was delighted at Johan¡¯s words. That would be great if they did that. Of course they wouldn¡¯t have to wait for days, and they wouldn¡¯t have to move with the annoying elf knights. Now that the death knight, an undead, had been dealt with, the remaining undead in the forest were nothing special. ¡°. . .No. I think we should wait for the elf king. If we leave him, he might hold a grudge.¡± It seemed trivial, but there was nothing trivial about honor. What g to nt first on a conquered castle wall, who passes through the gate first, who to leave behind for the suppression. . . These were things that could easily lead to grudges. ¡°When I asked, he said it was okay to go. He told me we could leave.¡± ¡°. . .Then that¡¯s fine.¡± Ulrike lost what to say and conceded. She didn¡¯t expect that Angoldolph would let them go so easily. ???????????? Here is my attempt at proofreading and fixing any grammar errors in the text: Even without the Elf King¡¯s participation, the expedition force was sufficient. After collecting silver and holy water, and offering prayers with the attending priests, the expedition headed into the forest. ¡°It¡¯s a shame the forces promised by the monastery have not yet arrived.¡± ¡°At least we were somehow able to borrow. . .¡± Secluded monks armed with poverty and purity, absorbed in prayer, would often not heed requests from nobles. Sending those pdins without even a warhorse was an impressive feat in itself. Though it was regrettable they had not arrived, Johan was not overly concerned. At least for subjugating the forest nearby, they would not be needed. They had the relic received from the casten, and knights and infantry armed against the undead. It was almost excessive. ¡°Where is Iselia-gong of House Bluea?¡± ¡°Oh. Iselia is also resting.¡± ¡°Hm? Did she drink that much?¡± ¡°Well, this and that. . .¡± Johan trailed off. She hadn¡¯t drunk that much at the banquet, but after they had returned, just the two of them, she had drunk quite a lot. Since he had encouraged her to drink more, enjoying the clingy drunk Iselia, Johan felt a bit guilty. Since they had sufficient forces already, there was no need to call for Iselia¡¯s help in this situation. Johan had left wizards like Jyanina and Suetlg back at the camp. There was no need to make them suffer in the harsh forest. ¡°You¡¯re lucky. Iselia-gong is quite the beauty.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Whether Ulrike had meant it genuinely or not,pliments were always appreciated. ¡°While not as beautiful as the Elf King, true beauty lies within, as they say.¡± For elves, bnce was key. With medium height, not overly thin or fat, and a lovely face, Angoldolph was the perfect elven beauty. Of course, from Johan¡¯s perspective, standards that mercilessly cut for being slightly taller or meatier were harder toprehend. ¡°Yes. Cia-gong is quite the beauty as well.¡± As he had received apliment about his lover, etiquette dictated he return one about Ulrike¡¯s spouse. Ulrike nodded. ¡°She is beautiful. . . Wait. Suddenlyplimenting like this is odd. Could you actually have slept with her?¡± ©¥??????. Karamaf barked, reacting to the change in Johan¡¯s mood. Johan waved his hand to indicate he was fine, and said, ¡°I have never slept with Cia-gong.¡± ¡°Is that so? I thought you might have. Though the count wouldn¡¯t shamelessly show his face after sleeping with another¡¯s wife.¡± Johan realized Ulrike had received the rumors btedly. Considering they had been around here for days, it was unbelievable she was only just hearing about them now. Fortunately, Ulrike did not seem angry, but Johan did not rx. Ulrike was fully capable of internally seething with rage. ¡°Ah. My mistake. No need to anxiously defend yourself, I was merely jesting. Even if you had slept with Cia, I would not be angry.¡± Johan was not a knight serving under Ulrike, but a Count leading a coalition force from afar. Ulrike was not stupid enough to get angry at such a person. ¡°Are you not on good terms with Cia-gong?¡± ¡°No. . .she¡¯s not a bad person. A bit dumb, but with a pretty face and soft skin. Good enough, I¡¯d say. She could have been uglier. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°I was a little surprised that you said you wouldn¡¯t get mad even if I slept with her.¡± ¡°Ah. Of course, if they brazenly slept together, I would have been angry. That¡¯s a matter of the family¡¯s honor and dignity. But from what I heard, the count seems to have kept within boundaries. Then isn¡¯t that their freedom? I¡¯ve heard this kind of story before. It¡¯s about an oriental sultan. He gave one of his concubines to a knight who had aplished great feats. Isn¡¯t it simr? Given the count¡¯s position, even if he had slept with Cia¡¯s mother instead of Cia, I wouldn¡¯t have minded.¡± ¡°I heard the sultan story directly, and they said it was just a rumor.¡± ¡°. . .Really? You really do get around a lot.¡± She was surprised again hearing that he went as far as Vynashchtym, even though she had heard he traveled extensively. ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea from me speaking about Cia like this. I really don¡¯t hate her that much. It¡¯s just that Cia is beautiful and has strong desires, and. . .I have a lot to take care of myself. We respect each other.¡± ¡°Gong is quite beautiful and has strong desires as well, so they suit each other well.¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s better not to make unsuitable jokes.¡± Ulrike, who had been startled, spoke with an embarrassed expression. She hadn¡¯t expected such sly words toe out of Johan¡¯s mouth. ¡°Iselia is enough for me, so it¡¯s better for Gong to satisfy Cia.¡± ¡°Just that much? Are you that good at night work?¡± Ulrike asked in pure astonishment. No matter how she looked at him, he seemed far removed from that area. ¡°. . .It¡¯s better not to reveal that.¡± ¡°Ah. Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my spouse¡¯s honor.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll say all that but then this?¡± ¡°I never asked Cia-gong how hot she. . . .¡± ©¥??????. ¡°?¡± In the middle of speaking, Johan froze. Karamaf barked as if something was off. ¡°What. . .?¡± Johan was horrified. In front and behind, no one was there. The most precious member of a party usually takes the middle spot. The vanguard goes ahead to check for danger, and the rearguard defends against any surprise attacks from behind. And that¡¯s how Ulrike and Johan were positioned. But at some point, when he came to his senses, only the two of them and Karamaf were left, the party havingpletely disappeared. Ulrike immediately drew her sword. In a low, sunken voice, she asked, ¡°Monster?¡± ¡°. . .Doesn¡¯t seem like it.¡± Johan didn¡¯t believe a monster would do something like this. It had to have fooled the instincts of both Karamaf and Johan first. Also, the horse Johan was riding was no simple creature. ¡°Must be a mischievous spirit or malevolent entity, or some phenomenon of the forest.¡± ¡°You really know a lot about these phenomena?¡± ¡°When you travel with wizards, you end up learning some magic.¡± First, Johan dismounted. Then he stood next to Ulrike and helped her down. Her horse, the most easily frightened of the group, whinnied at the scent of death permeating the forest. ¡°Cardirian. Comfort that horse a bit.¡± ©¥??????????. ¡°. . .It has quite the mischievous name.¡± ¡°Its personality is pretty simr.¡± Johan drew his sword and surveyed his surroundings. To an unfamiliar person, the forest likely all looked the same, but to someone properly trained, they could remember the terrain andndmarks. ¡®?????????????????? ??¡¯???? ?????????? ???????? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°Well. . .may I take the lead in moving?¡± ¡°I shall dly follow, count.¡± Ulrike replied with a smile. ???????????? ¡°These *sshole b*stards! If you can¡¯t find them before sunset, I¡¯ll make sure you can never act arrogant again!¡± The dwarves and mercenaries were hopping around, oppressing the centaurs and the two poor eastern rangers. Those guys who usually brag about being masters of the forest haven¡¯t been able to find their lord. The oppressed ¡°masters of the forest¡± had nothing to say, bowing their heads low. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Why are you fighting when His Excellency is not here?¡± Even the cheeky mercenaries did not get angry anymore. The point was to find Count Johan. They really felt like they were possessed by ghosts. They were marching just fine and then the two nobles just disappeared into thin air. ¡°I once heard my grandfather talk about the spirits of the forest. He said they have nasty temperaments and deliberately lead people entering the forest astray.¡± ¡°Oh. . . So did your grandfather also tell you how to lure out and chop up those spirits of the forest?¡± ¡°. . .No, he did not.¡± ¡°Then why the f*ck are you telling us?!¡± ¡°I told you to stop! Young ones, step back!¡± Instead of emotional reactions, the captains and above and Ulrike¡¯s knights gathered for a calm meeting. There were no wizards but magic was a mystery that was rarely experienced in life. There were ways to counter it, passed down orally. ¡°First, let¡¯s set up camp. So Their Excellencies can return.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sent men. They wille running at full speed with a wizard.¡± ¡°What about setting the forest on fire?¡± ¡°Just tell them to burn Your Excellency the Count to death.¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m sorry.¡± When the knight under Ulrike apologized, the flustered centaur felt even more embarrassed. In Johan¡¯s military camp, they would usually brush off words like that. ¡°No, I was too harsh.¡± ¡°While we wait, let¡¯s send out search parties in all directions. Report immediately if you notice anything strange. Signs of spirits can be found in even the most trivial things.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ???????????? ©¥????????. ¡°Does the path loop back around?¡± ©¥????????. ¡°I see. Thank you.¡± Johan stroked Karamaf. Seeing the thing that had gone straight ahead appear from behind, it seemed the path went in circles. Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» Chapter 234: ???????????? ???????????? (8) Chapter 234: ???????????? ???????????? (8) ¡°What did you find out?¡± ¡°If you keep going straight ahead, youe back around.¡± ¡°Not very happy news.¡± ¡°No. Thanks to that I¡¯m sure of it now. It must be the work of a spirit or malevolent spirit.¡± Deep forests naturally harbored mysteries, and would sometimes cause phenomena beyond human understanding. But while it was understandable for it to lead you onto a different path, a road that loops back no matter which way you go was excessively malicious. It matched more with the work of a spirit or malevolent spirit than a forest phenomenon. ¡°So what now?¡± ¡°I guess we should wait.¡± Surprisingly, the best thing to do at times like these was to simply wait. Spirits and malevolent spirits were less patient than one would expect, and if you just stayed put they would eventually make the first move. Blundering about lost here would only satisfy the opponent. Johan was a man who had followed excellent hunters and learned what to do in forests. He could endure like this for a few days no problem. ¡°It¡¯llst a day or two at most.¡± Johan skillfully created a temporary camp. With his back to the solid,rge cliff face, he gathered tinder and started a fire. Ulrike hadid nkets over her horse, so they had a decent ce to sleep as well. ¡°A skill you picked up wandering?¡± ¡°Yes. Have Gong ever tried it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve gone hunting and camping, but never set up my own camp.¡± Wandering knights varied greatly depending on their assets and lineage. Those who traveled alone had to prepare everything themselves from start to finish, while those who brought servants and attendants did not. As a high-status woman like Ulrike, she would have had no call to do such things herself. ¡°I see. Don¡¯t worry. I can act as your hands and feet for a day or two.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd. . . If there¡¯s anything I can do, please let me know. I want to help however I can.¡± ¡°No need. It¡¯s easier for me to work alone. I was nning to take Karamaf out hunting anyway.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t we have enough provisions already?¡± ¡°We do, but it doesn¡¯t hurt to be prepared.¡± Johan took Karamaf and headed into the forest. In less than an hour, he returned with several rabbits and a deer. ¡°Whoa, easy Karamaf. I¡¯ll get you your share, don¡¯t worry.¡± ©¥????????. Johan cleaned and skinned the deer with his dagger by the brook. For animals like deer, he threw the entrails and liver to Karamaf. Karamaf excitedly tore into them. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Johan returned and looked at Ulrike with a puzzled expression. She seemed to be lost in thought. ¡°Hmm. . . It¡¯s strange that there are such wild animals in thisbyrinthine path.¡± ¡°I suppose the wild animals just came in the same way we did. Have some.¡± ¡°You had salt too?¡± ¡°You get used to being prepared when you travel with centaurs. You can put everything on a horse and leave at any time.¡± ¡°The count is really sociable to have befriended such difficult people like centaurs.¡± Ulrike said as she bit into the meat. Even though it wasn¡¯t cooked luxuriously, it tasted good. It might have been because she had moved around quite a bit today. Or maybe it was because she liked the person she was with. ¡°That¡¯s a bit of an exaggeration.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. This time too. . . .Come to think of it, Stephen would also fall into that category. Why did you side with Stephen?¡± ¡°I already told you once, didn¡¯t I? It¡¯s not that I took Stephen¡¯s side, but rather that our understandings were aligned.¡± Johan shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Of course, the offer was tempting, but how would I have handled the aftermath if I had received such an offer while Countess Abner was ring at me?¡± ¡°Your Excellency Count is not cold-hearted enough to take revenge because of what has already happened.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Even someone who looks cold-hearted has parts that can be emotional. In my opinion, that part of Countess Abner was Stephen. Even a perfect person always has parts like that, doesn¡¯t he? Does Gong not have any?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike¡¯s expression shook at Johan¡¯s question. It was surprise again that Countess Abner, who always looked perfect and without blood or tears, could be emotional. . . And because of that, Johan¡¯s question felt unexpectedly weighty. Does she have something like that about herself? ¡°I can get along rtively well with centaurs and the elf king because I understand this point. Of course, it¡¯s important to weigh understanding, but isn¡¯t a person fundamentally emotional? It¡¯s also important to match their mood.¡± ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö. . . ¡°. . .That¡¯s not an argument that works on the undead like that.¡± Johan picked up his weapon. It seemed that not only wild beasts but undead roaming the forest had also entered this area. As the shrieking ghouls approached, the two took aim with their weapons. ¡°They look like mercenaries who died in this forest.¡± Their ragged, worn armor let them guess at the status they¡¯d had when alive. Staring ahead, Johan let out a short shout. Then he swung his Giant yer. Johan¡¯s violence was excessive for ghouls who, being dead, had softer flesh and bones than when alive. After one swing of the Giant yer, the surrounding ghouls were torn away as if caught in a typhoon. The next wave soon came. Seeing the swarms of ghouls pouring out from between the bushes, Johan frowned. He sensed malice in the way they were suddenly gathering in such numbers. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????¡¯ Johan held the Giant yer in one hand. And in his other, he drew Twilight. Even though the ghouls were dead and couldn¡¯t feel fear, Ulrike felt as if they hesitated for a moment. ¡°Come.¡± ???????????? After the fight ended, the surrounding leaves were as red as if some spirit had watched it happen and was bored to death. I sent out nearly a hundred ghouls yet not one fell. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem fine to me.¡± Johan didn¡¯t miss the groan Ulrike let out amidst the long fight. She was clearly ambushed while taking down several enemies. ¡°Did you twist your ankle?¡± ¡°Thought I took it down but it was still alive.¡± ¡°Undead are pretty stubborn. Let me see your hand.¡± Johan moved Ulrike¡¯s hand then took off her boots and rolled up her pants and armor. A ghoul had bitten her ankle in a weak spot in the armor and it was swollen. Johan put his mouth to her ankle and sucked out the poison before spitting it out. ¡°!!!¡± Ulrike¡¯s fingertips trembled. She opened her mouth as if to say something but closed it again. After roughly sucking out the poison Johan cleaned it offpletely with water then took out Suetlg¡¯s vision and applied it to the wound. He wrapped it in bandages and secured it tightly, finishing the treatment. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°. . .Very, thank you so much.¡± ¡°Your words seem to have poison in them. Is it just your mood?¡± ¡°Misunderstanding. . . .I¡¯m genuinely grateful. I¡¯ll repay you in gold when we get back.¡± ¡°I appreciate that.¡± Feeling she would just embarrass herself more if she said anything else, Ulrike decided to change the subject. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°You broke a sweat so it was a workout but it shouldn¡¯t get infected.¡± ¡°. . .Not my ankle, I meant the situation with this forest.¡± ¡°Oh, sorry. If we took care of this many I doubt more areing. If they could have sent more they would have already.¡± Even for Johan it took giving his all to massacre nearly a hundred ghouls. His muscles ached and his lungs screamed over and over again even with the blessings of the pagan god. But Johan didn¡¯t show any fatigue. No matter who he was facing it was never good to show weakness. That expectation was not off base. Not long after, a messenger arrived. A skeleton corpse slowly walked over, its skull chattering as it opened its mouth. ©¥?? ?????????????????????? ???????? ????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ?? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ??????. ¡°!¡± Ulrike was surprised. For the other side to reach out first was unexpected. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to ept?¡± ¡°If it had said that before we came in I may have considered it but after doing its misdeeds and then saying this, there¡¯s no reason to show mercy.¡± Ulrike had an instinctual human fear of spirits. On the other hand, Johan had long since lost any fear of spirits. Spirits were not much different from humans. They acted based on their own rules, schemed when disadvantaged, and submitted to violence. What¡¯s more this guy had locked them in a maze without a word and then forcibly attacked them. ¡°Arrogant b*stard. I am Johan of Yeats. In the name of Valkalmur and Teshuka show yourself before me immediately! If you have even a shred of courage you can show your face!¡± ©¥ . . .???????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ????????. The skull chattered but Johan just scoffed. ¡°You mean the undead? The death knight, your strongest, has already fallen to the knights¡¯ des. No matter how many ghouls you send the elite I¡¯ve brought could crush them easily. Remember what I carry on my horse!¡± Johan shook the relic attached to Cardirian as a warning. If his opponent was a spirit it should be able to sense the power held within the relic. ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ????¡¯?? ?? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????? ????????.¡¯ Ulrike was puzzled, but kept silent. She had decided to follow Johan¡¯s decision, that was all. ¡°If you want fair negotiations, show your face here now! You dared to ambush us and push us into this forest maze. No one who values honor would do this.¡± ©¥. . .??????????????. ?? ?????????????????? ?????? ????????. ???? ?? ???????? ???? ????????, ???????? ?????? ??????????????????? As Johan angrily acted stubbornly, the other party also took a step back. Johan nodded. After about thirty minutes, something walked over from the other side. It was a tree. ¡®?? ???????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ??????. . .!¡¯ As expected of a tree, the other party was very slow. Ulrike murmured in a voice full of wonder. ¡°Was the other party a tree spirit of the forest?¡± ¡°Not a spirit, a malevolent one.¡± Whether it was a tree spirit or not, the tree spirit steadily walked over and stood before the two. Then it opened its mouth. ©¥?? ???????? ??????????????. ¡°State your name, coward.¡± ©¥??¡¯?? ?????? ?? ????????????. ?? ???? ??????????, ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ????????????. ¡°So you¡¯re the one behind all these tricks here?¡± ©¥?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????. . . Before Ingol could even finish speaking, Johan rushed in and grabbed him. Ulrike eximed in confusion. ¡°You said you would negotiate?!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we negotiating now?¡± Ingol was dumbfounded as this crazy human tried to uproot him. Just as human strength alone cannot uproot a deeply rooted tree, it was the same for spirits. In order to teach this annoying human a lesson, Ingol grabbed Johan tightly. The two clung to each other like they were wrestling. ©¥??????. . . ??????. . . ????????. . .? ¡°Ingol. You rude spirit. How dare you lure your opponent into a trap without even a proper request. And you call yourself someone who values honor?¡± If the situation hadn¡¯t been so urgent, Johan would have happily burned Ingol alive for this. Johan¡¯s subjugated Valkalmur cackled as he ridiculed Ingol. Having been beaten up himself forughing inappropriately, Valkalmur found Ingol¡¯s situation amusing. ????????! Even borrowing the power of the tree, Johan didn¡¯t budge an inch. Instead, Ingol¡¯s body began to heat up. Ingol opened his mouth slowly but as fast as he could. ©¥?? ??????????????????! ?? ??????????????????! ¡°What will happen to you if I uproot you like this, Ingol?¡± ©¥??¡¯???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ????????! Unlike the wandering malevolent spirit Valkalmur, Ingol was a spirit that took root in the forest like a tree. A spirit that would disappear when trees were destroyed and grow stronger when trees thrived. ¡°Do you regret it? Rudely threatening us?¡± ©¥?? ???????????? ????! ¡°Even if I let you go like this, will you swear not to run away or trick us?¡± ©¥?? ??????????! Only after hearing the surrender did Johan let go of his grip. He had grabbed so hard that sap was flowing from Ingol¡¯s side. ¡°Nice negotiation.¡± ¡°. . .I hope the countes along when negotiating with the emperor faction.¡± Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» Chapter 235: ???????????? ???????????? (9) Chapter 235: ???????????? ???????????? (9) Ulrike wiped Johan¡¯s face with a handkerchief. His face was a mess after fighting once and struggling with the treant. ¡°It looks familiar. . .¡± ¡°Of course, since the count gave it to me.¡± ¡°Ah. . .¡± Johan recalled the identity of the handkerchief. It was a gift from a maid who used it to wipe Ulrike¡¯s blood. ¡°Return it to the count.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ©¥. . . . . . ¡°Don¡¯t be so awkward. Ingol.¡±Johan turned his gaze back to the treant. Ingol, who had been listening to their conversation, stood there awkwardly and flinched. ©¥?? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????. ?????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????. Ingol¡¯s voice was full of hostility. The rtionship between the treants who protect the forest and the people living around it could not be good. Basically, as people increased in number, the forest was developed and trees were cut down. It was natural for the treants to be angry at those who cut down trees to use as fuel and building materials. Of course, Johan answered without blinking an eye. ¡°It¡¯s not me but the castens and their men living around here who have been cutting down trees and burning forests from the past. Ingol.¡± ©¥?????????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????. ¡°Then you should try to see them differently. If you don¡¯t want steel stuck in your trunk.¡± ©¥. . . . . . Ingol shut his mouth at the fierce threat. The wizard in front of him was exerting a formidable aura, overwhelming the spirit. ¡°We did not enter the forest to threaten the spirits. It is to return the dead to the earth. If the tree spirits had done their job properly, we wouldn¡¯t have had to go through all this trouble.¡± ©¥?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????. ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????? ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, you can keep living with the intruders. No. I don¡¯t understand why a guy who talks about negotiating is so arrogant. Ulrike-gong. Is it normal for the other party to be so arrogant?¡± ¡°ording to the Empire¡¯s practices, negotiations usually break down if the other party is so arrogant.¡± Ingol angrily shook his leaves at the intruders citing human customs. ©¥?????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????. ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????. ¡°The dead do not listen. It¡¯s not help but exploitation.¡± ©¥. . . . . . ¡°Stop making excuses, Ingol. You set a trap without making a legitimate request. Do you admit that?¡± ©¥?? ?????????? ????, ????????????????. ¡°Are you prepared topensate for it?¡± ©¥???? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????. ¡°Keep that in mind and. . . first get all the undead out of the forest. If you twisted the road to send them this way, you should be able to drive out the rest as well.¡± It was better to get help from the tree spirits now. The forests of the Empire were vast enough to threaten civilization, and finding the groups of undead one by one whilebing through here was a difficult task even for the most skilled trackers. It was not for nothing that Johan had borrowed the artifact. ©¥. . .??????????????. ?? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????????. ???????????? ¡°Did you check?¡± ¡°I checked. This is not it.¡± Two Eastern Rangers were repeating a boring confirmation work. Although it was a boring task, their expressions were very serious and there was no sign ofziness in their restless hands. Although the Eastern Rangers did not know how to use magic, they often encountered mysteries. They dealt with mysteries based on their own experiences. Tying each other with a long rope, leaving marks around them, and going into confirmation as they encountered things. It was a simple method, but the effect was certain. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°!!¡± In the midst of this, familiar faces walked out from the bushes in front. It was Johan and Ulrike. Seeing the two nobles pulling their horses, the rangers¡¯ eyes widened with joy. ¡°Your Excellency!! Your Excellency!!!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not deaf. Why are you shouting so loudly?¡± ¡°How could we not worry when you disappeared like that?!¡± ¡°Oh my. You must have worried a lot. I believed that you would do well even without me. Wasn¡¯t that so?¡± At Johan¡¯s question, the two rangers looked at each other. Was that so? When the leader named Johan with strong charisma disappeared, those under him seemed to have med each other saying ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ??????????¡¯. . . ¡°. . .We did our best.¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s good. You worked hard.¡± Johan carefully supported Ulrike. Her movements were very awkward because she had injured her ankle. She could ride a horse, but there was a possibility ofplications if an injured person was riding a frightened horse in a lush forest. He wanted to put her on Cardirian, but the b*stard hated Ulrike so much. . . Suetlg, who rushed over to hear the situation and was worried, wiped his chest at the sight of Johan, who had appeared safely. Although he was not too worried, their disappearance was quite tense. ¡°Suetlg-nim! Your Excellency Count has returned over there! Aren¡¯t you going to greet him?¡± ¡°Hmm. It looks better to just let hime like this. ¡°???¡± ¡°Just follow this old man¡¯s words.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Seeing Johan supporting Ulrike anding over, Suetlg did not rush over to get in the way. And that choice was an excellent choice. ¡°The Ranger guys found them?!¡± ¡°As expected, the Eastern Rangers are different. I knew they would find them. They are Eastern Rangers. Born in the forest and die in the forest.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± They could not raise their heads in shame. The two Eastern Rangers wanted to say, ¡¯???? ????????, ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ????????, ?????? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ??????.¡¯ ¡°In fact, it was not us who found Your Excellency, but. . .¡± ¡°. . .Shh. Be quiet, I bet on it.¡± ???????????? ¡°Did that happen? Bad luck. Of all people, you got hit by an arrow.¡± ¡°I was surprised, but I got through it fine. I even gotpensation.¡± Johan took out a horn made from tree roots as he spoke. It was an item he had obtained through negotiations with Ingol after agreeing to take care of the undead. While the tree spirits were willing to negotiate to some extent, they really had nothing to offer. After long and tedious negotiations, Ingol finally decided to settle it with his body. ¡°Is that a horn to summon spirits?¡± ¡°You knew?¡± ¡°No. I just felt a mystical power from it, and since tree spirits are originally poor folks, I figured they didn¡¯te out themselves and settled it by fighting instead.¡± ¡°They really had nothing.¡± The forests of the Empire were so lush that the trees were often connected to each other, and if you blew the horn in such a forest, the spirits had agreed to respond to the call. ¡°What happened with Ulrike-gong?¡± ¡°Oh. She was hurt so I helped her. I also used some medicine that Sir Suetlg gave.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s for a princess, it¡¯s no loss to use it. Fortunately, you two seem quite close.¡± Suetlg was happy that Johan had gotten close with Ulrike. There was no harm in getting friendly with the Abner family when considering his future in the Empire. The more connections the better. Fortunately, Ulrike also seemed quite fond of him. Considering the cold personality of the princess, this had to be considered a stroke of good fortune. ¡°She sprained her ankle? Did she fall?¡± ¡°No. She was bitten by an undead.¡± ¡°Oh my. You must¡¯ve had to suck out the poison then?¡± ¡°I sucked it out myself?¡± ¡°. . .With your mouth??¡± ¡°Well, should I have cut it open with a knife?¡± ¡°No. . . Um, well done.¡± Suetlg was at a loss for words. He had felt something oddly intimate between them, which made him curious, but to think this had happened. ¡®?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????????? ??????????????. . .?¡¯ The more he thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. It took a long time, Ulrike-gong couldn¡¯t walk properly and staggered, Johan looked unusually tired, and also. . . Most of all, if two passionate young people were in a cozy spot in that kind of situation, wouldn¡¯t it naturally lead to something more? It¡¯s only natural that if you put a male and female animal together in an enclosure, they would mate and reproduce. ¡°Why do you stare at me so?¡± ¡°N-No reason.¡± As open as Suetlg was, it would still be awkward to outright ask Johan if he had slept with Ulrike-gong. Though curious, Suetlg decided not to inquire further. ???????????? The undead pushed out of the forest were neatly subjugated. The subjugation force that was waiting unleashed a fierce attack, and the undead that came out listlessly literally melted away. After the undead were buried in the prepared graves and the prayers of the priests ended, Johan was able to heave a sigh of relief. There were various incidents, but it¡¯s over. ¡®???? ?????? ??????, ?? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ Thanks to summoning the elementals, he didn¡¯t have to use the artifact, but the Pelheim casten shook his head and put the artifact in Johan¡¯s hand. It was an unexpected reaction. ©¥???????? ???????????????????? ??????????. ?????????????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????. ©¥????, ?????????? ??????. ?? ???????? ?????? ???? ????????. The intimacy shown by the Pelheim casten made Johan flustered, but still, goodwill was goodwill. Johan carefully stowed the artifact behind Cardirian. Cardirian indignantly stamped his hind legs, but Johan ignored it. The subjugation force left the castle with a splendid send-off. The next destination was Halfbronn Barony to the east along the highway. The Elf King still had a pained expression, as if he still had a bit of a headache. ¡°I think the casten mixed in some low quality liquor. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s more likely because of the Death Knight.¡± ¡°Does it make sense for me to whine because of a mere undead when the Count is unharmed?¡± ¡°I was also sick for a few days after the fight. It was just that Your Majesty didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Ah. Is that so?¡± The Elf King immediately cheered up. Thinking that way, this pain also seemed to be left by the Death Knight. It hadsted uncharacteristically long for just a hangover. ¡°The Halfbronn Baron knows the political situation well and is quick-witted, so things like what happened in Pelheim probably won¡¯t happen. Also, there are fewer forests nearby, so subjugation will be much easier. We can finish quickly.¡± Johan nodded at Ulrike¡¯s words. Seeing the two whispering, the Elf King made a displeased expression, then whispered to Johan when only the two of them were left. ¡°What were you talking about with Ulrike-gong?¡± ¡°She said subjugation of Halfbronn Barony would be rtively easy.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The Elf King had a conflicted expression. He also thought subjugation of Halfbronn Barony would go smoothly, but he struggled to refrain from nitpicking Ulrike¡¯s words. ¡®?????????? ???? ????. . .?¡¯ Just as Johan was dumbfounded, the centaurs who had gone out scouting came back from the distance. ¡°Your Excellency! There is an army in the Barony! They say it is the Shirivik family¡¯s army!¡± ¡°!¡± The Count Shirivik was a northern feudal lord of the Empire. In other words. . . one of the vassals of the Emperor faction. ¡°An excellent person?¡± ¡°More of a merchant than a warrior. . .? I wonder if that¡¯s why he came?¡± He was surprised that there was an Emperor faction army nearby, bute to think of it, some nobles were likely to step up on that side as well. If the undead gue was not stopped, even the Emperor faction would suffer damage, and neutral nobles might change sides. ¡°This is great!¡± The Elf King said in a voice trying to restrain his joy. No matter how much he tried to hold it in, joy was apparent all over his body. His eyes shone brightly and his hands shook, ready to draw his sword. ¡°It is merely the army of a count, not even the army of an emperor. Can their knights even stand up to us? Count?¡± ¡°Well, you have a point, but just to be safe, we should fight more prudently.¡± It was natural for Johan to send out scouts in various directions to gather information before making judgments and taking action ordingly, but surprisingly more than half of the knights did not follow this practice. Believing in their own might and wanting to seize any opportunity to build up achievements before the opponent runs away, they charge ahead recklessly. Having probably gathered some intelligence on their side as well, they first sent an envoy. Bowing politely, the envoy conveyed a message. ¡°The master humbly respects your esteemed status and reputation, and wishes to make a proposal.¡± The count¡¯s proposal was not very surprising. Let both sides collide their troops and decide the victor through a duel between knights, so that the losing side retreats and the winning side prevails! It was amon practice in the Empire, and many battles concluded as such. The letter sent also contained customary niceties regarding such practices. ¡°. . .?¡± Johan blinked. At the end of the letter was a familiar insignia. It was the mark of a snake. Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» Chapter 236: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? (1) Chapter 236: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? (1) ¡°Did Count Shirivik¡¯s family crest have a snake in it?¡± Ulrike shook her head at Johan¡¯s question. ¡°What is it? Graffiti or a stain?¡± The pattern was drawn so subtly that one would not notice it if they did not look closely. Anyone else would have thought it meaningless and moved on. However, for some reason it bothered me. ¡°Shall we send five men each and determine the winner?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Defeat was dered even if all weapons were broken or one was unhorsed. Duels between knights were not as brutal as fights between mercenaries. ¡°Count Shirivik wants to meet face to face before the duel, but this. . .¡±¡°Could it be a trap?¡± ¡°It seems like a trap.¡± Despite their mutual distaste, Ulrike and the Elf King often agreed. Neither wanted to meet the Count. The Elf King was an honorable knight, but no fool. He reasonably considered that his opponent might not be so honorable. Why meet face to face when they could just send their knights to determine the winner? What reason could there be? Seeing the two nobles¡¯ negative reactions, the envoy panicked and said, ¡°No! My master is a man of honor. He would never set such a trap.¡± ¡°That makes it more suspicious.¡± ¡°There are no forests to hide an ambush nearby, and my master wille alone. If you want anything, please let me know. Weapons are allowed.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . .¡± The eloquent envoy¡¯s words left the two speechless, contrary to expectations. There was no possibility this was a trap. Relieved, the envoy thought, ¡®???????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ However, the envoy still did not know the Elf King well. With a scoff, the Elf King turned his head. ¡°Still can¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡®????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ??????. . .?¡¯ When someone of status bluntly expresses distrust, an envoy can do nothing. The Elf King was no gracious knight who cared about preserving the honor of someone he did not respect. ¡°Can¡¯t believe it either.¡± Ulrike had no intention of needlessly acting for some faraway feudal lord of the Emperor faction just to save face. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll go out and see.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± The envoy was moved to tears. If he brought back this offer and none of the three came out, it would be his responsibility. ¡°Why show mercy to the likes of him, Count? I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± ¡°. . .Just go hear what they have to say.¡± Ulrike was no fool who couldn¡¯t grasp the situation. Even so, she chose to ignore them as it brought no benefit. Even if the other party really came over after such maneuvering, it was better to ignore their intentions and focus on their own work rather than waste energy on it. Johan would even bend down to pick up a coin fallen on the road. Even more so, wouldn¡¯t the count yield at least one silver coin? ???????????? ¡°What about the others?¡± ¡°I came alone as the representative.¡± Count Shirivik looked around with a relieved expression. Karamaf barked sharply at Count Shirivik. ¡®???????? ???? ????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????¡¯ Johan was puzzled. From Karamaf¡¯s reaction, it seemed certain that the count was up to something. But there really didn¡¯t seem to be any way. The open surroundings werepletely empty and. . . Other than someoneing out from under the ground, or Count Shirivik drawing his sword and rushing at Johan, nothing else seemed possible. ¡°There really isn¡¯t anything?¡± ¡°I told you there isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°. . . .Your Excellency. Please help me.¡± ¡°How can I?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Along with his words, Count Shirivik showed the tattoo on his sleeve. It was a snake tattoo. Seeing the guild tattoo after so long, Johan was horrified. ¡°Count, were you part of Nessus?!¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s not it. Didn¡¯t Your Excellencymand me?¡± Only then did Johan realize the other¡¯s identity. It was the assassin from the Venom of Nessus guild that he had met when he went to subdue the city with the Duke Brduhe¡¯s son. The assassin who was cursed to lose his face! Johan had sent him to target the emperor¡¯s life in exchange for saving his life, and since there was no news afterwards, he had assumed that the assassin had failed or fled. ¡°Could it be that You forgot?¡± ¡°How could I. I was waiting every day wondering when I would hear back from you.¡± ¡°. . . . .¡± The assassin looked at Johan with a dissatisfied expression at his words. He had been making an effort to keep his sacred oath even at the cost of cutting his own bones, but the other seemed to have forgotten about it. ¡°So you left the snake symbol?¡± ¡°Yes. I thought Your Excellency would recognize it. . .but you didn¡¯t?¡± The assassin had assumed Johan came alone after recognizing the symbol. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have had any reason toe alone. ¡°I recognized it but didn¡¯t know what it meant.¡± ¡°. . . .??¡± The assassin didn¡¯t understand why Johan hadn¡¯t recognized it. It was the guild¡¯s unique snake text. . . ¡°Anyway, we don¡¯t have much time. Tell me what happened.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Listening to it, the assassin¡¯s exploits were as eventful as Johan¡¯s. First of all, what the assassin worried about the most was how to get close to the emperor. Getting close to the emperor was different from targeting a city magistrate. There were excellent knights and wizards swarming around the emperor. Besides, the emperor himself was a suspicious and fierce figure. Matching his status, the magic he had with him was considerable. . . If he approached recklessly, he would surely die miserably bound by the magic around him. So the assassin decided to target the nobles of the emperor faction. Fortunately, as the Empire was in turmoil, feudal lords often left their fiefs with their armies. After persistent waiting, a few attempts, and a bit of luck, the assassin was able to cut off Count Shirivik¡¯s breath and disguise himself as him. The soldiers following the count would never have dreamed that their original master¡¯s corpse was tucked away under the basement of this inn. Impressed by the assassin¡¯s ability beyond expectation, Johan said. ¡°Then can you take the emperor¡¯s life now?¡± The emperor faction was still in power nowrgely thanks to the emperor¡¯s charisma. As a heretic, Cardirian had been involved in several scandals, and as an emperor, he was a rulercking leadership whose feudal lords had rebelled en masse, but no one denied that he was a strong knight. When the nobles of the west and south and the elf knights gathered, everyone expected the defeat of the emperor faction, but it was Cardirian who won a surprise victory in that unfavorable situation. Who would have known that the old and seriously ill emperor would move like that? It was a faction maintained by such charisma, so it was bound to copse like a sand castle once the emperor died. The emperor¡¯s children did not have such charisma. ¡°. . .I tried several times but it was beyond me.¡± The assassin said in a gloomy voice. He had secretly hired some of Nesus¡¯ other novice assassins or assassins from other fencing guilds and sent them to Cardirian¡¯s quarters. It was to identify gaps and scout. Ultimately, it was a total failure. He didn¡¯t expect that not one would make it back alive. The assassin himself also didn¡¯t expect such failure. ¡°There must be magic that detects assassins.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Johan was not surprised by that remark. Isn¡¯t Karamaf right next to Johan now? Just as Karamaf¡¯s sensitive nose seeks out enemies, it was no wonder that the emperor had several such means. ¡®?????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ???????¡¯ Even so, Johan tried to hear as much information as possible. Because he didn¡¯t know how it might be usedter. He heard that the emperor was obsessively suspicious and his bedroom changed every day. When camping, he has several tents and several doubles.¡¯ As if that wasn¡¯t difficult enough, now the knights and wizards guarding him changed all the time too. It wasn¡¯t a set order but was determined by the emperor¡¯s summons. After a set time passed it became impossible to even approach. Last time, a knight cut down a trusted attendant of the emperor¡¯s son when he was urgently sent, and the atmosphere became extremely bad. ¡°Thanks. If I ever get into the emperor¡¯s tentter, I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± ¡°. . .It doesn¡¯t seem like you have much talent for jokes, Your Excellency.¡± And the people the assassin feared most among the vassals in the emperor¡¯s court were those court wizards. Not ordinary court wizards, but suspicious wizards who came and went in secret with their faces covered. They had notorious reputations or hadmitted suspicious criminal acts, but Cardirian didn¡¯t care and summoned them anyway. They offered all kinds of evil magic and mysteries. This was just the assassin¡¯s feeling, but it seemed they had brought up suspicions about Count Shirivik. It was still just suspicion but. . . ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s why you¡¯re asking for help.¡± ¡°Yes! Release me from my oath. I did my best.¡± ¡°If you disappear now, won¡¯t there be turmoil?¡± ¡°Well that may be so but. . .¡± ¡°No. Endure a little longer.¡± ¡°No. . . what¡¯s the point in going back just to get caught?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about how to prevent that. I¡¯ll try toe up with a scheme.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The assassin sent a very unpleasant look. Count Shirivik had quite a handsome face, so the assassin¡¯s look was rather awkward. ¡°Anyway, tell me about the emperor. What¡¯s the atmosphere been liketely?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better than before thanks to the victory, but the atmosphere is still razor sharp.¡± While Johan¡¯s allied side had loose autonomy, the emperor faction was strictly hierarchical with the emperor at the center. No matter how great a lord, they couldn¡¯t give unnecessary orders to a vassal, but Cardirian ignored that and wielded iron rule. The atmosphere was that brutal. It was typical fear rule by a tyrant. ¡°Isn¡¯t he seriously ill?¡± ¡°It¡¯s. . . a bit strange. Those wizard fellows must be up to some shady trick.¡± Cardirian didn¡¯t often reveal himself even in front of his vassals. He handled matters by sending his children or attendants. But on the rare asions when he happened to show himself while passing by, his ruthless re made even the weaker vassals piss themselves. The assassin was quite confident in his own courage, but even he was tense enough. . . ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ????????????. ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????¡¯ Johan was dumbfounded. One of the things he had been expecting the most was Cardirian¡¯s poor health. He was an old man who could copse at any moment, so enduring was part of the strategy, but. . . He must have eaten something weird. That lively vigor changed things. ¡°When the emperor¡¯s around, everyone has a hard time saying a word.¡± ¡°I guess talks of negotiations came up.¡± ¡°How did you know? Yes. There has been such talk. Of passing the family headship to the emperor¡¯s first son and giving up the session to emperor. . .¡± ¡°It would be strange if those thoughts didn¡¯te up after such a prolonged war.¡± They want negotiations as well. It¡¯s not like the other side doesn¡¯t feel the same way. Their strategy was simr to theirs. Wrap up the undead gue, replenish the troops, recruit soldiers, gather supplies, march south again and siege castles. The emperor¡¯s determination to take back the south at any cost and behead the rebellious feudal lords was apparent. ¡®???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????? ?????????? ??*??????????.¡¯ It was beyond Johan¡¯smon sense. Did they bury some ancient Empire treasure down south or something? The assassin spoke anxiously. ¡°Your excellency. Do you have a scheme? I implore you.¡± Assassins weren¡¯t nonchnt about death either. Everyone wanted to live. The assassin¡¯s long experience warned him. Staying by the emperor¡¯s side for long could end horribly. The previous count might have shown a shred of mercy so he killed him cleanly, but the emperor had all sorts of cruel tortures to experiment with. ¡°Of course I¡¯vee up with something.¡± ¡°Oh! Thank goodness. I was truly worried. What is it?¡± ¡°You and I dueling.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The assassin¡¯s expression hardened as he red at Johan. Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 237: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? (2) Chapter 237: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? (2) ¡°No. Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. I¡¯m not trying to kill you to shut you up.¡± The mostmon upational hazard that assassins faced was still their employer¡¯s betrayal. Dead assassins don¡¯t spill secrets after all. ¡°What does that mean then?¡± The assassin from Nessus was skilled with a short sword and confident he could sever the windpipe of an enemy from ten paces away with a small, barely visible throwing dagger, but he did not want to duel Johan. Attacking unarmed would be dangerous, but fighting properly equipped would likely lead to a gruesome death. ¡°Let¡¯s fake a duel.¡± ¡°But. . .you¡¯re a knight. Is that eptable?¡± ¡°You¡¯re an assassin who can¡¯t assassinate. Why can¡¯t I fake a duel?¡± The assassin cursed Johan in his mind. He didn¡¯t dare say it out loud or his neck could get snapped. ¡®???????? ????, ???????????? ?? ????????. . .¡¯ Duels were sacred, especially to knights who valued honor. Faked duels were unthinkable to them. It was unbelievable to the assassin. ¡°We¡¯ll fake a duel where you lose and be my hostage. That way you can avoid suspicion for a while.¡± ¡°. . .Not a bad scheme. It¡¯ll take some time for my house to prepare a ransom.¡± ¡°Ah. And I can get a ransom out of this. How nice.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Seeing Johan act like a merchant, the assassin gave him an uneasy look. It was too out of ce. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Is Count Shirivik¡¯s house wealthy?¡± ¡°Neither wealthy nor poor. Some debts from campaigns, some rights ceded to merchants. . .¡± ¡°If someone close to the Count valued him, that would be good.¡± ¡°From his actions, that doesn¡¯t seem likely.¡± ¡°Still, there should be a minimum of good faith. I understand. Prepare to return. We need that fake duel.¡± ¡°. . .I humbly request your help.¡± ¡°Yes, mine indeed.¡± ¡°I very humbly request your help.¡± ¡°Why do you keep emphasizing it?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The assassin held his tongue though he had much to say. Johan had to regte his strength. Annoying him and causing a failure in that could make the assassin¡¯s head explode. ???????????? The assassin, no Count Shirivik shouted as soon as he returned. ¡°I will duel with Count Yeats directly!¡± ¡°. . .Huh???¡± The knights and soldiers below were surprised. It was too unexpected. Count Shirivik was neither a knight nor a man who enjoyed dueling. On the other hand, the opponent was a young knight whose reputation was splendid. No matter how much they thought about it, there was no chance of winning. The duel was the privilege and right of the nobility, but not everyone exercised it. It is not insulting for an old and sick person to refuse a duel. You can just send out a champion instead of going out directly, so why say that? ¡°The guy insulted His Majesty and insulted my family. I can never endure it unless I wash it directly.¡± ¡°Calm down, Your Excellency! No matter what, Your Excellency does not need toe forward at all!¡± The count shook his head at the words of the deputy. As he insisted on his stubbornness no matter how much they tried to stop him, everyone began to ept reality. ¡®???? ????????¡¯?? ???????????????????? ???? ??????????. . .¡¯ ¡®???????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????????????, ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????¡¯ The scribes who followed the count had dissatisfied expressions, the knights had respectful expressions. The mercenary captains had expressions that they wanted to say something but did not dare to intervene. ¡°Bring me my armor and sword! It is a fight to defend honor and faith. To whom will God raise his hand?¡± ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ??????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ ???????????? ¡°It looks like it¡¯s gone back. . .¡± ¡°No. Count seemed to know his honor a little. My eyes were wrong to say he was weak.¡± The Elf King refuted Ulrike¡¯s murmur. Any warrior who stood up to defend his own honor deserved to be respected. ????????! Count Shirivik fell off his horse in one blow. You could see the other side clutching their foreheads and sighing. They thought the count would stand up proudly and have some hidden skills, but there was really nothing. ¡°The future of Count Shirivik¡¯s family is also worrying.¡± ¡°I think it would be better not to be too harsh on the person who wille as a hostage, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯ll be more careful in the future.¡± ¡®?? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡®?? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ When it was just the two of them, the irritation towards each other only increased. Johan returned proudly. As Johan was greeted with apuse and cheers from the knights in the camp, he felt a little embarrassed. He knew it was customary congrattions, but his opponent was so ipetent. ¡®???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°My bones feel a little sore. . .¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re not dead, that¡¯s fine.¡± Several members of the count¡¯s group came running from the other side, while the rest began to show signs of wanting to retreat. With their leader taken hostage, none of them were going to stay here. The elf king watched the retreating figures with an expression like a puppy who had its food snatched away. He couldn¡¯t attack to defend his honor, but he clearly wanted to charge somehow. When Count Shirivik appeared, supported by Johan, the elf king erased his reluctant expression and turned his gaze. ¡°It was a good duel, Count Shirivik. ording to honor and custom, I will guarantee your rights.¡± ¡°. . .Thank you. If possible, I would like to go in and rest.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± After Count Shirivik went inside, the elf king nodded his head and said, ¡°Judging by his gait, he doesn¡¯t seem like such a weak warrior as the rumors say.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± A chill went down Johan¡¯s spine at the elf king¡¯s intuition. The assassin was surely mimicking the count¡¯s gait as well, yet he noticed something off. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ???? ??????????????.¡¯ He had shown a sloppy appearance to make them let their guard down, but the elf king was no ordinary figure either. Johan regained hisposure. ???????????? As the opponent withdrew, the subjugation in the baron¡¯s territory proceeded smoothly. The soldiers of the three feudal lords moved cleanly to surround and annihte the horde of undead. The expeditionary force, which ended the subjugation vigorously while moving through four towns, stopped in front of the baron¡¯s castle. ¡± . . .?¡± ¡°Has the family crest changed. . .?¡± Ulrike looked up at the castle with a bewildered expression. Instead of Halfbronn Baron¡¯s g, an unfamiliar g was fluttering. Moreover, that was not the crest of a noble family. That crudely drawn g without proper standards and formats. . . ¡°Your Excellency. Your Excellency.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°That g is the g of the Severed Gallows Mercenary Group!¡± The assassin, no, Count Shirivik, whispered. The reason he knew the Severed Gallows Mercenary Group was simple. That mercenary corps had been hired by the emperor before. Although their nature was rough and brutal, they were relied upon for their unquestionable abilities and distinguished war service. ¡°Then why are they here? Were they chased out?¡± ¡°To be precise, they left on their own.¡± ¡°Why? Did they disobey the emperor¡¯s order?¡± ¡°No. The emperor had failed to pay their wages.¡± ¡°Ah. . .¡± Johan immediately understood. The emperor faction¡¯s situation had not been very good until winning thest battle. It was natural for the mercenaries¡¯ wages to be dyed several times. ¡®???????? ???????? ????. . .¡¯ There was only one reason why the mercenary corps would raise their g like this. Since they would not dare to do such a thing if employed, this was. . . An upation! In peaceful times, mercenary leaders or rogue knights would not dare to attempt this, but in turbulent times, they would upy castles or towns and attempt to be new feudal lords. Most did not work out well, but with good luck, some managed to just sit tight. Johan shared the information with others. The Elf King red up in anger. ¡°How dare those petty mercenaries infringe upon the legitimate rights of proper nobles!¡± As a baron of the Empire, he was still a noble. It was unbelievable that rogue gangs had attacked and seized the castle of such a baron. ¡°Judging that there has been no contact during the subjugation, it seems that the entire baron family has been captured.¡± ¡°I thought the same.¡± Johan also agreed with Ulrike¡¯s words. Baron Halfbronn and his family were likely trapped inside. ¡°While I don¡¯t agree with His Majesty, leaving the castle alone could be very annoyingter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not an agree. . . oh, never mind.¡± As Ulrike red at him, Johan pretended not to know what she was talking about. He understood well what Ulrike was saying. ¡®???? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?? ????????????, ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ Judging by the fact that the assassin, no, Count Shirivik did not know, there was probably no contact after that, but those kinds could easily turn their coats anytime. If the situation gotplicatedter or they were driven into a corner, they might send a letter to the emperor, with whom they had a connection, and dere themselves his vassal. And the emperor¡¯s personality is. . . ¡°I think he¡¯ll ept it.¡± No matter what insults the central nobles hurled behind his back, the emperor was likely to ept them. He seemed like that kind of person. ¡°His fortress seems too sturdy and difficult to attack. Is it not possible to attempt negotiations?¡± ¡°While I appreciate the count¡¯s idea, negotiating with those kinds of scoundrels could tarnish my honor.¡± ¡°Then what about pretending to negotiate to lure them out, and then dealing with them?¡± Ulrike was slightly moved by Johan¡¯s words, which seemed to read her inner thoughts. How upset would she have been if she was only with the elf king? ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea, but the elf king. . .¡± ¡°Leave it to me.¡± ¡°And more than anything, there¡¯s a high chance they¡¯ll get suspicious.¡± ¡°That would be a problem.¡± An elf knight rode his horse up to the castle gate fully armed. Immediately, a catapult stone flew at him from atop the castle wall. The elf knight blocked it with his shield, shouted once, then returned. ¡°My apologies.¡± ¡°No, you did well. It doesn¡¯t look like they have any intention to negotiate at all.¡± The news that an army hade seemed to have spread within the castle as well, as mercenaries poked their faces out from the top of the wall. The mercenaries,posed of various races, shouted fiercely: ¡°Listen! The esteemed nobles of the Halfbronn family! We are protecting them. If you approach, we cannot guarantee their lives!¡± ¡°Show their faces! We cannot believe you unless we see their faces.¡± The mercenaries spat out some curses and then brought out the baron. Although haggard and pale, the baron and his family members looked unharmed. ¡°Clever bunch. . .¡± Johan muttered. Suetlg nodded. Although it was a simple exchange, they were able to get a read on their opponents. First of all, the opponents clearly recognized that they were weaker in strengthpared to the expedition. Otherwise, there would have been no reason to show the baron¡¯s face or threaten them. Such rough behavior came from the fear stemming from a clear grasp of the situation. Additionally, not a single one of the baron¡¯s family members was hurt at all. There seemed to be an intention to collect ransom for their release when necessary or use them as hostages. ¡°If he was a reckless fool, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to maneuver like that.¡± ¡°Indeed. Call the dwarves.¡± ???????????? ¡°Uh-uhm. . .¡± ¡°Ugh-uhng. . .¡± The dwarves groaned. There was no answer. Johan apologetically said, ¡°I guess I said too much. Do not take it to heart.¡± The lord¡¯s considerateness sometimes felt even more painful. The dwarves trembled in humiliation. However, the fortress of the Halfbronn family was literally impregnable. Fundamentally, the defending side was overwhelmingly advantageous over the attacking side in a siege. When the defenders thoroughly eliminate weaknesses, the attackers have no options. Located on high ground, seated on solid bedrock so tunneling was not viable either, with thick walls that could not be breached without siege weapons of a certain minimum size, and the angles were unsuitable as well. . . ¡°Since it is a castle built by dwarves in the old days, it seems quite sturdy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It is a castle built by dwarves. . .¡± ¡°Is this really the time to feel good about it??¡± The centaurs who overheard mocked them. The dwarves awkwardly cleared their throats. ¡°Besides, even if we smash down the walls and gates, the hostages remain inside.¡± ¡°Your excellency. Just give the order, and we will try climbing over the walls at night.¡± Some mercenaries boasted eagerly. The mercenaries who followed Johan were enthralled by their lord even without pay, willing to fight for him. Scaling the walls under the cover of darkness was certainly within their capabilities. Hearing that, Johan involuntarily fixed his gaze on Count Shirivik. Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 238: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? (3) Chapter 238: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? (3) Count Shirivik frowned at that look. There could be only one meaning behind those eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Do what?¡± ¡°What you¡¯re thinking right now, Your Excellency.¡± The count pleaded in a small voice so others couldn¡¯t hear. To anyone watching, it would have looked like the two were having a serious discussion. ¡°But didn¡¯t you hear what the mercenaries said? Climbing the castle walls like that is crazy.¡± In fact, sneaking up the walls under the cover of night wasn¡¯t such a crazy idea. The night was much darker than expected, and the soldiers guarding the walls were not as vignt as they should be, no matter how much they were disciplined with whippings and other punishments. This was true not just for the untrained soldiers, but also the seasoned mercenaries. It¡¯s difficult to find people who can diligently dedicate themselves to something day after day, for weeks or months on end.Still, it was a dangerous thing to attempt. One mistake could lead to immediate ughter. ¡°Isn¡¯t this exactly when we need an expert in this sort of thing to step up? Someone who can quietly climb up alone and find weaknesses and gaps in the walls to guide us. It seems I have such a person right in front of me.¡± The assassin desperately tried to find a way out. He pleaded urgently: ¡°Even I can¡¯t just casually walk in and out of an unfamiliar castle like it¡¯s my own home. At the very least, I¡¯d need someone who knows something about that castle to listen to. . .¡± ¡°Your Excellency! We¡¯ve brought aborer from a nearby vige! He says he worked inside the castle about half a year ago!¡± ¡°. . .¡± The assassin cursed the world. ???????????? The assassin might think that Johan disliked him, but Johan wanted the assassin to return safely. It would be troublesome in many ways if Count Shirivik disappeared now. And Johan will not want anything absurd. He will not expect the assassin to go in, cut off the mercenary captain¡¯s neck, and rescue the baron and his family either. What Johan wanted was an infiltration route. Old castles had various holes like underground tunnels, cracks between the walls, and forgotten old gates. ¡°There won¡¯t be anything like that since dwarves built it, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°. . .Humans might have added things while repairing itter.¡± ¡°Well, you have a point.¡± Feudal lords often overlooked things like this, let alone a mercenary group that forcefully upied the castle. Finding those holes was the assassin¡¯s job. While the assassin secretly climbed the walls for days, Johan seriously discussed with other nobles. Everyone wanted to upy Baron Halfbronn¡¯s castle the same way. The problem was the method. ¡°It¡¯s too well-built.¡± Even the elf knights who would not hesitate to charge the gates with spears seemed reluctant about this castle. The angle for siege weapons was bad and the gates were solid. A frontal attack would lead to tremendous damage. ¡°How about besieging and starving them?¡± ¡°ording to the peasants, they have plenty of stockpiled supplies tost a year.¡± ¡°Can we sneak over the walls at night?¡± ¡°. . .Wouldn¡¯t that be too dangerous?¡± Ulrike seemed incredulous at the Elf King¡¯s words. Reckless knights might do that, but she would never do something like sneak over these walls. When taking this castle was not a life-or-death situation, why should they take such risks? Johan felt a bit called out as he was thinking the same thing. The Elf King seemed upset at Ulrike¡¯s words. He asked in a slightly angry tone, ¡°Then what do you suggest?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about other things, but if there¡¯s no way to rescue the baron¡¯s family, a disaster could happen even if we sneak over the walls. We need to think of that method first.¡± She had a point. Before sneaking over the walls, they had to think of a way to rescue the baron¡¯s family inside. Unable to refute, the Elf King looked at Johan, seeking help. ¡®???????????????????????? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????????.¡¯ Avoiding his gaze, Johan hoped the assassin would bring back a decent solution. ???????????? Surprisingly, the assassin came back with a decent answer. Johan asked in a surprised voice. ¡°Is there really a good way?¡± ¡°Yes. . . Why are you so surprised?¡± ¡°No. I thought there was no way.¡± Sitting next to him, Suetlg held his nose and frowned. ¡°It¡¯s good to see, bute wash first. Count. Where have you been crawling?¡± He had to keep the secret so he couldn¡¯t even get help from the servant. The assassin came back alone after washing up lonely. ¡°There was a gap in the sewer of the castle. It seems that a sewer was created to add a new bathroom in the past, but the maintenance on that side seems to have been sloppy, so there was no particr problem going in and out. It will be easy to sneak in at night through the gap in the castle wall as well.¡± At the assassin¡¯s words, Johan, Suetlg, and Iselia frowned. Just. . . But it was an unexpected path. The sewer of the protruding toilet outside the castle wall was certainly an entrance. ¡°. . .I knew you would react like that, so I also checked the date when the ve cleans it up. You can go in when it¡¯s rtively clean.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With my magic, the filth won¡¯t be able to touch you when you wrap it around you.¡± At Suetlg¡¯s words, the assassin looked at him with a bewildered expression. If there was such a thing, then why. . .? ¡°I thought it would interfere with the assassination.¡± ©¥??????????????. ¡°Wizard-nim, don¡¯t re at him like that. Doesn¡¯t Karamaf dislike it? Anyway, have you checked out everything else?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± While staying in the castle for about a week, the assassin had frugally investigated it. Of course the infiltration path, and where the baron family people were trapped. ¡°Good job. It¡¯s worth a try with this.¡± ¡°Are you going to leave right away?¡± ¡°No. Persuasion will probably be necessary.¡± ???????????? ¡°Let¡¯s go together!¡± As expected, the elf king stepped forward. Since he can¡¯t convey the assassin¡¯s story as it is, he mixes in a story about capturing an escaped ve from the castle. As expected, the king stepped forward immediately. When Johan and the mercenaries were about to go, the elf king¡¯s eyes lit up and he stepped forward. It didn¡¯t matter if they had crawled through the sewers and came out of the bathroom. That¡¯s what it meant to be a knight. Of course, Johan also wanted the elf king and knights to take the lead, but. . . ¡®?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Of course, he¡¯ll change his face and clothes to look like a ve in the castle, but it wasn¡¯t good to have so many eyes watching. Moreover, elf knights are sharp in strange ways. Suetlg looked at Johan with a worried expression. Could even Johan persuade that stubborn king? Johan dismissed the situation in one line. ¡°Your Majesty. If I get caught as a prisoner, who will save me?¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s true.¡± The elf king epted it with a happy expression. Johan was about to withdraw from his seat with a triumphant feeling. . . . . .before Ulrike whispered lowly. ¡°You don¡¯t actually trust that elf more than me, right??¡± ¡°. . .Why are you like this?¡± ???????????? Climbing the castle wall was not difficult. Thanks to Suetlg¡¯s magic, Johan and Iselia were able to easily pass through the sewer and enter the bathroom inside the castle. The assassin who entered first nodded his head to greet the party. ¡°Any problems?¡± ¡°No. There are none. The mercenaries do not use this floor much.¡± The sub-captains did not like the mercenaries using the higher floors of the castle. In case of an emergency, they had to stay on the lower floors even if they were idle. Moreover, the things on the higher floors of the castle were mainly ces like the feudal lord¡¯s quarters or temples, which were of little interest to the mercenaries. Thanks to this, dozens of heavily armed soldiers were able to climb up through the sewer and upy the area. ¡°This next ce is a temple, right?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s pray that we can take their heads without getting caught.¡± The mercenaries were lightly tense but not scared. It was thanks to the employer they were serving. An employer who does not wait behind but leads the soldiers from the front is always respected. Especially if it was Johan, it was more than enough. ¡®?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ??????????????. ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ????????, ????????¡¯???? ??????????????.¡¯ Even if the opponent was elite, this side was more elite. There was a significant difference starting from the knights. The problem was securing the people of the baron family. ¡°How about it. Do I look like a ve?¡± ¡°Uh. . . You look like a. . . ve?¡± ¡°Knowing the usual appearance of the count, you look like a battle ve.¡± Johan disguised himself as a servant with the assassin. He was thinking of taking down about four or five people and quietly bringing them up. The mercenaries were scattered around doing their own things, and they didn¡¯t remember the faces of the servants well. They could easily be deceived with a suitable excuse. ¡°Iselia. It doesn¡¯t seem like the mercenary guys would bother toe into this temple, but if something happens, you can use your sword. Send a signal when the battle starts.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± It was agreed that if a signal was sent from here, an attack would also start from outside. Even if they couldn¡¯t break down the castle gate, once the attack started, their attention would be focused outside. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ???????????? Despite the assassin¡¯s confident words, the n began to deviate from expectations from the very beginning. The mercenaries they met in the basement hallway suddenly started talking to them. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Cold sweat ran down the assassin¡¯s back. Johan and the other soldiers fidgeted with their sword hilts. They were thinking of just shing anyone if no one was looking. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± ¡°Um. . . It¡¯s okay, isn¡¯t it? Really, is this ve here?¡± ¡°W-What¡¯s going on?¡± The assassin, acting like a scared servant, asked. He had already identified some of the Severed Gallows Mercenary Group. ¡°The sub-captain ordered me to bring drinks and food quickly. If I don¡¯t hurry, he will whip me!¡± ¡°Hey kid, don¡¯t be scared. This orderes from above the sub-captain.¡± ¡°Hey. But isn¡¯t this guy just going to cause trouble if we take him?¡± Servants who had worked for a long time were skilled in formalities and customs, but newly purchased ves might not know such things. ¡°Have you been working for a while?¡± Johan shook his head, not knowing the situation. It was to get the opponent to give up. ¡°Damn. . . Then that¡¯s a bit. . .¡± ¡°Hey. Let¡¯s just take them all. The servant next to him has been working for a long time, so tell him to teach properly.¡± ¡°Should we do that? Let¡¯s do it.¡± The mercenaries muttered among themselves and then made a decision. And they said to the servant, no, the assassin next to them. ¡°Our captain really likes being treated like nobility, you know? Treat him well, like nobility. Then there will be a reward. If you act arrogant because you¡¯re from a mercenary background. . .¡± The mercenary drew his hand across his neck. The assassin nodded with a frightened expression. ©¥???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????????? ©¥??-?? ??????¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ????????????. ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?? ???????????????? ??????????. . . ¡°Come on, go in.¡± The mercenaries stood in front of the banquet hall door under the castle and pointed inside. The mercenaries standing guard yawned and opened the thick wooden door. Inside, the mercenary captain, his lieutenants, the sub-captains, and others were gathering and having a noisy banquet. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Oh! You brought them! Come here. Let me see! Since I waited this long, it must be a very handsome guy!¡± Johan¡¯s soldiers following behind couldn¡¯t believe it. Those guys wouldn¡¯t dare. . . bring count in now. . .? ¡®???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ??*????????????.¡¯ The mercenary standing guard patted him on the shoulder as if to say good luck, then closed the door. The door was so thick that no sound leaked out once closed. ¡°Come here when I tell you! What are you doing?¡± Johan looked around. Apletely enclosed space. The opponents were terribly drunk. The only passage was the door they just entered. Judging by their noisy appearance, the door definitely wouldn¡¯t open from the outside unless something extreme happened. ©¥???????????? ?? ???????? ???? ??????????? Noticing his intention, the soldiers also asked. Johan shook his head. ©¥???????? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?? ????????. Even if the opponents were drunk, there was no need to prolong the fight. He was going to kill them in one blow. Johan picked up a ss of wine and stood in front of the mercenary captain. ¡°Oh! Not bad. . .¡± The mercenary captain burst outughing drunkenly. At that moment, the mercenary captain¡¯s head was smashed to pieces. Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 239: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? (4) Chapter 239: ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? (4) It was too meaningless a death for a prominent figure who led the Severed Gallows Mercenary Group, a rather famous mercenary group in the Empire. If he had properly drawn his sword and fought, he wouldn¡¯t have fallen so meaninglessly. However, nothing could be done for the dead. Johan flung aside the blood-stained wine ss. The drunk mercenary was startled by the flying wine ss as if flinging a javelin and fell back. ¡°What!¡± ¡®What¡¯ was the mercenary¡¯sst words. Before he could react, a dagger was already wielded in Johan¡¯s hand. The dagger pierced his throat. ¡®?????????????????? ??????????.¡¯ The assassin thought to himself as he charged from behind. It was a splendid skill. Though the mercenaries wouldn¡¯t recognize, the assassin¡¯s eyes could see how well-honed Johan¡¯s dagger drawing motion was. It must have taken effort to the point blood gathered at his fingertips. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????-???????????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????¡¯¡°Ambush! It¡¯s an amb. . .ambush!¡± The rest seemed to have finallye to their senses and tried to call the mercenaries outside somehow. However, no sound traveled outside. Johan and the soldiers blocked the passage, brandishing swords to handle the remaining sub-captains. Blood sttered a few times and the inside became quiet. ¡°These mercenary b*stards ate and drank boastfully.¡± The soldiers grumbled as they picked up fruits and put them in their mouths. They had climbed the castle walls in the dead of night and sneaked in, yet these robbers were doing this. It was extremely annoying. ¡°I¡¯ll move the corpses to the wall side. They¡¯ll be decently covered with this cloth.¡± The assassin tidied up the corpses using the space next to him. It would be more helpful for camouge if only people disappeared rather than leaving the mess from when they entered. ¡°Just in case, let¡¯s call and handle the guys outside too.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The assassin went out the door, whispered something. The mercenaries standing guard grinned and entered the room. ¡°Huh?¡± Along with the sound of swords piercing bodies, the mercenaries copsed. Feeling assured everything waspletely taken care of, Johan nodded. ¡°We just wasted time because of these weirdos. Let¡¯s go rescue the baron!¡± ???????????? The people of the baron family stayed inside the inner quarters within the outer castle walls. Since they were the most important people in the castle, mercenaries were stationed ordingly. . . .Of course, such an arrangement was meaningless when disguised as a servant. ¡°The sub-captain ordered? Take them away.¡± ¡°The sub-captain? Is he trying to move our location?¡± Johan admired the assassin¡¯s skill. After staying for almost a week, he had finished surveying not only the structure of the castle but also the household registry. No one even imagined that the servants currently here were infiltrators who had climbed over the castle walls. When one of the suspicious mercenaries said, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we at least check them out?¡±, the assassin angrily replied, ¡°I was whippedst time for beingte. Are you telling me to get whipped again this time! This time when I get whipped, I will surely mention Sir Dieter¡¯s name!¡± ¡°Calm down. I understand. Take them away.¡± The party was able to easily take the baron family members away. Baron Halfbronn still seemed bewildered, not having grasped the situation yet. While walking down the empty corridor, Johan asked the baron, ¡°Baron. Did you know that people could infiltrate through the sewage drains outside the castle walls?¡± ¡°. . .What nonsense are you talking about?¡± ¡°Mind your manners when addressing him, Baron.¡± The soldiers behind them warned. At the very least, they could not tolerate the baron being rude to Johan. ¡°Sorry for thete introduction. I am Count Yeats. I came to rescue you after hearing the rumors.¡± ¡°!!!¡± The baron was shocked as if he would faint. ¡°. . .How?¡± ¡°Just like I said earlier, through the sewage drains.¡± ¡°The toilet?? Through the filth??!!¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t this have happened if the baron wasn¡¯t captured?¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the baron¡¯s face turned red. Johan patted his shoulder as if feeling sorry. ¡°I spoke too harshly. My apologies, Baron. It¡¯s only natural to encounter bandits and rogues in life.¡± ¡°. . .No. I should be the one apologizing. To fall for the honeyed words of those mercenary b*stards and hand over the castle. . .¡± ¡°As long as all the family members are safe, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± The baron¡¯s family members were trying to maintain their dignity even in this situation. The baron¡¯s young children were too scared to meet Johan¡¯s eyes. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of. Look here.¡± After getting along with Amien and learning how to deal with young children, Johan knew what to do. He made a fist and opened it, making a coin appear and disappear like a simple assassin¡¯s trick, fascinating the children who blinked their eyes. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Karamaf disliked it, but he couldn¡¯t deny that Karamaf was popr with young children. His unique physique and soft fur never failed to stop any crybaby from crying. ¡°Dear. Don¡¯t bother His Excellency Count.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, madame. So baron. . . If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to send a signal right away to attack them. Is that alright with you?¡± ¡°Are there other soldiers too?¡± ¡°Quite a lot.¡± The baron nodded with a surprised expression. ¡°When the mercenaries outside said enemies hade, I thought they were joking. Since there were none of you here at all. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have allied families bonded by marriage?¡± ¡°Ah. . . they wouldn¡¯t be the types toe help in this situation.¡± The small andrge feudal lords in the central region of the Empire were connected to each other somehow through trivial blood ties if you looked closely. The higher you go, the harder it is to find a family that isn¡¯t rted by blood to some extent. In that entangled state, it was difficult to even call it an alliance. Unless an alliance was specifically established through marriage, it was awkward to request help. On top of that, they weren¡¯t even in a situation where they could request help. . . ¡°They¡¯re inside the temple. After we wipe them out, we can finish our talk. Send the signal!¡± Johan sent the signal. Before the mercenaries noticed, even more soldiers would swarm over like a wave. ???????????? When the mercenaries inside the castle realized it, infantrymen and knights were already swarming out from the top of the castle walls. Johan, who was charging at the very front wielding the Giant yer, was like a natural disaster to the mercenaries. The mercenaries who gathered in groups of three or five trying somehow to block him were shed in one blow. ¡°A monster has entered the castle! A monster has entered the castle!!¡± ¡°No, asshole! It¡¯s the enemy!! The enemy has entered!¡± ¡°Guard the gate! Where did they get in?!¡± The mercenaries were at aplete loss as to where there was a breach. Some captains hurriedly tried tomand and some ran to call the mercenary captain, but it was useless. The leader was already dead first. While the mercenaries were running around, Johan and his men moved skillfully. ¡°Secure the gate! Open it!¡± With a heavy sound, the gate opened. Knights who had been waiting outside rushed in with a roar. In the darkness, with blood sttering and only the screams of allies audible, the gate opened and over ten torches were brought in from outside. The mercenariespletely panicked. Those who were guarding the top of the wall took off their weapons and armor and tried to escape by disguising themselves as servants. ¡°Whether they are servants or ves, catch them all first. It¡¯s fine to cut down those trying to escape!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t miss a single one. These are the b*stards who tried to plunder the baron¡¯s territory!¡± As the Elf King passed through the gate, he shed at any mercenary he came across. His first priority was to find Johan. ¡°Count! Count! Where are you?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Thank goodness! I was worried that Count might have been injured by those petty thieves.¡± While the two nobles greeted each other cordially, a massacre was taking ce behind them. Some mercenaries threw down their weapons and tried to surrender, but the soldiers killed them without mercy. They were already deeply resentful. ¡°The baron and the others are above.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Although Ulrike said that, the Elf King didn¡¯t seem very interested. Getting rid of the guys who had upied the baron¡¯s territory was the main issue, the baron¡¯s life itself had little meaning. In the meantime, the fighting was over. The mercenaries were either dead, escaped or surrendered. The rest went into the tower inside the castle, locked the door and tried to hold out. ¡°Set fire to it.¡± The Elf King immediately gave the order. The elven knights did not hesitate at all and started setting fire under the tower. The mercenaries screamed in terror. ¡°. . .Shouldn¡¯t we tell the baron?¡± Unless the baron was trapped or dead, he was stillfortably resting above. Setting fire to buildings inside the castle without saying anything seemed inappropriate. Of course, if the baron had any brains, he wouldn¡¯t protest. But they should at least get his understanding to save face on both sides. ¡°What can be done about a fire that¡¯s already been set?¡± Johan shrugged. Since the Elf King was willing to y the role of the bad feudal lord, he had no reason to step forward and interfere. ???????????? ¡°I am really grateful for this grace.¡± ¡°I just did what I had to do as a knight.¡± The elf king spoke proudly. The Baron looked at the king with aplicated expression. He had heard that the elf king was the one who burned down one of the towers in the castle. He was grateful but also had a subtle,plex feeling that made him want to nitpick. ¡°You must have had a hard time. Have you rested a bit?¡± The Baron nodded. During his rest he had calmed down to some extent and grasped the situation. ¡°Despite the undead gue wreaking havoc around here, I thank the three of you again foring.¡± When you receive something, you must give something in return. No matter how benevolent and honorable the other person is, if you just end it with gratitude without giving anything in return, resentment builds up. And in the current situation, there was only one thing the Baron could do for them. ¡°If you three allow it, I would also like to join the alliance.¡± ¡°Oh my. Is that so?¡± Johan clucked his tongue and asked back. Usually this was the most important part when doing something like this. Though it was half forced, keeping up appearances was necessary. ¡°Yes.¡± And Baron understood it well too. You had to know how to ept it when the other party was considerate. The Baron was not stupid enough to stubbornly insist or put on airs. Since the Baron epted easily, an amiable conversation followed. Praising the martial valor of those who were active this time, wondering when they¡¯ll hang the necks of those mercenary b*stards, so nice to finally meet you, I¡¯ve wanted to meet you for some time. . . The elf king asked Johan in a low voice. ¡°How many troops do you think the Baron can mobilize?¡± ¡°I hate to say this, but do not expect too much from the Baron.¡± What Johan and Ulrike wanted was for the Baron to participate in the alliance and persuade other nearby nobles too. Just this area not siding with the Emperor faction was already several times more beneficial. Even if he did not mobilize many soldiers, it was difficult for an army to pass through a region with a hostile feudal lord. Seeing the situation, the Baron would have to take out several loans to properly mobilize an army. ¡°If he can¡¯t even do that much after saving his life, he has no qualifications as a noble.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, but even if you save someone¡¯s life, if you demand too much their heart bes estranged. Not everyone can be as chivalrous as Your Majesty, so please understand.¡± Johan was already ustomed to dealing with the elf king. The elf king nodded with a convinced expression. The Baron could not hear the conversation between the two, but Ulrike next to him heard it clearly. Ulrike nced at the elf king with an incredulous look. ¡°So, baron. When will the mercenaries be hanged?¡± ¡°Ah. . . please wait a moment. I have heard a rumor.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Well, it was something the mercenaries said, so I didn¡¯t really listen, but. . .¡± Johan smiled kindly. It was a smile that soothed baron¡¯s heart. ¡°It¡¯s okay, even if it¡¯s a silly rumor. Please feel free to tell me.¡± The mercenaries who were holding the baron captive were not just standing guard, but also drinking and chatting with each other. One of the things they talked about was what would happen next. The mercenaries knew what they were doing, so they were afraid. One of the captains said, ©¥??????¡¯?? ??????????! ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????. ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????. ©¥??-???? ???????? ?????????¡± ©¥??????. ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????. ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?? ??????????. ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ??????????????! ©¥????. . . ???? ???? ????. . .! ¡°Oh. . .¡± Johan listened to the story with great interest.Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEXNEXT?????¡á???? Chapter 240: ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? (1) Chapter 240: ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? (1) Johan listened with such an intense expression that the Baron was rather taken aback instead. ¡°Your excellency. The mercenaries are just babbling nonsense because they are drunk. . .¡± ¡°Ah. I¡¯m listening while taking that into ount. So you mean they sent someone?¡± ¡°ording to the story, it seemed like that. So I thought we should confirm the facts before punishing them. . .¡± The Baron hesitated. In fact, he had hesitated even as he was speaking. It was ridiculous in itself that a nobleman was seriously talking about the drunken babbling of mercenaries. It was more likely that the mercenaries had not sent anyone rather than sending someone. Besides, it was unlikely that the Emperor would approve of the request from such a rude group of mercenaries. So although he spoke, he hesitated for fear of ridicule. But to his surprise, the young Count listened seriously. No, he showed a reaction that exceeded expectations. ¡°Baron. That was very well done. As expected, the Baron has discerning eyes. Not everyone can notice something like that in a caught situation.¡±¡°Is that so?¡± No one disliked being praised. The Baron was no exception. Especially when thepliment came from the renowned Johan. ¡®???? ???? ?????????????? ???????¡¯ The Elf King thought Johan was mocking the Baron for praising him too much. To the Elf King¡¯s eyes, the Baron didn¡¯t seem to have done anything particrly well. He had just been stupidly caught by the mercenaries. . . However, Johan was sincerely praising him in his own way. Ulrike nodded along, matching Johan¡¯s actions. ¡®??????¡¯???? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ The Baron needed some encouragement. Not only because of the hardship he went through, but to genuinely gain his cooperation for future events. People moved not only by gains and losses, but also by emotions. And Johan was clearly good at touching on this aspect. Wasn¡¯t he getting along well with that Elf King? ¡°Then let¡¯s interrogate those mercenaries.¡± ¡°Ah. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to order my men to do it?¡± ¡°No. I will do it myself.¡± Hearing that Johan would take care of it personally, the Baron felt bad and didn¡¯t know what to do. If the mercenaries said ¡®????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ?????????? ??????????¡¯ to the Count, Baron would lose all face. Of course, Johan didn¡¯t care much. Johan didn¡¯t care about saving face in situations like this. ¡®?????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ He didn¡¯t have the temperament to say ¡®?????? ???????? ??????! ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????????????? ????????!¡¯ just because there was some fruitless effort. ¡°Gerdolf. Would you help with the work?¡± As Gerdolf had been busy attending to Suetlg, his opportunities to participate inbat had decreased. When an opportunity came up to show his skills after so long, Gerdolf smiled sinisterly and nodded. ???????????? Johan washed his hands with water from the wooden barrel. There was no blood on them in particr. As soon as Johan and Gerdolf entered, the mercenaries tried their best to spill everything they knew. ¡°They really sent someone.¡± ¡°The emperor will. . .¡± ¡°Won¡¯t he send someone?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Suetlg could not deny Johan¡¯s words. It was a fifty-fifty question, and any result would not be surprising. At times like this, it seemed good to believe in Count Johan¡¯s intuition. His intuition was sometimes sharper than a demon¡¯s. ¡°Suppose the emperor endures all the insults he hears from others and the rumors that he is in cahoots with the gang of thieves, and sends someone. Then, wouldn¡¯t they just note?¡± ¡°I think they¡¯ll bring escorts.¡± Johan nodded at Iselia¡¯s interjection. The mercenaries were not very reliable. Even if the emperor sent someone, he would not just send a mere envoy. ¡®??????. . .¡¯ Johan fell into thought. All the things he had heard and experienced about the emperor so far. Putting all of that together and imagining himself as the emperor. If he were the emperor, how would he have acted? ¡°By any chance, what do you think about killing all the mercenaries and seizing the castle?¡± ¡°. . .What? No, that¡¯s. . .¡± Suetlg was bewildered by Johan¡¯s sudden words. It was something he had never imagined. ¡°It¡¯s not easy to save mercenaries like them, so is there really a need to discard them? Besides, if the rumor spreads wrongly, other mercenaries may also be afraid.¡± ¡°But if you kill the mercenaries, you don¡¯t have to pay the back pay you owed them.¡± When sending someone, the mercenaries had requested the emperor to pay their overdue wages in return for their loyalty. At first nce, it seemed like an absurd demand, but the mercenaries were thorough about this kind of thing. ¡°And most of all, wouldn¡¯t it look a little better to others? Subjugating the gang of thieves and upying the castle is still a little more presentable than giving a title to a gang of thieves.¡± ¡°Would the emperor care about justification like that? If so, I think he would just take in the mercenaries.¡± ¡°Even if he doesn¡¯t want to, the nobles below will desire it. And sweeping away these impudent mercenaries who deserted and then made outrageous demands, and upying the castle would be sufficiently satisfying. That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying.¡± As he listened, Suetlg was persuaded by Johan¡¯s words. There was certainly reason in them. Killing the gang of thieves was as much an emperor-like act as epting them. ¡°In any case, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to prepare in anticipation of that kind of situation.¡± If it was just an envoy partying, they could send the centaurs to catch them, but in other cases, it was better to prepare to fight in case of an emergency. Johan¡¯s prediction came true. In less than a month, the elite of the emperor faction appeared from afar, bearing their banners. And the one leading them was the valiant knight and executor of countless rebellious nobles, Lord Karamaf. ???????????? ¡°They were really trying to kill those mercenary b*stards.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Johan and Suetlg exchanged brief words. While the mercenaries may have been fooled, they were not. There was no way honor guards would be sent for the envoy¡¯s protection. The sinister intentions were in to see. The baron looked at the banner in shock. He had hoped against hope that the emperor would not actually send men. It was shocking enough that they epted the mercenaries¡¯ proposal, but to bring an army too. . . Would the honorable emperor, outraged at the mercenaries¡¯ outrage, send troops to defeat them and return the fiefdom to the baron? Not a single soul in the castle thought so. ¡°D-Does this make any sense?? Does this make any sense??¡± The baron pointed at the banner, his voice shaking with anger. No matter what, for the emperor himself to try and steal a feudal lord¡¯s legitimate fiefdom! Johan nodded in understanding. ¡°That is why the southern feudal lords rebelled.¡± ¡°But this is too much!¡± ¡°Calm yourself. See this as an opportunity in crisis. Think about what would have happened if they hade before us.¡± The baron gritted his teeth indignantly. After hearing the count¡¯s words, he had to admit the ways of the world were unpredictable. Misfortune bes fortune, and fortune bes misfortune. ¡°Worry not, Baron. While Sir Karamaf made quite a name for himself in the Empire, here in our elven kingdom he is but a cowardly deserter. I have long wished to take his head myself.¡± Gazing down at the men below the castle walls, the elf king spoke grimly. Karamaf¡¯s banner seemed to have stirred his fighting spirit. The baron had been intimidated by the elf king¡¯s arrogant manner, but with things as they were, he could ask for no better ally. Even with Sir Karamaf as their opponent, the men gathered here were exceptional in their own right. And they had the castle walls at their back. ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ????????!¡¯ Thinking of the enemy leaving in anger and defeat raised the baron¡¯s spirits. ¡°Count, why do you look so grave? Could it be you are debating which of us should be the first to cross swords with that despicable knight?¡± ¡°Nothing escapes your majesty¡¯s eyes.¡± ¡°Hahahaha!¡± The elf kingughed heartily, in good spirits. Of course, Johan had no such thoughts. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????¡¯ Karamaf¡¯s banner fluttered below, but few here knew what had really be of Sir Karamaf. Suetlg whispered quietly. ¡°But who is that man?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve no idea. An imposter?¡± ¡°If so, why send him to a ce like this?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± This was their quandary. It was easy enough to dress up a knight in armor and hide his identity as a fake Karamaf. But one¡¯s skills could not be concealed. If an imposter was sent only to be defeated, it would impact the emperor¡¯s faction as a whole. While an individual¡¯s loss, such things tended to spread through rumor and superstition. Hence the rumors that Sir Karamaf had fallen ill, been cursed, and shut himself away. . . Yet now this? ¡°Do you think they underestimated the mercenaries?¡± ¡°I doubt it. The mercenaries were caught off guard, but they were an elite force. While deception may have gotten them through the castle gate, once inside they would have to cross swords. No way around it. . .¡± ¡°You make a fair point.¡± They discussed but reached no conclusion. Regardless, they agreed on one thing: ©¥???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ????????. ???? ????????????????. Anyone sent with such fanfare must be confident in their skills. ¡°But looking at the current situation, it seems likely they will retreat without achieving anything. Should we not inform the elf king?¡± ¡°We shall tell himter.¡± ???????????? ¡°The mercenaries were subjugated?! Those *ssholes?! What the hell did they do?! It would have been a fort thatsted a year if they had just closed the gates and held on!¡± The emperor faction¡¯s army, after hearing the news from the surrounding viges, was at a loss for words. The Severed Gallows Mercenary Group were greedy and rough people, but not idiots. And yet, to be subjugated like that from a fort like this. It was simply unbelievable. ¡°What about the baron?!¡± ¡°We hear he is safe inside.¡± ¡°This goddamn. . .!¡± One of the knights seemed angry as he stamped his foot. Most of the knights here were either newly noble or mercenary backgrounds. They retained more of their usual habits than preserving the honor and dignity of knighthood. They had to kill the mercenaries and capture the fort to receive a reward from the emperor, but that had gone wrong from the very start. ¡°Let¡¯s attack! How many troops could the baron possibly have?!¡± ¡°You little punk. Shut your mouth. Do you even know how solid this fort is? We couldn¡¯t take it even if we had a hundred able warriors!¡± ¡°Then why were the mercenaries able to take it? If it was possible for them, it should be possible for us too, right?¡± The young knight¡¯s words hit the mark precisely. That was certainly true. As the knights quarreled among themselves with nothing to say, someone spoke up. ¡°What is Lord Karamaf doing? Shouldn¡¯t he be giving orders?¡± On paper, Lord Karamaf was the leader of this envoy party, but he did not show himself easily. He would emerge from his tent asionally and say a few words. As a result, it was Lindemann giving orders to the envoy party. A noble serving as an administrative official and envoy of the emperor. While his status and qualifications were sufficient, subduing these rough warriors required not just lineage but also brute force. Continued friction was inevitable. ¡°His lordship is resting. I will give orders in his ce, so swear allegiance to me!¡± ¡°We are not swearing allegiance! If you want our allegiance, give decent orders!¡± ¡°Shut that mouth! Before I report to his lordship!¡± Karamaf¡¯s name was enough to silence even the unruly knights. Satisfied with that effect, Lindemann continued. ¡°Since we¡¯vee this far, we can¡¯t just leave empty-handed. I know that too.¡± First they had to get those sturdy gates opened in order to do anything. Lindemann sent word to the baron. Tofort him for the great loss caused by the mercenaries, and say that they hade to help but were quite embarrassed for things to end like this. His party was very tired and weary, so could they note inside the fort to rest. . . If they were lucky, there could be unexpected results. However, there was something Lindemann did not know. The baron was in an extremely foul mood from being backstabbed by the mercenaries. Lindemann¡¯s attendant returned with all his fur standing on end and his clothes stripped off. He had to recite insulting poems about the emperor¡¯s lover before he was allowed to return.Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 241: ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? (2) Chapter 241: ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? (2) ¡°Um. . . isn¡¯t that a bit too harsh?¡± On the contrary, the Elf King was so taken aback that he opened his mouth. The Baron¡¯s response was beyond expectation. Of course, he could understand the Baron¡¯s feelings. It hadn¡¯t been long since he was captured by the mercenaries, and on top of that the Emperor faction¡¯s army had shamelessly shown up. It was like pouring oil on the fire. Still, the Baron¡¯s insults were a bit extreme. The Elf King wanted to sh with his opponent in a dignified manner, not roll around with each other in the mud in a vulgar way. ¡°Hmm. What do you think about understanding him to that extent?¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± ¡°!?¡± However, Johan and Ulrike didn¡¯t seem to care at all. They were twisted characters from the beginning. They thought that sending insults like that before fighting was one strategy among others. . .Above all, there was no reason to stop the Baron from cutting off the path of reconciliation with the Emperor faction himself. The worse the rtionship with the Emperor faction, the more advantageous for their side. The Elf King spoke in a slightly hurt voice. ¡°. . .To be honest, I thought so too.¡± Not only Ulrike but even Johan was taking the Baron¡¯s side, so there was no point in him sticking to his opinion alone. Seeing the dejected king, Johan felt sorry. ¡°The reaction is intense.¡± Ulrike murmured. Even someone with bad eyesight could tell that the other side¡¯s camp was very angry. Some knights were trying to rush out, but servants were desperately holding them back by the reins. ¡°It would be nice to charge them as they are.¡± ¡°Count. Isn¡¯t that too shameless?¡± Ulrike replied with a smile. Of course it would be best if that happened, but the other side was unlikely to do so. ???????????? The insult received by Lindemann¡¯s retinue had an effect that even Johan did not expect. The knights erupted in anger. ¡°If you just let this insult slide, you are no nobleman! Show your loyalty!¡± ¡°Now that it hase to this, we absolutely cannot back down!¡± Lindemann was dumbfounded. If these were knights from traditional noble families who understood the honor of nobility, Lindemann would have agreed to some extent with what they were saying. However, most of those here were people who had not been knighted long. Decayed nobles, robber nobles, mercenary captains who had earned their spurs bypiling war service and received their investiture in return. While they talked big about their loyalty to the Emperor, looking at their actions, all they had was greed for money. Their anger now was clearly not out of loyalty to the Emperor either, but an excuse to plunder the surroundings and obtain money. ¡°Sir. Speak! Will you back down??¡± However, regardless of what was in their hearts, Lindemann was also at a loss for words. These were men of difficult temperaments, if their discontent exploded, they could ignore Lindemann¡¯s orders. It would be fortunate if they just ignored him, they could even start a rebellion. ¡°Everyone, calm down. I have a n. Do you think I will back down after receiving such an insult? I stand here as His Majesty the Emperor¡¯s envoy. I will not let that baron who insulted the Empire¡¯s rightful rights get away with it!¡± ¡°Woahhh!!!¡± Only then did the knights seem satisfied as they shouted. Lindemann had finally said something worthwhile to them. Lindemann called a ve and whispered to him softly. ¡°You go quickly and tell Sir Yein of House Lochtein! Say the knight b*stards are acting strange, something needs to be done about it!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ???????????? Yein sat in a chair with a bitter expression, tapping Karamaf¡¯s armor. Despite being inside the tent, Karamaf was still wearing his armor. ¡°How did they make it?¡± It is said that the imperial wizards of the Empire are unparalleled in their ability to wield evil mysteries. Thanks to the emperor who did not care about the scrutiny of the sect. But still, to actually recreate a missing person from scratch? Since the emperor himself asked Yein to keep quiet, he kept the secret, but he was convinced that Karamaf had died. Otherwise, why would such a great knight go missing? I don¡¯t know what kind of asshole thing you have to do to die wearing ancient imperial armor, but there was no other answer. Just as a hero can be shot down and killed by a stray arrow, there was now that said Karamaf could not. But after the emperor told him to keep quiet, there were rumors that Karamaf was ill, and suddenly a fake Karamaf appeared. The appearance was usible, but Yein, who had served directly under Karamaf, could tell it wasn¡¯t him. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????????.¡¯ The armor didn¡¯t even seem to be ancient imperial armor either. Although the emperor would have given him excellent armor since he did it himself, it was different from the ancient imperial armor. He doesn¡¯t talk anymore, and even when he sleeps (I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s sleeping, but) he sleeps in his armor. . . ¡®?? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?? ????????.¡¯ Yein sympathized with Karamaf. ¡®???? ?????? ??????¡­¡¯ Yein fell into thought. One reason why Yein worked as Karamaf¡¯s squire, who had a notorious reputation in the kingdom, was not only because of his skills but also because of the sword and armor that Karamaf possessed as a knight. It wasmon for a knight to pass on his sword and armor to his squire. With Karamaf having no family or children, the chances were quite high. But Karamaf went missing, and his sword and armor disappeared with him. That was one reason they flew away. Although the Lochtein family was a great feudal lord family in the kingdom, they were not neglected even by the emperor faction. But Yein was skeptical about staying with the emperor faction. While aiming for a feudal lord position by continuing to build up achievements wasn¡¯t bad. . . ¡®?? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ Ignoring the legitimate rights of the nobles below and arbitrarily oppressing them like a tyrant undermined trust. Although the fearful nobles could not speak up in front of the emperor, they must have been harboring discontent inwardly. Yein was the same. Going to find another eastern elector, or heading to Vynashchtym. . . Whatever it was, it seemed like nothing good woulde from continuing to stay with the emperor faction. ¡°Sir!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°The knights are very dissatisfied! I think you need to help them.¡± At the message from the ve sent by Lindemann, Yein shook his head again and again. As befitting one from an elven family, Yein did not respect such knights very much. To put it bluntly, there was little difference from a well-dressed mercenary. ¡°Lindemann-gong still doesn¡¯t know how to handle the knights. That¡¯s why they harbor such discontent when you let those underlings loose.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Hey! Bring me a whip.¡± A lead weight was attached to the end of the whip presented by the servant. It was a device that made the already vicious whip even more destructive by weighing it down. Carrying only one sword, Yein walked out with the whip in his hand. With a height slightly shorter than average and a slender figure, he was praised for his beauty among the elves, but his appearance did not inspire fear. However, the tempered spirit that Yein exuded created such fear. Even the knights who were noisily chattering shut their mouths, noticing it. ¡°Pick one person.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Pick one person. That person will be punished with whipping. In return, I will pardon the rest.¡± The knights made incredulous expressions at Yein¡¯s arrogant words. Of course they knew he was from the Lochtein family, but Yein had no authority over them. They too had been knighted by the Emperor. What¡¯s more, such a punishment. . . It was clear overreach. Even suprememanders would have a hard time freely punishing other nobles. If she didn¡¯tpletely look down on the knights here. . . ¡°What kind of talk is that now? Who do you think you are to dare say such a thing?¡± A young knight, of noble birth, who knew the customs and rights of nobles quite well, shouted in excitement. Instead of answering, Yeinshed her whip like lightning. The knight didn¡¯t even have time to react and was hit in the face, which had no helmet. He rolled on the floor, screaming from the pain of the whip striking his bare face. ¡°Ahhhhh!¡± Yein went up to the fallen knight and mercilessly whipped him. Although the knight whimpered and screamed, the whipping did not stop. Even blowsnding on armor made chilling sounds, and bare skin would spurt blood as flesh tore. It was such a brutal punishment scene that the watching knights unconsciously straightened their postures and swallowed their spit. When the fallen knight, drenched in blood, lost consciousness, Yein flung his whip to the side. ¡°Throw that man into the tent and treat him.¡± ¡°Yes. . . Yes!¡± ¡°With this, the punishment for rebellion is over. Be more careful from now on.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Your answer?¡± ¡°Tha. . . Thank you.¡± Despite being in the same position and outnumbering her, the knights obediently nodded their heads, overwhelmed by her force. It was the pressure that did it. Yein , befitting a child of a feudal lord family, overwhelmed everyone present and left. Seeing that, Lindemann held his forehead. That crazy elf. . .! If you just act on a whim, who¡¯s going to deal with the aftermath? He¡¯s one of the forces of this expedition. . . ???????????? ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like they¡¯re attacking. Why don¡¯t we send an envoy?¡± The elf king looked at them pleadingly, anxious that the enemy might simply withdraw. Of course, chasing them wouldn¡¯t be bad, but if the opponent was determined to keep their distance, hoping for a fight would be difficult. It¡¯s not like we can recklessly chase after them either. Ulrike spoke resolutely. ¡°Your Majesty. We have the protection of the castle walls. Supplies and other preparations areplete as well. Why should we make the first move?¡± ¡°Honor. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what did you say?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± The elf king muttered ¡°honor¡± before trailing off. Ulrike¡¯s words were hard to argue with. The situation was so advantageous that even though he wanted to take initiative, the others wouldn¡¯t allow it. Right now, even the baron was pleading ¡®???????????? ????????, ???????? ??????????????!¡¯ ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ????????¡¯?? ????????, ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ???????????????????? ???? ????????????????!¡¯ The elf kingmented, clutching his chest. ¡°I suppose it would have been pointless to send someone out anyway.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°The enemy is dispersing and moving. It looks like they intend to pige.¡± Hearing Johan¡¯s report from the castle walls, those seated did not seem particrly surprised. Preparations were alreadyplete, after all. In case the opponents attacked, the residents of nearby viges had been brought inside the castle or sent to other viges, and supplies had been transported away. Piging would be impossible with everything emptied out. ¡°It¡¯s a good sign.¡± At Ulrike¡¯s words, Johan nodded. The best scenario would be the enemy throwing themselves futilely against the castle walls. The next best scenario would be if the enemy retreated in haste. Their attempt at piging suggested a high possibility of hurried retreat in case of failure. Contrary to the elf king¡¯s misunderstanding, Ulrike fully intended to fight as well. Defeating the emperor faction¡¯s army here would itself be a great achievement, as well as tremendous publicity. Especially if theirmander was Karamaf. However, more than an honorable duel, Ulrike wanted to strike at the retreating enemy from behind. Johan agreed. ¡°Your Excellency. A knight from the enemy camp hase to surrender, iming to have suffered insult. . .¡± ¡°. . .No, isn¡¯t that a bit suspicious?¡± Ulrike was openly doubtful. Things were copsing too quickly for the enemy. No matter what, it was ridiculous for a traitor to surrender this soon. ???????????? ¡°Your majesty. You look bright, it¡¯s nice to see.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The elf king smiled and chatted lively. His very bright face showed he was happy to death. The party was now preparing to give chase. After strictly interrogating andparing the knights who hade to surrender, they obtained reliable information that the morale of the expedition was at its worst and that it would soon retreat. The opponent had retreated suddenly in order not to give an opening but Johan¡¯s side marched out even faster. I will take the center. The Gong will take the left side, Your Excellency Count please take the right side. Although the opponent retreats, never underestimate them. ¡®?????? ???????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ??????.¡¯ Ulrike thought to herself. To be honest, the one she was most worried about was the elf king. Even though his forces were the strongest. . .Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 242: ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? (3) Chapter 242: ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? (3) ¡°Then let¡¯s get moving.¡± With those words, the three nobles immediately dispersed. All three were people with a lot of experience leading armies. It was rare for the enemy to be as weak during a retreat as they were during an advance, but they mustn¡¯t let their guard down because of that. How many knights had underestimated the enemy only to fall for their tricks? ¡°Of course, that story doesn¡¯t apply to us at all.¡± The centaurs were confident. They had already scouted the surroundings before the enemies arrived and had a decent grasp of the terrain in the forest. If the enemies tried some petty tricks while retreating, they were ready to spot it right away and counterattack. ¡°Look at them acting all high and mighty when they couldn¡¯t even find the Count in the forest.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t believe your boasting anymore.¡± The other mercenaries on horseback taunted the centaurs. At first, they had awe for the raiders and renowned warriors from the East. . . But as they got to know each other, that awe disappeared. While the centaurs did enjoy fighting and were militant, they were still human(?) like everyone else. And more than anything, their mistake in the previous forest was huge. ¡°It wasn¡¯t our fault, it was because of the forest¡¯s magic! What can warriors do when Mother Nature has a temper?¡± ¡°The Eastern rangers still found him, though.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Shh. That¡¯s enough chatter.¡± Suetlg silenced them from atop his horse at the wizard¡¯s words. Everyone promptly nodded. The pursuit unit here consisted entirely of cavalry, carefully selected hundreds of well-armed and seasoned veterans. They were confident they could mercilessly trample over clumsy mercenaries or conscripted soldiers even if they numbered over a thousand. But the enemy was also quite elite. Carelessness was forbidden. ¡°They probably won¡¯t be going into the forest, right?¡± ¡°Most likely not. And that would be for the best.¡± The pursued side also utilized various methods to prepare for the chase. Dividing troops and moving them separately was one, and using terrain like forests to obscure their trail was another decent tactic. But in this situation, the chances of that seemed low. More than anything, the ones needing to retreat quickly were unlikely to waste time by entering the forest. A fiery arrow was shot from the front. It was the centaurs signaling that they had spotted the target. ¡°Found them! Let¡¯s go! Pick up the pace!¡± Johan and the warriors shouted as they spurred their horses on. ???????????? ¡°It¡¯s the pursuit squad! The count¡¯s pursuit squad!¡± When attacking the castle, their fighting spirit was great, but when fleeing, it was theplete opposite. The knights had fearful expressions, hearing that pursuit wasing from behind. They were also noticing. That the atmosphere around here was the worst. First, the expressions of the mercenaries that each person was leading were not good. Since the mercenaries also have eyes, they guessed how the expedition was rolling along. They moved as best they could, didn¡¯t properly plunder, only fought amongst themselves, and now were returning. ¡°We can still fight, can¡¯t we?¡± ¡°No. . . let¡¯s just join up with the main force.¡± Moving separately was meant to block the main force from assembling if pursuit came chasing from behind, but the knights didn¡¯t really want to do that. Of course Lindemann-gong and Sir Yein would be furious, but even considering that, they didn¡¯t want to be arrow bait here. ¡°What is this? Not going to fight?¡± Johan was puzzled as he discovered and chased the enemy who were moving in a different direction without forming any battle formations. Wouldn¡¯t it be better if a battle happened in this state? ¡°Isn¡¯t the main force beyond that hill over there?¡± ¡°If the main force is there, shouldn¡¯t we fight here and block them? Anyway, we pursue.¡± It was a bit absurd that they were confused right after staying behind, but there was no reason not to chase the enemy. Johan slowly went over the hill the enemies had passed, letting the horses rest. ¡°. . .?!¡± An unbelievable scene was unfolding before his eyes. ???????????? ¡°It is certain that the pursuit ising, so Sir Karamaf shoulde out too.¡± At Lindemann¡¯s words, Karamaf nodded. Although he did not show his face to the knights and did not participate in the banquets, he made an exception when retreating. As Sir Karamaf readily agreed, Lindemann heaved a sigh of relief. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ He had been an infamous knight originally, but after recovering from his illness, he exuded an even more ominous and creepy aura. To the point of not feeling human. ¡°No. Those crazy b*stards!¡± Emerging from the tent, Lindemann was incredulous. The knight dastards left to guard the rear were hastily joining them. Lindemann rode past the carts and charged at the knights. ¡°What are you doing! You have to guard the rear!¡± ¡°The enemies chased right up to us. Let¡¯s fight together!¡± ¡°You call that words? No fool would say to fight here where the supplies are!¡± Battles also required some preparation. They should clear the supplies first before shing and get into formation, shouldn¡¯t they? And yet they retreated without exchanging a single blow despite being left to guard the rear. This was too much. However, what happened next was even more shocking. It was Sir Karamaf who had appeared behind them and swung his sword. ¡°!!!!¡± As the knight fell down spurting blood, those around were stunned by the shock. No matter how the knights retreated, they were nobles who had received their knighthood. To punish them like this without any trial! ¡°Sir! What is the meaning of this?!¡± ¡°Sir Karamaf! Please restrain yourself!¡± Lindemann was also shocked and tried to stop him. No matter how disobedient the knights were, attacking them now was beyondmon sense. Sir Yein stabbed the knight with a whip, and Sir Karamaf took a step further with rage in his eyes. In any case, Karamaf swung his sword and struck down another knight. ¡°You arrogant elf!¡± Seeing hisrade fall, an enraged knight charged at Karamaf with his spear. ????????????! The spear urately pierced the shield Karamaf was holding, but he did not move at all. As if he felt no impact at all, an inhuman reaction. ¡°What the. . .¡± The horrified knight had his neck severed in an instant. Karamaf swung his blood-stained sword and charged at another knight. At this point, the knights gathered understood Karamaf¡¯s intention. That crazy elf is trying to kill all the knights here! ¡°That son of a b*tch!¡± ¡°This will definitely not be let go!¡± Despite facing just one opponent, the knights abandoned their subordinates behind and started fleeing on their horses. The pursuing squad arriving on the hill blinked at the absurd sight. What are they doing down there? ¡°Is this kind of trap also part of the Empire¡¯s tactics?¡± Despite the squad¡¯s appearance uphill, Sir Karamaf paid them no heed and continued chasing the knights like a hunting dog. One knight managed to run uphill towards Johan. ¡°Save me! Your excellency! Save me! I surrender!¡± ¡°Uh. . . What should we do? What about the one behind?¡± ¡°Shoot him.¡± Johan immediately gave the order. He didn¡¯t know if that was Karamaf or not, but there was no reason not to capture him after he came forward alone like this. The excellent archers drew their bows and urately fired their arrows. Sir Karamaf, who was riding a horse chasing them, also took the arrow rain head on. With a dull sound, Karamaf¡¯s body shook violently. However, he did not fall. None of the arrows pierced his armor either. The centaurs spoke in an awed voice. ¡°Is that the armor of the ancient Empire? An unbelievable armor.¡± ¡°Uh. . .¡± Johan trailed off, not knowing what to say. That¡¯s not the armor of the ancient Empire. . . ¡°No matter how great the armor, getting hit by arrows like this should have an impact. Isn¡¯t something strange?¡± Acdda was puzzled, but the mercenaries from the Empire were not very surprised. ¡°It¡¯s possible if it¡¯s Sir Karamaf.¡± ¡°For a knight of that level.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Acdda grew suspicious and tried to find a gap in the armor somehow, but Sir Karamaf did not budge an inch. ¡°My Lord! Pleasee back! Pleasee back!¡± Lindemann cried out desperately from below, but Karamaf paid no attention. The other soldiers wondered whether they should charge after Karamaf or stop him. If Lindemann was an experienced warrior, he would have given the order to charge first without thinking about the consequences. Even in a chaotic situation, it would have been better than just standing there and giving the initiative to the opponent. They had to create a melee rather than let the opponent take control. However, Lindemann was more of an administrative official than a knight, and when Karamaf took sudden action, he failed to demonstrate the ability to regain control. Knights who could lead the troops were on the other side, and the knights here were being killed by Karamaf. . . ¡°I feel an extremely evil magical power.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± They still could not figure out how something like this was made, but Johan decided to deal with the urgent matter first. He had a way to plunge the soldiers here into panic without spilling a drop of blood. ¡°. . .?¡± Johan drew his sword. It was not the silver sword he usually used. It was a beautiful sword made of steel seen only in ancient Imperial times. As the de reflected the sunlight, a light that could not be imagined to be made by man shone out. The soldiers below unconsciously gazed at the sword, as if enthralled. Even though they didn¡¯t know the situation, they couldn¡¯t take their eyes off the sword. ¡°Hear me, people who know the honor of the Empire! I, Johan of House Yeats, have rightly defeated Sir Karamaf in the past. This Seal Retriever is proof!¡± ¡± . . .?????!! ¡° A silent shock spread around. Lindemann looked at Johan with a horrified expression. What is the Count talking about? ¡°As the winner, I took this sword, and out of respect for the promise with thete Lord, I did not spread this fact around. But look! That evil wizard has defiled the honor of the dead knight and summoned an imposter!¡± Although Lindemann knew nothing about magic, in an instant he had turned into an evil wizard who kept and manipted the corpse of a dead knight. Lindemann tried to protest but he couldn¡¯t get the words out. He also instinctively felt that what the Count said was the truth. Otherwise, there would be no exnation for that sword. ¡°W-What¡¯s going on, Sir Lindemann?¡± The guards were confused and whispered, but there was no way Lindemann could exin it. The soldiers began to re at him angrily. ¡°Commit no more sins! God sees what you do. Do you not know how heavy a sin it is tomand the dead?!¡± After he finished speaking, Johan pointed his sword forward. It was because Sir Karamaf was charging towards him. ¡®???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????????!¡¯ As a wizard now, Johan could see the aura emanating from the fake Karamaf. The sharpness of his de was gone, but in its ce a sinister force pulsated and spread with every movement. ??????????! Their swords collided and Johan tried to overpower his opponent with brute strength. Even if his opponent had the body of a demon summoned from hell, Johan didn¡¯t think he could be easily overpowered. But Karamaf engaged Johan in a different way. Before Johan could exert his strength, a chilling aura of death traveled up the crossed swords and began seeping into Johan¡¯s body. The spirits Johan wielded strongly pushed out their energy. Johan was dumbfounded. ¡®???????? ???? ????????, ???????? ?????????? ?????????????¡¯ It was bizarre to see someone walking on two legs normally spread such an aura. No matter how he thought about it, it was a curious thing. ¡°Fake Sir Karamaf. Don¡¯t you intend to answer me?¡± ¡°. . . .¡± ¡°It seems you can¡¯t even speak.¡± Johan attacked again alongside his words. Though the unpleasant aura of death was annoying, Johan possessed a strong vitality and was protected by his spirits. He could endure it. Even without a famed sword like the Seal Retriever in hand, he had defeated Karamaf before, so with such a sword now. . . He set his posture, concentrated his strength throughout his body, and gripped the Seal Retriever tightly. Despite that, the Seal Retriever withstood Johan¡¯s might. Something no famed sword had aplished before. With a roar, the sword sh flickered brightly. Karamaf¡¯s armor was deeply gashed, spilling forth ck blood.Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 243: ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? (4) Chapter 243: ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? (4) ¡®????¡¯?? ???? ?????????????????????? ??????????!¡¯ It was a regretful thing to say to Duke Brduhe¡¯s Twilight, but the Seal Retriever was the most amazing sword among the swords Johan had caught. You could feel its greatness every time you wielded it. Every time he swung it, the mysterious aura that pulsated and poured out prated Karamaf¡¯s body. Even the vicious aura of death did not dare approach it. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Karamaf took an aloof stance and aimed his sword. His movements did not change at all even as his armor was torn and ck blood poured out from inside. Seeing that, the soldiers screamed. ¡°It¡¯s a monster! It¡¯s as good as a monster!¡± ¡°Lindemann-nim really has Sir Karamaf under his evil magic!¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense is that?!¡±Lindemann was furious and tried to refute, but even the frontline captains who had thick nerves were looking at Lindemann with apprehension. No matter how they thought about it, Count Yeats¡¯ words sounded more usible. It was already suspicious that he was holding Sir Karamaf¡¯s sword in the first ce, and more than anything, the reputation he had built made Johan¡¯s words more credible. How could such an honorable knight tell a lie? ¡°Lindemann-nim. You may have to escape.¡± The guards protecting Lindemann whispered urgently. As seasoned warriors, they were the first to notice the strange atmosphere in this ce. If he didn¡¯t escape quickly, it could be irreversible. However, to Lindemann, it sounded like nonsense. ¡°What kind of nonsense is that?! There are so many soldiers here, and you tell me to just run away?!¡± Lindemann may not have been an outstanding knight, but he knew the basics of military strategy. To flee so suddenly even after being ambushed was the most foolish thing to do. What did they mean, when there were only this many in number? Besides, the soldiers here were hand-picked elites. If he quickly gave orders to form up and then fought, there would be some damage but it was definitely worth trying. However, the guards did not think so. That was only if they fought united, but the atmosphere now clearly painted Lindemann as the viin. With just a few words, Count Yeats had turned Lindemann into the bad guy. ¡°The atmosphere is strange.¡± ¡°Persuade them properly! They¡¯ll understand if you persuade them!¡± ¡°I think it¡¯ll be hard to persuade them. . .¡± The emperor may not even fear God and attack the church, but most people have a deep awe of divinity. Why would the emperor hide it if he is inviting evil wizards to the court? Sir Karamaf had an infamous reputation among the nobles, but he was still a well-known knight in the emperor¡¯s faction. Seeing such a knight in that state was also shocking to the soldiers. ¡°Your Excellency! Let me help you!¡± ¡°Enough. I¡¯ll take care of this alone.¡± Hearing the voice behind him, Johan reached out his hand. Of course, Johan did not really want to fight one-on-one either, but seeing the atmosphere below, one-on-one looked better. ¡®????¡¯?? ????????????????????.¡¯ Once again the sword light shed and Karamaf¡¯s armor was torn. ck blood kept pouring out, yet Karamaf still stood. However, Johan did not panic. If he was an ordinary knight, he would have been flustered or overwhelmed, slowing his steps, but Johan had faced several far more fierce monsters than Sir Karamaf. I¡¯m not surprised by something like this now. ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ The sharp aura it emitted when alive is gone, only spewing out a sticky and dark atmosphere. It was easier to deal with if he thought of it as a monster instead of a person. Johan blocked the deathly energy it spilled out whenever his sword touched it with the blessing of the spirit, and the attacks that pushed with an inhuman strength were actually one step ahead for him. ????????! Another deep attack went in. It was an attack that seemed like it would diagonally split the body in two. Sir Karamaf staggered back. Johan raised his sword and aimed at his opponent¡¯s neck. Sir Karamaf¡¯s neck shot up with the sword light. ¡°Be careful!¡± Suetlg shouted from behind. Johan nodded. Karamaf was still charging at him. The warriors behind had a bored expression. What kind of enemy is still moving after its neck has flown off? ¡°Should we take out the artifact?¡± ¡°Hmm. . .!¡± Suetlg wondered if that¡¯s what they should do. To be honest, he didn¡¯t know it could still move after its neck was cut off. However, Johan did not panic. This time he charged and blew off one leg. As he fell, next an arm, then the other arm, a leg. . . And then he kicked him in opposite directions. The disjointed corpse parts squirmed but could not properly reconnect because of the distance. ¡°Set fire and burn it up!¡± ¡°. . .Yes!¡± The warriors shouted, impressed. They didn¡¯t know it could be resolved like that. ???????????? ¡°Catch that b*stard!¡± ¡°. .Are you crazy??!¡± Lindemann was startled. At Johan¡¯s words, the soldiers were charging at them. ¡°Don¡¯t move! If you try any suspicious magic, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a wizard, you fools!¡± Seeing them aiming their maces and spears, trying to restrain Lindemann and his escorts, Johan was amazed inside. ¡®???? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????¡¯ Since the atmosphere was somehow friendly towards them, he shouted once riding that momentum, and the soldiers were following the order as if they were hypnotized. If they could resolve this without fighting such great numbers, there would be nothing better. ¡°But. . . is it okay for me tomand them?¡± The subordinates behind Johan were as bewildered as him. Having the experience ofmanding soldiers of a matching scale without their surrender was also new to them. ¡°They seem to be fools. The Count must have had his reasons when he did so. He must have been confident when he did it.¡± ¡°Well, that may be so, but still. . .¡± Seeing the spectacle of entering amidst the enemy forces with only dozens,manding them this and that, made their allies¡¯ guts go cold. It felt as if something big would happen if someone asked ¡®?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????!¡¯. However, nothing like that happened. Johan shamelessly took control as if he himself was themander. ¡°Lindemann-gong. You have be my prisoner now. Do you admit it?¡± ¡°. . .I admit it. But that magic wasn¡¯t my doing! Please believe me!!¡± Lindemann said with a face full of injustice. At least regarding the matters with Sir Karamaf, he really wasn¡¯t at fault. Regardless of other things, if something went wrong here, he could be taken to the Order and put on trial. They were already at war with the Emperor faction, he could end up dying unluckily. ¡°Is that so? Well, I didn¡¯t really believe that someone like Lindemann-gong would use such wicked magic anyway.¡± ¡°?¡± Euclyia next to him looked at Johan in disbelief. Didn¡¯t you just call him a wicked wizard a moment ago. . .? ¡°Thank you for believing me!¡± However for Lindemann, it was to the point of tears welling up from gratitude. There was reward in living faithfully and righteously until now. To be trusted in a situation like this by the opponent. ¡°I really appreciate it. It wasn¡¯t my doing at all. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s just how the world is. It would be best for you to rest a little. It must have been a shocking experience for you as well.¡± After soothing Lindemann, Johan led him inside the tent. Suetlg said in astonishment. ¡°Your skill in maniption is almost at the level of magic now.¡± ¡°You praise me too much.¡± ???????????? The elf king frowned. Ulrike frowned too. As they got closer, they immediately rxed their faces and politely greeted each other. ¡°Did you set up a siege?¡± ¡°By the grace of God, I was able to defeat the Lochtein family¡¯s knights in one-on-onebat.¡± The elf king¡¯s voice contained unrestrained joy. Defeating Lochtein knights, let alone in one-on-onebat, was no easy feat. ¡°And you, My Lord?¡± ¡°I captured retreating enemy scouts.¡± ¡°Then you must have heard the location of the main force?¡± ¡®????¡¯?? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Ulrike cursed the elf king in her mind. He was usually oblivious, but became keenly perceptive in battles. ¡°. . .Shall we go together?¡± ¡°Oh my. Thank you.¡± The two went on the trail, insulting each other amiably. Although they had driven back the rear guard, the remaining enemy forces were still considerable, led by Karamaf. They could not be careless. ¡°. . .?!¡± However, what awaited them was an unimaginable sight. ¡°The Count. . . was captured?!¡± The elf king asked the knight beside him in a perplexed voice. Johan¡¯s banner was nted in the enemy camp. If he had looked a little closer, he wouldn¡¯t have thought that, but the surprise was unavoidable. ¡°It seems the enemies were captured by the count, not the other way around.¡± ¡°. . .I see. But isn¡¯t it a little. . . too intact?¡± The camp waspletely untouched, as if no fight had taken ce. Ulrike could not offer a very convincing opinion on this either. The elf king¡¯s mood lifted a little. ¡°Let¡¯s go ask the count directly!¡± ¡°Your Majesty! It could be a trap. . .¡± ¡°How could the enemies have taken the count¡¯s banner? Nonsense!¡± The elf king charged forward at the front. Just the thought of hearing what had happened made him excited. ???????????? ¡°. . .Is that really true?!¡± No matter how much the Elf King expected, he could not imagine the story about Knight Karamaf. As he saw the Seal Retriever, the Elf King blinked his eyes in disbelief. ¡°To think that Knight Karamaf had fallen before. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t tell you earlier.¡± ¡°No. You had no choice if it was an oath. Don¡¯t worry about it, Count. Still, to resurrect such a knight with magic.¡± To be precise, it wasn¡¯t resurrecting a corpse with magic, but putting some unidentified creature into the armor and pretending it was Karamaf. But Johan didn¡¯t bother pointing that out. The former seemed more wicked. ¡®?? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ????????.¡¯ ¡°This matter must be made known everywhere. No matter how heavy the nobles¡¯ bodies are, they will not sit still when they hear this!¡± For once, the strategy proposed by the Elf King was usible. Ulrike also nodded without objection. The story about Sir Karamaf would make a very good rumor. No matter how much one might try to hide it, it couldn¡¯t be hidden with so many eyewitnesses. ¡°Let¡¯s issue a recall order andmand the troops to spread the word everywhere.¡± ¡°It would be good to ask the nearby feudal lords for cooperation as well.¡± Thanks to the victory, the meeting ended briefly and simply. The noblesplimented each other¡¯s feats and stood up from their seats. After the Elf King walked away first, Johan whispered to Ulrike. ¡°It would be good to spread the rumor that the undead gue also broke out because of that magic.¡± ¡°. . .Our thoughts match. Very nice.¡± Mixing a bit of falsehood into the truth makes it look more truthful. The two nobles did not hesitate to use such means at all. ???????????? ¡°Testify. Sir.¡± ¡°. . .I cannot do that.¡± ¡°Whether or not you testify, many others saw it happen!¡± ¡°If that is the case, then I definitely cannot do it!¡± The elven knight was wrestling with Lindemann. The centaurs were disappointed that they could take care of it in an instant, but they could not treat the Empire noble in that way. ¡°Your Excellency. Please let go of the people and give me one hour, I will get this guy¡¯s testimony out along with his guts. . .¡± ¡°Did you not just say guts? That cannot be done. Even if he is the opponent, if he is a noble, propriety must be observed.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± As the chaos subsided and Lindemann came to his senses, he grasped the situation. Surprisingly, he did not abandon his loyalty to the emperor. He knew that if he made a mistake he could be hanged, but a person¡¯s loyalty sometimeses before their own life. ¡°Whether or not I testify, there were many witnesses anyway so it does not matter. You can get testimony from others. The count also has people from his household who saw it happen.¡± ¡°That is quite unfortunate.¡± In the meantime, the elven king approached in a good mood. Behind him was an elven knight who looked vaguely familiar. ¡°Count! Good news. I have persuaded a knight from the Lochtein family. He said he will rightlye forward to testify.¡± ¡°That is good news. . .?¡± Johan¡¯s eyes instantly met Yein¡¯s. Yein raised his hand as if he was very happy to see him. At that moment, Johan¡¯s fist struck Yein¡¯s face. ¡°Count. He is my prisoner. . .?¡± The elven king was taken aback and spoke in a rare flustered voice.Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 244: ???????????? ?????? ?????????? (1) Chapter 244: ???????????? ?????? ?????????? (1) ¡°I made a mistake.¡± Johan reflected. It was rare for him to act rashly out of emotion. The other was a prisoner of the Elf King and from a prestigious family in the Elf Kingdom. If he punished him hastily, it would only tarnish Johan¡¯s reputation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I made a mistake.¡± At times like these, he had no choice but to honestly apologize relying on his friendship with the Elf King. Fortunately, he was quite close with the Elf King, so there was a high chance he would let it slide. ¡°I understand, Count.¡± The Elf King nodded and patted Johan on the shoulder, a gesture of understanding. ¡°. . .?¡± Johan was slightly taken aback. He was relieved the king wasn¡¯t angry, but his reaction was a bit unexpected.What did he understand? The Elf King wouldn¡¯t know the circumstances involved here. . . ¡°As a knight, it must have been unbearable to face such a dishonorable man.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The Elf King figured it out himself. Even though Sir Karamaf had an infamous reputation, he was still an excellent knight. From the position of a Count who had an official duel with that knight, it must have been difficult to endure a man who insulted and disgraced the honor of the dead. Yein seemed to think the same. Blood dripping from his nose, he spat blood to the side. ¡°That wasn¡¯t me. No matter what, why would I do that to Sir Karamaf whom I served?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not why I¡¯m doing this.¡± ¡°Then why?¡± ¡°The people who worked for your family died, didn¡¯t they?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why??¡± The Elf looked at Johan in genuine bewilderment, as if it made more sense for it to be because of Karamaf. ¡°. . .Asking for another punch.¡± Johan threw another punch. The Elf flew back. The King pretended not to see. And then he said to his guard, ¡°You didn¡¯t see anything.¡± ¡°Of course, Your Majesty.¡± ???????????? ¡°I¡¯m so nervous, Caenerna-gong.¡± ¡°I understand. But isn¡¯t it inevitable?¡± Seeing the nervousness of the new court wizard, Caenerna spoke calmly. Like Caenerna, the court wizard was also gifted in prophecy and had been newly summoned. The emperor worshipped blood, war, and prophecy. Despite hearing many prophecies and knowing there was unlikely to be much good in them, he asionally wanted prophecies. However, to the newly arrived wizard, the atmosphere of the court felt like walking on thin ice. There were rampant rumors that the army led by Karamaf had been defeated. ©¥??????????¡¯?? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ??????????????????! ©¥?????? ????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????????? ??????????????? ???????? ???? ???? ????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????? ©¥???? ?????? ????????????????, ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ??????????????????. ?????????????? ?????? ???? ????????????????, ?????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????. . . ©¥????????. ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ????????????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????. ???????? ?????????????? ??????¡¯???? ?? ?????????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????. ¡°Do you really think Karamaf lost?¡± ¡°He may have lost.¡± ¡°Then what kind of prophecy should I give?¡± ¡°I guess we¡¯ll have to say what we see. Are you nning to deceive the prophecy?¡± At Caenerna¡¯s words, the wizard shook his head. Deceiving a prophecy was an act that damaged one¡¯s own dignity and distanced oneself from the mystical. ¡°I know, but still, raising the dead. . .¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think he did that.¡± ¡°Do you really think so?¡± The wizard asked in a relieved voice. Were the sinister rumors circting in the court just groundless after all? ¡°Rather than that, I think it¡¯s more likely some kind of golem created with evil magic, using flesh instead of y.¡± ¡°Please. . .please don¡¯t joke around. There¡¯s no way they would do such a thing in this court, right?¡± ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± At Caenerna¡¯s words, the wizard unconsciously swallowed his saliva. He was beginning to regreting here, lured by money. ¡®?????? ???????????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ Caenerna keenly sensed the flow of power. An increase in mystical energy wasn¡¯t necessarily always a good thing. Especially when it was evil mystical energy like now. She knew there were suspicious wizardsing and going freely in the emperor¡¯s court. Jyanina was one of them. But it wasn¡¯t this bad before. The emperor still had some reason left, so he showed considerable restraint when using evil magic. No matter how suspicious the wizards were, if the emperor refused, there was nothing they could do. However, with each passing day, it felt like the reins hade off and the mystical energy was getting stronger. ¡®?????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????¡¯ There were certainly ck magic spells among the pagan arts that allowed one to regain youth and health by sacrificing blood and tributes. She wouldn¡¯t be surprised at all if the emperor had used such sorcery. ????????! As the emperor walked out, the surroundings fell silent. Despite his old age and illness, the emperor exuded an overwhelming aura. ¡°fsethan.¡± Without any greeting or wee, the emperor shortly called out a name. It was his firstborn son. ¡°What the hell have you been doing? You can¡¯t even conquer one tiny castle?¡± ¡°Right now we¡¯re continuing negotiations by sending an envoy. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll have it by the end of this month. . .¡± ¡°Shut up!! Can¡¯t you see those b*stards inside the castle have made a fool of you?!¡± The emperor grabbed a nearby candbra and threw it in front. His son¡¯s face flushed red with humiliation. Even though he was his son, fsethan was over forty. Such humiliation was hard to bear in front of others. ¡°Viscount Ginolen. Take charge of this! Lead the army, break down the gates, and drag everyone inside out.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± The people present had bewildered expressions on their faces. Viscount Ginolen was not present at this ce. It seemed like the emperor also btedly realized that. He twisted his face. He looked so terrifying that no one dared say a word. ¡°Karamaf. . .¡± ¡°Your majesty. It seems Sir Karamaf has been captured as a prisoner after his defeat.¡± One of the wizards attending the emperor carefully spoke up. Despite the evil aura given off by wizards, the misunderstanding that they had the emperor under their thumbs was quite unfair to them. The truth was, the emperor ordered them around like dogs, not the other way around. To put it bluntly, they had to obey when the emperormanded something. How could they refuse with a sword already at their necks? That¡¯s why they had to be careful even when stating the obvious. The emperor muttered to himself for a bit before taking his seat, seemingly cursing the world. ¡°Give me an update on the situation.¡± As the emperor calmed down a little, the other nobles worked up the courage to speak. ¡°It¡¯s bing clear the feudal lords of the central region harbor resentment, Your Majesty. Count Shirivik has been captured, and so has Sir Karamaf. This wouldn¡¯t have happened without help from central nobles.¡± ¡°Rumors are spreading and not in our favor.¡± On their way back after subjugating the undead and defeating Karamaf, Johan and the Elven King spread all kinds of gossip. The rumors were raging like wildfire, as both sides had many eyewitnesses. Even if the central feudal lords didn¡¯t participate in battle, the likelihood of them not taking the emperor¡¯s side was high. That alone was enough to send chills down the emperor faction¡¯s spine. The emperor faction¡¯s army was being supplied from the south, using some directly controlled territories in the central region as supply routes. The feudal lords had turned a blind eye and kept their distance, which is why supply flows remained unhindered so far. However, if they imed neutrality while covertly aiding the enemy. . . ¡°Stop your cowardly prattling! Nothing has changed. Send envoys to the feudal lords. Inform them that failure to maintain neutrality will mark them as my enemy, to be subjugated. Remind them of the southern nobles! Tell them that once subjugation starts, no one from their families will be spared!¡± ¡°. . . ¡° While the threat was unreasonable to those hearing it, its effectiveness was certain. From the feudal lords¡¯ perspective, there was no need to stake their lives and families on such messy affairs. Keeping most in line was sufficient. It was an effective move. ¡°There will be no more rest. Order the vassals to dispatch the armies. We will subjugate the remaining rebels in the south. Tell those cowardly traitors in the west toe and face me if they dare!¡± Though old and irrational, the emperor instinctively grasped the situation. That the longer the war dragged on, the deeper they would sink into the quagmire. They had to overwhelm the enemy with force while they still could. He was confident no one could defeat him on the battlefield. After the emperor left, the vassals shuffled out murmuring amongst themselves. fsethan approached Caenerna and spoke up. ¡°Caenerna-gong.¡± ¡°What is it. . .?¡± ¡°I need a strong poison.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± ???????????? ¡°Prepare more potions.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. Cough! I will prepare them! I will prepare them!¡± The wizard was finally able to breathe when the emperor released his hand. His throat hurt as if it would break. When the meeting ended, the vassals were able to rest in their own camps, but not the servants and retainers. They had to endure without even catching their breath beside the emperor. Jesters came out desperately performing tricks. It was a joke to lift the emperor¡¯s mood but it did not seem to have much effect. ¡°Boutellner.¡± ¡°. . .Yes!¡± ¡°As you said, Karamaf was summoned again. But I heard he was defeated.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Boutellner was sweating profusely. He was a wizard who had filled flesh and blood into armor to create an invincible knight, but Boutellner was not very good at fighting. He would be invincible, not dying when shed and possessing strength beyond human capabilities, but it turned out not to be so. ¡°Did I not ask you?¡± The emperor¡¯s voice was strangely gentle, which made him even more horrified. Boutellner could not get up, lying prostrate. ¡°Your Majesty. I have an alternative n.¡± ¡°What is the alternative?¡± ¡°Yes. . . Yes. . . Count Yeats is indeed a young rascal. He brought many feudal lords from the south, so the damage he is causing is no small matter. Why not just assassinate him?¡± The other servants looked at the wizard in dismay. The emperor closed his eyes and was silent. Boutellner thought it was a good sign and continued speaking. ¡°I know of some excellent assassins. If you just give the order. . .¡± ¡°Will you seed this time?¡± ¡°. . .Yes!¡± ¡°Good. I will trust you onest time. Do not disappoint me!¡± Boutellner bit his lip until it bled. Now he had no choice but to entrust his life to the assassin. The assassin he had met and befriended in the past was reliable in his skills alone. He had boasted that he could kill anyone with his own mouth, so he would not refuse this job. ???????????? Yein was rubbing his face with a very dissatisfied expression. It was a blessing his jaw wasn¡¯t broken. After getting hit like that. . . ¡°Count. I want to have a rational conversation.¡± ¡°My dear. He says he wants to have a rational conversation. . .¡± ¡°Pass on that his jaw might get smashed if he don¡¯t keep his mouth shut.¡± ¡°. . .that your jaw might get smashed if you don¡¯t keep your mouth shut.¡± Iselia ryed that to him again from the side. Yein did not understand Johan¡¯s attitude towards him. It didn¡¯t make sense for a knight like Johan to treat someone this way, honorless mercenary or not. ¡°Count. It was Sir Karamaf who defeated Sir Gessen.¡± Johan borrowed a whip from Euclyia next to him. He thenshed Yein with it. The elf fell off his horse. ¡°Would you have said it if it was your family?¡± ¡°B-Because of that? But weren¡¯t mercenaries the ones who killed them?¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you stop it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t. . .¡± The whip flew again. Johanshed him skillfully without leaving any traces. With a face that showed he still didn¡¯t understand, Yein shut his mouth. He just couldn¡¯tprehend doing this over some servants. The subordinates around Johan avoided eye contact and pretended not to see. Sometimes you have to pretend not to see your lord¡¯s faults. Suetlg also pretended not to see and opened his mouth. ¡°Can you persuade the duke?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not can I or can¡¯t I, I will make it happen.¡± Johan¡¯s voice was filled with firm confidence. Suetlg nodded in satisfaction.Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 245: ???????????? ?????? ?????????? (2) Chapter 245: ???????????? ?????? ?????????? (2) After suppressing the undead gue that had been noisy around for a while, Johan was trying to move on to the next step. It is to pull in the elector of the east and press the emperor faction from three sides. No matter how much the emperor acts like a crazy b*stard, if such an encirclement tightens, there is a high possibility that he will bow his head and enter into negotiations. Although the Elf King wanted to smash the elite of the emperor with one battle and make him surrender as it is, other feudal lords thought differently. In the first ce, arge-scale battle itself was a chaotic gamble that no one knew who would win. If tens of thousands gather in one area and get entangled with each other for days, all kinds of variables arise. War can be lost due to very minor mistakes and coincidences. To stake one¡¯s life and family on such a war usually requires more than just guts. It was normal not to want to do so lightly. It was also a problem if you won. What if the Elf King makes a big ssh there? How do you control that influence? The western feudal lords didn¡¯t want interference, they didn¡¯t want a new emperor. . . .The problem was that Duke Brduhe would not easily agree.Among the Empire¡¯s electors, the Brduhe family was the closest to moving separately. Its location was also far removed from the Empire, and its customs and culture were different. It was so much so that people in central Empire treated them like eastern barbarians. As such, negotiations ran into difficulties again and again, and eventually Johan had to step in personally. ¡°The reason why the duke does note forward is obvious, but. . . it won¡¯t be easy to resolve that.¡± Suetlg also knew the reason well enough. The interests of the Brduhe family were focused on the Ulcana Penins to the southeast. As Johan had upied cities on the penins together with the Brduhe family troops, various small kingdoms and duchies on the penins were fiercely fighting now. The city states bordering it were also gnashing their teeth ominously, so from the Brduhe family¡¯s point of view, they couldn¡¯t take their eyes off the situation. Frankly, Suetlg was curious. Just what kind of alternative was this young count thinking of? ¡°To be honest. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to ask the duke to mobilize his elite troops.¡± ¡°. . . You mean just cheer with words??¡± Suetlg was confused. Iselia was also quite confused. Verbal encouragement had little meaning. Even now, a bishop of the Twelve Electors was pouring out condemnation and warnings, but the emperor waspletely ignoring them. Words usually had meaning, but in this situation where everyone was doing their utmost, they didn¡¯t have much influence. ¡°No. I misspoke. In other words, I had no intention of mobilizing the elite under the duke¡¯smand.¡± ¡°Then who are you calling?¡± ¡°I was thinking of getting the cooperation of the tribes further east.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg made a horrified expression at the unexpected words. Iselia also seemed to have lost words, unable to close her mouth. ¡°Are you suggesting we call on the eastern tribes? How are you going to take responsibility for the aftermath?¡± It was an unfair thing to say to the centaurs and other tribal warriors who were loyal to Johan, but the eastern warriors were basically untamed barbarians. There were dozens of tribes who did not immediately pledge allegiance to the Duke, and there were pro-Duke tribes like Acdda¡¯s Alcia tribe who were loyal to Johan, so it was uncertain whether they would properly follow orders. Even the vassals of the Empire might disobey their lord¡¯s orders and act on their own judgement when they go to war. How much more arbitrarily would those tribes who do not know such customs and disciplines act? ¡°No. I do not have such a crazy idea. Please listen carefully.¡± However, Johan was unexpectedly serious. ¡°First of all, the Duke is closer to the eastern tribes than you think. It would be more ridiculous if they were not close after spreading it out.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t those who listen to these words not obedient?¡± Iselia tilted her head. As she had moved with the centaurs, she roughly knew. The centaurs did not listen to words unless they admitted it themselves. Iselia also had to converse with steel instead of words for some people. ¡°The important thing is that he is close. The reason the Duke is doing this is to stabilize the surroundings and mobilize them as mercenaries in case of emergency, and he has actually mobilized them as mercenaries several times. The results were sessful.¡± ¡°What?! This is the first time I¡¯ve heard this story?¡± Suetlg was surprised. If the Duke had mobilized eastern tribes as mercenaries, rumors would have spread several times in the Empire, but he had never heard of it before. ¡°Well, it must have acted secretly so as not to spread rumors, which would not be good.¡± ¡°How did you find out?¡± ¡°I heard it from Count Ganolwood.¡± Count Ganolwood. He was the strategist who led Duke¡¯s troops in the previous subjugation. Mercenaries and knights ridiculed him as a stutterer and a coward, but Johan got along very well with the count, and the two teamed up to chatter quite a bit. ¡°The count led it before, and he said it was quite controble if the person in charge did it properly.¡± ¡°Huh. . .¡± Suetlg looked at Johan in disbelief. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ Just looking at the various mercenaries gathered around Johan now, it was not such a strange thing. At least the centaurs here were showing their loyalty by following Johan across the sea. ¡°So you¡¯re going to borrow that?¡± ¡°Yes. Isn¡¯t that the most likely possibility?¡± The witness behind was brought to testify when exposing the evil deeds of the emperor. Of course, he kept getting punched because he had a talent for angering people all the time. ¡°?¡± Baien began to appear in the distance, but the surrounding atmosphere was very strange. An awkwardness that was different from usual could be seen in the appearance of passing merchant groups and travelers. Johan called one traveler. At the call of a tall nobleman, the traveler carefully brushed off the dust from his clothes and approached. ¡°Did something happen?¡± ¡°Yes. . . Duke has passed away.¡± ¡°. . . ..????¡± ???????????? Human life is so fragile that even the Duke, who had seemed fine before he left, died suddenly, which was hard for Johan to ept. ¡°Why?? Could he have been assassinated?¡± It would not have been surprising if the various petty kingdoms and cities fighting Duke had hired assassins. However, the traveler was flustered and shook his head. ¡°That. . . that¡¯s not it. He was out hunting and identally suffered a grave injury. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was at a loss for words again. Of course, hunting in this age was a dangerous act where even the hunters put their lives on the line to some extent. But someone of the Duke¡¯s status would have had guards around him, been well armed, and had people prepared to provide medical care in case of an emergency. To die by such a coincidence. . . ¡°This is maddening.¡± As Johan muttered, Iselia took his hand. Seeing Johan express emotion like this was a rare urrence, so her actions showed concern. Johan nodded as if to say he was fine. ¡°The envoys who arrived first will be ready to hang themselves. . .¡± ¡°My dear, what shall we do?¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯vee this far, so we should enter the city. But I don¡¯t know what we can do.¡± With the Duke having died so suddenly, just handling the aftermath would be overwhelming. On top of that, the Duke had prepared his session in an unusual way. Rather than favoring one child, he empowered several of his children and avoided causingpetition among them. In the worst case, his children may have already begun preparing for a civil war. ¡°Your Excellency Count!¡± ¡°?¡± Hearing someone call out to him, Johan turned his head. A group of people were approaching from the distance. Based on their attire, they seemed to be a knightly family. The knight in front jumped down from his horse, paid his respects, and spoke. ¡°I am Undrashi of the Petreo family, Your Excellency!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Seeing Johan make a thoughtful expression, Acdda and Euclyia whispered swiftly from the side like lightning. ¡°That family was there when we were werewolf hunting, remember?¡± ¡°Those scheming b*stards.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± Then he remembered. The family of the knight who had schemed when various tribes and knightly families went hunting to gain the Duke¡¯s recognition! ¡®. . .?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????????????? ?????????????????????¡¯ Hadn¡¯t Boriska of the Petreo family died a miserable death from that ident? From their perspective, there was no reason to greet us so happily. Was this a trap? ¡°Your Excellency retrieved his corpse for us and covered up the matter.¡± Acdda whispered as if he couldn¡¯t believe it. Why had he forgotten something he did? ¡°Oh. . .right, that did happen.¡± Johan¡¯s memory returned clearly. At the time, since there was no need to make the issue bigger, he had retrieved the corpse and covered up the matter. The other family could only be grateful. Not only had they avoided embarrassment, but they got the corpse back too. ¡°I see. Nice to see you.¡± ¡°If it pleases Your Excellency, our family would love the opportunity to host you! Please grant us the honor.¡± Since he couldn¡¯t meet the Duke right away anyway given the chaotic situation, there was no reason to refuse such an invitation when he had to wait. Johan nodded. ¡°Very well.¡± ¡°Thank you! The people of our family eagerly await hearing of Your Excellency¡¯s heroic deeds.¡± ¡°I appreciate it.¡± Although Undrashi was no dog, he was overjoyed as if he had a wagging tail. Acdda spoke resentfully. ¡°If hospitality is what you want, our tribe would treat you even better.¡± ¡°To get to your tribe would take a week at least.¡± ¡°Haha, not a full week.¡± ???????????? On his way, Johan met envoys from the Jarpen family. They were also bbergasted and resentful, on the verge of death. ¡°I will speak well of you to His Excellency the Count. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Excellency. You must be in turmoil now. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit confusing. So what¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°The retainers of the family are all distracted preparing for the funeral. I think we¡¯ll only be able to talk after the funeral is over.¡± ¡°I see. We¡¯ll have to talk after it¡¯s over.¡± ¡°By the way, where are you headed?¡± ¡°I was invited by the Petreo family for a meeting.¡± ¡°The Petreo family?¡± ¡°Why? Has there been any bad rumors? Like they bought poison or brought in brainwashing devices. . .¡± ¡°What? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Never mind. Just kidding.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were close with the Petreo family. But you were active around here, so you must have bonded over those connections.¡± The envoys nodded in understanding. The friendship between knights can bloom like fire, and a single hunt can create a lifelong bond. ¡®. . .???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????. . .¡¯ Knights do have a somewhat entric side, but not to that extent. . . ¡°As expected, Your Excellency is an amazing person, already in contact with the Petreo family.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they the closest family to Elso-gong?¡± The Petreo family was close with Elso, the duke¡¯s first son. Suetlg nodded and answered on Johan¡¯s behalf. ¡°That¡¯s obviously the only reason thates to mind.¡± ¡°Indeed. . .!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Despite having heard of Johan¡¯s visit only a short while ago, the Petreo family¡¯s efforts to prepare were evident. Sincerity shows in even the smallest details. They specially imported drinks favored by centaurs and dwarves, and brought in bards and musicians who could sing tales of Johan. The envoys expressed admiration on Johan¡¯s behalf. After several rounds of drinks, when those sitting next to Johan had copsed with their heads on the ground, and another round had gone by, and the excitement was fading, the Petreo family brought up what they wanted to discuss. Usually when entertaining guests, lively drinking, eating and funes first, and serious talkes after ¨C bringing up business too early is rude. ¡®?? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡°We heard you came to negotiate. We¡¯d be happy to introduce you to Elso-gong.¡± ¡°Would that be okay? I don¡¯t want you to get caught up unnecessarily.¡± ¡°You protected the family¡¯s honor and returned the corpse. We now have a chance to repay your kindness ¨C how could we not delight in this!¡± For the first time in a while, Johan was moved. The details were a bit different, but what did that matter?Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 246: ???????????? ?????? ?????????? (3) Chapter 246: ???????????? ?????? ?????????? (3) With the help of the family, Elso-gong he met was in apletely unexpected appearance. He was having a serious talk with his twin sibling who looked exactly like himself. There was no sign of hostility orpetition in their eyes. Johan was even surprised. ¡®???? ??????. . .?¡¯ Although Horamric, the third son, was weak enough toe to Johan and entrust his body, the first and second children of the duke were not. Weren¡¯t theypeting fiercely to be the sessor in the eyes of the duke? ¡°Count. I really appreciate youing in person.¡± Elso stood up to greet him. The duke¡¯s children had such beautiful faces that it was hard to distinguish their gender. When such a person spoke politely, it felt like the air around them changed. ¡°I heard that the count hade, but the duties I¡¯m currently undertaking are so heavy that I didn¡¯t dare go out. Please understand.¡±¡°Of course I understand. But. . .?¡± Johan looked at the two as if he was puzzled. And then he opened his mouth. ¡°Who did his grace appoint as his sessor?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, Count. Although he didn¡¯t leave a will, it happened that way ording to custom.¡± Elso smirked. It was an expression that he knew what Johan was wondering about. ¡°I handed over the fiefdoms appropriate to their rights to those of other lineages.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°It seems that the count has misunderstood me. I¡¯m not stupid enough to ruin my family¡¯s name by being greedy and ambitious when the situation around me is chaotic. I wasn¡¯t taught that way either.¡± Anyway, the family siblings already had their own fiefdoms. Even if Elso told them to hand it over now, nothing but civil war would break out. Rather than that, Elso chose to join forces with his blood rtives to prosper his family. At that sincere plea, the second and fourth children also agreed. The third son, Horamric, didn¡¯t care at all. . . ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ????????????????????.¡¯ Johan honestly admired. Having seen only rtives stabbing and fighting each other for power so far, those who joined forces like this were rather refreshing. ¡°The name of the Brduhe family will be talked about by people for more than a thousand years.¡± ¡°You tter me too much, Count. So. . .¡± Elso hesitated and continued speaking. ¡°I know what proposal the count is trying to make. Although I¡¯m a little embarrassed to say this before the funeral is over. . . I want to participate in the Empire¡¯s affairs.¡± ¡°!¡± Johan¡¯s eyes shone at the unexpected words. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes, count. The emperor¡¯s tyranny has gone too far. As a family of electors, there are things we can no longer overlook.¡± The former duke was reluctant to participate in the civil war within the Empire. There were many other unexplored territories, so he didn¡¯t want to get involved in theplicated quagmire. However, the duke¡¯s children were very interested in the civil war within the Empire. And the spoils of victory they could obtain. ¡°However, it will take some time to prepare the troops. There is nothing we can do about it. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I have an opinion.¡± ???????????? ¡°I-I see what you mean. E-Elso-gong¡¯s opinion was not the best, b-but it was you after all.¡± Count Ganolwood wiped his sweat and admired. Instead of gathering the elite troops which would take quite some time, the n to mobilize the nomadic tribes loyal to the duke family and attack was not like Elso-gong¡¯s personality. I wondered who gave the advice, but to see it was you. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we met.¡± ¡°P-Please, speakfortably. I-If others hear, they m-may ridicule.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you want.¡± Johan smiled and exchanged greetings with Count Ganolwood. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the new duke to participate so easily.¡± ¡°H-His Highness has always been v-very interested in the Empire. I-In fact, there are few n-nobles in the duchy who are n-not.¡± Unlike the duke, there were many young nobles who were interested in the situation in the Empire. The wealth and powering out of the Empire was too morouspared to the vast grasnds in the east. It was what the duke¡¯s children set their ambitions on. ¡°B-But. To be honest, I-I oppose it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think participating in the Empire¡¯s situation will produce good results?¡± ¡°N-No, that¡¯s not i-it. O-On the contrary, I-I think the previous generations avoided it too much. I-I¡¯m worried about e-experience.¡± The count was afraid that the duke¡¯s children stillcked experience. Wars could only be won if you won. If you intervene without ability, you could lose all the wealth you¡¯ve built up. ¡°T-The Emperor¡¯s army is well armed and experienced in war. O-On the other hand, t-the duchy¡¯s army is lightly a-armed andcksbat e-experience.¡± Armies grew stronger with every major war they went through. The duchy troops had only suppressed rebels and fought in small battles at best, and this gap was bigger than expected. ¡°It¡¯s good that this happened. We¡¯re not going for a frontal confrontation anyway, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Count Ganolwood nodded. Count Ganolwood was now thinking of leading the nomadic tribes upwards to intensely aim at the supply routes of the emperor faction. The mobility of the nomadic tribes, which were already rumored to be fast. Plus, not too far away, there were feudal lords who would secretly help out a bit. It was a good situation to drive the enemy crazy while attacking and escaping quickly. ¡°Thanks again for participating.¡± ¡°D-Don¡¯t mention it. I-It was the count who p-persuaded His Highness. I-If His Highness h-hadn¡¯t trusted you, h-he would never have stepped forward.¡± No matter how greedy the duke¡¯s children were, they would not have jumped into an obviously unfavorable situation. The reason they were actively jumping in like this was their trust in Johan and the validity of Johan¡¯s tactics. At the count¡¯s words, Johan nodded. Now all the preparations that could be made were done. All that was left was to wait for the emperor faction¡¯s breathing to slowly tighten. ???????????? ¡°That is not an army of humans but demons!¡± The southern feudal lords were at a loss for words in the face of the aggressively advancing forces of the Emperor faction. They thought they could hold out behind the castle walls, had done some reorganizing, and wanted to sh with the advancing vanguard units, but the lords who had sallied out barely made it back inside the castle walls with their lives. Despite being fellow mercenaries, the quality ofbat power they disyed was markedly different. ©¥??????????????????! ???? ?????? ??????????????????, ???? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????. ¡°Tell them not to spout nonsense! How can we believe those words when so many have died?¡± However, despite that, there were few feudal lords who surrendered. They held their castles and did not surrender. How many noble families had the Emperor trampled in the south? With those vivid memories, there was no way people would defect. ©¥???? ???????????? ????????! Facing that, the Emperor faction¡¯smanders adopted a new strategy. They left alone castles that seemed difficult to capture and started attacking easier castles first as they advanced. If they thought a surprise attack mighte from a castle left behind, they thoroughly repelled it byying traps. After taking big losses once or twice, the feudal lords could not venture out tounch surprise attacks even in advantageous situations. As the small andrge nearby castles started to fall one by one, no matter how much the feudal lords held out inside, their lifeline would gradually be choked off. Of course the allied forces did not just sit by and watch. They also started moving to provide support. ???????????? ¡°What did I say?¡± ¡°You told us to respect Your Excellency¡¯s orders.¡± ¡°Yes. Please do.¡± ¡°Your Excellency! Who here would dare defy Your Excellency¡¯s orders? There is no one like that!¡± ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????. . .¡¯ Johan looked at the nobles from the Penins who had followed him, as if finding them absurd. Weren¡¯t they the ones who had moved recklessly for honor in thest battle? ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?? ???????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ While leading these men north, Johan had not just been sitting idly. He had continued to work to keep them under his control. Naturally, as time passed, the influence of themander grew. Especially for someone like Johan, there was nothing more to say. ¡°Once we get over two more hills here, the forest will appear. That¡¯s where I heard Sir Fritsch was ambushed and defeated.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Although Johan had brought troops to save a nearby castle, he did not simply charge ahead recklessly. That was the kind of thing the Elf King would do. . . His n was to advance while checking carefully and lure out the enemies to fight. Just as the Emperor faction¡¯s army did not move as one, the feudal lords of the Alliance were the same. They advanced in all directions like stretching out tentacles. From the news around, it seemed the Emperor faction¡¯s troops had not reached this far yet. ¡®???????????? ?? ???????? ?????? ????????????. . .?¡¯ ¡°Please let us go, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°You guys?¡± Surprisingly, the first to volunteer were the knights from the Empire who had surrendered. At their request for weapons and armor even though they had surrendered, several feudal lords bristled. ¡°Your Excellency, won¡¯t they just desert?¡± ¡°How dare you look at us like that and say such a thing!¡± ¡°Since you surrendered, it is also His Excellency¡¯s right not to provide weapons and armor. You cannotin if he refuses!¡± ¡°No. I believe in their honor.¡± ¡°!¡± Johan spoke without even changing his expression. Of course, it wasn¡¯t that he extremely trusted the surrendered Empire knights or anything. . . ¡®???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???????? ??????, ??¡¯???? ???????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ It was beneficial no matter what happened to them. Anyway, he had to check the nearby forest, and could there be an easier way to confirm it? ¡°Provide them with weapons, armor and horses.¡± However, Johan¡¯s words were sufficiently moving to the Empire knights. The knights shouted in trembling voices. ¡°Thank you for believing in us, Your Excellency! Your Excellency¡¯s honor will be an example in the Empire!¡± ¡°Yes. You have my thanks.¡± Johan waved his hand to see off the Empire knights. The knights proudly raised their banners and crossed the bridge to advance towards the forest. ¡°If there is an ambush waiting, I hope they take the bait.¡± ¡°. . .Lower your voice a bit.¡± ???????????? ¡°Does the count ever seem to go mad?¡± ¡°Did he? I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Think about it carefully. It seems he has moments when insanity suddenly rises up.¡± Yein asked the Empire knights so, but the knights were just puzzled. Count Yeats had always been in his right mind. He was as wise as could be, they had never seen such madness from him. Just now, even as other nobles objected, hadn¡¯t Johan personally given weapons and armor? A madman could not have done that. It was something only a true knight could do. Yein shook his head. Johan¡¯s behavior while he was away at the Brduhe family¡¯s dukedom was as close to insanity as he could imagine. ¡°You¡¯re not belittling the Lochtein family¡¯s knights just because they were defeated, are you?¡± ¡°What did you say? If you don¡¯t take that back right now, I¡¯ll cut you down before we even face the enemy.¡± ¡°Everyone calm down! We don¡¯t know when the enemy will appear, and you want to fight here?¡± Though they were knights captured by Johan, most of them chose to switch sides rather than remain loyal to the emperor. Looking at it sensibly, the emperor was too much of a crazy b*stard. The families tied closely to the emperor¡¯s side couldn¡¯t betray him, but for knights who had little, changing sides was easy. Contrary to the feudal lords¡¯ suspicions, they were moving with quite pure loyalty. ¡°You there! Are you a mercenary?¡± ¡°Grab him!¡± Knights searching the vicinity saw a man dressed as a mercenary and rushed at him. The mercenary was frightened and tried to run away, but he couldn¡¯t escape knights on horseback in this terrain. ¡°W-Why are you doing this! I¡¯m just a traveler. Please!¡± ¡°What kind of crazy traveler wanders alone in a ce like this in times like these? Put down your weapons. Mercenary. Confess where you came from before I break your neck!¡± Surrounded and threatened by the knights, the deserter looked about to faint at any moment. Before a sword even touched his neck, he began spewing everything he knew. ???????????? ¡°. . .Is there anyone nearby?¡± Johan asked incredulously. ¡°The emperor. . . is nearby, they say.¡± The knights also seemed a bit hesitant about the information they had brought, as if they could not believe it themselves. The feudal lords below twisted their facial muscles. ©¥???????? ?????? ?? ??????! ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ????????! . . .They clearly wanted to say something like that. ¡°Uh.¡± Johan was at a loss for words, lost in thought. What do I make of this?Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEXNEXT?????¡á???? Chapter 247: ?????????????????? ?????????? (1) Chapter 247: ?????????????????? ?????????? (1) ¡°Send a messenger to call in the nearby soldiers.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°Your Excellency. They. . .¡± ¡°Think about it carefully. Even if they betray us, would they really lie like that?¡± The emperor was not a good bait. There were the emperor¡¯s most loyal soldiers gathered around the offer, and the Empire¡¯s famous knights who were loyal to him were stationed nearby. If they wanted to lure someone in, there was no reason to say that the emperor was there if they didn¡¯t want to say someone who looked weaker. The feudal lords, speechless, pointed out other parts hesitantly. ¡°But even so, isn¡¯t it too sudden?¡±¡°It seems like we should be more prepared. . .¡± The feudal lords were not hesitating because they were particrly cowardly. Any noble of the alliance (except for the elf king) would back down when it came to dealing with the emperor. From his military record when he was young to his recent surprise attack on the allied forces. Even the nobles who could loudly talk about the emperor¡¯s tyranny and immorality could not disparage his leadership. ¡°If we drag it on too long, won¡¯t the other side figure it out and prepare? We have to do this quickly.¡± Johan had already made a decision. To make a quick surprise attack. Johan¡¯s n was not to kill everyone in the ambush. In fact, such a thing was rare whenrge numbers of people shed with each other. ¡®?????????????? ?????????????? ????????????, ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????, ??????????????.¡¯ If hebined the troops he could summon from the feudal lords around him and the ones Johan brought along, he could easily mobilize thousands. ording to the knights¡¯ reports, the emperor had around 2,000 troops. It was not enough topletely overwhelm them, but it was enough to make it worth trying. ¡®?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ??????????¡¯ ???????????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????????????, ?????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????????.¡¯ What allowed Johan to make such bold decisions above all was the confidence that the soldiers he brought with him were elites. The most dangerous moment in battle was usually when retreating. In situations that did not allow them to push forward, ragtag troops would simply copse and run away in all directions. However, Johan was confident. He believed that no matter what situation forced them to retreat, the elites under hismand could retreat in an orderly fashion. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ????????????, ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ??????¡¯??, ?????????? ???? ???? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ While the obvious goal was to damage the enemy, the fact that it was the emperor was a big factor in why Johan was willing to attempt a surprise attack. The symbolism was immense. What if the emperor¡¯s elites failed to fend off an attack and retreated? Johan nned to spread those rumors after exaggerating them several fold. What if the emperor¡¯s elites managed to withstand the attack? Simrly, he nned to exaggerate the damages several times over. Johan¡¯s abilities, honed through many battles andmands, had reached a level of mastery. No one would have thought to take his elite troops, who pledged their loyalty to him, and aim for such a vicious goal. ¡°I¡¯m amazed. Your Excellency the Count has no fear.¡± ¡°I decided to follow you, so I¡¯m ashamed of myself for being afraid of the emperor and hesitating!¡± ???????????? The atmosphere in the emperor¡¯s camp was chilly. Johan¡¯s surprise attack had not been discovered in advance. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s wrong.¡± The baron who followed the army with the emperor shook his head. As was often the case with valiant knights, the emperor originally enjoyed taking a small elite force with him and scouting ahead. In a situation with lots of false information and baseless rumors, there is nothing better than seeing the battlefield with your own eyes. Of course, given the emperor¡¯s position, the troops that followed were by no means few in number. The two thousand elite troops were enough to burn several fiefdoms and still have some left. The problem arose after that. He thought he was just making a show of force with the reconnaissance, but then the emperor suddenly dragged someone over and started interrogating them fiercely. And that person was the emperor¡¯s eldest son, fsethan. Dragging his own child in and interrogating him, the atmosphere in the camp could not have been alright. Everyone was so tense they could barely swallow, waiting for the results of the interrogation. ¡°No matter what I say, His Majesty does not listen. I don¡¯t know if he has ever listened. . .¡± ¡°Shh! Lower your voice. You are too loud.¡± At the baron¡¯s words, the other nobleman next to him panicked and warned him with his hand. To monitor and check the existing feudal lords, the emperor had mobilized many new people. Wandering knights, minor nobles, and capable mercenary captains were precisely those people. Having no connections or families, they were loyal to the emperor in order to gain his favor, and served as a thorn in the side for existing nobles. In the camp, they had to fret, not knowing who might overhear and inform on them. ¡°Do you really think fsethan was trying to assassinate him?¡± ¡°Damn. I don¡¯t know either. Maybe he really was trying. His Majesty¡¯s suspicions have been growing day by day. Did you see when he executed the servantst time? No matter what, executing someone of noble blood without even a trial! What would the count do when he hears his rtive was executed!¡± ¡°No matter what, I don¡¯t think he was trying to assassinate His Majesty.¡± ¡°What does that matter now! His Majesty doesn¡¯t even listen to us!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together and try to talk to him again.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pass. I don¡¯t want to end up hanging near that tent with him. His Majesty might spare fsethan because he¡¯s his son, but not me.¡± As the nobles were talking, they noticed a mercenary sub-captain approaching, seeming to be on his way to report to the emperor. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°A merchant said he saw an armying from the west a few days ago.¡± ¡°More nonsense trying to get silver.¡± The baron clicked his tongue. As the war dragged on, all sorts of petty con artists seemed to be increasing. Whenever some ragged traveler said ¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????????!¡¯ trying to get silver, it was truly absurd and made him snicker. Those guys were hung from the gallows, but people usually paid them silver regardless of whether their information was urate or not. Even if they were annoying, chasing them away or punishing them could cause bad rumors to spread. ¡°If the army ising from the west, aren¡¯t they the ones trying to reinforce Fort Ortizen? It¡¯s not very far so it seems we should prepare, no?¡± The casten of Fort Ortizen was a famous rebel even among the southern feudal lords. This feudal lord who had lost many rtives to the emperor¡¯s execution had dered he would resist to the end. For such an aggressively defiant noble, it would not be surprising if the allied feudal lords hade to help out around here. ¡°You know one thing but not the other. If they came to help Fort Ortizen, they would stay near that fort. Also, there¡¯s a river near here. To cross that ande would take quite some time. Ordering the troops to prepare without good reason will only increase His Majesty¡¯s dissatisfaction, so be careful.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± ¡°And if we need to prepare, His Majesty will take care of it himself.¡± These were the ones who had retreated a bit from the forest they were originally in and crossed the river. Though the river was shallow, the river itself was an enormous obstacle. Crossing it would take an age. Not only that, they had pride. The pride that no one would dare sh with the army personally led by the Emperor! In the meantime, Johan¡¯s army had already swiftly passed through the forest and arrived at the riverbank. ???????????? ¡°Still don¡¯t want to talk?¡± ¡°Really. . . I don¡¯t know anything about it.¡± fsethan spoke in a cracked, hoarse voice. However, Cardirian¡¯s stern expression did not change at all. His eyes looking at his son were as cold as a snake¡¯s. ¡°If you confess, I will let you go in peace.¡± ¡°You believe that petty wizard¡¯s words?!¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Cardirian gestured. The interrogator whipped the whip. Blood sttered and screams rang out. fsethan swore to himself. ¡®????????????????, ???????? ???????? ????????????!¡¯ It was a mistake to rashly contact Caenerna, who seemed dissatisfied with the emperor¡¯s actions among the court wizards. When he asked if there was a lethal poison that could slip through the surveince of the wizards guarding the emperor, Caenerna immediately agreed to prepare it. Not long after Caenerna provided the poison, the emperor invited fsethan to participate in the march, and fsethan thought it was right and participated, but. . . Cardirian had known from the beginning. And the only reason he knew was because the wizard had betrayed him. ¡°You b*stard trying to kill your father, how dare you insult a wizard? Caenerna-gong is the most loyal of the loyal.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a plot. . . it¡¯s a plot. Don¡¯t believe the wizard. . .¡± ¡°Go ahead and hold out as much as you can. Even if you can hold out, I¡¯ll hand you over for trial and burn you at the stake. I was going to promise you a painless death out of the goodness of my heart. . .¡± Cardirian said as if he was genuinely sorry. fsethan got a chill down his spine from that look. He knew well how the emperor had been dealing with undesirable figures that he didn¡¯t like. ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t execute you because you think your vassals will stake their lives to protect you?¡± ¡°God is watching over this. Aren¡¯t you afraid?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the funniest thing I¡¯ve heard from you today!¡± Cardirian opened his mouth wide as if he really couldn¡¯t believe it. And then he shouted with his arms akimbo. ¡°A guy who plundered the bishop¡¯s assets is saying this! Who was the first to beg me for the bishop¡¯s assets?! You¡¯ll be the first one God sends down thunder on!¡± ¡°But it will be less than your majesty who is trying to kill his own blood!¡± ¡°Oh my. Then let¡¯s make a bet. If God is watching, go ahead and show me a miracle. Then I won¡¯t kill you.¡± Cardirian said with a smile. fsethan gritted his teeth at the snake-like hobby of ying with prey. ¡°Come on. What are you doing? You said God is watching? Don¡¯t stop the whipping!! If you stop, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± ¡°Y-Yes!¡± The interrogator was startled by the emperor¡¯s shout and was about to whip the whip. At that moment, an arrow flew in and stuck in the interrogator¡¯s neck. ¡°?¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± The emperor and his son were so confused that they couldn¡¯t put words together. ???????????? ¡°We did it! We seeded!!¡± The centaurs shouted with flushed faces, excited. Seeding in ambushing emperor¡¯s camp! This will be one of the greatest honors in my life. No hunter in the east could have caught a more magnificent prey than this. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet! Stay focused!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Set the tents on fire. Don¡¯t chase the ones running away! Target the ones that look like nobles first. Anyway others wille from left and right so looting can wait. Focus on trampling and crushing the enemies!¡± The forest provided good cover but still, crossing the river took some time. The troops of feudal lords going around left and right were fine but the troops led by Johan had to cross directly for the ambush to work. The one who made this possible was Suetlg. He blocked the river by mobilizing all the collected potions and mysteries. Even if it was a shallow river, it was an unbelievable miracle. Taking this chance, Johan¡¯s troops crossed the river and advanced. The vanguard consisting of cavalries stormed into emperor faction¡¯s camp violently. ¡°Ambush!! It¡¯s an ambush!¡± The warriors from the east skillfully went around, shouting and kicking up dust. It was a scheme to prevent the enemies from grasping the urate number and intimidate them. Most crumble when ambushed and subjected to such psychological warfare. However, emperor¡¯s soldiers were valiant and loyal. If it was another mercenary group, they would have copsed already but these soldiers gathered in groups of three to five trying to fight even as fire spread all around and got attacked from all directions. ¡°Get out of the way, scums. His Excellency Count is passing through!¡± And Johan¡¯s ability was to crush such determination. The savage momentum of mowing down the soldiers blocking his way like they were nothing swept away the vanguard. ¡°We strike emperor before they can react properly! Follow me!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Johan headed toward emperor¡¯s headquarters, the biggest prey. Arriving at the square with fiercely flying arrows, Johan found an old man emitting extraordinary aura, not even riding a horse probably due to the sudden ambush. ¡°How dare you. . .!¡± Without even answering, Johan swung his sword and struck him down.Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 248: ?????????????????? ?????????? (2) Chapter 248: ?????????????????? ?????????? (2) The Seal Retriever that Johan was holding was one of the famous swords in the Empire where countless master swords roamed. Combined with Johan¡¯s monstrous strength, even a thick b of meat could have been cut in an instant. However, the sensation felt at Johan¡¯s fingertips was not the feeling of cutting through the enemy¡¯s muscles and bones, but the feeling of cutting through a wall that seemed not to exist in this world. ¡®????¡¯?? ??????????!¡¯ With a wooden thud, the armor torn from the opponent¡¯s body flowed down. The disappearance of light and mystery at the same time seemed to be some armor blessed by the spirit. Seeing that it blocked Seal Retriever¡¯s blow, it must have been a high-ranking armor. ¡°Die, old man!¡± When Johan couldn¡¯t finish it, Euclyia behind Johan swung her spear like lightning. However, the old man who had already taken a hit was in a fighting stance. As the centaur stomped down her spear, he grabbed it with both hands and stabbed it back, making Euclyia lose her bnce and stagger. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡± Euclyia was surprised and avoided the counterattack. An old man who would not be surprised if he dies of old age showed unexpected strength.¡°This dirty Yeats b*stard dares to carry around the Seal Retriever?!¡± The old man shouted in a voice that seemed to spit blood. Only then could Johan be sure of who his opponent was. ¡°Cardirian!¡± ©¥???? ??????????! ¡°Show the proper courtesy in front of the rightful master of the Empire, you southern barbarian!¡± ¡°There is no courtesy to show to an unbeliever who arbitrarily executes nobles by himself. The nobles you killed want proper punishment!¡± Johan¡¯s voice echoed clearly amidst the chaotic ringing in his ears. There was a reason why he bother to listen to his opponent¡¯s words. Originally, he had no intention of listening to the emperor¡¯s words, but now there were quite a few listening ears around. No matter how loyal the soldiers and knights were, they didn¡¯t like that their lord was evil and unjust. The more sensitive people of this era were to faith and superstition. ¡°Where is Karamaf¡¯s corpse buried!¡± The emperor growled and drew his weapon. It seemed to be a famous sword as well, as a creepy light flowed from it. Johan sneered and said, ¡°Dig it up and ask.¡± ¡°I will kill you!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t, Your Majesty!¡± Knights rushed in and desperately blocked the way. Johan shoved them aside aggressively, intent on not letting the emperor get away. A wolf jumped out from the side and bit the legs of the horses the knights were riding. Still, the knights stood in his way at the risk of their lives. ¡°Rugdon of the Coburin family!¡± ¡°Rolph of the Blowhorn family.¡± ¡°I am Frederic of the Partwich family!¡± Knights who won tournaments in the Empire and defeated famous monsters. However, they could not hide their nervous expressions in front of Johan. Johan sneered and shouted, ¡°Aren¡¯t you ashamed to gang up on one person while reciting your family names?¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the knight in front suddenly flushed. From behind, the emperor shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled, you *ssholes!¡± ¡°It¡¯s pathetic to remain loyal after hearing such words!¡± Johan swung his sword with his words. The knight copsed, spewing blood, unable to withstand the unexpected sword strikes from strange angles. The emperor rode his horse and shouted, ¡°His strength is extraordinary. Since he defeated Karamaf, avoid a frontal fight and attack together!¡± ¡®???????? ??*??????????. . .¡¯ While the knights were hesitating to engage in one-on-onebat due to Johan¡¯s remarks, the emperor poured cold water on them. Indeed, he immediately realized how to deal with Johan like a seasoned veteran who had rolled on the battlefield all his life. But Johan was not flustered. The situation itself was not bad. ¡®?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????. ???? ???????? ??????????????????. . .¡¯ Even though the emperor¡¯s soldiers were extremely loyal, they had limits. Without proper support ormand in a situation where they were ambushed and bombarded, they would eventually copse. And in this kind of melee, the most powerful force was the knights. Knights, who had undergone grueling training since childhood and were d in thick, sturdy armor, were difficult for soldiers to deal with easily. Even experienced and well-armed mercenaries were reluctant to face knights. Now all the knights had gathered to save the emperor, so hell must have broken loose on the other side. ¡®???? ???? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ????????. . .¡¯ ¡°You f*cking morons! Why did you all gather here instead of the ambush site! Not only did you allow the ambush but you¡¯re making such stupid moves! You¡¯re more stupid than trolls!¡± ¡°Y-Your Majesty! If you don¡¯t escape first. . .¡± ¡°Get out of my way!¡± The emperor pushed the knights aside and charged at Johan. The emperor also instinctively realized the situation was going very badly. He was dumbfounded by how the sentries allowed the ambush, but punishment could wait. The key now was to turn the situation around with Johan. The atmosphere always changes when you take down the enemymander. The emperor boldly aimed at Johan and stabbed with his spear. ¡®???????? ???? ??????????!¡¯ And Johan had been waiting for that. If the emperor escaped, there was no way to catch him, so Johan was anxious. With a roar, the two warriors collided. The emperor¡¯s skills were extraordinary. His spear swung around repeatedly, aiming for Johan¡¯s vitals. It was as if he wasn¡¯t giving Johan a chance to swing his sword. But the emperor was overconfident in his own abilities, caught up in his momentum. He had warned the other knights about Johan¡¯s freakish strength yet forgot about it himself. As a knight who had no rivals on the battlefield and was confident in his strength, it was inevitable once the blood rushed to his head. The spear glinted and grazed under Johan¡¯s arm. Johan instinctively grabbed the spear shaft tightly. With his freakish strength, the emperor¡¯s movementpletely stopped. The emperor looked at Johan in bewilderment. And the Seal Retriever shed once more, tearing into the emperor¡¯s body again. He felt the strange sensation of magic interfering again but the result was slightly different this time. Johan¡¯s determined swing had ripped through the magic and inflicted a wound. The armor split open and blood sprayed out. The emperor howled, suffering his first serious wound. The other knights who were anxiously watching screamed in agony and rushed over urgently. ¡°Fall back! Protect His Majesty!¡± ¡°Cardirian is dead!¡± Johan did not try to break through the wall of knights. Instead, he held up his blood-stained sword and shouted. The centaurs ryed his words loudly. ¡°The emperor is dead! Surrender!¡± Every time the shout spread, it felt like the burning camp trembled. Before the sun had even fully set, the emperor¡¯s camp hadpletely copsed, scattering in all directions. The support troops of feudal lords, who were already in an unfavorable situation, swarmed in as if to tighten a siege. The knights tried to organize the remaining soldiers to make a desperate bid to stop the pursuers but Johan sent out pursuing troops to crush them again and again. As a result, only a handful of knights managed to escape from the battlefield. It was unbelievable that this was the army of the emperor who had terrified the surroundings just a while ago. It was a confusing and perplexing defeat. ???????????? ¡°I have returned. Your excellency.¡± ¡°Good work, everyone.¡± Johan was waiting in the burned emperor¡¯s military camp. He wanted to join the pursuit team, but there were quite a few troops left around here so he couldn¡¯t. ¡°Your excellency. Who is that person?¡± The returned centaurs were puzzled by the appearance of the noble they hadn¡¯t seen before. Lying on the bed, covered in blood, he looked half dead. ¡°A noble who was being tortured in the emperor¡¯s military camp. He must be one of the nobles from the south.¡± ¡°Ah. His ransom would be expensive.¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s true but don¡¯t say it so bluntly.¡± Johan stopped their mouths. The eastern warriors were loyal and brave butcked the skill for thoughtful words. In the meantime, the identity of the noble lying among the captured nobles and mercenaries was revealed. ¡°It¡¯s fsethan-gong.¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯ve never heard of that family before. Who is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not a southern feudal lord, he¡¯s the emperor¡¯s son.¡± The centaurs were a little flustered and couldn¡¯t continue. Johan was just as flustered. Why was the emperor¡¯s son in this state? It would be misunderstood by anyone who saw him like this. ¡°The emperor tortured him himself. On suspicion of poisoning.¡± ¡°Huh. . .¡± Johan wondered how to use this information but went over to fsethan. Seeing his condition, Suetlg opened his mouth. ¡°The wounds are severe but he won¡¯t die.¡± ¡°Caenerna. . .¡± Hearing fsethan murmuring Caenerna¡¯s name, Johan was puzzled. Murmuring Caenerna¡¯s name. ¡°Could it be a lover?¡± ¡°With that wizard¡¯s personality, I doubt she would be with someone like him. In the first ce, it¡¯s questionable if someone with that personality can have a lover at all.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that too harsh?¡± ¡°No. I was originally going to say they don¡¯t keep a group unless they buy ves.¡± Suetlg¡¯s voice was full of fatigue and sarcasm thanks to the great magic he had used. As Gerdolf supported him, Suetlg thanked him and sat down. ¡°Somehow it worked out well. I didn¡¯t expect to encounter the emperor here. . .¡± ¡°We were lucky.¡± ¡°Yes. Heaven helped us. I think it¡¯s safe to say God loves you now.¡± It was a fight that wouldn¡¯t have been strange to take several more years, but to win by meeting like this. Suetlg thought luck was definitely following them. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?? ??????????.¡¯ Most people didn¡¯t know how to use luck even when they encountered it. Only the brave and daring knew how to seize and use that luck. ¡°Did you attack because you were confident you could win? Did you get intelligence that discipline had copsed? Or did you turn someone?¡± ¡°No, we just fought and if it didn¡¯t work out we nned to retreat and spread rumors.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg was at a loss for words. He was a little embarrassed about the praise he had just given inwardly. ¡°Was that really it?¡± ¡°If not, why would I gamble like that? Because I was confident I could retreat if the situation was unfavorable.¡± ¡°When asked, say you received a revtion from God before the charge. I need to rest.¡± Feeling empty, Suetlg got up. He was thinking of lying down for a bit in the tent. ¡°Ca. . .ener. . .na. . .¡± As fsethan murmured Caenerna¡¯s name again, Johan was puzzled. Suetlg had been blunt, but the truth was, having been in the emperor¡¯s court for a long time, it wouldn¡¯t have been strange for Caenerna to have a lover or two. Moreover, fsethan was of the emperor¡¯s bloodline, so it wouldn¡¯t have been surprising if Caenerna took a liking to him. ¡°I will kill you. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan made an ufortable expression. ¡®???????????????????? ?????? ?? ??????????.¡¯ ???????????? While the feudal lords around were spreading rumors and telling this joyful news to others who were elsewhere, fsethan regained his spirit. And fsethan wondered if he should be happy or angry that he was now in the camp of Count Yeats. While he was fortunate enough to have his life saved, he couldn¡¯t tell if being captured like this was a good thing. ¡°I have to do what I can in this situation now.¡± fsethan expressed his gratitude in an authoritative voice from his sickbed. Then he exined the situation as usibly as possible. ¡°. . .And so I decided to prepare poison to end the tyranny.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± ¡®????¡¯?? ??????????????!¡¯ Indeed, this remark had an effect. The other feudal lords present also looked at fsethan with quite different eyes. fsethan cried out in a grieving voice. ¡°But who would have known that the wizard who helped me was a damned traitor?! Court wizard Caenerna betrayed me and reported me to the emperor! Curse that wizard!¡± ¡°fsethan-nim. I think. . . you should be careful what you say.¡± ¡°. . .Jyanina? No. Why are you here, Jyanina-gong?¡± ¡°Whatever happened, it may not have been Caenerna-gong¡¯s fault, right?¡± ¡°What do you. . . Who else could have betrayed me if not that wizard. . .¡± As his eyes met Johan¡¯s while he was about to get angry, fsethan inadvertently changed what he was saying. ¡°. . .Come to think of it, there could have been another informant.¡±Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 249: ?????????????????? ?????????? (3) Chapter 249: ?????????????????? ?????????? (3) ¡°Why? We can talkfortably.¡± ¡°. . .No.¡± fsethan was perceptive and had extraordinary situational awareness. He seemed to sense that Johan and others were on good terms with Caenerna. Of course, nobles are guaranteed their status even when captured as prisoners of war. But this civil war had built up resentment on both sides. Just as the emperor had hanged the necks of southern feudal lords he had captured, fsethan could have been hanged too. ¡°Come to think of it, there were so many plotters at the royal court that I don¡¯t know who plotted it.¡± ¡°I see. So you were being tortured because you were caught?¡± fsethan nodded. Johanforted him. ¡°You¡¯ve suffered a lot. Although you were captured as a prisoner, I will guarantee your status in my name. Not only knights but also many Empire knights were captured, so you¡¯ll be able to talk with them.¡±¡°. . .Thank you!¡± fsethan was relieved. Count Yeats was not as vicious and violent as the rumors made him out to be. On the contrary, he was quite courteous and polite. At least he no longer had to worry about being hanged for now. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ It was also fortunate that there were many Empire knights in the camp. It would have been miserable to stay in this vast military camp without even a single attendant to look after him. No matter how many conveniences Count Yeats provided, there were limits. ¡°By the way, Jyanina-gong. Why are you here?¡± ¡°. . .Wizards tend to have long andplicated secrets.¡± ¡°???¡± fsethan wondered what she meant but did not inquire further. For now, there was no one more trustworthy than Jyanina around him. She was someone he had some connection with. Although she had not received an official position, as the emperor¡¯s child, fsethan knew quite a bit about the wizards active at the royal court. Enough to be in contact with Caenerna. In addition, Jyanina was a wizard who could wield quite creative magic. The idea that she could create an army of monsters was interesting enough that many people including the emperor had lent an ear. ¡°So Jyanina-gong. Our meeting like this must be God¡¯s guidance. I ask for your advice.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°Given your position, you must hold a high position in the Count¡¯s court. Please advise me on how I should act based on your insight. If you help me, I will not forget this favor. I swear on the name of my family.¡± fsethan honestly bowed his head. The situation was dire so he had to ept anyone¡¯s help. And no one else in this camp seemed more suitable than Jyanina. . . .But for Jyanina, it was an overwhelmingly bewildering remark. ¡®???? ????. . .¡¯ Faced with words from the other party that she did not even know where to start pointing out, Jyanina broke into a cold sweat. First of all, Jyanina did not hold a high position in Count Yeats¡¯ court. Of course, as a wizard, she had taken on an advisory role and had the outward image of something like a noble philosopher. But that was just a fa?ade. . . Inside, Suetlg would say things like ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ?? ????????????, ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????? ??????????????. ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ????????. ???????? ????, ?????? ??????????.¡¯ And Johan would mock her saying ¡¯?????? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ????????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?? ????????????.¡¯ Even with the same position, influence varies widely depending on the person. Jyanina¡¯s influence was negligible. And Jyanina did not have particrly outstanding political insight. Caenerna and Suetlg were brooding about the situation of the Empire, but Jyanina¡¯s goal was simply to eat well and live well. ¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ????????¡­¡¯ Johan introduced Jyanina because they were from the same royal court, in order to relieve the other¡¯s wariness and reassure them. But fsethan made an unexpected remark. ¡°I ask a favor, Jyanina-gong!¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Jyanina hurried away. fsethan was left behind with a bewildered expression. To ignore his proposal. . . ¡°Could they be thinking of executing me? No way. . .!¡± ???????????? Johan was inside Suetlg¡¯s tent. He was reading a book while keeping an eye on his servants changing the cloth on Suetlg¡¯s forehead. ¡°Are you feeling a bit better?¡± ¡°Much better. What¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°Good.¡± The centaurs who went out scouting further wereing back and bringing news. The feudal lords of the emperor faction were apparently panicking after hearing the shocking news of defeat. They stopped moving separately and were gathering in one ce. They were afraid that if the united allied forces with high morale advanced deeper, they could be defeated piecemeal. Simrly, allied troops were also gathering here. The news that the formidable emperor had fallen made even the most timid coward brave. Even if they sh hard, our side is much more advantageous. ¡°Is the emperor dead?¡± ¡°He probably isn¡¯t dead. He was covered with so much magic. . .¡± It was the first time he felt strange cutting an opponent down, probably because of how much magic he had wrapped around himself. It seemed like he had all the treasures of the Empire on his one body. Johan put away his book and took out his shield. Suetlg was puzzled by the delicate elven patterns and engravings. ¡°A treasure from the king?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Well, not many can give such a treasure. . . It doesn¡¯t look like you¡¯ve used it.¡± The shield wasn¡¯t very big. It was close to a small buckler shield. However, the power felt from within was extraordinary. It was odd that he hadn¡¯t used it until now. ¡°This shield is. . . a bit difficult to use, so I couldn¡¯t use it.¡± The elf king only said it was an item who chooses his master, a finicky item, and didn¡¯t exin further. No matter how many times he asked, he only said things like ¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ????????,¡¯ ©¥ he held back from smacking him one, since he was the one receiving the treasure. ¡°So you¡¯ve figured it out now?¡± ¡°I think I roughly grasped it.¡± The shield awoke in a frustratingly simple way. Fighting intensely on the battlefield for a long time, it awoke itself. Johan was dumbfounded that he only noticed it when the battle was nearly over. It awakens with the heat of battle. Indeed worthy of the elf king¡¯s treasure. ¡°Anyway, the situation is much more advantageous for us, so when the troops gather, I n to pressure the enemy. We also have the emperor¡¯s bloodline as hostage. . .¡± The Brduhe family¡¯s army ising to assist, the emperor leading them is heavily injured, and even his bloodline is taken hostage. No matter how modestly Johan sees it, time is on their side. Of course, Johan had no intention to rush even though they were at an advantage. He nned to wait thoroughly. ¡®????????????????. ????????????????.¡¯ Suetlg clucked his tongue inside. The opponent this time was no ordinary opponent. He has the most renowned reputation in the Empire as an adversary. Even someone with a cold heart would normally be excited after such a victory. But Johan was calmly waiting as if he didn¡¯t just win. It must be suffocating from the opponent¡¯s position. ¡°Jyanina-gong is here.¡± ¡°Oh. Did the emperor¡¯s child say anything?¡± Johan weed Jyanina with delight. fsethan didn¡¯t look like someone with a loose tongue, but it¡¯s normal for one¡¯s tongue to loosen when hurt and lonely. It wouldn¡¯t be strange for him to make indiscreet remarks to someone he¡¯s acquainted with like Jyanina. ¡°He. . . asked me for advice on the political situation. . .¡± ¡°To you?!¡± Suetlg, who was lying down, was so surprised he sat up. ???????????? Jyanina, who has returned with an iprehensible deep gaze, opened her mouth. fsethan listened intently with a nervous expression. ¡°One day, a knight who went hunting came back after being bitten by a snake on his hand. What would you say, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°I would say to cut off the hand before the poison spreads.¡± ¡°What if he says he doesn¡¯t want to cut off the hand?¡± ¡°How can youpare a hand to a life?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly your situation, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°What do you mean? Don¡¯t tell me. . .?¡± ¡°His Majesty¡¯s army is still powerful, but how long will thisst? It¡¯s as good as turning all the nobles of the Empire into enemies.¡± ¡°. . .I know that well. But it¡¯s not like I can change anything. If things had gone well and I had seized full authority, I could have persuaded the vassals below to order a retreat. . .¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s not enough.¡± Jyanina waved her hand dismissively. ¡°No?¡± ¡°Do you think the nobles of the Alliance who raised the army will be satisfied with that? Even if His Majesty¡¯s vassals are satisfied, the nobles of the Alliance will not be satisfied.¡± ¡°Then. . .?¡± ¡°You have to say that you will return the upied fiefdoms from this time and paypensation along with it.¡± ¡°What?! Do you know how much damage that would cause?!¡± ¡°It is you who should think carefully. If you don¡¯t cut off your hand now, how much bigger will the damage be?¡± fsethan was about to get angry but thought about it. Certainly Jyanina was right. Even if he retreated with the emperor¡¯s vassals, there was no way the fighting nobles of the Alliance would ept a ceasefire. In the worst case, they could push forward into the north. . . ¡°No matter what, the damage would be too great. I would gain nothing from it!¡± ¡°No. You can gain their support. You need to think about continuing the family line.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± fsethan shuddered at Jyanina¡¯s words. That¡¯s right. ¡°When the emperor¡¯s army copses, who will continue the family line? If you think about the fiefdom in the north, everything else is just something that can be cut off.¡± ¡°. . .Thank you, Jyanina-gong. I understand.¡± fsethan made up his mind. Now was the time to move one step ahead of the other bloodlines. The other bloodlines beside the emperor probably think they can continue the family line, but the fight is not over yet. When the emperor¡¯s army copses, fsethan, who has the support of the feudal lords here, may be in an advantageous position. ¡®???? ????????????????, ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????!¡¯ Jyanina breathed a sigh of relief. She had repeated what she heard from Johan, and fortunately there were no mistakes. She didn¡¯t seem to need to take out the backup n hidden in her sleeve. ???????????? ¡°Look. These are the traces of that torture. If Count Yeats had not appeared, I might have died there without even a trial. I am really ashamed! How could a noble who should respect the Empire do this!¡± Whenever nobles arrived in turn, fsethan joined the banquet held in the barracks and spoke eloquently. Several feudal lords nodded very favorably at fsethan¡¯s words. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s the emperor¡¯s son, he¡¯s so gentlemanly.¡± ¡°Cardirian should have died earlier. If so, this would not have happened.¡± ¡°But did the emperor really die?¡± ¡°It seems certain that he was defeated.¡± The feudal lords gathered there sent gazes of reverence to Johan. His martial arts prowess could be understandable. It wasmon for a suddenly appeared young knight to show off his martial arts. However, it was unimaginable to ambush and retreat the army of the veteran Emperor. How was that possible? ¡°I heard that God gave a revtion the day before.¡± ¡°Indeed. . .! usible.¡± ¡®????????¡¯?? ???? ?????????????????? ?????????? ?????¡¯ Johan, who was passing by, was dumbfounded inside. No matter how unbelievable, believing in such things. . . However, the nobles seemed to believe this theory a lot. Even Ulrike, who arrivedte, secretly asked, ¡¯?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?? ???????????¡¯ ¡°Your Excellency Count Yeats. Thank you again for saving my life. If the Count had not saved me. . .¡± ¡°It was something I had to do as a nobleman.¡± fsethan¡¯s attitude became even more polite than when he woke up. Jyanina¡¯s words were so effective that he was walking around very enthusiastically. ¡®?? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ??????????????????.¡¯ He didn¡¯t expect it to be this much even though he wanted cooperation. Since it wasn¡¯t bad, Johan smiled. ¡°Your Excellency Count. I was so confused that I forgot, but I just remembered an important story.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°There may be an assassin aiming at the count!¡± Count Shirivik next to him flinched.Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEXNEXT?????¡á???? Chapter 250: ?????????????????? ?????????? (4) Chapter 250: ?????????????????? ?????????? (4) He was bound to get stabbed from the assassin¡¯s perspective since he had taken the count ce. However, fsethan¡¯s words were not for Count Shirivik. ¡°Among the emperor¡¯s wizards, there are quite a few suspicious ones. You know? There¡¯s a guy named Boutellner. He handles some pretty evil magic. . .¡± There were many wizards working around the emperor and some came and went so fsethan didn¡¯t know them all. But there were some noticeable ones. One of them was Boutellner. ¡°There have been dubious rumors about this guy for a while. I heard he caused assassination incidents even in other nobles¡¯ courts. There was a rumor that he advised the emperor to hire assassins. . . I¡¯m certain of it, your excellency. You should increase security and scrutinize those entering more thoroughly.¡± In fact, even without fsethan saying so, Johan was already thoroughly prepared. Since he was in a position to assassinate others himself, he had no choice but to be careful of himself as well. Johan was confident he was much better prepared than other nobles. It¡¯s easier to prepare when you know the tricks so well. ¡®???????? ??????????, ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ????.¡¯ They could target someone like Suetlg or Iselia. Though not effective, the emperor wasn¡¯t necessarily such a cold, rational person. If he wanted revenge somehow, he could have done anything. ¡°Thank you. I will increase vignce. This camp is already difficult for outsiders to enter, but thanks to you, it will be even safer.¡± Hearing Johan¡¯s words, fsethan felt relieved. For him, winning over this young count was most important right now. He wanted to use various means but was caught empty-handed. But fsethan was confident. In terms of age alone, he was nearly twice as old as this young count. He had golden, seasoned experience. And he had the counsel of the skilled wizard, Jyanina. fsethan¡¯s confidence was overflowing. ¡°If it pleases you, I have a few more things to say.¡± ¡®????????, ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????? ????????????.¡¯ Johan cursed fsethan in his head. He was an emperor¡¯s child and Johan had to get intel so he treated him well but his pointless bber was getting on his nerves. Most of all, it was absurd for fsethan to repeat Johan¡¯s words to Jyanina as if they were some great scheme. Having to rely on Jyanina so much when he has no one to trust. . . ¡°After the emperor falls, think about the future Empire, count. Making too many concessions to the elf king and other feudal lords will lead to nothing good. If they control the politicalndscape, there will be little left for the count.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Luckily, the count has great fame and there are many nobles favorably disposed to you, your excellency. You should join hands with them. Of course, when I return to my family, I can assist the count as well.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± Johan had a talent for pretending to listen attentively when he had no interest. ted, fsethan spouted his perspective. ¡°Right. Count. Do you know the Count Palenglit?¡± ¡°I know him.¡± As one of the feudal lords of the alliance, his title was Count but his influence was not that great for a feudal lord. After all, if your fiefdom is notrge, there is a limit to the power you can wield. ¡°He seems to be quite capable. Didn¡¯t he also have a merchant guild?¡± ¡°That Count may have been in collusion with the Emperor.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± ¡°This is not certain, but I overheard the Emperor mention it once. He said there was a coborator among the feudal lords, so I looked into it a bit.¡± Johan once again realized how bad the rtionship between the emperor¡¯s family was. Eavesdropping on conversations and secretly attaching people to follow them is basic. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????????¡¯ The nobles were not the kind to clearly distinguish between ck and white when fighting. Once you cross over a bit, bloodlines get entangled, so changing sides was much moremon than one would think. You fight and get captured so you switch over, or you send envoys to persuade and theye over to this side. That¡¯s why even when there was talk of a coborator, there wasn¡¯t too much concern. With so many feudal lords and nobles gathered, if there wasn¡¯t at least one person leaking information to the Emperor¡¯s side, that would be stranger. However. . . ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????¡¯ That¡¯s why he suspected someone among the knights, so this was an entirely unexpected name. Count Palenglit was a merchant by origin and was far removed from valor. He was not someone who personally took to the battlefield either. He made a name for himself in the alliance by providing supplies and silver. ¡®?????????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ?????? ?? ???????????? ?????????? ??????????.¡¯ ???????????? ¡°Is His Majesty awake?¡± ¡°No, he still cannot get up. . . His injuries are too serious. . .¡± ¡°Then I will takemand.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. What makes you think you can?¡± As soon as he spoke, Volgarek, Cardirian¡¯s second son, twisted his face angrily at the instant rebuttal. The servants had fearful looks on their faces seeing his reaction. While the first son fsethan inherited Cardirian¡¯s wisdom and the third son Biorarn inherited his bravery, rumours said that Volgarek inherited his ruthless personality. However, Biorarn, having inherited bravery, did not even blink at Volgarek¡¯s words. ¡°Do you not know the current situation?! If someone does not step up tomand the feudal lords, they may scatter!¡± ¡°That does not mean you should be the onemanding them, Volgarek. Who would listen to yourmand?¡± Biorarn pointed out matter-of-factly. Volgarek¡¯s charisma was in no wayparable to the emperor¡¯s. The feudal lords would definitely not just stand by. ¡°Then tell me the alternative!¡± ¡°We have to wait until His Majesty wakes up. While firmly defending this ce together with the other feudal lords.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Unable to find ws in the sensible words, Volgarek pursed his lips. He would have preferred if Biorarn actively stepped up so he could find some fault, but with this response he was left with nothing to say. Right now, the feudal lords of the emperor¡¯s faction were gathered here, forming arge army. It was to prevent the enemy from taking advantage of the momentum to advance deep into the south. With the lightly armed soldiers gathered together and building a camp, it would take more than a normal attack to damage it. All they needed was for the emperor to wake up here. ????????! As Volgarek angrily stormed out the door, the servants heaved a sigh of relief. Biorarn did not leave, instead waiting inside to call the wizard. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°I think we need to observe a little longer. . . Now that the dangerous situation has passed. . .¡± ¡°I see. You have worked hard.¡± ¡°Not at all!¡± ¡°It would be best to do your utmost. If His Majesty dies, you will be executed as well.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The wizard¡¯s face froze. Biorarn waved his hand. ¡°It seems there has been some misunderstanding.¡± ¡°A-A joke. . .?¡± ¡°No. I meant the other nobles would kill you, not me. They really dislike you.¡± These people who would not normally even lift their heads high without the emperor¡¯s formal employment were now strutting arrogantly, earning the resentment of many nobles. If the emperor died, the nobles nned to prosecute them with charges of heresy and paganism, sending them all to trial. The flustered wizard cried out. ¡°Biorarn-nim must save us!¡± ¡°Why must I save wizards?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Just do your best. If you save him, problem solved right? His Majesty has many enemies after all. You should stake your lives to save him.¡± The wizard¡¯s face turned ashen, but Biorarn paid him no mind. ¡°Biorarn-gong, the enemy hase out to provoke us.¡± ¡°Pass down the order for the knights not to respond.¡± Although he spoke as such, Biorarn was well aware that the knights would likely ignore the order. After all, if it was him who received such an order, he would have ignored it too. ???????????? The two armies faced each other, but the fights broke out only sporadically. Knights from both sides who wanted to make a name for themselves charged out one by one, shouting out their family names and challenging the enemy. Then a knight woulde out from the other side to take up the challenge, theirnces shing and swords swinging. Most fights ended before a conclusion was reached, with both sides¡¯ncespletely shattered, and asionally when a victor did emerge, a roar would rise from that side¡¯s camp. However, these were only young knights hungry for fame or mercenaries with their eyes on the rewards, not famous nobles. Both sides knew there was no need to fight meaningless battles now. The opponent would only send out famous knights if those on this side were ofparable status. If not, the lower knights just shed amongst themselves and withdrew. ¡°Count Palenglit.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Please speak freely.¡± The Count Palenglit acted extremely politely before Johan despite being a feudal lord of equal rank and young enough to be his son. If anyone saw, they would have mocked him for being too cowardly. ¡°Ah. . . no, Count.¡± ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ??????.¡¯ Johan looked the Count up and down carefully. He seemed genuinely nervous and not putting on an act. ¡®???????¡¯ Johan realized the pattern on the Count¡¯s jewelry seemed oddly familiar. ¡®?????? ?????????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?????????????¡¯ Johan knitted his brows. The Count shook in fear at his sudden change in expression. ¡°Oh.¡± After thinking it over, Johan finally remembered. It was simr to the pattern on the pagan treasures he had found in the ancient Empire ruins that the mercenaries had been cursed by. ¡°Count, do you believe in other gods?¡± When Johan asked, pointing at the pattern, the Count¡¯s expression changedpletely. His eyes wide, he red at Johan, his hands shaking violently. He looked about to attack Johan at any moment. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid. I¡¯m not someone you can beat.¡± While Johan had plenty of experience with reckless young knights thoughtlessly attacking him, it was quite shocking to see this man who looked like he had never even properly held a sword before on the verge of attacking him. Perhaps Johan¡¯s warning brought the Count¡¯s mind back, as he stopped moving. ¡°Count, believe what you wish, but I¡¯ve no intention of reporting you to the clergy.¡± ¡°. . .Truly?¡± ¡°Yes. I too have met the god you believe in at those ruins. What was that god¡¯s name again?¡± ¡°Kermetis. Kermetis!¡± Kermetis, one of the pagan gods, was the god of earth and life. The famously devout Johan iming to have met such a god was unbelievable to the Count, who looked at him with wary eyes. Johan lightly cut his palm with a dagger. The wound quickly healed at an unbelievable pace. ¡°See?¡± ¡°Oh. . . Oh my! I-I¡¯m sorry, Your Excellency Count. To think Your Excellency Count believes in the same god as I!¡± Johan was about to correct him that it wasn¡¯t true, but held his tongue. There was no benefit in stimting the man when he had just calmed down. ¡°I didn¡¯t call you because of faith, but because of the usations that came to the count. I heard rumors that you are colluding with the emperor faction.¡± ¡°. . .Your Excellency Count. Will you believe me if I tell you the truth?¡± ¡°Are we not brothers of the same faith? If we don¡¯t trust each other, who will?¡± The count was not a carefree person to the extent that he could speak easily even though Johan had a high reputation andmanded many soldiers. It is only natural for people of different faiths to be suspicious and cautious for a long time. However, the joy of meeting the same faith here definitively rxed the sense of caution. The count confessed straight away. ¡°I was made an offer. But please believe me! I really didn¡¯t reveal any information. At best. . .¡± ¡°It must have been because of threats. I understand.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the count nodded with a moved expression. ¡®????. ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????.¡¯ Just in case, he checked and it really was because of threats. It seemed that there was someone on the emperor faction side who knew about the count¡¯s faith. ¡°You must have suffered a lot without anyone you could trust. But don¡¯t worry anymore. I will help you.¡± ¡°Your excellency. . .!¡± The count grabbed Johan¡¯s outstretched hand tightly. This young count, who suddenly appeared in an anxious situation, felt like a divine messenger sent by God.Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 251: ?????????????????? ?????????? (5) Chapter 251: ?????????????????? ?????????? (5) Johan skillfully seized the anxious count. While inwardly pondering how he could make use of this count. ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ The opponent was nowpletely cowered. It was natural now that the emperor had copsed and the enemy troops were emboldened before them. In this situation, bait was usually not enough to get them to step up. ¡°You¡¯re no ordinary man handler!¡± ¡°. . .W-What?¡± The count looked back in bewilderment. A swordsman he had never seen before was standing behind him. ¡°Wasn¡¯t this person brought by the count?¡±¡°No. . .how could I bring an armed escort into the tent without losing my mind?!¡± ¡°I know. You just bought time.¡± With those words, Johan kicked over a chair. The chair flew away with the sound of breaking. The standing swordsman was startled and lowered his head to avoid it. ¡°Devious!¡± ¡°A trespasser has no right to say anything.¡± While distracting the opponent by talking to the count, Johan already had a sword in his hand. Although the perimeter was firmly established, Johan himself was notcent, just as he had climbed the wall and snuck in. There were always people in the world who exceeded expectations. As Svetlg always said to be humble before the mysteries, it was taboo to be arrogant about what one did not know. ¡°Count,e over here. It would be troublesome if you die.¡± ¡°I have no intention of touching him.¡± Johan ignored the swordsman¡¯s words. The count cautiously moved behind Johan. ¡®???????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????¡¯ Karamaf was the one guarding the tent closest. With the instincts and sense of smell of a wolf, Karamaf did not easily allow any approach. But to think it was prated like this. ¡®?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ When Johan did not answer, the swordsman made quite a bored expression. ¡°Can¡¯t ignore me, Count Yeats.¡± ¡®?????????????? ????????????. ???????????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask why I¡¯m here? If you ask, I¡¯m willing to answer.¡± ¡°I see.¡± When the opponent initiated a conversation by lowering his sword, Johan also lowered his sword. As the atmosphere flowed as if they were about to have a conversation, the count slightly rxed his tension. But at that moment, the two simultaneously raised their swords toward each other and brandished them. ¡°!¡± At the lively exchange of swords, the count fainted unconscious. Even so, the two continued to coordinate and stab their swords at each other. The opponent tried to avoid shes and pierce in from the side. For a swordsman who knew he would not hold up if he crossed swords with a warrior with freakish strength like Johan, it was a possible swordsmanship. However, Johan was a man who could use swordsmanship other than orthodox swordsmanship. While quickly stepping forward, he widened the distance and blocked the opponent¡¯s invasion. A throwing knife flew through the air with a whooshing sound. It was not an attack to cut off his breath, but an attack to block Johann¡¯s counterattack. Johan ignored it and charged forward. At that crude counterattack, the opponent¡¯s eyes shook for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s poisoned, isn¡¯t it?!¡± Johan still did not answer. He did not feel the need to respond to words trying to shake him. The moment they came close enough to cross swords, Johan¡¯s freakish strength came into y. The opponent felt his arms and legs snapped as he was mmed to the ground. ¡®???????? ?? ???????????? ??????!¡¯ No matter how he tried to shake Johan¡¯s arm with skills, his arm did not budge like an oak tree. Johan threw away the opponent¡¯s sword by exerting more strength and strangled his neck. ¡°. . .End. . .me.¡± ¡°If I make up my mind, I can kill you anytime, so why rush now. . .Master.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Kaegal made an awkward expression and threw away his disguise. The face of an old assassin was revealed under it. ¡°Did you know from the beginning?¡± ¡°I noticed during the sword fight. I couldn¡¯t have missed it because the skills were so simr.¡± ¡°You. . .¡± Kaegal looked at Johan withplicated eyes. ¡°You stillck a lot to be an assassin.¡± Originally, the swordsmen who jumped into the assassin¡¯s work were the kind of heartless guys who would kill their own parents for silver coins. That¡¯s why Kaegal, who didn¡¯t like that, went out of his way to find Johan and teach him skills. But now that he had saved his life thanks to that, his feelings wereplicated. It was the wrong attitude as an assassin. ¡°Do I have to hear all that groaning when I just won? Winning is enough isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yeah. You did great.¡± The lion cub he hadn¡¯t seen for years had fully grown and was boasting its majesty. Just looking at his eyes, he exerted an overwhelming aura like a solid rock. At that level, there was no need to stubbornly insist on assassination like a rat. Johan called in a servant from outside to bring him something to drink. Looking outside, Karamaf was snoring, and the other guards didn¡¯t even know Kaegal hade in. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me how I did it. I taught you everything, the rest is experience and seniority.¡± ¡°I was going to ask if you wanted to drink alcohol or something else.¡± ¡°. . .You¡¯ve be even more unfortunate after getting the title!¡± Kaegal was amazed. He used to be a bit shameless, but after getting the Count title he started to show his true colors. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you a few times. Things didn¡¯t work out with your family.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t bother me that much anymore.¡± ¡°Yeah. Just saying hello. Now that you¡¯ve found a new lover and gotten a fiefdom, this should be enough to live well. Look at the other assassins. They risk their lives for a few silver coins and are worried about losing them.¡± Kaegal wasfortably lying down while being served by the servant. It was a very unfamiliar and awkward experience to be treated by a sessful disciple. He had never even imagined he would have such an experience in his life. But he didn¡¯t dislike it that much. Kaegal turned on his side again and said, ¡°I thought you might join the army of a noble family as a knight, marry the child of that family and continue the lineage. With your skills, you would have had no match around. But this is how it turned out. Isn¡¯t this also the will of God?¡± ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± ¡°I was talking to you and ended up babbling to myself. Okay. I think I¡¯ve heard enough about each other¡¯s well-being. Do you know why I came here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Oh, if you need money. . .¡± ¡°Get your hands off the chest. . . Before I throw a dagger.¡± Seeing Johan trying to take out a chest full of gold coins, Kaegal said coldly. ¡°I came to propose that we kill someone together. With my experience and your skills. . . wouldn¡¯t any man in the world be unable to sleep soundly?¡± ¡°If you have an enemy, I can just lend you some soldiers. That would be better.¡± Kaegal smiled pleasantly at Johan¡¯s words, as if he had been waiting to hear them. ¡°The opponent I¡¯m talking about is not someone your soldiers can catch. Still, he¡¯s the emperor of the Empire, so to speak.¡± ???????????? Originally, Kaegal did not like people of high rank. The higher the rank, the more he disliked them. He had been deceived by people of high rank in his youth and had narrowly escaped death several times. On top of that, the emperor had shown a petty trick by gathering a number of assassins in one ce and trying to choose the one with the best skills. From the time he subdued and cut down the other assassins who attacked him, Kaegal¡¯s desire to kill the emperor had been growing steadily in his heart. ¡°You were able to endure it well.¡± ¡°Even assassins have to endure when they have to. Do you know what kind of ce that was?¡± Kaegal could not even see the emperor¡¯s face directly. He could only hear his voice from behind a curtain. Next to him, heavily armed knights and crossbowmen were aiming at Kaegal and waiting. If he had moved a finger, he would have been turned into a hedgehog. ¡°I came out saying that I would try to kill the count in a loyal manner.¡± ¡°Which count?¡± ¡°. . .You! Who else could it be but you!¡± ¡°Oh. You mean me. You failed, didn¡¯t you? That¡¯s too bad.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t fail. I withdrew.¡± ¡°Well, if you say so. I understand.¡± It was no good to talk for long with an opponent he could not defeat by force. Kaegal returned to the main subject. ¡°Nobles of high rank usually hire knights to kill someone, not pagans like me whose identities are unknown. It¡¯s a matter of when something goes wrong. It could even be used for nothing. That¡¯s why I never thought I would have a rtionship with the Empire¡¯s emperor in my lifetime. . .¡± ¡°I understand. You want to kill the emperor.¡± ¡°Thank you for understanding.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re going to kill him now?¡± Kaegal was somewhat moved by Johan¡¯s straightforward answer. In his situation, it would not be surprising if he had said, ¡¯?? ??????¡¯?? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ????????????????, ?????? ??¡¯???? ???????? ???? ??????????????????????.¡¯ But he answered without hesitation. ¡°If master says so, he must have a n. This is an opportunity.¡± Of course, Johan also had something to believe in. Since Kaegal was willing to go into the emperor¡¯s pce, which even other assassins had given up on, it was clear that he already had a n. Johan was willing to pay any price if he could only take the emperor¡¯s life. The emperor was the symbol that kept the feudal lords united in the face of all kinds of disadvantages. If his breath stopped, they would really scatter. ¡°No. It¡¯s impossible. I tried to go in once, but it was not ordinary. It was very tight.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Stop insulting me with your eyes.¡± ¡°Cough. No, it¡¯s not like that. I think there¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± Kaegal clicked his tongue and pulled out a map from his pocket. It was a map of the camp that was drawn in quite detail. ¡°The emperor sets up his camp ording to a predetermined protocol, whether he is moving or staying. You can see it as a kind of mobile pce. Do you see?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As expected of a descendant of an old family, the emperor¡¯s camp was arranged very carefully. ¡¯??????. ?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????????????????.¡¯ Johan was also slightly impressed. He had learned fortification at Vynashchtym, but this campyout was a different matter. As you can see, it is quite thorough. From the soldiers to the knights, they are deployed inyers, and inside, dozens of tents are deployed so that you cannot tell what is real. It is also difficult to disguise or use magic. There are so many wizards in the camp that it is difficult to withstand. You couldn¡¯t even get into the camp beyond the soldiers¡¯ camp.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°So I thought about how to shake this. As a result, I concluded that I needed soldiers.¡± ¡°If you are trying to use my soldiers as bait now, I will refuse.¡± ¡°Listen to the end. I¡¯m not saying that we should charge at this strict camp with the soldiers.¡± Kaegal pulled out another map. This time it looked like a map of a castle. ¡°Is that a castle?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Gashstadt Castle. It¡¯s a very sturdy castle.¡± Johan knew more about Gashstadt Castle. It was one of the fiefdoms upied by the emperor faction, known as the most difficult castle to conquer in the south. Thanks to that, the emperor faction was ying a central role as a foothold for their activities in the south. ¡°I¡¯ve scouted this castle several times. It¡¯s quite well-stocked with supplies and such. With a castle like this firmly holding the rear, no wonder the guys out here aren¡¯t budging an inch. If some nimble soldiers secretly circled around and attacked this castle, it would throw them into chaos and get them moving.¡± ¡°I. . .I don¡¯t even know where to start point out what¡¯s wrong with that.¡± Johan was slightly flustered. Kaegal had lived his whole life as an assassin, not amander. So there were some odd parts to his n. ¡°Let¡¯s say we pull out enough troops to sneak around without them noticing. That would be around a hundred. With that many troops, even if we attacked the castle, the castle wouldn¡¯t flinch. And the enemies out here would know that much and stand firm.¡± ¡°. . .Then how about setting fire to the nearby towns and plundering any passersby?¡± ¡°Would they still not move for anything less? Of course some knight b*stards mighte charging, but I¡¯d think most would stand still.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have any other ns?¡± ¡°I thought a hundred would be enough to do anything. I guess that was asking too much.¡± Karegal looked unusually crestfallen. Feeling sorry for his master, Johan tried tofort Kaegal.Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEXNEXT?????¡á???? Chapter 252: ?????????????????? ?????????? (6) Chapter 252: ?????????????????? ?????????? (6) ¡°Normally that wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea. But the enemies are also risking their lives right now, tightly strung up. So they probably won¡¯t fall for minor tricks.¡± With the momentum on the enemy¡¯s side, not many would be easily shaken when des were fiercely pointed at them. At the very least, most would stand their ground and see. ¡°Besides, the enemies wouldn¡¯t have left Gashstadt Castle alone either, with all those supplies stockpiled.¡± ¡°When I went around and checked, there seemed to be around a thousand troops garrisoned.¡± Johan was slightly impressed. The area around Gashstadt Castle was not in a state where outside travelers could easily wander around presently. To have snuck in and confirmed the number of soldiers showed exceptional experience beyond Johan¡¯s status as a mere assassin. ¡°A thousand is quite a lot.¡± For troops garrisoned at the rear, moreover at an impregnable castle, even hundreds would have been enough. Just that much would have made it difficult to siege under normal circumstances. Having more beyond that amount indicated how important this ce was. ¡°Sieging a well-built castle is ten times more difficult.¡± ¡°What about sneaking over the walls?¡± Kaegal kept asking questions, seemingly reluctant to give up. Having prepared for so long, it seemed tough for him to let go. ¡°Unless you have an inside spy, it would be difficult, no?¡± ¡°!¡± Kaegal¡¯s eyes shone at Johan¡¯s words. He seemed to have gotten an idea. ¡°Good! I know a few who could serve as spies.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± Johan couldn¡¯t help but feel refreshed at those words. Gashstadt Castle had more troops garrisoned than usual presently. While having more soldiers didn¡¯t necessarily mean things would go well, it also revealed vulnerabilities. One was the fact that there were multiplemanders. If it were Johan, he would have installed one trusted person. But from Kaegal¡¯s words, Gashstadt Castle had multiple detachments led by differentmanders guarding it jointly. Given the suspicious emperor¡¯s personality, he wouldn¡¯t want to leave such an important castle to just one person. While one person would have been hard to turn, having multiple made it easier topromise a couple of them. Moreover, the emperor had sustained injuries from the ongoing unfavorable battle and copsed. ¡°Is that really true?¡± ¡°Yes. I did look for a way when I wondered if there really was no method. First, there¡¯s a mercenary captain from the Wolves of Arkten. A nasty, rough fellow, but he¡¯s rather smart. He can be made to betray for money. And there¡¯s Baron Botenven. The emperor¡¯s gamekeeper, but she harbors resentment towards the emperor for humiliating her to her face. And. . .¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s good enough, Master. You¡¯ve done excellently.¡± Johan sincerely admired him. An assassin¡¯s skills could sometimes prove more useful in areas other than assassination; this felt like a fresh realization. ???????????? ¡°My dear. Shouldn¡¯t Ie along with you. . .?¡± ¡°If even Iselia falls, it will be too much of a burden on Suetlg-nim.¡± Iselia spoke as if worried. In fact, more than worrying, she seemed to want to fight alongside them. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????????¡¯ In fact, he understood not worrying. Although few in words, the south behind the territory we¡¯re currently facing off against had many ces to hide and quite a few nobles and towns whose allegiance didn¡¯t necessarily lie with the emperor. Although they said they¡¯d be moving into enemy territory, with less than a hundred soldiers it was practically impossible to capture them quickly. Not only were there no soldiers remaining in the fiefdom capable of doing so, but could they really withdraw the army gathered here before them? They may be able to send out a pursuing team led by a few knights, but it didn¡¯t seem Johan and his warriors would lose in such a fight. . . As long as Johan didn¡¯t cause any noticeable disturbances anywhere or im ¡¯?? ???? ?????????? ??????????,¡¯ there was no danger. And even if he did such things, he was confident he could escape quickly. Moreover, who could have imagined a count would make a move like this? ¡°Are your subordinates dissatisfied?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not greenhorns who have only disguised themselves once or twice before, so it¡¯s fine.¡± In fact, the veteran mercenaries who had a lot of experience following Johan were waiting with their disguisesplete without so much as a blink. Anyone could tell they looked like merchants. Thanks to disguising themselves thoroughly borrowing the name and crest of a merchant group, they looked even more usible as merchants preparing to take advantage of things around the battlefield. Anyone would think they were supply merchants wandering around the vicinity of the battlefield hoping to turn a profit. ¡®?????? ???? ??????. . .!¡¯ Jyanina was mixed in with the party with a very unhappy expression. With Suetlg remaining at headquarters as an advisor, there was no one who could y the role of wizard other than Jyanina. On top of that, she was quite knowledgeable about the emperor¡¯s camp as well. The party skillfully took a detour and then stopped by a town, buying and selling goods while pretending to be merchants. Seeing Johan strike up quite the usible conversation with the vige chief, Kaegal was impressed. ¡°Even though you¡¯re a knight, how¡¯d you pull off pretending to be a merchant?¡± ¡°At one point I considered working for a merchant group.¡± ¡°. . .Pffft hahahaha!¡± Kaegal burst out into crazyughter. It was just too funny. It took him a while to calm down afterughing so hard. ¡°No way. . . you aren¡¯t joking?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with working for a merchant group?¡± ¡°Pffft hahahaha!¡± Johan was tempted to punch him. Kaegal was old enough that if a bone broke, it would probably take quite a while to heal. ¡°You. . . pfft. . . as a merchant. . . priceless. Unbelievable. . .¡± ¡°I can read and write better than orcs, and calcte as well.¡± ¡°No way, really?? That¡¯s truly impressive.¡± Kaegal was surprised once more. It wasn¡¯t easy to be better at math than orcs. Weren¡¯t those eastern schrs their equals? ¡°Go on, tell me about what happened. What was Vynashchtym like?¡± ¡°Have you been there before, Master?¡± ¡°A few times. It was a nice ce. Lots of work for assassins too. I spent more time further east, but. . .¡± Kaegal¡¯s voice reeked of the smell of blood. ¡°Was there a reason you stayed there?¡± ¡°My skills sold for a higher price. The things that came out were all rare. It was a very enjoyable experience to see things that are difficult to buy even for a thousand gold coins here. You should go there sometime too. Don¡¯t you knights often go there hand in hand?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any need for me to personally go on the trade ship. Especially since master has returned.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to die in a foreignnd. Besides, once assassins do a lot of work, grudges stick to them like mud so it¡¯s dangerous to stay in one ce for long. The ones who don¡¯t know that try to buy viges and settle down only to die miserable deaths. That¡¯s why I¡¯m still alive at this age right?¡± Before Johan could answer, there was an interruption. Soldiers appeared at the front. The mercenaries disguised as merchants hardened their faces. Are they soldiers, rogues, or both? ¡°You say you are merchants from the Katana Merchant Guild?¡± ¡°Yes. Sub-captain sir.¡± ¡°What. I¡¯m not a sub-captain.¡± The soldier waved his hand. He seemed to be around the rank of a deputy officer. But there are no soldiers who get upset when someone calls them by a higher rank. The man¡¯s voice had be much softer. ¡°There¡¯s nothing worth buying from the vige ahead. The merchant guys have already taken everything.¡± ¡°Is that so?!¡± ¡°Yes. However. . .¡± The soldier speaking lowered his voice carefully, as if to keep it from Kaegal¡¯s ears. But Kaegal heard him clearly. ¡°When I was young, I worked as a mercenary for a bit. Apanying such an old man who could die tomorrow isn¡¯t a good thing. The merchants will use that as an excuse to extort money.¡± ¡°Thank you for the advice.¡± Without any suspicion, the party was able to pass by. Thanks to a few bottles of alcohol and kind words. Of course, Kaegal whispered furiously. ¡°I¡¯ll stab that guyter when I pass by again.¡± ¡°There will be opportunities for paybackter. More importantly, I think we¡¯re getting close. How do you n to approach?¡± ¡°First, let¡¯s call out the mercenary captain guy. That vige is a ce he and his men often frequent to have fun.¡± There was no way the soldiers working in the castle could just keep enduring inside. They would patrol the vicinity and visit nearby viges to have fun. If they watch for the right opportunity, they can easily approach the mercenary captain. ¡°Hey. That old man is amazing. What was he doing? He seems to know this whole area.¡± ¡°He looks like a spy employed by the Count. He is quite amazing.¡± ¡°Did he use to be a soldier or something?¡± Fortunately, the mercenaries did not raise their voices like the soldiers earlier. This time Kaegal did not hear them. ¡°. . .?¡± The problem was that the mercenary captain had not shown up. The mercenaries sitting at the outdoor tables of the bar exchanged nces as they sipped their beers. ¡°Why isn¡¯t heing?¡± ¡°Hmm. . .?¡± ¡°Maybe today¡¯s not the day.¡± ¡°I guess so. Anyway, we¡¯ll be staying here for a while, so it should be fine.¡± However, the mercenary captain did not show up the next day, or the day after next. Kaegal seemed to have realized that something was off. ¡°. . .I need to go check what¡¯s going on.¡± When Kaegal returned, he looked a little gloomy. Johan sensed that something had gone wrong. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°The men stabbed him with a knife, they say.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± It wasmon in mercenary groups for subordinates to revolt or attempt assassination. Ruling over rough men with charisma and fear meant a single mistake could bring a de flying at you. ¡°It will be difficult to recruit a new mercenary captain.¡± Not only did Kaegal not even know who the previous mercenary captain was, but also when someone had just be a mercenary captain, they tended to be cautious and refrain from bold actions. Even when betraying, one had to first gain control and build up a career, otherwise they would be too cautious to do anything. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Baron Botenven makes a circuit along the forest across the way every week, befitting a gamekeeper. There will be plenty of chances to encounter her. We may even kidnap her if need be.¡± ¡°Also, the wizard here is said to be acquainted with Baron Botenven.¡± ¡°Even better news.¡± Jyanina had an uneasy look on her face. Kaegal had hoped to seed, but his failure meant it was now her turn. Noticing Jyanina¡¯s nervousness, Johan said, ¡°No need to worry too much.¡± ¡°R-Right?¡± Jyanina was slightly moved. While not always the case, there was no doubt Johan was a merciful lord. Ask anyone of his subordinates and you¡¯d get ¡¯??¡¯???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ While he did somewhat underestimate Jyanina¡¯s abilities, Johan was quite tolerant. Having worked under the Emperor, this was even more noticeable to Jyanina. Mistakes that would have earned hershes to the flesh under the Emperor, Johan would simply dismiss with ¡¯????????, ?? ????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ ¡®. . .????¡¯?? ???????????????? ?????? ???? ???? ????????????????. . .¡¯ ¡°Well, I¡¯m not really expecting much anyway.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina clenched her fists tightly. She instinctively steeled her resolve to prove herself somehow. Seeing this, Kaegal was impressed. Despite his young age, his pupil was demonstrating exceptional skill in handling people. ???????????? The gamekeeper who is in charge of hunting represented courage and honor. Moreover, the emperor¡¯s gamekeeper needed even more excellent qualities. In other words. . . It meant that they had to wander more bravely with fewer numbers. Seeing two well-dressed people approaching from afar, Kaegal whispered. ¡°Do you think that wizard will do well?¡± ¡°Even if Jyanina, who at least has some connection, can¡¯t do it, I think it will be simr if anyone else goes. But did you say the baron has a grudge?¡± ¡°Having a grudge is different from impulsively making her our ally because of that grudge. I¡¯m asking if she can do that well.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan suddenly fell silent. Kaegal asked in an anxious voice. ¡°She¡¯s a wizard, so she should be able to do that much, right?¡± Even before the words ended, the situation he had worried about erupted. As soon as the Botenven baron saw Jyanina, she shouted. ¡°How dare this traitor shamelessly show her face here!!¡± ¡®???? ????. ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ It looked like the emperor was much more angry than expected. Seeing her put her hand on the horn to call people without even listening to her words. Just before the aimed arrows and strings were shot, the person next to the baron knocked down the baron with one blow. Only after taking off the cloth covering the person¡¯s face did Johan realize who this person was. It was Caenerna.Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 253: ?????????????????? ?????????? (7) Chapter 253: ?????????????????? ?????????? (7) ¡°Jyanina-gong?¡± Caenerna asked in a probing tone. She thought it was Jyanina but still wasn¡¯tpletely sure. ¡°Ah. . .no, I think you¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± Jyanina denied it casually. It was because of her pride. To think she would run into this embarrassing situation in front of Caenerna of all people. ¡°. . .If it¡¯s not Jyanina-gong, then are you some unknown assassin?¡± Caenerna asked back in disbelief. Her fingertips were aimed at Jyanina. The mercenaries didn¡¯t understand what was going on but those well-versed in mysteries like Johan and Jyanina could feel the threatening aura gathering. ¡°No. She is Jyanina-gong so don¡¯t do anything rash.¡± Johan, who was hiding, stood up. He stepped in because an unexpected situation could have developed if he just left it alone. Seeing Johan¡¯s face, Caenerna blinked in surprise. ¡°Why is the count here?¡± It was because Caenerna remembered who Jyanina was attending when she knocked down the gamekeeper. The Empire people who fought and escaped from that penins reported that Jyanina was working under Count Yeats and Caenerna made sure to remember that. So she tried to help. . . But she never expected Johan toe here personally. ¡°I¡¯m here due to circumstances. But why is the wizard here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here because of circumstances too. . .¡± The two exchanged very subtle andplex gazes. They were unexpectedly meeting again after being apart for quite some time. They felt happy yet flustered to see each other so they didn¡¯t know what to say first. ¡°Lovers?¡± Kaegal¡¯s voice broke the silence. It was rare to see a count directly exchanging such gazes with an imperial court wizard who worked in the emperor¡¯s pce. ¡°I knew it. . .!¡± As Jyanina cried out as if she expected it, Johan hit her waist with the scabbard he was holding. It hurt more than she thought and Jyanina teared up. ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t possibly think that way because you overestimated Caenerna¡¯s abilities, did you?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡®??????????.¡¯ In any case, Kaegal spoke indifferently as if he didn¡¯t care. ¡°Whether you two are lovers or not, it doesn¡¯t matter if you cooperate with us. First, let¡¯s get moving. We¡¯ll only run into beasts if we stay here for long. Should we kill that gamekeeper?¡± At Kaegal¡¯s words, Caenerna shook her head. ¡°She was just surprised by Jyanina-gong¡¯s appearance and spoke rashly but she¡¯s someone who will listen if we talk.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then bring her along. It was a useless mistake sending that wizard.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan patted Jyanina¡¯s back. This time, he felt a little sorry for her. Jyanina slowly nodded, still with tears in her eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t make any particr mistakes this time so don¡¯t take it too hard. I think I was too harsh on you, sorry about that.¡± ¡± . . .!¡± Jyanina was slightly moved. It was rare for a count to say something like that. Jyanina, who normally looked down on Johan¡¯s warriors who devoted their loyalty to him, thinking ¡®?????? ????????????-???????????? ?????????? ???????? ??????! ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ didn¡¯t realize that she was also being moved by a single word. The old assassin asked Caenerna. ¡°Wizard. If she displeases you, I can put in a word with the count to convince him to whip her. I can do that much aspensation for your cooperation.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. . .¡± ¡°Is that so? I must have been mistaken. I thought I saw her with murderous eyes.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see it. Don¡¯t say anything that could be misunderstood.¡± ???????????? The awakened gamekeeper was delighted to hear Johan¡¯s identity. ¡°Count Yeats? I know you by reputation. I didn¡¯t expect to meet you like this!¡± ¡°I¡¯m also extremely happy to meet the Baron like this.¡± Johan¡¯s courteous attitude made the Baron happy. It was a pleasure that such a famous knight was politely addressing the Baron. ¡°I know there are no knights that can match the Count¡¯s skills, but still, isn¡¯t it dangerous for you to wander around like this? Ah. Of course, I have no intention of capturing an honorable knight through despicable methods!¡± ¡°I thought it would be rude to send a subordinate to talk to the Baron. How else could I convey my sincerity if we don¡¯t meet in person?¡± ¡®???? ????????????????.¡¯ Caenerna quietly listened next to her with an admiring expression. There was no need for her to step forward and persuade. Johan had the Baron dancing on the palm of his hand. Originally harboring dissatisfaction towards the Emperor, it was not an easy task to make a nobleman betray the one he served. But by the end of the conversation, the Baron was wishing for Johan¡¯s victory more sincerely than anyone else. ¡°Aside from the soldiers under me and Caenerna-gong, there are quite a few other soldiers in the castle, but if you give me the opportunity, I can definitely open the gates. More than anything, Caenerna-gong has considerable authority among the people here.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Johan looked at Caenerna in surprise. It was not easy to gain the trust of the suspicious Emperor. ¡°A wizard who is not adept in conduct is not a wizard.¡± ¡®???? ?????? ???????????????? ?????¡¯ While Jyanina was thinking that, Kaegal spoke to Johan separately. ¡°If she is that cooperative, can¡¯t we ask for more? It would make things easier if we get the soldiers to attack others.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s dangerous.¡± Both the Baron and Caenerna had a number of soldiers with them, so they could wield swords directly inside the castle. But Johan had no intention of doing so. It was likely the Baron, who had just be friendly, would not grant such a request, and more than anything, it was dangerous if things went wrong. While Johan could pierce through the darkness with his men and would be hard to catch, there was a lot at stake for someone like Caenerna. ¡°Some will sneak in disguised as entourages, then coordinate attacks from the inside and outside when the timing is right. We need to burn down at least half from here.¡± Not many could remainposed when there was fire and assault at the castle behind them. Especially when supplies were lost as well. The feudal lords who were holding their ground were also likely to retreat or withdraw their troops. That frantic moment was what Kaegal was aiming for. ¡°You stick with the Baron, I¡¯ll stick with the wizard.¡± ¡°Well, if anyone¡¯s going to betray us, it¡¯s more likely to be the baron.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Why would the baron betray us now? She¡¯d be a fool if she did.¡± ¡°So what?¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking a strange question for someone who¡¯s good at handling the baron. Figure it out for yourself!¡± Kaegalughed as if he was at a loss for words, then followed the baron. There were so many peopleing and going in the castle that a few new attendants wouldn¡¯t even be noticed. Kaegal quickly blended in with the crowd. ¡®????????????????????.¡¯ Johan stood behind Caenerna with admiration. When Caenerna frowned at him, Johan asked in a puzzled way. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No¡­ I was just wondering what position would be appropriate for me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not enjoying this now, are you?¡± ¡°Wow. Are you criticizing the wizard for choosing friendship over loyalty now?¡± ???????????? Gashstadt Castle was a terribly well-built castle. Just thinking about attacking such a castle head-on was enough to make one dizzy. Not only was it located on a rocky mountainside, but the outer and inner castles were organically connected. To target just one castle gate, you had to withstand thebined attack of the wall towers near it. Nor were there any low or weak parts of the castle walls, and the gates themselves were unbelievably sturdy. Inside and out, supplies brought in from around this area were piled high. . . ¡°There¡¯s so much to burn I¡¯m worried about what to do.¡± Caenerna said in a yful tone. Johan suddenly thought of something and asked. ¡°But will it be okay?¡± ¡°What are you suddenly talking about?¡± ¡°Well. . . I¡¯m asking if it¡¯s okay to cooperate like this. You have the position of the emperor¡¯s court wizard, don¡¯t you?¡± The position of court wizard was not a title light enough to discard easily. Isn¡¯t it the most honorable position a wizard can have in the Empire? However, Caenernaughed as if it was absurd. ¡°You¡¯re asking that now?¡± ¡°Of course I don¡¯t feel that way, but when I thought about it, I couldn¡¯t help but ask.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an act I¡¯m determined to abandon my position ordingly. The count will promise me a position befitting me. Right?¡± ¡°Yes. If you wish, I will give you a title.¡± ¡°. . .If you say it so seriously, I feel a little embarrassed.¡± There was nothing bad about receiving a title, but Caenerna was not so greedy. But hearing such words didn¡¯t make her feel bad. ¡°Greetings, Wizard.¡± A man who looked like a mercenary sub-captain came from afar and politely greeted her. He nced up and down at Johan. He had no memory of him. ¡°He¡¯s a new bodyguard I hired.¡± ¡°If you had said so, we would have sent one of our excellent subordinates.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t impose such an inconvenience.¡± ¡°I understand. Take good care.¡± After the sub-captain left, Johan said in wonder. ¡°He¡¯s more polite than I thought.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because he wants a lot from this Caenerna. If you know how much these mercenaries check each other, you¡¯ll be surprised. They desperately try to get the emperor¡¯s attention and receive a small title.¡± You could see them fighting much more fiercely for such a reward than for a reward like silver. It was indeed an emperor-like skill of his to exploit such an aspect. ¡®??????. ?? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????????? ????????????. ?????? ???????????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ Mercenaries who fight for money becamezy as soon as they got out of surveince. Experience was needed to keep them brisk. ¡°By the way,munication by the Fire Goblet must have been cut off. Weren¡¯t you surprised?¡± ¡°I was worried.¡± ¡°. . .Really? There was no particr reason. There are too many wizards to use it. When mysticism changes, wizards notice right away.¡± Under the pretext of patrol, Caenerna walked around the castle. Seeing that no one was particrly concerned, it seemed that she usually walked around. As Johan walked around, he memorized the structure of the castle in his mind. There were maps avable but their quality was quite poor, so it was better for Johan to redraw them. ¡°I guess I should cause some kind of disturbance after all. Do you have any advice?¡± ¡°Hmm. How about a monster?¡± ¡°Do monsters appear often?¡± ¡°Rumors always float around castles as old as this. Sometimes when you get used to them, they appear. Mercenaries seem interested enough to make a move. . .¡± To mercenaries starving for a reward, a threatening monster would feel not like a crisis, but an opportunity. ¡°But for a monster to conveniently move around at my request. . . Ah, there¡¯s Jyanina.¡± ¡°Jyanina-gong?¡± ¡°Was there some issue between you two?¡± ¡°Well, she¡¯s a wizard who used to do all sorts of things to get my power when she worked as a court wizard, so it¡¯s hard not to pay attention.¡± ¡°Oh dear. I shouldn¡¯t have brought her.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. If I had been attacked, I would know, but I have never been.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan pitied Jyanina for her confidence. She seemed to be very confident, judging from what she said. ????????! A faint sound of something copsing could be heard from afar. Johan furrowed his brows. ¡°What was that sound?¡± ¡°?¡± Caenerna, whose senses were duller than Johan¡¯s, couldn¡¯t hear it and tilted her head. But the sound was heard again. ????????! ¡°. . .Is there any force around here that could attack this castle?¡± ¡°None, unless the feudal lords have gone mad and charged over here.¡± ????????! As the noise grew louder, even Caenerna could hear it now. Caenerna narrowed her eyes and stared in the direction the noise wasing from. At the same time, the huge outer wall of the castle copsed. The dwarves inside the castle who had been boasting that not even a dragon could bring down this wall were stunned speechless at the sight. ¡°An earthquake?!¡± ¡°If it were an earthquake, the surroundings would have shaken.¡± Johan tensed his body. The spirits sleeping within cried out shrilly, and his intuition rang out sharply. It was a reaction Johan had never seen before. A blood-soaked mercenary came galloping in on a ragged horse, fleeing this way. And he screamed, ¡°A dragon has appeared!¡±Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEXNEXT?????¡á???? Chapter 254: ?????????????????? ?????????? (8) Chapter 254: ?????????????????? ?????????? (8) The world is home to many monsters that are named after dragons. Just look at the monster Johan caught in the coastal city. It was called a sea dragon, wasn¡¯t it? The earthworm, which is called a dragon, or the drake, which is called a dragon, are also monsters with the name dragon. However, all of these monsters are not technically dragons. The name dragon is simply attached to them to describe how ferocious and powerful they are. The real dragon is more powerful than all of these monstersbined. It has a huge body, cunning intelligence, sharp ws that can tear anything apart, and wings that can fly anywhere. Once it takes a deep breath and breathes fire, a vige burns down, and when it swings its tail like a il, the walls copse. Johan had heard many stories about various monsters from wandering travelers and bards since he was a child, but he had not been particrly interested in the stories about dragons. No braggarts im to have met a dragon.Dragons are so rare that thest record of them appears only in the records of the monastery from a few hundred years ago. Therefore, Johan thought that he would never meet a dragon, even if he met trolls or ogres in his lifetime. But a dragon? ¡°What kind of nonsense are you talking about?¡± Some people thought the same, and a few of the mercenaries who were guarding the ce scolded them. It is rare for someone to simply ept the words ¡¯?? ???????????? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ However, Johan believed the warning of his intuition. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here!¡± Johan¡¯s words made Caenerna nod her head. There was no time to worry about disguising her identity or preparing a n when a dragon had appeared. No matter what happens, we¡¯ll get out of here first! Even as Caenerna and her attendants ran first and escaped to the other side, the people continued to murmur in response. Only after passing under the first gate were the people able to witness the evidence with their own eyes. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. . . The appearance of the dragon, rising up from between the copsed walls and gazing down at its prey with reptilian eyes. Some of the people who faced it fainted and fell to the ground. Even though they were mercenaries who had experienced the battlefield, they still fell. ????????????! Arrows from a crossbow flew. A few mercenaries drew the crossbow while trembling. The bolts flew sharply, but they did not inflict a single wound on the dragon¡¯s scales. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. And with a mocking growl, the dragon¡¯s counterattack began. ???????????? ¡°Is this really God¡¯s punishment?!¡± Caenerna eximed without thinking. She couldn¡¯t believe that a real dragon, which had not appeared for over a hundred years, had suddenly appeared now. As a monster with a special status, dragons were often apanied by various superstitions when they appeared. The most representative of these superstitions was that they were the punishment of an angry god. It was believed that God had sent the dragon as his proxy to deliver his wrath. Johan replied in a very nonchnt tone. ¡°So, trolls tearing off the arms of church knights means that they should pray properly?¡± ¡°. . .I just said it in a panic.¡± Caenerna said, feeling embarrassed. It was indeed funny that a wizard who usually did not believe in God would now think that it was God¡¯s punishment. But the emperor had umted a lot of grudges. The sound of the dragon roaring fiercely and scratching the inside of the castle could be heard from behind. Smoke was already rising from some ces as if it had caught fire. Anyone who witnessed this unbelievable reality could not help but think of one thing, no matter how hard they tried to be rational. Isn¡¯t this God¡¯s punishment? The emperor¡¯s actions were too well known to the people under him to just ignore them. He was the emperor who led an army to conquer the order when he was young. His sphemous behavior was very famous. ¡°This way!¡± As Johan gave the signal, those waiting gathered. Normally, it would be wrong for more than a few dozen people to gather near the castle, but now was not the time to worry about that. After all, everyone¡¯s eyes were on the dragon. It was highly likely that Johan would not be noticed even if he killed a few people and threw a torch into the warehouse. ¡°Should we go save the baron?¡± ¡°No. The person next to her will take care of it.¡± Johan trusted Kaegal. No matter how chaotic the situation was, he would be able to take care of it and get out. His prediction was spot on. Kaegal soon came out of the city gate with the baron. ¡°It¡¯s God¡¯s wrath!¡± ¡°. . .Hmm. Let¡¯s just say it¡¯s God¡¯s wrath.¡± ¡°Then do you have any other opinions?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a monster that woke up from a long sleep, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kaegal burst outughing at Johan¡¯s words. Even when Johan was nothing, he felt that he was a guy with a really big guts. How many guys can say that when they see a real dragon, let alone a dragon that is running wild in front of their eyes? Still, thanks to Johan being so calm, Kaegal came to his senses. Kaegal nodded and asked. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just run away.¡± Johan answered immediately. The people present looked at Johan in disbelief. They were surprised that the count, who had carefully traveled this long way, said to run away without a single bit of hesitation. However, Johan was serious. ¡°Why stay here when the dragon is destroying the castle and burning the supplies?¡± ¡°. . .You¡¯re right. I guess I¡¯ve be stupid because I saw the dragon.¡± After giving it some thought, Johan was right. He carelessly pondered how to drive away that dragon, but they didn¡¯t need to fight it. It was a task for the people of this castle. They came solely to burn the castle¡¯s supplies. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± However, the party couldn¡¯t leave. Mercenaries started running towards them urgently from all around. ¡°Wizard, please help us. A dragon has appeared inside the castle!¡± ¡°It broke through the walls and set fire inside. We must drive it away! Tell us how to prate its scales!¡± The mercenaries were so frantic that they didn¡¯t notice the unfamiliar warriors behind Caenerna. They should have recognized the well-armed elite at first sight. ¡®???? ???? ???????¡¯ ¡®????????????.¡¯ Kaegal exchanged nces with Johan. There was no need to get into a scuffle with these mercenary brutes here. . . ¡°The dragon ising this way!!¡± ¡°Damn these b*stards!¡± Kaegal cursed the mercenaries. There was only one reason why the dragon, which had been happily rampaging inside, woulde out again. These clueless mercenaries had caught the dragon¡¯s attention bying out. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit too much. . . Hup!¡± ¡°Shut your mouth! If you say another word, I¡¯ll put a hole in your neck!¡± Kaegal kicked the mercenary from horseback and snapped. Johan¡¯s subordinates said with a tense expression. In a situation where it wouldn¡¯t be strange for them to run away at any moment, they were holding the reins with their sweaty hands. Kaegal was also impressed by their loyalty. ¡°Give us your orders!¡± ¡°Everyone scatters. It¡¯s not good to be gathered against a dragon! Scatter!¡± Johan immediately gave the order. The mercenaries who had experience fighting monsters like Johan did not hesitate to scatter. ¡°Please escort the baron, master .¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my best! You be careful too. I haven¡¯t given up on his neck yet!¡± Johan also scattered with Caenerna. The sight of a giant shadow beginning to form on the ground behind them made people gasp for air. ¡°Wizard, your orders. . .!¡± ¡°Scatter and confuse him! Shoot arrows or bolts at him as much as you can, but aim for his eyes if possible. Even if you can¡¯t pierce his scales, it will distract him.¡± Johan gave the orders instead. Even though they were flustered, the mercenaries were not fools to follow the orders of a stranger they had just met, but they nodded without realizing it and repeated Johan¡¯s orders. ¡°Scatter! Scatter and confuse him!¡± ¡°Archers, aim for his eyes!¡± Johan looked back to confirm the dragon. The massive form chasing them as it ran across the ground with its wings folded was impressive, but the burning castle behind it was even more intense. Johan could not even begin to fathom the grand castle copsing and burning. The sight evoked a strange sense of awe. ¡°Your Excellency Count! I believe you are not enchanted!!¡± Caenerna called out to Johan with a voice full of concern. A powerful monster could mesmerize people with its presence. Just like a wizard could bewitch people, a monster could do the same. But surely, Johan wouldn¡¯t. . . ¡°If you don¡¯t see me as some *sshole, then don¡¯t speak like that. So, Caenerna. Is there a way to confront that dragon?¡± Caenerna produced mes from her hand. It would have been threatening if it was a person, butpared to the dragon behind, it was quite a cute me. ¡°How does it look?¡± ¡°It seems we have no way. Then we must use another method.¡± ¡°What method?¡± ¡°Running faster than the mercenaries behind us.¡± ¡°. . .I would haveughed in a different situation. . .!¡± The mercenaries scattered, shooting arrows and bolts as fast as they could. They aimed for the eyes, but the dragon wasn¡¯t foolish enough to get hit. Just by closing its eyes, it evaded the attacks. Inparison, a few slow-footed mercenaries were immediately devoured if the dragon attacked once. ¡°Come back, you b*stards! Before you¡¯re executed!¡± The sub-captains were desperate to catch the fleeing mercenaries. They were veterans who had rolled around on the battlefield, but they were more vulnerable at times like this. They didn¡¯t believe in unfounded hope. Even if an arrow flew, the dragon¡¯s footsteps slowed down, but once they started to flee, there was nothing to bind the dragon. The dragonughed in satisfaction as it swallowed the mercenaries. ¡°. . .Did that guy just burp?¡± Johan doubted his ears. But he had heard it right. The dragon stopped swallowing anymore with a very satisfied expression. The mercenaries saw this and suddenly felt hope. It would have been strange if they were angry and harbored a grudge because of the mass death of theirrades and the half-destroyed castle, but the opponent was a terrifying existence that did not allow such resentment to rise. Even if the dragon withdrew after being full, the mercenaries could endure it. The dragon scanned the surroundings with its distinctive eyes. Then, like lightning, it swung its ws, crushing a mercenary on the spot. ¡°Why?!?!¡± Johan, who was watching, realized the dragon¡¯s scheme. It was. . . ¡°Going after the treasure!¡± Skilfully, the dragon plucked the nes heavily hung around a mercenary¡¯s neck with its w tips, then smiled contentedly and hung them on its scales. The mercenaries stationed here had participated in the southern battle and had amassed substantial loot. They all wore several pieces of gold jewelry. The bloody time of treasure collection had begun. Initially protesting their capture, the mercenaries soon realized what was happening. The quick-witted ones astonishingly threw their gold coins and nes, attempting to escape. Everyone was shocked to see them abandon items more precious than their lives. ¡°. . .This looks bad.¡± Caenerna, with a pale face, said. Caenerna herself had an ancient artifact and a staff, and Johan also had a significant number of treasures. ¡°Can it smell the treasure from that distance?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s the dragon¡¯s sense of smell, then surely. . .¡± Johan took out his spear, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible. The spear tip was coated with a magical poison made by Suetlg. It was uncertain if it would kill the dragon, but it would surely have some effect. ¡®???????? ????, ???? ?????? ????????.¡¯ He had no intention of leaving the treasures. If the dragon was satisfied chasing the mercenaries and returned, it would be good for them, but if it persisted. . . ©¥¡ö! The dragon, pleased with its haul, smelled the treasure from the fleeing figures. Ignoring them, the dragon strode forward and leaped. ????????! At that moment, the spear pierced the dragon¡¯s front paw.Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ¡º???? ????????¡» ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 255: ?????????????????? ?????????? (9) Chapter 255: ?????????????????? ?????????? (9) A cat hunting in high spirits would be embarrassed and angry if it were bitten by a mouse. Dragons are simr. When the unexpected prey inflicted a wound on its foreleg with great force, the dragon roared in pain and anger. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö! ¡°It went in!¡± Johan felt relieved at the sensation in his fingertips. If the dragon had been on guard, the attack could have missed. At the moment the beast stuck out its foreleg without defense, Johan¡¯s spear flew out with all his strength, and the dragon fell into the trap. ¡°It¡¯s panicking.¡± A monster that had never received a decent wound in its life would lose itsposure with anger and pain once it had a taste of it. Of course, a dragon would be no different.With its body wrapped in sturdy and solid scales that would not easily be pierced even by siege weapons, what prey could inflict a wound on a dragon? However, Johan¡¯s brute strength, which he had been waiting for,pletely exceeded the dragon¡¯s expectations. The hard scales were shattered, and the spear de was embedded in the muscle. ¡°It¡¯s working!¡± At Caenerna¡¯s cry, Johan nodded and prepared the next spear. Although the spear was coated with poison, he did not think that he could catch the dragon with just one spear. ©¥??????????????????! Johan summoned a malevolent spirit and put his strength into the tip of his spear. The spear shaft swayed as if it would break, emitting a powerful aura. ????????! Johan¡¯s next target was the dragon¡¯s eye. Normally, Johan wouldn¡¯t have dared to aim for it, but because the dragon had lost its attention after being hit once, it was a possible target. If he hit the eye properly. . . ©¥¡ö! ¡ö! ¡ö! The dragon roared and bit the spear flying towards it with its teeth. Johan felt like he heard Valkalmur¡¯s squealing like a son of a b*tch who had lost its tail. Valkalmur could not withstand the spear bitten by the dragon¡¯s teeth with such terrible power, and it ran away. As if trying to restore its wounded pride, the dragon swung its uninjured other w at Johan, targeting him. The dragon seemed to have realized that Johan was not an easy prey, so it started to y tricks. First, it moved forward and cut down trees, smashing rocks and throwing debris to block the way. As Johan¡¯s movement slowed down while riding a horse at a fast speed, the dragon reached out its w like lightning to that side. Johan kicked the horse¡¯s belly once and then jumped off. The subordinates who were running nearby screamed in fright. ¡°Your excellency!!¡± They were nervously watching the fight with the dragon, but Johan¡¯s decision to jump off his horse was unexpected. It was crazy to get off the horse when he should be running away as fast as he could. The dragon swung its ws with glee. Unlike before, it was not trying to subdue its opponent with a blow and then take it into its mouth. Instead, it was trying to kill it for sure, even if it could not eat it. Proof of this was that it was trying to crush it with its full weight. ??????????! However, Johan held his ground by inserting Giant yer between them, as if he had been waiting for it. The Agnar shield given to him by the elf king vibrated violently, creating a barrier as if it knew its master was in danger. The dragon seemed to be surprised when its ws stopped without going any further. No matter how hard it tried, it would not move because it was blocked by something. Johan took advantage of this opportunity to reach out and draw Seal Retriever. The longsword shed brightly, leaving a strong wound on the dragon¡¯s foreleg. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö! With another roar from the dragon, the pressure that was pressing down on him as if it would shatter his bones disappeared. Blood dripped from the dragon¡¯s foreleg, which was properly cut deep. When the blood touched the ground, it burned the ground and created a foul odor, as if it were a powerful poison. ¡®??????.¡¯ Despite his carefulness, John was burned by the dragon¡¯s blood. The spirits shrieked and fled as the blood contained a potent mystery. ??????????????????????????????©¥ Cardirian, a bicorn, galloped over from afar, having remembered John¡¯s signal. John quickly mounted the horse. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö. . . The dragon writhed in pain. The wound cut deep by the Seal Retriever was slow to heal, and the wound pierced by the spear was constantly releasing a magical poison. The pain was far worse than anything the dragon had ever felt before. The dragon realized that John was no easy prey. ???????????? ¡°The dragon is running away!¡± The mercenaries, who were trying to run away faster than their colleagues, turned their heads to the unbelievable cry. If it was a lie, they were all determined to run away again. But the dragon was really running away. The dragon, which had been running through the field, suddenly turned its head in the opposite direction and ran away. ¡°It¡¯s running away! It¡¯s really running away!!¡± ¡°Come back, you sshole b*stards! The dragon is running away!¡± Still, a fair number of the mercenaries were returning after hearing the cry. That meant they were elite. If they weren¡¯t, they would have run away without looking back. ¡°It¡¯s pathetic.¡± The sub-captain was amazed to see the mercenaries crawling around everywhere. Who would think these were the emperor¡¯s elite? After seeing them crawling on the ground, abandoning their armor and weapons. ¡°Why is the dragon running away? Is it full?¡± ¡°Then it wouldn¡¯t need to run away like that, you ssholes!¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely running away. I saw it! I saw it with my own two eyes!¡± ¡°What? Really?¡± The mercenary who had been closest to the dragon spoke up. Previously, the mercenary was so scared that he felt his whole body freeze and his guts twist. But now that the dragon was running away, his voice started to clear up. The mercenary took a swig of the liquor he had carefully stored away. He couldn¡¯t speak if he didn¡¯t have the alcohol. ¡°That guy just gobbled up the other mercenaries like they were crumbs of bread. Remember Rimelbeck from the Bronze Hook Mercenary Group?¡± ¡°Yeah. That skilled guy.¡± Rimelbeck from the Bronze Hook Mercenary Group was a skilled guy who was famous even among the mercenaries present. He was agile and especially good with a spear, and thanks to him, many monsters lost their lives in front of his weapon. ¡°That guy just got eaten without being able to do anything.¡± ¡°That guy is dead?¡± ¡°Yeah! He just fell down with a single swipe of his w. He couldn¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°Why did such a monster run away? Isn¡¯t he just full and gone?¡± The mercenaries started to whisper. The sub-captain frowned. The mercenaries started to get scared again because of the thoughtless words. The surrounding area is in ruins. He doesn¡¯t know how to handle the situation, but he needs to gather the mercenaries and keep them in this area. That way, he can do whatever needs to be done. The problem is that even the experienced veteran mercenaries are terrified of the dragon. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if they panicked and fled in the middle of the night. So he asked them to spread the word that the dragon had fled. ¡°The *sshole! I saw it with my own eyes!¡± ¡°I know it fled, you *sshole! I¡¯m asking how it fled!¡± ¡°How did it fled? You stabbed them with a spear and shed with a sword to make them run away! What else could it be?¡± ¡°You pierced the dragon with a spear and shed it with a sword???¡± The mercenaries had twisted expressions as they gathered their mouths. If that were the case, half of them would burst intoughter, and the other half would beat up the mercenary who made such a ridiculous joke. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me; it was the count who was there! The count did it!¡± ¡°Ahh. . .¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way he would have done that.¡± The mercenaries, who had been convinced, once again harbored doubt. No matter how, they couldn¡¯t imagine stabbing a real dragon with a spear and slicing it with a sword. Of course, the nobles have weapons that the mercenaries would never even think of, but. . . Even that is only possible when fighting an opponent that you can somewhat imagine, so how can you show such courage against a dragon that is destroying the castle? ¡°Which knight did it?¡± ¡°A knight who can charge at a dragon with a spear in the Empire?¡± The mercenaries asked as if they couldn¡¯t believe it. No matter how hard they thought, no knight who could do that came to mind. It was not something that could be done simply by being reckless. It required courage as well as the ability to fight a dragon and survive. ¡°It was Count Yeats.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± ¡°Really that Count? He must be a really great guy. To charge at a dragon like that!¡± ¡°Oh, you mean the Count who tore off the troll¡¯s arm?¡± ¡°Where did you hear that sshole minstrel¡¯s bullsh*t? He caught the troll, not tore off his arm.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that important right now! Tell me more about the story of fighting the dragon!¡± The other mercenaries who were listening to the pointless argument got angry. The mercenaries¡¯ self-esteem was surprisingly great. Knights are often the subject of ridicule by mercenaries. They are used of relying on servants and attendants to finish off their enemies. Mercenaries may be poorly equipped ande from humble backgrounds, but they have a sense of pride in their willingness to fight and die alongside each other. Despite their pride, the mercenaries were intrigued by the mercenary¡¯s story of fighting a dragon. ¡°Wait a minute. That¡¯s strange.¡± ¡°What¡¯s strange? Are you saying I¡¯m lying?¡± ¡°No. . . Count Yeats is on the opposing side, right? Why would he be here?¡± ¡°. . .!!¡± The mercenaries suddenly realized something was wrong. They had been so shocked by the dragon that they had forgotten that Count Yeats was not someone who would normally be in this area. ¡°Did hee here to hunt the dragon?¡± ¡°What a lunatic! Who would go around hunting dragons?¡± ¡°Then where¡¯s the b*stard who threw a spear at the dragon and made it run away?¡± ¡°Shut up, you idiots! This isn¡¯t the time for that!¡± The sub-captain, who had been listening, suddenly came to his senses. ¡°Why are you saying that?¡± ¡°Report this to our superiors! Count Yeats hase this far!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The mercenaries hesitated at the sub-captain¡¯s words. The sub-captain was dumbfounded by the absurd mutiny he had never seen before. ¡°Did you get your ears blown out by the dragon¡¯s roar? What are you doing?¡± ¡°No, isn¡¯t it too much to catch the knight who came here to drive away the dragon?¡± ¡°Even though we are mercenaries, isn¡¯t it too much of a son of a btch if we don¡¯t know gratitude?¡± ¡°You idiots! Do you think the count came here to chase away the dragon?! Shut your mouths and move!¡± The sub-captain berated the mercenaries, but the remaining mercenaries were very indifferent. The sub-captain sensed that he was wrong at the sight of them. In the first ce, the situation was that everyone was trying to save their own skin in the event of an unexpected ident. It was impossible to do anything if they were so unmotivated to chase after the count, who would have escaped much earlier even if he had run away. Besides, it seemed that there were a few who would secretly let the count go instead of reporting him if they met him now. ¡®. . .?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????. ?? ?????????? ??¡¯???? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ The sub-captain also gave up halfway. Instead of catching him, he was nning to report to the authorities to avoid responsibility. ¡°. . .It¡¯s a dragon! A dragon has appeared!¡± ¡°Shut up, you crazy b*stard. Now is not the time for jokes.¡± ¡°No, you ssholes! Look over there!¡± The mercenaries involuntarily turned their heads. A terrifying dragon head that was hard to forget even in their dreams was appearing from beyond the mountains. ???????????? ¡°Damn it. Should I have killed him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you need to worry too much about it.¡± ¡°No. He definitely looked like he was going to get revenge.¡± Johan asserted. The dragon had escaped, but the look it gave Johan was clearly a look of revenge. If it had been any other monster, Johan would have said, ¡®?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ??????????.¡¯ But in the case of a dragon, Johan couldn¡¯t do that. The damage to the surrounding area would be too great. ¡°Even though dragons are called the wrath of God, they¡¯re not omniscient enough to find a count who¡¯s run far away. He won¡¯t be able to chase you, so don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°But he won¡¯t just sit there, will he?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Maybe he¡¯ll show up at Gashstadt Castle again and cause a ruckus?¡± ¡°Why that castle?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Caenerna exined, pointing her finger. Johan was the strongest warrior among those present, and he was the one who actively swung his weapon and chased the dragon away. ¡°¡­It wouldn¡¯t be strange if he mistook that castle for the count¡¯s castle.¡± ¡°No way.¡± ¡°Well, actually, I think he¡¯ll eventually give up if he can¡¯t find the count.¡± Caenerna also agreed with Johan¡¯s words. To a dragon that lives for a very long time, Johan would be just a bothersome thorn, a quickly escaped prey. Even if he¡¯s angry right now, he¡¯ll forget it all in time. Chapter 256: ?????????????????? ?????????? (10) Chapter 256: ?????????????????? ?????????? (10) ¡°I wish it were so.¡± Johan muttered with a sense of unease. People often underestimated the intelligence of monsters, but cunning monsters were not inferior to humans in terms of intelligence. Some of them could even speak. If it were a dragon, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if it was so smart that it couldn¡¯t bepared to other monsters. ¡°Well, it¡¯s no use worrying about it now, is it?¡± Johan gave up neatly. It was not in his nature to worry about useless things for a long time. ¡°Still, in a way, it¡¯s lucky.¡± ¡°. . .You mean it¡¯s lucky to survive a dragon??¡± Johan was surprised at Caenerna¡¯s words. It seemed that she had developed a strange sense of humor in the meantime. ¡°Not that. . . it burned down the castle.¡±¡°Oh. . .¡± Johan nodded. He had not noticed it because he was so busy, but the dragon had done the work that Johan¡¯s detachment should have done. Even if Johan and his subordinates had worked hard all night, they would not have been able to inflict more damage than the dragon had done. ¡°I saw some of the warehouses burning, but I don¡¯t know what the others are like.¡± ¡°I saw it with my own eyes. It all burned down.¡± Johan nodded at Caenerna¡¯s words. ¡°Were you thinking that you woulde and burn it down even more?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Unbelievably, the two of them did not expect the dragon to reappear and attack the castle. ¡°Count, you should probably rest soon.¡± The subordinates spoke as if they were worried. The group was currently moving in a scattered formation. Unlike when they came, they had to be more careful when leaving. They had to be concerned about rumors after all. It was unknown how many pursuers would join, but it was easier to avoid attention by moving in a divided formation. Thanks to this, Kaegal was moving while escorting the baron with a few soldiers, and Caenerna was moving with Johan. The problem was that Johan had been running non-stop since he fought the dragon. No matter how strong Johan was, the subordinates could not help but worry about their lord. He had been crushed and scratched by the dragon¡¯s front paw, but he was still moving like that. ¡°It¡¯s fine if we move a little more.¡± ¡°No, I think it¡¯s better to rest.¡± Caenerna pointed at Johan¡¯s arm with her finger. The mystery was surging inside, even though it was hidden by armor and outerwear. ???????????? After making a campsite, Caenerna rolled up Johan¡¯s sleeve. The part where the dragon¡¯s blood touched left a mark on his arm like a pattern. ¡°Any pain?¡± ¡°If there was, I would have said something. What happens when you touch dragon¡¯s blood?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of it before. . .¡± Caenerna hesitated, unsure of what to say. Dragons are creatures that appear when people have forgotten about them, so there is no reliable record of them. The story of dragon¡¯s blood is even more ancient. It was rare for dragons to be injured when they did appear. ¡°There are not many knights who have ever injured a dragon.¡± ¡°How did people in the past defeat dragons?¡± ¡°Usually, they would just feed them until they went back to theirirs.¡± Johan snorted at the practical approach. After all, there was no need to kill such monsters. Dragons would not reappear for over a hundred years once they disappeared. ¡°Jyanina-gong. Do you know anything about dragon¡¯s blood?¡± Caenerna¡¯s question startled Jyanina, who had been sitting there daydreaming. ¡°I don¡¯t think I asked such a difficult question. . .?¡± ¡°The wizard is a bit shy, so please be understanding.¡± ¡°Shy? That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± Caenerna scolded Johan for his nonsense. She had met Jyanina at the pce a few times, and she knew that the wizard was not shy at all. Come to think of it, I heard that Jyanina had done a lot of good work at Johan¡¯s pce. . . ¡°Have you earned a lot of trust?¡± She knew from being with him, but earning someone like Johan¡¯s trust was not an easy task. Contrary to rumors, his gentle demeanor often led new acquaintances to harbor vain hopes. ©¥??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????, ??????¡¯?? ??????? ©¥?????? ????????????, ?????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????. ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ??????. However, Johan was someone who harbored an unimaginable dark side within. Any foolish attempt could lead to being devoured by him. That Jyanina had earned Johan¡¯s trust meant she had made significant efforts and shown loyalty. Caenerna was surprised to find herself feeling wounded pride as a wizard. In the emperor¡¯s court, the pride of other wizards receiving the emperor¡¯s favor or outpacing others never bothered her, but when it came to Jyanina, it wounded her pride. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you tired? You can go in and rest.¡± As Johan asked with concern, Caenerna waved her hand and spoke again. ¡°Anyway, Jyanina-gong. It would be better to speak up if you know something.¡± ¡°There are. . .various legends about dragon¡¯s blood. Some say it grants eternal youth, others say it gives incredible strength, and there are also tales of it making one immune to any wounds. . .¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°??¡± Johan and Caenerna looked at each other and then looked back at Jyanina. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that just a bard¡¯s nonsense?¡± ¡°Well, if she¡¯s saying that, then there must be some basis for it, right?¡± Caenerna still showed her respect, but Johan immediately gave her a suspicious look. After all, if such an effect existed, then Johan should have felt it when the dragon¡¯s blood was sprinkled on his arm. ¡°Is there anything else about the curse, other than that?¡± ¡°Well, your excellency. But if the dragon¡¯s curse is real, then shouldn¡¯t you be feeling it right now?¡± Jyanina asked in a puzzled tone. Her words made the subordinates re at Jyanina. Her tone was quite disrespectful. ¡°N-No. . . I¡¯m not saying that you should be cursed. I¡¯m just saying that it makes sense.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure she didn¡¯t mean any harm, so don¡¯t be too hard on her.¡± Johan spoke up, and the subordinates finally stopped ring at Jyanina. Caenerna realized from that sight that Jyanina was truly trusted. ¡®A wizard with loyalty. . .?!¡¯ In general, she thought that wizards were people who were far from loyalty, but there are always exceptions. It is possible that the loyalty that even Caenerna did not know was actually hidden inside Jyanina. The emperor was a person who was not worthy of such loyalty, but it is also possible that Jyanina¡¯s loyalty began to shine when she met a suitable master. ¡°Anyway, it doesn¡¯t matter if there are no major problems, right? The energy around here is a bit strange, though. . .¡± The mystery was swirling in the part where the dragon¡¯s blood touched, and it felt like he was carrying some ancient artifact around his arm. Johan, who already had a suspicious aura, became even moreplex and intense. ¡°If you¡¯re not a wizard, you won¡¯t be able to feel it that sensitively, so you don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± ¡°Count. There are some guysing this way.¡± ¡°!¡± Johan raised his head. It was not a road where there was no sign of life, so it would not be strange to meet passing travelers or pilgrims. However, it is always necessary to be careful. After all, the area around here was devastated due to the war, so there were also gangs of thieves. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to check in advance. ¡°Get your weapons ready. We need to check who it is first.¡± ???????????? ¡°A dragon? Are you crazy?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a rumor!¡± The news that a dragon had attacked a castle in the rear made even the boldest and most experienced feudal lords shake their heads. It was no wonder that most of them insisted that it was just a rumor. ¡°They¡¯re just spreading rumors to unsettle us.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Even if it had been just one or two of them, if all of the mercenaries who hade to report had said the same thing, it was impossible to deny reality. It was true that a dragon had appeared and destroyed the castle. ¡°. . .Really??¡± ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????¡¯ No one said it out loud, but the feudal lords gathered there all had simr thoughts. ¡°We should retreat.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± ¡°Your Majesty will not forgive us if he wakes up. To retreat, leaving the castles we have captured in this area?¡± ¡°Now is not the time to argue about that? We¡¯re all going to be captured if we stay here. We¡¯d rather retreat to the north than be captured and pay a ransom!¡± The nobles present had invested heavily in the emperor¡¯s expedition. Of course, it was not an investment they had made willingly, but the money and debt they had incurred in raising and maintaining an army were not insignificant. The thought of it made their hearts ache, but being captured here would be an iparable loss. The southern feudal lords, who were filled with anger, could extort several times more money as ransom. If not careful, they could be trapped in this area for over ten years. ¡°Biorarn-gong, what do you think?¡± ¡°Hmm. Let¡¯s retreat. We should retreat when we can.¡± ¡°!¡± The nobles were surprised to hear the words of retreat from the emperor¡¯s son, who was known for his belligerence. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°If we wait any longer, the enemy will realize and ambush us when we retreat, so let¡¯s retreat as soon as possible.¡± Several of the feudal lords sighed in relief. If Biorarn even said that, it would be a burden off their shoulders. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we leave some soldiers in the castle?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but. . .¡± Gashstadt Castle, the jewel of the south that had been conquered with much blood, was the reason why the feudal lords were here. It wasn¡¯t because they were greedy for the fiefdom. To retreat safely, they needed a castle like this to hold out. ¡°The dragon has been appearing again.¡± ¡°Damn it. . . Why won¡¯t that crazy dragon leave? He was so full, right?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????¡¯ One of the nobles thought so. Why didn¡¯t it leave after destroying the castle and swallowing up many soldiers? It seemed as if it wanted someone. If we offered the emperor. . . ¡°We will depart as soon as we are ready. Do not rush, and be especially careful not to let the secret leak out.¡± ???????????? ¡°It¡¯s not a pursuit party, but rogues.¡± Johan swung his sword with a nonchnt voice. The head of the rogue who charged at him was split in half. The rogues were surprised by the unexpected power and tried to retreat. ©¥????????! Karamaf ran out from the side and bit the rogues. The rogues, who did not know how well armed Johan¡¯s subordinates were due to the darkness, were paying the price in blood. ¡°Don¡¯t go too far. It¡¯s a waste if you get hit by an arrow.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Spare me! Spare me!!¡± ¡°You should have said that before you charged.¡± ??????????! The subordinates did not forgive the rogues who charged at them while they were already on edge. By the looks of it, they seemed like a group of mercenaries who had participated in the war, lost their equipment, and turned to banditry. ¡°Do you have a kind old man in your family who will pay your ransom?¡± ¡°Uh, well. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I wasn¡¯t really asking.¡± With a dull thud, the ce was cleaned up. Johan left one bandit alive. There was a reason for that. ¡°Lead me to where your friends are.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The bandit could not understand why the situation ended so quickly and blinked his eyes. At first, it looked like the opponent was a knight, but even if he was a knight, this was too much. . . ¡°Hey. I guess the guy can¡¯t hear you. Bring a needle.¡± ¡°No, I can hear you!!¡± The rogue began to lead the way, trembling. Johan and his men followed him, trying to suppress their annoyance. ¡°I¡¯m being bothered like this because of some ridiculous guys while I¡¯m taking a break.¡± ¡°I would be happy to serve the count¡¯s territory, but these guys are probably just poor b*stards with nothing.¡± If they didn¡¯t clean them up first, they might be more troublesome at night, so they had to make a preemptive strike first. ¡°. . .?!¡± Johan and his men stopped when they saw more rogues gathered in the camp than they expected. Seeing that, the rogue¡¯s morale slightly revived and he said. ¡°Our mercenary group used to have more numbers than this. If you release me now. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Let him go.¡± ¡°??¡± The rogue was surprised that he was really released. He was going to threaten to track down the mercenary group if he didn¡¯t release him, but. . . ??????????! A soldier behind him swung an axe and knocked down the thief. Johan waved his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Johan was not afraid of the unexpected number of rogues. He was just curious. Johan and his men attacked like lightning. Within thirty minutes, the rogues in the encampment were defeated. Chapter 257: ??????????????, ????????????, ????????????, ???????????????? (1) Chapter 257: ??????????????, ????????????, ????????????, ???????????????? (1) ¡°Well done!¡± Johan wiped the blood off his warhammer. In a battle between groups, the most important thing is unified discipline. Combat experience and the quality of equipment are also important, but if all of these things are notbined, they will be defeated individually. The rogues gathered here knew how to handle weapons and had experience, but they could not even stand up to Johan¡¯s elite. A rogue who tried to grasp a sword while drunk was kicked by Johan¡¯s bicorn and flew away, and the captain who was scared and tried to raise a spear was turned into a pulp by Johan¡¯s warhammer. ¡°There will be no other guys, will there?¡± ¡°Yes. We checked the surroundings, but there were no runaways.¡± In such a raid, the most important thing is to finish it off decisively. If you let a few people go and the guys staying in other campse, it will be troublesome. Of course, the opponent will usually be scared and run away, but there are not only sane guys in the world.¡°But. . .¡± Johan looked around the camp with a puzzled look. There were not only rogues in the camp. ¡°Are they prisoners?¡± ¡°They could be disguised bandits, your excellency.¡± ¡°They¡¯re about to pass out from fear, so keep your voice down.¡± Inside the camp, there was a group of people who were terrified. It was clear that they were prisoners. They had all of their weapons taken away, and their hands and feet were tied together so that they couldn¡¯t escape. It was amon tactic of bandits to build walls of luggage inside their camps to keep prisoners from escaping. Of course, Johan¡¯s men had seen so much hardship that they didn¡¯t feel sorry for the prisoners or pity them. If there was a man among those prisoners with evil intentions, they could get hurt for no reason. ¡°Are there any men who look like they could be ransomed?¡± ¡°But are we in a position to collect ransom now? We have to move immediately.¡± ¡°Damn it. We didn¡¯t even get a chance to rest after fighting with the bandits, and we¡¯re not even going to get any ransom?¡± ¡°If you have eyes, open them wide. Do any of them look like they could afford a ransom? Most of them look like beggars.¡± Johan¡¯s men, being experienced mercenaries, did not have any false expectations. Among the new recruits, many thought that there would be some reward for rescuing those captured by the rogues. However, after experiencing a few battles, such illusions were quickly dispelled. In the first ce, most of those captured by the thieves were poor people. They were pilgrims, travelers, peddlers, or even other mercenaries. After being robbed by the thieves once, it was unlikely that they would have any remaining wealth. On the contrary, it would be a blessing if they didn¡¯t hear their whining about their lost possessions. ¡°Merchant, merchant, traveler, beggar, traveler, priest, noble?¡± Johan stopped in his tracks as he scanned them roughly. There was a man among the group who was dressed quite well. Of course, he looked ragged and worn, so he didn¡¯t look much different from the other travelers¡¯ outer coats or cloaks. But if you looked closely, you could see the difference. Even a low-ranking noble would wear better quality clothes than amoner. ¡°It¡¯s strange that the rogues didn¡¯t take him.¡± He must have looked so shabby that they didn¡¯t even touch him. Johan signaled with his chin. ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°Thank you! Where are you from and who are you. . .!¡± ¡°Quiet. I didn¡¯t ask you to speak, so quietly pack your things and leave.¡± At the words of the mercenaries, the prisoners nodded in fear. They didn¡¯t want to lie down next to the corpses of the rogues that were scattered around the camp. ¡°Stop there.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The face of the low-ranking nobleman hardened. It seemed like he had sensed that something was wrong. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m just trying to get a situation report. Exin your identity and what happened.¡± Johan spoke kindly, but his subordinates weren¡¯t as kind. They red at the low-ranking nobleman with fierce eyes and a rough appearance. It felt like they would be the first to cut off his fingers if he lied to Johan. ¡°. . .Understood.¡± The man was a scribe who worked in a nearby fiefdom. He was a nobleman, but he was from a humble family from a distant ce that no one had ever heard of, so it didn¡¯t mean much. Even so, he was doing well enough, having obtained a low-ranking position in the fiefdom because he was a nobleman, but the area around him was turned into a wastnd when the rebellion broke out in the south and the war broke out. When the emperor¡¯s army invaded, his lord fled to a family he was familiar with in the west, and a few lucky ones followed him, but this man, who had no connections, simply stayed in the fiefdom and took care of chores until he had to fleete. ¡°Oh dear. You must have had a hard time.¡± Rolger nodded with a bitter expression at Johan¡¯s words. He had never imagined his situation would be like this before the rebellion broke out and the emperor¡¯s army came. ¡°Even if you¡¯ve been working here for more than a few years, you¡¯ll probably be quite familiar with the rumors around here.¡± ¡°Yes. . . Is there anything you want to ask me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I have to take him with me. Give the guy a horse.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Rolger was taken aback. The words that this knight or mercenary captain, who looked like a nobleman, was taking him with him were a bit surprising. ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ??¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ He had just been released from the rogue group, but he didn¡¯t want to die in vain. It would be fortunate if the opponent was a knight, but if he was the captain of a mercenary group hired by someone, he could be killed after only extracting the essence. ¡°Why don¡¯t you get on?¡± ¡°. . .Thank you. I will do my best.¡± Of course, even if it meant dying, he had to be grateful for now. There were no other people as rough as mercenaries who had just seen blood. The de could fly to his back at any moment. When Caenerna saw a ragged lower aristocrat being brought in, she was surprised. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? It¡¯s not aplicated enough path to need a guide, is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not because of the guide.¡± There were roads and maps, and there were many people who had passed through this area, so there was no reason to bring a new one just for the sake of the road. ¡°ording to the rumors I¡¯ve heard, the war is over as good as done. I¡¯m thinking about whates next.¡± ¡°Whates next?¡± The emperor had fallen after the sudden appearance of a dragon that destroyed the castle. The feuda lords were hastily retreating one by one. Whether the emperor rose or fell, the oue of the war could no longer be reversed. All that remained was negotiations to save each other¡¯s face as much as possible. ¡°There are many southern fiefs that have lost their masters, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± Caenerna nodded. Many of the families of the feudal lords who should have been reinstated had been killed by the emperor¡¯s reckless executions. Normally, when a fiefdom bes vacant, the family associated with that house ims ownership, or the emperor or the great nobles, who are the original lords, take steps to reim ownership. However, this time, all of them were out of that situation. Therefore, the feudal lords who had made a contribution would share it to some extent. Johan was one of them, of course. ¡°For governance?¡± ¡°Calling it governance sounds a bit grandiose. In any case, the situation in the south is not very good, is it? With rebellion, war, and the undead gue. It will be a big deal to govern, too.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± It is good to take care of the lower nobles who know the area well when you can. When governing a fiefdom, the connections these people have can be of great help. The administrative system of this era could not have run on any systematic selection and organization, and in the end, most of it is maintained by connections. If you want to call back the scribes and administrative officials who fled due to the war, you need someone you know. Caenerna looked at Johan with a curious expression. There were not many feudal lords who worried about such things. Usually, it was serfs, scribes, or priests of temples who worried about such things. Just as a lion does not worry about whether the rabbits in the field are doing well, a feudal lord does not worry about whether the serfs are doing well. That was the responsibility of the lower nobles below them. ¡°No one in the emperor¡¯s court believed it, but. . . it seems that being faithful is the right thing to do.¡± ¡°What kind of creepy thing are you saying all of a sudden?¡± Johan turned to look at Caenerna in surprise. He had shown on several asions that he was not particrly devout in the presence of wizards, even though he acted like a nobleman full of faith on the outside. ¡°Because you were worried about the management of your fiefdom.¡± ¡°What does the management of a fiefdom have to do with faith? I was about to talk about the assassination, but it would be a burden if you were distracted.¡± They were almost at the rendezvous point they had agreed upon with Kaegal. If Kaegal was anything like his personality, he would gather at the rendezvous point, regroup, and then immediately chase after the emperor. It would be better to mention it now, as they needed to move quickly. ¡°Assassination? No way. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I think too.¡± Johan exined it simply. The emperor¡¯s forces were already in full retreat. If the emperor were to die, negotiations would be much easier. Of course, Kaegal and Johan also had their own grudges. ¡°That¡¯s crazy nonsense. . .!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°Oh, so it was just a joke.¡± Caenerna was relieved. Johan was known for his sharp tongue and sarcasm. So she thought. . . ¡°No, I¡¯m serious about the assassination. I¡¯m not going to take you with me, Caenerna.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna¡¯s expression hardened. Johan asked in surprise. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a good thing that I¡¯m not taking you to a dangerous ce?¡± ¡°You¡¯re taking Jyanina-gong?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t thought about it yet, but I might take her if I need to.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± For Johan, this was a matter of respect. Just as he wouldn¡¯t bring someone like Suetlg on an assassination mission, he wouldn¡¯t bring Caenerna either. Jyanina, on the other hand, was more like a mercenary subordinate than a wizard who deserved to be treated with respect. That¡¯s why he said what he did. But for Caenerna, it had a different meaning. ¡°. . .I¡¯ll join you.¡± ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s okay?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re so worried, we should just turn back now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried about my own life. It¡¯s different for others.¡± Johan looked at Caenerna with a hint of worry. He was worried that a wizard, unlike a nimble warrior, might make a mistake while fleeing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll protect you with our lives.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll trust you.¡± After Johan left, Jyanina expressed her gratitude to Caenerna with a moved expression. ¡°Thank you so much. Caenerna-gong. I never thought you would think of me this way. . .¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± ???????????? The knights, assassins, and wizards climbed up the hill and looked down below. A vast army was retreating slowly, huddled together like a hedgehog with its spines raised. ¡°There are more of them than I thought.¡± ¡°They lost the war, but their discipline hasn¡¯tpletely copsed. The mercenary bands will know that if they scatter, they¡¯ll be crushed.¡± In the past, when one side began to retreat, the other side would be eager to send out a pursuit force and plunder. But this time, that was rare. The fleeing side was guarding itself so thoroughly as it retreated. The Western lords had already won, and they didn¡¯t want to pursue too hard. Pursuits and shes were limited to small-scale incidents. ¡°What do you think? Does it look okay? If it seems too much, we can retreat immediately.¡± ¡°No, this is good. The more numbers there are, the easier it will be.¡± Kaegal spoke with sincerity. The sight of them rushing to move but not being able to disperse, mixing and colliding in disorder. To the seasoned assassin¡¯s eyes, it looked like an invitation to ¡®???????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ????.¡¯ If anyone from any mercenary band simply slipped into their midst, they would be too busy to check. ¡°That¡¯s the emperor¡¯s tent.¡± ¡°It looks difficult to get in through there, no matter what.¡± Johan¡¯s question seemed to please Kaegal. Kaegal smiled with pride and replied. ¡°You¡¯re still a long way off. I¡¯ll show you how to get in.¡± Chapter 258: ??????????????, ????????????, ????????????, ???????????????? (2) Chapter 258: ??????????????, ????????????, ????????????, ???????????????? (2) Kaegal had a remarkable memory for the names,positions, and biographies of several mercenary bands serving under the emperor. He didn¡¯t miss a single word. ¡°Kupperman, the lieutenant of the Angry Bear Mercenary Group, is addicted to dice gambling. He goes to the tents of other mercenary bands twice a week to y. When he goes, he takes two talented ves with him, who are nicknamed One-Arm and One-Eye. If the mercenaries ask, pretend to be friends.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°??¡± Kaegal looked at Johan in surprise at his praise. His expression seemed sincere. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°No¡­ Isn¡¯t it amazing? It¡¯s amazing that you remember all this.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s more amazing that you can speak the ancient imperialnguage and the Easternnguage, and you¡¯re good at math.¡± Kaegal said in a puzzled tone. This kind of memory was a natural talent that grew naturally if you lived as an assassin for a long time.Assassins who don¡¯t know how to read can¡¯t remember things by writing them down, so they have to remember things this way in order to do their job. Inparison, his ability to read and write letters or count was much more amazing. Kaegal was especially envious of Johan¡¯s numerical skills. How could he measure the area ofnd or count the days so quickly? ¡°Why don¡¯t you both just move on, since you¡¯re both so great?¡± Caenerna said sarcastically. Kaegal nodded without anyint. ¡°But master. Are you maybe tolerating her?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never gotten angry, no matter what Caenerna-gong says.¡± ¡°Why would that be because of her? It¡¯s because I¡¯m an assassin.¡± There was no assassin who did not believe in superstition. The longer an assassin lived with a sword in his hand, the more he relied on superstition and mystery. Kaegal, who lived without a single fear in the world, respected real wizards like Caenerna. You never know when a prophecy of death wille out. ¡°I¡¯m an old assassin who believes in superstition. Didn¡¯t you know that you shouldn¡¯t argue with wizards?¡± ¡°Uh. . .¡± Johan was lost in thought. Thinking about it, he seemed to have argued with wizards more than he had respected them and been careful of their mysteries and curses. Caenerna, Before they became close, didn¡¯t they throw sharp insults at each other? Kaegal clicked his tongue. ¡°I must have forgotten to teach you the most important lesson, Johan. Don¡¯t be friendly with wizards. Keep your distance from them. Don¡¯t make them angry. Don¡¯t insult them. What else is there?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there anything about not killing wizards?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay to kill them. As long as you kill them before they cast a curse. Oh, right. Don¡¯t flirt with wizards.¡± ¡°You could have just told me not to get involved with wizards.¡± Caenerna, who was listening, couldn¡¯t hide her displeasure and twisted her lips. That assassin was interfering with the friendship she had built with the count. Of course, this attitude of avoiding getting involved with wizards was a very ssical and orthodox attitude, and Caenerna didn¡¯t mind it either. It was helpful when working as a wizard. However, if he made unnecessary and influenced the count, that was a different story. ¡°But master.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange to say this now, but I¡¯m also a wizard.¡± ¡°. . .Don¡¯te near me.¡± ???????????? Keagal took out the agate stone he had put in his pocket, threw it in the direction he wanted, and offered a simple warding prayer. It was a natural thing to do before an assassination, but he was more serious than usual. He had gotten too close to the wizards, and he wanted to wash away the bad luck. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The group descended into the camp under the cover of night. The guards around the tents of the lords and nobles were fairly strict, but the guards around the other mercenary groups were not as severe. There was a sense of confidence that no one would daree when there were so many soldiers gathered, but mercenaries were generally quitezy in this regard. The priority was to take care of their own bodies and rest, and if someone was so conscientious as to set a guard for weeks or months, even if it might not be useful, they would not be a mercenary. As a result, the camps were easy enough to enter any tent if you slipped in under the cover of darkness. The next problem was to get from the outer camp to the inner camp. ¡°We¡¯re from the Raging Bear Mercenary Group. We need to get a piece of the action before the one-eyed b*stard takes it all.¡± ¡°Bullsht. It won¡¯t be that easy this time.¡± The guards at the gate didn¡¯t even bat an eye at the familiar name. Kaegal quickly passed through the outer perimeter of the camp using the names of the mercenarypanies he had memorized. ¡°It¡¯ll get more difficult from here.¡± Kaegal said as he looked at the camp ahead of him. While the mercenarypanies filled the outer perimeter of the camp, the inner part was home to the tents of the feudal lords and nobles. The atmosphere here was not as noisy as it was outside, where the mercenaries wandered around the camp selling goods, borrowing money, and drinking. ¡°Of course, master must have someone he trusts here as well, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯te near me, wizard. Of course, I have something nned.¡± Kaegal walked forward and called out to a servant. ¡°Tell Your Excellency Count that Gutsal from the Ghoul Executioner Mercenary Group has something to say to him.¡± ¡°Yes, sir. I understand.¡± Johan was puzzled. Gutsal was probably a senior member of the mercenarypany who looked simr to Kaegal. But if the count calls him in, it¡¯ll be a hassle, right? ¡®???????????????????????¡¯ No matter how high-ranking a count is, he would be likely to kneel if a knife was held to his throat. His own life is more important than the emperor¡¯s life, isn¡¯t it? ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Excellency the Count is currently at a banquet¡­¡± ¡°Is that so? Then can I wait here?¡± ¡°Of course. Pleasee this way. We will prepare some simple snacks and drinks for you.¡± The servants were quite careful when dealing with mercenaries. Of course, it was fine to just kick and whip a mercenary who came from nowhere and had never heard of his name. However, if he was a lieutenant of a well-known mercenary group, it would be no good if they got into a fight. Even nobles treatrge mercenary captains well so as not to harbor unnecessary grudges, so of course the servants had to be careful. The group entered the tent next door and received a bottle of mediocre-quality wine, as well asrge pieces of cheese, dried beef jerky, and bread. It looked like the kind of food that servants often ate. ¡°See? I told you not to disturb them, so those guys won¡¯te in. Even if they dide in, they would probably think that they left after waiting.¡± Excellent. The group changed into servant clothes and snuck out behind the tent. The night was dark, and the light and noise decreased as they went inside. They could instinctively feel that they were getting close to the emperor¡¯s domain. ¡°. . .Damn it.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°They changed the guards! No, who changed the guards when the emperor fell? If there is a loophole and he is assassinated, how will they take responsibility!¡± Johan and Caenerna looked at Kaegal with puzzled expressions. But Kaegal was very serious. ¡°Isn¡¯t that tent across the way where the emperor is staying?¡± ¡°Yes. But there are mercenaries patrolling around here, which weren¡¯t there before. It looks like some stupid noble ordered them to do it.¡± Usually, mercenaries were not allowed to patrol around the emperor¡¯s tent. The Emperor was a suspicious man, and he would never allow armed mercenaries toe near him at night. What if they were bribed or betrayed? However, the emperor had fallen, and Biorarn thought he had to prevent a possible assassination. He did not suspect the lords of the west or the south. He suspected the emperor¡¯s vassals. Biorarn assigned the most reputable mercenaries to patrol the area around Kaegal¡¯s position. This was not an effective or perfect method, but it was enough to slow down Kaegal¡¯s progress. Even the most sophisticated cogwheels can be stopped by a single pebble. ¡°Let¡¯s just kill him and get out of here.¡± Kaegal said, tapping his sword. Johan stopped, thinking that he might do just that. ¡°No. I know him.¡± ¡°. . .Wait. Wait a minute.¡± Kaegal stopped Johan from stepping forward. ¡°Is he your father or something?¡± ¡°No, but¡­¡± ¡°Then what if he betrays you when you call out to him?¡± ¡°That would be annoying, but he¡¯s not that kind of person.¡± Johan¡¯s voice was filled with confidence. Kaegal couldn¡¯t help but be weakened by his bold attitude. ¡°What guts he has.¡± Kaegal knew that Johan had the ability to handle people. Even though he was in a separate fiefdom with his older brother, who was the eldest son, and his younger brother, who was the favorite, he was able to gain the support of the serfs in the town. He must have a natural talent for winning people over. However, the current situation is that we are trying to go to the emperor¡¯s tent, right? In most cases, the opponent would rather choose to ignore Johan¡¯s proposal rather than betray the emperor. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Mahreet.¡± ¡°. . .Sir Knight?!?!¡± Mahreet, the head of the mercenary group called the Prophet, was startled by the face of Johan, who appeared out of the darkness. ¡°Evil spirit, go away! I won¡¯t be fooled. Where are you impersonating Sir Knight?!¡± Johan pped Mahreet on the cheek instead of speaking. As soon as he was hit, Mahreet remembered the feeling of being exorcised by an evil spirit. ¡°Sir Knight?!¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you for remembering. Do you remember saying you would repay me for my kindness?¡± Johan had once exorcised an evil spirit that had been used on Mahreet with his magical powers. Mahreet was very grateful and vowed to repay the kindness. ¡°Yes, I remember. Sir Knight. I must have wanted to meet Sir Knight because I had a strange dream.¡± ¡°What kind of dream did you have?¡± ¡°I had a dream that a dragon was burning down a fiefdom.¡± ¡°It just sounds like a nightmare where a dragon appeared.¡± Johan thought so, but he didn¡¯t bother to point it out. ¡°I want to go in here. Would you mind moving aside?¡± ¡°. . .Of course. I will stop anyone who tries toe in.¡± Mahreet didn¡¯t bother to ask why he hade or what he was going to do. Sometimes, it¡¯s better not to know too much. Mahreet ordered his subordinates to wait nearby and shoot anyone who came, even if they were the emperor¡¯s child. ¡°It¡¯s done. Let¡¯s go in.¡± ¡°. . .Stay away from me, wizard! What kind of magic did you cast?!¡± ???????????? ¡°From now on, it¡¯s better if I take the lead.¡± Caenerna said in a calm voice. The emperor¡¯s encampment was a ce lined with identical tents, not only harboring all sorts of evil and vicious mysteries. The court wizards serving the emperor had cast various spells to ward off night intruders, in line with the emperor¡¯s paranoid nature. Thanks to this, it lookedpletely different from other feudal lords¡¯ encampments (fiefdoms). There were no torches lit, no guards on watch, no ves or servants bustling about. . . Just an overwhelming dark silence without a single light. Even ves or servants who had been with the emperor for over ten years did not wander around outside the tents recklessly. ¡°What did master originally n to do?¡± ¡°nned to set fires everywhere.¡± The method thought of by Kaegal, who couldn¡¯t rely on wizards¡¯ help, was simple. But its effectiveness was certain. It would attract attention, but with the surroundings turned into a sea of fire, would any magic remain? ¡°If we don¡¯t know the emperor¡¯s location, wouldn¡¯t that be meaningless?¡± Instead of answering, Kaegal drew a dagger withplex patterns engraved on it and cut his palm. Drops of blood fell and pointed in one direction. ¡°I couldn¡¯t trick the emperor, but I could rtively easily trick the wizard who worked for the emperor.¡± ¡°Eastern magic?¡± The spell that made the dagger remember the enemy and then found out where it was by feeding it blood was a spell that the witches of the East cast. ¡°That¡¯s right. I bought it from a witch for a lot of money. Now that the emperor has fallen, the wizards who have something to hide will probably stay close to the emperor if they don¡¯t want to be caught.¡± Johan nodded. It was a reasonable inference. At that moment, Johan¡¯s arm began to burn hotly. It was the part where the dragon¡¯s blood had touched. ¡°What is it?¡± While Johan was flustered, the spells that were cast near the camp began to melt in the opposite direction as if they were afraid of the dragon¡¯s blood. Chapter 259: ??????????????, ????????????, ????????????, ???????????????? (3) Chapter 259: ??????????????, ????????????, ????????????, ???????????????? (3) ¡°What. . .?¡± Caenerna was surprised that Johan had started casting a spell without consulting her, but she soon realized what was happening. Johan¡¯s arm, which had been touched by dragon¡¯s blood, was devouring mystery like a beast. ¡°It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t worry.¡± Caenerna stopped herself from grabbing Johan¡¯s arm in a panic. She had almost made a mistake that even a novice apprentice would not make. ¡°Any pain? Is it moving on its own, or is any other mystery trying to enter your body?¡± ¡°No, none of those things are happening, so calm down.¡± Johan was surprised too, but he was able to calm down because Caenerna was more surprised. He had been confused by the situation at first, but on second thought, it wasn¡¯t all that surprising. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a good thing?¡± ¡°. . .Don¡¯t forget that this is not my arm, but the count¡¯s arm.¡±Caenerna muttered in disbelief. Of course, in the current situation, it was ultimately a good thing. The annoying spells were ruined by the dragon¡¯s blood. But shouldn¡¯t he worry about what happened to his arm first? ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with my body, so don¡¯t worry. . . .By the way, what is master doing over there?¡± ¡°Is it over?¡± Kaegal was listening to their conversation from a distance. He seemed to want to keep as much distance as possible from the wizards¡¯ spells. ???????????? Outside, assassins were breaking through the guards, while Boutellner and other wizards were concentrating on their magic. ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± ¡°. . .It doesn¡¯t seem to be working.¡± ¡°Damn you, you worthless b*stard. Are you even qualified to be a wizard?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth! If you¡¯re so talented, why don¡¯t you try to wake him up right now?!¡± After the emperor fell, these wizards were the ones who were in the most trouble. They were wizards who did not receive a proper position as a court wizard and were allowed to enter the pce because of the emperor¡¯s personal favor. They were trusted by the emperor with their evil and suspicious magic, but they had umted a lot of resentment from the nobles below them. As such, the emperor¡¯s children also had no intention of showing them mercy. Biorarn-gong had already said it firmly, hadn¡¯t he? If the emperor could not wake up, they would go together. The feudal lords had noints either. Besides their resentment, the execution of the evil wizards was quite usible as a pretext to put the me for the emperor¡¯s tyranny on them. Of course, the wizards were very unhappy. ¡°What do you think about trying to figure out a way to escape?¡± ¡°Did you not see what happened to the guy who tried to escapest time? Don¡¯t even dream of it.¡± Being a wizard doesn¡¯t mean you can do anything. You¡¯re just like a regr person except for the magic you can use. It was almost impossible to get out of the camp without breaking through the tight surveince of the knights and mercenaries. ¡°It seems like the magic is no longer effective. . .¡± The emperor only wanted one thing from the wizards. Youth. To bring him that youth, the wizards had to scrape together all the heretical wisdom they had. From potions made from moonwort that received the most moonlight to tonics using troll blood, all sorts of means were used, but the most effective was still the magic using blood. It was a magic brought by a wizard who believed in Nahra, the evil god of blood, one of the forgotten ancient gods, and it was the most effective. It did require a lot of blood from the victims, but that was something they could ept. . . The problem was that the emperor who had fallen down would not wake up no matter what they did. ¡°Let¡¯s increase the number of sacrifices.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve told you how many times that¡¯s not possible! If we increase the number of sacrifices here, it could lead to madness!¡± ¡°The emperor was originally half-mad, wasn¡¯t he?¡± This logic would have impressed Johan if he had heard it. But Boutellner was serious. ¡°We don¡¯t have the luxury of choosing methods right now. Don¡¯t you know that if we don¡¯t show a way within a few days, we¡¯ll all be hanged on the gallows! Even if he shows signs of madness, we have to raise him if we can!¡± ¡°Uh, ugh¡­¡± The wizard seemed to be overwhelmed by Boutellner¡¯s momentum. In the end, he nodded. ¡°Now, if you¡¯re ready, let¡¯s start. Bring the blood. We need to feed him¡­¡± When the door to the tent opened, the wizards were annoyed. ¡°How many times have I told you not to disturb us! If youe in again, I swear to the name of magic that I will¡­?¡± The wizards who spoke paused. It was not the servants who came in, but unfamiliar faces. ¡°We found the right ce.¡± ¡°That¡¯s him. He looks familiar, so he must be the one who tried to give me the job.¡± ¡°????¡± The wizards seemed to be still trying to understand the situation. One of the wizards, who was the most thoughtless, opened his mouth wide and tried to shout. ¡°Shhh¡­¡± A sh of sword light, and the wizard copsed to the side. The fallen wizard buried his head in a jar of blood collected from the victims. Kaegal said, wiping the blood off his sword. ¡°Let the blood-thirsty drown in their own blood. Those who wish to die quickly, speak up.¡± The wizards were shocked. ¡°A-Assassin¡­? What are you doing here? Are you crazy? What about the consequences? How dare you¡­¡± Kaegal spat and swung his sword again. Another wizard¡¯s body fell to the ground. ¡°How arrogant and presumptuous. Deathes to all equally, whether serf or emperor. The emperor threatened and humiliated me, so I must repay him in kind.¡± Boutellner struggled toprehend the situation. So, right now¡­ this assassin snuck into the emperor¡¯s tent to avenge a mere threat? It was hard to believe. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ????.¡¯ He realized that the emperor was the one who had been wronged, not him. If he yed his cards right, he might be able to escape this situation. ¡°So, the one lying there is the emperor, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± When one of the wizards nodded, Kaegal was certain. Finally, the emperor¡¯s head was within his grasp. ¡°If anyone among you is willing to die for the emperor, step forward.¡± Silence. One of the wizards blushed slightly. Johan thought that he seemed to have some conscience. ¡°A little embarrassed, huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s strange to put your life on the line for someone else, not strange not to do so. Then. . .¡± Puck! ¡°???¡± Kaegal was surprised. A wizard standing in front of him was stabbed with a sword, even though he didn¡¯t swing it. The sword that stabbed him from behind came out forward. ¡°Your Majesty! Why. . .!¡± ¡°Were you awake?¡± Johan couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. The emperor, who had been so badly injured, was waiting for a trap. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. . .¡± ¡°Your Majesty! Your Majesty! You muste to your senses. . . Cough!¡± A wizard next to him eximed in a hurry, but was immediately grabbed by the neck. The emperor broke the wizard¡¯s neck by exerting force with his hand. Speaking an unknownnguage, the emperor got up from the bed. His eyes, which were red with anger, reminded him of a monster rather than a human. ¡°. . .What kind of bullsh*t did you do?¡± Johan spoke for the first time since he came here. The wizard was too surprised to answer. ¡°I guess there aren¡¯t enough holes for you to talk?¡± Kaegal drew a dagger and made a hole in the wizard¡¯s body. The wizard screamed and cried out. ¡°To wake him up, I used ck magic!¡± ¡°What kind of magic?¡± Caenerna asked urgently. The wizard trembled and exined. Caenerna was flustered to hear that he had really used such ck magic, as she had suspected. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It seems like the ck magic went berserk. . .¡± Kaegal spat and said. ¡°Let¡¯s see if he can survive with ck magic even after his head is cut off. You take the right side. I¡¯ll take the left.¡± The two assassins drew their swords, but the emperor ignored them. The emperor was trying to kill the wizards with a single-minded determination. ¡®?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ ¡°Your Majesty, pleasee to your senses. . . Ugh!¡± The first to attack was Kaegal. When the emperor killed one wizard, he took advantage of the gap and rushed in like lightning. The snake-like sword stroke aimed for the emperor¡¯s vitals. ¡®?? ?????? ??????!¡¯ The emperor¡¯s neck was cut off halfway. It was a serious injury that no human could survive. However, the emperor simply grabbed his head and reattached his neck. Kaegal was shocked to see that not a drop of blood flowed down. ¡°What a monster. . .!¡± Before the Emperor could retaliate against Kaegal, Johan stepped in. He charged forward and plunged Seal Retriever into the Emperor¡¯s chest. But the Emperor kept moving. ¡®???? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????????¡¯ This famous sword, forged in the ancient Empire, is known for its sharpness, which can even tear through ordinary magic. But the Emperor moved calmly, as if he had been stabbed with a pin. ??????????????©¥ The Emperor grabbed Johan¡¯s arms on both sides. His monstrous strength, which had just broken a wizard¡¯s neck with one hand, shone again. The Emperor¡¯s body turned red and seemed to be pushing Johan away. ¡®???? ????!¡¯ Kaegal quickly raised his sword and tried to cut the Emperor¡¯s shoulder. But as Johan also began to push back with strength, the Emperor began to lose ground. ¡®??????????. ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????????????? ????????????.¡¯ Kaegal suddenly remembered how powerful Johan was. It was a new realization that he was so strong that he was bragging about his strength against such a monster-like creature. ¡°Burn it!¡± As soon as Johan¡¯s words fell, Caenerna immediately summoned the spirit of fire. The mes that rushed in like a wolf bit Emperor¡¯s ankle and began to fill it with fire from the inside. Even the emperor, who had resisted the de, seemed to find it difficult to withstand the mes that were trying to engulf his body. He tried to put out the fire with a fierce resistance. Johan continued to apply force, undeterred. He heard the sound of bones breaking inside the emperor¡¯s forearm. He was determined not to let go, no matter how much the emperor struggled. As the fire burned up to his chest, ck blood began to flow from the emperor¡¯s throat. With it, his strength gradually weakened. Johan realized that the magic that protected the emperor¡¯s body was disappearing. ¡°Y-You. . . you are. . .¡± ¡°Thank you foring to your senses.¡± Johan said coldly. He felt no guilt in killing the emperor, who had lost his reason. Rather, he was disappointed. If he didn¡¯t die knowing who he was going to die by, he would never have the chance to do so again. The emperor, even in the midst of pain that he felt all over his body and the fading consciousness, clearly recognized his situation. All the wizards were lying dead, and the young count had drawn his sword and was pointing it at his neck. If there was an end, this was it. The emperor did not ask about the other feudal lords or his subordinates. ¡°Remember this, you brat. You too. . .¡± ????????! Kaegal thrust a dagger under the emperor¡¯s chin, skewering his tongue to the roof of his mouth. Kaegal said, as if wondering what to do. ¡°Are you going to listen to such nonsensical words? Don¡¯t let him spew curses and just cut him down!¡± ¡°You are right.¡± Upon reflection, there was no reason to give the emperor a chance to speak. Johan raised his sword. The emperor red at Johan, eyes wide open. The sword shed, and the emperor¡¯s head flew forward. It was a too miserable end for a tyrant who had plunged the whole Empire into war and stained it with blood. ¡°. . . . . .¡± While Johan was lost in contemtion, Kaegal grabbed whatever was at hand. Johan asked, puzzled. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± ¡°What am I looking for? I¡¯m just grabbing what I can. What kind of assassinations have you been doing?¡± ¡°. . .But still, there is some dignity in being a count. . .¡± Caenerna tried to intervene, but Johan nodded and joined in right away. ¡°Well, you do make a point.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna was incredulous. She had waited, thinking they had a deep grudge, but they forgot about him as quickly as if they had just cut down some rogue they met on the road. ¡®??????????????????¡­¡¯ ¡°Normally, I¡¯d need to manipte the scene a bit. To throw the others into confusion upon seeing it. But it seems there¡¯s no need for that now.¡± The blood-soaked tent looked as if a vile ritual had been interrupted, everyone stabbing and shing at each other. To any onlooker, it would appear as if the wizards and the emperor had ughtered each other. Chapter 260: ??????????????, ????????????, ????????????, ???????????????? (4) Chapter 260: ??????????????, ????????????, ????????????, ???????????????? (4) The assassination was over, but the surrounding area was still dark. Even though a powerful figure had been killed, the camp was quiet as if nothing had happened. ¡°No one¡¯s chasing us, so you don¡¯t have to look back.¡± Kaegal said this without looking back. The soldiers flinched. They had been looking back several times while running away. Even for experienced mercenaries, this was honestly a tense affair. If they weren¡¯t afraid to enter the emperor¡¯s fiefdom, that would be even stranger. Once they were far enough away from the camp and entered the forest, Kaegal stopped. ¡°Pick what you want.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re such a green assassin. . . Don¡¯t you know that we have to share equally what we took from inside?¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡±It seemed that Kaegal would be leaving here. Johan suddenly felt sorry for him and said, ¡°Would you like to stay a little longer?¡± ¡°Assassins don¡¯t stay in the pce for long. Just pick your things. Don¡¯t look under your feet.¡± Assassins were surprisingly fair in some ways. That was also the case when sharing rewards. Since they had risked their lives together, they shared them quite fairly. Picking one at a time without looking. ¡°But. . .¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you choose and talk?¡± ¡°Caenerna-gong also participated in the assassination, so shouldn¡¯t she be able to share in the reward?¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s a fair point. Yes, the wizard can also choose. Now, hurry up and choose so I can choose.¡± Kaegal would have liked to choose first, but that wouldn¡¯t be fair. Kaegal pressed again. ¡°But what about this?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°The soldiers behind us also participated, so shouldn¡¯t they be able to share in it?¡± ¡°Have you ever seen such an absurd person?¡± Kaegal finally realized Johan¡¯s intentions. He was speechless with disbelief. If they split the reward based on numbers, Johan would be overwhelmingly in the lead. ¡°Where did you learn such absurd arithmetic? Do you need to be able to do such arithmetic to be good at calctions?¡± ¡°No, I was just following my master¡¯s teachings. Please don¡¯t misunderstand me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to misunderstand you. Take it all. You thief!¡± Kaegal couldn¡¯t argue with Johan¡¯s words. He didn¡¯t expect to be taken advantage of in this way, but he didn¡¯t feel bad about it. ¡®??¡¯???? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ????????????????!¡¯ After all, nobles were thieves, too, if you thought about it. It wasn¡¯t a bad thing to be good at stealing after bing a noble. ¡°Hmm. Should I take this, or that? This is a real dilemma.¡± ¡°. . .Can¡¯t you hurry up and choose before I p you in the face??¡± Seeing him put his hand in the bag and do math this way and that, the happiness that had been there just a moment ago disappearedpletely. ???????????? ¡°Your Excellency Count!!! I heard the story. You have achieved a truly great feat. No knight in the Empire can match that achievement!¡± ¡°. . .???¡± Johan was surprised to see the familiar lower nobles and servants who came to meet him from the west, working as scribes under the feudal lords. ¡®???????? ???? ?????¡¯ Could it be that the rumor of the emperor¡¯s assassination had already spread this far? In fact, assassinating the emperor was not something that would be so much in the news. He was the master of a family that had been passed down for a long time, and had many vassals under hismand. If the rumor of the assassination came out, it could build up unnecessary resentment. ¡®????????????????, ?????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ????????, ???????????¡¯ If the people here knew something that even the parties involved did not know, it was not as creepy as that. Johan asked calmly. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°About hunting the dragon!¡± ¡°. . .Oh. . .¡± Johan nodded in understanding. As he thought about it, that was what had happened. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ????????????.¡¯ It was not strange that the rumors would spread at that time. The appearance of the dragon would have been a shocking story, so it was only natural that the people here would be interested. ¡°But I think there is a misunderstanding. I did not hunt the dragon.¡± Rumors about dragons are often exaggerated, just like any other rumor. Some say the dragon has three heads, while others say it was appeased by a virgin sacrifice. The mostmon rumor is that a count from the west charged at the dragon on horseback and pierced its heart. ¡°It¡¯s not true?¡± ¡°Yes, I just managed to escape.¡± ¡°Oh, that exins why the dragon keeps appearing. It¡¯s not dead after all. I thought it was its matee to seek revenge.¡± The scribe seemed to have a vivid imagination. Johan shook his head in disbelief. ¡°It¡¯s rare enough to see one dragon, let alone two.¡± ¡°I was fooled by the bards¡¯ songs. This is embarrassing.¡± The scribe cleared his throat and asked. ¡°So, the rumor that your excellency pierced the dragon with a spear is also false?¡± ¡°I did stab it with a spear because it was chasing me.¡± ¡°Yes?! That¡¯s true?! Then that¡¯s the same as catching it, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°How is it the same if it¡¯s still alive?¡± ¡°Even just injuring the dragon and surviving is a great aplishment. The elf king is very sad, you know.¡± ¡°. . .No.¡± Johan was surprised to hear the elf king¡¯s name suddenly pop out. ¡°. . .That I fight the dragon alone?¡± ¡°Yes. He said that you went to catch it alone because they didn¡¯t believe in you, and the other feudal lords tried to persuade you, but you were still sad.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make this clear. I didn¡¯t go to catch the dragon, I just happened to be there and met the dragon.¡± ¡°Yes?! You didn¡¯t go to catch the dragon?!¡± Johan rubbed his forehead with a look of pain on his face. He could tell from the scribe¡¯s reaction that the reactions of others were obvious. ???????????? The elf king¡¯s mood improved unexpectedly, surprising Johan. ¡®????, ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????¡¯ Johan realized that the reason the elf king was in a good mood was because the dragon was still alive. Of course, he couldn¡¯t upset Johan if he wanted to go with himter. Johan felt a chill run down his spine when he realized this. ¡°Your Majesty, I believe you are aware that it is almost impossible to go hunting for the dragon now.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The elf king tilted his head with a naive expression. He looked like he didn¡¯t understand why it couldn¡¯t be done. ¡°The situation is still unstable. Going to Gashstadt Castle now. . .¡± ¡°The emperor¡¯s army has retreated to the north, haven¡¯t they? The feudal lords are preparing for negotiations, so at thetest, the war will be over within this year. Then, who will stop us from hunting the dragon?¡± ¡®. . .?? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????? ????????????.¡¯ Johan was slightly taken aback. With his goal in sight, the elf king was using his brain, which he usually didn¡¯t use, to persuade him. It was a very unfamiliar sight. The other feudal lords present were engrossed in other topics, as if they didn¡¯t care whether the elf king was going to hunt the dragon or not. ¡°We must at least get this much inpensation. . .¡± ¡°Can we get it from the governor of the border region too? He didn¡¯t participate this time.¡± ¡°Everyone knows that he provided the funds for the increase in the number of mercenaries. A merchant who works at the guild reported it. He must be held responsible.¡± ¡°We need to keep some limits, or they may not back down.¡± ¡°But will the emperor ept this proposal? Of course, a sane person would ept it, but that emperor would rathermit suicide than ept such a proposal.¡± The feudal lords were preupied with how to extortpensation. They knew that even the emperor would have to back down now. And even if he didn¡¯t back down, it didn¡¯t matter. The south was already in their hands, for all intents and purposes. It would be even better if the elf king was distracted by dragon hunting. Even though they had received the elf king¡¯s help, if his influence grew, it would be an ufortable situation for the western feudal lords. The elf king was satisfied with the honor of hunting the dragon and would not interfere any further. This was the best possible situation for the western lords. ¡°Thank you, Count. Please continue to encourage the elf king to be interested in the dragon.¡± ¡°It would be even more appreciated if you could make him go after it.¡± As the conversation between the elf king and Johan came to an end, one of the lords approached Johan and said. ¡°By the way, Your Excellency Count. It might be a good idea to restrict visitors for a while.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°Southern nobles areing this way after hearing the news that the war has ended. As Your Excellency Count has a lot of influence, you will receive many requests.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± The lord¡¯s warning was not wrong. Since the news that Count Yeats had returned spread, there had been a continuous stream of visitors who said, ¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Theposition of the visitors was different, but they all had a simr purpose. ©¥?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????! A fallen noble from a family so distant that their blood would only be mixed five generations up, a shameless con artist who ims to be the child of that noble because the ce looks a little simr to a few dots, and a half-rogue mercenary captain who boldly says to make him a lord if he pays a ninth of his ie. Even though the south was in a mess, even a small piece ofnd in the south was an enormous fortune. Now that several southern lord families have flown away, a human crowd has begun to flock to be vassals of powerful nobles and get a littlend. ¡°Gerdolf. You¡¯re going to have a hard time. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Gerdolf shook his head. There was no knight like Gerdolf when it came to chasing away guests. Even those with a certain amount of courage could not argue when Gerdolf was standing in front of them. ¡°Can¡¯t we go back to the fiefdom in the south with the other nobles?¡± Suetlg said with a tired face. He thought it was all over when the emperor¡¯s army retreated like a fleeing army, but he never thought that this would happen. ¡°You know it¡¯s not possible. The other nobles I brought with me can go back, but if I drop out, everyone will be surprised.¡± The other lords were bound to be surprised if someone who was supposed to get a big share of the spoils just left without a word. Johan, for one, had no such intention. He had fought, so he deserved to be rewarded. ¡°Yeah, I was just joking.¡± Suetlg opened a map and asked. It was a map of the southern fiefdom that had lost its lord or was about to lose it. ¡°Which of these fiefdoms do you want?¡± ¡°To be honest. . . they¡¯re all pretty much the same, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± The south was in ruins due to war and plunder. If it had been under normal circumstances, they would havepared them, but it was difficult to do so in their current state. ¡°If I had to choose, I¡¯d like a fiefdom with rare resources or good transportation.¡± ¡°You also need to think about who you¡¯re going to make your vassal. You need someone who is capable and trustworthy, especially since it¡¯s a long way away.¡± ¡°Are you saying that the person must be familiar with the fiefdom¡¯s administration, have good rtions with the surrounding families, and be able to double the number of pigs and horses every year?¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m not that heartless. Of course, there is no such thing as a perfect person, but you need to choose carefully.¡± Johan, looking at the map, pointed to one spot. ¡°This fiefdom hasn¡¯t surrendered yet, has it?¡± ¡°He must be either clueless or unable to grasp the situation.¡± Southern lords who were close to the emperor¡¯s faction were now scrambling frantically. Those who were less involved could be appeased with gold, but those who had seized their fiefdoms with the emperor¡¯s power had to worry about their own lives, not their fiefdoms. ¡°That¡¯s good. The negotiations will take a while, so I¡¯ll go and take it down.¡± ¡°What? No. . . why? You could just send a sub-captain.¡± Suetlg was puzzled. If there were others to help them, they might be able to hold out, but otherwise, they would probably surrender. It was obvious that if they stayed here, thousands more woulde. ¡°Suetlg-nim, will you entertain our guests here?¡± ¡°. . .Oh, I see. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll join you too.¡± Of course, it wasn¡¯t just for that reason. Near the fiefdom that Johan pointed to, there was a small vige that was so small that it didn¡¯t even appear on the map. It was Johan¡¯s hometown. Chapter 261: ???????????? ???????????? (1) Chapter 261: ???????????? ???????????? (1) ¡®??????.¡¯ Johan thought of himself as a fairly pragmatic person. He wasn¡¯t even that obsessed with revenge against the emperor who had massacred his family. However, his hometown where he spent his childhood in this world felt different. If possible, he wanted to keep it as his fiefdom. ¡°Why are you making that face, my dear?¡± Iselia asked, looking puzzled. Iselia was simply enjoying the moment of being on the move, having left the camp. Her expression was calm, but her ear tips were twitching slightly. ¡°The fiefdom we¡¯re going to now was originally owned by my family.¡± ¡°!¡± Iselia gasped in surprise. ¡°Is that so? Then we must definitely take it back!¡±As an elf aristocrat, Iselia valued family and honor. It was more painful than having her heart torn out to have a fiefdom that her family had owned taken away by someone else. How much must it have pained Johan to see his rightful fiefdom in the hands of someone else? When she thought about it, Iselia felt like her heart was breaking. She took Johan¡¯s hand and looked at him with pity. ¡°. . .What¡¯s that look?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would be so upset.¡± ¡°No. I wasn¡¯t really upset.¡± Johan was taken aback when Iselia had a strange thought. Usually, it was Johan who would look at Iselia with pity, not the other way around. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m the type of person to be upset about losing a piece ofnd?¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, it doesn¡¯t seem like it.¡± Iselia quickly understood. When she thought about it, Johan had quite a cheeky side to him. Nobles who had never spoken to him properly would think of Johan as a strong and unshakable knight among knights, but his actual personality was quite different. In fact, that personality was closer to Iselia¡¯s, and Johan was a person who could easily change his attitude depending on the situation. ¡°But even if we get it back, it wouldn¡¯t be bad, right?¡± Iselia nodded vigorously at Johan¡¯s words. As a knight, she couldn¡¯t help but understand his feelings. ¡°But. . . isn¡¯t it too many people toe for just one castle?¡± Johan turned around in surprise. It was understandable that there were so many troops under his directmand, including the nobles, even Suetlg and Caenerna had joined the expedition. Not all castles were the same. A castle with steep terrain, a moat, and stone walls would be impregnable, but a castle with t terrain, no moat, and wooden walls could be easily taken by a mercenary band of just a few dozen. The castle they were heading to, Tidellen, was just such a castle. ¡°I guess no one wanted to take care of things in your absence.¡± The southern nobles were so eager to please that some of them even approached mercenary captains to speak to them. By that point, the mercenaries were too baffled to respond. ©¥????, ???????????? ????, ?????? ??¡¯?? ???????? ?? ??????????????. ©¥??????, ?????? ??????¡¯???? ???????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ??????????, ??????????¡¯?? ??????? ©¥???????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????? ¡°Well, it¡¯s not a bad thing to have a lot of people. We don¡¯t need to wait long with one castle. . .¡± Iselia nodded her head and said, ¡®???????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????????, ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ????????????????, ???????????¡¯ ¡°There¡¯s also a high possibility that the enemy casten wille out first.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true too.¡± In the elf kingdom where Iselia was from, they did not drag out sieges in areas without castles. They would either flee ore out and surrender. If the enemy casten has his head screwed on straight, he will make the right decision.¡± ???????????? Tidelen¡¯s casten was much more calm than Johan or the other lords thought. The administrator who worked under him was even more restless. ¡°Sir Casten. I heard that the emperor¡¯s army has retreated to the north.¡± ¡°Yes, I heard that too.¡± The casten nodded. Originally, he was not a feudal lord of this area. He used to be a minor nobleman who lived in that northern city. Even if one is born into arge family, if they do not inherit a fiefdom, they are nothing. Even more so if it is a small family. So it is natural for a low-ranking noble to be moved to have ascended to such a casten position. ¡¯???????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ????????, ???? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????????????????¡¯ The administrator was not a noble, but he had lived in this area for a long time, so he knew well who this casten was and how he became a feudal lord. He was able to sit in the seat because he was from a family in this area and caught the eye of one of the emperor¡¯s vassals. The casten seemed to believe that it was only natural for him to sit in this seat and that it was a right given to him by God. ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???? ??????????????, ???? ???? ???? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ??????????????. . .¡¯ But that did not change reality. Even though the administrator did not know much about the politics of the Empire, he felt that the great feudal lords of the west would not leave this casten alone now that the emperor¡¯s army was gone. ¡®?? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????? ?????????? ??????. . .¡¯ But the casten, without any intention of bribing or negotiating, wasfortably enjoying his drink, holed up in his own castle. ¡¯???????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ?????¡¯ ¡°Lord Casten! Lord Casten!!¡± ¡°What¡¯s all this noise?¡± A soldier ran up from below. To call him a soldier was a stretch; he was more like a ve brought by the casten, who had been handed a spear. Considering the people inside the castle, this was enough of a deterrent. ¡°The army, the army of Count Yeats is approaching this way!¡± ¡°So it hase!¡± The administrator dropped the ss he was holding. The loud noise went unnoticed. The administrator frantically thought about when to flee. The casten did not move. His calm demeanor surprised both the administrator and the soldier. ¡°Lord Casten. The army of Count Yeats is approaching. Did you hear that correctly?¡± Who was Count Yeats again? Even the casten, who had little interest in knights, knew his name; he was a famous knight of the Empire. Once, Sir Karamaf, the most famous knight in the empire, disappeared. His fame was so great that other ambitious knights had not yet made a name for themselves. His stories were so numerous that some people were suspicious that they were not true. It was hard to believe that such an achievement could be made at such a young age. ¡°I heard.¡± ¡°Do you have any ns?¡± ¡°It¡¯s stupid.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s a rumor. Why would a counte here?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The administrator and the soldiers were speechless at the bold words. However, the casten was serious. ¡°Think about it. The count is currently chasing the emperor¡¯s army and making a name for himself. Is there any reason why he woulde down here?¡± ¡°That. . . That makes sense.¡± The administrator, who at first thought it was nonsense, felt persuaded as he listened. No, he might have wanted to believe it. The administrator did not realize that he was doing the same thing as the casten he had just cursed. ¡°Still, the rumors are too detailed. . .¡± ¡°Those rumors are probably from the bandits that have been guing this area. If the count ising, the vigers will run away.¡± The casten nodded in agreement. ¡°And think about it. Count Yeats is a knight of honor and faith. Why would hee to me, who was granted this fiefdom by the Empire¡¯s justws?¡± ¡®???? ????¡¯?? ??????. . .¡¯ The administrator was brought back to reality by the casten¡¯s nonsense. Of course, the procedure was properly followed, but all the nobles in the Empire with eyes knew the truth. The casten had be lord of thisnd with the emperor¡¯s power. The western feudal lords would not let that stand. They would find some way to expel him, no matter what the charge. ¡®???????????? ?? ?????? ?????????¡¯ The administrator¡¯s thoughts were cut short. The first of Johan¡¯s soldiers arrived at the castle and sounded their horns. ???????????? ¡°The fiefdom is not bad.¡± Johan had not yet reached his original town, but the towns he had seen so far were not in bad shape. When they saw Johan, the serfs fled with frightened expressions on their faces. ¡°Joseph, have you ever returned since you escaped?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Joseph shook his head with a wry smile. He had originally been living a wandering life, and he had only stayed in the vige for a short time. Why would he return to that vige with any regrets? He could be beheaded if he was caught. Before Johan could even approach, the vige chief came out of the nearby vige. He hade out early to prepare for any eventuality. ¡°C-Count, it is an honor to meet you.¡± The vige chief spoke in a trembling voice, prostrating himself on the ground. He could not even look Johan in the eye. The vige chief knew that the war had not yet reached here, but he had heard the rumors. Several viges had been burned and looted. The eyes of the soldiers lined up behind the count were chilling. ¡°Yes, you have worked hard.¡± Johan signaled, and the guard next to him took out a purse and threw it to the vige chief. The vige chief¡¯s eyes sparkled at the jingling sound. ¡°If we identally hurt any of the animals you raise while passing by, we should pay for them in advance.¡± ¡°Oh. . . no. . . thank you! Thank you so much!¡± Johan gestured for him to go in as if it was settled. The vige chief bowed several times and then went in. The mercenaries did not seem surprised or anything, and they carefully observed the surroundings. Johan could afford to be rxed, but not his subordinates. They had to be prepared for any ambushes or attacks. ¡°He¡¯s really here?¡± However, there was no need for that. When they arrived at the castle, the casten was standing in front of the wide-open castle gate. Soldiers who had run ahead were standing next to him, as if guarding him. ¡°Your Excellency Count. It is an honor to meet you.¡± ¡°I am also pleased to meet you, Casten.¡± The casten felt relieved at Johan¡¯s reaction, which was more favorable than he had expected. ¡¯?????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????. . .¡¯ But that was it. Johan didn¡¯t say another word and rode his horse into the castle. It was a clear act of ignoring him. ¡®????¡¯?? ????????, ????????.¡¯ The administrator regretted that he had almost been fooled by the casten¡¯s words. The casten¡¯s pale face made it clear that he had not expected this at all. ???????????? Even without grabbing the casten by the cor or tying him up and throwing him away, Johan¡¯s will spread clearly. Newly arrived administrators and vige chiefs who came to the castle went straight to Johan. They immediately realized who was the master. ¡°Who is in charge of this town now?¡± ¡°T-That. . . a knight is ruling it.¡± ¡°I hope you¡¯re not just picking a mercenary and making him a knight and calling him a knight.¡± The casten broke out in a cold sweat at Johan¡¯s words. He had guessed it correctly. The emperor had given a town to a mercenary who had made a contribution. ¡°Y-Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Send someone to have hime here with his subordinates within three days.¡± ¡°It may be a littlete due to the bad road, but. . .¡± ¡°Oh? If you want to bete, you can bete. I¡¯ll understand if you¡¯rete. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± ¡°. . .No. I¡¯ll go myself.¡± Johan was demonstrating how to intimidate someone without using any threats to life, insults, or humiliation. The casten, who had been in a dream, realized as soon as he met Johan that he had to worry about his life first. To avoid being caught on any charges and hanged, one should appear as pitiful and wretched as possible. ¡°He said he is currently preparing for a hunt and may be a littlete. . .¡± When a stupid-looking mercenary came and said that, the casten¡¯s anger exploded. ¡°If you don¡¯t bring him here right now, I¡¯ll twist his neck myself! Tell him that!¡± He couldn¡¯t believe that the mercenary captain, who had no sense of the situation, was talking nonsense when he was feeling anxious with his life on the line. When the casten, who usually didn¡¯t say much, caused amotion, the mercenary hurriedly returned. ¡°The casten wants to meet the captain in person!¡± ¡°What? I told you, didn¡¯t I? Does he think he¡¯s really my lord?¡± The mercenary captain stepped out with a frustrated expression. On the surface, that may be true, but in reality, they were both in the same position of having receivednd from the emperor. He couldn¡¯t tolerate it if he tried to y the lord with that. ¡°Is that him?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°He looks like a dirty-natured guy, so just arrest him.¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± Chapter 262: ???????????? ???????????? (2) Chapter 262: ???????????? ???????????? (2) Mercenaries who followed Johan had several simrities, regardless of their race or origin. They hadbat experience gained from traveling to many ces while following their lord, they had good equipment, and they had a strong loyalty that could do anything to carry out their lord¡¯s orders. These people were like gentle sheep in front of their lord, but they moved like ferocious wolves in the absence of their lord. Just like now. ¡°What. . .¡± ¡°Take your hand off your waist. If you touch it, I¡¯ll cut off your wrist and put it around your neck.¡± The mercenary captain, who was about to lose his temper at the absurd insult, flinched. The appearance of the soldiers who followed the casten was not insignificant. If it were a worthless rogue, he would have lost his temper and been angry here, but the mercenary captain was a wiser man. He thought that the opponent wasing out strong for a reason and took a step back. ¡°Where. . . are you from?¡±¡°What do you care? Decide whether you¡¯re going to follow quietly or be dragged like a dog and beaten.¡± The soldiers spoke without regard for the casten. From their attitude, the mercenary captain realized that the soldiers¡¯ backgrounds were stronger than he had thought. ¡®?????????? ???????????????? ?????????? ????????. . . ?? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ It was rare for someone to be able to easily ept being humiliated like this in their own fiefdom. The mercenary captain gritted his teeth but held back. ¡°l. . . I understand. I will follow you. But still, shouldn¡¯t you tell me where I am going? As the legitimate right of a Empire noble. . .¡± ¡°You sound like a noble.¡± The soldiers scoffed, but the casten spoke up instead, still on the same side. Although they often ignored each other because they were not on good terms, they were on the same side after all. ¡°Your Excellency Count has brought his army to this area.¡± ¡°Wh. . . what? Why? Who?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the reason either! Anyway, I said the reason, so get ready soon.¡± The mercenary captain had a better sense of danger than the casten. What could the feudal lord who brought the army do? ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?? ????????????????????????!¡¯ The war might have ended, but the south was in a chaotic time. It was a period when those with power could lead an army and seize a fiefdom, and if you were powerless, it was hard toin. The mercenary captain knew better than anyone that a just cause could be created if you had the power. ¡°Please. . . Just wait a moment, Sir Knights.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a knight, you fool. Do you have eyes but cannot see?¡± Johan¡¯s soldiers were experienced. They did not care about being tteringly called knights by the mercenary captain. Usually, being called a knight would make someone¡¯s face light up. ¡°If I need to speak to Your Excellency the Count, shouldn¡¯t I bring someone who knows well about my fiefdom? Please let me take him with me.¡± The soldiers looked at each other and murmured. It wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll give you some time. But keep in mind, if you try any foolishness, you¡¯ll have something sticking in your back.¡± ¡¯???????? ????.¡¯ As the conversation went on, one might expect gaps to appear, but the mercenary captain clicked his tongue at the sight of them pointing their weapons without a singlepse. They werepletely different from his own subordinates who were drunk in the town from early in the day. Even if they woke up, there was a good chance that the mercenary captain would die before they could save him. Of course, he was skeptical that his subordinates woulde to save him. It was more likely that they would run away without looking back. ¡°Hurry up and get priest Valberga!¡± ¡°B-But the priest is at the monastery.¡± ¡°Go right now and get him. If you¡¯rete. . .¡± ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No!¡± The mercenary captain, who was strangling the servant, quickly changed his attitude when he heard the question flying from behind. ???????????? ¡°A feudal lord hase?¡± ¡°Yes, priest! It seems that another noble hase with an army. He wants to hear about how the fiefdom is doing!¡± Valberga¡¯s face clouded over. This was not good news. The town had originally been the fiefdom of the Aitz family, but after the family fell into ruin and several frequent disputes, the position of lord was given to a newly arrived mercenary captain. Of course, even lords who had ruled their fiefs since birth did not rule them so well, so it was unlikely that a mercenary captain would rule well. The mercenary captain was even worse at ruling the town than Sir Gessen. He was so bad that he was even said to be better off when he was drunk. He was ignorant of management, but he had many desires, so the ones who died were the lower-ranking people. At first, the mercenaries who wanted to do something realized that management was not their responsibility and entrusted everything to Valberga. Of course, that was not easy. If he had not been a patient priest, he would have run away long ago. ¡°Why are you so worried, Priest? Isn¡¯t this a good thing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more likely to be a bad thing.¡± The servants thought that the distant feudal lord woulde and fix the mercenary captain¡¯s mistakes, but the priest was not so naive. The distant feudal lord was more likely to want money. If so, the mercenary captain would have to squeeze money out of the people, and the damage would remain the same. . . ¡°In any case, we need to prepare. Wait here.¡± Valberga the priest called a few monks from the monastery and had them hold papers with the number of fiefdoms written on them. It would take great skill and evidence to persuade the feudal lord. ¡°Priest, do I have to go too?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No one will recognize Fern. I need your help.¡± Fern Aitz was once a nobleman of the Aitz family, but he is now a monk at the monastery. The emperor was not a busy man who would go out of his way to kill every single descendant who did not have a right to inherit, but it was not good to be seen. Since Fern had entered the monastery with the help of Priest Valberga, he could not refuse the priest¡¯s request. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll do my best to help.¡± ¡°Thank you! The townspeople will be grateful too.¡± ¡°Why would I need the gratitude of such people?¡± Fern grumbled. Over time, he hade to understand who were friends and who were foes. Everyone from the vige chief to the ves had fawned over him when times were good, but it had all been an illusion. ¡°Fern-nim, please don¡¯t hate the townspeople too much.¡± ¡°Alright, I understand. Please stop now.¡± Fern picked up his luggage and followed the priest, along with the other monks. ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ????????.¡¯ Although he didn¡¯t show it, Fern had a considerable respect for Priest Valberga. It was hard not to respect someone who had risked their life to hide him and his brother. While others had left the fiefdom to try their luck elsewhere, Fern had entered a nearby monastery. He was scared, but he also wanted to help the priest. ¡°Are you here? Move quickly! I won¡¯t forgive you if I get whipped because of you!¡± The mercenary captain was furious when he saw the priest running towards him from afar. ¡®???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Fern, as well as the other monks, were also frowning. The mercenary captain¡¯sck of respect for the priest was simply too much. At the very least, he could have lent him his horse if he was in a hurry. The soldiers waiting there yawned. ¡°Are you all gathered?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°?¡± The mercenary captain approached with a look of innocence that did not match his size. The soldier immediately raised his spear and struck him in the face. ¡°Gah!¡± ¡°How dare you yell at the priest? If you want to be cursed, then take it on yourself!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°Get off your horse! Let the priests ride behind you.¡± The soldiers made the mercenary captain walk. Even though it was a small town, he was the captain, and the treatment was too humiliating. However, no one stopped him. The townspeople were actually looking at him with satisfaction. The mercenary captain¡¯s subordinates, who came outte, hid in fear. ???????????? ¡°Oh, is priest Valberga still here? I thought he might have moved on since he¡¯s been here for a while.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good news.¡± While waiting, Johan had captured a townsperson and was asking him about the situation. If he had looked calmly, he would have realized that Johan¡¯s face was familiar, but the townsperson was too scared to look up. Joseph was also grateful to the priest, even if not as much as Johan, so he was also pleased to hear the name. ¡°I see that the situation in the town is not good.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s rare for a town ruled by mercenaries to be doing well.¡± Among the eastern rangers, there were those who had distinguished themselves and risen to prominence, and had been given small towns. And usually, the end of these people was not very good. ¡°He held a trial without having the right to do so and hanged a person. . . it would have been difficult to resist because it was a small town. He also vited the custom and requisitioned more days for corv¨¦ebor. He believed in evil heresy and performed suspicious rituals.¡± ¡°. . .Yes? Was he a cultist?¡± Joseph asked in surprise. He had heard the other things, but this was the first time he had heard the story. Johan answered with an indifferent expression. ¡°I added one more just to make it look more realistic.¡± ¡°. . .Oh, I see. Yes.¡± In the distance, the mercenary captain¡¯s entourage could be seen approaching. The casten and the mercenary captain hurried over and knelt down. ¡°Your Excellency Count! It is an honor to meet you. Your reputation has reached even the corners of this Empire, and I thought that if I could meet you even once as a warrior, I would die without any regrets.¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s good. What are the monks behind you doing?¡± ¡°I brought these knowledgeable people with me in case Your Excellency has any questions! They will answer anything!¡± The mercenary captain trusted priest Valberga. Even though the priest was usually annoying with all sorts of bothersome talk, he was not the type of person to act clueless in this situation. However, the count shook his head without any expression. ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Oh. . . is that so? Then. . .¡± Johan gestured. Then, the soldiers who had been waiting stepped forward and grabbed the mercenary captain¡¯s arms and forced him to kneel forward. ¡°The crime of holding a trial without jurisdiction and executing a feudal lord¡¯s people. The crime of viting customs, collecting taxes, and extending the number of days ofbor. The crime of believing in an evil religion and performing sinister rituals. In return for these crimes, I will punish you.¡± ¡°. . .Yes? Your Excellency! Your Excellency! What is that! I am a legitimate aristocrat of the Empire. . .!¡± Johan did not have the hobby of listening to the words of the rogue who had turned his hometown into a mess in the meantime. The soldiers immediately knelt the mercenary captain down and cut his neck. It was a movement so quick that none of the servants could react. ¡°!!!¡± ¡°The rest of you, go and catch all the cultists who colluded with this man.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± After finishing his work, Johan looked around and said to the priest, who he found, with great joy. ¡°No. priest. It¡¯s been a long time. Have you been well?¡± ¡°. . .??!!¡± Priest Valberga was surprised as if she had seen a ghost. ???????????? The casten¡¯s face was ashen after seeing the mercenary captain¡¯s head fly off next to him. Johan didn¡¯t pay any attention to the casten¡¯s reaction and spoke to the priest. ¡°I¡¯m surprised to see you here still.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only natural that I¡¯m here since these are my brothers. . . I guess I should call you Count.¡± ¡°You can call me by my name as you used to.¡± ¡°I. . . I suppose I could. . .¡± ¡°Why not? We¡¯re friends, after all.¡± The casten¡¯s face began to return to normal when he saw that the two were clearly close friends. Even if their social statuses were different, their friendship would not change as if they had been friends since childhood. ¡°Valberga is a wonderful priest. I often call him to hear his good words and pray.¡± Johan stared at the casten intently instead of answering. The casten was shocked, as if his heart had stopped. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to interrupt your conversation.¡± ¡°Anyway, priest. I have a question for you. Do you know how those who ran away at that time are doing? Johan¡¯s question brought a smile to Valberga¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s good timing, Count. Fern-nim is right behind me.¡± ¡°Fern? You mean. . .he¡¯s a ve now?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? He¡¯s a monk.¡± ¡°A monk?¡± Johan couldn¡¯t believe his ears. Fern was never the type to be a monk. ¡°He¡¯s right there. . . uh?¡± Priest Valberga was confused for the first time. One of the monks had disappeared. It was of course Fern. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°He ran away after seeing the execution earlier.¡± ¡°No. . .¡± Valberga looked shocked. Chapter 263: ???????????? ???????????? (3) Chapter 263: ???????????? ???????????? (3) In retrospect, it was only natural to run away. The lord who came from the emperor¡¯s side (of course, this was a mistake) had just beheaded the mercenary captain with a single stroke, so there was no reason to stay. Of course, Fern could have survived, but he wasn¡¯t stupid enough to be so foolish in a matter of life and death. ¡°This b*stard dares!¡± ¡°No. Don¡¯t hurt him. Bring him back. He¡¯s a friend of mine.¡± The angry soldiers immediately calmed down at Johan¡¯s words. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m counting on you.¡± The soldiers quickly rode their horses and followed the trail. It was difficult to hide the tracks if you weren¡¯t properly trained hunter or guide when running away.On the other hand, the pursuers were experts in pursuit. ¡°Come back! We¡¯ll forgive you if youe back now!¡± ¡°We¡¯re not going to hurt you! Monk!¡± ¡°Aaargh!¡± The soldiers¡¯ words were not very convincing. The centaurs cried out in a voice full of discontent. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t that guy believe our words? What¡¯s wrong with monks!¡± The soldier riding next to him thought it was probably because of the centaurs¡¯ reputation, but he didn¡¯t say anything out loud. He had a friendship with the centaurs. ¡°This b*stard!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move. We can¡¯t break your legs. . . or your arms. Juste along quietly. We don¡¯t want to hurt you either.¡± It was more difficult than they thought to bring him without hurting him. The centaurs held Fern in awkward positions as they brought him. Fern was shaking as he was dragged away. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡± ¡°. . .???!¡± ???????????? When the captured monk sat down next to him, the casten was quite surprised. He thought he would be beheaded like the mercenary captain. Although he was a bit dissatisfied that a monk would be seated next to him, a nobleman, the casten kept his mouth shut and waited. It was better to sit together than to be beheaded. ¡°Fern-nim. I think you will be shocked. It turns out that the count has been traveling and acting in the Empire and othernds during this time.¡± The priest kindly exined to Fern. Of course, that didn¡¯t get through to Fern¡¯s ears. ¡°. . .Will you execute me?¡± Fern said in a trembling voice. The casten was surprised at the sight. If the monk followed the mercenary captain and had his head cut off, the casten¡¯s chances of dying would increase as well. ¡°Why would I kill you?¡± ¡°Well, that is. . . I took the food and dirty the clothes. . .¡± Johan, who was listening, burst outughing. Valberga priest also seemed to find it hard to hold back hisughter, and a smile spread across his face. Of course, Fern was still in a daze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? And I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve been beaten more than that.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Fern frowned involuntarily as he remembered being beaten by Johan. He had been beaten regrly. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m d to see you alive. I thought you might be dead. Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ve spared people who deserve to die more than you, so why would I kill you?¡± ¡°T-Thank you.¡± Fern bowed his head to his half-brother, whom he had not seen in a long time. For a moment, tears welled up in his eyes. He was ashamed that he didn¡¯t know why he was doing this. ¡°Now that the person in charge of the town is gone, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to have Fern take over.¡± Johan said to the casten. The casten, who was tense and rigid, nodded quickly. ¡°I will do so.¡± ¡°Actually, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to have him take over the position of casten.¡± ¡°. . .Yes?? W-What, that, Your Excellency. Please think it over again. . . Of course, I amcking in many ways, but with the blessing, I am legitimate. . .¡± ¡°I was joking.¡± ¡°T-Thank you.¡± With every word Johan spoke, the casten¡¯s heart pounded like it was going to burst. He felt like he was going to copse and die if this meeting didn¡¯t end soon. ¡®????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan¡¯s hometown, but objectively, this surrounding fiefdom was notrge enough to be ruled directly by him. However, Fern¡¯s abilities were toocking to be made a casten. Johan knew that even if he gave the casten a vague instruction, he would take care of Fern well. After all, the casten would not want to lose his own head. ¡°Take good care of the town. If you hear any news of your other brothers, feel free toe to me. I will not treat you poorly.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Fern burst into tears. He was so grateful for the thoughtfulness of his half-brother, who had grown up to be so much bigger than him. ???????????? Johan gave his men a break and sent someone to buy a lot of alcohol. The brewers and monks in the castle, who were being exploited at a low price, were very happy to see the silver pouch being handed out and took out the barrels of alcohol. In addition to ughtering dozens of well-grown pigs, Johan¡¯s men, who were fast, went into the forest and caught deer and wild boars. It was a virtue to give to the lower people when holding such a feast. True to Johan¡¯s character, who cannot be left out when talking about virtue, he invited the vigers and shared them with alcohol and food. The people who had not received such things from the lord for a while took them with gratitude. Originally, this was something that the lord should have done. If you squeeze it harshly every time, there will be resentment. It is not for nothing that priests preach the virtue of giving to the nobles. For nobles, it was also an opportunity to raise their own honor and indulge inpassion, and at the same time, it was an opportunity to govern their subordinates. ¡°Your Excellency Count, who has just arrived, is a really kind person! I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re being so generous in a ce that¡¯s not even your fiefdom!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I heard that the atmosphere is very grim in the ce where my rtive lives.¡± Serfs were not stupid. They were aware of what was going on, to some extent, through rumors. Even the vige chief could roughly guess what was happening at the top. Of course, the fighting above was not very important to them. To them, the count was their lord who would protect them from being plundered. And it was even better if the lord was merciful. ¡°I don¡¯t think the count will stay here for long, do you? He¡¯s better than ten of the previous lords.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be leaving soon, I think. He must have a lot to do. Why would he stay here for long?¡± ¡°No. He¡¯s going to stay for a few more days, I heard. I heard it while carrying the barrels of wine just now.¡± ¡°Is that true? That¡¯s great!¡± The servants were delighted to hear that the count would be staying for a little longer. There was no one better to serve than a noble who was generous and kind. ???????????? ¡°It seems to be around here. . .¡± ©¥?????????? ¡°You don¡¯t even remember what you ate?¡± Johan¡¯s rebuke made Karamaf look down dejectedly. They hade to the hometown to see it once since they had some free time, but there was another reason at the same time. They wanted to find the armor of Sir Karamaf, which had been buried in the nearby forest. In the past, he had refrained from taking out the armor and carrying it around because he would have to face all the Empire¡¯s pursuit teams if they did, but now that he was wielding Sir Karamaf¡¯s sword, no one dared to speak in Johan¡¯s presence. While the subordinates were eating and drinking with the townspeople, Johan quietly left the forest with only Iselia. ©¥?????????? ¡°Ah. I think it was around here.¡± Johan found the mark he had made. The ground was hard, but a hole was quickly made when Johan used his strength. Iselia was sweating as she was digging with a shovel, and she suddenly wondered and asked. ¡°By the way, dear. I have a question. Is it okay to bury the armor like this, even though it should be well-kept?¡± ¡°Anything.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s an armor, it should be kept well, but is it okay to bury it in the ground like this?¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan was momentarily taken aback. Is that right? Thinking about it, other armors originally required quite a bit of tedious procedures to store. Why would knights carry pages or servants with them when they traveled? Someone had to do the work of oiling the armor and putting it in a sand container to remove rust. ¡°This armor is a bit special.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Iselia swung the shovel again with a face that said, ¡¯?? ??????¡¯?? ????????????????????, ?????? ??¡¯???? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???????? ????.¡¯ But Johan began to feel uneasy. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ????????¡¯?? ??????????????.¡¯ Contrary to Iselia¡¯s worries, the appearance of the ancient Empire armor that came out from under the ground was very intact. Of course, it was only that the rust did not rust, but the shape of the armor was in a state ofplete destruction. ¡°Did the knight who wore this armor fight a giant? No. . . I don¡¯t think even a giant could hurt it like this. It looks like it was bitten by a dragon.¡± In response to Iselia¡¯s words, Johan said with a slightly embarrassed expression. ¡°I cut it and ruined it.¡± ¡°. . .Did you hit it on the armor itself instead of through the gaps in the armor?¡± Iselia looked shocked that Johan had done such a foolish thing. Johan felt the urge to make excuses even though he hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. ¡°Still, I thought a knight of your caliber could do that.¡± ¡°. . .There¡¯s no need to give me emptyfort.¡± Johan noticed Iselia¡¯s expression and gave her an unusualfort. They had be quite sensitive to each other¡¯s emotions after living together. ¡°This is an ancient Empire armor, Iselia. It may look a bit strange, but. . . I¡¯m sure a talented cksmith will be able to repair it.¡± ¡°My dear. Are you nning to go hunting dragons wearing that?¡± Iselia asked with a worried look. Iselia was born into a knightly family and trained as a knight. She knew what knightly honor was, and she respected it. However, even so, she couldn¡¯t just let Johan go up against a dragon. She wanted to stop him, even if it meant being disgraced as a knight. ¡°. . .What terrible things are you saying?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t. Don¡¯t say strange things. Iselia. For a moment, I thought you were Angoldolph.¡± Iselia took Johan¡¯s hand with a relieved expression. She was relieved to hear that he wasn¡¯t going to go after the dragon. ¡®???? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????????????, ??¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????????????.¡¯ He thought that it wasn¡¯t the elf king who was strange, but that most of the western lords were probably misunderstanding Johan. ¡®????????, ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ????????, ????. . .¡¯ ???????????? After retrieving his armor, Johan did not leave immediately. He set out to personally assess the situation in the surrounding area. The situation in the south was not good, not only in the town where the mercenary captain, who did not know the first thing about governing, was sitting as the lord. When war breaks out and plundering urs, the resulting chaos inevitably spreads. Johan captured a few bands of bandits, personally handled trials that had been postponed because they were difficult to judge, restored unclear fiefdom records, and sorted out taxes. The wizards, who thought they hade down to rest, grumbled, but Johan remained undeterred. ¡°You¡¯ve all worked hard. It seems that things have been sorted out to some extent thanks to your efforts.¡± ¡°You are truly amazing, Count. To solve problems that have been umting for so long in one go!¡± The casten bowed his head at a more acute angle than when he first met Johan. His eyes were filled with fear, but more so with respect. He had been a scribe in the city, but he had never seen anyone who could handle things like Johan. His administrative ability was truly formidable. Even knights who hunt monsters on horseback might look down on such work, which involves ink, quills, and paper, but the scribes knew very well how amazing Johan¡¯s ability was. It was a situation that could not help but elicit admiration. ¡°Your Excellency Count!¡± Johan was puzzled by the appearance of a soldier who had rushed in from outside while he was soothing Caenerna, who had copsed and said she could no longer do it. He was clearly in a state of shock. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The emperor. . . the emperor is dead!¡± ¡°Hmm. He was old, so it was time for him to die.¡± The soldier was slightly taken aback by Johan¡¯s very calm reaction. Was it really the case that knights like counts did not even surprise at such news? ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°And. . . a rebellion has broken out.¡± ¡°!¡± Chapter 264: ??????????’ ?????????????????? (1) Chapter 264: ??????????¡¯ ?????????????????? (1) Despite its harsh connotation, rebellion was not such a surprising event. It was an event that happened surprisingly often. A noble who had ruled as a feudal lord for more than ten years would experience a rebellion at least once or twice. In the first ce, it was rare for a feudal lord to govern a fiefdom by properly understanding how the lives of serfs worked. It was a level of interest that was only understood superficially, and usually the practical work was handled by the managers below. Therefore, if a few unlucky events happened one after another, a rebellion had to happen. Whether there was a famine, the feudal lord needed money, or a dissatisfied mercenary captain made things worse. . . Of course, it could not be left alone, but it was not something to be so surprised or scared about. A rebellion would calm down soon if the leader was captured or the serfs got what they wanted a little. Serfs were also more likely to be satisfied by pouring their hatred on the managers who were caught between the feudal lord and the serfs, rather than making a life-and-death decision with the feudal lord. ¡°In my fiefdom? That¡¯s strange.¡±Because of this, Johan reacted calmly. Of course, it was strange, but it was not impossible. The walls of the fiefdom were strong and the soldiers left behind were elite. They would not budge even with a mediocre rebellion. ¡°The rebellion did not happen in Count¡¯s fiefdom! It broke out in the southern Empire. And it is a huge scale!¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Huh??¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not good. Thank you for letting me know anyway.¡± Johan was relieved to hear that it was not his fiefdom, but on second thought, it was not a time to be relieved. It was not good that a rebellion broke out in the already chaotic southern situation. ¡°There was a rebellion?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Of course. It is clear that the feudal lords have been too aggressive.¡± The southern Empire had been in a state of devastation for over a few years due to rebellion and war. The feudal lords of the south fought against the emperor¡¯s army by holding out in the castle and striking from behind, but in fact, all of that was just for money. They had no choice but to squeeze the fiefdom, even if they had to borrow some money, and the viges that were looted only became more and more angry. The war was over, but the southern lords did not reduce taxes to repair the damage and debt they had incurred. In addition, the allied forces from the west also contributed to the problem. To bribe them, they had to raise more money. It was not surprising that a rebellion broke out, as the situation was one that could have exploded at any time. ¡°They are strange people. It is only natural that they would rebel if they are pushed too hard, but I don¡¯t understand why they don¡¯t know that.¡± ¡°Other lords are not usually as interested as you are. It ismon for them to be more ignorant than a passing traveler, even though they are lords.¡± Suetlg said with a look of disgust. Every time he saw this kind of thing, he felt sympathetic to the people of the free city. ¡°In any case, it would be better to prepare quickly. The scale of the rebellion isrge, so we will need your help.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Whether they were mercenaries or conscripts, soldiers were expensive manpower. Just keeping them around made the silver coins disappear like snow. After the emperor¡¯s army fled in a panic, the first thing the feudal lords did was to reduce the size of their armies. Of course, those soldiers did not disappear, so they could be called back if they wanted to, but no feudal lord would do that even for a rebellion, as it was not a matter of life or death with the emperor¡¯s faction. It is a matter of great loss, apart from face and honor. ¡®?? ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ ???????????? Johan was surprised to see that the camp was more crowded than he had expected. The number of soldiers had decreased, but the number of new visitors had increased. The visitors were the feudal lords of the southern region. ¡°Your Excellency Count!¡± ¡°Your Excellency Count has arrived!¡± Johan was popr among them. Some of them were motivated by political considerations or profit, but many of them were simply impressed by his reputation as a knight. ¡°Your Excellency, it would be an honor if you would allow me to lead the attack!¡± It was a striking sight to see unfamiliar knights from unfamiliar families arrive at the camp without being paid. The people who had gathered around the camp looked at them with expressions of awe, not knowing the full story. In the midst of the chaos in the south, knights were pledging their allegiance to the knight among knights who had appeared. If you stopped to think about it, it was quite a sight. ¡®?????? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????¡¯ Johan didn¡¯t know if they had been hiding in their fiefdoms or running away when they were fighting against the emperor¡¯s forces, but he was annoyed that they hade to him now that they were facing what seemed to be a less formidable enemy, the serfs. Of course, they may havee here with their own pure passion and intentions. . . ¡®?????? ???????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan was not the kind of person to be moved by the sight of people crowding in to pledge their swords and vows. ¡°Uuh. . . ueek.¡± Meanwhile, Iselia, who was standing next to him, was moved to tears. It was a truly beautiful scene as a knight. ¡°Iselia. . .¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ???????????? ¡°The suppression must be carried out.¡± ¡°Indeed, we can¡¯t just leave the rebellion as it is.¡± The feudal lords gathered in the room nodded in agreement. The nobles from the south looked hopeful at this sight. It seemed things might resolve easier than expected. ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ????????.¡¯ Johan realized the true intentions of the feudal lords. Fighting a rebellion was different from fighting the emperor¡¯s army. Originally, it was a matter for the southern nobles to handle on their own. These lords hade from afar and had already made substantial investments. They didn¡¯t want to waste their precious soldiers on something as bothersome as quelling a rebellion. Though the southern nobles were pleading desperately, the other lords couldn¡¯t outright refuse for the sake of appearances, yet their reluctance was evident. ¡®????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ????????????????????? ????¡¯?? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????????????? ?? ???????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ ¡®???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????, ???????? ???? ????????????????????. . .¡¯ ¡°So, when do you n to set out?¡± ¡°The knight in charge of the matter has not yet recovered.¡± ¡°It will take some time for the grain from my fiefdom to arrive.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a fasting daying up, and I need to cleanse and focus for prayer. . .¡± The feudal lords creatively made up various excuses as if they had agreed beforehand, leaving the southern nobles bewildered. Even a fool would start to realize it by now. But even if they realized it, there was no way to convince them. That was unfortunate for them. ¡°The solution is very simple.¡± As always, it was the elf king who took the initiative. The southern nobles threw expectant nces at him as the elf king spoke. He was a formidable opponent, as he ruled the kingdom of the elves in the west, but he was more than wee in this situation. ¡°ording to thetest information, the rebels have scattered to the mountains and forests to evade pursuit. It may seem difficult to attack at first nce, but it is actually not. They are just a bunch of untrained serfs and defeated soldiers!¡± ¡°Oh. . .!¡± ¡°There is no need to be afraid of the mountains and forests. If we take our elite knights and strike like lightning, one by one, the rest will naturally scatter.¡± The southern nobles seemed to be deeply impressed by the confident look on the elf king¡¯s face as he gestured at the map. After all, even the rough and savage can look different when they are desperate and needed. ¡°Your Majesty, now that you have said that, I am finally starting to feel a little less anxious!¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°When do you n to set out?¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± The elf king tilted his head. The southern nobleman said in confusion, ¡°Weren¡¯t you, your majesty, supposed to take charge personally?¡± ¡°Are you telling me to fight in such a dishonorable battle?? Isn¡¯t that joke too much? For me and my knights to go out just to suppress a rebellion! Such tasks should be left to mercenaries!¡± The elf king shouted with a firmness that suggested he would not forgive any further words. The surprising thing about the elf king was that he was serious. Dealing with the elf king was a tricky task, different from the way the feudal lords here had to be handled. Johan finally understood the hearts of the baffled southern nobles. ¡®??????, ???????? ?????????? ??????????.¡¯ That was a bafflement only those who had apanied the elf king could understand. In the end, the meeting concluded with no significant oue. The feudal lords, who had been holding out, proposed anotherpromise. They offered to lend gold without interest so that the southerners could hire mercenaries and undertake the suppression themselves. Although it was disappointing and frustrating for the southerners, who already had elite forces at hand, to incur another expense, they had no choice. They were the ones in urgent need. ???????????? ¡°This is getting annoying.¡± Ulrike was already preparing for her expedition. Behind her were the Abner family¡¯s elite troops. Of course, this was not an expedition to suppress the rebellion. It was an expedition to defend the family¡¯s fiefdom. Thanks to the emperor¡¯s extermination, several feudal lord families had disappeared. As a result, there were quite a few fiefdoms without a lord. Those who were acting as lords also fled in the dark as soon as they heard the news that the emperor¡¯s army had copsed and retreated to the north. They knew that staying for a long time would be pointless unless they were incredibly clueless, like Johan had been. Normally, it would be enough to leave a steward in charge, so there was no need to pay much attention. However, this was not the time to do so, with the south in turmoil due to the rebellion. It was better to station troops and rule in their ce until the matter was resolved. Otherwise, they would have to waste unnecessary effort if the rebels suddenly attacked. Johan, who had made many contributions, was the same. He had to take care of his own rewards. ¡°This is not a difficult task.¡± ¡°Are you thinking of going on a punitive expedition?¡± Ulrike asked with a curious voice. Johan was going to go to the Aeia fiefdom, which was not far from where the rebellion had urred. If he wanted to, he could easily think of subduing it. ¡°No. Not at all.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Ulrike nodded in satisfaction after hearing Johan¡¯s words. Unlike the ignorant knights, Johan was a man who could make realistic judgments. Since the rebels would note up to the top and attack Ulrike or Johan¡¯s fiefdom, this was a fight that would be won by just sitting still. ¡°I won¡¯t go on a punitive expedition, but I can¡¯t just sit still either. We need to appease them to some extent.¡± ¡°. . .Huh?¡± ¡°Did I just say something so surprising?¡± ¡°What do you mean by appease?¡± ¡°Reduce the tribute they have to pay, reduce the corv¨¦e a bit, and have priests go around and give good sermons. . . It¡¯s not that difficult, is it?¡± ¡°Do we really have to go that far?¡± Ulrike was puzzled. She wondered if it was necessary to appease them that much when the soldiers would go and settle in. Johan shrugged. It was difficult to exin in detail if their ways of thinking were too different. ¡°I¡¯m just deeply religious, you see.¡± ¡°. . .That was the funniest joke I¡¯ve heardtely, count. Anyway, I¡¯ll keep that in mind. Let¡¯s go!¡± Ulrike set off with her subordinates first. Johan also set off for the fiefdom with his subordinates. ???????????? ¡°This is a mess.¡± Johan, who arrived at his fiefdom, spat out his tongue at the situation that had been turned into a mess here and there. There were still traces of being looted several times. ¡°Fortunately, the lord¡¯s castle is safe.¡± ¡°It must have been newly built. Let¡¯s take care of the urgent matters one by one. Let¡¯s build the town¡¯s palisade while we¡¯re around. If we leave it alone, monsters or bands of rogues wille rushing in.¡± The mercenaries wore very sad expressions. None of them liked this kind of work. But what can you do? You have to follow your lord¡¯s orders. The townspeople looked on with pale faces at the sight of more than a hundred soldiers rushing in, plowing the ground and erecting a palisade. It would have been easier to mind if they were asked to hand over silver coins, but they had no idea what was going on. ¡°Isn¡¯t it about the cost of the palisade?¡± ¡°Why would you do that? You can just say you have to give it up if you don¡¯t want to die.¡± The vige chief, who was supposed to exin what happened, was not returning because he was exining next to Johan. As soon as the vige chief returned, the people asked urgently. ¡°How much do we have to pay?¡± ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve misunderstood.¡± ¡°Is it conscription? How many people do we have to give up?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not that. . .¡± Chapter 265: ??????????’ ?????????????????? (2) Chapter 265: ??????????¡¯ ?????????????????? (2) It didn¡¯t take long for the people to clear up their misunderstandings. The people who were terrified of the newly appeared army soon praised Johan¡¯s name in unison. ¡®????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ?? ?????? ????????????????????????.¡¯ In fact, it wasn¡¯t difficult to win the favor of serfs if they had plenty of silver. Reduce the tribute to be paid, reduce the corv¨¦e, and do not recruit. . . The reason why nobles don¡¯t do this is not only because they don¡¯t feel the need to do so, but also because it is a matter of losing money in the immediate future. There are not many nobles who are willing to sacrifice their profits to be called merciful. ¡°Even though I¡¯m going to get this fiefdom, I can¡¯t just leave it alone. Does anyone have any good ideas?¡± Johan called his subordinates together. Even if he used this fiefdom as a bargaining chip with other lords, or ruled it with a vassal, leaving it alone would be a loss.At the very least, it would mean more work to clean up the mess. One of the sub-captains raised his hand cautiously and said. ¡°Since it is already a ruined fiefdom, why don¡¯t we conscript all the people and make them soldiers? Then, we can use the town as a camp for mercenaries.¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s an interesting idea.¡± Johan wanted to say ¡¯?????? ?????? ???????????¡¯, but he held back. If he berated his subordinate, the others would be even more afraid. The captain¡¯s face brightened at Johan¡¯s words. He had only said it on a whim, but the evaluation was better than he had expected. Encouraged by the praise, the others began to speak up one by one. Suetlg thought to himself: ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?? ???????? ????????, ???????? ?????¡¯ Soldiers beyond what was needed were useless. They were only making the lord¡¯s pockets lighter. ¡°If you will lend me the people who are skilled at hunting and are fast, I will exterminate the rogues.¡± ¡°I heard that there are some defeated soldiers in the nearby town. I will go and hang them.¡± ¡°Those are all good ideas. I will let you do that.¡± Fortunately, other opinions began to emerge, besides fighting. Some of the scribes who were apanying the army suggested that they buy good quality livestock, fatten them up, and increase their numbers. It was a good time to release livestock like pigs into the forest, as the number of people in the area had decreased. The sub-captains shook their heads in disbelief. ¡®?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????????????? ?????????????????¡¯ ¡®?????? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ????????????????????????.¡¯ Johan¡¯s mercenaries were as proud as they were loyal. To them, the scribe¡¯s proposal was simply too insignificant. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Once we deal with the rogues and wild animals in the forest, things will be much better. Conduct a raid, and summon the serfs to distribute livestock to them.¡± ¡°Y-You mean just give it away?¡± ¡°If we ask them to buy it, they won¡¯t be able to afford it. Let them pay for the livestock after they¡¯ve raised it.¡± Johan listened to the scribe¡¯s suggestions, one by one, from livestock to crops, and came up with various responses. The sub-captains looked at Johan with pity. A count like a knight had to worry about such matters. ¡°Is there any unmined silver mine around?¡± ¡°If there were, the feudal lord¡¯s family would still be holding out.¡± Suetlg answered Johan¡¯s grumble with a firm voice. Even in the south, wealthy fiefdoms were able to hold out somehow with their sturdy walls and fairly trained soldiers. It was the fiefdoms that could not do so that were first conquered. ¡°I heard that if you live a good life, you¡¯ll find a silver mine in the back mountains. . .¡± ¡°When are you going to stop telling old stories? I don¡¯t think even dwarves would believe such fairy tales.¡± Suetlg replied with a snortingugh at Johan¡¯s joke. Johan was doing quite well, regardless of those delusions. He had quickly reorganized the fiefdom and calmed the dissatisfaction and fear of the serfs as soon as he arrived. You could feel the atmosphere if you just went outside and rode a horse around. People¡¯s anxiety would be greatly reduced if they could just confirm that they were being protected by the new lord. Thend was in a mess, but thend was vast and there were many uncultivated forests and mountains. If they just waited patiently, the territories would surely regain their former appearance. ???????????? When a major war breaks out, the number of mercenaries increases ordingly. The Empire, which has had many major battles, has arge number of mercenaries. These mercenaries did not disappear easily even after the war ended. Only a very small number of mercenaries made a career. Most of them spent the money they received that day, and some unlucky people even lost their equipment. As such, it was not difficult for the southern feudal lords to gather mercenaries. Mercenaries who wandered around nearby gathered from all over after hearing the news. ¡°Have you seen Count Yeats?¡± ¡°Of course I have. I saw him from afar, but I saw him clearly.¡± Naturally, the stories that mercenaries tell are about the recent wars. Participating in a famous battle was a kind of medal. The more battles you participate in and survive, the more respect you can get from other mercenaries. ¡°You said you saw the Dragon yer King?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he a count, not a king?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it simr?¡± ¡°You ignorant b*stards. It¡¯s different. And it¡¯s a count, not a king.¡± An aged mercenary clicked his tongue and scolded the others. The mercenaries here couldn¡¯t quite distinguish between a count and a king. To them, all feudal lords seemed alike. It was natural, then, for them to mistake the recently famous count for a king, referring to him as ¡°your excellency¡±. ¡°Knights, dozens of them, attacked, and he didn¡¯t blink an eye, just stood his ground and knocked them down, charging forward. It seemed like there was a halo shining behind him.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it just sunlight?¡± ¡°ording to rumors, the count is blessed by God. He even won a battle once after receiving a divine revtion in a dream.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem possible for him to be human. Is he really a person?¡± The mercenaries, who had never seen Johan, were very curious. There was no one as widely rumored as the count. The rumors were so varied that it was hard to guess based on them. There was a superstition that seeing a brave and honorable person from afar could make one a bit like them in glory, but even without that, curiosity was piqued about what kind of knight could y a dragon. ¡°To arms!¡± ¡°Form up!¡± The sound of trumpets and drums rang out, and the mercenaries¡¯ steps quickened. Hundreds gathered in one ce, but there was little semnce of order. Even though they were all mercenaries, they were rarely trained in formation. But here, dozens of mercenaries, big and small, were gathered together. Just assembling them was enough. From far ahead, knights on horseback began to shout and encourage the mercenaries. ¡°We look forward to a glorious battle! There will be no retreat. Let¡¯s sweep away all those rogues!¡± ¡°Long live Sir Knight! Long live Sir Knight!¡± There was no pay for shouting, so the mercenaries happily cheered. They were now on their way to quell the rebel army that was hiding in the forest. Even though the forest wasrge and dense, the mercenaries were not worried. Their opponents were just serfs, and they were seasoned veterans of the battlefield. ¡°Forward! The one who finds the rogues first will be rewarded!¡± The mercenaries drew lots to select a few scouts. The lucky ones looked happy, while the remaining mercenaries looked envious. ¡°They made free money.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If we win, I¡¯ll treat you to a big drink.¡± The scouts who went ahead did not return for a long time. ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a fire! There¡¯s a fire over there!¡± The mercenaries at the main camp, initially puzzled, were startled by the sudden mes and began to move. ¡°Put out the fire!¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible right now! The fire is fiercer than we thought! Please allow us to retreat!¡± ¡°Retreat? We haven¡¯t even seen a shadow of the enemy, and you speak of retreat? What nonsense!¡± Although the knight shouted in anger, some mercenaries had already begun preparing to escape upon seeing the fire. They knew too well how quickly a fire could spread in such a forest. ¡°Shoot them!¡± ¡°What???¡± ¡°I clearly stated that those who run will be punished.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s. . .¡± ¡°Shoot!¡± Not many mercenaries could withstand the knight threatening them with a sword at their neck. Eventually, the mercenary captain fired a crossbow at those fleeing. The situation, already chaotic, worsened as they began fighting amongst themselves. Even the mercenaries maintaining order started to crumble, marking it the worst decision. ¡°The enemy has appeared in front!¡± ¡°Follow me!¡± The knights, along with their elite forces, prepared to charge. The chaos in their own ranks didn¡¯t matter. In the end, crushing and trampling the opponent meant victory in battle. As the knights led the charge, even the disoriented mercenaries looked on with hopeful eyes. A powerful charge that even mercenaries found hard to emte. The knights¡¯ infamous reputation on the battlefield was not without reason. ??????????! ¡°It¡¯s a swamp! There¡¯s a swamp!¡± ¡°What nonsense is this?!¡± The knights were baffled as a swamp, which hadn¡¯t been there during reconnaissance, appeared before them. Arrows began to rain down. The knights held their ground with shields and armor, but one by one, their horses fell. Excellent! Wizard! The knight dastards are running away! Halzedel pped Bolts on the back with hisrge hand. Bolts coughed up phlegm from the impact. ¡°I. . . I told you it would work. I¡¯ve worked for the knight dastards before, and they¡¯re very susceptible to this kind of trickery.¡± ¡°Excellent. I, Duke Halzedel, am very pleased.¡± ¡®????????? ???????? ????. . .¡¯ Bolts thought it was a bit funny that a fallen nobleman would call himself a duke, but he didn¡¯t say it out loud. The rebellion was not as easy as the southern lords thought. Unlike the rebellions where the exploded serfs beat up the administrators and drove them away, this rebellion was growing like wildfire due to thebination of various factors. The remnants of the army, wandering mercenaries, gangs of thieves, and descendants of fallen noble families had all managed to charm and control the exploding serfs. They were not elite, but they were not a mob either. They had the skills to defeat the knights who were moving quickly to resolve the situation by surprise. ¡°Listen up! We won today. If we win a few more times like this, those b*stards won¡¯t daree in here, and the other lords of the Empire will recognize us!¡± The leaders of the rebellion had a clear goal. To have thend they upied recognized as their own fiefdom and live there. asionally, knights or mercenary captains would attempt to seize small towns or fiefdoms by force and make them their own. Most of them failed miserably, but there were also cases where they seeded due to abination of luck and coincidence. Their scale is different, but there is no reason why they can¡¯t do it, right? ???????????? ¡°You lost?¡± Johan couldn¡¯t believe his ears. ¡°Yes. . .¡± ¡°No, how could you lose to serfs? That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± Losing to the emperor was one thing. The emperor was a crazy b*stard, after all. But a knight losing to serfs was too much. ¡°They weren¡¯t as disorganized as we thought. The leaders seem to be quite intelligent. In fact, they sent a letter to Your Excellency the Count.¡± Johanughed in disbelief. ¡°Bring it here.¡± Fortunately, the rebels had some sense and didn¡¯t dare to proim themselves dukes. Acting that way towards a real noble would only earn their wrath. The letter was a humble appeal. I am actually a descendant of a certain family in the south. My family actually had some rights to this fiefdom originally, and my wife is also a distant rtive of the feudal lord¡¯s family, etc., etc. Then, they went on to write that they would pledge their loyalty to Count Your Majesty if he would ept them as vassals. ¡°I don¡¯t need such vassals.¡± Johan threw away the letter with a click of his tongue. It was a letter that didn¡¯t need to be answered. ¡°Even though we lost once, there¡¯s no need to worry too much. The feudal lords wille to their senses and properly suppress them again. We just have to sit back and wait.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± The sub-captain nodded as if he understood Johan¡¯s words. ¡°By the way, is it true that silver mines were found in the mountains?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t confirmed it as a silver mine, but. . .?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. Is it something simr?¡± ¡°Yes. I think we need to confirm it more, but for now. . .¡± ¡°Well done!¡± ¡°T-Thank you.¡± Johan smiled with a joyful expression. He had said it as a joke to Suetlg, but he never thought that a mine would actually be found. The sub-captain was puzzled by Johan¡¯s reaction. He didn¡¯t think that the count, who was full of dignity, would be so happy about the discovery of a mine. Could there be some magic sleeping there? Chapter 266: ??????????’ ?????????????????? (3) Chapter 266: ??????????¡¯ ?????????????????? (3) The mercenaries discovered a mine hidden deep in the mountains by chance. One of the mercenaries who was exploring the area and making a map identally stumbled near a cave, revealing a hidden entrance. The mercenaries, curious about the ratherrge space underground near the cave, went down with only a torch. As a result, they confirmed that there was a vein of something, and the mercenaries did not try any harder and came up. There were surprisingly many monsters in such underground mines. ¡°It would be really good if it were silver or gold.¡± ¡°Please keep your dignity.¡± Suetlg looked around for no reason. Johan¡¯s boyish excitement felt quite embarrassing. Everyone in the fiefdom, including the subordinates, thought of Johan as a dignified knight. It was rare even among knights to be able to capture and shake a person¡¯s heart with just a nce. However, when he thought about Johan¡¯s age, he thought it was no wonder he would show that reaction. Compared to other feudal lords, Johan was young enough to say that he was young.¡°I used to dream of finding a hidden mine in my fiefdom and making a fortune. I would gather workers and. . .¡± ¡°Save that joke for when other nobles are around. They¡¯ll love it.¡± Suetlg was sure that if he told that joke, the other nobles wouldugh so hard they¡¯d fall over. ¡°More than that, if it¡¯s a mine, it will be a big job. We¡¯ll need to call the dwarves, won¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Yes, we will.¡± These were not the dwarves who lived in the southern mountains, but the dwarven tribes who were nobles of the Empire and settled in the central or northern parts of the Empire. Like the dwarves of the southern mountains, these dwarves were also closed and isted, but they were more active than them. At least they could visit the fiefdom and introduce themselves and make a proposal. They were among the best mining engineer experts in the Empire. It was essential to have their help to develop a mine properly. ¡°They¡¯ll be tough to deal with.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with a lot of dwarves.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. But the dwarven nobles I¡¯m talking about are a little different.¡± ¡°How are they different?¡± ¡°You know the dwarves in the southern mountains. Combine their stubbornness with the arrogance of nobles and then add the greed of the wealthy.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg¡¯s words made Johan pause. Suetlg¡¯s words sounded rather exaggerated. ¡°Even so, they wouldn¡¯t be able to make excessive demands, right?¡± Johan was not amoner or a lower noble, but a feudal lord with hundreds of soldiers behind him. No one could openly rob in front of such a lord. ¡°Of course they can¡¯t make excessive demands openly. But those dwarves have worked for so long that they are notorious among feudal lords. They are naturally used to such things.¡± They are as tough as possible within the scope of the contract with the feudal lord. It was only natural that the feudal lords would be disgusted by such people who had developed this for generations. However, even with that in mind, the dwarves¡¯ skills were certain. ¡°The war hasn¡¯t ended long ago, and a rebellion has even broken out. They won¡¯t avoiding because of that, will they?¡± ¡°Ah. Don¡¯t worry about that. They¡¯lle running as soon as they receive a letter.¡± Suetlg strongly guaranteed it. And his words were true. As soon as the letter was sent, the dwarves volunteered to go to the mine themselves to explore it and give an estimate. ???????????? Rimpangel n¡¯s Schweibeck was an old dwarf who was respected even within the n. He had opened fourteen new mines in areas that had already been explored, and he had breathed new life into eight mines where the veins had dried up. This was an achievement that would make all dwarves tuck their beards in. Helping Schweibeck was his nephew, Holgretz. ¡°I heard that the count is so brave.¡± ¡°Yes, I heard that too.¡± Schweibeck said, stroking his beard. Even so, his eyes were sharply scanning the surroundings. Although there would be no crazy b*stard who would dare to attack a well-armed dwarven procession, it is natural for people to be more cautious as they get older. ¡°Won¡¯t it be difficult to work with him?¡± ¡°Heh heh. You¡¯re still young. In fact, such a person is easy to deal with.¡± Schweibeck burst intoughter. Schweibeck had faced many lords while developing mines in various fiefdoms. Although they were all nobles, their personalities were all different. There were bold ones, timid ones, brave ones, cowardly ones, and greedy ones. . . He had even faced a brave knight who could easily defeat a dozen dwarves with a single sword, but it wasn¡¯t too difficult. ¡°Most nobles don¡¯t know how the mine works. They don¡¯t even care to try. The only part they pay attention to is the amount of ore thates out. If you just worry about that, you can prevent mostints. And knights are not good at numbers and letters.¡± Sometimes there were feudal lords who were well-educated. These were the ones who were difficult to deal with. Those who could read the books and see how much the dwarves spent and how much they took. If these people care about their face, it¡¯s still good, but if they don¡¯t care about their face, it¡¯s going to be a dirty pain for the dwarves. They¡¯ll be poking around and tripping them up one by one. ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± ¡°Yes. A young and brave knight may seem frightening at first, but in the end, wisdom always ovees courage.¡± The young dwarf nodded with admiration at his uncle¡¯s words. He also wanted to be such a fine dwarf by following his uncle¡¯s seniority. ¡°It¡¯s the centaurs!¡± ¡°Why are the centaurs here???¡± ¡°Calm down. Didn¡¯t the count say he had the centaurs under his control?¡± The dwarves who were startled and scared came to their senses at Schweibeck¡¯s shout. The centaurs of the east were still a source of fear, even after a long time. It was even more so for the dwarves who did not like mounts. ¡°You are from the north, are you not?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°We will guide you. Please follow us.¡± The centaurs were polite, with no hint of savagery. Instead of the Empire dialect mixed with Easternnguages, they spoke with a clean ent that could be mistaken for that of nobles. ¡¯???????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????????¡¯ Schweibeck thought so as he stretched his legs. His body was heavy after sitting in the carriage for a long time. ¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ Schweibeck took out a small piece of jewelry from his pocket and put on his sses. The thick ss hanging in the rough wooden frame sparkled. ¡°?¡± Schweibeck felt a gaze and raised his head. A centaur was looking at him curiously. Schweibeck smiled bitterly. ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised. It¡¯s not a strange thing.¡± It was important to be careful when showing new cultures to barbarians like centaurs. Some people had died after being misunderstood as having been possessed by demons when they were shown a watch. It was only natural to misunderstand sses. ¡°I know. Isn¡¯t it sses?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Schweibeck was momentarily taken aback. ¡°Isn¡¯t it? It looks like sses.¡± ¡°. . .Yes, it is. How did you know?¡± ¡°How did I know? . . .I saw it, didn¡¯t I? They use them a lot in the cities in the south.¡± ¡°Aha.¡± Schweibeck finally realized what was going on. It was clear that the centaur was quite knowledgeable, having seen a lot of things while following the count. ¡°I¡¯ve seen Your Excellency Count make it with the wizard.¡± ¡°. . .What did you say?!¡± Schweibeck almost dropped his sses at the centaur¡¯s words. The count made one? It was less difficult than ssmaking, which only the most skilled artisans know the secrets of, but it was still hard to believe. ¡®???? ???? ?????????????? ?????¡¯ He looked at the centaur¡¯s side face, but the centaur seemed to have lost interest and was looking straight ahead. ¡°Hey. When are you going to finish reading the book Your Excellency Count gave youst time? I want to read it too.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve been putting it off because I¡¯ve been on guard duty. I¡¯ll read it aloud if you want to listen.¡± ¡°Would you?¡± ¡°. . .????¡± Schweibeck became more and more confused at the sounding from outside the carriage. Was it the count¡¯s strategy? The pride and vanity of nobles were so enormous thatmoners could hardly imagine it. Once they set their minds to something, they would never easily back down. It was not easy to afford such extravagance as burning down a forest to kill hundreds of deer to entertain a visiting guest, then serving only the most delicious-looking one. Only the great lords among the feudal lords could do such things, and that in itself was a reputation that adorned the lord. If the count had only selected the smartest centaurs toe to meet him. . . ¡¯????????¡¯?? ?? ???????????? ???????????? ????????????????. ?? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Schweibeck regained hisposure. He seemed to be a fairly experienced count for a young man. After all, that¡¯s how he could have won the fight against that emperor. But Schweibeck was not worried. No matter how great a knight was, Schweibeck had persuaded him several times before. ???????????? ¡°It is an honour to meet you, Your Excellency the Count!¡± The dwarves rose after the prescribed ritual. After Schweibeck had paid tribute to Johan¡¯s deeds (minus the exaggerations that might have seemed a tad too far-fetched), he spoke up. ¡°We dwarves don¡¯t waste time on trivialities. We¡¯d be happy to head to the mines straight away, if you¡¯ll allow it.¡± The dwarves¡¯ cheerful demeanour had the servants of the court looking at them quite favourably. Their honest and sturdy appearance was trustworthy. Caenerna and Suetlg, however, exchanged nces and shook their heads disapprovingly. To the wizards, who had seen and heard a lot, the dwarves from the north were loathsome. ¡°Be careful. They¡¯re doing that to gain your trust.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by their honest act.¡± Schweibeck ignored the two wizards whispering behind him and stood there calmly and humbly. The wizards seemed to be giving advice, but speaking up now would be counter-productive. It was better to stay quiet. Wizards had always been distrusted. Given the suspicious nature of the nobles, it wouldn¡¯t take much for that distrust to shift direction. ¡°Alright, everyone. That¡¯s enough worrying.¡± Johan had the wizards sit down beside him and then asked the dwarf. ¡°So, I have a question for you.¡±? ¡°Yes, ask anything you like, Your Excellency. But allow me to see the mine firsthand, only then am I able to answer how much can be extracted and how much that would be in our favor.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I asked.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Schweibeck was puzzled. What else could he ask? ????????! Johan pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded it. It was a blueprint of some kind of contraption that looked like it was drawn by hand. Schweibeck was experienced enough to recognize it instantly. ¡®???? ???????? ?? ????????????????????. . . ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????¡¯ It was a drawing of a device that used the power of a waterwheel to drain water out of a mine shaft. It was surprisingly usible. If it hadn¡¯t been proposed by the count in front of him, he would have guessed that it was designed by a dwarf from another family. ¡°Who. . . drew this?¡± ¡°I did. I would like to have this built and used this time, is that possible?¡± ¡°Y-Your Excellency.¡± Schweibeck tried to offer the best answers he could in the midst of his confusion. ¡°We can only do our work properly if we use the equipment and devices we use. . .¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll have them exclusively made for the workers I employ. Can you do that?¡± ¡°Well. . . I think it might be quite aplicated and difficult structure. . .¡± ¡°Oh dear. So you can¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that I can¡¯t do it, but. . . this is. . .¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s good. As expected of dwarves. You will make them for me.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Schweibeck walked out of the room with a look of possession on his face. Holgretz, who had been waiting outside, curiously asked. ¡°What happened, Uncle? Did His Excellency the Count definitely fall for it?¡± ¡°. . .I think we¡¯ll need a bit more time.¡± Chapter 267: ?????????? ?????? ???????? (1) Chapter 267: ?????????? ?????? ???????? (1) ¡°Your Excellency Count is quite good!¡± Holgretz joked with a smile. His face tinged with confidence, as he believed a seasoned Dwarf like Schweibeck would have no trouble persuading the young Count. ¡°May I perhaps watch?¡± ¡°You?¡± ¡°Yes! I wish to learn by observing my uncle¡¯s conduct.¡± ¡°. . .Very well. This could be a good opportunity for you.¡± Schweibeck grudgingly consented. In truth, he was rather reluctant to do so. It was a matter of pride. As a respected uncle, he wished to show his nephew only the most dignified aspects of himself. However, this was an important matter for the Rimpangel n, and more importantly, the young Dwarf needed to learn.¡®?? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ???????????? ???? ???????????????? ??????.¡¯ Though the Count was a rather peculiar individual, Schweibeck took pride in his own abilities. Given enough time, he was confident in persuading him. ???????????? ¡°No, there seems to be a mistake in the calctions.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± As Johan passed by and made his remark, the Dwarves exchanged nces. While working in a Feudal Lord¡¯s court, there were times when they would encounter such interference. Sometimes, it was a lesser noble serving under the Feudal Lord who would make such remarks, and other times, it would be a member of the Feudal Lord¡¯s family. However, the most troublesome of all was when the Feudal Lord himself would intervene. Naturally, in most cases, the Feudal Lord would be wrong and the Dwarves would be correct, but that was of no consequence. The most important thing, as far as the Dwarves were concerned, was not to offend their well-paying employer. ¡°Ahem.¡± Bengelong, one of the Dwarf technicians, stepped forward. Known as ¡°The Silver-Tongued¡± Bengelong, he was renowned among the Dwarves for his smooth and persuasive speech. Even arrogant Feudal Lords would be swayed by Bengelong¡¯s words. . . ¡°Your Excellency Count, it is likely that you have misread due to the rather messy handwriting of the Dwarves. Even to us, our script can be quite difficult to decipher. Furthermore, the quality of the paper is rather poor. . .¡± ¡°I read it three times to make sure, but the calctions are definitely wrong. Please check it again.¡± Bengelong found himself unconsciously reviewing the calctions. Since they were written in Empire characters instead of Oriental numerals, even simple calctions took a considerable amount of time. ¡°. . .It is incorrect?¡± ¡°What? Hey, you. . .¡± The Dwarves red at the Dwarf who had done the calctions, their faces pale. As humans, mistakes were inevitable. When performing such tasks, the calctions were bound to beplex, so it was only natural for mistakes to ur from time to time. These mistakes would be corrected during the final review process. However, it was unfortunate that such a mistake had been discovered by the Count as he passed by. Wouldn¡¯t he think that the Dwarves were ipetent? In truth, it wasn¡¯t the fault of the Dwarf who had made the mistake. It was rather strange that the Count, who had merely nced at the calctions as he passed by, had noticed the error. However, the flustered Dwarves were in no mood to consider such things. They red at the Dwarf who had made the mistake as if they wanted to kill him. ¡°Oh, this is unfortunate. I was only trying to help. Please don¡¯t be so hard on him.¡± Unexpectedly, Johan defended the Dwarf who had made the mistake. The Dwarf¡¯s eyes welled up with tears at the Count¡¯s magnanimity, despite having only met him recently. The Dwarves, who had just disowned theirrade, realized their mistake. ¡°No, Your Excellency. We will be more careful.¡± ¡°Shall I help you with the calctions?¡± ¡°No! We can do it ourselves.¡± The Dwarves hurriedly declined. For their employer to sit down and participate in the calctions was not only burdensome, but it was also absolutely uneptable. If their employer were to learn the details of their work, the Dwarves¡¯ authority would be weakened. If the employer were to call upon cheaper workers and dismiss the Dwarves, where would they go to seek redress? ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s a pity.¡± Johan nced at them with a slightly disappointed expression. This was a rare instance where Johan had acted with good intentions, so it was disappointing that the Dwarves had rebuffed him. Once Johan left, the Dwarves heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°What an idiot!¡± ¡°Hey, you make mistakes too!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but who makes such a big mistake that even Your Excellency Count notices?!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? You didn¡¯t notice it either!¡± ¡°Stop fighting already. Just be more careful in the future. It seems like His Excellency has a keen eye, so pay special attention when doing calctions.¡± ¡°But how did he even notice it?¡± ¡°I saw a Wizard who works in the court passing by just now. She must have told him. After all, the Serpentmen are known for being sly!¡± The Dwarves resumed their work, their spirits somewhat dampened. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean that the mistakes would disappear. As Johan passed by again, he spoke up once more. ¡°This time, it¡¯s that part that¡¯s wrong.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The Dwarves were bbergasted. They had prevented the Wizards froming, so how on earth was the Count able to spot the mistakes at a nce? Even this calction was so difficultpared to the previous one. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just use the ancient Empirenguage?¡± ¡°But it¡¯s hard for us to understand as well???¡± ¡°Well, we have no choice. Do you want to be pointed out again? How ipetent will we look if we get pointed out once more?¡± The dwarves, driven into a corner, took a drastic measure. It was to try to figure it out in the ancient Empire script. Even among the dwarves, many didn¡¯t know it well, but they had no choice. If they wanted to avoid Count¡¯s uncanny calcting ability, this was the only way. However. . . ¡°This time, there are quite a few mistakes. And even the spelling is wrong. I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re using the ancient Empirenguage, but wouldn¡¯t it be better to just use the Empire script? It seems like you¡¯re making a lot of mistakes because you¡¯re not used to it.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± As soon as the Count left, one of the dwarves started to bang his head against a pir. Bengelong gave up and spoke. ¡°Um. . . Your Excellency. If you don¡¯t mind, would you be willing to teach us, who arecking, your skills? If so, we would consider it a great honor.¡± ¡°What. Am I capable of teaching something like that?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± It would be better to act arrogantly. It was more unpleasant to see him being so humble like that. Whether it was once or several times, no matter how much the dwarves disliked it, they couldn¡¯t help but notice. The Count¡¯s academic ability was so great that it surpassed the dwarves¡¯ imagination. If he had that kind of ability, he would have been a cardinal, but it was unfair why he was a feudal lord here, but the dwarves, even if they had ten mouths, couldn¡¯t say anything. When an employee is less capable than their employer, what can they do but keep their mouth shut? If the other dwarven ns found out, it would be so shameful that they wouldn¡¯t be able to hold their heads up. ¡°Is this a pulley? Did you use the power of waterwheels?¡± ¡°No! It was just a doodle I made because I was bored. I¡¯ll clean it up right away!¡± ¡°No. . . I was going to say that it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°. . .Actually, I was thinking of using this this time. I¡¯m d that Your Excellency said that!¡± ???????????? ¡°Ugh, what nonsense are you talking about.¡± Holgretz, who was settled in the fiefdom, sneered at the news that was delivered from below. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°Uncle. I think he¡¯s making fun of me for being young. Please say something instead.¡± The dwarven engineer, who hade as a messenger, exined what had happened, gesturing with his hands and feet, looking as if he was about to die from injustice. After hearing the exnation, Schweibeck opened his mouth wide. ¡°Your Excellency Count. . . is a more extraordinary person than I thought.¡± ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes. When I talked to him, I often felt like he was more like a high priest than a feudal lord.¡± Priest can mean someone who is devout and has a strong faith, but it can also be used in another sense. It was usually the high priests who devoted themselves to research with outstanding academic ability. Only wizards or priests studiedplex mathematics, physics, pharmacology, and alchemy. Nobles with fiefdoms usually didn¡¯t study such things at all. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense no matter how you look at it. I passed by once and saw it, and he calcted it right away. . . He¡¯s not a wizard. Even the smartest orc wouldn¡¯t be able to do that.¡± ¡°Extraordinary and outstanding people always emerge.¡± Schweibeck was very surprised, but he tried to ept it. His umted experiences made him flexible. Honestly, it was harder to believe that he solved the dwarven form mentally in passing than that he tore off a troll¡¯s arm, but it happened anyway. ¡°What we have to do doesn¡¯t change. If Your Excellency Count is an extraordinary person, we just have to do our best to persuade him ordingly.¡± ¡°He¡¯s already working with us, but isn¡¯t half of it already over?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t just quit, can we?¡± The engineers wouldn¡¯t be able to impress the Count with their breathtaking designs, but it was unbelievable that they were being inspected by the Count right now, but they couldn¡¯t just quit. They had to show the other strengths that the dwarves, who had been called from afar, possessed. ¡°We¡¯re all set!¡± ¡°Good. Have them pack their gear.¡± The dwarves were currently camping near the entrance of the discovered mine. There was only one purpose. It was to go into the underground mine, explore the inside, and make an estimate. In some ways, this exploration ability might be even greater than the design skill. Since the dwarves below were being humiliated by the count, the exploration team had no choice but to put more weight on their shoulders. ¡°Do you really not need any help?¡± The soldiers who were standing guard asked as if they were worried. It was well-known among the mercenaries that all sorts of monsters lived under the mine. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s like everyday life for us. Just like a hunter doesn¡¯t get scared when he goes for a walk in the mountains, dwarves don¡¯t get scared when they go down into the mines.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± The mercenaries were slightly impressed by his heavy and trustworthy figure. ¡°Why don¡¯t Mackald¡¯s dwarves show that kind of appearance?¡± ¡°Those guys are from a warrior n, not miners.¡± ¡°I guess all dwarves are strong underground.¡± Receiving the admiring gazes of the mercenaries, the dwarves put on their equipment, grabbed the rope, and began to descend. ???????????? ¡°No. How did youe up with this idea? You¡¯re truly a genius.¡± ¡°T-That so? It was nothing special, just a very minor idea. . .¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ve never seen a dwarf as outstanding as you.¡± ¡°Actually, I thought of something like this as well. It¡¯s a tower that can be used for a siege. This thing is amazing because. . .¡± ¡®Are they baby birds?¡¯ Suetlg, who was sitting near the firece, looked at the dwarven engineers with eyes that seemed to want to see all the strange sights. At first, the guys who were trying to make the Count back down somehow were talking to the Count enthusiastically as if they were under some kind of spell. They were like baby birds running to their mother bird that had brought them food. The only difference was that they were dwarves with bushy beards. ¡°I think I know why the Rimpangel n¡¯s reputation is so high.¡± ¡®?????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ????????, ???? ????????. . .¡¯ While Johan was toying with the naive dwarves, a messenger arrived from outside. ¡°Your Excellency Count! Something seems to have happened to the dwarves who went down!¡± ¡°!¡± The other dwarves reacted before Johan. They spoke quickly. ¡°Is there a problem with the exploration team?¡± ¡°Yes, but. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s probably nothing serious. We¡¯ll send support right away.¡± Since the inside of the mine was dangerous, there were frequent cases of problems urring with the exploration team that went in. In such cases, they had to solve the problem among themselves as quickly as possible without panicking. It should look like something that could happen at any time, something ordinary. It would be a big deal if they panicked and aroused suspicion from the feudal lord. ¡°We showed you an unsightly appearance. Your Excellency Count. We¡¯ll resolve it soon.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°From what I heard, none of the dwarves who went down havee back to give information, and the situation inside hasn¡¯t been confirmed. So how are you going to resolve it?¡± ¡°Uh. . . that¡¯s. . . that. . .¡± Suetlg, who was starting to feel sorry for the dwarves, stood up. ¡°Come on. Don¡¯t be so hard on them.¡± ¡°No, I asked because I was worried. I don¡¯t think it will help solve the problem if you unconditionally say that everything is fine when the situation is not clear. . .¡± Most feudal lords didn¡¯t care whether the dwarven engineers died in the mines or not. In some ways, it was infuriating for the dwarves, but it was something that couldn¡¯t be helped since it was a transaction. However, the dwarves realized. A feudal lord who showed concern like that was difficult in a different way. Especially if that feudal lord was someone who could see through any half-hearted lies! Chapter 268: ?????????? ?????? ???????? (2) Chapter 268: ?????????? ?????? ???????? (2) ¡°We haven¡¯t figured out the whole situation yet, but it¡¯s probably fine. It¡¯s likely that the expedition members will be fine since they¡¯ve dealt with simr situations several times.¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± The dwarves had no choice but to reveal their hidden intentions. They couldn¡¯t hide anything from the count¡¯s questions, even though he hadn¡¯t shouted at them or used any tricks. His logical approach was impable. ¡°It¡¯s good to have faith in the expedition team, but there¡¯s always a chance of something going wrong. We need to be more thorough in our preparations and not rush into things.¡± ¡°. . .Our thinking was shortsighted.¡± The elderly dwarves had never imagined that they would be lectured by a young human lord for being reckless. However, the count¡¯s words were not wrong. ¡°How will the rescue team be organized?¡± ¡°We will go in first to assess the situation, and if we can¡¯t resolve it, additional support will arrive from our n, Count.¡±¡°I see. However, if there is a mistake or failure along the way, the expedition team that went in first will be in danger.¡± Johan¡¯s words were true. If the first attempt failed, the chances of sess decreased. It would take time for reinforcements to arrive, and if they failed twice, it usually meant that a very strong monster had taken up residence in the mine. ¡°That is true, but. . .¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just leave guests who havee to my fiefdom in danger. I will help you with some of my brave and capable men.¡± ¡°Thank you, Count!¡± One of the dwarven craftsmen responded with a moved voice. He was a dwarf who had been ostracized by the other dwarves for submitting a wed design. He was already grateful to the young count for showing interest in him and acknowledging his work, but now he was truly touched by the count¡¯s thoughtfulness. Usually, feudal lords did not look after individual craftsmen. Their rtionship was strictly financial, with no further obligations. If expensive craftsmen disappeared, it was their own problem, and the feudal lord would not worry about it. Among these feudal lords, this young man was truly generous. . . ¡°What are you thankful for?! Are you crazy?!¡± Benglong whispered in a low voice, terrified. He even used the old dwarven dialect in case the count overheard. Of course, he was grateful for the generous and kind offer, but they were not here to volunteer; they were here to do business. They had to find the vein, develop the mine, and receive a fair price from the count. Somehow, during the preparation process, they had ended up preparing under the count¡¯s leadership, and now they were going to have the count¡¯s help in contacting the missing expedition team? If this happened, the dwarves would be too ashamed to im their share even after the job was done. If the other dwarven ns heard about this, they would surely scold them, saying, ¡¯?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????¡¯ ¡°But why not? His Excellency the Count is offering to help.¡± ¡°You have to think about the future! How are we going to repay him if we ept his help?¡± ¡°W. . . Well, we can¡¯t refuse his kindness, can we?¡± ¡°Okay, okay. Don¡¯t be so harsh. The dwarves are just worried about theirrade. They¡¯re not crazy. In fact, it¡¯s an honor.¡± ¡°. . .??!¡± Benglong¡¯s face turned pale as he listened. The count in front of him could understand the dwarven dialect! ¡°Y. . . Your Excellency. . . What I just said. . . It wasn¡¯t meant to be disrespectful to you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Now, let¡¯s stop arguing and prepare the rescue team.¡± Johan spoke decisively, and the argument ended there. Johan had the authority to push through whatever he wanted. What was truly frightening was that he didn¡¯t do that. He convinced them one step at a time. Benglong began to feel like the count in front of him was a monster in human skin. ¡®??. . . ???????? ???? ???????? ??????????. . .¡¯ ???????????? The loss of contact from the mine was not enough to determine the severity of the situation. Sometimes, contact was lost even when nothing serious was happening. It was the rule to send regr updates, but it wasn¡¯t always possible to follow the rules. There were times when they had to wait a while without sending any updates if they lost the small bird they used to send messages or if the messenger who was supposed to go up and deliver the message couldn¡¯t find a suitable path. ¡°But even so, there are times when it¡¯s dangerous. There are always vicious creatures in the mines.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Suetlg wanted to go with them, but Johan wanted him to assist Iselia in his absence. Iselia was an excellent knight, but she was a bit. . . Reckless. Caenerna sat still with an indifferent expression. She had already expected that Suetlg would be excluded. He was old, and Suetlg knew everything that happened in Johan¡¯s camp. Johan would need Suetlg to stay behind so that things would run smoothly. However, they couldn¡¯t enter the underground mine without a wizard. There was only one choice left. ¡°Jyanina. Come down with me.¡± ¡°¡°Why?!¡±¡± The two voices ovepped. Jyanina and Caenerna looked at each other. Unlike Caenerna, who hesitated with embarrassment, Jyanina spoke up first. ¡°Your Excellency! You know how skilled Caenerna-gong is!¡± ¡®. . .?? ???????????? ?????????? ??????????????¡¯?? ??????????????????????.¡¯ Caenerna was taken aback. For a wizard with a typically arrogant and prideful personality, not being chosen for a mission in the lord¡¯s camp was humiliating. However, Jyanina was the epitome of a petty character, even in the emperor¡¯s court. She was someone who aimed to be treated easily andfortably, not caring if her abilities were recognized or not. ¡°But Jyanina-gong. Aren¡¯t you the most knowledgeable about monsters?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina momentarily cursed her own magical abilities. Why did she have to get involved in this kind of magical ability? ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????-??????????????. . .¡¯ The collected Caenerna raised her hand. Caenerna spoke confidently in her characteristguid voice. ¡°Your Excellency. I acknowledge Jyanina-gong¡¯s abilities, but won¡¯t we need the power of fire when we go underground?¡± ¡°I was hoping Caenerna-gong would use the Fire Goblet to contact us.¡± ¡°. . .Couldn¡¯t Suetlg-nim do that just as well?¡± Caenerna asked, dumbfounded. If she wasn¡¯t a wizard, that would be understandable, but Johan had been using magic for quite some time now, so why was he still saying such ridiculous things? ¡°Ah. Now that you mention it, that would work.¡± ¡°Then can I join?¡± ¡°But. . .¡± Caenerna thought Johan would ept immediately, but she frowned and red at him. Shee didn¡¯t understand why he wanted to take Jyanina but leave her above. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡®?????? ???? ?? ??*??????. . .¡¯ Jyanina cursed her lord inwardly. Johan seemed to have forgotten, but she wasn¡¯t a mercenary or a swordsman; she was a wizard. Caenerna¡¯s face softened slightly at Johan¡¯s sincere words. Caenerna spoke in a slightly humble voice. ¡°I don¡¯t think we need to worry about that. I have the ability to protect myself. And more importantly, I¡¯ll be with Your Excellency Count, won¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go down together. I think it will be much more reassuring if you¡¯re there.¡± Johan¡¯s words made Caenerna nod happily. Jyanina spoke quietly from the side. ¡°If Caenerna-gong is going, then I. . .¡± ¡°You shoulde too.¡± ¡°. . .Yes. . .¡± ???????????? Water containers, ropes, food, mining tools, and magical items formunication. . . The more luggage they had, the better, but that wasn¡¯t realistic. Except for Johan. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The dwarves were amazed by the count¡¯s incredible strength, as he lifted the heavy luggage without breaking a sweat. They didn¡¯t even notice the extraordinary fact that the count himself was carrying the luggage. ¡°What is this?!¡± ¡°A fire and light spirit.¡± Instead of a heavy and oilyntern, Caenerna summoned a firefly spirit. It was a spirit that illuminated the way with light instead of heat. The dwarves were once again impressed by the fact that the count¡¯s court was full of capable people. ¡°. . .??¡± Jyanina was flustered by the dwarves¡¯ gazes, which were fixed on her. They were looking at her with anticipation. ¡°Your Excellency. The dwarves keep staring at me.¡± ¡°They seem to be expecting you to show them some magic.¡± ¡°There are no monsters yet, so what kind of magic do you want me to show them?¡± ¡°Huh. . . It¡¯s not my fault that you¡¯re ipetent, is it?¡± Jyanina was speechless at Johan¡¯s overly honest words. He was right, though. ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ Jyanina pretended not to see, but the dwarves still looked at her with expectant eyes. Surely, as a wizard, she would show them some amazing magic that was different from Caenerna-gong¡¯s! ¡°It¡¯s a bit sad, though.¡± ¡°The dwarven expedition team? I¡¯m worried about them, but I don¡¯t think Your Excellency needs to worry. They went down there knowing what they were getting into. And dwarves are tougher and stronger than you think.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m talking about Jyanina.¡± ¡°. . .Surely she¡¯s not Your Excellency¡¯s daughter?¡± It was ridiculous to worry about a fully grown wizard like that. Should Jyanina be ashamed, or was the count strange, or maybe it was both? ¡°I¡¯m careful when I¡¯m with Iselia, so she¡¯s not my daughter.¡± ¡°I was joking, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I took it as a joke.¡± Caenerna chuckled. It had been a long time since she had had a conversation like this with the count. And she still found it difficult to win. ¡°It¡¯s not just because she¡¯s not my daughter, but I care about everyone who works for me. No matter how low-ranking they are, if I don¡¯t take good care of them, they might be resentful someday.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Caenerna felt like she had a glimpse of the root of Johan¡¯s leadership skills. Sometimes, she wondered how people from different races and backgrounds were so loyal to him. Even Caenerna herself, who was by Johan¡¯s side because of their friendship, couldn¡¯t understand it. But now that she heard this, she felt like she had a glimpse of it. Where else could you find a lord who cared for his subordinates one by one like this? Especially someone like Jyanina. ¡®?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ Caenerna reflected. The count was so considerate, but she was jealous as a wizard. ¡°The happiest moment for a wizard is when they understand and unravel a mystery.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to ask you to dissect the monster when we catch it.¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m not sure about that. . .¡± It was questionable whether Jyanina would enjoy that. ¡°And the next best thing. . . I guess it¡¯s being recognized as a wizard. It¡¯s surprisingly difficult for wizards to be treated well.¡± Before a wizard could build a solid reputation and establish connections with various nobles, their life was extremely difficult. If they were unlucky, they could be used of heresy, and who would support their research? ¡°I brought Jyanina on this expedition because I recognize her abilities, so I guess that¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Well. . . Maybe. How about asking the dwarves to recognize her by asking her about monsters?¡± ¡°Not a bad idea.¡± Johan called Jyanina. Jyanina was startled and raised her head. ¡°Why did you call me?¡± ¡°Can you tell us about the monsters we might encounter in this underground mine? You can teach the dwarves a thing or two.¡± ¡°C. . . Can I?¡± The dwarves also listened humbly, even though they actually knew quite a lot about the monsters they could encounter as they gained experience. As a wizard, she could tell them things they didn¡¯t know. ¡°First of all, there might be creatures like goblins who live in caves and build burrows.¡± ¡°Oh. How can you tell?¡± ¡°You can tell by shining a light on the cave walls. Goblins leave marks to help them navigate theirplex underground caves. . . .Like that!!¡± ¡°E-Excuse me, wizard-nim. That¡¯s a mark left by our expedition team.¡± Chapter 269: ?????????? ?????? ???????? (3) Chapter 269: ?????????? ?????? ???????? (3) ¡°. . . . . .¡± The inside of the cave was always cool, but this time, an umonly cold silence lingered around. In times like this, only the one with the highest status could open their mouth. ¡°As expected, the marks left by the dwarves are hard to recognize, so it¡¯s not hard to get mistaken in dark ces.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡®???????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ Sometimes, wounds that are inflicted on the inside are scarier than wounds on the outside. Jyanina¡¯s condition right now was the perfect example. Johan whispered to Caenerna. ¡°Isn¡¯t there anything you can do as a fellow wizard?¡± ¡°Wizards are not gods. . . Not everything is possible!¡±Caenerna, despite being a wizard, had no way to restore the confidence of a shamed wizard. ¡°Time heals all wounds. She¡¯ll be fine if we wait. Jyanina-gong is someone who worked in the Imperial Court. She can¡¯t be that weak.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡®?????? ?????????? ???????? ????????????. . .¡¯ Johan had many things to say, but he did not say it out loud. It didn¡¯t seem like it would be helpful anyway. ???????????? Schweibeck carefully picked up a pebble and threw it. ????????©¥ ????????????????! The pebble was pierced through as it flew with a sharp sound. ¡°Is the spirit still angry?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± The expedition dwarves frowned. The underground mines were filled with all sorts of dangers because they were deep and dark. An angry spirit was also one of those dangers. Though they didn¡¯t stubbornly chase after you like monsters made of flesh and bones, hungry for blood, spirits were more dangerous in some ways. There was no way to fight them. ¡°Was it a waste to shoot the sling?¡± ¡°Weak spirits usually back down.¡± The dwarves clicked their tongues. It was a mistake to act rashly whileing down, searching for the vein. Whether if it was coiled up somewhere in a puddle inside the mine or not, the quicksilver spirit appeared and started attacking the dwarves. If it was a weak spirit, it would have been terrified and ran away after being hit a few times, but the quicksilver spirit was considerably strong and fierce. It blocked the way, its fighting spirit aze. The dwarves couldn¡¯t go back up the same way under these circumstances. The dwarves were looking for another way while holding their ground, but it wasn¡¯t easy, surprisingly. ¡°The ones above should be moving soon, so isn¡¯t it unnecessary to hurry?¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll go down carefully.¡± It was best to call wizards to deal with spirits. The party above probably didn¡¯t have wizards, but since themunication was cut off, they would havee down with the appropriate preparations. ¡°There are wizards in His Excellency¡¯s fiefdom, so maybe they came together with them?¡± ¡°Would the dwarves above have done something like that if they weren¡¯t crazy?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be safer though Your Highness?¡± ¡°Safer, what. . . A dwarf¡¯s pride is at stake. They wouldn¡¯t bring wizards with them.¡± The dwarves were sitting and chattering in a safe corner of the cave. Schweibeck¡¯s expression was the only stiff one among them. ¡°Uncle. Is there something wrong?¡± Holgretz could not understand his uncle¡¯s reaction. Of course, they were blocked at the moment, but incidents like this happened often during exploration. There were still enough supplies left, and the rescue team from above would being soon, so all they had to do was hold on calmly. ¡°My instinct. . . is strange.¡± ¡°Your instinct?¡± ¡°Yes, my instinct.¡± Even if they weren¡¯t wizards, dwarves who stepped foot in a mine for a long time and submitted their body to its mysteries were bound to have a keen sense for danger. Schweibeck had an instinct simr to magic. ¡°Is that quicksilver spirit chasing after us?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. . . Hmm. In any case, we shouldn¡¯t let our guard down. Don¡¯t leave behind too many traces.It¡¯s not like only spirits live in this cave.¡± ¡°If there is a spirit, aren¡¯t there any other monsters?¡± If there was a violent spirit like that, other monsters couldn¡¯t even set foot nearby. Everyone knew that much. However, Schweibeck did not back down. The other dwarves grumbled as if they couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°Drop it, Holgretz. When Schweibeck-nim gets stubborn like this, he absolutely does not back down.¡± ¡°He¡¯s as stubborn as his age.¡± The dwarves didn¡¯t understand, honestly, but they didn¡¯t refuse Schweibeck¡¯s orders. Because the captain¡¯s orders were absolute. And that was fortunate. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. . . ¡®????????¡¯???? ??????????????!¡¯ The dwarves, on lookout, were shocked. Goblins appeared with torches in the passageway below. For goblins to settle in while there¡¯s a spirit here. It was beyondmon sense. The goblins of the mines were quite well-equipped, thanks to the ce they settled in. They even had crude silver nes around their necks. ¡°Silver! There¡¯s a silver vein here!¡± If there were humans, they would have said ¡®?????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????¡¯, but there were only dwarves here. ¡°Looks like it was definitely silver! Good!¡± ¡°Really?!¡± Rather than the fact that they had to fight the goblins, the dwarves rejoiced over the fact that the goblins were next to a vein. Wasn¡¯t it proof that the veins inside here were rich? ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö. . . While the dwarves rejoiced ignorantly like that, the goblins carefully approached the spirit. And they threw one of the goblins forward. That goblin was tied up and struggling. ¡°?!¡± ????????! The quicksilver stretched out its milky white body to swallow the goblin whole. The liquid mass turned red and slowly sank back down, satisfied. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö! ¡ö¡ö¡ö! The goblins cheered in delight. Schweibeck, who camete, frowned at that sight. The goblins here were in a symbiotic rtionship with the quicksilver spirit. ¡®?????????? ???????? ????????????!¡¯ Depending on the region and history, the scale and level of goblins varied wildly. Therge, old tribes often schemed surprisingly. Judging by the fact that they were maintaining a symbiotic rtionship with the quicksilver spirit, they weren¡¯t fools. ??????????! The quicksilver spirit suddenly raised its pointed end and pointed at a direction. It was in the direction where the dwarf expedition team was hiding. The goblins started running, screaming. ¡°How dare that damn spirit?!¡± ¡°Retreat!¡± The dwarves retreated to the path they prepared in advance while aiming their slingshots. Though they were equipped well, the goblins weren¡¯t sturdy enough to withstand the powerful slingshots of the dwarves. ??????! The goblins, running one step after the other, fell down on their buttocks one after the other as the goblins chasing from behind stopped. ¡°Come if you dare, you fools!¡± The dwarves were not scared at all, even though their position was revealed. They already understood theyout of theplicated tunnels in this area like spiderwebs. Even if the goblins came running, they were confident that they could handle them in these narrow passages. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö! ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö! Whether the goblins knew that too, they started to back off. Seeing them running away so cleanly, the dwarves were curious. ¡°Why are you giving up so easily?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°. . .Those guys are erasing the marks!!¡± The dwarves looked ahead with shocked expressions. The goblins who discovered the marks that they left on their path were erasing them. ¡°They¡¯re not just erasing them!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°They¡¯re making new ones!¡± ¡°!!!¡± It was surprising enough to erase the marks after figuring them out, but to make new fake marks on top of that. They couldn¡¯t believe it. They had to leave that mark no matter what. Wouldn¡¯t the rescue teame looking for them after seeing that? And if they changed the marks like that. . . ¡°How do those. . .those guys know about our marks? The rescue team will notice something strange.¡± ¡°No.¡± Schweibeck shook his head heavily. The marks left behind by the goblins looked quite usible when he nced at them. They must have had a chance to learn about the dwarven marks before or after they came in. Leaving it alone and using it like this was quite a clever move. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö! ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö! The goblins startedughing smugly. It was a burst ofughter because they thought they had won easily without having to fight the fierce dwarves. ???????????? ¡°Did they really go this way?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°. . .??¡± Johan thought for a moment. Was it the dwarves¡¯ wisdom that he didn¡¯t know about? ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????¡¯ No matter how much he thought about it, he only felt an eerie vibe inside. The spirits that dwelled within Johan were also stirring, sensing the enemies lurking within. It felt more like monsters were in ambush rather than a vein. ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????¡¯ ¡°There seems to be monsters inside. Let¡¯s prepare to fight.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°???¡± Unlike Johan¡¯s subordinates, the dwarves couldn¡¯t ept it. ¡°Are there monsters inside? Can you see them?¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t see them.¡± ¡°Then how did you judge that?¡± ¡°. . .This wizard looked into the future with his fire divination.¡± ¡°?!¡± Johan, who got tired of exining, grabbed Caenerna¡¯s shoulder and spoke. It was unexpectedly hard to exin his instincts and the stirring of spirits. ¡°You¡¯re amazing, wizard-nim!!¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s nothing.¡± Caenerna red at Johan. Wizards didn¡¯t like beingplimented for something they didn¡¯t do. ¡°Tsk.¡± Caenerna clicked her tongue as if she was displeased and threw light forward. The firefly-like spirits bounced around and lit up the path ahead. -¡ö¡ö¡ö! At that, the goblins, who were in ambush, screamed in surprise at the light. ¡°It¡¯s goblins.¡± ¡°They¡¯re hiding behind a rock. Be careful!¡± The dwarves pulled out their slingshots and shouted while aiming at the goblins hiding behind the rock. Johan nodded and grabbed the bedrock next to him. ¡°. . .?¡± The dwarves and goblins who were there had the experience of having their lifelongmon sense overturned that day. So the rock embedded in that wall could actually be peeled off! ????????! The goblins behind the rock were sent flying along with the explosion. Johan¡¯s subordinates ran forward with their shields up, as if it was nothing surprising. The goblins were ughtered after a brief sh. Actually, half of them had already copsed because of the rock that flew in. ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± ¡°Something¡¯s. . . strange, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Yes, the vein doesn¡¯t seem to be here.¡± Even after looking around, it was a terrain suitable for hiding, but not a terrain that looked like there could be a vein. The dwarves mumbled with confused expressions. If there were originally goblins in a ce like this, they should have left a mark on the sign. Could the previous exploration team have missed that? ¡°And this ce is weird too. It¡¯s not a ce where a vein would be. I may have less experience than Schweibeck-nim, but I don¡¯t think he would have guided the party in this direction.¡± ¡°What could he have meant?¡± ¡°But even so. . .¡± Johan spoke thoughtlessly as he listened to the dwarves¡¯ opinions. ¡°Do you think the goblins changed the signs?¡± ¡°Hahahahahaha! . . .Oh, I¡¯m sorry. Was that not a joke?¡± The dwarves burst intoughter at the count¡¯s joke, but they quickly straightened their expressions after seeing his serious face. ¡°No. . . Couldn¡¯t they have changed them?¡± ¡°How would the goblins know and change our marks?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be possible if the goblins were smart? I heard that goblins get cunning if they stay in one ce for a long time.¡± ¡°Even if they get cunning, there¡¯s a limit. How would they know our marks, Your Excellency? You know our marks well. . .¡± The dwarf who was about to speak, stopped. Thinking about it, Johan was more familiar with the dwarves¡¯ marks. He seemed like an idiot showing off in front of them. ¡°. . .You do know though. . .¡± ¡°Is what I said so absurd? Caenerna?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not impossible, but it¡¯s notmon either.¡± Even Caenerna was skeptical of Johan¡¯s opinion. It was because goblins that cunning were hard to find. ¡°Jyanina. Can you find any traces of the goblins nearby?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Jyanina asked in a small voice once again. Johan was slightly annoyed, but he endured it and spoke. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s something that only you can do. In this dark, unfamiliar ce, who else could find traces of monsters?¡± As Johan spoke, he discovered a mark carved at the bottom of a nearby wall. It was a little lower than a dwarf¡¯s height, and it looked like the mark that was made by goblins passing by and bumping into it. ¡°. . .Please!¡± ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????¡¯ Caenerna wondered curiously. Chapter 270: ?????????? ?????? ???????? (4) Chapter 270: ?????????? ?????? ???????? (4) Johan¡¯s warm support seemed to have partially restored Jyanina¡¯s confidence. After a few trials and errors, Jyanina discovered a nearby goblin footprint. Because it was on solid rock, the trail, which would have been invisible to the naked eye, was revealed by magic. ¡°Look! It¡¯s a goblin¡¯s footprint!¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°. . .Aren¡¯t you a little too calm about this?¡± When Caenerna asked if he was okay, Johan shrugged and replied. ¡°The goblins already ambushed us, so I thought it was a possibility.¡± ¡®???????? ?????????????????????? ????????, ?????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ????????. . .¡¯Jyanina continued to examine the trail. As she did, goblin footprints were found concentrated near a marker left by the dwarven expedition. The dwarves were astonished when they saw the goblin handprints on the marker. ¡°Isn¡¯t this ridiculous? How did goblins. . .¡± ¡°But it¡¯s right in front of us now, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s apologize to the wizard for now.¡± The dwarves epted the truth and knelt before Jyanina. ¡°We apologize, wizard! We have brought shame upon you with our wrong judgment and hindered your rescue.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Jyanina felt her mind enchanted by the sweet taste of power that she had not felt in a long time. The look of fear and respect from ves and servants that she had felt in the emperor¡¯s court. The power that Jyanina had wanted ever since she had been forced to eat dirt was this. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°. . .Oh, I¡¯m sorry.¡± When Johan urged her from behind, Jyanina came to her senses and looked around at the dwarves. Her posture was somewhat arrogant. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s going to be good to praise that wizard too much.¡± ¡°Hmm. But it¡¯s better than beingpletely discouraged, right?¡± ???????????? At first, it was difficult to find the way because of the damaged marker, but once they found the knack, they soon realized that it wasn¡¯t so difficult. When there were several paths, all they had to do was move in the direction with the most goblin tracks. The other paths would be blocked or not lead inside, so if they followed the goblin tracks, that was the marker. ¡°Amazing, wizard. To be able to use such magic.¡± Jyanina nodded arrogantly without saying anything. In fact, the magic of using potions to find monster tracks seemed a little low-level, even to Johan. . . ¡®??????¡¯?? ?? ???? ???? ???????¡¯ It seemed like something that could be done with good eyesight and some powder, but Johan just left it alone. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö! And so, the party had their second encounter with the goblins. Johan¡¯s party was expecting it and prepared, but the goblin scouts who were out on patrol were surprised and cried out. ¡°Don¡¯t let even one escape! It¡¯ll be annoying if they get away!¡± Johan shouted resolutely. This underground mine was like a front yard to the goblins. If they were to wage guerri warfare through theplex terrain, it would be quite a headache. Johan had the blessings of various magics, weapons, and spirits, so he was confident that he could withstand the goblins¡¯ poison, but his other subordinates were not. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö! At that moment, the eyes of the goblin at the very back turned red, and it began to stab the other goblin next to it. The sharp short sword swung and knocked down three goblins. ¡®????¡¯?? ??????????!¡¯ Johan was surprised by the mysterious energy. He thought that Caenerna had done it for a moment, but it wasn¡¯t Caenerna¡¯s magic. Jyanina had cast frenzy on the goblin behind. When the ughter began behind them, the goblins¡¯ feet were tied. While they were stabbing and cutting each other fiercely, Johan¡¯s men charged in, shouting. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö! ¡ö¡ö! ¡°Take them down!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill them all!¡± The soldiers and dwarves who had been wielding their weapons with murderous intent stopped. The wizard had uttered an unexpected word. ¡°Take them prisoner?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°. . .Understood!¡± The soldiers were bewildered, but they managed to capture one of the goblins without killing them all. The dwarf asked cautiously. ¡°Why did you tell us to capture them?¡± ¡°She probably wants to use them for experiments.¡± ¡°. . .Ugh.¡± The dwarves made a sound that was half horror and half disgust. Among magic, the magic rted to monsters was particrly feared. It couldn¡¯t have sounded good that they were taking the goblins to experiment on. ¡®????????.¡¯ The soldiers, who knew that the dwarves were scared, tried to make an excuse somehow. They were the wizards they served, after all. ¡°No, we might be wrong. It¡¯s not for experiments. . .¡± ¡°No?¡± ¡°. . .Maybe she¡¯s going to control them and use them as arrow fodder.¡± ¡°Do you know how to control monsters?!¡± The dwarves¡¯ voices were even more shocked. The soldiers felt like they had made a mistake, but it was already toote. ¡°Why are the dwarves looking at Jyanina with such scared eyes?¡± ¡°I think there¡¯s a misunderstanding about magic. I apologize.¡± ¡°What. . . what can I do? That¡¯s the truth. You might get scared.¡± Johan thought it couldn¡¯t be helped. The deep-rooted superstitious fear of magic couldn¡¯t be dispelled with just a few words. And it was true that Jyanina was a wizard who dealt with monsters. . . ¡°¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö. . .¡± ©¥¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. . . As Jyanina chanted the spell, the goblin nodded its head as if it were drunk and spoke the words ordingly. ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°I made him guide us to his base.¡± Jyanina wiped away the sweat on her forehead and spoke as if she was proud. This time, even Johan was honestly impressed. ¡°That¡¯s great, Jyanina-gong. I didn¡¯t know you could show me such magic.¡± ¡°. . .¡± The count, who had only criticized her for not knowing the ancient Empire letters, was more moved by this pure admiration than the dwarves¡¯ admiration. Jyanina was slowly savoring the emotion deeply when she realized something was wrong and asked. ¡°But Your Excellency. Why are the dwarves in the back?¡± ¡°I guess they¡¯re checking the path. Now. Tell the goblin to guide us the rest of the way.¡± ???????????? ¡°It¡¯s noisy outside. Something seems to be going on.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move. It could be a trap.¡± Schweibeck said in a worried voice. If they have enough intelligence to erase and rewrite the marks, they could do anything. Luring the dwarves out with loud noises was one of those things. ¡°But it¡¯s too noisy for something like that, and lots of goblins are gathering. Could it be the rescue team?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more likely to be a monster than the rescue team. It¡¯s too fast for the rescue team to arrive. Especially since the markings have been erased.¡± Schweibeck¡¯s words were cold, but realistic. The dwarves listened to him with heartbroken expressions. ¡°If it¡¯s a monster, what kind of monster is it? Will it help us in our situation?¡± ¡°It must be pretty strong to be able to hold its own in a ce with a quicksilver spirit. Shut your mouths. Let¡¯s listen.¡± Schweibeck and the dwarves pricked up their ears and focused. The information about this monster might help them. ¡°It must be quiterge and strong. There have been several loud noises of things breaking.¡± ¡°It sounds like it¡¯s throwing and breaking rocks.¡± ¡°Is it a giant? But it¡¯s too narrow for a giant to live in here.¡± The dwarves tilted their heads. They couldn¡¯t think of a monster with such a huge size and strength in the underground cave. ¡°It seems to be quite ferocious. The goblins are running away screaming.¡± It was rare for the cave goblins to be terrified in their own front yard. It must be some kind of ferocious monster. ¡°The noise is getting closer. It¡¯sing this way!¡± ¡°If ites this way, won¡¯t it run into the quicksilver spirit?¡± ¡°It might. If the monster catches the spirit¡¯s attention, we might have a chance!¡± However, there was no sound of the monster and the spirit fighting. Instead, there was only the sound of steady footsteps growing louder. ¡°Dwarves of the Rimpangel family, answer me if you can hear me! Schweibeck of the Rimpangel family! Holgretz of the Rimpangel family!¡± ¡°????¡± The dwarves were bewildered when they heard the deep human voice. It wasn¡¯t a dwarven voice, it was a human voice. ¡°Is this a trap too?¡± ¡°. . .????¡± Everyone looked at Schweibeck with confused eyes, but even Schweibeck couldn¡¯t answer. He couldn¡¯t think of any monster that would imitate a human voice and call out to them by name. ¡°I¡¯ll go out and have a look, uncle.¡± ¡°No way. I¡¯ll go!¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what you shouldn¡¯t do! What if something happens to you!¡± ¡°Where do you get off, you little punk! Can¡¯t you stay still for once!¡± ???????????? ¡°They¡¯re noting out. Do you think they¡¯re badly injured?¡± Johan said with a worried expression. He was holding Giant yer in his hand. Caenerna and Jyanina still had bewildered expressions on their faces. ¡®?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????¡¯ The goblins swarmed fiercely towards the rescue party who had found the front yard, but they could not defeat the young count rampaging like a crazy b*stard and had to flee. It was pointless for dozens of them to rush in and try to break his formation while he pulled out the surrounding rocks and threw them. The goblins tried to cleverly lure Johan towards the quicksilver spirit in the midst of all this, but Johan was one step ahead of them. He chased the quicksilver spirit away with a single blow. Despite having been so wild, the quicksilver spirit was so terrified after getting hit hard by Giant yer that it disappeared into the puddle and didn¡¯t show its face again. ¡°Your Excellency Count. Is that weapon a spirit-banishing weapon? It wouldn¡¯t be shameful to name it the Spirit yer!¡± The dwarves¡¯ eyes sparkled when they saw the Giant yer. It seemed to be an antique weapon with traces of dwarven craftsmanship. Johan, who was sorry to expose the dwarven craftsman¡¯s shameful failure in front of the dwarves, looked away instead of answering. ¡°Let¡¯s call out again.¡± The deep voice resounded once more. Johan thought he heard the dwarves whispering in the distance. ¡°I think the dwarves are over there. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Huh? Is that true?¡± The other dwarves didn¡¯t understand. The count had called out to them, but they hadn¡¯te out even though they weren¡¯t that far away. ¡°They must be badly injured.¡± ¡°That¡¯s. . .!¡± Johan and the dwarves hurried their steps. They were worried about how badly they must be injured that they couldn¡¯te out right away. However, they were met with rtively unscathed dwarven expedition members. ¡°. . .Y-Your Excellency Count!!¡± Schweibeck dropped his hammer in shock at the sight of the unexpected person. He identally stepped on the foot of the dwarf next to him with the hammer, but he was too shocked to notice. ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????????¡¯ He wished it was just an illusion created by the goblins. It was that unrealistic. ¡°His excellency came to the rescue with his knights and wizards because he was worried about Schweibeck-nim and the other dwarves.¡± One of the dwarves said in a proud voice. If Johan hadn¡¯t been there, Schweibeck would have yelled, ¡®???? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????? ??????????!?¡¯ ¡°Your Excellency Count. Thank you! It was a big deal because the goblins were smarter than we thought. . .¡± One of the dwarven expedition members, who was rtively slow to catch on, expressed his gratitude in a pleased voice. To be honest, it was a situation where anyone would be worried. The unexpectedly intelligent goblins, the violent spirit, the brokenmunication. . . In that situation, the rescue team that showed up so quickly was bound to be moving. ¡°. . .Thank you. Your Excellency.¡± Schweibeck also expressed his gratitude for now. He was really, really curious about what had happened, but the first thing he needed to do now was show his manners. ???????????? ¡°That dwarf must have had a hard time.¡± Johan said with a pitiful expression as he watched Schweibeck groan and sigh after hearing a detailed exnation from his colleagues. ¡°No, your excellency. We¡¯re as strong as rocks, so our bodies won¡¯t get hurt by this level of expedition.¡± ¡°Even so. My men will be getting rid of the remaining goblins, so go back up as soon as they return.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, count. Did you happen to see an angry spirit on your way here?¡± Chapter 271: ?????????? ?????? ???????? (5) Chapter 271: ?????????? ?????? ???????? (5) ¡°I met and drove them away.¡± ¡°That was quite an aplishment. It must have been possible because of the wizards.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± The dwarven rescuers who were listening were confused. ¡°That wasn¡¯t magic. Schweibeck-nim. His Excellency the Count defeated the spirits with an ancient weapon made by the dwarves.¡± ¡°Is that true?¡± Schweibeck was surprised. A weapon capable of harming the furious spirits. It was an incredible weapon that the dwarves couldn¡¯t easily make, even if they were an excellent captain. As a dwarf himself, he really wanted to see it.¡°Your Excellency! Would it be too much to ask if I could see the weapon for a moment?! If you do, it will be an eternal honor!¡± Asking to see the count¡¯s weapon in this situation could be seen as rude, but dwarves tended to lose their patience in certain situations. Schweibeck was no different. ¡°There¡¯s nothing difficult about that. Here.¡± ¡°. . .???¡± Schweibeck was confused when he saw the weapon Johan handed him. He didn¡¯t feel anything special about it. If it could harm the spirits, even Schweibeck, who didn¡¯t know magic, should have been able to see something extraordinary, but this was just. . . Wasn¡¯t it just a crudely heavy andrge war hammer? It was extremely strong and sturdy, as expected from an ancient dwarven weapon, but that wasn¡¯t anything extraordinary. ¡°????¡± ¡°Is it okay to put it away now?¡± ¡°Yes! Thank you!¡± Schweibeck made up his mind. He would somehow get permission to take a closer look at the weapon again. ???????????? After they barely escaped and ate some warm food, and drank some strong alcohol, the dwarves, who held positions of responsibility, were overwhelmed with a sense of despair. ¡°Is it a hangover?¡± ¡°What are you saying, you idiot!¡± When another dwarf spoke without thinking, his voice became louder. ¡°Even so, where are there any idiots who would rely on the help of His Excellency to get down!¡± ¡°Guh. Do you think it was a sacred fire that saved you when you were about to die? If we hadn¡¯t gotten the help of the wizards, what do you think would have happened!¡± ¡°You should have just left us to die!¡± ¡°Stop it. It¡¯s not right to talk about the favor we received that way.¡± Schweibeck calmed themotion. He had calmed down to some extent. ¡°Prepare a letter. We need to honestly report what happened to the family.¡± ¡°However, Schweibeck-nim¡¯s reputation. . .¡± ¡°There are times when things go well, and there are times when they fail. As I said earlier, let¡¯s be satisfied that they saved our lives.¡± The other dwarves in the family might have been surprised, wondering how things turned out like this, but there was nothing they could do. The situation was too definite for them to stubbornly insist. It wouldn¡¯t have been strange if the count had demandedpensation, let alone the mine shares. The dwarves sighed and nodded. ¡°We seeded in defeating the goblins and going inside!¡± ¡°You¡¯re finally back.¡± When the dwarven miners returned to the fiefdomte, the dwarves weed them happily. Some of the young dwarven miners stayed behind with Johan¡¯s subordinates to explore the rest of the mine and make an estimate while the exhausted expedition team returned first to rest. ¡°How was it? Did the goblins hide any useful veins of ore?¡± ¡°Schweibeck-nim. That. . . far exceeded our expectations.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ???????????? The three wizards and one count were having a very serious discussion. The hardliners were Caenerna and Suetlg. The neutral party was Jyanina. The moderate was Johan. ¡°Speak to them sternly after you call them. ¡®??¡¯?? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???? ??????. ?? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????¡¯???? ??????????????, ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ????????! ???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ????????????!¡¯ If you say that, the dwarves will cry and say, ¡®???? ???????? ??????????. ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?? ???????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????. ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ??????!¡¯¡± ¡°That sounds like a really good idea.¡± Johan looked at Suetlg and Caenerna nodding their heads in satisfaction with astonishment. ¡°Isn¡¯t that too. . . harsh? To those who work so hard?¡± ¡°What do you mean harsh!¡± ¡°How shameless and corrupt the Empire¡¯s dwarven families are!¡± Suetlg and Caenerna protested as if they had been wronged. Suetlg had a grudge from when he had given advice to the dwarven families regarding flood control and was hit in the back of the head when he was young, and Caenerna had a grudge from when she had negotiated with the dwarven families under the emperor and was hit in the back of the head. ¡°Even so, I think it will build up useless resentment if we do that. I don¡¯t want that.¡± ¡°I. . . I think so too.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The two wizards looked at Jyanina. It meant, ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????????????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????????¡¯ Jyanina, who was insignificantpared to the two of them, bowed her head deeply. ¡°If Your Excellency shows mercy, we have nothing more to say.¡± Caenerna also backed down as she agreed with Suetlg¡¯s words. As they were roughly concluding, a dwarf came in and spoke urgently. ¡°I have something to tell Your Excellency about what happened inside.¡± ¡°Did another goblin appear?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that. . .¡± The dwarf looked around. He was asking if it was okay to speak in front of the wizards. It was a very subtle nce, but the two wizards, except for Jyanina, noticed it right away. Wizards were the feudal lord¡¯s advisors, but that position could change at any time. Basically, you couldn¡¯t expect wizards to be as loyal as knights. Therefore, it wasmon for feudal lords to have private conversations when conveying really important information. ¡°It¡¯s okay to speak as it is. The wizards here aren¡¯t people who would betray me.¡± Johan clearly saw it at that moment. Caenerna quickly nced at Jyanina and then quickly looked away. Then, she gave Johan an apologetic look when their eyes met. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ ¡®. . . . . .¡¯ The sad thing here was that Jyanina really didn¡¯t notice. Johan shook his head and opened his mouth. ¡°Tell me anyway.¡± The dwarf¡¯s report was something Johan hadn¡¯t expected. It was a report that the amount of silver ore discovered inside was much more than expected. ¡®. . .???? ???????? ?? ?????????????? ?????????¡¯ Johan was puzzled because he couldn¡¯t understand why they were making such a serious expression when they had good news. Suetlg spoke quietly from the side. ¡°Everyone wants to have treasure, don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Johan understood what he meant right away. Even though Johan had only recently acquired it, the southern fiefdom, where they could im their rights to each other. If a huge silver mine was found in such a ce, there would be more than one or two feudal lords who would go crazy. It was inevitable that some of the feudal lords who had been fighting on the same side until now would have evil intentions. ¡°Has the secret already been leaked?¡± ¡°Not yet, but even if our family keeps the secret, it will inevitably leak out if it is this much. Your Excellency.¡± There was so much silver that rumors were bound to spread. It was almost impossible to control such arge-scale project without a single rumor. In fact, the dwarven families knew how much of what came out of the mines in the Empire. The dwarf who had been speaking felt his heart sink when he saw Caenerna¡¯s cold gaze. ¡®?? ???????? ?? ??????????????!¡¯ The dwarf didn¡¯t know what magic she could do, but he seemed to know what the red-haired wizard was thinking. She was going to capture all the dwarves in the fiefdom and imprison them. Even if rumors spread someday, the dwarves would have been able to keep their mouths shut. ¡°Well. I trust the dwarves, but it can¡¯t be helped that people do things, so it will inevitably spread.¡± That¡¯s why when Johan said that he would trust the dwarves instead of saying that he would capture them, the dwarf felt tears welling up. He never thought they would trust him like this. ¡°I understand. I will think about the countermeasures, so have the dwarves proceed with the mining as nned. If there is anything, tell me.¡± Even if there was something, there were no dwarves who were shameless enough to ask the count for more. They had to endure even if they had to bring it themselves from a distant fiefdom. After the dwarf left, Suetlg opened her mouth. ¡°I thought this area was rtively okay, but we might have to reinforce the castle.¡± ¡°It might be better to imprison the dwarves. . .¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think the dwarves will be that loose-lipped. I think they¡¯re deeply touched by the count, so let¡¯s trust them.¡± Suetlg was more of a believer than Caenerna. Caenerna said as if she was displeased. ¡°I don¡¯t know how we can trust those greedy people.¡± ¡°Caenerna-gong is also here, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna was speechless because she had been caught off guard. Jyanina had to suppress augh for the first time in a long time. ¡°Do you think it will be okay if we just reinforce the castle?¡± ¡°If we reinforce the castle and build a fortress near the mine, it won¡¯t be easy to conquer with the terrain like this. Of course, it won¡¯t be easy.¡± When they said reinforcement, it basically took several years to reinforce the castle and build the fortress. The cost skyrocketed when you considered thebor and materials that went into it. Even the small feudal lords were careful about building wooden castles. ¡°With a generous silver mine and a count like you, there will be a line of merchants who want to lend you gold coins.¡± ¡°And you were also close to the orcs.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It will be easy to get money since there were orcs.¡± Johan nodded at the two wizards¡¯ words. Labor wasbor, but in the end, the most important thing was money. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten pretty close to those dwarves, can¡¯t I ask them to build the castle?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t expect that.¡± ¡°I think it would be better to never expect that. . .¡± The wizards straightened up before Johan could finish speaking. The Empire¡¯s dwarves were proud of their buildings. In particr, the castle was the pinnacle of their architectural skills, which they had honed over a long time. Even if a moderatelyrge feudal lord asked them, they would never agree or would ask for an astronomical amount of money. That was the dwarves¡¯ pride. ¡°It¡¯s not necessary for the castle to be built by dwarves, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± The two wizards emphasized again at Johan¡¯s words. ¡°Never ask the dwarves to do something. It might be okay if you threaten them.¡± ¡°Threatening them is also dangerous. They might do something to the castle. If you¡¯re going to do it, you should just cut their throats.¡± ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ???????????? Schweibeck visited Johan early the next morning. Schweibeck asked in an extremely polite manner. ¡°Your Excellency. I have a question.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I heard that you gave us mine shares.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t that the original custom?¡± ¡°. . .We don¡¯t dare ept that.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re worried about being trapped because you went down and made a mistake, don¡¯t.¡± Schweibeck¡¯s face turned red with shame at Johan¡¯s very direct manner of speaking. ¡°Not just because of that. . .¡± ¡°Are you talking about making a mistake when drawing the blueprints? You might not be familiar with numbers. You can do better if you try harder.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The count was definitely speaking kindly and considerately, but the dwarf who was listening was so ashamed that he was in agony. To hear that a dwarven engineer was unfamiliar with numbers. ¡°Since I called the Rimpangel family because I trusted them, I am also somewhat responsible for the mistake. Don¡¯t worry too much and focus on your work. It would be ridiculous if the work was dyed because of that.¡± ¡°. . .Your Excellency. Your Excellency is the most honorable person in the Empire. No steel from the Rimpangel family will go to Your Excellency¡¯s enemies.¡± ¡°Is that a euphemism for the dwarven families just now?¡± Johan asked as if he was interested. Instead of answering, Schweibeck spoke with a firm determination. ¡°I dare to ask you to build a castle up here. No castle will shine less than Your Excellency the Count¡¯s honor, but the castle will remain for a long time even while the forest disappears and the bones weather, boasting Your Excellency¡¯s honor.¡± ¡°Hmm. I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t want to spend that much gold coins on a single castle.¡± ¡°. . .It was my fault for not speaking up, but I swear on my beard that I had no intention of taking your gold coins. Your Excellency.¡± Chapter 272: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (1) Chapter 272: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (1) Schweibeck¡¯s voice was slightly rxed as he spoke. Schweibeck himself was willing to return to his family and take responsibility for his name, but the Count did not feel the meaning of those words at all. The first thing that came out of his mouth was concern about the price! ¡°No. Isn¡¯t it a bit unreasonable not to ept gold coins? As far as I know, the castles built by dwarves are quite expensive, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not expensive. . . Your Excellency. It¡¯s just a modest refusal, and it doesn¡¯t mean that we really want that much gold!¡± Schweibeck was frustrated and raised his voice slightly. Even so, the dwarves would not easily give up their pride, their castle, just because they were offered a lot of gold coins. What the dwarves themselves thought was honorable, and what they said when they felt they owed a favor that they could never repay, was this castle. It was never intended to be expensive. ¡°Still, it¡¯s a bit strange not to ept money. It would be rude to the dwarves.¡± ¡°It would be more of a blow to our honor to ept it!¡±Schweibeck had to work hard to convince Johan. He thought the Count would be impressed if he told him they were building the castle honorably, but he didn¡¯t expect him to get stuck on this. If they epted money, they would be ridiculed for generations among other dwarven families. ¡®?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?????????? ?? ???????????? ?????? ???????????¡¯ ¡°I understand. I understand. I won¡¯t give them money.¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you! Your Excellency!¡± Schweibeck finished the conversation, sweating. And as he was leaving, he felt something strange. This was not how the conversation was supposed to go. ???????????? While Johan was thinking about developing the mine together with the dwarves and where to build the castle, two major things happened in the Empire. One was that the negotiations with the Emperor¡¯s faction were finally concluded. The feudal lords who had participated in the Emperor¡¯s faction tried to pay as little as possible, but the Emperor¡¯s umted bad karma was too much for them to withstand. In the end, the Emperor¡¯s family had no choice but to suffer the most. They lost several fiefdoms and a huge amount of reparations, and the Emperor himself was dishonored. Several dishonorable incidents that had urred during the war were all med on the Emperor. In fact, it was true that the Emperor hadmitted most of them, but it must have been quite unfair for the Emperor to be med for what the feudal lords who had joined him had done. However, the dead cannot speak. The Emperor¡¯s sudden death had already be a punishment for his arrogance. Rumors were spreading quickly, gaining flesh as they went. Johan couldn¡¯t help butugh at the rumor that God had appeared behind Johan, covered the Emperor¡¯s eyes, and stabbed him with the spear. The second was that the feudal lords in the south eventually failed to suppress the rebellion. The southern feudal lords, who were shocked by several defeats, gathered carefully and attempted to attack, but the rebels fought back surprisingly well. They defended the knights¡¯ charge with the walls of the castle, the fences of the fortress, and the wagons and carriages on the ins, gaining confidence. They picked a few of the fallen nobles from the south (they didn¡¯t know if they were real or fake), dered them openly as feudal lords, collected bribes, and began lobbying the other feudal lords of the Empire as they came across them. The southern feudal lords, who had lost their fiefdoms due to the sudden uprising of the rebels, had their necks in a bind, but in reality, the lords from the west did not find this rebellion very important. Of course, it was uneptable for serfs to dare to ignore the authority of the nobles and break thews of the Empire, but. . . The rebels were acting quite cleverly. They brought the fallen nobles with them and imed they had the right to be feudal lords, offered bribes to other feudal lords, and did not execute the knights they captured. . . If they behaved so politely, the other feudal lords did not want to use their own strength to suppress them. It was already a shame that they had supported them with gold coins. In the end, it is thew that each fiefdom must solve its own problems. From the moment they failed to solve it themselves, it was as good as over. ¡°Huh. The ousted feudal lords must be crying their eyes out.¡± Johan was taken aback when he heard the news. The feudal lords who had defended their fiefdoms from the fierce attack of the Emperor¡¯s faction had suddenly lost their family¡¯s fiefdoms to a rebellion that had broken out behind them. ¡°How about we suppress them and take over?¡± ¡°Leave it alone. Even without that, we¡¯re being envied for the silver mine, and if we take over those fiefdoms too, assassins will being to visit us every week.¡± Johan shook his head and rejected Acdda¡¯s suggestion. He may have had a justification, but Johan was not a fool. If he had more than he could handle, it was bound toe to a bad end someday. ¡°I received a letter from Ulrike, and they sent bribes there too.¡± It was full of all sorts of ttery, but in the end, it was all the same. ¡¯???????????? ??????¡¯?? ????????????, ???? ????????????????.¡¯ There was no reason to attack at all, but the southern nobles had legs and a mouth, so they could somehow figure out a way to move them. ¡°It¡¯s strange.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Actually, at first I thought it was a rebellion caused by serfs or mercenaries. That kind of thing doesn¡¯tst long. Once they cross the line, they get attacked from all sides.¡± Rebellions were frequent in the Empire, but most of them failed. The moment a mercenary leader said he wanted to be his own feudal lord, he would be attacked in various ways. Compared to that, the rebellion in the south was lucky, but it was progressing really well. It was also a clever method to put the fallen nobles of the south in the forefront. ¡°But seeing how they¡¯re negotiating and bowing their heads. . . I wonder if they¡¯re not a lower noble who worked in the court of a noble for a long time. They¡¯re well-versed in thews and rules of the Empire.¡± ¡°That sounds usible. But wasn¡¯t it stupid of them to apply to be your vassal before? I wouldn¡¯t have epted it?¡± ¡°Well, if we had epted, it would have been luck itself, so they might have made an offer. There¡¯s no harm in making an offer.¡± ¡°One more thing.¡± Caenerna added. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I think they might have thought of Your Excellency as someone like Cardirian. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Suetlg eximed, as if that made sense. If he had been the Emperor, he would have epted it right away. He wouldn¡¯t care about other people¡¯s gazes or grudges. If it benefited his family and himself, why would he refuse? ¡°No. I suddenly feel insulted.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. It¡¯s inevitable to misunderstand when you hear rumors.¡± ¡°You mean you thought I would ept such an offer. . .¡± As Johan muttered with a shocked expression, Caenerna stroked the back of Johan¡¯s neck as if to calm him down. ¡°They¡¯ll probablye to offer bribes to the Count soon, so you can question them then.¡± ¡°Fine. If I investigate, I¡¯ll just feel like an idiot.¡± ¡°Do you intend to ept the bribes?¡± ¡°Is there any reason not to?¡± If the other feudal lords were all withdrawing, Johan intended to withdraw as well. If the rebels were indiscriminate and rampant, he would have had to prepare for battle, but if they knew their ce and were happily ying the role of feudal lords in their own fiefdoms, then Johan had no reason to fight. ¡°But. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a little curious why the bishops of the Order are mediating this time.¡± Johan was quite puzzled by Ulrike¡¯s letter. The Order had no reason to get involved in this rebellion. They would only lose by getting involved in a pointless political fight, so why would they mediate? ¡°Didn¡¯t they take the bishop hostage?¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. . . The Order isn¡¯t so easy to ckmail. They¡¯re pretty crazy.¡± Caenerna looked incredulous at Johan¡¯s words. ¡®??????¡¯???? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????? ??????????. . .¡¯ If anyone saw him, they would think he was a pagan count. ¡°Can¡¯t you just ask them?¡± ¡°Just ask them? That doesn¡¯t make any sense. . .¡± ¡°Why not? I think it will.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan thought deeply about Suetlg¡¯s words. Would they really tell him if he just asked? ¡®. . . ???????? ???????????¡¯ It suddenly seemed usible. However, Johan did not call the priest to contact the Order. Before he could do that, the envoys came to visit. The envoys sent by those who had be the new feudal lords as a result of this rebellion. . . And to their surprise, there were several priests of the Order among them. ???????????? ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Honorable Count. Please calm down and listen to us just once.¡± The priests spoke as urgently and quickly as they could, understanding that Johan was furious. They had to speak before the sparks flew. Of course, Johan was not particrly angry because of betrayal. He was just bbergasted. He had no sense of betrayal towards the noble-born priests who had helped the rebellion in the first ce. ¡°I¡¯m very calm, so just tell me what you want to say.¡± ¡°The reason we participated in this is because of the newly appointed feudal lord, Baron Serderdits.¡± The leaders of this rebellion were truly varied. From a runaway mercenary captain to an unidentified wizard, a lower noble who had lost all his fortune. . . The reason why these people were able to survive and thrive was because they had a center. And Baron Serderdits was that center. ¡®???? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ Johan was slightly impressed. Leading such a ragtag group of people in a rebellion. If Johan had been asked to do it, he would have turned his horse around and fled south or east. It¡¯s hard to lead an allied force with just nobles, let alone with other guys. ¡°But what does his leadership have to do with you following them?¡± ¡°Leadership. . . you say?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he supposed to be a good leader?¡± ¡°He is a leader, but that¡¯s not it. There¡¯s something more important to him.¡± ¡°. . .What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same true faith as Your Excellency!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± For a moment, Johan thought the priests were insulting the baron. On second thought, it was apliment. ¡°Oh. . . I guess he¡¯s very religious.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After listening to the story roughly, he seemed to understand why the priests liked him. Born to a lower noble family, he entered a monastery and was deeply involved in its activities. He then left the monastery to spread his faith to the people. While traveling around the chaotic south during the war, he received a revtion from God, awakened, showed miracles, and then led the people. If he had not led the rebellion, it would not have been strange for him to aim for the position of priest or bishop. ¡°The Saint. . . No, the Baron personally came to see Your Excellency, so please calm your anger and meet him just once!¡± Johan¡¯s spine tingled slightly. The center of the rebellion came to visit him in person? That alone proved that he was not an ordinary madman. When he looked at Suetlg next to him, Suetlg¡¯s face was also pale. Johan, Suetlg, and Caenerna all had a strained rtionship with fanatics like the bishops of the Order. ¡°Isn¡¯t he crazy? If I catch him here, it¡¯s over, right?¡± Even though Johan did not participate in the subjugation, he could not help but covet something that could be finished with just a flick of his hand. If he just caught him, the southern rebellion would be over, and the southern feudal lords woulde and cry for theirnd back. . . ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ On second thought, the Order¡¯s position was such that he couldn¡¯t do that. ¡°I guess he received a revtion from God.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t joke around. I¡¯m not in the mood.¡± ¡°Seriously! Whether it¡¯s a revtion from a malevolent spirit or from God, he must have gotten it to be like that. If he hadn¡¯t, would a normal person be acting like that?¡± Suetlg was right. It was something that could not be done in his right mind. ¡°Your Excellency! If Your Excellency¡¯s anger does not subside, you may take our lives! Just once, please!¡± ¡®?????????? ?????????? ????????. . .¡¯ Johan gave them an exasperated look, but in the end, it was Johan¡¯s own choice to join hands with them and receive their help. What can he do? He had to hang out with them for now. ¡°Let them in.¡± ¡°Your Excellency Count! We believed in you! If Your Excellency is truly faithful!¡± ¡®???? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ??????. . .¡¯ Johan let out a deep sigh. Chapter 273: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (2) Chapter 273: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (2) They could not fathom what Johan¡¯s intricate feelings were, thus the priests were simply ted that Johan had understood. Although Johan was amiable towards the order and respectful towards even the poorest monks, in terms of status, there was a vast difference between Johan and the priests. The reason feudal lords epted the priests¡¯ petitions was to show off their honor and religiosity, not because they were scared of the priests. Johan, in such a position, was listening attentively to the priests and meeting the people the priests had brought with them without showing any signs of displeasure. It was something that truly devout people would find difficult to do. ???????????? ¡°Did His Excellency really grant permission?¡± ¡°Yes. Didn¡¯t I tell you? The devotion of Your Excellency is iparable to the other feudal lords of the Empire; the difference is like that between the sun and a candle.¡± If Johan heard them, he would have told them to hush, but the priests were beingpletely serious.Julienne, who came from the Serderdits family, nodded with an expression of deep awe. If it were a count-level figure, they might not have received the newly risen feudal lords. Even if they recognized the new feudal lords, who had risen to power after fighting amongst themselves, it was still considered a loss of dignity to meet and converse with them in person. In fact, when a delegation arrived, some of the lords in the west did not meet them in person and instead had their chambeins handle matters. It was disrespectful, but given the circumstances, the rebels could hardly be med. ¡°So. Shall we go in, baron?¡± ¡°W-Well. . . I¡¯m worried it will appear disrespectful if we go in just like this.¡± Julienne felt a renewed sense of anxiety, looking himself and the priest up and down. They were both dressed roughly and dirtily. They had tried to dust themselves off before the meeting, but the stains that had soaked into their clothes did not disappear easily. It didn¡¯t matter when they were alone, but it was embarrassing to stand before a count dressed like this. He suddenly felt ashamed and anxious. ¡°It¡¯s fine! Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°W-Wait a moment. . .¡± Johan was puzzled as he watched Julienne enter with the priests. The man looked far more normal than he had expected. Johan had been expecting a suspicious-looking appearance like Jyanina based on what the priests had said, but the opposite was true. He did not give off any sense of creepy fanaticism or madness. At a nce, he looked like a simple, harmless shepherd. ¡°How incredibly unexpected.¡± Suetlg seemed surprised as well. Ordinarily, famous fanatics showed signs from their appearance. Whether they had met a malevolent spirit or something else, those who believed that they had met a god exuded a peculiar aura. They usually attracted people by giving off a unique atmosphere that could be felt from a distance. Inparison, Julienne here really did just look like a shepherd. He looked like he couldn¡¯t tell a single lie so honestly that even the city guards wouldn¡¯t arrest him. ¡°The ones like that are more dangerous.¡± ¡°Indeed. . .¡± Caenerna and Suetlg briefly exchanged opinions; a madman that looked sane was scarier than a madman that looked crazy. ¡°Rather than that, what¡¯s with those wings? Is he an avian beastman?¡± If there was one peculiar thing about him, it was the wings on his back. They were the kind of wings that avian beastmen would have. As a result, the back of his coat was puffed up, failing to conceal his wings. ¡°If he was an avian demi-human, his wings would have been much closer to his arms. That¡¯s just a hex.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call it a hex.¡± ¡°Then is it a revtion?¡± ¡°Strictly speaking, it¡¯s closer to a hex, but who¡¯s going to listen?¡± While the wizards were chattering, Julienne began his greeting. ¡°Y-Y-Your Excellency Count, I greet you.¡± ¡°Baron. There¡¯s no need to be so polite with me.¡± Johan spoke as he saw Julienne about to prostrate himself. There was a vast difference in their respective forces, but as long as they were both feudal lords and not in a vassal rtionship, there was no need to show more courtesy than necessary. ¡°O-Oh, I see. I¡¯d forgotten. My apologies. I haven¡¯t been in my position for very long. . .¡± Suetlg¡¯s expression rxed slightly. He had a weakness for people who were innocent and pure. Caenerna, on the other hand, gave him an even more guarded look. ¡°Y-Your Excellency Count, whose reputation shines so brightly throughout the Empire. . .¡± As he was speaking, Julienne stole a nce downward. Caenerna realized it. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????? ????????!¡¯ He had been unable to memorize it and was reading it from something he had written down. It was unbelievable. Of course, there were many nobles and knights whocked a proper education and were unable to memorize long speeches, but even so, a man who was supposed to be a focal point of rebellion. . . ¡°. . .Anyway, i-it¡¯s an honor! Thank you. . .!¡± ¡°I see.¡± After several hesitations and pauses, the greeting came to an end. Johan nodded patiently after listening to him. ¡°I¡¯m also pleased to meet a baron whose reputation shines so brightly. I hear you have something to tell me from what the priests said. What is it?¡± Johan¡¯s friendly attitude seemed to boost Julienne¡¯s courage. Julienne nodded and spoke slowly. ¡°Y-Your Excellency Count! The feudal lords of the Empire are all mostly corrupt right now. We must awaken them from their corruption by any means necessary. Your Excellency Count, I¡¯m so happy that you¡¯re going to s-support me!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The pleasant atmosphere suddenly grew colder. Suetlg, who had been wearing an easygoing expression, was startled and quickly fixed his expression. Only the priests seemed pleased as they listened. ¡°So. . . you¡¯re going to go around and preach?¡± Johan asked, just in case. It was possible to go and preach to feudal lords. Although the feudal lords would be very displeased, as long as they weren¡¯t extremely obstinate feudal lords, they wouldn¡¯t banish or execute a priest. And once in a great while, there were cases where a feudal lord would be impressed by the sermon and change his mind. . . ¡°I-It¡¯s not enough to preach. For the corrupt ones who don¡¯t listen, we have to punish them with iron and fire.¡± ¡°. . .He¡¯s even crazier than I thought. . .¡± Caenerna muttered in a shocked voice. Fortunately, it was quiet enough that only Johan could hear. Johan finally understood why the order liked this baron. The order¡¯s authority in the Empire had been greatly weakened due to the tyrant emperor. They had lost some of their original authority and several others had been abolished. If things were going well, that would be one thing, but with a civil war going on and over half of the southern regions in ruins, the order could hardly just stand by and watch. In the midst of all this, a devout believer had shown a miracle and received a revtion to raise the order¡¯s prestige in the Empire, so the faithful bishops must have been quite moved. ¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ??????. . .¡¯ ¡°Come to think of it, it might not be so bad.¡± ¡°Are you crazy too?!¡± Caenerna whispered incredulously at Suetlg¡¯s words. The Empire had been in chaos when the emperor¡¯s power was too strong, but it was the same when the order¡¯s power was too strong. Who could be called crazy b*stards if not the crazy b*stards who would hire mercenaries, invade a feudal lord¡¯s fiefdom, kidnap the feudal lord, and drag him to the order? But Suetlg shook his head. ¡°Think about it carefully. At least they won¡¯t be bothering us here.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°If they want to go pick fights in other fiefdoms and with other feudal lords, why not just let them? It¡¯s better if they don¡¯t target the count.¡± ¡°Is. . . that so?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it seems.¡± Caenerna was slightly swayed by Suetlg¡¯s opinion. It was true that she was somewhat enticed by the idea of the crazy mes spreading to other ces instead of here. She could ask Johan for help, but she could just politely decline if he did. . . Even if that baron incurred the wrath of the feudal lords in the Empire, the order wouldn¡¯t be dragged into it, so it wouldn¡¯t affect Johan. ¡°Let¡¯s just give him some encouragement and send him on his way.¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, that sounds like the right thing to do.¡± Johan shook his head repeatedly as he listened to the two wizards. ¡°I am impressed by the baron¡¯s deep faith. Do you have anything else to say?¡± ¡°N-No. . . I don¡¯t. Thank you.¡± Julienne seemed quite satisfied just by the fact that Johan had listened to him without showing any disgust. Just by having their position as feudal lords recognized, they had already achieved their desired goal. On top of that, by meeting and conversing with the count, who was known for his deep faith, they were also able to see that the count¡¯s faith was genuine. ¡°Bring that over here.¡± Johan had a servant bring over a chest filled with silver coins. The priests were surprised and tried to wave their hands. ¡°I dare not ept it, Your Excellency Count!¡± ¡°It is my joy and honor to bestow it upon the priests. Why would you refuse?¡± Johan was not giving them the silver coins because they were rotting and he wanted to give them to the priests. In fact, they had been rottingtely, but his true intention was to impress the priests and keep them from having other thoughts. If he gave them a gift like this in advance, they wouldn¡¯t hold a grudge against him even if he refused their requestster. ¡®?? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ??????.¡¯ Caenerna thought so, and she was right. ???????????? It wasn¡¯t just the wizards; Johan also guessed that the new baron wouldn¡¯tst very long. No matter how much the order helped him, there was a clear limit. He said that he would use force if necessary, but feudal lords also had force at their disposal. However, the news from the priests was different from what he had expected. ¡°A casten was exempted from working as a coborator this time.¡± ¡°Did you hear, count? That cruel baron promised to reduce punishment in the future.¡± ¡°No. . .¡± Johan was shocked. Was there something more to that pathetic-looking shepherd baron? ¡°Perhaps he has the talent of a wizard.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t he show a miracle? A wizard¡¯s words have power, and those who aren¡¯t strong are easily swayed. You and I know magic and have strong spirits, but others don¡¯t. They might have been surprisingly easy to persuade.¡± Come to think of it, the wizards here and Johan were quitecking in faith. Most feudal lords lived debauched lives or didn¡¯t follow the order¡¯s teachings, but they weren¡¯tpletely devoid of faith. To them, Julienne, who had suddenly appeared and even shown them a miracle, might have seemed more convincing than they had expected. ¡°It¡¯s strange, but isn¡¯t it a good thing?¡± ¡°He does seem a bit crazy, but it¡¯s definitely not a bad thing for the people of the Empire.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you both being a little too optimistic. . .¡± Unlike Caenerna, Johan and Suetlg didn¡¯t have any particr thoughts. Wouldn¡¯t it be a good thing if the serfs of the Empire could live a little better? Besides, there hadn¡¯t been any fighting. However, even Caenerna had to admit that there were more pressing matters right now than the fanatics down south. With the Rimpangel family sending more dwarves to build the castle, mercenaries were also gathering in response. Among the knights with fiefdoms like Johan with fierce reputations, mercenaries were the ones who could cause trouble. If they weren¡¯t managed strictly, order would copse in an instant. The mercenary captains were surprised to see the count suddenly appear and hurriedly prepared themselves. They had expected a representative of the count toe, not the count himself. ¡°Your Excellency Count, our mercenarypany is famous for our exploits in hunting trolls. If you entrust us with the task, we will ensure that no monsters set foot in your fiefdom.¡± ¡°Count, our mercenarypany is known for our loyalty, even if we are paidte. If you find it hard to believe, you can ask Bishop Baek, who hired us before! Here is a document written by Bishop Baek himself!¡± When there was a lot of work, the mercenary captains would get arrogant, but when there was no work, their heads would naturally hang low. Now that there was less work in this area, Johan, a count who paid his mercenaries well and on time, was a coveted employer for many mercenary groups. With the silver mine discovered, wouldn¡¯t he be developing all of this nearbynd? ¡°Your Excellency Count, I have something to tell you in private.¡± One of the mercenary captains said that, and the others gave him guarded looks. If he tried to curry favor with the count by saying something useless, it would be to their detriment. ¡°How dare you request a private audience with Your Excellency Count? You¡¯re incredibly rude!¡± ¡°Your Excellency Count himself is speechless at your rudeness!¡± ¡°Enough. I¡¯ll hear what he has to say, so be quiet.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sorry!!¡± ¡°How dare you interrupt? You deserve to die!¡± ¡®?????? ?????????????????????? ???????????????? ?? ?????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ Johan was puzzled by the mercenary captains¡¯ overly servile attitudespared to usual. How much work must there have been. . . Chapter 274: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (3) Chapter 274: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (3) It was only natural for them to do so. The work of a mercenary was like a fire in the fields: if it burned brightly, the bodies of several men were not enough to put it out, but when the fire went out, they were ignored by the feudal lords no matter how much they begged for employment. There were mercenary captains who usually had better pay than mercenaries, ate and drank good food and fine wine, and enjoyed themselves. Of course, they had to take responsibility for this. And the responsibility of mercenaries was iron and blood. If they really couldn¡¯t find work, a rebellion might break out. It wouldn¡¯t be strange for them to get stabbed with several swords. It was understandable why the mercenary captains were so prickly. ¡°I wish there were many things to do at a time like this. . .¡± Johan was feeling sorry for himself for nothing. If only the mercenaries had flocked to him like this when he was fighting the emperor, how easy it would have been. They didn¡¯t show up then, but now that it¡¯s all over, theye. ???????????? Captain Matter, the leader of the Servants of the King Mercenary group, was a veteran mercenary who had worked as a captain for 8 years. Matter opened his mouth, sniffing his nose like a dog.¡°Casten of Vipen is plotting to take the Count¡¯s fiefdom!¡± ¡°. . . . . .!¡± It was not an usation to be taken lightly. Johan asked with a serious face. ¡°Do you have any evidence?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I am not capable enough to bring you evidence. But please believe me! Casten of Vipen tried to hire me directly.¡± ording to Matter, Casten of Vipen seemed to be trying to hire mercenaries to seize the silver mine. If you upied the silver mine before the dwarves built their castle, it was surprisingly easy to hold out nearby. A fortress was much easier to defend than to attack, and even a hastily built fortress could hold out for a while. Then the casten could secretly support the mercenaries and receive a huge amount of silver without anyone knowing. It was not umon for mercenaries or rogues to be hired when they were greedy for someone else¡¯s fiefdom but didn¡¯t have a good excuse. However. . . ¡®?? ?????????? ????????¡¯?? ????????.¡¯ Casten of Vipen was a feudal lord whose fiefdom was not far from this fiefdom. If the distance was short, it would not be difficult to smuggle silver through the dense forest and mountains from the ce where the silver mine was discovered. However, Casten of Vipen was one of the feudal lords of the south. He would know better than anyone that Johan had won a direct victory over the emperor¡¯s army, so why would he do such a thing? Of course, people sometimes did stupid things. In this world, where information spread slowly and was not very urate, such stupid things happened more often. But even so. . . ¡°Casten of Vipen doesn¡¯t seem like the kind of person to do that.¡± Iselia also seemed to think so, and was puzzled by Johan¡¯s words. ¡°Is that how it is?¡± ¡°No. My dear. That¡¯s not what I mean. . . After the emperor¡¯s army was defeated, Casten of Vipen came to visit.¡± As soon as it became known that the emperor¡¯s faction had copsed, the great and small nobles who had been active in the south began lobbying, each trying to be the first. Even they had people trying to ask Suetlg for favors, saying that he was a wizard close to Johan, so of course Iselia had several times more requests. ©¥?? ???? ???????????????? ?? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????, ???? ?????? ???????? ????, ?? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ??????, ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????????????, ?? ???????? ???? ??????????. . . There were many things like this, but not only that. There were quite a few cases where people who were already in the position of feudal lords came to ask for favors. A powerful feudal lord like Johan would be settling down nearby, so everyone had to show him respect. ¡°What kind of person was the Casten of Vipen?¡± ¡°He was a man of strong faith. He praised you many times.¡± ¡°. . .I feel like there are too many people with strong faith these days.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it because you are a man of strong faith?¡± Johan frowned at Iselia¡¯s words. ¡°Iselia. I am not an impious man, but my faith is nothingpared to that of truly devout people, so don¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°I think that kind of humility is the very condition of deep faith. My dear.¡± ¡°. . .Let¡¯s get back to the story of the casten. So he was a man of deep faith?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Iselia wiped the side of her sword with a cloth. It was something that could have been done by a servant, but Iselia enjoyed cleaning her weapons as a hobby. Johan didn¡¯t bother to stop her. If Iselia wanted to clean her weapons while talking or stand on her head while talking, he didn¡¯t care. And that¡¯s what made Iselia happy. ¡°The casten. . . um. . . he said that it was natural for someone with your strong faith to win, and that the other feudal lords in the southcked faith. It seemed a bit harsh.¡± ¡°That¡¯s even more strange. Well, it¡¯s possible that the mercenaries were just talking nonsense.¡± ¡°If you doubt it, why don¡¯t you invite the casten? It wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to invite the other feudal lords in the south. You are an outsider after all, so it wouldn¡¯t hurt to reassure the southern feudal lords.¡± ¡°Can I reassure them by inviting them to a banquet?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s quite possible. I think it¡¯s your forte.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan was surprised, but Iselia was serious. If a knight who thrust a spear at a dragon had the talent to appease and reassure others, people wouldugh at him in disbelief, but surprisingly, Johan was better at appeasing and persuading than at fighting. Didn¡¯t Iselia herself feel it the most? ¡°Well. . . that¡¯s not a bad idea. I guess I¡¯ll have to invite the southern feudal lords and hold a banquet.¡± ¡°If you think that¡¯s not enough, how about a jousting tournament? Any noble would be honored to participate in a jousting tournament you host.¡± ¡°It¡¯s expensive.¡± ¡°. . .My dear. . . Do you know how much money you have right now?¡± This time it was Iselia¡¯s turn to be surprised. Even Iselia, who didn¡¯t know much about management, could see that Johan¡¯s wealth was enormous. Thepensation paid by the emperor¡¯s faction, the ransom paid by the people who belonged to the emperor¡¯s faction, the trade route to the east that ran through the southern fiefdom. . . It was enough to train new ve soldiers in Iselia¡¯s fiefdom, not counting the subordinates he had with him now. When you umte wealth, you tend to spend it on luxuries, but Johan has no intention of getting off his horse, so his wealth continues to grow. Compared to Iselia¡¯s original Bluea family and the next Asada family, Johan¡¯s finances were surprisingly wealthy. ¡°No matter how much money you have, it¡¯s still expensive.¡± ¡°Does it make sense that we have wealth to distribute to serfs but no wealth to host honorable tournaments?!¡± Iselia rarely backed down. Her pride as a knight prevented her from giving in. ¡°The jousting tournament will surely impress the feudal lords of the south and make them kneel before you.¡± ¡°The feudal lords of the south. . .Alright. I don¡¯t really care whether they kneel or not, but I¡¯ll do it for you, Iselia. Because you like it.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Iselia, who had been unexpectedly struck, nodded her head, her face bright red. ¡°Why are you embarrassed about something like that?¡± ¡°. . .I think you¡¯re too lewd.¡± ¡°No. . . What. . .?¡± ???????????? When Johan said that he would invite the southern feudal lords and hold a jousting tournament at the same time, the people around him agreed. Even Caenerna. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that Caenerna-gong would agree to a fight where blood is shed in vain, like a jousting tournament.¡± ¡°. . .Anyone who hears Count-nim, who is a knight more than anyone else, say such a thing wouldugh, even a beggar passing by.¡± Caenerna thought that the knights participating in the jousting tournament were stupid, but she didn¡¯t deny the significance of the jousting tournament. The jousting tournament and the festival that followed it made many people happy and forget their pain. And honestly, the jousting tournament was fun. It was stupid to participate in it yourself, but the thrill of watching others fight for their lives was hard topare to any other excitement. ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone would hate it except the priests.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already persuaded the priests.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Caenerna was astonished at Johan¡¯s words that he had finished persuading them in the meantime. Did the priests get poisoned in their food? Priests were pathologically against jousting tournaments or duels. There couldn¡¯t be any priests who would be happy to see innocent souls stabbing and killing each other for no reason. But how could they be persuaded so easily? ¡°Priests tend to be more lenient if you live faithfully. And I gave them a chance to preach to the nobles who came to visit.¡± ¡°Oh. . . that¡¯s really. . . not very good.¡± Caenerna frowned. There was a reason why nobles didn¡¯t invite priests to their banquets. When you¡¯re trying to eat a meal you¡¯ve prepared, hearing a sermon that begins with ¡®???????????????? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ can ruin your appetite. Of course, for Johan, who didn¡¯t hold banquets to have fun, it didn¡¯t matter whether the priests preached or not. Johan could eat deliciously anyway. ???????????? The southern feudal lords and their vassals on their way to Johan¡¯s fiefdom narrowed their eyes at the banners they saw in the distance. It seemed to be a procession of nobles like them, and it was customary to greet each other when they met like this. The feudal lord asked his secretary. ¡°Whose banner is that?¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s the banner of the Shachtel family, master.¡± ¡°The Shachtel family, then. . .¡± The feudal lord frowned, trying to recall his memory. And then he realized one thing. ¡°Why are those northern b*stards here?!¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s also. . .¡± Surprisingly, what they saw were the banners of the northern families. Moreover, they were definitely families that had fought on the emperor¡¯s side. If the war had not ended, they should have fled first, not knowing what their intentions were. From a distance, two knights rode up on horseback and gave a simple greeting. It was the least they could do. The feudal lord was surprised, but he returned the greeting as customary. ¡°How dare those shameless b*stards show their faces. . .¡± ¡°Calm down, master! This is the count¡¯s fiefdom. Fighting here would be an insult to the count!¡± If others fought in Johan¡¯s fiefdom without permission, it was an insult to Johan. It was up to Johan to decide whether to expel those northern b*stards, not him. ¡°I know! It¡¯s really disgusting. Call the priest. I need to pray.¡± The southern feudal lord said, holding back his displeasure. Even though a crazy northern b*stard hade crawling in, he wouldn¡¯t have to see that sight for long. If he was a knight with a proper head on his shoulders, he wouldn¡¯t leave them alone. Wouldn¡¯t he make them pay the price when the tournament came? . . .However, the feudal lord who arrived at the jousting tournament was in for a surprise. There were more northern b*stards than he had expected. ¡°What the hell is going on??¡± ¡°The northern b*stards havee here in a group, out of their minds.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± For the prize money and rewards, for the honor of the family that had been defeated in battle, for personal fame. . . The reasons may not have been the same, but the fact that they had the guts toe here and participate in the jousting tournament was truly astonishing. Due to the war, the feelings of the southerners were very bad, and even a knight could be in danger if he was attacked while sleeping. And yet, so many of them had gathered here. It was clear that they had gotten their stories straight beforeing. It was much safer to participate together than toe one by one. ¡°Are they crazy??¡± Johan was surprised when he heard the news. How long had it been since they fought each other, and they were showing their faces here? He couldn¡¯t tell if they were headless or swollen-headed. If it was Johan, he wouldn¡¯t havee because he would have been afraid of being poisoned in the food. . . ¡°They trust in the count¡¯s honor!¡± The elf king said in a concise and powerful voice. The young and beautiful elf knights standing beside him nodded in agreement. The elf king strode over and hugged Johan, kissing him on both cheeks. It was the best way for an elf to show his friendship. Johan had to clench his brow to control his expression. ¡°There is no event more blessed than a jousting tournament held by an honorable knight. It would be a shame for a knight to not participate in such a blessed event.¡± ¡®?? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ It was clear that the priests would be delighted to hear that the jousting tournament was blessed. Chapter 275: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (4) Chapter 275: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (4) However, it was hard to deny that the arrival of the elf king had invigorated other participants, regardless of the elf king¡¯s iprehensible logic. The authority of a jousting tournament is determined by the honor of the person holding the tournament and the honor of the participants. While many nobles didn¡¯t participate themselves but sent their knights as their representatives, the elf king who proudly led his horse to participate received cheers from the crowd. ©¥???????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????! ©¥?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ??????, ???????? ??????????????, ?????? ?????????????? ????????????! In the south, the elf king¡¯s poprity was quite high. This was due to the war with the emperor¡¯s faction. Although the feudal lords of the empire were wary of the elf king¡¯s influence spreading to the empire, themoners were not. To them, the elf king was a savior who hade from the distant west with knights for honor and justice. It would be strange if such a person were unpopr. Johan and the elf king were the ones with the most stories and songs about them. ¡°Since they believed in the count¡¯s honor, the count must respond in honor.¡±¡°I know. We can post a promation nearby to prohibit private duels and retaliations.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the answer I¡¯m talking about. What I meant was that if they challenge you to a duel, you should ept it.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan was at a loss for words at the elf king¡¯s words. Come to think of it, the elf king wouldn¡¯t have been interested in protecting their lives. If someone tarnished his honor, he might duel them, but why would he do that? ¡°But I don¡¯t think the count¡¯s suggestion is bad either.¡± ¡°. . .Thank you.¡± ¡°I should rest until the tournament begins! Glory awaits me in this jousting tournament. With God¡¯s help, I will be able to show myself in front of the count without shame.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan was puzzled as he watched the elf king¡¯s back as he left. ¡®????????. . . ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??¡¯?? ?????? ???????????????????????????¡¯ ???????????? When the jousting tournament began and the knights of various families came, the mercenaries were unknowingly excited. The jousting tournament was not just apetition for knights. There were also some lightpetitions thatmoners and serfs could participate in, and there werepetitions that mercenaries could participate in. There werepetitions where they fought and wrestled barehanded after getting off their horses,petitions where theypeted with thick wooden bows, and evenpetitions where they carried wooden barrels or drank a lot of alcohol. It would be an understatement to say that the prizes for thesepetitions were generous, considering that they were just for entertainment. The eyes of the mercenaries sparkled, and it must have felt even more so for themoners. Above all, the fact that they could catch the eye of a feudal lord here was a big deal. There was more than one way to make a career by performing on the battlefield. As such, the mercenaries were excited and moring, but. . . ¡°What happened, Matter, you b*stard! We werepletely ignored, let alone hired!¡± The captain of another mercenary group shouted in anger as he looked at Matter. There was a reason why the captain of the mercenaries was angry. Matter and his men had teamed up to try to extort the count. Their n started the moment they heard the rumor about the silver mine. After the war, when they had no money and the mercenaries were starving, the sudden news of the silver mine felt as sweet as honey. Originally, they would have attacked the silver mine to loot it, or driven out the miners and workers and upied it for a while. . . . . . but Johan¡¯s reputation from the recent war was so fearsome that they simply couldn¡¯t do it. Other feudal lords might have given up orpromised without easily conquering it, but that young count didn¡¯t seem like he would do that. With so many soldiers under hismand, why would he make concessions? The mercenaries didn¡¯t want to easily make a fortune or have a bloody fight with Johan¡¯s crack troops. Furthermore, seeing the silver mine, therge number of people, and the tight security made them even more fearful. In the end, they changed their n. ©¥????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ??????????. ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ????????????????????, ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??????????. ©¥????????????? ©¥??????! ???? ????????????, ????¡¯???? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????? ????????????????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????? ©¥?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ????, ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ??????????? ????¡¯?? ????????????????????. . . ©¥?????????? ??????????????????. ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ????? ???? ???????????????????? ??????¡¯??! Among the feudal lords, there were many who hesitated or ignored such usations. usations from mercenaries are somewhat difficult to believe. However, that was something that only old and experienced people would say, and it was not something that the count, who was still in his youth, would understand. Would someone who fearlessly charged at the emperor¡¯s army with a spear be afraid of the Casten of Vipen and endure it? ©¥?? ?????????? ????. ???????? ???????????? ?? ????? ©¥???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????????????????, ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ????. ???? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????????????. ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ????????????????, ???? ?????????????? ???????????? ??????????????, ???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????????? ????. No matter how insignificant a person¡¯s words may be, they carry more weight when many people agree. Furthermore, Johan had just acquired the silver mine. If he pushed it a little, suspicion would grow like andslide. The mercenary captains were convinced that they knew the young count and did not doubt it. However. . . ¡°Calm down! Things are still in progress. The jousting tournament was originally nned, and all the mercenary groups in the vicinity have been granted permission to station themselves. What does this mean? It means that the count intends to hire them.¡± ¡°. . .¡± At Matter¡¯s words, the captain of the mercenaries loosened their frown. It was true that they couldn¡¯t say that he had no intention of hiring mercenaries, looking at the way things were going. The jousting tournament could have gathered people. . . ¡°But I heard there was a rumor that the Casten of Vipen was invited?¡± ¡°That¡¯s even better. Do you think the suspicion will be cleared if you see it in person? If we all deny it to the end, the count will have no choice but to believe us!¡± ¡®?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????????????.¡¯ The other mercenary captains nodded as if they agreed, but one quick-witted mercenary captain felt something ominous about the way things were going. It¡¯s hard to express it exactly, but there¡¯s something ominously different from what was expected! ¡¯???????????? ?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????¡¯ ???????????? ¡°Your Excellency Count, it is an honor to meet you.¡± ¡°Raise your head. Casten.¡± The moment he met the Casten of Vipen, Johan instinctively realized that the mercenaries had lied. Of course, Johan could have been wrong. However, for that to be the case, the Casten of Vipen would have had to be a truly incredible liar. The casten exuded an air simr to that of a devout priest. ¡°I heard about Your Excellency Count from Baron Serderdits. He said that you are a man of true faith. I never thought I would meet such a person.¡± ¡®???????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ??????.¡¯ He could feel Iselia looking at the casten with a not-so-good look in her eyes. Iselia was not without faith, but she was not close to the priests. The virtues that Iselia liked were usually sins that priests hated. ¡°It seems that you were deeply moved by the baron¡¯s sermon.¡± ¡°Yes! If the brothers of the Empire, who share the same faith, had had a more sincere faith, would such a fight have taken ce?¡± ¡®?? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°That makes sense.¡± ¡°I am d that you agree.¡± When Johan agreed with a few words, the casten enthusiastically began to talk about things that he hadn¡¯t even asked about. It was a story about how the fiefdoms in the northern part of the Empirecked faith and had corrupt bishops in their ranks. Even though knights hade from various families in the north, it seemed that he would catch them and give them a sermon. The poor knights of the north would have no choice but to endure it without being able to get angry. ¡®????¡¯?? ??????????????.¡¯ Both the baron and the casten were spreading such fervent faith, which was a strange thing. However, in Johan¡¯s eyes, it eventually had its limits. No matter how much they preached, that was it. If the feudal lords of other regions did not listen, they could do nothing. Kidnapping a feudal lord was ast resort that was only possible when the feudal lord was really colluding with the cult, and doing it in normal times would immediately draw criticism from within the order. . . ¡°I understand. Casten. Go back and rest.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask?¡± After the casten bowed and stepped back, Iselia asked as if she was puzzled. Johan shook his head. ¡°If I try to prolong this and listen to everything one by one, it will only be a nuisance.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I didn¡¯t think the casten would have done such a thing.¡± ¡°Those mercenary b*stards must have gotten carried away.¡± As befitting those who didn¡¯t value their lives, the mercenaries often did such things without fear. Johan gave several orders to arrest and punish the mercenaries, and then stopped thinking about them. It was a minor matter that he didn¡¯t need to worry about. ¡°There will be a lot to prepare for those who wille to the jousting tournament, but there shouldn¡¯t be any other problems, right?¡± ¡°Yes. Your Excellency.¡± Although Johan was frugal, he could be criticized if he was frugal even with hospitality. Of course, he was making appropriate preparations. Furthermore, Johan¡¯s advantage was that he could bring in goods from the East through the trade routes under hismand. Silks and carpets that could only be found in the East decorated the banquet hall, and luxurious fruits with exotic scents were ced on top. ¡°But Your Excellency. . .¡± ¡°?¡± Johan was puzzled when the merchant who hade to report hesitated. ¡°Speakfortably.¡± ¡°I was careful because I didn¡¯t want to cause any unnecessary negativity before a good thing, but. . . several merchant ships have been captured.¡± ¡°Merchant ships? By pirates?¡± ¡°No. It seems that the feudal lords of the East captured them.¡± Johan frowned. When people talked about the pagan East, they often thought of and inhabited by evil spirits, but it was also a ce where people lived. And they did not prohibit or ban trade simply because they had different religions. Silver and gold were not worthless just because they were from the East. If the merchant ships from the West were needlessly tampered with, it would be a great loss to the feudal lords who ruled the ports in the East, as trade would be cut off. Johan had sent merchant ships to several ports to operate trade routes, thanks to his friendship with the Vynashchtym Empire and the friendship he had built with the people of the East. Considering that the previous feudal lord had a good location but failed to utilize it, it was surprisingly extensive. ¡®???? ???????? ???????? ????????????????, ???? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ If the merchants had made a mistake, they would usually pay a fine, but they would not have their ships taken away. Of course, they would have made a usible excuse on the other side, but Johan was not stupid enough to believe it. Why are they trying to cut the belly of the goose thatys the golden eggs now, when they have benefited each other so far? ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll have to think about what to do after the jousting tournament.¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯m sorry to report this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. It was something you had to be prepared for when you set sail for the East in the first ce.¡± When the merchant left, Iselia eximed in an angry voice. ¡°How dare they ignore you? You just leave it alone?¡± ¡°Calm down. Iselia. The distance is different from the old hundred kingdoms. We can¡¯t just draw our swords.¡± Unlike Iselia, who was furious at the insult to his honor, Johan was realistic and calm. The ships were expensive, but if he tried to recover the principal, it would be endless. ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Iselia was disappointed at Johan¡¯s words, but eventually she was convinced. She couldn¡¯t bring the feudal lord from that far away to his knees here. However, there was one thing that Johan was missing. The fact that Johan¡¯s merchant ships had been captured was not something that only the merchants knew. ???????????? ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes. Anyway, those savages in the East. . .¡± The aristocrat of the Empire, who had heard the rumor from the people of the republic, looked down on the pagans of the East. There was nothing better to talk about before meals than this kind of story. ¡°How dare they touch the count¡¯s ship!¡± ¡°His Excellency Count is a man of such deep faith. It must have been offensive.¡± As they passed by, the Casten of Vipen overheard their conversation by chance. The Casten of Vipen trembled with shock and anger and asked. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Chapter 276: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (5) Chapter 276: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (5) ¡°What do you mean? It is only natural for pagans to do that sort of thing.¡± The Casten of Vipen¡¯s reaction was different from any other nobles. The nobles who were having a light-hearted conversation were slightly embarrassed when they realized that the casten was reacting more seriously than they had thought. ¡°It is only natural for those savages to do that sort of thing because they believe in multiple gods.¡± ¡°It is not natural! Shouldn¡¯t sincere believers be angry? How could they dare do something like that because they think our belief is ridiculous?¡± Casten¡¯s emotional exmation left a deep impression on other nobles. As nobles who had a belief, it was actually shameful not to show anger about this kind of injustice. The nobles, who initially took it lightly, started to reflect on their actions because of the casten¡¯s attitude. ¡°You are right. Casten. I am able to reflect on myself because of you.¡± ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have taken the pagans¡¯ actions so lightly.¡± ¡°Thank you for your understanding!¡±Casten was delighted by the nobles¡¯ response. They were much more supportive than he had thought. ¡°I heard a story recently. . .¡± Casten, who was feeling more confident, brought up a story about belief. The nobles listened closely to the casten¡¯s story with great interest, whether they were deeply religious or not. Even those who were not deeply religious would not want to show it to others. ???????????? ¡°Was the Casten of Vipen a well-connected guy?¡± Johan looked around with a dubious expression as he walked. Of course, he had quite a few acquaintances as a family native to the south, but it was limited to the southern families nearby. He was not influential enough to interact with others in the Empire. However, the Casten of Vipen now seemed to be getting along with the feudal lords from the west and even those from the north. The casten was a great orator, and even the nobles seemed to listen attentively to his words. ¡°Apparently, he keeps talking about some beliefs.¡± Caenerna said as if he didn¡¯t want to think about it. ¡°Is that. . . interesting?¡± ¡°It could be interesting to religious people. But it¡¯s not something they¡¯d listen to just for fun.¡± As the times became unstable, religion gained strength. The seemingly mighty emperor was cursed and fell (though he was actually assassinated), and a dragon appeared in the corrupted fiefdom. Johan firmly believed in reason and reality despite the circumstances, but other nobles were not like him. Not only the usually religious ones, but also those who had kept their beliefs hidden in a corner of their hearts took them out and became interested in them again. ¡°I feel sorry for them that they¡¯re at the joustingpetition listening to a sermon.¡± Johan didn¡¯t mind. It wouldn¡¯t be bad if the nobles became religious. The order was still Johan¡¯s firm shield and coborator. The mere thought that the order could be mobilized to agitate other families if those jealous of the silver mine caused trouble gave him a little bit of hope. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????????????? ?????????????????? ????????????????. . .¡¯ Caenerna thought to herself as she looked at Johan¡¯s expression. While others might have shown respect for Johan¡¯s stern expression, Caenerna could now somewhat distinguish Johan¡¯s expressions. ¡°Come over here!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± When Suetlg called them with an unusually excited expression, Johan and Caenerna looked at him curiously. ¡°Did you meet a knight you know?¡± ¡°You could say that. Come here first. You¡¯ll understand once you see it.¡± Johan and Caenerna became curious as Suetlg spoke like that. The three wizards headed to where Suetlg had told them to go. Knights from afar were getting off their horses with the help of their servants and entering the tents to rest. There were gs of familiar families and gs of families they had never seen. ¡°Do you see that knight?¡± ¡°He seems to be a knight of the Lancingt family. . .¡± Caenerna, who had worked as the emperor¡¯s court wizard, immediately recognized the family of the knight from the north. It was not easy even for an outstanding man of letters to recognize the gs of the hundreds of new and changing families. ¡°The Lancingt family? What kind of family is that?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not that great of a family that Your Excellency the Count should know of. They¡¯re a family of knights, and they have a long history, but their size isn¡¯t that big.¡± There were many families in the north with long histories. They might not have as much influence as their history, but they were often respected. The strength umted within a family cannot be easily built. ¡°The Lancingt family? That was their name.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you call them because you knew their name? Then why did you call us?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know every single family in the north. Look at that.¡± Suetlg pointed to the knight of the Lancingt family with an excited voice. The two seemed to know why Suetlg was excited. ¡°Magic?¡± ¡°It¡¯s magic.¡± The aura here was so mystical that there was no doubt that this weapon harbored magic. Johan spoke with the utmost intention to assist the elder of the family: ¡°Suetlg-nim as well. . . Did you want a magic treasure? Tell me what you want, and I¡¯ll get it for you. I have enough wealth.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg, who had suddenly be a treasure hunter, was speechless. Caenerna took over. ¡°Can I have one too?¡± ¡°Sure. Tell me what you want, and I¡¯ll send someone to get it.¡± ¡°Are you all blind and deaf idiots who can¡¯t see or hear even though you have eyes and ears. . .! Look properly! It¡¯s not just a magic weapon!¡± Suetlg shouted. Johan and Caenerna narrowed their eyes and concentrated. ¡®???? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????????????¡¯ As he continued to focus and look at the knight, Johan could feel the same sensation he felt at the Ipa?l River after a long time. In contrast, Caenerna seemed to be unable to sense it, perhaps because she dealt with the opposite kind of mystery. ¡°I can¡¯t read it. But It looks like It hate him. ¡°The water spirit?¡± ¡°Yes. A water spirit from a river.¡± Suetlg said, pointing to his belt. The water spirit was in that belt. ¡°What special power does a water spirit have when it¡¯s in a belt?¡± ¡°Can it keep me from drowning when I go into a river?¡± ¡°You could just learn how to swim.¡± The conversation between the two wizards made Suetlg upset, but he spoke calmly. ¡°The effect of that belt isn¡¯t important to Your Excellency Count. The spirit trapped inside is important. I swore an oath to the Ipa?l River. I have to release that spirit.¡± ¡°Ah. . .¡± Unlike Johan, whocked knowledge as a wizard, Caenerna understood what it meant. An oath sworn as a wizard is more important than life itself. ¡°Is that belt forcefully keeping the spirit captive?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether it¡¯s forced or tricked. What¡¯s important is that you have to release the spirit inside for Suetlg-gong.¡± ¡°Will the spirit reward you if you release it?¡± ¡°Some spirits do, and some don¡¯t. But it¡¯s not something I should talk about in front of Suetlg-gong.¡± Johan and Caenerna whispered to each other, and Suetlg sighed. ¡°You can just talk so that everyone can hear.¡± ¡°Um. . . Then should I send someone to catch him right now?¡± Suetlg was slightly moved by Johan¡¯s words. Toe forward to help without any hesitation like this even though he was in the position of a count. Moreover, Johan had made a deration to those present here. Not to touch the nobles from the north. He could feel a deep friendship in the part where he was willing to break such an oath without any hesitation. ¡°Your Excellency. . . Are you out of your mind?¡± Of course, Caenerna, who was in her right mind, became serious. Suetlg apologized for nothing. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, Caenerna-gong.¡± ¡°I guess I spoke too harshly. . . Are you out of your mind, Count?¡± ¡°It was just something I said on the spur of the moment, so don¡¯t be like that.¡± Johan spread out his hands as if he understood. Caenerna smiled faintly at his easygoing attitude. It was rare to find a noble who would ept such words from a subordinate like this. Especially so if it was someone in power like Johan. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????¡¯ Suetlg was disgusted by Caenerna¡¯s hobby. He had guessed that she had sadistic tendencies, but he didn¡¯t think she would really be like that. ¡°I thought we coulde up with a reasonable excuse. Like he was in cahoots with the pagans. . .¡± Since it seemed realistic, Johan¡¯s joke didn¡¯t sound like a joke. ¡°Regardless of how usible it sounds, the people from the north would be anxious if they saw something like that. It doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Shall we steal it?¡± Caenerna looked around without realizing it. Fortunately, there was no one around, as if to protect the count¡¯s honor. ¡°. . .That¡¯s even worse.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying we can¡¯t steal it either. You¡¯re asking too much.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the best way to just take it fair and square?¡± Caenerna spoke as if she didn¡¯t understand why they were worried about something like this. Johan asked back, dumbfounded. ¡°How is that any different from stealing it? Does it matter as long as our intentions are different?¡± ¡°. . .Our honorable Your Excellency the Count. I¡¯m talking about the joustingpetition right now.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Johan realized what Caenerna was talking about. In a joustingpetition, the winner gets the loser¡¯s weapon and horse. He could just win and rightfully take the opponent¡¯s belt. It was funny that Johan, the knight of knights, couldn¡¯t think of this and Caenerna, a wizard, did. . . ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good idea? We can just watch for the knight of the Lancingt family toe out and aim for him.¡± ¡°The knights of the Lancingt family will only participate in the team battle. They¡¯re probably going to go out with other knights from the north.¡± The team battle, where dozens to hundreds of people fought fiercely, was different from the tournament where they fought one-on-one. An enormous amount of dust rose up, and it was difficult to even distinguish between friend and foe. However, Johan didn¡¯t care much. Johan had participated in that melee in the east and had rushed into the emperor¡¯s army before anyone else. There was no reason for him to be scared of a mock battle like this now. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go out and take the belt.¡± ¡°This is ridiculous. . .¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to say the rest.¡± Johan cut off Suetlg. He didn¡¯t want to hear the wizard apologize for nothing. Suetlg nodded as if he was trying to say something. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the elf king be really happy?¡± ¡°. . .Hmm.¡± Johan¡¯s face contorted at Caenerna¡¯s mischievous words. ???????????? ¡°I knew it.¡± The elf king greeted Johan with an expression that said he knew everything. A knight like that was here, so how could a knight like Johan not participate and just stand by? This was too obvious. ¡®??????????????, ?? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Even though there was nothing to be wronged about, he felt a little wronged when he saw the elf king¡¯s expression. Johan spoke bluntly. ¡°Even so, it¡¯s too much for the host to participate in a one-on-one battle. I¡¯ll only participate in the team battle.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity. . . But even if you only participate in the team battle, it¡¯s enough! Everyone will wee you.¡± In fact, the elf king was not wrong. Of course, the hosts of joustingpetitions often did not participate. There was no need for the person who had to give prizes to the winners of thepetition and congratte them to get hurt or fall. However, that didn¡¯t mean that participating was wrong or disrespectful. Rather, it would be a joyous event that would excite the audience. Of course, the knights who had to face Johan directly might think differently. . . ¡°How happy will the knights from the north be? Despite the conflict between us, the count himself came out to face them.¡± ¡®????. ????????¡¯?? ??????????.¡¯ At the elf king¡¯s words, Johan realized an unexpected advantage. For those from the north, it would be a really happy thing. The count, who was the host, riding on a horse and facing them. This was a respect given to those with the same honor. ¡°I¡¯ve been preparing for how to form the battle formation. Bring it!¡± The elf king piled up paper as thick as his forearm. On it were drawn and written all sorts of tactics for when the team battle would take ce. Johan stuck out his tongue at the elf king¡¯s preparation. ¡°Count. Are you listening?¡± ¡°It seems like a really good idea.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s finish up here today. . .¡± ¡°No. No. No. It¡¯s not over yet. There¡¯s something we can use here. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Chapter 277: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (6) Chapter 277: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (6) The Elf King was quite a talkative man when it came to things he liked. And the group battles that took ce in the tournament were events the Elf King could not help but love. Horses and over a dozen knights moved across the wide ins, shing against each other in group battles that were no different from actual battles. Aside from the fact that the weapons were not sharp, many people died. When the priests heard such things, they became disgusted, but for the knights, this was just an opportunity to prove their bravery. As the Elf King continued to talk, Johan inadvertently yawned. The Elf King asked with a shocked expression. ¡°Count. Surely you are not sleepy?¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s a misunderstanding. The air inside the tent is stuffy.¡± ¡°Ah. Is that so? Open the tent¡¯s door. It seems the Count is ufortable.¡± The Elf King gave an order with a face that had be cheerful again. The knights behind him bowed their heads as if they understood Johan¡¯s feelings, looking apologetic.???????????? ¡°Count Yeats is participating in the group battle!¡± The news that was quickly ryed by a northern knight heated up the fiefdom where the people from the north had gathered. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°I checked several times. They said it was definite!¡± ¡°Let us call the priests and give thanks to God! Give thanks for this honorable battle!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The priest next to the knight was able to endure without cursing because he had deep self-control. Prayers to God were not supposed to be for things like this. Nevertheless, the knights were so excited and enthusiastic that they kept shouting and throwing their sses. A formidable opponent that they had not even dared to expect had personally stepped up. Some knights were so happy that their eyes welled up with tears. He was still young, but no one ignored Count Yeats¡¯ fame as a knight. He had defeated monsters such as trolls, ogres, and basilisks in session, which were monsters that an average knight would gain fame for defeating just one. It was not just monsters. Sir Karamaf, who had defeated formidable knights in duels and wiped out noble families, and Emperor Cardirian of the Visalfurk family, who had never been defeated in any unfavorable battlefield, fell before Count Yeats¡¯ sword. The Count¡¯s fame was now zing like the sun. Among the feudal lords, there were many who were jealous of his fame and harbored grudges from defeats, but the knights were not. For the knights, it was an honor just to be able topete against him and win! If the Count fought against the people from the north, it was something to be truly thankful for. Normally, it was something they would not have expected. He was also the host, but he fought so fiercely. . . However, seeing him step up like this, it was clear that the young Count was trying to generously step forward to let go of grudges and uphold the honor and bravery of knights. ¡°Isn¡¯t it time for this now!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± In group battles, it wasmon for knights and families who were on good terms to form teams. In this situation, the knights from the north and their friends, and the other knights and their friends could not help but be separated. Naturally, Count Yeats would be on thetter side, so the knights from the north could face Count Yeats in battle. ¡°You take the Elf King.¡± ¡°What?! Didn¡¯t you say you would take him?!¡± ¡°What nonsense are you saying. . . Keep your promise!¡± Originally, they had fiercely fought over ¡®?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ????????¡¯ because the Elf King was considered the most honorable opponent. It seemed like they hade to a conclusion, but the priority changed again because of Count Yeats. Someone had to act as bait and someone had to face the other knights. Even if they were defeated in one blow, everyone wanted to face the most famous knight. ¡°Since things havee to this, let us leave it to God¡¯s will.¡± ¡°That is a good idea.¡± ¡°Priest! Pleasee here.¡± ¡°?¡± The priest, who had been waiting while sighing, ran over, curious about the knights¡¯ call. ¡¯???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???? ???? ???????????¡¯ ¡°Why did you call me, Sir Knight?¡± ¡°Please choose who among us should face Count Yeats so that God will be most pleased!¡± ¡°. . .The name of God is not to be used in such ces. Sir Knight.¡± ¡°Ah. Don¡¯t be so uptight. Come on! Choose!¡± ¡®???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ??????????! ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????!¡¯ The priest cursed inwardly. Count Yeats over there had such strong faith that he had faith-filled conversations with the priests around him every week, but he had to preach to these barbarians. But what could he do? The knights were asking him to choose. The priest had no choice but to make lots on the spot. ¡°Oh, God! God has guided my hand!¡± ¡°Damn it! Is it because I didn¡¯t pray? My luck really is terrible!¡± The lucky knights could not hold back theirughter and chatted. As they had been chosen to face Count Yeats, they needed to coordinate with each other. ¡°I have never seen your crest before. Who are you from?¡± ¡°I am from the Darove family. My name is not worth mentioning yet.¡± ¡°You came here to gain honor. Don¡¯t worry. Once the battle is over, the honor of those here willst forever.¡± The knights from the north were curious about the unfamiliar face, but they did not pay too much attention to it. Since many people participated in the tournament, this sort of thing was normal. Knights who had been disowned by their families and participated with their faces hidden, mercenary knights who were confident in their fighting skills and participated to aim for the knights¡¯ weapons and ransom. . . Knights who had not made a name for themselves anywhere also participated. For knights without any fame, it was not particrly strange to hide their names. They only needed to know which family they were from. ¡°The Darove family? Was there such a knight?¡± ¡°Judging by the crest on the g, it seems to be the Darove family.¡± Some of the knights were slightly suspicious, but their interest quickly faded. The incident they were currently facing was too serious to be suspicious of a minor knight family in the north. ???????????? The one who disyed his prowess the most in the one-on-one battles was, of course, the Elf King. The Elf King, who had defeated many knights even after throwing away the treasures of the elves, shouted arrogantly in front of the knights from the north. The knights from the north gritted their teeth, but there was no one who seemed to be able to break the Elf King¡¯s momentum. However, a surprising opponent appeared. A knight appeared with his face hidden by a helmet and a ck g instead of his family¡¯s g. The Elf King shouted as if he could not believe it. ¡°You are not honorable! Can you not even say the name of your family?¡± ¡°I cannot reveal my family¡¯s name due to circumstances. If you defeat me, I will tell you the name of my family!¡± The Elf King seemed excited rather than angry at the opponent¡¯s shout. He immediately pulled out his spear and shouted for him to charge. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Well? Isn¡¯t he one of the knights from the north?¡± ¡°He looks strangely familiar?¡± Caenerna tilted her head. It was not umon for unknown people to participate in the one-on-one battles, but that masked knight seemed far from those people. A solidly built warhorse, crude but seemingly made by dwarves, and confidence that did not waver even against the Elf King. He was definitely a fairly famous knight. The Elf King and the masked knight charged five times. Each time they charged, they fiercely shed against each other, and when the spears they were holding broke, the two immediately drew their swords. And luck favored the masked knight. The Elf King¡¯s feet touched the ground first as his horse stumbled. ¡°Damn it! God must be jealous of me!¡± The Elf King surrendered cleanly and stepped back. Apuse andughter erupted from the audience. It was something the priests would have hated, but the Elf King was popr among the people. The knights from the north looked at the masked knight with expressions that were a mixture of gratitude for defeating the Elf King and confusion because they did not know who he was. ¡°Who is that person?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Wasn¡¯t he next to your tent? Who did you bring as a servant?¡± In the meantime, the herald blew a trumpet to call for the next challenger. However, the Elf King had already defeated several formidable knights, so an opponent did not appear easily. ¡°The victor has been decided!¡± The masked knight stood in front with apuse. Iselia whispered in a curious voice. ¡°How about asking him to take off his helmet?¡± It was possible to ask him to take off his helmet as a sign of respect to the host. However, Johan shook his head. Iselia blushed as if she was embarrassed. ¡°You¡¯re right. We have to protect the knight¡¯s honor.¡± ¡°No. . . I¡¯m not really interested. Is there a reason I need to know my opponent?¡± Johan had a rough idea of who his opponent was. He must be from one of the feudal lord families in the north. He must have hidden his face and family because it could be dangerous for his life if he attended too openly. If that was the case, there was no need to force him to reveal it. Wouldn¡¯t it be considered showing him kindness? The audience shouted for the knight to take off his helmet in front of the Count, but Johan ignored them and awarded him the honorable wreath. The winner of the tournament had the right to give this wreath to whoever they wanted. It was a truly honorable right. ¡°. . .?¡± Johan was momentarily flustered. The knight had given him the wreath. The knight spoke in a low voice. ¡°I give this wreath to the most honorable Count in the Empire.¡± ¡°. . .Thank you. I will gratefully ept your kind gesture.¡± The knight bowed his head and slowly stepped back. It was normally given to lovers or one¡¯s lord, but he gave it to Johan. ¡®?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????¡¯ ¡°Isn¡¯t this a confession of love?¡± When Caenerna said that, Johan replied as if he could not believe it. ¡°It seems like you have heard too many love poems.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have such thoughts if you looked next to you.¡± Johan turned his gaze to the side. Iselia was ring at the knight with a serious expression. ¡°!¡± If he was trying to serve him as his lord, it would not have been a big problem. However, if it was a confession of love, its meaning was different. Iselia did not care much because she thought that Johan could sleep with anyone he wanted, but if Iselia was sitting next to him, giving him the wreath in such a way was not much different from proposing a duel. The elf was not one to remain still after receiving such a proposal. Suetlg shook her head and med Caenerna for being mischievous. ¡°Don¡¯t say strange things. He must have given it to Your Excellency Count out of respect. Iselia-gong. You don¡¯t have to think useless thoughts.¡± ¡®???????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????¡¯ Caenerna tried to ask, but she held back. Unlike Johan, Iselia was not the type to joke around. ???????????? It had been a long time since Johan rode a normal horse. Furthermore, his armor was armor without any enchantments. Of course, that did not mean he was wearing low-quality items. The horse was the finest warhorse in the south, and the armor was armor that the dwarves had personally offered. The Elf King¡¯s strategy was simple but effective. ©¥???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ????, ?? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????????????? ????????! Surrounding them while moving seemed simple in words, but doing it on a chaotic battlefield filled with dust required excellent skill. And the Elf King was someone who possessed such skill. That was why Johan had agreed to the Elf King¡¯s strategy. He could not think of a better method than that. ¡°. . .??¡± ¡°No way. . .?¡± The knights who were with Johan were flustered and lost for words. The number of enemy knights charging from the front was far greater than expected. ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ?????¡¯ ¡°These despicable b*stards! Didn¡¯t you say you would take the right nk?!¡± ¡°I only lost my way by mistake! We have to move together now that things havee to this!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was also lost for words. He had not expected the enemies to abandon the strategy and victory of the tournament and aim for Johan alone like this. ¡°Your Excellency! We will protect Your Excellency!¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The knights shouted fiercely. They were at a disadvantage in numbers, but their spirits were not crushed. They were determined to never retreat until reinforcements arrived. However, they soon realized that their thoughts were wrong. ¡°. . .!!¡± The young Count was knocking down knights left and right with his blunt sword. Chapter 278: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (7) Chapter 278: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (7) !!!¡± A blunt mace might not possess the power to cut through armor and sever windpipes like a sharp ck dagger, but it was still a lethal weapon due to its hefty weight. However, the advancing knights were not lightly armed either, so they simply ignored it. Unlike the mercenaries who could only afford cheap equipment, the heavily armored knights were not easily brought down by such an ambiguous weapon. If they were caught off guard and took a direct hit, who knew what might happen? After all, the knights were not only masters of horsemanship but also veterans of closebat. However, thatmon knowledge was being shattered today. ¡°Kuuk!¡± With a cracking sound, a knight fell off his horse and rolled on the ground. Despite clearly blocking Count Yeats¡¯ sword with his shield, he was sent flying as if he had been struck by a giant. Surrounded, and on horseback, Count Yeats did not employ anyplicated techniques. He simply swung his sword at the opponents who rushed at him while he sat on his horse.That alone was enough to knock several knights off their feet. The knights who tried to receive the blow with their shields and somehow counterattack were sent flying backward like dust. ¡°Watch out! The count is not human!¡± The fallen knights groaned and shouted. No matter how strong a knight was, they thought they couldnd a blow if they received it with their shield, but now they realized how ridiculous that idea was. ¡°Those who have fallen from their horses, retreat!¡± ¡°Do as you¡¯re told, you fool!¡± The fallen knights were enraged by the attitude of the knights from other families. They had offered advice, prepared to have their honor tarnished, but they were taken aback by such tant disregard. However, there was nothing they could do. Knights were generally overly brave, and they were the kind of people who would not doubt victory until they were directly hit, even if they saw theirrades flying through the air. Only after about ten of the most foolish and rash ones fell from their horses did the knights hesitate. ¡°. . .?!¡± As those who were charging in front stopped, there was a brief lull in the surroundings. Only then did those who had regained their senses recall the shouts of the fallen knights. ¡°There¡¯s no chance of winning in a one-on-one fight! Let¡¯s attack together!¡± ¡°But. . .¡± ¡°If all the knights from the north are defeated like this, it will be even more disgraceful!¡± They wanted to fight one-on-one, and as knights, that was what they should have done. It was not something a knight could be proud of if many of them defeated one person. However, the fearsome momentum that the count had shown earlier made the knights unite. Even if they were criticized for being dishonorable, they would definitely knock the count off his horse! ¡®?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????¡¯ Johan was taken aback. It was strange enough that the knights were charging at the center like crazy b*stards, but now, the guys who used to say, ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????????????? ??????-????-?????? ?? ????????????¡¯?? ???????????¡¯ were trying to attack him all at once. Of course, the northerners might dislike Johan a little for defeating the emperor and forcing the army to retreat, but wasn¡¯t this a bit too much? He hadn¡¯t even harmed the knights directly. . . Johan still did not fully understand how much honor was at stake for him. It was enough honor to be taken down by a joint attack. ¡°Surround the count!¡± ¡°Your Excellency Count, please forgive me!¡± ¡°What are you babbling about?¡± Johan¡¯s rebuke made the knight look ashamed. It was a mistake. Johan knocked the knight sideways with lightning speed, clearing a path. Having spent so much time with the centaurs, Johan¡¯s horsemanship had also transformed, bing like that of a nomad. With the strength of his thighs, he managed to hold on incredibly as he knocked off the charging knights from their horses, and before he knew it, Johan had broken through the knights and emerged outside. The faces of the pursuing knights turned red with humiliation and mortification inside their helmets. They had given up their honor and charged in with the intention of winning at least once, but they couldn¡¯t even catch one person. ¡°What the hell. . .¡± Johan, who was trying to lure a dozen or so knights behind him, looked ahead and cursed. A simr number of knights as those who had just charged at him were blocking the way ahead. ¡°Your Excellency Count. Please forgive me for the dishonor!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± At that moment, a familiar face appeared among the knights. It was the masked knight who had been so active in the one-on-one fights. ¡°?¡± The masked knight stepped forward. It seemed like he was trying to ask for a one-on-one fight. Everyone cheered and cheered him on. ¡°Be careful, nameless knight! The count¡¯s brute strength is enough to break even a demon¡¯s horn!¡± ¡°Never get close enough to him to cross swords!¡± Johan briefly regretted showing mercy to the northerners. The guys who usually loved honor were strangely making exceptions only in front of Johan and acting cowardly. The masked knight seemed to feel it too. The masked knight turned his horse¡¯s head and stood on Johan¡¯s side. ¡°. . .??¡± ¡°Ah, no. . .?¡± The knights exchanged bewildered nces. The masked knight spoke in a low voice. ¡°Aren¡¯t you ashamed to have so many people fight one person as knights?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The knights fell silent as if cold water had been poured on them. Johan was taken aback. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????? ?????¡¯ Come to think of it, Johan had never told them to act honorably. He had simply knocked off those who charged at him without discrimination. ¡°We know that we arecking in facing a knight like the count. We know that it is shameful to have so many people fight one person, but there are exceptions to everything in the world. Your Excellency Count is such an opponent! I will proudly tell the story of today no matter which court from the west to the east invites me. I fought Count Yeats with other knights shoulder to shoulder!¡± ¡°Thene!¡± The masked knight dered, sensing that his opponent had a point. Johan was amazed that he didn¡¯t try to persuade him any further. It wasn¡¯t like Johan could persuade him here either. . . Another melee ensued. Some of the knights, feeling that the masked knight¡¯s words were reasonable, defected or turned to Johan¡¯s side, but the number of knights remaining was still considerable. However, it was much easier than before. Led by the masked knight, they formed a shield wall, desperately blocking those who approached Johan. ¡°Glory to you, Your Excellency Count!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan no longer responded and struck down the knight. The knight who tried to stab Johan with an endless spear fell off his horse, iling. ¡®???????? ???? ?????¡¯ Johan felt a chill run down his neck. It was a murderous intent qualitatively different from the hostility mixed with the knights¡¯ fighting spirit. The spirits that Johanmanded were whispering danger from within. ¡°Count! What are you doing?!¡± When Johan stopped moving and looked around, the masked knight urged him in a flustered voice. It was inevitable to be flustered when someone who had been fighting well suddenly stopped. ¡®????, ????, ????. . .¡¯ There were so many people that it was hard to find out who it was. From the knights on horseback to those who had fallen under the horses, the air was filled with dust, heat, and noise. Johan realized not with his instincts but with his reason. It was the knight who was walking towards Johan now. If he had fallen from his horse, there was no reason for him to approach Johan. He should have gone outside the arena as soon as possible and changed horses. ¡®?? ?????? ????????????????!¡¯ Johan med himself. This kind of ce was a good ce for someone to assassinate him. If Johan had been an assassin, he would have this kind of ce. Of course, even if he knew, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to bring a weapon. . . ??????! Something shed as the opposing knight swung his hand. Blood spurted out, and the knight had a triumphant look in his eyes. However, it wasn¡¯t Johan¡¯s blood. It was the horse Johan was riding that was bleeding. ¡°?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s an assassination!¡± Johan shouted that and threw the sword he was holding and tried to pull out the belt. It was to attack right after the opponent dodged. However, there was no need for that. The knight who had been hit in the chest with the hilt of the sword that Johan was holding vomited blood and copsed as if he was crumbling. He had thrown it too hard. ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an assassin! Your Excellency Count has been attacked!!!¡± The knight next to him eximed in surprise. At that shout, the other knights who were fighting stopped their swords in shock. ¡°Who dares?!¡± At first, the knights didn¡¯t believe it was an assassin. They thought that one of the dishonorable knight dastards had lost his temper and attacked Johan, who had fallen from his horse. However, the fallen assassin had various daggers, starting with a sharp dagger. The faces of the gathered knights turned serious. This was not something they could just let go of. ¡°He¡¯s a knight from the Darove family!¡± ¡°!!¡± Some knights¡¯ faces turned pale when they heard that it was one of the northern knight families. They came from a family that had several exchanges with the Darove family. ¡°Surrender, you cowards! How dare you give up the fight and resort to a dastardly n?!¡± The elf king, who hadpleted the encirclement just in time, approached, shouting. One of the knights rode his horse to the elf king and exined the situation. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Something big has happened. What should we do. . .¡± Ignoring the knight who was speaking, the elf king shouted coldly. ¡°Tie up this knight dastard!¡± ¡°Your Majesty?!¡± ¡°Arrest all the northerners! How dare you act like this after forgetting the mercy you received, you cowardly cowards? You can kill anyone who doesn¡¯t fall from their horse!¡± The elf king dered ominously that he would kill anyone who did not fall from their horse. Originally, these knights would not have obeyed even if they died for such rudeness, but the situation being what it was, they ended up falling from their horses. To them, the appearance of an assassin was too unexpected. It was Johan who stopped the elf king from dragging them away with a rope. ¡°Don¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°No. . . count. Look! Those son of b*tches!¡± It wasn¡¯t a particrly mean face, but the knights had nothing to say even if they had ten mouths. It was true that many of them had tried to attack the count. ¡°Some of those guys must have joined hands with the assassin.¡± Not only was Johan almost assassinated, but the elf king was extremely angry that the group battle had been insulted. It was the first time he had seen the elf king so angry. His ears were standing up straight, and the glint in his eyes was amazing. But Johan was calm. Of course, it was a bit absurd that the northern knight dastards had thrown away their honor and tried to attack him together, but that was one thing and this was another. He was moved to tears by the northerners for opening a group battle, and there was no need to break it up. ¡°Even so, there must be honorable knights. Let¡¯s let them walk away on their own feet instead of tying them up with ropes.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The elf king had a knack for swearing with his eyes. The northern knights had to endure that contempt. Nevertheless, Johan did not take away the knights¡¯ horses and politely let them leave the arena. The knights were grateful for the kindness, even though they were ashamed of the way they had acted before. ???????????? The awakened assassin confessed his identity without even being tortured. He had a surprisingly insignificant identity. He was one of the believers who had a deep animosity towards the order. As happenedst time, Johan, who had the order¡¯s backing, was bound to be a target for assassins from such. Johan wasn¡¯t particrly afraid. He had received direct instruction from an assassin who was more than these people. ¡°He is a believer in a god named Nahra, who worships shadows and blood.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a pagan from the east?!¡± ¡°No, it has roots in the east, but in fact it doesn¡¯t really matter. . .¡± Having seen the Nahra-worshipping faith, Johan exined to the elf king the story he had heard from Suetlg. Although its roots were in the east, it hade over so long ago that the Nahra faith was no longer visible there, and in fact, it should be seen as a separate faith in the Empire. ¡°But it¡¯s true that he came from the east, right?¡± ¡°. . .Yes.¡± ¡°Then it must have been sent by the easterners!¡± ¡°No.¡± Johan was at a loss for words at the absurd logic and tried to persuade him again. However, the elf king stubbornly tried to persuade him back. ¡°Count. Think about it. The count¡¯s fame must have reached the east as well. Why would they have captured the count¡¯s ship?¡± ¡°No, how does Your Majesty know that. . .?¡± ¡°This series of moves is clearly all connected. I can tell! My heart is telling me!¡± Chapter 279: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (8) Chapter 279: ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? (8) Johan was speechless at the sight of the elf king, who imed to have heard the whisperings of his heart. How could he argue with a heart¡¯s whisperings? ¡°I see. . .¡± In fact, Johan realized that he didn¡¯t need to convince the elf king of his innocence. The elf king wasn¡¯t suspicious of Johan, but rather the pagans far to the east. Johan couldn¡¯t care less if the elf king spent his nights worrying about the pagans to the east. ¡°Your Majesty, you may have a point.¡± ¡°Finally, the count listens to reason!¡± The elf king rejoiced like a boy. He had been frustrated by Johan¡¯s resistance. ¡°The count is too lenient. However, there are times when one must show the ferocity of a beast. Otherwise, these vermin will continue to swarm.¡±¡°?¡± ¡°???¡± Suetlg, who stood nearby, and Gerdolf, who was escorting Suetlg, were puzzled. ¡®??????????????. . .?????¡¯ Of course, Johan was known to be quite lenient among the feudal lords, but it didn¡¯t seem like the elf king was referring to that. ¡°Let me execute that man personally, as a lesson to those plotting against you.¡± ¡°If you wish.¡± Johan readily yielded. There were nobles who relished the opportunity to personally behead someone, but Johan wasn¡¯t particrly obsessed with such things. He saw no reason to get emotional over every single assassin. The elf king nodded with delight at the offer to oversee an execution in someone else¡¯s fiefdom. This gesture alone spoke volumes about the trust they had in each other. ¡°I¡¯ll execute the men from the North as well.¡± ¡°No, that won¡¯t do.¡± Johan drew the line. He didn¡¯t care how the assassins were executed, but the moment he started killing knights from the North, Johan knew he would be creating a new and bitter grudge. Cardirian had already shown what could happen when one swung their sword indiscriminately. Johan had no desire to be another one of those fools. ¡®????¡¯???? ?????????????? ?? ??????????, ??????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ??????.¡¯ ¡°But. . . those men tried to kill the count! Surely there are others involved!¡± The elf king protested, his voice filled with indignation. It wasn¡¯t that the elf king was ignorant of the political situation. He meant to sort out right from wrong, even with that in mind. What was there to fear, even if the Northmen hurled insults and curses? If one had a clear conscience, that was enough. However, Johan would rather let the Northmen nurse their grudge than search for potential conspirators who might not even exist. He knew better than anyone that such favors, though often overlooked due to their intangible nature, would eventually be returned. The elf king tried to sway Johan¡¯s decision by weaving fabrications and nders about the various underhanded tactics employed by the northern knights, but he could not change Johan¡¯s mind once it was set. ???????????? The northern knights were escorted to their tents, stripped of their weapons, armor, and horses, but their spirits were low. Anyone with a head on their shoulders could tell what their current situation was, even if they didn¡¯t use their helmets as makeshift pillows. The first to make a move was the masked knight. The masked knight removed his helmet, aware of the gazes upon him. ¡°Biorarn-gong!¡± The northern knights were shocked when Cardirian¡¯s third son revealed himself. They had guessed that he was not a knight from an ordinary family, but they hadn¡¯t expected him to be the emperor¡¯s son. It made sense for Biorarn of the Visalfurk family to conceal his lineage. Given the emperor¡¯s recent acts of sphemy, he could have chosen to participate anonymously in order to atone for his family¡¯s sins. Under normal circumstances, they would have shown respect and camaraderie to someone of noble blood, but. . . ¡°. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± The atmosphere was tense and silent. The northern knights exchanged nces, realizing they shared simr thoughts. ¡®?????????? ????????. . . ???????????? ???? ???? ???????????? ???????¡¯ Ordinarily, as fellow knights from the North, it was a matter of knightly honor to trust theirrade until he confessed, even if he had indeed hired assassins. However, this time it was different. It was too much of a coincidence that Cardirian¡¯s son had participated while concealing his identity. He couldn¡¯t be unaware of everyone¡¯s thoughts. Biorarn spoke, growling like a wounded beast. ¡°I swear on my honor as a knight and a member of my family that I had absolutely no part in this cowardly plot!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Sometimes, silence could be more insulting than any rebuttal. Biorarn seized the nearest knight by the cor. ¡°Speak your mind, man!¡± ¡°Let go of me! Your Excellency, do you think this behavior is honorable?¡± ¡°You lot ganged up on the count, and you dare to speak of honor?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s better than a knight who hides his face and lineage!¡± Someone shouted. Biorarn¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot with fury. ¡°Come out! Who said that!¡± But the more he reacted this way, the worse the situation became. The northern knights looked at Biorarn with eyes full of bewilderment and suspicion. Even the knights who respected Biorarn¡¯s honor were pressured by the atmosphere and couldn¡¯t speak up. ¡°Gentlemen. . .should we returnter if you¡¯re in the middle of a discussion?¡± The ve in charge of delivering messages, Geoffrey, asked curiously, sensing the tense atmosphere inside. The murderous tension was such that it felt like a duel was about to break out. ¡°No. Have you a message from His Excellency Count?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Speak. I shall listen.¡± ¡°His Excellency Count respects your honor. He wishes you to know that he regrets this situation.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± This was a customary statement. It wasmon to express regret no matter who was being executed or imprisoned. Even Cardirian had expressed regret before beheading the feudal lords. ¡°His Excellency Count apologizes for the abrupt end to the honorable tournament.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Now that the message has been delivered, you may return to your barracks.¡± ¡°. . .????¡± One of the knights stood up in bewilderment. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°A. . . Are we really allowed to leave?¡± ¡°Do you. . . have anything else to say?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we find the mastermind behind the assassination attempt?¡± Geoffrey looked at the knight with disbelief. To put it bluntly, his gaze seemed to say, ¡®??????¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ??????????, ??????????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????????¡¯ It was as if the rat was expressing concern for the cat, and the knight, realizing this, turned red in the face. ¡°We found the mastermind. The assassin confessed.¡± ¡°Who is it?!¡± ¡°He said it was a pagan from the east.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Did someone else hire him. . .?¡± ¡°Enough. Please.¡± One of the older knights silenced the knight who was about to ask a tactless question. There was nothing good that coulde from prying further. If the count showed mercy and let them go, they would leave gratefully. If they foolishly insisted, ¡®????, ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????,¡¯ even the count would be baffled. They weren¡¯t asking to be killed together. . . ¡°Please convey our gratitude to His Excellency Count.¡± ¡°Yes, I shall.¡± As Geoffrey left, the tension in the tent dissipated like a loosened string. Several knights let out sighs of relief. Things had been resolved much more peacefully than they had expected. ¡°Did someone else hire him? Have you ever seen such a fool of a knight? What did you think you would aplish by asking that?¡± ¡°My apologies, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so harsh. Sir, didn¡¯t it turn out well?¡± ¡°If not for the count¡¯s generosity, many would have died.¡± The knights, who had been engaged in a friendly conversation, suddenly felt someone¡¯s gaze and looked up. Biorarn was ring at them like a predator. ¡°. . . . . .¡± The atmosphere had calmed down somewhat, but none of the knights stepped forward to apologize to Biorarn. The knights hadn¡¯tpletely let go of their suspicions in the first ce. ¡°Then I shall take my leave.¡± ¡°I too. . .¡± As the knights turned to leave, a few who were close to Biorarn patted him on the shoulder in constion. Biorarn hung his head in humiliation. ???????????? Although the tournament had ended somewhat ambiguously, the banquet was held as promised. The crowd that had gathered to watch quickly forgot their troubles and became drunk, chanting Johan¡¯s name. The mountains of food and the rivers of alcohol were enough to satisfy the excited spectators. While feasts were held all over the vast tournament grounds, a special banquet was held in the center for those who had distinguished themselves. Knights who had performed exceptionally well and knights from renowned families were in attendance. The elf king kept ncing at Biorarn, his eyebrows furrowed. It was obvious that he was looking at Biorarn after every sip of wine. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± ¡°. . .I said nothing.¡± ¡°How about you praise the outstanding knights?¡± Only after Johan said this did the elf king look away. The knights whose eyes met his bowed their heads respectfully. The elf king was a terrible lord, but he was a splendid knight. ¡°However. . . there¡¯s no one worthy of praise. . .¡± ¡°. . .What are you talking about?¡± Johan was shocked to realize that the elf king was being serious. Come on, really? ¡°Look, count. They didn¡¯t exactly cover themselves in glory during the tournament.¡± ¡°Leave those men out of it. Didn¡¯t Biorarn-gong act quite honorably?¡± ¡°That suspicious man?! I should have him interrogated, honestly!¡± ¡°That¡¯s water under the bridge.¡± The knights who were attending the banquet were intrigued by the whispered conversation between Johan and the elf king. They were quite curious about what the two were talking about. ¡°I am honored to be here, Your Excellency Count. I have participated in many tournaments, but none have been as joyous and honorable as this one.¡± An old knight from the North said, and the other knights nodded in agreement. As the saying goes, one good turn deserves another. If Johan had shown mercy, the northern knights had to offer at least a polite toast. The elf king muttered under his breath, ¡¯??????????????. . .¡¯ but fortunately, it was too noisy and far away to be heard. ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± ¡°May His Excellency Count be blessed by God!¡± ¡°May His Excellency Count be blessed by God!¡± After the cheerful toasts, a tipsy noble stood up. Johan was about to take a sip of wine when he recognized the man¡¯s face and paused. It was the Casten of Vipen, famous for his sermons. ¡®???? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????¡¯ However, Johan didn¡¯t mind if the knights were annoyed by a sermon. In fact, it was rather amusing. Johan didn¡¯t stop him and let him continue. ¡°Everyone! I am here today to denounce the atrocities of the pagans!¡± ¡°. . .?¡± The knights turned their heads at the unexpectedly passionate sermon. Encouraged by the attention, the casten continued his speech with vigor. ¡°You are all aware of the recent events. The pagans dared to seize all of His Excellency Count¡¯s ships and confiscate his wealth!¡± The knights, already quite drunk, shouted curses in excitement. Johan was slightly surprised that the fact that one of his merchant ships had been detained had been so greatly exaggerated and spread. ¡®????. . . ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????????????¡¯ Why on earth? ¡°If that was all, they could simply be dismissed as greedy vermin. But they even sent assassins. What does this mean?¡± ¡°Damn them!¡± ¡°Yes! Damn them! May God curse them!¡± ¡®. . .?????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????????? ????????????.¡¯ Contrary to his expectations, the sermon was progressing enjoyably. This wasn¡¯t so bad either. After all, the visiting knights would be able to return home having been treated very hospitably. ¡°. . .I swear!¡± One of the knights jumped up from his seat and overturned a table. He was clearly drunk. ¡°What do you swear?¡± ¡°I swear on my family and my honor that I will punish the cowards of the East and make them kneel before me. Thus shall I clear my name of suspicion and restore my honor! By fulfilling this sacred oath, I shall reim my family¡¯s faith!¡± The knight who had shouted was Biorarn. The northern knights seemed genuinely impressed by his words. ¡°I apologize for my rudeness, Your Excellency! I too shall swear an oath. I will bring forth the cowards of the East who sent the assassins!¡± Chapter 280: ?????? ???????? (1) Chapter 280: ?????? ???????? (1) Valor and honor have a tendency to spread like a contagion sometimes. Especially if intoxication is involved. As a few of the most intoxicated and glory-hungry northern knights began shouting about following Biorarn east, one by one, more rose. What the group had initially thought to be the drunken ramblings of knights was now starting to be taken seriously as the number of pledges grew. ¡°Good. I shall also go east. For faith and glory!¡± ¡°For faith and glory!¡± ¡®???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????¡¯ Johan was bewildered by how things were unfolding. Bewildered was probably an understatement as well. Knights who had been drinking happily suddenly decided to up and leave to the east to punish some lord who had wronged Johan¡¯s fleet? Johan was starting to wonder if they had all been poisoned by the beer and wine.Despite Johan¡¯s confusion though, the situation was now beyond the point of no return. The empowered position of the Order due to the long civil war in the Empire. The fervor for faith that had spread because of that. The desires to gain new glory and wealth in the resource-rich East. . . The knights who were joining the cause were not doing so for a single reason. It was the culmination of many things that had exploded to the surface due to Johan¡¯s assassination attempt and Biorarn. ¡®???? ?????? ???? ??¡¯?? ??????????????????. . . ????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan couldn¡¯tin about someone else deciding to fight his battles against those who had wronged him, as strange as it all was. While the knights hugged each other and shouted about honor and faith in their drunken stupor, Johan tried to realistically assess the situation. ¡®???? ???? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????¡¯ Eastern Expedition. Just the words alone would make some people¡¯s hearts race. Devout nobles, or knights, perhaps. Sometimes for pure religious reasons, sometimes for political reasons, and sometimes due to the schemes of certain conspirators, several Eastern Expeditions had taken ce. It had been almost a hundred years since thest one, but it wasn¡¯t an unrealistic n. In fact, the Eastern Expeditions had always achieved something each time they had been undertaken. There were still a few petty kingdoms in the east that had been founded by nobles from the Empire. ¡®???????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ????????, ????¡¯?? ???????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ The image of the East was often distorted and exaggerated. Johan had heard such things when he had been in Vynashchtym as well. That the Sultan¡¯snds were so vast the sun never set, or that he was so wealthy that he could fill a giant pce with gold. But after socializing with various people in Vynashchtym and hearing their stories, Johan had learned that the Eastern Empire was just another ce where people lived. While the vastness of theirnd did allow the feudal lords to field andmand armies that would shock those in the west, they were not asrge as the rumors and stories made them out to be. There were also many areas in the East that the Eastern Empire had no influence over. Various tribes and petty kingdoms would often even join hands with outsiders from the west to further their own interests. ¡®????¡¯?? ????????????????, ?? ??????????????. . .¡¯ Looking at it this way, it didn¡¯t seem impossible. All the group had to do was travel bynd or sea to the fiefdom of the usurper, conquer it, and return. Of course, Johan knew it wouldn¡¯t be that simple. ¡®??????????¡¯?? ?? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???? ??????????????????, ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? ???? ????????. . . ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????. ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan lifted his head. As he watched the knights continue to pledge themselves to the cause, he suddenly had a thought. ¡®???????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????¡¯ ???????????? In fact, the opposite happened. The pledges grew evenrger after the banquet was over. Knights who hadn¡¯t been able to attend the banquet directly rushed over after hearing the rumors and pledged to join. The priests were also greatly moved after hearing the news. They went around spreading the word and giving sermons about it. Even the debauched men who normally ran away at the sight of a priest stopped to listen to the exciting stories this time. Word of the event that had taken ce outside the tournament grounds spread far and wide before three days had even passed. ¡°An envoy from the Republic has arrived, your excellency!¡± ¡°. . .If he fails to manage his expression when he enters, I might end up cursing.¡± Johan said as he raised his head, having been in a meeting with the wizards and scribes. They had been discussing which route to take for the Eastern Expedition, where to aim for, and what the situation over there was like. Of course, for the Republic, the Eastern Expedition was something to be celebrated. It was good news for them in every way. Whether it was transporting their ships or selling them supplies, or even guiding them around the area. . . On top of all that, with the pagans in the East fighting amongst themselves, it would be easier for the Republic to sail the seas. Knowing all this, Johan couldn¡¯t help but feel annoyed that the envoy from the Republic would enter with a cheerful expression on his face. Fortunately, the envoy from the Republic was a tactful one. As soon as he entered, he eximed in a serious and mournful voice, ¡°How dare they send assassins after your excellency! That cowardly wretch shall never be forgiven! May he be cursed for the rest of his days!¡± ¡°Thank you. What brings you here?¡± ¡°For this Eastern Expedition, the Republic shall provide sailors. They are excellent fellows who know not only the Eden Sea, but also the more distant seas to the east. No matter what Your Excellency Count sets out to aplish, we shall aid you as old friends!¡± ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????????????????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ??????????.¡¯ Although he said it like that, it felt like he was asking him to fight the Eastern Empire. Johan chuckled. Well, if Johan was in his position, he would have done the same. . . ¡°I am moved to tears by the kindness of my old friend. We shall ept your aid gratefully.¡± ¡°Yes! Please call upon us whenever you wish. We shall move in ordance with your excellency¡¯s army and support it. Just as we have done many times before!¡± As soon as the envoy left, Suetlg and Caenerna spoke up. ¡°Surely you don¡¯t n on listening to that?¡± ¡°Your Excellency Count. You can¡¯t trust the people of the Republic. . .¡± ¡°Both of you can rx. I have no intention of listening to him.¡± Johan¡¯s words put not only the two wizards at ease, but the others as well. ¡°I have no intention of going east while fighting the Eastern Empire head-on. We can just take a different sea route. It might be a bit of a detour, but it¡¯s not like it¡¯s impossible.¡± Merchant ships from Johan¡¯s southern fiefdom were already sailing that sea route to the distant east, so there was no reason an army couldn¡¯t do the same. There was no need to go near the Eastern Empire¡¯s shores and pick a fight. ¡°But it¡¯s likely that quite a few knights will choose to go bynd.¡± Everyone nodded at Caenerna¡¯s words. Johan was a rational man who preferred to avoid unnecessary battles and advance quickly towards his goal, but not everyone was like that. The Empire, to the east, and further east. After passing through thends of the nomads, through Vynashchtym, and even through the Eastern Empire¡¯s territory, they would reach thends of the feudal lord who had stolen Johan¡¯s fleet. It was their destination, but the path itself had significance. Knights who had gone on Eastern Expeditions in the past had taken thisnd route. The priests even went so far as to call it a pilgrimage, so it was clear that quite a few knights would choose to take this path. ¡°And more than anything else, it¡¯ll be profitable.¡± Suetlg had a point as well. The fact that there was a lot to plunder along thatnd route was another advantage. For poor knights or mercenaries, it was an advantage that was hard to resist, since they were passing through the Eastern Empire. ¡°Do you intend to stop them?¡± ¡°It would be difficult to stop them, and I have no intention of doing so. Of course, those whock the ability will fall away along the way, but knights with their minds properly set will likely find their way to the destination on their own.¡± It was only natural that unskilled mercenaries and knights would fall away along the way. In any case, the main force that would be of use was a properly formed army, and those capable of leading such an army would have the ability to traverse the path. Rather than worrying about the others, Johan needed to focus on his own expedition first and foremost. ¡°The silver mine issue has been settled, and the dwarves are building the castle for us, so we should head south. We shall inspect the army at the fiefdom and set off once we¡¯re ready.¡± Everyone nodded at Johan¡¯s words. The fiefdom at the southern tip of Johan¡¯s penins was a transport hub that was not only good for trade, but also forunching expeditions. It would be more than enough to inspect the army and set off. ???????????? While there were those like Johan who were making rational preparations, there were also those who were making impulsive decisions. In fact, those people made up the vast majority. ¡°In my dream, God appeared before me and told me this! There is glory in the East! If you go east, all your sins will be forgiven, and you shall have everything you desire!¡± ¡°Ooooh. . .!¡± Quite a few people gathered to listen to the sermon of a mad monk. Normally, they were mercenaries who would ignore him and snicker, but given the circumstances, even the madman¡¯s words seemed convincing. ¡°Is what he¡¯s saying true?¡± ¡°It must be. All these feudal lords are going on an expedition to the East, so at the very least we¡¯ll be able to join them. Think about it. They say the easterners cover themselves in silk and bathe in bathtubs of gold while pouring perfume. How rich must they be? If we just conquer a single town. . .¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go east! To the east!¡± They set off without making any proper preparations. It was a sudden departure that no one had anticipated. They had quite arge group, but they were easily defeated. They were either picked off by rogues and monsters, or chased away by the feudal lord of the region after angering him. . . Thanks to that, the feudal lords in the East who heard the newsterughed at the foolish western barbarians. ¡°Master, ording to the merchant, the atmosphere is strange! Apparently there are as many knightsing this way as there are grains of sand on the riverbank. . .¡± ¡°Are you still falling for such wild rumors? How long has it been since the Empire fought us? Do you think they can go on an expedition like that so soon? No matter how greedy they are, it¡¯s impossible.¡± The feudal lord¡¯s words seemed reasonable, and the ve who had brought the news was rendered speechless. ¡°But there are indeed some fellows trying toe this way. . .?¡± ¡°You mean those fools who couldn¡¯t even make it across the ocean and sank to the bottom? If they do something like that a few more times, there won¡¯t be anyone left in the west. Don¡¯t worry! It seems they have a lot ofints because we took their ship, but soon they¡¯ll miss it so much they¡¯ll send another one. Where else are they going to get goods from?¡± Despite the various signs, the feudal lords in the East refused to ept it. In fact, even Johan, the person most directly involved, still found it absurd, so it was even harder for the feudal lords to believe. The people who had been fighting so fiercely not long ago wereing all the way to the distant east once more, spears in hand! ???????????? ¡°This ce changes every time I see it.¡± Iselia nodded happily at Johan¡¯s words. Even if he had all the fiefdoms in the world, the Coolia County held special significance for him. Many merchants had been invited and given special privileges, so the port was thriving,parable to any other. ¡°Your Excellency Count!¡± Scribes rushed over after hearing the news. The count¡¯s return, leading his army from afar, was already the talk of the town. ¡°You¡¯ve all worked hard.¡± ¡°No! If it weren¡¯t for the kindness Your Excellency Count has shown us, how could we have aplished such a thing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s also wrong to be too humble. Calm down and stand up.¡± The scribes who stood up after getting off the floor noticed something strange about the army behind them and looked puzzled. They were familiar with Johan¡¯s personal guard, the veteran mercenaries and nomads. However, on one side, there was a group of mercenaries lined up in a gloomy atmosphere, as if they were prisoners. Not only were they unarmed, but they were also being watched, making them look more like prisoners than mercenaries. ¡°But Your Excellency Count. Who are they?¡± ¡°Ah. Those are mercenaries whomitted crimes.¡± ¡°Is that so? Shall we prepare a new tent to confine them?¡± Given the number of people, it would have been better to prepare separate barracks outside the city. However, Johan shook his head. ¡°They shall wash away their sins withbor.¡± Chapter 281: ?????? ???????? (2) Chapter 281: ?????? ???????? (2) ¡°Ah. Are they ves?¡± The scribes wondered if they were ves. It had been a long-standing custom to sell those convicted of serious crimes into very. There did seem to be quite arge number of them, but it wasn¡¯t that unusual to see this many ves gathered at times. Perhaps they had caught some rogues or pirates somewhere. ¡°No, they¡¯re not ves, but rather mercenaries convicted of crimes. . . oh well, you might as well think of them as ves. They¡¯ll be doing simr work anyway.¡± Johan permitted them to think of the men as ves, as exining further was tiresome to him. In any case, the work would beparable. The mercenary captains who had schemed to undermine the Casten of Vipen out of resentment for not hiring them were captured without chance of escape. They had severely underestimated Johan from the start. He was the sort of man who could overlook even an assassin targeting him if it didn¡¯t profit him to engage. No one so easily swayed by the impulse to seize a silver mine would rashly take the bait. Instead of harsh interrogations, Johan elicited confessions from the mercenary captains with only a few questions and some persuasion. ©¥????????¡¯?? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????©¥????!! ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????? ????, ???????? ????????????????????!! ©¥????????¡¯?? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????? ©¥????!! ???????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ????, ???????? ????????????????????!! ©¥?? ??????, ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????????. ©¥. . . . . . Faced with the choice between the gallows or being sold into very, none of the mercenary captains dared defiance. They desperately pleaded for the chance to loyally serve with their lives if given the opportunity to volunteer their services. And so they ended up dragged south like this. ¡°God from above! We didn¡¯t expect to be hauled off to these beastly southerners¡¯ir!¡± ¡°Watch your mouth, you fool. Can you still see this ce as part of the Empire?¡± Most of the Empire mercenaries had spent their whole lives in the Empire, so the much more southern penins was overwhelmingly unfamiliar. Moreover, they weren¡¯t brought here for any happy reasons. . . One captain of a squad of ten, a bit smarter than the rest, cautioned the other mercenaries about their situation which he grasped well. ¡°Damn it all! Can¡¯t we evenin a little? Don¡¯t you feel dissatisfied too, Captain?¡± ¡°Swallow yourints, idiot. This ce isn¡¯t like the Empire. Don¡¯t be surprised if a passing noble has you strung up then and there.¡± It might sound somewhat odd to say a noble couldn¡¯t arbitrarily hang people in the Empire, but it wasn¡¯t inurate. Of course, judging by status alone, even the lowliest noble was iparably more honorable than a mere mercenary. But that didn¡¯t mean nobles could freely take mercenaries¡¯ heads at will. Laws and conventions in the Empire, as insignificant as they might look, weren¡¯t so easily dismissed by nobles either. Punishing a mercenary without cause could stir discontent among other mercenaries, offer ater pretext against the noble, and bring about other annoying troubles. Unjustified action was ill-advised. However, this was not Imperialnd, and the native mercenaries were unlikely to band together over wronged outsiders. Let alone the fact that theirmander, the Count, hardly cherished them so dearly either. They would have to be several times more cautious in their conduct here. ¡°For goodness sake, watch your mouth properly! If you cause trouble, I¡¯m more likely to get a whipping right alongside you!¡± ¡°Y-Yes, I understand!¡± ¡°. . .Well, at least the weather here isn¡¯t too bad.¡± The mercenaries tried hard to look on the bright side to forget they were dragged here against their will. If they overlooked that fact, the fief had quite a few advantages after all. The climate and scenery weren¡¯t poor, and the exceptionally prosperous port meant they could obtain all kinds of desirable things. Mercenaries lived to squander their hard-earned money on their days off, after all. ¡°This way! Come this way!¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to cut into this hill and turn it into tnd.¡± ¡°F*ck. . .¡± Swearing and cursing, the mercenaries picked up their shovels and mattocks. They couldn¡¯t help wishing they were already out on expedition instead. At least they could look forward to war spoils seized from the enemy! ???????????? Like most absent parents, Johan felt a sense of guilt toward Amien. Iselia, on the other hand, felt no such thing. After all, parent-child rtionships in noble families were much drier and colder. In the first ce, it was rare for feudal lords to teach their children directly. If they were knights, they would be sent to another lord¡¯s court, and if they aspired to be theologians or officials, they would be sent to university. It was no different in their childhood. They were taught and cared for by nannies or tutors, and their parents paid them no heed. In most cases, nobles were too busy to take care of their children one by one. That was why Iselia could not understand Johan¡¯s apologetic attitude toward Amien. ¡°Do you really have to bring so many presents again? It¡¯s not like Amien has done anything special.¡± ¡°. . .¡± ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ????????????????. . .¡¯ Johan was speechless, but he quietly packed the presents. As she was interested in astronomy, books and instruments rted to it would be good gifts. Meanwhile, Suetlg was having a conversation with Caenerna. ¡°By the way, the maid serving the count¡¯s daughter seems to be quite clever. She has talent in magic, so I¡¯ve been teaching her a few things.¡± ¡°Oh, really? I thought there were only knights there, but that¡¯s unexpected.¡± Caenerna was surprised. Since the count was a knight and the countess was also a knight, she expected it to be a court of knights, but she couldn¡¯t help but be surprised when she heard that she had a disciple who was being taught. The only thing more precious than a wizard was a wizard¡¯s disciple. In addition to being quick-witted, one needed a deep and strong desire for the unknown. It was extremely rare for someone to end up in magic after identally defeating a malevolent spirit with their fists. ¡°If it¡¯s okay, would you like to teach her with me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what I can teach her, but. . . I¡¯ll do it.¡± At Caenerna¡¯s words, Suetlg nodded with a pleased expression. A wizard who ims to know everything is nothing more than a fraud. The more one learns about magic and delves into the unknown, the more one realizes how little one knows. The help of a wizard like Caenerna would be of great help. ¡°. . .¡± ¡°Oh! Will Jyanina-gong help out too?¡± ¡°Wa, of course!¡± Jyanina was so happy that her voice cracked a little. Caenerna looked at her with pity. She never dreamed that she would feel sorry for Jyanina when she was in the emperor¡¯s court. . . ???????????? After a few lessons, Amien greeted Johan warmly. Even though Iselia was by her side, she ran to Johan and hugged him, clearly knowing who was giving her the presents. ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Yes. Here, I¡¯ll give you some gold coins, so you can use them as you like. . .¡± ¡°. . .On second thought, I think it¡¯s fine.¡± Amien was about to take it, but she lowered her hand when Iselia red at her. She had already received enough money. However, Johan forcefully put the money into her hand. Amien pretended to reluctantly ept it. The two of them were in sync. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s good thinking. Have you made any new friends?¡± Johan asked with slight anticipation. The reason why feudal lords originally sent their children to their courts was because there were many opportunities to build connections there. The friendships formed with other nobles from a young age would be helpful even when they grew up. When a banquet was held in a certain family, it all started with being invited to it and participating in it. Otherwise, one had to go around with a sword like Johan, hunting monsters and making a name for themselves before they could join any family. ¡°. . .Yes!¡± ¡®?? ?????????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Amien was not as good at lying as Iselia. Johan shrugged his shoulders when he saw her eyes shaking from side to side. ¡°You don¡¯t have to make friends if you don¡¯t get along with them.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± ¡°What do you mean, ¡®Really?¡¯. . .¡± Johan stopped Iselia, who was about to get angry at Amien for saying that. ¡°As a knight, isn¡¯t it basic to make friends and build camaraderie with other knights, my dear?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trying to be a knight, so what. . .¡± ¡°Even if you do something else, there¡¯s nothing that doesn¡¯t require friendship, is there?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not always like that. Suetlg-nim doesn¡¯t have many friends either, but he¡¯s good at magic.¡± Suetlg, who had suddenly been picked as an example of a friendless wizard, felt sorry, but Iselia¡¯s tone softened when she heard Suetlg¡¯s name. Is that so? ¡°Let¡¯s cherish the friends you already have. How is Ardta doing?¡± ¡°Yes. Now, she knows how to summon animals.¡± ¡°. . .What? Really?¡± Ardta was the third child of the viscount, whom she had brought as an attendant and made a friend of Amien. She had heard that she had talent in magic, but he could already summon animals. ¡®???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????¡¯ Come to think of it, hunters also knew how to summon animals with their wisdom and experience. ©¥??????????. Karamaf, who was behind him, tilted his head as if he felt Johan¡¯s gaze. Johan stroked his fur once and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing to have talent. Were there any outstanding young knights among those here?¡± ¡°The knights are a bit. . .¡± Amien trailed off because Iselia was there, but Johan could more than guess what she was trying to say. Johan nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°!¡± Amien was even more surprised when her adoptive father, a knight among knights, said that. ¡°It¡¯s not strange to find it difficult to deal with them, is it?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s quite possible.¡± Johan asked Amien a few more questions about her well-being, listened to her, and cheered her on beforeing out. When he saw Iselia deep in thought beside him, Johan asked her curiously. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°. . .My dear. Did you think that too? No, right?¡± ???????????? As soon as he returned to the court, he received greetings from the knights who were training and the merchants at the harbor, and then Johan began to prepare in earnest. He called in the mercenary captains he knew, hired more mercenaries to prepare for the expedition, prepared to mobilize the ve soldiers he had been raising in his fiefdom, and heard about the situation in the east from the merchants. . . ¡°Surprisingly. . . it¡¯s going well?¡± Johan was honestly surprised by some of the news. It was surprising that the expeditionary forces, which had gathered suddenly and had few knights, were advancing steadily eastward. And the most surprising thing was the situation in Serderdits¡¯ fiefdom, where a serf rebellion had taken ce in the south. As if they were still not satisfied with the rebellion, a group of rogues and mercenaries had set off for the east again, and they were the most enthusiastic of the expeditionary forces that had set out so far. ¡°It seems that the situation in the east is not as good as we thought. I guess it¡¯s because we have to keep an eye on Vynashchtym and we can¡¯t chase after them one by one.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not easy to chase and catch a group of rogues who wander around like a group of bandits without a base.¡± The merchants smiled awkwardly at Johan¡¯s expression. No matter howposed of rogues and wandering mercenaries they were, they couldn¡¯t openly ridicule them once they had the goal of going on an expedition to the east. But the count before them was saying it so calmly and indifferently. . . ¡°Haven¡¯t there been any pirates around heretely? I heard that they¡¯ve appeared a few times.¡± This area was originally a good ce for pirates to swarm. There were many merchant shipsing and going, and it was a good location for pirates to hit and run. After Johan subjugated the hundred kingdoms and swept through the area several times, their numbers had decreased, but rogue groups were like mold, and they were bound to reappear after some time. ¡°Of course, they haven¡¯t been seen recently.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Your Excellency, you are leading your army here. What crazy pirate would dare to hang around? No one would do that unless they were crazy.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true.¡± The news would have spread quickly, so any pirate with a sense of self-preservation wouldn¡¯te near for a while. The problem was not looting, but the fact that their base could be burned down first as an example. ¡°Your Excellency. I heard that a ship from the order ising to the harbor.¡± ¡°From the order?¡± Johan prepared to go and meet them himself. It wasn¡¯t necessary, but people tended to be impressed by such trivial things. It was a good deal to move a few steps and hear some praise. However, as Johan was about to go down the hill to the harbor, he narrowed his eyes. There was not only the order¡¯s ship, but also other ships behind it. It seemed as if they were chasing the order¡¯s ship. ¡°. . .What are those crazy b*stards doing?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. The people at the harbor will take care of it soon!¡± Chapter 282: ?????? ???????? (3) Chapter 282: ?????? ???????? (3) Not far from here, there were ports and inds upied by Easterners, so it wasn¡¯t strange to see pirates nearby. However, they had recently told the count that there were no pirates, so it was annoying that they appeared like this. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault that the pirates appeared.¡± ¡°T-Thank you. Originally, they wouldn¡¯t havee this deep unless they were desperate.¡± The pirates who sailed from the east did note this deep. They knew it was dangerous, no matter how brave they were. However, this time, they were chasing them quite deeply, either because their opponent was their opponent or because they were confident. ???????????? ¡°It¡¯s dangerous! You must turn the ship around, master!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡±¡°The currents are strong around here, and there are hidden reefs. If you make a mistake, the ship could sink.¡± ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m making a mistake right now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. . .¡± At Vaytar¡¯s anger, the ve overseer struggled to meet his gaze. Although he was a ve, he was a ve who had the trust of the nobles and was much higher in status than an ordinarymoner. However, such authority meant nothing in the face of the master¡¯s anger. Vaytar was an excellent captain who had led galleys to capture on several asions. However, this time was too reckless. ¡°Besides, there are rumors that the count has returned to Coolia with his troops. What if we fail to shake off the pursuit. . .?¡± ¡°Ha! That¡¯s why I came.¡± ¡°Yes??¡± Vaytar was a young warrior simr to Johan, and he was arrogant and hot-blooded to match. ¡°I will break the pride of that demon that my father failed to defeat! His disgrace will be known from the east to the west.¡± ¡°Master!! You¡¯ve never told me something like that!¡± ¡°I would have only worried you if I had told you. Don¡¯t worry. Even that demon can¡¯t beat me on this sea!¡± Vaytar was the son of Yeheyman, a nobleman of the Eastern Empire. Yeheyman was a warrior who once led an army ashore, met Johan¡¯s army, and barely escaped with his life. He was still praying and vowing to avenge that humiliation. As such, it was natural for Vaytar, Yeheyman¡¯s son, to have a grudge against Johan. Not just Yeheyman, but the nobles and knights of the Eastern Empire who participated in that battle all sang Johan¡¯s infamy. ording to the song, the count was no different from the demon who came up from hell. ¡°Master, please! I beg you. The rowers are getting tired. Right now. . .!¡± The ve overseer was so scared that he was about to burst into tears at the sound of Johan¡¯s name. Some of the ves seemed to have heard the rumor as well, and they were murmuring among themselves. Vaytar, who was young but experienced as a sailor, couldn¡¯t help but notice this. ¡°. . .I understand! Turn the ship around.¡± The ship carrying the order members was also being driven by an experienced sailor, so they managed to maintain their distance and arrive inside the harbor. At this point, even if Vaytar had wings, he could not catch up to them. He had to back down here. ¡°Turn around! Get out of here!!¡± When Vaytar made his decision, the ve overseer¡¯s face turned red and he shouted quickly. The rowers also rowed with renewed vigor, their faces relieved. Ships were just leaving the harbor, but they seemed difficult to chase from a distance. ¡®????¡¯???? ??????????.¡¯ The ve overseer sighed in relief. Vaytar was able to survive because he made a decision quickly. The opponent would not be able to chase them at this rate. ???????????? ¡°It must be toote to chase them by ship, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Johan got off his horse and checked the situation. The pursuers gave up and were trying to escape. They were leaving the harbor in a hurry, but the distance was too great for them to be chased. It was fortunate that the ship sent by the order was not captured, but if possible, he wanted to catch the pursuers and find out who they were. If he could capture the impudent ones, wouldn¡¯t such things decrease in the future? ¡°Iselia. You said there were reefs hidden there?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. But why are you asking?¡± ¡°We have to somehow lure the ship over there.¡± ¡°How? With Suetlg-nim¡¯s magic?¡± Iselia asked Suetlg. Suetlg waved his hand in horror. ¡°If I try to touch the sea currents, I¡¯ll copse.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to do anything like that in the first ce.¡± Johan stopped on the hill. He could see three galleys passing quickly below him. They were so focused on sailing that they hadn¡¯t noticed that Johan and his party were on the hill. Iselia was genuinely curious. There were no siege weapons made by dwarves here, and magic could not be used. So how could they stop the ship passing by? The answer soon came. Johan started pulling out trees and throwing them. ???????????? When the ¡®bang¡¯ sound was first heard, the ve overseer thought the ship had hit a reef. ¡®???????? ?? ???????????????!¡¯ He was confident that he would have noticed the reef in advance with his experience, but he made such a mistake. The ve overseer blushed and shouted. ¡°Tell me the direction!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a reef! ve overseer!¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about. . .?!¡± The ve overseer shouted, then realized the situation. Trees were flying from the sky. ¡°Oh my god. . .?!¡± The ve overseer wondered if the end of the world hade or if he was hallucinating because he had fallen under the sea. However, the reality did not change. Trees were still flying from the sky. ¡°T-That crazy guy is throwing trees!¡± ¡°?!!¡± At the cry of a sharp-eyed rower, the ve overseer turned his gaze. A knight was standing on a hill on the coast. He unconsciously looked for a siege weapon like a ballista, but there was none. ¡°He¡¯s the one throwing it!¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. . . Ugh!¡± As if he had heard the ve overseer¡¯s words, the knight pulled out another tree and threw it. This time, it hit the front of the ship properly. The rowers screamed and dropped their oars. The overseers who were supposed to shout to grab the oars were struggling because of the flying trees, so there was no way the voyage would go smoothly. ????????! Finally, the sound of hitting a real reef was heard. The ve overseer shouted in horror. ¡°Master, you must escape to the ship next to you!¡± ¡°Is that nonsense right now?!¡± ¡°Master!¡± The old ve overseer gave advice based on his long experience, but Vaytar could not ept it. As a captain, abandoning his gship was a matter of pride. However, he soon learned that his choice was wrong. The other ship that could have been crossed was also stuck on a reef. ¡°Are you done?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The people of the fiefdom who had gathered on the hill cheered. They never thought they would see such a strange sight in their lives. To catch the escaping ship like that! ¡°Long live Your Excellency Count! Long live Your Excellency Count!¡± ¡°It is divine retribution, you pirates!¡± ¡®???????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????¡¯ Suetlg clicked his tongue as he looked at the terribly wrecked ship. Next to it, the thrown trees were floating. Those who had not seen them being thrown were asking questions like, ¡®?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????????¡¯ ¡°They¡¯ll die if we leave them alone. Send out some small boats to save them.¡± ¡°Indeed. . .! You are very generous.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan wondered what that meant. He wanted to find out why the pirates hade near here, how the order¡¯s ship knew about it, and then hang them. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°I understand. Count, since there are also people from the order, we don¡¯t need to be overly lenient.¡± ¡°. . .Okay, send the ship.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The sailors in the harbor approached slowly and carefully. The mercenaries waited armed in case the enemies resisted. However, the pirates were so preupied with the rough currents and the sinking that they were dragged out without any resistance. Vaytar shook off the water from his body and said. ¡°. . .I-I¡¯m Muzara.¡± ¡°No. This person is Vaytar, the son of Yeheyman-nim, and has the blood of a nobleman. I demand that he be treated properly.¡± Vaytar used a pseudonym because of his pride, but the ve overseer told the truth instead. He couldn¡¯t bear to see his master hanged like a pirate. Vaytar was so angry that he tried to draw his sword. ¡°Do you dare insult me?!¡± ¡°How dare you, you pirate!¡± The sailors clenched their fists in anger. No matter how great a warrior Vaytar was, he could not handle five or six people. Johan, who arrivedte, was puzzled at the sight of them looking like drowned rats. ¡°You saved them well. But who is that. . .?¡± ¡°He tried to draw his sword!¡± ¡°I see. Well done.¡± ¡°And he also says he¡¯s a nobleman from the east.¡± The sailors snorted and red at Vaytar, as if they couldn¡¯t believe it. Vaytar was confused as to whether he should tremble at the humiliation of being captured, at being ignored by the sailors, or at having his status ignored. ¡°It¡¯s not a lie! My master is Vaytar, the son of Yeheyman-nim.¡± ¡°Is that right? Who is Yeheyman?¡± ¡°. . .You don¡¯t know Yeheyman-nim?!¡± The ve overseer was taken aback by Johan¡¯s reaction. It was so embarrassing that the demon-like count didn¡¯t know Yeheyman. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m not well-versed in the affairs of the east. I know the Mulc family and Sir Lumahr.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± He knew them, but he didn¡¯t know Yeheyman, the Sultan¡¯s Sword and the Sultan¡¯s Wrath. The ve overseer felt his mind go nk. Fortunately, a knowledgeable sailor whispered. ¡°Yeheyman is a notorious general from the east, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Oh. Is that right? I guess he¡¯s of noble blood. Treat him properly as a prisoner. Let go of his cor.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, one of the sailors coughed awkwardly and let go of the cor he was holding. Vaytar fixed his clothes to somehow salvage his dignity that had fallen to the ground. ¡°. . .Thank you. Count Yeats. I appreciate your kindness.¡± ¡°I only did what I had to do. Why did you chase the order¡¯s ship?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Vaytar couldn¡¯t say that he was trying to ¡®?????????? ???????? ????????¡¯, so he hesitated. He couldn¡¯t say that in this situation, no matter how proud he was. The ve overseer carefully gave advice in the easternnguage. ¡°Master, I think it would be better not to ignore the count¡¯s kindness.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get angry with your loyal subordinate, easterner.¡± Johan said as if he was disappointed. Vaytar was taken aback by his fluent easternnguage. Surprisingly, the count could speak the easternnguage. ¡°I heard that the ve overseer was loyal on the ship and below the ship. How dare you vent your anger on such a person. Know your shame.¡± ¡°. . .You¡¯re right. I was wrong.¡± Vaytar was young, so he was quick to reflect. The ve overseer shook his head as if it was okay when Vaytar said he was sorry. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you reconcile.¡± ¡°T-Tthank you. . .?¡± ¡°It seems like. . . I can guess why. You must hate the order.¡± Johan looked at him as if he was doing something really pathetic. If Johan were to fight, he wouldn¡¯t target the opponent¡¯s merchant or treasure ship, but the ship that the opponent¡¯s priests were riding on. Wouldn¡¯t it only buy the opponent¡¯s anger and hatred without making any money? ¡°I will guarantee your treatment ording to the customs. Will you swear that you will not do anything reckless until you receive your ransom?¡± ¡°. . .I swear.¡± ¡°Take him. I have to meet the people from the order.¡± When the count finished the interrogation simply, Vaytar wondered if he should correct the other person¡¯s misunderstanding. The ve overseer shook his head. ¡®???????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ????????, ???????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ ???????????? ¡°I really don¡¯t know if they¡¯re aiming for the order.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the envoy delegation from the order nodded with grim expressions. They never thought they would be targeted on the sea. ¡°I¡¯ve been guessing ever since they sent assassins to Your Excellency. Their goal was not wealth ornd, but faith!¡± ¡®???????? ????, ?????????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ????????. . .¡¯ Johan found it even harder to believe that the other person was not greedy, apart from his dislike for the order. Johan changed the subject. ¡°So why are you here?¡± ¡°We know that Your Excellency Count has no greed, but. . . we havee to you to dare to offer you the title of duke.¡± Chapter 283: ?????????????????? (1) Chapter 283: ?????????????????? (1) It did feel ratherte, though. Johan should have received a dukedom from the order as soon as he had taken control of the southern half of the penins and chased away the Emperor¡¯s forces. Of course, nothing changed about Johan¡¯s life simply because he was no longer a count but a duke. It wasn¡¯t a title within the Empire, so it didn¡¯t change his authorities within the Empire. Johan wasn¡¯t the vassal of anyone, so he didn¡¯t gain any new authorities either. However, he gained prestige. Prestige was much more valuable and eternal than gold coins or gems. . . . That was what many nobles believed. But Johan didn¡¯t think so. That¡¯s why he ended up receiving it sote. Normally, Johan should have approached the order and asked for a dukedom. However, Johan was not interested in a dukedom at all and silently continued to do his own work. . . In the end, the bishops of the order came forward first. Whether they belonged to the Miracle faction or the Aristocracy faction, they agreed on this matter. The bishops of the Miracle faction wanted to give a dukedom to the devout count so that he could be a more radiant shield for their faith, while the bishops of the Aristocracy faction wanted to give the count a dukedom due to political considerations. They all knew how ferocious the nobles could be when the order didn¡¯t give them what they deserved.¡°Me?¡± ¡°. . . If Your Excellency does not ept it, who else can?¡± Johan raised his hand in agreement when the priest looked at him in disbelief. He hadpletely forgotten about it due to the war, rebellion, governance, and development. ¡®????????, ???? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ????, ?? ??????????????.¡¯ Although he would have to hold avish ceremony, Johan was not someone who couldn¡¯t afford it. He had no reason to reject it since the order was offering it to him. ¡°Your Excellency, if I may say something. . . modesty is a virtue, but excessive modesty can prevent you from receiving what you truly deserve. If you had said so earlier, this matter could have been resolved sooner.¡± Johan felt somewhat embarrassed when the priest spoke earnestly. He couldn¡¯t say, ¡®?? ????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ???? ?? ????????¡¯?? ????????¡¯ in front of the priest. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d that you understand. Please forgive my presumptuous attitude.¡± ¡°Why would I do that? . .¡± Johan nodded and ordered the preparations for the award ceremony. It wasn¡¯t splendid or extravagant, but it wasn¡¯t in either. He had to maintain his dignity as a duke. After many procedures, invitations, receptions, and the arrival of envoy groups, Johan came to be known as Duke Yeats, blessed by the order and the Pope. Titles such as the Shield of the South and the Guardian of Faith were also given to him. ¡°Your Highness Duke, I am grateful to be able to visit you in person on this joyous day and offer my congrattions!¡± ¡°Thank you foring.¡± His vassals hastened to attend without waiting for anyone else. Johan hadn¡¯t specifically called for them, but there weren¡¯t many vassals who were so fearless that they wouldn¡¯t attend a lord¡¯s dukedom award ceremony. Especially now that their lord¡¯s prestige was soaring after defeating the Emperor¡¯s forces. Thanks to that, the award ceremony could end honorably. Along with the numerous gifts that filled the seats, Johan received more good news. Volundrunt and the other dwarven captains had finished repairing his armor. ???????????? ¡°It was a mess as if it had been hit by a giant, but we did our best to fix it, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°Thank you for your hard work, Volundrunt.¡± Johan spoke as calmly as possible. If there were no onlookers, he would have checked the armor without caring about his dignity. The armor, which he was touching again after a long time, was still light and sturdy. He could feel its strong sticity when he pressed it with his finger. Volundrunt spoke apologetically. ¡°There was a lot of damage, so we couldn¡¯t restore it to its original state.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. I didn¡¯t expect that in the first ce.¡± Since the damage was so severe, Johan himself didn¡¯t ask to restore it to its original state. He had only asked them to make it usable again. And Volundrunt had brought him a satisfactory result. Although it had changed from a full-body armor to a breastte, its lightness and sturdiness remained. This was a satisfactory enough result. ¡°Is the ship ready?¡± ¡°Yes. We have prepared it while mapping out the course with the captains from the Republic.¡± After the award ceremony and another winter, Johan didn¡¯t rush to depart but prepared steadily. There was no need to rush and risk his life during the winter. Johan waited while gathering supplies and preparing mercenaries. Meanwhile, those sent from the Republic joined one after another. ¡°Your Excellency. But. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°The oriental noble you capturedst time says he¡¯ll guide us on the course. What should we do?¡± The captain¡¯s expression was very grim. It was understandable. Why would they trust the opinion of an eastern noble who had been captured by pagans? However, he was a noble who was staking his honor, so they couldn¡¯t just ignore him. That¡¯s why he hade to ask. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a simple matter?¡± ¡°Yes? Are you really going to listen to him?¡± ¡°No. Let him voice his opinion during the voyage, but you guys make the decisions. He¡¯ll be satisfied enough if you pretend to listen to his opinion.¡± ¡°W-Would that be okay? Wouldn¡¯t it be deceiving him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not deceiving him if he doesn¡¯t notice.¡± Johan was cold. He would listen to the man¡¯s information, but he had no intention of relying on it. Vaytar, who didn¡¯t know this, was surprised to hear that he had been granted permission. ¡°Count. . . no, the duke has granted permission?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Vaytar looked at the ve overseer in bewilderment. To be honest, he thought Johan would refuse. The ve overseer spoke as if he couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°The duke seems to be more generous than I thought.¡± ¡°Is this the time to praise someone else?¡± ¡°Since master brought it up. . .¡± ¡°What if I deceive him? If I deceive him, the duke will be stranded without a doubt?¡± ¡°Master, that would be a dishonorable act.¡± ¡®?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ????????????????, ??????¡¯???? ???? ???????????? ?????????????? ?? ??????????.¡¯ The ve overseer didn¡¯t say the rest of the sentence. There was no need to provoke his master for no reason. Vaytar nodded, his expression showing that he was furious after hearing the ve overseer¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re right. If I deceive him despite him reaching out to me like this, my honor will be tarnished! The duke is truly wless. He must have granted permission knowing that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think he thought that far. . .¡± Vaytar¡¯smotion was just a tiny incident that happened while they were preparing for the voyage. As the winter came to an end and the frozen river began to flow again, Johan¡¯s fleet left the port and headed east. ???????????? Gerdolf looked at the distant horizon with tired eyes. The sea was not a familiar ce for the knights of the Empire. Rivers were the only bodies of water they would normally encounter. Although they learned how to swim as knights, they couldn¡¯t help but be overwhelmed by such a vast amount of water. Gerdolf was just tired, but the nomads from the east were even more so. They tried to rest by going down to the cabins or below decks, unable to bear the sight of the sea. It wasn¡¯t easy to ovee, even though they had trained hard before departure. ¡°The sea. . . The sea doesn¡¯t seem like a ce we should conquer, Your Excellency.¡± ¡°I understand, so go inside and rest.¡± Johan didn¡¯t want to bring centaurs like Acdda or Euclyia. Of course, it would be very helpful to have these quick-footed and skilled warriors, but he already knew that they hated water. However, they thought it would be a lifelong disgrace if they didn¡¯t participate in Johan¡¯s expedition to the east. They couldn¡¯t stay behind, even if it meant being tied to the deck pirs. ¡°Ugh. . . I¡¯ll go inside and rest for a while.¡± Even Euclyia, who had been holding on, staggered inside. Johan stood on the stern deck and looked at the distant horizon. When he was young and living in his fiefdom, the east seemed so far and wide. The pilgrims who walked there returned aged. However, that was an exaggerated story. Nowadays, with trade ships going back and forth, they could arrive in a few months. It wouldn¡¯t take longer than that, even for a fleet. Although it would be slower. ¡°What¡¯s all themotion?¡± Johan heard a loud noise and moved his steps curiously. The captains of the Republic were making a fuss with serious expressions. ¡°Duke, that pagan b*stard is trying to bewitch the fleet with his nonsense. Let me throw him into the sea right now!¡± ¡°You dare treat my words as lies? You insolent fools!¡± It seemed like Vaytar had caused trouble based on their words. When he told the captains that a storm wasing soon and they ignored him, Vaytar insulted them. The captains were furious and were about to throw him into the sea. The Republic¡¯s captains were prideful, and they didn¡¯t like the easterners in the first ce. It was natural since they would either steal from or be stolen from each other when they encountered each other at sea. So, it was understandable for them to be angry when an eastern noble disregarded their experience and insulted them. ¡°A typhoon on such a clear day?¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense, Your Excellency. This area doesn¡¯t have typhoons.¡± ¡°Look at my ne! This ne is a treasure that can detect typhoons. The spirit inside. . .¡± No matter how much Vaytar babbled, the captains snorted and ignored him. However, Johan found it difficult to ignore him once magic was involved. Vaytar¡¯s ne was truly endowed with magical power. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying there¡¯s a typhoon?¡± ¡°Th. . . That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Where should we turn the course to if we assume there¡¯s a typhoon?¡± ¡°We should turn north. . . But that will increase the chances of encountering the easterners.¡± Johan¡¯s current course was to head east while keeping a distance from the Eastern Empire¡¯s coastal waters. If the wind was favorable, they could reach the Ind of Ikos without stopping. The Ind of Ikos and the neighboring powers were the descendants of those who had left the Holy Empire in the past. Therefore, it was easy to cooperate with them. Those who were leaving the Holy Empire this time were also nning to cooperate with them. However, if they turned north from here, they would enter the Eastern Empire¡¯s coastal waters. ¡°That¡¯s better than a typhoon. Change the course to the north.¡± Johan judged that Vaytar wasn¡¯t lying. His demeanor and the fact that he actually had a ne with a spirit in it convinced him. The captains were very displeased, but they didn¡¯t dare to disobey the duke¡¯s authority. A few hourster, the captains were shocked when the sky above the ce they had left changed violently. ¡°This is ridiculous. . .!¡± ¡°What did I tell you, you seafaring fools!¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s not the time to be happy yet.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Vaytar turned his gaze at Johan¡¯s words. The typhoon was approaching their course as well. Vaytar was bewildered. They were still being chased despite changing the course. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we have held on? That b*stard is trying to drift us to the heart of the Eastern Empire somehow. . .¡± ¡°N-No! I. . .¡± ¡°Can we go up and makendfall?¡± ¡°Are you suggesting we makendfall?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s better than getting hit by a typhoon.¡± The captain nodded at Johan¡¯s words. Come to think of it, there was also an army led by the duke. Unless they were crazy b*stards, the natives wouldn¡¯t attack just because they madendfall. Even if the enemy called for reinforcements, once the typhoon calmed and set sail again. . . ¡°Give the order to makendfall!¡± ¡°We¡¯re makingndfall! Turn the ship around!¡± ???????????? To those who ruled the coast, merchant ships that drifted or were wrecked were always a source of savory profit. As a noble, it wasn¡¯t a pious attitude to hope for a typhoon to befall travelers, but to be honest, he couldn¡¯t help but thank God whenever a ship drifted ashore. ¡°Master, master!! A ship. . .! A ship!¡± ¡°What? Another ship drifted ashore? In a season without typhoons, God must really love me!¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s not it!¡± ¡°. . .??¡± Chapter 284: ?????????????????? (2) Chapter 284: ?????????????????? (2) ¡°They aren¡¯t ordinary merchant ships, but armed pilgrims instead.¡± ¡°Are you saying that¡¯s worth being worked up about?¡± Ahab held the title of baron, which was the equivalent of a chieftain in the neighboring tribes. As such, the Eastern Empire had a lot of these tribes under its rule and it wasn¡¯t umon for the leaders of these tribes to be awarded titles to maintain order. These chieftains were not particrly loyal to the sultan, as the Eastern Empire was nothing more than a trading partner to them. It was only natural that they wouldn¡¯t risk their lives to fight against foreign invaders from the West. ¡°It¡¯s not like you don¡¯t know that these pilgrims are heading south by ship. How many are there, a few dozen?¡± The word ¡°pilgrim¡± brought to mind a gentle image, but those who embarked on long pilgrimages were no pushovers. Armed pdins who had trained in monasteries were almost on par with knights, and even those who weren¡¯t pdins had somebat experience.However, what could a group of ten or so people aplish? He was confident that he could capture them if he sent his men after them. ¡°Well, there are hundreds of well-armed men! Far more than that!¡± ¡°. . .What?!¡± Ahab was thunderstruck by those words, as if the sky had fallen. ???????????? Landing ashore, Johan¡¯s first order of business was to calm the captains who were baying for Vaytar¡¯s blood. Vaytar¡¯s decision had been correct, but to the captains, it seemed like an excuse to change course. If they had sailed through the typhoon instead of avoiding it, they might have arrived safely, so the captains¡¯ anger was somewhat justified. Of course, Vaytar was understandably upset and aggrieved. ¡°I demand a duel!¡± ¡°You pagan dog, you¡¯re a prisoner! What right do you have to demand a duel as a captive!?¡± As the captain continued to taunt him, Johan raised his hand. ¡°Enough.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sorry, your highness.¡± ¡°Where do you think we are now?¡± ¡°We seem to havee all the way north on our way to Ikos Ind.¡± The map was simple and rough, but it was enough to get a general idea of where they were. Johan nodded. ¡°If we¡¯vee this far, it might not be a bad idea to go bynd.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t be able tond on Ikos Ind, but you¡¯re right, it¡¯s not like we can only receive help from the lord of Ikos Ind.¡± The captains agreed. Some of the ships had been damaged during the hastynding, and considering the pirates in the area, it might be better to go bynd. Johan looked at the old ve overseer instead of Vaytar and asked, ¡°Do you know who the master is around here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m sorry, your highness. I¡¯m not very knowledgeable. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. You can¡¯t know every single family.¡± Just as the Empire didn¡¯t know all the families in the countryside, so too did the same apply to the East. Once Johan had finished organizing things, he sent out scouts to check the surrounding area. As soon as their feet touched the ground, the centaurs eagerly galloped off to check the roads and directions. ¡°Send word to the duke! There are enemies on the hill over there. We¡¯ll capture them if you just give the order!¡± ???????????? Baron Ahab rode his horse, apanied by a dozen guards. The parched earth kicked up dust and muddied the surroundings. ????????©¥ Someone swallowed, breaking the silence. Just as the attendant had said, there were countless soldiers lined up in orderly ranks. ¡°I-is it true that there¡¯s a holy war going on?¡± ¡°Even if that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s no reason for them toe this way!¡± Rumors of a new holy war in the west had been quietly spreading, but few took it seriously. Especially since Baron Ahab¡¯s territory was on the coast, far from the roadsmonly used by pilgrims. That was why his heart couldn¡¯t help but race when he encountered such an army. Everyone knew that the warriors of the West were savage and uncivilized, but they were also fierce and valiant. They were the ones who wore heavy te armor and fearlessly charged forward through a hail of arrows. ¡°Baron, perhaps this is a good thing.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°We should quickly send word to the other tribes and ask for reinforcements, and we should also prepare our own warriors for battle. If we ask the sultan for help, he¡¯ll surely send us soldiers, won¡¯t he?¡± ¡°To fight against that army!?¡± ¡°Look, an army like that must be led by a high-ranking noble. How much wealth do you think they have?¡± The other men¡¯s reactions to the fearless warrior¡¯s words were mixed. Some looked intrigued, while others grimaced. Fortunately, the baron was in his right mind. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! Have you lost your mind? If we¡¯re the ones to start a fight, and theye and burn down the town and salt the earth, no one willpensate us.¡± ¡°B-But we can¡¯t just leave them alone, can we? They say that those from the West are all savages and that negotiation is impossible. . .¡± While they were talking, the centaurs closed the distance. The baron¡¯s guards were startled and reached for their weapons. However, the centaurs hade bearing a message instead of weapons. ¡°Are you the master of thisnd?¡± ¡°I. . . I am.¡± ¡°My master, Duke Yeats, wishes to meet you. He will guarantee your safety on his name, so please ept his invitation.¡± Whether in the East or the West, it was rare for a noble tomit a despicable act after giving their word. Judging by this, it seemed that attending the meeting wouldn¡¯t be a problem. The guards seemed to think so too, and instead of worrying about their master, they wondered what he would talk about. However, Baron Ahab¡¯s face turned as pale as a sheet. ¡°Why are you like this, master?¡± ¡°I-Idiots. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve never heard of the Yeats family?¡± One of the guards was shocked by the baron¡¯s words. He thought he had heard the name somewhere, but was he saying that this was the Yeats family of knights? ¡°Is that the pagan who made a pact with the demon and summoned those monsters?¡± ¡°A pact with the demon, you say? Isn¡¯t that ridiculous!?¡± The more rational guards were incredulous, but the baron didn¡¯t waver. ¡°No. It¡¯s almost certain that there is demon¡¯s blood in that man¡¯s lineage. The priests said so too. Why do you think the knights who returned after crossing swords with him in thest battle were so sick and died? It¡¯s all because there was devil¡¯s blood mixed in.¡± ¡°T-Then how can we possibly fight him?¡± One of the guards who had spoken earlier asked, sounding flustered. He had heard many stories about the renowned knights of the East being defeated by the demon in their expeditions, but he never thought that the demon woulde all the way here. ¡°If we refuse his offer. . .¡± ¡°Even so, it would be rude to simply reject such an offer.¡± ¡°Call the sorcerer in the fiefdom. I need to hear his advice before I go.¡± ¡°A wise decision, master!¡± ???????????? ¡°What was the atmosphere like?¡± ¡°They talked among themselves for a while. Do you think they¡¯re up to something?¡± Johan frowned at the centaur¡¯s words. Caenerna said, as if she didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Surely the chieftain of this ce wouldn¡¯t dare to scheme against us. . .?¡± Considering the size of their army, it seemed likemon sense to be careful, and the idea of them plotting against him seemed absurd. However, Johan knew. That there were far more stupid, irrational people in the world than he had thought. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt to be prepared. Select the best of our soldiers and have them stand by at the front.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The one who received Johan¡¯s suggestion said that he would make preparations and asked for some time. It was possible that they were really preparing, but it could also be a trap. If it was a trap, he intended to show them his unbridled fury. ¡°Here theye!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a trap.¡± A retinue of no more than thirty could neither set a trap nor do anything else. Johan nodded as he watched the procession approach slowly and cautiously. ¡°Escort the lord inside.¡± When he first saw Baron Ahab, Johan thought, ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?? ?????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ The baron was indeed adorned with trinkets. Some of them emitted a faint mystical aura, but it didn¡¯t seem like the baron had put them together on purpose. They were tangled together in aplicated way, rendering them useless. The baron and his guards sat down with stiff faces. Every move they made was filled with tension. ¡®???? ???????? ?????????? ??¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????????¡¯ Johan thought that might be the case. Of course, Johan had sworn on his name, but a suspicious person might not believe him. Even Johan himself was suspicious of people, even if they swore on their family name. It didn¡¯t matter if they were suspicious. Johan was confident in his ability to charm such people. Johan spoke in the eastern tongue. ¡°Baron Ahab.¡± ¡°W-w-what is it?¡± ¡°I regret that we meet under such circumstances.¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s. . . what. . . surely you don¡¯t. . . surely you don¡¯t. . .?¡± The baron turned pale and looked around. He looked like he was afraid that armed soldiers would rush in and kidnap him. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to ask, as it would be an insult, so his anxious nces around the room were pitiful. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking, but I regret that our ship was caught in a typhoon and we were forced to make an emergencynding.¡± ¡°Ah. . . ah! Indeed.¡± ¡°My army and I need to march east, and I was wondering if you could show us some kindness. We would like some food and water.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the baron looked like he had been waiting for this. The baron steeled himself. ¡°Of course! As much as you need!¡± ¡°. . .¡± Caenerna¡¯s eyebrows shot up. She had thought something was up when the lord spoke with such a grave expression, but he had epted too easily. ¡°Thank you. We will pay you properly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my duty as a man of faith to entertain foreigners who havee from afar. . . wait. Did you say you would pay?¡± ¡°Is that not allowed?¡± Johan asked, looking puzzled. The baron waved his hands in a panic. ¡°Of course not! You¡¯re most wee! I was just wondering if it would be a burden to your highness. . .¡± The baron was being extremely careful. If he said ¡®yes¡¯ here and Johan found fault and attacked him, everything would be ruined. To return safely without making any mistakes in front of the knight who was said to have the blood of a demon. That was the baron¡¯s goal. ¡°It won¡¯t be a burden with just that much. Surely you, the Baron, wouldn¡¯t inte the price, would you?¡± ¡°O-Of course not!¡± ¡°I appreciate your permission. Once we receive the supplies, we will head east. I¡¯d like to hear a little bit about this area, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± As Johan ended his story and moved on to small talk, Baron Ahab felt like he had ovee a major hurdle. However, it was too early to rx. It was possible for trouble to arise from these trivial conversations. ¡°If you¡¯re heading east, you¡¯ll need to be careful of the mountain range blocking the way. There are not only monsters but also many bandits.¡± ¡°I see. It sounds like it¡¯s pretty bad.¡± ¡°Even the pilgrims who walk from afare down from the top and cross the mountain range, and many of them die because they underestimate the mountain range, so there are graves lined up there. . .¡± One of the attendants hurriedly stepped on the baron¡¯s foot. It was a warning to the master for his slip of the tongue. Among the infidels, jokes mocking the stupid people of the West were often used as light-hearted conversation, but the noble in front of him was a noble from the West. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t underestimate mountains. Especially mountains you¡¯ve never climbed before. Thank you for letting me know, Baron.¡± Johan was being quite friendly. He had promised supplies, and there was no point in making new enemies in this strangend. However, for the people of the East, Johan¡¯s attitude was so unfamiliar that it made their skin crawl. Usually, the people from the West who came with arge army were loud, arrogant, and rude. Especially for someone of the duke¡¯s rank, there was no reason to pay for supplies. If he threatened them to hand them over, it would be considered polite, and usually he would send his army to loot or burn the surrounding area. However, the enemy knight, who was rumored to be a devil, appeared like this, and it was terrifying in a different way. Just what is he scheming? Chapter 285: ?????????????????? (3) Chapter 285: ?????????????????? (3) Other than the baron¡¯s anxiety, the banquet ended quite normally. The two nobles exchanged the gifts they had brought, and the baron served the alcohol that could only be tasted in this region. ¡°Prepare thoroughly. Don¡¯t let them find any fault!¡± ¡°Master. What if they try to swindle us when paying with the silver coins?¡± It was amon trick nobles often used, like giving silver coins with less silver content or poorly made silver coins. Naturally, experienced merchants or money changers were put on standby during the transaction to prepare for things like this. They checked the quality of the silver coins and whether any deception was being attempted. ¡°Just ept them, you fool. Don¡¯t try to check. It might cause unnecessary trouble.¡± The baron was able to create and offer supplies after much preparation. It seemed like he hadn¡¯t even been this thorough when sending the tribute to the Sultan. Johan¡¯s army headed east as promised. The baron let out a sigh of relief. His carefulness had saved the fiefdom.¡°Master. I checked the silver coins, but. . .¡± ¡°Yes. How many fakes were mixed in?¡± ¡°They said there were none.¡± ¡°. . .What did you say?¡± ???????????? The sight of the heavily armed army that suddenly appeared terrified not only Baron Ahab. While heading to the mountain range, the chieftains of the three tribes were terrified at the sight of Johan¡¯s army. Two of them tried to get out of the crisis by offering tribute, while the other tried to get out of the crisis by emptying the vige and fleeing into the mountains. Johan moved without looting or burning down the vige. ¡°Something¡¯s strange.¡± Unless he was a fool, Johan had no choice but to notice. Iselia, who was riding next to him, tilted her head and asked. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Iselia. Don¡¯t you think the people here are. . . too afraid of me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s only natural, and it¡¯s something to be proud of. My dear.¡± Iselia was proud as if it was her own business. The fact that the pagan knights in the far east were afraid just by hearing their name. It¡¯s something that any knight would dream of and be proud of. ¡°. . .I guess I picked the wrong person to talk to.¡± ¡°My dear?¡± ¡°Caenerna. What do you think?¡± Iselia frowned next to him. Caenerna pondered with a thoughtful expression and said. ¡°It¡¯s true that they were overly scared.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yeah. Even if you brought a heavily armed army, that¡¯s a bit. . . strange.¡± Caenerna agreed with Johan¡¯s opinion. No matter how many armed forces you bring, there is a limit to the fear that can be shown. But the chiefs here were a bit too much. The chieftain of thest tribe had evene trembling and brought his own children to offer to Johan. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be faster to ask the person concerned?¡± Caenerna pointed her slender finger from inside the robe sleeve. It was the direction where Vaytar, who was captured, and his ves were. ¡°That¡¯s right. Bring him!¡± Vaytar, who was suddenly called out, was taken aback by the duke¡¯s question. ¡®???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????????¡¯ Come to think of it, that could be the case. Vaytar didn¡¯t know how he was called in the distant west either. ¡°Aren¡¯t you being questioned by His Highness the Duke, you pagan b*stard!¡± As Vaytar was lost in thought, he was immediately shouted at. Vaytar couldn¡¯t help but flinch. No matter how brave a sailor he was, he couldn¡¯t help but feel weak when he was surrounded by dozens of hostile warriors¡¯ gazes. ¡°Y-Your Highness, that¡¯s. . .¡± Vaytar, who was originally stubborn, couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak. He couldn¡¯t decide if it was okay to say, ¡®??????¡¯???? ???????????? ?? ??????????¡¯ in front of the duke. ¡°I told you to hurry up and speak!¡± ¡®???????? it. . .!¡¯ Due to the urging of the mercenary next to him, Vaytar finally opened his mouth. His Highness the Duke is called the demon, and many people believe it. Then, the surroundings became quiet. Some clenched their teeth to hold back theirughter. No matter how close they were to Johan, they couldn¡¯tugh in the presence of their lord being insulted. ¡°. . .You canugh.¡± When Johan gave permission, Suetlg burst intoughter first. The other mercenaries alsoughed boisterously and said. ¡°Well, in the eyes of the pagans, His Highness the Duke must look like a demon!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this a great thing?¡± The mercenaries, warriors, and even the knights were very pleased. The expression demon was insulting, but it was a different story if the other party was a pagan. How much did they scare the enemies for such a rumor to spread? ¡°What¡¯s with thatplicated expression?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re just sitting still and suddenly called a demon, anyone would make that expression. Caenerna-gong.¡± ¡°On the positive side, we¡¯ll be in a more advantageous position in future negotiations, won¡¯t we?¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m worried that they¡¯ll be too scared and do something unnecessary.¡± Johan regretted that he should have taken some time to loosen up the chieftains who were so scared. Caenerna said firmly. ¡°If you did, they would have been even more scared.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you have to worry too much. . . Is fear a bad thing? Rather, it will keep them from doing anything reckless.¡± Caenerna said, tapping the armrest with her finger. It was quite a positive remark, but it made sense. ¡°Yeah. So what if I¡¯m a demon? It¡¯s fine if the negotiation is easy.¡± ¡°His Highness the demon is going out!¡± ¡°Make way, you pagans! Before His Highness the demon sends you to hell!¡± ¡°. . .Call the priests and monks and have the soldiers pray.¡± ???????????? The people around called this huge mountain range blocking thend ¡®ck Mountains¡¯. At first, it was because of the unique color of the bedrock upying the mountain, but now the reason was a little different. ¡°An army of pilgrims ising? And it¡¯s led by a nobleman?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this an opportunity!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a heavily armed western knight. Do you think we can really fight and win?¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. Who said we¡¯re fighting?¡± The rogues who upied this mountain range wore a piece of ck cloth to indicate their status. The group of rogues, or rather, the tribe that settled in the mountains, was almost the same. They were ferocious and rough, and they were the ones who resisted the Sultan¡¯s rule, so all the nearby tribes feared them. When passing through the mountains, people either avoided them or passed by offering bribes. ¡°There are many newly captured pilgrims. These guys aren¡¯t very expensive to sell as ves, and they¡¯re just a pain in the neck.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Catching travelers passing through the mountains was a long-standing source of ie for the rogues. They would take away their belongings and sell the travelers as ves, so they had nothing to throw away. However, these days, as the rtionship with the surrounding area has deteriorated, there have been problems with the business of the rogues here. It had be difficult to sell ves. In the meantime, the nobleman leading the army of pilgrims seemed like a good trading partner. As brothers of the same faith, won¡¯t they pay arge sum of money? ¡°Prepare the swift warriors. I¡¯ll confront the leader myself and get the ransom!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Ironically, the reason why the rogues could make such negotiations was because the other party was a nobleman. Only a great nobleman who cares about honor and faith can pay the ransom of those who don¡¯t matter. A poor knight who just walks around with his own body couldn¡¯t even negotiate like this. ¡°Just in case, let¡¯s send out people around to check.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. We need to know which nobleman it is in order to have an advantage in the negotiation.¡± ???????????? As the huge mountain range blocking the view appeared just as the chieftains had said, Johan reorganized and prepared to cross the mountain range. ¡°. . .?¡± While the temporary camp was being set up, he noticed strangersing and going in the distance. At first, he thought they were travelers, but they didn¡¯t look like travelers no matter how he looked at them. ¡°Is that the rogues scouting over there?¡± ¡°Should we go catch them?¡± The centaurs spoke belligerently, but the rogues approached them first. Surprisingly, there were some among them who could speak Empire. ¡°I have a proposal for His Highness the Duke, the master here!¡± ¡°How dare you be so presumptuous. . .¡± One of the centaurs red up, but Johan stopped him. Anyway, there¡¯s no point in catching just one errand boy. If they were going to send someone here, they would have sent someone who could die. The captains of the republic said coldly. ¡°You daree to make a proposal to His Highness the Duke and send a petty errand boy. The leader shoulde in person!¡± It was not a simple matter of pride, but a matter of honor. If the rogues dared to make a proposal and the Duke epted it, that would be crossing the line. The other party knew that and answered right away. ¡°If His Highness the Dukees out to the middle with only his escort, we will act ordingly.¡± The rogues weren¡¯t stupid. Even if the duke didn¡¯t do anything against honor, the mercenaries following the duke could swing their swords at any time. To avoid such a situation, they had to meet each other in the middle, not in the enemy camp. The duke wouldn¡¯t do such a thing to his face. ???????????? ¡°What do you think will happen?¡± ¡°If he¡¯s a nobleman, he¡¯ll probably respond. Didn¡¯t they even say that they came for the holy war?¡± Lamar, one of the leaders of the rogues, was confident. The greater the nobleman, the more likely he was to respond to such a deal. A duke wouldn¡¯t just abandon the pilgrims like sheep. Besides, from what he had heard about the surrounding area, he seemed to be quite devout. Thanks to that, the heretics were afraid of him as a demon, but Lamar justughed at it. He would be more grateful than an angel if he didn¡¯t loot and kept his promise. He thought those guys were pretty cowardly, seeing that they called him a demon. ¡°Moving!¡± ¡°This is half of it. Things are going well!¡± Lamar and his men waited for Johan to arrive at the midpoint with expectant expressions. Soon, as Johan and his escorts arrived, they paid their respects politely. ¡°Your Highness the Duke. We, humble and lowly rogues, dare to meet Your Highness!¡± ¡°Why did you call me?¡± ¡°Yes! Compared to Your Highness¡¯s bountiful territory, it¡¯s nothing, but we live on this mountain as our territory. But sometimes, rude travelers try to pass through our territory without paying a single penny.¡± Lamar spoke politely but bluntly. ¡°Since the duke shares the same faith, wouldn¡¯t it be a wonderful thing if Your Highness the Duke paid the ransom for them. . .?¡± ¡°Why should I?¡± ¡°Yes! We won¡¯t charge you much. . . Huh?¡± ¡°Why should I pay?¡± Johan asked with pure curiosity. Then, Lamar was taken aback. He had been bargaining or making deals, but he didn¡¯t know anyone would ask, ¡®?????? ???????????? ?? ???????¡¯ ¡°Your Highness! You share the same faith!¡± ¡°I know. But why should I pay?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Lamar was speechless. He felt like he was looking at a human being who was doing something. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any thoughts of atonement?¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Huh. I see. The faith of Your Highness the Duke is only that much!¡± As Lamar was about to turn around, Johan called out. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± ¡®???? ????????????????, ????????¡¯?? ????!¡¯ Lamar turned his horse around, feeling the thrill of having a great nobleman. He pretended not to know and asked. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I have no intention of paying the ransom, but I have no intention of just letting them go.¡± ¡°What. . . What do you mean?¡± ¡°You said you¡¯re the leader of the rogues?¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m not good enough, but I¡¯m in that position.¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯ll be advantageous to negotiate if we catch them all.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Only then did Lamar¡¯splexion change drastically as he understood what the duke meant. Surprisingly, this duke was talking about catching his opponent at the negotiating table right now! ¡°Your Highness!! What is this dishonorable act that Your Highness the Duke is doing?! God is watching!¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯m ashamed. I¡¯ll make amends after I catch you all.¡± ¡°What kind of crazy b*stard is this?!¡± Lamar quickly drew his weapon. Lamar¡¯s men were also trying to take action in a hurry. Fortunately, the enemy¡¯s numbers were not many. . . At the moment of ¡®huh¡¯, the duke was already in front of him. As the duke, riding on arge ck horse, swung his weapon, two of his men fell sideways like straw. ¡°!!!¡± Chapter 286: ?????????????????? (4) Chapter 286: ?????????????????? (4) The rogues of the mountain were a group formed by rugged tribes, and it was not easy to y the role of leader among them. Only the strong, vicious and cautious could take on the role of leader. Among them, Lamar had served as a captain of the Eastern Empire¡¯s Ten Captains. Thanks to that, he did notck any of the virtues a warrior should have, such as spearmanship, swordsmanship, archery and horsemanship. However. . . ¡®???????? ???? ????????. . .?¡¯ The moment Lamar crossed weapons with the duke, he felt like he had be a young child. No matter how much strength he put in to push back, his opponent did not budge at all. It seemed it would have been better even if he was wielding weapons against a giant. Soon the duke pushed his weapon strongly. Lamar then helplessly tumbled off his horse. Lamar¡¯s face flushed deep red with humiliation. ¡°A b*stard who made a pact with such a demon!!¡± ¡°Yes, I heard a lot on my way here.¡±Without changing his expression, Johan took out a riding crop and whipped Lamar. Although the riding crop with its blunt and fast tip was quite a destructive weapon, it was decently endurable if it hit sturdy and thick armor. . . .Unless wielded by Johan, that is. A sound that could not be made by human strength rang out, and Lamar flew away screaming. The impact was so great that he could not even tell what he had been hit by. ¡°Catch him. We need to take him hostage.¡± ¡°As expected of Your Highness! We do not need to humor the tricks of these rogues!¡± From the moment Johan had brought the centaurs with him, the gang of rogues should have realized something was off. For the centaurs, who lived in the eastern ins by customs different from thews of civilization, deceiving tricks like this in negotiations with gangs of rogues was no big deal. Rather, this was proof of a clever leader with the head of a fox. ¡°Haa, haha, Y-Your Highness! Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?! Your god is watching!¡± As the regained Lamar shouted, Johanzily waved his hand in annoyance. ¡°Ah, I said I¡¯ll atone.¡± ¡°What do you. . .¡± ¡°I said I¡¯ll atone! Shut your mouth!¡± The centaurs immediately silenced Lamar¡¯s mouth. Lamar¡¯s face flushed red again. The shock of being captured was one thing, but the bigger shock was being toyed with so easily by the young duke he had looked down upon. Now that he saw him, far from being devout, he seemed to have the level of faith of a bandit! ¡°I wonder if they¡¯ll agree to exchange him for the pilgrims since he¡¯s the boss. What do you think?¡± ¡°That kind of guy tends to cherish those of the same tribe, so it may be possible, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes. I rmend severing some fingers and sending them over first. Then they¡¯ll grasp the situation as well.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The captured rogues rolled their eyes in horror at the centaurs¡¯ conversation. Just because they were of the Eastern Empire, the centaurs did not have a good image. The nomadic centaurs, who woulde rushing in like a storm from afar, ravage thend, and disappear were an object of fear to all civilizations. ¡°Do you have something to say?¡± ¡°Leave him be until he loses his strength. He¡¯ll just spout nonsense like sphemy anyway.¡± ¡°He must think he¡¯s some priest! Hahaha!¡± Seeing the prisoners loaded onto horses and chatting away, they looked more like the rogues rather than the captives. Lamar and his men were dragged away feeling dreadful. ???????????? More people than Johan had expected were heading east. Numerous monks and pdin orders had joined the journey, both to protect the people and to make the pilgrimage themselves. Among them were Halzedel and the Three Brothers Order of chivalry, gathered before the ck Mountains. ¡°We must rescue the captured pilgrims, by all means.¡± ¡°O. . . Over there?¡± ¡°Yes. Halzedel-nim.¡± ¡®????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????¡¯ Halzedel felt very ufortable with the attention he was receiving. Of all the monotheists gathered here, Halzedel was the one with the highest status, at least in terms of the Empire¡¯s hierarchy. He had yet to be a baron, but he at least had the title of feudal lord of the Empire. That¡¯s why the monks in the Three Brothers Order of chivalry, as well as the other pilgrims, respected Halzedel. However, Halzedel was not from a noble family with deep roots. He was an impoverished noble who had gotten lucky and earned his title during the recent serf rebellion in the south. During the rebellion, he had no fear and went around calling himself a duke, but as soon as the rebellion ended, he kept his mouth shut and paid close attention to the opinions of those around him. Thanks to this, he was able to save his own life, earn a title, and lead an expedition to the east. . . But he was no fool. He had led mercenaries into battle on several asions and had actualbat experience. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????????????????? ?? ??????????. . .¡¯ On the way here, he had heard rumors that the bandits holding their ground in the ck Mountains hadn¡¯t been subdued even by the sultan¡¯s forces. When he saw it for himself, he understood why. The terrain itself served as a natural fortress. But the fanatical pdins didn¡¯t care. They believed in their faith and their steel, and they were ready to charge up the mountain. From Halzedel¡¯s point of view, it was a spine-chilling proposal. ¡°Halzedel-nim. We absolutely cannot!¡± ¡°I know that, wizard. But look at the atmosphere. If we refuse them outright, they¡¯ll all leave.¡± Bolts, who had acted as Halzedel¡¯s philosopher since the rebellion, whispered, but Halzedel couldn¡¯t help it. A well-armed pdin who had trained at a monastery for a long time was worth ten mercenaries, at least. If he could travel with them, he needed to do whatever it took to keep them happy. The good news was that they had some acquaintance with Baron Serderdits, who was called a saint in the order. Thanks to that friendship, he had been able to get close to the order of chivalry and the pilgrims and travel with them. . . But if he didn¡¯t participate in the attack this time, theirpanionship would surelye to an end. ¡°Captain. How about we make an excuse and wait until the Saint arrives? We can stall for time, and things might change once he gets here.¡± ¡°. . .No. That¡¯s even more dangerous.¡± It was tempting, but Halzedel shook his head vehemently. He knew very well just how terrifying the Baron Julienne called the Saint could be. He seemed gentle and harmless on the surface, but when he received a revtion, he would charge forward without hesitation, even if it meant crawling through a pit of fire. Sometimes, when things worked out incredibly well, it seemed like he really was receiving divine revtions, but he was still human, and he couldn¡¯t help but be afraid. Just being near him made him feel like he might die a horrible death. That¡¯s why he had made up an excuse to get out of this expedition. . . ¡°Given his abilities, he might arrive sooner than we think. We can say no now, but once he gets here, we won¡¯t be able to.¡± ¡°Why not? How many of your men will actually listen to you, Captain!¡± ¡°You say that because you¡¯ve never seen a baron. His charm is almost like that of a malevolent spirit.¡± At Halzedel¡¯s words, Bolts nodded repeatedly. Even Bolts, who considered himself a wizard, had never seen anything like it. Those fierce and greedy mercenaries, bandits, wanderers, and beggars would nod their heads with possessed looks on their faces and do whatever the Saint told them to. It was a truly devout and terrifying sight. ¡°Let¡¯s just join them and y it by ear. They¡¯ll take the lead!¡± ¡°Wizard.¡± Bolts tensed up when Halzedel¡¯s voice dropped. Had he gone too far with his suggestion, even for a master wizard? ¡°That¡¯s a wonderful idea!¡± ¡°I knew you¡¯d be pleased!¡± When Halzedel ryed the message, the pdins nodded eagerly. Preparations continued for several days, and once they wereplete, the attack began. The pdins of the Three Brothers Order of chivalry were truly fearsome. They wore twoyers of heavy chain mail and carried shields and swords in their hands, yet they moved with ease. They didn¡¯t retreat, even when arrows rained down on them like a hailstorm. They ended up with more than ten arrows embedded in their bodies. Despite this, capturing the fortress was not easy. ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????!¡¯ Halzedel gulped. Even from where he was standing at the back, he could sense how thorough their preparations were. ¡°Lord!! Requesting reinforcements. They said to send them immediately!¡± ¡°I. . . I know. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± ¡°Lord. You need to give the order right now!¡± The pdin spoke in a forceful voice. His tone was polite, but it wasced with killing intent. Only a grand feudal lord known far and wide would make the monks pretend to die. A feudal lord who ruled some small town in the middle of nowhere in the Empire didn¡¯t have much influence in these distant easternnds. Halzedel had a gut feeling that if he dyed any longer, the pdins might attack them first. ¡°At. . . Attack! Attack! Sound the horn!¡± At Halzedel¡¯smand, the soldiers of mercenary origin charged forward. At that moment, bandits with ck gs ambushed them from both sides, shouting. Halzedel felt his vision go ck. ¡®????, ??????!¡¯ To be surrounded in this situation, of all times. Now he had to figure out how to escape. ¡°Reinforcements are here!!¡± ¡°Reinforcements? Where? Why??¡± Halzedel asked in confusion. There was nowhere reinforcements coulde from. And that¡¯s the opposite direction. . .? ???????????? After experiencing the various torture techniques of the Western Empire, Lamar from the Eastern Empire became very meek and cooperative. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°I swear on my name that it is, Your Highness!¡± The ragged Lamar spoke urgently. And what Johan had asked him was something he didn¡¯t need to hide anyway. The fortresses throughout the ck Mountains couldn¡¯t be captured just by knowing their locations. They were situated on such steep cliffs. ¡°I¡¯d like to exchange you for the pilgrims. What do you think?¡± ¡°If you do that, Your Highness¡¯s generous and merciful grace will spread throughout this region for all eternity!¡± A centaur who had been listening nearby eximed in admiration. ¡°Wow. He¡¯s really good with words. Why wasn¡¯t he like that when we first captured him?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Lamar cursed the centaurs in his heart, but he kept his mouth shut on the outside. He had to stay alive, after all. ¡°Very well. Go and demand negotiations.¡± ¡°What if they refuse the exchange?¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s just execute him and go back. I don¡¯t feel like climbing up that cliff to save the pilgrims.¡± Lamar almost screamed at Johan¡¯s words. How was this devout believer acting? ¡°Send a messenger and make them agree to negotiations.¡± The messenger ran off and quickly returned, looking resentful. ¡°They¡¯re telling us to get lost!¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°Ah, no! There¡¯s a misunderstanding!¡± Lamar shouted hastily. Fortunately, the messenger continued speaking. ¡°They¡¯re in the middle of a battle, so they must be noisy!¡± Caenerna spoke up at his words. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just take over now, while we have the chance?¡± ¡°Now?¡± ¡°They¡¯re bandits, no matter how disciplined they are. They won¡¯t be able to handle an attack from both sides. I¡¯ll summon spirits and burn down the obstacles in our way.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Johan looked at Caenerna with an unreadable expression. Caenerna spoke in a slightly irritated voice. ¡°Surely you¡¯re not worried that I won¡¯t be able to do it, Your Highness?¡± ¡°I was worried that you might overexert yourself and hurt yourself.¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s. . .¡± Just as Caenerna was about to say thank you with an embarrassed expression, Suetlg cut her off. ¡°Caenerna-gong, I¡¯ll pour water on you if you go berserk, so go ahead. We can¡¯t miss our chance to attack by surprise.¡± ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s do it.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna started to curse, but then she stopped. If she lost control of her spirits, the most reliable person was Suetlg. ???????????? ¡®????. ???????????? ??????. ?????? ??????????. . .¡¯ Lamar, who had been watching anxiously, felt the back of his neck stiffen with anger when he saw the duke¡¯s g go up over the fortress. Even they wouldn¡¯t be able to take a fortress, right? ¡°What the hell are those good-for-nothing b*stards doing, getting caught in a surprise attack like that?!!¡± The centaurs, who had been guarding them in the Easternnguage, asked fiercely. ¡°Hey, thief. What are you bbering about?¡± ¡°L. . . Long live His Highness the duke.¡± Chapter 287: ?????????????????? (5) Chapter 287: ?????????????????? (5) ¡°He sure knows a thing or two, huh.¡± Fortunately, the Centaurs were easy to get past. They weren¡¯t particrly interested in Lamar. Lamar¡¯s insides were burning. ¡®???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ?????????????? ????????. . .¡¯ In order to negotiate on equal terms with these westerners, he needed to take the initiative. Like other invaders who had lost their entire army in their attempt to conquer a single fortress, this foreign duke would have suffered the same fate. And yet, in less than a day, the g hanging from the fortress had changed. ???????????? Striking when the enemy is weakened is the basic principle of strategy. In that sense, Johan¡¯s surprise attack had aimed for the most opportune moment.The rogue gangs of the ck Mountains were half a beatte in their response to the surprise attack. If it were not for their sturdy fortress, they would have been able to hold out even if they were a bitte, but this foreign duke, just as the rumors said, was ferocious as if he had made a pact with a demon. ¡°The gate is open! Charge!¡± At Johan¡¯smand, the knights leading the charge rallied the soldiers with their battle cries. The veteran mercenaries gripped their weapons tightly and rushed forward. Despite the sea of fire in front of them caused by Caenerna¡¯s mes, the mercenaries paid it no heed. ¡°Ugh. . . gah.¡± As Caenerna faltered, Johan swept her up in one arm like a sack of potatoes. Having Johan protect her with Agnar¡¯s Shield was better than having the others escort her. Of course, being swung around like a sack of potatoes was not exactly wee by Caenerna. ¡°Ugh. . . ugh.¡± She wanted to tell him to put her down, but she was too exhausted from summoning the spirits. Johan nodded as if he understood what Caenerna was saying. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Caenerna-gong. I¡¯ll stop you if you go berserk.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna went limp. She thought it might be better to just faint. ¡°Intruders! To the south!!¡± ¡°The knights are inside!¡± Although Johan¡¯s light had not faded, the knights following him were no slouches. Each of them was a knight capable of fulfilling their duty. Those riding horses charged right into the fortress, wielding their spears and bludgeons to strike down the rogues, who fell one after another. ¡°There¡¯s a barricade. Bluea-nim!¡± ¡°Prepare to charge. Break through!¡± Iselia led the elven cavalry in a dazzling performance. Iselia, who came from a family of elven knights, and the elves who, although not knights, were from the kingdom, were of one mind. If Johan had seen it, he would have told them to stop acting so recklessly, but the elves charged forward regardless. The rogues¡¯ barricade was the first to crumble under their mad charge. ¡°Raise the g! Block the escape routes so the rogues can¡¯t get away!¡± Captain Mackald of the dwarven mercenaries approached Johan, who had arrived a littleter, and spoke cautiously. ¡°Your Highness, how about giving the ve soldiers Your Highness raised a chance?¡± Those under Johan¡¯smand were of different races and origins, but they had one thing inmon. They were all warlike and thought of themselves as the best. In such circumstances, when a fight ensued, they did not willingly concede credit to others. Thanks to this, the ve soldiers Johan had trained in the fiefdom had not had a chance to step forward. Unlike the others, their status was much lower. Normally, they would have to step forward and volunteer, but only those close to Johan could do that. The ve soldiers did not have the courage to do so. ¡°. . .I see. Mackald. Thank you for letting me know.¡± ¡°No! I am unworthy of Your Highness¡¯s praise.¡± Even though he had be a duke, Johan¡¯s attitude had not changed. Mackald was taken aback by the duke¡¯s readiness to express his gratitude. ¡°Send a signal to the ve soldiers in the rear to advance. I want to see how they handle the remaining rogues.¡± ¡°Ugh. . . ugh.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Caenerna. I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t get hit by any stray arrows.¡± ©¥??????????. . .? The wolf growled questioningly from the side, but Johan did not understand the signal. ???????????? ¡°Our chance has finallye!¡± Sub-captain Bars shouted, ring ahead. The ve soldiers behind him had a fierce look in their eyes. The ve soldiers, who had been captured at an age where it wouldn¡¯t be strange to call them young, or even children, had no particr attachment to their life as pirates. Compared to being used asborers or cannon fodder, it was much better to have a proper meal in the duke¡¯s court. Many of them had never even tasted meat before, so there was no need to say more. And among them, there were some who were particrly ambitious and capable. Those who dreamed of rising in status by catching the master¡¯s eye. Those people were chosen from among the ve soldiers and given the rank of captain or sub-captain. ¡°Let¡¯s show the mercenary b*stards what we¡¯re capable of!¡± ¡°Why are vampires serving here??!¡± The rogues were bewildered by the strangeposition of their enemies. Vampires were a race that was usually only seen in the East. And yet, they were mixed in here and there. . . Johan, who was holding Caenerna instead of a weapon, eximed in admiration. ¡°They fight better than I thought?¡± ¡°We spent that much money on them, so they¡¯d better not suck if they want to keep their heads.¡± Suetlg said as if it were a matter of course. Having some involvement in the finances, he knew how much money the ve soldiers had consumed. The rogues, who were unaware of this, were amazed that the duke had gone so far as to bring in Easterners to serve him. If they were captured and forced to do this, there would be no reason for them to fight so hard. ¡°That one is Bars. He¡¯s strong, fast, and skilled with the sword. He¡¯s a natural leader.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°That one is ngka. She¡¯s apparently so talented with the bow that even the Centaurs were impressed. Her ability to remain calm in any situation is a major advantage.¡± ¡°. . .Aren¡¯t they a little too good though?¡± Johan asked Suetlg, looking slightly bewildered. Suetlg retorted as if he couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with them being good? Do you want them to be bad?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. . . Isn¡¯t this the East? It¡¯s their hometown too. If they¡¯re too good, it¡¯ll be hard to suppress them if they rebel.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg was lost for words. Is he really worried about such nonsense when there¡¯s nothing else to worry about? Considering that most of them were pirates who had been captured, if Johan treated them better than just giving them a moldy piece of bread and whipping them, they would develop a loyalty that they never had before. And yet, this duke seemed to have forgotten how much money he had spent. What rebellion is he talking about? ¡°Do you understand how ridiculous that sounds?¡± ¡°Ah. I understand.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯m d.¡± ¡°Instead of preparing for a rebellion, shouldn¡¯t we be trying to prevent one from happening in the first ce by cating them? With appropriate rewards?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg pped his forehead. Come to think of it, the ve soldiers werergely to me for this misunderstanding. Because they were so stiff in front of Johan, they couldn¡¯t even speak properly, which led the duke to misunderstand them like this. ¡°Rewards. . . are not a bad idea.¡± However, it was not a bad idea to give them rewards. After all, those who were already loyal would be even more grateful if they were rewarded. ¡°Their loyalty is several times stronger than Your Excellency thinks, so why don¡¯t you try talking to them?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one who answers me properly when I talk to them. . .¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s something Your Highness will have to figure out with Your Highness¡¯s abilities.¡± The ve soldiers were from the East, so their customs were more extreme when dealing with their superiors. Add Johan¡¯s reputation to that, and there were hardly any who spoke to him properly. In the midst of their conversation, the battle came to an end. It seemed that the ve soldiers had captured thest remaining building. ???????????? ¡°It¡¯s the duke¡¯s g!¡± The pdins were the first to recognize Johan¡¯s g. It was a crest that anyone with a strong faith would recognize. The rogues, who had been trying to surround them from both sides, were thrown into a panic when the fortress behind them was captured. They copsed one by one and tried to flee. ¡°Praise be to Your Highness the duke! May the glory of God be with you!¡± ¡°May the glory of God be with you!¡± ¡°Halzedel-nim! Let¡¯s go together!¡± ¡°W-Where are we going?¡± Halzedel, still bewildered, asked in a panic. The pdin replied with an expression that said he couldn¡¯t believe he was hearing such a stupid question. ¡°To see His Highness the duke! Shouldn¡¯t we thank him for this?¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± Halzedel came to his senses in the midst of the confusion. The pdins, priests, and pilgrims of the Three Orders of Knights here would have no qualms about meeting the duke. Of course. They had done nothing wrong, and they had nothing to lose. The duke, too, was a man of deep faith and would surely wee them warmly. But what about Halzedel himself? ¡®???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????????¡¯ Of course, he was a proper feudal lord of the Empire, but he was a former rebel leader who had stolen his position. While he was holed up in his fiefdom, everyone left him alone because it would be a big loss toy siege to him, but he didn¡¯t know if they would leave him alone if he went outside. He didn¡¯t mind being ridiculed or insulted for his origins. Halzedel could tolerate that much. What he was more afraid of was being taken prisoner. This was a distantnd in the East, and the duke had both the power and the justification to capture Halzedel. If he were to be captured, his fiefdom would be taken away as ransom. . . ¡°Halzedel-nim. It will cause problems if you insist on seeing His Highness the duke.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I just say I was injured?¡± ¡°How can you say that when there are so many priests? If they find out you¡¯re lying, it will be even worse!¡± Bolts was right. That¡¯s why it was even more frustrating. ¡°If I go. . . and get caught. . .¡± ¡°D-Don¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°Then can you swear on your life that that won¡¯t happen?¡± ¡°Y-You¡¯re going too far.¡± ¡°Dammit.¡± ¡°Halzedel-nim. You should show as much piety as possible. That¡¯s the only way you have a chance.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Halzedel scratched his neck with his gauntleted hand and nodded reluctantly. It felt like he was walking into a monster¡¯sir naked. ???????????? ¡°W-What about the weapon?¡± ¡°Were you nning to go see His Highness the duke with a weapon in your hand?!¡± The pdin looked at Halzedel with the eyes of a madman. Halzedel hated these pdins even more than the duke. Even though they had fought and traveled together, shoulder to shoulder, they didn¡¯t take his side at all. ¡°But. . . something might happen. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. His Highness the duke may be a generous man, but he is not one to let his honor be insulted.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± There were few people who could win an argument with priests. Halzedel gave up and left his weapon. The inside of the fortress was in disarray, but it was already being cleaned up. The ck Mountains rogues who had been captured as new prisoners were tied up tightly, and Johan¡¯s men were searching the fortress to check for any treasures that had been missed. ¡°As much as possible, don¡¯t kill the newly captured ones so that we can exchange them for hostages.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Release the prisoners from the West who were being held captive, and leave the rest alone for now. We will verify their identities and release them.¡± The young duke, who had been giving orders, turned his head at the approach of the guests. Johan got off his horse and spread his arms to wee the pdins. ¡°I am so happy to see my brothers in faith in this distantnd!¡± Johan embraced and greeted the pdins without caring about their dirt and dust. The pdins were moved to tears. ¡°I have heard much about Your Highness the duke, but now I realize that the rumors were too humble!¡± ¡°Do not make me arrogant. Look here. Make a ce for these brave knights to rest.¡± Johan stopped speaking and looked at Halzedel. It was natural to be curious about him since his attire was different from the pdins¡¯. The pdins, who noticed Johan¡¯s gaze, spoke first. ¡°This is Lord Halzedel.¡± ¡°Halzedel. . . Halzedel??¡± Johan looked at Halzedel as if he had just remembered something. ¡°Ah. Duke Halzedel?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Halzedel¡¯s brow beaded with sweat as he thought about how the duke knew about the title he had given himself during the rebellion. Bolts, who was standing next to him, was deep in thought about whether or not to abandon his current lord. Chapter 288: ?????????????????? (6) Chapter 288: ?????????????????? (6) ¡°No. . . No, that¡¯s not true.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you a duke? I heard you were a duke?¡± ¡°M-Me acting so presumptuously? That¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± The gazes from the other pdins and priests were even hotter than Johan¡¯s. It was the first time they had heard that Halzedel had called himself the duke during the rebellion. ¡°Is that so? I guess I misheard.¡± It was fortunate for Halzedel. Johan was not very interested in Halzedel. If it had been another Grand Duke, they would have been offended just by sitting in the same ce as someone who had acted so presumptuously, but Johan did not care much about what other people called themselves. He wouldn¡¯t have cared even if Halzedel had imed the title of emperor. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve had a hard time, too.¡±¡°No! How can you call it hardship when it¡¯s a devotion for God?¡± Halzedel gave a model answer. The pdins next to him nodded in satisfaction, but strangely, the duke¡¯s eyes seemed to have cooled slightly. ¡®??-????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????????¡¯ Halzedel was a little flustered. The duke¡¯s expression had already returned to normal, so he couldn¡¯t tell, but he felt like he had made a mistake. That would have been an answer that a devout duke would have definitely liked. . .? ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????? ??*??????????.¡¯ Johan did not hate devout people, but having devout people around him always gave Johan a headache. He wondered if it was because he saw the pdins and pilgrims together, but it was as he had expected. Of course, he was a guy who had participated in the rebellion caused by the saint, so it would have been stranger if he wasn¡¯t a fanatic. ¡°The hospitality is poor, but please take a break. Let¡¯s talk again after we finish cleaning up the fortress.¡± ¡°Y-Yes!¡± Halzedel heaved a sigh of relief. He had saved his life for the time being, but it was still too early to let his guard down. He never knew when an usation against Halzedel mighte in. If someone who knew him well told the duke, ¡®???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????,¡¯ he could lose his head with just a word. Fortunately, the people here were pdins and pilgrims. . . ¡°You¡¯re really lucky.¡± ¡°I know. Here. Take this.¡± Bolts received what Halzedel fumbled to take out and handed it to him, looking puzzled. ¡°What is this. . .?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a prayer book. Let¡¯s kneel down and pray together.¡± Already, some of the pilgrims were settling down in a corner of the fortress and preparing to pray. Halzedel and Bolts sat down and began to pray together. He didn¡¯t know how effective this would be, but it was better than doing nothing. ???????????? Sub-Captain Bars searched the fortress thoroughly. Starting from the basement of the warehouse to the secret space where the leader of the rogues lived. ¡°There¡¯s a silver ne here!¡± ¡°Are you going to offer that now? Keep looking!¡± Of course, something like a silver ne was a huge ie for the ve soldiers, but Bars was not looking for such spoils of war right now. He was looking for something to offer to His Highness the Duke. ¡®???????? ????. ?? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?? ?????? ?????????? ??????????! ??????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°It seems like they¡¯re also searching over there?¡± Bars¡¯ eyes shed with sparks as he saw nka searching another building. They could tell what each other was thinking. ¡°Keep looking!¡± ¡°But Bars. It doesn¡¯te out just because you¡¯re looking for it.¡± ¡°How about these books?¡± ¡°Will those books be worth anything! You idiots!¡± At Bars¡¯ scolding, his subordinates looked away as if embarrassed. Still, some of them packed the books, thinking that they should take them at least. They had been ordered to scrape up as much as possible and offer it. ¡°Bars. There¡¯s someone here?¡± Bars went inside the room after hearing his subordinate¡¯s words. There were several members of the vampire race like Bars. They all had frightened expressions, but they were trying their best not to tremble. ¡°They¡¯re not tied up, so they must be servants, not hostages.¡± ¡°Could they be hostages?¡± One of the subordinates said with regret. If they were hostages, they could get a high ransom. Bars clicked his tongue at those words and said. ¡°Where are the hostages wearing such shabby clothes? Expensive hostages are treated well even if they are captured.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Drag them out.¡± After that, Bars continued to search diligently with his subordinates. However, nothing special came out. ???????????? ¡°You¡¯ve had a hard time.¡± ¡°No, Master! I apologize for not finding anything proper.¡± ¡°The purpose was to upy the fortress, not to loot it. It doesn¡¯t have to be that much.¡± Johan had to work hard to calm the ve soldiers. There was a bit of a fanatical aspect to it as he tried to get Johan¡¯s attention every time he did something. ¡°Are those the new hostages?¡± ¡°They seem to be the servants of the fortress.¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s strange. Bring them over for a moment.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Bars brought the newly found servants with a puzzled look. Johan looked them up and down and said. ¡°Their fingertips are too soft and clean to be servants. Aren¡¯t they hostages?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Bars¡¯ face turned red with shame and guilt. Johan said hurriedly. ¡°Who found those guys?¡± ¡°Me and my men. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Isn¡¯t that your achievement? It¡¯s okay to be proud. Here.¡± Johan handed Bars one of the decent swords he got from the fortress. Bars was moved and said, trembling. ¡°I will cherish it for the rest of my life!¡± ¡°. . .Keep in mind that a sword can easily be ruined if it¡¯s not handled properly.¡± Johan calmed Bars and his men and sent them away. As Suetlg said, the ve soldiers did not have much dissatisfaction. Rather, it was the opposite, and it was embarrassing. ¡°What is your status?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°I already confirmed earlier that you¡¯re not deaf. I wish you would answer.¡± Even at Johan¡¯s words, the captured people remained silent. He asked in Eastern, so it¡¯s not like they couldn¡¯t understand what he was saying. ¡°If you hand them over to me, I¡¯ll make them talk right away.¡± ¡°They seem to be of a noble status, so that¡¯s a bit. . .¡± Judging from their appearance, they seemed to be servants and ves of nobles. It was clear that some of them had not done any hard work, as their fingertips were soft and clean. There is a reason why people of noble status do not wear fancy clothes and hide themselves. ¡°I wonder if they might have tried to hide themselves in reverse because they were of high status.¡± ¡°That sounds usible.¡± Suetlg nodded as if he thought Johan¡¯s words made sense. There is always a reason when customs differ from usual. Since there was a possibility that they were expensive, Johan wanted to talk without shedding blood if possible, but the other party did not cooperate. The captains from the republic insisted firmly. ¡°There is a way to make them talk without shedding blood. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s just a y on words.¡± ¡°How about calling Vaytar and having him talk to them?¡± ¡°Who is Vaytar? Is he a ve soldier?¡± ¡°. . .He¡¯s the son of Yeheyman and a nobleman from the East.¡± The republican captains, who hated the Easterners, sympathized with Vaytar for the first time this time. No matter what, he must have been upset that the duke didn¡¯t even remember his name. ¡°Ah. . . right. That¡¯s a usible suggestion. Call Vaytar.¡± ???????????? Vaytar was sure that his skills were needed when he was summoned. Giving a captive a de and letting him go on a dangerous mission could be considered an abuse, but it was possible given the rtionship of mutual respect they shared. ¡°But master, isn¡¯t the battle over?¡± ¡°The duke probably intends to continue to the other fortresses atop the mountain.¡± The ve overseer sensed something was amiss, and his premonition was on point. ¡°Ah, you came.¡± ¡°What. . . did you call me for?¡± ¡°I have a hostage here who won¡¯t open their mouths, so I called you here thinking you might be able to make them open up since you¡¯re from an eastern noble family.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Vaytar¡¯s face turned gloomy. The ve overseer wanted to say, ¡¯???????? ?????? ?? ???????? ??????,¡¯ but stopped. His master was in a serious funk. ¡°You call me to open the mouth of a mere merchant! Even a mercenary could do. . .¡± The ve overseer grew anxious as Vaytar muttered and grumbled. The duke knew easternnguages, so acting like that was dangerous. Fortunately, the duke simply watched without saying anything. It was a difference in degree. ¡°. . .¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t you doing anything?¡± Johan was puzzled when Vaytar froze after looking at the hostage. The republican captain standing next to him cracked a joke. ¡°Is it his mother?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°. . .W-What?! Really?!¡± The republican captain was shocked by Vaytar¡¯s response. Vaytar spoke as if he was annoyed. ¡°No, you imbeciles! She¡¯s one of the sultan¡¯s harem. The Valide Sultan! Do you not know what the Valide Sultan is?¡± One of the captains fumbled to recall. ¡°The Valide Sultan, that¡¯s. . . it¡¯s a title for a concubine who has borne a child to the sultan, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a pretty high position, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It varies, actually.¡± The captain trailed off subtly. Among the western countries, the republic was one of the few that was well-informed about the affairs of the Eastern Empire. Naturally, the captain was somewhat knowledgeable about the Eastern Empire as well. The harem where the sultan¡¯s concubines lived was a treasure trove of information, and republican merchants often bribed their way in to deliver goods. Having a child by the sultan would seem like an extremely high position, but it depended on the situation and circumstance. How many children did the sultan have? What was the concubine¡¯s own family background? Did the sultan favor the concubine? And so on. ¡°I hear the sultan has over a hundred children.¡± ¡°A hundred? That seems a bit excessive.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably an exaggeration, but he does have that many children. And if you¡¯re a favorite, it¡¯s hard to leave the sultan¡¯s harem. The fact that she¡¯s here in these mountains suggests she may have been exiled because the sultan grew tired of her.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Johan nodded at the captain¡¯s exnation. If she really had power, she wouldn¡¯t need to hide herself in ragged clothes and would be leading troops instead. That¡¯s why she was in this state. Johan spoke to Vaytar. ¡°Ask her why she won¡¯t talk to me.¡± Vaytar ryed the words, and the response was something Johan could understand. ¡°. . .T-That if I were to converse with one who has made a deal with a demon, my soul may be taken. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard it, no need to repeat it.¡± Johan wasn¡¯t surprised at this point, but the others present red at the sultan¡¯s concubine in anger. ¡°That¡¯s the nonsense of an ignorant pagan. Don¡¯t mind it. Vaytar, try to convince her so she doesn¡¯t get scared. I need to ask her about her family.¡± ¡°No. . .¡± Vaytar was bewildered. He was a warrior who roamed the seas, not someone who could gently coax reason. As if on cue, the baby the concubine was carrying began to cry. Vaytar looked at his ve overseer, unsure of what to do. ¡°H-Hey.¡± ¡°M-Master, I¡¯ve served you loyally all my life, but you know I¡¯m not cut out for looking after babies.¡± The two easterners were in a bind, and the captains behind them were awkwardly taken aback by the untimely crying. Johan clicked his tongue and pushed them aside. ¡°Move, I¡¯ll do it myself. You¡¯re both useless.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Vaytar felt wronged, but he had nothing to say. Johan took out a silver and gold coin and simply opened and closed his hand. The coins instantly disappeared. It was a simple magic trick. He had seen assassins conceal muchrger weaponry than this, so it wasn¡¯t much of a feat. However, it was apparently impressive enough for the baby. It stopped crying and pped its hands. ¡°A-Ah. . . the magic of a demon?¡± ¡°. . .If a demon were to work magic, it would be something far more horrifying than this. Mdy.¡± Chapter 289: ?????????????????? (7) Chapter 289: ?????????????????? (7) Whether the counterpart believed Johan or was just pretending to do so out of fear, the Sultan¡¯s imperial concubine opened her mouth. ¡°W-What do you. . . n to do with us?¡± She had a frightened expression, but her conduct was graceful. As she was tall and slender, she looked dignified even when she was silent, and seeing her conduct, the captains standing behind her were slightly impressed. ¡°I won¡¯t do anything in particr. I¡¯ll release you safely once I receive the ransom. Which family are you from? I want to send a messenger to collect the ransom.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not from a noble family.¡± Johanughed as if her answer was ridiculous. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense.¡± ¡°Your Highness. That¡¯s. . . possible. Not all members of the Sultan¡¯s harem are from noble families.¡± ¡°Really?¡±Johan was slightly shocked. He had thought that since she was called the Sultan¡¯s imperial concubine, she would have to be at least from a noble family, even if her family was poor. Bute to think of it, there would be ves working in the Sultan¡¯s harem, so their backgrounds could be very humble. He had heard that eunuchs sometimes kidnapped people from outside and brought them in to gain favor with the Sultan. . . ¡°Then, do you not have a family who will pay the ransom?¡± ¡°. . .Yes.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The captains felt troubled when Johan seemed to be at a loss, having never encountered this situation before, so the captain standing behind him gave him a piece of advice. ¡°Send a messenger to the Sultan and have him pay the ransom. They will pay the ransom from the Sultan¡¯s harem.¡± ¡°Oh. Is that possible?¡± ¡°I apologize. . . I have been exiled. I don¡¯t think the Sultan will pay my ransom.¡± Only then did the captains frown, remembering that the imperial concubine was exiled. ¡°Then, what should we do?¡± ¡°Do we need to keep an infidel who doesn¡¯t even pay the ransom alive? Let¡¯s execute her.¡± ¡°Execute her. . .¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she the Sultan¡¯s blood? Just thinking about what the Sultan did to us makes my teeth grind, why bother treating someone of such low status who can¡¯t even pay a ransom?¡± The imperial concubine¡¯s pale face turned even paler at the captains¡¯ conversation. The content of their conversation was rather gruesome, as expected of infidels from the West. ¡®???? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ????????????????.¡¯ She kept her mouth shut, but judging from her expression, she understood thenguage of the West. Johan, who had been listening in silence, opened his mouth. ¡°Alright. Stop it. There¡¯s no need to create unnecessary grudges.¡± ¡°Your Highness. The Sultan has so many concubines and children, so do you think he¡¯ll care about one of them. . .¡± ¡°In any case, I won¡¯t kill her myself.¡± Johan had no hobby of killing people who had nothing to do with his grudges, not even for a single silver coin. The captains nodded. The imperial concubine was surprised and relieved at his words. She had heard many rumors about the Duke, describing him as the most devilish being among the bandits or the people of the nearby tribes, so she hadn¡¯t known that he would save her life. ¡°Then, will you release me?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Johan hesitated. It might not seem like a big deal to take care of a few more mouths, but he needed to treat nobles differently. Nobles who couldn¡¯t pay the ransom had to be either released quickly or executed. The imperial concubine wanted to ask him to let her stay, but she didn¡¯t dare to do so and held back. She was exiled, and she had lost all of her remaining wealth to the bandits. She was more likely to die on her way to the exile site. If she could be guaranteed safety, it might be better for her and her child to stay with the Duke¡¯s army. ¡°Even if you can¡¯t pay the ransom now, there maye a time when I can use her. Treat her as a hostage.¡± ¡°Yes. Understood.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± The imperial concubine bowed her head with a moved expression. Unlike the rumors spread by bandits or the people of the tribes, the Duke was much more generous and lenient than she had thought. Of course, Johan was struggling inwardly. ¡®??¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????. . .¡¯ No matter how much silver poured out of his fiefdom, silver coins never lost their value. Johan hoped that this decision would benefit him a little bitter on. ???????????? While Johan¡¯s army was preparing to move and get settled in the fortress at the bottom of the mountain range, a muchrgermotion was taking ce higher up. No army had ever managed to capture the fortress before and had to retreat, yet these foreigners from afar took it with such ease. ¡°What the hell were the guys in the fortress doing?! They just gave it to some guys who don¡¯t even know the geography around here!¡± ¡°Now is not the time to find out who¡¯s to me. The situation is more severe than we thought, your excellency! ording to the rumors going around, the army led by the foreign duke isn¡¯t your average bunch of soldiers. What if he decides to take over this entire mountain range?¡± ¡°Why would a pagan from the west go through all that trouble? He¡¯ll back out soon enough!¡± One of the rogue leaders made an optimistic prediction, but another quickly shot him down. ¡°If he was going to back out soon, he wouldn¡¯t have taken the fortress in the first ce! There¡¯s a reason why so many pilgrims get captured in these mountains and have to pay a ransom to get out.¡± ¡°Groan!¡± The rogues groaned. Who would have thought that what they thought was a profitable business would turn into such a huge disaster? ¡°Even Lamar got captured. . .¡± ¡°Lamar¡¯s tribal warriors are strongly requesting that we do something. If we fail to save Lamar, his tribesmen might defect.¡± The rogues of the ck Mountains might have looked like one group from the outside, but on the inside, they were a collection of different tribes who had fled to the mountains. Their leaders could be considered the chieftains of each tribe. As such, they couldn¡¯t just abandon Lamar. ¡°Why the hell did Lamar get captured in the first ce? Lamar isn¡¯t the kind of guy who¡¯d get captured so easily.¡± The leaders knew of Lamar¡¯s strength, so they were even more puzzled. ¡°Did the duke set up a trap?¡± ¡°No. I checked the rumors, and the duke isn¡¯t that kind of guy. He¡¯s a monotheist who¡¯s obsessed with honor and keeping his word.¡± ¡°What about the rumors that he¡¯s made a pact with a demon?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just nonsense that the fools at the bottom of the mountain are spreading. They would see any monotheist as a demon. Logically speaking, if he made a pact with a demon, how could he have be a duke?¡± ¡°Looks like Lamar did something to get himself caught. Or maybe it was one of Lamar¡¯s men.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound like something Lamar would do, so it¡¯s probably one of his men. Looks like he paid the price for not managing his men properly.¡± The leaders clicked their tongues. If Lamar had heard them, he would have been furious, but they didn¡¯t suspect Johan because of the rumors they had heard from the pilgrims and others. ¡°Take out your coins. We have to make a decision.¡± The leaders took out coins. The front side represented battle, and the back side represented negotiation. And everyone¡¯s coinnded on the back side. ¡°Unanimous decision. Send a messenger down.¡± The pilgrims were expensive, but they didn¡¯t mind if they could get Lamar and the fortress back. It was an unusually gentle proposal from the normally belligerent rogues of the ck Mountains. The other tribes would have been shocked if they had heard. ¡°We might get chased away in anger if we just send a messenger to those guys from the west.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Then let¡¯s also pick someone to go down with the messenger. Take out your coins.¡± ???????????? ¡°The emissaries will be here soon for the negotiations.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Johan looked out over the mountain range from the fortress. They had taken a fortress, but the mountain range was still dauntingly high and rugged. He had no intention of venturing into such a ce. The pdins and priests desperately argued to rescue the captured monotheists, but Johan had no intention of going that far. He had made excuses to far more troublesome opponents, so convincing these naive ones would be easy. However, if the other party wasing for negotiations, that wasn¡¯t bad either. The pilgrims were more useful than Lamar¡¯s life, after all. ¡°But it¡¯s curious. Have the rogues be united enough to send emissaries?¡± Johan knew roughly how the rogues of the ck Mountains operated, thanks to what he heard from Lamar. Various tribes expelled from the Eastern Empire joined forces to live together, robbing peacefully. It seemed nice at first nce, but such rogue groups usually struggled to unite in a crisis. Johan honestly found it hard to believe that emissaries wereing. ¡®?? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ ¡°. . .We are different from other rogues.¡± ¡°You¡¯re making a joke.¡± Suetlg chuckled derisively at Lamar¡¯s side. Iselia also seemed to agree,ughing along. ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense.¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s different.¡± ¡°Fine. Both of you, stopughing. How is it different?¡± Lamar spoke with a slightly agitated voice. ¡°We havews, a system, and rules. If someone does wrong, we punish them. . .¡± ¡°So, you don¡¯t punish for stealing?¡± ¡°Stop teasing me already.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Suetlg shrugged and stepped back. Lamar continued. ¡°. . .We also have spirits who protect us.¡± Suetlg, who had stepped back, looked at Johan pleadingly. It was a look asking permission to make fun of him. Johan nodded. ¡°Is it a spirit of theft? A spirit of rogues? Can the spirit not steal from you?¡± ¡°Do not speak ill of the mountain spirit!¡± ¡°This is getting interesting. . .?¡± Caenerna interjected. Iselia asked in a flustered voice. ¡°A spirit of theft?¡± ¡°. . .No, Bluea-nim. Not a spirit of theft, but a mountain spirit.¡± He could not believe that there would be no spirits in such a vast and untamednd as the East. And if it was a spirit that even these fierce brigands revered, it must be a powerful one. ¡°Not a malevolent spirit?¡± ¡°It can be hard to tell the difference between a spirit and a malevolent spirit. . .¡± Johan agreed with Caenerna. Originally, the distinction between spirits that were harmful and malevolent spirits was vague. ¡°It seems like they want us to meet it. Should we take the opportunity?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea. . .¡± Caenerna, who had seemed interested, quickly changed her mind. Even so, they probably would not show an outsider the spirit they worshiped. They would not do so unless a knife was pointed at your neck. However, Lamar¡¯s answer was unexpected. ¡°We do not prevent anyone from meeting the mountain spirit.¡± ¡°What?¡± Johan became even more suspicious at those words. Suetlg seemed to think the same. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a human sacrifice?¡± ¡°I thought so too.¡± Usually, there was a reason for such easy permission. Perhaps everyone who entered became a sacrifice. . . ¡°What. . . The mountain spirit is not that kind of being!¡± ¡°What kind of ce is it?¡± ¡°. . .In any case, the mountain spirit is not that kind of being.¡± Lamar told them what kind of being the mountain spirit was. The spirit, who resided in a deep cave in the mountains, listened to the requests of the rogues and granted them ording to their needs. Of course, there was a price. The more valuable the request, the greater the price that would be paid. Recently, to heal a warrior who had be crippled after his leg was broken, they had to offer an amount of silver almost equal to his own weight. ¡°Wow. I¡¯ve been fooled. Even if Suetlg-nim only received half, he would have done it.¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m a wizard, not a doctor. Anyway, it¡¯s interesting. It doesn¡¯t seem to be a malevolent spirit. Malevolent spirits wouldn¡¯t make such fair deals.¡± ¡°Have they ever asked for human sacrifices?¡± Johan asked out of curiosity. Lamar answered firmly. ¡°There is an absolute taboo in the tribe against sacrificing people.¡± ¡°. . .Don¡¯t say that. It might be a malevolent spirit.¡± Judging from the way Lamar spoke, it was clear that they had asked for human sacrifices in the past. The tribes were wise enough not to offer them, though. . . ¡°But are you sure it¡¯s okay for outsiders to visit?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± There were two reasons why Lamar said this. One was because of a promise made to the mountain spirit. A promise not to prevent anyone from visiting the spirit. And the other reason was that the path to the spirit was virtually impossible to traverse. There were two paths. One passed through the strongholds of the tribes, and the other went through a remote area of the mountains. Giants lived there, so even the rogues did not go near it. ¡°Oh. It doesn¡¯t sound so difficult. We can just take the path with the giants.¡± ¡°. . .?????¡± Chapter 290: ?????????????????? (8) Chapter 290: ?????????????????? (8) The Duke¡¯s reaction made Lamar flustered. Initially, he thought it was a joke or some kind of teasing trick. The reason Lamar bragged that he could meet the spirits in the first ce was because he was confident, ironically, that the Duke would never meet them. Someone like the Duke would never go through their of rogues or cross their of giants to meet some spirits. But now, he suddenly wanted to pass through their of giants and see the spirits, which was absurd. ¡®???? ???? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????¡¯ Nevertheless, Lamar managed his facial expression, for he was the chief of a tribe. He couldn¡¯t just let the Western strangers have their way with him. ¡°If you wish to go down the path where the giants dwell, I will not stop you. I also use that path sometimes.¡± ¡°Is that so? Well, that¡¯s good. I won¡¯t have to look for a guide separately.¡± ¡°. . . Aside from the fact that the giants sometimes roll down boulders to block the path and eat the passing pilgrims, it is a path you don¡¯t have to worry about. It is a remote path, but it¡¯s t.¡±¡°All the more reason then.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Lamar gave up after the Duke continued to ignore him no matter what he said. ¡°Your Highness, why are you doing this?¡± ¡°Why are you chattering away when you should be quiet?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going down the path with the giants! Do you know how violent the giants are?¡± Jyanina, who was listening, pointed out a mistake. ¡°The giants are violent, but they¡¯re not the type you can¡¯tmunicate with. . .¡± ¡°The only time you canmunicate with those b*stards is when they¡¯re about to eat you.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that over there yapping disrespectfully? Do you want to be the first one to be eaten by the giants?¡± ¡°. . .¡± Lamar shut his mouth at the centaur¡¯s threat. Although he had mentally prepared himself for death several times while living as a rogue, he had never experienced an ending where he died in the belly of a giant. The other mercenaries ridiculed Lamar for being a coward, but Johan decided to respect Lamar¡¯s opinion. After all, the giants in this ck Mountains range might be a little different. ¡°If the giants are the type you can¡¯tmunicate with, we can just retreat right away. Would Your Excellency think that is reckless?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that. . . but it feels like a waste of time.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s decided. Get ready. We need to see the spirit of the mountain.¡± ???????????? Ohmal was one of the chieftains of the ck Mountains. Normally, the chieftains changed when they got old. It was because it became difficult to defeat the young warriors with either strength or skill. However, the reason he could still remain as the chieftain, despite being one of the older ones, was because of his experience. Thanks to that, the other chieftains were visibly relieved when Ohmal was chosen to lead the mission. Ohmal himself was very reluctant to go. ¡°Check your outfits again before we go. Leave behind the dagger with the triangr ornament. It¡¯s not good for the monotheists to have essories symbolizing other gods.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°When we arrive, I will speak, so don¡¯t say anything. No matter how much the foreigners from the West insult you, don¡¯t open your mouth.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Ohmal gave a strong warning and began to descend the mountain range. When he got down to the point where he could see the fortress upied by the foreigners in the distance, Ohmal saw a strange sight. Some of the Duke¡¯s troops were headed to a remote part of the mountain range. ¡°. . .???¡± ¡°What are they doing over there?? Isn¡¯t that where the giants live?¡± ¡°The foreigners must be crazy. Isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡± ¡°A good thing? With those kinds of fools. . . Do you think Lamar will be okay if we just let the foreigners enter the giant¡¯sir? He has toe out with all four limbs intact, especially if there are any important figures among them. What is Lamar doing!¡± Ohmalmented. He had a suspicion that Lamar might have incited them. No matter how much he held a grudge, if he provoked them like that, the repercussions woulde back to him. . . ¡°Do you think the Duke¡¯s men are going around looking for treasure on their own?¡± ¡°No. The fact that they¡¯re carrying the Duke¡¯s banner means they must have a certain level of authority. Hurry. Let¡¯s get closer and stop them!¡± The mission, which was originally headed for the fortress, hurriedly changed direction and began to chase after the procession disappearing in the distance. If they didn¡¯t stop them somehow, a catastrophe might ur. ???????????? ¡°Giant¡¯s stones.¡± Johan was d to see the stones after a long time. The wizards also nodded. ¡°The giants here are pretty skilled. They¡¯ve paved the road nicely. Look.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s not as good as the Empire, but it¡¯s good enough to make me want to hire them as workers. Why don¡¯t the giants work asborers?¡± ¡°It must be because it¡¯s in their nature to wander. They don¡¯t like staying in one ce.¡± The amiable conversation about the giants¡¯ territory made Lamar feel like he was going crazy. ¡°Your Highness, c. . . can we please hurry up a little?¡± ¡°Hurry up? We have to wait until the giantse out.¡± ¡°Excuse me? Why is that?¡± ¡°We have to pay the toll.¡± Lamar was speechless. Pay the toll to the giants. He had no idea why he had to do something like that or where to even start asking, so it was dizzying. In the first ce, Lamar was the one who collected the toll, not the one who paid it. ¡°Those greedy and violent giants won¡¯t find any use in that, will they??! Why are you giving them that. . .?¡± ¡°They worked hard to pave the road, so what¡¯s wrong with paying a little toll? Easterners are too stingy.¡± In that moment, Lamar blurted out something he shouldn¡¯t have due to being momentarily dumbfounded. ¡°. . .Then why didn¡¯t Your Highness pay the toll when you came to us?¡± ¡°Have you finally gone crazy, you bandit b*stard? Since your mouth is still intact, you must¡¯ve been bbering away quite a bit!¡± The killing intent of the centaurs, who pulled out their swords as if they would attack him at any moment, made Lamar flinch. ¡°S-Sorry. I misspoke.¡± ¡°No. You must be curious.¡± Johan said while calming down the centaurs. ¡°You asked about why we didn¡¯t pay, right?¡± ¡°. . .Yes.¡± ¡°The road wasn¡¯t good. It wasn¡¯t worth paying for.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates burst intoughter. Lamar could only force a smile, at a loss for words. ????????©¥ ¡°!¡± As if to belie the fact that he had beenughing just now, Lamar was terrified. A giant was lumbering over from up there. He was half-naked, had a huge and rugged body, and was carrying a crude club. Although he had no murderous aura, Lamar was very tense. He knew very well how much blood would flow if a sh urred with the giants. ¡°T. . . toll. P-Pay the toll.¡± The giant¡¯s voice was hoarse and cracked, as if he hadn¡¯t spoken for a long time. Johan nodded and answered readily. ¡°Sure. Do you want a sheep or a cow?¡± ¡°. . .Pay. . . toll????¡± The giant¡¯srge eyes widened. His face was filled with shock that he had never expected. ¡°Why are you surprised?¡± ¡°A-A traveler who pays the toll. It¡¯s been a very long time. There haven¡¯t been any travelers around here for a while. It¡¯s been lonely and difficult.¡± ¡°. . .¡± The party looked at Lamar. The reason there were no travelers here was obvious. ¡°I see. Anyway, we want to pay the toll properly and pass through. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Thank you. Traveler! One sheep is fine.¡± Johan was surprised by the giant¡¯s modest appetite. ¡°One sheep is enough?¡± ¡°Yes. But I hope you can visit often. Travelers passing by. It makes paving the road worthwhile.¡± ¡°Okay. We¡¯ll try our best.¡± The giant smiled broadly and carefully held the sheep in his arms. Then he moved out of the way. As Johan and his party were about to pass, the giant followed them. ¡°Why are you following us?¡± ¡°There might be monsters. I¡¯ll see you to that point.¡± ¡°I appreciate it, but don¡¯t you have to guard the road?¡± ¡°I have a friend. Another friend is guarding the road.¡± The sight of the fierce giant following them closely made Lamar feel dizzy as he rode on his horse. ¡°Ugh. . .¡± ¡°Is something wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ???????????? There were a few more giants along the way, but they smiled and moved out of the way when the giant following them spoke. ¡°That must be the cave.¡± The wizards could tell that the cave up there had powerful magic without even needing an exnation. It was definitely the cave where the spirits lived. Suetlg asked Lamar. Spirits were powerful and enigmatic beings in and of themselves. The best weapon for humans to use when dealing with spirits was rules. ¡°What are the rules?¡± ¡°First, we wait outside the cave. If the spirit of the mountain gives permission, we will step inside. Once we step inside, we state our requests. Then the spirit will tell us what to. . . uhm.¡± ¡°Has no one ever gone inside the cave?¡± Lamar made a sacrilegious expression at Suetlg¡¯s words, as befitting a follower of a divine religion. Although he was neither a monotheist nor a polytheist, he was sincere in his worship of the spirits. ¡°Who would dare do something like that?¡± ¡°I see. Has no one ever entered and returned alive?¡± Suetlg simply checked what he needed to check, regardless of how the other person reacted. ¡°Let¡¯s try calling it carefully.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll go.¡± Johan walked briskly. It was because he was that curious about the spirit of the mountain. While Suetlg and Caenerna were simply academically curious, Johan was more curious about the information or treasures that the spirit of the mountain might have. If it had been there for so long, it must have umted quite a lot. ¡®?? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ????.¡¯ ©¥?? ?????????? ?? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ????????. ?????? ?????? ????????????????????? ¡°Yes, we are. We came from the west.¡± ©¥??????????????????. ???????? ???? ?????? ????????? ¡°I want to know your identity.¡± ©¥ . . . . . . The spirit seemed to be shocked by the unexpected request and fell silent. Suetlg spoke up from behind in a forceful voice. ¡°What is your name?¡± ©¥?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????????????????????? ????????????????? A sharp gust of wind and a rustling sound began to grow louder inside the cave. Lamar cried out in fear. ¡°Your Highness! You shouldn¡¯t make the spirit of the mountain angry!¡± However, Johan didn¡¯t even blink. There was no reason for him to be afraid of the spirit now. ¡°I have no intention of causing trouble. But I have a reason to find out whether you are a malevolent spirit or not. If you¡¯re going to continue to receive the worship of the people in this mountain, you should reveal your identity.¡± ©¥???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????! Along with the words, a thumping sound could be heard from inside the cave. It was a troll. ¡°Troll??!¡± ¡°No. It must be a spirit disguised as a troll.¡± Johan charged at the troll with his horse. Since he wouldn¡¯t have expected Johan to attack without drawing his sword, the spirit was caught and fell over. ??????????! Surprisingly, a shrill cry came from the troll¡¯s mouth. The spirit, whose throat was being squeezed by being overpowered by force, gasped and looked incredulous. Smoke billowed out, and the spirit transformed again. It was a manticore, a monster with a human face, lion¡¯s body, and a scorpion¡¯s poisonous stinger. Johan used his shield to block the manticore¡¯s poison and swung his sword like lightning, inflicting a deep wound on the manticore¡¯s body. Before the manticore could do anything, the spirit was caught by its torso again and had its bones broken. ¡°This is a spectacle that I will never see again in my life!¡± Suetlg watched the fierce battle between the spirit and the duke in awe. It seemed like he was overwhelmingly pushing it back, so there seemed to be no need to help from here. Cornered, the spirit tried to transform into various things. However, even when it transformed into something like a basilisk, the human didn¡¯t show any surprise and immediately responded. From the spirit¡¯s point of view, it was unbelievable. ¡°You monstrous creature! You demon-worshipping b*stard!¡± ¡°Tell me your name, malevolent spirit.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a malevolent spirit. I won¡¯t tell you my name either!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Inside Johan, Valkalmur began tough mockingly. It was augh that only someone who knew who the other person was daring to defy could burst out. Johan tightened his grip on the arm and hand that were holding the spirit. The spirit struggled, unable to breathe as the herculean strength squeezed it so tightly that it couldn¡¯t even transform anymore. ¡°Me. . . me.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°. . .If you let me go. . . I¡¯ll give you the treasures I have. . .!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be tempted!¡± Suetlg felt himself bing embarrassed for no reason. What did he mean by ¡®oh¡¯? Comparing a precious opportunity to catch a spirit to material goods. A spirit couldn¡¯t bepared to material goods. Chapter 291: ?????????????????? (9) Chapter 291: ?????????????????? (9) Abundant resources can be plundered, but the chance to subdue a fierce spirit is a rare urrence, even throughout a lifetime. ¡°Why do you press on so persistently?¡± Lamar averted his gaze when he saw the young Duke leisurely conversing with the spirit he had managed to subdue. His conventional wisdom seemed to be crumbling before his very eyes. Everything from treating the giants like children to subduing the spirit with brute force. ¡°You only say that because you have no need of it.¡± ¡°Although I understand that the opportunity to control a spirit is extremely rare, do I not already possess a spirit?¡± The reason Johan felt indifferent was that he had little desire for spirits in the first ce. Wizards like Suetlg or Caenerna would treasure an opportunity like this, as having more spirits under their control would allow them to respond to a wide range of situations, but Johan had no real need for one unless their abilities were truly exceptional. I already have spirits like Valkalmur and Teshuka, but I rarely have any use for them¡ªwouldn¡¯t treasure be a better choice?¡°You weren¡¯t really interested in luxuries to begin with! What would you do with all that treasure anyway? You already have more than enough gold coins, even now!¡± ¡°There is some truth to that as well.¡± The subdued spirit let out a growl, transforming into a beast. If it were a greedy spirit, it would no doubt have offered its freedom in exchange for treasure, but if it was not a greedy spirit, no more options remained. None of the spirits harbored any fondness for theirck of freedom. Mountain spirits in particr abhorred such a fate. Being held captive by a wizard and confined within the narrow confines of a magical artifact was a horrifying prospect. ¡°Duke. . . I did not attack the Duke first. I did not attack your subordinates first, and I have not been excessively cruel or vile during my time dwelling on this mountain. Why. . . are you treating me so harshly?¡± ¡°Do not heed the words of the spirit, Your Highness.¡± Caenerna protested vehemently. Whatever honor a spirit may im, it wasughable when they failed to abide by the rules andws of humans. As if Johan would be swayed so easily by such words. . . ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°. . .Are you actually falling for that?!¡± Caenerna eximed in a shrill voice, utterly astounded. ¡°But it makes sense when you consider it objectively.¡± The spirits had not captured or obstructed Johan¡¯s army. Johan and his party had been the ones to approach first, seeking to learn the true identity of the spirit. It was true that they had nothing to say given their desperate pleas. ¡°Honor and customs only exist between people! Spirits have no such concept of honor or customs. They recognize nothing but contracts and submission!¡± ¡°Enough. Let His Highness decide as he sees fit.¡± When Suetlg forcibly interrupted Caenerna¡¯s outburst, she shot him a look of betrayal. Yet, Suetlg remained unwavering. ¡°I, too, am reluctant to let go of the spirit, but this is a decision that Your Highness must make. If Your Highness wishes to extend mercy to the spirit, then I shall respect that.¡± ¡°Granting mercy to a spirit is like throwing gold coins off a cliff. . .¡± Caenerna looked on with pity, as if watching someone offering alms to a wandering minstrel. What was the point of showing mercy if nothing would be gained in return? Spirits were not a race known for remembering acts of kindness. ¡°If you are not a malevolent spirit, if you pledge not to harm the people of this region, and if you hand over the treasure you promised me, then I shall extend my mercy and spare you.¡± ¡°. . .!!¡± The spirit was taken aback by Johan¡¯s words. The desperate words uttered in a dire situation had actually borne fruit. ¡°A. . . are you serious?¡± ¡°If you are not interested, then you may as well endure until your neck snaps and you are forced into a contract.¡± ¡°Considering it¡¯s not all that bad a deal, maybe I should think about it. . .¡± Caenerna spoke regretfully, but the spirit hurriedly replied. ¡°I shall do as you say. I ept your terms!¡± The spirit shouted in a rush, as if fearing that Johan would change his mind at any moment. A rusted chest materialized in front of Johan, apanied by a cloud of smoke. It contained stacks of old gold and silver coins, yet it somehow fell short of being called a real treasure. ¡°?¡± ¡°Among these, the most precious treasure is this crown right here!¡± The spirit hastily spoke up, sensing Johan¡¯s thoughts. ¡°. . .???¡± Johan frowned at the sight of the dull, tarnished, ancient crown. Caenerna whispered from beside him. ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep a promise made with a spirit, you know. . .¡± ¡°It is the most precious treasure, I swear on my true name!¡± The spirit bellowed in a booming voice. Johan tilted his head and examined it again. It did not exude any mystical aura, so it was clearly not a magical item. . . Was it perhaps an object of historical significance? ¡°Duke, I have kept my promise. Please, honor. . .¡± ¡°Honestly, I feel like I¡¯ve been tricked.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°Fine. I shall keep my promise as well.¡± ¡°T-Thank you!¡± The spirit, who had been doubtful until the very end, was astonished by Johan¡¯s words. Not many people would be willing to give up the chance to control a spirit. Even more so for a noble to willingly forfeit such an opportunity without any greed. ¡°Duke, I would like to know your name.¡± ¡°It is Johan of House Yeats.¡± ¡°I shall remember that noble name.¡± With a gust of wind and smoke, the spirit retreated back into the cave and vanished. Johan shrugged apologetically to the wizards, the rusted crown still in hand. ¡°My apologies. It seemed like you were eager to capture the spirit.¡± ¡°It is your choice to make. If not for your power, we wouldn¡¯t have even made it this far.¡± ¡°. . .This line of reasoning is extremely disadvantageous for me. Even if I wanted toin, there¡¯s no way I could.¡± Caenerna protested in a voiceden with discontent. If Johan and Suetlg had already settled the matter amicably between themselves, Caenerna knew that anything she said would only sound like petty grumbling. ¡°My apologies, Caenerna-gong. I shall make it up to you somehow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t want to be known as the narrow-minded wizard.¡± Suetlg spoke up to appease her. ¡°And besides, it¡¯s not like it would have been all that useful even if we had captured it. We have no need for the powers to heal wounds or transform into monsters, do we?¡± ¡°. . .I do need a spirit that can heal wounds, though?¡± ¡°Oh. You can¡¯t. . . without a spirit? . . .My apologies.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna sulked. Johan put his arm around Caenerna¡¯s shoulders and said, ¡°I will reward you handsomely once we reach the city in the east. I hope you won¡¯t hold this against me for too long.¡± ¡°Your Highness, I clearly stated that I had no need for it. . .¡± ¡°Yes, Caenerna-gong, I am sure you have no need for it.¡± Caenerna¡¯s expression turned slightly hurt at Johan¡¯s words. ¡°However, I simply wish to express my gratitude for your devotion to justice. Would you refuse such a gift? Surely you would not do so, unless I had wronged you greatly?¡± Caenerna¡¯s expression faltered before she gave a wry smile and nodded. ¡°. . .Sometimes, your Highness, you can be lethally charming. I shall ept it gratefully.¡± ¡°It may becking inparison to a spirit, but these gold and silver coins are not worthless either. Considering how short our mountain journey was, this is quite fortunate.¡± At Suetlg¡¯s words, Johan held up the old crown and asked, ¡°Do you know what kind of crown this is?¡± ¡°My apologies, but I¡¯m not sure. The spirit must not have been lying, so it may very well be a valuable crown. . .¡± ¡°Even Suetlg-nim does not know?¡± ¡°For someone of Suetlg-nim¡¯s experience to not know.¡± Suetlg bowed his head apologetically at Johan¡¯s words, but red at Caenerna¡¯s remark. He had picked up on the hidden implication. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, Caenerna-gong.¡± ¡°My apologies. My behavior was unbing.¡± ¡°I ept your apology. Shall we have the dwarves polish and clean it for now? That way, we might be able to learn something more about it. It does seem to be something quite old. . .¡± ¡°Excuse me, Your Highness?¡± ¡°?¡± One of the soldiers called out to Johan. ¡°A giant hase?¡± ¡°??¡± The soldiers tensed up slightly when they saw the giant, whom they had thought had left to see them off, had returned. Lamar also felt tense. Was this the giant finally revealing its true nature? ¡°What is it? Are you hungry, perhaps?¡± ¡°I am hungry. But giants are not beggars. Giants are not vagabonds. Giants are not rogues. We do not steal, nor do we beg.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan stared intently at Lamar. For some reason, Lamar felt like he was being mocked. ¡°Then what business do you have here?¡± ¡°Friends caught a brazen thief. They say he is a friend of yours. They were going to eat him, but I came to ask just in case.¡± ¡°I have no friends. Just eat. . .¡± ¡°You have no friends? Poor traveler.¡± ¡°. . .That is not what I meant, but hold on a moment.¡± Johan fell into thought. Could it be that some of the pilgrims or pdins who had been at the fort had followed them and been captured, using Johan¡¯s name? If that was the case, then it would make sense for them to impersonate his friend. ¡°Just in case, can you let me see them? They might actually be my friends.¡± ¡°Very well. Traveler, friends are important. We giants have many friends.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Iselia, Caenerna, Suetlg, and the others behind Johan had to carefully manage their expressions to suppress theughter threatening to burst forth. ¡°If the traveler is alright, then I will be his friend. I am Mahema¡¯niu.¡± ¡°. . .It is Johan of House Yeats.¡± ???????????? Johan¡¯s prediction was wrong. They were neither pilgrims nor pdins. They were foreigners from the east whom he had never seen before. ¡°He is not a friend. It is fine to eat him.¡± ¡°Your Highness!! Your Highness!!¡± Ohmal cried out anxiously. The sight of the giant staring at them with drool dripping from its mouth sent shivers down his spine. ¡°Your Highness, surely you do not remember me! But I havee here as an envoy, representing the tribes of the ck Mountains! I humbly request that you recognize my rights as a duly appointed envoy!¡± Ohmal, fluent in thenguage of the Empire, recited his entitlements with an air of erudition and intelligence. Under normal circumstances, he would have appeared more dignified. . . .That is, if he wasn¡¯t currently hanging upside down,pletely naked, having been captured by the giant. One of the centaurs eximed in admiration, ¡°To be able to shout like that in such a state. He must be incredibly thick-skinned.¡± ¡°They were sent by the rogues?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Then they should be at the fort. Why were you captured by the giants? Were you following me?¡± Johan¡¯s tone was cold. It was then that Ohmal realized what misunderstanding he had caused. ¡°Oh. . . no! No!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t think of any other reason why you would bring your men and follow me like that?¡± ¡°We followed you to warn you when we saw Your Highness entering the giants¡¯ir! To warn you of the danger!¡± The giant, Mahema¡¯niu, who had been listening, became furious. ¡°The audacity of these rogues! Insulting us!¡± ¡°Lamar! What are you doing, standing there watching? Speak up!¡± ¡°I. . . Your Highness, he really dide as an envoy. Ohmal holds a high position in the mountain range.¡± ¡°Hmm. . . Very well. I understand. It¡¯s not that difficult to release them.¡± Johan had a discussion with the giants. Since they had brought along a generous number of sheep and cows, paying the ransom was not an issue. The giants were overjoyed at the unexpected feast of rich food. To them, sheep and cows were far more delicious than humans. ¡°I will add the price of the sheep and cows to the ransom you must pay.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± It was only natural, but the fact that even a duke would mention it separately like this was indeed quite disconcerting. Lamar could hardly believe that this was the same man who had subdued the spirit earlier. ¡°A. . . Amazing.¡± ¡°To negotiate with giants. That¡¯s quite a skill.¡± Lamar replied as he helped Ohmal and his men, who had been released from the giant¡¯s grasp. Being able to talk to giants and negotiate with them was truly an astonishing ability. Lamar himself had been amazed when he first saw it. ¡°No. That¡¯s not what I¡¯m talking about.¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about the duke. Not only can he negotiate with giants, but he also had a whole group of giants under hismand.¡± The figure of Johan appearing with the giants in tow was so awe-inspiring, like a mountain king from an old legend, that even Ohmal, who had been hanging upside down, had forgotten his own predicament and felt a sense of awe. That vivid image remained strongly imprinted in his mind even after he was released. ¡°. . .Mister Ohmal, it¡¯s not to that extent.¡± ¡°Lamar. No matter how captured you were, it¡¯s cowardly to belittle your opponent.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Lamar was speechless. Chapter 292: ?????????????????? (10) Chapter 292: ?????????????????? (10) ¡°It¡¯s not cowardly, but. . .¡± ¡°Jeez.¡± Lamar was younger than the other leaders of the tribe, but he had helped Ohmal several times. That was why he couldn¡¯t retort properly when Ohmal spoke. But, even so, this was just too much. He simply couldn¡¯t agree with Ohmal¡¯s words. How could he talk about the duke like he was some kind of hero from an ancient tale? ¡°But, it¡¯s the truth. That foreign duke is no ordinary entric fellow.¡± ¡°The fates of the great ones are always twisted and full of hardship. That¡¯s why it¡¯s hard for others to understand.¡± ¡°Please look at the facts and stop spouting proverbs! The duke is more dangerous than you think.¡± Lamar quickly exined how he had been captured. Even though he was a duke himself, the duke had broken tradition by arresting an envoy.But Ohmal seemed even more impressed by this. ¡°Sometimes, you need to throw away your pride and be like a wolf to be considered a hero.¡± ¡°No. . .¡± Lamar was speechless once more. ¡°Lamar, of course I understand that you¡¯re upset because you were captured through a cowardly scheme. But there¡¯s nothing we can do about it. Are you going to go tell the others down in the valley? Or will you appeal to the others in the mountain range?¡± ¡°. . . . . . . . .¡± Lamar knew that Ohmal was right. Regardless of whether or not the duke¡¯s actions were justified, there was nothing they could do to punish him. Even if he told the tribes in the valley, the duke was infamous already so they probably wouldn¡¯t believe him. Plus, they were much more likely not to listen to rogues. And if he were to try to talk to the rogues, that would be ridiculous. . . ¡°I think we should join hands with the duke.¡± It seemed that Ohmal was even more impressed by the duke than Lamar thought. Of course, someone who showed up with giants right before he was about to be eaten would leave quite an impression. But of course, Ohmal didn¡¯t say that just because of that. ¡°The enemy of our enemy can be our friend. Right now, the nobles who serve the sultan are trying to push us out, so we might as well cooperate with those from the west.¡± ¡°!¡± Lamar was surprised by Ohmal¡¯s words. It wasn¡¯t wrong, actually. Even though they continued to persevere in these mountains, it was almost like they were trapped. It was only thanks to the sultans being preupied with the fertile westernnds that they had been able to avoid being conquered. Otherwise, they might have fallen long ago. The problem was. . . The rogues here were not on good terms with the monotheists from the west. To be exact, the rogues were the ones who had caused the rift. They would capture monotheists crossing the mountain range on a pilgrimage and demand a ransom. Before they could get close enough to discuss cooperation, they were already hurling insults at each other, so it was unlikely that anything good woulde of it. ¡°Do you think the duke would ept such an offer?¡± ¡°Hmm, well, he might not ept it. Someone who values his honor might refuse. But if what you said is true, and the duke can see the big picture, I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll reject our offer so easily. If there¡¯s a strong alliance behind the pilgrims as they travel south, wouldn¡¯t that be helpful?¡± ???????????? ¡°What kind of nonsense is that?!¡± Johan cut him off as soon as he heard it, leaving Lamar feeling embarrassed after struggling to bring it up. ¡°Your Highness. I. . .¡± ¡°Alright, there are two ways you can be free. Pay the ransom, or die. If you keeping up with excuses and wasting time, I can always just burn the fortress down and leave.¡± ¡°No, Your Highness! It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to pay the ransom!¡± Lamar said hurriedly. ¡°We will pay the ransom. And we¡¯ll release the pilgrims as well.¡± ¡°And for the sheep and cows that were given for you as well.¡± ¡°. . .Yes. Of course, we¡¯ll pay for the sheep and cows that were given for us as well.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so? I guess I misunderstood.¡± Johan¡¯s voice softened. Lamar was shocked. ¡®???????? ????????. . . ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ?? ????????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????. . .?!¡¯ He had just been talking with Ohmal about what a great hero the duke was, so he was quite confused by this reaction. ¡°So, you want to form an alliance?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How can I trust you?¡± This was a natural question. Lamar brought out the answer he had prepared. ¡°If you form an alliance with us, we will prove it with our actions. No monotheist crossing the mountains will be harmed. Your Highness.¡± ¡°And the polytheists?¡± ¡°Ah. . .¡± Lamar was flustered. It would be a huge loss if they couldn¡¯t capture the easterners as well. They could give up on the pilgrims, but shouldn¡¯t they still be able to target the easterners? ¡°I¡¯m joking. You can do whatever you want with the polytheists.¡± ¡°T-Thank you!¡± ¡°Prove it with your actions. . .¡± Johan was lost in thought after receiving the unexpected offer. In fact, from Johan¡¯s perspective, this was an offer with no downsides. Since he would get back the pilgrims and receive the ransom, he would definitely make a profit. Even if they betrayed him and captured other pilgrims to collect a ransom, Johan wouldn¡¯t lose anything. A sense of betrayal? ¡®?? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????????. . .¡¯ Johan didn¡¯t trust them that much to begin with, so he wouldn¡¯t feel betrayed even if they did betray him. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll take your word for it.¡± ¡°!!!¡± Lamar was even more surprised when Johan epted so readily, without even hesitating. ¡°Why are you so surprised? Did you think I would refuse?¡± ¡°N-No, sir. Thank you!¡± Honestly, he had thought Johan would refuse, or at least take some time to consider it even if he did ept. After all, this was an alliance with rogues. Someone like the duke would have quite a lot of pride. ¡®?????? ?????????? ???????????¡¯ Lamar was confused. Just like an old riddle that had yet to be solved, the duke had a knack for making people feel bewildered. ???????????? Johan¡¯s army set out after making ample preparations, but many others had set out before them. A holy war was something that was supposed to be embarked upon out of religious fervor, not cold, rational thinking. Many of them were injured and fell behind, but even more of them managed to reach their destination safely thanks to luck and experience. It was the fiefdom that had been upied and established by monotheists who had left over a hundred years ago. Since they were surrounded by pagans on all sides, the fiefdom of the monotheists nestled between thesends was seen as a miracle by the pilgrims. The pilgrims who arrived kissed the ground with joy. ¡°Let me meet with Your Excellency the Count. I have a letter from the bishop.¡± ¡°I will deliver the message, so wait until I return with an answer. And it¡¯s not Your Excellency the Count. Be careful not to make such a rude mistake again.¡± The pilgrims were slightly taken aback by the condescending attitude of the soldiers guarding the gate. Before they left, they had heard that this area was clearly ruled by Count Ineressa, who was also a monotheist. But if he wasn¡¯t a count, then what was he? ¡°T-Then. . .?¡± ¡°Call him your majesty. I¡¯ll let you off with a warning since you¡¯vee from far away, but don¡¯t let it happen again.¡± ¡°???¡± The pilgrims were confused. One of them, who seemed to be a lower noble and thus somewhat knowledgeable about the system of titles, stepped forward to ask a question. ¡°He wasn¡¯t crowned by the Pope himself, and he hasn¡¯t inherited any western throne, so why is he your majesty?¡± ¡°You impudent fool. Arrest him.¡± ¡°Ah. . . N-No!¡± Even monotheists showed respect to pilgrims who hade from far away, so the visitors were shocked to see the pilgrims being treated so rudely in thend of their fellow believers. It took severalshes of the whip before the pilgrims came to humbly admit their mistake. ¡°Do you understand? If you dare to speak so casually of his majesty, our master and divine king who rules thisnd, you will pay dearly!¡± ¡°Y-Yes. . . Yes!¡± It was impossible for such rumors not to spread. The rumors that spread among the pilgrims eventually reached the ears of the nobles who arrivedter. Ulrike frowned and said, ¡°The count has gone mad. . .¡± ¡°He¡¯spletely lost her mind!¡± Biorarn, the emperor¡¯s third son, shouted angrily from the side. As the de facto grand feudal lord of the western Empire, there weren¡¯t many people who could raise their voices in front of Ulrike, who had won a great victory in the Empire¡¯s civil war. In fact, Biorarn¡¯s status wasn¡¯t high enough for that, either. Biorarn¡¯s current actions fell somewhere in the ambiguous area between rudeness and bravery. Despite the res from his subordinates, Ulrike didn¡¯t reprimand Biorarn. Biorarn was useful in many ways. First of all, he was an excellent knight, and he led loyal northern knights. Plus, even though Biorarn was despised in the Empire, his family was a great house in the north. There was no harm in being friendly with them now that the civil war was over. That¡¯s why Ulrike didn¡¯t try to stop Biorarn from joining them. ©¥???????????? ????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ???? ??????????, ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???? ??????????. ??¡¯?? ?????????? ????????????????. ??¡¯???? ???????????????????? ?????????? ??????!- ©¥. . .???? ???????? ????. ?? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ????. Of course, Ulrike didn¡¯tpletely believe in Biorarn¡¯s innocence. She still suspected him a little. But she hid it well enough that Biorarn didn¡¯t notice. . . ¡°I never thought Count Ineressa would be so arrogant. Thisplicates things.¡± ¡°Shall we go and condemn him?¡± Biorarn was confident in the abilities of his knights. However, Ulrike shook her head firmly. The enemy they were targeting was still far away, so it would be pointless to fight among themselves here. Even if they seeded in capturing the castle and arresting the count, if rumors of it spread to the surrounding areas, the other feudal lords would side with the count, not them. ¡°Something¡¯s strange, though. I didn¡¯t think the count would act like this.¡± The monotheist feudal lords who had arrived over a hundred years ago had somehow managed to establish themselves in thisnd, but their position was precarious. They were like an ind floating in a sea of enemies. The only people they could rely on were their fellow believers in the west. They had built rtionships with the order, and they had built rtionships with the feudal lords of the Empire and the kingdom. . . Theirmunication had be somewhatcking recently, but no one had expected the count to reveal his true colors so tantly. ¡°Your Highness. I¡¯ve heard rumors that Count Ineressa has remarried. He formed a marital alliance with a nearby pagan feudal lord.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why.¡± Ulrike clicked her tongue. It was unfortunate that a reliable allied force had suddenly be neutral. While Biorarn insulted and cursed the count¡¯s honor from the side, Ulrike pondered her next move. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t enter the count¡¯s inner castle. We should set up camp outside. It¡¯s risky to ept the count¡¯s invitation in this situation.¡± ¡°Should we. . . not even ept the invitation?¡± Biorarn couldn¡¯t hide the pained expression on his face. It was unimaginable for a noble, regardless of their god, to invite someone and then betray them or set a trap. However, Ulrike had learned from Count Abner not to fully trust anyone. ¡°Yes. If we have to meet, we should tell him toe out and meet us.¡± ¡°Will he ept that offer?¡± ¡°If he doesn¡¯t have any ulterior motives, he might ept it. Duke Johan isn¡¯t someone who falls for tricks. Tell the soldiers to be on alert. Your Highness. . . Also, warn the nobles passing through the area. It¡¯s not safe here, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Ulrike nned to rest here for a while. If she let her soldiers rest and recover while waiting for the forces from the west to arrive, the count might change his mind again. If he didn¡¯t, she would decide what to do then. ¡°. . .Wait. Is someoneing from over there? Why are the merchants heading that way?¡± As Ulrike looked over the camp from a high vantage point, she was puzzled by the merchants passing by in the opposite direction. With that many of them, the scale of their intended customer must be quiterge. ¡°I will go and investigate.¡± Several subordinate knights rode off on their horses. Momentster, they returned to report. ¡°We¡¯ve received word that His HighnessDuke Yeats, has arrived in the vicinity with his army.¡± ¡°Duke Yeats?! Tell him I wish to see him.¡± ¡°T-That. . .¡± One of the knights spoke with a troubled expression. ¡°Duke Yeats, Your Highness, has already epted the count¡¯s invitation and headed to the castle.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Chapter 293: ?????????????? ?????????? (1) Chapter 293: ?????????????? ?????????? (1) Biorarn was astonished at Ulrike¡¯s flustered state; it was rare to find Ulrike in such a bewildered state. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to send knights to escort His Highness the Duke?¡± ¡°. . .Let it be done.¡± ¡°Understood. Knights of honor,e forth! We have a fiefdom to enter!¡± While Biorarn did that, Ulrike sank into thought. Initially flustered, she realized upon reflection that the Duke was not a naive person. He was not one who would easily ept the invitation, even if it was from Count Ineresa. What on earth was the Duke thinking? ???????????? ¡°Invitation?¡±¡°He has quite a poor reputation among the pilgrims. There are a lot of bad rumors circting. Even the feudal lords from the west tly refuse the Count¡¯s invitation. . .¡± Johan had also received an invitation from Count Ineresa, or rather the self-proimed king. As the pilgrims had their own sources of information, they tried to dissuade the Duke from epting the invitation. There were seriously sinister rumors circting. ¡°Even though it seems rather exaggerated, the invitation is definitely somewhat suspicious.¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangerous dealing with someone who calls himself honorable, my dear.¡± Suetlg and Iselia also agreed. Once a bad rumor spread, it tended to snowball, but even considering that, the invitation from ¡°King¡± Ineresa was. . . suspicious. If he were to be captured so far away from home, dealing with the aftermath would be a headache. ¡°While we should cooperate with the monotheist feudal lords here, cooperating with someone like that could stir up trouble. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to attract another lord?¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Johan pondered and shook his head before saying, ¡°No. I will ept the invitation.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. There is no reason to refuse.¡± In Johan¡¯s view, it didn¡¯t seem like a personal whim of King Ineresa. Rather than a single person acting crazy, it was more likely that the atmosphere in this region was like that. It had been a long time since they had crossed over, andmunication wasn¡¯t great, so it wasn¡¯t surprising that the feudal lords, after growing more powerful, had appointed themselves as kings. And if that was true, it would be quite troublesome to seek cooperation from these lords. As they would not unconditionally favor the lords from the west, but would feign neutrality and watch cautiously. From Johan¡¯s experience, there was no more annoying opponent than those who tried to walk the tightrope between the two sides in such a fight. Even if they were to ignore the self-proimed king and seek out another feudal lord, there was no guarantee that this situation would not repeat itself. To negotiate, they needed to take the reins first. ¡°If we avoid the count here, the other feudal lords will hear about it and won¡¯t take our army lightly. In that case, it would probably be better to persuade the Count directly.¡± ¡°That sounds reasonable. . . but isn¡¯t that assuming that he can be persuaded?¡± Suetlg expressed his concern. While it didn¡¯t matter if they couldn¡¯t persuade him, it would still be a huge headache if the self-styled king were to do anything crazy. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°I n to go in prepared so that they can¡¯t do anything crazy.¡± As soon as Johan finished speaking, his subordinates stepped forward one by one. For an invitation from a noble to enter a fiefdom, it was. . . well, quite arge number of soldiers. Caenerna asked in a surprised voice, ¡°Surely you don¡¯t n to take all of them with you?¡± ¡°We need an escort.¡± Caenerna burst outughing at Johan¡¯s cheeky response. They probably thought that the other party would bring a few dozen attendants at most. How would they react when they saw this army? ???????????? ¡°His Highness the Duke wishes to see you.¡± ¡°Really!¡± King Ineresa eximed with delight. The old king¡¯s outburst caused the surrounding attendants to breathe a sigh of relief. If even Duke Yeats declined the offer, one of the attendants might have been whipped. While he had been quite wise and humble when he was young, King Ineresa had long since lost that demeanor as he aged. The current King Ineresa was closer to a blind feudal lord who only listened to ttery. ¡°How wonderful. The Duke, upon hearing of Your Majesty¡¯s reputation, dared not refuse!¡± The chambein opened his mouth, gauging the king¡¯s mood. The king nodded in satisfaction. ¡°That¡¯s right. . . That¡¯s how it should be! Would it make sense if those who came to thisnd for the Holy War did not seek out the descendants of the family that sessfullypleted the Holy War?¡± The refusal of the invitation by the feudal lords from the west was a considerable blow to his pride. Though he didn¡¯t show it, anyone could guess from his foul mood. That said, they couldn¡¯t attack the arrogant army from the west head-on, and they had no choice but to keep the gates closed and adopt an attitude of ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ??????????¡¯. . . This time, the Duke had epted the invitation. He couldn¡¯t be happier. Not to mention, who was Duke Yeats? He was a noble with such fame and honor that even in this distantnd, rumors of him could be heard. His feat of defeating the emperor and emerging victorious from the civil war was a rare achievement even in these easternnds. ¡°Make sure you prepare properly to receive the guest. Now, hurry up!¡± The old king pped his hands and urged them on. Preparations were essential to wee noble guests from afar. Silverware was ced one by one on the tables set up in the grand hall, and rare fruits and ice, hard toe by in this season, were piled up nearby. In addition to these special luxuries, the basic dishes were also prepared quitevishly. Whole fattened calves were roasted and stuffed with eggs, cheese, dates, and spices, making the ve preparing them salivate. Of course, not all of this was prepared out of pure goodwill. This was a kind of show of force and a preemptive strike. The morevishly the host prepared, the more naturally the host¡¯s power and authority would be revealed. Of course, Johan was someone who waspletely unimpressed by such things, but there was no way the old king could know that. ¡°Don¡¯t forget. When the meal starts and the fun is at its peak, you will open your mouth and speak.¡± ¡°Will there be any? Don¡¯t worry.¡± The old king had a specific request for this banquet. It was for the Duke to acknowledge his title. No matter how much he didn¡¯t care about the west and imed to have appointed himself as king, people like him tended to be more concerned about others in secret. If he were to have the title he dered acknowledged and recognized by those who hade to the Holy War this time, his family would be eternally honored with this royal title. ¡°But. . . what if His Highness the Duke refuses?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t let him refuse. Don¡¯t ask stupid questions.¡± The chambein was irritated by the clueless young attendant¡¯s question. If the old king had heard that, he would have gotten angry right away. The old king had no intention of arbitrarily capturing the guests who hade from afar. No matter how tempting it was, he wouldn¡¯t go that far. However, he did intend to hint at it and threaten them. Since the Duke had entered after receiving the invitation, the old king had no intention of letting him go easily until he gained the Duke¡¯s recognition. ¡°That seems like a very insulting proposal.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be helped if it¡¯s insulting. The Duke will also realize that it¡¯s better to dere a few words than to be unnecessarily captured.¡± Even if his pride was hurt, it was better than being captured here. And the old king was someone who would really capture and detain them if things didn¡¯t go as he wanted. ???????????? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°T-This. . .?¡± The soldiers guarding the gate were shocked to see hundreds of people passing easily. For a moment, they thought that the feudal lords from the west hadunched an attack. However, there was only one Duke¡¯s g flying in front. ¡°Wait a minute! I¡¯ll go and contact them.¡± ¡°Fine. Is there any need to bother His Majesty with this?¡± ¡°No, I have to contact. . .¡± The soldiers knew, unless they wereplete *ssholes, that something was strange about the current situation with hundreds of escorts. They were trying to buy time and report to the king. And of course, Johan knew that too. ????????????! ¡°Quickly go and report. . . who the hell opened the gate?!!!¡± The defenders on the ramparts were terrified by the sight of the approaching enemies, no, the Duke¡¯s escorts. It was as if someone had raised the gate from inside and they were pouring in. Sub-captain Bars, who was leading the ve soldiers, was the first to rush up to the ramparts. As he looked around with his eastern eyes sparkling, the defenders naturally took their hands off their weapons. ¡°Do. . . do you know what you¡¯re doing. . .?¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke has arrived with an escort. Is there a problem? Is there a problem!¡± At the murderous words, as if he would swing his sword at any moment, the captain shook his head and said hurriedly, ¡°No!¡± ¡°Of course! Unnecessarily keeping the gate closed and wasting time is a tremendous disrespect to His Highness the Duke! He acted himself to avoid such disrespect. Be grateful!¡± ¡°Th. . . Thank you. Thank you!¡± The soldiers on the ramparts had to thank the Duke awkwardly for no reason. Suetlg, who was below, looked at Bars and was impressed. Not just Bars, but the other sub-captain ngka and the ve soldiers moved faster than anyone else. ¡°They really work hard.¡± ¡°Sub-captain Bars? He¡¯s so loyal that I don¡¯t know how to reward him.¡± ¡°What¡¯s new? Are you the only one with such loyal followers? If you just give them a town, they¡¯ll be loyal to you until the end of the world. Since I can¡¯t give it to them now, I guess I¡¯d better make up for it with warm words.¡± As they were talking, things were almost sorted out. The ¡®escorts¡¯ that Johan had brought with him surrounded the defenders. It wasn¡¯t exactly capture, but it was a subtle position that gave the impression of being captured. The captain didn¡¯t know anything else, but he just wanted to ask how they had opened the gate. He had no choice but to endure it, as his life was precious. . . ¡®?????? ?????????? ???? ??????????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???? ??????????????, ??????. . .?¡¯ ???????????? ¡°Deploy soldiers at the gates. Make sure no one escapes from the castle. It¡¯ll be troublesome if they escape.¡± ¡°Yes. I will guard it with my life.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to guard it with your life. If your life is in danger, retreat and report back.¡± ¡°Thank you. . .! I will do it with my life.¡± ¡°. . .T-That¡¯s right. Work hard.¡± Johan started to say something to Sub-captain ngka¡¯s blind words, but stopped. He was dealing with someone who didn¡¯t understand jokes. ¡®?? ???????? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ If it was a mercenary captain, a joke like ¡®?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????¡¯ would have been possible. Then the mercenary captain would have smiled and epted it. If he made such jokes to ve soldiers, a few of them would definitely hang themselves. ¡°What. . . what. . . what. . .???¡± The chambein, who came running out of the inner pcete, didn¡¯t seem to understand the situation and just kept his mouth agape. He had a puzzled expression on his face, unable to tell if they hade as enemies or if there was something else going on. ????????! Johan put both hands on the chambein¡¯s shoulders and said in a friendly manner. ¡°We havee at His Majesty¡¯s invitation. Guide us.¡± ¡°Th. . . th. . . the soldiers. . .?¡± ¡°Is there a problem with my escorts? Think carefully and answer.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Only then did the chambein, who had finallye to his senses, realize the situation and was aghast. Just as the old king had hinted at the possibility of capture and tried to threaten him, the Duke was now subtly hinting and threatening him. And he was risking his life! He had heard a lot about the Duke being a hero who had aplished great things at a young age, but even so, he couldn¡¯t believe that he would bring an army into the castle and do something like this in broad daylight. ¡°Your Highness. . . a pagan. . . a devout. . . a real one. . . if this is the case. . .?¡± ¡°What did you say? I can¡¯t hear you well.¡± ¡°. . .I will guide you. Pleasee this way!¡± As Johan¡¯s voice dropped menacingly, the chambein decided to protect himself instead of asking any further questions. He had done what he could. Blog
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Trantion-(COMPLETED) ¨C How to Live as a Wandering Knight ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¶?????¡·!! ? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????¡â?PREVINDEX Chapter 294: ?????????????? ?????????? (2) Chapter 294: ?????????????? ?????????? (2) Johan, followed by an entourage of guards, strode confidently through the castle as if he were the lord of the realm. The servants in the castle corridors avoided eye contact, turning their heads away. ¡°What is happening here?¡± The bewildered King Ineressa looked around in confusion. The knights, who would usually have loudly announced his arrival, appeared to have been cowed by the duke¡¯s presence. Entering the hall, Johan slowly surveyed the scene. Despite his arrogant demeanor, there was an air of innate authority about him. He stood as if dering who held the reins of power in this ce. ¡°Your Majesty. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Duke Yeats.¡± ¡°M-Meet you too.¡± The aged king, who would normally have protested theck of respect, held his tongue under the weight of Johan¡¯s aura. Johan and his men took their seats at the prepared table.Johanmanded the steward beside him. ¡°Begin the feast,¡± ¡°. . .Yes!¡± In the tense atmosphere, gons of wine were brought in and musicians began to y. The musicians focused intently on their performance, knowing that any mistake in this tense atmosphere could be fatal. ???????????? While Johan and other western lords had most of it figured out, there was one crucial misconception they held. The recent pagan marriage alliance had not been initiated by the king himself, but by his children. And the young couple, instead of leaving for their own fiefdom after the wedding in the inner castle, had stayed within the castle walls. ¡°What nonsense is this. . . Out of my way!¡± The king¡¯s son shoved the servant aside in disgust. The servant hade to warn him of themotion outside and advised him to stay in his chambers for safety. Preposterous! Did he think the outer and inner walls and the garrison of soldiers guarding the castle were for show? ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö?¡± ¡°What are you bbering about?¡± The king¡¯s son grew agitated by the easternnguage spoken by his newly acquired brother-inw. Though they had married for power and alliance, he harbored no affection for the pagan. Normally he would have been more cautious, but the sudden news had stripped him of hisposure. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you see? Some rogue bandits are causing a ruckus outside. Call your guards! We must respond.¡± ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö?¡± ¡°How many are they?¡± Impatient with the man¡¯s questioning at such a critical moment, the king¡¯s son lost his patience. ¡°Bring your guards here at once! If they don¡¯te, I¡¯ll go myself.¡± ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö.¡± Sensing the atmosphere, the man acquiesced without further argument. The king¡¯s son hastily donned his armor and headed downstairs with the knights in his retinue. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????????? ??????????. . .¡¯ The families who had put down roots in thisnd held a subtle inferiority and jealousy towards the westerners. Those who hade from afar to establish themselves in thesends were often of lower noble origins. These resentments had been building up, and now this outrage. Unforgivable. ¡°What is this?¡± The guards posted outside the banquet hall stiffened as they saw a group approaching from afar. ¡°Who do you think you are to trespass on these castle grounds. . . Retreat, or face our des!!¡± Despite the king¡¯s son¡¯s threat, the guards did not flinch. ¡°These are His Majesty¡¯s castle grounds. We guard these premises by His Majesty¡¯s orders. We see no reason to obeymands from someone else.¡± ¡°. . . . .¡± The king¡¯s son red at them, his eyes zing, and reached for his sword. At that moment, the guards hidden in the vicinity revealed themselves. Crossbows, already loaded, creaked ominously. They were ready to fire at the first sign of movement. No matter how valiant a knight, it was impossible to act recklessly when surrounded by crossbows, especially at such close range. ¡°Y-You. . .¡± To be treated like this by mere mercenaries within his own rightful fiefdom. The king¡¯s son turned crimson with fury, ready to explode any moment. ????????! ¡°?!?!¡± The sound of the inner castle gate breaking open echoed as knights stormed in like a tempest. Johan¡¯s guards and the king¡¯s son¡¯s retinue turned their heads simultaneously, startled by the unexpected turn of events. ¡®???????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????????!¡¯ ¡®???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????!¡¯ It was Biorarn leading the charge. He and his men had broken through the outer defenses and breached the inner castle gate before the guards stationed outside could react. However, the situation inside was not what they had expected. They couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback. ¡°Who. . . Who are they?¡± The atmosphere grew even more bizarre as Biorarn¡¯s knights joined the confrontation. Just then, the door to the banquet hall opened, and the steward announced, ¡°His Highness the Duke requests your presence inside.¡± ¡°. . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . .¡± ???????????? Still young and valiant, and now in control of the castle, the old king feared that the Duke would be a tyrant. However, to his surprise, Johan did no such thing. It was the duke who broke the tense silence first. ¡°I noticed on my way here that your fiefdom is quite prosperous. It is evident that it is ruled by a benevolent lord.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°I have no reason to lie. Even the fiefdoms in the west are not as fertile and bountiful as this.¡± Though the tant ttery was obvious, the old kingpped it up. He nodded, looking satisfied. ¡°Thisnd is blessed and beautiful, indeed.¡± ¡°No wonder the pagans covet it.¡± ¡°Oh. . . You need not worry about that. . .¡± ¡°I heard of your recent marriage alliance?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°A wise move. To gain an ally and neutralize one of your enemies without lifting a finger. Not everyone can pull that off.¡± Caenerna snickered, unnoticed by others. She had seen such disys in the emperor¡¯s court. ttery so tant it could turn a well-made tart sour. Although the duke had shown various capabilities, she had never seen him act so shamelessly ttering with such a serious and dignified face. Such behavior was moremon among lower nobles or servants who had grown cunning through court life. When did he learn to do that? ¡°Is that so?¡± The old king¡¯s face brightened a bit. His improved mood was evident in his actions, as he began pouring wine for Johan himself. ¡°You have a keen eye, Duke.¡± ¡°Do I?¡± ¡°Of course. Do you know what those fools in the court were saying? That allying with pagans is unheard of, that the pagans will soon betray us, that this is a grave mistake. . . Arrogant and ignorant fools!!¡± ¡°Oh dear. It seems Your Majesty¡¯s excessive kindness has allowed your subjects to grow insolent.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± There were gasps from other tables, but they were mostly drowned out by the sound of pouring wine. The old king, forgetting the current situation, downed several cups in session. Insults against his children, his vassals, his soldiers, and other lords flowed out one after another. Johan listened patiently, nodding in understanding. ¡®??????. ???? ?????????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????.¡¯ It was clear that he wasn¡¯t the sociable type. It was unlikely that he would join forces with other lords and actively cause trouble. Just then, amotion erupted outside. Johan¡¯s face hardened at the sound of shouting and fighting. ¡°Oh. It seems to be my son, Valeon. . .!¡± ¡°Your son was staying in the castle?¡± ¡°Indeed. It¡¯s been a short while since their wedding. . .¡± Johan grasped the situation as he listened to the drunken king¡¯s rambling. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ ¡°Let them in. It seems they are upset about missing out on the feast.¡± Johan¡¯s casual remark drewughter, even from the old king. The king¡¯s son, who had been causing a ruckus, had suddenly be a pitiable soul denied a treat. ???????????? ¡°. . .?¡± Although he recognized the young noble who entered with a swagger, the knights following awkwardly behind were unexpected. It was Sir Biorarn and his men. ¡®???????? ???? ?????????¡¯ Johan was puzzled. Why were they here? The old king, seemingly equally confused, asked, ¡°What business do these knights have here?¡± The knights looked at Biorarn as if to ask him to exin. However, Biorarncked the finesse to navigate such a delicate situation. He had assumed that ckmail or threats were being exchanged inside, but the atmosphere in the banquet hall was far more convivial than he had expected. Even Biorarn couldn¡¯t blurt out, ¡¯????¡¯???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ????????!¡¯ in this situation. ¡°We were. . . invited. . .¡± ¡°Invited? When did I ever invite you? And why. . .¡± The old king¡¯s logically sound words made Biorarn¡¯s voice trail off. It was Johan who came to Biorarn¡¯s aid as he found himself cornered. ¡°I invited them to join us. It seems they werete because the message reached them tardily.¡± ¡°!¡± Biorarn looked at Johan with gratitude in his eyes. So did the knights following him. Honestly, they hadn¡¯t expected the duke to help Biorarn, who was under suspicion of assassination. Furthermore, even putting that aside, there must have been deep resentment due to the civil war with the emperor. . . ¡®?????????? ??????!¡¯ The knights conveyed their gratitude with their eyes. With Johan¡¯s words, the king no longer questioned the matter. ¡°Take your seats over there.¡± Biorarn and his knights unexpectedly found themselves being treated to a feast. They sat at the neighboring table, receiving the dishes being served, and stole nces around. They were still trying to grasp the situation. As the feast was reaching its peak, the one who broke the convivial atmosphere was the old king¡¯s son, Valeon. He was the only one at the table who seemed to be seething with anger. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of His Highness the Duke¡¯s great reputation!¡± ¡°Insolent cur! How dare you interrupt? Can¡¯t you see your father is here?¡± The old king was the first to react, expressing his displeasure. How dare Valeon speak out of turn without permission? Of course, for Valeon, it was even more absurd. His father was drunk and oblivious to the tant disrespect he was being shown by an enemy. ¡°Let him be. It¡¯s a day of celebration.¡± ¡°How noble of you.¡± One of the knights beside Biorarnmented in an impressed tone. Johan waved his hand modestly. Valeon¡¯s anger red even more at these galling disys. ¡°As someone who has heard of Your Highness¡¯s great reputation, I would like to test my skills against yours. If you don¡¯t mind, could you teach me a thing or two?¡± ¡°. . . .!¡± Not only Johan but also the other attendants turned to look at Valeon in surprise. Valeon thought he had caught them off guard with his challenge. ¡°It would be best to stop.¡± Johan spoke earnestly. He didn¡¯t want to cripple the king¡¯s son, especially since things were going well with the old king. Johan¡¯s current concern was controlling his strength. ¡°No! I insist on learning!¡± ¡°Such insolence. . .¡± ¡°Bear with it. He will pay the price soon enough.¡± There were some hot-blooded mercenaries, but they managed to restrain themselves. This was because they could guess what would happen next. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see swords wielded in this hall!¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s do this bare-handed!¡± As knights, they were required to be proficient not only in swordsmanship, spearmanship, archery, and horsemanship but also in unarmedbat and wrestling. Valeon, as a knight, was confident in this area. ¡°Perhaps it would be better to use dulled swords.¡± ¡°His Majesty said that no swords may be drawn in this banquet hall. Let¡¯s just do it bare-handed!¡± ¡°Very well. If that is what you wish. After this encounter, would it be ungracious of me to deny your request?¡± Johan set down his wine ss and rose from his seat. As Johan stood up and stretched, Valeon felt an ominous chill run down his spine. ¡®. . .???????? ???? ?????¡¯ Normally, the highlight of a banquet was not the food, drinks, or music, but such drunken brawls. The musicians held their breaths and watched the scene with keen interest. It wasmon knowledge that Valeon was a highly skilled knight. After all, the people of this castle had no choice but to favor Valeon. However, the moment the word ¡°begin¡± was uttered, Valeon was sent flying into the air. Chapter 295: ?????????????? ?????????? (3) Chapter 295: ?????????????? ?????????? (3) ¡°Oh. . . oh!¡± One of the squires who had been watching couldn¡¯t help but shout. Valeon flew up too high. With a ¡®????????,¡¯ Valeon hit the ceiling of the hall and then fell quickly to the floor. Johan was taken aback. He had been careful to control his strength, but he didn¡¯t expect to fail this badly. ¡®????, ????????.¡¯ Johan moved quickly and caught the falling Valeon in his arms. ????????©¥ Valeon, as shy as a new bride, blushed with humiliation in Johan¡¯s arms. ¡°. . . . . .¡±¡°. . . . . .¡± Biorarn, who was watching, couldn¡¯t help but speak. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just let him go. . .?¡± No matter what he did, he had already been thoroughly humiliated, but even so, it would be better to let him go than to keep holding him like this. . . Johan released Valeon when he heard that. Valeon, who had fallen to the floor, stood up quickly. ¡®??¡¯???? ???????????? ????. ?? ???????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ The atmosphere would have been festive with the old king, and if he had gotten into a light scuffle with Valeon and then subdued him appropriately, both of them would have saved face. ©¥?????? ????????????. ?????? ????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ????. ?? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????. ©¥??????????, ?? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????????. ?? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????. ?? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ??????????????????! . . .He had intended to have a simr conversation. The problem was that he didn¡¯t know how skilled Valeon was. So Johan grabbed him and pulled him up. He nned to control Valeon with finesse once he lost his bnce and staggered. However, Valeoncked the strength to resist more than Johan thought. Or perhaps he underestimated Johan¡¯s strength. He couldn¡¯t even resist and flew straight up. ¡°Long live Your Highness!¡± ¡°Praise Your Highness!!!¡± ¡®?????????? ??????????-????????????.¡¯ The servants who had been watching cheered, stamping their feet. It was understandable that the servants would do that, but it was infuriating to see the knights that Biorarn had brought with him pping with great joy. How could knights have such poor judgment? Valeon must have been terribly embarrassed, because he didn¡¯t say anything more and ran away. Johan wanted to somehow catch him, but even Johan couldn¡¯t think of anything to say in the current situation. ¡®??????.¡¯ ¡°He¡¯s such an idiot! I told him not to do it, but he went ahead and humiliated himself!¡± The only saving grace was that the old king didn¡¯t seem to be very angry. Perhaps because the son who had ignored him and barged in seemed quite arrogant, the old king was rather relieved. Seizing the opportunity, Johan sighed in relief and said. ¡°Sir Valeon¡¯s skills were not bad either.¡± ¡°Not bad? He thinks he¡¯s something just because he won a few tournaments. That guy has no humility! He¡¯ll start protesting if he doesn¡¯t get more fiefdoms.¡± Once one became a feudal lord, the power struggle between the ruler and the heir outweighed the affection between parent and child. Parents with fiefdoms wanted to reign as feudal lords until they died, while the younger children wanted to inherit more rights as soon as possible, even if it was just one year sooner. Usually, apromise would be reached and they would wait while inheriting part of the fiefdom, but in the case of greedy sessors, they would act more aggressively. They would incite their vassals, perform great feats to pressure the feudal lord, or even rebel outright. . . Rebelling against one¡¯s parents was seen as immoral, but it was surprisinglymon. In the face of power, the affection between parent and child was nothing. Johan, who had read the old king¡¯s wariness, adjusted his tone. ¡°Sir Valeon is truly an unfortunate man.¡± ¡°. . .What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Your Majesty rules this fiefdom so perfectly, even if he were to inherit it and rule it diligently, how could itpare? That is why I cannot help but feel sorry for him.¡± ¡°Hahahahahaha!¡± Biorarn, who was listening from the side, asked one of his knights, not understanding. ¡°Is the duke ttering him now? Why?¡± ¡°Um. . . well. . .¡± ¡°No, is he? Is that King really ruling well?¡± ???????????? After the banquet, Johan and the old king cleared up their misunderstandings with each other. The old king promised to release all the pilgrims he had captured and to treat them more kindly. Johan apologized for bringing too many escorts and promised to respect the old king¡¯s authority. ¡°How dare they confiscate the duke¡¯s ship! Those pagan heathens will be punished by God!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t just confiscation, Your Majesty. They even sent assassins.¡± ¡°Assassins. . .?¡± The old king was shocked when he heard what Biorarn¡¯s knight said. He could understand confiscating the ship, but he couldn¡¯t understand why they would send assassins all the way to the west. However, the Empire people, including Biorarn, were adamant. ¡°I swear on my honor and the name of my family that they sent assassins.¡± ¡°But. . .?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t the Easterners known for sending assassins?¡± ¡°Well, yes.¡± The old king nodded with a grave expression. In the East, there had been several famous orders of assassins since ancient times. Most of them had disappeared due to fierce wars, but they were once notorious for assassinating monotheists and polytheists alike, while worshipping pagan gods. Hearing that, it seemed possible that they might have sent assassins again. If the duke died, they would be too confused to retaliate. Judging from the fact that the western feudal lords had gathered like this. . . ¡°But duke. You have to be careful about attacking them.¡± The old king said, frowning even more. He was reminded of the memories that had gued him since his youth. ¡°Individually, they may seem weak because they are not veryrge, but the moment you touch them, they will unite with each other. They are especially unforgiving towards pagans.¡± On the coast of the so-called ¡®Holy Land¡¯ that the westerners talked about, there were many feudal lords. They were independent feudal lords, distinctly different from the Eastern Empire to the north, and they fought fiercely with each other just like the feudal lords of the Empire. However, when it came to dealing with those from the West, they were unforgiving. Not only did they unite with each other, they also unabashedly asked for support from the Eastern Empire to the north. From the perspective of the sultan who ruled the Eastern Empire, it was an opportunity to extend his influence all the way down there, so there was no reason to refuse. Then, the monotheistic feudal lords were literally like inds surrounded by enemies from the north, east, and south. ¡°I¡¯ve been besieged several times in the past. If I had been pushed back then, my family would have disappeared. Those who don¡¯t know that shouldn¡¯t be allied with the pagans. . .¡± As the old king grumbled, Johan fell into thought. ¡®??????¡¯???? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????????????? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ If Johan hade on an expedition, he wouldn¡¯t have acted like those who came before him. When one came on a long expedition, it was only natural to get along with the people there. Since they swung their sword all the way and threatened to kill them if they didn¡¯t convert, this is how they made enemies. . . ¡®????????????, ?????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ?? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ??????.¡¯ One was the alliance of enemy feudal lords. Judging from the old king¡¯s behavior, it was clear that they would unite in a truly vicious way. And the other was the support of the Eastern Empire. Since thend was so vast, they couldn¡¯t catch everyone who passed by, but it was likely that they would form an army ande down to support them as time went on. ¡®???? ?????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????, ???????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????, ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????. . . ????. ???????? ?????????? ???? ????????????????????. ?????? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ??????????. ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ????????. ???? ???????? ????????, ???????????????????????? ??????. . .¡¯ The old king would have been shocked if he knew, but Johan had no intention of burning down the castle of the feudal lord who had insulted him and nting the order¡¯s g around it. He was thinking about getting properpensation from the feudal lord who had insulted him and then taking over the port before returning. It was rare for people to be so foolish as to try to finish each other off in such a distantnd. Johan was extremely pragmatic. ¡°I see. Was I talking nonsense?¡± The old king opened his mouth, watching Johan, who had been quietly contemting. ¡°?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you already prepared to fight? You intend to fight your enemies no matter what hardships and trialse your way. In the name of the Almighty God!¡± ¡°That is right.¡± The knights answered instead of Johan. Johan wanted to look at the knights as if he couldn¡¯t believe it, but he had to restrain himself because the old king was in front of him. ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ??*????????????. . .¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s call the people from the family that married Valeon. Since they are pagans, they will be good, no, helpful to the duke.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°We will join you as well. The pagans might target Your Highness.¡± Biorarn¡¯s knights said with a sense of duty, their eyes shining. Their voices were sincere. They truly believed that the pagans might try to assassinate him. ¡°. . .Very well.¡± Johan replied a littlete. The knights thought that the reason the duke hesitated was because he felt sorry for making the honorable knights do such a troublesome job. ¡°Your Highness. You don¡¯t have to worry. It is an honor for us.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ???????????? Contrary to Johan¡¯s worries, the knights didn¡¯t make rude jokes or anything like that at the ce where they were talking. They frisked Johan or red at him fiercely, but they didn¡¯t open their mouths unless Johan allowed them to. However, the problem came from a different source. The people from the pagan family that the old king had formed a marriage alliance with, the Zurebek family, were much more wary of Johan than he had thought. They were polite, but they were extremely cautious, as if they might say something wrong. It was clear that they were very afraid of Johan. ¡°What can I do? It¡¯s impossible to tell a mouse not to be afraid of a lion.¡± Johan clicked his tongue in annoyance, and Suetlg consoled him as if he felt sorry for him. ¡°I guess they can¡¯t help but be afraid of you.¡± ¡°I understand, but isn¡¯t this ridiculous? Did I pige anything on my way here? Other feudal lords wage wars against each other and frequently pige, yet you fear me less than them even though we believe in the same god.¡± Johan grumbled, having umted quite a bit of dissatisfaction. Caenerna, who had been listening,ughed. The duke had always shown a mature appearance that didn¡¯t match his young age, but this was something new. ¡°Then, did you gain anything at all. . .?¡± ¡°I learned that the writer of Manansir believes in a lot of strange things.¡± Viceroy Manansir, or perhaps count or king. The titles of the East were not fullypatible with those of the Empire, so there was some confusion when they were called. The people of the republic usually called them viceroys. It was a title that had existed since the time when this area was a unified kingdom long ago. Anyway, the Viceroy Manansir was quite an ambitious man. He didn¡¯t just seize Johan¡¯s ship out of greed. Apparently, he had been gradually advancing his ambitions by conquering neighboring fiefdoms, increasing the number of soldiers, and strengthening alliances. The most recent alliance was none other than the alliance with the sultan of the Eastern Empire. That was probably why he was able to capture Johan¡¯s ship. ¡°If he¡¯s that ambitious, wouldn¡¯t the other feudal lords be dissatisfied?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I thought I could persuade them, but what is this. . .¡± Johan sighed andy down on the reclining chair. Caenerna picked up a piece of fruit and put it in the duke¡¯s mouth instead. Johan sighed and sat up. ¡°Now. Let¡¯s talk. What should I do to make them trust me?¡± ¡°Hmmmmm.¡± ¡°Hmmmmm. . .¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates, who were more ustomed to using their bodies than their heads, were not quick to respond. Iselia was among them, but she wanted to be a little more forward because she had some pride. ¡°How about forming a marriage alliance to gain their trust?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a good idea. If the duke marries a pagan, many people, starting with the order, will be shaken.¡± Suetlg said firmly. Iselia frowned. Johan looked at Iselia with a grave expression. As Johan and his men were pondering, someone knocked on the door. It was the captains of the republic. ¡°Ulrike-gong has entered the castle.¡± ¡°Is that so? I have to go greet her.¡± ¡°By the way, were you talking about something?¡± When the captain asked, Johan shrugged his shoulders and answered. It wasn¡¯t something he needed to hide. The captain asked in surprise when he heard that. ¡°Do they hate Your Highness that much? That¡¯s strange. We have different religions, but we can negotiate to some extent.¡± ¡°Well, you have the umted trust and connections, so that¡¯s probably why.¡± The captain was even more bewildered by Johan¡¯s words. ¡°But Your Highness. . . You know many nobles in the East, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°. . .Oh.¡± Chapter 296: ?????????????? ?????????? (4) Chapter 296: ?????????????? ?????????? (4) ¡°What use do you think those men will be?¡± ¡°. . .More than adequate.¡± The duke coughed several times, trying to ensure his voice was devoid of incredulity. He could not sound incredulous, no matter the absurdity; he was a duke, and these men were sprung from a republic. Condescension was not an option. ¡°Even if we disregard Barhan-nim of Vynashchtym, Sir Lumahr, and Mulc¡¯s Sir Ahir are figures with considerable influence within the Empire.¡± ¡°But would they be able to show their influence in this instance?¡± ¡°Your Highness. You would be mistaken to assume so because of the notoriety of the sultan; the sultan is only a man. He, too, cannot do as he pleases, just as Cardirian cannot do as he pleases.¡± Just as the emperor of the Empire considered the opinions of their many feudal lords, the sultan was also constrained to consider the opinions of the various ns. Not even the sultan could reject a request to dispatch men to some farawaynd, not and of the Eastern Empire at that. If he did, the nobles would revolt in an instant. ¡°If Your Highness grants permission, I will immediately dispatch men on fast ships.¡± ¡°Of course. Please do. I feel secure knowing that you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Rather, we are the ones who feel secure knowing that Your Highness is here.¡± ???????????? Ulrike, who had shouted vehemently, ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ??*??????!¡¯ as soon as she met Johan, seemed to have calmed down somewhat after listening to Johan¡¯s persuasion. ¡°. . .If you cooperate to that extent, I suppose we don¡¯t necessarily have to kill him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you understand.¡± Ulrike was a woman who knew how to put aside her emotions for the sake of profit. Regardless of the king¡¯s impoliteness, she had no intention of cutting him down if he cooperated with the expedition. ¡°So, do you intend to gather the expeditionary forces that areing this way while you wait?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be the most sensible approach?¡± While the nobles of the Eastern Empire made their way over, Johan intended to gather other crusaders and armies while leading his own army nearby. In expeditions like this, the most importJohan matter was for individuals to unite into a single entity. In the previous holy war, too, there had been numerous instances in which a coalition was defeated because they were divided and could not manage propermand. ¡°. . .Is it truly impossible?¡± Ulrike asked as if she could notprehend. It was all the more puzzling since he was a duke, a person who should have understood this. It was not that the nobles who had participated in the previous holy war were fools and thus failed to unite. They could not unite because uniting was impossible. Every feudal lord who hade this far was essentially leading their own army. Why would such men willingly submit to someone else¡¯s orders? There was no feudal lord so foolish as to do everything that benefited others. Even the duke should be aware of this. . . ¡°Of course, it will be difficult, but I will do my best to gather them.¡± ¡°Ah. . . In that case, I will cooperate as best as I can.¡± Ulrike spoke and then hesitated for a moment before continuing. ¡°No. I think it would be better for Your Highness the duke if I refrained from cooperating.¡± ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°A revered duke like Your Highness would only find me an obstacle while trying to persuade them.¡± ¡°What. . . You also have a reputation among the other nobles, a favorable one at that.¡± ¡°A notorious one, you mean.¡± It was rare for a feudal lord to be loved by everyone. Of course, Ulrike was no exception. After all, stirring up several wars and raising taxes to gain fiefdoms invariably earned her the resentment of nobles and priests alike. In contrast, people like Johan, who were weed everywhere they went, were rare. ¡®???? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Of the feudal lords currently partaking in the Eastern Expedition, Ulrike felt that Johan had the greatest chance of getting along with the others. The elf king was bound to sh with both the western and northern feudal lords, and the eastern feudal lords, who had joined the expedition, were not likely to cooperate well since they were used to operating independently. . . At the very least, the duke, who was close to some of them, might be able to control their wild horses by holding the reins. ¡®??¡¯?? ?????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Ulrike was genuinely apologetic. Although Johan likely did not care much, Ulrike could not help but mind the fact that she had failed to aplish something that her mother, Countess Jarpen, would have aplished. If the duke were able to win over even one or two more feudal lords, his strength would increase considerably. . . ???????????? Viceroy Manansir was known as an ambitious opportunist, but after the Eastern Expedition began in earnest, he began to have nightmares. No one would have predicted this. No, it was an eventuality that could not have been predicted. What sense did it make to dere a holy war simply because some merchant ships had been captured? No matter how one looked at it, this could only be seen as providing a pretext while discontent and power were bubbling up in the west. He would never have acted this way had he known this would happen. At first, it was just rumors of ragged crusaders, but. . . With the passage of time, the rumors gradually took on a more concrete form. When news spread that nobles from ns known even in the east were leading their armies, the nearby feudal lords began to waver and murmur. ¡°Your Excellency Viceroy. . .¡± ¡°Have youe again because you are so worried?¡± The person most responsible for this situation was Manansir himself, who had ordered the capture of the ships. ¡°I heard that their numbers are quiterge.¡± ¡°Surely you are well aware of how strong and fearsome are the knights of the west. Once they charge, our soldiers will be swept away.¡± ¡°Their armor cannot be pierced by arrows, and their helmets remain unmoving even after being struck by swords several times. There was an instance where a thousand men ganged up on a few dozen knights of the west but failed to capture them and ended up fleeing. . .¡± ¡°There is nothing to worry about.¡± Although Manansir felt as though he were burning up inside, he persevered. Manansir was the one who had risen to power in this region with iron and blood. If he showed weakness now, the feudal lords of this region would rise up before the western nobles even arrived. ¡®???????? ????, ???????? ????, ???????? ????!¡¯ ¡°I already have a n in mind.¡± ¡°Oh. . .!¡± Contrary to Manansir¡¯s burning heart, the gathered feudal lords were reassured by his attitude. Manansir had demonstrated such military prowess that they had no choice but to trust him since he seemed so confident. ¡°The enemy hase from afar. How exhausted must they be? On top of that, it will be difficult for them to procure proper supplies. What about the endemic diseases?¡± ¡°But the sea is open, is it not?¡± ¡°Even so, there are limits. I do not deny that they are strong and sturdy warriors, but they are also savage and violent like beasts. If they continue to charge in like that, they will dig their own graves, and I will annihte them without letting a single one of them return.¡± ¡°Ohhhhh. . .¡± ¡°Moreover, the sultan will not simply stand idly by while these pagans run rampant. Has he not held out his hand to me?¡± ¡°The sultan??¡± Manansir¡¯s words caused the feudal lords to freeze. Although they loathed the foreigners from the west, the sultan was not exactly someone they were familiar with either. ¡°Will the sultan¡¯s armye?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. To provide support.¡± ¡°If the sultan¡¯s armyes. . .¡± The feudal lords trailed off. Everyone knew what they were worried about. They were concerned that the sultan¡¯s army might upy the surrounding area or cause some other kind of damage, even if they did not upy it. Manansir spoke firmly. ¡°There is no need to worry about that. The target will be solely thends of those monotheist b*stards. The sultan will not touch his brethren of the same faith.¡± ¡°Ummmm.¡± The feudal lords nodded for the time being. Although it was not entirely satisfactory, they had no choice since Manansir had stated it so clearly. After the feudal lords left, Manansir¡¯s subordinates asked in a startled voice. ¡°Will the sultan¡¯s army reallye? I heard that the envoy has yet to return.¡± ¡°We must make hime. By any means necessary! Send more envoys. Offer whatever bribes are necessary to have theme to our aid!¡± ¡°Y-Yes, sir.¡± Manansir¡¯s subordinates nodded vigorously, startled by his ferocious expression. Manansir was not a savage warrior who attacked indiscriminately, as the feudal lords presumed, but he did understand strategy. It would be foolish to simply wait without doing anything while the enemy surged in like a wave. Manansir bit his lips until they bled. He was not a particrly devout man, but he could not help but pray at times like this. He prayed that those from the west would fight and quarrel among themselves, that they would grow exhausted on their way here and disperse, and that the sultan¡¯s army would arrive on time. . . ???????????? Sir Lumahr was a renowned diplomat of the Eastern Empire. A renowned diplomat in this era essentially meant that one¡¯s n had to support them. In that respect, Sir Lumahr¡¯s n needed no further exnation. During his stay in Vynashchtym, he had befriended the sultan¡¯s uncle, Barhan, his connections were extensive, and he was politically astute. On top of that, he had another talent, which was ying Go. Thanks to his reputation for having defeated several capable knights, even though he held the ck stones, he had once yed Go with the sultan. The news that Sir Lumahr himself hade to this ce came as quite a shock. Many people came to see him out of curiosity. A light sound rang out on the wooden board, and then Lumahr let out a groan. When he came to his senses, he realized that the ck piece was on the verge of death. ¡°Your Highness, you have a guest.¡± ¡°It would be best if you told him to wait for a while.¡± Lumahr lifted his head from the wooden board and opened his mouth. Johan responded in a puzzled manner. ¡°Would that not be considered impolite?¡± ¡°You must demonstrate who is superior and who is inferior, Your Highness.¡± Unlike Johan, who was not familiar with this region, Lumahr knew very well what kind of people the feudal lords of this region were. Since they were likely probing to see what kind of person this young duke was, he had to make them pay the price. They were shrewd enough to understand this. ¡°Surely you aren¡¯t doing this because you don¡¯t want the game be disturbed. . .¡± ¡°Your Highness, how could you think such a thing of me? Aftering all this way.¡± Saying so, Lumahr ced down a stone and then smiled faintly. He was certain that the ck piece had been saved. Johan shook his head and ced down a stone. At that, Lumahr¡¯s pale face turned even paler. ¡°Stone. . . Stone underneath. . . Stone. . .¡± ¡°Well, I suppose it¡¯s been long enough. Shall we call them in?¡± ¡°No, we should make them wait a little longer. Trust me.¡± ¡°Alright then. Let us set the game aside for now and have a chat. I hear that General Manansir is quite notorious?¡± ¡°Ah, you mean that general. Yes, he is quite rash and ferocious.¡± Lumahr spoke with disgust. Whether they were from the west or the east, most of those who wielded swords and spears to be knights were brave and did not value their lives. However, even among them, there were a few who were particrly mad. Manansir was one such person. ¡°Although I do not darepare himself to Your Highness the Duke, Manansir has also undertaken several mad charges in the past. He is a brave warrior.¡± ¡®???????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ ¡°With such a man as our opponent, it will be easy for me to persuade him. That is not the problem, Your Highness. There are rumors circting in the sultan¡¯s pce.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Johan¡¯s face hardened. Rumors circting at this time could only mean one thing. ¡°That they areing to provide support?¡± ¡°Yes. I think you should be prepared for that.¡± ¡°Ummmm. . .¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Is there no way to negotiate with that Manansir fellow?¡± ¡°. . .Are you joking? No, you¡¯re not joking?¡± ¡°There is no reason to risk our lives in a ce like this.¡± Although it was an interesting proposal, Lumahr shook his head. ¡°That man ispletely bloodthirsty, so there is no way he will listen to something like negotiation.¡± ¡°Tsk. He¡¯s no reincarnation of Cardirian is he?¡± ¡°Since you have called for me, let us do what we must. Let us bring them in already.¡± Johan nodded. The people from the Zurebek n hesitantly entered. Lumahr weed them with exaggerated gestures. Wine was served several times, and Lumahr praised Johan until his mouth went dry. He said that Johan was renowned even in the Eastern Empire and that he was a knight who kept his word. . . ¡®???? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ????????.¡¯ Although he was not good at Go, Lumahr¡¯s eloquence was indeed worthy of a diplomat. He skillfully alleviated the anxiety of the people here by presenting past events in a usible manner. ¡°The rumor that he tore off a troll¡¯s arm is an exaggeration. Think about it. Does that even make sense? Rumors tend to grow in that way. Surely wise people like yourselves do not believe such rumors?¡± ¡°O. . . Of course not.¡± ¡°Those kinds of rumors have spread to the point that there are now rumors that he has a pact with a demon. You must never believe those rumors.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡±, ¡°What use do you think those men will be?¡± ¡°. . .More than adequate.¡± The duke coughed several times, trying to ensure his voice was devoid of incredulity. He could not sound incredulous, no matter the absurdity; he was a duke, and these men were sprung from a republic. Condescension was not an option. ¡°Even if we disregard Barhan-nim of Vynashchtym, Sir Lumahr, and Mulc¡¯s Sir Ahir are figures with considerable influence within the Empire.¡± ¡°But would they be able to show their influence in this instance?¡± ¡°Your Highness. You would be mistaken to assume so because of the notoriety of the sultan; the sultan is only a man. He, too, cannot do as he pleases, just as Cardirian cannot do as he pleases.¡± Just as the emperor of the Empire considered the opinions of their many feudal lords, the sultan was also constrained to consider the opinions of the various ns. Not even the sultan could reject a request to dispatch men to some farawaynd, not and of the Eastern Empire at that. If he did, the nobles would revolt in an instant. ¡°If Your Highness grants permission, I will immediately dispatch men on fast ships.¡± ¡°Of course. Please do. I feel secure knowing that you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Rather, we are the ones who feel secure knowing that Your Highness is here.¡± ???????????? Ulrike, who had shouted vehemently, ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ??*??????!¡¯ as soon as she met Johan, seemed to have calmed down somewhat after listening to Johan¡¯s persuasion. ¡°. . .If you cooperate to that extent, I suppose we don¡¯t necessarily have to kill him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you understand.¡± Ulrike was a woman who knew how to put aside her emotions for the sake of profit. Regardless of the king¡¯s impoliteness, she had no intention of cutting him down if he cooperated with the expedition. ¡°So, do you intend to gather the expeditionary forces that areing this way while you wait?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be the most sensible approach?¡± While the nobles of the Eastern Empire made their way over, Johan intended to gather other crusaders and armies while leading his own army nearby. In expeditions like this, the most importJohan matter was for individuals to unite into a single entity. In the previous holy war, too, there had been numerous instances in which a coalition was defeated because they were divided and could not manage propermand. ¡°. . .Is it truly impossible?¡± Ulrike asked as if she could notprehend. It was all the more puzzling since he was a duke, a person who should have understood this. It was not that the nobles who had participated in the previous holy war were fools and thus failed to unite. They could not unite because uniting was impossible. Every feudal lord who hade this far was essentially leading their own army. Why would such men willingly submit to someone else¡¯s orders? There was no feudal lord so foolish as to do everything that benefited others. Even the duke should be aware of this. . . ¡°Of course, it will be difficult, but I will do my best to gather them.¡± ¡°Ah. . . In that case, I will cooperate as best as I can.¡± Ulrike spoke and then hesitated for a moment before continuing. ¡°No. I think it would be better for Your Highness the duke if I refrained from cooperating.¡± ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°A revered duke like Your Highness would only find me an obstacle while trying to persuade them.¡± ¡°What. . . You also have a reputation among the other nobles, a favorable one at that.¡± ¡°A notorious one, you mean.¡± It was rare for a feudal lord to be loved by everyone. Of course, Ulrike was no exception. After all, stirring up several wars and raising taxes to gain fiefdoms invariably earned her the resentment of nobles and priests alike. In contrast, people like Johan, who were weed everywhere they went, were rare. ¡®???? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Of the feudal lords currently partaking in the Eastern Expedition, Ulrike felt that Johan had the greatest chance of getting along with the others. The elf king was bound to sh with both the western and northern feudal lords, and the eastern feudal lords, who had joined the expedition, were not likely to cooperate well since they were used to operating independently. . . At the very least, the duke, who was close to some of them, might be able to control their wild horses by holding the reins. ¡®??¡¯?? ?????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Ulrike was genuinely apologetic. Although Johan likely did not care much, Ulrike could not help but mind the fact that she had failed to aplish something that her mother, Countess Jarpen, would have aplished. If the duke were able to win over even one or two more feudal lords, his strength would increase considerably. . . ???????????? Viceroy Manansir was known as an ambitious opportunist, but after the Eastern Expedition began in earnest, he began to have nightmares. No one would have predicted this. No, it was an eventuality that could not have been predicted. What sense did it make to dere a holy war simply because some merchant ships had been captured? No matter how one looked at it, this could only be seen as providing a pretext while discontent and power were bubbling up in the west. He would never have acted this way had he known this would happen. At first, it was just rumors of ragged crusaders, but. . . With the passage of time, the rumors gradually took on a more concrete form. When news spread that nobles from ns known even in the east were leading their armies, the nearby feudal lords began to waver and murmur. ¡°Your Excellency Viceroy. . .¡± ¡°Have youe again because you are so worried?¡± The person most responsible for this situation was Manansir himself, who had ordered the capture of the ships. ¡°I heard that their numbers are quiterge.¡± ¡°Surely you are well aware of how strong and fearsome are the knights of the west. Once they charge, our soldiers will be swept away.¡± ¡°Their armor cannot be pierced by arrows, and their helmets remain unmoving even after being struck by swords several times. There was an instance where a thousand men ganged up on a few dozen knights of the west but failed to capture them and ended up fleeing. . .¡± ¡°There is nothing to worry about.¡± Although Manansir felt as though he were burning up inside, he persevered. Manansir was the one who had risen to power in this region with iron and blood. If he showed weakness now, the feudal lords of this region would rise up before the western nobles even arrived. ¡®???????? ????, ???????? ????, ???????? ????!¡¯ ¡°I already have a n in mind.¡± ¡°Oh. . .!¡± Contrary to Manansir¡¯s burning heart, the gathered feudal lords were reassured by his attitude. Manansir had demonstrated such military prowess that they had no choice but to trust him since he seemed so confident. ¡°The enemy hase from afar. How exhausted must they be? On top of that, it will be difficult for them to procure proper supplies. What about the endemic diseases?¡± ¡°But the sea is open, is it not?¡± ¡°Even so, there are limits. I do not deny that they are strong and sturdy warriors, but they are also savage and violent like beasts. If they continue to charge in like that, they will dig their own graves, and I will annihte them without letting a single one of them return.¡± ¡°Ohhhhh. . .¡± ¡°Moreover, the sultan will not simply stand idly by while these pagans run rampant. Has he not held out his hand to me?¡± ¡°The sultan??¡± Manansir¡¯s words caused the feudal lords to freeze. Although they loathed the foreigners from the west, the sultan was not exactly someone they were familiar with either. ¡°Will the sultan¡¯s armye?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. To provide support.¡± ¡°If the sultan¡¯s armyes. . .¡± The feudal lords trailed off. Everyone knew what they were worried about. They were concerned that the sultan¡¯s army might upy the surrounding area or cause some other kind of damage, even if they did not upy it. Manansir spoke firmly. ¡°There is no need to worry about that. The target will be solely thends of those monotheist b*stards. The sultan will not touch his brethren of the same faith.¡± ¡°Ummmm.¡± The feudal lords nodded for the time being. Although it was not entirely satisfactory, they had no choice since Manansir had stated it so clearly. After the feudal lords left, Manansir¡¯s subordinates asked in a startled voice. ¡°Will the sultan¡¯s army reallye? I heard that the envoy has yet to return.¡± ¡°We must make hime. By any means necessary! Send more envoys. Offer whatever bribes are necessary to have theme to our aid!¡± ¡°Y-Yes, sir.¡± Manansir¡¯s subordinates nodded vigorously, startled by his ferocious expression. Manansir was not a savage warrior who attacked indiscriminately, as the feudal lords presumed, but he did understand strategy. It would be foolish to simply wait without doing anything while the enemy surged in like a wave. Manansir bit his lips until they bled. He was not a particrly devout man, but he could not help but pray at times like this. He prayed that those from the west would fight and quarrel among themselves, that they would grow exhausted on their way here and disperse, and that the sultan¡¯s army would arrive on time. . . ???????????? Sir Lumahr was a renowned diplomat of the Eastern Empire. A renowned diplomat in this era essentially meant that one¡¯s n had to support them. In that respect, Sir Lumahr¡¯s n needed no further exnation. During his stay in Vynashchtym, he had befriended the sultan¡¯s uncle, Barhan, his connections were extensive, and he was politically astute. On top of that, he had another talent, which was ying Go. Thanks to his reputation for having defeated several capable knights, even though he held the ck stones, he had once yed Go with the sultan. The news that Sir Lumahr himself hade to this ce came as quite a shock. Many people came to see him out of curiosity. A light sound rang out on the wooden board, and then Lumahr let out a groan. When he came to his senses, he realized that the ck piece was on the verge of death. ¡°Your Highness, you have a guest.¡± ¡°It would be best if you told him to wait for a while.¡± Lumahr lifted his head from the wooden board and opened his mouth. Johan responded in a puzzled manner. ¡°Would that not be considered impolite?¡± ¡°You must demonstrate who is superior and who is inferior, Your Highness.¡± Unlike Johan, who was not familiar with this region, Lumahr knew very well what kind of people the feudal lords of this region were. Since they were likely probing to see what kind of person this young duke was, he had to make them pay the price. They were shrewd enough to understand this. ¡°Surely you aren¡¯t doing this because you don¡¯t want the game be disturbed. . .¡± ¡°Your Highness, how could you think such a thing of me? Aftering all this way.¡± Saying so, Lumahr ced down a stone and then smiled faintly. He was certain that the ck piece had been saved. Johan shook his head and ced down a stone. At that, Lumahr¡¯s pale face turned even paler. ¡°Stone. . . Stone underneath. . . Stone. . .¡± ¡°Well, I suppose it¡¯s been long enough. Shall we call them in?¡± ¡°No, we should make them wait a little longer. Trust me.¡± ¡°Alright then. Let us set the game aside for now and have a chat. I hear that General Manansir is quite notorious?¡± ¡°Ah, you mean that general. Yes, he is quite rash and ferocious.¡± Lumahr spoke with disgust. Whether they were from the west or the east, most of those who wielded swords and spears to be knights were brave and did not value their lives. However, even among them, there were a few who were particrly mad. Manansir was one such person. ¡°Although I do not darepare himself to Your Highness the Duke, Manansir has also undertaken several mad charges in the past. He is a brave warrior.¡± ¡®???????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ ¡°With such a man as our opponent, it will be easy for me to persuade him. That is not the problem, Your Highness. There are rumors circting in the sultan¡¯s pce.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Johan¡¯s face hardened. Rumors circting at this time could only mean one thing. ¡°That they areing to provide support?¡± ¡°Yes. I think you should be prepared for that.¡± ¡°Ummmm. . .¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Is there no way to negotiate with that Manansir fellow?¡± ¡°. . .Are you joking? No, you¡¯re not joking?¡± ¡°There is no reason to risk our lives in a ce like this.¡± Although it was an interesting proposal, Lumahr shook his head. ¡°That man ispletely bloodthirsty, so there is no way he will listen to something like negotiation.¡± ¡°Tsk. He¡¯s no reincarnation of Cardirian is he?¡± ¡°Since you have called for me, let us do what we must. Let us bring them in already.¡± Johan nodded. The people from the Zurebek n hesitantly entered. Lumahr weed them with exaggerated gestures. Wine was served several times, and Lumahr praised Johan until his mouth went dry. He said that Johan was renowned even in the Eastern Empire and that he was a knight who kept his word. . . ¡®???? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ????????.¡¯ Although he was not good at Go, Lumahr¡¯s eloquence was indeed worthy of a diplomat. He skillfully alleviated the anxiety of the people here by presenting past events in a usible manner. ¡°The rumor that he tore off a troll¡¯s arm is an exaggeration. Think about it. Does that even make sense? Rumors tend to grow in that way. Surely wise people like yourselves do not believe such rumors?¡± ¡°O. . . Of course not.¡± ¡°Those kinds of rumors have spread to the point that there are now rumors that he has a pact with a demon. You must never believe those rumors.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Chapter 297: ???????????? ???????????????????????? (1) Chapter 297: ???????????? ???????????????????????? (1) The young duke¡¯s expression subtly distorted, but no one noticed. Thanks to Lumahr, the atmosphere of the ce became amicable. The Zurebek family apologized for their misunderstanding and fear, and Johan epted it well. ¡°Your Highness. If you don¡¯t mind, please visit our fiefdom once. It would be a great honor for us to have Your Highness visit us.¡± Before Johan could answer, Lumahr interjected, seeking understanding through eye contact. ¡°With pilgrims from all over the ce flocking to this region, Your Highness must be busy as well. We are happy to extend the invitation, but please do not expect too much.¡± ¡°Is that so? What a pity.¡± The Zurebek family had a look of disappointment on their faces. Johan did not miss the regret that shed across their faces. After the small banquet ended and everyone left, Johan asked Lumahr. ¡°Why did you stop me? Was there a trap?¡± ¡°A trap? Oh. The Zurebek family? Haha. Your Highness. Didn¡¯t you notice that the Zurebek family was afraid of Your Highness?¡± ¡°They can still set up a trap even if they¡¯re afraid.¡± ¡°Of course, they can, but they¡¯re not that foolish. The reason I stopped you was because there was no need for that at all.¡± The noble pagan families in the vicinity tried to show off the dignity and prestige of their families by inviting distinguished guests. Now that the misunderstanding had been resolved, a young duke like Johan was a worthy enough guest to invite. It would be an invitation that would be talked about for at least ten years. However, in Lumahr¡¯s eyes, a duke like Johan was not the kind of person who would respond to such an invitation. Just as the sultan would not personally travel to a feudal lord¡¯s invitation, it was not necessary for him to ept it. The other party would naturally understand and ept it without feeling offended. ¡°So, it¡¯s not a trap, and it¡¯s not particrly dangerous, but you just turned it down because you thought it would be a bother?¡± ¡°If I had to summarize it, that would be it. . . No, Your Highness. Once you respond to such invitations, other families in the vicinity will invite you as well. Wouldn¡¯t that be annoying?¡± ¡°Not really?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Lumahr was honestly surprised. He had not expected Johan to answer like this. ¡°I would rather think that we should respond to such invitations. They have different religions and cultures from us. We haven¡¯t known each other for long. How long can our bond with themst? Of course, they will be on our side when it is advantageous for them, but won¡¯t they turn their backs when things get tough? When I think about that, the trouble of visiting them is nothing.¡± Johan¡¯s words made Lumahr reflect on himself. He had been thinking and acting as if he was still in the Eastern Empire, which was only natural. As people be higher in status and their positions be more honorable, it is natural for them to be arrogant. To such people, invitations from people of lower status than them would inevitably feel insignificant. That was why he had cut it off at his own discretion. . . ¡°I apologize, Your Highness. I was presumptuous in my actions without understanding Your Highness¡¯s deep intentions.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. Now that the guests are gone, shall we have one more game? If you¡¯re having a hard time because of the alcohol. . .¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m not so weak that a few drinks can get me.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s continue the game of Go that we were ying earlier. . .¡± ¡°Oops. I¡¯m drunk.¡± Lumahr staggered and swept the Go board with his sleeve. The Go pieces were mixed up in a jumble. Johan looked at Lumahr in astonishment, but Lumahr shamelessly avoided his gaze with a diplomat¡¯s expression. ¡°It¡¯s because of you that we can¡¯t y Go.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ???????????? When the old king heard Johan¡¯s words, he reacted in exactly the same way as Lumahr. ¡°Do you have to??¡± ¡°. . .Isn¡¯t it an honorable thing for both parties to ept an invitation?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but do you have to. . .?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan wanted to say to the old king, ¡®???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????????¡¯ but he gave up. It would only hurt the old king¡¯s pride if he said it for nothing. ¡®???? ???????? ?????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????¡¯ More than a hundred years ago, the newly arrived monotheistic families grumbled that the local families around them hated them, but seeing this now, it seemed that there was a reason why they had not be close in over a hundred years. The old king tilted his head repeatedly, as if he didn¡¯t understand. The chambein next to him offered his opinion. ¡°Don¡¯t you think the young duke might want to explore this exotic ce because he¡¯s so full of energy?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. In that case, it would be best to take Valeon with you.¡± ¡°. . .Yes???¡± With a sullen expression, the old king¡¯s son, Sir Valeon, who was in the court, was taken aback by the sudden remark. Why was the arrow flying towards him? ¡°Isn¡¯t he your spouse¡¯s family? They¡¯ll be more hospitable to you if you visit.¡± ¡°No, I. . .¡± Valeon fumbled for words, at a loss for what to say. The old king, who had apparently not thought about such a response in the first ce, waved his hand as if it had already been decided. Just as the old king thought of the Zurebek family, Valeon thought of them in a simr way. They had formed a marriage alliance because they were powerful, but he did not see them as apletely equal opponent. It was even more surprising that he saw them as pagans with a different culture. Honestly, in Valeon¡¯s eyes, there was no big difference between the centaurs roaming around in the distance and the Zurebek family. And now he was being told to follow the duke to visit their fiefdom. It was already awkward to be with a difficult person, but now he had to go to a difficult ce with him, so he felt twice as ufortable. ¡°I¡¯d like you to take him, duke.¡± ¡°We have received a young and excellent knight, so we should be thankful.¡± Of course, Johan didn¡¯t necessarily need Valeon, but there was no need to make the old king upset by ignoring his kindness. ???????????? Thus, the procession to the fiefdom was decided, regardless of Valeon¡¯s opinion. Johan had selected only his elite soldiers and intended to go and return quickly, so he did not prepare arge number of people. The Zurebek family was constantly fussing and preparing their horses and luggage. The unexpected visit of His Highness the Duke delighted them. They could picture how happy the patriarch would be. ¡°We are grateful, Your Highness!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°How could we refuse such an invitation?¡± Johan looked at Valeon. The young knight¡¯s expression was crumpled as if he had chewed on something very bitter. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No. Your Highness.¡± ¡°It seems like you¡¯re happy to visit your spouse¡¯s family?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Valeon sighed, not realizing that Johan was teasing him. When the other person¡¯s reaction was not as funny as he had expected, Johan returned to the original topic. ¡°We¡¯re on our way to ept someone else¡¯s invitation, so I¡¯d like you to at least control your expression. Don¡¯t you think a pleasant invitation could be ruined because of your expression?¡± ¡°They won¡¯t care about such things. Your Highness. They won¡¯t even notice.¡± At Valeon¡¯s words, Euclyia, who was standing next to him, raised her spear and thrust it under Valeon¡¯s neck. Valeon was startled by the cold de that entered without giving him a chance to react. ¡°Are you saying bullsh*t and not following the orders of His Highness, you son of a b*tch?¡± ¡°Stop it. Euclyia. What are you doing!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Your Highness.¡± ¡°Go back and stay in your quarters.¡± Euclyia bowed her head and stepped back, but she did not show any signs of remorse. Johan did not punish Euclyia seriously either. At that sight, Valeon unconsciously rubbed the nape of his neck. Only then did it ur to him that this young duke was the one who had led his army and broken through the gates of someone else¡¯s castle. He had forgotten because of his gentlemanly demeanor, but he was a person who could be violent at any moment. Johan looked straight into Valeon¡¯s eyes and said. ¡°I apologize on her behalf. Anyway, control your expression. . . .Do you understand?¡± ¡°. . .I understand.¡± Valeon nodded. His spouse, who was from the Zurebek family, spoke in the easternnguage. ¡°¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö?¡± ¡°Be quiet. . .¡± Valeon was about to get angry, but he stopped when he met Johan¡¯s gaze. Valeon bit his lip and turned his head away. Lumahr clucked his tongue at the sight. ¡°No matter how much you say, you¡¯re married and you¡¯re acting like that. It doesn¡¯t seem like a good thing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just that knight who¡¯s like that. I don¡¯t understand why they make enemies for no reason.¡± As they left the castle and walked for quite a long time, the sunlight gradually grew stronger and the heat began to rise from the ground. At some point, the shade and greenery disappeared, and all that could be seen was sand that stung the cheeks and neck when the wind blew. The soldiers following Johan wrapped cloth around their armor to prevent the sun from shining directly on them. Karamaf stuck his tongue out and gasped. ¡°Amazingly, you can find your way in this sandy wastnd. Can I ask you how you do it?¡± When Johan asked the question, the Zurebek family guide approached him, feeling embarrassed. When someone else tried to step forward to interpret, Johan held out his hand to stop them. ¡°Speakfortably. I understand.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, Your Highness. I¡¯m sorry you¡¯re interested in such a trivial skill.¡± ¡°What trivial skill is there in the world? The skill to find your way in a ce like this where there are nondmarks is truly amazing. Can you tell me how you do it?¡± The guide opened his mouth slowly, as if afraid of making a mistake. ¡°The sand here all looks the same, but if you look closely, it¡¯s all different colors. It¡¯s mostly where rivers form during the rainy season, but if you follow that way, you¡¯ll find a spring. Following such a spring is the first. . .¡± ¡°I see. Go on. It¡¯s interesting.¡± Johan listened to the guide with genuine interest. Like a hunter¡¯s knowledge, the guide¡¯s know-how, who had been wandering in the desert for a long time, was sharp and keen. ¡®????¡¯?? ???? ????????????.¡¯ Lumahr held back a yawn next to him. He was not a soldier. His body was tired after riding a horse for so long. He wanted to find a tent of a friendly tribe, go inside, have a few drinks, and get a good night¡¯s sleep. ¡°. . .That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Excellent work. Give this man a reward.¡± The spoils from the ck Mountains came in handy at times like this. The guide, who received a silver ne, was surprised as if he was going to faint. The Zurebek family members bowed their heads. ¡°We invited you, but we can¡¯t ept such a reward.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. If I listened to such wise words and gave nothing, it would be my face that would be damaged. That guide¡¯s words were truly wise.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the Zurebek family members smiled brightly, unable to hide the fact that they were humble but happy to have their family¡¯s skills highly praised. No one hated it when their skills were highly praised. Meanwhile, in the distance, dust rose up and several horses were seen running away in all directions. Among them, Johan, who had been blessed with overwhelmingly bright eyes, was the first to notice the chaos. ¡°The horses are running away. Are the merchants being attacked?¡± ¡°Are they running away?! Yes. If so. . .¡± ¡°We have to help them.¡± Johan called his soldiers and prepared for battle. Lumahr asked in a panic. ¡°Your Highness. If it¡¯s someone who¡¯s wandering around this area, it definitely won¡¯t be a monotheistic pilgrim. . .¡± ¡°I know. But if we save them, they won¡¯t forget our kindness.¡± ¡°What good will it do if they don¡¯t forget our kindness?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be useful anywhere. If there¡¯s no ce to use it, we don¡¯t use it. Prepare for battle!¡± Lumahr felt something distant and obscure that he couldn¡¯t grasp from Johan¡¯s back as he prepared to charge with the centaurs. Is this the power of that young duke? ???????????? ¡°For St. Gnto!¡± ¡°For St. Gnto, charge!¡± What attacked the merchants was not a monster, but a group of rogues. Seeing that the rogues were better armed than expected, the centaurs did not attack them right away, but spread out to the surrounding area and created a siege. The centaurs were puzzled by the distant shouting. ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s St. Gnto?¡± ¡°. . .just some dead guy!¡± ¡°Are there one or two of those dead guys?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he that saint? The one that the Empire guys believe in.¡± ¡°. . .What? Are they Empire people?? Your Highness. Those guys are just like the Empire guys???¡± Johan made a nervous expression at the words of the centaurs. He never thought he would meet brother-thieves with the same faith here. What¡¯s the best way to deal with this? ¡°What if we get involved and those guys start arguing?¡± ¡°To His Highness? If they do that, I¡¯ll pull their tongues out.¡± ¡°But they¡¯re guys with the same faith.¡± ¡°Should we just let them loot the merchants? It¡¯s not our business anyway.¡± Johan, who had been pondering, came to a conclusion. ¡°Kill all the rogues.¡± If they were all dead, there would be no one toin. Even if there were one or two nobles, they wouldn¡¯t be able to argue. The centaurs were impressed by Johan¡¯s wisdom. ¡°What a wise saying, Your Highness!¡± Chapter 298: ???????????? ???????????????????????? (2) Chapter 298: ???????????? ???????????????????????? (2) Rather than struggle to take prisoners, it was more in the centaurs¡¯ nature to just ughter them. When the encirclement was broken and the storm-like assault began, the warriors who¡¯d been piging panicked. ¡°Ambush!¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re pilgrims from the west! Hey! Stop attacking!¡± The sand and dust made visibility difficult, but certain colors of clothing here and there made it clear that they were indeed pilgrims from the west. The warriors who¡¯d been piging tried their best to make it known that they were monotheists. ¡°We are brothers in faith!¡± ¡°I have never had a rogue like you as a brother!¡± With those words, one of the centaurs loosed an arrow. The arrow found the perfect gap in the armor, piercing the warrior¡¯s neck.¡°There are centaurs, too!!¡± ¡°Why are these barbarians here?!¡± While the warriors were bewildered, Johan led his subordinates in an attack on the center. Since only the best warriors served under Johan, their destructive power was awe-inspiring. The band of rogues, though heavily armed themselves, melted away like snow in the sun. Valeon, who was fighting alongside them, swinging his weapon, looked at the duke in bewilderment. ¡®???? ???????? ???????????? ?????????¡¯ He wasn¡¯t shocked by the battle that was currently unfolding. As people living on thisnd, he knew very well that shared faith doesn¡¯t make fellow believers brothers. If you counted just the numbers, the number of times they¡¯d fought among themselves was probably greater than the number of times they¡¯d fought pagans. Among the monotheists, there were quite a few cases where they disguised themselves as a band of rogues, went out to other ces,mitted robbery and piging, and there were also quite a few cases where they did the opposite and plundered those very monotheists. So in that sense, this battle in itself wasn¡¯t strange. . . But isn¡¯t the duke a different person from the feudal lords here? His religiosity is on a whole different level, and more importantly, he has to persuade the feudal lords here to fight alongside him. For Valeon, who had heard these things from the old king, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®???? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ No matter how much they¡¯dmitted robbery, when being attacked, it¡¯s only human to bear a grudge. ¡°I don¡¯t know where you people are from, but I am a knight of the Tragalon Hundred Kingdoms. . . Whack!¡± ¡°Is it over?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Valeon eventually couldn¡¯t hold back and asked the question. ¡°Your Highness, is this really okay?¡± ¡°What?¡± Before Johan could answer, one of the centaurs turned his head ferociously. He looked even more ferocious since he hadn¡¯t wiped the blood off yet. ¡°Ah. . . No. Didn¡¯t that guy just say he¡¯s a knight of the Hundred Kingdoms? What if we have trouble persuading themter? And besides, they¡¯re supposed to be brothers in faith. . .¡± ¡°Hmm. My heart aches, too.¡± Johan said that with a grim expression and without even wetting his lips. There was no sign of excitement or joy after the battle in his demeanor. The centaurs and the guards were taken aback by the duke¡¯s attitude. ¡®???????? ???? ???? ???????????¡¯ ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ???????????? ????????????????????, ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ??????.¡¯ The duke¡¯s closest guards knew that he would never do anything like this, but they kept their mouths shut for the time being because of the atmosphere. ¡°But as a knight, I can¡¯t just stand by and let injustice happen. I would have to step in, even if it meant I would suffer lossester.¡± ¡°Ah. . .¡± Valeon was honestly impressed by the answer he hadn¡¯t expected. As someone who¡¯d been trained and raised as a knight, it was impossible not to be impressed by such an answer. ¡°. . .That was noble of you.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Johan nodded and moved his horse to the side. Then he spoke to the centaurs. ¡°Don¡¯t miss out on the spoils. Looks like there¡¯s quite a lot of it, considering there are knight dastards here.¡± ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯m sure that we, of all people under Your Highness¡¯mand, excel at piging and plundering, though I cannot say the same for other things.¡± ¡°I like your confidence.¡± The other guards, not the centaurs, who were escorting Johan, burst outughing at the conversation. Then they nced at Valeon. ¡°Surely he wasn¡¯t impressed by those words, was he?¡± ¡°No way. . . Unless he¡¯s an idiot.¡± ???????????? The merchants were very grateful for the unexpected help. They were even more surprised by the fact that their benefactors were pilgrims from the west. ¡°We would like to offer you a reward.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not right to be rewarded for doing the right thing.¡± In fact, Johan didn¡¯t really need a reward since they had stripped the band of rogues down to their boots, but he hadn¡¯t forgotten his original purpose. If you¡¯re going to show someone a favor, you have to do it properly. As they watched the backs of the departing merchants, Lumahr spoke up. ¡°He was definitely impressed. It would be nice if they could spread the word a bit.¡± ¡°If you expect everything to go your way when you do something like this, you¡¯ll get tired out first.¡± Johan gave the order to set out again with an indifferent expression. ¡°But Your Highness, may I ask you something?¡± ¡°Anything, as long as it¡¯s not a question about Go.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Lumahr made a somewhat awkward expression at Johan¡¯s answer. To think that the young duke found him annoying enough to ask so many questions. It wasn¡¯t very diplomatic of him. ¡°I apologize. I will be more careful in the future.¡± ¡°Good. Think about the life of that noblewoman from thest time.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Lumahr¡¯s lips quivered. Judging from his expression, it was clear that he had held back from asking. He seemed really curious. ¡°I heard that the Sultan¡¯s concubine is here. Is that true?¡± ¡°Ah. That one. It¡¯s not like this is the first time you¡¯ve seen a hostage from the nobility, is it?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help but be curious,ing from someone in the Sultan¡¯s pce.¡± Lumahr was surprised. To think that someone who had been banished was in Johan¡¯s army. Wouldn¡¯t they normally chase them out or execute them unless they could get a ransom? ¡°It was a waste to kill or abandon her.¡± ¡°. . .Are you serious??¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s good. Think about how you can get a ransom for that hostage.¡± ¡°. . .Yes?¡± Lumahr was taken aback by the sudden remark after asking a question without thinking. Who would pay a ransom for someone who has no family and has lost the Sultan¡¯s favor? ¡°Is it really impossible?¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s impossible or not, that¡¯s. . . Really. . .¡± ¡°Looks like there¡¯s nothing I can do. Fine. Let¡¯s just forget about it.¡± ¡°. . .No. I¡¯ll think about it!¡± Rather than simply giving an order, speaking like that was a more effective way to appeal to someone¡¯s pride. Lumahr, who had answered impulsively, regretted it almost immediately. What have I done? ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± As a noble, as a diplomat, how could he possibly say no to that question, with all his pride? Lumahr had no choice but to nod. ???????????? While Johan visited the tribes to get to know each other and build rtionships, other disturbing events were taking ce elsewhere. ¡°Is that true??¡± ¡°It seems almost certain.¡± The nobles serving in the Sultan¡¯s court were shocked by the recent rumors. Are they really marching to that distantnd? ¡°Isn¡¯t that too reckless? No one speaks up against it?¡± ¡°The Sultan seems determined. And it¡¯s not a bad idea either. It would be much morefortable if those noisy b*stards down there disappeared.¡± The enemies of the Eastern Empire were the Vynashchtym people to the west and the pagan feudal lords to the south. The pagan feudal lords hadn¡¯t dared to attack first, but it was true that they were a pain in the Sultan¡¯s side. If they could seize the opportunity and take care of one side, it wouldn¡¯t be such a bad thing. . . But for anyone with a decent upbringing, the idea of leading arge army on a distant expedition while there were other enemies not far away was unappealing. Furthermore, it was even more off-putting since there were rumors that someone like Viceroy Manansir was in the Sultan¡¯s favor. Wouldn¡¯t it just be like creating more enemies for nothing? ¡°Do not speak of showing the pagans an example in that manner. We should have wiped them out long ago so that they would never dare to look this way again.¡± However, the hawkish nobles saw this as a great opportunity. A chance to catch the Sultan¡¯s eye and rise to the top of the Empire! ¡°The enemy¡¯s numbers are small, and our numbers arerge. There are few forces that will help the enemy, and many forces that will help us. Leaving them alone and waiting will only make the enemy stronger!¡± ¡°I understand! I get it. Calm down.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± As the nobles who had been promised an expedition walked away, those who remained let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Did you see those violent men?¡± ¡°But they do have a point. If only we could wipe them out this time. . .?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The nobles looked at the backs of those who had gone ahead, their expressions a mix of worry and anticipation. Each of them had their own opinions, but they all agreed on one thing. That the expedition was bound to seed. ???????????? ¡°He¡¯s more popr than I thought. . .?¡± Lumahr opened his eyes wide and looked ahead. Where tents should have been, there were tribal tents instead. They had heard rumors that Johan wasing. Johan visited not only the Zurebek family, but also the families who had sent people after hearing the rumors, and raised a toast with each of them. Surprised by the visit of such an active and unexpected guest, some tribes even came to visit him. Having experienced this many times, Johan finished the banquet with the now-familiar formality. ¡°More guests?¡± As he was leaving the tent, he saw people rushing in from a distance, stirring up dust. He thought they werete tribal guests, but they weren¡¯t. Their outfits werepletely different. Valeon frowned and said, ¡°Looks like guys from the Hundred Kingdoms.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more than one Hundred Kingdoms around here.¡± ¡°The Tragalon Hundred Kingdoms. Those rogue guys that Your Highness took care of. . .¡± ¡°Ah. Those guys.¡± The messengers who approached, stirring up dust, got off their horses and paid their respects. However, their actions revealed a hostility that they couldn¡¯t hide. Johan and his men could sense it too. ¡°We havee to greet you! Are you Duke Yeats¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°My master said that there seems to have been a misunderstanding with Your Highness, Your Highness.¡± The messenger¡¯s words were long andplicated, but the count¡¯s message was simple. Let bygones be bygones about what happened to us, and pay uspensation! ¡®????????. ????????¡¯???? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ Despite the fact that he had killed them all because he didn¡¯t want any trouble, they had somehow heard the rumors and figured out the situation. Johan pondered for a moment. The other party was clearly aware that they were not in the right. After all, the rogues might have attacked Johan¡¯s party. If they had been confident, they would have demanded more. Even so, since many of their men had died, they had to receivepensation to save face, so he would grant them that. From the standpoint of having many enemies to fight in the future, it wouldn¡¯t be such a bad idea to settle things with silver coins. ¡°Bullsh*t! You guys started the rogue business, so what are you talking about!?¡± Valeon, who had been listening, couldn¡¯t take it anymore and spoke up. He didn¡¯t particrly like the duke, but this was a separate matter. The messengers were taken aback by his words and their faces hardened. ¡°What did you just say? How dare you?¡± ¡°I am Valeon, son of King Ineressa! The blood that flows in my veins proves my worthiness. How dare you shameless ones try to start a rogue business!¡± If they started arguing about who was right and who was wrong, things would getplicated, so Johan had intended to move on with a reasonablepensation, but the moment he spoke so confidently, it turned into a battle of who was right. ¡°Are you prepared to take responsibility for those words?¡± ¡°I¡¯m prepared to do it a hundred times more than you guys!¡± ¡°. . .What¡¯s wrong with that guy?¡± Johan asked Lumahr next to him in a bewildered voice. If it wasn¡¯t for the strong, local alcohol that the tribes had given them, there was no reason for him to act like that. From Johan¡¯s point of view, the matter between Johan and the Hundred Kingdoms had turned into a matter between Valeon and the Hundred Kingdoms without him lifting a finger, so it was as good as done. . . But what on earth was Valeon thinking? ¡°You have just insulted my master¡¯s honor, Your Excellency!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who should know better and talk! That¡¯s the only way you can talk about honor!¡± ¡°Ha. I¡¯ll see you soon!¡± The messenger seemed outraged by the unexpected situation and shouted at Valeon. Then he paid his respects to Johan and turned his horse around to leave. Johan btedly realized the situation and asked Lumahr. ¡°. . .Wait a minute. Am I going to be a witness in a trial?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s what happened, Your Highness.¡± Chapter 299: ???????????? ???????????????????????? (3) Chapter 299: ???????????? ???????????????????????? (3) Johan was just as surprised as Lumahr. Who would have known that, while visiting the tribes, holding banquets, and building rtionships, it would suddenly turn into a trial? Although the trials betweenmoners were bothersome, the trials among nobles were even moreplex and troublesome. The two families would start by arguing about all sorts ofws and hiringwyers to fight for them, then they would manipte witnesses and testimonies, and if the fight got worse, they would even raid each other and start a sword fight. Since each had enough power, it was not easy for them to back down. Therefore, one had to be careful when intervening in such a situation. If one was not careful, one could end up being hated by both sides. ¡°Your Highness. Please be careful. In a situation like this, Your Highness¡¯s words will carry even more weight.¡± ¡°I know.¡± If it were an ordinary knight, a single word from him would not have turned the situation upside down, but the words of a feudal lord like Johan carried different weight. It was possible for the situation to be reversed with a single word.¡°. . .The situation has be troublesome.¡± Johan frowned. Looking back, the situation was much moreplicated. It would be easy if he simply said that Valeon was right, but if he did. . . ¡®?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ Even without this, they would have built up some resentment after capturing the rogue, and if Valeon sided with them in this situation, that resentment would surely explode. However, if he were to side with the Hundred Kingdoms, the old king would be disappointed. There was only one answer. Somehow, mediate between the two and bring it to a close. . . . The problem was how to do it. Johan, who was known as a master of politics among his close acquaintances, could not immediatelye up with an answer to this problem. ¡°I apologize, Your Highness.¡± After talking to himself for a while, Valeon calmed down and came back to apologize. ¡°Those guys are knights, but they¡¯re talking nonsense. I couldn¡¯t hold back my anger. I¡¯m sorry for involving Your Highness in this useless quarrel.¡± ¡°Hmm. Do you know what the situation is now?¡± ¡°???¡± Valeon looked at Johan with questioning eyes, not understanding what he was talking about. From the look in his eyes, Johan, who had figured it all out, nodded his head. ¡°I see. I understand.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather speak to His Majesty directly than tell you.¡± ???????????? ¡°What have you been doing?!¡± As soon as Valeon entered, he was greeted by a silver chalice thrown by the old king. As the heavy chalice flew towards him, Valeon hurriedly bowed his head to avoid it. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®Your Majesty¡¯ me! Why are you causing unnecessary chaos?!¡± The old king threw the chalice but seemed unsatisfied as he breathed heavily. The chambein had to hurry over to calm him down. ¡°Are you scared of those Hundred Kingdoms dogs now?!¡± Although Valeon argued in his own way, the old king was simply getting more and more furious. Hepletely failed to realize that this wasn¡¯t the issue at hand. ¡®?????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ??????. . .¡¯ The king had hoped his unfavored son would learn something by travelling with the young duke. And that expectation was reasonably met. ording to the news he heard, the Zurebek family they visited was also quite satisfied with this trip. There had been much discontent over the constant rude demands despite their marriage alliance. . . Yet now hees back with such gossip. The gossip itself wasn¡¯t the problem. The old king wasn¡¯t scared of petty rogues like the Tragalon family either. If they had provoked him first, he would have immediately drawn his sword against them. However, in this case of gossip, shouldn¡¯t the duke and the Hundred Kingdoms take care of it themselves as none of his business? What was the point of getting involved and making it his problem? ¡°Calm yourself, Your Majesty. As a knight, he clearly could not tolerate what happened.¡± ¡°That foolish. . . Fine. What¡¯s done is done, nothing can change that now. I have no intention of yielding to those petty thief gangs! You better prepare properly for the trial.¡± ¡°Prepare. . . you say?¡± Valeon was bewildered. ¡°I saw it clearly with my own two eyes, and there were many other witnesses to that scene. What preparation is needed?¡± ¡°What if the duke testifies that it wasn¡¯t him?¡± ¡°If he testifies that it wasn¡¯t him. . .¡± Valeon was at a loss for words. He had no rebuttal to the old king¡¯s statement. ¡°Stop spouting nonsense and properly persuade the duke! You travelled together so you must have built some rapport. If you mess things up and smear our family name, I will not let it go easily!¡± ???????????? ¡°Are the supplies secured?¡± ¡°Yes. Everything is ready as you said.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a port, but just in case, make sure to prepare more than enough. We can¡¯t trust the feudal lords around here.¡± Ulrike gave instructions to the knights and looked around. She could see more and more people gathering around the huge camp. Those who came as individuals would often follow the famous feudal lords when the situation turned serious. For the feudal lords, it was like getting free army, so there was no reason to refuse. ¡°. . .Wait. Are those envoys from the Hundred Kingdoms?¡± Ulrike wondered as she watched the envoy group of the Hundred Kingdoms passing by in the distance. It wouldn¡¯t be strange if they were going to the old king¡¯s fiefdom, but that direction wasn¡¯t the castle. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the Duke¡¯s camp?¡± ¡°Why would the Hundred Kingdoms give something like that to the Duke?¡± The feudal lords around here were people who had nothing left but their pride. If foreigners from afar offered them gifts, that would be one thing, but there was no reason for them to offer gifts first. ¡°. . .Could it be out of respect?¡± The knight who somehow managed toe up with an answer didn¡¯t seem to believe it himself. ???????????? ¡°This kind of crafted silver is something you¡¯ve never seen in the west, Your Highness. Wouldn¡¯t such a beautiful treasure suit a noble of honor?¡± ¡°I see. Thank you.¡± The noble who led the envoy group from the Hundred Kingdoms had a faint arrogance in his voice that was hard not to notice. It was arrogance that came from the conviction that those from the west were poor and lived in a harsh environmentpared to them. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????? ??????????????.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t something he did intentionally, and he couldn¡¯t ruin the mood, so he just let it go, but it was true that he was unlucky. Caenerna seemed to think so as well, as she clicked her tongue very softly. ¡°Is it okay for an envoy to be so arrogant?¡± ¡°He might be the most humble one.¡± Caenerna smiled broadly at Johan¡¯s words. ¡°Come to think of it, I promised to give you a gift when we enter the city. I haven¡¯t found anything decent yet, but can you take whatever you want from the gifts they brought?¡± ¡°No. . . I¡¯m not interested in ordinary gold and silver.¡± Caenerna declined without hesitation. What the envoys brought were, at best, gold and silver, which she didn¡¯t really need. Jyanina made an expression close to shock when she heard that. Refusing gold and silver. That was almost a sin. ¡°I¡¯m not not interested in the gift Your Highness will give me, but right now, I¡¯m most interested in that crown.¡± ¡°You mean the thing the spirit gave me? It¡¯s old, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s worth that much.¡± If it didn¡¯t have a strong magical power, there was no ce to use it. However, Caenerna seemed to be looking forward to the antique charm hidden in its old and rusty appearance. She was asking the craftsmen in the city to experiment with it. ¡°So. Is there anyone who can give me advice on this matter?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s strength was his humility in honestly asking his subordinates for their opinions when he encountered a problem that he couldn¡¯t solve, but this time, no one answered. Even Suetlg just had a troubled expression on his face. When everyone avoided his gaze, Johan turned his head and met eyes with Iselia. Iselia hesitated to meet his gaze, and then, a beat toote, said with cold sweat, ¡°W-What about a trial bybat?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to force yourself to say something if you can¡¯t think of anything, Iselia.¡± Johan gently teased Iselia, who looked gloomy. At any rate, since the other party had such high expectations, he thought he should show some sincerity. They were openly offering bribes. . . ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?? ????????.¡¯ ¡°For now, I¡¯m going to have them sit down together and give them another chance to talk.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯m not expecting much either.¡± Johan was sincere. He was just going to see how it went, and he didn¡¯t have high hopes. If it really didn¡¯t work, he would have to induce a trial bybat. . . ???????????? ¡°Did the conversation end well?¡± ¡°Hmm. Yes. His Highness the Duke seemed to bepletely satisfied.¡± The noble from the Hundred Kingdoms who led the envoy group, Galvar, smiled with satisfaction at the words of the ve. He was from a lower-ranking noble family, but Galvar was recognized for his abilities and held an important position in the court of the Hundred Kingdoms. He had sessfully negotiated difficult negotiations several times, so the other nobles in the envoy group trusted Galvar. ¡°I thought it would be quite difficult, but I¡¯m d it turned out well.¡± ¡°Of course, he wasn¡¯t an easy opponent. But don¡¯t you all know? How greedy those from the west are. They¡¯re like gluttons who have turned all their manners into greed.¡± Galvar¡¯s joke made everyoneugh. Galvar was not particrly arrogant, but all the nobles around him thought simrly. Those from the west, from ves to nobles, were obsessed with the treasures of the east. Although trade was taking ce, there was naturally a limit to the amount of goods that could flow to the west. Thanks to this, the nobles around here had arrogance mixed with pride. ¡°I¡¯ve been invited to a small banquet hosted by His Highness the Duke this time. That knight will probably be there too.¡± Galvar and the others felt sorry for Valeon. If it was a matter of crossing swords on a battlefield or in a duel, Valeon would have had a chance, but if it was a matter of talking at a banquet, Valeon was at a great disadvantage. Considering the eloquence and manners of the two, Valeon was like fighting with his arms tied behind his back and his eyes covered. ¡°Galvar-nim. You should go easy on him. What if the knight gets angryter and challenges you to a duel?¡± ¡°Haha. If you don¡¯t respond, that¡¯s it!!¡± Galvar and the envoysughed cheerfully and finished their preparations. They believed that the banquet would go as they thought. ???????????? ¡°It looks like our preparations are a littlete.¡± ¡°Is that so? Oh my. . . I wonder if I came too early.¡± When Galvar and the envoys arrived first, Johan had them sit down first. Perhaps because Valeon wasn¡¯t there, the atmosphere was a little more cheerful. Galvar greeted him politely and praised the Duke¡¯s achievements. Johan also epted them appropriately and returned thepliments. ¡®???????? ???? ??????????????.¡¯ Galvar smiled to himself. It was worthing a little early. If he couldpletely control the atmosphere of this ce with his eloquence, the young knight who arrivedte would have to leave without saying a word. ¡°Your Highness. Before we drink, I would like to say a word of blessing.¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± Galvar began to recite the blessing in ancient imperialnguage. Originally, such words should be spoken in ancient imperialnguage to make them sound more authoritative. If it was something that everyone understood, then there was no special value in those words. Galvar, who had finished his rather long blessing, cleared his throat slightly before exining what it meant. In that short moment, Johan nodded and took the floor. ¡°I¡¯ve heard good words. Now, let¡¯s all have a drink. . .¡± ¡°Y-Your Highness. . .?¡± ¡°?¡± He was not a person who was easily embarrassed, but Galvar couldn¡¯t help but be embarrassed when his words were so smoothly taken away from him. Galvar thought he had made a mistake somewhere. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°The blessing isn¡¯t over yet. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s over, isn¡¯t it? When you said to believe in forgiveness and believe in eternal life, wasn¡¯t that the end?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± For a moment, Galvar felt like he had been hit in the head. Surprisingly, the duke in front of him understood everything he was saying. Johan seemed to have btedly realized Galvar¡¯s intention. ¡°Oh. Were you going to exin it to me? You don¡¯t have to. There¡¯s no one here who doesn¡¯t know ancient imperialnguage.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Chapter 300: ???????????? ???????????????????????? (4) Chapter 300: ???????????? ???????????????????????? (4) One of the snake-men disyed a slightly perplexed expression, but no one at the scene noticed it. Galvar was no exception. When showing off knowledge and erudition, one should take good note of the other party¡¯s level. Only by naturally disying one¡¯s unique treasure while showing off could one garner respect; boasting about a rock thaty scattered on the roadside would merely make people think one was strange. Viewed from this perspective, Galvar was bound to be quite awkward. He had gone out of his way to recite the blessing in the ancient imperialnguage and exin it, yet the people present were reacting with a ¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????????¡¯ kind of attitude. Even for a seasoned noble, one¡¯s tongue would naturally be tied in such a situation. Galvar was no exception. His face turned slightly red, and he was unable to continue speaking. Sueltlg saw it and quietly admonished Johan. ¡°Why did you say that? Just wait for him to finish. What¡¯s the big deal?¡± ¡°I. . . I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t expect him to exin it in that manner. But why did he use the ancient imperialnguage? If it had been some othernguage, he would¡¯ve known that I¡¯d seen through his desire to show off.¡± ¡°The ancient imperialnguage does, after all, have a rather lofty status.¡±Nobles had many ways to prove their privileged status. One of them was throughnguage. The mostmon one was through ents, and beyond that was the use of ancientnguages such as the ancient imperialnguage. Apart from the learned priests and schrs, there were no nobles who would go out of their way to learn the ancient imperialnguage. After all, they could just hire someone to do the job. The fact that one had learned it oneself was proof that one possessed exceptional intellect. ¡°Do you understand now? Do you realize how much of a bad thing you¡¯ve done?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I really seemed to have done something bad to a guest.¡± Johan was sincerely apologetic. Although Galvar did have an arrogant air about him, he hadn¡¯tmitted a crime worthy of being disgraced at a banquet. Johan ended the conversation, cleared his throat, and spoke. ¡°Actually, now that I think about it, my ancient imperialnguage skills aren¡¯t that great. I¡¯d like to hear a proper interpretation.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Galvar¡¯s face, which had been maintaining an expression somehow, crumbled. A wave of awkwardness had exceeded the level of what was bearable. The conversation between the duke and the philosopher was inaudible, but anyone with a keen eye could guess what was happening. The philosopher had definitely advised him, ¡¯???????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????????, ???? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ As the envoys of the monarch, they had no choice but to endure humiliation when visiting various courts, yet this was truly the first time he had to endure self-inflicted humiliation. ¡°Galvar-nim. You must answer.¡± The attendant next to him said, his voice filled with worry. Although he understood Galvar¡¯s shame, if he were to remain silent while His Highness the Duke spoke in such a manner, that would be even more disrespectful. ¡°T. . . Thank you. Then, I shall exin the meaning.¡± Galvar slowly began to exin the words of blessing he had recited earlier. However, his voicecked strength. This was only natural. The young duke already knew what it meant, and the others present were listening with expressions of boredom. . . ¡°So, this means eternal life. . .¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Startled, Johan paused when Galvar made a mistake. He had thought of pointing out the mistake, but he decided to hold back. The diplomat was quite pitiful. When Johan paused, Galvar soon noticed. He had been extremely nervous, so there was no way he wouldn¡¯t notice. Galvar realized that he had made a mistake, and his face darkened. ¡°I misspoke just now. I shall exin again.¡± ¡°Take it easy. Take it easy.¡± ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ??¡¯?? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?? ????????????.¡¯ Caenerna let out a light sigh at the suffocating atmosphere. Why had this joyous banquet turned into this because of some diplomat who wanted to show off his knowledge? The rest of the envoy group also wore expressions of great distress. Everyone was just praying for this moment to end. ???????????? ¡°Sorry for beingte!¡± Valeon hurriedly went inside after being told that everyone had already arrived. He didn¡¯t notice the strange heaviness of the atmosphere inside. ¡®???????? ???????¡¯ When the envoy group from the hundred kingdoms weed Valeon with expressions of joy, Valeon flinched. The chambein beside him spoke softly. ¡°My lord. You should be careful.¡± ¡°I know!¡± The aged king had assessed Valeon¡¯s capabilities quite urately. Rather than expecting him to talk properly with the envoy group from the hundred kingdoms, it was better to attach a chambein to him. However, even the chambein couldn¡¯t understand this atmosphere. Why were the envoys from the hundred kingdoms weing Sir Valeon? ¡°But why are they acting like this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s dangerous or not.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°It seems that they arrived before Your Excellency did and won the favor of His Highness the Duke. That weing isn¡¯t a weing thates from self-confidence, is it?¡± Thinking about it, he could now understand the weing. Would the envoy group havee early for no reason? They must havee early to gain advantage in the negotiations. Since that had gone well, they were doing this to Valeon. . . Valeon¡¯s face was filled with bewilderment and surprise. ¡°. . .No! The duke isn¡¯t the kind of person to do such a thing. He values his honor much more than you think.¡± ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????? ?????????????¡¯ The chambein was astonished by Valeon¡¯s words. It seemed that Valeon had been influenced by the duke, after following him around and seeing what had happened. He couldn¡¯t believe that the duke would act in such a manner after being humiliated in court like that. Moreover, as a sessor to the throne, he shouldn¡¯t be fawning over a feudal lord from some distantnd like this. ¡°I understand that he values his honor, but there is no one in the world who dislikes sweet words. My lord. In any case, be careful with your words and leave it to me if you feel troubled. I will make sure that those fellows can¡¯t run wild anymore.¡± ¡°. . .I understand.¡± Valeon eventually agreed with the chambein. The aged king had given a very strict order as well. He wasn¡¯t confident in his ability to speak skillfully at a gathering like this, so it would be better to leave it to the chambein. ???????????? ¡°Come to think of it, didn¡¯t Galvar-gong say that he had other talents besides theology?¡± Johan tried to help Galvar out. And with that, Galvar twisted his body out of distress. The other envoy group couldn¡¯t bear to tell him to stop and screamed inwardly. However, given the clear difference in status, no matter how annoying the other party¡¯s consideration was, they had to gratefully ept it. ¡°. . .Yes. He is quite skilled in handling numbers as well, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Galvar-nim is no less skilled than the priests of the Eastern Empire. He haspeted with them a few times and won!¡± One of the envoys spoke up, trying to help Galvar in some way. Johan thought this was good. If they kept talking on this topic, wouldn¡¯t Galvar¡¯s humiliation fade away? ¡°I¡¯d like to hear more about it.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± The envoy group was also d that the duke was being considerate and epted it right away. ¡°Your Highness. Do you know this riddle? A priest once released a pair of rabbits in a corner of the temple. After two months, these rabbits give birth to a new pair of rabbits every month, and the rabbits that are born also start giving birth to new rabbits after two months. How many pairs of rabbits will there be by the end of the year? Thisplicated. . .¡± ¡°144 pairs?¡± ¡°. . .The problem Galvar-nim solved in less than two days. . . Huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Continue.¡± ¡°. . .No. . . Just now. . .¡± The envoy group pondered what Johan had said. Soon, they were able to figure out what it meant. It was such a specific number that they couldn¡¯t help but know. Surprisingly, the duke had given the correct answer as soon as he had heard it! ¡°. . .???!!¡± ¡°Your Highness. It¡¯s clear that just now. . .¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to continue?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. I apologize.¡± Although it was absurd and ridiculous, they couldn¡¯t argue when the duke told them to continue. The envoy spoke in a flustered voice and continued his exnation. ¡°I see. This is really interesting.¡± Of course, Galvar was the only one suffering from this. Galvar was distressed inwardly, unable to believe it. ¡®?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????? ????. . .!¡¯ Not to mention the Eastern priests, even he had been poring over texts and documents, diligently writing letters and numbers, and wracking his brains, yet the duke had immediately given the answer as if he had been given the choice. His sense of inferiority was no joke. And the most distressing thing was that he had shown off his intelligence in front of such a person. Moreover, it was going on and on without any chance to stop in between. The aged king¡¯s chambein, who had been brought along, failed to notice the secret hidden behind this situation. He eximed in admiration for the time being. ¡°Truly remarkable!¡± ¡°Is it?¡± ¡°Yes. The priests of the Eastern Empire think they¡¯re the smartest people in the world, but only today did they learn that such talk is arrogance! That Lord Galvar¡¯s intelligence is on this level!¡± Valeon was looking on, bewildered, but the chambein pretended not to notice. For now, he had to go along with it while the duke was in a good mood. Right now, the hundred kingdoms were in the lead, but there would be a chanceter on. ¡®???????? ?????? ???? ?? ??*??????.¡¯ ¡®???? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ Of course, from the standpoint of the envoy group who knew the inside story, it was like adding fuel to the fire. The chambein was inwardly astonished when the envoy group red at him. To re at him like that when they were the ones who hadmitted the foul y of arriving earlier. ???????????? ¡°The banquet was a huge failure.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°It was fun though.¡± Caenerna said. To be honest, it had been suffocating at first, but it had be enjoyableter on. It had been funny to see a proud aristocrat like Galvar suddenly shut his mouth and be humble. From now on, before acting, that aristocrat would think twice and act humbly, wherever he was. He had learned a good lesson. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault that I know ancient imperialnguage.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s not His Highness the Duke¡¯s fault. The problem remains as it is.¡± Johan clicked his tongue at Caenerna¡¯s words. After the banquet, the two of them had grumbled and returned without reconciling. Johan, who had been troubled, found a breakthrough from an unexpected ce. It was Ulrike¡¯s visit. ¡°Why did some envoy group bring such gifts?¡± ¡°If you knew the inside story, you wouldn¡¯t be so happy to receive those gifts.¡± When Johan distorted his face and exined the situation, Ulrike listened with a serious expression. Then, she said. ¡°It¡¯s not like there¡¯s no way.¡± ¡°What? Is that really true?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a method that would be difficult for His Highness the Duke toe up with on his own, so it is. We need a neutral party who can catch the wind.¡± Ulrike said as if it were nothing. When Ulrike¡¯s mother, Countess Abner, needed to mediate between someone, she often used this method. The first step was to prepare a noble who was a third party unrted to the situation and invite them to the banquet. Then, when the conversation had matured to a certain extent, that noble would intervene. ¡°Ask them to mediate? It¡¯s not going to be easy to mediate so simply. . .?¡± ¡°Just listen.¡± Of course, mediation wouldn¡¯t be easy since both sides had a lot of wants and no intention of backing down. That was when they would borrow the name and authority of God. ¡°At first nce, the situation between Johan and Galvar sounds really absurd. The method used before was to forcefully split apart solid steel.¡± When the mediating noble said, ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????????! ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ??????????, ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????????????????!¡¯ Not many people could deny that on the spot. Moreover, since it was a method that sounded absurd at first nce, the people present would look on, smiling. ¡°I see. That¡¯s when we forcefully split the steel!¡± Johan eximed in admiration at Ulrike¡¯s words. Ulrike nced at Johan as if to ask what nonsense he was talking about. ¡°. . .Of course, you have to bring steel that has been worked on beforehand, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Ah. Was that how it was?¡± Johan felt a little embarrassed. Ulrike blinked a few times, unable to believe it, and sighed. ¡°In any case, do you understand what I¡¯m trying to say?¡± ¡°I understand. I see. It¡¯s not a bad method. If we get a definite answer from each other and proceed before they notice, both of them will have no choice.¡± ¡°If necessary, I¡¯ll take care of it myself. I owe Your Highness a lot, so this much. . .¡± ¡°Really? Thank you. I¡¯ve been troubled.¡± Johan held Ulrike¡¯s hand in gratitude. Ulrike, surprised by the sudden gesture, opened her eyes wide after failing to react. Chapter 301: ???????????? ???????????????????????? (5) Chapter 301: ???????????? ???????????????????????? (5) ¡°Oh, sorry. Was I being too informal?¡± ¡°. . .No, it¡¯s fine. We have known each other for a long time, but this much is okay.¡± Johan felt as though Ulrike¡¯s mood had somewhat improved, perhaps because of the shift in mood. Her voice had gotten louder and her expression had softened a bit. ¡°I appreciate your understanding. May I ask you a favor?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ???????????? Knights serving under nobles often shared simr characteristics, or at least had the ability to adapt to their nature. That said, the knights serving under Ulrike were particrly alike in thinking and personality. These knights, different frommon knights, were not overly obsessed with honor, were able to assess gains and losses like merchants, and could make tactical decisions coldly. Even in the kingdom of elves or in the sacred empire, knights of this type were quite rare. Knights were originally beings with very hot blood and hearts. ¡°Ulrike-nim.¡± ¡°Sir Caldrea. What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ulrike furrowed her brows slightly at the sight of the knight approaching her. She had been in the middle of preparing to respond to the duke¡¯s request and was not happy at being interrupted. ¡°I have something to report.¡± ¡°You came because you had something to say. Get to the point.¡± ¡°I believe you should keep an eye on Duke Yeats.¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± Ulrike was quite shocked, but she hid her expression and spoke. ¡°Exin in detail.¡± ¡°Yes. The duke has been building ties with several powerful figures since arriving in this region. He called for Ulrike-nim this time to garner the support of Ulrike-nim and her family. . . Isn¡¯t this just a tant attempt to take advantage of you? The duke didn¡¯t even offer anypensation.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Ulrike felt as though she had been stabbed. Of course the duke hadn¡¯t offered anypensation. Because Ulrike was the one who had first offered to help! But she suddenly felt her face heating up at the knight¡¯s words. Wouldn¡¯t it seem from the knights¡¯ perspectives that she was being deceived? But it would be humiliating to reveal the truth now. . . ¡°Nonsense. Would I have done such a thing without getting anything in return? I have already agreed to receivepensation from the duke.¡± ¡°Ah! I apologize!¡± The knight was so embarrassed that he nearly jumped up. How dare he speak as if testing his liege? ¡°I will take appropriate responsibility.¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s no need to do that. In fact, that was a keen observation on your part. I will consider your slip of the tongue today forgiven if you serve with merit in the future.¡± ¡°Yes! Thank you for your forgiveness!¡± The knight bowed deeply and stepped away. Ulrike reflected on her own actions that had led to such words being spoken. But the incident had already urred. She had no choice but to do her best to help for the time being. ???????????? The newly invited banquet was not an enjoyable ce to be, especially for Galvar. Although he could easily forget the humiliation he suffered at the hands of others, the humiliation he brought upon himself was not so easily forgotten. Galvar¡¯s humiliation was exactly of that type. If he had his way, he would have liked to return home under the pretext of ill health and send new envoys. However, even if Galvar was a trusted diplomat, doing such a thing would immediately put him in the monarch¡¯s bad books. He had to properly carry out the task he had been given. ¡°Galvar-nim. You seem unusually bright today!¡± ¡°Galvar-nim. I¡¯ve heard that the reputation of the knight, Valeon, is not very good. I hear he behaved very disrespectfully towards the duke several times.¡± The members of the envoy¡¯s entourage tried to cheer up Galvar. Galvar felt even more miserable at the sight. He could hardly tell them to stop. . . ¡°I appreciate it, everyone.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothingpared to Galvar-nim¡¯s contributions.¡± ¡°Well. . . Let¡¯s be humble at the banquet today. The way His Highness acts suggests that there won¡¯t be any major changes.¡± If he had wanted to mediate between the two or favor one side, he would have given a verbal promise of some kind or sent someone. It was highly likely that holding the banquet again without any of that was a kind of signal, such as ¡®??¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ?? ??????????, ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????????¡¯. But it didn¡¯t matter. Galvar had spoken with his master from the hundred kingdoms beforeing. ©¥???? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ??????????????, ?????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ???? ??????¡¯??. ??¡¯?? ?????????????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????????. ¡°This is Ulrike-nim of the Abner family.¡± ¡°From the Abner family?¡± But Galvar¡¯s heart suddenly began to race when an unexpected face entered the room in response to the invitation. A noble of the empire was here. What¡¯s going on? After greeting each other and taking their seats, Ulrike, having engaged in a moderate amount of conversation, asked Johan with a look of doubt. ¡°That envoy is being awfully quiet, isn¡¯t he? He¡¯s acting rude enough to be noticeable.¡± A taciturn diplomat was a contradictory being, like a cowardly knight. If words were their weapons, what good did it do to just sit there in silence nursing a ss of wine? ¡°Hm. He used to be a bit more talkative.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°It would be a long story to tell you about this, so I¡¯ll tell you about itter. I hope you understand.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t particrly curious, but now I am, since you put it that way. . .?¡± Ulrike was wondering what on earth had happened to the diplomat to make him act as though he had swallowed his tongue. ¡°Anyway, once His Highness has had one more drink, I¡¯ll step in. Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes. Please do, Gong.¡± Johan nodded and acted ording to his agreement with Ulrike. As the sses were filled by the servants, the people at their tables all raised their sses to toast Johan. Once the atmosphere became lively, Ulrike seized the opportunity to speak up. Her voice held a slight drunken tone, but Johan realized that Ulrike was intentionally putting on that act. ¡®?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°Isn¡¯t it so sad? For brothers who share the same faith to fight amongst themselves.¡± ¡°!¡± Galvar felt a chill run down his spine. Although he had suffered the humiliation of showing off his knowledge in front of the duke, he was still an experienced diplomat. He instinctively knew why Ulrike-nim was acting this way. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?? ????????????????????????????!¡¯ Galvar¡¯s mind quickly began to race. But there was nothing he could do. How could he possibly stop the conversation between those of higher status than him? ¡°. . .But it¡¯s not something I, an outsider, can easily speak about. There is only one person I can ask in times like this.¡± ¡°Who might that be?¡± ¡°It is none other than the one we all believe in. His Highness the duke.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± Galvar grumbled inwardly at the sickening conversation between the two nobles. They must have prepared for this in advance, exchanging such shameless pleasantries. He had long ignored the western nobles as uncultured and uncivilized, but he was even more incensed to be caught up in such an obvious ploy. ¡°Then let us ask the will of God! If this thick steel can be cut and broken, wouldn¡¯t it mean that God wishes for the two of you to reconcile?¡± ¡°!¡± Something suddenly shed through Galvar¡¯s mind. Galvar nodded and spoke. ¡°You are right!¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°Your words struck a deep chord with me. If I were to witness such a miracle, I could give the count my word to reconcile, in my own name. I shall bring the steel myself, so please show me the miracle.¡± Ulrike was caught off guard by Galvar¡¯s sudden interruption. She had unintentionally underestimated him, as he had been so tight-lipped up until that point. But judging from the way he had interjected at such a delicate moment, he was no ordinary man. Ulrike bit her lip. ¡°Very well.¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?!¡± Ulrike hissed in a low, fierce voice to Johan¡¯s ear. She had to bring the prepared steel to show the miracle, but what was she supposed to do if her opponent brought the steel? ¡°No. I can do it just using my strength.¡± ¡°Regardless of how great His Highness¡¯s strength may be. . . No. . . Really?¡± ¡°Really.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Ulrike struggled with a look of hesitation, unsure whether she should believe these absurd words or ignore them. Had her opponent been anyone but Johan, she would have cursed them by now. However, her opponent was not the kind of man to make such empty boasts, was he? ???????????? ¡®??¡¯?? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ Galvar breathed a sigh of relief. He could now openly receive the looks of respect from the members of his envoy. As far as he was concerned, his courage was impressive. Hadn¡¯t he spectacrly blocked the ploy devised by the young duke and the sessor of a great family? He wouldn¡¯t have been able to interject if he had been even a momentte. ¡°I¡¯ve brought it.¡± ¡°Is it sturdy?¡± ¡°It is an object that cannot be pierced even by a siege ballista.¡± Galvar was reassured when the escorting knight confirmed this. The steel looked thick and sturdy to him as well. ¡°Is everything ready?¡± ¡°Yes. Your Highness the duke. We will reverently await the miracle.¡± From Johan¡¯s perspective, it might have sounded like a bit of a joke, but Galvar was speaking very politely. He had to be as polite as possible after thwarting the duke¡¯s n. Noticing the atmosphere, the other members of the envoy stood quietly so as not to offend him. ¡°. . .?!¡± ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± ¡°Your Highness. . . Are you going to do it yourself?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I-I see.¡± Normally, an outstanding subordinate knight would step forward for such a task, bute to think of it, the duke was an outstanding knight himself. It wasn¡¯t strange for him to step in personally for something like this. ¡®?????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ??????????????? ???? ???? ??????????, ?????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Galvar racked his brain for something to say in case the duke failed, as it would be detrimental to incur his wrath. ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ????????????????????. ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???????? ??????. . .¡¯ ¡°Watch.¡± Johan walked up to the steel and stood in front of it. Then he drew his sword and swung it. ????????! ¡°Hm.¡± Johan nodded at the sight of the split steel. It was because he didn¡¯t need to explicitly say, ¡®This is the will of God!¡¯ ¡°????????¡± ¡°W-wait just a minute.¡± The reactions of the members of the envoy were dyed by a beat because of this. None of them had thought the steel would actually be cut. They had naturally thought that it would fail. . .? ¡°Behold! This is the will of God!¡± ¡°No. . . No. . .!¡± ???????????? ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that after seeing God¡¯s miracle, he swore to intercede and returned?? What a fool! Are you still the representative of the envoy? What are you doing!¡± Count Tragalon had a choleric and greedy personality, much like his subordinates. He had nned to demandpensation from Valeon and the kingdom of Ineressa for the incident that had been thwarted, but he was so furious that he threw a tantrum, flinging the goblet in his hand. ¡°I apologize! I have nothing to say!¡± ¡°The vow is invalid! You are responsible for your own honor!¡± ¡°T-That. . . Your Excellency! Please!¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯d back down out of fear of that old lunatic of a king? There are two options. Receivepensation or go to war! If those from the west have brains, they won¡¯t side with that old king!¡± The count was confident in the location of the hundred kingdoms. The hundred kingdoms was made up of sturdy fortresses and castles, as it had endured a warsting more than a hundred years, and it was also a transportation hub that was in contact with different regions. Those from the west depended on their harbors for most of their supplies. If the knights and soldiers here decided to start plundering, their supply lines would be cut off. Then there would be no more expeditions of any kind. ¡°Write another letter. You are responsible for delivering it and rying the message. There will be two letters. One is to the father of that Valeon! Tell him to pay properpensation. The other is to that duke! Tell him strongly that he should not interfere in this matter, no, that he should side with us! That side also bears some responsibility! If things end well, we willpensate him ordingly, but if he interferes again like this. . .¡± However, the count¡¯s ambitious letter was never written. This was because he was interrupted. ¡°C-Count. . . Your Excellency!¡± ¡°What is it?!¡± ¡°T-The port, the port! The port!!¡± ¡°Are you missing your tongue or something?! Can¡¯t you speak properly?!¡± ¡°T-The Sultanate¡¯s. . . The Sultanate¡¯s g. . . The Sultanate¡¯s army. . .¡± ¡°. . .!!¡±, ¡°Oh, sorry. Was I being too informal?¡± ¡°. . .No, it¡¯s fine. We have known each other for a long time, but this much is okay.¡± Johan felt as though Ulrike¡¯s mood had somewhat improved, perhaps because of the shift in mood. Her voice had gotten louder and her expression had softened a bit. ¡°I appreciate your understanding. May I ask you a favor?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ???????????? Knights serving under nobles often shared simr characteristics, or at least had the ability to adapt to their nature. That said, the knights serving under Ulrike were particrly alike in thinking and personality. These knights, different frommon knights, were not overly obsessed with honor, were able to assess gains and losses like merchants, and could make tactical decisions coldly. Even in the kingdom of elves or in the sacred empire, knights of this type were quite rare. Knights were originally beings with very hot blood and hearts. ¡°Ulrike-nim.¡± ¡°Sir Caldrea. What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ulrike furrowed her brows slightly at the sight of the knight approaching her. She had been in the middle of preparing to respond to the duke¡¯s request and was not happy at being interrupted. ¡°I have something to report.¡± ¡°You came because you had something to say. Get to the point.¡± ¡°I believe you should keep an eye on Duke Yeats.¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± Ulrike was quite shocked, but she hid her expression and spoke. ¡°Exin in detail.¡± ¡°Yes. The duke has been building ties with several powerful figures since arriving in this region. He called for Ulrike-nim this time to garner the support of Ulrike-nim and her family. . . Isn¡¯t this just a tant attempt to take advantage of you? The duke didn¡¯t even offer anypensation.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Ulrike felt as though she had been stabbed. Of course the duke hadn¡¯t offered anypensation. Because Ulrike was the one who had first offered to help! But she suddenly felt her face heating up at the knight¡¯s words. Wouldn¡¯t it seem from the knights¡¯ perspectives that she was being deceived? But it would be humiliating to reveal the truth now. . . ¡°Nonsense. Would I have done such a thing without getting anything in return? I have already agreed to receivepensation from the duke.¡± ¡°Ah! I apologize!¡± The knight was so embarrassed that he nearly jumped up. How dare he speak as if testing his liege? ¡°I will take appropriate responsibility.¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s no need to do that. In fact, that was a keen observation on your part. I will consider your slip of the tongue today forgiven if you serve with merit in the future.¡± ¡°Yes! Thank you for your forgiveness!¡± The knight bowed deeply and stepped away. Ulrike reflected on her own actions that had led to such words being spoken. But the incident had already urred. She had no choice but to do her best to help for the time being. ???????????? The newly invited banquet was not an enjoyable ce to be, especially for Galvar. Although he could easily forget the humiliation he suffered at the hands of others, the humiliation he brought upon himself was not so easily forgotten. Galvar¡¯s humiliation was exactly of that type. If he had his way, he would have liked to return home under the pretext of ill health and send new envoys. However, even if Galvar was a trusted diplomat, doing such a thing would immediately put him in the monarch¡¯s bad books. He had to properly carry out the task he had been given. ¡°Galvar-nim. You seem unusually bright today!¡± ¡°Galvar-nim. I¡¯ve heard that the reputation of the knight, Valeon, is not very good. I hear he behaved very disrespectfully towards the duke several times.¡± The members of the envoy¡¯s entourage tried to cheer up Galvar. Galvar felt even more miserable at the sight. He could hardly tell them to stop. . . ¡°I appreciate it, everyone.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothingpared to Galvar-nim¡¯s contributions.¡± ¡°Well. . . Let¡¯s be humble at the banquet today. The way His Highness acts suggests that there won¡¯t be any major changes.¡± If he had wanted to mediate between the two or favor one side, he would have given a verbal promise of some kind or sent someone. It was highly likely that holding the banquet again without any of that was a kind of signal, such as ¡®??¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ?? ??????????, ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????????¡¯. But it didn¡¯t matter. Galvar had spoken with his master from the hundred kingdoms beforeing. ©¥???? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ??????????????, ?????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ???? ??????¡¯??. ??¡¯?? ?????????????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????????. ¡°This is Ulrike-nim of the Abner family.¡± ¡°From the Abner family?¡± But Galvar¡¯s heart suddenly began to race when an unexpected face entered the room in response to the invitation. A noble of the empire was here. What¡¯s going on? After greeting each other and taking their seats, Ulrike, having engaged in a moderate amount of conversation, asked Johan with a look of doubt. ¡°That envoy is being awfully quiet, isn¡¯t he? He¡¯s acting rude enough to be noticeable.¡± A taciturn diplomat was a contradictory being, like a cowardly knight. If words were their weapons, what good did it do to just sit there in silence nursing a ss of wine? ¡°Hm. He used to be a bit more talkative.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°It would be a long story to tell you about this, so I¡¯ll tell you about itter. I hope you understand.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t particrly curious, but now I am, since you put it that way. . .?¡± Ulrike was wondering what on earth had happened to the diplomat to make him act as though he had swallowed his tongue. ¡°Anyway, once His Highness has had one more drink, I¡¯ll step in. Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes. Please do, Gong.¡± Johan nodded and acted ording to his agreement with Ulrike. As the sses were filled by the servants, the people at their tables all raised their sses to toast Johan. Once the atmosphere became lively, Ulrike seized the opportunity to speak up. Her voice held a slight drunken tone, but Johan realized that Ulrike was intentionally putting on that act. ¡®?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°Isn¡¯t it so sad? For brothers who share the same faith to fight amongst themselves.¡± ¡°!¡± Galvar felt a chill run down his spine. Although he had suffered the humiliation of showing off his knowledge in front of the duke, he was still an experienced diplomat. He instinctively knew why Ulrike-nim was acting this way. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?? ????????????????????????????!¡¯ Galvar¡¯s mind quickly began to race. But there was nothing he could do. How could he possibly stop the conversation between those of higher status than him? ¡°. . .But it¡¯s not something I, an outsider, can easily speak about. There is only one person I can ask in times like this.¡± ¡°Who might that be?¡± ¡°It is none other than the one we all believe in. His Highness the duke.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± Galvar grumbled inwardly at the sickening conversation between the two nobles. They must have prepared for this in advance, exchanging such shameless pleasantries. He had long ignored the western nobles as uncultured and uncivilized, but he was even more incensed to be caught up in such an obvious ploy. ¡°Then let us ask the will of God! If this thick steel can be cut and broken, wouldn¡¯t it mean that God wishes for the two of you to reconcile?¡± ¡°!¡± Something suddenly shed through Galvar¡¯s mind. Galvar nodded and spoke. ¡°You are right!¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°Your words struck a deep chord with me. If I were to witness such a miracle, I could give the count my word to reconcile, in my own name. I shall bring the steel myself, so please show me the miracle.¡± Ulrike was caught off guard by Galvar¡¯s sudden interruption. She had unintentionally underestimated him, as he had been so tight-lipped up until that point. But judging from the way he had interjected at such a delicate moment, he was no ordinary man. Ulrike bit her lip. ¡°Very well.¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?!¡± Ulrike hissed in a low, fierce voice to Johan¡¯s ear. She had to bring the prepared steel to show the miracle, but what was she supposed to do if her opponent brought the steel? ¡°No. I can do it just using my strength.¡± ¡°Regardless of how great His Highness¡¯s strength may be. . . No. . . Really?¡± ¡°Really.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Ulrike struggled with a look of hesitation, unsure whether she should believe these absurd words or ignore them. Had her opponent been anyone but Johan, she would have cursed them by now. However, her opponent was not the kind of man to make such empty boasts, was he? ???????????? ¡®??¡¯?? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ Galvar breathed a sigh of relief. He could now openly receive the looks of respect from the members of his envoy. As far as he was concerned, his courage was impressive. Hadn¡¯t he spectacrly blocked the ploy devised by the young duke and the sessor of a great family? He wouldn¡¯t have been able to interject if he had been even a momentte. ¡°I¡¯ve brought it.¡± ¡°Is it sturdy?¡± ¡°It is an object that cannot be pierced even by a siege ballista.¡± Galvar was reassured when the escorting knight confirmed this. The steel looked thick and sturdy to him as well. ¡°Is everything ready?¡± ¡°Yes. Your Highness the duke. We will reverently await the miracle.¡± From Johan¡¯s perspective, it might have sounded like a bit of a joke, but Galvar was speaking very politely. He had to be as polite as possible after thwarting the duke¡¯s n. Noticing the atmosphere, the other members of the envoy stood quietly so as not to offend him. ¡°. . .?!¡± ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± ¡°Your Highness. . . Are you going to do it yourself?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I-I see.¡± Normally, an outstanding subordinate knight would step forward for such a task, bute to think of it, the duke was an outstanding knight himself. It wasn¡¯t strange for him to step in personally for something like this. ¡®?????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ??????????????? ???? ???? ??????????, ?????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Galvar racked his brain for something to say in case the duke failed, as it would be detrimental to incur his wrath. ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ????????????????????. ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???????? ??????. . .¡¯ ¡°Watch.¡± Johan walked up to the steel and stood in front of it. Then he drew his sword and swung it. ????????! ¡°Hm.¡± Johan nodded at the sight of the split steel. It was because he didn¡¯t need to explicitly say, ¡®This is the will of God!¡¯ ¡°????????¡± ¡°W-wait just a minute.¡± The reactions of the members of the envoy were dyed by a beat because of this. None of them had thought the steel would actually be cut. They had naturally thought that it would fail. . .? ¡°Behold! This is the will of God!¡± ¡°No. . . No. . .!¡± ???????????? ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that after seeing God¡¯s miracle, he swore to intercede and returned?? What a fool! Are you still the representative of the envoy? What are you doing!¡± Count Tragalon had a choleric and greedy personality, much like his subordinates. He had nned to demandpensation from Valeon and the kingdom of Ineressa for the incident that had been thwarted, but he was so furious that he threw a tantrum, flinging the goblet in his hand. ¡°I apologize! I have nothing to say!¡± ¡°The vow is invalid! You are responsible for your own honor!¡± ¡°T-That. . . Your Excellency! Please!¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯d back down out of fear of that old lunatic of a king? There are two options. Receivepensation or go to war! If those from the west have brains, they won¡¯t side with that old king!¡± The count was confident in the location of the hundred kingdoms. The hundred kingdoms was made up of sturdy fortresses and castles, as it had endured a warsting more than a hundred years, and it was also a transportation hub that was in contact with different regions. Those from the west depended on their harbors for most of their supplies. If the knights and soldiers here decided to start plundering, their supply lines would be cut off. Then there would be no more expeditions of any kind. ¡°Write another letter. You are responsible for delivering it and rying the message. There will be two letters. One is to the father of that Valeon! Tell him to pay properpensation. The other is to that duke! Tell him strongly that he should not interfere in this matter, no, that he should side with us! That side also bears some responsibility! If things end well, we willpensate him ordingly, but if he interferes again like this. . .¡± However, the count¡¯s ambitious letter was never written. This was because he was interrupted. ¡°C-Count. . . Your Excellency!¡± ¡°What is it?!¡± ¡°T-The port, the port! The port!!¡± ¡°Are you missing your tongue or something?! Can¡¯t you speak properly?!¡± ¡°T-The Sultanate¡¯s. . . The Sultanate¡¯s g. . . The Sultanate¡¯s army. . .¡± ¡°. . .!!¡± Chapter 302: ?????????? ?????? ???????????? (1) Chapter 302: ?????????? ?????? ???????????? (1) ¡°You must be seeing things!¡± There was bound to be denial from people who received an intense shock. Count¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t much different either. Surely the Sultan wouldn¡¯t be out here this far. Moreover, his army needed to be gathered in that direction, to battle against the people of Vynashchtym. There was no way the Sultan¡¯s army would appear in a port this far away. ¡°The Sultan¡¯s army has conquered the port!¡± ¡°Merchants who had escaped the port have witnessed it. The Sultan¡¯s army has conquered the port!¡± The port of Hundred Kingdoms wasn¡¯t thatrge, but it was an important ce with its own port value. After saying that he would cut off suppliesing in from someone else¡¯s port, the fact that his own port was conquered was even more heartbreaking. ¡°Ooooh. . .¡± The count made a beast-like noise and regained his senses. Even though his head ached as if he had been hit in the back of the head, he couldn¡¯t just stand still. ¡°Gather the troops! Send an alert order to those guarding the castle and fortresses.¡± ¡°W-What about the letter?¡± ¡°Are you asking about that now? Change the details! We¡¯ll forget what happened and join forces to fight against the pagans! Thank the duke for his mediation!¡± It was an act without any dignity as a feudal lord, but the knights weren¡¯t particrly surprised. This was who the count had always been. Most importantly, picking a fight with other feudal lords in this situation would be insane. Evenbining their forces was insufficient. In particr, the well-trained armying from the west was needed. ???????????? ¡°The army hasnded in the port of Hundred Kingdoms? Did the republic¡¯s port get conquered too?¡± ¡°No. Our port is still safe.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief, at least.¡± The port that the republic had upied and used in the past was currently being used by the expedition force. Even the Sultan¡¯s army couldn¡¯t conquer it easily. As it would be fought over with their lives on the line, by the republic as well as various other forces. It seemed that because of that, the Sultan¡¯s army had aimed for a port further south, Hundred Kingdoms. ¡°Themander seems quite daring. Still, this is thend of the monotheists, yet theynded by making a detour.¡± The feudal lords of the nearby inds andnds were all monotheists. How dare they break through andnd in such a situation? ¡°I think he must¡¯ve bribed a few people.¡± ¡°It would be stranger if there weren¡¯t any traitors in this situation.¡± It must¡¯ve been very tempting, especially for the feudal lords of the inds. Making money just by letting them pass, in a fight that had nothing to do with them. ¡°But aren¡¯t the numbers toorge?¡± Johan questioned while listening to the report. No matter what, they were an army of tens of thousands. Even if they had gathered and conscripted everyone from ves tomoners, the numbers were toorge. There was no reason for Johan to fire up like this, unless he had killed one of the Sultan¡¯s sons or something. ¡°Given that the Sultan is young, isn¡¯t he trying to achieve something that no one can match this time? If he plunders the pagans¡¯ fiefdom and gets his hands on the holynd, he¡¯ll be admired by everyone.¡± ¡°I understand that, but shouldn¡¯t it be fewer? Is it not just a rumor?¡± ¡°It¡¯s information that¡¯s been confirmed multiple times.¡± ¡°Then how does the Sultan n to handle the aftermath?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The captain of the republic was speechless. That was something even he didn¡¯t know. Handling the aftermath of raising an army was something that the Sultan himself would have to figure out, so how could the captain know the inside story? Fortunately, Johan understood the captain. ¡°Alright. I guess I asked a pointless question.¡± ¡°My apologies.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important right now.¡± Due to the spread of the rumor, pilgrims nearby were gathering. Even though there were other feudal lords, no one could deny that most of them came because of Johan¡¯s fame. Since there was a mixture of all sorts of people, such as rich and poor, knights, merchants, pilgrims, and nobles, there was a need to control them. ¡°Do we really need to go?¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t wee us that much.¡± ¡®?????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ???? ????????.¡¯ The mood among the feudal lords gathered in the tent was colder than expected. Actually, that was to be expected. They traveled a long way, leading the army from the west, but the supposed brothers of the same faith hadn¡¯t given them a proper wee. Just the old king in particr had harbored enmity until Johan persuaded him, and other fiefdoms hadn¡¯t even sent a proper greeting, let alone an invitation. So it was inevitable to feel disgusted by the fact that they pretended to be friendly and even sent envoys as soon as the Sultan¡¯s army invaded. The only one to voice a warmer opinion was the bishop of the order. Having carefully observed the situation, the bishop who participated in this expedition spoke up. ¡°Still, we can¡¯t just stand by and do nothing, as they share the same faith as us, can we?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The feudal lords pretended not to hear and remained silent. The bishop tried his best to persuade them. ¡°After the Sultan¡¯s army defeats our fellow believers, who will they target next?¡± ¡°Hmm. They¡¯ll probably just return to theirnds.¡± Someone¡¯s cynical remark drewughter. To be honest, it was a fair statement. The Sultan, who had made many enemies as it was, had no reason to chase after a faraway army. ¡°Baron!¡± ¡°Did I say something wrong, Your Excellency Bishop?¡± ¡°The situation is more serious than we thought.¡± At Johan¡¯sment, Ulrike spoke softly. ¡°If Your Highness takes the initiative, everyone will follow, even if they¡¯re dissatisfied?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to, but I¡¯m not interested in ying the role of the one who suffers the losses.¡± ¡°Then?¡± Ulrike was puzzled. Staying put in this situation wasn¡¯t a very good method either. The feudal lords here may be disgusted, but if they surrender to the enemy, that would be a problem in its own right. ¡°I was thinking of waiting until the feudal lords start sacrificing a little.¡± ¡°. . .Ah.¡± At Johan¡¯sment, Ulrike burst intoughter. Who would have thought he¡¯d say something like that, with such a serious and solemn expression. No, it wasn¡¯t a mistaken judgment. You have to receive when others are feeling sorry. When the situation changes, people will swiftly forget about favors. In a situation where everyone quietly waited, focused on the Duke, I wondered what he was worried about. . . ¡®?????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ ???????????? Waiting silently was a lot more effective than expected. The feudal lords in the region, who were restless, started sending letters and offering bribes. Having received them, the nobles seemed to have calmed down and asked Johan to march. ¡°Is that Fort Oenbaw?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Just as the enemy¡¯srge army couldn¡¯t move at the same time, Johan¡¯s army couldn¡¯t move at the same time either. The ce Johan headed to first, with his rtively reliable elites, was Fort Oenbaw, a fortress in Tragalon Hundred Kingdoms. There were many fortresses in Hundred Kingdoms, which had been at war for a long time, and among them, Fort Oenbaw was a particrly rugged and sturdy fortress. ¡®?? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ??????????????????.¡¯ ¡°I can understand why the enemy wanted to conquer this ce first.¡± Count Tragalon earnestly asked Johan to protect this fortress, sending bribes along with his request. There was only one reason why he asked Johan, among other nobles. Because he seemed to be the most powerful and strong. ¡°Since the enemy is arrivingter than us, isn¡¯t it almost over?¡± Defense had an advantage over offense, and a fortress situated on a mountain like this had an even greater advantage. Furthermore, with the likes of Johan¡¯s army. . . ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down. I should meet with the captain.¡± Johan led his troops up the path and stood before the gate of the fortress. After the check was done, the captain himself came running out. ¡°Your Highness the Duke, I¡¯m honored to meet you!¡± The captain, a human, was a powerful-looking warrior. Even standing still, he gave off the air of being experienced. ¡°Do you have any issues I could help with?¡± ¡°No. This fortress is impregnable, and with Your Highness the Duke¡¯s forces, the enemy won¡¯t even dare to think about it!¡± ¡°No need to tter me.¡± ¡°No. I have prepared some alcohol to treat Your Highness the Duke, so would you perhaps. . .¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m good. Serve it to my men.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the vassals behind him cheered. The captain looked regretful. ???????????? Suhekhar, who was inmand of the Sultan¡¯s army, observed the fortressndscape from afar. It looked several times more rugged than he had heard. ¡°What a hellish fortress.¡± ¡°The pagans are well-known for their fortification techniques. It¡¯s a shame we couldn¡¯t hurry up a little more.¡± ¡°What does it matter, the numbers arerge enough.¡± One might easily misunderstand the power of the Sultan¡¯s army, but those in charge ofmanding the army felt frustrated and anxious. He had to prevent the poorly-trained conscripts, gathered from various provinces, from escaping, appease the knights who were puffed up with pride as the feudal lords of their respective provinces, take care of the Sultan¡¯s eunuch who watched him like a hawk, in case themander was nning a betrayal, and even entertain him. . . It felt as though he had to do acrobatics while walking on a tightrope. It couldn¡¯t be helped that it had taken so long until they conquered the port, regrouped, and came up here. ¡°We can¡¯t beter than Yeheyman, can we?¡± ¡°Yeheyman-gong. Address him properly.¡± ¡°My apologies.¡± Suhekhar¡¯s ve spoke excitedly, then bowed his head at his master¡¯s calm reproach. Despite his humiliating defeat, the famous warrior of the east, Yeheyman, was still favored by the Sultan. It was so maddening to Suhekhar¡¯s ve. How brazen of him, a loser. Compared to him, his master Suhekhar was a wise general. He wouldn¡¯t make a foolish mistake like Yeheyman. ¡°We can¡¯t take that fortress by force.¡± ¡°What???¡± The ve was bewildered by what his master said. What did he mean, not taking it by force? ¡°M-Master. If we don¡¯t conquer that fortress, the Sultan¡¯s ve sons will. . .¡± ¡°Calm down. I didn¡¯t mean we¡¯re not conquering it.¡± Suhekhar calmed his ve down. ¡°If there¡¯s something advantageous for us, it¡¯s that we know our enemy, but they don¡¯t know us. I know what kind of person the duke is, thanks to Yeheyman.¡± Even though he was in apetitive rtionship with Yeheyman, that was precisely why he couldn¡¯t help but take interest in his opponent who had disgraced Yeheyman. He was a knight, the most knightly one in the farthest west. Knights from the west, who charged even when they were outnumbered by the enemy by hundreds, who were not afraid even in a rain of arrows. Among them, he was the most valiant knight. To be honest, he was afraid to face him head-on. Even Yeheyman and his knights, who weren¡¯t weak, were overwhelmed. Western knights, who underwent all sorts of harsh training and were armed with thick armor, were monsters. If there was an exceptional monster among those monsters, it was even worse. Suhekhar was nning to use a strategy. If the opponent was hot-blooded and quick-tempered, he would definitely fall for it. ???????????? ¡°Galvar-gong. It¡¯s good to see you again.¡± ¡°Ah. . . I¡¯m d to see you again too, Your Highness.¡± Galvar tried hard to control his expression. There was no need for him to know that he almost betrayed the duke because of his master. ¡°The fortress is a bit short on troops, but there¡¯s nothing elsecking. Do you have anything to say?¡± ¡°If the captain of this ce didn¡¯t mention anything, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s fine. He must be apetent man.¡± As he answered like that, Galvar¡¯s attendant ran over and spoke with a serious expression. ¡°Galvar-gong. There¡¯s an usation that the captain epted bribes from the enemy.¡± ¡°. . .What???¡± Without realizing it, Galvar looked at the duke¡¯s expression. Of course, the duke was watching with an interesting look on his face. He couldn¡¯t just cover this up and check at a time like this. ¡°What is this? The captain epted bribes. . . What nonsense. . .¡± Galvar scolded his attendant first. However, that was a mistake. The wronged attendant spoke strongly. ¡°What do you take me for? I have solid testimony.¡± ¡°Hey, you. . .¡± ¡°He could have epted the bribe.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . .What?¡± ¡°He could have epted the bribe. Why?¡± ¡°No. . . Your Highness.¡± ¡°He could have been acquainted with the enemy by chance, or he could have let them go without receiving a ransom before. There could be many reasons.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Now, Galvar began to wonder if the duke was joking, or if he had epted a bribe from the captain, or if he had lost his mind. The person who should be the first to be furious and draw his sword was. . . too calm?, ¡°You must be seeing things!¡± There was bound to be denial from people who received an intense shock. Count¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t much different either. Surely the Sultan wouldn¡¯t be out here this far. Moreover, his army needed to be gathered in that direction, to battle against the people of Vynashchtym. There was no way the Sultan¡¯s army would appear in a port this far away. ¡°The Sultan¡¯s army has conquered the port!¡± ¡°Merchants who had escaped the port have witnessed it. The Sultan¡¯s army has conquered the port!¡± The port of Hundred Kingdoms wasn¡¯t thatrge, but it was an important ce with its own port value. After saying that he would cut off suppliesing in from someone else¡¯s port, the fact that his own port was conquered was even more heartbreaking. ¡°Ooooh. . .¡± The count made a beast-like noise and regained his senses. Even though his head ached as if he had been hit in the back of the head, he couldn¡¯t just stand still. ¡°Gather the troops! Send an alert order to those guarding the castle and fortresses.¡± ¡°W-What about the letter?¡± ¡°Are you asking about that now? Change the details! We¡¯ll forget what happened and join forces to fight against the pagans! Thank the duke for his mediation!¡± It was an act without any dignity as a feudal lord, but the knights weren¡¯t particrly surprised. This was who the count had always been. Most importantly, picking a fight with other feudal lords in this situation would be insane. Evenbining their forces was insufficient. In particr, the well-trained armying from the west was needed. ???????????? ¡°The army hasnded in the port of Hundred Kingdoms? Did the republic¡¯s port get conquered too?¡± ¡°No. Our port is still safe.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief, at least.¡± The port that the republic had upied and used in the past was currently being used by the expedition force. Even the Sultan¡¯s army couldn¡¯t conquer it easily. As it would be fought over with their lives on the line, by the republic as well as various other forces. It seemed that because of that, the Sultan¡¯s army had aimed for a port further south, Hundred Kingdoms. ¡°Themander seems quite daring. Still, this is thend of the monotheists, yet theynded by making a detour.¡± The feudal lords of the nearby inds andnds were all monotheists. How dare they break through andnd in such a situation? ¡°I think he must¡¯ve bribed a few people.¡± ¡°It would be stranger if there weren¡¯t any traitors in this situation.¡± It must¡¯ve been very tempting, especially for the feudal lords of the inds. Making money just by letting them pass, in a fight that had nothing to do with them. ¡°But aren¡¯t the numbers toorge?¡± Johan questioned while listening to the report. No matter what, they were an army of tens of thousands. Even if they had gathered and conscripted everyone from ves tomoners, the numbers were toorge. There was no reason for Johan to fire up like this, unless he had killed one of the Sultan¡¯s sons or something. ¡°Given that the Sultan is young, isn¡¯t he trying to achieve something that no one can match this time? If he plunders the pagans¡¯ fiefdom and gets his hands on the holynd, he¡¯ll be admired by everyone.¡± ¡°I understand that, but shouldn¡¯t it be fewer? Is it not just a rumor?¡± ¡°It¡¯s information that¡¯s been confirmed multiple times.¡± ¡°Then how does the Sultan n to handle the aftermath?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The captain of the republic was speechless. That was something even he didn¡¯t know. Handling the aftermath of raising an army was something that the Sultan himself would have to figure out, so how could the captain know the inside story? Fortunately, Johan understood the captain. ¡°Alright. I guess I asked a pointless question.¡± ¡°My apologies.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important right now.¡± Due to the spread of the rumor, pilgrims nearby were gathering. Even though there were other feudal lords, no one could deny that most of them came because of Johan¡¯s fame. Since there was a mixture of all sorts of people, such as rich and poor, knights, merchants, pilgrims, and nobles, there was a need to control them. ¡°Do we really need to go?¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t wee us that much.¡± ¡®?????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ???? ????????.¡¯ The mood among the feudal lords gathered in the tent was colder than expected. Actually, that was to be expected. They traveled a long way, leading the army from the west, but the supposed brothers of the same faith hadn¡¯t given them a proper wee. Just the old king in particr had harbored enmity until Johan persuaded him, and other fiefdoms hadn¡¯t even sent a proper greeting, let alone an invitation. So it was inevitable to feel disgusted by the fact that they pretended to be friendly and even sent envoys as soon as the Sultan¡¯s army invaded. The only one to voice a warmer opinion was the bishop of the order. Having carefully observed the situation, the bishop who participated in this expedition spoke up. ¡°Still, we can¡¯t just stand by and do nothing, as they share the same faith as us, can we?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The feudal lords pretended not to hear and remained silent. The bishop tried his best to persuade them. ¡°After the Sultan¡¯s army defeats our fellow believers, who will they target next?¡± ¡°Hmm. They¡¯ll probably just return to theirnds.¡± Someone¡¯s cynical remark drewughter. To be honest, it was a fair statement. The Sultan, who had made many enemies as it was, had no reason to chase after a faraway army. ¡°Baron!¡± ¡°Did I say something wrong, Your Excellency Bishop?¡± ¡°The situation is more serious than we thought.¡± At Johan¡¯sment, Ulrike spoke softly. ¡°If Your Highness takes the initiative, everyone will follow, even if they¡¯re dissatisfied?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to, but I¡¯m not interested in ying the role of the one who suffers the losses.¡± ¡°Then?¡± Ulrike was puzzled. Staying put in this situation wasn¡¯t a very good method either. The feudal lords here may be disgusted, but if they surrender to the enemy, that would be a problem in its own right. ¡°I was thinking of waiting until the feudal lords start sacrificing a little.¡± ¡°. . .Ah.¡± At Johan¡¯sment, Ulrike burst intoughter. Who would have thought he¡¯d say something like that, with such a serious and solemn expression. No, it wasn¡¯t a mistaken judgment. You have to receive when others are feeling sorry. When the situation changes, people will swiftly forget about favors. In a situation where everyone quietly waited, focused on the Duke, I wondered what he was worried about. . . ¡®?????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ ???????????? Waiting silently was a lot more effective than expected. The feudal lords in the region, who were restless, started sending letters and offering bribes. Having received them, the nobles seemed to have calmed down and asked Johan to march. ¡°Is that Fort Oenbaw?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Just as the enemy¡¯srge army couldn¡¯t move at the same time, Johan¡¯s army couldn¡¯t move at the same time either. The ce Johan headed to first, with his rtively reliable elites, was Fort Oenbaw, a fortress in Tragalon Hundred Kingdoms. There were many fortresses in Hundred Kingdoms, which had been at war for a long time, and among them, Fort Oenbaw was a particrly rugged and sturdy fortress. ¡®?? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ??????????????????.¡¯ ¡°I can understand why the enemy wanted to conquer this ce first.¡± Count Tragalon earnestly asked Johan to protect this fortress, sending bribes along with his request. There was only one reason why he asked Johan, among other nobles. Because he seemed to be the most powerful and strong. ¡°Since the enemy is arrivingter than us, isn¡¯t it almost over?¡± Defense had an advantage over offense, and a fortress situated on a mountain like this had an even greater advantage. Furthermore, with the likes of Johan¡¯s army. . . ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down. I should meet with the captain.¡± Johan led his troops up the path and stood before the gate of the fortress. After the check was done, the captain himself came running out. ¡°Your Highness the Duke, I¡¯m honored to meet you!¡± The captain, a human, was a powerful-looking warrior. Even standing still, he gave off the air of being experienced. ¡°Do you have any issues I could help with?¡± ¡°No. This fortress is impregnable, and with Your Highness the Duke¡¯s forces, the enemy won¡¯t even dare to think about it!¡± ¡°No need to tter me.¡± ¡°No. I have prepared some alcohol to treat Your Highness the Duke, so would you perhaps. . .¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m good. Serve it to my men.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the vassals behind him cheered. The captain looked regretful. ???????????? Suhekhar, who was inmand of the Sultan¡¯s army, observed the fortressndscape from afar. It looked several times more rugged than he had heard. ¡°What a hellish fortress.¡± ¡°The pagans are well-known for their fortification techniques. It¡¯s a shame we couldn¡¯t hurry up a little more.¡± ¡°What does it matter, the numbers arerge enough.¡± One might easily misunderstand the power of the Sultan¡¯s army, but those in charge ofmanding the army felt frustrated and anxious. He had to prevent the poorly-trained conscripts, gathered from various provinces, from escaping, appease the knights who were puffed up with pride as the feudal lords of their respective provinces, take care of the Sultan¡¯s eunuch who watched him like a hawk, in case themander was nning a betrayal, and even entertain him. . . It felt as though he had to do acrobatics while walking on a tightrope. It couldn¡¯t be helped that it had taken so long until they conquered the port, regrouped, and came up here. ¡°We can¡¯t beter than Yeheyman, can we?¡± ¡°Yeheyman-gong. Address him properly.¡± ¡°My apologies.¡± Suhekhar¡¯s ve spoke excitedly, then bowed his head at his master¡¯s calm reproach. Despite his humiliating defeat, the famous warrior of the east, Yeheyman, was still favored by the Sultan. It was so maddening to Suhekhar¡¯s ve. How brazen of him, a loser. Compared to him, his master Suhekhar was a wise general. He wouldn¡¯t make a foolish mistake like Yeheyman. ¡°We can¡¯t take that fortress by force.¡± ¡°What???¡± The ve was bewildered by what his master said. What did he mean, not taking it by force? ¡°M-Master. If we don¡¯t conquer that fortress, the Sultan¡¯s ve sons will. . .¡± ¡°Calm down. I didn¡¯t mean we¡¯re not conquering it.¡± Suhekhar calmed his ve down. ¡°If there¡¯s something advantageous for us, it¡¯s that we know our enemy, but they don¡¯t know us. I know what kind of person the duke is, thanks to Yeheyman.¡± Even though he was in apetitive rtionship with Yeheyman, that was precisely why he couldn¡¯t help but take interest in his opponent who had disgraced Yeheyman. He was a knight, the most knightly one in the farthest west. Knights from the west, who charged even when they were outnumbered by the enemy by hundreds, who were not afraid even in a rain of arrows. Among them, he was the most valiant knight. To be honest, he was afraid to face him head-on. Even Yeheyman and his knights, who weren¡¯t weak, were overwhelmed. Western knights, who underwent all sorts of harsh training and were armed with thick armor, were monsters. If there was an exceptional monster among those monsters, it was even worse. Suhekhar was nning to use a strategy. If the opponent was hot-blooded and quick-tempered, he would definitely fall for it. ???????????? ¡°Galvar-gong. It¡¯s good to see you again.¡± ¡°Ah. . . I¡¯m d to see you again too, Your Highness.¡± Galvar tried hard to control his expression. There was no need for him to know that he almost betrayed the duke because of his master. ¡°The fortress is a bit short on troops, but there¡¯s nothing elsecking. Do you have anything to say?¡± ¡°If the captain of this ce didn¡¯t mention anything, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s fine. He must be apetent man.¡± As he answered like that, Galvar¡¯s attendant ran over and spoke with a serious expression. ¡°Galvar-gong. There¡¯s an usation that the captain epted bribes from the enemy.¡± ¡°. . .What???¡± Without realizing it, Galvar looked at the duke¡¯s expression. Of course, the duke was watching with an interesting look on his face. He couldn¡¯t just cover this up and check at a time like this. ¡°What is this? The captain epted bribes. . . What nonsense. . .¡± Galvar scolded his attendant first. However, that was a mistake. The wronged attendant spoke strongly. ¡°What do you take me for? I have solid testimony.¡± ¡°Hey, you. . .¡± ¡°He could have epted the bribe.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . .What?¡± ¡°He could have epted the bribe. Why?¡± ¡°No. . . Your Highness.¡± ¡°He could have been acquainted with the enemy by chance, or he could have let them go without receiving a ransom before. There could be many reasons.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Now, Galvar began to wonder if the duke was joking, or if he had epted a bribe from the captain, or if he had lost his mind. The person who should be the first to be furious and draw his sword was. . . too calm? Chapter 303: ?????????? ?????? ???????????? (2) Chapter 303: ?????????? ?????? ???????????? (2) ¡°Are. . . are you joking right now?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m serious.¡± Johan was being earnest. ¡°Didn¡¯t the captain of the castle guard here originate from around these parts? What I¡¯ve heard is that he came from a lower noble family, in service on an upward trajectory, and that he has the favor of his subordinates.¡± ¡°Is. . . is that so?¡± Surprisingly, despite having only just arrived, the Duke knew quite a lot about the castle¡¯s guard captain. While the other nobles of the expeditionary force were focused on the enemy and the spoils that could be taken, the Duke had been closely inspecting the castle¡¯s interior. ¡°If such a man has taken a bribe, then he will have taken it quietly, and not made a scene about it, so wouldn¡¯t it actually create more of a problem if we start making a fuss about it?¡± ¡°But Your Highness, if the usations are true, then this is a serious problem!¡± After all, the fall of castles and fortresses that had previously seemed impregnable had often been the result of just such betrayals. Normally, it was extremely rare for a castle to fall to a direct assault; moremonly, the people inside would surrender due to hunger or fear, or the captain of the guard would betray them. Galvar knew this, so even though Johan had said what he did, he couldn¡¯t just let the matter drop. ¡®????, ?????? ?????? ???? ??. . .?¡¯ Originally, he had tried to defend the captain of the guard, but the Duke¡¯s outrageous remarks had led him, despite himself, into taking the position of an attacker. Galvar was dismayed when he realized this. ¡°I trust the captain of the guard.¡± ¡°Your Highness. . .¡± ¡°I looked into his eyes and saw the soul within them. He is not the kind of man to lie.¡± Johan spoke in a serious voice. His solemn and pious manner momentarily overwhelmed Galvar. Sometimes, a person¡¯s inherent dignity and strength of character could be more powerful than their title or their aplishments. When the Duke spoke in this way, Galvar, despite himself, found himself unable to argue. ¡®??????, ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????, ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ??????????????????????. ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ Galvar bowed his head, no longer saying anything. He meant to convey that he would follow Johan¡¯s wishes. After Galvar left with his attendants, Suetlg asked curiously. ¡°Was that captain really that trustworthy?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± ¡°. . .???¡± ¡°Send some men to keep an eye on the captain of the guard. Make sure they do it covertly, disguised as servants.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Johan called upon some of the ve soldiers who were most loyal to him and had them keep watch over the captain of the guard. Suetlg, seeing this, eximed in disbelief. ¡°So you didn¡¯t really trust him!¡± ¡°Excuse me? That¡¯s what I said.¡± Johan replied, feigning surprise. Suetlg was so dumbfounded that he couldn¡¯t even speak. Even a wizard like Suetlg had been taken in by the Duke¡¯s convincing act. And yet, it had all been a lie. ¡°How could you make such a judgment after meeting the captain of the guard for such a short time? You just said that in case we mistakenly aroused his suspicions, we¡¯d be adding fuel to the fire. And who knows how many people overheard you?¡± Johan didn¡¯t trust Galvar¡¯s attendants or servants, not to mention Galvar himself. If they were to behave even slightly suspiciously towards the captain of the guard, and word were to spread among them, then that would be enough to provoke the captain¡¯s ire. The guardsmen in the fortress numbered a mere few hundred, a drop in the bucketpared to the size of the expeditionary force as a whole, but Johan made no move to treat them with contempt. He knew very well how troublesome it was to have to deal with hostilemanders who were familiar with the surrounding territory. ¡°Jeez. . . I really thought you could see right through people¡¯s souls.¡± ¡°Oh, Suetlg-nim, can you do that?¡± ¡°Of course not. What do you think a wizard is?¡± ???????????? The waiting was tedious. Only the messengers, envoys, travelers, and merchants came and went, busy with their errands. In the meantime, Suhekhar was forced to set up camp and appease the nobles who were eager to attack. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°To be honest, I¡¯d rather just tell them to charge right in.¡± Suhekhar felt the same way, but whenever a situation like this arose, it was always the wise men who suffered. With so many enemy soldiers to fight, what would be of his men if they were to throw them all at a single castle? ¡°Are rumors spreading inside the castle?¡± ¡°Yes. From the spies, to the merchants, to themon folk. The rumors should be quite ripe by now.¡± ¡°Very good. God is helping us.¡± Suhekhar refrained from plundering or blockading the merchants passing by. Normally, a siege involved cutting off all such supplies and starving the people inside to death. . . However, the fortress was well-stocked with enough food and water tost through a long siege, and there was even an escape route leading behind the cliffs. This was no ordinary siege situation, so it was better to exploit that fact. The spies mixed in with the merchants were diligently spreading rumors. ¡°Alright. Prepare the envoy.¡± ???????????? The news that a pagan envoy had arrived caused a stir within the castle. The mere arrival of an envoy from another fiefdom was enough to change the atmosphere, so the arrival of a pagan envoy was a major development. They could not afford to show any disrespect, so the nobles inside the castle donned their finest armor and clothing and awaited the arrival of the envoy. Apanied by the sounds of exotic instruments, the enemy envoy entered. They walked slowly along the main road before entering the castle and kneeling before the captain of the guard. ¡°My master has sent Your Highness a gift.¡± ¡°. . .Ah, no. What is the meaning of this impropriety? His Highness the Duke is right behind you!¡± The captain of the guard was shocked and leapt to his feet. The captain of the guard had already been losing sleep due to the strange rumors circting within the castle. And yet, the man who hade as an envoy was addressing the captain of the guard first, ignoring the Duke, and offering him a gift. Of course, the captain of the guard was the one in charge of the castle, but in terms of both title and reputation, the Duke was the noble who should be given the most respect. Not only the Duke himself, but also all the other nobles from the west, would think the same. If the captain of the guard were to ept the gift first in such a situation, the other nobles would surely feel deeply insulted. Johan spoke with a smile. ¡°It seems they didn¡¯t know that we had arrived. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s strange? How could they have failed to notice how quickly and quietly we moved?¡± ¡°Well said, Your Highness!¡± Hearing Johan¡¯s words, one of the castens pped his hands and nodded. After all, anything a high-ranking person said was inherently amusing and clever. ¡°It¡¯s our own fault for arriving so quickly. There¡¯s no need to me them. Captain of the guard, go and receive it.¡± ¡°T-Thank you.¡± It wasmon knowledge that if a ruse were too borate, it would arouse suspicion. An ordinary, overly suspicious noble would have suspected the captain of the guard upon seeing such a ruse, but Johan was even more suspicious than that. Around this time, another thought came to him. They must have known that Johan had entered the castle, yet they acted in this way. Could it be. . . ¡°Don¡¯t tell me those b*stards are trying to sow discord between us?¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°It¡¯s absurd to assume that something like that would work.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. They¡¯re disregarding your honor.¡± Iselia spoke with an indignant expression. She had also heard the rumors that Johan believed in the captain of the guard¡¯s honor and had refused to investigate the suspicious rumors. Truly, it was a knightly rumor, and Iselia had been greatly moved by it. Thanks to that, Johan had been unable to mention that he had secretly sent some spies. If he had, the romantic mood would have evaporated in an instant. Suetlg, who knew the truth, had a feeble expression. Johan also exchanged nces with him ambiguously. ¡°Hmm. . .¡± ¡°Uh, hum. . .¡± ¡°??¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Iselia, that¡¯s right. That¡¯s what I said.¡± ¡°I wonder how you knew.¡± ¡°Should I say that I could tell what kind of soul he had the moment I looked into the captain of the guard¡¯s eyes?¡± ¡°As expected. . .¡± Iselia eximed in admiration, her eyes sparkling with innocence. Not only that, but the other nobles present also overheard her words and nodded in admiration. The rumors circting within the castle must have been true. ¡°Did you hear that? His Highness the Duke. . .¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he a knight favored by God? He is not swayed by wicked rumors.¡± Of course, there were still some nobles who suspected the captain of the guard. Some noblesined that the captain of the guard was arrogant and disrespectful to the Duke. However, even those nobles dared not raise any objections when Johan spoke as he did. After the audience with the envoy was over, Johan ordered sub-captain Bars, the leader of the vanguard. ¡°Send someone to deliver a message pretending to be from the captain of the guard. We¡¯ll see if they take the bait.¡± ¡°Yes! I will do my best.¡± ???????????? Johan had thought that the mission might have failed when the envoy returned with such a disappointing report, but things proceeded much more quickly than Suhekhar had anticipated. One of the captain of the guard¡¯s subordinates had secretly slipped out and approached them. ©¥???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?? ????????, ?????? ????¡¯???? ?????? ?????? ????! ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ?? ????????????????. ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????, ???? ????????¡¯???? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?? ???????????? ??????????????. ¡°Hmm.¡± As Suhekhar hesitated, the ve who was assisting him asked, looking perplexed. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a good thing, master?¡± ¡°Yes, it is. But I have a strange feeling about this. I need to think about it a little more. . .¡± However, Suhekhar didn¡¯t have that luxury. Word of what had happened had spread among the knights who were waiting. ¡°Suhekhar-nim, I heard the story. Please allow me to lead the vanguard!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not decided yet. . .¡± ¡°How much longer do you expect us to wait!¡± These men were just as hungry for glory and reward as anyone else. Their eyes gleaming with greed, they were ready to charge in of their own ord if Suhekhar refused to give them permission. ¡°Very well. If you insist, I will grant you the opportunity to lead the vanguard.¡± Suhekhar agreed to proceed with the n, although he still felt uneasy. It was too valuable an opportunity to simply pass up. Nevertheless, just in case, Suhekhar called upon a trustworthy knight. ¡°Sir Almahood. I want you to apany them. If anything seems suspicious, feel free to act at your own discretion. They¡¯ll be taking several times more men than they told you, so even if it is a trap, we should be fine.¡± ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Sir Almahood was a seasoned knight. He would be able to detect and respond to any pitfalls, like ballistae being aimed at them from above the castle walls or traps being dug. ???????????? When the enemy took the bait so readily, Johan could no longer hide it from the captain of the guard. ¡°Actually, this happened. I didn¡¯t tell you because I was worried about you.¡± ¡°No! I am grateful for Your Highness¡¯s kindness.¡± The captain of the guard spoke with tears in his eyes, strangely enough. The captain of the guard¡¯s adjutants standing beside him also looked at Johan with moved expressions. ¡°. . .??¡± Johan was rather flustered by the overly warm response, seeing as how he had impersonated the captain of the guard without his permission, exchanged letters with the other side, set a trap, and then sprung it on them. Even if he was a duke, this was the sort of thing that would normally cause resentment, so he had intended to apologize. . . ¡°Do you have anyints?¡± ¡°No! I would never dare!¡± ¡°No. . . if you have any, please tell me. Really, it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way you don¡¯t. Why don¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t. . .¡± Suetlg sighed as he listened to their inane conversation. ¡°Before you create aint out of thin air, stop it! People are allowed to be moved, so why can¡¯t you believe it?¡± ¡°Even if they¡¯re moved, it doesn¡¯t mean they won¡¯t have anyints. . .¡± ¡°They will. Prepare for battle.¡± Johan nodded. This was not the time to be arguing about such things. Deceiving the other side was difficult, but what was even more difficult was devouring them after deceiving them. If he made a single mistake, they would slip through his fingers. Johan, who had been pondering how to avoid detection, decided to keep things simple. ©¥I don¡¯t need to kill everyone here anyway. All I need to do is guard the fortress, so all I have to do is crush their morale. He decided not to set any borate traps, schemes, or ambushes. If the other side noticed anything suspicious, it would onlyplicate things. ¡°I see torches. The enemy is approaching! I can¡¯t get a good count on their numbers. . .¡± ¡°So they brought a lot of men, as expected.¡± Johan felt a sense of camaraderie with the enemymander, whom he had never even met. Johan must have brought just as many. Blessed Johan¡¯s eyes pierced through the veil of darkness, allowing him to see the number of men hidden within. ¡°Is everyone ready?¡± ¡°Yes!!!¡± The knights nodded with shining eyes. They were men from different fiefdoms, each with their own thoughts and goals, but their thoughts were surprisingly unified at this moment. A surge of heat red up, piercing through the cold chill of the night air. ¡°Open the gate. We charge.¡± Johan¡¯s chosen method was a frontal assault. The knights¡¯ fierce roars shattered the silence of the night., ¡°Are. . . are you joking right now?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m serious.¡± Johan was being earnest. ¡°Didn¡¯t the captain of the castle guard here originate from around these parts? What I¡¯ve heard is that he came from a lower noble family, in service on an upward trajectory, and that he has the favor of his subordinates.¡± ¡°Is. . . is that so?¡± Surprisingly, despite having only just arrived, the Duke knew quite a lot about the castle¡¯s guard captain. While the other nobles of the expeditionary force were focused on the enemy and the spoils that could be taken, the Duke had been closely inspecting the castle¡¯s interior. ¡°If such a man has taken a bribe, then he will have taken it quietly, and not made a scene about it, so wouldn¡¯t it actually create more of a problem if we start making a fuss about it?¡± ¡°But Your Highness, if the usations are true, then this is a serious problem!¡± After all, the fall of castles and fortresses that had previously seemed impregnable had often been the result of just such betrayals. Normally, it was extremely rare for a castle to fall to a direct assault; moremonly, the people inside would surrender due to hunger or fear, or the captain of the guard would betray them. Galvar knew this, so even though Johan had said what he did, he couldn¡¯t just let the matter drop. ¡®????, ?????? ?????? ???? ??. . .?¡¯ Originally, he had tried to defend the captain of the guard, but the Duke¡¯s outrageous remarks had led him, despite himself, into taking the position of an attacker. Galvar was dismayed when he realized this. ¡°I trust the captain of the guard.¡± ¡°Your Highness. . .¡± ¡°I looked into his eyes and saw the soul within them. He is not the kind of man to lie.¡± Johan spoke in a serious voice. His solemn and pious manner momentarily overwhelmed Galvar. Sometimes, a person¡¯s inherent dignity and strength of character could be more powerful than their title or their aplishments. When the Duke spoke in this way, Galvar, despite himself, found himself unable to argue. ¡®??????, ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????, ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ??????????????????????. ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ Galvar bowed his head, no longer saying anything. He meant to convey that he would follow Johan¡¯s wishes. After Galvar left with his attendants, Suetlg asked curiously. ¡°Was that captain really that trustworthy?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± ¡°. . .???¡± ¡°Send some men to keep an eye on the captain of the guard. Make sure they do it covertly, disguised as servants.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Johan called upon some of the ve soldiers who were most loyal to him and had them keep watch over the captain of the guard. Suetlg, seeing this, eximed in disbelief. ¡°So you didn¡¯t really trust him!¡± ¡°Excuse me? That¡¯s what I said.¡± Johan replied, feigning surprise. Suetlg was so dumbfounded that he couldn¡¯t even speak. Even a wizard like Suetlg had been taken in by the Duke¡¯s convincing act. And yet, it had all been a lie. ¡°How could you make such a judgment after meeting the captain of the guard for such a short time? You just said that in case we mistakenly aroused his suspicions, we¡¯d be adding fuel to the fire. And who knows how many people overheard you?¡± Johan didn¡¯t trust Galvar¡¯s attendants or servants, not to mention Galvar himself. If they were to behave even slightly suspiciously towards the captain of the guard, and word were to spread among them, then that would be enough to provoke the captain¡¯s ire. The guardsmen in the fortress numbered a mere few hundred, a drop in the bucketpared to the size of the expeditionary force as a whole, but Johan made no move to treat them with contempt. He knew very well how troublesome it was to have to deal with hostilemanders who were familiar with the surrounding territory. ¡°Jeez. . . I really thought you could see right through people¡¯s souls.¡± ¡°Oh, Suetlg-nim, can you do that?¡± ¡°Of course not. What do you think a wizard is?¡± ???????????? The waiting was tedious. Only the messengers, envoys, travelers, and merchants came and went, busy with their errands. In the meantime, Suhekhar was forced to set up camp and appease the nobles who were eager to attack. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°To be honest, I¡¯d rather just tell them to charge right in.¡± Suhekhar felt the same way, but whenever a situation like this arose, it was always the wise men who suffered. With so many enemy soldiers to fight, what would be of his men if they were to throw them all at a single castle? ¡°Are rumors spreading inside the castle?¡± ¡°Yes. From the spies, to the merchants, to themon folk. The rumors should be quite ripe by now.¡± ¡°Very good. God is helping us.¡± Suhekhar refrained from plundering or blockading the merchants passing by. Normally, a siege involved cutting off all such supplies and starving the people inside to death. . . However, the fortress was well-stocked with enough food and water tost through a long siege, and there was even an escape route leading behind the cliffs. This was no ordinary siege situation, so it was better to exploit that fact. The spies mixed in with the merchants were diligently spreading rumors. ¡°Alright. Prepare the envoy.¡± ???????????? The news that a pagan envoy had arrived caused a stir within the castle. The mere arrival of an envoy from another fiefdom was enough to change the atmosphere, so the arrival of a pagan envoy was a major development. They could not afford to show any disrespect, so the nobles inside the castle donned their finest armor and clothing and awaited the arrival of the envoy. Apanied by the sounds of exotic instruments, the enemy envoy entered. They walked slowly along the main road before entering the castle and kneeling before the captain of the guard. ¡°My master has sent Your Highness a gift.¡± ¡°. . .Ah, no. What is the meaning of this impropriety? His Highness the Duke is right behind you!¡± The captain of the guard was shocked and leapt to his feet. The captain of the guard had already been losing sleep due to the strange rumors circting within the castle. And yet, the man who hade as an envoy was addressing the captain of the guard first, ignoring the Duke, and offering him a gift. Of course, the captain of the guard was the one in charge of the castle, but in terms of both title and reputation, the Duke was the noble who should be given the most respect. Not only the Duke himself, but also all the other nobles from the west, would think the same. If the captain of the guard were to ept the gift first in such a situation, the other nobles would surely feel deeply insulted. Johan spoke with a smile. ¡°It seems they didn¡¯t know that we had arrived. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s strange? How could they have failed to notice how quickly and quietly we moved?¡± ¡°Well said, Your Highness!¡± Hearing Johan¡¯s words, one of the castens pped his hands and nodded. After all, anything a high-ranking person said was inherently amusing and clever. ¡°It¡¯s our own fault for arriving so quickly. There¡¯s no need to me them. Captain of the guard, go and receive it.¡± ¡°T-Thank you.¡± It wasmon knowledge that if a ruse were too borate, it would arouse suspicion. An ordinary, overly suspicious noble would have suspected the captain of the guard upon seeing such a ruse, but Johan was even more suspicious than that. Around this time, another thought came to him. They must have known that Johan had entered the castle, yet they acted in this way. Could it be. . . ¡°Don¡¯t tell me those b*stards are trying to sow discord between us?¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°It¡¯s absurd to assume that something like that would work.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. They¡¯re disregarding your honor.¡± Iselia spoke with an indignant expression. She had also heard the rumors that Johan believed in the captain of the guard¡¯s honor and had refused to investigate the suspicious rumors. Truly, it was a knightly rumor, and Iselia had been greatly moved by it. Thanks to that, Johan had been unable to mention that he had secretly sent some spies. If he had, the romantic mood would have evaporated in an instant. Suetlg, who knew the truth, had a feeble expression. Johan also exchanged nces with him ambiguously. ¡°Hmm. . .¡± ¡°Uh, hum. . .¡± ¡°??¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Iselia, that¡¯s right. That¡¯s what I said.¡± ¡°I wonder how you knew.¡± ¡°Should I say that I could tell what kind of soul he had the moment I looked into the captain of the guard¡¯s eyes?¡± ¡°As expected. . .¡± Iselia eximed in admiration, her eyes sparkling with innocence. Not only that, but the other nobles present also overheard her words and nodded in admiration. The rumors circting within the castle must have been true. ¡°Did you hear that? His Highness the Duke. . .¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he a knight favored by God? He is not swayed by wicked rumors.¡± Of course, there were still some nobles who suspected the captain of the guard. Some noblesined that the captain of the guard was arrogant and disrespectful to the Duke. However, even those nobles dared not raise any objections when Johan spoke as he did. After the audience with the envoy was over, Johan ordered sub-captain Bars, the leader of the vanguard. ¡°Send someone to deliver a message pretending to be from the captain of the guard. We¡¯ll see if they take the bait.¡± ¡°Yes! I will do my best.¡± ???????????? Johan had thought that the mission might have failed when the envoy returned with such a disappointing report, but things proceeded much more quickly than Suhekhar had anticipated. One of the captain of the guard¡¯s subordinates had secretly slipped out and approached them. ©¥???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?? ????????, ?????? ????¡¯???? ?????? ?????? ????! ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ?? ????????????????. ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????, ???? ????????¡¯???? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?? ???????????? ??????????????. ¡°Hmm.¡± As Suhekhar hesitated, the ve who was assisting him asked, looking perplexed. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a good thing, master?¡± ¡°Yes, it is. But I have a strange feeling about this. I need to think about it a little more. . .¡± However, Suhekhar didn¡¯t have that luxury. Word of what had happened had spread among the knights who were waiting. ¡°Suhekhar-nim, I heard the story. Please allow me to lead the vanguard!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not decided yet. . .¡± ¡°How much longer do you expect us to wait!¡± These men were just as hungry for glory and reward as anyone else. Their eyes gleaming with greed, they were ready to charge in of their own ord if Suhekhar refused to give them permission. ¡°Very well. If you insist, I will grant you the opportunity to lead the vanguard.¡± Suhekhar agreed to proceed with the n, although he still felt uneasy. It was too valuable an opportunity to simply pass up. Nevertheless, just in case, Suhekhar called upon a trustworthy knight. ¡°Sir Almahood. I want you to apany them. If anything seems suspicious, feel free to act at your own discretion. They¡¯ll be taking several times more men than they told you, so even if it is a trap, we should be fine.¡± ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Sir Almahood was a seasoned knight. He would be able to detect and respond to any pitfalls, like ballistae being aimed at them from above the castle walls or traps being dug. ???????????? When the enemy took the bait so readily, Johan could no longer hide it from the captain of the guard. ¡°Actually, this happened. I didn¡¯t tell you because I was worried about you.¡± ¡°No! I am grateful for Your Highness¡¯s kindness.¡± The captain of the guard spoke with tears in his eyes, strangely enough. The captain of the guard¡¯s adjutants standing beside him also looked at Johan with moved expressions. ¡°. . .??¡± Johan was rather flustered by the overly warm response, seeing as how he had impersonated the captain of the guard without his permission, exchanged letters with the other side, set a trap, and then sprung it on them. Even if he was a duke, this was the sort of thing that would normally cause resentment, so he had intended to apologize. . . ¡°Do you have anyints?¡± ¡°No! I would never dare!¡± ¡°No. . . if you have any, please tell me. Really, it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way you don¡¯t. Why don¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t. . .¡± Suetlg sighed as he listened to their inane conversation. ¡°Before you create aint out of thin air, stop it! People are allowed to be moved, so why can¡¯t you believe it?¡± ¡°Even if they¡¯re moved, it doesn¡¯t mean they won¡¯t have anyints. . .¡± ¡°They will. Prepare for battle.¡± Johan nodded. This was not the time to be arguing about such things. Deceiving the other side was difficult, but what was even more difficult was devouring them after deceiving them. If he made a single mistake, they would slip through his fingers. Johan, who had been pondering how to avoid detection, decided to keep things simple. ©¥I don¡¯t need to kill everyone here anyway. All I need to do is guard the fortress, so all I have to do is crush their morale. He decided not to set any borate traps, schemes, or ambushes. If the other side noticed anything suspicious, it would onlyplicate things. ¡°I see torches. The enemy is approaching! I can¡¯t get a good count on their numbers. . .¡± ¡°So they brought a lot of men, as expected.¡± Johan felt a sense of camaraderie with the enemymander, whom he had never even met. Johan must have brought just as many. Blessed Johan¡¯s eyes pierced through the veil of darkness, allowing him to see the number of men hidden within. ¡°Is everyone ready?¡± ¡°Yes!!!¡± The knights nodded with shining eyes. They were men from different fiefdoms, each with their own thoughts and goals, but their thoughts were surprisingly unified at this moment. A surge of heat red up, piercing through the cold chill of the night air. ¡°Open the gate. We charge.¡± Johan¡¯s chosen method was a frontal assault. The knights¡¯ fierce roars shattered the silence of the night. Chapter 304: ?????????? ?????? ???????????? (3) In the darkness of night, the pagan knights, who had approached the fortress, were far from foolish. Though greedy and rash, they were not so reckless as to let their guard down when approaching an enemy stronghold. That was why the knight, Almahood, who received a secret order from Suhekhar, was able to rx to some extent. They were on the lookout, although with expectation. ¡®???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°Your eyesight is good. Go ahead and scout.¡± ¡°Why me. . . It won¡¯t hurt to be too cautious. What if they notice us?¡± ¡°You have to do it well. You can do it. We must trust you since the pagans are so cunning.¡± ¡°Tsk. Fine. Stay here.¡±The pagan knights, who had approached the fortress, carefully scouted the surroundings. There was no particr trap, and the fortress was as quiet as a mouse. There was no sign of an army in ambush outside the castle or archers stationed on the castle walls, which would have been the most likely ces for a trap. At that sign, the knights smiled. ¡°Go and open the door.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Someone was heard gulping. Tension and anticipation naturally caused the air to tighten. The invaders looked at the castle gate with excitement. However, the ones who appeared behind the castle gate were simrly well-armed knights. ¡°. . .A trap!!!¡± ¡°Prepare for battle!¡± The pagan knights were startled, but they drew their swords and bows even faster. It was a well-trained move. They desperately tried to check the other side rather than the enemies trying toe out of the castle gate. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you checked for ambushes?¡± ¡°I swear on the honor of my family and the two gods that there was no ambush! Unless they¡¯re using wizardry!¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s all the better! It seems they looked down on us arrogantly, so let¡¯s break through the gate and take over! With the darkness all around, if we capture the gate and set fire to the castle walls, won¡¯t many of them flee?!¡± A belligerent knight shouted. The other knights nodded in agreement. If there really was no ambush around, then this trap could rather be an opportunity. Perhaps the enemies had made an arrogant judgment and tried to trample them from the front, but the knights gathered here also excelled in swordsmanship and spearmanship and had been riding horses since they were young. ¡°Get ready to fight!¡± ¡°To your posts! Move!¡± The pagan knights moved actively and prepared to confront the charge. A fight in the dark is a fight of who has a stronger heart and who¡¯s tougher. They didn¡¯t think for a second that they would lose a fight that tested their guts like this. They had never doubted that they were brave since the day they were born. However, as the leader of the enemy knights charged fiercely through the darkness of the night and began swinging his sword, the pagan knights realized the fear that had been within them. ???????????? ¡°Iselia!! Don¡¯t chase them ande this way!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Iselia! It hasn¡¯t even been a few minutes!¡± ¡°I got it!¡± ¡°Gerdolf, what are you doing! Don¡¯t chase them! Maintain the formation!¡± ¡°Sorry!¡± A person who had never fought in the pitch ck darkness would easily think of that fight. However, if one had even a littlemon sense, they would want to avoid fighting in the dark. This was even more so if they were not at a disadvantage, but rather at an advantage. Johan wouldn¡¯t have forced himself into this dark fight if he had a choice, because the situation left him no choice. The torches held by a few horsemen were too weak to brighten up the darkness. The surroundings were so dark that they could hear the enemies¡¯ voices, but they couldn¡¯t see them properly. Even the most experienced warriors were tempted to forget orders and scatter in all directions when caught up in the excitement. Even in all this chaos, Johan tried to maintain hisposure and control his knights. Although he was not very satisfied with his own standards, overall, it could be said that he was holding the knights in check at an almost monstrous level. And that monstrous power was not only used inmanding. ¡°My name is. . . Croak!¡± Without even listening to his opponent¡¯s introduction, Johan swung the Seal Retriever and knocked a knight off his horse. Thick armor was cut like paper and blood sttered. He didn¡¯t inflict a fatal wound that could have been used to capture him as a hostage, but if he was unlucky, he could have died in the chaos of the darkness. ¡®?????? ???? ??????¡¯?? ???? ????????????.¡¯ He wanted to capture him if possible, but now was not the time to capture and hand over hostages one by one. There were still many enemies left. Someone shouted Johan¡¯s name in the Easternnguage. ¡°That guy¡¯s the duke!¡± ¡®????. ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ After the initial charge, the knights from both sides became entangled in aplicated manner. They were fighting so intertwined that it was hard to tell who was who, so Johan was surprised when he figured out his identity right away. ¡°Your Highness, you stand out too much!!¡± A pdin from the monastery, who had been following Johan in case something happened, shouted in a worried voice. From the perspective of someone watching from behind, the duke was someone who couldn¡¯t help but stand out. Every time his sword shed through the darkness, enemy knights fell like confetti and fell from their horses. The duke was so fierce and ferocious that there were no enemy knights entangled around him. It was like a wildfire devouring vegetation. ¡°Attack him! If we capture the duke, we can make up for all the losses!¡± At first, the pagan knights didn¡¯t back down against Johan and attacked him fiercely. They didn¡¯t properly grasp how Johan was knocking down the knights because it was dark and chaotic. However, even the darkness had its limits in covering up the duke¡¯s carnage. As the fierce hand-to-handbat, where they struck and received blows, passed the halfway point, the enemies began to realize the situation and looked exhausted. . . .Is that guy even human? The number of knights who had fallen from their horses around the duke was too many to count. If he charged once with his men, no knights could withstand it and would copse just like that. Sir Almahood, who wasmanding from the other side, btedly realized the situation and made a bewildered expression. He hadn¡¯t spent that much time, but suddenly, the other ranks hadpletely copsed and the knights were running away. What in the world was going on? ¡°Wha. . .¡± Before he could even finish shouting, Johan rushed in and cut down three knights. Two of them were great knights that even Sir Almahood knew by name. They were the ones who had received the family heirloom called the ¡®Red Silver Shield,¡¯ and when they fought on horseback, they were as solid as a fortress. . . They were cut down without even having a chance to catch their breath. ¡°That guy¡¯s themander!¡± ¡°!¡± Sir Almahood was startled by the shout from one of Johan¡¯s men from afar. It seemed that his face had been revealed by the light. ¡°Protect me!! Stop those guys!¡± Originally, those were knights who would have understood Sir Almahood¡¯s meaning and stepped up honorably. However, even though they were this close, Sir Almahood¡¯s orders had no effect. Everyone turned their horses around and hurriedly ran away. ¡®???????? ???? ????????????????????, ???????? ???? ????????????????????. . .¡¯ Sir Almahood also turned his horse around with a bewildered expression. He didn¡¯t understand the situation at all, but his numbed reason was screaming instinctually. He had to run away from this ce right now! ¡°They¡¯re escaping!¡± ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t chase them.¡± Johan focused on finishing things up around here instead of being greedy. There were still groups of knights fiercely fighting here and there who hadn¡¯t encountered Johan yet and were maintaining their formation. ¡°Will you surrender?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. . . Keuk!¡± ¡°Will you surrender?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t insult my honor. . . Keuk!¡± ¡°Will you surrender?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . .I surrender.¡± As the remaining remnants were cleaned up and the battlefield was roughly tidied up, dawn was breaking. Johan looked up, feeling tired. Because of that, he made eye contact with the people on the castle wall. The people on the castle wall were looking down with awe-filled eyes. ???????????? ¡°This. Was it a trap after all?¡± Suhekhar said regretfully. He had a bad feeling about it, but it really was a trap. The young duke seemed to be much wiser than he thought. Suhekhar prayed that the betrayal of the captain of the guard was not discovered by ident. If the young duke had known and aimed for this from the beginning, the future expedition would be very difficult. ¡®???? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???? ????????????????.¡¯ ¡°But. . .?¡± It was verymon for night raids like this to fail during sieges. Suhekhar was not so weak as to despair over this, though it was regrettable. But why were the knights gathered here trembling as if they had seen a demon? ¡°Since the enemy had set a trap and waited, it¡¯s a great achievement just to have returned. Why is there a reason to be so frustrated?¡± Suhekhar opened his mouth tofort the knights. He quickly scanned them just in case, but other than being covered in dirt and sweat, there were no major injuries. ¡°I. . . It¡¯s not like that, Suhekhar-nim.¡± ¡°Suhekhar-nim. That guy¡¯s not human! The rumors were true. The contract with the demon is real! There¡¯s no way it¡¯s possible for a human being. Arrows don¡¯t work and he doesn¡¯t even bleed when stabbed with a spear or sword. When he swung his sword, we couldn¡¯t even fight back and fell. This isn¡¯t something a human being can do. . .¡± ¡°Enough. Stop it. What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Suhekhar spread his hands helplessly at the knight¡¯s intoxicated rambling. He should act boldly if he failed a surprise attack, but what¡¯s the point of praising the enemy knight like this? ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± ¡°Sir Almahood. You exin. What happened?¡± ¡°. . .The duke is a demon. At least he has simr powers.¡± Sir Almahood spat out the words. As someone who had run away from the same ce, he understood the pain of the other knights so much that it hurt. Suhekhar clicked his tongue and sighed as the knight he trusted began to spout nonsense like a superstitious country bumpkin. ¡°Go back and rest. Don¡¯t say useless things. I¡¯ll punish you ording to militaryw.¡± ¡°Thank you for your mercy!¡± After the knights left, Suhekhar opened his mouth, dumbfounded. ¡°What in the world did they see to be so scared when they never used to be afraid of anything?¡± ¡°Maybe the enemy knight¡¯s skill level. . . was greater than we thought?¡± ¡°No matter how great it is, I don¡¯t understand why they¡¯re so scared like that. Unless he used some kind of magic.¡± ¡°How could a petty magic trick fool the knights?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not good to be overly afraid of magic, but it¡¯s also not good to take it too lightly.¡± The wizards of the Eastern Empire tended to stay in the shade. As such, they lived with the suspicion of questionable superstitions and paganism. However, when the future seemed uncertain, the nobles would call a wizard to tell their fortune, and when their children were sick, they would call a wizard. Suhekhar fell into contemtion. It would be great if he could conquer that fortress, but thinking about the conversation he had with the Sultan beforeing, it was not necessary to risk so much damage to conquer the fortress. Anyway. . . ¡°I¡¯ll ask for a meeting.¡± ¡°Yes? Will the other side ept?¡± ¡°If they don¡¯t ept, there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± He wanted to see the face of the person who had made the knights so scared. He had to hear the rumors once, so it would be strange not to be curious after hearing them so many times. ¡°Suhekhar-nim. The duke sent someone.¡± ¡°What? The duke?¡± Suhekhar frowned. His ves(ves) also frowned. There was only one reason why a pagan feudal lord would send someone after a battle. ¡°Take care of the knights¡¯ bodies and send them back to their families.¡± A mockery and insult. If they had the same faith, they would be captured and ransomed, but if they had different faiths, they would often be killed and their bodies would be sent back on horses as a form of insult. ¡°Yes? No. He¡¯s a messenger asking for ransom.¡± ¡°. . .Right now??¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± ???????????? ¡°He was a bit too aggressive.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t regret it too much. No one in this fortress will ever nder you because of that.¡± Johan seemed to regret it, so Suetlg spoke from the side. After seeing the battle in front of the fortress, who would dare to badmouth the duke?, In the darkness of night, the pagan knights, who had approached the fortress, were far from foolish. Though greedy and rash, they were not so reckless as to let their guard down when approaching an enemy stronghold. That was why the knight, Almahood, who received a secret order from Suhekhar, was able to rx to some extent. They were on the lookout, although with expectation. ¡®???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°Your eyesight is good. Go ahead and scout.¡± ¡°Why me. . . It won¡¯t hurt to be too cautious. What if they notice us?¡± ¡°You have to do it well. You can do it. We must trust you since the pagans are so cunning.¡± ¡°Tsk. Fine. Stay here.¡± The pagan knights, who had approached the fortress, carefully scouted the surroundings. There was no particr trap, and the fortress was as quiet as a mouse. There was no sign of an army in ambush outside the castle or archers stationed on the castle walls, which would have been the most likely ces for a trap. At that sign, the knights smiled. ¡°Go and open the door.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Someone was heard gulping. Tension and anticipation naturally caused the air to tighten. The invaders looked at the castle gate with excitement. However, the ones who appeared behind the castle gate were simrly well-armed knights. ¡°. . .A trap!!!¡± ¡°Prepare for battle!¡± The pagan knights were startled, but they drew their swords and bows even faster. It was a well-trained move. They desperately tried to check the other side rather than the enemies trying toe out of the castle gate. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you checked for ambushes?¡± ¡°I swear on the honor of my family and the two gods that there was no ambush! Unless they¡¯re using wizardry!¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s all the better! It seems they looked down on us arrogantly, so let¡¯s break through the gate and take over! With the darkness all around, if we capture the gate and set fire to the castle walls, won¡¯t many of them flee?!¡± A belligerent knight shouted. The other knights nodded in agreement. If there really was no ambush around, then this trap could rather be an opportunity. Perhaps the enemies had made an arrogant judgment and tried to trample them from the front, but the knights gathered here also excelled in swordsmanship and spearmanship and had been riding horses since they were young. ¡°Get ready to fight!¡± ¡°To your posts! Move!¡± The pagan knights moved actively and prepared to confront the charge. A fight in the dark is a fight of who has a stronger heart and who¡¯s tougher. They didn¡¯t think for a second that they would lose a fight that tested their guts like this. They had never doubted that they were brave since the day they were born. However, as the leader of the enemy knights charged fiercely through the darkness of the night and began swinging his sword, the pagan knights realized the fear that had been within them. ???????????? ¡°Iselia!! Don¡¯t chase them ande this way!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Iselia! It hasn¡¯t even been a few minutes!¡± ¡°I got it!¡± ¡°Gerdolf, what are you doing! Don¡¯t chase them! Maintain the formation!¡± ¡°Sorry!¡± A person who had never fought in the pitch ck darkness would easily think of that fight. However, if one had even a littlemon sense, they would want to avoid fighting in the dark. This was even more so if they were not at a disadvantage, but rather at an advantage. Johan wouldn¡¯t have forced himself into this dark fight if he had a choice, because the situation left him no choice. The torches held by a few horsemen were too weak to brighten up the darkness. The surroundings were so dark that they could hear the enemies¡¯ voices, but they couldn¡¯t see them properly. Even the most experienced warriors were tempted to forget orders and scatter in all directions when caught up in the excitement. Even in all this chaos, Johan tried to maintain hisposure and control his knights. Although he was not very satisfied with his own standards, overall, it could be said that he was holding the knights in check at an almost monstrous level. And that monstrous power was not only used inmanding. ¡°My name is. . . Croak!¡± Without even listening to his opponent¡¯s introduction, Johan swung the Seal Retriever and knocked a knight off his horse. Thick armor was cut like paper and blood sttered. He didn¡¯t inflict a fatal wound that could have been used to capture him as a hostage, but if he was unlucky, he could have died in the chaos of the darkness. ¡®?????? ???? ??????¡¯?? ???? ????????????.¡¯ He wanted to capture him if possible, but now was not the time to capture and hand over hostages one by one. There were still many enemies left. Someone shouted Johan¡¯s name in the Easternnguage. ¡°That guy¡¯s the duke!¡± ¡®????. ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ After the initial charge, the knights from both sides became entangled in aplicated manner. They were fighting so intertwined that it was hard to tell who was who, so Johan was surprised when he figured out his identity right away. ¡°Your Highness, you stand out too much!!¡± A pdin from the monastery, who had been following Johan in case something happened, shouted in a worried voice. From the perspective of someone watching from behind, the duke was someone who couldn¡¯t help but stand out. Every time his sword shed through the darkness, enemy knights fell like confetti and fell from their horses. The duke was so fierce and ferocious that there were no enemy knights entangled around him. It was like a wildfire devouring vegetation. ¡°Attack him! If we capture the duke, we can make up for all the losses!¡± At first, the pagan knights didn¡¯t back down against Johan and attacked him fiercely. They didn¡¯t properly grasp how Johan was knocking down the knights because it was dark and chaotic. However, even the darkness had its limits in covering up the duke¡¯s carnage. As the fierce hand-to-handbat, where they struck and received blows, passed the halfway point, the enemies began to realize the situation and looked exhausted. . . .Is that guy even human? The number of knights who had fallen from their horses around the duke was too many to count. If he charged once with his men, no knights could withstand it and would copse just like that. Sir Almahood, who wasmanding from the other side, btedly realized the situation and made a bewildered expression. He hadn¡¯t spent that much time, but suddenly, the other ranks hadpletely copsed and the knights were running away. What in the world was going on? ¡°Wha. . .¡± Before he could even finish shouting, Johan rushed in and cut down three knights. Two of them were great knights that even Sir Almahood knew by name. They were the ones who had received the family heirloom called the ¡®Red Silver Shield,¡¯ and when they fought on horseback, they were as solid as a fortress. . . They were cut down without even having a chance to catch their breath. ¡°That guy¡¯s themander!¡± ¡°!¡± Sir Almahood was startled by the shout from one of Johan¡¯s men from afar. It seemed that his face had been revealed by the light. ¡°Protect me!! Stop those guys!¡± Originally, those were knights who would have understood Sir Almahood¡¯s meaning and stepped up honorably. However, even though they were this close, Sir Almahood¡¯s orders had no effect. Everyone turned their horses around and hurriedly ran away. ¡®???????? ???? ????????????????????, ???????? ???? ????????????????????. . .¡¯ Sir Almahood also turned his horse around with a bewildered expression. He didn¡¯t understand the situation at all, but his numbed reason was screaming instinctually. He had to run away from this ce right now! ¡°They¡¯re escaping!¡± ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t chase them.¡± Johan focused on finishing things up around here instead of being greedy. There were still groups of knights fiercely fighting here and there who hadn¡¯t encountered Johan yet and were maintaining their formation. ¡°Will you surrender?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. . . Keuk!¡± ¡°Will you surrender?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t insult my honor. . . Keuk!¡± ¡°Will you surrender?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . .I surrender.¡± As the remaining remnants were cleaned up and the battlefield was roughly tidied up, dawn was breaking. Johan looked up, feeling tired. Because of that, he made eye contact with the people on the castle wall. The people on the castle wall were looking down with awe-filled eyes. ???????????? ¡°This. Was it a trap after all?¡± Suhekhar said regretfully. He had a bad feeling about it, but it really was a trap. The young duke seemed to be much wiser than he thought. Suhekhar prayed that the betrayal of the captain of the guard was not discovered by ident. If the young duke had known and aimed for this from the beginning, the future expedition would be very difficult. ¡®???? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???? ????????????????.¡¯ ¡°But. . .?¡± It was verymon for night raids like this to fail during sieges. Suhekhar was not so weak as to despair over this, though it was regrettable. But why were the knights gathered here trembling as if they had seen a demon? ¡°Since the enemy had set a trap and waited, it¡¯s a great achievement just to have returned. Why is there a reason to be so frustrated?¡± Suhekhar opened his mouth tofort the knights. He quickly scanned them just in case, but other than being covered in dirt and sweat, there were no major injuries. ¡°I. . . It¡¯s not like that, Suhekhar-nim.¡± ¡°Suhekhar-nim. That guy¡¯s not human! The rumors were true. The contract with the demon is real! There¡¯s no way it¡¯s possible for a human being. Arrows don¡¯t work and he doesn¡¯t even bleed when stabbed with a spear or sword. When he swung his sword, we couldn¡¯t even fight back and fell. This isn¡¯t something a human being can do. . .¡± ¡°Enough. Stop it. What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Suhekhar spread his hands helplessly at the knight¡¯s intoxicated rambling. He should act boldly if he failed a surprise attack, but what¡¯s the point of praising the enemy knight like this? ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± ¡°Sir Almahood. You exin. What happened?¡± ¡°. . .The duke is a demon. At least he has simr powers.¡± Sir Almahood spat out the words. As someone who had run away from the same ce, he understood the pain of the other knights so much that it hurt. Suhekhar clicked his tongue and sighed as the knight he trusted began to spout nonsense like a superstitious country bumpkin. ¡°Go back and rest. Don¡¯t say useless things. I¡¯ll punish you ording to militaryw.¡± ¡°Thank you for your mercy!¡± After the knights left, Suhekhar opened his mouth, dumbfounded. ¡°What in the world did they see to be so scared when they never used to be afraid of anything?¡± ¡°Maybe the enemy knight¡¯s skill level. . . was greater than we thought?¡± ¡°No matter how great it is, I don¡¯t understand why they¡¯re so scared like that. Unless he used some kind of magic.¡± ¡°How could a petty magic trick fool the knights?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not good to be overly afraid of magic, but it¡¯s also not good to take it too lightly.¡± The wizards of the Eastern Empire tended to stay in the shade. As such, they lived with the suspicion of questionable superstitions and paganism. However, when the future seemed uncertain, the nobles would call a wizard to tell their fortune, and when their children were sick, they would call a wizard. Suhekhar fell into contemtion. It would be great if he could conquer that fortress, but thinking about the conversation he had with the Sultan beforeing, it was not necessary to risk so much damage to conquer the fortress. Anyway. . . ¡°I¡¯ll ask for a meeting.¡± ¡°Yes? Will the other side ept?¡± ¡°If they don¡¯t ept, there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± He wanted to see the face of the person who had made the knights so scared. He had to hear the rumors once, so it would be strange not to be curious after hearing them so many times. ¡°Suhekhar-nim. The duke sent someone.¡± ¡°What? The duke?¡± Suhekhar frowned. His ves(ves) also frowned. There was only one reason why a pagan feudal lord would send someone after a battle. ¡°Take care of the knights¡¯ bodies and send them back to their families.¡± A mockery and insult. If they had the same faith, they would be captured and ransomed, but if they had different faiths, they would often be killed and their bodies would be sent back on horses as a form of insult. ¡°Yes? No. He¡¯s a messenger asking for ransom.¡± ¡°. . .Right now??¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± ???????????? ¡°He was a bit too aggressive.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t regret it too much. No one in this fortress will ever nder you because of that.¡± Johan seemed to regret it, so Suetlg spoke from the side. After seeing the battle in front of the fortress, who would dare to badmouth the duke? Chapter 305: ?????????? ?????? ???????????? (4) It didn¡¯t end with just watching a battle taking ce in the darkness with their eyes and ears and then confirming the aftermath when the dawn broke. Each and every knight who was captured and brought in served as living proof of the duke¡¯s aplishments. As the news circted once more within the fortress while treating the captured knights, the rumor became so distorted that its original form was hardly recognizable. Suetlg was about to ask the young duke, ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????????, ?????? ???????????????? ?? ???????????? ???????????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???????????¡¯ but he stopped himself. It seemed a little too snide. ¡°But where would we receive the ransom if they retreat?¡± ¡°You have a point there.¡± The priests would be gobsmacked at this statement, but it made sense when one thought about it. Ransom was only paid when the other party was willing to pay it. If the other party simply gave up and left, they would only end up feeding their captives. In that case, it was not a bad idea to negotiate quickly and receive the ransom.. . . The fact that the notoriously devout duke came up with the idea in an instant was somewhat amusing, but no one outside would know the truth. Perhaps they would think that the merchants or the people of the republic who served under the duke had suggested it! ???????????? Suhekhar couldn¡¯t shake his astonishment even after epting the envoy¡¯s proposal. It was something so utterly unimaginable. It wasmon to send an envoy after a battle during a siege, but they were proposing to pay a ransom immediately for the captured pagan knights instead of executing them. Of course, nobles who valued honor and knew the rules of respect did not swing their swords recklessly even after a battle. It was customary to ept ransom and release the captives, but. . . It was very rare for those from the West to abide by such rules. The monotheists who hade this far possessed a certain degree of insane religiousness, separate from greed, and such belief often manifested in emotional massacres rather than rational negotiations. Knowing this, Suhekhar couldn¡¯t help but be surprised by the duke¡¯s proposal. Even more so when he thought about the duke¡¯s reputation. ¡°It could be a trap.¡± ¡°Suhekhar-nim. It is a trap. He is not a man but a demon!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The former was a reasonable opinion, but thetter was not something a knight should say. Suhekhar shook his head slightly. What kind of demon had he encountered in the darkness. . . ¡°Meeting each other unarmed in the middle of the field would be sullying our honor. If we were to do that, we would simply be mocking the duke¡¯s honor.¡± Of course, there was a more certain reason besides this. Suhekhar was confident that he could escape by himself no matter what the situation. The ves who escorted Suhekhar were not only masters of swordsmanship, but some of them had also learned mysterious sorcery. Escaping from the negotiation table would be easy. The duke¡¯s escorts would probably be simr. High-ranking and experienced nobles did not let their guard down so easily. ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????!¡¯ Suhekhar was taken aback when he saw the duke riding a horse from afar. He was much younger than he had imagined, and the expression ¡®youthful¡¯ naturally came to mind. He didn¡¯t even look thirty. There was no shortage of young and valiant knights, but it was extremely rare for a knight of his age to have aplished so much. The two great nobles greeted each other and took their seats. Suhekhar was surprised once again. The duke spoke in the Easternnguage. ¡°. . . I shall return your prisoners tomorrow as soon as you pay the ransom.¡± ¡°Thank you for your. . . kindness.¡± Suhekhar forgot about the situation and was filled with curiosity. He wanted to know more about the young duke in front of him. ¡°Unlike other monotheist lords, Your Highness seems to know honor. You do not mistreat your captives.¡± ¡°We have enough food and the situation is not urgent, so it is not a particrly honorable proposal.¡± ¡°That in itself is honorable.¡± Johan stared at Suhekhar intently. ¡®?????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????????¡¯ If others knew, they might wonder why he was so money-minded. Just Johan¡¯s fiefdom alone spanned widely across the empire and to the south of it, and several merchant ships were making profits by sailing the seas. But even considering such arge ie, leading an army on an expedition was a very expensive luxury. Moreover, the revenue generated from the fiefdom did not directly flow into Johan¡¯s army. There was a much moreplicated process involved before the money reached Johan¡¯s hands. In this light, it was natural for the great nobles who were deeply in debt to borrow money from the merchants without hesitation when a war broke out. It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t have money, but rather that it was difficult to withdraw it immediately. They could pay it backter after they had won. Of course, Johan didn¡¯t want to be at the mercy of the merchants like that. . . ¡®???????? ???? ???? ?????????????????¡¯ Suhekhar misunderstood Johan¡¯s gaze. He thought that the young duke was looking at him probingly. ¡°This battle was very unfortunate.¡± ¡®???????? ????. ????¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°Your Highness is loved by the gods, so it was inevitable that we would lose.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too much praise. The gods love everyone equally. Me and my soldiers. I won today, but I might lose tomorrow.¡± Johan answered humbly without thinking much of it, but Suhekhar seemed to like the words. His eyes and expression softened. ¡°Your Highness seems to understand the will of the gods well.¡± ¡®???? ?????????? ?? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????????¡¯ Unlike Johan, who was puzzled, Suhekhar genuinely admired him. Those from the West would incessantly prattle on about how God¡¯s will was with them. In Suhekhar¡¯s eyes, this was the very definition of arrogance. The young duke stood out like a flower blooming among weeds simply by not behaving like that. For some reason, Suhekhar began to think that he might be able tomunicate with this duke. ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ??????????, ???? ?????¡¯ It was because the conversation flowed so well, even though Suhekhar didn¡¯t believe in superstitions much, that he had such a thought. Could it really be possible? ¡°Why have youe to thisnd, Your Highness?¡± ¡°To punish the one who stole my ship and insulted my family.¡± Suhekhar clucked his tongue inwardly at Johan¡¯s words. He understood what he meant right away. Manansir was a figure of much talk among the Eastern nobles. A man who had not served in the empire suddenly gained favor, formed a marriage alliance, and was wielding the sultan. In a way, Suhekhar didn¡¯t like the fact that this entire expedition could be considered Manansir¡¯s doing. ¡°If you speak of Manansir-gong, it will not be easy to catch him. He has arge army and the castle walls he holds are tall and sturdy.¡± Johan looked at him intently once more. He ignored Suhekhar¡¯s advice and pondered when to bring up the ransom. However, it seemed that his gaze led Suhekhar to misunderstand. Suhekhar spoke in a slightly bashful voice. ¡°Of course, I know what Your Highness is thinking. You must think we¡¯re just wagging our tongues without capturing even a single fortress.¡± ¡°No. . .¡± ¡°But you must keep this in mind. The sultan¡¯s army around here is not just the ones I lead.¡± Johan wasn¡¯t particrly surprised. Just as his expeditionary force was divided and moving, thended army would also be divided into several groups and moving. It would have been a loss to gather everyone in this single fortress. ¡°Even as we speak, the sultan¡¯s armies are moving, so even if we fail to capture this fortress, the monotheist fiefdoms to the south will burn and fall.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Johan¡¯s expression did not waver. Because. . . ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ???????????????? ????????????.¡¯ Still, it would be difficult if all the lords of the same faith fell, so he was helping them by epting money, but Johan was not such a good person that he would risk his life to protect all the brothers of faith. If the fiefdom that Johan failed to protect fell and burned, it was the fault of the lord of that fiefdom, not Johan¡¯s. He could simply reim itter, so there was no reason to be shocked. Suhekhar was once again impressed by Johan¡¯s expression, which showed no change. ¡®???????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Even if he was shocked inside, the fact that he didn¡¯t show it at all was a great mental discipline. Such courage at such a young age. Suhekhar was ashamed of his own children. ¡°Even so, it is something we must endure.¡± ¡°Is that so?. . . As a token of gratitude for Your Highness¡¯s honor and mercy.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°The sultan¡¯s army is alsoing from the north. Over that mountain range.¡± ¡°. . .!!¡± Johan was shocked at those words. Just thending alone had been a hugending that shook the empire to its core, and now there was another armying from above? ¡®?????? ???????? ????????????¡¯ Johan began to seriously consider withdrawing. If the sultan was crazy, there was no reason to hang out with a crazy person. ¡°I knew Your Highness would not be surprised. If you were a person who would be discouraged by this, you would not have achieved such fame.¡± Suhekhar spoke with a voice full of respect and admiration. Johan wanted to ask for more details, but he couldn¡¯t because of the atmosphere. ¡°I will not forget Your Highness¡¯s honorable mercy.¡± ¡°About the ransom. . .?¡± Johan finally found an opportunity to speak. Suhekhar looked puzzled at Johan¡¯s words. ¡°The ransom will, of course, be sent by a messenger. Is there something you are curious about. . .?¡± Suhekhar had naturally forgotten about the ransom. He had intended to ept it unconditionally since he had received such a generous offer. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Johan realized the situation btedly and felt embarrassed inwardly. It was because the other party had epted it right away and the topic had note up. Suhekhar said onest thing. ¡°We will probably withdraw soon. I wonder what Your Highness intends to do.¡± ¡°I will hold the fortress gates closed and endure until they are all gone.¡± Suhekhar nodded at the imprable firmness. Thanks to his conversation with the duke, he had gained the courage to make a decision. ???????????? ¡°The damage will be great, but it¡¯s not the worst-case scenario.¡± The people of the republic were surprised by Johan¡¯s words, but they did not panic or insist on retreating. ¡°The fiefdoms here all have high walls and plenty of food. We can withstand the sultan¡¯s army for years. Why should we run away? Especially when Your Highness is leading us!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan sighed even more because it was the voice of someone who truly believed, not someone trying to bait him. ¡®??¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????????????????.¡¯ Most of the knights seemed to have a different brain structure than Johan. They were truly and wholeheartedly convinced that they could win. To those who were already convinced, Johan¡¯s victories must have felt like a divine revtion. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit. . . too dangerous?¡± ¡°You think so too!¡± Johan held Caenerna¡¯s hand tightly. He was so happy to meet this red-haired wizard with a sane mind after meeting crazy b*stards all day long. Caenerna pulled her hand away and drew a simple symbol on the back of the duke¡¯s hand with her finger. She thought deeply and spoke slowly. ¡°It¡¯s not the worst, but I don¡¯t know who will win if arge army shes. . . If we can quickly capture that Manansir guy before the sultan arrives, it might not be bad to withdraw.¡± ¡°Gather the troops and head south. . .¡± Johan fell into thought. The monotheist lord¡¯s fiefdoms would not fall so easily, but it felt too dangerous to gather the troops and march south. The sultan¡¯s army wouldn¡¯t just stand by and watch, would they? ¡°No. That¡¯s too risky.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Caenerna wasn¡¯t particrly attached to the idea. She was a wizard, not amander. ¡°Then. . . it seems like the best option is to endure as the republic¡¯s sailors said. . .¡± Caenerna took out a letter from her sleeve. Johan looked at her in wonder, and Caenerna shrugged and said. ¡°Rumors say that an army has arrived near the holynd to the south. There are several such rumors among the merchants. But none of the ces have actually fallen. I understand why Your Highness is anxious, but it might be better to be a little more rxed.¡± Before she could finish speaking, a ve soldier rushed in with a pale face and shouted. ¡°Your Highness! They say the holynd has fallen!¡± ¡°. . .That must be another false rumor.¡± Caenerna insisted in an unusually strong voice., It didn¡¯t end with just watching a battle taking ce in the darkness with their eyes and ears and then confirming the aftermath when the dawn broke. Each and every knight who was captured and brought in served as living proof of the duke¡¯s aplishments. As the news circted once more within the fortress while treating the captured knights, the rumor became so distorted that its original form was hardly recognizable. Suetlg was about to ask the young duke, ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????????, ?????? ???????????????? ?? ???????????? ???????????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???????????¡¯ but he stopped himself. It seemed a little too snide. ¡°But where would we receive the ransom if they retreat?¡± ¡°You have a point there.¡± The priests would be gobsmacked at this statement, but it made sense when one thought about it. Ransom was only paid when the other party was willing to pay it. If the other party simply gave up and left, they would only end up feeding their captives. In that case, it was not a bad idea to negotiate quickly and receive the ransom. . . . The fact that the notoriously devout duke came up with the idea in an instant was somewhat amusing, but no one outside would know the truth. Perhaps they would think that the merchants or the people of the republic who served under the duke had suggested it! ???????????? Suhekhar couldn¡¯t shake his astonishment even after epting the envoy¡¯s proposal. It was something so utterly unimaginable. It wasmon to send an envoy after a battle during a siege, but they were proposing to pay a ransom immediately for the captured pagan knights instead of executing them. Of course, nobles who valued honor and knew the rules of respect did not swing their swords recklessly even after a battle. It was customary to ept ransom and release the captives, but. . . It was very rare for those from the West to abide by such rules. The monotheists who hade this far possessed a certain degree of insane religiousness, separate from greed, and such belief often manifested in emotional massacres rather than rational negotiations. Knowing this, Suhekhar couldn¡¯t help but be surprised by the duke¡¯s proposal. Even more so when he thought about the duke¡¯s reputation. ¡°It could be a trap.¡± ¡°Suhekhar-nim. It is a trap. He is not a man but a demon!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The former was a reasonable opinion, but thetter was not something a knight should say. Suhekhar shook his head slightly. What kind of demon had he encountered in the darkness. . . ¡°Meeting each other unarmed in the middle of the field would be sullying our honor. If we were to do that, we would simply be mocking the duke¡¯s honor.¡± Of course, there was a more certain reason besides this. Suhekhar was confident that he could escape by himself no matter what the situation. The ves who escorted Suhekhar were not only masters of swordsmanship, but some of them had also learned mysterious sorcery. Escaping from the negotiation table would be easy. The duke¡¯s escorts would probably be simr. High-ranking and experienced nobles did not let their guard down so easily. ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????!¡¯ Suhekhar was taken aback when he saw the duke riding a horse from afar. He was much younger than he had imagined, and the expression ¡®youthful¡¯ naturally came to mind. He didn¡¯t even look thirty. There was no shortage of young and valiant knights, but it was extremely rare for a knight of his age to have aplished so much. The two great nobles greeted each other and took their seats. Suhekhar was surprised once again. The duke spoke in the Easternnguage. ¡°. . . I shall return your prisoners tomorrow as soon as you pay the ransom.¡± ¡°Thank you for your. . . kindness.¡± Suhekhar forgot about the situation and was filled with curiosity. He wanted to know more about the young duke in front of him. ¡°Unlike other monotheist lords, Your Highness seems to know honor. You do not mistreat your captives.¡± ¡°We have enough food and the situation is not urgent, so it is not a particrly honorable proposal.¡± ¡°That in itself is honorable.¡± Johan stared at Suhekhar intently. ¡®?????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????????¡¯ If others knew, they might wonder why he was so money-minded. Just Johan¡¯s fiefdom alone spanned widely across the empire and to the south of it, and several merchant ships were making profits by sailing the seas. But even considering such arge ie, leading an army on an expedition was a very expensive luxury. Moreover, the revenue generated from the fiefdom did not directly flow into Johan¡¯s army. There was a much moreplicated process involved before the money reached Johan¡¯s hands. In this light, it was natural for the great nobles who were deeply in debt to borrow money from the merchants without hesitation when a war broke out. It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t have money, but rather that it was difficult to withdraw it immediately. They could pay it backter after they had won. Of course, Johan didn¡¯t want to be at the mercy of the merchants like that. . . ¡®???????? ???? ???? ?????????????????¡¯ Suhekhar misunderstood Johan¡¯s gaze. He thought that the young duke was looking at him probingly. ¡°This battle was very unfortunate.¡± ¡®???????? ????. ????¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°Your Highness is loved by the gods, so it was inevitable that we would lose.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too much praise. The gods love everyone equally. Me and my soldiers. I won today, but I might lose tomorrow.¡± Johan answered humbly without thinking much of it, but Suhekhar seemed to like the words. His eyes and expression softened. ¡°Your Highness seems to understand the will of the gods well.¡± ¡®???? ?????????? ?? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????????¡¯ Unlike Johan, who was puzzled, Suhekhar genuinely admired him. Those from the West would incessantly prattle on about how God¡¯s will was with them. In Suhekhar¡¯s eyes, this was the very definition of arrogance. The young duke stood out like a flower blooming among weeds simply by not behaving like that. For some reason, Suhekhar began to think that he might be able tomunicate with this duke. ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ??????????, ???? ?????¡¯ It was because the conversation flowed so well, even though Suhekhar didn¡¯t believe in superstitions much, that he had such a thought. Could it really be possible? ¡°Why have youe to thisnd, Your Highness?¡± ¡°To punish the one who stole my ship and insulted my family.¡± Suhekhar clucked his tongue inwardly at Johan¡¯s words. He understood what he meant right away. Manansir was a figure of much talk among the Eastern nobles. A man who had not served in the empire suddenly gained favor, formed a marriage alliance, and was wielding the sultan. In a way, Suhekhar didn¡¯t like the fact that this entire expedition could be considered Manansir¡¯s doing. ¡°If you speak of Manansir-gong, it will not be easy to catch him. He has arge army and the castle walls he holds are tall and sturdy.¡± Johan looked at him intently once more. He ignored Suhekhar¡¯s advice and pondered when to bring up the ransom. However, it seemed that his gaze led Suhekhar to misunderstand. Suhekhar spoke in a slightly bashful voice. ¡°Of course, I know what Your Highness is thinking. You must think we¡¯re just wagging our tongues without capturing even a single fortress.¡± ¡°No. . .¡± ¡°But you must keep this in mind. The sultan¡¯s army around here is not just the ones I lead.¡± Johan wasn¡¯t particrly surprised. Just as his expeditionary force was divided and moving, thended army would also be divided into several groups and moving. It would have been a loss to gather everyone in this single fortress. ¡°Even as we speak, the sultan¡¯s armies are moving, so even if we fail to capture this fortress, the monotheist fiefdoms to the south will burn and fall.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Johan¡¯s expression did not waver. Because. . . ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ???????????????? ????????????.¡¯ Still, it would be difficult if all the lords of the same faith fell, so he was helping them by epting money, but Johan was not such a good person that he would risk his life to protect all the brothers of faith. If the fiefdom that Johan failed to protect fell and burned, it was the fault of the lord of that fiefdom, not Johan¡¯s. He could simply reim itter, so there was no reason to be shocked. Suhekhar was once again impressed by Johan¡¯s expression, which showed no change. ¡®???????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Even if he was shocked inside, the fact that he didn¡¯t show it at all was a great mental discipline. Such courage at such a young age. Suhekhar was ashamed of his own children. ¡°Even so, it is something we must endure.¡± ¡°Is that so?. . . As a token of gratitude for Your Highness¡¯s honor and mercy.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°The sultan¡¯s army is alsoing from the north. Over that mountain range.¡± ¡°. . .!!¡± Johan was shocked at those words. Just thending alone had been a hugending that shook the empire to its core, and now there was another armying from above? ¡®?????? ???????? ????????????¡¯ Johan began to seriously consider withdrawing. If the sultan was crazy, there was no reason to hang out with a crazy person. ¡°I knew Your Highness would not be surprised. If you were a person who would be discouraged by this, you would not have achieved such fame.¡± Suhekhar spoke with a voice full of respect and admiration. Johan wanted to ask for more details, but he couldn¡¯t because of the atmosphere. ¡°I will not forget Your Highness¡¯s honorable mercy.¡± ¡°About the ransom. . .?¡± Johan finally found an opportunity to speak. Suhekhar looked puzzled at Johan¡¯s words. ¡°The ransom will, of course, be sent by a messenger. Is there something you are curious about. . .?¡± Suhekhar had naturally forgotten about the ransom. He had intended to ept it unconditionally since he had received such a generous offer. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Johan realized the situation btedly and felt embarrassed inwardly. It was because the other party had epted it right away and the topic had note up. Suhekhar said onest thing. ¡°We will probably withdraw soon. I wonder what Your Highness intends to do.¡± ¡°I will hold the fortress gates closed and endure until they are all gone.¡± Suhekhar nodded at the imprable firmness. Thanks to his conversation with the duke, he had gained the courage to make a decision. ???????????? ¡°The damage will be great, but it¡¯s not the worst-case scenario.¡± The people of the republic were surprised by Johan¡¯s words, but they did not panic or insist on retreating. ¡°The fiefdoms here all have high walls and plenty of food. We can withstand the sultan¡¯s army for years. Why should we run away? Especially when Your Highness is leading us!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan sighed even more because it was the voice of someone who truly believed, not someone trying to bait him. ¡®??¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????????????????.¡¯ Most of the knights seemed to have a different brain structure than Johan. They were truly and wholeheartedly convinced that they could win. To those who were already convinced, Johan¡¯s victories must have felt like a divine revtion. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit. . . too dangerous?¡± ¡°You think so too!¡± Johan held Caenerna¡¯s hand tightly. He was so happy to meet this red-haired wizard with a sane mind after meeting crazy b*stards all day long. Caenerna pulled her hand away and drew a simple symbol on the back of the duke¡¯s hand with her finger. She thought deeply and spoke slowly. ¡°It¡¯s not the worst, but I don¡¯t know who will win if arge army shes. . . If we can quickly capture that Manansir guy before the sultan arrives, it might not be bad to withdraw.¡± ¡°Gather the troops and head south. . .¡± Johan fell into thought. The monotheist lord¡¯s fiefdoms would not fall so easily, but it felt too dangerous to gather the troops and march south. The sultan¡¯s army wouldn¡¯t just stand by and watch, would they? ¡°No. That¡¯s too risky.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Caenerna wasn¡¯t particrly attached to the idea. She was a wizard, not amander. ¡°Then. . . it seems like the best option is to endure as the republic¡¯s sailors said. . .¡± Caenerna took out a letter from her sleeve. Johan looked at her in wonder, and Caenerna shrugged and said. ¡°Rumors say that an army has arrived near the holynd to the south. There are several such rumors among the merchants. But none of the ces have actually fallen. I understand why Your Highness is anxious, but it might be better to be a little more rxed.¡± Before she could finish speaking, a ve soldier rushed in with a pale face and shouted. ¡°Your Highness! They say the holynd has fallen!¡± ¡°. . .That must be another false rumor.¡± Caenerna insisted in an unusually strong voice. Chapter 306: ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? (1) The red-haired wizard had a reason for saying this. The so-called ¡®Holy Land¡¯ is not a ce that can be conquered so easily. The Holy Land, which had been a historic city since ancient times, had a very long andplicated name and its name had changed frequently depending on its conquerors ever since. Now, no one calls it by its original name and simply refers to it as the Holy Land. As bloody as its history is, the defenses of the Holy Land have be thicker and stronger. The most recent conqueror of the Holy Land is a monotheistic feudal lord who arrived over a hundred years ago. Like most feudal lords in this area, he was greedy and arrogant, but he was skilled at fighting. Several feudal lords from the empire who participated in the expedition testified to this. With seasoned soldiers and high castle walls, it was widely believed that it would take several years to conquer the Holy Land, even with tens of thousands of troops. . . It fell? ¡°No! Not only did the testimoniese from one source, but people who escaped from there have also arrived. If Your Highness asks, they will answer!¡±¡°. . . . . .¡± This time, it was Johan¡¯s turn to console Caenerna. At the duke¡¯s touch on her shoulder, Caenerna shyly caressed her own cheek. ¡°People make mistakes.¡± ¡°If Your Highness says it like that, I¡¯ll just be more embarrassed, so please stop.¡± ¡°You only use honorifics when things are going badly.¡± Although he said this, Johan did not tease Caenerna any further. He opened the door and looked outside, where he saw horses rushing by. ¡®?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ Johan clicked his tongue. He had nned to hold out at a leisurely pace and wear down the opponent who hadnded recklessly, but now his n had gone awry because of the fall of the Holy Land. Now, everyone who came on the expedition had no choice but to fixate on the Holy Land. ???????????? ¡°We must depart immediately!¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? It hasn¡¯t been long since the enemy¡¯s army retreated. What if we meet them if we march south recklessly?¡± ¡°If we meet them, let¡¯s just defeat them! We have divine protection. Who will be held responsible if we neglect the Holy Land and incur the wrath of God?¡± Unsurprisingly, the nobles immediately began to argue that the Holy Land must be recovered. Although they did not bring as many troops as Johan did, they were nobles who each had their own soldiers and ves. Johan had no way of stopping them if they decided to move on their own. ¡®???? ????????????, ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Johan could not simply let high-ranking personnel like knights leave. He had to keep them in line so that they would follow his instructions as much as possible. ¡°Calm down, everyone.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the nobles stopped arguing. Because of their victory in the recent battle, Johan¡¯s authority had soared. ¡°I will continue to listen to the testimonies. Speak.¡± The low-ranking noble who had escaped from the Holy Land nodded repeatedly and opened his mouth. Despite being covered in dust from his hurried journey along the long road, his appearance only served to enrage the nobles. ¡°When the enemy¡¯s army arrived, no one, including the count himself, thought we would be defeated. The enemyunched attacks, but they couldn¡¯t even get over the outermost castle wall. But suddenly. . .¡± As Johan and everyone else had expected, the Holy Land¡¯s defenses were solid. . . .Until one night, when the castle gates suddenly opened and enemies poured in like a flood. The guards on the castle wall were defeated one after another in a surprise attack. The count who ruled the Holy Land rushed over with his knights in a desperate attempt to stop the enemy, but the enemymander was one step ahead. After a fierce battle, the count fell and his army scattered. ¡°What about the count? He must have children?¡± ¡°They were all. . . I heard they were all executed.¡± ¡°How dare they!!¡± ¡°Those pagans!¡± The nobles erupted in anger. In a way, it could be said to be retribution, because the monotheistic feudal lord who conquered the Holy Land a hundred years ago massacred the family of the original feudal lord after winning the battle. The new conquerors also killed the count and his bloodline under the same pretext. Of course, the nobles here were not calm enough to consider such a cause-and-effect rtionship. They were seething with anger and humiliation. ¡°We should have killed all the prisoners!¡± ¡°Was it wrong of me to ept the ransom for the prisoners I captured?¡± Johan spoke coldly on purpose. With the nobles¡¯ heads filled with bloodlust, he needed to show them, in no uncertain terms, who was in charge. Since Johan normally acted humbly, this method was even more effective. When the voice of the duke, who had always been kind, grew colder, the nobles in their seats became terrified. In the duke¡¯s eyes was a coldness reminiscent of the enemy knights who had been scattered all over the ce after the battle. ¡°No, Your Highness. Please forgive my rudeness!¡± ¡°I forgive you.¡± Johan replied curtly. The nobles straightened up as they noticed that he was still angry despite his words. Johan sighed in relief inwardly at their reaction. ¡®????????¡¯???? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?? ??????????.¡¯ In order to avoid tempting Johan¡¯s temper again, the nobles will calm down for a while. However, this is only a stopgap measure. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????. ???????? ???? ????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Ignoring the nobles who were carefully questioning the witness again, Johan was lost in thought. Their chatter was of no help. Can we go to the Holy Land? Can we conquer it again? Even if we can¡¯t, can we return safely? After a fruitless meeting, Johan¡¯s retainers gathered separately. Iselia spoke first. ¡°Most of the people who participated in the expedition cannot refuse your orders. The fiefdoms of the monotheistic feudal lords are still intact. There shouldn¡¯t be any problems going to and from the Holy Land, right? We can gather an army and advance even now.¡± Suetlg shook his head and spoke with a skeptical expression. ¡°The enemy¡¯s army hasnded and we don¡¯t know when they might attack again. To them, the troops wandering outside are a much more tempting target than a castle that might not open even after several years of fighting.¡± Of course, their supplies and wealth are abundant. Suetlg suspected that the enemies targeted the Holy Land first to induce this. It was a reasonable suspicion. If they conquer only the Holy Land, all the expeditionary forces that are stuck there wille rushing over with their eyes wide open. . . Caenerna yed with her hair anxiously and added. ¡°Even if we make it through safely, I doubt we can conquer it again. It won¡¯t be as easy to conquer as it was for the enemy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The enemy must have spent a long time preparing a traitor. He didn¡¯t know how they did it, though. . . Johan listened to the back-and-forth conversation and slowly opened his mouth. ¡°There¡¯s a saying that it¡¯s better to strike first. Let¡¯s send messengers and insist that we head to the Holy Land. There¡¯s no point in falling behind and getting a bad reputation at a time like this.¡± ¡°!¡± When everyone else was saying they should go to the Holy Land, if he alone held back, even the most devout person would be gossiped about. ¡°But. . . isn¡¯t there any way to capture it?¡± ¡°Yes. We will just pretend to advance and then turn back before reaching the Holy Land.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The two wizards were at a loss for words at Johan¡¯s statement. Iselia asked as if she couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°What do you mean, my dear?¡± ¡°They won¡¯t listen if we just send letters and try to persuade them, but it¡¯s different if we make a usible lie in person.¡± Johan¡¯s religious beliefs were iparable to those of other nobles. He was known to be more devout than anyone else. So what if the duke, who was more devout than anyone else, suddenly ims that he witnessed a miracle on his way to the Holy Land with his army and insists that they turn back? There might be someints, but no one would dare to openly deny or doubt him. ¡°Can¡¯t we just pretend somehow? Once theints about not doing anything die down, we can aim for the remaining enemy forces that will be scattered here and there once we start moving again.¡± Johan was very satisfied with the method he hade up with. If they just pretended to go to the Holy Land and then turned back, the enemy who hadnded recklessly would only suffer more and more. He could think about recovering the Holy Landter when the opportunity arises. . . As everyone exchanged nces, Caenerna shrugged her shoulders in disbelief and opened her mouth. ¡°Since no one else is saying anything, let me be the first to speak. Your Highness. Even so, isn¡¯t it a bit much to pretend to have a miracle?¡± ¡°What? Caenerna-gong. Were you more devout than I was?¡± Johan looked at Caenerna in surprise at her unexpected words. The fact that Johan was not very religious was something that people close to him could guess more or less. Even Iselia knew that. If he didn¡¯t abstain for several days in a row on days when he was supposed to abstain, even a fool would notice. It was inevitable that Caenerna, who knew this, would say such a thing. ¡°It¡¯s not about my faith, it¡¯s about your soul, Your Highness. You might end up making an oath in the process, and if you make a false oath after giving false testimony, shouldn¡¯t you think about curses, even if it¡¯s you?¡± Suetlg, who was listening, nodded as if he understood what she meant. ¡°Perhaps Caenerna-gong is worried that Your Highness¡¯ soul will be cursed because of false oaths.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not worry, but. . .¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, Gong.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s not worry, but. . .¡± ¡°But it¡¯s fine.¡± Caenerna red up slightly when her words were cut off twice, but she waited for Johan¡¯s answer for now. She was curious about what he would say. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not particrly religious, so I don¡¯t feel guilty even if I make a false oath in the name of God. I¡¯ve done it once before and nothing happened. So you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna was truly at a loss for words. ¡°Ah, yes. . . I see. . .¡± ???????????? The captain of the fortress grabbed Johan¡¯s hand as he was leaving and sobbed. ¡°You¡¯re leaving after I¡¯ve yet to repay your kindness.¡± ¡°. . .???¡± Johan was quite disconcerted when the bearded man with tears streaming down his cheeks grabbed both of his hands and wouldn¡¯t let go. The other nobles nodded with pleased expressions as they watched. If the duke hadn¡¯t believed him, this fortress might have fallen to the wicked pagans like the Holy Land. ¡°My family¡¯s honor may be insignificant, but I swear on the honor of my family that I will repay this kindness.¡± The captain of the fortress was either misinformed or had never been trusted by others. He was overly touched. Johan had nothing to say, so he just nodded his head. ¡°. . .I will trust you and wait!¡± The army set off with a grand send-off. The n was in ce, but the road to the Holy Land was long and treacherous. Johan couldn¡¯t let his guard down for a moment. Above all else, Johan prioritized avoiding a surprise attack from the enemy. What would these people, who are terrified of forts and castles, aim for? Johan meticulously nned his course with obsessive detail. From fortress to fortress, from castle to castle, from city to city, from water source to water source. He chose locations where he could avoid, endure, or wait for reinforcements in case of a surprise attack. Johan nodded his head in satisfaction. ¡°Your Highness! Your Highness!¡± ¡°You must have found the enemy.¡± Johan nodded as the scouts returned. ¡°How many of them are there and who is theirmander? Is it a familiar family?¡± ¡°Well. . . that¡¯s. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°As soon as we met, they ran away like crazy in the opposite direction, so we didn¡¯t have time to check.¡± ¡°. . .Hmm. Is that so? I guess we should rest and then check again.¡± ¡°Um, well, two of them chased after the guys who were running away and it looks like they left the fiefdom in a hurry. There seemed to be hundreds of them, but not a single one remained. . .¡± The centaur looked embarrassed as he spoke, knowing that even he didn¡¯t find his own words convincing. Johan had to barely hold back the urge to say, ¡®What kind of nonsense is that?¡¯, The red-haired wizard had a reason for saying this. The so-called ¡®Holy Land¡¯ is not a ce that can be conquered so easily. The Holy Land, which had been a historic city since ancient times, had a very long andplicated name and its name had changed frequently depending on its conquerors ever since. Now, no one calls it by its original name and simply refers to it as the Holy Land. As bloody as its history is, the defenses of the Holy Land have be thicker and stronger. The most recent conqueror of the Holy Land is a monotheistic feudal lord who arrived over a hundred years ago. Like most feudal lords in this area, he was greedy and arrogant, but he was skilled at fighting. Several feudal lords from the empire who participated in the expedition testified to this. With seasoned soldiers and high castle walls, it was widely believed that it would take several years to conquer the Holy Land, even with tens of thousands of troops. . . It fell? ¡°No! Not only did the testimoniese from one source, but people who escaped from there have also arrived. If Your Highness asks, they will answer!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± This time, it was Johan¡¯s turn to console Caenerna. At the duke¡¯s touch on her shoulder, Caenerna shyly caressed her own cheek. ¡°People make mistakes.¡± ¡°If Your Highness says it like that, I¡¯ll just be more embarrassed, so please stop.¡± ¡°You only use honorifics when things are going badly.¡± Although he said this, Johan did not tease Caenerna any further. He opened the door and looked outside, where he saw horses rushing by. ¡®?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ Johan clicked his tongue. He had nned to hold out at a leisurely pace and wear down the opponent who hadnded recklessly, but now his n had gone awry because of the fall of the Holy Land. Now, everyone who came on the expedition had no choice but to fixate on the Holy Land. ???????????? ¡°We must depart immediately!¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? It hasn¡¯t been long since the enemy¡¯s army retreated. What if we meet them if we march south recklessly?¡± ¡°If we meet them, let¡¯s just defeat them! We have divine protection. Who will be held responsible if we neglect the Holy Land and incur the wrath of God?¡± Unsurprisingly, the nobles immediately began to argue that the Holy Land must be recovered. Although they did not bring as many troops as Johan did, they were nobles who each had their own soldiers and ves. Johan had no way of stopping them if they decided to move on their own. ¡®???? ????????????, ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Johan could not simply let high-ranking personnel like knights leave. He had to keep them in line so that they would follow his instructions as much as possible. ¡°Calm down, everyone.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the nobles stopped arguing. Because of their victory in the recent battle, Johan¡¯s authority had soared. ¡°I will continue to listen to the testimonies. Speak.¡± The low-ranking noble who had escaped from the Holy Land nodded repeatedly and opened his mouth. Despite being covered in dust from his hurried journey along the long road, his appearance only served to enrage the nobles. ¡°When the enemy¡¯s army arrived, no one, including the count himself, thought we would be defeated. The enemyunched attacks, but they couldn¡¯t even get over the outermost castle wall. But suddenly. . .¡± As Johan and everyone else had expected, the Holy Land¡¯s defenses were solid. . . .Until one night, when the castle gates suddenly opened and enemies poured in like a flood. The guards on the castle wall were defeated one after another in a surprise attack. The count who ruled the Holy Land rushed over with his knights in a desperate attempt to stop the enemy, but the enemymander was one step ahead. After a fierce battle, the count fell and his army scattered. ¡°What about the count? He must have children?¡± ¡°They were all. . . I heard they were all executed.¡± ¡°How dare they!!¡± ¡°Those pagans!¡± The nobles erupted in anger. In a way, it could be said to be retribution, because the monotheistic feudal lord who conquered the Holy Land a hundred years ago massacred the family of the original feudal lord after winning the battle. The new conquerors also killed the count and his bloodline under the same pretext. Of course, the nobles here were not calm enough to consider such a cause-and-effect rtionship. They were seething with anger and humiliation. ¡°We should have killed all the prisoners!¡± ¡°Was it wrong of me to ept the ransom for the prisoners I captured?¡± Johan spoke coldly on purpose. With the nobles¡¯ heads filled with bloodlust, he needed to show them, in no uncertain terms, who was in charge. Since Johan normally acted humbly, this method was even more effective. When the voice of the duke, who had always been kind, grew colder, the nobles in their seats became terrified. In the duke¡¯s eyes was a coldness reminiscent of the enemy knights who had been scattered all over the ce after the battle. ¡°No, Your Highness. Please forgive my rudeness!¡± ¡°I forgive you.¡± Johan replied curtly. The nobles straightened up as they noticed that he was still angry despite his words. Johan sighed in relief inwardly at their reaction. ¡®????????¡¯???? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?? ??????????.¡¯ In order to avoid tempting Johan¡¯s temper again, the nobles will calm down for a while. However, this is only a stopgap measure. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????. ???????? ???? ????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Ignoring the nobles who were carefully questioning the witness again, Johan was lost in thought. Their chatter was of no help. Can we go to the Holy Land? Can we conquer it again? Even if we can¡¯t, can we return safely? After a fruitless meeting, Johan¡¯s retainers gathered separately. Iselia spoke first. ¡°Most of the people who participated in the expedition cannot refuse your orders. The fiefdoms of the monotheistic feudal lords are still intact. There shouldn¡¯t be any problems going to and from the Holy Land, right? We can gather an army and advance even now.¡± Suetlg shook his head and spoke with a skeptical expression. ¡°The enemy¡¯s army hasnded and we don¡¯t know when they might attack again. To them, the troops wandering outside are a much more tempting target than a castle that might not open even after several years of fighting.¡± Of course, their supplies and wealth are abundant. Suetlg suspected that the enemies targeted the Holy Land first to induce this. It was a reasonable suspicion. If they conquer only the Holy Land, all the expeditionary forces that are stuck there wille rushing over with their eyes wide open. . . Caenerna yed with her hair anxiously and added. ¡°Even if we make it through safely, I doubt we can conquer it again. It won¡¯t be as easy to conquer as it was for the enemy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The enemy must have spent a long time preparing a traitor. He didn¡¯t know how they did it, though. . . Johan listened to the back-and-forth conversation and slowly opened his mouth. ¡°There¡¯s a saying that it¡¯s better to strike first. Let¡¯s send messengers and insist that we head to the Holy Land. There¡¯s no point in falling behind and getting a bad reputation at a time like this.¡± ¡°!¡± When everyone else was saying they should go to the Holy Land, if he alone held back, even the most devout person would be gossiped about. ¡°But. . . isn¡¯t there any way to capture it?¡± ¡°Yes. We will just pretend to advance and then turn back before reaching the Holy Land.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The two wizards were at a loss for words at Johan¡¯s statement. Iselia asked as if she couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°What do you mean, my dear?¡± ¡°They won¡¯t listen if we just send letters and try to persuade them, but it¡¯s different if we make a usible lie in person.¡± Johan¡¯s religious beliefs were iparable to those of other nobles. He was known to be more devout than anyone else. So what if the duke, who was more devout than anyone else, suddenly ims that he witnessed a miracle on his way to the Holy Land with his army and insists that they turn back? There might be someints, but no one would dare to openly deny or doubt him. ¡°Can¡¯t we just pretend somehow? Once theints about not doing anything die down, we can aim for the remaining enemy forces that will be scattered here and there once we start moving again.¡± Johan was very satisfied with the method he hade up with. If they just pretended to go to the Holy Land and then turned back, the enemy who hadnded recklessly would only suffer more and more. He could think about recovering the Holy Landter when the opportunity arises. . . As everyone exchanged nces, Caenerna shrugged her shoulders in disbelief and opened her mouth. ¡°Since no one else is saying anything, let me be the first to speak. Your Highness. Even so, isn¡¯t it a bit much to pretend to have a miracle?¡± ¡°What? Caenerna-gong. Were you more devout than I was?¡± Johan looked at Caenerna in surprise at her unexpected words. The fact that Johan was not very religious was something that people close to him could guess more or less. Even Iselia knew that. If he didn¡¯t abstain for several days in a row on days when he was supposed to abstain, even a fool would notice. It was inevitable that Caenerna, who knew this, would say such a thing. ¡°It¡¯s not about my faith, it¡¯s about your soul, Your Highness. You might end up making an oath in the process, and if you make a false oath after giving false testimony, shouldn¡¯t you think about curses, even if it¡¯s you?¡± Suetlg, who was listening, nodded as if he understood what she meant. ¡°Perhaps Caenerna-gong is worried that Your Highness¡¯ soul will be cursed because of false oaths.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not worry, but. . .¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, Gong.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s not worry, but. . .¡± ¡°But it¡¯s fine.¡± Caenerna red up slightly when her words were cut off twice, but she waited for Johan¡¯s answer for now. She was curious about what he would say. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not particrly religious, so I don¡¯t feel guilty even if I make a false oath in the name of God. I¡¯ve done it once before and nothing happened. So you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna was truly at a loss for words. ¡°Ah, yes. . . I see. . .¡± ???????????? The captain of the fortress grabbed Johan¡¯s hand as he was leaving and sobbed. ¡°You¡¯re leaving after I¡¯ve yet to repay your kindness.¡± ¡°. . .???¡± Johan was quite disconcerted when the bearded man with tears streaming down his cheeks grabbed both of his hands and wouldn¡¯t let go. The other nobles nodded with pleased expressions as they watched. If the duke hadn¡¯t believed him, this fortress might have fallen to the wicked pagans like the Holy Land. ¡°My family¡¯s honor may be insignificant, but I swear on the honor of my family that I will repay this kindness.¡± The captain of the fortress was either misinformed or had never been trusted by others. He was overly touched. Johan had nothing to say, so he just nodded his head. ¡°. . .I will trust you and wait!¡± The army set off with a grand send-off. The n was in ce, but the road to the Holy Land was long and treacherous. Johan couldn¡¯t let his guard down for a moment. Above all else, Johan prioritized avoiding a surprise attack from the enemy. What would these people, who are terrified of forts and castles, aim for? Johan meticulously nned his course with obsessive detail. From fortress to fortress, from castle to castle, from city to city, from water source to water source. He chose locations where he could avoid, endure, or wait for reinforcements in case of a surprise attack. Johan nodded his head in satisfaction. ¡°Your Highness! Your Highness!¡± ¡°You must have found the enemy.¡± Johan nodded as the scouts returned. ¡°How many of them are there and who is theirmander? Is it a familiar family?¡± ¡°Well. . . that¡¯s. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°As soon as we met, they ran away like crazy in the opposite direction, so we didn¡¯t have time to check.¡± ¡°. . .Hmm. Is that so? I guess we should rest and then check again.¡± ¡°Um, well, two of them chased after the guys who were running away and it looks like they left the fiefdom in a hurry. There seemed to be hundreds of them, but not a single one remained. . .¡± The centaur looked embarrassed as he spoke, knowing that even he didn¡¯t find his own words convincing. Johan had to barely hold back the urge to say, ¡®What kind of nonsense is that?¡¯ Chapter 307: ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? (2) ¡°Why the heck are they running away like that?¡± ¡°It feels like a trap. . .¡± Iselia also showed a skeptical attitude as she listened to the report. It may seem not strange to run away when an army of several thousand men is approaching, but the enemies moving around this area were not the usual ragtag band of rogue. They were either those who hadnded with the Sultan¡¯s troops when theynded, or those who had been newly hired, or those who were the vassals of the pagan feudal lords in this area. Rogues who didn¡¯t have amand system and would copse at any moment would scatter and run away, but these were different. They were good at hit-and-run tactics, scurrying away when they encountered an opportunity while firing arrows from afar, and swinging their swords when they were scattered. Johan¡¯s army wasrge, but they were not an army that could be tightly organized and immediately respond as one giant mass. They could harass you from any direction as soon as they wanted to. What do you mean, just run away? ¡°Increase vignce and send more scouts in all directions.¡± ¡°Yes.¡±Johan¡¯s army at this time consisted of veterans who had followed Johan for a long time, ves with high loyalty, nobles who had participated in the expedition and served in the Duke¡¯s army, and their subordinates. The former was able to issue orders quickly and move in unison, but thetter waspletely different. Only very basic and simple instructions were possible, and even that was questionable if they were chaotic. That said, they couldn¡¯t just abandon thousands of well-armed and motivated troops. They had no choice but to move forward while taking them into ount. As long as the reconnaissance was thorough, no matter what traps the enemy set. . . ¡°Are they running away again??¡± ¡°. . .??¡± ???????????? A beast that has been burned once remembers the heat for a long time. Suhekhar was taken aback to realize that not only beasts, but also knights could do this. ¡°You¡¯ve juste back?¡± ¡°They must be severely punished!¡± Suhekhar¡¯s cavalry was now divided into small groups, unit by unit, and mercenary unit by unit, and was moving around. It was to aim for the monotheists who hade down from the west inrge numbers. As each other had expected, it seemed that it was impossible for them to attack the castle and fortress. Then, all that was left was to utilize the terrain, gain the cooperation of the neighboring feudal lords, ride around on horses with light armament and good stamina, plunder and harass the enemies. . .? . . .It was inevitable to be absurd when those who went like that turned their horses¡¯ heads away without doing anything, making all sorts of excuses. Three Falcons mercenary group, who were said to be almost as violent as giants, and were almost rogue. The Igolguwr tribe, that even centaurs were reluctant to face, with the unique sharpness and ferocity of the wild cat beastmen. Even though they were not cowards, they ran away just by seeing the Duke¡¯s g. ¡°If you just give the order, I will catch one of them and cut off his neck. The others wille to their senses!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t allow that. If you do something like that, you¡¯ll only build up resentment. It¡¯s like turning your back on them and telling them to betray you.¡± ¡°But Suhekhar-nim. If we leave it like this, we will never be able to match the achievements that Yeheyman-gong has made!¡± The rumor that Yeheyman had captured the Holy Land had already spread to this side. Many people admired Yeheyman¡¯s achievements, and some were jealous. We have to make some more achievements, but the guys under me are just running away or hitting. . . Suhekhar knew that too, but Suhekhar was wiser and more patient than his subordinates. ¡°Even so, I can¡¯t allow it. Call the guys who ran away. Scold them and, using that as an excuse, give them a different order instead.¡± ¡°. . .Yes. I understand.¡± The subordinates were dissatisfied, but did not refuse Suhekhar¡¯s orders. Suhekhar maintained his expression in front of his subordinates, but he was not sofortable inside. We have to crush and shake the enemy¡¯srge army before it gathers and bes strong, but it will be difficult if we start like this. ¡®???????? ????, ??????¡¯?? ????. . . ????????, ?????????????????? ???????? ????????. . .¡¯ ???????????? After hearing reports of them running away about sixteen times, Johan was finally able to cast aside his doubts. Iselia had given up her doubts around the seventh time, but Johan needed nine more times. ¡°It really was just running away.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The wizards looked at the Duke with tired eyes. No matter how thorough it was good, they wondered if they had to do this much. ¡°Although it¡¯s quite surprising, it makes sense that they are running away after hearing about the Duke¡¯s fame.¡± ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± ¡®Do you have to understand that only after confirming it sixteen times?¡¯ Suetlg swallowed his feelings. He didn¡¯t want to say unnecessary things because it was a hot day. In any case, it was a miracle that they hadn¡¯t suffered even a small ambush, and thanks to that, the army¡¯s marching speed had be insanely fast. Even Johan himself hadn¡¯t expected to arrive at Tahkreng Castle this quickly. Tahkreng Castle. It was a castle located at the southernmost point of the hundred kingdoms, and from here to the south, it was now upied by the enemy. Everyone knew that the enemy who had upied the Holy Land would be waiting around. Johan intended to wait around this area and buy time. Joining up with the expeditionary forcesing down from various ces, preparing to imitate the miracle. . . ¡°Your Highness. Count Tragalon is greedy andscivious. I¡¯m worried that he might interfere while we stay around the castle.¡± Several nobles spoke with serious expressions. The Count was very sorry, so he bowed to Johan and asked for help, but deep down, he would be very sorry for the gold coins he had spent. It consumes a huge amount of supplies to have an army of nearly 10,000 staying and waiting near the castle. Will the casten really stay still? The number will increase as time goes on? ¡°Your Highness. If Your Highness intends to upy the castle, we will help.¡± ¡°Yes. If anyone argues, just. . .¡± ¡®These crazy b*stards.¡¯ Johan was taken aback as he watched the nobles of the empire gradually revealing their true colors. The surprising thing was that they were not particrly corrupt or barbaric. This was the average of the empire¡¯s nobles who participated in the expedition. The nobles of this era could be greedy while having their own religious beliefs. For them, the monotheist feudal lords who had settled in over a hundred years ago were not particrly sacred and invible. If there is an opportunity, if necessary, they can be chased away with swords and spears. ¡°Thank you for trusting me. But I respect the Count¡¯s honor.¡± Johan didn¡¯t particrly trust or respect him, but he clenched his teeth. In fact, it was true that he would have a headache if he kept talking nonsense. ¡°Just give me any orders.¡± ¡°Yeah. Yeah. Go back and let the soldiers rest.¡± The nobles went back, but Johan felt like he had been stabbed in a clear spot. With the situation urgent and difficult, it was more troublesome to have allies that HE couldn¡¯t fully trust. ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ???????????? ?????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ????????????????.¡¯ It won¡¯t be easy, though. . . Johan nned to bribe the Count if persuasion didn¡¯t work. ¡¯???? ?????? ?? ????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????????? ????.¡¯ ¡°Your Highness. This castle will soon be Your Highness¡¯s home. Feel free to stay as long as you like.¡± ¡°???¡± Johan couldn¡¯t help but be embarrassed when he saw the casten weing him without wearing armor because he hade prepared for it. ¡®???????? ???? ?????????¡¯ Of course, there weren¡¯t any feudal lords who were arrogant to themander who led a strong army from afar, but this was a little. . . He was too friendly. Usually, even if they knew they wereing, the Castens would wait inside the inner castle, send a servant to deliver a letter, and invite only high-ranking people after the castle gate was opened. . . He skipped all those customs and ran over without even wearing armor. Galvar whispered quietly, noticing Johan¡¯s bewildered look. ¡°The casten¡¯s cousin is the captain of the castle guard. Your Highness.¡± ¡°. . .Oh. I see.¡± Johan understood as soon as he heard that. ???????????? In the spacious hall, there were all those who had reached a certain level of status. The empire¡¯s nobles, who had beenining about the unexpectedly grand wee, were also very satisfied. At this level, it was the level at which the casten had prepared a banquet with his own money. Strong wine was poured into the ss continuously, and the spicy rooster soup andrge wild boar dishes, boiled ording to the recipe influenced by the pagans, were praised by the gourmet nobles. ¡°The bluefish is fresher than I thought? How did you get it when there is no port?¡± ¡°Although it is not connected to the sea, it is not that far. Your Highness! If the fishermene up the river and offer it to the nearby town, it will be here in no time.¡± ¡°Fishermen? Is the sea okay? The Sultan¡¯s army must havended nearby.¡± ¡°Hah. Even though those guys got their hands on the Holy Land with despicable and cunning schemes, they wouldn¡¯t dare to look down on thisnd.¡± The casten¡¯s words were not a bluff, but sincere. Even though the Holy Land had been upied by surprise, the armies of the other feudal lords were still intact. Even the ports are functioning properly. Johan was slightly relieved. He didn¡¯t know about anything else, but this was definitely good news. Furthermore, the casten¡¯s words were quite reliable. He felt like a veteran feudal lord who had long ruled the castle and trained soldiers.¡¯ ¡°I will do my best to help Your Highness.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Once Your Highness arrives, they will copse like rats!¡± ¡°. . .?¡± As the casten seemed to be speaking sincerely, Johan suddenly began to lose his trust in the casten. He is definitely an experienced person, and he is from a family with a certain status under the Count. . .? ¡°This castle may not be as morous as a city, but it is a ce where the seaes from the west, the monotheists from the north, and the pagans from the east. If Your Highness wishes, I will find anything for you.¡± ¡°Thank you. This treatment alone is an honor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothingpared to the grace Your Highness has bestowed upon us.¡± Johan realized that his opponent was quite drunk. The casten, who was drinking strong alcohol without thinking, got drunk first. ¡°If Your Highness hadn¡¯t helped, the Count would have stepped forward and cut down my rtives. That guy is too suspicious. Not thinking about the contributions our family has made at all. . .!¡± Johan looked around without realizing it. Fortunately, no one was listening because it was so noisy. Caenerna, who was sitting next to him and quietly sipping a ss of alcohol, asked in a whisper. ¡°Do you need a sleeping potion?¡± ¡°Yes, please. I¡¯d rather make him sleep.¡± ???????????? There was a minor mishap at the banquet, and Johan learned about the subtle tension between the casten and the Count, but overall it went well. Above all, it is not easy to receive full support during the stay. While waiting, Johan and Iselia worked hard to walk around the castle. It would be nice to leave a good impression on people. ¡°Wait a minute. Aren¡¯t those guys pagans?¡± Johan pointed to one side, as if wondering. There is a huge colony nestled around the castle like a city, but he didn¡¯t know that the pagans would be there in the open. Galvar said apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Your Highness. They are merchants. They are poor people who came after profit, so please forgive me. . .¡± Johan didn¡¯t say it out of anger, but Galvar thought Johan was angry. In fact, other knights would openly frown when they saw pagans, so it was understandable. ¡°No. I was just curious.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go get rid of them.¡± ¡°No need.¡± ¡°No. Right now. . .¡± ¡°No need, I said?¡± ¡°. . .Oh, yes. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Galvar bowed his head, embarrassed. Johan felt something ufortable about Galvar¡¯s overreacting. ¡°Are you guys familiar with each other?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°I won¡¯t me you, so speak.¡± ¡°Um. . . I¡¯ve met them a few times regarding business.¡± Pagan merchants who traveled further east than here and brought rare treasures were a temptation that even devout nobles could not resist. Galvar had traded with them a few times. When Johan said nothing, Galvar got a little scared. The Duke¡¯s bloodthirsty reputation came to mind again. ¡®???????????? ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ ¡°Galvar?¡± ¡°Yes. . .?¡± ¡°Introduce me too.¡± ¡°. . .???¡±, ¡°Why the heck are they running away like that?¡± ¡°It feels like a trap. . .¡± Iselia also showed a skeptical attitude as she listened to the report. It may seem not strange to run away when an army of several thousand men is approaching, but the enemies moving around this area were not the usual ragtag band of rogue. They were either those who hadnded with the Sultan¡¯s troops when theynded, or those who had been newly hired, or those who were the vassals of the pagan feudal lords in this area. Rogues who didn¡¯t have amand system and would copse at any moment would scatter and run away, but these were different. They were good at hit-and-run tactics, scurrying away when they encountered an opportunity while firing arrows from afar, and swinging their swords when they were scattered. Johan¡¯s army wasrge, but they were not an army that could be tightly organized and immediately respond as one giant mass. They could harass you from any direction as soon as they wanted to. What do you mean, just run away? ¡°Increase vignce and send more scouts in all directions.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Johan¡¯s army at this time consisted of veterans who had followed Johan for a long time, ves with high loyalty, nobles who had participated in the expedition and served in the Duke¡¯s army, and their subordinates. The former was able to issue orders quickly and move in unison, but thetter waspletely different. Only very basic and simple instructions were possible, and even that was questionable if they were chaotic. That said, they couldn¡¯t just abandon thousands of well-armed and motivated troops. They had no choice but to move forward while taking them into ount. As long as the reconnaissance was thorough, no matter what traps the enemy set. . . ¡°Are they running away again??¡± ¡°. . .??¡± ???????????? A beast that has been burned once remembers the heat for a long time. Suhekhar was taken aback to realize that not only beasts, but also knights could do this. ¡°You¡¯ve juste back?¡± ¡°They must be severely punished!¡± Suhekhar¡¯s cavalry was now divided into small groups, unit by unit, and mercenary unit by unit, and was moving around. It was to aim for the monotheists who hade down from the west inrge numbers. As each other had expected, it seemed that it was impossible for them to attack the castle and fortress. Then, all that was left was to utilize the terrain, gain the cooperation of the neighboring feudal lords, ride around on horses with light armament and good stamina, plunder and harass the enemies. . .? . . .It was inevitable to be absurd when those who went like that turned their horses¡¯ heads away without doing anything, making all sorts of excuses. Three Falcons mercenary group, who were said to be almost as violent as giants, and were almost rogue. The Igolguwr tribe, that even centaurs were reluctant to face, with the unique sharpness and ferocity of the wild cat beastmen. Even though they were not cowards, they ran away just by seeing the Duke¡¯s g. ¡°If you just give the order, I will catch one of them and cut off his neck. The others wille to their senses!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t allow that. If you do something like that, you¡¯ll only build up resentment. It¡¯s like turning your back on them and telling them to betray you.¡± ¡°But Suhekhar-nim. If we leave it like this, we will never be able to match the achievements that Yeheyman-gong has made!¡± The rumor that Yeheyman had captured the Holy Land had already spread to this side. Many people admired Yeheyman¡¯s achievements, and some were jealous. We have to make some more achievements, but the guys under me are just running away or hitting. . . Suhekhar knew that too, but Suhekhar was wiser and more patient than his subordinates. ¡°Even so, I can¡¯t allow it. Call the guys who ran away. Scold them and, using that as an excuse, give them a different order instead.¡± ¡°. . .Yes. I understand.¡± The subordinates were dissatisfied, but did not refuse Suhekhar¡¯s orders. Suhekhar maintained his expression in front of his subordinates, but he was not sofortable inside. We have to crush and shake the enemy¡¯srge army before it gathers and bes strong, but it will be difficult if we start like this. ¡®???????? ????, ??????¡¯?? ????. . . ????????, ?????????????????? ???????? ????????. . .¡¯ ???????????? After hearing reports of them running away about sixteen times, Johan was finally able to cast aside his doubts. Iselia had given up her doubts around the seventh time, but Johan needed nine more times. ¡°It really was just running away.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The wizards looked at the Duke with tired eyes. No matter how thorough it was good, they wondered if they had to do this much. ¡°Although it¡¯s quite surprising, it makes sense that they are running away after hearing about the Duke¡¯s fame.¡± ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± ¡®Do you have to understand that only after confirming it sixteen times?¡¯ Suetlg swallowed his feelings. He didn¡¯t want to say unnecessary things because it was a hot day. In any case, it was a miracle that they hadn¡¯t suffered even a small ambush, and thanks to that, the army¡¯s marching speed had be insanely fast. Even Johan himself hadn¡¯t expected to arrive at Tahkreng Castle this quickly. Tahkreng Castle. It was a castle located at the southernmost point of the hundred kingdoms, and from here to the south, it was now upied by the enemy. Everyone knew that the enemy who had upied the Holy Land would be waiting around. Johan intended to wait around this area and buy time. Joining up with the expeditionary forcesing down from various ces, preparing to imitate the miracle. . . ¡°Your Highness. Count Tragalon is greedy andscivious. I¡¯m worried that he might interfere while we stay around the castle.¡± Several nobles spoke with serious expressions. The Count was very sorry, so he bowed to Johan and asked for help, but deep down, he would be very sorry for the gold coins he had spent. It consumes a huge amount of supplies to have an army of nearly 10,000 staying and waiting near the castle. Will the casten really stay still? The number will increase as time goes on? ¡°Your Highness. If Your Highness intends to upy the castle, we will help.¡± ¡°Yes. If anyone argues, just. . .¡± ¡®These crazy b*stards.¡¯ Johan was taken aback as he watched the nobles of the empire gradually revealing their true colors. The surprising thing was that they were not particrly corrupt or barbaric. This was the average of the empire¡¯s nobles who participated in the expedition. The nobles of this era could be greedy while having their own religious beliefs. For them, the monotheist feudal lords who had settled in over a hundred years ago were not particrly sacred and invible. If there is an opportunity, if necessary, they can be chased away with swords and spears. ¡°Thank you for trusting me. But I respect the Count¡¯s honor.¡± Johan didn¡¯t particrly trust or respect him, but he clenched his teeth. In fact, it was true that he would have a headache if he kept talking nonsense. ¡°Just give me any orders.¡± ¡°Yeah. Yeah. Go back and let the soldiers rest.¡± The nobles went back, but Johan felt like he had been stabbed in a clear spot. With the situation urgent and difficult, it was more troublesome to have allies that HE couldn¡¯t fully trust. ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ???????????? ?????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ????????????????.¡¯ It won¡¯t be easy, though. . . Johan nned to bribe the Count if persuasion didn¡¯t work. ¡¯???? ?????? ?? ????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????????? ????.¡¯ ¡°Your Highness. This castle will soon be Your Highness¡¯s home. Feel free to stay as long as you like.¡± ¡°???¡± Johan couldn¡¯t help but be embarrassed when he saw the casten weing him without wearing armor because he hade prepared for it. ¡®???????? ???? ?????????¡¯ Of course, there weren¡¯t any feudal lords who were arrogant to themander who led a strong army from afar, but this was a little. . . He was too friendly. Usually, even if they knew they wereing, the Castens would wait inside the inner castle, send a servant to deliver a letter, and invite only high-ranking people after the castle gate was opened. . . He skipped all those customs and ran over without even wearing armor. Galvar whispered quietly, noticing Johan¡¯s bewildered look. ¡°The casten¡¯s cousin is the captain of the castle guard. Your Highness.¡± ¡°. . .Oh. I see.¡± Johan understood as soon as he heard that. ???????????? In the spacious hall, there were all those who had reached a certain level of status. The empire¡¯s nobles, who had beenining about the unexpectedly grand wee, were also very satisfied. At this level, it was the level at which the casten had prepared a banquet with his own money. Strong wine was poured into the ss continuously, and the spicy rooster soup andrge wild boar dishes, boiled ording to the recipe influenced by the pagans, were praised by the gourmet nobles. ¡°The bluefish is fresher than I thought? How did you get it when there is no port?¡± ¡°Although it is not connected to the sea, it is not that far. Your Highness! If the fishermene up the river and offer it to the nearby town, it will be here in no time.¡± ¡°Fishermen? Is the sea okay? The Sultan¡¯s army must havended nearby.¡± ¡°Hah. Even though those guys got their hands on the Holy Land with despicable and cunning schemes, they wouldn¡¯t dare to look down on thisnd.¡± The casten¡¯s words were not a bluff, but sincere. Even though the Holy Land had been upied by surprise, the armies of the other feudal lords were still intact. Even the ports are functioning properly. Johan was slightly relieved. He didn¡¯t know about anything else, but this was definitely good news. Furthermore, the casten¡¯s words were quite reliable. He felt like a veteran feudal lord who had long ruled the castle and trained soldiers.¡¯ ¡°I will do my best to help Your Highness.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Once Your Highness arrives, they will copse like rats!¡± ¡°. . .?¡± As the casten seemed to be speaking sincerely, Johan suddenly began to lose his trust in the casten. He is definitely an experienced person, and he is from a family with a certain status under the Count. . .? ¡°This castle may not be as morous as a city, but it is a ce where the seaes from the west, the monotheists from the north, and the pagans from the east. If Your Highness wishes, I will find anything for you.¡± ¡°Thank you. This treatment alone is an honor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothingpared to the grace Your Highness has bestowed upon us.¡± Johan realized that his opponent was quite drunk. The casten, who was drinking strong alcohol without thinking, got drunk first. ¡°If Your Highness hadn¡¯t helped, the Count would have stepped forward and cut down my rtives. That guy is too suspicious. Not thinking about the contributions our family has made at all. . .!¡± Johan looked around without realizing it. Fortunately, no one was listening because it was so noisy. Caenerna, who was sitting next to him and quietly sipping a ss of alcohol, asked in a whisper. ¡°Do you need a sleeping potion?¡± ¡°Yes, please. I¡¯d rather make him sleep.¡± ???????????? There was a minor mishap at the banquet, and Johan learned about the subtle tension between the casten and the Count, but overall it went well. Above all, it is not easy to receive full support during the stay. While waiting, Johan and Iselia worked hard to walk around the castle. It would be nice to leave a good impression on people. ¡°Wait a minute. Aren¡¯t those guys pagans?¡± Johan pointed to one side, as if wondering. There is a huge colony nestled around the castle like a city, but he didn¡¯t know that the pagans would be there in the open. Galvar said apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Your Highness. They are merchants. They are poor people who came after profit, so please forgive me. . .¡± Johan didn¡¯t say it out of anger, but Galvar thought Johan was angry. In fact, other knights would openly frown when they saw pagans, so it was understandable. ¡°No. I was just curious.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go get rid of them.¡± ¡°No need.¡± ¡°No. Right now. . .¡± ¡°No need, I said?¡± ¡°. . .Oh, yes. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Galvar bowed his head, embarrassed. Johan felt something ufortable about Galvar¡¯s overreacting. ¡°Are you guys familiar with each other?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°I won¡¯t me you, so speak.¡± ¡°Um. . . I¡¯ve met them a few times regarding business.¡± Pagan merchants who traveled further east than here and brought rare treasures were a temptation that even devout nobles could not resist. Galvar had traded with them a few times. When Johan said nothing, Galvar got a little scared. The Duke¡¯s bloodthirsty reputation came to mind again. ¡®???????????? ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ ¡°Galvar?¡± ¡°Yes. . .?¡± ¡°Introduce me too.¡± ¡°. . .???¡± Chapter 308: ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? (3) The de he had been worrying about didn¡¯te flying at him, but even so, suddenly asking him to introduce him to the pagan merchants was just as unexpected. It was something he had never thought of before. ¡°Those guys, you mean?¡± ¡°Is there a reason why I can¡¯t?¡± ¡°No. . . It¡¯s not like that. . .¡± Galvar hesitated. The merchants who had settled down in this castle,ing from the east, were different from the peddlers who carried their wares on their backs and traveled around. They were from wealthy and powerful city families that came from the distant east just to makerge profits. They had a lot of things, of course, and they were well-read and skilled in various arts. . . .If not for the fact that they were pagans.Galvar wore a nervous expression as he led Johan while he tried to shake off the sense of fear he felt. ¡®???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????¡¯ Johan didn¡¯t have any particr grudge against Galvar, but the same could not be said for Galvar. There were quite a few sore spots. If the Sultan¡¯s troops hadn¡¯t entered, Galvar would have had to break a promise made in his name, and there was also the time when he had been embarrassed in front of the Duke after showing off his mediocre upbringing. How amusing must he have looked in the Duke¡¯s eyes? ¡°That guy¡¯s suspicious.¡± ©¥?????????? Whether it was Galvar¡¯splicated feelings that were showing, or whether Iselia just didn¡¯t like him, Karamaf felt the same way. Johan defended Galvar. ¡°He¡¯s just a bit slow and timid, he doesn¡¯t have any ulterior motives.¡± ¡°I heard from the attendantsst time that he goes around bragging about his ability to handle numbers and read. Why would you bother to use someone with no skill who¡¯s slow and timid as your guide?¡± Johan¡¯s abilities other than hisbat abilities were not highly regarded by Iselia. In fact, those around Iselia were highly-educated by the standards of this era. Suetlg, known as the philosopher of Ipa?l River, Caenerna, who was a court wizard of the Holy Empire, and even just Jyanina. . . If you counted Johan as well, he would never have been inferior to them in terms of knowledge. Compared to them, it was inevitable that Galvar would appearcking. It wasn¡¯t Galvar¡¯s fault. Galvar¡¯s shoulders slumped down due to shame and humiliation. Iselia had spoken in a small voice, but Galvar¡¯s hearing was better than she thought. Johan noticed and told Iselia. ¡°Iselia, that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°These Easterners are iprehensible. They¡¯re so vain. . .¡± The people of the Holy Empire called those who came across the sea as Easterners. Even though they shared the same faith, their culture and dispositions were bound to be different from those of the empire. Those who had been influenced and changed by pagans, whether they liked it or not. They considered themselves to be intellectually superior to the people of the empire. This was natural, as they had encountered a wider world and deeper knowledge. However, the fact that they were being so thoroughly humiliated. . . ???????????? The orc, Gr¨¹mapp, put down his emerald sses. The desert fox beastmen were watching Gr¨¹mapp with expressions full of impatience. ¡°Are you still considering?¡± ¡°When the times are this chaotic, even I hesitate.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nonsense. . . Besides, how rich you are is known above by God and below by the scorpions in the sand! It¡¯s not even a difficult request, are you really going to do this?¡± Orcs from east to west were generally rich and miserly. The wealthy who get sworn at on a daily basis are also the ones who get called upon the most in times of need. The fox-centaur Suin tribe from the east shook their ears and tails, irritated. They had brought treasures from the east along the parched desert road to here. Normally, they could have gotten a higher price by calling it expensive. However, because the situation was chaotic, they wanted torgely hand it off to Gr¨¹mapp, a reliable major dealer, but Gr¨¹mapp kept dragging it out. It made no sense to Gr¨¹mapp to not buy an item that was absolutely not a bad deal. ¡°I don¡¯t know because I don¡¯t believe in god.¡± ¡°This is really. . .!¡± ¡°Hey, a noble from the Hundred Kingdoms is here.¡± ¡°What?¡± The desert fox nobles from the eastern city were ted at the news theirpanion brought. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Galvar-gong.¡± ¡°Oh, Galvar-gong.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t he not that rich?¡± ¡°Damn it, nobles are useless, you know? They¡¯re in debt but they¡¯ll just go into more debt.¡± Among merchants, there was no merchant who trusted nobles. There was a saying like, ¡¯?????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???????????? ??????¡¯???? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?? ??????????¡¯, nobles were unpredictable and capricious. On top of being greedy and spendthrift, they have plenty of power, so even if they break a promise, merchants can¡¯t do anything about it. From the merchant¡¯s standpoint, it was unfair but they had no choice but to prepare for it thoroughly. ¡°Why don¡¯t we start a bidding war with Gr¨¹mapp? Gr¨¹mapp might get flustered when he hears that.¡± ¡°Gr¨¹mapp would get flustered? He¡¯s slower than an old turtle.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get ready to wee them.¡± The old Orc who had been listening quietly spoke disdainfully. ¡°I can wait here, so go wee the customers.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ???????????? Tents with colorful patterns were seen, with a few of them even covered with silk on the outside. I had heard about some nomad tribes showing off their wealth by decorating their tents, but this was more amazing than expected. ¡°Centaurs would die of jealousy if they saw this.¡± The difference in wealth was severe between the nomads around here and the centaurs to the north. For the centaurs, they would be considered rich in the tribe if they had a silver bracelet, while these people were boiling water in silver basins while using silver mirrors to groom themselves. ¡°His Highness the Duke has arrived?!¡± The desert fox beastmen were startled when they heard Galvar¡¯s voice. A much bigger shot than they thought hade to visit. This was especially the case for a noble from the west who was a pure monotheist, rather than an Eastern noble like Galvar. Their fear was greater than their joy. ¡®???? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ??????????, ???????????¡¯ ¡®????¡¯???? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?????????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ The beastmen exchanged nervous nces. They were intelligent beings, so they were well aware of the turbulent situation happening around here. With the Sultan¡¯s massive armynding and expeditionary forces from the west gathering, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if anything broke out. In the worst-case scenario, the situation could lead to conflict, with swords being swung. It was possible with an aggressive monotheist noble. ¡°. . .No way. . . We believe in Galvar-gong. He isn¡¯t like that.¡± ¡°Your Highness isn¡¯t that kind of person.¡± Galvar reassured them frantically once he realized what the beastmen from the east were worried about. He told them that the duke was actually a gentle, reasonable, intelligent, and cultured person, unlike themon rumors. However, that kind of thing usually backfired. The beastmen started to look at Galvar with distrust. ¡®?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????¡¯ ¡®???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ The desert fox beastmen had also heard the rumors of the young duke. They had heard things as well, so what Galvar said sounded insincere. ???????????? ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, it is an honor, Your Highness.¡± However, Galvar¡¯s words were true, surprisingly enough. The beastmen were shocked beyond belief when they saw the young duke getting off his horse and greeting them in a friendly manner, following their customs. He was much younger than they thought, and his humble and friendly attitude surprised them. It made them wonder for a moment if he was a different person from their duke. ¡°That is true. It must have been a long journey. What a great talent.¡± ¡°It is no great talent, Your Highness.¡± ¡°No. It is a great talent.¡± After praising each other and exchanging warm greetings, the atmosphere quickly became warmer. In less than an hour, the beastmen became certain that this young duke was someone they could surprisinglymunicate with. At the very least, he wasn¡¯t someone who would draw his sword and kill them. ¡®???? ???????? ????????. . .¡¯ The beastmen¡¯s gazes changed. They exchanged nces. If the other party was someone they couldmunicate with, then there was only one thing left to do. ¡°Your Highness. We have a gem that would suit Your Highness. There is an amazing legend regarding this gem. The miner who first found this gem presented it to the feudal lord, and. . .¡± ¡°A sword would suit Your Highness better! What about giving that escort knight a nice sword. . .¡± ¡°My spouse.¡± ¡°. . .Kill him!!!¡± One of the excited beastmen made a mistake, but the others didn¡¯t give up and continued to make suggestions. Just listening to their stories made it feel like all the treasures of ancient times had been gathered in one ce. ¡®?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????????????????????¡¯ Johan clicked his tongue inwardly. There were sometimes things that could be understood even without information. He could definitely feel that the beastmen gathered here were trying to trick him into giving them something in return. It was natural for merchants to try to make a profit, and he had no intention of criticizing them for that. However, he needed someone he knew well if he wanted to avoid being tricked as well. . . ¡°But didn¡¯t the previous master of that gem get assassinated in a horrible way? I don¡¯t think it would be nice to offer such an ominous object.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan turned his head in response to the sudden voice. An old orc was politely greeting him as he entered. ¡°What are you doing, Gr¨¹mappp?!¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be rude of me not to greet His Highness, who is so famous?¡± The old orc introduced himself to Johan. ¡°Greetings, Your Highness. This humble orc is called Gr¨¹mappp. I have heard Your Highness¡¯s rumors even before you arrived in thisnd, so I wished to meet you.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes. My family is a distant rtive of House rhim.¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s right.¡± Just like the dwarves, orcs were also very closely connected to each other, so Johan was surprised to hear the name of that great empire¡¯s family here. Gr¨¹mappp spoke without changing his attitude. ¡°If Your Highness doesn¡¯t mind, I would like to introduce some decent treasures to you.¡± ¡°Oh. Thank you.¡± The beastmen red at Gr¨¹mappp as if they wanted to kill him, but orcs were used to being hated by others. Without batting an eye, Gr¨¹mappp mercilessly haggled the prices of the items the beastmen had brought. When the list got to its end, Johan could see tears welling up in one of the beastmen¡¯s eyes. ???????????? ¡°I appreciate the help, but would they hold a grudge against you? They seem quite wealthy and powerful.¡± ¡°They aren¡¯t simple enough to try to assassinate someone over something like this! I have made them a lot of money, so I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll just get over it if I give them someter.¡± ¡°I see. Then I have a different question. Why did you go through the trouble to help me?¡± ¡°Because I believe in Your Highness.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan flinched for a moment. Since he nned to im a miracle and retreat once preparations were finished, he felt a bit sorry about the old orc¡¯s expectations. Gr¨¹mappp seemed to notice Johan¡¯s feelings, so he immediately continued speaking. ¡°Please do not misunderstand! I do not expect Your Highness to fight and defeat the Sultan¡¯s army or conquer the Holy Land! That is something Your Highness should do as you see fit.¡± ¡°Then isn¡¯t there more reason not to help me?¡± ¡°Just the fact that Your Highness helped the orcs of House rhim is enough. Revenge for revenge, and kindness for kindness. Your Highness¡¯s kindness has left a deep impression on us.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± It wasmon to feel a bit embarrassed when hearing such words about something you hadn¡¯t done anything for. Johan simply nodded, having nothing to say. Since other feudal lords had been treating the orcs like dogs, his reputation improved even if he did nothing. ¡°This is purely out of goodwill, so Your Highness shouldn¡¯t feel burdened.¡± ¡°I see. Then I¡¯ll gratefully ept it.¡± Once the conversation ended, the old orc smiled and nodded. He opened the wooden case next to him and took out some jet ck stones made from ck onyx while speaking. ¡°By the way. I heard that Your Highness enjoys ying with stones, so would you like to y once while waiting, if you don¡¯t mind?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t enjoy it to that extent, but. . . Sure, why not.¡± Johan picked up the stones, intending to wait until the beastmen returned., The de he had been worrying about didn¡¯te flying at him, but even so, suddenly asking him to introduce him to the pagan merchants was just as unexpected. It was something he had never thought of before. ¡°Those guys, you mean?¡± ¡°Is there a reason why I can¡¯t?¡± ¡°No. . . It¡¯s not like that. . .¡± Galvar hesitated. The merchants who had settled down in this castle,ing from the east, were different from the peddlers who carried their wares on their backs and traveled around. They were from wealthy and powerful city families that came from the distant east just to makerge profits. They had a lot of things, of course, and they were well-read and skilled in various arts. . . .If not for the fact that they were pagans. Galvar wore a nervous expression as he led Johan while he tried to shake off the sense of fear he felt. ¡®???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????¡¯ Johan didn¡¯t have any particr grudge against Galvar, but the same could not be said for Galvar. There were quite a few sore spots. If the Sultan¡¯s troops hadn¡¯t entered, Galvar would have had to break a promise made in his name, and there was also the time when he had been embarrassed in front of the Duke after showing off his mediocre upbringing. How amusing must he have looked in the Duke¡¯s eyes? ¡°That guy¡¯s suspicious.¡± ©¥?????????? Whether it was Galvar¡¯splicated feelings that were showing, or whether Iselia just didn¡¯t like him, Karamaf felt the same way. Johan defended Galvar. ¡°He¡¯s just a bit slow and timid, he doesn¡¯t have any ulterior motives.¡± ¡°I heard from the attendantsst time that he goes around bragging about his ability to handle numbers and read. Why would you bother to use someone with no skill who¡¯s slow and timid as your guide?¡± Johan¡¯s abilities other than hisbat abilities were not highly regarded by Iselia. In fact, those around Iselia were highly-educated by the standards of this era. Suetlg, known as the philosopher of Ipa?l River, Caenerna, who was a court wizard of the Holy Empire, and even just Jyanina. . . If you counted Johan as well, he would never have been inferior to them in terms of knowledge. Compared to them, it was inevitable that Galvar would appearcking. It wasn¡¯t Galvar¡¯s fault. Galvar¡¯s shoulders slumped down due to shame and humiliation. Iselia had spoken in a small voice, but Galvar¡¯s hearing was better than she thought. Johan noticed and told Iselia. ¡°Iselia, that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°These Easterners are iprehensible. They¡¯re so vain. . .¡± The people of the Holy Empire called those who came across the sea as Easterners. Even though they shared the same faith, their culture and dispositions were bound to be different from those of the empire. Those who had been influenced and changed by pagans, whether they liked it or not. They considered themselves to be intellectually superior to the people of the empire. This was natural, as they had encountered a wider world and deeper knowledge. However, the fact that they were being so thoroughly humiliated. . . ???????????? The orc, Gr¨¹mapp, put down his emerald sses. The desert fox beastmen were watching Gr¨¹mapp with expressions full of impatience. ¡°Are you still considering?¡± ¡°When the times are this chaotic, even I hesitate.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nonsense. . . Besides, how rich you are is known above by God and below by the scorpions in the sand! It¡¯s not even a difficult request, are you really going to do this?¡± Orcs from east to west were generally rich and miserly. The wealthy who get sworn at on a daily basis are also the ones who get called upon the most in times of need. The fox-centaur Suin tribe from the east shook their ears and tails, irritated. They had brought treasures from the east along the parched desert road to here. Normally, they could have gotten a higher price by calling it expensive. However, because the situation was chaotic, they wanted torgely hand it off to Gr¨¹mapp, a reliable major dealer, but Gr¨¹mapp kept dragging it out. It made no sense to Gr¨¹mapp to not buy an item that was absolutely not a bad deal. ¡°I don¡¯t know because I don¡¯t believe in god.¡± ¡°This is really. . .!¡± ¡°Hey, a noble from the Hundred Kingdoms is here.¡± ¡°What?¡± The desert fox nobles from the eastern city were ted at the news theirpanion brought. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Galvar-gong.¡± ¡°Oh, Galvar-gong.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t he not that rich?¡± ¡°Damn it, nobles are useless, you know? They¡¯re in debt but they¡¯ll just go into more debt.¡± Among merchants, there was no merchant who trusted nobles. There was a saying like, ¡¯?????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???????????? ??????¡¯???? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?? ??????????¡¯, nobles were unpredictable and capricious. On top of being greedy and spendthrift, they have plenty of power, so even if they break a promise, merchants can¡¯t do anything about it. From the merchant¡¯s standpoint, it was unfair but they had no choice but to prepare for it thoroughly. ¡°Why don¡¯t we start a bidding war with Gr¨¹mapp? Gr¨¹mapp might get flustered when he hears that.¡± ¡°Gr¨¹mapp would get flustered? He¡¯s slower than an old turtle.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get ready to wee them.¡± The old Orc who had been listening quietly spoke disdainfully. ¡°I can wait here, so go wee the customers.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ???????????? Tents with colorful patterns were seen, with a few of them even covered with silk on the outside. I had heard about some nomad tribes showing off their wealth by decorating their tents, but this was more amazing than expected. ¡°Centaurs would die of jealousy if they saw this.¡± The difference in wealth was severe between the nomads around here and the centaurs to the north. For the centaurs, they would be considered rich in the tribe if they had a silver bracelet, while these people were boiling water in silver basins while using silver mirrors to groom themselves. ¡°His Highness the Duke has arrived?!¡± The desert fox beastmen were startled when they heard Galvar¡¯s voice. A much bigger shot than they thought hade to visit. This was especially the case for a noble from the west who was a pure monotheist, rather than an Eastern noble like Galvar. Their fear was greater than their joy. ¡®???? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ??????????, ???????????¡¯ ¡®????¡¯???? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?????????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ The beastmen exchanged nervous nces. They were intelligent beings, so they were well aware of the turbulent situation happening around here. With the Sultan¡¯s massive armynding and expeditionary forces from the west gathering, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if anything broke out. In the worst-case scenario, the situation could lead to conflict, with swords being swung. It was possible with an aggressive monotheist noble. ¡°. . .No way. . . We believe in Galvar-gong. He isn¡¯t like that.¡± ¡°Your Highness isn¡¯t that kind of person.¡± Galvar reassured them frantically once he realized what the beastmen from the east were worried about. He told them that the duke was actually a gentle, reasonable, intelligent, and cultured person, unlike themon rumors. However, that kind of thing usually backfired. The beastmen started to look at Galvar with distrust. ¡®?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????¡¯ ¡®???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ The desert fox beastmen had also heard the rumors of the young duke. They had heard things as well, so what Galvar said sounded insincere. ???????????? ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, it is an honor, Your Highness.¡± However, Galvar¡¯s words were true, surprisingly enough. The beastmen were shocked beyond belief when they saw the young duke getting off his horse and greeting them in a friendly manner, following their customs. He was much younger than they thought, and his humble and friendly attitude surprised them. It made them wonder for a moment if he was a different person from their duke. ¡°That is true. It must have been a long journey. What a great talent.¡± ¡°It is no great talent, Your Highness.¡± ¡°No. It is a great talent.¡± After praising each other and exchanging warm greetings, the atmosphere quickly became warmer. In less than an hour, the beastmen became certain that this young duke was someone they could surprisinglymunicate with. At the very least, he wasn¡¯t someone who would draw his sword and kill them. ¡®???? ???????? ????????. . .¡¯ The beastmen¡¯s gazes changed. They exchanged nces. If the other party was someone they couldmunicate with, then there was only one thing left to do. ¡°Your Highness. We have a gem that would suit Your Highness. There is an amazing legend regarding this gem. The miner who first found this gem presented it to the feudal lord, and. . .¡± ¡°A sword would suit Your Highness better! What about giving that escort knight a nice sword. . .¡± ¡°My spouse.¡± ¡°. . .Kill him!!!¡± One of the excited beastmen made a mistake, but the others didn¡¯t give up and continued to make suggestions. Just listening to their stories made it feel like all the treasures of ancient times had been gathered in one ce. ¡®?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???????????????????????¡¯ Johan clicked his tongue inwardly. There were sometimes things that could be understood even without information. He could definitely feel that the beastmen gathered here were trying to trick him into giving them something in return. It was natural for merchants to try to make a profit, and he had no intention of criticizing them for that. However, he needed someone he knew well if he wanted to avoid being tricked as well. . . ¡°But didn¡¯t the previous master of that gem get assassinated in a horrible way? I don¡¯t think it would be nice to offer such an ominous object.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan turned his head in response to the sudden voice. An old orc was politely greeting him as he entered. ¡°What are you doing, Gr¨¹mappp?!¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be rude of me not to greet His Highness, who is so famous?¡± The old orc introduced himself to Johan. ¡°Greetings, Your Highness. This humble orc is called Gr¨¹mappp. I have heard Your Highness¡¯s rumors even before you arrived in thisnd, so I wished to meet you.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes. My family is a distant rtive of House rhim.¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s right.¡± Just like the dwarves, orcs were also very closely connected to each other, so Johan was surprised to hear the name of that great empire¡¯s family here. Gr¨¹mappp spoke without changing his attitude. ¡°If Your Highness doesn¡¯t mind, I would like to introduce some decent treasures to you.¡± ¡°Oh. Thank you.¡± The beastmen red at Gr¨¹mappp as if they wanted to kill him, but orcs were used to being hated by others. Without batting an eye, Gr¨¹mappp mercilessly haggled the prices of the items the beastmen had brought. When the list got to its end, Johan could see tears welling up in one of the beastmen¡¯s eyes. ???????????? ¡°I appreciate the help, but would they hold a grudge against you? They seem quite wealthy and powerful.¡± ¡°They aren¡¯t simple enough to try to assassinate someone over something like this! I have made them a lot of money, so I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll just get over it if I give them someter.¡± ¡°I see. Then I have a different question. Why did you go through the trouble to help me?¡± ¡°Because I believe in Your Highness.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan flinched for a moment. Since he nned to im a miracle and retreat once preparations were finished, he felt a bit sorry about the old orc¡¯s expectations. Gr¨¹mappp seemed to notice Johan¡¯s feelings, so he immediately continued speaking. ¡°Please do not misunderstand! I do not expect Your Highness to fight and defeat the Sultan¡¯s army or conquer the Holy Land! That is something Your Highness should do as you see fit.¡± ¡°Then isn¡¯t there more reason not to help me?¡± ¡°Just the fact that Your Highness helped the orcs of House rhim is enough. Revenge for revenge, and kindness for kindness. Your Highness¡¯s kindness has left a deep impression on us.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± It wasmon to feel a bit embarrassed when hearing such words about something you hadn¡¯t done anything for. Johan simply nodded, having nothing to say. Since other feudal lords had been treating the orcs like dogs, his reputation improved even if he did nothing. ¡°This is purely out of goodwill, so Your Highness shouldn¡¯t feel burdened.¡± ¡°I see. Then I¡¯ll gratefully ept it.¡± Once the conversation ended, the old orc smiled and nodded. He opened the wooden case next to him and took out some jet ck stones made from ck onyx while speaking. ¡°By the way. I heard that Your Highness enjoys ying with stones, so would you like to y once while waiting, if you don¡¯t mind?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t enjoy it to that extent, but. . . Sure, why not.¡± Johan picked up the stones, intending to wait until the beastmen returned. Chapter 309: ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? (4) After about two hours, the desert fox beastmen returned, looking gloomy and sulky until they noticed the two moving stones. The tall elf beside them had been nodding off, indicating that they had been at it for quite a while. ¡°Did you ce the stone?¡± ¡°Yes, I yed two rounds.¡± ¡°Oh my. Gr¨¹mappp-nim, you didn¡¯t cheat, did you?¡± The beastmen were excited for a chance to gossip about the orc. Gr¨¹mappp was the type of orc who enjoyed ying stones just as much as he enjoyed causing others trouble. Some of the confident younger beastmen had yed stones with Gr¨¹mappp and paid the price. They had wagered treasure against Gr¨¹mappp, thinking he was going easy on them, only to be soundly defeated. ¡°Would I do such a thing? What an insult.¡± ¡°Better to be safe than sorry. If you need an opponent, why not y us?¡±Gr¨¹mappp gazed fixedly at the jabbering beastmen, who made no effort to hide their discontent. Gr¨¹mappp grinned, seemingly having an idea. ¡°Well. . . If you wish to y, then perhaps Your Highness would allow it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s leave it for today. I don¡¯t feel like picking up stones again.¡± ¡°Then next time, perhaps.¡± The beastmen were pleased. ying stones with the duke was a great opportunity. Not only was it a chance to build rapport and camaraderie, but there was also a possibility of receiving rewards for demonstrating exceptional skills. Considering the duke¡¯s status, he would likely be quite generous, making it a much more lucrative proposition than a casual wager. ¡°By the way, how many points difference was it?¡± The beastmen asked Gr¨¹mappp slyly. If they could find out the duke¡¯s skill level in advance, they could prepare to win by a narrow margin. Gr¨¹mappp grinned again and said, ¡°You¡¯ll see when you y him.¡± ¡°Really? How much did we lose to Sir Gr¨¹mappp. . .¡± ¡°What do you mean, lose? If you¡¯re only referring to a reduction in profits, then wouldn¡¯t the sailors be shocked?¡± Gr¨¹mappp held up two fingers. It meant there was a two-point difference. If he had managed to hold out against this old orc with just a two-point lead, then the duke must be quite skilled. ¡°Looks like we can¡¯t take it lightly. Should we call the second son of the Piruk family? I heard he¡¯s the best at it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea.¡± Gr¨¹mappp chuckled as he watched the beastmen chatter among themselves. Gr¨¹mappp was not lying. There was indeed a two-point difference. . . .But Gr¨¹mappp had ced the two points in his favor first. ???????????? ¡°Bring the books here. Is this all? Why?¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s because we don¡¯t have much money. . .?¡± The beastmen felt a twinge of guilt for not being able to present more items, realizing that the duke was less satisfied than they had thought. He wasn¡¯t satisfied even after seeing such magnificent jewels? ¡°Bluea-nim, what do you think of this sword?¡± ¡°The de is curved, and there are too many unnecessary decorations. I don¡¯t want to use it. Besides, I have my own sword.¡± Iselia rejected the sword without hesitation. Not only was it not her taste, but the swords that Johan had given her were still in good condition. When neither the duke nor his consort expressed much interest, the beastmen felt their spirits sink. They tried desperately to search for something else to present. ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve heard that this ce has excellent craftsmen. Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the beastmen perked up. It seemed the duke was finally interested in something. ¡°Your Highness, we humbly ask for your forgiveness for our presumptuous words. However, from the ck Mountains in the north to the hot and fertilends in the south, we have never seen craftsmen with greater skill than us.¡± Craftsmen who could process and engrave gold, silver, gems, and other materials were highly sought after. Originally, craftsmen formed guilds and joined them, but these craftsmen were often treated so well that they were more likely to be called by nobles or religious orders. This easternnd had many craftsmen whose skills were just as developed as those in the empire or the republic. However, the beastmen who had crossed the desert were more confident in their own abilities. ¡°If you have something you want made, just leave it to us. We will make it for you.¡± The beastmen wanted the jewels that the duke had obtained to berge, beautiful, and rare. That way, their skills would shine even brighter. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. . .¡± However, what came out of Johan¡¯s mouth was somethingpletely different from their expectations. Johan carefully opened a wooden box and took out an old, rusty crown that was inside. It was the crown he had received from the elemental. ¡°Can you make this look new again?¡± The crown he had received from the elemental was obviously old, but it was difficult to tell more than that. It seemed that the rust would have to be removed in order to properly examine it. However, several skilled craftsmen had expressed their reluctance to touch the crown. As a result, the work had been postponed until now. The beastmen hesitated, realizing that it was quite a difficult task. ¡°We. . . We apologize, Your Highness. We will have to examine it first. . .¡± Normally, it would have been humiliating to say that they would have to check if it was possible, but it was better than not being able to do the job that the duke had assigned them. Gr¨¹mappp interjected, nodding as if he understood. ¡°You probably want to ask the old witch. She¡¯s the most skilled among them. . .¡± ¡°Sir Gr¨¹mappp, please watch your words!¡± A beastman spoke quietly, pleadingly. Gr¨¹mappp waved his hand dismissively. ¡°His Highness the Duke is not the kind of man who would swing a sword with such a thing. It¡¯s fine.¡± The beastmen cursed Gr¨¹mappp in their hearts. Gr¨¹mappp¡¯s assurances guaranteed nothing. If they displeased the duke with the appearance of a witch, Gr¨¹mappp would not be the one to shield them from the duke¡¯s wrath. In fact, the beastmen were not particrly close to the witch who traveled with them. Aside from her abilities, the witch, who dealt with things more sinister and wicked than magic, was an eerie presence. ¡°Oh, I¡¯d like to meet her.¡± ¡°. . .??!?!¡± That was why the beastmen could not help but be astounded when the duke said he wanted to meet her. ???????????? ¡°The banner of the demon appeared at Tahkreng Castle! I saw it with my own eyes!¡± ¡°Oh, gods!!¡± ¡°The demon hase to the castle gates! The demon hase to the castle gates!¡± ¡°Sir Girelga disappeared with his men! It could be the work of the demon!¡± ¡°Shut up, all of you! Anyone who spreads more of these rumors will not be forgiven! I will kill anyone who causes a disturbance, and I will kill anyone who tries to escape!¡± Yeheyman drew his sword, his fury exploding. A murderous atmosphere filled the tent. Despite the remarkable feat of reiming the Holy Land from the pagans after a hundred years, the atmosphere around the Holy Land was in turmoil. Was it because there were many pagans? Because a new army had taken over the Holy Land? Because they were clearing out the remnants of the enemy who had fled to the surrounding areas? None of the above. Surprisingly, Yeheyman had done quite well in all of these aspects. The self-proimed ¡®guardian of the Holy Land¡¯, an upstart feudal lord who was arrogant beyond belief, had killed everyone from the oldest to the youngest in the family of the house, but he had not executed anyone else in the Holy Land unnecessarily. He had been steadily taking over the enemy soldiers who had fled under the cover of darkness, as well as the surrounding fiefdoms. The shock of the fall of the Holy Land must have been too great, as even those within the strong walls of the fortress surrendered. However, all of that smoothness was shattered when news arrived. The duke hade to Tahkreng Castle! The duke, who had arrived much sooner than expected, spread an unimaginable shock throughout the Holy Land. Yeheyman realized for the first time that there were so many cowards among his warriors. Even though they had conquered the Holy Land and had an overwhelming number of troops! It took a long time to calm down all the wild rumors, the frenzy, the nighttime escapes, and the tearful prayers. Yeheyman felt a cold sweat. He was confident in wielding his sword on horseback, moving between hills and ins, but he felt like he would notst a year ruling this vast and cunning city. ¡°This is something we should be thanking the gods for. A chance to avenge our grudges! Why aren¡¯t the lords happy about this?? Why are the knights afraid and trying to hang back??¡± Yeheyman harshly reprimanded the tribal chiefs and knights gathered in the tent. As soon as they heard that the duke was nearby, they openly tried to avoid sending their men to his side. ¡°Speak! Is this an opportunity or not?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± One of the tribal chiefs muttered coldly to himself. ¡®???????? ?? ????????. ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ????????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ????????, ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????????.¡¯ ¡°Do not fear the enemy. They may have borrowed the power of the demon, but they are still beings made of flesh and blood!¡± Yeheyman had to do everything in his power to boost morale. He summoned the tribal chiefs to the tent to encourage them, called for priests to offer prayers, held ceremonies at the mausoleum of the Holy Land, and organized variouspetitions, including jousting. . . Only after doing all of those things did they finally show some fighting spirit, but Yeheyman could not trust thempletely. ¡°I never thought these people would be such cowards! If the duke¡¯s banner flies everywhere, they¡¯ll run away without looking back. How can we fight with these people!?¡± ¡°Should we. . . should we assassinate the duke instead?¡± Yeheyman was shocked by the words that came out of the sultan¡¯s eunuch, who was bing increasingly desperate. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. . . You want me to do something so dishonorable?¡± ¡°We did not want to mention such a dishonorable thing. However, we have a duty to carry out the sultan¡¯s orders. We must not let the Holy Land be taken away from us.¡± ¡°No. I will never allow it.¡± Yeheyman said so, but the eunuchs exchanged meaningful nces. ¡®???? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡®???? ????????.¡¯ From the experienced eunuchs to the inexperienced ones, the chaos caused by the news of the duke was truly unlike anything they had ever seen before. It was understandable that the mercenaries would run away, but even the tribal chiefs and knights were fleeing under the cover of darkness? That sight sent a chill down the eunuchs¡¯ spines. They were determined to bring down this duke. Otherwise, a truly dangerous situation could arise. ???????????? ¡°Argamish. . . What was it after that?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to memorize the witch¡¯s entire name. We just call her Argamish.¡± The beastmen seemed very ufortable as they guided them. It was only natural, since they were guiding someone they didn¡¯t meet very often. And that person was the duke, no less! If they made even a single mistake, they would be held responsible. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????. . .?¡¯ What made it even more ufortable was that the number of people who seemed to be the duke¡¯s retainers had increased. The wizards under Johan were talking excitedly among themselves. ¡°She might be able to control lightning spirits. . . Don¡¯t you know? Those who can control lightning spirits are usually treated like that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also a pity to let go of the possibility that she made a pact with a demon.¡± ¡°Maybe she can summon demons?¡± For the wizards, a witch who couldmunicate with them was a very valuable subject. Normally, they rarely had the opportunity to talk to each other. Who would give up such a valuable opportunity just to indulge in luxury on a silk bed? There was no one like that. The witch¡¯s tent was located in a secluded part of the district. When the beastmen who had gone inside did note out for a while, they came out looking very flustered, awkward, and ufortable. ¡°. . .S-She said she stepped out for a moment. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Oh, Iselia.¡± Johan grabbed Iselia¡¯s arm. Iselia was about to draw her sword. They didn¡¯te here secretly, and they had sent someone ahead to inform the witch before they arrived. And yet, she was out for a moment. This was a tant insult. While the beastmen¡¯ faces turned pale, the wizards chatted as if they were interested. ¡°She seems to be very rude and entric. . . Isn¡¯t that like a witch?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think all witches are like that. Isn¡¯t it natural for someone who has learned wicked magic and been persecuted by those around them to be rude and entric?¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± Johan shrugged as he listened to the wizards¡¯ lively conversation. ¡°Then I guess we¡¯ll wait here.¡± At the duke¡¯s words, that he would simply wait here, the beastmen began to regret why they had introduced him to the witch in the first ce instead of just strangling her., After about two hours, the desert fox beastmen returned, looking gloomy and sulky until they noticed the two moving stones. The tall elf beside them had been nodding off, indicating that they had been at it for quite a while. ¡°Did you ce the stone?¡± ¡°Yes, I yed two rounds.¡± ¡°Oh my. Gr¨¹mappp-nim, you didn¡¯t cheat, did you?¡± The beastmen were excited for a chance to gossip about the orc. Gr¨¹mappp was the type of orc who enjoyed ying stones just as much as he enjoyed causing others trouble. Some of the confident younger beastmen had yed stones with Gr¨¹mappp and paid the price. They had wagered treasure against Gr¨¹mappp, thinking he was going easy on them, only to be soundly defeated. ¡°Would I do such a thing? What an insult.¡± ¡°Better to be safe than sorry. If you need an opponent, why not y us?¡± Gr¨¹mappp gazed fixedly at the jabbering beastmen, who made no effort to hide their discontent. Gr¨¹mappp grinned, seemingly having an idea. ¡°Well. . . If you wish to y, then perhaps Your Highness would allow it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s leave it for today. I don¡¯t feel like picking up stones again.¡± ¡°Then next time, perhaps.¡± The beastmen were pleased. ying stones with the duke was a great opportunity. Not only was it a chance to build rapport and camaraderie, but there was also a possibility of receiving rewards for demonstrating exceptional skills. Considering the duke¡¯s status, he would likely be quite generous, making it a much more lucrative proposition than a casual wager. ¡°By the way, how many points difference was it?¡± The beastmen asked Gr¨¹mappp slyly. If they could find out the duke¡¯s skill level in advance, they could prepare to win by a narrow margin. Gr¨¹mappp grinned again and said, ¡°You¡¯ll see when you y him.¡± ¡°Really? How much did we lose to Sir Gr¨¹mappp. . .¡± ¡°What do you mean, lose? If you¡¯re only referring to a reduction in profits, then wouldn¡¯t the sailors be shocked?¡± Gr¨¹mappp held up two fingers. It meant there was a two-point difference. If he had managed to hold out against this old orc with just a two-point lead, then the duke must be quite skilled. ¡°Looks like we can¡¯t take it lightly. Should we call the second son of the Piruk family? I heard he¡¯s the best at it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea.¡± Gr¨¹mappp chuckled as he watched the beastmen chatter among themselves. Gr¨¹mappp was not lying. There was indeed a two-point difference. . . .But Gr¨¹mappp had ced the two points in his favor first. ???????????? ¡°Bring the books here. Is this all? Why?¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s because we don¡¯t have much money. . .?¡± The beastmen felt a twinge of guilt for not being able to present more items, realizing that the duke was less satisfied than they had thought. He wasn¡¯t satisfied even after seeing such magnificent jewels? ¡°Bluea-nim, what do you think of this sword?¡± ¡°The de is curved, and there are too many unnecessary decorations. I don¡¯t want to use it. Besides, I have my own sword.¡± Iselia rejected the sword without hesitation. Not only was it not her taste, but the swords that Johan had given her were still in good condition. When neither the duke nor his consort expressed much interest, the beastmen felt their spirits sink. They tried desperately to search for something else to present. ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve heard that this ce has excellent craftsmen. Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the beastmen perked up. It seemed the duke was finally interested in something. ¡°Your Highness, we humbly ask for your forgiveness for our presumptuous words. However, from the ck Mountains in the north to the hot and fertilends in the south, we have never seen craftsmen with greater skill than us.¡± Craftsmen who could process and engrave gold, silver, gems, and other materials were highly sought after. Originally, craftsmen formed guilds and joined them, but these craftsmen were often treated so well that they were more likely to be called by nobles or religious orders. This easternnd had many craftsmen whose skills were just as developed as those in the empire or the republic. However, the beastmen who had crossed the desert were more confident in their own abilities. ¡°If you have something you want made, just leave it to us. We will make it for you.¡± The beastmen wanted the jewels that the duke had obtained to berge, beautiful, and rare. That way, their skills would shine even brighter. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. . .¡± However, what came out of Johan¡¯s mouth was somethingpletely different from their expectations. Johan carefully opened a wooden box and took out an old, rusty crown that was inside. It was the crown he had received from the elemental. ¡°Can you make this look new again?¡± The crown he had received from the elemental was obviously old, but it was difficult to tell more than that. It seemed that the rust would have to be removed in order to properly examine it. However, several skilled craftsmen had expressed their reluctance to touch the crown. As a result, the work had been postponed until now. The beastmen hesitated, realizing that it was quite a difficult task. ¡°We. . . We apologize, Your Highness. We will have to examine it first. . .¡± Normally, it would have been humiliating to say that they would have to check if it was possible, but it was better than not being able to do the job that the duke had assigned them. Gr¨¹mappp interjected, nodding as if he understood. ¡°You probably want to ask the old witch. She¡¯s the most skilled among them. . .¡± ¡°Sir Gr¨¹mappp, please watch your words!¡± A beastman spoke quietly, pleadingly. Gr¨¹mappp waved his hand dismissively. ¡°His Highness the Duke is not the kind of man who would swing a sword with such a thing. It¡¯s fine.¡± The beastmen cursed Gr¨¹mappp in their hearts. Gr¨¹mappp¡¯s assurances guaranteed nothing. If they displeased the duke with the appearance of a witch, Gr¨¹mappp would not be the one to shield them from the duke¡¯s wrath. In fact, the beastmen were not particrly close to the witch who traveled with them. Aside from her abilities, the witch, who dealt with things more sinister and wicked than magic, was an eerie presence. ¡°Oh, I¡¯d like to meet her.¡± ¡°. . .??!?!¡± That was why the beastmen could not help but be astounded when the duke said he wanted to meet her. ???????????? ¡°The banner of the demon appeared at Tahkreng Castle! I saw it with my own eyes!¡± ¡°Oh, gods!!¡± ¡°The demon hase to the castle gates! The demon hase to the castle gates!¡± ¡°Sir Girelga disappeared with his men! It could be the work of the demon!¡± ¡°Shut up, all of you! Anyone who spreads more of these rumors will not be forgiven! I will kill anyone who causes a disturbance, and I will kill anyone who tries to escape!¡± Yeheyman drew his sword, his fury exploding. A murderous atmosphere filled the tent. Despite the remarkable feat of reiming the Holy Land from the pagans after a hundred years, the atmosphere around the Holy Land was in turmoil. Was it because there were many pagans? Because a new army had taken over the Holy Land? Because they were clearing out the remnants of the enemy who had fled to the surrounding areas? None of the above. Surprisingly, Yeheyman had done quite well in all of these aspects. The self-proimed ¡®guardian of the Holy Land¡¯, an upstart feudal lord who was arrogant beyond belief, had killed everyone from the oldest to the youngest in the family of the house, but he had not executed anyone else in the Holy Land unnecessarily. He had been steadily taking over the enemy soldiers who had fled under the cover of darkness, as well as the surrounding fiefdoms. The shock of the fall of the Holy Land must have been too great, as even those within the strong walls of the fortress surrendered. However, all of that smoothness was shattered when news arrived. The duke hade to Tahkreng Castle! The duke, who had arrived much sooner than expected, spread an unimaginable shock throughout the Holy Land. Yeheyman realized for the first time that there were so many cowards among his warriors. Even though they had conquered the Holy Land and had an overwhelming number of troops! It took a long time to calm down all the wild rumors, the frenzy, the nighttime escapes, and the tearful prayers. Yeheyman felt a cold sweat. He was confident in wielding his sword on horseback, moving between hills and ins, but he felt like he would notst a year ruling this vast and cunning city. ¡°This is something we should be thanking the gods for. A chance to avenge our grudges! Why aren¡¯t the lords happy about this?? Why are the knights afraid and trying to hang back??¡± Yeheyman harshly reprimanded the tribal chiefs and knights gathered in the tent. As soon as they heard that the duke was nearby, they openly tried to avoid sending their men to his side. ¡°Speak! Is this an opportunity or not?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± One of the tribal chiefs muttered coldly to himself. ¡®???????? ?? ????????. ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ????????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ????????, ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????????.¡¯ ¡°Do not fear the enemy. They may have borrowed the power of the demon, but they are still beings made of flesh and blood!¡± Yeheyman had to do everything in his power to boost morale. He summoned the tribal chiefs to the tent to encourage them, called for priests to offer prayers, held ceremonies at the mausoleum of the Holy Land, and organized variouspetitions, including jousting. . . Only after doing all of those things did they finally show some fighting spirit, but Yeheyman could not trust thempletely. ¡°I never thought these people would be such cowards! If the duke¡¯s banner flies everywhere, they¡¯ll run away without looking back. How can we fight with these people!?¡± ¡°Should we. . . should we assassinate the duke instead?¡± Yeheyman was shocked by the words that came out of the sultan¡¯s eunuch, who was bing increasingly desperate. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. . . You want me to do something so dishonorable?¡± ¡°We did not want to mention such a dishonorable thing. However, we have a duty to carry out the sultan¡¯s orders. We must not let the Holy Land be taken away from us.¡± ¡°No. I will never allow it.¡± Yeheyman said so, but the eunuchs exchanged meaningful nces. ¡®???? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡®???? ????????.¡¯ From the experienced eunuchs to the inexperienced ones, the chaos caused by the news of the duke was truly unlike anything they had ever seen before. It was understandable that the mercenaries would run away, but even the tribal chiefs and knights were fleeing under the cover of darkness? That sight sent a chill down the eunuchs¡¯ spines. They were determined to bring down this duke. Otherwise, a truly dangerous situation could arise. ???????????? ¡°Argamish. . . What was it after that?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to memorize the witch¡¯s entire name. We just call her Argamish.¡± The beastmen seemed very ufortable as they guided them. It was only natural, since they were guiding someone they didn¡¯t meet very often. And that person was the duke, no less! If they made even a single mistake, they would be held responsible. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ??????????. . .?¡¯ What made it even more ufortable was that the number of people who seemed to be the duke¡¯s retainers had increased. The wizards under Johan were talking excitedly among themselves. ¡°She might be able to control lightning spirits. . . Don¡¯t you know? Those who can control lightning spirits are usually treated like that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also a pity to let go of the possibility that she made a pact with a demon.¡± ¡°Maybe she can summon demons?¡± For the wizards, a witch who couldmunicate with them was a very valuable subject. Normally, they rarely had the opportunity to talk to each other. Who would give up such a valuable opportunity just to indulge in luxury on a silk bed? There was no one like that. The witch¡¯s tent was located in a secluded part of the district. When the beastmen who had gone inside did note out for a while, they came out looking very flustered, awkward, and ufortable. ¡°. . .S-She said she stepped out for a moment. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Oh, Iselia.¡± Johan grabbed Iselia¡¯s arm. Iselia was about to draw her sword. They didn¡¯te here secretly, and they had sent someone ahead to inform the witch before they arrived. And yet, she was out for a moment. This was a tant insult. While the beastmen¡¯ faces turned pale, the wizards chatted as if they were interested. ¡°She seems to be very rude and entric. . . Isn¡¯t that like a witch?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think all witches are like that. Isn¡¯t it natural for someone who has learned wicked magic and been persecuted by those around them to be rude and entric?¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± Johan shrugged as he listened to the wizards¡¯ lively conversation. ¡°Then I guess we¡¯ll wait here.¡± At the duke¡¯s words, that he would simply wait here, the beastmen began to regret why they had introduced him to the witch in the first ce instead of just strangling her. Chapter 310: ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? (5) Chapter 310: ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? (5) The witch, who had returned rather unhurriedly, was puzzled at the sight of the crowd gathered around the tent. She parted her lips, her voice slightly hoarse. ¡°You¡¯re still not gone? This is a marvel. Why didn¡¯t you send them away? You should know better than to leave a person of honor standing outside.¡± ¡°How dare you say something like th¡ª¡± The beastmen red at her, gritting their teeth. Were they saying this, knowing how much their hearts sank because of her just now? ¡°I clearly sent someone, so why did you go out?¡± ¡°I heard that a precious herb had blossomed.¡± ¡°For a mere weed?!¡± ¡°A mere weed, you say. You, who always rush to me whenever you need help, have no idea how I wield my abilities. How am I supposed to cast magic if I don¡¯t gather those herbs? Even though you people can¡¯t bring them to me.¡± ¡°Even so, there¡¯s a time and ce for everything! His Highness the Duke is waiting. . . If this bes a bigger issue, a single head won¡¯t be enough to pay for it. Anyway, go inside quickly!¡±¡°Oh,e on. . . Don¡¯t push me. Aren¡¯t you rushing an old woman too much?¡± ¡°Even rushing you now is not enough! What if His Highness falls into a rage?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve lived long enough to not have any regrets?¡± The faces of the younger beastman flushed red at the witch¡¯s words. The witch, seeing that, chuckled wickedly. ¡°That¡¯s why you should have treated the elderly a bit better.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Johan, who was standing behind, nodded in agreement. Suetlg didn¡¯t say anything, but he looked pleased. It was nice to see a tradition where any race knows to treat the elderly within their tribe with respect. Some barbarians abandon their elders in the mountains and let birds peck at their entrails, but that is an act that deserves divine punishment. . . ¡°Your, Your Highness. The person you were looking for is here.¡± ¡°I know because I heard it. Even if you urge an older person, you are urging him too much. Let them wait a little.¡± ¡°Oh. Yes. . .¡± Johan helped the witch in person. The witch looked at the young duke with a surprised look. It was quite rare to see a noble of high rank act like this. ¡°Your Highness is. . . too kind?¡± ¡°There are handful of wizards around, so I¡¯m just showing them the respect they deserve.¡± At those words, the witch looked at Suetlg and asked. ¡°Oh, is that person already in poor health and needs help walking?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Seeing Suetlg raising her eyebrows, Caenerna whispered from the side. ¡°I think you know that you have to put up with it?¡± ¡°. . .Let¡¯s not talk about it separately.¡± The witch, after entering the tent, tried to entertain the party in person. The inside of the tent was filled with a peculiar smell. It seemed to be a mixture of the smell of burning herbs, as well as the smell of frankincense and myrrh. And the wizards were very interested in the mysterious aura permeating the tent. The witch was also surprised by the fact that all those who had entered the tent were wizards. ¡°Today, people of high status and nobility havee as guests to an old witch like me, against all odds. Right. What did youe to say?¡± ¡°They said you are an excellent artisan. Can you perhaps restore this crown?¡± Before a deep discussion about magic began, Johan spoke about his main topic. If the wizards started talking, it would be difficult for Johan to interject. The witch took the crown and began to examine it carefully and skillfully. The witch put the crown down with an indifferent expression. ¡®?? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan was a little disappointed. He had been somewhat expecting, thanks to what the fairy had said. ¡°May I ask where you obtained this item?¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Johan stopped as he was about to speak. He was about to say that he had received it from a fairy, but even to him, it felt. . . ridiculous. Wouldn¡¯t that sound like something a lying minstrel would say? ¡°Why can¡¯t you speak?¡± Suetlg wondered. He had a look of iprehension on his face. ¡°Saying that I got it from a fairy is a bit. . . unbing. . .¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? You received it from a fairy.¡± The witch was not surprised. ¡°It¡¯s not surprising since fairies often possess old treasures. Even though time and dust erase memories and graves, fairies forget nothing. . .¡± ¡°So what kind of item is it?¡± Suetlg asked, getting impatient. Suetlg was also curious about what the crown was. Could it be the crown of a barbaric king who had once ruled this area? Or could it hold a moreplicated story within? At that question, the witch smiled wickedly. ¡°I see now, Wizard. It seems you have little interest in religion. You may know a lot about the history of kings and nobles, but you don¡¯t know much about religion?¡± Johan defended him instead. ¡°There¡¯s no need to know everything. And you, artisan. You¡¯d better be careful with your words. I can forgive your impudence towards me with leniency, but I will not forgive your impudence towards the philosophers who serve under me.¡± ¡°I. . . I apologize, Your Highness . I¡¯ve be more ill-tempered as I¡¯ve gotten older. . . Anyway, if you knew even a little bit about religion, you would have realized right away that this crown is not the crown of a king or a noble. This is the crown of a saint buried in a Holy Land tomb.¡± ¡°. . . . . .!!¡± At the witch¡¯s words, which were spoken so nonchntly about something so shocking, the people present thought for a moment that it was nothing special. But it wasn¡¯t. ¡°What nonsense! The crown of a saint is currently held by the family that protects the Holy Land. Hasn¡¯t it been passed down from generation to generation?¡± The family that had upied the Holy Land called themselves the protectors of the Holy Land instead of kings or counts. It was a kind of religious title and designation, but the power that name held was far stronger than that of an average king. And one of the treasures symbolizing this protector of the Holy Land was the crown of the saint. It is true that the family was wiped out not long ago when they were upied by pagans, but since they had upied the Holy Land until then, wouldn¡¯t that family have the crown? At Suetlg¡¯s words, the witch nodded. ¡°This old witch also thought until just now that the protector of the Holy Land had this crown, but when you live in the world for a long time, things like this happen. What was right bes wrong, and white bes ck.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan nodded as he heard those words. In fact, such things were surprisinglymon. Just as a family that lost its famous sword, the symbol of the family, prepared a fake sword for reasons of respect, the family that had gained the title of protector of the Holy Land might have lost the crown and prepared a fake crown. Who would dare point that out? ¡°. . . . . .¡± When Caenerna put on a look of deep thought, Johan asked curiously. ¡°Caenerna-gong. What do you think?¡± ¡°Oh. . . Your Highness .¡± Caenerna¡¯s husky voice dropped even lower, bing so soft that only Johan could hear it. ¡°I was thinking that we should kill the witch, Your Excellency. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan flinched, realizing what Caenerna meant. Iselia shook her head as if she didn¡¯t want to do that. ¡°Should we cut down a person who is innocent and unarmed?¡± ¡°But Bluea-nim, the crown of the saint is worth it.¡± The crown of the saint was an item whose power as a symbol was far stronger than its own power. Especially since it was now in the hands of a devout feudal lord who hade from the far west, the people of the world could not help but interpret it as an omen and a revtion. However, the expeditionary force now consisted not only of Johan¡¯s expeditionary force, but also of several other powerful feudal lords of the empire. Would they like it if they heard such rumors? Caenerna didn¡¯t think so. Caenerna¡¯s eyes, which were filled with malice, turned cold. She was not the kind of person who wanted to y the viin. However, unlike the emperor¡¯s court, Johan¡¯s courtcked people who would take on such evil deeds. Johan was a deep-thinking man, but by Caenerna¡¯s standards, Johan was a good person. He did not employ very harsh tactics. ¡°Caenerna-gong.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to suggest it forcibly when you don¡¯t feel like it. Thank you for the suggestion.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Caenerna looked taken aback. She hadn¡¯t thought that the young duke would notice. Her face turned as red as her hair. There was nothing as shameful as having your true intentions seen through when you were acting like a viin and devising a scheme. ¡°???¡± Iselia tilted her head, not understanding the conversation between the two. ¡°My dear. . . Why. . .?¡± ¡°Shhh. She doesn¡¯t seem to be feeling well.¡± ¡°Oh. Since a wizard is frail. . . You should support her.¡± ¡°Bluea-nim. You don¡¯t have to do that. . .¡± ¡°No. Wizardsck muscle and must have umted fatigue during the journey.¡± Iselia was stubborn in this regard. Caenerna hated it very much, but Johan supported Caenerna. She was so thin that she fit right in his arms. The witch, who had been crushing herbs, asked slowly as if the conversation was over. ¡°You¡¯re not going to kill this old witch?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Your Highness is truly young.¡± Johan understood what she meant and smiled wryly. He must have meant that he was still young and hadn¡¯t tasted enough spice. But Johan didn¡¯t think so. ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of being young or old. Even if I was twice my age, I wouldn¡¯t have done that.¡± ¡°If rumors spread. . .?¡± ¡°If rumors spread, I will confront them head-on. I don¡¯t want to repay kindness with enmity and kill an innocent person to hide a secret.¡± Johan spoke forcefully as if he would no longer indulge in mean tricks, and opened the door of the tent. Instantly, the hot sunlight streaming down outside the tent enveloped Johan¡¯s back like a halo. The witch avoided his gaze, feeling overwhelmed. ¡°Why is that? Is something wrong?¡± ¡°No. . . It¡¯s nothing. Your Highness . If you leave it to me, I will do my best to restore it in return for sparing this old witch¡¯s life.¡± ¡°I will ask for your help.¡± ???????????? ¡®???????? ???????? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ??????????????????. ???????????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ Ulrike, who was defending a different fiefdom and heading south from a little further north than Johan, was experiencing the most terrible moment of this expedition. It was so terrible that she thought elf king Angoldolph would be better. ¡°Ulrike-gong! A letter from His Highness the Duke!¡± It would have been better if it was Duke Yeats, but sadly, it was a letter from Duke Bronquia. Duke Bronquia. A great feudal lord in the northeast of the empire, and a noble who once belonged to the emperor¡¯s faction. . . but in fact, it was a bit ambiguous. If you look back through history, the two families were rivals more often. When the emperor was alive, even Duke Bronquia dared not confront him and submitted, but now it was the opposite. The emperor was dead and the emperor¡¯s family suffered a major blow. It was only natural that the Duke Bronquia would be arrogant. In a way, it was like a foregone conclusion that Duke Bronquia would participate in the expedition to the Holy Land for greater authority and glory. The problem was that this Duke Bronquia was disgustingly greedy. Someone who¡¯s about as good as a duke was, behaving like an apprentice knight rolling on the ground, determined to pick up even a single merit. From Ulrike¡¯s perspective, it was maddening. How did he even get this old. . . ¡°Should we move separately?¡± ¡°. . .Even if he is unlucky, we are not the enemy. Let¡¯s endure it.¡± The knights noticed some blood seeping into Ulrike¡¯s tightly clenched fist. They could guess how enraged their lord had be. ¡°Scouts have discovered Tahkreng Castle!¡± ¡°Finally!¡± ¡°Duke Bronquia said he would go in first. . .¡± ¡°Ignore him.¡± Ulrike answered readily. Now that the long journey was over, there was no need to cater to that duke¡¯s whims anymore. ???????????? ¡°Let¡¯s advance, Duke!¡± ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????¡¯ Johan had to do his best to hide his trembling expression. Duke Bronquia, who had an impressive mustache, insisted on advancing as soon as they met and exchanged greetings. For Johan, who was shrewdly calcting when to retreat, he was an unwee guest., The witch, who had returned rather unhurriedly, was puzzled at the sight of the crowd gathered around the tent. She parted her lips, her voice slightly hoarse. ¡°You¡¯re still not gone? This is a marvel. Why didn¡¯t you send them away? You should know better than to leave a person of honor standing outside.¡± ¡°How dare you say something like th¡ª¡± The beastmen red at her, gritting their teeth. Were they saying this, knowing how much their hearts sank because of her just now? ¡°I clearly sent someone, so why did you go out?¡± ¡°I heard that a precious herb had blossomed.¡± ¡°For a mere weed?!¡± ¡°A mere weed, you say. You, who always rush to me whenever you need help, have no idea how I wield my abilities. How am I supposed to cast magic if I don¡¯t gather those herbs? Even though you people can¡¯t bring them to me.¡± ¡°Even so, there¡¯s a time and ce for everything! His Highness the Duke is waiting. . . If this bes a bigger issue, a single head won¡¯t be enough to pay for it. Anyway, go inside quickly!¡± ¡°Oh,e on. . . Don¡¯t push me. Aren¡¯t you rushing an old woman too much?¡± ¡°Even rushing you now is not enough! What if His Highness falls into a rage?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve lived long enough to not have any regrets?¡± The faces of the younger beastman flushed red at the witch¡¯s words. The witch, seeing that, chuckled wickedly. ¡°That¡¯s why you should have treated the elderly a bit better.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Johan, who was standing behind, nodded in agreement. Suetlg didn¡¯t say anything, but he looked pleased. It was nice to see a tradition where any race knows to treat the elderly within their tribe with respect. Some barbarians abandon their elders in the mountains and let birds peck at their entrails, but that is an act that deserves divine punishment. . . ¡°Your, Your Highness. The person you were looking for is here.¡± ¡°I know because I heard it. Even if you urge an older person, you are urging him too much. Let them wait a little.¡± ¡°Oh. Yes. . .¡± Johan helped the witch in person. The witch looked at the young duke with a surprised look. It was quite rare to see a noble of high rank act like this. ¡°Your Highness is. . . too kind?¡± ¡°There are handful of wizards around, so I¡¯m just showing them the respect they deserve.¡± At those words, the witch looked at Suetlg and asked. ¡°Oh, is that person already in poor health and needs help walking?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Seeing Suetlg raising her eyebrows, Caenerna whispered from the side. ¡°I think you know that you have to put up with it?¡± ¡°. . .Let¡¯s not talk about it separately.¡± The witch, after entering the tent, tried to entertain the party in person. The inside of the tent was filled with a peculiar smell. It seemed to be a mixture of the smell of burning herbs, as well as the smell of frankincense and myrrh. And the wizards were very interested in the mysterious aura permeating the tent. The witch was also surprised by the fact that all those who had entered the tent were wizards. ¡°Today, people of high status and nobility havee as guests to an old witch like me, against all odds. Right. What did youe to say?¡± ¡°They said you are an excellent artisan. Can you perhaps restore this crown?¡± Before a deep discussion about magic began, Johan spoke about his main topic. If the wizards started talking, it would be difficult for Johan to interject. The witch took the crown and began to examine it carefully and skillfully. The witch put the crown down with an indifferent expression. ¡®?? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan was a little disappointed. He had been somewhat expecting, thanks to what the fairy had said. ¡°May I ask where you obtained this item?¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Johan stopped as he was about to speak. He was about to say that he had received it from a fairy, but even to him, it felt. . . ridiculous. Wouldn¡¯t that sound like something a lying minstrel would say? ¡°Why can¡¯t you speak?¡± Suetlg wondered. He had a look of iprehension on his face. ¡°Saying that I got it from a fairy is a bit. . . unbing. . .¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? You received it from a fairy.¡± The witch was not surprised. ¡°It¡¯s not surprising since fairies often possess old treasures. Even though time and dust erase memories and graves, fairies forget nothing. . .¡± ¡°So what kind of item is it?¡± Suetlg asked, getting impatient. Suetlg was also curious about what the crown was. Could it be the crown of a barbaric king who had once ruled this area? Or could it hold a moreplicated story within? At that question, the witch smiled wickedly. ¡°I see now, Wizard. It seems you have little interest in religion. You may know a lot about the history of kings and nobles, but you don¡¯t know much about religion?¡± Johan defended him instead. ¡°There¡¯s no need to know everything. And you, artisan. You¡¯d better be careful with your words. I can forgive your impudence towards me with leniency, but I will not forgive your impudence towards the philosophers who serve under me.¡± ¡°I. . . I apologize, Your Highness . I¡¯ve be more ill-tempered as I¡¯ve gotten older. . . Anyway, if you knew even a little bit about religion, you would have realized right away that this crown is not the crown of a king or a noble. This is the crown of a saint buried in a Holy Land tomb.¡± ¡°. . . . . .!!¡± At the witch¡¯s words, which were spoken so nonchntly about something so shocking, the people present thought for a moment that it was nothing special. But it wasn¡¯t. ¡°What nonsense! The crown of a saint is currently held by the family that protects the Holy Land. Hasn¡¯t it been passed down from generation to generation?¡± The family that had upied the Holy Land called themselves the protectors of the Holy Land instead of kings or counts. It was a kind of religious title and designation, but the power that name held was far stronger than that of an average king. And one of the treasures symbolizing this protector of the Holy Land was the crown of the saint. It is true that the family was wiped out not long ago when they were upied by pagans, but since they had upied the Holy Land until then, wouldn¡¯t that family have the crown? At Suetlg¡¯s words, the witch nodded. ¡°This old witch also thought until just now that the protector of the Holy Land had this crown, but when you live in the world for a long time, things like this happen. What was right bes wrong, and white bes ck.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan nodded as he heard those words. In fact, such things were surprisinglymon. Just as a family that lost its famous sword, the symbol of the family, prepared a fake sword for reasons of respect, the family that had gained the title of protector of the Holy Land might have lost the crown and prepared a fake crown. Who would dare point that out? ¡°. . . . . .¡± When Caenerna put on a look of deep thought, Johan asked curiously. ¡°Caenerna-gong. What do you think?¡± ¡°Oh. . . Your Highness .¡± Caenerna¡¯s husky voice dropped even lower, bing so soft that only Johan could hear it. ¡°I was thinking that we should kill the witch, Your Excellency. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan flinched, realizing what Caenerna meant. Iselia shook her head as if she didn¡¯t want to do that. ¡°Should we cut down a person who is innocent and unarmed?¡± ¡°But Bluea-nim, the crown of the saint is worth it.¡± The crown of the saint was an item whose power as a symbol was far stronger than its own power. Especially since it was now in the hands of a devout feudal lord who hade from the far west, the people of the world could not help but interpret it as an omen and a revtion. However, the expeditionary force now consisted not only of Johan¡¯s expeditionary force, but also of several other powerful feudal lords of the empire. Would they like it if they heard such rumors? Caenerna didn¡¯t think so. Caenerna¡¯s eyes, which were filled with malice, turned cold. She was not the kind of person who wanted to y the viin. However, unlike the emperor¡¯s court, Johan¡¯s courtcked people who would take on such evil deeds. Johan was a deep-thinking man, but by Caenerna¡¯s standards, Johan was a good person. He did not employ very harsh tactics. ¡°Caenerna-gong.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to suggest it forcibly when you don¡¯t feel like it. Thank you for the suggestion.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Caenerna looked taken aback. She hadn¡¯t thought that the young duke would notice. Her face turned as red as her hair. There was nothing as shameful as having your true intentions seen through when you were acting like a viin and devising a scheme. ¡°???¡± Iselia tilted her head, not understanding the conversation between the two. ¡°My dear. . . Why. . .?¡± ¡°Shhh. She doesn¡¯t seem to be feeling well.¡± ¡°Oh. Since a wizard is frail. . . You should support her.¡± ¡°Bluea-nim. You don¡¯t have to do that. . .¡± ¡°No. Wizardsck muscle and must have umted fatigue during the journey.¡± Iselia was stubborn in this regard. Caenerna hated it very much, but Johan supported Caenerna. She was so thin that she fit right in his arms. The witch, who had been crushing herbs, asked slowly as if the conversation was over. ¡°You¡¯re not going to kill this old witch?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Your Highness is truly young.¡± Johan understood what she meant and smiled wryly. He must have meant that he was still young and hadn¡¯t tasted enough spice. But Johan didn¡¯t think so. ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of being young or old. Even if I was twice my age, I wouldn¡¯t have done that.¡± ¡°If rumors spread. . .?¡± ¡°If rumors spread, I will confront them head-on. I don¡¯t want to repay kindness with enmity and kill an innocent person to hide a secret.¡± Johan spoke forcefully as if he would no longer indulge in mean tricks, and opened the door of the tent. Instantly, the hot sunlight streaming down outside the tent enveloped Johan¡¯s back like a halo. The witch avoided his gaze, feeling overwhelmed. ¡°Why is that? Is something wrong?¡± ¡°No. . . It¡¯s nothing. Your Highness . If you leave it to me, I will do my best to restore it in return for sparing this old witch¡¯s life.¡± ¡°I will ask for your help.¡± ???????????? ¡®???????? ???????? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ??????????????????. ???????????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ Ulrike, who was defending a different fiefdom and heading south from a little further north than Johan, was experiencing the most terrible moment of this expedition. It was so terrible that she thought elf king Angoldolph would be better. ¡°Ulrike-gong! A letter from His Highness the Duke!¡± It would have been better if it was Duke Yeats, but sadly, it was a letter from Duke Bronquia. Duke Bronquia. A great feudal lord in the northeast of the empire, and a noble who once belonged to the emperor¡¯s faction. . . but in fact, it was a bit ambiguous. If you look back through history, the two families were rivals more often. When the emperor was alive, even Duke Bronquia dared not confront him and submitted, but now it was the opposite. The emperor was dead and the emperor¡¯s family suffered a major blow. It was only natural that the Duke Bronquia would be arrogant. In a way, it was like a foregone conclusion that Duke Bronquia would participate in the expedition to the Holy Land for greater authority and glory. The problem was that this Duke Bronquia was disgustingly greedy. Someone who¡¯s about as good as a duke was, behaving like an apprentice knight rolling on the ground, determined to pick up even a single merit. From Ulrike¡¯s perspective, it was maddening. How did he even get this old. . . ¡°Should we move separately?¡± ¡°. . .Even if he is unlucky, we are not the enemy. Let¡¯s endure it.¡± The knights noticed some blood seeping into Ulrike¡¯s tightly clenched fist. They could guess how enraged their lord had be. ¡°Scouts have discovered Tahkreng Castle!¡± ¡°Finally!¡± ¡°Duke Bronquia said he would go in first. . .¡± ¡°Ignore him.¡± Ulrike answered readily. Now that the long journey was over, there was no need to cater to that duke¡¯s whims anymore. ???????????? ¡°Let¡¯s advance, Duke!¡± ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????¡¯ Johan had to do his best to hide his trembling expression. Duke Bronquia, who had an impressive mustache, insisted on advancing as soon as they met and exchanged greetings. For Johan, who was shrewdly calcting when to retreat, he was an unwee guest. Chapter 311: ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? (6) Chapter 311: ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? (6) ¡°Not yet. Has all the force gathered?¡± Even the ones who have joined the expedition to the Holy Land, not to mention the neighboring feudal lords, are still not around. If we were to rashly attack, we might end up with a heavy blow. However, Duke Bronquia was absolutely certain of the current situation. ¡°Of course, duke. However, think of it this way: Don¡¯t you think they¡¯ll prepare even more if we give them more time? The Holy Land¡¯s defense will grow stronger, and thend around it will fall to the enemies.¡± ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ The duke¡¯s words went straight through Johan, who had little interest in taking back the Holy Land. However, the duke thought that Johan had been touched by his words. There was no way a devout person wouldn¡¯t get mad in this situation. ¡°We¡¯ve had about seven fierce battles on our way here. And not once have we been defeated in those battles. Do you know what that means? It means that God is on our side. Our enemies are not our match!¡±¡°Oh. . .¡± Johan listened to what the duke said and expressed his genuine admiration. He revised his opinion of the duke. Seven battles and not a single defeat? This was not something anyone could do. ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ Anyone who hasmanded a troop, even a small one, knows how hollow the phrase ¡®unbeaten general¡¯ or ¡®invincible knight¡¯ is. In a battle, defeat is sometimes inevitable. No matter how hard you fight, if you have bad luck piling up, you could lose. An outstandingmander is called outstanding because they can quickly recover from such a defeat and withdraw. But here, in this distant foreignnd, he won seven battles without a single defeat. This was truly incredible. ???????????? ¡°What ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö nonsense!¡± Abner¡¯s sessor, who they were meeting after a long time, was furious, so instead of speaking, Johan handed her some alcohol. After taking a sip of the strong wine, Ulrike let out a heavy breath and opened her mouth. ¡°Even the most useless minstrel in the fiefdom would make up a better tall tale than that.¡± ¡°Is it that bad?¡± Duke Bronquia was an ordinary noble, neither good nor bad. He was not born as a knight, but being the sessor of a grand aristocrat made it so he didn¡¯t have to go through the harsh knight lifestyle. The problem was that he was overconfident in his abilities. Feudal lords are known to have enormous pride, but shouldn¡¯t they at least not show it when the situation is dangerous? ¡®?????????? ??????????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ It wasn¡¯t from the empire, the east, or the orient. . . Johan became curious from an academic standpoint and was about to ask, but he stopped himself. It wasn¡¯t a good atmosphere to be asking questions. ¡°Those seven battles he won, was that a lie too?¡± ¡°He did win. Against a group of rogues.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± The meaning of those words was obvious. Even though arge army of enemies hadnded, it did not mean that all the enemies were gathered together. Gathering so many people in one ce eats up the local supplies. Unless it was Johan, everyone dispersed and moved around. The enemies thatnded were currently divided into two groups. One group upied the Holy Land and the surrounding area. The other group split up and raided the fiefdoms of the monotheist feudal lords. In order to raid, they had to move quickly and separately, so the size of their troops ranged from a dozen or so to a few hundred at most. On top of that, many of those troops were hastily hired mercenaries or conscripted soldiers, so their skills were bound to be inconsistent. Anyone could win a battle against guys like that, even if they were blind, deaf, and dumb. ¡°Oh, I see. So that¡¯s what it was.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you. . . really believed that, even a little? You of all people?!¡± Ulrike looked shocked. Johan of all people believed the duke¡¯s words. ¡°It¡¯s not good to have preconceived notions. I thought that even though he was reckless, he might be a master tactician.¡± ¡°. . .R-Really? Is that why you brought that Stephen kid with you?¡± ¡°No. I just brought that guy along because it makes Countess Abner pay attention. In any case, I¡¯m disappointed that that¡¯s what he was like.¡± ¡°What else did that duke talk about?¡± ¡°Hmm. Let¡¯s see. . . He said we should attack, and attack some more, and what else did he say? I didn¡¯t really pay attention, so I can¡¯t remember well. Oh, he did say that he wanted to bring the other pilgrims under mymand no matter what.¡± ¡°Aha. . .¡± Ulrike nodded. Any feudal lord would be tempted to do that. The army that the feudal lords brought with them was powerful, but the other pilgrims were also a considerable force. Of course, their skills varied from old farmers who had never fought before to veteran pdins, but their numbers and passion made them a better force than half-baked mercenaries. Pdins who prayed in the morning, swung their swords, prayed at noon, swung their swords, prayed in the evening, and swung their swords could easily take on three mercenaries. And these people gathered after hearing about his fame. When rumors spread that a certain renowned and devout feudal lord is leading an army, they came over and joined them. It was a much safer route than wandering around by themselves. In that sense, Johan was like a Pied Piper. Without even doing anything, pilgrims with strong faith gathered just to see his face. There was no way Duke Bronquia wouldn¡¯t be envious of that. ¡°I told him to do whatever he wanted.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t stop him? Why not?¡± ¡°What reason do I have to stop him?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was right. When the pilgrims decided to follow another feudal lord on their own, there was no way to stop it. However, Ulrike knew that the young duke wasn¡¯t that good-natured of an idiot. ¡°And even if I left them alone, I didn¡¯t think it would be that easy.¡± Duke Bronquia didn¡¯t have a good reputation. There were very few people from the emperor¡¯s faction who had good things to say about the order. He sent a letter to the order and donated money after the civil war was over, but the order wasn¡¯t foolish enough to forget what happened just because of a few gold coins. ¡°True. No priest would follow Duke Bronquia.¡± Ulrike recalled the journey to get to where they were now. It was difficult to stay vignt against surprise enemy attacks, but dealing with the nagging priests was just as bad. Priests who didn¡¯t bend to power or wealth were always a pain in the neck of feudal lords. If a feudal lord collected some taxes, they woulde and say, ¡®Today, I will tell the brothers the old tale of those who were punished for their wealth. . .¡¯ and if the feudal lord asked for somebor service, they woulde and say, ¡®???????? ????-??????-???? ?????? ???????????? ??????, ?????? ???????? ????-??????-???? ?????? ???????? ??????????, ???? ???????????? ???? ????????????????¡¯ while shedding tears. From the feudal lords¡¯ perspective, priests were nothing but annoying. The pilgrimage to the Holy Land was no different. If a feudal lord indulged in luxuries, or if the feudal lord¡¯s subordinates caused trouble or raided the pilgrims, they woulde and. . . ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ????.¡¯ Johan listened in silence. Ulrike was a strong and capable feudal lord, but they were also human. Even strong people sometimes get frustrated and feel the need to vent somewhere. In times like those, it was helpful to just listen quietly without saying anything. In fact, after Ulrike finished venting, they let out an awkward cough. ¡°. . .I¡¯m sorry. I went on for too long about things that don¡¯t concern you.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s fine. It was an interesting story.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m sure the duke also had a hard time because of the priests?¡± ¡°I had no problem with the priests.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike red up a little. ???????????? Uvarik, the vampire noble who led the ¡®Second Crescent¡¯ tribe, looked around with extremely vignt eyes. There was a thick forest and many hills near this unnamed small town, so there was a possibility of an ambush. ¡°Master, I¡¯ve confirmed it several ti. . .¡± ¡°Be quiet!¡± ¡°S-Sorry.¡± Normally, his personality wasn¡¯t this foul, but right now Uvarik was extremely sensitive. He kept scouting the area again and again, but the area surrounding them was empty. ¡°Whew. . .¡± The ves working under Uvarik grumbled as if they couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°What the hell is he doing?¡± The ves, who were not familiar with the rumors, didn¡¯t understand the fear that Uvarik had. Yeheyman, who had managed to somehow calm down themotion in the Holy Land, felt the need to regain the courage he had lost. He pointed out a few nobles under hismand. These unfortunate ones had to raise troops, go north, and upy towns while being wary of the monotheists who could appear at any moment. That was fine on its own. However, Uvarik was a noble who fought alongside Yeheyman in Vynashchtym. He couldn¡¯t forget the image of a duke born from a demon on a ship in that distantnd, swinging his weapon, and it was stuck in his mind like tar. ¡°Is there really none??¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°If you find even one, hang ten of them!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Uvarik looked down at the vigers who were prostrating themselves with a vignt expression. Normally, he would have whipped them, extorted their money, or insulted their faith, but he was so nervous that he didn¡¯t even think about doing that. The vigers murmured at his appearance. ¡®????????????????????????, ?? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????????¡¯ ¡°A g in the north! A g in the north! The pagans areing!¡± ¡°What did I say! What did I say!! Yeheyman, you cursed. . .¡± ¡°Master! Please! Listen to m. . .¡± The ves were terrified when Uvarik tried to curse the suprememander in front of his soldiers. However, Uvarik was too caught up in his panic to care and kept cursing Yeheman. ¡°Give the order to retreat. . .¡± ¡°Please master! We can¡¯t go back now!¡± It was the loyal ves who held on to Uvarik as he tried to escape. They also had an idea. In a situation like this, if you ignore orders and just go back, no matter how noble you are, you could end up hanging. Uvarik seemed to understand that and gritted his teeth before nodding. His fingertips were trembling. ¡°Prepare for battle! Deploy soldiers on the town walls and aim your arrows! Shower them so that the enemies can¡¯te! Don¡¯t let theme here! Make them go somewhere else!¡± ¡°Y-Yes sir.¡± The soldiers nodded at the feudal lord¡¯s spirited words. Strangely enough, the soldiers were more alert after hearing his outburst. ¡°They¡¯reing!¡± Armed cavalry began to charge from beyond the horizon amid clouds of dust. The soldiers squinted their eyes and looked ahead. There were marked rocks in front of the town, and those rocks allowed the archers to estimate the distance. ¡°They¡¯ve passed it, fire!¡± Archers revealed themselves from behind the palisade and began to shower arrows. A few arrows hit the heavily armored cavalry, but it didn¡¯t slow them down. ¡°Gods, please. Gods, please!¡± Uvarik prayed desperately for the enemies to be kept out of the town. Surprisingly, Uvarik¡¯s fear was having a positive effect on the town¡¯s defense. Thanks to hastily dug moats and piled up obstacles made of broken furniture and carts, the cavalry¡¯s movements were halted. The wandering cavalry gathered in front of the main gate. ¡°Break through the main gate!¡± ¡°Block them!! Block them!! Don¡¯t let theme in! If theye in, we¡¯ll all die!!¡± ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ??????. . .?¡¯ The knights serving under Uvarik were frustrated by their lord¡¯s fear, but they kept quiet and fought for now. Thanks to the enemies being concentrated at the main gate, their movements seemed to have gotten even slower. Some of them got off their horses to fight, but the main gate didn¡¯t fall easily. ¡°Don¡¯t back down! Our lord is watching!¡± ¡°Why for this stupid town?!¡± The pagan knight looked at the town in confusion. When he heard news that enemy troops were in the area, he received Duke Bronquia¡¯s orders and came here. . . But the resistance was much stronger than expected. ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????¡¯ He thought that they would just run away if he charged through the main gate, but instead, his own casualties were increasing. No matter how well-armored they were, they were bound to get hurt if they got hit by arrows. One by one, they began to fall. ¡°Retreat! Retreat!!¡± In the end, they couldn¡¯t withstand it and began to retreat from the attack. Uvarik was shocked and raised his head when he saw the enemy start to run away. ¡°M-Master! The enemies are running away!¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°But they¡¯re running away. . .!¡± ¡°Uvarik-nim. Order the pursuit!¡± ¡°No! It could be a trap!¡± ¡°No. . .¡± ¡°Tell everyone to stay vignt!¡± ¡°Should we execute the ones we¡¯ve captured?¡± ¡°What. . . Treat them and take good care of them!¡± ¡°Even the ones who won¡¯t pay the ransom??¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°S-Sorry.¡±, ¡°Not yet. Has all the force gathered?¡± Even the ones who have joined the expedition to the Holy Land, not to mention the neighboring feudal lords, are still not around. If we were to rashly attack, we might end up with a heavy blow. However, Duke Bronquia was absolutely certain of the current situation. ¡°Of course, duke. However, think of it this way: Don¡¯t you think they¡¯ll prepare even more if we give them more time? The Holy Land¡¯s defense will grow stronger, and thend around it will fall to the enemies.¡± ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ The duke¡¯s words went straight through Johan, who had little interest in taking back the Holy Land. However, the duke thought that Johan had been touched by his words. There was no way a devout person wouldn¡¯t get mad in this situation. ¡°We¡¯ve had about seven fierce battles on our way here. And not once have we been defeated in those battles. Do you know what that means? It means that God is on our side. Our enemies are not our match!¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± Johan listened to what the duke said and expressed his genuine admiration. He revised his opinion of the duke. Seven battles and not a single defeat? This was not something anyone could do. ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ Anyone who hasmanded a troop, even a small one, knows how hollow the phrase ¡®unbeaten general¡¯ or ¡®invincible knight¡¯ is. In a battle, defeat is sometimes inevitable. No matter how hard you fight, if you have bad luck piling up, you could lose. An outstandingmander is called outstanding because they can quickly recover from such a defeat and withdraw. But here, in this distant foreignnd, he won seven battles without a single defeat. This was truly incredible. ???????????? ¡°What ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö nonsense!¡± Abner¡¯s sessor, who they were meeting after a long time, was furious, so instead of speaking, Johan handed her some alcohol. After taking a sip of the strong wine, Ulrike let out a heavy breath and opened her mouth. ¡°Even the most useless minstrel in the fiefdom would make up a better tall tale than that.¡± ¡°Is it that bad?¡± Duke Bronquia was an ordinary noble, neither good nor bad. He was not born as a knight, but being the sessor of a grand aristocrat made it so he didn¡¯t have to go through the harsh knight lifestyle. The problem was that he was overconfident in his abilities. Feudal lords are known to have enormous pride, but shouldn¡¯t they at least not show it when the situation is dangerous? ¡®?????????? ??????????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ It wasn¡¯t from the empire, the east, or the orient. . . Johan became curious from an academic standpoint and was about to ask, but he stopped himself. It wasn¡¯t a good atmosphere to be asking questions. ¡°Those seven battles he won, was that a lie too?¡± ¡°He did win. Against a group of rogues.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± The meaning of those words was obvious. Even though arge army of enemies hadnded, it did not mean that all the enemies were gathered together. Gathering so many people in one ce eats up the local supplies. Unless it was Johan, everyone dispersed and moved around. The enemies thatnded were currently divided into two groups. One group upied the Holy Land and the surrounding area. The other group split up and raided the fiefdoms of the monotheist feudal lords. In order to raid, they had to move quickly and separately, so the size of their troops ranged from a dozen or so to a few hundred at most. On top of that, many of those troops were hastily hired mercenaries or conscripted soldiers, so their skills were bound to be inconsistent. Anyone could win a battle against guys like that, even if they were blind, deaf, and dumb. ¡°Oh, I see. So that¡¯s what it was.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you. . . really believed that, even a little? You of all people?!¡± Ulrike looked shocked. Johan of all people believed the duke¡¯s words. ¡°It¡¯s not good to have preconceived notions. I thought that even though he was reckless, he might be a master tactician.¡± ¡°. . .R-Really? Is that why you brought that Stephen kid with you?¡± ¡°No. I just brought that guy along because it makes Countess Abner pay attention. In any case, I¡¯m disappointed that that¡¯s what he was like.¡± ¡°What else did that duke talk about?¡± ¡°Hmm. Let¡¯s see. . . He said we should attack, and attack some more, and what else did he say? I didn¡¯t really pay attention, so I can¡¯t remember well. Oh, he did say that he wanted to bring the other pilgrims under mymand no matter what.¡± ¡°Aha. . .¡± Ulrike nodded. Any feudal lord would be tempted to do that. The army that the feudal lords brought with them was powerful, but the other pilgrims were also a considerable force. Of course, their skills varied from old farmers who had never fought before to veteran pdins, but their numbers and passion made them a better force than half-baked mercenaries. Pdins who prayed in the morning, swung their swords, prayed at noon, swung their swords, prayed in the evening, and swung their swords could easily take on three mercenaries. And these people gathered after hearing about his fame. When rumors spread that a certain renowned and devout feudal lord is leading an army, they came over and joined them. It was a much safer route than wandering around by themselves. In that sense, Johan was like a Pied Piper. Without even doing anything, pilgrims with strong faith gathered just to see his face. There was no way Duke Bronquia wouldn¡¯t be envious of that. ¡°I told him to do whatever he wanted.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t stop him? Why not?¡± ¡°What reason do I have to stop him?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was right. When the pilgrims decided to follow another feudal lord on their own, there was no way to stop it. However, Ulrike knew that the young duke wasn¡¯t that good-natured of an idiot. ¡°And even if I left them alone, I didn¡¯t think it would be that easy.¡± Duke Bronquia didn¡¯t have a good reputation. There were very few people from the emperor¡¯s faction who had good things to say about the order. He sent a letter to the order and donated money after the civil war was over, but the order wasn¡¯t foolish enough to forget what happened just because of a few gold coins. ¡°True. No priest would follow Duke Bronquia.¡± Ulrike recalled the journey to get to where they were now. It was difficult to stay vignt against surprise enemy attacks, but dealing with the nagging priests was just as bad. Priests who didn¡¯t bend to power or wealth were always a pain in the neck of feudal lords. If a feudal lord collected some taxes, they woulde and say, ¡®Today, I will tell the brothers the old tale of those who were punished for their wealth. . .¡¯ and if the feudal lord asked for somebor service, they woulde and say, ¡®???????? ????-??????-???? ?????? ???????????? ??????, ?????? ???????? ????-??????-???? ?????? ???????? ??????????, ???? ???????????? ???? ????????????????¡¯ while shedding tears. From the feudal lords¡¯ perspective, priests were nothing but annoying. The pilgrimage to the Holy Land was no different. If a feudal lord indulged in luxuries, or if the feudal lord¡¯s subordinates caused trouble or raided the pilgrims, they woulde and. . . ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ????.¡¯ Johan listened in silence. Ulrike was a strong and capable feudal lord, but they were also human. Even strong people sometimes get frustrated and feel the need to vent somewhere. In times like those, it was helpful to just listen quietly without saying anything. In fact, after Ulrike finished venting, they let out an awkward cough. ¡°. . .I¡¯m sorry. I went on for too long about things that don¡¯t concern you.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s fine. It was an interesting story.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m sure the duke also had a hard time because of the priests?¡± ¡°I had no problem with the priests.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike red up a little. ???????????? Uvarik, the vampire noble who led the ¡®Second Crescent¡¯ tribe, looked around with extremely vignt eyes. There was a thick forest and many hills near this unnamed small town, so there was a possibility of an ambush. ¡°Master, I¡¯ve confirmed it several ti. . .¡± ¡°Be quiet!¡± ¡°S-Sorry.¡± Normally, his personality wasn¡¯t this foul, but right now Uvarik was extremely sensitive. He kept scouting the area again and again, but the area surrounding them was empty. ¡°Whew. . .¡± The ves working under Uvarik grumbled as if they couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°What the hell is he doing?¡± The ves, who were not familiar with the rumors, didn¡¯t understand the fear that Uvarik had. Yeheyman, who had managed to somehow calm down themotion in the Holy Land, felt the need to regain the courage he had lost. He pointed out a few nobles under hismand. These unfortunate ones had to raise troops, go north, and upy towns while being wary of the monotheists who could appear at any moment. That was fine on its own. However, Uvarik was a noble who fought alongside Yeheyman in Vynashchtym. He couldn¡¯t forget the image of a duke born from a demon on a ship in that distantnd, swinging his weapon, and it was stuck in his mind like tar. ¡°Is there really none??¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°If you find even one, hang ten of them!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Uvarik looked down at the vigers who were prostrating themselves with a vignt expression. Normally, he would have whipped them, extorted their money, or insulted their faith, but he was so nervous that he didn¡¯t even think about doing that. The vigers murmured at his appearance. ¡®????????????????????????, ?? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????????¡¯ ¡°A g in the north! A g in the north! The pagans areing!¡± ¡°What did I say! What did I say!! Yeheyman, you cursed. . .¡± ¡°Master! Please! Listen to m. . .¡± The ves were terrified when Uvarik tried to curse the suprememander in front of his soldiers. However, Uvarik was too caught up in his panic to care and kept cursing Yeheman. ¡°Give the order to retreat. . .¡± ¡°Please master! We can¡¯t go back now!¡± It was the loyal ves who held on to Uvarik as he tried to escape. They also had an idea. In a situation like this, if you ignore orders and just go back, no matter how noble you are, you could end up hanging. Uvarik seemed to understand that and gritted his teeth before nodding. His fingertips were trembling. ¡°Prepare for battle! Deploy soldiers on the town walls and aim your arrows! Shower them so that the enemies can¡¯te! Don¡¯t let theme here! Make them go somewhere else!¡± ¡°Y-Yes sir.¡± The soldiers nodded at the feudal lord¡¯s spirited words. Strangely enough, the soldiers were more alert after hearing his outburst. ¡°They¡¯reing!¡± Armed cavalry began to charge from beyond the horizon amid clouds of dust. The soldiers squinted their eyes and looked ahead. There were marked rocks in front of the town, and those rocks allowed the archers to estimate the distance. ¡°They¡¯ve passed it, fire!¡± Archers revealed themselves from behind the palisade and began to shower arrows. A few arrows hit the heavily armored cavalry, but it didn¡¯t slow them down. ¡°Gods, please. Gods, please!¡± Uvarik prayed desperately for the enemies to be kept out of the town. Surprisingly, Uvarik¡¯s fear was having a positive effect on the town¡¯s defense. Thanks to hastily dug moats and piled up obstacles made of broken furniture and carts, the cavalry¡¯s movements were halted. The wandering cavalry gathered in front of the main gate. ¡°Break through the main gate!¡± ¡°Block them!! Block them!! Don¡¯t let theme in! If theye in, we¡¯ll all die!!¡± ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ??????. . .?¡¯ The knights serving under Uvarik were frustrated by their lord¡¯s fear, but they kept quiet and fought for now. Thanks to the enemies being concentrated at the main gate, their movements seemed to have gotten even slower. Some of them got off their horses to fight, but the main gate didn¡¯t fall easily. ¡°Don¡¯t back down! Our lord is watching!¡± ¡°Why for this stupid town?!¡± The pagan knight looked at the town in confusion. When he heard news that enemy troops were in the area, he received Duke Bronquia¡¯s orders and came here. . . But the resistance was much stronger than expected. ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????¡¯ He thought that they would just run away if he charged through the main gate, but instead, his own casualties were increasing. No matter how well-armored they were, they were bound to get hurt if they got hit by arrows. One by one, they began to fall. ¡°Retreat! Retreat!!¡± In the end, they couldn¡¯t withstand it and began to retreat from the attack. Uvarik was shocked and raised his head when he saw the enemy start to run away. ¡°M-Master! The enemies are running away!¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°But they¡¯re running away. . .!¡± ¡°Uvarik-nim. Order the pursuit!¡± ¡°No! It could be a trap!¡± ¡°No. . .¡± ¡°Tell everyone to stay vignt!¡± ¡°Should we execute the ones we¡¯ve captured?¡± ¡°What. . . Treat them and take good care of them!¡± ¡°Even the ones who won¡¯t pay the ransom??¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°S-Sorry.¡± Chapter 312: ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? (7) Chapter 312: ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? (7) Uvarik¡¯s campaign had an unexpected consequence. Uvarik could hardly believe it as he stood at the top of the tower, looking around. The enemies really were running away. ¡°This is strange. Strange. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± The ve beside him was annoyed by his master¡¯s behavior, but he couldn¡¯t help it. Uvarik pondered, and as he did, he noticed something about the retreating enemy¡¯s g. He didn¡¯t see any familiar patterns. ¡°That wasn¡¯t the Duke¡¯s army!¡± ¡°Is that. . . that important?¡± ¡°You fool, of course that¡¯s important. It¡¯s a given that you should know who you¡¯re fighting.¡± Uvarik¡¯s face rxed slightly. He looked relieved as he climbed down from the tower. ¡°It seems that the Duke himself didn¡¯te. That would make sense, now that I think about it. How big is this area? It¡¯s ridiculous to think that I would meet the Duke.¡±¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s the gods¡¯ doing. Shall we execute the prisoners, then?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to talk about executions?!¡± ¡°My humblest apologies.¡± Uvarik¡¯s vassals stopped asking and brought in the fallen pagans. He wondered if he should bother treating these poor pilgrims who probably wouldn¡¯t fetch a good ransom, unlike knights or nobles, yet what could he do? He had to do as his master said. One of Uvarik¡¯s quick-witted knights spoke up to appease his master. ¡°Master, this victory is truly impressive. You didn¡¯t even let the enemy knights enter the town. Yeheyman-nim will be delighted.¡± ¡°What. . .¡± Uvarik was taken aback. He would have enjoyed the praise under normal circumstances, but he was still terrified of the Duke. The knight noticed this and spoke more firmly. ¡°Master, the monotheists are greedy and violent. There must be a reason why the Duke hasn¡¯t shown his face even after reaching Tahkreng Castle.¡± ¡°Could he have angered the gods by making a pact with the demon?!¡± ¡°. . .Perhaps.¡± The knight was someone who didn¡¯t put much stock in superstitions. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s more likely that there¡¯s a deep-rooted internal conflict? After all, the monotheists are known to fight among themselves.¡± Of course, the royalists were also known for fighting for merits and causing internal strife, but that didn¡¯t matter in the current situation. People¡¯s habits hardly change, just as they hadn¡¯t changed in the past hundred or two hundred years. It wasn¡¯t umon for credited lords to be held back by the jealousy and vignce of others, or for those who had upied a region to fall to attacks by other lords. The knight¡¯s words were exactly what the frightened Uvarik wanted to hear. Uvarik was tempted by his words. To be exact, he wanted to believe his words. ¡°. . .That makes sense! It doesn¡¯t make sense that someone like the Duke hasn¡¯t shown his face yet. I¡¯ve never even seen his army.¡± ¡°Yes, something must have happened.¡± ¡°I see. . . I see. Then perhaps I can take more initiative. Send a messenger to Yeheyman-nim. He¡¯ll need to hear of this battle¡¯s victory.¡± ???????????? When one side rejoices in victory, the other side is bound to be furious at their defeat. Duke Bronquia¡¯s camp was in such a state. ¡°What did His Highness say?¡± ¡°He was furious, like a fire.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The knights who had returned reported the defeat with as much embellishment as possible. They said that the number of enemies was several times greater and that they had retreated after being terrified by the allied forces, but that they had also suffered considerable casualties. Of course, the Duke was not satisfied with this. After all, he hadn¡¯t managed to conquer the region. The Duke immediately reorganized his army and ordered them to march out again. The captain of the mercenarypany emerged from the tent, looking less than pleased. He was the captain of one of the five mercenarypanies, working under Duke Bronquia. His expression made it clear that the attack hadn¡¯t gone well. ¡°It¡¯s all well and good to advance, but our supplies aren¡¯t fully prepared yet. I believe we should wait a little longer.¡± ¡°Biorarn-gong, how could you say something so cowardly? While we wait here, our brethren in the Holy Land are suffering!¡± ¡°. . . .¡± Biorarn was momentarily speechless. He had never been called a coward before, so he had missed the timing to respond. His knights were furious, but Biorarn signaled them to stand down. Now was not the time for the northerners to be fighting among themselves. Biorarn was currently moving with Duke Bronquia¡¯s army. Being from the northern part of the empire and being a supporter of the emperor were strong points inmon. Rather than associating with other lords who held grudges for no reason, it seemed like a better choice to be with the Duke who had an army of thousands. The problem was that the Duke was much more aggressive than Biorarn. Biorarn didn¡¯t know how to persuade someone who was more aggressive than himself. ¡°But the supplies. . .¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t many areas that the enemy upies. We can take them one by one and seize their supplies.¡± ¡°But what if something happens?¡± ¡°Nothing will happen!¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we at least get some support from the other lords?¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. I¡¯ve already spoken to them, and they didn¡¯t give me a proper answer. They just kept beating around the bush.¡± Duke Bronquia said indignantly. Duke Yeats¡¯ lukewarm response had disappointed Duke Bronquia. Refusing to march together and refusing to lend him the crusaders (although there was no reason to do so) were enough to disappoint Duke Bronquia. ¡°I thought he was a brave man. . .¡± ¡°The Duke is a brave man.¡± ¡°Then he must be acting this way because of his resentment from the war.¡± ¡°Listen carefully. There aren¡¯t many we can trust besides the northerners.¡± The nobles who still belonged to the emperor¡¯s faction asionally showed hostility mixed with resentment. Biorarn knew this, but he thought Duke Yeats was an exception, at least. ¡®?????? ?? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ Biorarn wasn¡¯t very perceptive, but he could tell that it wasn¡¯t a good idea to say that now. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll order my knights to join the march.¡± ¡°If possible, try to persuade the crusaders and priests to join the march as well.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try, but. . . I don¡¯t have much confidence.¡± Biorarn wasn¡¯t particrly close to the crusaders or priests either. They didn¡¯t respect Biorarn either. ???????????? While the Duke was causing amotion, Johan had been steadily building his foundation. He sent some of the treasures he had acquired to the lords to pressure them into sending troops, sent soldiers to nearby ports to prepare for any eventuality, and used the gold he had received as ransom to hire more supplies and soldiers. . . ¡°Even pagans??¡± ¡°Shhh, keep your voice down. I¡¯m only telling you this.¡± Johan put his hand over Ulrike¡¯s mouth. Their voices wouldn¡¯t carry outside the thick tent, but it was no good to speak loudly. Ulrike blushed and pushed his hand away. It was shocking to hear that he had hired pagan chieftains. They weren¡¯t people who could simply be hired with money. ¡°How did you get close to them?¡± ¡°The old king¡¯s son formed a marriage alliance with a pagan lord, so I got to know them while traveling around the fiefdom.¡± ¡°You were doing something like that. . .!¡± Ulrike was astounded by the young Duke¡¯s scheming. While others were looking for expeditions and fiefdoms, this Duke had alreadyid the groundwork. Suddenly, Ulrike felt a chill run down her spine. Having grown up under Countess Abner, Ulrike wasn¡¯t easily surprised by schemes and plots. However, the young Duke before her now felt like a much more formidable opponent than even Countess Abner. Ulrike looked at the Duke with newfound respect. ¡®??¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ Countess Abner was a busy lord, so she didn¡¯t spend much time with Ulrike. Ulrike had also been busy learning from priests, wizards, and tutors, andter managing her own fiefdom. Whenever she met the Countess, they only talked about administration, governance, and secret strategies. They were closer to teacher and student than parent and child. ©¥?? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????. ©¥???? ????????????. . . ©¥???????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ????????. ????¡¯?? ?? ?????????? ???? ????????. ??????????????, ????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????. ??¡¯?? ???????? ?? ?????????? ??????????. ?? ???????? ????????????????, ?????? ?? ????????. ©¥. . . ©¥?? ?????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????. ??????¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ??????????????. ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ????, ???????? ???????? ????. ©¥?????? ???? ????????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????????????. ©¥??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????. ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ????, ??¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???????? ??????????????. ©¥. . .! ¡°What are you thinking? You¡¯re not going to criticize me for my faith now, are you?¡± Johan¡¯s voice brought Ulrike out of her reverie. Ulrike flinched. ¡°N-No.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Why would I suddenly criticize you for your faith now? We¡¯re both non-believers.¡± ¡°Why do you say we? I¡¯m someone who priests like.¡± Ulrike smiled wryly at Johan¡¯s joke. ¡°I was just surprised that you had gotten close to the pagan chieftains in the meantime.¡± ¡°Ah, is that what it was? It was a bit difficult at first because our customs were different, but I was able to get pretty close to them after putting in some effort.¡± The difference between Countess Abner and Johan was evident in this regard. Ulrike couldn¡¯t even imagine Countess Abner being friendly with centaurs like Johan. Pagans would be even more unimaginable. ¡°Can you trust them?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°. . . .¡± ¡°Why are you asking such an obvious question? They¡¯re humans, so they¡¯ll side with us when it¡¯s advantageous and side with the other when it¡¯s not advantageous. It¡¯s natural to take that into ount.¡± Ulrike nodded. She was impressed by the Duke¡¯s strategy, but the person in question was thinking very realistically. Johan had judged that it would be advantageous for the pagan tribes to wander around and keep the enemy in check, or even to maintain neutrality. He didn¡¯t expect anything more than that. Would they really go that far for him? ¡®???????? ????¡¯???? ???????????????? ????????????, ????¡¯???? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????????????. ?? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ????????????. ???? ???????????? ?? ???? ???? ???????????¡¯ Gathering troops, boosting morale, and securing castles and fortresses with a thorough defense. It would be hell for the great army that hade a long way. ¡°. . .Duke?¡± ¡°Oh, sorry. What were we talking about?¡± ¡°I asked what you were going to do about Duke Bronquia.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll fight with him a little and thene back.¡± Duke Bronquia had tried to persuade Johan in all sorts of ways, but with the Duke¡¯s level of political power, he could never sway Johan. Their reputations within the empire, as well as their rtionship with the order, were far too different. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that Duke Bronquia¡¯s army wasn¡¯t small or made up of weaklings? If that¡¯s the case, they won¡¯t be easily defeated, even if they fail to besiege the city.¡± ¡°What if they end up conquering the Holy Land?¡± ¡°What?¡± Johan smiled wryly. Ulrike looked away slightly, feeling like her true feelings had been discovered. ¡°Were you thinking about that? You? Were you worried that he would be the first to conquer the Holy Land?¡± ¡°. . .Since it fell so easily, it¡¯s possible to worry about that.¡± ¡°Do you think the same thing will happen twice? It won¡¯t happen. Even if it does, it¡¯s better than being annihted by the pagans.¡± ¡°But still. . .¡± ¡°Of course, I can understand how you feel. I wouldn¡¯t be happy about that either.¡± Johan closed the book containing the maps and supplies and stood up. ¡°I have a prior engagement today, so I¡¯ll excuse myself first.¡± ¡°What engagement?¡± ¡°I have to entertain the neers who came to the camp. They like stacking stones more than drinking. They seem to prefer me as their opponent.¡± ¡°Is it that fun?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fun if it¡¯s fun, and it¡¯s not if it¡¯s not. . . Are you curious? I can teach you if you want.¡± ¡°!¡± Ulrike was surprised by the unexpected offer. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°What¡¯s so difficult about this? You can learn well enough if you just have the time. You¡¯re a bright person, so you¡¯ll. . .¡± Before Ulrike could answer, the sound of a horse galloping could be heard outside. The two of them immediately threw open the tent p and went outside. A blood-soaked herald ran up to them and shouted. ¡°Help us! Your Highness!!¡± ¡°. . .I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea to help them.¡± Ulrike said coldly from the side., Uvarik¡¯s campaign had an unexpected consequence. Uvarik could hardly believe it as he stood at the top of the tower, looking around. The enemies really were running away. ¡°This is strange. Strange. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± The ve beside him was annoyed by his master¡¯s behavior, but he couldn¡¯t help it. Uvarik pondered, and as he did, he noticed something about the retreating enemy¡¯s g. He didn¡¯t see any familiar patterns. ¡°That wasn¡¯t the Duke¡¯s army!¡± ¡°Is that. . . that important?¡± ¡°You fool, of course that¡¯s important. It¡¯s a given that you should know who you¡¯re fighting.¡± Uvarik¡¯s face rxed slightly. He looked relieved as he climbed down from the tower. ¡°It seems that the Duke himself didn¡¯te. That would make sense, now that I think about it. How big is this area? It¡¯s ridiculous to think that I would meet the Duke.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s the gods¡¯ doing. Shall we execute the prisoners, then?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to talk about executions?!¡± ¡°My humblest apologies.¡± Uvarik¡¯s vassals stopped asking and brought in the fallen pagans. He wondered if he should bother treating these poor pilgrims who probably wouldn¡¯t fetch a good ransom, unlike knights or nobles, yet what could he do? He had to do as his master said. One of Uvarik¡¯s quick-witted knights spoke up to appease his master. ¡°Master, this victory is truly impressive. You didn¡¯t even let the enemy knights enter the town. Yeheyman-nim will be delighted.¡± ¡°What. . .¡± Uvarik was taken aback. He would have enjoyed the praise under normal circumstances, but he was still terrified of the Duke. The knight noticed this and spoke more firmly. ¡°Master, the monotheists are greedy and violent. There must be a reason why the Duke hasn¡¯t shown his face even after reaching Tahkreng Castle.¡± ¡°Could he have angered the gods by making a pact with the demon?!¡± ¡°. . .Perhaps.¡± The knight was someone who didn¡¯t put much stock in superstitions. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s more likely that there¡¯s a deep-rooted internal conflict? After all, the monotheists are known to fight among themselves.¡± Of course, the royalists were also known for fighting for merits and causing internal strife, but that didn¡¯t matter in the current situation. People¡¯s habits hardly change, just as they hadn¡¯t changed in the past hundred or two hundred years. It wasn¡¯t umon for credited lords to be held back by the jealousy and vignce of others, or for those who had upied a region to fall to attacks by other lords. The knight¡¯s words were exactly what the frightened Uvarik wanted to hear. Uvarik was tempted by his words. To be exact, he wanted to believe his words. ¡°. . .That makes sense! It doesn¡¯t make sense that someone like the Duke hasn¡¯t shown his face yet. I¡¯ve never even seen his army.¡± ¡°Yes, something must have happened.¡± ¡°I see. . . I see. Then perhaps I can take more initiative. Send a messenger to Yeheyman-nim. He¡¯ll need to hear of this battle¡¯s victory.¡± ???????????? When one side rejoices in victory, the other side is bound to be furious at their defeat. Duke Bronquia¡¯s camp was in such a state. ¡°What did His Highness say?¡± ¡°He was furious, like a fire.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The knights who had returned reported the defeat with as much embellishment as possible. They said that the number of enemies was several times greater and that they had retreated after being terrified by the allied forces, but that they had also suffered considerable casualties. Of course, the Duke was not satisfied with this. After all, he hadn¡¯t managed to conquer the region. The Duke immediately reorganized his army and ordered them to march out again. The captain of the mercenarypany emerged from the tent, looking less than pleased. He was the captain of one of the five mercenarypanies, working under Duke Bronquia. His expression made it clear that the attack hadn¡¯t gone well. ¡°It¡¯s all well and good to advance, but our supplies aren¡¯t fully prepared yet. I believe we should wait a little longer.¡± ¡°Biorarn-gong, how could you say something so cowardly? While we wait here, our brethren in the Holy Land are suffering!¡± ¡°. . . .¡± Biorarn was momentarily speechless. He had never been called a coward before, so he had missed the timing to respond. His knights were furious, but Biorarn signaled them to stand down. Now was not the time for the northerners to be fighting among themselves. Biorarn was currently moving with Duke Bronquia¡¯s army. Being from the northern part of the empire and being a supporter of the emperor were strong points inmon. Rather than associating with other lords who held grudges for no reason, it seemed like a better choice to be with the Duke who had an army of thousands. The problem was that the Duke was much more aggressive than Biorarn. Biorarn didn¡¯t know how to persuade someone who was more aggressive than himself. ¡°But the supplies. . .¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t many areas that the enemy upies. We can take them one by one and seize their supplies.¡± ¡°But what if something happens?¡± ¡°Nothing will happen!¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we at least get some support from the other lords?¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. I¡¯ve already spoken to them, and they didn¡¯t give me a proper answer. They just kept beating around the bush.¡± Duke Bronquia said indignantly. Duke Yeats¡¯ lukewarm response had disappointed Duke Bronquia. Refusing to march together and refusing to lend him the crusaders (although there was no reason to do so) were enough to disappoint Duke Bronquia. ¡°I thought he was a brave man. . .¡± ¡°The Duke is a brave man.¡± ¡°Then he must be acting this way because of his resentment from the war.¡± ¡°Listen carefully. There aren¡¯t many we can trust besides the northerners.¡± The nobles who still belonged to the emperor¡¯s faction asionally showed hostility mixed with resentment. Biorarn knew this, but he thought Duke Yeats was an exception, at least. ¡®?????? ?? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ Biorarn wasn¡¯t very perceptive, but he could tell that it wasn¡¯t a good idea to say that now. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll order my knights to join the march.¡± ¡°If possible, try to persuade the crusaders and priests to join the march as well.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try, but. . . I don¡¯t have much confidence.¡± Biorarn wasn¡¯t particrly close to the crusaders or priests either. They didn¡¯t respect Biorarn either. ???????????? While the Duke was causing amotion, Johan had been steadily building his foundation. He sent some of the treasures he had acquired to the lords to pressure them into sending troops, sent soldiers to nearby ports to prepare for any eventuality, and used the gold he had received as ransom to hire more supplies and soldiers. . . ¡°Even pagans??¡± ¡°Shhh, keep your voice down. I¡¯m only telling you this.¡± Johan put his hand over Ulrike¡¯s mouth. Their voices wouldn¡¯t carry outside the thick tent, but it was no good to speak loudly. Ulrike blushed and pushed his hand away. It was shocking to hear that he had hired pagan chieftains. They weren¡¯t people who could simply be hired with money. ¡°How did you get close to them?¡± ¡°The old king¡¯s son formed a marriage alliance with a pagan lord, so I got to know them while traveling around the fiefdom.¡± ¡°You were doing something like that. . .!¡± Ulrike was astounded by the young Duke¡¯s scheming. While others were looking for expeditions and fiefdoms, this Duke had alreadyid the groundwork. Suddenly, Ulrike felt a chill run down her spine. Having grown up under Countess Abner, Ulrike wasn¡¯t easily surprised by schemes and plots. However, the young Duke before her now felt like a much more formidable opponent than even Countess Abner. Ulrike looked at the Duke with newfound respect. ¡®??¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ Countess Abner was a busy lord, so she didn¡¯t spend much time with Ulrike. Ulrike had also been busy learning from priests, wizards, and tutors, andter managing her own fiefdom. Whenever she met the Countess, they only talked about administration, governance, and secret strategies. They were closer to teacher and student than parent and child. ©¥?? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????. ©¥???? ????????????. . . ©¥???????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ????????. ????¡¯?? ?? ?????????? ???? ????????. ??????????????, ????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????. ??¡¯?? ???????? ?? ?????????? ??????????. ?? ???????? ????????????????, ?????? ?? ????????. ©¥. . . ©¥?? ?????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ????. ??????¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ??????????????. ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ????, ???????? ???????? ????. ©¥?????? ???? ????????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????????????. ©¥??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????. ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ????, ??¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???????? ??????????????. ©¥. . .! ¡°What are you thinking? You¡¯re not going to criticize me for my faith now, are you?¡± Johan¡¯s voice brought Ulrike out of her reverie. Ulrike flinched. ¡°N-No.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Why would I suddenly criticize you for your faith now? We¡¯re both non-believers.¡± ¡°Why do you say we? I¡¯m someone who priests like.¡± Ulrike smiled wryly at Johan¡¯s joke. ¡°I was just surprised that you had gotten close to the pagan chieftains in the meantime.¡± ¡°Ah, is that what it was? It was a bit difficult at first because our customs were different, but I was able to get pretty close to them after putting in some effort.¡± The difference between Countess Abner and Johan was evident in this regard. Ulrike couldn¡¯t even imagine Countess Abner being friendly with centaurs like Johan. Pagans would be even more unimaginable. ¡°Can you trust them?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°. . . .¡± ¡°Why are you asking such an obvious question? They¡¯re humans, so they¡¯ll side with us when it¡¯s advantageous and side with the other when it¡¯s not advantageous. It¡¯s natural to take that into ount.¡± Ulrike nodded. She was impressed by the Duke¡¯s strategy, but the person in question was thinking very realistically. Johan had judged that it would be advantageous for the pagan tribes to wander around and keep the enemy in check, or even to maintain neutrality. He didn¡¯t expect anything more than that. Would they really go that far for him? ¡®???????? ????¡¯???? ???????????????? ????????????, ????¡¯???? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????????????. ?? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ????????????. ???? ???????????? ?? ???? ???? ???????????¡¯ Gathering troops, boosting morale, and securing castles and fortresses with a thorough defense. It would be hell for the great army that hade a long way. ¡°. . .Duke?¡± ¡°Oh, sorry. What were we talking about?¡± ¡°I asked what you were going to do about Duke Bronquia.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll fight with him a little and thene back.¡± Duke Bronquia had tried to persuade Johan in all sorts of ways, but with the Duke¡¯s level of political power, he could never sway Johan. Their reputations within the empire, as well as their rtionship with the order, were far too different. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that Duke Bronquia¡¯s army wasn¡¯t small or made up of weaklings? If that¡¯s the case, they won¡¯t be easily defeated, even if they fail to besiege the city.¡± ¡°What if they end up conquering the Holy Land?¡± ¡°What?¡± Johan smiled wryly. Ulrike looked away slightly, feeling like her true feelings had been discovered. ¡°Were you thinking about that? You? Were you worried that he would be the first to conquer the Holy Land?¡± ¡°. . .Since it fell so easily, it¡¯s possible to worry about that.¡± ¡°Do you think the same thing will happen twice? It won¡¯t happen. Even if it does, it¡¯s better than being annihted by the pagans.¡± ¡°But still. . .¡± ¡°Of course, I can understand how you feel. I wouldn¡¯t be happy about that either.¡± Johan closed the book containing the maps and supplies and stood up. ¡°I have a prior engagement today, so I¡¯ll excuse myself first.¡± ¡°What engagement?¡± ¡°I have to entertain the neers who came to the camp. They like stacking stones more than drinking. They seem to prefer me as their opponent.¡± ¡°Is it that fun?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fun if it¡¯s fun, and it¡¯s not if it¡¯s not. . . Are you curious? I can teach you if you want.¡± ¡°!¡± Ulrike was surprised by the unexpected offer. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°What¡¯s so difficult about this? You can learn well enough if you just have the time. You¡¯re a bright person, so you¡¯ll. . .¡± Before Ulrike could answer, the sound of a horse galloping could be heard outside. The two of them immediately threw open the tent p and went outside. A blood-soaked herald ran up to them and shouted. ¡°Help us! Your Highness!!¡± ¡°. . .I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea to help them.¡± Ulrike said coldly from the side. Chapter 313: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (1) Chapter 313: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (1) Even without listening to the messenger¡¯s words, he could guess how the situation turned out. While he couldn¡¯t believe it, it was obvious Duke Bronquia made a mistake. He didn¡¯t think a crisis would ur with those troops he led, but the world is not a ce where you can easily predict what will happen. And Ulrike had no intention of going into the water and helping the drowning man. ¡°But we still can¡¯t leave him alone.¡± If he didn¡¯t help when there were eyes and ears watching, Johan would be talked about behind his back no matter what. He had to demonstrate his deeds in order to control numerous pilgrims following Johan. ¡°I know that. You are asking me to buy some time. Anyway, if he had to ask for help like this, it may be toote to go already. Isn¡¯t necessary to hurry.¡± Although he had not heard the messenger¡¯s report yet, Ulrike was willing to bet that the support wouldn¡¯t be much use. Considering the time it took for the messenger to go back and forth, the battle was most likely over already. Furthermore, the messenger looked awful, covered in blood. He probably departed after the battle went sideways.If that was the case, the issue was not providing support, but rather how many of Duke Bronquia and his knights managed to escape. However, the messenger¡¯s report that followed was different from Ulrike¡¯s expectation. ¡°When I left, they were holding on, but I don¡¯t know how long they canst. The pagan army is filling the area beneath the mountain, surrounding us. Your Highness. Please help us!¡± The messenger¡¯s voice was soaked in tears. Yet the two lords were more surprised by something else. ¡°They are holding on? Really?¡± ¡°You are saying they are not defeated in battle, but rather surrounded? What are you talking about?¡± Ulrike pressed the messenger as if he couldn¡¯t believe it. However, the messenger was not capable of answering properly. How could a messenger have anymand over the army in the first ce? ¡°Be quiet. The messenger can¡¯t even speak properly.¡± After Johan calmed Ulrike down, the messenger was finally able to speak. ???????????? ¡°The enemies escaped.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Unlike before, when dozens or hundreds of troops would raid, Duke Bronquia¡¯s main forces showed up, and the enemies abandoned their town and retreated without any hesitation. The difference in numbers was simply toorge. Duke Bronquia was very satisfied as he easily captured towns that the knights failed to conquer several times. ¡°Keep marching forward! Our next destination is Citadel. If we capture that castle, the pagans upying the Holy Land will feel a chill. Let¡¯s cut off their limbs and arms one by one.¡± ¡°Your Highness. The soldiers are exhausted from the heat and the march. We may lose many of them if we don¡¯t rest.¡± ¡°Biorarn-gong. I know that. But if we don¡¯t strike while the iron¡¯s hot, the enemies will get word of it and prepare their defenses. It won¡¯t be easy to conquer the castle if their defenses are strengthened and reinforcements arrive.¡± ¡°I understand, but it¡¯s only natural that it won¡¯t be easy to capture the castle. I don¡¯t think it would be a good idea to get too greedy.¡± Duke Bronquia shook his head in annoyance. The way he looked at Biorarn was as if he was a coward worrying about unnecessary things, and Biorarn felt dumbfounded. If not for the situation, he might¡¯ve challenged him to a duel. ¡°If we keep moving and conquering one by one like this, when will we ever get rid of the enemies and liberate the Holy Land? Gong. Stop worrying about unnecessary things.¡± ¡°It will take at least a day¡¯s march to get to Citadel, and there¡¯s no clean water source on the way, and the weather is hot, and the worn-out soldiers. . .¡± Biorarn tried his best to persuade him, but the Duke wouldn¡¯t budge. He said that the problem of water would be solved if they advanced quickly and took control of the area around the castle. Biorarn couldn¡¯t persuade him any further when he was being this stubborn. He made sense. Even though it felt ominous, he felt like the mood would only get worse if he kept talking. . . However, ominous feelings usually turned out to be right. ¡°Enemies are approaching!¡± ¡°Charge and crush them!¡± ¡°We cannot, Your Highness! It¡¯s dangerous to charge recklessly in this situation!¡± A veteran knight under the Duke called out to the Duke in a hurry. The enemies were lightly armed and riding sturdy and resilient horses, galloping across the desert. Judging from the sand and dirt flying everywhere and the war criesing from all directions, it was obvious they were trying to make it hard to tell their exact numbers. That didn¡¯t matter. Just charging without even figuring out how many enemies there were, simply trying to grab them and separate their troops, causing them to be defeated one by one. The pagan warriors were especially skilled at such guerri tactics. Lightly-armed mounted archers approach and shower arrows, and when the knights get heated up and start chasing them, the warriors hidden in other ces ughter the remaining soldiers. ¡°Ignore them and keep advancing. They are shooting arrows from a distance, so they won¡¯t inflict much damage.¡± ¡°. . .Understood!¡± Duke Bronquia wasn¡¯t stupid enough to ignore the knights¡¯ orders. And so, the army pressed forward while enduring the rain of arrows. However, that was it. The soldiers began to fall one by one due to the heat, arrows, fear, and fatigue. In the end, they had no choice but to stop marching and set up a camp. As they stopped moving, enemies began to show up one by one. Duke Bronquia made a tired expression for the first time as he saw the disgusting pagans crawling in like worms. ???????????? ¡°. . .And we managed to escape through the encirclement with great difficulty!¡± Ulrike looked even more displeased at the messenger¡¯s words. It would¡¯ve been easier if they were simply defeated, but now she was more annoyed because they were holding on like this. Since things turned out this way, they had no choice but to go. . . ¡°Very well. We can¡¯t leave our brothers of the same faith alone. We shall go to their aid.¡± ¡°Your Highness! Thank you!¡± ¡°!¡± Only after the messenger left, with tears in his eyes, did Ulrike lower his voice and ask. She couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Are you really going to their aid?¡± ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m just putting on an act.¡± Ulrike was relieved at Johan¡¯s words. It was always a good thing to have an understanding friend. If Johan had insisted on helping his brother like Duke Bronquia, Ulrike would¡¯ve felt very annoyed. ¡°Do you already have an idea of how to buy some time?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to buy time in particr. If we tried to make up excuses, we would only end up arguing meaninglessly.¡± The situation the messenger reported was more dire than expected. They were surrounded, getting beaten, and had no water in this hot weather. It was impossible for such arge number of people to continue holding out. Honestly speaking, he felt like they probably copsed as soon as the messenger left. It would be despicable to forcibly buy time in such a situation. It would be better to hurry to their aid and disy his anger. If Duke Bronquia and his knights managed to escape, wouldn¡¯t they be even more grateful for this? ¡°Gong. Will youe with me?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ???????????? ¡°There really is no g of the demon.¡± ¡°Something must¡¯ve gone wrong. There¡¯s a rumor going around that he caught an illness.¡± The tribe leaders looked at the monotheists who were trapped within the siege with satisfied expressions. Even at a nce, it was obvious they were exhausted and drenched in sweat. If they could have a ss of cold water right now, they would¡¯ve paid for it with gold coins. Experienced hunters would say that finding and chasing prey is a task for boys, and killing it is men¡¯s work. Commanding an army was simr. Luring, attracting, and encircling enemies was difficult, but what came after was easy. ¡°It¡¯s amazing how easy it was to encircle them. You are truly great.¡± ¡°I was just lucky. Our enemies were unfamiliar with the surrounding geography, and they neglected scouting.¡± At Suhekhar¡¯s words, the tribe leaders cast respectful gazes at him. Each tribe leader had different customs and personalities, but they all knew of Suhekhar¡¯s wisdom. To arrivete and achieve such a feat. In some ways, it might even be a greater feat than Yeheyman¡¯s. ¡°I heard a rumor that a few of them ran away, terrified of Duke Yeats. . .¡± ¡°There must¡¯ve been cowards among them.¡± ¡°The rumor may be a bit exaggerated.¡± The tribe leaders spoke shamelessly. They too were reluctant to lead their subordinates out not long ago. They regained their confidence now that their enemies weren¡¯t fighting as well as they thought and the Duke¡¯s g was nowhere to be seen. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t havee out at all. Of course, Suhekhar, who arrivedte, didn¡¯t know the exact details of what happened in the Holy Land as he only heard it through word of mouth. ¡°Is that so? Then again. . . the fact that there are only veteran warriors doesn¡¯t make sense. I must¡¯ve fallen for a rumor because I¡¯m getting old.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s time to send a letter to the Duke over there. Let¡¯s send a messenger and ask them politely to surrender.¡± Suhekhar sent a messenger to ask for their surrender. He said that they would be treated honorably if they surrendered after all the pain he inflicted on them by encircling them. However, surprisingly, the Duke refused to surrender. ©¥???????? ?????????????? ????????????????, ?????? ?????????? ????????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ??????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????. ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????, ???????? ?????? ?????? ????! ¡°Blow the horn and start the attack. When they suffer enough to the point where they can¡¯t endure it any longer, they¡¯ll think about surrendering.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Trumpets red from all directions, and gs fluttered. The warriors who were fully rested approached on horseback and pulled back their bows. And at that moment, a new army appeared from the opposite horizon. ¡°. . .!¡± ¡°Are they reinforcements?¡± Suhekhar muttered in disappointment. What would¡¯ve been easy was now bing annoying. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They are still a distance away, and our enemies must¡¯ve exhausted themselves galloping from afar. Let¡¯s maintain our encirclement and repel them.¡± Nearly ten thousand of the tribe leaders¡¯bine forces were encircling Duke Bronquia¡¯s army of several thousand. Their enemies must be plenty exhausted so that they can easily divide them up and fight. Logically, Suhekhar¡¯s judgment was correct. Logically. ???????????? ¡°They still haven¡¯t surrendered?¡± ¡°He¡¯s stubborn where it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Johan sighed at Ulrike¡¯s words. Seeing their enemies moving, it would be more dangerous if they retreated or hesitated carelessly. ¡°Gong, take the right nk. I¡¯ll take the left. If we hold out until the reinforcements arrive, the enemies will retreat as well.¡± Currently, only the cavalry had arrived first. Judging from the fact that the reinforcements were arrivingte, the enemies were likely to give up and retreat. Johan prepared to charge to prevent their opponents from doing anything reckless. The knights¡¯ charge was like the impact of swinging a giant hammer, and after being hit a few times, they wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything foolish. ¡®????¡¯???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????????????? ?? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan lightly bumped shoulders with Iselia, exchanged nces, and then nodded. The g Johan received from the order was raised high. It didn¡¯t mean anything in particr and was more of a show to boost morale. ¡°Charge!¡± With a loud roar, Johan and his subordinates began their charge from the left nk. Johan tried his best to figure out where the enemy knights woulde out while galloping. If they didn¡¯t just stand there and watch as they charged, of course they would jump out from the other side and block them. Then. . .? ¡°???¡± ¡°My dear?¡± Johan arrived in front of the infantry forming the encirclement without much hindrance. Now he could have just trampled it in a matter of seconds. His infantry and centaurs were also very confused and dazed. ¡®???????? ?????? ????????? ???? ???? ?? ?????????¡¯ However, there was no such thing as a trap like this in the world. Traps are made by creating an opening to fall into, but what kind of trap is this when it¡¯s wide open? ??????????????! The ground shook as the soldiers copsed. Johan tore through the encirclement like a thunderbolt. After a round of ughter, Johan immediately gave the signal to retreat. ¡°Regroup and reorganize!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± He paid attention to the possibility of an ambush on his way out, but no one jumped out from anywhere. Johan managed to safelyplete his charge and return to his original camp. ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????¡¯ ¡°Did they run away because they were scared?¡± ¡°The enemies just opened up a path? That doesn¡¯t make any sense at all?¡± Iselia¡¯s words unexpectedly hit the nail on the head, but Johan didn¡¯t believe them at all. It was such a ridiculous thing to say. Johan saw the enemy knights slowly moving and defending their positions where they were attacked earlier. It seemed like they were barely holding on. Johan¡¯s head started to beplicated as he thought about these mysterious tactics. ¡®?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????. . .?¡¯, Even without listening to the messenger¡¯s words, he could guess how the situation turned out. While he couldn¡¯t believe it, it was obvious Duke Bronquia made a mistake. He didn¡¯t think a crisis would ur with those troops he led, but the world is not a ce where you can easily predict what will happen. And Ulrike had no intention of going into the water and helping the drowning man. ¡°But we still can¡¯t leave him alone.¡± If he didn¡¯t help when there were eyes and ears watching, Johan would be talked about behind his back no matter what. He had to demonstrate his deeds in order to control numerous pilgrims following Johan. ¡°I know that. You are asking me to buy some time. Anyway, if he had to ask for help like this, it may be toote to go already. Isn¡¯t necessary to hurry.¡± Although he had not heard the messenger¡¯s report yet, Ulrike was willing to bet that the support wouldn¡¯t be much use. Considering the time it took for the messenger to go back and forth, the battle was most likely over already. Furthermore, the messenger looked awful, covered in blood. He probably departed after the battle went sideways. If that was the case, the issue was not providing support, but rather how many of Duke Bronquia and his knights managed to escape. However, the messenger¡¯s report that followed was different from Ulrike¡¯s expectation. ¡°When I left, they were holding on, but I don¡¯t know how long they canst. The pagan army is filling the area beneath the mountain, surrounding us. Your Highness. Please help us!¡± The messenger¡¯s voice was soaked in tears. Yet the two lords were more surprised by something else. ¡°They are holding on? Really?¡± ¡°You are saying they are not defeated in battle, but rather surrounded? What are you talking about?¡± Ulrike pressed the messenger as if he couldn¡¯t believe it. However, the messenger was not capable of answering properly. How could a messenger have anymand over the army in the first ce? ¡°Be quiet. The messenger can¡¯t even speak properly.¡± After Johan calmed Ulrike down, the messenger was finally able to speak. ???????????? ¡°The enemies escaped.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Unlike before, when dozens or hundreds of troops would raid, Duke Bronquia¡¯s main forces showed up, and the enemies abandoned their town and retreated without any hesitation. The difference in numbers was simply toorge. Duke Bronquia was very satisfied as he easily captured towns that the knights failed to conquer several times. ¡°Keep marching forward! Our next destination is Citadel. If we capture that castle, the pagans upying the Holy Land will feel a chill. Let¡¯s cut off their limbs and arms one by one.¡± ¡°Your Highness. The soldiers are exhausted from the heat and the march. We may lose many of them if we don¡¯t rest.¡± ¡°Biorarn-gong. I know that. But if we don¡¯t strike while the iron¡¯s hot, the enemies will get word of it and prepare their defenses. It won¡¯t be easy to conquer the castle if their defenses are strengthened and reinforcements arrive.¡± ¡°I understand, but it¡¯s only natural that it won¡¯t be easy to capture the castle. I don¡¯t think it would be a good idea to get too greedy.¡± Duke Bronquia shook his head in annoyance. The way he looked at Biorarn was as if he was a coward worrying about unnecessary things, and Biorarn felt dumbfounded. If not for the situation, he might¡¯ve challenged him to a duel. ¡°If we keep moving and conquering one by one like this, when will we ever get rid of the enemies and liberate the Holy Land? Gong. Stop worrying about unnecessary things.¡± ¡°It will take at least a day¡¯s march to get to Citadel, and there¡¯s no clean water source on the way, and the weather is hot, and the worn-out soldiers. . .¡± Biorarn tried his best to persuade him, but the Duke wouldn¡¯t budge. He said that the problem of water would be solved if they advanced quickly and took control of the area around the castle. Biorarn couldn¡¯t persuade him any further when he was being this stubborn. He made sense. Even though it felt ominous, he felt like the mood would only get worse if he kept talking. . . However, ominous feelings usually turned out to be right. ¡°Enemies are approaching!¡± ¡°Charge and crush them!¡± ¡°We cannot, Your Highness! It¡¯s dangerous to charge recklessly in this situation!¡± A veteran knight under the Duke called out to the Duke in a hurry. The enemies were lightly armed and riding sturdy and resilient horses, galloping across the desert. Judging from the sand and dirt flying everywhere and the war criesing from all directions, it was obvious they were trying to make it hard to tell their exact numbers. That didn¡¯t matter. Just charging without even figuring out how many enemies there were, simply trying to grab them and separate their troops, causing them to be defeated one by one. The pagan warriors were especially skilled at such guerri tactics. Lightly-armed mounted archers approach and shower arrows, and when the knights get heated up and start chasing them, the warriors hidden in other ces ughter the remaining soldiers. ¡°Ignore them and keep advancing. They are shooting arrows from a distance, so they won¡¯t inflict much damage.¡± ¡°. . .Understood!¡± Duke Bronquia wasn¡¯t stupid enough to ignore the knights¡¯ orders. And so, the army pressed forward while enduring the rain of arrows. However, that was it. The soldiers began to fall one by one due to the heat, arrows, fear, and fatigue. In the end, they had no choice but to stop marching and set up a camp. As they stopped moving, enemies began to show up one by one. Duke Bronquia made a tired expression for the first time as he saw the disgusting pagans crawling in like worms. ???????????? ¡°. . .And we managed to escape through the encirclement with great difficulty!¡± Ulrike looked even more displeased at the messenger¡¯s words. It would¡¯ve been easier if they were simply defeated, but now she was more annoyed because they were holding on like this. Since things turned out this way, they had no choice but to go. . . ¡°Very well. We can¡¯t leave our brothers of the same faith alone. We shall go to their aid.¡± ¡°Your Highness! Thank you!¡± ¡°!¡± Only after the messenger left, with tears in his eyes, did Ulrike lower his voice and ask. She couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Are you really going to their aid?¡± ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m just putting on an act.¡± Ulrike was relieved at Johan¡¯s words. It was always a good thing to have an understanding friend. If Johan had insisted on helping his brother like Duke Bronquia, Ulrike would¡¯ve felt very annoyed. ¡°Do you already have an idea of how to buy some time?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to buy time in particr. If we tried to make up excuses, we would only end up arguing meaninglessly.¡± The situation the messenger reported was more dire than expected. They were surrounded, getting beaten, and had no water in this hot weather. It was impossible for such arge number of people to continue holding out. Honestly speaking, he felt like they probably copsed as soon as the messenger left. It would be despicable to forcibly buy time in such a situation. It would be better to hurry to their aid and disy his anger. If Duke Bronquia and his knights managed to escape, wouldn¡¯t they be even more grateful for this? ¡°Gong. Will youe with me?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ???????????? ¡°There really is no g of the demon.¡± ¡°Something must¡¯ve gone wrong. There¡¯s a rumor going around that he caught an illness.¡± The tribe leaders looked at the monotheists who were trapped within the siege with satisfied expressions. Even at a nce, it was obvious they were exhausted and drenched in sweat. If they could have a ss of cold water right now, they would¡¯ve paid for it with gold coins. Experienced hunters would say that finding and chasing prey is a task for boys, and killing it is men¡¯s work. Commanding an army was simr. Luring, attracting, and encircling enemies was difficult, but what came after was easy. ¡°It¡¯s amazing how easy it was to encircle them. You are truly great.¡± ¡°I was just lucky. Our enemies were unfamiliar with the surrounding geography, and they neglected scouting.¡± At Suhekhar¡¯s words, the tribe leaders cast respectful gazes at him. Each tribe leader had different customs and personalities, but they all knew of Suhekhar¡¯s wisdom. To arrivete and achieve such a feat. In some ways, it might even be a greater feat than Yeheyman¡¯s. ¡°I heard a rumor that a few of them ran away, terrified of Duke Yeats. . .¡± ¡°There must¡¯ve been cowards among them.¡± ¡°The rumor may be a bit exaggerated.¡± The tribe leaders spoke shamelessly. They too were reluctant to lead their subordinates out not long ago. They regained their confidence now that their enemies weren¡¯t fighting as well as they thought and the Duke¡¯s g was nowhere to be seen. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t havee out at all. Of course, Suhekhar, who arrivedte, didn¡¯t know the exact details of what happened in the Holy Land as he only heard it through word of mouth. ¡°Is that so? Then again. . . the fact that there are only veteran warriors doesn¡¯t make sense. I must¡¯ve fallen for a rumor because I¡¯m getting old.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s time to send a letter to the Duke over there. Let¡¯s send a messenger and ask them politely to surrender.¡± Suhekhar sent a messenger to ask for their surrender. He said that they would be treated honorably if they surrendered after all the pain he inflicted on them by encircling them. However, surprisingly, the Duke refused to surrender. ©¥???????? ?????????????? ????????????????, ?????? ?????????? ????????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ??????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????. ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????, ???????? ?????? ?????? ????! ¡°Blow the horn and start the attack. When they suffer enough to the point where they can¡¯t endure it any longer, they¡¯ll think about surrendering.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Trumpets red from all directions, and gs fluttered. The warriors who were fully rested approached on horseback and pulled back their bows. And at that moment, a new army appeared from the opposite horizon. ¡°. . .!¡± ¡°Are they reinforcements?¡± Suhekhar muttered in disappointment. What would¡¯ve been easy was now bing annoying. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They are still a distance away, and our enemies must¡¯ve exhausted themselves galloping from afar. Let¡¯s maintain our encirclement and repel them.¡± Nearly ten thousand of the tribe leaders¡¯bine forces were encircling Duke Bronquia¡¯s army of several thousand. Their enemies must be plenty exhausted so that they can easily divide them up and fight. Logically, Suhekhar¡¯s judgment was correct. Logically. ???????????? ¡°They still haven¡¯t surrendered?¡± ¡°He¡¯s stubborn where it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Johan sighed at Ulrike¡¯s words. Seeing their enemies moving, it would be more dangerous if they retreated or hesitated carelessly. ¡°Gong, take the right nk. I¡¯ll take the left. If we hold out until the reinforcements arrive, the enemies will retreat as well.¡± Currently, only the cavalry had arrived first. Judging from the fact that the reinforcements were arrivingte, the enemies were likely to give up and retreat. Johan prepared to charge to prevent their opponents from doing anything reckless. The knights¡¯ charge was like the impact of swinging a giant hammer, and after being hit a few times, they wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything foolish. ¡®????¡¯???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????????????? ?? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan lightly bumped shoulders with Iselia, exchanged nces, and then nodded. The g Johan received from the order was raised high. It didn¡¯t mean anything in particr and was more of a show to boost morale. ¡°Charge!¡± With a loud roar, Johan and his subordinates began their charge from the left nk. Johan tried his best to figure out where the enemy knights woulde out while galloping. If they didn¡¯t just stand there and watch as they charged, of course they would jump out from the other side and block them. Then. . .? ¡°???¡± ¡°My dear?¡± Johan arrived in front of the infantry forming the encirclement without much hindrance. Now he could have just trampled it in a matter of seconds. His infantry and centaurs were also very confused and dazed. ¡®???????? ?????? ????????? ???? ???? ?? ?????????¡¯ However, there was no such thing as a trap like this in the world. Traps are made by creating an opening to fall into, but what kind of trap is this when it¡¯s wide open? ??????????????! The ground shook as the soldiers copsed. Johan tore through the encirclement like a thunderbolt. After a round of ughter, Johan immediately gave the signal to retreat. ¡°Regroup and reorganize!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± He paid attention to the possibility of an ambush on his way out, but no one jumped out from anywhere. Johan managed to safelyplete his charge and return to his original camp. ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????¡¯ ¡°Did they run away because they were scared?¡± ¡°The enemies just opened up a path? That doesn¡¯t make any sense at all?¡± Iselia¡¯s words unexpectedly hit the nail on the head, but Johan didn¡¯t believe them at all. It was such a ridiculous thing to say. Johan saw the enemy knights slowly moving and defending their positions where they were attacked earlier. It seemed like they were barely holding on. Johan¡¯s head started to beplicated as he thought about these mysterious tactics. ¡®?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????. . .?¡¯ Chapter 314: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (2) Chapter 314: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (2) Of course, the East didn¡¯t have such tactics. It didn¡¯t take long for Johan to realize that his opponent was strange. It was impossible to miss the enemies wasting time getting in each other¡¯s way instead of facing and blocking the charges. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to fight, get out of here!¡± Johan, who was starting to get annoyed, shouted in Eastern as he charged for the third time. Johan¡¯s voice was clear even in the noisy situation where iron shed against iron. Then, people began to actually leave. Johan was taken aback by the sight of them turning their backs without hesitation and running away. ¡°What the. . .¡± ¡°My dear, an order! We must break through the encirclement!¡± ¡°I know.¡± Right now, Johan¡¯s objective was to save his trapped allies, not to chase after fleeing enemies.Johan savagely bit into the enemies who had begun to copse. The already perforated formation copsed and shook every time Johan charged in. There should have been at least one soldier swinging a spear, but there was none. ???????????? The fact that the right wing copsed in an instant was difficult to ept, even for a seasoned warrior like Suhekhar. Initially, Suhekhar thought the orderly had brought him the wrong news. ¡°Was it a mistake because they got pushed back during the melee?¡± ¡°No! I saw it clearly with my own eyes.¡± However, several more orderlies arrived with the same news. With each arrival, Suhekhar couldn¡¯t just ignore it however terribly they looked. Suhekhar quickly led a few guards and rushed to the hill. It was to see the battle situation with his own eyes. ¡°. . .!!!¡± Suhekhar was shocked. The right wing was devastated far worse than Suhekhar had thought. The well-organized formation was nowhere to be found. The sight of them fleeing in all directions with no apparent leader was like a flock of sheep running from a lion. He had heard a lot about the Duke¡¯s prowess in battle from those who survived the night raid, but seeing it for himself was on a whole other levelpared to simply hearing about it. Suhekhar burst intoughter as he watched three knights charging at him like madmen being taken down in one swing and falling from their horses. He realized anew that people really dough when they¡¯re too shocked. ¡°H. . .Has he really made a deal with a demon?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. . .¡± Still, Suhekhar was an outstandingmander. He tried his best to ept the situation and make a new n. With the right wingpletely copsed and his soldiers scattered, his nk was also in danger. The moment rumors spread that one side had retreated from the battlefield, even those who had been fighting well would be terrified. Conversely, if they were to be surrounded, they could end up in the worst possible situation. ¡°We must prepare to retreat.¡± Suhekhar¡¯s ves bit their lips as if it was unfair. They didn¡¯t think they would have to let the enemies go like this because of the ipetence of their allies after capturing them all. ¡®?????????? ?????????????? ????????????????! ???????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ????????????. . .¡¯ Even if they had set up wooden dummies, they would havested longer than this. The ves were so resentful that tears welled up in their eyes. How could renowned chieftains and knights fight so poorly? ???????????? Iselia looked at the fleeing enemies with eyes like a puppy, but Johan didn¡¯t allow it. ¡°Gerdolf. Take the subpany and turn left to attack the remaining soldiers over there.¡± In a fight betweenrge armies, the battlefield would berge and people fought in a rather dispersed manner. It wasn¡¯t umon for knights to leave the battlefield in pursuit of fleeing enemies during a battle. In those days, the loots from fallen enemies became profit. With themotion and excitement of the battlefield, from mercenaries to knights, they would blindly chase after the fleeing enemies. Of course, Johan hated that very much. If the allies retreated and lost a battle that they had already won, where could theyin? Therefore, Johan only began his pursuit after the cleanup of the battlefield was certain. ¡°Don¡¯t chase too far. Chase them only to a certain extent.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve done this more than once or twice, so don¡¯t worry.¡± The less fatigued ones with quick feet began their pursuit. Of course, Johan himself was among them. Ulrike, who was wiping the blood off her face with a tired expression, looked at the sight in wonder. ¡°You n to join the pursuit yourself?¡± ¡°It¡¯s most reliable if I go myself. Do I have a reason to rest?¡± Johan had taken the seat of a Duke, but he still took the lead to take care of as much as he could. Of course, the others didn¡¯t notice Johan¡¯s thoughts. They only marveled at the fact that the Duke himself was joining the knights. In fact, Ulrike¡¯s knights all lowered their heads with respect. ¡°Do you want toe with me?¡± ¡°No. . . I¡¯d rather rest. Don¡¯t misunderstand. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m rejecting your offer because I hate it. I don¡¯t want to get in the way just because I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I misunderstood it. . . Then I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°There are our allies. Pleasefort them.¡± ¡°No. . .¡± Ulrike knitted her brows as she realized the situation btedly after Johan¡¯s words. She felt like she wanted to endure the fatigue and simply join the pursuit. Just thinking about how shamelessly those who had underestimated their enemies and ended up surrounded would make excuses was already giving her a headache. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± At Johan¡¯s shout, the warriors who had changed to new horses began their pursuit. The excited Iselia urged the Elven cavalry forward and rushed ahead. Ulrike shook her head as she watched the sight. ???????????? ¡°You¡¯re running away quite well?¡± ¡°Well, looking at their orderly retreat, it seems like theirmander is quite experienced.¡± ¡°Is that what you call people who run away without even fighting properly?¡± ¡°The fact that themander is experienced and the fact that the subordinates are cowardly are separate matters. . .¡± Johan knew from experience how difficult it was tomand and control his vassals who brought their own subordinates. There was nothing to be disappointed or disappointed about the nobles who had brought their own subordinates, so no matter how supreme themander was, they sometimes ignored orders. If he told them to wait, they would charge first because they didn¡¯t want to share the credit with others. If he told them to charge, they would refuse because they didn¡¯t want to be the first to get injured. If he told them not to chase and rest, they would chase on their own because they wanted to collect gold coins. . . ¡®????. ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ????.¡¯ Although things like that had decreased considerably since he became close with the feudal lords of the penins, he still felt furious thinking about it now. ¡°My dear. It seems like they¡¯ve escaped into that forest.¡± ¡°How annoying. . .¡± ¡°Shall we go around it?¡± ¡°No. There¡¯s no guarantee that we¡¯ll be able to find other traces, so let¡¯s just chase them. We can¡¯t go back empty-handed aftering this far.¡± There were forests in various parts of the drynd, but it was rare to see such a dense forest. Johan was intrigued by the dense forest. ¡®???????? ?????????? ???? ????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????¡¯ It would have been stranger not to feel magical power in a forest or a mountain. No matter where it was, the older and deeper it was, the more mysteries it held. However, it was notmon to find a supernatural being that maintained such a dense forest in this drynd. ¡°My dear. What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°The forest made me think of wizards. I was wondering if I brought them here.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea. . .¡± Iselia didn¡¯t think that wizards would enjoy riding horses at this fast pace for such a long distance. If Johan told them to go, they wouldn¡¯t be able to refuse because of the pride of a Duke, but they might end up groaning after it was over. ¡°. . .Is it that bad? Well. . . Even if it¡¯s fine for Suetlg-nim, Caenerna and Jyanina are young.¡± ¡°Just because they¡¯re young doesn¡¯t mean they have good stamina, does it?¡± To Iselia¡¯s words, the centaur next to her nodded. ¡°That is true. Your Highness. Stamina is not something thates just from innate bloodline and consistent effort. It¡¯s like us.¡± ¡°O-Oh, I see. I feel sorry that I didn¡¯t think of that.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Iselia shook her head. ¡°No. You¡¯re being considerate enough. However, if you¡¯re going to worry about such a thing in the future. . . Hmm. How about improving the wizards¡¯ stamina? Their hearts and lungs will be stronger if they go through the knight¡¯s training even a little bit.¡± ¡°Will wizards like to do that?¡± ¡°Sometimes there are things they have to do even if they don¡¯t like it, right?¡± ¡°. . .¡± As expected of a knight, Iselia didn¡¯t question such painful training. It would be shocking if the wizards heard that. However, Johan agreed with Iselia¡¯s words. ¡®????????, ???????? ???? ????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????????????-??????, ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ He had a problem if they groaned so much after riding a horse for a few hours that Johan had to personally support them and take them to the tent. In fact, Suetlg had better stamina in that regard. He had a different level of experience as he had been in several wars. While they were talking, the centaurs who had run ahead to find traces came back. ¡°We found it. It¡¯s over here.¡± ¡°What? Did you shoot them with an arrow?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s blood?¡± Johan was puzzled. Of course, it could have been a wound from the battlefield earlier. However, there was time in between. It would have been enough time to stop the bleeding while they were running away. ¡°Is that so? It¡¯s a bit strange.¡± The answer to that question came right away. As they followed the traces, they found a hastily made camp. Fallen soldiers were lying in the camp and groaning. The centaurs whistled. The things they were carrying looked expensive at a nce. The experienced centaurs knew how much a gold ne would sell for in the market just by looking at it. ¡°Your Highness. Can you ask if they want mercy?¡± Seeing how serious the injuries looked, the centaur took out an arrow. Sometimes, putting an end to their lives was an act of mercy than letting them suffer from pain. ¡°No. Don¡¯t shoot.¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± ¡°This is strange. It doesn¡¯t look like they were attacked by people.¡± Johan was the first to feel a sense of incongruity. It was a sense of incongruity he felt as he had hunted the most monsters among the people here. The traces of the armor being torn apart and all that were not wounds that could be made by a human weapon. ¡°¡ö. . . ¡ö¡ö. . .¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°They¡¯re asking for water. Give them water.¡± The centaur took out a leather water bottle and brought it to their lips. The fallen warrior sipped it while groaning. ¡°I¡¯m. . . from the Igeolvar family. . .¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. You¡¯re rich? You want to pay the ransom? Yeah! Come on, hang in there. You can¡¯t die!¡± The centaurs, who didn¡¯t understand the Easternnguage, could miraculously guess by the smell. They held the warrior¡¯s hand tightly and cheered him on. The warrior must have thought that his opponent was on the same side as he was in a state of confusion. ¡°Get out of the forest. . . quickly. . .¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°There¡¯s. . . there¡¯s. There¡¯s something there. Did Suhekhar-nim escape?¡± ¡°Oh, dear.¡± Johan was disappointed. From the way he spoke, it seemed like he was someone of high status who was with the enemymander. He seemed to have been left here because he was injured, but what if he hade a little sooner? ¡°Be on guard. It seems that there¡¯s a fierce monster in the forest.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The centaurs took action right away. It was the centaurs who hunted down and killed fierce monsters, moving between forests and ins with poisoned arrows. They weren¡¯t afraid of Eastern monsters at this point. ¡°Hey. You need to tell me what it is, even for Suhekhar-nim¡¯s sake. Come on, hang in there.¡± Johan pped the warrior on the cheek. It wasn¡¯t a very nice thing to do to a dying person, but the warrior opened his mouth, surprisingly effectively. ¡°Malevolent spirit. . . a transparent malevolent spirit is chasing us. . .¡± ¡°Transparent?¡± ¡°Yeah. . .¡± Johan¡¯s face became stern. It wasn¡¯t umon for spirits or malevolent spirits to appear in the forest, but it was a pain in the neck if they were transparent. Should he just leave? ¡®????. . . ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ????¡¯???? ????????.¡¯ ¡°I can hear it. Your Highness.¡± ¡°Get ready. Shoot them as soon as I give the order.¡± The centaurs held the bowstring tightly and waited for Johan¡¯s order. They seemed ready to shoot without hesitation even if a dragon came out in front of them. However, surprisingly, it was their brethren of the same faith who emerged from the bushes. ¡°Your Highness Duke Yeats??¡± Biorarn looked at Johan with his eyes wide open, along with the monastic pdins. Iselia asked with a serious voice. ¡°It must be a malevolent spirit in disguise!¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± ¡°Your Highness! It¡¯s not!¡±, Of course, the East didn¡¯t have such tactics. It didn¡¯t take long for Johan to realize that his opponent was strange. It was impossible to miss the enemies wasting time getting in each other¡¯s way instead of facing and blocking the charges. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to fight, get out of here!¡± Johan, who was starting to get annoyed, shouted in Eastern as he charged for the third time. Johan¡¯s voice was clear even in the noisy situation where iron shed against iron. Then, people began to actually leave. Johan was taken aback by the sight of them turning their backs without hesitation and running away. ¡°What the. . .¡± ¡°My dear, an order! We must break through the encirclement!¡± ¡°I know.¡± Right now, Johan¡¯s objective was to save his trapped allies, not to chase after fleeing enemies. Johan savagely bit into the enemies who had begun to copse. The already perforated formation copsed and shook every time Johan charged in. There should have been at least one soldier swinging a spear, but there was none. ???????????? The fact that the right wing copsed in an instant was difficult to ept, even for a seasoned warrior like Suhekhar. Initially, Suhekhar thought the orderly had brought him the wrong news. ¡°Was it a mistake because they got pushed back during the melee?¡± ¡°No! I saw it clearly with my own eyes.¡± However, several more orderlies arrived with the same news. With each arrival, Suhekhar couldn¡¯t just ignore it however terribly they looked. Suhekhar quickly led a few guards and rushed to the hill. It was to see the battle situation with his own eyes. ¡°. . .!!!¡± Suhekhar was shocked. The right wing was devastated far worse than Suhekhar had thought. The well-organized formation was nowhere to be found. The sight of them fleeing in all directions with no apparent leader was like a flock of sheep running from a lion. He had heard a lot about the Duke¡¯s prowess in battle from those who survived the night raid, but seeing it for himself was on a whole other levelpared to simply hearing about it. Suhekhar burst intoughter as he watched three knights charging at him like madmen being taken down in one swing and falling from their horses. He realized anew that people really dough when they¡¯re too shocked. ¡°H. . .Has he really made a deal with a demon?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. . .¡± Still, Suhekhar was an outstandingmander. He tried his best to ept the situation and make a new n. With the right wingpletely copsed and his soldiers scattered, his nk was also in danger. The moment rumors spread that one side had retreated from the battlefield, even those who had been fighting well would be terrified. Conversely, if they were to be surrounded, they could end up in the worst possible situation. ¡°We must prepare to retreat.¡± Suhekhar¡¯s ves bit their lips as if it was unfair. They didn¡¯t think they would have to let the enemies go like this because of the ipetence of their allies after capturing them all. ¡®?????????? ?????????????? ????????????????! ???????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ????????????. . .¡¯ Even if they had set up wooden dummies, they would havested longer than this. The ves were so resentful that tears welled up in their eyes. How could renowned chieftains and knights fight so poorly? ???????????? Iselia looked at the fleeing enemies with eyes like a puppy, but Johan didn¡¯t allow it. ¡°Gerdolf. Take the subpany and turn left to attack the remaining soldiers over there.¡± In a fight betweenrge armies, the battlefield would berge and people fought in a rather dispersed manner. It wasn¡¯t umon for knights to leave the battlefield in pursuit of fleeing enemies during a battle. In those days, the loots from fallen enemies became profit. With themotion and excitement of the battlefield, from mercenaries to knights, they would blindly chase after the fleeing enemies. Of course, Johan hated that very much. If the allies retreated and lost a battle that they had already won, where could theyin? Therefore, Johan only began his pursuit after the cleanup of the battlefield was certain. ¡°Don¡¯t chase too far. Chase them only to a certain extent.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve done this more than once or twice, so don¡¯t worry.¡± The less fatigued ones with quick feet began their pursuit. Of course, Johan himself was among them. Ulrike, who was wiping the blood off her face with a tired expression, looked at the sight in wonder. ¡°You n to join the pursuit yourself?¡± ¡°It¡¯s most reliable if I go myself. Do I have a reason to rest?¡± Johan had taken the seat of a Duke, but he still took the lead to take care of as much as he could. Of course, the others didn¡¯t notice Johan¡¯s thoughts. They only marveled at the fact that the Duke himself was joining the knights. In fact, Ulrike¡¯s knights all lowered their heads with respect. ¡°Do you want toe with me?¡± ¡°No. . . I¡¯d rather rest. Don¡¯t misunderstand. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m rejecting your offer because I hate it. I don¡¯t want to get in the way just because I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I misunderstood it. . . Then I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°There are our allies. Pleasefort them.¡± ¡°No. . .¡± Ulrike knitted her brows as she realized the situation btedly after Johan¡¯s words. She felt like she wanted to endure the fatigue and simply join the pursuit. Just thinking about how shamelessly those who had underestimated their enemies and ended up surrounded would make excuses was already giving her a headache. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± At Johan¡¯s shout, the warriors who had changed to new horses began their pursuit. The excited Iselia urged the Elven cavalry forward and rushed ahead. Ulrike shook her head as she watched the sight. ???????????? ¡°You¡¯re running away quite well?¡± ¡°Well, looking at their orderly retreat, it seems like theirmander is quite experienced.¡± ¡°Is that what you call people who run away without even fighting properly?¡± ¡°The fact that themander is experienced and the fact that the subordinates are cowardly are separate matters. . .¡± Johan knew from experience how difficult it was tomand and control his vassals who brought their own subordinates. There was nothing to be disappointed or disappointed about the nobles who had brought their own subordinates, so no matter how supreme themander was, they sometimes ignored orders. If he told them to wait, they would charge first because they didn¡¯t want to share the credit with others. If he told them to charge, they would refuse because they didn¡¯t want to be the first to get injured. If he told them not to chase and rest, they would chase on their own because they wanted to collect gold coins. . . ¡®????. ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ????.¡¯ Although things like that had decreased considerably since he became close with the feudal lords of the penins, he still felt furious thinking about it now. ¡°My dear. It seems like they¡¯ve escaped into that forest.¡± ¡°How annoying. . .¡± ¡°Shall we go around it?¡± ¡°No. There¡¯s no guarantee that we¡¯ll be able to find other traces, so let¡¯s just chase them. We can¡¯t go back empty-handed aftering this far.¡± There were forests in various parts of the drynd, but it was rare to see such a dense forest. Johan was intrigued by the dense forest. ¡®???????? ?????????? ???? ????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????¡¯ It would have been stranger not to feel magical power in a forest or a mountain. No matter where it was, the older and deeper it was, the more mysteries it held. However, it was notmon to find a supernatural being that maintained such a dense forest in this drynd. ¡°My dear. What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°The forest made me think of wizards. I was wondering if I brought them here.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea. . .¡± Iselia didn¡¯t think that wizards would enjoy riding horses at this fast pace for such a long distance. If Johan told them to go, they wouldn¡¯t be able to refuse because of the pride of a Duke, but they might end up groaning after it was over. ¡°. . .Is it that bad? Well. . . Even if it¡¯s fine for Suetlg-nim, Caenerna and Jyanina are young.¡± ¡°Just because they¡¯re young doesn¡¯t mean they have good stamina, does it?¡± To Iselia¡¯s words, the centaur next to her nodded. ¡°That is true. Your Highness. Stamina is not something thates just from innate bloodline and consistent effort. It¡¯s like us.¡± ¡°O-Oh, I see. I feel sorry that I didn¡¯t think of that.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Iselia shook her head. ¡°No. You¡¯re being considerate enough. However, if you¡¯re going to worry about such a thing in the future. . . Hmm. How about improving the wizards¡¯ stamina? Their hearts and lungs will be stronger if they go through the knight¡¯s training even a little bit.¡± ¡°Will wizards like to do that?¡± ¡°Sometimes there are things they have to do even if they don¡¯t like it, right?¡± ¡°. . .¡± As expected of a knight, Iselia didn¡¯t question such painful training. It would be shocking if the wizards heard that. However, Johan agreed with Iselia¡¯s words. ¡®????????, ???????? ???? ????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????????????-??????, ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ He had a problem if they groaned so much after riding a horse for a few hours that Johan had to personally support them and take them to the tent. In fact, Suetlg had better stamina in that regard. He had a different level of experience as he had been in several wars. While they were talking, the centaurs who had run ahead to find traces came back. ¡°We found it. It¡¯s over here.¡± ¡°What? Did you shoot them with an arrow?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s blood?¡± Johan was puzzled. Of course, it could have been a wound from the battlefield earlier. However, there was time in between. It would have been enough time to stop the bleeding while they were running away. ¡°Is that so? It¡¯s a bit strange.¡± The answer to that question came right away. As they followed the traces, they found a hastily made camp. Fallen soldiers were lying in the camp and groaning. The centaurs whistled. The things they were carrying looked expensive at a nce. The experienced centaurs knew how much a gold ne would sell for in the market just by looking at it. ¡°Your Highness. Can you ask if they want mercy?¡± Seeing how serious the injuries looked, the centaur took out an arrow. Sometimes, putting an end to their lives was an act of mercy than letting them suffer from pain. ¡°No. Don¡¯t shoot.¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± ¡°This is strange. It doesn¡¯t look like they were attacked by people.¡± Johan was the first to feel a sense of incongruity. It was a sense of incongruity he felt as he had hunted the most monsters among the people here. The traces of the armor being torn apart and all that were not wounds that could be made by a human weapon. ¡°¡ö. . . ¡ö¡ö. . .¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°They¡¯re asking for water. Give them water.¡± The centaur took out a leather water bottle and brought it to their lips. The fallen warrior sipped it while groaning. ¡°I¡¯m. . . from the Igeolvar family. . .¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. You¡¯re rich? You want to pay the ransom? Yeah! Come on, hang in there. You can¡¯t die!¡± The centaurs, who didn¡¯t understand the Easternnguage, could miraculously guess by the smell. They held the warrior¡¯s hand tightly and cheered him on. The warrior must have thought that his opponent was on the same side as he was in a state of confusion. ¡°Get out of the forest. . . quickly. . .¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°There¡¯s. . . there¡¯s. There¡¯s something there. Did Suhekhar-nim escape?¡± ¡°Oh, dear.¡± Johan was disappointed. From the way he spoke, it seemed like he was someone of high status who was with the enemymander. He seemed to have been left here because he was injured, but what if he hade a little sooner? ¡°Be on guard. It seems that there¡¯s a fierce monster in the forest.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The centaurs took action right away. It was the centaurs who hunted down and killed fierce monsters, moving between forests and ins with poisoned arrows. They weren¡¯t afraid of Eastern monsters at this point. ¡°Hey. You need to tell me what it is, even for Suhekhar-nim¡¯s sake. Come on, hang in there.¡± Johan pped the warrior on the cheek. It wasn¡¯t a very nice thing to do to a dying person, but the warrior opened his mouth, surprisingly effectively. ¡°Malevolent spirit. . . a transparent malevolent spirit is chasing us. . .¡± ¡°Transparent?¡± ¡°Yeah. . .¡± Johan¡¯s face became stern. It wasn¡¯t umon for spirits or malevolent spirits to appear in the forest, but it was a pain in the neck if they were transparent. Should he just leave? ¡®????. . . ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ????¡¯???? ????????.¡¯ ¡°I can hear it. Your Highness.¡± ¡°Get ready. Shoot them as soon as I give the order.¡± The centaurs held the bowstring tightly and waited for Johan¡¯s order. They seemed ready to shoot without hesitation even if a dragon came out in front of them. However, surprisingly, it was their brethren of the same faith who emerged from the bushes. ¡°Your Highness Duke Yeats??¡± Biorarn looked at Johan with his eyes wide open, along with the monastic pdins. Iselia asked with a serious voice. ¡°It must be a malevolent spirit in disguise!¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± ¡°Your Highness! It¡¯s not!¡± Chapter 315: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (3) Chapter 315: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (3) One of Biorarn¡¯s knights spoke hurriedly, but Iselia did not give up her suspicious look. That was because Biorarn and his men had set off in apletely different direction. As soon as the battle was over and the encirclement was lifted, a good number of those who had been trapped inside the encirclement set off in pursuit. They were exhausted and thirsty, but one cannot let an opportunity to chase retreating losers who chucked their weapons away go. It was weird that a group of people appeared in the forest, paddling so hard as if their lives depended on it. ¡°That sounds right.¡± Johan nodded in agreement with Iselia. This got the centaurs thinking. On second thought, wasn¡¯t there a knight rted to the emperor by blood used of assassination? ¡®??????????????????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ????????.¡¯ ¡®?????????????????????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?? ???????? ??????????????????????.¡¯The centaurs were a rough tribe from the eastern part of the Holy Empire, but Cardirian¡¯s tyranny left asting impression on them as well. Such as executing defeated aristocrats, sending assassins after his political enemies and priests, and confiscating family fortunes. It was only natural that a knight with such a bloodline was a cause for concern. ¡°Your highness! Please trust us!¡± The pdin from the monastic order seemed like he was about to cry. Unlike Biorarn¡¯s knights, they were unnnedpanions to Biorarn. That was why they were the most misunderstood by the Duke, and it came like a bolt from the blue. ¡°The St. Gnto Holy Knights¡¯ Order is only marching with Biorarn-gong due to circumstances, and we have not made any alliances or pacts with them. Please do not misunderstand!¡± ¡°H-Hey. Priest. What are you talking about?¡± One of Biorarn¡¯s knights asked, looking bewildered. No matter what, speaking in such a straightforward manner was unbing. Even those who had not been suspicious until now had no choice but to look at them with suspicion. The knights had no one to rely on other than Biorarn, the highest ranking knight. They spoke to Biorarn in earnest. ¡°Biorarn-NIM, what should we do?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s no need to get so worked up.¡± Biorarn answered pleasantly. The knights were puzzled by that answer. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°I crossed des with that duke. Since he¡¯s a knight among knights, he must¡¯ve heard the voice of my sword.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Biorarn¡¯s knights looked very worried. Of course, the reason they followed him was not because of his lineage, but because of his abilities as a knight. Swordsmanship, spearmanship, and even horsemanship; there was no knight in the court who could keep up with him. His achievements were also considerable. While he may not have made as many brilliant achievements in a short amount of time like Duke Yeats, Biorarn had made many achievements in the north as well. And then there was his generous spending, something essential for a knight who led a group of people. The knights who followed him loved his magnanimity, such as the way he spared no coins when rewarding them, and thevish banquets he held. However, sometimes Biorarn tended to overrate. . . greatly overrate the honor of his opponent knights. Knights prided themselves on being people who pursued honor and ideals, purer and more faithful than feudal lords who were weighed down by the soil, but knights were also only human. There were always despicable and greedy people among them, such as those who robbed civilians after turning into bandits, and those who killed their own blood rtives out of greed fornd. Even if they did not go that far, they might hold grudges like any other person. Duke Yeats had plenty of reasons to hold a grudge against the imperial family. ¡°I don¡¯t think they are malevolent spirits. Lower your bows.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the centaurs did so without hesitation. It was their virtue to be loyal to the words of their master, even when in doubt. Iselia asked curiously, ¡°My dear. How did you tell? Ah. Did you use magic?¡± ¡°No. They¡¯re making such foolish remarks for a malevolent spirit.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ???????????? ording to Biorarn¡¯s testimony, the group that was chasing the enemy in another direction also found this forest and entered it. However, the path inside the forest was moreplicated than they had thought, and they quickly lost their way and got lost. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a rumor from a pagan beggar when I was staying at the castle. . .¡± One of the pdins from the monastic order spoke cautiously. Biorarn frowned at the pdin. ¡°You dare to mention a beggar¡¯s rumor. Do you have no shame? And a pagan at that! Your highness. . .¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s fine. We can¡¯t ignore the wisdom of those who have been here for a long time.¡± Johan¡¯s words made Biorarn very embarrassed. The hand he had raised to scold the pdin wavered, having nowhere to go. Feeling sorry for him, Iselia handed him the leather bag filled with wine. ¡°T-Thank you.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± ording to what the pdin had heard, there was a nameless forest not so far from the Holy Land. What was amazing was the origin of the forest. It was said that when an old saint fell to the ground, exhausted, the trees bloomed to cover his body. . . ¡®???????? ???????????? ???????? ?? ???????? ????????????????????????.¡¯ Of course, nothing is impossible, but as a wizard, it was hard for him to believe that one person could make an entire forest bloom. ¡°With such an origin, why doesn¡¯t it have a name?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s a forest that is usually invisible.¡± Biorarn, as a knight, wanted to say that it was ridiculous superstitious nonsense, but he managed to hold back. The knights beside him also persuaded Biorarn. ¡°When is it visible if it¡¯s usually invisible?¡± ¡°. . .When the forest is angry.¡± ¡°!¡± The group who were resting around the campfire turned their heads at the voice from behind. It was the voice of the warrior who had been found wounded and unconscious. He frowned as hard as he could, as if he wasing to his senses, and tried to raise himself. His injuries were severe, but he seemed to have passed the critical point. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I am. But. . . my face hurts so much. I don¡¯t remember getting hit.¡± ¡°Oh dear. You must not remember because you got hit hard by a monster.¡± ¡°Is that so. . .?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important right now. What do you know?¡± ¡°We call this forest the Forest of Divine Punishment. Every time this forest appeared, it was when we angered the forest. It must be because we fought on holy ground that angered the forest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. . . It must be because they wickedly executed the family of the guardian of the Holy Land!¡± Biorarn said hotly. The warrior retorted without backing down. ¡°You call yourself a guardian of the Holy Land when you just swing your sword to conquer it! You plundered the surrounding area and extorted taxes from the tribes. You deserved divine punishment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s something that had to be done. . .¡± ¡°Stop it. What is this all about.¡± Iselia cut them off resolutely. Johan was very surprised by her appearance. To be honest, he thought she would side with Biorarn. Iselia also seemed to notice his gaze, and looked at Johan quizzically. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°No. . . It¡¯s just unfamiliar.¡± ¡°??¡± ¡°I thought you would join the fight.¡± ¡°. . .I do not. My dear. I¡¯d appreciate it if you refrained from teasing me about the past.¡± Iselia spoke as if she was slightly embarrassed. It was hard to refute the words about joining the fight. Because if it had been in the past, she really would have. ¡°But that pagan. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Biorarn-gong. However, this is a situation where we need to talk, so please calm down for a while. So what should we do if the angry forest appears?¡± ¡°We must be careful and escape before the wrath of the forest falls upon us. We couldn¡¯t do that though. . .¡± They could not afford to take the time to detour around therge forest while fleeing from the chase. That rash decision had led them to where they were now. ¡°Was there another group?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°There was. I can tell by the fact that you can¡¯t answer right away that they were nobles. And they must have been escort knights, judging by their armor and swords. A noble with two escort knights like that must have been quite high-ranking.¡± ¡°W-What spell are you casting on me?¡± The warrior tried to step back in horror. Johan said, dumbfounded, ¡°If you can see nts, you should know to look for a stream. What nonsense are you talking about?¡± ¡°Your highness. Shall we interrogate him and chase after them?¡± ¡°Chasing them recklessly in an angry forest will onlyplicate things. Give it up. They must have escaped quite a while ago.¡± ¡°Then let me shoot him.¡± Biorarn and the knights were slightly surprised by the centaurs¡¯ words, but the centaurs had their own reasons. ¡°The spirits or malevolent spirits of the forest hate and chase the first person who enters the most. Judging by how badly injured he is, it¡¯s obvious who it¡¯s chasing. If we cut off his windpipe and throw him, whoever the master of the forest is won¡¯t chase us any further.¡± The centaurs, who had lived together with the forest, knew several ways to deal with such mysteries. The locations may be different, but the things that spirits or malevolent spirits do are simr. Offering sacrifices and leaving was also a long-standing traditional method. This was especially true when it was an enemy that they did not care about. ¡°But isn¡¯t it a waste of ransom money?¡± ¡°. . .Your highness is truly. . . remarkable. You care more about money than we do!¡± ¡°Thanks for thepliment. To be honest, I want to take him with me because he¡¯s a fairly high-ranking prisoner, regardless of the ransom.¡± The whispering voices of Johan and the centaurs were not heard by the others. Rather, it was fortunate. If they had heard it, the knights would have doubted their ears. ¡°Then shall we catch it?¡± ¡°What is this crazy talk. . .? We have to escape!¡± The warrior was shocked. To confront the wrath of a forest that had been in ce for hundreds of years. No knight had ever said such a ridiculous thing. However, the centaurs and Iselia did not doubt that they could catch it at all. They believed that the duke they served had no reason to lose to such malevolent spirits. The centaurs chattered in the eastern dialect. ¡°Be quiet. When we escape, we¡¯ll pierce your neck with an arrow, throw you as food for the beasts, and then escape.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°It¡¯s telling you to be quiet.¡± ¡°Y-Yes. . .¡± ????????????! Johan realized that the tied-up Cardirian was strangely excited. ¡°Someone¡¯sing.¡± ¡°!¡± As he had the bloodline of a demonic beast, Cardirian also had the senses of a wild beast. He was inferior to Karamaf, but it was true that it was hard to ignore. While those present were watching with caution, a group of people emerged from the bushes. . . .Surprisingly, it was a group of knights led by Biorarn. ¡°???¡± ¡°What. . . what. . .?¡± The gathered people were shocked to see people who looked exactly like them, wearing the same weapons and armor. ¡°How dare you impersonate someone!!¡± Biorarn shouted in an angry voice. The newly appeared Biorarn shouted as well. ¡°That¡¯s what I should be saying. How dare someone who does not even have the dignity of a knight impersonate someone!¡± ¡°No. . .!¡± Biorarn was shocked when the fake¡¯s words were more convincing than he had thought. So were Biorarn¡¯s knights and the pdins from the monastic order. Watching this, Johan asked the warrior in disbelief. ¡°Did you get cheated this way too?¡± ¡°Ah, no. We just. . . we just escaped from those guys who kept chasing us under the cover of darkness. We yed the role of decoys. . .¡± ¡°Then why are they doing this now?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The centaur next to him answered instead. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t a cunning beast use clever tricks when it sees that the hunter is strong? It must have changed its methods after seeing your highness.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Should I have brought a wizard? Johan regretted it a little. Suetlg or Caenerna might have known a spell to deal with this situation. All Johan could think of now was beating them both up until they talked. However, that was too dangerous. Because if the malevolent spirit did not show itself, the knights would just get beaten up. ¡°How about we just kill them both while we have the chance?¡± When one of the centaurs whispered in the eastern dialect, Johan replied with a frown, ¡°Stop mumbling in the eastern dialect.¡±, One of Biorarn¡¯s knights spoke hurriedly, but Iselia did not give up her suspicious look. That was because Biorarn and his men had set off in apletely different direction. As soon as the battle was over and the encirclement was lifted, a good number of those who had been trapped inside the encirclement set off in pursuit. They were exhausted and thirsty, but one cannot let an opportunity to chase retreating losers who chucked their weapons away go. It was weird that a group of people appeared in the forest, paddling so hard as if their lives depended on it. ¡°That sounds right.¡± Johan nodded in agreement with Iselia. This got the centaurs thinking. On second thought, wasn¡¯t there a knight rted to the emperor by blood used of assassination? ¡®??????????????????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ????????.¡¯ ¡®?????????????????????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?? ???????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ The centaurs were a rough tribe from the eastern part of the Holy Empire, but Cardirian¡¯s tyranny left asting impression on them as well. Such as executing defeated aristocrats, sending assassins after his political enemies and priests, and confiscating family fortunes. It was only natural that a knight with such a bloodline was a cause for concern. ¡°Your highness! Please trust us!¡± The pdin from the monastic order seemed like he was about to cry. Unlike Biorarn¡¯s knights, they were unnnedpanions to Biorarn. That was why they were the most misunderstood by the Duke, and it came like a bolt from the blue. ¡°The St. Gnto Holy Knights¡¯ Order is only marching with Biorarn-gong due to circumstances, and we have not made any alliances or pacts with them. Please do not misunderstand!¡± ¡°H-Hey. Priest. What are you talking about?¡± One of Biorarn¡¯s knights asked, looking bewildered. No matter what, speaking in such a straightforward manner was unbing. Even those who had not been suspicious until now had no choice but to look at them with suspicion. The knights had no one to rely on other than Biorarn, the highest ranking knight. They spoke to Biorarn in earnest. ¡°Biorarn-NIM, what should we do?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s no need to get so worked up.¡± Biorarn answered pleasantly. The knights were puzzled by that answer. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°I crossed des with that duke. Since he¡¯s a knight among knights, he must¡¯ve heard the voice of my sword.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Biorarn¡¯s knights looked very worried. Of course, the reason they followed him was not because of his lineage, but because of his abilities as a knight. Swordsmanship, spearmanship, and even horsemanship; there was no knight in the court who could keep up with him. His achievements were also considerable. While he may not have made as many brilliant achievements in a short amount of time like Duke Yeats, Biorarn had made many achievements in the north as well. And then there was his generous spending, something essential for a knight who led a group of people. The knights who followed him loved his magnanimity, such as the way he spared no coins when rewarding them, and thevish banquets he held. However, sometimes Biorarn tended to overrate. . . greatly overrate the honor of his opponent knights. Knights prided themselves on being people who pursued honor and ideals, purer and more faithful than feudal lords who were weighed down by the soil, but knights were also only human. There were always despicable and greedy people among them, such as those who robbed civilians after turning into bandits, and those who killed their own blood rtives out of greed fornd. Even if they did not go that far, they might hold grudges like any other person. Duke Yeats had plenty of reasons to hold a grudge against the imperial family. ¡°I don¡¯t think they are malevolent spirits. Lower your bows.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the centaurs did so without hesitation. It was their virtue to be loyal to the words of their master, even when in doubt. Iselia asked curiously, ¡°My dear. How did you tell? Ah. Did you use magic?¡± ¡°No. They¡¯re making such foolish remarks for a malevolent spirit.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ???????????? ording to Biorarn¡¯s testimony, the group that was chasing the enemy in another direction also found this forest and entered it. However, the path inside the forest was moreplicated than they had thought, and they quickly lost their way and got lost. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a rumor from a pagan beggar when I was staying at the castle. . .¡± One of the pdins from the monastic order spoke cautiously. Biorarn frowned at the pdin. ¡°You dare to mention a beggar¡¯s rumor. Do you have no shame? And a pagan at that! Your highness. . .¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s fine. We can¡¯t ignore the wisdom of those who have been here for a long time.¡± Johan¡¯s words made Biorarn very embarrassed. The hand he had raised to scold the pdin wavered, having nowhere to go. Feeling sorry for him, Iselia handed him the leather bag filled with wine. ¡°T-Thank you.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± ording to what the pdin had heard, there was a nameless forest not so far from the Holy Land. What was amazing was the origin of the forest. It was said that when an old saint fell to the ground, exhausted, the trees bloomed to cover his body. . . ¡®???????? ???????????? ???????? ?? ???????? ????????????????????????.¡¯ Of course, nothing is impossible, but as a wizard, it was hard for him to believe that one person could make an entire forest bloom. ¡°With such an origin, why doesn¡¯t it have a name?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s a forest that is usually invisible.¡± Biorarn, as a knight, wanted to say that it was ridiculous superstitious nonsense, but he managed to hold back. The knights beside him also persuaded Biorarn. ¡°When is it visible if it¡¯s usually invisible?¡± ¡°. . .When the forest is angry.¡± ¡°!¡± The group who were resting around the campfire turned their heads at the voice from behind. It was the voice of the warrior who had been found wounded and unconscious. He frowned as hard as he could, as if he wasing to his senses, and tried to raise himself. His injuries were severe, but he seemed to have passed the critical point. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I am. But. . . my face hurts so much. I don¡¯t remember getting hit.¡± ¡°Oh dear. You must not remember because you got hit hard by a monster.¡± ¡°Is that so. . .?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important right now. What do you know?¡± ¡°We call this forest the Forest of Divine Punishment. Every time this forest appeared, it was when we angered the forest. It must be because we fought on holy ground that angered the forest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. . . It must be because they wickedly executed the family of the guardian of the Holy Land!¡± Biorarn said hotly. The warrior retorted without backing down. ¡°You call yourself a guardian of the Holy Land when you just swing your sword to conquer it! You plundered the surrounding area and extorted taxes from the tribes. You deserved divine punishment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s something that had to be done. . .¡± ¡°Stop it. What is this all about.¡± Iselia cut them off resolutely. Johan was very surprised by her appearance. To be honest, he thought she would side with Biorarn. Iselia also seemed to notice his gaze, and looked at Johan quizzically. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°No. . . It¡¯s just unfamiliar.¡± ¡°??¡± ¡°I thought you would join the fight.¡± ¡°. . .I do not. My dear. I¡¯d appreciate it if you refrained from teasing me about the past.¡± Iselia spoke as if she was slightly embarrassed. It was hard to refute the words about joining the fight. Because if it had been in the past, she really would have. ¡°But that pagan. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Biorarn-gong. However, this is a situation where we need to talk, so please calm down for a while. So what should we do if the angry forest appears?¡± ¡°We must be careful and escape before the wrath of the forest falls upon us. We couldn¡¯t do that though. . .¡± They could not afford to take the time to detour around therge forest while fleeing from the chase. That rash decision had led them to where they were now. ¡°Was there another group?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°There was. I can tell by the fact that you can¡¯t answer right away that they were nobles. And they must have been escort knights, judging by their armor and swords. A noble with two escort knights like that must have been quite high-ranking.¡± ¡°W-What spell are you casting on me?¡± The warrior tried to step back in horror. Johan said, dumbfounded, ¡°If you can see nts, you should know to look for a stream. What nonsense are you talking about?¡± ¡°Your highness. Shall we interrogate him and chase after them?¡± ¡°Chasing them recklessly in an angry forest will onlyplicate things. Give it up. They must have escaped quite a while ago.¡± ¡°Then let me shoot him.¡± Biorarn and the knights were slightly surprised by the centaurs¡¯ words, but the centaurs had their own reasons. ¡°The spirits or malevolent spirits of the forest hate and chase the first person who enters the most. Judging by how badly injured he is, it¡¯s obvious who it¡¯s chasing. If we cut off his windpipe and throw him, whoever the master of the forest is won¡¯t chase us any further.¡± The centaurs, who had lived together with the forest, knew several ways to deal with such mysteries. The locations may be different, but the things that spirits or malevolent spirits do are simr. Offering sacrifices and leaving was also a long-standing traditional method. This was especially true when it was an enemy that they did not care about. ¡°But isn¡¯t it a waste of ransom money?¡± ¡°. . .Your highness is truly. . . remarkable. You care more about money than we do!¡± ¡°Thanks for thepliment. To be honest, I want to take him with me because he¡¯s a fairly high-ranking prisoner, regardless of the ransom.¡± The whispering voices of Johan and the centaurs were not heard by the others. Rather, it was fortunate. If they had heard it, the knights would have doubted their ears. ¡°Then shall we catch it?¡± ¡°What is this crazy talk. . .? We have to escape!¡± The warrior was shocked. To confront the wrath of a forest that had been in ce for hundreds of years. No knight had ever said such a ridiculous thing. However, the centaurs and Iselia did not doubt that they could catch it at all. They believed that the duke they served had no reason to lose to such malevolent spirits. The centaurs chattered in the eastern dialect. ¡°Be quiet. When we escape, we¡¯ll pierce your neck with an arrow, throw you as food for the beasts, and then escape.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°It¡¯s telling you to be quiet.¡± ¡°Y-Yes. . .¡± ????????????! Johan realized that the tied-up Cardirian was strangely excited. ¡°Someone¡¯sing.¡± ¡°!¡± As he had the bloodline of a demonic beast, Cardirian also had the senses of a wild beast. He was inferior to Karamaf, but it was true that it was hard to ignore. While those present were watching with caution, a group of people emerged from the bushes. . . .Surprisingly, it was a group of knights led by Biorarn. ¡°???¡± ¡°What. . . what. . .?¡± The gathered people were shocked to see people who looked exactly like them, wearing the same weapons and armor. ¡°How dare you impersonate someone!!¡± Biorarn shouted in an angry voice. The newly appeared Biorarn shouted as well. ¡°That¡¯s what I should be saying. How dare someone who does not even have the dignity of a knight impersonate someone!¡± ¡°No. . .!¡± Biorarn was shocked when the fake¡¯s words were more convincing than he had thought. So were Biorarn¡¯s knights and the pdins from the monastic order. Watching this, Johan asked the warrior in disbelief. ¡°Did you get cheated this way too?¡± ¡°Ah, no. We just. . . we just escaped from those guys who kept chasing us under the cover of darkness. We yed the role of decoys. . .¡± ¡°Then why are they doing this now?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The centaur next to him answered instead. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t a cunning beast use clever tricks when it sees that the hunter is strong? It must have changed its methods after seeing your highness.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Should I have brought a wizard? Johan regretted it a little. Suetlg or Caenerna might have known a spell to deal with this situation. All Johan could think of now was beating them both up until they talked. However, that was too dangerous. Because if the malevolent spirit did not show itself, the knights would just get beaten up. ¡°How about we just kill them both while we have the chance?¡± When one of the centaurs whispered in the eastern dialect, Johan replied with a frown, ¡°Stop mumbling in the eastern dialect.¡± Chapter 316: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (4) Chapter 316: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (4) Some might think the centaurs were badgering Johan like malevolent spirits, but they had a point to make. The fierce and violent nature had not muddled Johan¡¯s thoughts after running into them. If they had gotten confused, they would have killed each other without trust and caused horrific damage. Things were better as they were. Biorarn and the pdins of the Order had the fakes, while Johan¡¯s original group didn¡¯t. They could figure out who was who if they were willing to sacrifice a few lives. Of course, it would be unfair to the ones sacrificed, but that didn¡¯t matter to the centaurs. ¡®???? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????????¡¯ Johan was troubled after listening to the centaurs¡¯ whispers. Like the centaurs, killing both sides was too drastic, and losing seemed like a more moderate approach. It would hurt a lot, but wouldn¡¯t they understand if he persuaded them? ¡°Hey, you were so good with words earlier, why are you not saying anything anymore?¡±A centaur who knew some Easternnguage asked the fallen pagan warrior. The pagan warrior answered disconcertedly. ¡°I¡¯ve never been in a situation like this. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie. You were babbling away earlier, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°To begin with, few people who experience this in the forest return alive.¡± The centaurs looked at the warrior with eyes as if he would spill his deepest secrets once they ripped his entrails out. It was impossible for the warrior not to notice their menacing eyes. The centaurs¡¯ notoriety was the same even in the Eastern Empire. ¡°Your Highness?¡± The standoff ended with Johan¡¯s movement. Johan slowly approached the two conflicting groups. ¡°Your Highness. It¡¯s dangerous.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not dangerous, actually.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± The two groups wondered what they were talking about as they conversed in Easternnguage. However, Johan stood before them before they had a chance to wonder about it. ¡°Your Highness?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bring this up, but I have a way to find out who¡¯s real.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Both groups looked delighted at Johan¡¯s words. A pdin of the Order immediately responded. ¡°No, Your Highness. We¡¯ll follow whatever method Your Highness has if you have one.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Anyone who doesn¡¯t follow Your Highness¡¯s method is even more suspicious! We can do anything as long as we can find the real one!¡± Johan felt more sorry at the enthusiastic response. ¡°It might be a bit painful.¡± ¡°We have sworn obedience before God. Pain and suffering are our virtues.¡± ¡°Then. . .¡± Johan stood to lift the knight¡¯s cheek. He took off his metal gauntlets so he wouldn¡¯t hurt him too badly. The two groups looked at him curiously. What is he trying to show? ¡®???? ???? ???????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ???????????????¡¯ ¡®?????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ????????????. . .?¡¯ ¡®?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ????????. ???? ???????????????? ?? ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡®. . .!¡¯ The knights from the northern part of the empire must have been unaware of the rumors about Johan. Such rumors weremon tales favored by bards. A tale of a devout, anointed noble healing the sick with his hands was always popr anytime, anywhere. But few people really believed it. If that were the case, the feudal lords would have been much less likely to be criticized by priests for being greedy andcking in piety. But Duke Yeats actually did show them something like that. The knights gathered there looked at Johan with eyes filled with surprise and anticipation. The duke slowly raised one hand. . . A light shed at that moment. It was from the luggage strapped to the saddle on Cardirian. It was a bright light that made it hard to see, but it felt warm and soothing for some reason. ¡®???????? ??????????!¡¯ It was the light emanating from the relic he received from Casten Pelheim. Johan quickly drew his sword. Even though he couldn¡¯t see anything due to the light, he could feel Seal Retriever firmly in his hand. Soon, the light disappeared. When his vision returned, the fake knights were gone. The pdins of the Order looked at Johan with amazed expressions. It was even more amazing than they had thought. However, they had to prepare for a fight without asking about what happened. Then knights appeared from the darkness of the forest with creaking sounds. They were no ordinary knights. They wore different attires and had different degrees of weaponry. Some knights were inexplicably wearing tattered, old armor, while others had Eastern-style weaponry. Johan knew instinctively. These knights were those who had died within. From recently to a long time ago. Ordinary undead emitted a sinister, chilling aura that was easy to recognize, but these knights looked and moved like they were alive. Their fatal wounds remained on their faces and bodies, which made them even creepier. ¡°. . .The forest must be furious!¡± A copsed warrior shouted in an awed voice. It was clear that the forest was furious at the persistent and presumptuous intruders who dared to trespass. Johan spoke firmly without being shaken. ¡°I have no intention of backing down in fear of a forest that doesn¡¯t know its ce and only knows how to be furious. Come!¡± The centaurs cheered upon hearing the duke¡¯s spirited words. They drew their weapons and aimed at the approaching knights. The warrior was shocked at the overwhelming response. No matter how brave a warrior, those who lived nearby would never go against the wrath of nature. Confronting nature¡¯s wrath was as foolish as getting angry at a typhoon or a thunderbolt. But this pagan duke was challenging it without a hint of fear. What the. . .? Cardirian whined excitedly. Johan red at the approaching knights with Seal Retriever. He could feel the spirits residing in his body surge through his veins. The forest¡¯s mysterious aura must have excited the spirits. At some point, Johan realized there was a crown floating above his head that he wasn¡¯t wearing. The crown was shining brilliantly even though the light emitted by the holy relic had disappeared. ¡°. . .!¡± The forest quickly disappeared as the morning fog lifted with the dawning day. The forest knights disappeared along with it. Johan slowly lowered Seal Retriever. He was relieved that he didn¡¯t have to fight the ghosts, but he felt like he had been possessed by a spirit. However, those behind Johan were the most shocked. The warrior couldn¡¯t breathe properly, overwhelmed by the miracle that the pagan duke had shown him. A pagan duke performing a miracle like a saint. ¡°It was truly strange. . . Wait a second. Are you pretending to be dead?¡± ¡°No. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother trying to fool me. I¡¯m not going to let you go no matter what you say. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll treat you as a prisoner and give you proper treatment until your ransom is paid.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. . .¡± ???????????? The warrior was released surprisingly easily. His family paid the ransom as soon as they heard the news, and there were quite a few captives from the Holy Land as well. Warrior passed through the gate of the Holy Land with his men. Fortunately, the Holy Land didn¡¯t look too chaotic despite the defeat. ¡°You must have suffered a lot! I heard you willingly risked your life for the honor of Suhekhar. It was courageous of you to bring honor to your family name.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind.¡± The Bukari family was renowned even without Harag achieving any new feats. It was because of their unique lineage, not their power or fiefdom. A family that had produced many famous priests and prophets could not help but have great prestige. So much so that evenmanders like Yeheyman and Suhekhar couldn¡¯t treat them carelessly. ¡°How is Suhekhar-nim doing?¡± ¡°I heard he gave up hismand, taking responsibility for the defeat. It¡¯s the right thing to do.¡± ¡°But. . . but it wasn¡¯t Suhekhar-nim¡¯s fault!¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. As amander, he has to take responsibility for his mistakes. Don¡¯t worry. Yeheyman-gong showed him appropriate leniency. He pardoned him without holding him ountable. I¡¯ve heard many rumors that the two of them don¡¯t get along, but this was quite unexpected.¡± Harag didn¡¯t care much that Yeheyman, who was known to be fierce, had shown unexpected clemency. What mattered to him was the situation after the battle, the pagan duke, and what happened in the forest. ¡°I wanted to hear about the battle directly from you when you returned. Incidentally, the others aren¡¯t far away, so I¡¯d like to invite you if you¡¯re feeling well.¡± ¡°Yes, I will. But, Grandfather. . . There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°If I receive a revtion and experience a miracle one day. . . Should I follow it even if the revtion is hard to believe?¡± The old priest pondered deeply at Harag¡¯s question before carefully answering. ¡°You should follow it if you truly believe that the revtion and miracle are real.¡± ¡°Even if it sounds ridiculous and unbelievable?¡± ¡°Yes. Revtions and miracles often contain meanings that you can¡¯t understand right away. You have no choice but to follow them if you don¡¯t want to regret itter, even if you understand the meaningter on. Have you had an experience or something?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing. I just thought of it all of a sudden. . .¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bitte to be a priest serving two gods? They say there¡¯s no such thing as being toote, though. . . Hahahaha!¡± ???????????? The battle and its aftermath were sessful, but there were still some problems. One of them was Duke Bronquia, who had suffered humiliation and disgrace, refusing toe out of his tent. Ulrike wanted to send assassins and burn down the tent, but Johan couldn¡¯t allow that. He was about to dere a retreat soon, so it would be better to have a duke, a great feudal lord, helping him. ¡°He won¡¯te out even after sending people.¡± ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d pack up and retreat immediately.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think a duke would do such a foolish thing because of his pride.¡± Ulrike¡¯s expression softened slightly at Johan¡¯s words that jokingly responded to her joke. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if we don¡¯t try to coax him personally, his aides will do it if we keep inviting him. That¡¯s what they should do.¡± There were many nobles around the duke, and they were smart enough to understand the situation. They must have realized that they couldn¡¯t just sit still after escaping a near annihtion thanks to Johan¡¯s help. ¡°But those rumors. . . are they true?¡± Ulrike asked hesitantly. Even Ulrike seemed half-convinced. ¡°What rumors?¡± ¡°Rumors that you showed a miracle. The people of the Order are chattering about it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s magic. Are you asking me that even though you know that there are many wizards under mymand?¡± Johan said as if he found it funny that Ulrike was asking him such a thing. Didn¡¯t they both share themonality of being cynical about faith? However, there was a difference between the two. Johan had the experience of another world, while Ulrike was clearly a person of this world. Their values couldn¡¯t help but differ. No matter how cynical Ulrike was about faith, she couldn¡¯tpletely deny it. Ulrike hurriedly made excuses, perhaps because she felt embarrassed. ¡°The rumors were so detailed and usible. And everyone¡¯s stories are simr.¡± ¡°Well, the real thing looks simr. And most people won¡¯t be able to tell the difference between magic and miracles.¡± ¡®???? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????????? ???? ???? ??????????.¡¯ Ulrike couldn¡¯t help but think that the testimonies about the old crown suddenly appearing above Johan¡¯s head seemed far from magic, no matter how she thought about it. However, Ulrike didn¡¯t ask any more questions. It just made her feel foolish. ¡°His Highness the Duke has recovered from his injury. He¡¯d like to see the two of you and express his gratitude.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him. . .¡± Ulrike mumbled quietly. Johan gestured as if to tell her not to. ¡°I understand. It¡¯s good that he¡¯s finally feeling better.¡± ¡°. . .Yes.¡± The noble who came to deliver the message quickly left, looking troubled. It seemed like they knew that they were being a nuisance. ¡®????¡¯???? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???????????????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan thought that he should invite as many feudal lords from this area as possible so he could avoid such a situation., Some might think the centaurs were badgering Johan like malevolent spirits, but they had a point to make. The fierce and violent nature had not muddled Johan¡¯s thoughts after running into them. If they had gotten confused, they would have killed each other without trust and caused horrific damage. Things were better as they were. Biorarn and the pdins of the Order had the fakes, while Johan¡¯s original group didn¡¯t. They could figure out who was who if they were willing to sacrifice a few lives. Of course, it would be unfair to the ones sacrificed, but that didn¡¯t matter to the centaurs. ¡®???? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????????¡¯ Johan was troubled after listening to the centaurs¡¯ whispers. Like the centaurs, killing both sides was too drastic, and losing seemed like a more moderate approach. It would hurt a lot, but wouldn¡¯t they understand if he persuaded them? ¡°Hey, you were so good with words earlier, why are you not saying anything anymore?¡± A centaur who knew some Easternnguage asked the fallen pagan warrior. The pagan warrior answered disconcertedly. ¡°I¡¯ve never been in a situation like this. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie. You were babbling away earlier, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°To begin with, few people who experience this in the forest return alive.¡± The centaurs looked at the warrior with eyes as if he would spill his deepest secrets once they ripped his entrails out. It was impossible for the warrior not to notice their menacing eyes. The centaurs¡¯ notoriety was the same even in the Eastern Empire. ¡°Your Highness?¡± The standoff ended with Johan¡¯s movement. Johan slowly approached the two conflicting groups. ¡°Your Highness. It¡¯s dangerous.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not dangerous, actually.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± The two groups wondered what they were talking about as they conversed in Easternnguage. However, Johan stood before them before they had a chance to wonder about it. ¡°Your Highness?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bring this up, but I have a way to find out who¡¯s real.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Both groups looked delighted at Johan¡¯s words. A pdin of the Order immediately responded. ¡°No, Your Highness. We¡¯ll follow whatever method Your Highness has if you have one.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Anyone who doesn¡¯t follow Your Highness¡¯s method is even more suspicious! We can do anything as long as we can find the real one!¡± Johan felt more sorry at the enthusiastic response. ¡°It might be a bit painful.¡± ¡°We have sworn obedience before God. Pain and suffering are our virtues.¡± ¡°Then. . .¡± Johan stood to lift the knight¡¯s cheek. He took off his metal gauntlets so he wouldn¡¯t hurt him too badly. The two groups looked at him curiously. What is he trying to show? ¡®???? ???? ???????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ???????????????¡¯ ¡®?????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ????????????. . .?¡¯ ¡®?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ????????. ???? ???????????????? ?? ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡®. . .!¡¯ The knights from the northern part of the empire must have been unaware of the rumors about Johan. Such rumors weremon tales favored by bards. A tale of a devout, anointed noble healing the sick with his hands was always popr anytime, anywhere. But few people really believed it. If that were the case, the feudal lords would have been much less likely to be criticized by priests for being greedy andcking in piety. But Duke Yeats actually did show them something like that. The knights gathered there looked at Johan with eyes filled with surprise and anticipation. The duke slowly raised one hand. . . A light shed at that moment. It was from the luggage strapped to the saddle on Cardirian. It was a bright light that made it hard to see, but it felt warm and soothing for some reason. ¡®???????? ??????????!¡¯ It was the light emanating from the relic he received from Casten Pelheim. Johan quickly drew his sword. Even though he couldn¡¯t see anything due to the light, he could feel Seal Retriever firmly in his hand. Soon, the light disappeared. When his vision returned, the fake knights were gone. The pdins of the Order looked at Johan with amazed expressions. It was even more amazing than they had thought. However, they had to prepare for a fight without asking about what happened. Then knights appeared from the darkness of the forest with creaking sounds. They were no ordinary knights. They wore different attires and had different degrees of weaponry. Some knights were inexplicably wearing tattered, old armor, while others had Eastern-style weaponry. Johan knew instinctively. These knights were those who had died within. From recently to a long time ago. Ordinary undead emitted a sinister, chilling aura that was easy to recognize, but these knights looked and moved like they were alive. Their fatal wounds remained on their faces and bodies, which made them even creepier. ¡°. . .The forest must be furious!¡± A copsed warrior shouted in an awed voice. It was clear that the forest was furious at the persistent and presumptuous intruders who dared to trespass. Johan spoke firmly without being shaken. ¡°I have no intention of backing down in fear of a forest that doesn¡¯t know its ce and only knows how to be furious. Come!¡± The centaurs cheered upon hearing the duke¡¯s spirited words. They drew their weapons and aimed at the approaching knights. The warrior was shocked at the overwhelming response. No matter how brave a warrior, those who lived nearby would never go against the wrath of nature. Confronting nature¡¯s wrath was as foolish as getting angry at a typhoon or a thunderbolt. But this pagan duke was challenging it without a hint of fear. What the. . .? Cardirian whined excitedly. Johan red at the approaching knights with Seal Retriever. He could feel the spirits residing in his body surge through his veins. The forest¡¯s mysterious aura must have excited the spirits. At some point, Johan realized there was a crown floating above his head that he wasn¡¯t wearing. The crown was shining brilliantly even though the light emitted by the holy relic had disappeared. ¡°. . .!¡± The forest quickly disappeared as the morning fog lifted with the dawning day. The forest knights disappeared along with it. Johan slowly lowered Seal Retriever. He was relieved that he didn¡¯t have to fight the ghosts, but he felt like he had been possessed by a spirit. However, those behind Johan were the most shocked. The warrior couldn¡¯t breathe properly, overwhelmed by the miracle that the pagan duke had shown him. A pagan duke performing a miracle like a saint. ¡°It was truly strange. . . Wait a second. Are you pretending to be dead?¡± ¡°No. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother trying to fool me. I¡¯m not going to let you go no matter what you say. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll treat you as a prisoner and give you proper treatment until your ransom is paid.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. . .¡± ???????????? The warrior was released surprisingly easily. His family paid the ransom as soon as they heard the news, and there were quite a few captives from the Holy Land as well. Warrior passed through the gate of the Holy Land with his men. Fortunately, the Holy Land didn¡¯t look too chaotic despite the defeat. ¡°You must have suffered a lot! I heard you willingly risked your life for the honor of Suhekhar. It was courageous of you to bring honor to your family name.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind.¡± The Bukari family was renowned even without Harag achieving any new feats. It was because of their unique lineage, not their power or fiefdom. A family that had produced many famous priests and prophets could not help but have great prestige. So much so that evenmanders like Yeheyman and Suhekhar couldn¡¯t treat them carelessly. ¡°How is Suhekhar-nim doing?¡± ¡°I heard he gave up hismand, taking responsibility for the defeat. It¡¯s the right thing to do.¡± ¡°But. . . but it wasn¡¯t Suhekhar-nim¡¯s fault!¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. As amander, he has to take responsibility for his mistakes. Don¡¯t worry. Yeheyman-gong showed him appropriate leniency. He pardoned him without holding him ountable. I¡¯ve heard many rumors that the two of them don¡¯t get along, but this was quite unexpected.¡± Harag didn¡¯t care much that Yeheyman, who was known to be fierce, had shown unexpected clemency. What mattered to him was the situation after the battle, the pagan duke, and what happened in the forest. ¡°I wanted to hear about the battle directly from you when you returned. Incidentally, the others aren¡¯t far away, so I¡¯d like to invite you if you¡¯re feeling well.¡± ¡°Yes, I will. But, Grandfather. . . There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°If I receive a revtion and experience a miracle one day. . . Should I follow it even if the revtion is hard to believe?¡± The old priest pondered deeply at Harag¡¯s question before carefully answering. ¡°You should follow it if you truly believe that the revtion and miracle are real.¡± ¡°Even if it sounds ridiculous and unbelievable?¡± ¡°Yes. Revtions and miracles often contain meanings that you can¡¯t understand right away. You have no choice but to follow them if you don¡¯t want to regret itter, even if you understand the meaningter on. Have you had an experience or something?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing. I just thought of it all of a sudden. . .¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bitte to be a priest serving two gods? They say there¡¯s no such thing as being toote, though. . . Hahahaha!¡± ???????????? The battle and its aftermath were sessful, but there were still some problems. One of them was Duke Bronquia, who had suffered humiliation and disgrace, refusing toe out of his tent. Ulrike wanted to send assassins and burn down the tent, but Johan couldn¡¯t allow that. He was about to dere a retreat soon, so it would be better to have a duke, a great feudal lord, helping him. ¡°He won¡¯te out even after sending people.¡± ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d pack up and retreat immediately.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think a duke would do such a foolish thing because of his pride.¡± Ulrike¡¯s expression softened slightly at Johan¡¯s words that jokingly responded to her joke. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if we don¡¯t try to coax him personally, his aides will do it if we keep inviting him. That¡¯s what they should do.¡± There were many nobles around the duke, and they were smart enough to understand the situation. They must have realized that they couldn¡¯t just sit still after escaping a near annihtion thanks to Johan¡¯s help. ¡°But those rumors. . . are they true?¡± Ulrike asked hesitantly. Even Ulrike seemed half-convinced. ¡°What rumors?¡± ¡°Rumors that you showed a miracle. The people of the Order are chattering about it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s magic. Are you asking me that even though you know that there are many wizards under mymand?¡± Johan said as if he found it funny that Ulrike was asking him such a thing. Didn¡¯t they both share themonality of being cynical about faith? However, there was a difference between the two. Johan had the experience of another world, while Ulrike was clearly a person of this world. Their values couldn¡¯t help but differ. No matter how cynical Ulrike was about faith, she couldn¡¯tpletely deny it. Ulrike hurriedly made excuses, perhaps because she felt embarrassed. ¡°The rumors were so detailed and usible. And everyone¡¯s stories are simr.¡± ¡°Well, the real thing looks simr. And most people won¡¯t be able to tell the difference between magic and miracles.¡± ¡®???? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????????? ???? ???? ??????????.¡¯ Ulrike couldn¡¯t help but think that the testimonies about the old crown suddenly appearing above Johan¡¯s head seemed far from magic, no matter how she thought about it. However, Ulrike didn¡¯t ask any more questions. It just made her feel foolish. ¡°His Highness the Duke has recovered from his injury. He¡¯d like to see the two of you and express his gratitude.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him. . .¡± Ulrike mumbled quietly. Johan gestured as if to tell her not to. ¡°I understand. It¡¯s good that he¡¯s finally feeling better.¡± ¡°. . .Yes.¡± The noble who came to deliver the message quickly left, looking troubled. It seemed like they knew that they were being a nuisance. ¡®????¡¯???? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???????????????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan thought that he should invite as many feudal lords from this area as possible so he could avoid such a situation. Chapter 317: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (5) Chapter 317: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (5) As they left Duke Bronquia¡¯s tent, the nobles grumbled in dissatisfaction. ¡°I¡¯d rather he was arrogant, you know?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t the time for that. . .¡± Everyone understood that defeat was shocking. After all, they had been fooled by some pagans and almost ended up surrounded. But for the Duke to shut himself up in his tent with hisrge military force like this made things difficult for the other nobles. Should they not pull themselves together and do something? ¡°It¡¯s good that Duke Yeats sent someone to us. If he hadn¡¯t, things would have been difficult.¡± ¡°Honestly, didn¡¯t you act on your own without discussing it with the Duke? It¡¯s already a blessing that he saved us from the encirclement, and yet, you ask for further consideration? It¡¯s embarrassing.¡± ¡°But what can we do?¡± ¡°Even so. . . Come to think of it, have you heard about that rumor? They say the Duke showed a miracle in the Forest of Death.¡±¡°Wasn¡¯t that just a rumor?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. I know a famous priest who saw it with his own two eyes.¡± ¡°Really. . . The Crown. . .?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Unknowingly, the nobles made the sign of the cross with expressions full of awe. A rumor was spreading among the nobles. It was a rumor that a crown suddenly appeared on the Duke¡¯s head when the dead charged out of the forest. Whether they were devout or not, nobles born as nobles had a hard timepletely ignoring such rumors. Moreover, the content of the rumors was strong enough to make them reflect on their lost faith. To the point where some nobles who usually lived dissolute lives called for priests to confess. A few sharp-eyed monks suggested that the crown was the crown for the guardian of the Holy Land left behind by the saints in the past. The story was absurd, but it was quite appealing. For the monotheists gathered here, the story of Johan was not a true story, but rather an attractive story. And the story was appealing enough to shake even the somewhat educated nobles. ¡°But is it possible for a crown that should be in the Holy Land to appear?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s a miracle, isn¡¯t it?¡± While the nobles were making a fuss about miracles, an actual miracle was happening elsewhere. The pagan feudal lords near the Holy Land hade to visit in secret. ???????????? ¡°Why is something so bothersome appearing when all you have to do is appease the duke?¡± For the first time in a long while, Johan made an irritated expression. The wizards in their seats looked at the young Duke with understanding eyes. The Duke¡¯s patience surprised even the wizards, but even he was human. He couldn¡¯t help but get irritated in such a twisted situation. A banquet was about to be held to appease Duke Bronquia and make him listen to them in the future. But suddenly, the pagan feudal lords near the Holy Land came to see them. After the Holy Land was conquered, these people who hade under the Sultan¡¯s army suddenly came to visit. It was impossible not to be concerned. epting them was difficult, but rejecting them was also difficult. Jyanina carefully opened her mouth. ¡°Can¡¯t we just meet them quietly and separately?¡± ¡°There are two problems with that. Although they came in secret, there are quite a few people who saw them. If we meet and send them away separately, there could be unnecessary rumors. We need to meet them together in front of many people. And above all, if we don¡¯t invite those who havee to the banquet, they might feel insulted.¡± The pride and dignity of the feudal lords were much more delicate andplicated than Johan thought. Things could go wrong with just one small issue. ¡°Should we just leave it to Duke Bronquia?¡± ¡°That¡¯s dangerous.¡± Suetlg opened his mouth. And he didn¡¯t exin any further. Johan nodded as well. To be honest, Johan knew it was dangerous. ¡®????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ??????????????????.¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s think about the purpose first. Why do you think they came?¡± ¡°Defection? Betrayal?¡± ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t the situation in their favor?¡± The small feudal lords near the Holy Land had no reason to dislike the current situation. Didn¡¯t the Sultan¡¯s army, who were also of the same belief, conquer the Holy Land? It was a much better situation than being ruled by monotheist feudal lords. Moreover, their army was not small, and they had brought a huge force with them. There seemed to be no reason for them to revolt because they were at a disadvantage. Did they collect too many taxes? ¡°W-Well, did they hear the rumors?¡± Jyanina opened her mouth again. The rumors circting near Tahkreng Castle recently were so strong that even Jyanina had heard them several times. It seemed possible that the pagan feudal lords had been shaken by the rumors. ¡°Jyanina-gong. Your opinion is interesting, but I don¡¯t think the pagan feudal lords would have been swayed by such rumors.¡± ¡®???????? ??????????. ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ????, ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???? ??????????????????!¡¯ Jyanina cursed inwardly. The Duke¡¯s attitude was serious, but in the end, didn¡¯t he cut it off with one stroke? ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s face them head-on without worrying about useless thoughts. Call Vaytar. As the son of Yeheyman, he might be able to get along with the pagan feudal lords. Also, call Valeon, the son of the old king Ineressa. He¡¯s married to the Zurebek family, so he¡¯ll be of help too. Are there any other rmendations?¡± ¡°. . .No. It seems like Your Highness has already mentioned everyone.¡± ???????????? Yeheyman was not only suffering from defeat but also from rumors. The rumors were so widespread that the Sultan¡¯s eunuchs came to visit him in person to ask about them. ¡°Is it true that the crown is gone?¡± ¡°How many times do I have to say it!¡± ¡°Did the crown really disappear?¡± ¡°. . .Damn it! Are you guys falling for such rumors as well? The original crown was a fake in the first ce!¡± Yeheyman was going crazy. It was immediately revealed that the crown that the family in charge of guarding the Holy Land had been keeping was a fake. Yeheyman¡¯s army also had excellent craftsmen. However, since the truth of this matter could not be discovered by others anyway, he didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. However, strange rumors began to circte. That the crown chose that pagan Duke on its own. Yeheyman regretted executing the feudal lord and his family in the first ce. Even if he tried to ask where the real one was hidden, he couldn¡¯t ask the dead, could he? Now, the truth didn¡¯t matter. Did the feudal lord¡¯s attendant steal the crown, or was there no real one from the beginning. . .? But the Sultan¡¯s eunuchs suspected Yeheyman. They suspected that he was lying to save his own face because the crown had disappeared. ¡°I suggest you stop. What good wille from suspecting?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Fortunately, the eunuchs were realistic. Since they were in the same boat as Yeheyman, they didn¡¯t ask any further. ¡°If the crown really fell into the hands of the pagans, we can just take it back. That¡¯s what the Sultan wants.¡± ¡°. . .I know.¡± ¡°The problem is that insignificant people are getting caught up in such rumors.¡± Even without that, there was already a lot ofmotion, and with these rumors spreading, the agitation became even worse. He had personally seen some of the tribes and mercenaries who were now serving under the Sultan¡¯s army murmuring. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to attack them directly?¡± ¡°Attack them. . .?¡± Yeheyman red at the eunuch. However, the old eunuch didn¡¯t back down and continued speaking. ¡°This old eunuch also knows the advantage of fighting behind a fortress wall. However, the current situation is not that simple. If we can¡¯t put an end to the rumors, we have to show them with force. Fortunately, we outnumber the enemy several times over.¡± ording to the intelligence, the enemy forces numbered about ten thousand. On the other hand, if all the troops around the Holy Land were mobilized, thirty thousand could be gathered. ¡°We can¡¯t just wait around without fighting and let themotion grow. Keep that in mind.¡± ¡°. . .Even if we have the numbers, they are a rabble who don¡¯t even listen to proper orders. Moreover, the enemy is. . .¡± As they had gathered various tribes and mercenaries, theirmand system was extremely chaotic. Of course, the pagans from the west would be the same. . . But it was undeniable that they were even more sloppy when it came to quality. ¡°Are you that afraid of the pagan Duke?¡± ¡°Are you trying to insult me?¡± ¡°No matter how great that Duke is, can he withstand a rain of arrows? A wave of steel?¡± The eunuchs had never fought the Duke directly, so they could say such things. Even the most outstanding knights would fall and die if they were overwhelmed by numbers. However, Yeheyman found it difficult to say that. ¡°. . .¡± ¡°Think carefully, Your Excellency. Suhekhar, that old man, is already as good as defeated. Because he made such a mistake. But if Your Excellency hesitates like this, the Sultan might give that old man another chance.¡± ¡°I know.¡± The eunuchs exchanged nces after hearing the answer they wanted. Of course, they also knew that it was dangerous to go beyond the fortress wall. Yeheyman was still concerned about his honor, but the eunuchs were not. They hired assassins to make sure things went smoothly. If the Duke falls, those pagans will be shattered. ???????????? ¡°No way, a son of the Yeheyman-gong?¡± ¡°No way, a son of the Yeheyman-gong??¡± Vaytar nodded, hiding his pale face. The pagan feudal lords were murmuring with bewildered expressions. It was obvious since they hade in secret, but to Vaytar, it sounded like they were making fun of him. ¡®????????????!¡¯ The feudal lords who hade in secret were surprised to see that there were more heretics than they had thought. Those who were especially close to Duke Yeats¡¯s camp were even more so. If there is an army, there are bound to be merchants who follow the army and risk their lives to do business, but don¡¯t they usually have simr beliefs? However, in Duke Yeats¡¯s camp, heretic merchants could be seen several times. Not only that, but also lower nobles from other families. ¡°Where is the Duke?¡± Johan looked around in surprise as he arrived at Duke Bronquia¡¯s camp. The Duke was nowhere to be seen. ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry. The Duke is currently injured. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± From behind, Ulrike could be heard muttering, ¡®????¡¯?? ?? ?????????????? ??????????????.¡¯ In fact, it was clear that Ulrike was speaking for the people around her to hear. Because Duke Bronquia¡¯s knights were ashamed but couldn¡¯t say anything in return. ¡®???? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????¡¯ Come to think of it, it might have been better to finish things when the Duke was absent. The pagan feudal lords might be a little dissatisfied, but what can they do if he¡¯s injured? ¡¯???? ?????????? ???? ????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????¡¯ Johan was puzzled by the appearance of the man who came out instead of the Duke. He was young enough to be simr to Johan, and he was wearing clothes that were iparably expensive to Johan¡¯s. His clothes made of oriental silk proved his illustrious status and wealth in the empire. ¡°The Duke¡¯s second son, Leibkehit.¡± ¡°Did you read my mind?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say things like a wizard. That¡¯s all I had to ask.¡± Ulrike exined in a small voice from behind. Johan clicked his tongue slightly at the exnation. Duke Bronquia¡¯s son, and he could be even more troublesome if he was young. If he were to be rude to the pagan feudal lords with his overflowing fervor. . . ¡°It is an honor to meet you. Your Highness Duke Yeats!¡± However, Leibkehit¡¯s attitude was slightly different from what he had thought. Rather than being the Duke¡¯s second son and proxy, he acted like a young apprentice knight who had met a knight he had heard much about in rumors. ¡®???????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ At that attitude, even Johan and Ulrike were a little bewildered. ¡°I¡¯m just acting as the Duke¡¯s proxy, so you don¡¯t have to be so respectful.¡± ¡°No. You¡¯ve made great contributions this time. . . Thank you so much for leading the army to support us.¡± ¡°. . .???¡± At the overly friendly attitude, Johan became suspicious after his bewilderment. Is there some hidden intention? ¡°Ulrike-gong. I wish you would give me some advice. What is the Duke¡¯s second son plotting?¡± However, Leibkehit was not a noble with such rumors. He was sincere and a little soft-hearted, so he was mostly in charge of the rear under the Duke. . . ¡°. . .I think he just admires you.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not strange to admire you.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± Johan was surprised at the unexpected situation. How should he take the fact that the Duke¡¯s proxy was his follower? ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, Your Highness, I¡¯d like to hear your story in person.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a difficult thing to do.¡± At the two¡¯s conversation, Ulrike tried to step away for a moment. There was no reason for her to be there. However, Leibkehit looked at Ulrike and said. ¡°Please join us, Gong.¡± ¡°. . .Why do I need to be. . .¡± Johan grabbed Ulrike¡¯s hand as she tried to slip away. Ulrike sensed what wasing and turned pale. ¡°Is this really something that even I have to sit through?¡± ¡°It would seem more believable if someone else said it. Please do me this favor.¡±, As they left Duke Bronquia¡¯s tent, the nobles grumbled in dissatisfaction. ¡°I¡¯d rather he was arrogant, you know?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t the time for that. . .¡± Everyone understood that defeat was shocking. After all, they had been fooled by some pagans and almost ended up surrounded. But for the Duke to shut himself up in his tent with hisrge military force like this made things difficult for the other nobles. Should they not pull themselves together and do something? ¡°It¡¯s good that Duke Yeats sent someone to us. If he hadn¡¯t, things would have been difficult.¡± ¡°Honestly, didn¡¯t you act on your own without discussing it with the Duke? It¡¯s already a blessing that he saved us from the encirclement, and yet, you ask for further consideration? It¡¯s embarrassing.¡± ¡°But what can we do?¡± ¡°Even so. . . Come to think of it, have you heard about that rumor? They say the Duke showed a miracle in the Forest of Death.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t that just a rumor?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. I know a famous priest who saw it with his own two eyes.¡± ¡°Really. . . The Crown. . .?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Unknowingly, the nobles made the sign of the cross with expressions full of awe. A rumor was spreading among the nobles. It was a rumor that a crown suddenly appeared on the Duke¡¯s head when the dead charged out of the forest. Whether they were devout or not, nobles born as nobles had a hard timepletely ignoring such rumors. Moreover, the content of the rumors was strong enough to make them reflect on their lost faith. To the point where some nobles who usually lived dissolute lives called for priests to confess. A few sharp-eyed monks suggested that the crown was the crown for the guardian of the Holy Land left behind by the saints in the past. The story was absurd, but it was quite appealing. For the monotheists gathered here, the story of Johan was not a true story, but rather an attractive story. And the story was appealing enough to shake even the somewhat educated nobles. ¡°But is it possible for a crown that should be in the Holy Land to appear?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s a miracle, isn¡¯t it?¡± While the nobles were making a fuss about miracles, an actual miracle was happening elsewhere. The pagan feudal lords near the Holy Land hade to visit in secret. ???????????? ¡°Why is something so bothersome appearing when all you have to do is appease the duke?¡± For the first time in a long while, Johan made an irritated expression. The wizards in their seats looked at the young Duke with understanding eyes. The Duke¡¯s patience surprised even the wizards, but even he was human. He couldn¡¯t help but get irritated in such a twisted situation. A banquet was about to be held to appease Duke Bronquia and make him listen to them in the future. But suddenly, the pagan feudal lords near the Holy Land came to see them. After the Holy Land was conquered, these people who hade under the Sultan¡¯s army suddenly came to visit. It was impossible not to be concerned. epting them was difficult, but rejecting them was also difficult. Jyanina carefully opened her mouth. ¡°Can¡¯t we just meet them quietly and separately?¡± ¡°There are two problems with that. Although they came in secret, there are quite a few people who saw them. If we meet and send them away separately, there could be unnecessary rumors. We need to meet them together in front of many people. And above all, if we don¡¯t invite those who havee to the banquet, they might feel insulted.¡± The pride and dignity of the feudal lords were much more delicate andplicated than Johan thought. Things could go wrong with just one small issue. ¡°Should we just leave it to Duke Bronquia?¡± ¡°That¡¯s dangerous.¡± Suetlg opened his mouth. And he didn¡¯t exin any further. Johan nodded as well. To be honest, Johan knew it was dangerous. ¡®????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ??????????????????.¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s think about the purpose first. Why do you think they came?¡± ¡°Defection? Betrayal?¡± ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t the situation in their favor?¡± The small feudal lords near the Holy Land had no reason to dislike the current situation. Didn¡¯t the Sultan¡¯s army, who were also of the same belief, conquer the Holy Land? It was a much better situation than being ruled by monotheist feudal lords. Moreover, their army was not small, and they had brought a huge force with them. There seemed to be no reason for them to revolt because they were at a disadvantage. Did they collect too many taxes? ¡°W-Well, did they hear the rumors?¡± Jyanina opened her mouth again. The rumors circting near Tahkreng Castle recently were so strong that even Jyanina had heard them several times. It seemed possible that the pagan feudal lords had been shaken by the rumors. ¡°Jyanina-gong. Your opinion is interesting, but I don¡¯t think the pagan feudal lords would have been swayed by such rumors.¡± ¡®???????? ??????????. ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ????, ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???? ??????????????????!¡¯ Jyanina cursed inwardly. The Duke¡¯s attitude was serious, but in the end, didn¡¯t he cut it off with one stroke? ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s face them head-on without worrying about useless thoughts. Call Vaytar. As the son of Yeheyman, he might be able to get along with the pagan feudal lords. Also, call Valeon, the son of the old king Ineressa. He¡¯s married to the Zurebek family, so he¡¯ll be of help too. Are there any other rmendations?¡± ¡°. . .No. It seems like Your Highness has already mentioned everyone.¡± ???????????? Yeheyman was not only suffering from defeat but also from rumors. The rumors were so widespread that the Sultan¡¯s eunuchs came to visit him in person to ask about them. ¡°Is it true that the crown is gone?¡± ¡°How many times do I have to say it!¡± ¡°Did the crown really disappear?¡± ¡°. . .Damn it! Are you guys falling for such rumors as well? The original crown was a fake in the first ce!¡± Yeheyman was going crazy. It was immediately revealed that the crown that the family in charge of guarding the Holy Land had been keeping was a fake. Yeheyman¡¯s army also had excellent craftsmen. However, since the truth of this matter could not be discovered by others anyway, he didn¡¯t pay much attention to it. However, strange rumors began to circte. That the crown chose that pagan Duke on its own. Yeheyman regretted executing the feudal lord and his family in the first ce. Even if he tried to ask where the real one was hidden, he couldn¡¯t ask the dead, could he? Now, the truth didn¡¯t matter. Did the feudal lord¡¯s attendant steal the crown, or was there no real one from the beginning. . .? But the Sultan¡¯s eunuchs suspected Yeheyman. They suspected that he was lying to save his own face because the crown had disappeared. ¡°I suggest you stop. What good wille from suspecting?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Fortunately, the eunuchs were realistic. Since they were in the same boat as Yeheyman, they didn¡¯t ask any further. ¡°If the crown really fell into the hands of the pagans, we can just take it back. That¡¯s what the Sultan wants.¡± ¡°. . .I know.¡± ¡°The problem is that insignificant people are getting caught up in such rumors.¡± Even without that, there was already a lot ofmotion, and with these rumors spreading, the agitation became even worse. He had personally seen some of the tribes and mercenaries who were now serving under the Sultan¡¯s army murmuring. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to attack them directly?¡± ¡°Attack them. . .?¡± Yeheyman red at the eunuch. However, the old eunuch didn¡¯t back down and continued speaking. ¡°This old eunuch also knows the advantage of fighting behind a fortress wall. However, the current situation is not that simple. If we can¡¯t put an end to the rumors, we have to show them with force. Fortunately, we outnumber the enemy several times over.¡± ording to the intelligence, the enemy forces numbered about ten thousand. On the other hand, if all the troops around the Holy Land were mobilized, thirty thousand could be gathered. ¡°We can¡¯t just wait around without fighting and let themotion grow. Keep that in mind.¡± ¡°. . .Even if we have the numbers, they are a rabble who don¡¯t even listen to proper orders. Moreover, the enemy is. . .¡± As they had gathered various tribes and mercenaries, theirmand system was extremely chaotic. Of course, the pagans from the west would be the same. . . But it was undeniable that they were even more sloppy when it came to quality. ¡°Are you that afraid of the pagan Duke?¡± ¡°Are you trying to insult me?¡± ¡°No matter how great that Duke is, can he withstand a rain of arrows? A wave of steel?¡± The eunuchs had never fought the Duke directly, so they could say such things. Even the most outstanding knights would fall and die if they were overwhelmed by numbers. However, Yeheyman found it difficult to say that. ¡°. . .¡± ¡°Think carefully, Your Excellency. Suhekhar, that old man, is already as good as defeated. Because he made such a mistake. But if Your Excellency hesitates like this, the Sultan might give that old man another chance.¡± ¡°I know.¡± The eunuchs exchanged nces after hearing the answer they wanted. Of course, they also knew that it was dangerous to go beyond the fortress wall. Yeheyman was still concerned about his honor, but the eunuchs were not. They hired assassins to make sure things went smoothly. If the Duke falls, those pagans will be shattered. ???????????? ¡°No way, a son of the Yeheyman-gong?¡± ¡°No way, a son of the Yeheyman-gong??¡± Vaytar nodded, hiding his pale face. The pagan feudal lords were murmuring with bewildered expressions. It was obvious since they hade in secret, but to Vaytar, it sounded like they were making fun of him. ¡®????????????!¡¯ The feudal lords who hade in secret were surprised to see that there were more heretics than they had thought. Those who were especially close to Duke Yeats¡¯s camp were even more so. If there is an army, there are bound to be merchants who follow the army and risk their lives to do business, but don¡¯t they usually have simr beliefs? However, in Duke Yeats¡¯s camp, heretic merchants could be seen several times. Not only that, but also lower nobles from other families. ¡°Where is the Duke?¡± Johan looked around in surprise as he arrived at Duke Bronquia¡¯s camp. The Duke was nowhere to be seen. ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry. The Duke is currently injured. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± From behind, Ulrike could be heard muttering, ¡®????¡¯?? ?? ?????????????? ??????????????.¡¯ In fact, it was clear that Ulrike was speaking for the people around her to hear. Because Duke Bronquia¡¯s knights were ashamed but couldn¡¯t say anything in return. ¡®???? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????¡¯ Come to think of it, it might have been better to finish things when the Duke was absent. The pagan feudal lords might be a little dissatisfied, but what can they do if he¡¯s injured? ¡¯???? ?????????? ???? ????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????¡¯ Johan was puzzled by the appearance of the man who came out instead of the Duke. He was young enough to be simr to Johan, and he was wearing clothes that were iparably expensive to Johan¡¯s. His clothes made of oriental silk proved his illustrious status and wealth in the empire. ¡°The Duke¡¯s second son, Leibkehit.¡± ¡°Did you read my mind?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say things like a wizard. That¡¯s all I had to ask.¡± Ulrike exined in a small voice from behind. Johan clicked his tongue slightly at the exnation. Duke Bronquia¡¯s son, and he could be even more troublesome if he was young. If he were to be rude to the pagan feudal lords with his overflowing fervor. . . ¡°It is an honor to meet you. Your Highness Duke Yeats!¡± However, Leibkehit¡¯s attitude was slightly different from what he had thought. Rather than being the Duke¡¯s second son and proxy, he acted like a young apprentice knight who had met a knight he had heard much about in rumors. ¡®???????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ At that attitude, even Johan and Ulrike were a little bewildered. ¡°I¡¯m just acting as the Duke¡¯s proxy, so you don¡¯t have to be so respectful.¡± ¡°No. You¡¯ve made great contributions this time. . . Thank you so much for leading the army to support us.¡± ¡°. . .???¡± At the overly friendly attitude, Johan became suspicious after his bewilderment. Is there some hidden intention? ¡°Ulrike-gong. I wish you would give me some advice. What is the Duke¡¯s second son plotting?¡± However, Leibkehit was not a noble with such rumors. He was sincere and a little soft-hearted, so he was mostly in charge of the rear under the Duke. . . ¡°. . .I think he just admires you.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not strange to admire you.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± Johan was surprised at the unexpected situation. How should he take the fact that the Duke¡¯s proxy was his follower? ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, Your Highness, I¡¯d like to hear your story in person.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a difficult thing to do.¡± At the two¡¯s conversation, Ulrike tried to step away for a moment. There was no reason for her to be there. However, Leibkehit looked at Ulrike and said. ¡°Please join us, Gong.¡± ¡°. . .Why do I need to be. . .¡± Johan grabbed Ulrike¡¯s hand as she tried to slip away. Ulrike sensed what wasing and turned pale. ¡°Is this really something that even I have to sit through?¡± ¡°It would seem more believable if someone else said it. Please do me this favor.¡± Chapter 318: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (6) Chapter 318: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (6) Even if he was pathetic and unbelievable, Ulrike was not the kind of person to let Johan¡¯s matters slide. As she settled in and began to exin to Leibkehit the things that had happened to him, Leibkehit listened with great joy. ¡°Indeed. . .! So that¡¯s what happened. I heard rumors that it had been violently torn out.¡± ¡°How could that be possible? The pdins of the monastery were there as well. The sword was infused with holy light. The sword burned the troll¡¯s foul blood and tore through its muscles.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan, who had been listening with gratitude, gradually changed his expression as the story became more heated. Ulrike¡¯s story was beginning to drift a bit. . . towards the exaggerated side. ¡®?????¡¯ As the story went from trolls to various monsters and even to the anecdote of the dragon hunt, Johan felt the need to intervene. Johan asked quietly.¡°Gong. The dragon hunting ispletely a wild rumor, right?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Ulrike looked at Johan as if to ask what he was talking about. Right now, with many nobles listening with interest, the more nicely the story of Johan was wrapped up, the better it was. The story of Johan skillfully throwing a spear at the enraged dragon and escaping was not very interesting. Rather, it was more interesting that Johan threw the spear while singing the wrath and blessing of God, and the dragon fled in fear. ¡°But still. . .¡± ¡°Be quiet. Why are you acting like this when you asked me to do this?¡± ¡°. . .Yes. I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± As Johan seemed distressed, Ulrike, who had been speaking without much thought, suddenly seemed to find it funny. There were more than one or two rumors about the duke by the bards. She could say as much as she wanted. ???????????? ¡°Aren¡¯t you talking nonsense!¡± ¡°Calm down. There are many people listening.¡± ¡°No matter what, you¡¯re always spouting such absurd remarks!¡± Among the pagan tribe leaders who came here, the leader of the green-scaled tribe, who was the most hot-tempered, expressed his dissatisfaction. The reason why they took the risk toe here was not simply to drink and be entertained. What kind of person was the pagan duke who showed a miracle? Will he treat them properly? Not only the duke, but also the other lords around him? Although he showed a miracle, they were not so reckless as to move their entire tribe just because of that. They could not do that until they confirmed it with their own eyes. But he called them here and kept talking nonsense. They could not guess his intentions. They didn¡¯t think of him as a fool. . . ¡°He¡¯s making fun of us. He¡¯s making fun of us for listening to such nonsense without saying anything.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. The duke is popr, so it¡¯s not strange to have such praise.¡± ¡°Why do you think he¡¯s giving such ridiculous praise at a ce like this?¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s test it out.¡± The leader of the turtle tribe, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth to mediate. The leader of the snake tribe looked around as if he was puzzled. ¡°How do you test the duke, and in someone else¡¯s camp?¡± ¡°I guess I spoke too presumptuously. Um. . . In thend of our tribe, before fishing for fish in the river, we throw stones to measure it. Even if an evil monster is hiding in the water, it will rush out as soon as you throw a stone. But sometimes, clever and strong ones notice the stone and don¡¯te out.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The leader of the green-scaled tribe was already fidgeting. He wanted to urge him right away, but he was holding back. The snake tribe leader spoke to sum it up instead. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that you want to throw something like a stone to measure the duke¡¯s capacity?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°I see. Why didn¡¯t you say so sooner?¡± The chieftain nodded as if he agreed. ¡°Among my men, there is one called the ¡®troll hunter.¡¯ He is an outstanding man who even received a reward from the Sultan. . .¡± ¡°You mean Marza?¡± ¡°Marza?¡± The other lords recognized him right away. The green-scaled man seemed a little dissatisfied that the others recognized him so quickly. ¡°. . .Yes. Sir Marza. He is such a great knight that he even went to Vynashchtym to hunt trolls. If such a knight asks for teachings, the duke won¡¯t be able to refuse. After letting him into the tent, if you ask him a question. . .¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little dangerous? If the duke feels insulted, things will get bigger.¡± ¡°A noble who has shown miracles won¡¯t be so narrow-minded. At worst, he¡¯ll just get angry.¡± The pagan lords expected the knight called the troll hunter to exploit the duke¡¯s weak point. In fact, it was not wrong for a noble of some status to talk big. To maintain that face, one had to tell some lies. A noble who went hunting could not return empty-handed because he had not caught any game, and a noble who went to war could not return without killing a single enemy. The lords here knew that much. However, the lords wanted to test it out. Since he had talked so much in the ce where he was, couldn¡¯t he also gauge what kind of person the duke was? ???????????? Marza was a giant-blooded tribe knight who was rumored to be a giant hybrid. He had an overwhelming presence as if he was carrying four swords and three bows to hunt trolls, as rumored. ¡°Are you telling me to ask a question to his highness?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Marza, who had not been afraid to face even the rumors of a ferocious troll, showed a slight hesitation this time. It was not only because his opponent was a grand lord. ¡°ording to rumors, Your Highness has a contract with a demon. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s just a wild rumor, you fool! Do you still believe in rumors that have spread wrong?¡± The chieftain was bewildered. Of course, the chieftain also knew that such rumors were circting, but very few people believed them. Think about it. How could a duke who was rumored to have a contract with a demon receive so much support? Even the crown of the Holy Land chose the duke. No matter how much he thought about it, it was clear that the rumor was spread by frightened soldiers. ¡°Oh. . . Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Marza¡¯s face brightened. He was not afraid of trolls, but he was afraid of the demons that appeared in legends. If it was not a demon, there was nothing to be afraid of. ¡°Of course, even if he does not have a contract with a demon, the duke is not someone to be taken lightly. Never act recklessly.¡± ¡°Yes. I will risk my life.¡± ¡°Good! I trust you.¡± Marza waited anxiously outside the tent for contact. He had heard many rumors about the duke, but this was the first time he had met him in person. ¡®?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ From what he had heard, the duke was clearly a great knight and warrior. Some of the stories about monsters must have been true to some extent. However, Marza was the one who was called to find the w in the story. He had to listen carefully to the story and very carefully touch the duke¡¯s sore spot. ¡°Come in.¡± ©¥????????????. Marza calmly stepped inside. At a nce, anyone could tell who Duke Yeats was. Marza was shocked as if he had been struck by lightning when he met the duke¡¯s eyes. ¡®????????. . . ???????? ????????????. . .!¡¯ The hunters who had caught many monsters became sensitive to the unique presence emitted by those monsters. Just as excellent swordsmen could gauge their skills just by looking at the way they held their swords, they could tell how strong their opponent was just by looking at the presence they exuded. Marza had hunted trolls, starting from the newborn troll to the troll that had been tormenting the surroundings for nearly a hundred years. . . But Duke Yeats was beyond imagination. ¡®???? ???? ?? ???????????????!¡¯ At the overwhelming presence, Marza¡¯s arms and legs trembled. The voices of people chattering beside him sounded like they wereing from afar. Johan asked with a puzzled look. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± ¡°Haha. Isn¡¯t it because he¡¯s surprised by Your Highness¡¯s appearance?¡± One of the nobles next to him joked. Of course, no one thought that was true. The green-scaled man, who was dressed well, whispered in a flustered voice. ¡°What are you doing? Pull yourself together!¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry.¡± Seeing that Marza seemed too nervous, Johan stepped forward. ¡°So you said you wanted to learn from me? I hear you¡¯ve hunted more trolls than I have, so I don¡¯t know if I have anything to teach you.¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Your Highness? At best, I¡¯m a knight who has only hunted one troll. How much is there for me to learn from Your Highness?¡± Johan noticed something subtle in the way the pagan chieftain spoke. Ulrike also noticed it and gently touched his foot. ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s a little offended because they called him here and only praised the duke. . .¡± Ulrike urately noticed the inner feelings of the chieftains. The pride and vanity of the nobles did not differ much, whether it was the West or the East. ¡°I made a mistake. I should have watched their expressions a little.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to me yourself for something I asked you to do. Then why did hee here?¡± ¡°Perhaps. . . I think they came to point out His Highness the Duke¡¯s story.¡± ¡°. . .The w in my story?¡± Johan paused for a moment and then fell into thought. Most of the stories were true, but. . . ¡°No. That¡¯s why I told you to do the dragon story properly, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°I said I was sorry. . . And the dragon story is fine. No one here has ever seen a dragon.¡± Ulrike was right. Johan stopped talking to Ulrike for a moment, kindly called Marza closer, and poured him a drink. If the pagan chieftains were heartbroken, it was Johan¡¯s job to heal them. ¡°Ugh. . . uh. . .¡± ¡°. . .??¡± When Marza received the drink with his hands trembling, Johan was puzzled. His hands were shaking so much that the drink overflowed the ss and spilled. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????????¡¯ The pagan lords also looked quite embarrassed. Why was the bold Marza acting like that? If Johan had not led the conversation, the atmosphere would have be strange. Johan slowly asked Marza questions. Where did he catch what kind of troll, and what methods did he use? Marza gradually regained hisposure as he answered. ¡°Once, I was chasing a troll and almost died when I met a manticore. It was a really vicious b*stard. . .¡± ¡°Oh. Was that it? Was it in Vynashchtym? Maybe the one I met was the same one Sir met.¡± Johan vividly described his appearance. An ugly human face, a huge beast¡¯s torso, and a demon¡¯s wings on its back. Even if the general appearance was simr, Marza was surprised when he described the manticore¡¯s face too specifically. ¡°That¡¯s right! How do you know that, Your Highness?¡± ¡°When I went to Vynashchtym, I caught him with the St. Guntsalva Knights. He was quite a formidable b*stard. I wouldn¡¯t have caught him without the help of the wizards.¡± ¡°Wow. . .!¡± Marza was speechless for a while at the story of catching the manticore, and then came to his senses and began to ask questions. The chieftain red at him as if he was going to kill him, but Marza did not notice. Rather, it was Johan who was worried. ¡®???? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????¡¯ ¡°But weren¡¯t you going to ask me about the trolls?¡± ¡°Oh. . . no. Your Highness. After hearing Your Highness¡¯s words, I thought it was rude of me to even ask you a question.¡± ¡°Well. . .¡± Leibkehit, who was listening from the side, spoke in a pleasantly intoxicated voice. ¡°Isn¡¯t this knight a knight who truly knows honor, Your Highness?¡± ¡®???????? ?? ?????????????? ??????????????.¡¯ He had tried to make the chieftains feel good by letting this knight go, but the knight dastard seemed to have eaten something wrong, and he was flustered because he was trembling and trying to go back after just listening to the story. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. The reaction is not bad.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± As Ulrike said, the chieftains did not get angry or anything in the current situation. Rather, they were closer to being impressed. He didn¡¯t know what the hell was going on, but it was clear that things were going well. ¡®??????????????????????.¡¯ ¡°Your Highness.¡± As the chieftain spoke with a serious expression while they were chatting happily, Johan had a hunch that his opponent was finally going to get to the main point. What on earth did theye for? ¡°The reason we came here is because we heard rumors that Your Highness received the crown from the forest of the Holy Land.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan was at a loss for words. Don¡¯t tell me Jyanina¡¯s opinion was right. . ., Even if he was pathetic and unbelievable, Ulrike was not the kind of person to let Johan¡¯s matters slide. As she settled in and began to exin to Leibkehit the things that had happened to him, Leibkehit listened with great joy. ¡°Indeed. . .! So that¡¯s what happened. I heard rumors that it had been violently torn out.¡± ¡°How could that be possible? The pdins of the monastery were there as well. The sword was infused with holy light. The sword burned the troll¡¯s foul blood and tore through its muscles.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan, who had been listening with gratitude, gradually changed his expression as the story became more heated. Ulrike¡¯s story was beginning to drift a bit. . . towards the exaggerated side. ¡®?????¡¯ As the story went from trolls to various monsters and even to the anecdote of the dragon hunt, Johan felt the need to intervene. Johan asked quietly. ¡°Gong. The dragon hunting ispletely a wild rumor, right?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Ulrike looked at Johan as if to ask what he was talking about. Right now, with many nobles listening with interest, the more nicely the story of Johan was wrapped up, the better it was. The story of Johan skillfully throwing a spear at the enraged dragon and escaping was not very interesting. Rather, it was more interesting that Johan threw the spear while singing the wrath and blessing of God, and the dragon fled in fear. ¡°But still. . .¡± ¡°Be quiet. Why are you acting like this when you asked me to do this?¡± ¡°. . .Yes. I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± As Johan seemed distressed, Ulrike, who had been speaking without much thought, suddenly seemed to find it funny. There were more than one or two rumors about the duke by the bards. She could say as much as she wanted. ???????????? ¡°Aren¡¯t you talking nonsense!¡± ¡°Calm down. There are many people listening.¡± ¡°No matter what, you¡¯re always spouting such absurd remarks!¡± Among the pagan tribe leaders who came here, the leader of the green-scaled tribe, who was the most hot-tempered, expressed his dissatisfaction. The reason why they took the risk toe here was not simply to drink and be entertained. What kind of person was the pagan duke who showed a miracle? Will he treat them properly? Not only the duke, but also the other lords around him? Although he showed a miracle, they were not so reckless as to move their entire tribe just because of that. They could not do that until they confirmed it with their own eyes. But he called them here and kept talking nonsense. They could not guess his intentions. They didn¡¯t think of him as a fool. . . ¡°He¡¯s making fun of us. He¡¯s making fun of us for listening to such nonsense without saying anything.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. The duke is popr, so it¡¯s not strange to have such praise.¡± ¡°Why do you think he¡¯s giving such ridiculous praise at a ce like this?¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s test it out.¡± The leader of the turtle tribe, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth to mediate. The leader of the snake tribe looked around as if he was puzzled. ¡°How do you test the duke, and in someone else¡¯s camp?¡± ¡°I guess I spoke too presumptuously. Um. . . In thend of our tribe, before fishing for fish in the river, we throw stones to measure it. Even if an evil monster is hiding in the water, it will rush out as soon as you throw a stone. But sometimes, clever and strong ones notice the stone and don¡¯te out.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The leader of the green-scaled tribe was already fidgeting. He wanted to urge him right away, but he was holding back. The snake tribe leader spoke to sum it up instead. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that you want to throw something like a stone to measure the duke¡¯s capacity?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°I see. Why didn¡¯t you say so sooner?¡± The chieftain nodded as if he agreed. ¡°Among my men, there is one called the ¡®troll hunter.¡¯ He is an outstanding man who even received a reward from the Sultan. . .¡± ¡°You mean Marza?¡± ¡°Marza?¡± The other lords recognized him right away. The green-scaled man seemed a little dissatisfied that the others recognized him so quickly. ¡°. . .Yes. Sir Marza. He is such a great knight that he even went to Vynashchtym to hunt trolls. If such a knight asks for teachings, the duke won¡¯t be able to refuse. After letting him into the tent, if you ask him a question. . .¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little dangerous? If the duke feels insulted, things will get bigger.¡± ¡°A noble who has shown miracles won¡¯t be so narrow-minded. At worst, he¡¯ll just get angry.¡± The pagan lords expected the knight called the troll hunter to exploit the duke¡¯s weak point. In fact, it was not wrong for a noble of some status to talk big. To maintain that face, one had to tell some lies. A noble who went hunting could not return empty-handed because he had not caught any game, and a noble who went to war could not return without killing a single enemy. The lords here knew that much. However, the lords wanted to test it out. Since he had talked so much in the ce where he was, couldn¡¯t he also gauge what kind of person the duke was? ???????????? Marza was a giant-blooded tribe knight who was rumored to be a giant hybrid. He had an overwhelming presence as if he was carrying four swords and three bows to hunt trolls, as rumored. ¡°Are you telling me to ask a question to his highness?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Marza, who had not been afraid to face even the rumors of a ferocious troll, showed a slight hesitation this time. It was not only because his opponent was a grand lord. ¡°ording to rumors, Your Highness has a contract with a demon. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s just a wild rumor, you fool! Do you still believe in rumors that have spread wrong?¡± The chieftain was bewildered. Of course, the chieftain also knew that such rumors were circting, but very few people believed them. Think about it. How could a duke who was rumored to have a contract with a demon receive so much support? Even the crown of the Holy Land chose the duke. No matter how much he thought about it, it was clear that the rumor was spread by frightened soldiers. ¡°Oh. . . Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Marza¡¯s face brightened. He was not afraid of trolls, but he was afraid of the demons that appeared in legends. If it was not a demon, there was nothing to be afraid of. ¡°Of course, even if he does not have a contract with a demon, the duke is not someone to be taken lightly. Never act recklessly.¡± ¡°Yes. I will risk my life.¡± ¡°Good! I trust you.¡± Marza waited anxiously outside the tent for contact. He had heard many rumors about the duke, but this was the first time he had met him in person. ¡®?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ From what he had heard, the duke was clearly a great knight and warrior. Some of the stories about monsters must have been true to some extent. However, Marza was the one who was called to find the w in the story. He had to listen carefully to the story and very carefully touch the duke¡¯s sore spot. ¡°Come in.¡± ©¥????????????. Marza calmly stepped inside. At a nce, anyone could tell who Duke Yeats was. Marza was shocked as if he had been struck by lightning when he met the duke¡¯s eyes. ¡®????????. . . ???????? ????????????. . .!¡¯ The hunters who had caught many monsters became sensitive to the unique presence emitted by those monsters. Just as excellent swordsmen could gauge their skills just by looking at the way they held their swords, they could tell how strong their opponent was just by looking at the presence they exuded. Marza had hunted trolls, starting from the newborn troll to the troll that had been tormenting the surroundings for nearly a hundred years. . . But Duke Yeats was beyond imagination. ¡®???? ???? ?? ???????????????!¡¯ At the overwhelming presence, Marza¡¯s arms and legs trembled. The voices of people chattering beside him sounded like they wereing from afar. Johan asked with a puzzled look. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± ¡°Haha. Isn¡¯t it because he¡¯s surprised by Your Highness¡¯s appearance?¡± One of the nobles next to him joked. Of course, no one thought that was true. The green-scaled man, who was dressed well, whispered in a flustered voice. ¡°What are you doing? Pull yourself together!¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry.¡± Seeing that Marza seemed too nervous, Johan stepped forward. ¡°So you said you wanted to learn from me? I hear you¡¯ve hunted more trolls than I have, so I don¡¯t know if I have anything to teach you.¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Your Highness? At best, I¡¯m a knight who has only hunted one troll. How much is there for me to learn from Your Highness?¡± Johan noticed something subtle in the way the pagan chieftain spoke. Ulrike also noticed it and gently touched his foot. ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s a little offended because they called him here and only praised the duke. . .¡± Ulrike urately noticed the inner feelings of the chieftains. The pride and vanity of the nobles did not differ much, whether it was the West or the East. ¡°I made a mistake. I should have watched their expressions a little.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to me yourself for something I asked you to do. Then why did hee here?¡± ¡°Perhaps. . . I think they came to point out His Highness the Duke¡¯s story.¡± ¡°. . .The w in my story?¡± Johan paused for a moment and then fell into thought. Most of the stories were true, but. . . ¡°No. That¡¯s why I told you to do the dragon story properly, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°I said I was sorry. . . And the dragon story is fine. No one here has ever seen a dragon.¡± Ulrike was right. Johan stopped talking to Ulrike for a moment, kindly called Marza closer, and poured him a drink. If the pagan chieftains were heartbroken, it was Johan¡¯s job to heal them. ¡°Ugh. . . uh. . .¡± ¡°. . .??¡± When Marza received the drink with his hands trembling, Johan was puzzled. His hands were shaking so much that the drink overflowed the ss and spilled. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????????¡¯ The pagan lords also looked quite embarrassed. Why was the bold Marza acting like that? If Johan had not led the conversation, the atmosphere would have be strange. Johan slowly asked Marza questions. Where did he catch what kind of troll, and what methods did he use? Marza gradually regained hisposure as he answered. ¡°Once, I was chasing a troll and almost died when I met a manticore. It was a really vicious b*stard. . .¡± ¡°Oh. Was that it? Was it in Vynashchtym? Maybe the one I met was the same one Sir met.¡± Johan vividly described his appearance. An ugly human face, a huge beast¡¯s torso, and a demon¡¯s wings on its back. Even if the general appearance was simr, Marza was surprised when he described the manticore¡¯s face too specifically. ¡°That¡¯s right! How do you know that, Your Highness?¡± ¡°When I went to Vynashchtym, I caught him with the St. Guntsalva Knights. He was quite a formidable b*stard. I wouldn¡¯t have caught him without the help of the wizards.¡± ¡°Wow. . .!¡± Marza was speechless for a while at the story of catching the manticore, and then came to his senses and began to ask questions. The chieftain red at him as if he was going to kill him, but Marza did not notice. Rather, it was Johan who was worried. ¡®???? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????¡¯ ¡°But weren¡¯t you going to ask me about the trolls?¡± ¡°Oh. . . no. Your Highness. After hearing Your Highness¡¯s words, I thought it was rude of me to even ask you a question.¡± ¡°Well. . .¡± Leibkehit, who was listening from the side, spoke in a pleasantly intoxicated voice. ¡°Isn¡¯t this knight a knight who truly knows honor, Your Highness?¡± ¡®???????? ?? ?????????????? ??????????????.¡¯ He had tried to make the chieftains feel good by letting this knight go, but the knight dastard seemed to have eaten something wrong, and he was flustered because he was trembling and trying to go back after just listening to the story. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. The reaction is not bad.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± As Ulrike said, the chieftains did not get angry or anything in the current situation. Rather, they were closer to being impressed. He didn¡¯t know what the hell was going on, but it was clear that things were going well. ¡®??????????????????????.¡¯ ¡°Your Highness.¡± As the chieftain spoke with a serious expression while they were chatting happily, Johan had a hunch that his opponent was finally going to get to the main point. What on earth did theye for? ¡°The reason we came here is because we heard rumors that Your Highness received the crown from the forest of the Holy Land.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan was at a loss for words. Don¡¯t tell me Jyanina¡¯s opinion was right. . . Chapter 319: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (7) Chapter 319: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (7) ¡®????????, ????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Johan quickly shrugged off the shock. It may have been a bit surprising, but things like this do happen, right? This made him think that he should call Jyanina and reward her. ¡°May I ask if the rumors are true?¡± ¡°The rumors are true.¡± Johan didn¡¯t deny it. If the rumors were fake, that would¡¯ve been one thing, but now that they were real and could be proven, what reason was there to hide it? The fact that the pagan feudal lords came all the way here after hearing such absurd rumors was a bit unexpected, though. . . Johan took out the restored crown, and as soon as it caught the light from themps inside the tent, it began to shine brilliantly. The feudal lords present felt the crown was genuine without needing to be told. It was an emotion that only those who had seen it could feel, one that couldn¡¯t be exined by logic or evidence.???????????? ¡°It¡¯s alright, isn¡¯t it? He seems like a trustworthy person.¡± After the banquet, the tribal chiefs¡¯ responses were quite favorable. It was a much more satisfying meeting than he had expected. Not only did they get to see the truth of the miracle they had only heard about in rumors with their own eyes, but they were also able to get a feel for what kind of person the duke was. The way he treated the heterodox feudal lords with respect and seriousness made them believe that he wouldn¡¯t betray them if they lent him their strength. ¡°So, what do you think?¡± ¡°. . .It doesn¡¯t seem bad.¡± It seemed like the troll hunter Marza was quite shocked after seeing the duke face to face, acting like a mouse in front of a cat. His expression still showed that he found it hard to believe. ¡°The oracle himself said it.¡± ¡°I know that. I was just taken aback because it was unexpected, that¡¯s all.¡± The army of the newly arrived sultan was demanding huge conscriptions and forcedbor under various pretexts. They had beenplying for now, but the resentment of the neighboring feudal lords was building up. Given that resentment, this duke seemed like a rather appealing prospect. ¡°So. . . who¡¯s going to tell the others?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The tribal chiefs fell silent. Normally, it was less risky if multiple people were involved in a betrayal. If a small feudal lord acted on their own, they were likely to be made an example of and punished. Since they all paid taxes, the other feudal lords in the vicinity were sure to be quite interested. It would be good to persuade them and get them to act together, but. . . It was a bit more dangerous to incite others than to simply betray them. If they werebeled as the ringleaders, they could end up facing brutal retaliation. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°Oh? Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The other chiefs were puzzled when the tribal chief of the snake beastmen stepped forward. The chief had the least need toe forward out of everyone here. His fiefdom was quite far away, so there was no need for him to take on such a risk. . . ¡°There¡¯s a fellow tribesman of mine who works as one of the wizards at the duke¡¯s side. I saw her there. It shouldn¡¯t be too difficult to do this much.¡± Snake beastmen weren¡¯t a very popr race, whether in the west or the east. In that sense, it was quite surprising that someone like the duke would have a snake beastmen wizard with him. Of course, it was possible that she was a very skilled wizard, but at the very least, it showed that the duke didn¡¯t persecute snake beastmen out of superstition or distrust. Having seen such a rare sight, the chief was willing to do this much for the duke. ???????????? ¡°Alright, let¡¯s all give Jyanina a round of apuse.¡± The nobles who remained, as well as the attendants and ves, all gave Jyanina their apuse. Jyanina, who had rushed over suddenly, suspected for a moment that the young duke was changing his method of torment. ¡®???????? ?????? ?? ????. . .?¡¯ Was the duke changing his method of torment, just like nobles who were addicted to pleasure were never satisfied with their current methods and constantly sought more stimting and intense pleasure? Of course, that wasn¡¯t the case. Johan personally handed Jyanina a pouch of gold coins. At first, Jyanina wondered what this was for, but after receiving the apuse of the nobles, she began to feel good. ¡°Was she that great of a wizard. . .?¡± Ulrike, who had been watching, muttered in surprise. Iselia kindly answered her. ¡°Yes. She is a skilled wizard.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Ulrike knew of Caenerna at least. Since she was the emperor¡¯s prophet and court wizard, she was known even in other regions of the empire. Suetlg was also a famous wizard who was sought after by many nobles in the vicinity. . . But Jyanina was unfamiliar. There were often cases of skilled wizards who were not well-known, but was that the case here? ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ As a feudal lord, it wasn¡¯t a bad thing to be acquainted with a skilled wizard. Most wizards were honest, and they would usually return the favor for any gifts they received. ¡°Thank you. Thank you.¡± No noble dared to go against the duke¡¯s direct praise. Furthermore, all of the heterodox feudal lords had already left. Even though they didn¡¯t know her well, they all gave Jyanina a round of apuse. Thanks to this, Jyanina became quite conceited. After finishing her greetings and returning to Johan¡¯s seat, Jyanina said in a pleasant voice, ¡°Thank you, Your Highness.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s just a proper reward for your aplishments.¡± ¡°It seems that Your Highness is finally starting to acknowledge my abilities. I heard that those pagan feudal lords came all the way here after hearing the rumors?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Johan had been talking quite a lot with the feudal lords just now, so he simply nodded and took a sip of his wine without saying much. Noticing his mood, Iselia handed him a ss of grape wine. Johan nodded in thanks. ¡°I was able to predict something that even the other wizards couldn¡¯t this time. . .¡± Jyanina, who hadn¡¯t noticed Johan¡¯s mood, was startled. Suddenly, Johan grabbed the sword at his waist and drew it. Jyanina screamed and fell to her knees. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I made a mistake!¡± ¡°Come here!¡± Johan grabbed Jyanina by the scruff of her neck with one hand and lifted her up. The lightweight Jyanina was lifted up just like that. Johan dragged Jyanina over and threw her inside the table. The crossbow boltnded where Jyanina had been sitting just a moment ago with a thud. ¡°!¡± ¡°Who is it?!¡± The nobles inside the tent were bewildered. This was the center of centers, even among the nearby monotheist feudal lords. And yet, someone dared tounch an ambush here?? ¡°It¡¯s an ambush. Everyone, be careful!¡± ¡°My dear, I will. . .¡± ¡°Iselia, be careful with your actions before you put on your armor!¡± Johan¡¯s body, which had been exhausted from talking at length just now, suddenly regained its vitality. He could feel the blood rushing through his veins as he took in the surrounding situation with sharp senses. ¡®??????????. . .¡¯ Johan, who had poked his head out of the tent, realized that smoke was rising from various ces in the camp. The terrified attendants and ves were running away in panic between the haphazardly ced tents. People tended to be weak when they were shocked by something unexpected. It wasn¡¯t strange for them to be unable to assess the situation and run away when they were ambushed while defenseless. ¡®?? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ However, Johan wasn¡¯t fooled by such tricks. The current situation wasn¡¯t one where the enemy had invaded the heart of the camp. Rather. . . ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?? ??????????????????.¡¯ When he learned assassination techniques from Kaegal, he didn¡¯t just learn how to quietly infiltrate a ce. He also learned how to create a path by causing amotion when there was no other way. If he started fires in various ces, fired crossbow bolts randomly, and then shouted as if he was being ambushed, the confusion wouldst for quite a while. ¡°Don¡¯t run away! Anyone who runs away will be executed. Don¡¯t leave your positions! The enemy is already fleeing!¡± In the midst of the chaos, Johan¡¯s voice, imbued with magical power, echoed loudly. The soldiers who were trying to escape stopped in their tracks and looked around. ¡°Stay close to the master and don¡¯t move! Anyone who moves unnecessarily and causes confusion will be executed.¡± The smoke was still thick, but the loud noises began to die down quickly. Johan¡¯s measures were taking effect. ¡®??????. . .¡¯ Johan wondered. For them to go through all this trouble to cause amotion, their target had to be worth it. And the only person in this camp who fit that description was. . . ¡®????, ???????????¡¯ He couldn¡¯t think of anyone other than himself. However, surprisingly, there was no sign of an ambush nearby. He wondered if there was an assassin hiding somewhere, but Karamaf was lying still and growling, so that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. The crossbow bolt that had flown in just now must have been shot randomly and just happened tond here. . . ¡°Your Highness, it might be better to evacuate for now. . .¡± Ulrike said, looking worried. Ulrike, who had already put on her armor, was being escorted by knights. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What is the purpose of this ambush?¡± ¡°Well. . .¡± The answer came right away. Iselia shouted in an urgent voice, ¡°My dear, Duke Bronquia¡¯s residence is under attack!¡± ¡°!¡± ???????????? Monotheists and heterodoxes alike were intolerant of other religions. Indigenous religions or pagan faiths that worshipped old gods were subject to suppression. The suppressed faiths either faded away and were forgotten, or they hid deep underground and transformed into something even more sinister and wicked. The assassins who had appeared this time were a typical example of thetter. They were cultists who worshipped three skeletal gods. These people, who would mercilessly strike down monotheists or heterodoxes alike if they were paid arge amount of gold in advance, were feared by the neighboring feudal lords. ¡°Over there. Kill the duke!¡± The assassins, speaking in an ancient desert tongue, charged forward. When these men, who had infiltrated the camp disguised as servants and ves, rushed in, the duke¡¯s knights hurriedly drew their weapons. ??????????! The knights fell to their knees with short screams. It wasn¡¯t because the assassins¡¯ swordsmanship was unexpectedly good. ¡°Crazy b*stards. . .!¡± The assassins were trying to die together with their targets by using their own bodies as shields. The knights flinched at the horrifying sight of the assassins stopping their movements by impaling the knights¡¯ weapons into their own bodies and then slitting their throats with well-sharpened daggers. Even experienced knights couldn¡¯t help but be overwhelmed by such madness. ¡°They¡¯re hopped up on drugs. Be careful when fighting them!¡± ¡°Clear a path! Find Duke Yeats!¡± The assassins were speaking in anguage that the knights didn¡¯t understand, but one of the knights managed to make out the word ¡®Yeats.¡¯ He thought to himself, ¡°Duke Yeats. . .? Are they after Duke Yeats?¡± He tried tomunicate with them, but the assassins, who were already intoxicated, didn¡¯t listen to the knight¡¯s words. ¡°Charge!¡± Just as the knights were being cut down one by one and the assassins were about to cross the tent, reinforcements arrived from behind. It was Johan, who had gathered the knights after calming the chaos. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????????¡¯ Johan wondered. He wondered if one of the monotheist feudal lords had tried to assassinate Duke Bronquia. That was how suspicious their target was. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡± The assassin shouted savagely and lunged at him. Johan cut off the man¡¯s arm with his sword and smashed his fist into the man¡¯s jaw. The assassin, who had been charging forward without feeling any pain, rolled his eyes and copsed. As soon as three assassins fell to the ground, the expressions of the others changed. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö, ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö!¡± The assassin who seemed to be the most sane of the bunch shouted and gave orders. He was clearly wary of Johan. ¡®????????¡¯???? ???????????? ????????!¡¯ Those who didn¡¯t care about their own lives and were only intent on inflicting harm on their opponents were difficult to deal with. If they even grazed him, Johan would be the one who suffered. From the looks of it, their intention to block his way by sacrificing their lives was clear. The problem was. . . ¡®???? ???????? ?????????? ??¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????????¡¯ Johan had no intention of risking his life for Duke Bronquia. Why would he bother doing something like that when he was only wearing light armor? A duke should be able to protect his own life. . . If the other party misunderstood his intentions and threw their bodies at him, that would be convenient for Johan. Johan shed, crushed, and trampled the assassins who rushed at him. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡± A triumphant cry rang out from inside the tent, and one of the assassins quickly fired an arrow into the air. It was a signal to theirrades outside, informing them of their sess. The fallen assassin chuckled at Johan. Johan didn¡¯t even blink as he slit the man¡¯s throat., ¡®????????, ????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Johan quickly shrugged off the shock. It may have been a bit surprising, but things like this do happen, right? This made him think that he should call Jyanina and reward her. ¡°May I ask if the rumors are true?¡± ¡°The rumors are true.¡± Johan didn¡¯t deny it. If the rumors were fake, that would¡¯ve been one thing, but now that they were real and could be proven, what reason was there to hide it? The fact that the pagan feudal lords came all the way here after hearing such absurd rumors was a bit unexpected, though. . . Johan took out the restored crown, and as soon as it caught the light from themps inside the tent, it began to shine brilliantly. The feudal lords present felt the crown was genuine without needing to be told. It was an emotion that only those who had seen it could feel, one that couldn¡¯t be exined by logic or evidence. ???????????? ¡°It¡¯s alright, isn¡¯t it? He seems like a trustworthy person.¡± After the banquet, the tribal chiefs¡¯ responses were quite favorable. It was a much more satisfying meeting than he had expected. Not only did they get to see the truth of the miracle they had only heard about in rumors with their own eyes, but they were also able to get a feel for what kind of person the duke was. The way he treated the heterodox feudal lords with respect and seriousness made them believe that he wouldn¡¯t betray them if they lent him their strength. ¡°So, what do you think?¡± ¡°. . .It doesn¡¯t seem bad.¡± It seemed like the troll hunter Marza was quite shocked after seeing the duke face to face, acting like a mouse in front of a cat. His expression still showed that he found it hard to believe. ¡°The oracle himself said it.¡± ¡°I know that. I was just taken aback because it was unexpected, that¡¯s all.¡± The army of the newly arrived sultan was demanding huge conscriptions and forcedbor under various pretexts. They had beenplying for now, but the resentment of the neighboring feudal lords was building up. Given that resentment, this duke seemed like a rather appealing prospect. ¡°So. . . who¡¯s going to tell the others?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The tribal chiefs fell silent. Normally, it was less risky if multiple people were involved in a betrayal. If a small feudal lord acted on their own, they were likely to be made an example of and punished. Since they all paid taxes, the other feudal lords in the vicinity were sure to be quite interested. It would be good to persuade them and get them to act together, but. . . It was a bit more dangerous to incite others than to simply betray them. If they werebeled as the ringleaders, they could end up facing brutal retaliation. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°Oh? Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The other chiefs were puzzled when the tribal chief of the snake beastmen stepped forward. The chief had the least need toe forward out of everyone here. His fiefdom was quite far away, so there was no need for him to take on such a risk. . . ¡°There¡¯s a fellow tribesman of mine who works as one of the wizards at the duke¡¯s side. I saw her there. It shouldn¡¯t be too difficult to do this much.¡± Snake beastmen weren¡¯t a very popr race, whether in the west or the east. In that sense, it was quite surprising that someone like the duke would have a snake beastmen wizard with him. Of course, it was possible that she was a very skilled wizard, but at the very least, it showed that the duke didn¡¯t persecute snake beastmen out of superstition or distrust. Having seen such a rare sight, the chief was willing to do this much for the duke. ???????????? ¡°Alright, let¡¯s all give Jyanina a round of apuse.¡± The nobles who remained, as well as the attendants and ves, all gave Jyanina their apuse. Jyanina, who had rushed over suddenly, suspected for a moment that the young duke was changing his method of torment. ¡®???????? ?????? ?? ????. . .?¡¯ Was the duke changing his method of torment, just like nobles who were addicted to pleasure were never satisfied with their current methods and constantly sought more stimting and intense pleasure? Of course, that wasn¡¯t the case. Johan personally handed Jyanina a pouch of gold coins. At first, Jyanina wondered what this was for, but after receiving the apuse of the nobles, she began to feel good. ¡°Was she that great of a wizard. . .?¡± Ulrike, who had been watching, muttered in surprise. Iselia kindly answered her. ¡°Yes. She is a skilled wizard.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Ulrike knew of Caenerna at least. Since she was the emperor¡¯s prophet and court wizard, she was known even in other regions of the empire. Suetlg was also a famous wizard who was sought after by many nobles in the vicinity. . . But Jyanina was unfamiliar. There were often cases of skilled wizards who were not well-known, but was that the case here? ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ As a feudal lord, it wasn¡¯t a bad thing to be acquainted with a skilled wizard. Most wizards were honest, and they would usually return the favor for any gifts they received. ¡°Thank you. Thank you.¡± No noble dared to go against the duke¡¯s direct praise. Furthermore, all of the heterodox feudal lords had already left. Even though they didn¡¯t know her well, they all gave Jyanina a round of apuse. Thanks to this, Jyanina became quite conceited. After finishing her greetings and returning to Johan¡¯s seat, Jyanina said in a pleasant voice, ¡°Thank you, Your Highness.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s just a proper reward for your aplishments.¡± ¡°It seems that Your Highness is finally starting to acknowledge my abilities. I heard that those pagan feudal lords came all the way here after hearing the rumors?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Johan had been talking quite a lot with the feudal lords just now, so he simply nodded and took a sip of his wine without saying much. Noticing his mood, Iselia handed him a ss of grape wine. Johan nodded in thanks. ¡°I was able to predict something that even the other wizards couldn¡¯t this time. . .¡± Jyanina, who hadn¡¯t noticed Johan¡¯s mood, was startled. Suddenly, Johan grabbed the sword at his waist and drew it. Jyanina screamed and fell to her knees. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I made a mistake!¡± ¡°Come here!¡± Johan grabbed Jyanina by the scruff of her neck with one hand and lifted her up. The lightweight Jyanina was lifted up just like that. Johan dragged Jyanina over and threw her inside the table. The crossbow boltnded where Jyanina had been sitting just a moment ago with a thud. ¡°!¡± ¡°Who is it?!¡± The nobles inside the tent were bewildered. This was the center of centers, even among the nearby monotheist feudal lords. And yet, someone dared tounch an ambush here?? ¡°It¡¯s an ambush. Everyone, be careful!¡± ¡°My dear, I will. . .¡± ¡°Iselia, be careful with your actions before you put on your armor!¡± Johan¡¯s body, which had been exhausted from talking at length just now, suddenly regained its vitality. He could feel the blood rushing through his veins as he took in the surrounding situation with sharp senses. ¡®??????????. . .¡¯ Johan, who had poked his head out of the tent, realized that smoke was rising from various ces in the camp. The terrified attendants and ves were running away in panic between the haphazardly ced tents. People tended to be weak when they were shocked by something unexpected. It wasn¡¯t strange for them to be unable to assess the situation and run away when they were ambushed while defenseless. ¡®?? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ However, Johan wasn¡¯t fooled by such tricks. The current situation wasn¡¯t one where the enemy had invaded the heart of the camp. Rather. . . ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?? ??????????????????.¡¯ When he learned assassination techniques from Kaegal, he didn¡¯t just learn how to quietly infiltrate a ce. He also learned how to create a path by causing amotion when there was no other way. If he started fires in various ces, fired crossbow bolts randomly, and then shouted as if he was being ambushed, the confusion wouldst for quite a while. ¡°Don¡¯t run away! Anyone who runs away will be executed. Don¡¯t leave your positions! The enemy is already fleeing!¡± In the midst of the chaos, Johan¡¯s voice, imbued with magical power, echoed loudly. The soldiers who were trying to escape stopped in their tracks and looked around. ¡°Stay close to the master and don¡¯t move! Anyone who moves unnecessarily and causes confusion will be executed.¡± The smoke was still thick, but the loud noises began to die down quickly. Johan¡¯s measures were taking effect. ¡®??????. . .¡¯ Johan wondered. For them to go through all this trouble to cause amotion, their target had to be worth it. And the only person in this camp who fit that description was. . . ¡®????, ???????????¡¯ He couldn¡¯t think of anyone other than himself. However, surprisingly, there was no sign of an ambush nearby. He wondered if there was an assassin hiding somewhere, but Karamaf was lying still and growling, so that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. The crossbow bolt that had flown in just now must have been shot randomly and just happened tond here. . . ¡°Your Highness, it might be better to evacuate for now. . .¡± Ulrike said, looking worried. Ulrike, who had already put on her armor, was being escorted by knights. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What is the purpose of this ambush?¡± ¡°Well. . .¡± The answer came right away. Iselia shouted in an urgent voice, ¡°My dear, Duke Bronquia¡¯s residence is under attack!¡± ¡°!¡± ???????????? Monotheists and heterodoxes alike were intolerant of other religions. Indigenous religions or pagan faiths that worshipped old gods were subject to suppression. The suppressed faiths either faded away and were forgotten, or they hid deep underground and transformed into something even more sinister and wicked. The assassins who had appeared this time were a typical example of thetter. They were cultists who worshipped three skeletal gods. These people, who would mercilessly strike down monotheists or heterodoxes alike if they were paid arge amount of gold in advance, were feared by the neighboring feudal lords. ¡°Over there. Kill the duke!¡± The assassins, speaking in an ancient desert tongue, charged forward. When these men, who had infiltrated the camp disguised as servants and ves, rushed in, the duke¡¯s knights hurriedly drew their weapons. ??????????! The knights fell to their knees with short screams. It wasn¡¯t because the assassins¡¯ swordsmanship was unexpectedly good. ¡°Crazy b*stards. . .!¡± The assassins were trying to die together with their targets by using their own bodies as shields. The knights flinched at the horrifying sight of the assassins stopping their movements by impaling the knights¡¯ weapons into their own bodies and then slitting their throats with well-sharpened daggers. Even experienced knights couldn¡¯t help but be overwhelmed by such madness. ¡°They¡¯re hopped up on drugs. Be careful when fighting them!¡± ¡°Clear a path! Find Duke Yeats!¡± The assassins were speaking in anguage that the knights didn¡¯t understand, but one of the knights managed to make out the word ¡®Yeats.¡¯ He thought to himself, ¡°Duke Yeats. . .? Are they after Duke Yeats?¡± He tried tomunicate with them, but the assassins, who were already intoxicated, didn¡¯t listen to the knight¡¯s words. ¡°Charge!¡± Just as the knights were being cut down one by one and the assassins were about to cross the tent, reinforcements arrived from behind. It was Johan, who had gathered the knights after calming the chaos. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????????¡¯ Johan wondered. He wondered if one of the monotheist feudal lords had tried to assassinate Duke Bronquia. That was how suspicious their target was. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡± The assassin shouted savagely and lunged at him. Johan cut off the man¡¯s arm with his sword and smashed his fist into the man¡¯s jaw. The assassin, who had been charging forward without feeling any pain, rolled his eyes and copsed. As soon as three assassins fell to the ground, the expressions of the others changed. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö, ¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö!¡± The assassin who seemed to be the most sane of the bunch shouted and gave orders. He was clearly wary of Johan. ¡®????????¡¯???? ???????????? ????????!¡¯ Those who didn¡¯t care about their own lives and were only intent on inflicting harm on their opponents were difficult to deal with. If they even grazed him, Johan would be the one who suffered. From the looks of it, their intention to block his way by sacrificing their lives was clear. The problem was. . . ¡®???? ???????? ?????????? ??¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????????¡¯ Johan had no intention of risking his life for Duke Bronquia. Why would he bother doing something like that when he was only wearing light armor? A duke should be able to protect his own life. . . If the other party misunderstood his intentions and threw their bodies at him, that would be convenient for Johan. Johan shed, crushed, and trampled the assassins who rushed at him. ¡°¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡± A triumphant cry rang out from inside the tent, and one of the assassins quickly fired an arrow into the air. It was a signal to theirrades outside, informing them of their sess. The fallen assassin chuckled at Johan. Johan didn¡¯t even blink as he slit the man¡¯s throat. Chapter 320: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (8) Chapter 320: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (8) ¡°Find the duke!¡± Johan, who had cleared all the assassins, pointed at the tent and said. Johan¡¯s escorts rushed to the tent. ¡°No!¡± A wretched scream burst out. The duke¡¯s knights who arrivedte seemed to intuit the result and rushed to the tent with their eyes clenched. The bed where duke was lying was drenched with blood. ¡®???????????? ???????? ???????????? ??????. ?????????? ??*????????????.¡¯ Johan frowned. Understanding the vital points of the human body and efficientlyying eggs is the way assassins do it. The pagan assassins showed clean work that could be used as a textbook. No wizard would be able to revive the duke whose breath had been cut off. ¡°Why on earth did they kill duke. . .?¡± Even Ulrike murmured in confusion. ¡°Did the duke ever borrow money from other nobles?¡± ¡°He must have borrowed some from merchants, but there are no crazy merchants who would hire assassins because of that. If they got caught, the damage would be enormous. . . Besides, the duke is not the kind of person who can¡¯t pay it back.¡± The rtionship between the nobility who borrow money and the merchants who lend it has always beenplex and subtle. Usually the one lending the money should be in an advantageous position in the rtionship, but in the rtionship between nobility and merchants, it is the opposite. The nobility could borrow huge sums of money and postpone repayment or even choose not to repay it at the cost of greatly damaging their reputation. However, it didn¡¯t mean that the merchants just lent money like fools. The merchants also had various ways to get their money back from the nobility. The duke had many fiefdoms in the north, and the rights documents from those alone would exceed dozens. Merchants wouldn¡¯t hire assassins just because of some debt. If they did that, half of the empire¡¯s nobles would have died. ¡°It¡¯s only pagans.¡± ¡°Why in the world did they. . .no. Uh-oh. It sounds like I¡¯m hoping for the duke¡¯s death.¡± Ulrike realized that her words to Johan might have been misinterpreted and hurriedly changed the subject. Johan nodded his head. ¡°I don¡¯t really take offense, so it¡¯s all right. Perhaps the rumors about the duke are more fearsome than we thought?¡± ¡°Umm. . .definitely.¡± Johan had a point. After all, rumors were strange beasts that changed their shape drastically with the slightest passing of time. Duke Bronquia was the most active and ferocious among the feudal lords who had gathered at the castle. After all, wasn¡¯t it the duke who had engaged in the most battles (albeit small skirmishes that were hardly worthy of being called battles) on the way here? Such rumors could have spread like wildfire among the enemy. ¡®???????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ?? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ Ulrike thought that it was fortunate that Duke Bronquia had died in his stead. Things would have been terrible if the enemy had targeted and killed or seriously injured Johan. Of course, she would never say these things out loud. . . ¡°Things might get a little difficult. We can¡¯t afford to lose the duke¡¯s army.¡± When a leader died, the army under theirmand would naturally lose morale. Furthermore, given that they were currently so far away from home, it would not be strange for them to want to return home immediately. Ulrike realized the situation and furrowed her brows. ¡°I suppose we¡¯ll have to persuade them.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if that will work. . .¡± Johan was worried. Faith and honor were powerful motivators, but it seemed difficult to persuade them easily, especially after the incident where they had lost their parents. ???????????? ¡°. . .Well done.¡± It wasn¡¯t as difficult as Johan thought. Instead of withdrawing, Leibkehit, who took over the army in ce of Duke, dered that he would cooperate with Johan. Johan was floored by the sheer amount of cooperation. ¡®???????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ????????, ?????????? ????. . .?¡¯ The Duke¡¯s assassination led to unexpected consequences, to the extent that Johan suspected someone on their side had a hand in it. Of course, it wasn¡¯t all good news. The Duke¡¯s death fanned the mes of people¡¯s anger. The assassination was like adding fuel to a fire, on top of people¡¯s suffering due to the upation of the Holy Land. Johan tried his best to assess the enemy¡¯s forces, his own forces, the state of supplies around them, and their level of defense as objectively as possible. However, it saddened him that there were simply more fools in the world. Even sadder was the fact that those fools were often the loudest. Now, the bishops and priests in the Order, who had originally believed and supported Johan, insisted on a serious advance, giving Johan a headache. Even when Duke Bronquia was alive, they avoided attacking the Holy Land, so what sense did it make to try and do so with him dead? Their army would be several times weaker. . . Even the bishop, who Johan had thought he could rely on, said in all seriousness, ¡¯???? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????, ?? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Johan had to really think hard about where his expedition had gone wrong. ¡®?? ?????????? ????¡¯???? ???????? ???? ??????????, ???????? ???? ???? ????????¡¯?? ?????????? ????????????????.¡¯ The day after Johan vowed to put on his best performance, news arrived that their enemy had upied the Holy Land and was leading arge army towards Tahkreng Castle. ???????????? Soldiers of the Holy Land and the tribal warriors, except for a small number led by Suhekhar and his men, began arge-scale expedition. There were so many of them that they couldn¡¯t all move at once. It was a magnificent sight to see tens of thousands of people waving gs of different colors and patterns in different ces. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Do you still doubt us?¡± The old eunuch spoke to appease Yeheyman. When the assassins brought the news of sess, even before the news spread throughout the Holy Land, everyone cheered, calling out the names of the two gods. But, There was one person who was not satisfied. It was Yeheyman. Having suffered his greatest defeat by the young duke, Yeheyman wanted proper revenge. That¡¯s why he led the Sultan¡¯s army, with great effort, all the way to this distant easternnd. And yet, the duke suddenly copsed. No matter how much he thought about it, Yeheyman thought the eunuchs were suspicious. The eunuchs who were active in the Sultan¡¯s court were skilled in wicked tricks and extraordinary schemes. It couldn¡¯t have been difficult for them to hire the most vicious assassins around. ¡°. . .No. I do not doubt you.¡± ¡°Of course you shouldn¡¯t, sir. I am but a humble servant sent by the Sultan. . .¡± The old eunuch subtly revealed his position. No matter how much Yeheyman tried to be the suprememander, the eunuch had the Sultan¡¯s backing. ¡°. . .Still, we are in the same boat, aren¡¯t we? We¡¯re just foot soldiers and you¡¯re the captain.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Yeheyman-gong. We¡¯ll do our best for you.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Yeheyman realized that he couldn¡¯t win this argument, so he changed the subject. Tahkreng Castle could be seen in the distance. ¡°It looks like they¡¯re going to fight!¡± Laughter erupted from Yeheyman¡¯s tent when he saw the pagan army filling the area outside the castle. Some of the chieftainsughed as if it was ridiculous. They dared toe out instead of hiding in the castle. ¡®?????????? ????.¡¯ Yeheyman was relieved. It could have been troublesome if the enemy had been hiding. Tahkreng Castle extended widely as a city outside its castle walls, and giving it all up would have been a huge blow for the casten. Moreover, the pagans must have been furious about the duke¡¯s death. It made sense why they wereing out like this. Since there were so many troops, Yeheyman divided the army into threerge groups. In the center were those led directly by Yeheyman. The most reliable and skilled knights and soldiers were stationed there. On the right were the mercenaries and tribal warriors that were newly hired and mobilized during the expedition. They weren¡¯t as loyal as Yeheyman¡¯s direct subordinates and were greedy, but they were quite useful. Because they were people living in the Sultan¡¯snd, they followed orders fairly well. On the left were the feudal lords and mercenaries who had been mobilized from the surrounding territories afternding. They were the most unreliable and motley crew. Yeheyman ced them in the back because they could have a bad influence on the others if they panicked and ran away when they were put at the forefront. Yeheyman could somehowmand the army in the center by sending messengers, but in reality, that was impossible for the left and right wings. When the battle started, themanders there would have to take charge. Yeheyman prayed that the chieftains and mercenary captains would be less greedy. The old eunuch nodded as he watched the deployment. ¡°The strategy is sound. You will concentrate your forces on the right and push the enemy back, then surround them.¡± ¡°Send the signal!¡± Yeheyman ignored him and spoke. Many people doubted him and the Sultan¡¯s authority even after he upied the Holy Land, but no one would be able to say anything after today¡¯s battle. ???????????? Johan did something simr to Yeheyman. In the center were the most reliable guards led by Johan. On the right were Ulrike¡¯s troops, well-armed monastic pdins and pilgrims. On the left were Duke Bronquia¡¯s army and the northerners. Honestly, he wanted to fight inside the castle walls, but this was a situation that even Johan couldn¡¯t control. Otherwise, the pilgrims would have jumped down from the castle walls and gone out to fight. . . Inside the temporary tent in the middle, there was intense tension. No one was rxed, considering that the enemy numbered tens of thousands. ¡°The one thing we can count on right now is. . .¡± ¡°Treason?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Most of the tribes stationed on the enemy¡¯s left wing had already finished their secret talks with Johan. If they betrayed them, Johan¡¯s right wing could charge right in and surround the enemy. However. . . ¡°Let¡¯s not trust them too much.¡± ¡°I was about to say that.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± All the wizards here were realists. They didn¡¯t trust the promises of the pagan feudal lords that much. If they only relied on that and the enemy didn¡¯t betray them. . . ¡°I don¡¯t know when they¡¯ll turn on us. In the worst case, they might not betray us at all. The best we can hope for is that they will side with us when they see the situation.¡± In suchrge-scale battles, it was not umon to attach oneself to the winning side after seeing how things were going. ¡°The problem is that our left nk is just as weak.¡± Since Duke Bronquia was dead, there was no telling how much his subordinate feudal lords, knights, and mercenaries would exert themselves. If the left nk copsed, no matter how loyal and skilled Johan¡¯s soldiers were, they would falter. ¡°I¡¯m going to support them myself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea.¡± Suetlg agreed. The young duke possessed overwhelming power that could change the atmosphere around him, not just his martial arts. Perhaps some precautions should be taken on the vulnerable left nk. ¡°Three of you shall assist Iselia in case of emergencies.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my dear. No matter how numerous the enemy is, these gs shall not fall.¡± Although Iselia was an elf, the confidence she was showing now did note from her race¡¯s belligerent nature. Johan¡¯s soldiers were that elite. Johan believed in that too. Johan nodded. There was a sense of trust among the people here that did not need to be expressed in words. ???????????? ¡°Isn¡¯t that the duke¡¯s g?¡± ¡°The duke¡¯s spouse must be carrying it.¡± Therge-scale battle was slower and longer than expected. It was rare for both sides to charge at each other with full force and sh. At first, the brave and swift men from each camp would rush out to the front, provoke each other, and if the opportunity arose, they wouldpete one-on-one. Then, the units that had gradually gotten closer would collide and sh. Several of Yeheyman¡¯s knights rushed out to see and came back. They reported that they had seen Duke Yeats¡¯ g, but the chieftains ignored them. ¡°Shall we request a duel?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not toote to move after seeing how the right wing progresses.¡± Yeheyman also did not move rashly. It wasn¡¯t toote to respond after seeing the fight. There was no reason to fight hastily in a battle like this. ¡°I sent several reliable knights, so they should win easily.¡± ???????????? Johan, who boasted great strength by holding a huge g in one hand and invigorating the morale of the gathered people, turned his horse around. Surprisingly, knights were rushing out from the other side as well to duel. ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°Is there a reason to be surprised?¡± ¡°No. No, there isn¡¯t. I guess I subconsciously thought of it in terms of the empire. The pagans might be less afraid of death.¡± It had been a long time since someone came out to duel after seeing a g. Johan thought that there might be some kind of ulterior motive behind it. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Usually, he would have spared them and asked for a ransom, but this time, he intended to kill them for sure., ¡°Find the duke!¡± Johan, who had cleared all the assassins, pointed at the tent and said. Johan¡¯s escorts rushed to the tent. ¡°No!¡± A wretched scream burst out. The duke¡¯s knights who arrivedte seemed to intuit the result and rushed to the tent with their eyes clenched. The bed where duke was lying was drenched with blood. ¡®???????????? ???????? ???????????? ??????. ?????????? ??*????????????.¡¯ Johan frowned. Understanding the vital points of the human body and efficientlyying eggs is the way assassins do it. The pagan assassins showed clean work that could be used as a textbook. No wizard would be able to revive the duke whose breath had been cut off. ¡°Why on earth did they kill duke. . .?¡± Even Ulrike murmured in confusion. ¡°Did the duke ever borrow money from other nobles?¡± ¡°He must have borrowed some from merchants, but there are no crazy merchants who would hire assassins because of that. If they got caught, the damage would be enormous. . . Besides, the duke is not the kind of person who can¡¯t pay it back.¡± The rtionship between the nobility who borrow money and the merchants who lend it has always beenplex and subtle. Usually the one lending the money should be in an advantageous position in the rtionship, but in the rtionship between nobility and merchants, it is the opposite. The nobility could borrow huge sums of money and postpone repayment or even choose not to repay it at the cost of greatly damaging their reputation. However, it didn¡¯t mean that the merchants just lent money like fools. The merchants also had various ways to get their money back from the nobility. The duke had many fiefdoms in the north, and the rights documents from those alone would exceed dozens. Merchants wouldn¡¯t hire assassins just because of some debt. If they did that, half of the empire¡¯s nobles would have died. ¡°It¡¯s only pagans.¡± ¡°Why in the world did they. . .no. Uh-oh. It sounds like I¡¯m hoping for the duke¡¯s death.¡± Ulrike realized that her words to Johan might have been misinterpreted and hurriedly changed the subject. Johan nodded his head. ¡°I don¡¯t really take offense, so it¡¯s all right. Perhaps the rumors about the duke are more fearsome than we thought?¡± ¡°Umm. . .definitely.¡± Johan had a point. After all, rumors were strange beasts that changed their shape drastically with the slightest passing of time. Duke Bronquia was the most active and ferocious among the feudal lords who had gathered at the castle. After all, wasn¡¯t it the duke who had engaged in the most battles (albeit small skirmishes that were hardly worthy of being called battles) on the way here? Such rumors could have spread like wildfire among the enemy. ¡®???????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ?? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ Ulrike thought that it was fortunate that Duke Bronquia had died in his stead. Things would have been terrible if the enemy had targeted and killed or seriously injured Johan. Of course, she would never say these things out loud. . . ¡°Things might get a little difficult. We can¡¯t afford to lose the duke¡¯s army.¡± When a leader died, the army under theirmand would naturally lose morale. Furthermore, given that they were currently so far away from home, it would not be strange for them to want to return home immediately. Ulrike realized the situation and furrowed her brows. ¡°I suppose we¡¯ll have to persuade them.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if that will work. . .¡± Johan was worried. Faith and honor were powerful motivators, but it seemed difficult to persuade them easily, especially after the incident where they had lost their parents. ???????????? ¡°. . .Well done.¡± It wasn¡¯t as difficult as Johan thought. Instead of withdrawing, Leibkehit, who took over the army in ce of Duke, dered that he would cooperate with Johan. Johan was floored by the sheer amount of cooperation. ¡®???????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ????????, ?????????? ????. . .?¡¯ The Duke¡¯s assassination led to unexpected consequences, to the extent that Johan suspected someone on their side had a hand in it. Of course, it wasn¡¯t all good news. The Duke¡¯s death fanned the mes of people¡¯s anger. The assassination was like adding fuel to a fire, on top of people¡¯s suffering due to the upation of the Holy Land. Johan tried his best to assess the enemy¡¯s forces, his own forces, the state of supplies around them, and their level of defense as objectively as possible. However, it saddened him that there were simply more fools in the world. Even sadder was the fact that those fools were often the loudest. Now, the bishops and priests in the Order, who had originally believed and supported Johan, insisted on a serious advance, giving Johan a headache. Even when Duke Bronquia was alive, they avoided attacking the Holy Land, so what sense did it make to try and do so with him dead? Their army would be several times weaker. . . Even the bishop, who Johan had thought he could rely on, said in all seriousness, ¡¯???? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????, ?? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Johan had to really think hard about where his expedition had gone wrong. ¡®?? ?????????? ????¡¯???? ???????? ???? ??????????, ???????? ???? ???? ????????¡¯?? ?????????? ????????????????.¡¯ The day after Johan vowed to put on his best performance, news arrived that their enemy had upied the Holy Land and was leading arge army towards Tahkreng Castle. ???????????? Soldiers of the Holy Land and the tribal warriors, except for a small number led by Suhekhar and his men, began arge-scale expedition. There were so many of them that they couldn¡¯t all move at once. It was a magnificent sight to see tens of thousands of people waving gs of different colors and patterns in different ces. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Do you still doubt us?¡± The old eunuch spoke to appease Yeheyman. When the assassins brought the news of sess, even before the news spread throughout the Holy Land, everyone cheered, calling out the names of the two gods. But, There was one person who was not satisfied. It was Yeheyman. Having suffered his greatest defeat by the young duke, Yeheyman wanted proper revenge. That¡¯s why he led the Sultan¡¯s army, with great effort, all the way to this distant easternnd. And yet, the duke suddenly copsed. No matter how much he thought about it, Yeheyman thought the eunuchs were suspicious. The eunuchs who were active in the Sultan¡¯s court were skilled in wicked tricks and extraordinary schemes. It couldn¡¯t have been difficult for them to hire the most vicious assassins around. ¡°. . .No. I do not doubt you.¡± ¡°Of course you shouldn¡¯t, sir. I am but a humble servant sent by the Sultan. . .¡± The old eunuch subtly revealed his position. No matter how much Yeheyman tried to be the suprememander, the eunuch had the Sultan¡¯s backing. ¡°. . .Still, we are in the same boat, aren¡¯t we? We¡¯re just foot soldiers and you¡¯re the captain.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Yeheyman-gong. We¡¯ll do our best for you.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Yeheyman realized that he couldn¡¯t win this argument, so he changed the subject. Tahkreng Castle could be seen in the distance. ¡°It looks like they¡¯re going to fight!¡± Laughter erupted from Yeheyman¡¯s tent when he saw the pagan army filling the area outside the castle. Some of the chieftainsughed as if it was ridiculous. They dared toe out instead of hiding in the castle. ¡®?????????? ????.¡¯ Yeheyman was relieved. It could have been troublesome if the enemy had been hiding. Tahkreng Castle extended widely as a city outside its castle walls, and giving it all up would have been a huge blow for the casten. Moreover, the pagans must have been furious about the duke¡¯s death. It made sense why they wereing out like this. Since there were so many troops, Yeheyman divided the army into threerge groups. In the center were those led directly by Yeheyman. The most reliable and skilled knights and soldiers were stationed there. On the right were the mercenaries and tribal warriors that were newly hired and mobilized during the expedition. They weren¡¯t as loyal as Yeheyman¡¯s direct subordinates and were greedy, but they were quite useful. Because they were people living in the Sultan¡¯snd, they followed orders fairly well. On the left were the feudal lords and mercenaries who had been mobilized from the surrounding territories afternding. They were the most unreliable and motley crew. Yeheyman ced them in the back because they could have a bad influence on the others if they panicked and ran away when they were put at the forefront. Yeheyman could somehowmand the army in the center by sending messengers, but in reality, that was impossible for the left and right wings. When the battle started, themanders there would have to take charge. Yeheyman prayed that the chieftains and mercenary captains would be less greedy. The old eunuch nodded as he watched the deployment. ¡°The strategy is sound. You will concentrate your forces on the right and push the enemy back, then surround them.¡± ¡°Send the signal!¡± Yeheyman ignored him and spoke. Many people doubted him and the Sultan¡¯s authority even after he upied the Holy Land, but no one would be able to say anything after today¡¯s battle. ???????????? Johan did something simr to Yeheyman. In the center were the most reliable guards led by Johan. On the right were Ulrike¡¯s troops, well-armed monastic pdins and pilgrims. On the left were Duke Bronquia¡¯s army and the northerners. Honestly, he wanted to fight inside the castle walls, but this was a situation that even Johan couldn¡¯t control. Otherwise, the pilgrims would have jumped down from the castle walls and gone out to fight. . . Inside the temporary tent in the middle, there was intense tension. No one was rxed, considering that the enemy numbered tens of thousands. ¡°The one thing we can count on right now is. . .¡± ¡°Treason?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Most of the tribes stationed on the enemy¡¯s left wing had already finished their secret talks with Johan. If they betrayed them, Johan¡¯s right wing could charge right in and surround the enemy. However. . . ¡°Let¡¯s not trust them too much.¡± ¡°I was about to say that.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± All the wizards here were realists. They didn¡¯t trust the promises of the pagan feudal lords that much. If they only relied on that and the enemy didn¡¯t betray them. . . ¡°I don¡¯t know when they¡¯ll turn on us. In the worst case, they might not betray us at all. The best we can hope for is that they will side with us when they see the situation.¡± In suchrge-scale battles, it was not umon to attach oneself to the winning side after seeing how things were going. ¡°The problem is that our left nk is just as weak.¡± Since Duke Bronquia was dead, there was no telling how much his subordinate feudal lords, knights, and mercenaries would exert themselves. If the left nk copsed, no matter how loyal and skilled Johan¡¯s soldiers were, they would falter. ¡°I¡¯m going to support them myself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea.¡± Suetlg agreed. The young duke possessed overwhelming power that could change the atmosphere around him, not just his martial arts. Perhaps some precautions should be taken on the vulnerable left nk. ¡°Three of you shall assist Iselia in case of emergencies.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my dear. No matter how numerous the enemy is, these gs shall not fall.¡± Although Iselia was an elf, the confidence she was showing now did note from her race¡¯s belligerent nature. Johan¡¯s soldiers were that elite. Johan believed in that too. Johan nodded. There was a sense of trust among the people here that did not need to be expressed in words. ???????????? ¡°Isn¡¯t that the duke¡¯s g?¡± ¡°The duke¡¯s spouse must be carrying it.¡± Therge-scale battle was slower and longer than expected. It was rare for both sides to charge at each other with full force and sh. At first, the brave and swift men from each camp would rush out to the front, provoke each other, and if the opportunity arose, they wouldpete one-on-one. Then, the units that had gradually gotten closer would collide and sh. Several of Yeheyman¡¯s knights rushed out to see and came back. They reported that they had seen Duke Yeats¡¯ g, but the chieftains ignored them. ¡°Shall we request a duel?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not toote to move after seeing how the right wing progresses.¡± Yeheyman also did not move rashly. It wasn¡¯t toote to respond after seeing the fight. There was no reason to fight hastily in a battle like this. ¡°I sent several reliable knights, so they should win easily.¡± ???????????? Johan, who boasted great strength by holding a huge g in one hand and invigorating the morale of the gathered people, turned his horse around. Surprisingly, knights were rushing out from the other side as well to duel. ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°Is there a reason to be surprised?¡± ¡°No. No, there isn¡¯t. I guess I subconsciously thought of it in terms of the empire. The pagans might be less afraid of death.¡± It had been a long time since someone came out to duel after seeing a g. Johan thought that there might be some kind of ulterior motive behind it. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Usually, he would have spared them and asked for a ransom, but this time, he intended to kill them for sure. Chapter 321: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (9) Chapter 321: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (9) ¡°Your Highness, grant me the honor of apanying you!¡± The other knights from the north stepped forward without hesitation. If the knight representing them was ipetent, the other knights might have backed down after seeing that, but that wasn¡¯t the case when Duke Yeats stepped forward. It was an honor to fight alongside him. As they argued fiercely over who would go, Johan chose five knights, including himself, to participate in the duel. The enemies also selected five knights in response to the request. ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± The other knights nodded without a second thought at Johan¡¯s words. However, Johan¡¯s entourage had their doubts. ¡®???????? ???? ???? ???????????????¡¯ The knights present seemed to have agreed without much thought, but since this young duke was the first to step forward, it was possible that their turn might note at all. It seemed that the knights couldn¡¯t even imagine such a possibility.¡°. . .?¡± The knights from the north looked puzzled at the gazes from the entourage. What¡¯s with them? ???????????? The knight, Abzra, was one of the most renowned knights in Yeheyman¡¯s camp. After the shocking defeat at Vynashchtym, Yeheyman had summoned valiant knights from all over the Eastern Empire to deal with the demon-contracted duke. Abzra was one of those knights. He was particrly skilled in shooting arrows while swiftly leaning his body down on his horse as if lying down. Knights who didn¡¯t know any better would chase after Abzra, thinking he was running away, only to meet their demise. Sagrat was also a knight who was not inferior to Abzra. Sagrat, who was originally a ve of the Sultan, relentlessly pursued his opponents, swinging his ridiculously heavy mace without taking a breath. Once caught in his attack, even a skilled swordsman would be unable to counterattack and would fall from their horse. With such outstanding knights gathered, they were not willing to easily give up the chance to be the first to fight. ¡°I am the one who received Yeheyman-nim¡¯s favor. I shall go first!¡± ¡°Do you think you have the right tomand just because you won a joust, a child¡¯s y? I cannot yield the honor of going first.¡± ¡°Everyone, calm down!¡± As the right side was important, the sultan¡¯s eunuchs were also present in the camp. The eunuch who came here on behalf of the sultan had the authority to mediate the knights¡¯ disputes. ¡°More importantly, isn¡¯t the duke¡¯s g still flying? What¡¯s going on?¡± At first, the eunuch thought it was just the pagans¡¯ bluff. In fact, it wouldn¡¯t have been strange for the soldiers under the duke¡¯smand to fight while holding the duke¡¯s g even if the duke had fallen. But something was a little strange. It was difficult to say specifically, but a very subtle sense of difort was touching the eunuch¡¯s intuition. ¡®????????¡¯?? ????! ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ If the duke had died, there should have been some confusion. The enemies would have been filled with anger, fear, or confusion. However, the enemies were in surprisingly good order. From the gs flying everywhere to the movements of the various units, there seemed to be no gaps. ¡°Isn¡¯t this already over? Even you agreed that they were bluffing.¡± The knights looked at the eunuch, wondering what he was talking about. The knights didn¡¯t know, but it was the eunuchs who had attempted the assassination in the first ce, and it was also the eunuchs who had spread the rumor. Therefore, it was also the eunuchs who had strongly insisted that the duke¡¯s g was a bluff when it was clearly visible. And now, he was talking about the g again. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about the gs flying all over the camp, but the opposing knights. Look! They¡¯re not holding the duke¡¯s g.¡± ¡°Are they the duke¡¯s knights?¡± ¡°That armor looks like the one the duke used to wear. . .¡± ¡°He must have inherited the duke¡¯s armor. Sir, why do you keep saying that?¡± The knights asked seriously. No knight liked to hear useless chatter before a fight. To them, the eunuch¡¯s words sounded like nonsense from a scribe who knew nothing about fighting. Realizing their inner thoughts, the eunuch¡¯s face turned red for a moment. No eunuch would not be angry at being treated like a naive child by rookie knights. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to act recklessly. . .!¡± ¡°Worrying too much can be a heavy chain that weighs you down.¡± Abzra said so and mounted his horse as if he didn¡¯t want to listen anymore. The other knights looked taken aback that they were a step toote. ¡°I shall go first and show the glory of the two gods!¡± ¡°Wait. . .¡± However, Abzra galloped towards the enemy in an instant. It was toote to stop him now. The eunuch watched anxiously. ¡°Ooh!¡± Cheers erupted from the pagan camp. Abzra had shown an amazing feat. He urately aimed at the vital point of an opponent who was moving quickly at a distance of more than a hundred paces. ¡°What a pity! It was a perfect hit!¡± ¡°Was it really a perfect hit?¡± Since the distance was so far, they could only guess the result from the opponent¡¯s movements. It was even harder for the eunuch with poor eyesight to see. ¡°The arrow flew towards the neck. Luckily, it seems to have hit the chest.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The heavily armored knights didn¡¯t fall with just one attack. Since their whole body was covered with thick chunks of metal, they had to be hit hard or their weak points had to be pierced. Although Abzra had excellent archery skills, it wasn¡¯t surprising that he couldn¡¯t pierce through in one shot from such a distance. ¡°Abzra is pressing on. He¡¯ll finish it easily.¡± ¡°The opponent can¡¯t even get close.¡± The knights crossed their arms and watched the duel while sitting on their horses. Whenever their horses circled around and got close, Abzra shot an arrow, and the opponent barely managed to block it. In the knights¡¯ eyes, the opponent was still alive only because he was extremely lucky. If he had been hit a little higher, he would have fallen long ago. However, unlike the knights¡¯ assessment, Abzra himself was troubled by an unknown anxiety. ¡®???????? ???? ?????¡¯ At first, Abzra thought that the arrow had indeed hit the armor. He rarely made such a mistake, but even Abzra was human and could miss the vital point once in a while. However, after more than five attempts, Abzra began to realize that something was strange. He couldn¡¯t miss like this. Ordinary soldiers might not know, but when one became a master archer, they developed a unique intuition. Once they shot an arrow, they had to be convinced that they had hit the target. And yet, he had been wrong five times in a row. Moreover, Abzra felt like he had seen something strange at the end. The opponent didn¡¯t block the arrow with his armor, but caught it with one hand. It would have been understandable if he had caught an arrow that had been shot poorly and lost its power, but there was no way he could catch an arrow shot from Abzra¡¯s strong bow like that. ¡°Are you just going to keep shooting?¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Abzra heard the opponent¡¯s voice for the first time. It was a low, powerful voice. Abzra was reminded of the demon he had defeated before. ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ The opponent suddenly started running towards him. Abzra hurriedly aimed the next arrow. He clearly saw the opponent raising a spear with one hand. Anyone could tell that he was about to throw the spear. It was ridiculous. It was ridiculous to try to throw a spear while he was aiming a bow from this distance, and it was also ridiculous to think that he would just take it head-on. Abzra¡¯s arrow flew powerfully with a whooshing sound. ¡°!¡± Johan, who had gotten used to the arrows, managed to catch it with his hand once again. This time, Abzra¡¯s eyes widened as he watched carefully. At the same time, a spear flew from Johan¡¯s hand. The spear flew violently like a rock thrown from a catapult. Abzra was so startled by the force of the spear tearing through the air that he threw himself to the side. Originally, it would have been a distance he could easily avoid, but the spear flew at a speed that surpassed Abzra¡¯s eye. It was humiliating, but he had no choice but to ept his fall from his horse. ????????! ¡°. . .!!!¡± ¡°T-That. . .!¡± The pagan knights who were watching were shocked. Abzra, who had been relentlessly pressing on, had been killed by a single throwing spear. It was an unexpectedly shocking defeat. ????????????????????! Cheers erupted from the enemies who confirmed the victory. Sagrat gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I will take care of him!¡± ¡°Wai. . .¡± The furious Sagrat charged forward with his mace. Sagrat shouted loudly, his eyes zing like fire. ¡°I am Sagrat of the Cyanol family! State your name!¡± ¡°I am Johan of the Yeats family.¡± ¡°. . .What?¡± Sagrat¡¯s fate was decided with that. Johan¡¯s sword pierced through Sagrat¡¯s helmet. Sagrat¡¯s helmet was a treasure among treasures that the Sultan himself had bestowed upon him. Johan could sense the powerful magical power from within, so it might have been a helmet made of Danus steel, just like the old empire¡¯s armor he was wearing. That¡¯s why Johan decided to kill him for sure. Seal Retriever stabbed the helmet repeatedly. Sagrat¡¯s head shook uncontrobly due to the enormous force. The magical power contained in the helmet screamed and blocked the de of Seal Retriever, but it couldn¡¯t block the shock that the head inside received. Sagrat fell helplessly to the side. Johan raised his sword as if dering victory. ¡°. . .!!!¡± ¡°The duke is alive! The duke is alive!!¡± One of the veterans screamed as if he was shouting. Fear began to spread like a contagious disease. The soldiers who were maintaining their formation in the back could be seen stirring. The eunuch, even in his panic, managed to think and make the best choice. ¡°Send the attack signal! We must attack the duke!¡± He didn¡¯t know how the duke was still alive, but at this point, there was no honor or anything. They had to catch him before their side copsed and before the opponent ran away. It would be good if they could catch him, and even if they couldn¡¯t, it would be better than having their morale hit rock bottom like this. ¡°Go!¡± ¡°Do they fight duels like this in the East?¡± The knights who had charged at Johan¡¯s words also blushed. In a duel, it was shameful to attack one person with many people, even on this side. However, they couldn¡¯t help it in this situation. The knights convinced themselves that the duel was over and spurred their horses. They had forgotten the most important thing because of their shame and because they hade out too hastily. Who they were facing right now. The knights who were said to have been blessed by the spirits of the desert and the warriors who were chosen as the best among the warriors of the seven tribes fell mercilessly to the ground. The duke didn¡¯t even wait for those who were running from behind to help him. He didn¡¯t waste time dodging attacks. He shed with the one who was running in front and cut them down one by one. And then, the two armies shed. The eunuch checked the escape route behind him without realizing it. Even though there were countless soldiers in front of him. ???????????? As the day wore on and it became harder to fight, both sides withdrew their troops. The eunuch wiped his face with a silk handkerchief. His heart felt heavy as lead. Although they had attacked three times, all three times had been repelled, which was a minor part of what had happened today. There were so many shocking things. Above all, the process of being repelled was too cruel. The attack itself could fail, and they could just try again. However, the problem was that they were beaten up like a flock of sheep being ughtered by a wolf. When the duke, who they thought was dead, came back to life and swung his sword, even the brave warriors turned into cowards. ¡®???? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????????, ?????? ?????? ????¡¯???? ???? ???????? ??????????!¡¯ Yeheyman¡¯s side must have heard the shocking news since they had sent a messenger earlier. The eunuch couldn¡¯t figure out how the duke had died ande back to life. Did he reallye back from the dead?? ¡°Sir! It¡¯s a surprise attack! The enemy is attacking!¡± ¡°!!¡± ???????????? It was a basic tactic that even apprentice knights knew not to attack at night. With tens of thousands of people shing on the battlefield, the darkness was deadly. No matter how thoroughly they sent signals andmunicated with each other, they would end up fighting among themselves more often. Of course, Johan knew that too. The centaurs raised torches in both hands with a grin, as if they were remembering old memories. ¡°We¡¯re the only ones who use tricks like this, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s something your Highness would do. . .¡± ¡°So, do you have anyints?¡± ¡°How can I have anyints when I¡¯m with Your Highness?¡± That¡¯s why what Johan was doing now wasn¡¯t an all-out war, but just a trick to harass the opponent. If a few hundred cavalrymen ran around with torches and shouted, the soldiers would never be able to rest easy. As the centaurs said, it was a rather petty trick for a duke like Johan to do. . . Johan was a man who could do such petty things silently. ¡°Hey. I think those guys are pissed. They¡¯re burning the fire so fiercely.¡± ¡°Are they idiots? Even if they burn the fire over there, the light won¡¯t reach here, will it?¡± ¡°. . .You guys are the idiots! That didn¡¯t start a fire, it started a fire!¡± ¡°!!¡± The soldiers following Johan were shocked. A fire suddenly started to rise in the enemy camp., ¡°Your Highness, grant me the honor of apanying you!¡± The other knights from the north stepped forward without hesitation. If the knight representing them was ipetent, the other knights might have backed down after seeing that, but that wasn¡¯t the case when Duke Yeats stepped forward. It was an honor to fight alongside him. As they argued fiercely over who would go, Johan chose five knights, including himself, to participate in the duel. The enemies also selected five knights in response to the request. ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± The other knights nodded without a second thought at Johan¡¯s words. However, Johan¡¯s entourage had their doubts. ¡®???????? ???? ???? ???????????????¡¯ The knights present seemed to have agreed without much thought, but since this young duke was the first to step forward, it was possible that their turn might note at all. It seemed that the knights couldn¡¯t even imagine such a possibility. ¡°. . .?¡± The knights from the north looked puzzled at the gazes from the entourage. What¡¯s with them? ???????????? The knight, Abzra, was one of the most renowned knights in Yeheyman¡¯s camp. After the shocking defeat at Vynashchtym, Yeheyman had summoned valiant knights from all over the Eastern Empire to deal with the demon-contracted duke. Abzra was one of those knights. He was particrly skilled in shooting arrows while swiftly leaning his body down on his horse as if lying down. Knights who didn¡¯t know any better would chase after Abzra, thinking he was running away, only to meet their demise. Sagrat was also a knight who was not inferior to Abzra. Sagrat, who was originally a ve of the Sultan, relentlessly pursued his opponents, swinging his ridiculously heavy mace without taking a breath. Once caught in his attack, even a skilled swordsman would be unable to counterattack and would fall from their horse. With such outstanding knights gathered, they were not willing to easily give up the chance to be the first to fight. ¡°I am the one who received Yeheyman-nim¡¯s favor. I shall go first!¡± ¡°Do you think you have the right tomand just because you won a joust, a child¡¯s y? I cannot yield the honor of going first.¡± ¡°Everyone, calm down!¡± As the right side was important, the sultan¡¯s eunuchs were also present in the camp. The eunuch who came here on behalf of the sultan had the authority to mediate the knights¡¯ disputes. ¡°More importantly, isn¡¯t the duke¡¯s g still flying? What¡¯s going on?¡± At first, the eunuch thought it was just the pagans¡¯ bluff. In fact, it wouldn¡¯t have been strange for the soldiers under the duke¡¯smand to fight while holding the duke¡¯s g even if the duke had fallen. But something was a little strange. It was difficult to say specifically, but a very subtle sense of difort was touching the eunuch¡¯s intuition. ¡®????????¡¯?? ????! ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ If the duke had died, there should have been some confusion. The enemies would have been filled with anger, fear, or confusion. However, the enemies were in surprisingly good order. From the gs flying everywhere to the movements of the various units, there seemed to be no gaps. ¡°Isn¡¯t this already over? Even you agreed that they were bluffing.¡± The knights looked at the eunuch, wondering what he was talking about. The knights didn¡¯t know, but it was the eunuchs who had attempted the assassination in the first ce, and it was also the eunuchs who had spread the rumor. Therefore, it was also the eunuchs who had strongly insisted that the duke¡¯s g was a bluff when it was clearly visible. And now, he was talking about the g again. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about the gs flying all over the camp, but the opposing knights. Look! They¡¯re not holding the duke¡¯s g.¡± ¡°Are they the duke¡¯s knights?¡± ¡°That armor looks like the one the duke used to wear. . .¡± ¡°He must have inherited the duke¡¯s armor. Sir, why do you keep saying that?¡± The knights asked seriously. No knight liked to hear useless chatter before a fight. To them, the eunuch¡¯s words sounded like nonsense from a scribe who knew nothing about fighting. Realizing their inner thoughts, the eunuch¡¯s face turned red for a moment. No eunuch would not be angry at being treated like a naive child by rookie knights. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to act recklessly. . .!¡± ¡°Worrying too much can be a heavy chain that weighs you down.¡± Abzra said so and mounted his horse as if he didn¡¯t want to listen anymore. The other knights looked taken aback that they were a step toote. ¡°I shall go first and show the glory of the two gods!¡± ¡°Wait. . .¡± However, Abzra galloped towards the enemy in an instant. It was toote to stop him now. The eunuch watched anxiously. ¡°Ooh!¡± Cheers erupted from the pagan camp. Abzra had shown an amazing feat. He urately aimed at the vital point of an opponent who was moving quickly at a distance of more than a hundred paces. ¡°What a pity! It was a perfect hit!¡± ¡°Was it really a perfect hit?¡± Since the distance was so far, they could only guess the result from the opponent¡¯s movements. It was even harder for the eunuch with poor eyesight to see. ¡°The arrow flew towards the neck. Luckily, it seems to have hit the chest.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The heavily armored knights didn¡¯t fall with just one attack. Since their whole body was covered with thick chunks of metal, they had to be hit hard or their weak points had to be pierced. Although Abzra had excellent archery skills, it wasn¡¯t surprising that he couldn¡¯t pierce through in one shot from such a distance. ¡°Abzra is pressing on. He¡¯ll finish it easily.¡± ¡°The opponent can¡¯t even get close.¡± The knights crossed their arms and watched the duel while sitting on their horses. Whenever their horses circled around and got close, Abzra shot an arrow, and the opponent barely managed to block it. In the knights¡¯ eyes, the opponent was still alive only because he was extremely lucky. If he had been hit a little higher, he would have fallen long ago. However, unlike the knights¡¯ assessment, Abzra himself was troubled by an unknown anxiety. ¡®???????? ???? ?????¡¯ At first, Abzra thought that the arrow had indeed hit the armor. He rarely made such a mistake, but even Abzra was human and could miss the vital point once in a while. However, after more than five attempts, Abzra began to realize that something was strange. He couldn¡¯t miss like this. Ordinary soldiers might not know, but when one became a master archer, they developed a unique intuition. Once they shot an arrow, they had to be convinced that they had hit the target. And yet, he had been wrong five times in a row. Moreover, Abzra felt like he had seen something strange at the end. The opponent didn¡¯t block the arrow with his armor, but caught it with one hand. It would have been understandable if he had caught an arrow that had been shot poorly and lost its power, but there was no way he could catch an arrow shot from Abzra¡¯s strong bow like that. ¡°Are you just going to keep shooting?¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Abzra heard the opponent¡¯s voice for the first time. It was a low, powerful voice. Abzra was reminded of the demon he had defeated before. ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ The opponent suddenly started running towards him. Abzra hurriedly aimed the next arrow. He clearly saw the opponent raising a spear with one hand. Anyone could tell that he was about to throw the spear. It was ridiculous. It was ridiculous to try to throw a spear while he was aiming a bow from this distance, and it was also ridiculous to think that he would just take it head-on. Abzra¡¯s arrow flew powerfully with a whooshing sound. ¡°!¡± Johan, who had gotten used to the arrows, managed to catch it with his hand once again. This time, Abzra¡¯s eyes widened as he watched carefully. At the same time, a spear flew from Johan¡¯s hand. The spear flew violently like a rock thrown from a catapult. Abzra was so startled by the force of the spear tearing through the air that he threw himself to the side. Originally, it would have been a distance he could easily avoid, but the spear flew at a speed that surpassed Abzra¡¯s eye. It was humiliating, but he had no choice but to ept his fall from his horse. ????????! ¡°. . .!!!¡± ¡°T-That. . .!¡± The pagan knights who were watching were shocked. Abzra, who had been relentlessly pressing on, had been killed by a single throwing spear. It was an unexpectedly shocking defeat. ????????????????????! Cheers erupted from the enemies who confirmed the victory. Sagrat gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I will take care of him!¡± ¡°Wai. . .¡± The furious Sagrat charged forward with his mace. Sagrat shouted loudly, his eyes zing like fire. ¡°I am Sagrat of the Cyanol family! State your name!¡± ¡°I am Johan of the Yeats family.¡± ¡°. . .What?¡± Sagrat¡¯s fate was decided with that. Johan¡¯s sword pierced through Sagrat¡¯s helmet. Sagrat¡¯s helmet was a treasure among treasures that the Sultan himself had bestowed upon him. Johan could sense the powerful magical power from within, so it might have been a helmet made of Danus steel, just like the old empire¡¯s armor he was wearing. That¡¯s why Johan decided to kill him for sure. Seal Retriever stabbed the helmet repeatedly. Sagrat¡¯s head shook uncontrobly due to the enormous force. The magical power contained in the helmet screamed and blocked the de of Seal Retriever, but it couldn¡¯t block the shock that the head inside received. Sagrat fell helplessly to the side. Johan raised his sword as if dering victory. ¡°. . .!!!¡± ¡°The duke is alive! The duke is alive!!¡± One of the veterans screamed as if he was shouting. Fear began to spread like a contagious disease. The soldiers who were maintaining their formation in the back could be seen stirring. The eunuch, even in his panic, managed to think and make the best choice. ¡°Send the attack signal! We must attack the duke!¡± He didn¡¯t know how the duke was still alive, but at this point, there was no honor or anything. They had to catch him before their side copsed and before the opponent ran away. It would be good if they could catch him, and even if they couldn¡¯t, it would be better than having their morale hit rock bottom like this. ¡°Go!¡± ¡°Do they fight duels like this in the East?¡± The knights who had charged at Johan¡¯s words also blushed. In a duel, it was shameful to attack one person with many people, even on this side. However, they couldn¡¯t help it in this situation. The knights convinced themselves that the duel was over and spurred their horses. They had forgotten the most important thing because of their shame and because they hade out too hastily. Who they were facing right now. The knights who were said to have been blessed by the spirits of the desert and the warriors who were chosen as the best among the warriors of the seven tribes fell mercilessly to the ground. The duke didn¡¯t even wait for those who were running from behind to help him. He didn¡¯t waste time dodging attacks. He shed with the one who was running in front and cut them down one by one. And then, the two armies shed. The eunuch checked the escape route behind him without realizing it. Even though there were countless soldiers in front of him. ???????????? As the day wore on and it became harder to fight, both sides withdrew their troops. The eunuch wiped his face with a silk handkerchief. His heart felt heavy as lead. Although they had attacked three times, all three times had been repelled, which was a minor part of what had happened today. There were so many shocking things. Above all, the process of being repelled was too cruel. The attack itself could fail, and they could just try again. However, the problem was that they were beaten up like a flock of sheep being ughtered by a wolf. When the duke, who they thought was dead, came back to life and swung his sword, even the brave warriors turned into cowards. ¡®???? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????????, ?????? ?????? ????¡¯???? ???? ???????? ??????????!¡¯ Yeheyman¡¯s side must have heard the shocking news since they had sent a messenger earlier. The eunuch couldn¡¯t figure out how the duke had died ande back to life. Did he reallye back from the dead?? ¡°Sir! It¡¯s a surprise attack! The enemy is attacking!¡± ¡°!!¡± ???????????? It was a basic tactic that even apprentice knights knew not to attack at night. With tens of thousands of people shing on the battlefield, the darkness was deadly. No matter how thoroughly they sent signals andmunicated with each other, they would end up fighting among themselves more often. Of course, Johan knew that too. The centaurs raised torches in both hands with a grin, as if they were remembering old memories. ¡°We¡¯re the only ones who use tricks like this, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s something your Highness would do. . .¡± ¡°So, do you have anyints?¡± ¡°How can I have anyints when I¡¯m with Your Highness?¡± That¡¯s why what Johan was doing now wasn¡¯t an all-out war, but just a trick to harass the opponent. If a few hundred cavalrymen ran around with torches and shouted, the soldiers would never be able to rest easy. As the centaurs said, it was a rather petty trick for a duke like Johan to do. . . Johan was a man who could do such petty things silently. ¡°Hey. I think those guys are pissed. They¡¯re burning the fire so fiercely.¡± ¡°Are they idiots? Even if they burn the fire over there, the light won¡¯t reach here, will it?¡± ¡°. . .You guys are the idiots! That didn¡¯t start a fire, it started a fire!¡± ¡°!!¡± The soldiers following Johan were shocked. A fire suddenly started to rise in the enemy camp. Chapter 322: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (10) Chapter 322: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (10) In the distance, a fire raged,rge enough to be seen from afar. It was clear that such a ze would not have been started within the camp without reason, and that an ident had urred. ¡°Who among us went inside and set the fire?¡± Upon hearing the centaurs¡¯ words, the ve soldiers beat their chests. If they had volunteered to go inside and then set the fire, they could have earned such a great honor. ¡°Master! If you give me just ten men, I will go into the other camp and set it. . .¡± ¡°No. There is no need.¡± Johan tly rejected the ve soldiers¡¯ enthusiastic volunteering. It was unexpected that arge fire had suddenly broken out in the enemy camp, but there was no need to change the original n because of it. The situation was not unfavorable, and the battle had been going well that day, so there was no reason for the ve soldiers to risk their lives to set a fire. ¡°Was it a mistake?¡± ¡°If it was a mistake, then it is good. We are having good luck.¡±¡°It might be a sign. . .¡± The veteran soldiers who had followed Johan watched the fire in the enemy camp with happy expressions. The enemy¡¯s misfortune was the ally¡¯s fortune. However, the fire was just the beginning. Several lights flickered and wavered from behind the camp, and then a scream rang out. Even in the midst of the noisy surroundings, the sound could be heard clearly. It was the sound of battle. ¡°???¡± ¡°What is it?¡± The fire was one thing, but the fight was truly strange. There shouldn¡¯t be anyone else moving separately from those present, so who was fighting whom? Johan suddenly became anxious. ¡®???????????? ?????????? ????????. . . ???????? ????????¡¯?? ???? ?????? ???? ?????????? ??????, ?????? ?????????¡¯ Most of those who were now in charge of the left wing were from the north. Even the knights who were loyal to Johan would sometimes get hot-headed and disobey orders to charge on their own, and this was even more likely to happen if they were not close to Johan. If that were the case, Johan was determined to punish firmly. Unlike other ces, the northern empire was a ce where Johan did not need to be wary. Fortunately, it soon became clear that Johan¡¯s suspicions were wrong. ¡°They are fighting among themselves!¡± The centaurs who had approached stealthily returned and reported hurriedly. The other veteran soldiers did not believe the centaur¡¯s words. ¡°Did you see it wrong?¡± ¡°It might be a strange tactic from the East. . .¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how it works!¡± The fire in the enemy camp, the enemies fighting among themselves. . . The more experienced warriors were wary of things they had never experienced before. It could have been a sign of bad luck, especially since the darkness of a distantnd surrounded them on all sides. The deception must have been sessful, so it wouldn¡¯t be bad to return soon. ¡°Shall we go back?¡± ¡°No. We charge.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates were momentarily taken aback by his words, but they quickly grabbed their weapons and prepared to enter. At first nce, it seemed like madness to enter a camp where tens of thousands of people were gathered with only a few hundred soldiers. . . However, none of those present doubted the duke¡¯s judgment. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ???????????? ¡°We must never let those runaway tribesmen go. Stop them!¡± Surprisingly, the fires that broke out within the camp were caused by the friendly forces. The tribal chiefs and mercenary captains, who were dissatisfied with the battle and frightened, made a fuss to escape under the cover of darkness. Even so, how could those who had been assigned to the right wing, who had been judged to be loyal, do such a thing! ¡°Do you understand? We must never let them go. Even if we can¡¯t catch them all, we have to bring at least the ringleaders! Do you understand what I¡¯m saying!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The eunuch also had to get up in a hurry and call the other nobles to give orders. Usually, he would have treated the tribal chiefs and knights with respect, but not anymore. The eunuch shouted as he ran around. ¡°It¡¯s just a few hundred guys running away, and you¡¯re making such a. . .¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t move, I will tell the sultan about your ipetence!¡± ¡°. . .I understand.¡± It wasn¡¯t a matter of numbers. Even without that, the atmosphere was at its worst because the deceased duke hade up from hell to grab the demon by the neck, and if the desertion of the tribes or mercenaries was left alone, military discipline itself would be ruined. After all this, he had to strongly seize the atmosphere after hanging several people when it was light. At the very least, he had to do that much. . . ¡°Sir! It¡¯s a surprise attack! The enemy has invaded!¡± ¡°I heard you! Stop talking nonsense and calm down the confusion! How many mercenaries are running away right now, in this situation!¡± When a ve reported without being mindful, the eunuch became furious. With his experience on the battlefield, he naturally guessed that the other side was using deception. It was not umon for tricks to wear down nerves and cause confusion under the cover of darkness. Johan¡¯s actions right now were not like that. They would retreat on their own if left alone. Right now, Johan had to confirm those who were running away and firmly tie up those who were watching. ¡°B-But they really invaded the camp! It¡¯s not far from here! You should retreat further inside. . .¡± ¡°. . .???!¡± The eunuch¡¯s eyes widened. In the distance, a faint cheer in a westernnguage, like ¡®???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????¡¯, seemed to be heard. And in a slightly louder voice, these words were also heard. The duke is here! ¡°. . . . . .¡± The eunuch felt goosebumps. In fact, wasn¡¯t the torchlight and cheering outside a bluff? Was it meant to look like a bluff, but it was actually nned from the beginning? Thinking like that, his whole body began to tremble uncontrobly. If the tribes and mercenaries who were now defecting were part of the duke¡¯s n. . . ¡°The duke is over there!!!¡± ???????????? Johan¡¯s men, who had entered the camp and were trampling on everything they saw with their horseshoes and setting fires everywhere, had expressions of regret on their faces. ¡®???????? ????!¡¯ The pagans¡¯ camp had so many valuable things. The veteran soldiers¡¯ eyes almost popped out when they saw that the tents where the nobles and knights stayed were made of silk. What about the treasures inside? Of course, there were candlesticks, ornaments, and ritual implements made of gold and silver, as well as exotic spices and medicinal herbs that could only be found in the East. If they packed everything up and returned home, they would be able to live like kings for three generations. However, they couldn¡¯t do that. They shed tears and set fires. ¡°Sob!¡± How could they dare to go elsewhere when the duke was wielding his sword and throwing his spear in front, clearing the way? Their loyalty overcame their greed. ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????!¡¯ On a dark battlefield with tens of thousands of people, it was nearly impossible for a single person to grasp the overall situation. How many knights gave up, thinking they were losing even though they were winning? However, Johan¡¯s intuition was telling him strongly. He was definitely winning now. It seemed like madness to charge into a camp several dozen timesrger with only a few hundred men, but sometimes a single drop of water could cause an ocean to overflow. Johan knew from experience that a huge army could copse surprisingly easily, just as a tiny crack could bring down a huge wall. ¡°Find the expensive ones in case we have to retreat! I will give a separate reward to the one who finds the most expensive one!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After trampling, crushing, and throwing dozens of warriors who rushed out, there were no more enemies approaching. Johan ordered his men to find useful hostages. Even if they had to retreat, they would leave the hostages behind. ¡°Duke! Over there! That guy!¡± ¡°I saw him. Calm down!¡± ©¥??????????! Karamaf ran first like a whirlwind. Even in the darkness, the silk clothes that received the light of the torches shone brightly. Four guards drew their swords and tried to stab Karamaf, but two of them were shot with arrows and fell before that, and the other two were subdued by Karamaf. The eunuch trembled and shouted. ¡°I. . . I am a noble of the sultan. Don¡¯t kill me!¡± ¡°Why would we kill you! Come here!¡± One of the mercenaries happily put the eunuch on his back. He didn¡¯t know who he was, but he seemed expensive. ¡°Shall we retreat now?¡± ¡°No. It seems like there are still someing out. Let¡¯s stir things up more and then go.¡± ¡°Yes. I will follow you.¡± Originally, when the camp was stirred up with such a small number of people, the enemies who realized the situation would mobilize their forces to create an encirclement. However, there was only sporadic resistance here and there, and there was no sign of a proper encirclement. ¡®???????????? ????????¡¯???? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????????? ??????. . .?¡¯ Johan had a moment of suspicion, but soon changed his mind. Even if an encirclement waspleted, he was confident that he could escape. ???????????? When dawn broke and it was time for the sun to rise, Biorarn was the first to get out of bed. Biorarn finished washing with the cold water brought by the servant and stepped forward. Today, another fierce battle would continue like yesterday. It wasmon for a battle betweenrge armies tost for several days. Biorarn vowed to make a significant contribution today. ¡°I heard that the cavalry left the campst night. Was it to confuse the enemy?¡± ¡°Yes, Biorarn-nim.¡± ¡°I hope it worked!¡± Biorarn said so and got on his horse. He wanted to be the first to see the enemy with his own eyes. ¡°. . .???¡± In the distance, he could see people returning with very tired expressions. Anyone could tell that the one at the front was Duke Yeats, and the ones behind him were the duke¡¯s men. ¡°No. . . Your Highness? Did Your Highness go out?¡± Biorarn asked in disbelief. Duke himself was involved in such a deception. Johan nodded with a tired expression. ¡°Did the enemy perhaps chase after you?? If you had called me, I would have gone with you and fought!¡± ¡°There was no time for that.¡± ¡°Are there any enemies left there? I¡¯ll go and cut them down!¡± Biorarn, who had woken up after a good night¡¯s sleep, was full of energy, but Johan, who had been stirring up the enemy camp all night, was quite tired. No matter how much he was blessed and used spirits, the human body would get tired after swinging weapons and ughtering enemies for hours. ¡°There are no enemies chasing us.¡± ¡°Then. . . you¡¯re going to rest for a while and then go out again. Can I go with you then!¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t think that will happen.¡± ¡°?¡± Biorarn didn¡¯t understand Johan¡¯s words right away. Why did he refuse when he was going to fight today anyway? Perhaps he was talking like that because he didn¡¯t trust Biorarn¡¯s skills. Biorarn¡¯s face clouded over as he thought about it. ¡®?? ?????? ???? ????????. . .¡¯ In order to avoid suspicion, he lowered his stance and showed his enthusiasm despite his status, but when the duke refused, he felt wronged as a knight. Was it because of the assassination suspicion after all? ¡°Biorarn-nim.¡± A quick-witted mercenary behind carefully opened his mouth. The mercenary was from the northern part of the empire, so he knew who Biorarn was. ¡°That. . . there won¡¯t be anyone to fight over there even if you try to fight now.¡± ¡°. . .???¡± ???????????? The captured eunuch looked around with a nightmarish expression. The soldiers, who had been so numerous, were scattered and only traces remained. Some of them went to the friendly forces and joined them, but most of them seemed to have thrown away their weapons and fled outside the battlefield, and his head was spinning. The monotheists began to advance oppressively. The remaining ones hurriedly ran away at the sight of the huge mass approaching like a cloud. ¡°This. . . can this be brought down by one person?? How can it be done by human power?¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke didn¡¯t do it alone.¡± The servant next to him, who could speak the easternnguage, said in a bewildered voice, but the eunuch didn¡¯t hear him. He literally felt like the world had copsed when he woke up. ¡°Master. Yeheyman-nim will help you.¡± ¡°Yes, Yeheyman. . .¡± The eunuch, who was talking, stopped. Originally, he should have been reliable, but now his heart was strangely anxious. No matter how much he thought of Yeheyman¡¯s name, he couldn¡¯t feel at ease. One wing of the army was destroyed, so would it be okay? Of course, even with only the remaining soldiers, there were still more than the monotheists, and Yeheyman was an experiencedmander, but. . . Strangely, the eunuch couldn¡¯t imagine Yeheyman winning at all. Only an ominous future loomed., In the distance, a fire raged,rge enough to be seen from afar. It was clear that such a ze would not have been started within the camp without reason, and that an ident had urred. ¡°Who among us went inside and set the fire?¡± Upon hearing the centaurs¡¯ words, the ve soldiers beat their chests. If they had volunteered to go inside and then set the fire, they could have earned such a great honor. ¡°Master! If you give me just ten men, I will go into the other camp and set it. . .¡± ¡°No. There is no need.¡± Johan tly rejected the ve soldiers¡¯ enthusiastic volunteering. It was unexpected that arge fire had suddenly broken out in the enemy camp, but there was no need to change the original n because of it. The situation was not unfavorable, and the battle had been going well that day, so there was no reason for the ve soldiers to risk their lives to set a fire. ¡°Was it a mistake?¡± ¡°If it was a mistake, then it is good. We are having good luck.¡± ¡°It might be a sign. . .¡± The veteran soldiers who had followed Johan watched the fire in the enemy camp with happy expressions. The enemy¡¯s misfortune was the ally¡¯s fortune. However, the fire was just the beginning. Several lights flickered and wavered from behind the camp, and then a scream rang out. Even in the midst of the noisy surroundings, the sound could be heard clearly. It was the sound of battle. ¡°???¡± ¡°What is it?¡± The fire was one thing, but the fight was truly strange. There shouldn¡¯t be anyone else moving separately from those present, so who was fighting whom? Johan suddenly became anxious. ¡®???????????? ?????????? ????????. . . ???????? ????????¡¯?? ???? ?????? ???? ?????????? ??????, ?????? ?????????¡¯ Most of those who were now in charge of the left wing were from the north. Even the knights who were loyal to Johan would sometimes get hot-headed and disobey orders to charge on their own, and this was even more likely to happen if they were not close to Johan. If that were the case, Johan was determined to punish firmly. Unlike other ces, the northern empire was a ce where Johan did not need to be wary. Fortunately, it soon became clear that Johan¡¯s suspicions were wrong. ¡°They are fighting among themselves!¡± The centaurs who had approached stealthily returned and reported hurriedly. The other veteran soldiers did not believe the centaur¡¯s words. ¡°Did you see it wrong?¡± ¡°It might be a strange tactic from the East. . .¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how it works!¡± The fire in the enemy camp, the enemies fighting among themselves. . . The more experienced warriors were wary of things they had never experienced before. It could have been a sign of bad luck, especially since the darkness of a distantnd surrounded them on all sides. The deception must have been sessful, so it wouldn¡¯t be bad to return soon. ¡°Shall we go back?¡± ¡°No. We charge.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates were momentarily taken aback by his words, but they quickly grabbed their weapons and prepared to enter. At first nce, it seemed like madness to enter a camp where tens of thousands of people were gathered with only a few hundred soldiers. . . However, none of those present doubted the duke¡¯s judgment. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ???????????? ¡°We must never let those runaway tribesmen go. Stop them!¡± Surprisingly, the fires that broke out within the camp were caused by the friendly forces. The tribal chiefs and mercenary captains, who were dissatisfied with the battle and frightened, made a fuss to escape under the cover of darkness. Even so, how could those who had been assigned to the right wing, who had been judged to be loyal, do such a thing! ¡°Do you understand? We must never let them go. Even if we can¡¯t catch them all, we have to bring at least the ringleaders! Do you understand what I¡¯m saying!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The eunuch also had to get up in a hurry and call the other nobles to give orders. Usually, he would have treated the tribal chiefs and knights with respect, but not anymore. The eunuch shouted as he ran around. ¡°It¡¯s just a few hundred guys running away, and you¡¯re making such a. . .¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t move, I will tell the sultan about your ipetence!¡± ¡°. . .I understand.¡± It wasn¡¯t a matter of numbers. Even without that, the atmosphere was at its worst because the deceased duke hade up from hell to grab the demon by the neck, and if the desertion of the tribes or mercenaries was left alone, military discipline itself would be ruined. After all this, he had to strongly seize the atmosphere after hanging several people when it was light. At the very least, he had to do that much. . . ¡°Sir! It¡¯s a surprise attack! The enemy has invaded!¡± ¡°I heard you! Stop talking nonsense and calm down the confusion! How many mercenaries are running away right now, in this situation!¡± When a ve reported without being mindful, the eunuch became furious. With his experience on the battlefield, he naturally guessed that the other side was using deception. It was not umon for tricks to wear down nerves and cause confusion under the cover of darkness. Johan¡¯s actions right now were not like that. They would retreat on their own if left alone. Right now, Johan had to confirm those who were running away and firmly tie up those who were watching. ¡°B-But they really invaded the camp! It¡¯s not far from here! You should retreat further inside. . .¡± ¡°. . .???!¡± The eunuch¡¯s eyes widened. In the distance, a faint cheer in a westernnguage, like ¡®???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????¡¯, seemed to be heard. And in a slightly louder voice, these words were also heard. The duke is here! ¡°. . . . . .¡± The eunuch felt goosebumps. In fact, wasn¡¯t the torchlight and cheering outside a bluff? Was it meant to look like a bluff, but it was actually nned from the beginning? Thinking like that, his whole body began to tremble uncontrobly. If the tribes and mercenaries who were now defecting were part of the duke¡¯s n. . . ¡°The duke is over there!!!¡± ???????????? Johan¡¯s men, who had entered the camp and were trampling on everything they saw with their horseshoes and setting fires everywhere, had expressions of regret on their faces. ¡®???????? ????!¡¯ The pagans¡¯ camp had so many valuable things. The veteran soldiers¡¯ eyes almost popped out when they saw that the tents where the nobles and knights stayed were made of silk. What about the treasures inside? Of course, there were candlesticks, ornaments, and ritual implements made of gold and silver, as well as exotic spices and medicinal herbs that could only be found in the East. If they packed everything up and returned home, they would be able to live like kings for three generations. However, they couldn¡¯t do that. They shed tears and set fires. ¡°Sob!¡± How could they dare to go elsewhere when the duke was wielding his sword and throwing his spear in front, clearing the way? Their loyalty overcame their greed. ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????!¡¯ On a dark battlefield with tens of thousands of people, it was nearly impossible for a single person to grasp the overall situation. How many knights gave up, thinking they were losing even though they were winning? However, Johan¡¯s intuition was telling him strongly. He was definitely winning now. It seemed like madness to charge into a camp several dozen timesrger with only a few hundred men, but sometimes a single drop of water could cause an ocean to overflow. Johan knew from experience that a huge army could copse surprisingly easily, just as a tiny crack could bring down a huge wall. ¡°Find the expensive ones in case we have to retreat! I will give a separate reward to the one who finds the most expensive one!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After trampling, crushing, and throwing dozens of warriors who rushed out, there were no more enemies approaching. Johan ordered his men to find useful hostages. Even if they had to retreat, they would leave the hostages behind. ¡°Duke! Over there! That guy!¡± ¡°I saw him. Calm down!¡± ©¥??????????! Karamaf ran first like a whirlwind. Even in the darkness, the silk clothes that received the light of the torches shone brightly. Four guards drew their swords and tried to stab Karamaf, but two of them were shot with arrows and fell before that, and the other two were subdued by Karamaf. The eunuch trembled and shouted. ¡°I. . . I am a noble of the sultan. Don¡¯t kill me!¡± ¡°Why would we kill you! Come here!¡± One of the mercenaries happily put the eunuch on his back. He didn¡¯t know who he was, but he seemed expensive. ¡°Shall we retreat now?¡± ¡°No. It seems like there are still someing out. Let¡¯s stir things up more and then go.¡± ¡°Yes. I will follow you.¡± Originally, when the camp was stirred up with such a small number of people, the enemies who realized the situation would mobilize their forces to create an encirclement. However, there was only sporadic resistance here and there, and there was no sign of a proper encirclement. ¡®???????????? ????????¡¯???? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????????? ??????. . .?¡¯ Johan had a moment of suspicion, but soon changed his mind. Even if an encirclement waspleted, he was confident that he could escape. ???????????? When dawn broke and it was time for the sun to rise, Biorarn was the first to get out of bed. Biorarn finished washing with the cold water brought by the servant and stepped forward. Today, another fierce battle would continue like yesterday. It wasmon for a battle betweenrge armies tost for several days. Biorarn vowed to make a significant contribution today. ¡°I heard that the cavalry left the campst night. Was it to confuse the enemy?¡± ¡°Yes, Biorarn-nim.¡± ¡°I hope it worked!¡± Biorarn said so and got on his horse. He wanted to be the first to see the enemy with his own eyes. ¡°. . .???¡± In the distance, he could see people returning with very tired expressions. Anyone could tell that the one at the front was Duke Yeats, and the ones behind him were the duke¡¯s men. ¡°No. . . Your Highness? Did Your Highness go out?¡± Biorarn asked in disbelief. Duke himself was involved in such a deception. Johan nodded with a tired expression. ¡°Did the enemy perhaps chase after you?? If you had called me, I would have gone with you and fought!¡± ¡°There was no time for that.¡± ¡°Are there any enemies left there? I¡¯ll go and cut them down!¡± Biorarn, who had woken up after a good night¡¯s sleep, was full of energy, but Johan, who had been stirring up the enemy camp all night, was quite tired. No matter how much he was blessed and used spirits, the human body would get tired after swinging weapons and ughtering enemies for hours. ¡°There are no enemies chasing us.¡± ¡°Then. . . you¡¯re going to rest for a while and then go out again. Can I go with you then!¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t think that will happen.¡± ¡°?¡± Biorarn didn¡¯t understand Johan¡¯s words right away. Why did he refuse when he was going to fight today anyway? Perhaps he was talking like that because he didn¡¯t trust Biorarn¡¯s skills. Biorarn¡¯s face clouded over as he thought about it. ¡®?? ?????? ???? ????????. . .¡¯ In order to avoid suspicion, he lowered his stance and showed his enthusiasm despite his status, but when the duke refused, he felt wronged as a knight. Was it because of the assassination suspicion after all? ¡°Biorarn-nim.¡± A quick-witted mercenary behind carefully opened his mouth. The mercenary was from the northern part of the empire, so he knew who Biorarn was. ¡°That. . . there won¡¯t be anyone to fight over there even if you try to fight now.¡± ¡°. . .???¡± ???????????? The captured eunuch looked around with a nightmarish expression. The soldiers, who had been so numerous, were scattered and only traces remained. Some of them went to the friendly forces and joined them, but most of them seemed to have thrown away their weapons and fled outside the battlefield, and his head was spinning. The monotheists began to advance oppressively. The remaining ones hurriedly ran away at the sight of the huge mass approaching like a cloud. ¡°This. . . can this be brought down by one person?? How can it be done by human power?¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke didn¡¯t do it alone.¡± The servant next to him, who could speak the easternnguage, said in a bewildered voice, but the eunuch didn¡¯t hear him. He literally felt like the world had copsed when he woke up. ¡°Master. Yeheyman-nim will help you.¡± ¡°Yes, Yeheyman. . .¡± The eunuch, who was talking, stopped. Originally, he should have been reliable, but now his heart was strangely anxious. No matter how much he thought of Yeheyman¡¯s name, he couldn¡¯t feel at ease. One wing of the army was destroyed, so would it be okay? Of course, even with only the remaining soldiers, there were still more than the monotheists, and Yeheyman was an experiencedmander, but. . . Strangely, the eunuch couldn¡¯t imagine Yeheyman winning at all. Only an ominous future loomed. Chapter 323: ???????????????????????? ?????????? (11) Then, the eunuch¡¯s anxiety was quickly realized. The expedition that was on the rise began a full-scale counterattack. ???????????? ¡°Raise this g.¡± ¡°U-Ulrike-nim. Is it okay to do this?¡± The knights under Ulrike, who was in charge of the right nk, were astonished to see her casually raising Duke Yeats¡¯ g. The g of a noble was an object that symbolized their honor. Since many nobles valued honor more than their lives, it was not something that could be handled recklessly. There was even a war over which noble¡¯s g to raise first when a castle was captured. It was an object with that much weight. And yet, she was trying to steal it and raise it at her own will. . . It was a dangerous thing to do, even if she was close to the duke.¡°. . .Sir, do you think I stole this?¡± Ulrike said as if she couldn¡¯t believe it. The knight realized his mistake from Ulrike¡¯s attitude. ¡°I apologize!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Raise the gs without missing a single spot. Make the enemies panic and confuse them.¡± Apparently, not only the knight, but all the other knights thought that Ulrike had brought it on her own ord. Ulrike suddenly began to reflect on herself. She wasn¡¯t ashamed of her scheming and tricks, but if her subordinate knights were taking it that way. . . ¡®. . .?????? ???????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ??????, ???????? ?????¡¯ Bute to think of it, the duke was someone who loved tricks more than she did. Ulrike regained herposure. ¡°Send the signal to advance! Crush the enemies when they¡¯re shaken!¡± ¡°Ulrike-gong. The tribal chiefs have sent a letter of surrender.¡± ¡°They¡¯re quick to catch on. Hurry up and tell them to leave their position and run away!¡± Just because there were tens of thousands of them didn¡¯t mean that they all moved in unison. As one side shook and copsed, the other sides shook violently as well. Since they had made contact in order to betray each other from the beginning, they turned their backs quickly. ¡°A miracle! God is showing us a miracle!¡± The mounted order knights and priests rode quickly in front of the army and shouted in excited voices. Ulrike smirked at the sight. The numerous groups of enemies gathered far away were scattering one by one like a mirage. Anyone who didn¡¯t know the circumstances would naturally feel like it was a miracle. ¡®????. . . ???? ???? ???????????? ?? ???????????????¡¯ When she was young, she had heard a sermon from a priest that had such content. He meant that it came down not only in a direct way that could be seen with the eyes, but also in a metaphorical and roundabout way. At that time, she was heavily influenced by Countess Abner and thought, ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????????¡¯, but now that she looked back, she thought that there might be some truth to those words. Otherwise, how could an enemy force several timesrger than them copse without even crossing swords once? The sound of people sobbing with emotion spread throughout the army. It was a collective madness that came from witnessing a miracle. Ulrike waited with a bored expression, and was startled to see her subordinate knights trembling as well. ¡°. . . . . .¡± If she made a fuss here, the knights would be angry, no matter how high her position was. Ulrike waited patiently for this moment to end. ???????????? ¡°No. . .¡± After taking a break, Johan looked at the remaining enemies in the center retreating and felt disappointed. Suetlg handed him a potion he had personally prepared and said, ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. Did you think the remaining enemies wouldn¡¯t run away?¡± ¡°I heard a lot that the enemymander was fierce and valiant, so I thought I¡¯d try it out once.¡± Johan had also heard rumors of Yeheyman here and there. As a paganmander, he hadnded like a surprise attack and conquered the Holy Land, so it was impossible for rumors not to spread even if he didn¡¯t want them to. Although the left and right wings were broken, there were still close to ten thousand troops left in the center, so he thought that the enemy might not give up and charge at them. And he wanted that. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ Contrary to the rumors, the opponent seemed to be unexpectedly patient and persevering. Maybe the rumors were wrong. ¡°Did you do as I told you?¡± ¡°Duh. Whose orders do you think I would treat carelessly?¡± In the current situation, the best oue was to annihte the enemy¡¯srge army here, and the worst oue was for the survivors to flee back to the Holy Land and barricade themselves in. If the remaining soldiers, who were still numerous, held out against the walls, it would be a pain in the neck for this side as well. Even if he couldn¡¯t annihte them, he had to prevent them from going towards the Holy Land. ¡®???? ???????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ ???????????? There was a reason for Yeheyman¡¯s patience, which surprised Johan. Just as there was a rebellion on the left and right, there was also a rebellion in the center. Of course, to be precise, the nature was slightly different. If the rebellions on the other sides were literally betrayals, the rebellion in the center was a power struggle among themselves. ¡°Eup eup eup!¡± ¡°Forgive me, Yeheyman-gong.¡± The eunuchs who remained in the center tied up Yeheyman tightly and locked him inside. Just in case, they took off all of Yeheyman¡¯s clothes, starting with the weapons he had. They didn¡¯t know what he might do if he was hiding something with magical powers inside. They were as meticulous and thorough as those who had spent a long time in the Sultan¡¯s court. The problem was that they were doing this to their own allies. ¡°(I¡¯ll kill you!)¡± Yeheyman screamed with bloodshot eyes, but no sound came out because of the gag. He was so angry that he forgot that he was someone sent by the Sultan and tried to kill him. ¡°Yeheyman-gong is also at fault.¡± ¡°Shhh. That¡¯s enough. How can you make things worse by provoking him more?¡± The reason for their quarrel was simple. Yeheyman insisted on fighting, and the eunuchs insisted on retreating. For Yeheyman, who had already been defeated by Johan once, retreating again was a humiliation worse than death. Considering that he had taken several times the number of troops and lost more than half of them, it was clear that he would have to yield all authority to Suhekhar if he returned. Then, he wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything until the Sultan arrived, and even after he arrived. In that case, it was better to die honorably on the battlefield. Of course, the eunuchs didn¡¯t understand the heart of such a knight at all. They just wanted to live happily in the Sultan¡¯s court for a long time. ©¥???? ???????? ???? ??????????????! ???????????????? ?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ????. ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ????????. ??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ?? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ????????! ©¥?? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ??????????????. ?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? ????????????, ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???? ????????????! ©¥. . . . . . ©¥. . . . . . ©¥????????. ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????. ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ????????, ??¡¯???? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ??????. ©¥. . .?????????? ?????? ??????! ?? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????. ©¥???????? ?? ????????????. ????????. ?????? ???????? ??????????????, ???? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????????????. ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ??????¡¯???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ????? And when he got up after drinking tea, Yeheyman was tied up and locked up. He had no idea where his escorts and ves had gone. The eunuchs had put drugs in the tea. Yeheyman gritted his teeth at the eunuchs¡¯ cunningness. He should never have let his guard down. ¡°Is he still lying down?¡± ¡°Yes. He hasn¡¯t regained consciousness yet, so no one is allowed to approach him!¡± The knights cast suspicious and worried nces, but they didn¡¯t dare to argue with the eunuchs. The Sultan¡¯s authority was behind them. In the end, the eunuchs seeded in gaining control by lying that Yeheyman had copsed. The problem was that this so-calledmand was not very useful now. Who would want to take on the role ofmanding the defeated soldiers while fierce enemies were chasing after them? ¡°Let¡¯s quickly ride southeast and enter the Holy Land.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more dangerous because there are so many of them.¡± ¡°Of course we have to split up.¡± The eunuchs were clever and knew the basics of tactics. However, they tried to use their abilities for their own safety. Even if they were defeated soldiers, splitting them up when their numbers were close to ten thousand would only make them good prey for the enemy. However, it was rather good in the current situation. The enemies wouldn¡¯t chase the ones they could clearly see right in front of them, but the ones that were hard to catch far away. Fortunately, this conversation took ce in a ce where Yeheyman couldn¡¯t hear it. If Yeheyman had heard this as well, he might have really stopped his heart from anger. ¡°. . .!¡± ¡°A duke¡¯s g in the vige. . .?!¡± The eunuchs, who had just ordered their men to split up and chase after them, were shocked by the news reported by the scout as they were about to escape on fast horses. ¡°Maybe only one vige was captured. We can go back! Have you checked the other ces properly?¡± ¡°T-That. . . Actually. . . A pursuit force sent by the duke appeared on the hill, so we couldn¡¯t search any further. The number is considerable. . .¡± ¡°!!!¡± The eunuchs felt their hearts sink. The enemies who were supposed to be behind them were already appearing in front of them? ¡°Isn¡¯t something strange? They¡¯re human too, so how can they be this fast?¡± ¡°No! It¡¯s possible. They might have pulled out some troops while fighting and set up an ambush.¡± ¡°But. . .¡± ¡°Be quiet! If the ambush is real, can you take responsibility with your life?!¡± The eunuchs snapped at the knight who had spoken up. The knight was so shocked that he lowered his head. Neither the eunuchs nor Yeheyman werecking in ability, but the difference was clear in this aspect. Yeheyman could risk his own life, but the eunuchs thought of their own lives unconditionally first. If they had thought a little more carefully and checked, they would have been able to find out how many people there were. . . ¡°Let¡¯s change direction.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°Southwest! Let¡¯s go to Aniza City.¡± Aniza City, located much further south than here, was a port city on the coast. They had yed a part when the Sultan¡¯s armynded, so they were capable, and they could also borrow the power of Viceroy Manansir, the cause of this incident who had formed a marriage alliance with the Sultan. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. It will be easier to escape if something happens, and the enemies won¡¯t chase us this deep, right!¡± ¡°However. . . The people of Aniza City won¡¯t allow an army to enter.¡± Everywhere they went, the people of the city hated the nobles leading the army. They shouldn¡¯t be mistaken for helping the Sultan¡¯s armynd. ¡°We can just leave the army outside and go in.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hurry! We don¡¯t know when the enemy will chase after us!¡± ¡°Ah, no. . .¡± The knight couldn¡¯t continue speaking in his haste. No matter how much Yeheyman had copsed, wasn¡¯t this too much? It was one thing to split up the troops and move first, but it was another thing to be so careless. It seemed as if he didn¡¯t care how many soldiers were scattered as long as he could save his own life. ¡®????????. ???????? ????, ???????? ????????????????-?????? ?????????? ????, ????¡¯???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ????????????????.¡¯ ???????????? ¡°You¡¯re really saying they didn¡¯t go towards the Holy Land?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy, but. . . I¡¯m a little flustered.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they terrified of Your Highness¡¯s prestige! Yeheyman¡¯s reputation turned out to be nothing but a bubble!¡± Biorarn shouted roughly. He was slightly exhausted from the continuous pursuit, but his expression was brighter than anyone else¡¯s. It wasn¡¯t just Biorarn. The knights who were part of the expedition were in a state of excitement for several days and nights. The joy of the unbelievable great victory was one reason, but the enemy prisoners who kept getting caught were another reason. Like fish taking the bait as soon as the fishing line was cast, there were now many groups of defeated soldiers scattering like rabbits around this area. For the poor knights or mercenaries who had participated with only their bodies, this was a reward given by God. They were enthusiastically capturing prisoners as they came across them. ¡°Now that they¡¯re scattered like this, the enemymander won¡¯t be able to lead many of them! There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of anymore!¡± ¡°I see. Biorarn-gong. Thanks to your efforts, the enemies couldn¡¯t escape.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°I heard earlier that there was a trace of a camp on the western hill. The enemies seem to be quite strong, so a reliable knight. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± ¡°Oh. Would you do that!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Johan sent Biorarn away easily. Suetlg was impressed. If he had left it alone, he would have been bothered by all sorts of offers to apany him, but he had made the first move. ¡°You handle them well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that hard. I got used to it because of Iselia. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Iselia, who had been listening quietly, suddenly realized something strange and looked at Johan., Then, the eunuch¡¯s anxiety was quickly realized. The expedition that was on the rise began a full-scale counterattack. ???????????? ¡°Raise this g.¡± ¡°U-Ulrike-nim. Is it okay to do this?¡± The knights under Ulrike, who was in charge of the right nk, were astonished to see her casually raising Duke Yeats¡¯ g. The g of a noble was an object that symbolized their honor. Since many nobles valued honor more than their lives, it was not something that could be handled recklessly. There was even a war over which noble¡¯s g to raise first when a castle was captured. It was an object with that much weight. And yet, she was trying to steal it and raise it at her own will. . . It was a dangerous thing to do, even if she was close to the duke. ¡°. . .Sir, do you think I stole this?¡± Ulrike said as if she couldn¡¯t believe it. The knight realized his mistake from Ulrike¡¯s attitude. ¡°I apologize!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Raise the gs without missing a single spot. Make the enemies panic and confuse them.¡± Apparently, not only the knight, but all the other knights thought that Ulrike had brought it on her own ord. Ulrike suddenly began to reflect on herself. She wasn¡¯t ashamed of her scheming and tricks, but if her subordinate knights were taking it that way. . . ¡®. . .?????? ???????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ??????, ???????? ?????¡¯ Bute to think of it, the duke was someone who loved tricks more than she did. Ulrike regained herposure. ¡°Send the signal to advance! Crush the enemies when they¡¯re shaken!¡± ¡°Ulrike-gong. The tribal chiefs have sent a letter of surrender.¡± ¡°They¡¯re quick to catch on. Hurry up and tell them to leave their position and run away!¡± Just because there were tens of thousands of them didn¡¯t mean that they all moved in unison. As one side shook and copsed, the other sides shook violently as well. Since they had made contact in order to betray each other from the beginning, they turned their backs quickly. ¡°A miracle! God is showing us a miracle!¡± The mounted order knights and priests rode quickly in front of the army and shouted in excited voices. Ulrike smirked at the sight. The numerous groups of enemies gathered far away were scattering one by one like a mirage. Anyone who didn¡¯t know the circumstances would naturally feel like it was a miracle. ¡®????. . . ???? ???? ???????????? ?? ???????????????¡¯ When she was young, she had heard a sermon from a priest that had such content. He meant that it came down not only in a direct way that could be seen with the eyes, but also in a metaphorical and roundabout way. At that time, she was heavily influenced by Countess Abner and thought, ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????????¡¯, but now that she looked back, she thought that there might be some truth to those words. Otherwise, how could an enemy force several timesrger than them copse without even crossing swords once? The sound of people sobbing with emotion spread throughout the army. It was a collective madness that came from witnessing a miracle. Ulrike waited with a bored expression, and was startled to see her subordinate knights trembling as well. ¡°. . . . . .¡± If she made a fuss here, the knights would be angry, no matter how high her position was. Ulrike waited patiently for this moment to end. ???????????? ¡°No. . .¡± After taking a break, Johan looked at the remaining enemies in the center retreating and felt disappointed. Suetlg handed him a potion he had personally prepared and said, ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. Did you think the remaining enemies wouldn¡¯t run away?¡± ¡°I heard a lot that the enemymander was fierce and valiant, so I thought I¡¯d try it out once.¡± Johan had also heard rumors of Yeheyman here and there. As a paganmander, he hadnded like a surprise attack and conquered the Holy Land, so it was impossible for rumors not to spread even if he didn¡¯t want them to. Although the left and right wings were broken, there were still close to ten thousand troops left in the center, so he thought that the enemy might not give up and charge at them. And he wanted that. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ Contrary to the rumors, the opponent seemed to be unexpectedly patient and persevering. Maybe the rumors were wrong. ¡°Did you do as I told you?¡± ¡°Duh. Whose orders do you think I would treat carelessly?¡± In the current situation, the best oue was to annihte the enemy¡¯srge army here, and the worst oue was for the survivors to flee back to the Holy Land and barricade themselves in. If the remaining soldiers, who were still numerous, held out against the walls, it would be a pain in the neck for this side as well. Even if he couldn¡¯t annihte them, he had to prevent them from going towards the Holy Land. ¡®???? ???????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ ???????????? There was a reason for Yeheyman¡¯s patience, which surprised Johan. Just as there was a rebellion on the left and right, there was also a rebellion in the center. Of course, to be precise, the nature was slightly different. If the rebellions on the other sides were literally betrayals, the rebellion in the center was a power struggle among themselves. ¡°Eup eup eup!¡± ¡°Forgive me, Yeheyman-gong.¡± The eunuchs who remained in the center tied up Yeheyman tightly and locked him inside. Just in case, they took off all of Yeheyman¡¯s clothes, starting with the weapons he had. They didn¡¯t know what he might do if he was hiding something with magical powers inside. They were as meticulous and thorough as those who had spent a long time in the Sultan¡¯s court. The problem was that they were doing this to their own allies. ¡°(I¡¯ll kill you!)¡± Yeheyman screamed with bloodshot eyes, but no sound came out because of the gag. He was so angry that he forgot that he was someone sent by the Sultan and tried to kill him. ¡°Yeheyman-gong is also at fault.¡± ¡°Shhh. That¡¯s enough. How can you make things worse by provoking him more?¡± The reason for their quarrel was simple. Yeheyman insisted on fighting, and the eunuchs insisted on retreating. For Yeheyman, who had already been defeated by Johan once, retreating again was a humiliation worse than death. Considering that he had taken several times the number of troops and lost more than half of them, it was clear that he would have to yield all authority to Suhekhar if he returned. Then, he wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything until the Sultan arrived, and even after he arrived. In that case, it was better to die honorably on the battlefield. Of course, the eunuchs didn¡¯t understand the heart of such a knight at all. They just wanted to live happily in the Sultan¡¯s court for a long time. ©¥???? ???????? ???? ??????????????! ???????????????? ?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ????. ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ????????. ??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ?? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ????????! ©¥?? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ??????????????. ?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? ????????????, ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???? ????????????! ©¥. . . . . . ©¥. . . . . . ©¥????????. ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????. ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ????????, ??¡¯???? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ??????. ©¥. . .?????????? ?????? ??????! ?? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????. ©¥???????? ?? ????????????. ????????. ?????? ???????? ??????????????, ???? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????????????. ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ??????¡¯???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ????? And when he got up after drinking tea, Yeheyman was tied up and locked up. He had no idea where his escorts and ves had gone. The eunuchs had put drugs in the tea. Yeheyman gritted his teeth at the eunuchs¡¯ cunningness. He should never have let his guard down. ¡°Is he still lying down?¡± ¡°Yes. He hasn¡¯t regained consciousness yet, so no one is allowed to approach him!¡± The knights cast suspicious and worried nces, but they didn¡¯t dare to argue with the eunuchs. The Sultan¡¯s authority was behind them. In the end, the eunuchs seeded in gaining control by lying that Yeheyman had copsed. The problem was that this so-calledmand was not very useful now. Who would want to take on the role ofmanding the defeated soldiers while fierce enemies were chasing after them? ¡°Let¡¯s quickly ride southeast and enter the Holy Land.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more dangerous because there are so many of them.¡± ¡°Of course we have to split up.¡± The eunuchs were clever and knew the basics of tactics. However, they tried to use their abilities for their own safety. Even if they were defeated soldiers, splitting them up when their numbers were close to ten thousand would only make them good prey for the enemy. However, it was rather good in the current situation. The enemies wouldn¡¯t chase the ones they could clearly see right in front of them, but the ones that were hard to catch far away. Fortunately, this conversation took ce in a ce where Yeheyman couldn¡¯t hear it. If Yeheyman had heard this as well, he might have really stopped his heart from anger. ¡°. . .!¡± ¡°A duke¡¯s g in the vige. . .?!¡± The eunuchs, who had just ordered their men to split up and chase after them, were shocked by the news reported by the scout as they were about to escape on fast horses. ¡°Maybe only one vige was captured. We can go back! Have you checked the other ces properly?¡± ¡°T-That. . . Actually. . . A pursuit force sent by the duke appeared on the hill, so we couldn¡¯t search any further. The number is considerable. . .¡± ¡°!!!¡± The eunuchs felt their hearts sink. The enemies who were supposed to be behind them were already appearing in front of them? ¡°Isn¡¯t something strange? They¡¯re human too, so how can they be this fast?¡± ¡°No! It¡¯s possible. They might have pulled out some troops while fighting and set up an ambush.¡± ¡°But. . .¡± ¡°Be quiet! If the ambush is real, can you take responsibility with your life?!¡± The eunuchs snapped at the knight who had spoken up. The knight was so shocked that he lowered his head. Neither the eunuchs nor Yeheyman werecking in ability, but the difference was clear in this aspect. Yeheyman could risk his own life, but the eunuchs thought of their own lives unconditionally first. If they had thought a little more carefully and checked, they would have been able to find out how many people there were. . . ¡°Let¡¯s change direction.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°Southwest! Let¡¯s go to Aniza City.¡± Aniza City, located much further south than here, was a port city on the coast. They had yed a part when the Sultan¡¯s armynded, so they were capable, and they could also borrow the power of Viceroy Manansir, the cause of this incident who had formed a marriage alliance with the Sultan. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. It will be easier to escape if something happens, and the enemies won¡¯t chase us this deep, right!¡± ¡°However. . . The people of Aniza City won¡¯t allow an army to enter.¡± Everywhere they went, the people of the city hated the nobles leading the army. They shouldn¡¯t be mistaken for helping the Sultan¡¯s armynd. ¡°We can just leave the army outside and go in.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hurry! We don¡¯t know when the enemy will chase after us!¡± ¡°Ah, no. . .¡± The knight couldn¡¯t continue speaking in his haste. No matter how much Yeheyman had copsed, wasn¡¯t this too much? It was one thing to split up the troops and move first, but it was another thing to be so careless. It seemed as if he didn¡¯t care how many soldiers were scattered as long as he could save his own life. ¡®????????. ???????? ????, ???????? ????????????????-?????? ?????????? ????, ????¡¯???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ????????????????.¡¯ ???????????? ¡°You¡¯re really saying they didn¡¯t go towards the Holy Land?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy, but. . . I¡¯m a little flustered.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they terrified of Your Highness¡¯s prestige! Yeheyman¡¯s reputation turned out to be nothing but a bubble!¡± Biorarn shouted roughly. He was slightly exhausted from the continuous pursuit, but his expression was brighter than anyone else¡¯s. It wasn¡¯t just Biorarn. The knights who were part of the expedition were in a state of excitement for several days and nights. The joy of the unbelievable great victory was one reason, but the enemy prisoners who kept getting caught were another reason. Like fish taking the bait as soon as the fishing line was cast, there were now many groups of defeated soldiers scattering like rabbits around this area. For the poor knights or mercenaries who had participated with only their bodies, this was a reward given by God. They were enthusiastically capturing prisoners as they came across them. ¡°Now that they¡¯re scattered like this, the enemymander won¡¯t be able to lead many of them! There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of anymore!¡± ¡°I see. Biorarn-gong. Thanks to your efforts, the enemies couldn¡¯t escape.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°I heard earlier that there was a trace of a camp on the western hill. The enemies seem to be quite strong, so a reliable knight. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± ¡°Oh. Would you do that!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Johan sent Biorarn away easily. Suetlg was impressed. If he had left it alone, he would have been bothered by all sorts of offers to apany him, but he had made the first move. ¡°You handle them well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that hard. I got used to it because of Iselia. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Iselia, who had been listening quietly, suddenly realized something strange and looked at Johan. Chapter 324: ???? ?????? ???????? (1) Johan changed the subject just before Iselia noticed the abnormality and asked. ¡°It¡¯s good that their numerous enemies are scattered, but wouldn¡¯t that mean we won¡¯t be able to catch the really important people?¡± ¡°That is true.¡± It was a hard situation to chase after important people because there were too many of the remaining defeated soldiers scattered around. Although the knights were satisfied as long as they were able to capture those with some wealth regardless of who they were, Johan wanted to capture themander if possible. Although there wasn¡¯t much of a need to worry about the individual lower aristocrats causing conspiracies, the enemymander was a different story. There was no knowing what he might try if he was left alone. In addition, he felt a sense of unease from the fact that they tried to escape so desperately to this extent. Could it be that there was a hidden n? There was no reason why they would abandon such arge army and run away if that wasn¡¯t the case. Anypetentmander would have tried to retreat in an orderly manner even if he had to step back.¡°Aren¡¯t you being a bit too sensitive?¡± ¡°I also think it¡¯s like that, but. . .¡± Suetlg and Caenerna cautiously opened their mouths. Although they might be arrogant, this victory was a truly great one. It was a decisive victory that annihted the fighting strength of the Sultan¡¯s army that hadnded. Even if there was a greatmander, it would not be easy to recover from this defeat. It would take years just to gather the scattered forces. ¡°He could bring more tribes from the south, or call for reinforcements from the sea.¡± ¡°That¡¯s. . . but. . .¡± It was a slim possibility, but it was possible. Caenerna did not think that even the enemymander, no matter how great he was, would be able to persuade the tribes in the south to provide support after suffering such a defeat. The lords in this vicinity all had eyes and ears. . . ¡®??????????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ????¡¯?? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Caenerna thought as she stared fixedly at Johan. Her standards for the impossible had been lowered quite a bit after following the Duke around and gaining experience. It was not a bad idea to be prepared just in case. ¡°What then? What are we going to do?¡± ¡°As nned, we will send forces to the Holy Land to begin the siege, and chase after the enemies with the elites. Whatever they¡¯re nning, they won¡¯t be able to do anything if we capture them.¡± Their top priority right now was recovering the Holy Land. They could not tell the pilgrims gathered here to ¡®?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ??????????¡¯. In any case, the number of soldiers remaining in the Holy Land would only be a handful, so Johan himself did not need to go. Since a siege was something that took up quite a bit of time, it was not a bad idea to move while preparing for the siege in advance. ¡°However, it seems like the cities on the southern coast will be unnecessarily vignt. . .¡± ¡°Let¡¯s utilize the feudal lords here. They won¡¯t dare refuse the Duke¡¯s proposal.¡± The monotheist feudal lords who had deep roots established here were somewhat familiar with the cities further south. They were not close enough to send messengers, but they were at least familiar. Of course, the magistrates or the city nobles who ruled the city might make annoying requests, but that was something the feudal lords had to figure out. Because the Duke was the victor. The Duke who led his army and swept away the enemies while the monotheist feudal lords cowered within their castles and sent a few soldiers or some silver coins. Even the feudal lords had probably not expected the Duke to achieve such a great victory. ¡°No. . . isn¡¯t that a bit much? It¡¯ll be annoying if they end up harboring grudges for no reason.¡± ¡°Why are you worrying about something like that?!¡± ¡°You should at least do that much!¡± Suetlg and Caenerna who were listening from the side shouted at once in disbelief. They couldn¡¯t believe that he was still being considerate of the feudal lords after literally crushing the enemy¡¯srge army. How could he be so cautious, even if he was being prudent? If it was the Emperor, he would have said ¡®???????????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????! ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ????????. ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ????????????????!¡¯ It was a victory that allowed for such arrogance. ¡°. . .You¡¯re being too careful, but I think it¡¯s fine for you to ask for it this time. The feudal lords may harbor grudges in their hearts, but there will definitely be no one who will show it on the surface.¡± Even Valeon, the son of the old king, had stepped up. Originally, there was no reason for him to step up since he was basically brought here against his will, but he ended up speaking because he felt stifled. As Valeon was a knight and led his soldiers into battle, he was fully aware of how great his performance on this battlefield was. None of the knights in his fiefdom had ever shown a performance like the Duke¡¯s. It was not limited to just battle. Everything from gathering soldiers before the battle, creating rifts in the enemy, leading them to an advantageous battlefield, and finishing them off seemed like one perfect calction. Of course, the truth was a bit different, but it was easy to make such a mistake when looking from the outside. Although Valeon himself did not admit it, Valeon was now firmly captivated by the oue of the battle. It was because he was taking Johan¡¯s side rather than the monotheist feudal lords. ¡°Right. If you say it to that extent, let¡¯s send a messenger. Let¡¯s be as polite as possible, just in case. . .¡± ¡°The underlings will take care of such things, so stop worrying about that.¡± Suetlg scolded the Duke for the first time in a long time. ???????????? At the news of the great victory near Tahkreng Castle, the monotheist feudal lords all rejoiced. That was until the messenger spoke. ¡°His Highness the Duke has requested that you send men to the southern cities for a smooth pursuit.¡± ¡°Men. . .? What for?¡± Count Tragalon was quick-tempered and greedy. It was not umon for him to lead a group of rogues as a count and loot the merchant ships of pagans. ¡°If we lead our army there, won¡¯t those b*stards dare to touch us?¡± ¡°He said he wanted to receive cooperation from the cities.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The count¡¯s joyful face darkened. The southern cities were full of greedy and arrogant people. In order to receive their cooperation, they would have to pay a steep price. People usually bowed their heads and asked for help when they were in dire straits, but they tended to start acting haughty once things got better. The count briefly considered refusing outright. ¡®???????????????????? ??????.¡¯ The aide desperately looked at the count. The other subordinates present were the same. No matter how good the money was, there was no way it would be good to incur the Duke¡¯s wrath now. In the worst case, the Duke¡¯s army could advance into the count¡¯s fiefdom. The idea that they were brothers of the same faith and would not attack each other had been shattered centuries ago. The brothers that had crossed the sea could kill their own brothers without hesitation for the sake ofnd and power. ¡°. . .Of course I have to cooperate. The Duke is fighting so fiercely against the pagans!¡± ¡°Thank you very much!¡± Not noticing the silent conversation that had just urred, the messenger¡¯s face brightened at the quick eptance. It had ended much sooner than he had expected. ¡®?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????!¡¯ And simr conversations took ce in the fiefdoms of the feudal lords. Contrary to what Johan had expected, no one prepared for a rebellion or caused amotion. There were not even any minorints. ¡°If I knew this would happen, I should have collected a bit more tax?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not toote even now, so let¡¯s send another messenger. We have to make them understand the situation.¡± ???????????? The people of Aniza City received the eunuchs and escorts. There was no need to tell them not to enter with an army. Except for a handful of escorts, there was nothing left. Even so, there was a reason why the people of Aniza City received them. Even though they had suffered a shocking defeat, the Sultan¡¯snd was stillrge and his wealth was abundant, so they thought they could receive arge share by helping them. ¡°Have you definitely sent a message to Viceroy Manansir?¡± ¡°I sent three messengers, but I haven¡¯t received a reply. . .¡± The eunuchs were quick to catch on. They immediately realized that Manansir was intentionally dying things. ¡®???????? ?? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Of course, it was not something they could not understand. Theirrge army had been defeated in one blow, and the neighboring monotheist feudal lords had unexpectedly turned to the Duke¡¯s side as if they had eaten something wrong. Facing the Duke¡¯s army, which was now in high spirits, was like charging head-on into a storm. Nevertheless, it did not mean that their annoyance disappeared. After all, Viceroy Manansir was the one who had started all of this. If he had not schemed to form a marriage alliance with the Sultan and coaxed him, the Sultan would not have done anything reckless. Going further back, it was all because that man had greedily captured the Duke¡¯s ship. ¡°We can¡¯t do anything if there¡¯s no contact. Let¡¯s escape by ship. The captains of Aniza City will prepare ships for us.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Although it was shameful to escape after abandoning theirrge army, the eunuchs did not care much about such shame. There was something more important than that. The oldest eunuch opened his closed eyes and spoke. ¡°We need someone to take responsibility.¡± The other eunuchs nodded in unison. If they lost such arge army, even the most lenient monarch would swing his sword. Considering the Sultan¡¯s fiery temper, it was possible that the eunuchs would also be killed. They needed a scapegoat to avoid responsibility. ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but we have no choice but to offer up Yeheyman-gong.¡± ¡°But, Yeheyman-gong will not sit still. Aren¡¯t there many people in the court who are on Yeheyman-gong¡¯s side?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s why we have to shut his mouth.¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± The other eunuchs made shocked expressions as they realized what the oldest eunuch meant. A dead body could not speak. Even if the Sultan pressed them. The old eunuch looked at the young eunuch and spoke. ¡°You¡¯ll be able to do it properly this time, right?¡± ¡°. . .Of course. I¡¯ll show you right away.¡± ¡°Calm down. We can¡¯t shut his mouth right now. Yeheyman¡¯s men are not fools. Let¡¯s take care of it on the ship.¡± They could drug Yeheyman to make him sleep soundly, let his subordinates confirm that he was alive, and then stab him on the ship. They coulde up with any excuse they wanted. They could simply say that he was trying to escape or that he was trying to kill the eunuchs. ¡°Those b*stards are saying that the Republic¡¯s fleet is roaming around, but this. . .¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. We have no choice but to tell them to prepare ships as quickly as possible and give them arge sum of money.¡± The moment the sea route became safe, they nned to escape on a fast ship and head north. However, no one expected that the Duke¡¯s army would reach this far in the meantime. With the holy Holy Land in sight, there was no way a noble woulde this far after leaving it alone to chase after a few insignificant eunuchs. ???????????? ¡°It reminds me of Jekyllid.¡± The appearance of Aniza City reminded him of the pagan hundred kingdoms that he had conquered in the past. The lord of Jekyllid, an ind not far from his original fiefdom, had made the mistake of underestimating and insulting Johan. He had to pay the price for it himself. ¡°It seems like a good city. It¡¯s bustling.¡± The group of messengers from the feudal lords who had arrived first quickly escaped after waiting. They prostrated themselves and waited for Johan to approach. ¡°Your Highness the Duke! This victory is. . .¡± 15 minutester. ¡°. . .that Your Highness has given us.¡± ¡°Right. Thank you. What did the people of the city say?¡± The people of the city had dered that they would not mind the fearsome Duke leading his army around. To be exact, they did not have the ability to mind it. However, it was a different story if they were to enter the city. First. Only 100 people could enter the city. Second. They should not cause any fights inside the city. ¡°Is themander taking refuge inside the city?¡± ¡°He said no, but it looks very suspicious to me. The city b*stards are not denying it strongly either.¡± Suetlg asked curiously. He was curious about how the Duke would resolve the current situation. ¡°Are you thinking of entering?¡± ¡°Hmm. . . let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Are you thinking of causing a fight inside?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°If we take him aboard a ship, it¡¯s outside the city, right?¡± Johan said as he looked at the harbor. Originally, thews of this era were extremelyplicated, being a mixture of customaryw, cityw, and noblew. It was not for nothing thatwyers appeared in court even in this era. Fortunately, Johan had authority and an army. The people of the city would not be able to say anything if he had a proper justification. ¡°Let¡¯s go in!¡± ¡°. . .A-Are you really going in??¡± The city noble who was waiting anxiously on the city gate was shocked and hesitated at the words that they were going in. He had never expected that they would actually enter., Johan changed the subject just before Iselia noticed the abnormality and asked. ¡°It¡¯s good that their numerous enemies are scattered, but wouldn¡¯t that mean we won¡¯t be able to catch the really important people?¡± ¡°That is true.¡± It was a hard situation to chase after important people because there were too many of the remaining defeated soldiers scattered around. Although the knights were satisfied as long as they were able to capture those with some wealth regardless of who they were, Johan wanted to capture themander if possible. Although there wasn¡¯t much of a need to worry about the individual lower aristocrats causing conspiracies, the enemymander was a different story. There was no knowing what he might try if he was left alone. In addition, he felt a sense of unease from the fact that they tried to escape so desperately to this extent. Could it be that there was a hidden n? There was no reason why they would abandon such arge army and run away if that wasn¡¯t the case. Anypetentmander would have tried to retreat in an orderly manner even if he had to step back. ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a bit too sensitive?¡± ¡°I also think it¡¯s like that, but. . .¡± Suetlg and Caenerna cautiously opened their mouths. Although they might be arrogant, this victory was a truly great one. It was a decisive victory that annihted the fighting strength of the Sultan¡¯s army that hadnded. Even if there was a greatmander, it would not be easy to recover from this defeat. It would take years just to gather the scattered forces. ¡°He could bring more tribes from the south, or call for reinforcements from the sea.¡± ¡°That¡¯s. . . but. . .¡± It was a slim possibility, but it was possible. Caenerna did not think that even the enemymander, no matter how great he was, would be able to persuade the tribes in the south to provide support after suffering such a defeat. The lords in this vicinity all had eyes and ears. . . ¡®??????????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ????¡¯?? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Caenerna thought as she stared fixedly at Johan. Her standards for the impossible had been lowered quite a bit after following the Duke around and gaining experience. It was not a bad idea to be prepared just in case. ¡°What then? What are we going to do?¡± ¡°As nned, we will send forces to the Holy Land to begin the siege, and chase after the enemies with the elites. Whatever they¡¯re nning, they won¡¯t be able to do anything if we capture them.¡± Their top priority right now was recovering the Holy Land. They could not tell the pilgrims gathered here to ¡®?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ??????????¡¯. In any case, the number of soldiers remaining in the Holy Land would only be a handful, so Johan himself did not need to go. Since a siege was something that took up quite a bit of time, it was not a bad idea to move while preparing for the siege in advance. ¡°However, it seems like the cities on the southern coast will be unnecessarily vignt. . .¡± ¡°Let¡¯s utilize the feudal lords here. They won¡¯t dare refuse the Duke¡¯s proposal.¡± The monotheist feudal lords who had deep roots established here were somewhat familiar with the cities further south. They were not close enough to send messengers, but they were at least familiar. Of course, the magistrates or the city nobles who ruled the city might make annoying requests, but that was something the feudal lords had to figure out. Because the Duke was the victor. The Duke who led his army and swept away the enemies while the monotheist feudal lords cowered within their castles and sent a few soldiers or some silver coins. Even the feudal lords had probably not expected the Duke to achieve such a great victory. ¡°No. . . isn¡¯t that a bit much? It¡¯ll be annoying if they end up harboring grudges for no reason.¡± ¡°Why are you worrying about something like that?!¡± ¡°You should at least do that much!¡± Suetlg and Caenerna who were listening from the side shouted at once in disbelief. They couldn¡¯t believe that he was still being considerate of the feudal lords after literally crushing the enemy¡¯srge army. How could he be so cautious, even if he was being prudent? If it was the Emperor, he would have said ¡®???????????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????! ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ????????. ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ????????????????!¡¯ It was a victory that allowed for such arrogance. ¡°. . .You¡¯re being too careful, but I think it¡¯s fine for you to ask for it this time. The feudal lords may harbor grudges in their hearts, but there will definitely be no one who will show it on the surface.¡± Even Valeon, the son of the old king, had stepped up. Originally, there was no reason for him to step up since he was basically brought here against his will, but he ended up speaking because he felt stifled. As Valeon was a knight and led his soldiers into battle, he was fully aware of how great his performance on this battlefield was. None of the knights in his fiefdom had ever shown a performance like the Duke¡¯s. It was not limited to just battle. Everything from gathering soldiers before the battle, creating rifts in the enemy, leading them to an advantageous battlefield, and finishing them off seemed like one perfect calction. Of course, the truth was a bit different, but it was easy to make such a mistake when looking from the outside. Although Valeon himself did not admit it, Valeon was now firmly captivated by the oue of the battle. It was because he was taking Johan¡¯s side rather than the monotheist feudal lords. ¡°Right. If you say it to that extent, let¡¯s send a messenger. Let¡¯s be as polite as possible, just in case. . .¡± ¡°The underlings will take care of such things, so stop worrying about that.¡± Suetlg scolded the Duke for the first time in a long time. ???????????? At the news of the great victory near Tahkreng Castle, the monotheist feudal lords all rejoiced. That was until the messenger spoke. ¡°His Highness the Duke has requested that you send men to the southern cities for a smooth pursuit.¡± ¡°Men. . .? What for?¡± Count Tragalon was quick-tempered and greedy. It was not umon for him to lead a group of rogues as a count and loot the merchant ships of pagans. ¡°If we lead our army there, won¡¯t those b*stards dare to touch us?¡± ¡°He said he wanted to receive cooperation from the cities.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The count¡¯s joyful face darkened. The southern cities were full of greedy and arrogant people. In order to receive their cooperation, they would have to pay a steep price. People usually bowed their heads and asked for help when they were in dire straits, but they tended to start acting haughty once things got better. The count briefly considered refusing outright. ¡®???????????????????? ??????.¡¯ The aide desperately looked at the count. The other subordinates present were the same. No matter how good the money was, there was no way it would be good to incur the Duke¡¯s wrath now. In the worst case, the Duke¡¯s army could advance into the count¡¯s fiefdom. The idea that they were brothers of the same faith and would not attack each other had been shattered centuries ago. The brothers that had crossed the sea could kill their own brothers without hesitation for the sake ofnd and power. ¡°. . .Of course I have to cooperate. The Duke is fighting so fiercely against the pagans!¡± ¡°Thank you very much!¡± Not noticing the silent conversation that had just urred, the messenger¡¯s face brightened at the quick eptance. It had ended much sooner than he had expected. ¡®?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????!¡¯ And simr conversations took ce in the fiefdoms of the feudal lords. Contrary to what Johan had expected, no one prepared for a rebellion or caused amotion. There were not even any minorints. ¡°If I knew this would happen, I should have collected a bit more tax?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not toote even now, so let¡¯s send another messenger. We have to make them understand the situation.¡± ???????????? The people of Aniza City received the eunuchs and escorts. There was no need to tell them not to enter with an army. Except for a handful of escorts, there was nothing left. Even so, there was a reason why the people of Aniza City received them. Even though they had suffered a shocking defeat, the Sultan¡¯snd was stillrge and his wealth was abundant, so they thought they could receive arge share by helping them. ¡°Have you definitely sent a message to Viceroy Manansir?¡± ¡°I sent three messengers, but I haven¡¯t received a reply. . .¡± The eunuchs were quick to catch on. They immediately realized that Manansir was intentionally dying things. ¡®???????? ?? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Of course, it was not something they could not understand. Theirrge army had been defeated in one blow, and the neighboring monotheist feudal lords had unexpectedly turned to the Duke¡¯s side as if they had eaten something wrong. Facing the Duke¡¯s army, which was now in high spirits, was like charging head-on into a storm. Nevertheless, it did not mean that their annoyance disappeared. After all, Viceroy Manansir was the one who had started all of this. If he had not schemed to form a marriage alliance with the Sultan and coaxed him, the Sultan would not have done anything reckless. Going further back, it was all because that man had greedily captured the Duke¡¯s ship. ¡°We can¡¯t do anything if there¡¯s no contact. Let¡¯s escape by ship. The captains of Aniza City will prepare ships for us.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Although it was shameful to escape after abandoning theirrge army, the eunuchs did not care much about such shame. There was something more important than that. The oldest eunuch opened his closed eyes and spoke. ¡°We need someone to take responsibility.¡± The other eunuchs nodded in unison. If they lost such arge army, even the most lenient monarch would swing his sword. Considering the Sultan¡¯s fiery temper, it was possible that the eunuchs would also be killed. They needed a scapegoat to avoid responsibility. ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but we have no choice but to offer up Yeheyman-gong.¡± ¡°But, Yeheyman-gong will not sit still. Aren¡¯t there many people in the court who are on Yeheyman-gong¡¯s side?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s why we have to shut his mouth.¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± The other eunuchs made shocked expressions as they realized what the oldest eunuch meant. A dead body could not speak. Even if the Sultan pressed them. The old eunuch looked at the young eunuch and spoke. ¡°You¡¯ll be able to do it properly this time, right?¡± ¡°. . .Of course. I¡¯ll show you right away.¡± ¡°Calm down. We can¡¯t shut his mouth right now. Yeheyman¡¯s men are not fools. Let¡¯s take care of it on the ship.¡± They could drug Yeheyman to make him sleep soundly, let his subordinates confirm that he was alive, and then stab him on the ship. They coulde up with any excuse they wanted. They could simply say that he was trying to escape or that he was trying to kill the eunuchs. ¡°Those b*stards are saying that the Republic¡¯s fleet is roaming around, but this. . .¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. We have no choice but to tell them to prepare ships as quickly as possible and give them arge sum of money.¡± The moment the sea route became safe, they nned to escape on a fast ship and head north. However, no one expected that the Duke¡¯s army would reach this far in the meantime. With the holy Holy Land in sight, there was no way a noble woulde this far after leaving it alone to chase after a few insignificant eunuchs. ???????????? ¡°It reminds me of Jekyllid.¡± The appearance of Aniza City reminded him of the pagan hundred kingdoms that he had conquered in the past. The lord of Jekyllid, an ind not far from his original fiefdom, had made the mistake of underestimating and insulting Johan. He had to pay the price for it himself. ¡°It seems like a good city. It¡¯s bustling.¡± The group of messengers from the feudal lords who had arrived first quickly escaped after waiting. They prostrated themselves and waited for Johan to approach. ¡°Your Highness the Duke! This victory is. . .¡± 15 minutester. ¡°. . .that Your Highness has given us.¡± ¡°Right. Thank you. What did the people of the city say?¡± The people of the city had dered that they would not mind the fearsome Duke leading his army around. To be exact, they did not have the ability to mind it. However, it was a different story if they were to enter the city. First. Only 100 people could enter the city. Second. They should not cause any fights inside the city. ¡°Is themander taking refuge inside the city?¡± ¡°He said no, but it looks very suspicious to me. The city b*stards are not denying it strongly either.¡± Suetlg asked curiously. He was curious about how the Duke would resolve the current situation. ¡°Are you thinking of entering?¡± ¡°Hmm. . . let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Are you thinking of causing a fight inside?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°If we take him aboard a ship, it¡¯s outside the city, right?¡± Johan said as he looked at the harbor. Originally, thews of this era were extremelyplicated, being a mixture of customaryw, cityw, and noblew. It was not for nothing thatwyers appeared in court even in this era. Fortunately, Johan had authority and an army. The people of the city would not be able to say anything if he had a proper justification. ¡°Let¡¯s go in!¡± ¡°. . .A-Are you really going in??¡± The city noble who was waiting anxiously on the city gate was shocked and hesitated at the words that they were going in. He had never expected that they would actually enter. Chapter 325: ???? ?????? ???????? (2) ¡°What will you do?¡± The captain of the dozen guards guarding the gate asked cautiously. Neither the captain nor the city lords here had expected Duke Yeats to enter. Normally, asking a high noble such as Duke Yeats to enter a city with only a hundred men in his retinue was like politely making an excuse and refusing entry. What did a duke have to be so pitiful that he would make such concessions just to enter? While it was good for both sides because the city could refuse entry without incurring the duke¡¯s wrath thanks to the old-fashioned pretext, things gotplicated when the duke said he would enter with only a hundred men. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say they¡¯d already won the battle?! Why are they here instead of going to the Holy Land?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they pursue the remnants of the defeated army. . .?¡± The lord of the city was furious at the captain¡¯s words. ¡°Do you think I have so much free time on my hands?! Who in the world woulde here themselves just to catch a few remnants of the defeated nobles?¡±Johan would have been troubled if he had heard that, since the city lord¡¯s guess was exactly right. However, the situation didn¡¯t change just because the city lord was angry. The captain urged him on. ¡°You need to make a decision. If we¡¯re going to ry the message down below. . .¡± The mercenaries employed by the city moved ording to the orders of the city lords who ruled the city. They were loyal in their own way, but they weren¡¯t enough to fight against the formidable duke¡¯s army. And the same went for the city lords. ¡°Tell them to open the gate. Make sure that there is nothingcking when we receive the Duke.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After the captain hurried away, the city lord thought to himself. He would absolutely have to keep the fact that the Sultan¡¯s men had entered the city a secret. If it were to be discovered. . . ¡®??¡¯???? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????.¡¯ The eunuchs had promised arge sum of money and asked for their safety to be protected, but the city lord had no intention of doing so. If a problem arose, he nned to cut them down without hesitation. ???????????? ¡°It certainly is a fine city.¡± A hot wind flowed down the street, and the exotic smells of various mixtures stung the nose. The soldiers tossed coins to the beggars gathered on the side of the road. The beggars, marveling at the nobles¡¯ generosity, offered their praises and thanks in variousnguages. ¡°Shall we go to the mansion?¡± When a noble like Johan entered, it was only polite for the leaders of the city to invite him to the mansion. However, Johan shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s go straight to the harbor.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The soldiers wore slightly disappointed expressions, having expected a luxurious reception, but they followed his orders without question. Suetlg spoke with an air of anticipation. ¡°I wonder what the harbor here is like.¡± ¡°Were you interested in harbors?¡± Johan was puzzled. Compared to that, Suetlg hadn¡¯t shown much interest in harbors when he had been in his fiefdom. Not even in the shipyard the dwarves had built. . . ¡°I¡¯m not particrly interested in the pulleys, ropes, and anchors. Interesting things tend to gather at harbors, don¡¯t they? Especially in a ce like this.¡± Caenerna nodded in agreement with Suetlg¡¯s words. With so many goods flowing in and out, there were bound to be many suspicious individuals as well as interesting things discovered in arge harbor like this. Especially in a ce like this, where people of various religions gathered. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Well. . . It¡¯s not like there¡¯s definitely something. And it¡¯s not like I¡¯m thinking that I have to find something. Isn¡¯t it fun just to have something to look forward to? The anticipation is supposed to be the most enjoyable part. . .¡± Johan let Suetlg¡¯s words go in one ear and out the other, and had the soldiers call the captain over. ¡°Go and ask if we can borrow a ship.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°. . .He¡¯s still talking.¡± ¡°Ah. I apologize.¡± ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re thinking of borrowing a ship when you haven¡¯t even found them yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not bad to secure a ship just in case. But still. . .¡± Johan fell into thought. If pagan nobles who had escaped had entered the city, where might they be hiding? If they had entered openly, they would be hiding in the mansion of an acquaintance, and if they had entered in secret while concealing their identities, they would probably be hiding somewhere in a suitably shabby warehouse. It would be difficult to find either of them right away. ¡®???????????? ?? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????¡¯ Gmbos, a hunter from the eastern rangers, spoke up. ¡°If you give the order, I will search the vicinity and see.¡± ¡°No. I forbid any rash actions. It¡¯s not good to cause unnecessary friction within the city.¡± While they were talking, the soldier returned. It seemed that the captain had readily lent them a ship. Not many would refuse when they were offered a generous sum and the duke himself was borrowing it. ¡°We¡¯ll have to check and see if the ship is okay since we¡¯ll be stowing people away on it.¡± ¡°Shush. Your voice is too loud.¡± ???????????? Although they had allowed the duke to enter, the city lord weren¡¯t entirely without a conscience. He secretly sent word to the eunuchs. ©¥?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????, ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????????????????. ¡°What kind of nonsense is that?!¡± The eunuch was furious. It didn¡¯t make sense no matter how he looked at it. Why was the duke, who should be rushing to the Holy Land at this point, in this southern port city? There was only one conceivable reason. They had been sold out by these city nobles. ¡°I¡¯ve known all along that the city folk are shameless scoundrels without a conscience, but I didn¡¯t know that they¡¯d sell even their own parents!¡± ¡°Oh, do be careful with your words. Now is not the time to be crossing swords.¡± Although they were resentful and indignant, the eunuchs weren¡¯t in a position to fight the city nobles right now. They had to stay quiet and slip away as quickly as possible. ¡°Isn¡¯t this mansion dangerous too?¡± ¡°Surely not. . .¡± The knights escorting the eunuchs reacted negatively. The mansion they were in now felt quite safe to them. How could they be discovered when there were only so many mansions belonging to nobles in the city, and so many rooms in the mansion on this hill? There seemed to be no chance of being discovered as long as they stayed quietly inside. ¡°You fool! The very fact that the duke came here means that we¡¯ve been betrayed, and you still haven¡¯te to your senses?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not certain that they betrayed us. . .¡± ¡°With how stupid you are. Tsk, tsk.¡± The humiliated knight turned red in the face. ¡°Moreover, even if they didn¡¯t betray us, it¡¯s still dangerous. What will you do if the duke starts searching the nobles¡¯ mansions?¡± ¡°Surely he wouldn¡¯tmit such rudeness in a city that isn¡¯t his own?¡± No matter how great a noble he was, he was still just a guest in a city that wasn¡¯t his fiefdom. Searching the mansions of other nobles at will was an intolerable disrespect. ¡°Come to your senses. Do you think that violent man would respect such customs? ¡°He will search as much as he wants!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The knights werepletely speechless, their spirits crushed. The eunuchs huddled together and talked among themselves. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the harbor. It won¡¯t befortable, but if we hide inside a ship, there¡¯s no way we¡¯ll be discovered. If anything happens, we can escape quickly.¡± ¡°Hmm. . . I don¡¯t like it, but we have no choice.¡± The eunuchs hurriedly finished their preparations and headed for the harbor. They were told that the ship was anchored, but staying on a ship was quite a bothersome and difficult thing to do. Who would enjoy it? But they had no choice if they wanted to avoid the duke. However. . . ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The eunuchs held their breath, frozen in ce below the deck. Not far away, they could see the duke looking around the harbor. ¡®?????? ???? ??????????. . .?!¡¯ ¡®???? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????. ????¡¯?? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ ???????????? ¡°An ogre cub?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡± Johan was looking around at the pagans¡¯ artifacts while he was at the harbor. Then a merchant came up to him and said that he was raising an ogre cub. ¡°It would be a creature worthy of Your Highness¡¯s majesty!¡± ¡°Can you. . . raise an ogre cub?¡± Johan asked Jyanina, looking at her. Jyanina hesitated and stammered out her words. ¡°I¡¯m not sure either.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Iselia tried to change the subject with a fake cough. It was clearly to help Jyanina. ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°No. Listen! It¡¯s normally impossible, but we can¡¯t conclude that the pagans here can¡¯t do it just because of that, can we? That¡¯s why I said it like that!¡± Jyanina¡¯s words were reasonable. Johan nodded in agreement. However, his doubts were not dispelled. ¡®?????? ???? ?? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????¡¯ Perhaps it was because the power in her voice was weak. Suetlg and Caenerna made use of the magic power in their voices and used it effectively, but Jyanina was clumsy in that regard. ¡°Bring it here.¡± ¡°Yes! Here it is.¡± Arge monster growled from inside the cage. The soldiers eximed in admiration at how simr it looked to an ogre. ¡°This is a goblin.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a goblin? A mutant perhaps?¡± ¡°??!!¡± The merchant¡¯s mistake was that the duke himself had once caught an ogre. Having caught an ogre, there was no way he wouldn¡¯t be able to tell the difference between it and an ogre cub. The expressions of the soldiers behind Johan and Jyanina hardened. ¡°How dare such an impudent wretch speak to Your Highness in such a manner. . .¡± ¡°Ah, no! I didn¡¯t know! I waspletely fooled too!¡± ¡°I should rip your tongue out!¡± While the soldiers grabbed the merchant by the cor and shook him, Johan turned his head, hearing a strange noiseing from behind him. ¡®???????? ???? ?????¡¯ Johan¡¯s senses were several times sharper than those of others, as befitted someone who had received a blessing. Even in the noisy harbor where all sorts of people were bustling about, he could hear the sound of someone fighting. It wasn¡¯t just a fistfight or a scuffle, but a fight where swords were being swung and shed against each other. The fight grew louder and louder. The insults they were hurling at each other became clear enough for Johan to understand. ©¥?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????????. ?????? ??????????, ???????????? ??????????! ©¥?????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ??????????????! ¡°. . .Wait. Stop.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the soldiers threw the merchant aside. The merchant, who had fallen face-down on the ground, nervously nced at the duke from behind a cloud of dust. ¡°That ship! Get on that ship!¡± At the duke¡¯smand, the soldiers ran off at once. The sailors were startled and tried to block their way. ¡°Your Highness! What is the meaning of this?! You can¡¯t do this!¡± It was originally forbidden to board someone else¡¯s ship without permission, even in a city¡¯s harbor, let alone the duke¡¯s. Moreover, the sailors here had a rough idea of what was on the ship. The lizardman who seemed to be the captain rushed out and shouted forcefully. ¡°I don¡¯t know what misunderstanding you have, but if you board without permission, I will call the soldiers.¡± ¡°Call them.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I said call them. Move!¡± The captain thought that the duke would back down since he had only brought his escort with him when he entered the city, but he was taken aback by the unexpected response. Johan, on the other hand, was convinced by the captain¡¯s response. ¡°Everyone, keep your heads down! Anyone who raises their head will be beheaded!¡± ¡°Get down! I said get down!¡± Although they were sailors who had been hardened by their rough work, they weren¡¯t foolish enough to face off against heavily armed soldiers with just a club in their hands. The sailors fell to the ground in terror. Johan pushed aside the sailors and boarded the ship. Just then, several people scrambled up from below the deck and onto the deck. ¡°Your Highness! Please help us!¡± ¡°. . .???¡± Johan was momentarily taken aback when pagan knights he had never seen before asked him for help. When people experience something too unexpected, they can¡¯t react right away. ¡°Your Highness. Are these perhaps your other subordinates?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen them before!¡± Johan¡¯s escorts asked just in case and then looked embarrassed. Their lord was so good at skillfully recruiting others that they had wondered if that might be the case. ¡°Kill them!¡± Before he had even finished speaking, others rushed out from below the deck. Several of the knights were bleeding, suggesting that they had been swinging their swords at each other. ¡°How dare you defy the Sultan¡¯s orders. . .!¡± ¡°Shut up! You kidnapped Yeheyman-gong without permission. You¡¯re the rebels!¡± Johan couldn¡¯t know the exact details of the situation, but he could roughly guess what had happened. ¡°Shoot them all.¡±, ¡°What will you do?¡± The captain of the dozen guards guarding the gate asked cautiously. Neither the captain nor the city lords here had expected Duke Yeats to enter. Normally, asking a high noble such as Duke Yeats to enter a city with only a hundred men in his retinue was like politely making an excuse and refusing entry. What did a duke have to be so pitiful that he would make such concessions just to enter? While it was good for both sides because the city could refuse entry without incurring the duke¡¯s wrath thanks to the old-fashioned pretext, things gotplicated when the duke said he would enter with only a hundred men. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say they¡¯d already won the battle?! Why are they here instead of going to the Holy Land?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they pursue the remnants of the defeated army. . .?¡± The lord of the city was furious at the captain¡¯s words. ¡°Do you think I have so much free time on my hands?! Who in the world woulde here themselves just to catch a few remnants of the defeated nobles?¡± Johan would have been troubled if he had heard that, since the city lord¡¯s guess was exactly right. However, the situation didn¡¯t change just because the city lord was angry. The captain urged him on. ¡°You need to make a decision. If we¡¯re going to ry the message down below. . .¡± The mercenaries employed by the city moved ording to the orders of the city lords who ruled the city. They were loyal in their own way, but they weren¡¯t enough to fight against the formidable duke¡¯s army. And the same went for the city lords. ¡°Tell them to open the gate. Make sure that there is nothingcking when we receive the Duke.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After the captain hurried away, the city lord thought to himself. He would absolutely have to keep the fact that the Sultan¡¯s men had entered the city a secret. If it were to be discovered. . . ¡®??¡¯???? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????.¡¯ The eunuchs had promised arge sum of money and asked for their safety to be protected, but the city lord had no intention of doing so. If a problem arose, he nned to cut them down without hesitation. ???????????? ¡°It certainly is a fine city.¡± A hot wind flowed down the street, and the exotic smells of various mixtures stung the nose. The soldiers tossed coins to the beggars gathered on the side of the road. The beggars, marveling at the nobles¡¯ generosity, offered their praises and thanks in variousnguages. ¡°Shall we go to the mansion?¡± When a noble like Johan entered, it was only polite for the leaders of the city to invite him to the mansion. However, Johan shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s go straight to the harbor.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The soldiers wore slightly disappointed expressions, having expected a luxurious reception, but they followed his orders without question. Suetlg spoke with an air of anticipation. ¡°I wonder what the harbor here is like.¡± ¡°Were you interested in harbors?¡± Johan was puzzled. Compared to that, Suetlg hadn¡¯t shown much interest in harbors when he had been in his fiefdom. Not even in the shipyard the dwarves had built. . . ¡°I¡¯m not particrly interested in the pulleys, ropes, and anchors. Interesting things tend to gather at harbors, don¡¯t they? Especially in a ce like this.¡± Caenerna nodded in agreement with Suetlg¡¯s words. With so many goods flowing in and out, there were bound to be many suspicious individuals as well as interesting things discovered in arge harbor like this. Especially in a ce like this, where people of various religions gathered. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Well. . . It¡¯s not like there¡¯s definitely something. And it¡¯s not like I¡¯m thinking that I have to find something. Isn¡¯t it fun just to have something to look forward to? The anticipation is supposed to be the most enjoyable part. . .¡± Johan let Suetlg¡¯s words go in one ear and out the other, and had the soldiers call the captain over. ¡°Go and ask if we can borrow a ship.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°. . .He¡¯s still talking.¡± ¡°Ah. I apologize.¡± ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re thinking of borrowing a ship when you haven¡¯t even found them yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not bad to secure a ship just in case. But still. . .¡± Johan fell into thought. If pagan nobles who had escaped had entered the city, where might they be hiding? If they had entered openly, they would be hiding in the mansion of an acquaintance, and if they had entered in secret while concealing their identities, they would probably be hiding somewhere in a suitably shabby warehouse. It would be difficult to find either of them right away. ¡®???????????? ?? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????¡¯ Gmbos, a hunter from the eastern rangers, spoke up. ¡°If you give the order, I will search the vicinity and see.¡± ¡°No. I forbid any rash actions. It¡¯s not good to cause unnecessary friction within the city.¡± While they were talking, the soldier returned. It seemed that the captain had readily lent them a ship. Not many would refuse when they were offered a generous sum and the duke himself was borrowing it. ¡°We¡¯ll have to check and see if the ship is okay since we¡¯ll be stowing people away on it.¡± ¡°Shush. Your voice is too loud.¡± ???????????? Although they had allowed the duke to enter, the city lord weren¡¯t entirely without a conscience. He secretly sent word to the eunuchs. ©¥?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????, ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????????????????. ¡°What kind of nonsense is that?!¡± The eunuch was furious. It didn¡¯t make sense no matter how he looked at it. Why was the duke, who should be rushing to the Holy Land at this point, in this southern port city? There was only one conceivable reason. They had been sold out by these city nobles. ¡°I¡¯ve known all along that the city folk are shameless scoundrels without a conscience, but I didn¡¯t know that they¡¯d sell even their own parents!¡± ¡°Oh, do be careful with your words. Now is not the time to be crossing swords.¡± Although they were resentful and indignant, the eunuchs weren¡¯t in a position to fight the city nobles right now. They had to stay quiet and slip away as quickly as possible. ¡°Isn¡¯t this mansion dangerous too?¡± ¡°Surely not. . .¡± The knights escorting the eunuchs reacted negatively. The mansion they were in now felt quite safe to them. How could they be discovered when there were only so many mansions belonging to nobles in the city, and so many rooms in the mansion on this hill? There seemed to be no chance of being discovered as long as they stayed quietly inside. ¡°You fool! The very fact that the duke came here means that we¡¯ve been betrayed, and you still haven¡¯te to your senses?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not certain that they betrayed us. . .¡± ¡°With how stupid you are. Tsk, tsk.¡± The humiliated knight turned red in the face. ¡°Moreover, even if they didn¡¯t betray us, it¡¯s still dangerous. What will you do if the duke starts searching the nobles¡¯ mansions?¡± ¡°Surely he wouldn¡¯tmit such rudeness in a city that isn¡¯t his own?¡± No matter how great a noble he was, he was still just a guest in a city that wasn¡¯t his fiefdom. Searching the mansions of other nobles at will was an intolerable disrespect. ¡°Come to your senses. Do you think that violent man would respect such customs? ¡°He will search as much as he wants!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The knights werepletely speechless, their spirits crushed. The eunuchs huddled together and talked among themselves. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the harbor. It won¡¯t befortable, but if we hide inside a ship, there¡¯s no way we¡¯ll be discovered. If anything happens, we can escape quickly.¡± ¡°Hmm. . . I don¡¯t like it, but we have no choice.¡± The eunuchs hurriedly finished their preparations and headed for the harbor. They were told that the ship was anchored, but staying on a ship was quite a bothersome and difficult thing to do. Who would enjoy it? But they had no choice if they wanted to avoid the duke. However. . . ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The eunuchs held their breath, frozen in ce below the deck. Not far away, they could see the duke looking around the harbor. ¡®?????? ???? ??????????. . .?!¡¯ ¡®???? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????. ????¡¯?? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ ???????????? ¡°An ogre cub?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡± Johan was looking around at the pagans¡¯ artifacts while he was at the harbor. Then a merchant came up to him and said that he was raising an ogre cub. ¡°It would be a creature worthy of Your Highness¡¯s majesty!¡± ¡°Can you. . . raise an ogre cub?¡± Johan asked Jyanina, looking at her. Jyanina hesitated and stammered out her words. ¡°I¡¯m not sure either.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Iselia tried to change the subject with a fake cough. It was clearly to help Jyanina. ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°No. Listen! It¡¯s normally impossible, but we can¡¯t conclude that the pagans here can¡¯t do it just because of that, can we? That¡¯s why I said it like that!¡± Jyanina¡¯s words were reasonable. Johan nodded in agreement. However, his doubts were not dispelled. ¡®?????? ???? ?? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????¡¯ Perhaps it was because the power in her voice was weak. Suetlg and Caenerna made use of the magic power in their voices and used it effectively, but Jyanina was clumsy in that regard. ¡°Bring it here.¡± ¡°Yes! Here it is.¡± Arge monster growled from inside the cage. The soldiers eximed in admiration at how simr it looked to an ogre. ¡°This is a goblin.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a goblin? A mutant perhaps?¡± ¡°??!!¡± The merchant¡¯s mistake was that the duke himself had once caught an ogre. Having caught an ogre, there was no way he wouldn¡¯t be able to tell the difference between it and an ogre cub. The expressions of the soldiers behind Johan and Jyanina hardened. ¡°How dare such an impudent wretch speak to Your Highness in such a manner. . .¡± ¡°Ah, no! I didn¡¯t know! I waspletely fooled too!¡± ¡°I should rip your tongue out!¡± While the soldiers grabbed the merchant by the cor and shook him, Johan turned his head, hearing a strange noiseing from behind him. ¡®???????? ???? ?????¡¯ Johan¡¯s senses were several times sharper than those of others, as befitted someone who had received a blessing. Even in the noisy harbor where all sorts of people were bustling about, he could hear the sound of someone fighting. It wasn¡¯t just a fistfight or a scuffle, but a fight where swords were being swung and shed against each other. The fight grew louder and louder. The insults they were hurling at each other became clear enough for Johan to understand. ©¥?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????????. ?????? ??????????, ???????????? ??????????! ©¥?????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ??????????????! ¡°. . .Wait. Stop.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the soldiers threw the merchant aside. The merchant, who had fallen face-down on the ground, nervously nced at the duke from behind a cloud of dust. ¡°That ship! Get on that ship!¡± At the duke¡¯smand, the soldiers ran off at once. The sailors were startled and tried to block their way. ¡°Your Highness! What is the meaning of this?! You can¡¯t do this!¡± It was originally forbidden to board someone else¡¯s ship without permission, even in a city¡¯s harbor, let alone the duke¡¯s. Moreover, the sailors here had a rough idea of what was on the ship. The lizardman who seemed to be the captain rushed out and shouted forcefully. ¡°I don¡¯t know what misunderstanding you have, but if you board without permission, I will call the soldiers.¡± ¡°Call them.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I said call them. Move!¡± The captain thought that the duke would back down since he had only brought his escort with him when he entered the city, but he was taken aback by the unexpected response. Johan, on the other hand, was convinced by the captain¡¯s response. ¡°Everyone, keep your heads down! Anyone who raises their head will be beheaded!¡± ¡°Get down! I said get down!¡± Although they were sailors who had been hardened by their rough work, they weren¡¯t foolish enough to face off against heavily armed soldiers with just a club in their hands. The sailors fell to the ground in terror. Johan pushed aside the sailors and boarded the ship. Just then, several people scrambled up from below the deck and onto the deck. ¡°Your Highness! Please help us!¡± ¡°. . .???¡± Johan was momentarily taken aback when pagan knights he had never seen before asked him for help. When people experience something too unexpected, they can¡¯t react right away. ¡°Your Highness. Are these perhaps your other subordinates?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen them before!¡± Johan¡¯s escorts asked just in case and then looked embarrassed. Their lord was so good at skillfully recruiting others that they had wondered if that might be the case. ¡°Kill them!¡± Before he had even finished speaking, others rushed out from below the deck. Several of the knights were bleeding, suggesting that they had been swinging their swords at each other. ¡°How dare you defy the Sultan¡¯s orders. . .!¡± ¡°Shut up! You kidnapped Yeheyman-gong without permission. You¡¯re the rebels!¡± Johan couldn¡¯t know the exact details of the situation, but he could roughly guess what had happened. ¡°Shoot them all.¡± Chapter 326: ???? ?????? ???????? (3) As the rain of arrows began to fall, the fighting knights only then seemed to realize the situation. ¡°The duke is boarding the ship! The duke is boarding the ship!¡± The soldiers were astounded at the sight of the knight shouting at the top of his lungs, even after being hit by an arrow. Either his body was as hardy as an ox or the duke must be fearsome indeed. It seemed that the knight¡¯s shouts reached those hiding below the deck. There was the sound of people moving about busily below, along with shouts. ¡°Hide behind the pirs, no! Go below deck!¡± The eunuchs were making sound judgments even in the midst of the confusion. The entrance below deck was narrow, and no matter how strong the duke was, there was no way he could easily get down there. If he made one false move, he could be run through with a spear. ¡°How dare those treacherous b*stards!¡± The eunuchs gnashed their teeth as the knights blocked the entrance to the deck and readied their weapons. The situation had be several times moreplicated due to this unexpected turn of events. It had all started when a few of the knights who followed Yeheyman grew suspicious of the eunuchs.They had tried to secretly check on Yeheyman¡¯s condition, and flew into a rage when they realized that he wasn¡¯t seriously injured and unconscious, but had been securely tied up and locked away. ©¥ ?????? ???????? ??????! ??????????????, ???????? ????! ?????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ????????????????-???????? ????????????????????! The eunuchs were shocked by this turn of events, but fortunately, luck was on their side. The rest of the men sided with the eunuchs. They all knew that when they returned, they would have to make excuses to the Sultan, and there was no benefit in cozying up to the eunuchs. ©¥ ?????????? ?????????? ???????????????????????? ??????. ?? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ????????????! ©¥ ?????????? ????????????????. . .! As fate would have it, the ones who should have been seized ran up to the deck, and the duke happened to be leading his guards up the ship at that very moment. It was a stroke of misfortune that defied belief. ¡°What do we do now?¡± One of the knights asked, sweat pouring down his face. It wasn¡¯t because it was hot below deck. It was because he knew who was up there. The fact that he couldn¡¯t hear anything made it all the more terrifying. ¡°If we stall for time, the city¡¯s nobles will step in to mediate. We can bribe them and escape then.¡± The eunuchs knew the city¡¯s rules well. No matter how powerful the duke was, he couldn¡¯t just do whatever he wanted as an outsider. If he caused a disturbance like this, the city¡¯s soldiers would step in. If they could buy some time while the two sides mediated, they might be able to bribe them somehow. It would cost them a great deal of their wealth, but they had no choice. ¡°. . .Wait a minute.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the ship moving?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? There aren¡¯t even any sailors. . .¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not. It¡¯s moving!¡± The knights were shocked. The ship really was moving. ???????????? ¡°Did you say he¡¯s really down there?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°But he got caught by the eunuchs?¡± ¡°Yes!!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan wore an unusually troubled expression. He thought themander of the enemy was up to some evil scheme as he kept making unexpected moves and running away. That¡¯s why he brought the army here, leaving the Holy Land alone. . . The wizards stared at Johan. Suetlg spoke as if he understood. ¡°There are times when the truth of the world is just petty and trivial.¡± ¡°. . .Thank you.¡± Yeheyman¡¯s knights made excuses for themselves without realizing it. ¡°The eunuchs used a trick, so it wasn¡¯t Yeheyman-nim¡¯s fault.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The eunuchs used Yeheyman-nim¡¯s honor.¡± ¡°No one asked.¡± Johan said indifferently. He wasn¡¯t very interested in how Yeheyman got caught. He already knew very well that any great knight could die from a single stray arrow. ¡°We¡¯ll have to pull it up.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go down.¡± ¡°No. Leave it. I don¡¯t want to see you die trying to catch those b*stards.¡± The soldiers looked touched by Johan¡¯s words. Johan shook his head at the sight of the soldiers who were touched even though he had just stated the obvious. ¡°But we can¡¯t dy too long. The sailors. . .¡± ¡°Right. We need to sail. Bring the captain!¡± ¡°?!¡± The captain who was suddenly dragged in started to speak with a trembling voice. ¡°Your Highness. I really don¡¯t know anything. . .¡± ¡°Launch the ship. We have to get out the other way.¡± ¡°Yes???¡± A cold de was pressed against the captain¡¯s neck. The soldier said coldly. ¡°If you speak back one more time, you¡¯ll be breathing through the hole in your neck, not your mouth.¡± ¡°Y. . . Your Highness. There aren¡¯t enough sailors right now. We need to weigh the anchor and release the mooring lines, but with the sailors we have now. . .¡± ¡°We¡¯re here, so what are you making excuses for?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not even familiar with the work! This isn¡¯t something you can do with just strength. You need the knack for it. . .¡± ¡°Enough. Just tell me what needs to be done instead of babbling on.¡± Since the momentum was fierce, the captain guided the soldiers to where the anchor was being raised. And he cursed inwardly. ¡®?????? ?????????? ??*????????????. ?? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ??????????????!¡¯ The device for raising the anchor didn¡¯t work by simply turning it with force. It had to be raised little by little by experienced sailors applying strength in turn. No matter how majestic the duke¡¯s authority was, he couldn¡¯t just pull out the anchor that had sunk deep into the seawater. ??????????! ??????????! ??????????! Johan grabbed the device and started to pull up the anchor. The captain¡¯s eyes widened as the device, which wouldn¡¯t budge even with fifteen to twenty people, started to turn. ¡°Is it done?¡± ¡°Yes? Yes? Yes. . .¡± ¡°Let¡¯s move on to the next one! If you waste time, I¡¯ll throw you overboard!¡± ???????????? ¡°Be sure to speak to them politely! Do not, under any circumstances, fire your arrows. Do not insult or provoke them either! The duke also knows the customs, so if you strongly advise him, he willpromise!¡± ¡®????????¡¯???? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ????????????????!¡¯ Thinking thus, the mercenary captain ran towards the harbor. Each and every one of the duke¡¯s guards must be heavily armed veterans. The mercenary captain¡¯s men were not weak, but frankly, there was noparison. And yet, he was told not to fire arrows, insult or provoke them, and to apprehend them politely. What could he do? He could only hope that the duke would understand the situation and be persuaded. ¡°??!?!¡± The mercenary captain doubted his own eyes as he saw people gathering at the harbor and a ship sailing away into the sea. What in the world had happened? ¡°What¡¯s going on?! What happened?!¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke. . . has set sail. . .¡± ¡°Set sail?! What were those sailors doing on board the ship? It¡¯s not even departure time?¡± The sailors must be scattered around the harbor, so he couldn¡¯t figure out how they managed to set sail. The mercenary captain grabbed the nearest man by the cor and shouted. ¡°W-Well. . . It just. . . somehow. . . set sail. . .¡± ¡°What do we do?¡± The captain asked in a flustered voice. The mercenary captain frowned and said, ¡°Let¡¯s chase them down in our ship!¡± ¡°Y-Yes?? Do we really have to??¡± ¡°We have to show them that we did something! What do you think they¡¯ll say if we just return empty-handed?!¡± ¡°Understood. We¡¯ll get ready. You sailors! Why aren¡¯t you getting the ship ready faster?! How can you be slower than a bunch of soldiers?!¡± The mercenary captain hurried to prepare the ship to give chase. Maybe it was his imagination, but they seemed even slower than usual. ???????????? ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better toe out now? You¡¯ll have to eventually, and if you keep stalling ande outte, the anger of His Highness the Duke might be directed at you. If youe out now, we promise to treat you as prisoners of war.¡± A soldier fluent in the easternnguage shouted loudly from the entrance to the deck. There was no response. ¡°Are they holding out?¡± ¡°Leave them be. We¡¯ll send a signal.¡± The soldier who had gone up shot an arrow. It was a signal to the troops waiting outside the city. They had decided on this in advance since they had nned to seize the ship from the beginning. ¡°Your Highness. If we keep going like this, the ship will run aground!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯llpensate you generously.¡± The captain became sullen, but he couldn¡¯t say anything more. It wasn¡¯t just the soldiers on deck, the Duke¡¯s soldiers were also seen chasing in the distance, kicking up dust. ¡°There¡¯s a ship chasing us!¡± ¡°Chasing us?¡± Johan was puzzled. Of course, they had stolen a ship from a well-established city and fled, so it was possible that they would be chased. However, the response would depend on what kind of thief they were dealing with. If they had seized a ship that was hiding someone the duke was pursuing, then usually, even a city wouldn¡¯t want to cause trouble and would let it go. ¡°They must be mercenaries hired by the city, so don¡¯t you think they¡¯re just pretending to chase us to save face?¡± ¡°Would they really go that far? Either way, I¡¯ll go and persuade them myself.¡± The ship carrying the mercenary captain approached slowly. Johan spoke in a voice loud enough to be heard. ¡°Don¡¯te any closer!¡± ¡°Your Highness. Aren¡¯t you the one who respects customs andws? How can you just kidnap our ship and sailors and take them away?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you the ones who were arbitrarily hiding the criminals I was pursuing?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t know anything about that! If we had, we would have told the council. How could people from a small city like ours possibly hide criminals being pursued by Your Highness the Duke??¡± They were both shouting while beating around the bush, knowing the truth. Johan had to suppress a smirk. ¡°In that case, I have a proposal.¡± ¡°Yes. Please tell us.¡± Johan intended to propose returning everything except the criminals¡ªthe ship, the captain, and the sailors¡ªsafely. It was a proposal that would save the other party¡¯s face to some extent, and the people of the city would probably ept it. If he added some gold coins aspensationter, it would be even better. ¡°Excluding the criminals. . .¡± Before he could finish speaking, a small speedboat approached the mercenary captain¡¯s ship, and a centaur approached Johan¡¯s ship. Then, they reported the same thing. ¡°Your Highness the Duke! The mercenaries have captured the city!¡± ¡°Which crazy mercenaries did that?¡± ¡°. . .Your Highness, your mercenaries.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan turned away, lost for words. The mercenary captain looked at Johan with an expression full of shock and betrayal. ¡°It¡¯s toote to say it wasn¡¯t intentional. . .?¡± ¡°Yes. It seems they won¡¯t listen to anything I say.¡± ???????????? Johan and those close to him were now fully aware of the situation, so they weren¡¯t too worried about leading only a hundred men into the city. Considering the city¡¯s atmosphere and political situation, there was no reason for them to be hostile towards Johan. However, there was no way ordinary mercenaries could know that. They waited anxiously and restlessly. City people had always been greedy and suspicious, and it was even worse when they were pagans. What if His Highness the Duke was deceived by some suspicious trick and imprisoned?? ¡°When are theying out?¡± ¡°Hey. You have that ve you captured. Why don¡¯t we take him and send him in to spy on them? We can¡¯t just stay here like this.¡± The mercenaries tried to capture and question merchantsing and going from the city, or tried to sneak in themselves to check the atmosphere inside. In the meantime, the mercenaries heard shocking news. ¡°They say the city people sent soldiers to capture His Highness the Duke!¡± ¡°What??!¡± The centaurion panicked and tried to calm the mercenaries down. ¡°Calm down! His Highness the Duke told us not to act rashly. . .¡± ¡°Say that again!¡± ¡°. . .!¡± The mercenaries¡¯ rtionships were more horizontal than one might think. Although they were called captains and centurions, if they umted grievances, even a squad leader could incite a rebellion and kill them at any time. That¡¯s what mercenaries were like. The centurions had a hunch that if they stopped them now, they would be beaten up. ¡°. . .He did say that, but this isn¡¯t the time for that! That¡¯s right. We need to go in and rescue His Highness the Duke!¡± ¡°Waaaaah!¡± ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????, ????????¡¯???? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ Several furious units charged towards the city gates. The guards defending the gates were caught off guard by the unexpected attack and, incredibly, failed to close the gates and ran away in panic. ¡°We¡¯ve taken the city gates! Raise the g!¡± ¡°Capture the nobles first!! If His Highness the Duke has been captured, we need to exchange them as hostages! Go to their mansions and find the nobles!!¡± ¡°W-What nonsense are you talking about. . . We never captured His Highness the Duke?!¡± ¡°Shut up! How dare you lie! You pagans!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a monotheist too. . .!¡± ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll fall for that? You¡¯re even lying about your god! Find His Highness the Duke!¡±, As the rain of arrows began to fall, the fighting knights only then seemed to realize the situation. ¡°The duke is boarding the ship! The duke is boarding the ship!¡± The soldiers were astounded at the sight of the knight shouting at the top of his lungs, even after being hit by an arrow. Either his body was as hardy as an ox or the duke must be fearsome indeed. It seemed that the knight¡¯s shouts reached those hiding below the deck. There was the sound of people moving about busily below, along with shouts. ¡°Hide behind the pirs, no! Go below deck!¡± The eunuchs were making sound judgments even in the midst of the confusion. The entrance below deck was narrow, and no matter how strong the duke was, there was no way he could easily get down there. If he made one false move, he could be run through with a spear. ¡°How dare those treacherous b*stards!¡± The eunuchs gnashed their teeth as the knights blocked the entrance to the deck and readied their weapons. The situation had be several times moreplicated due to this unexpected turn of events. It had all started when a few of the knights who followed Yeheyman grew suspicious of the eunuchs. They had tried to secretly check on Yeheyman¡¯s condition, and flew into a rage when they realized that he wasn¡¯t seriously injured and unconscious, but had been securely tied up and locked away. ©¥ ?????? ???????? ??????! ??????????????, ???????? ????! ?????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ????????????????-???????? ????????????????????! The eunuchs were shocked by this turn of events, but fortunately, luck was on their side. The rest of the men sided with the eunuchs. They all knew that when they returned, they would have to make excuses to the Sultan, and there was no benefit in cozying up to the eunuchs. ©¥ ?????????? ?????????? ???????????????????????? ??????. ?? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ????????????! ©¥ ?????????? ????????????????. . .! As fate would have it, the ones who should have been seized ran up to the deck, and the duke happened to be leading his guards up the ship at that very moment. It was a stroke of misfortune that defied belief. ¡°What do we do now?¡± One of the knights asked, sweat pouring down his face. It wasn¡¯t because it was hot below deck. It was because he knew who was up there. The fact that he couldn¡¯t hear anything made it all the more terrifying. ¡°If we stall for time, the city¡¯s nobles will step in to mediate. We can bribe them and escape then.¡± The eunuchs knew the city¡¯s rules well. No matter how powerful the duke was, he couldn¡¯t just do whatever he wanted as an outsider. If he caused a disturbance like this, the city¡¯s soldiers would step in. If they could buy some time while the two sides mediated, they might be able to bribe them somehow. It would cost them a great deal of their wealth, but they had no choice. ¡°. . .Wait a minute.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the ship moving?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? There aren¡¯t even any sailors. . .¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not. It¡¯s moving!¡± The knights were shocked. The ship really was moving. ???????????? ¡°Did you say he¡¯s really down there?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°But he got caught by the eunuchs?¡± ¡°Yes!!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan wore an unusually troubled expression. He thought themander of the enemy was up to some evil scheme as he kept making unexpected moves and running away. That¡¯s why he brought the army here, leaving the Holy Land alone. . . The wizards stared at Johan. Suetlg spoke as if he understood. ¡°There are times when the truth of the world is just petty and trivial.¡± ¡°. . .Thank you.¡± Yeheyman¡¯s knights made excuses for themselves without realizing it. ¡°The eunuchs used a trick, so it wasn¡¯t Yeheyman-nim¡¯s fault.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The eunuchs used Yeheyman-nim¡¯s honor.¡± ¡°No one asked.¡± Johan said indifferently. He wasn¡¯t very interested in how Yeheyman got caught. He already knew very well that any great knight could die from a single stray arrow. ¡°We¡¯ll have to pull it up.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go down.¡± ¡°No. Leave it. I don¡¯t want to see you die trying to catch those b*stards.¡± The soldiers looked touched by Johan¡¯s words. Johan shook his head at the sight of the soldiers who were touched even though he had just stated the obvious. ¡°But we can¡¯t dy too long. The sailors. . .¡± ¡°Right. We need to sail. Bring the captain!¡± ¡°?!¡± The captain who was suddenly dragged in started to speak with a trembling voice. ¡°Your Highness. I really don¡¯t know anything. . .¡± ¡°Launch the ship. We have to get out the other way.¡± ¡°Yes???¡± A cold de was pressed against the captain¡¯s neck. The soldier said coldly. ¡°If you speak back one more time, you¡¯ll be breathing through the hole in your neck, not your mouth.¡± ¡°Y. . . Your Highness. There aren¡¯t enough sailors right now. We need to weigh the anchor and release the mooring lines, but with the sailors we have now. . .¡± ¡°We¡¯re here, so what are you making excuses for?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not even familiar with the work! This isn¡¯t something you can do with just strength. You need the knack for it. . .¡± ¡°Enough. Just tell me what needs to be done instead of babbling on.¡± Since the momentum was fierce, the captain guided the soldiers to where the anchor was being raised. And he cursed inwardly. ¡®?????? ?????????? ??*????????????. ?? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ??????????????!¡¯ The device for raising the anchor didn¡¯t work by simply turning it with force. It had to be raised little by little by experienced sailors applying strength in turn. No matter how majestic the duke¡¯s authority was, he couldn¡¯t just pull out the anchor that had sunk deep into the seawater. ??????????! ??????????! ??????????! Johan grabbed the device and started to pull up the anchor. The captain¡¯s eyes widened as the device, which wouldn¡¯t budge even with fifteen to twenty people, started to turn. ¡°Is it done?¡± ¡°Yes? Yes? Yes. . .¡± ¡°Let¡¯s move on to the next one! If you waste time, I¡¯ll throw you overboard!¡± ???????????? ¡°Be sure to speak to them politely! Do not, under any circumstances, fire your arrows. Do not insult or provoke them either! The duke also knows the customs, so if you strongly advise him, he willpromise!¡± ¡®????????¡¯???? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ????????????????!¡¯ Thinking thus, the mercenary captain ran towards the harbor. Each and every one of the duke¡¯s guards must be heavily armed veterans. The mercenary captain¡¯s men were not weak, but frankly, there was noparison. And yet, he was told not to fire arrows, insult or provoke them, and to apprehend them politely. What could he do? He could only hope that the duke would understand the situation and be persuaded. ¡°??!?!¡± The mercenary captain doubted his own eyes as he saw people gathering at the harbor and a ship sailing away into the sea. What in the world had happened? ¡°What¡¯s going on?! What happened?!¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke. . . has set sail. . .¡± ¡°Set sail?! What were those sailors doing on board the ship? It¡¯s not even departure time?¡± The sailors must be scattered around the harbor, so he couldn¡¯t figure out how they managed to set sail. The mercenary captain grabbed the nearest man by the cor and shouted. ¡°W-Well. . . It just. . . somehow. . . set sail. . .¡± ¡°What do we do?¡± The captain asked in a flustered voice. The mercenary captain frowned and said, ¡°Let¡¯s chase them down in our ship!¡± ¡°Y-Yes?? Do we really have to??¡± ¡°We have to show them that we did something! What do you think they¡¯ll say if we just return empty-handed?!¡± ¡°Understood. We¡¯ll get ready. You sailors! Why aren¡¯t you getting the ship ready faster?! How can you be slower than a bunch of soldiers?!¡± The mercenary captain hurried to prepare the ship to give chase. Maybe it was his imagination, but they seemed even slower than usual. ???????????? ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better toe out now? You¡¯ll have to eventually, and if you keep stalling ande outte, the anger of His Highness the Duke might be directed at you. If youe out now, we promise to treat you as prisoners of war.¡± A soldier fluent in the easternnguage shouted loudly from the entrance to the deck. There was no response. ¡°Are they holding out?¡± ¡°Leave them be. We¡¯ll send a signal.¡± The soldier who had gone up shot an arrow. It was a signal to the troops waiting outside the city. They had decided on this in advance since they had nned to seize the ship from the beginning. ¡°Your Highness. If we keep going like this, the ship will run aground!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯llpensate you generously.¡± The captain became sullen, but he couldn¡¯t say anything more. It wasn¡¯t just the soldiers on deck, the Duke¡¯s soldiers were also seen chasing in the distance, kicking up dust. ¡°There¡¯s a ship chasing us!¡± ¡°Chasing us?¡± Johan was puzzled. Of course, they had stolen a ship from a well-established city and fled, so it was possible that they would be chased. However, the response would depend on what kind of thief they were dealing with. If they had seized a ship that was hiding someone the duke was pursuing, then usually, even a city wouldn¡¯t want to cause trouble and would let it go. ¡°They must be mercenaries hired by the city, so don¡¯t you think they¡¯re just pretending to chase us to save face?¡± ¡°Would they really go that far? Either way, I¡¯ll go and persuade them myself.¡± The ship carrying the mercenary captain approached slowly. Johan spoke in a voice loud enough to be heard. ¡°Don¡¯te any closer!¡± ¡°Your Highness. Aren¡¯t you the one who respects customs andws? How can you just kidnap our ship and sailors and take them away?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you the ones who were arbitrarily hiding the criminals I was pursuing?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t know anything about that! If we had, we would have told the council. How could people from a small city like ours possibly hide criminals being pursued by Your Highness the Duke??¡± They were both shouting while beating around the bush, knowing the truth. Johan had to suppress a smirk. ¡°In that case, I have a proposal.¡± ¡°Yes. Please tell us.¡± Johan intended to propose returning everything except the criminals¡ªthe ship, the captain, and the sailors¡ªsafely. It was a proposal that would save the other party¡¯s face to some extent, and the people of the city would probably ept it. If he added some gold coins aspensationter, it would be even better. ¡°Excluding the criminals. . .¡± Before he could finish speaking, a small speedboat approached the mercenary captain¡¯s ship, and a centaur approached Johan¡¯s ship. Then, they reported the same thing. ¡°Your Highness the Duke! The mercenaries have captured the city!¡± ¡°Which crazy mercenaries did that?¡± ¡°. . .Your Highness, your mercenaries.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan turned away, lost for words. The mercenary captain looked at Johan with an expression full of shock and betrayal. ¡°It¡¯s toote to say it wasn¡¯t intentional. . .?¡± ¡°Yes. It seems they won¡¯t listen to anything I say.¡± ???????????? Johan and those close to him were now fully aware of the situation, so they weren¡¯t too worried about leading only a hundred men into the city. Considering the city¡¯s atmosphere and political situation, there was no reason for them to be hostile towards Johan. However, there was no way ordinary mercenaries could know that. They waited anxiously and restlessly. City people had always been greedy and suspicious, and it was even worse when they were pagans. What if His Highness the Duke was deceived by some suspicious trick and imprisoned?? ¡°When are theying out?¡± ¡°Hey. You have that ve you captured. Why don¡¯t we take him and send him in to spy on them? We can¡¯t just stay here like this.¡± The mercenaries tried to capture and question merchantsing and going from the city, or tried to sneak in themselves to check the atmosphere inside. In the meantime, the mercenaries heard shocking news. ¡°They say the city people sent soldiers to capture His Highness the Duke!¡± ¡°What??!¡± The centaurion panicked and tried to calm the mercenaries down. ¡°Calm down! His Highness the Duke told us not to act rashly. . .¡± ¡°Say that again!¡± ¡°. . .!¡± The mercenaries¡¯ rtionships were more horizontal than one might think. Although they were called captains and centurions, if they umted grievances, even a squad leader could incite a rebellion and kill them at any time. That¡¯s what mercenaries were like. The centurions had a hunch that if they stopped them now, they would be beaten up. ¡°. . .He did say that, but this isn¡¯t the time for that! That¡¯s right. We need to go in and rescue His Highness the Duke!¡± ¡°Waaaaah!¡± ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????, ????????¡¯???? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ Several furious units charged towards the city gates. The guards defending the gates were caught off guard by the unexpected attack and, incredibly, failed to close the gates and ran away in panic. ¡°We¡¯ve taken the city gates! Raise the g!¡± ¡°Capture the nobles first!! If His Highness the Duke has been captured, we need to exchange them as hostages! Go to their mansions and find the nobles!!¡± ¡°W-What nonsense are you talking about. . . We never captured His Highness the Duke?!¡± ¡°Shut up! How dare you lie! You pagans!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a monotheist too. . .!¡± ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll fall for that? You¡¯re even lying about your god! Find His Highness the Duke!¡± Chapter 327: ???? ?????? ???????? (4) The mercenaries, their blood boiling, moved without listening to any exnations. A few unlucky nobles who were nearby ended up being captured. Just like the guards who had been defending the city gate, the nobles were equally perplexed. ¡°Since when did we ever capture duke. . .¡± ¡°Be quiet. Watch your tongue!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Normally, he would¡¯ve shouted louder, but the captured nobles were overwhelmed by the mercenaries¡¯ imposing presence. They kept their mouths shut tight, fearing that the mercenaries might start swinging their swords at them at any moment, regardless of the customs regarding prisoners of war. While they were thus upying various parts of the mansion and preparing to hold their ground, a message arrived from another unit outside. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Tell them toe in quickly! If this keeps dragging on, all the glory will be ours!¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke has issued a recall order. He is currently by the shore outside the city gate, but. . .¡± ¡°. . .What nonsense is this? He doesn¡¯t have wings.¡±The mercenaries rejected the news as absurd. It was simply iprehensible to them. How could he have gotten outside through all that chaos? ¡°Ah.¡± One of the mercenaries suddenly realized what was going on when he saw the ships at the harbor starting to move. The bewildered mercenaries began to rumble. ¡°No way, did those city guys make a mistake? If they had exined properly, this wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± ¡°We definitely told you!¡± The captured city nobles were hopping mad with indignation, but their words fell on deaf ears. As they were arguing, another messenger arrived. ¡°His Highness the Duke says that since you¡¯ve already captured them, there¡¯s no choice but to bring them out.¡± ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s move, everyone.¡± The mercenaries began to trudge off with heavy steps. They too had realized that they had made a mistake. Their steps were heavy because they didn¡¯t know what kind of punishment they would receive. ???????????? ¡°What can we do since they¡¯ve been captured?¡± Johan epted the reality and quicklypromised. The others nodded in agreement. At this point, if they tried to tell the city people, ¡®?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????????????????????????? ??????????????????¡¯, they wouldn¡¯t believe it or listen. ¡°Bring out the captured nobles and use them as bargaining chips. There¡¯s no other way at this point.¡± Originally, he had intended to negotiate in a more cordial and polite manner, but that was out of the question now that he had captured the other party. In this situation, he had to act more arrogantly and forcefully. ¡°Your Highness! Isn¡¯t this going too far? How can you ignore the customs and act like this, when you are someone who is known for your kindness and generosity?¡± The words of the opposing city mercenary captain were all true, but Johan didn¡¯t even blink as he spoke. He couldn¡¯t back down now. He had to be even more brazen. ¡°Who was it that secretly hid the man I was chasing within the castle walls? It¡¯s the people of Aniza City, right here. How can I trust you when you said there was no one, and yet this happened?¡± ¡°But that¡¯s really. . .¡± ¡°Be quiet! Do you dare to continue lying in front of me?¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the soldiers behind him broke out in threatening cheers and jeers. The mercenary captain who hade to negotiate was drenched in cold sweat. Even without this, the huge difference in strength between the two sides was making it more and more difficult for him. ¡®?? ?????????????????? ???????? ??????.¡¯ The tolerant attitude that the Duke had shown at first was a trick. The Duke had already known from the beginning who had entered the city. If he had gotten angry then, the city¡¯s guards would have dug in their heels and resisted, and both sides would have suffered heavy casualties. There was no doubt that the Duke had lured them out in order to trick them. His order to enter the city with only a hundred men as an escort, which had seemed absurd at first nce, must have been for that reason. This was all a trap! The mercenary captain felt a chill run down his spine as if a de had scraped against it. He was terrified by the depth of the Duke¡¯s schemes, which had been carefullyid out from the moment he had first arrived, and by the ferocity of the Duke, who thought nothing of taking down a city like this. This was a kind of deration, a deration to the other cities watching from nearby. ©¥???? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????, ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ????! ¡°I. . . I¡¯m sorry.¡± In the end, the mercenary captain had to apologize and then enter into negotiations. The mercenary captain brought out the ransom money, as the other nobles of the city had suggested. Normally, he should have receivedpensation from the Duke, but somehow the situation had turned around so that he was the one paying ransom to the Duke. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll let them go.¡± ¡°Thank you for your mercy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll forgive you this time, but be warned! There will be no second chances!¡± Johan said sternly. The captured city nobles nodded their heads frantically. They were just as bewildered as the mercenary captain. Who would have thought that they would end up like this just because they had taken in a few runaways? As the negotiations ended and they scurried away like they were running away, Johan muttered to himself. ¡°It would be troublesome if the other cities got the wrong idea. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about it. Sometimes it¡¯s necessary to crack the whip like that.¡± Caenerna said from the side, as if to reassure him. To someone who had been the emperor¡¯s court wizard, Johan was someone who was very generous with his carrots. Maybe one whip for every nine carrots? Of course the results were good, but someone of Duke¡¯s stature didn¡¯t need to so stubbornly whip others. Sometimes, you can just swing the whip as you feel like. Others may have been a bit scared, but that wasn¡¯t a big problem. Just look at someone like Cardirian. Didn¡¯t he manage to live quite well even after whipping others ten times? Compared to someone like him, Duke was the embodiment of generosity and magnanimity. There won¡¯t be any real problems if he whips others a few more times in the future. ¡®???? ???? ???????????? ?????????¡¯ Johan was worried that the other cities might rise up in anger, feeling that they had been insulted. Even if each one is insignificant, if they all band together and hire mercenaries. . . . . .However, Caenerna¡¯s prediction was correct this time. Instead of hiring more mercenaries to confront the Duke, the nearby cities sent messengers to apologize sincerely for not weing the Duke¡¯s army. ¡®?????? ????????????.¡¯ Of course, he knew that he shouldn¡¯t feel resentful about something like this, but it was still somewhat baffling to see those who had been so arrogant when he was trying to reason with them now groveling and kneeling down just because there had been a littlemotion in the city. He couldn¡¯t help but think that maybe he should have lived like Cardirian. . . ¡°What shall we do with the mercenaries who acted on their own?¡± ¡°As punishment for acting on their own, they will be confined to their quarters, and as a reward for capturing the nobles, they will be given a share of the ransom money.¡± The mercenary leaders nodded with relieved expressions. No mercenary would be unmoved by those words. Who else would show such mercy? ???????????? ¡°Your Highness. Please have mercy. . .¡± ¡°When I told you toe out, you didn¡¯t listen, and now that you¡¯re facing death, you¡¯re begging me to show mercy?¡± The eunuchs¡¯ faces, which had already been pale, turned even paler at Johan¡¯s words. ¡°Very well. I will show you mercy. I will not execute you or anything just because you are pagans.¡± ¡°Your Highness the Duke is truly generous! We have heard of Your Highness¡¯s reputation since long ago. That your fame would reach even the distant easternnds, it is an honor that is unimaginable for lowly beings such as us.¡± ¡°Compared to your master, who is more glorious?¡± ¡°We would be cautious in making such aparison, but perhaps the achievements that Your Highness the Duke has aplished are slightly more glorious?¡± ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ Johan was speechless. He had said it as a joke, but they were actually ranking him higher than the Sultan. Caenerna whispered from the side. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to be an ordinary tterer.¡± ¡°Yeah. I thought so too, Your Excellency.¡± There was a reason why all the captured pagan nobles had insulted the eunuchs. They were so good at sweet-talking. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ????????????.¡¯ It was very convenient to have such shameless people who would spill everything, not because of ttery, but for their own safety. There were still many enemies remaining. ¡°Confine them and treat them well, but change their servants regrly. Do not let them converse with each other. Ignore whatever they say. Report to me first no matter what they do.¡± Caenerna smiled wryly at Johan¡¯s thoroughness. The eunuchs probably didn¡¯t expect to be monitored so thoroughly just for a little bit of ttery. ¡°So. . . Yeheyman-gong.¡± ¡°. . .Mock me all you want.¡± ¡°Why would I mock you?¡± The haggard Yeheyman sat in front of Johan with a face that had given up on everything. He had intended to restore his honor properly, but somehow things had turned out like this. ¡°You will be treated fairly as a prisoner of war. Of course, swinging your sword at those eunuchs is absolutely forbidden.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Yeheyman¡¯s face turned red as his inner thoughts were exposed. The moment he was given a sword, he had nned to swing it at those eunuchs first. ¡°I¡¯ll send you back as soon as I receive the ransom, so make yourselffortable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± ¡°What else do you have to say?¡± ¡°Not really, but. . .¡± Yeheyman was a little taken aback by the conversation ending sooner than he had expected. He had originally anticipated a somewhat longer conversation. He had thought that even if the Duke didn¡¯t openly mock him, he would at least show some arrogance befitting a victor. However, the Duke did not show a single shred of arrogance in his expression, despite having won such a victory. If anyone saw him, they would think that Yeheyman was the victor. ¡®???? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????????¡¯ He had been strongly impressed when he saw the Duke wielding his sword and ughtering soldiers like a crazy b*stard, but now the Duke exuded an even stronger presence. Yeheyman couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the Duke¡¯s back as he left the tent. ???????????? ¡°Don¡¯t you think we should bribe them a little more openly?¡± ¡°No. This is just the right amount. If we do more, it will backfire.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Yeheyman-gong is a proud knight, so a clumsy bribe could anger him. If we leave him alone, he¡¯ll think about it on his own ande over to us little by little.¡± ¡®?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Suetlg thought to himself as he watched the captured pagans chattering inside the tent. There were quite a few pagan prisoners in Johan¡¯s camp right now. That was to be expected after such a battle. Even though a considerable number had been locked up in the castle and the city, there were still just as many. Johan treated them well and kept them entertained. At first, the nobles, who had been prepared to die at the hands of the demon, gradually rxed their minds thanks to the unexpected hospitality. Normally, when people are extremely tense and then release that tension, they tend to be even more rxed. Moreover, there weren¡¯t many nobles who were deeply loyal to the Sultan. They quickly became friendly with Johan. And then they spilled out stories that they shouldn¡¯t have told. ¡°I see. As expected, the wisdom of the Dukes cannot be matched.¡± ¡°Haha. . . How can you say such things. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯m just embarrassed. Your Highness!¡± ¡°Bring more wine for these wise nobles.¡± Johan, who had gotten the captured nobles as drunk as he could, stood up when they all passed out. ¡°How is the siege of the Holy Land going?¡± ¡°The siege isplete, but there has been no further progress.¡± ¡°Well, even with only a few hundred men inside, it¡¯s a troublesome structure.¡± The fear of a well-built castley in this aspect. It made it possible for one man to be worth a hundred, quite literally. ¡°It seems that many believe that the gates will open as soon as Your Highness arrives.¡± ¡°Are you kidding. . . Wait. Are you serious?¡± Thinking about it, the fanatics really did believe that in all seriousness. Johan began to feel a slight headache. Johan was no wizard, so how could he open and close the gates at will? ¡®????????. ?? ???? ?? ???????????? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°But wouldn¡¯t it be possible for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to persuade them, but I don¡¯t know if it will work. Besides, the enemymander might be furious and not be persuaded.¡± He had nned to use the captured people as envoys to persuade them to surrender, but he didn¡¯t know how well it would go. Breaking a stubborn person¡¯s will was not an easy task in the first ce. . . ¡°Your Highness. The eunuchs wish to see Your Highness.¡± ¡°My dear. It seems like the persuasion was sessful.¡± Iselia said as if it was good news at the servant¡¯s call. However, Johan shook his head. ¡°Those guys weren¡¯t persuaded. They just switched sides right away.¡± He was curious to know what they wanted to talk about. It probably wouldn¡¯t be anything too surprising, no matter what they said. . . ¡°. . .If Your Highness wishes it, I can make Suhekhar-nim fall ill.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan was genuinely surprised. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????? ??*?????????????¡¯ No matter what, they were openly talking about poisoning a noble who was favored by the Sultan?, The mercenaries, their blood boiling, moved without listening to any exnations. A few unlucky nobles who were nearby ended up being captured. Just like the guards who had been defending the city gate, the nobles were equally perplexed. ¡°Since when did we ever capture duke. . .¡± ¡°Be quiet. Watch your tongue!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Normally, he would¡¯ve shouted louder, but the captured nobles were overwhelmed by the mercenaries¡¯ imposing presence. They kept their mouths shut tight, fearing that the mercenaries might start swinging their swords at them at any moment, regardless of the customs regarding prisoners of war. While they were thus upying various parts of the mansion and preparing to hold their ground, a message arrived from another unit outside. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Tell them toe in quickly! If this keeps dragging on, all the glory will be ours!¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke has issued a recall order. He is currently by the shore outside the city gate, but. . .¡± ¡°. . .What nonsense is this? He doesn¡¯t have wings.¡± The mercenaries rejected the news as absurd. It was simply iprehensible to them. How could he have gotten outside through all that chaos? ¡°Ah.¡± One of the mercenaries suddenly realized what was going on when he saw the ships at the harbor starting to move. The bewildered mercenaries began to rumble. ¡°No way, did those city guys make a mistake? If they had exined properly, this wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± ¡°We definitely told you!¡± The captured city nobles were hopping mad with indignation, but their words fell on deaf ears. As they were arguing, another messenger arrived. ¡°His Highness the Duke says that since you¡¯ve already captured them, there¡¯s no choice but to bring them out.¡± ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s move, everyone.¡± The mercenaries began to trudge off with heavy steps. They too had realized that they had made a mistake. Their steps were heavy because they didn¡¯t know what kind of punishment they would receive. ???????????? ¡°What can we do since they¡¯ve been captured?¡± Johan epted the reality and quicklypromised. The others nodded in agreement. At this point, if they tried to tell the city people, ¡®?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????????????????????????? ??????????????????¡¯, they wouldn¡¯t believe it or listen. ¡°Bring out the captured nobles and use them as bargaining chips. There¡¯s no other way at this point.¡± Originally, he had intended to negotiate in a more cordial and polite manner, but that was out of the question now that he had captured the other party. In this situation, he had to act more arrogantly and forcefully. ¡°Your Highness! Isn¡¯t this going too far? How can you ignore the customs and act like this, when you are someone who is known for your kindness and generosity?¡± The words of the opposing city mercenary captain were all true, but Johan didn¡¯t even blink as he spoke. He couldn¡¯t back down now. He had to be even more brazen. ¡°Who was it that secretly hid the man I was chasing within the castle walls? It¡¯s the people of Aniza City, right here. How can I trust you when you said there was no one, and yet this happened?¡± ¡°But that¡¯s really. . .¡± ¡°Be quiet! Do you dare to continue lying in front of me?¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the soldiers behind him broke out in threatening cheers and jeers. The mercenary captain who hade to negotiate was drenched in cold sweat. Even without this, the huge difference in strength between the two sides was making it more and more difficult for him. ¡®?? ?????????????????? ???????? ??????.¡¯ The tolerant attitude that the Duke had shown at first was a trick. The Duke had already known from the beginning who had entered the city. If he had gotten angry then, the city¡¯s guards would have dug in their heels and resisted, and both sides would have suffered heavy casualties. There was no doubt that the Duke had lured them out in order to trick them. His order to enter the city with only a hundred men as an escort, which had seemed absurd at first nce, must have been for that reason. This was all a trap! The mercenary captain felt a chill run down his spine as if a de had scraped against it. He was terrified by the depth of the Duke¡¯s schemes, which had been carefullyid out from the moment he had first arrived, and by the ferocity of the Duke, who thought nothing of taking down a city like this. This was a kind of deration, a deration to the other cities watching from nearby. ©¥???? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????, ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ????! ¡°I. . . I¡¯m sorry.¡± In the end, the mercenary captain had to apologize and then enter into negotiations. The mercenary captain brought out the ransom money, as the other nobles of the city had suggested. Normally, he should have receivedpensation from the Duke, but somehow the situation had turned around so that he was the one paying ransom to the Duke. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll let them go.¡± ¡°Thank you for your mercy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll forgive you this time, but be warned! There will be no second chances!¡± Johan said sternly. The captured city nobles nodded their heads frantically. They were just as bewildered as the mercenary captain. Who would have thought that they would end up like this just because they had taken in a few runaways? As the negotiations ended and they scurried away like they were running away, Johan muttered to himself. ¡°It would be troublesome if the other cities got the wrong idea. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about it. Sometimes it¡¯s necessary to crack the whip like that.¡± Caenerna said from the side, as if to reassure him. To someone who had been the emperor¡¯s court wizard, Johan was someone who was very generous with his carrots. Maybe one whip for every nine carrots? Of course the results were good, but someone of Duke¡¯s stature didn¡¯t need to so stubbornly whip others. Sometimes, you can just swing the whip as you feel like. Others may have been a bit scared, but that wasn¡¯t a big problem. Just look at someone like Cardirian. Didn¡¯t he manage to live quite well even after whipping others ten times? Compared to someone like him, Duke was the embodiment of generosity and magnanimity. There won¡¯t be any real problems if he whips others a few more times in the future. ¡®???? ???? ???????????? ?????????¡¯ Johan was worried that the other cities might rise up in anger, feeling that they had been insulted. Even if each one is insignificant, if they all band together and hire mercenaries. . . . . .However, Caenerna¡¯s prediction was correct this time. Instead of hiring more mercenaries to confront the Duke, the nearby cities sent messengers to apologize sincerely for not weing the Duke¡¯s army. ¡®?????? ????????????.¡¯ Of course, he knew that he shouldn¡¯t feel resentful about something like this, but it was still somewhat baffling to see those who had been so arrogant when he was trying to reason with them now groveling and kneeling down just because there had been a littlemotion in the city. He couldn¡¯t help but think that maybe he should have lived like Cardirian. . . ¡°What shall we do with the mercenaries who acted on their own?¡± ¡°As punishment for acting on their own, they will be confined to their quarters, and as a reward for capturing the nobles, they will be given a share of the ransom money.¡± The mercenary leaders nodded with relieved expressions. No mercenary would be unmoved by those words. Who else would show such mercy? ???????????? ¡°Your Highness. Please have mercy. . .¡± ¡°When I told you toe out, you didn¡¯t listen, and now that you¡¯re facing death, you¡¯re begging me to show mercy?¡± The eunuchs¡¯ faces, which had already been pale, turned even paler at Johan¡¯s words. ¡°Very well. I will show you mercy. I will not execute you or anything just because you are pagans.¡± ¡°Your Highness the Duke is truly generous! We have heard of Your Highness¡¯s reputation since long ago. That your fame would reach even the distant easternnds, it is an honor that is unimaginable for lowly beings such as us.¡± ¡°Compared to your master, who is more glorious?¡± ¡°We would be cautious in making such aparison, but perhaps the achievements that Your Highness the Duke has aplished are slightly more glorious?¡± ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ Johan was speechless. He had said it as a joke, but they were actually ranking him higher than the Sultan. Caenerna whispered from the side. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to be an ordinary tterer.¡± ¡°Yeah. I thought so too, Your Excellency.¡± There was a reason why all the captured pagan nobles had insulted the eunuchs. They were so good at sweet-talking. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ????????????.¡¯ It was very convenient to have such shameless people who would spill everything, not because of ttery, but for their own safety. There were still many enemies remaining. ¡°Confine them and treat them well, but change their servants regrly. Do not let them converse with each other. Ignore whatever they say. Report to me first no matter what they do.¡± Caenerna smiled wryly at Johan¡¯s thoroughness. The eunuchs probably didn¡¯t expect to be monitored so thoroughly just for a little bit of ttery. ¡°So. . . Yeheyman-gong.¡± ¡°. . .Mock me all you want.¡± ¡°Why would I mock you?¡± The haggard Yeheyman sat in front of Johan with a face that had given up on everything. He had intended to restore his honor properly, but somehow things had turned out like this. ¡°You will be treated fairly as a prisoner of war. Of course, swinging your sword at those eunuchs is absolutely forbidden.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Yeheyman¡¯s face turned red as his inner thoughts were exposed. The moment he was given a sword, he had nned to swing it at those eunuchs first. ¡°I¡¯ll send you back as soon as I receive the ransom, so make yourselffortable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± ¡°What else do you have to say?¡± ¡°Not really, but. . .¡± Yeheyman was a little taken aback by the conversation ending sooner than he had expected. He had originally anticipated a somewhat longer conversation. He had thought that even if the Duke didn¡¯t openly mock him, he would at least show some arrogance befitting a victor. However, the Duke did not show a single shred of arrogance in his expression, despite having won such a victory. If anyone saw him, they would think that Yeheyman was the victor. ¡®???? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????????¡¯ He had been strongly impressed when he saw the Duke wielding his sword and ughtering soldiers like a crazy b*stard, but now the Duke exuded an even stronger presence. Yeheyman couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the Duke¡¯s back as he left the tent. ???????????? ¡°Don¡¯t you think we should bribe them a little more openly?¡± ¡°No. This is just the right amount. If we do more, it will backfire.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Yeheyman-gong is a proud knight, so a clumsy bribe could anger him. If we leave him alone, he¡¯ll think about it on his own ande over to us little by little.¡± ¡®?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?????? ????????.¡¯ Suetlg thought to himself as he watched the captured pagans chattering inside the tent. There were quite a few pagan prisoners in Johan¡¯s camp right now. That was to be expected after such a battle. Even though a considerable number had been locked up in the castle and the city, there were still just as many. Johan treated them well and kept them entertained. At first, the nobles, who had been prepared to die at the hands of the demon, gradually rxed their minds thanks to the unexpected hospitality. Normally, when people are extremely tense and then release that tension, they tend to be even more rxed. Moreover, there weren¡¯t many nobles who were deeply loyal to the Sultan. They quickly became friendly with Johan. And then they spilled out stories that they shouldn¡¯t have told. ¡°I see. As expected, the wisdom of the Dukes cannot be matched.¡± ¡°Haha. . . How can you say such things. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯m just embarrassed. Your Highness!¡± ¡°Bring more wine for these wise nobles.¡± Johan, who had gotten the captured nobles as drunk as he could, stood up when they all passed out. ¡°How is the siege of the Holy Land going?¡± ¡°The siege isplete, but there has been no further progress.¡± ¡°Well, even with only a few hundred men inside, it¡¯s a troublesome structure.¡± The fear of a well-built castley in this aspect. It made it possible for one man to be worth a hundred, quite literally. ¡°It seems that many believe that the gates will open as soon as Your Highness arrives.¡± ¡°Are you kidding. . . Wait. Are you serious?¡± Thinking about it, the fanatics really did believe that in all seriousness. Johan began to feel a slight headache. Johan was no wizard, so how could he open and close the gates at will? ¡®????????. ?? ???? ?? ???????????? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°But wouldn¡¯t it be possible for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to persuade them, but I don¡¯t know if it will work. Besides, the enemymander might be furious and not be persuaded.¡± He had nned to use the captured people as envoys to persuade them to surrender, but he didn¡¯t know how well it would go. Breaking a stubborn person¡¯s will was not an easy task in the first ce. . . ¡°Your Highness. The eunuchs wish to see Your Highness.¡± ¡°My dear. It seems like the persuasion was sessful.¡± Iselia said as if it was good news at the servant¡¯s call. However, Johan shook his head. ¡°Those guys weren¡¯t persuaded. They just switched sides right away.¡± He was curious to know what they wanted to talk about. It probably wouldn¡¯t be anything too surprising, no matter what they said. . . ¡°. . .If Your Highness wishes it, I can make Suhekhar-nim fall ill.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan was genuinely surprised. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????? ??*?????????????¡¯ No matter what, they were openly talking about poisoning a noble who was favored by the Sultan? Chapter 328: ???????? ???????? (1) In Johan¡¯s eyes, who was used to the Eastern Empire¡¯s system, the eunuchs hailing from the East were quite a novel shock. ¡®???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ????????, ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ He had heard that Vynashchtym and Eastern Empire both had eunuchs in their courts, but seeing them in person was a whole other level of surprise. ¡°Can you just waltz in here like this and do whatever you please while leaving your master behind?¡± ¡°He is present at this ce right now. Our lives are in Your Highness¡¯s hands.¡± The eunuch replied as if it was nothing special, and Johan felt a sense of subtle difort from it. ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?? ???????? ????????????????????????.¡¯ Even if they wanted to live, if their rtionship was good, there would be no reason for them to volunteer to poison him. It was clear that they got along poorly. ¡°I¡¯ll think carefully about your proposal.¡±The eunuchs smiled at the duke¡¯s words. They exchanged meaningful nces with each other. ©¥???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????? ©¥???????? ???? ????????????????. There was a reason why the eunuchs were acting this way. Although there were many nobles captured as prisoners, not many of them would side with the eunuchs. Especially since Yeheyman was taken alive. There was no way that Yeheyman, who almost got killed by the eunuchs, would say anything good about them. Yeheyman was intent on cing all the me of the defeat on the eunuchs, and he kept bbering on about it. The eunuchs were naturally furious, but. . . The eunuchs couldn¡¯t do anything about it right now. They had to seriously worry about their own lives first. If an enraged noble were to swing a sword, the eunuchs¡¯ lives would be forfeit. The best way was to get in the duke¡¯s good graces. And the eunuchs knew exactly how to scratch that itch. ©¥????¡¯???? ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ????????, ?????? ????¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ????????????. ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????????. . . After the eunuchs left, Johan spoke to his subordinates. ¡°Double the guards around the ce where they¡¯re staying and check everything they bring in. They¡¯re quite suspicious.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± However, there was something the eunuchs were mistaken about. Johan was much more suspicious and careful than they thought. If it was another noble, they might have reluctantly given permission, pretending to be unable to go against the wishes of the captured prisoners, but Johan was different. ¡°What are your thoughts on their proposal?¡± ¡°I really do not want to receive such a suspicious proposal unless the situation is extremely dire. It¡¯s very suspicious.¡± Johan¡¯s decisive refusal brought a sly smile to Caenerna¡¯s face and she nodded. Although he didn¡¯t borate much, the duke instinctively demonstrated political insight on this matter. If a rumor spreads from a single assassination gone wrong, it can be bothersome in many ways. But not everyone can immediately brush aside such a temptation and take the easy andfortable path. Hadn¡¯t Cardirian himself failed to resist such a temptation and brought about his own ruin? ¡°By the way, Caenerna-gong, wouldn¡¯t the price for the eunuchs¡¯ lives be rather inexpensive? They are ve status to begin with, right?¡± ¡°. . .Your Highness, is it appropriate to calcte such things?¡± ???????????? The atmosphere in the Holy Land was strange. An ominous silence lingered inside the city walls, while excited shouts constantly rang out from outside the city walls. Among the people in the Holy Land, the monotheists looked forward with anticipation, while the polytheists looked around with anxious expressions. ¡°I had a dream, brothers and sisters. I dreamed of a lightning bolt striking and destroying the thick city gates. When the crowned figure walked around the Holy Land three times, lightning struck the gates! What could this mean?¡± ¡°Ooh. . .!¡± When momentum was high, anyone could be a prophet. While some people had joined the expedition out of personal ambition or a sense of duty, there were also quite a few who had joined out of pure religious devotion. For them, even a dream was a prophecy, and a mere pebble on the road was a divine revtion. The miraculous victory further fueled their fanaticism. At various ces in the military camp, self-proimed prophets wereing up with usible interpretations of when the Holy Land would fall. The most popr one was ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ??????????????¡¯, and the second most popr one was ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????????? ????????????, ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????????????????¡¯. Ulrike was astonished by the crazy spectacle, but she didn¡¯t bother to stop them. It wasn¡¯t the kind of problem that could be solved with words, and if she tried to stop them, their energy might turn in a different direction, which would be dangerous. ¡°Did the enemymander ignore the surrender request again?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I suppose he intends to hold out until the end.¡± ¡°The siege weapons are almostplete. If you give the order. . .¡± ¡°No. We¡¯ll wait a little longer.¡± To be honest, Ulrike didn¡¯t want to lead an army like this in a siege warfare. If possible, she wanted to pressure the enemy into surrendering. Originally, a siege warfare was very inefficient for the attackers. The difficulty increased exponentially as the castle they were trying to conquer becamerger and sturdier. Furthermore, although the army gathered here hadrge numbers, they weren¡¯t very united. If they started attacking and suffered casualties, they would start to waver. It was better to surround them and wait. Since the defeat must have been shocking to them, they might copse on their own if left alone. ¡°!¡± A thunderous roar that sounded like the heavens and the earth were copsing came from outside. Ulrike opened her mouth without even checking outside the tent. ¡°His Highness the Duke must have arrived.¡± ???????????? Suhekhar looked down with a worried expression. He could guess who had arrived even without checking. There was only one person who could cause such a roar that could be heard all the way here. ¡®?? ?????????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ??????, ?????? ????????????. . .¡¯ He tried not to resent Yeheyman, but he couldn¡¯t help the frustration that welled up inside him when he thought about it. How could he just throw away such arge army like that? Even if he had retreated to the Holy Land, he would have had dozens of things he could have done if he had just preserved his troops. He prided himself as a seasonedmander, but he had only experienced shocking incidents ever since hended. At this point, he didn¡¯t think he would be surprised no matter what happened. ¡°Suhekhar-nim. Down there. . .¡± ¡°What¡¯s the fuss?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that. Look down there.¡± ¡°??¡± Suhekhar moved to where his subordinate was pointing. A few men on horses rode out of the enemy camp, holding a white g, and approached the city walls of the Holy Land. To their surprise, they were the captured nobles. ¡°Suhekhar-gong! Surrender! The battle is already as good as over!¡± ¡°Why did our soldiers disappear and why were we defeated? The gods¡¯ will lies with His Highness the Duke. Please open the gates and spare yourselves unnecessary suffering!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suhekhar, who had experienced so many shocking things that he thought he wouldn¡¯t be surprised anymore, couldn¡¯t help but drop his jaw this time. ¡®????, ????????!¡¯ He could understand losing the battle. Any greatmander could be defeated if misfortune struck. He could also understand being taken prisoner. He had wondered why they didn¡¯t run away, but there must have been extenuating circumstances. However, riding out on horses and suggesting surrender crossed the line of understanding. He couldn¡¯t fathom why they would do such a thing, considering the honor of the nobles. Did the duke drug them and control them with magic? ¡°W-What should we do?¡± ¡°Ignore them!¡± ¡°Should we shoot arrows?¡± ¡°Leave them alone. Shooting arrows will only backfire.¡± Suhekhar, who already had to defend the Holy Land with the small number of soldiers he had, felt a headacheing on. In fact, what he was most afraid of right now wasn¡¯t the enemy outside the castle walls, but the countless people inside the castle. If they were to rebel, he wouldn¡¯t be able to stop them. ¡°Calm the soldiers down and call the influential people in the city. We need to persuade them.¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± However, the ordeal that had befallen Suhekhar had only just begun. And that ordeal wasn¡¯t starvation or rebellion. It was a disease. ???????????? Johan listened with a frown. ¡°There¡¯s a disease spreading inside the Holy Land?¡± Johan wasn¡¯t afraid of soldiers with swords and spears, but he was afraid of diseases. He had experienced the pain of an infectious disease several times before, so he was even more afraid of it. ¡°Yes! They say the dead areing back to life and the healthy are turning into demons!¡± At the merchant¡¯s report, one of the feudal lords in the tent couldn¡¯t contain his excitement and joined the conversation. ¡°This can only mean one thing, Your Highness.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°??¡± Johan and Ulrike turned their gazes, still trying to grasp the situation. They wondered what the feudal lord had realized. ¡°God has forsaken them!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike had to work hard to keep herposure. To do that, she had to repeatedly remind herself that the feudal lord had brought quite a few knights with him. ¡°. . .I see.¡± Johan simply nodded, since he didn¡¯t have anything to say. Thinking that he agreed, the feudal lord continued. ¡°I may becking in religious devotion, but I dare say that God is with us! The infectious disease spreading in the city is God¡¯s fist. They will soon realize it and open the gates!¡± Johan turned to the bishop who was present. He wanted him to stop the cultistal nonsense. However, the bishop misunderstood his gaze and nodded with a big smile. He meant that he didn¡¯t have anyints about the feudal lord¡¯s religious devotion. ¡®??????????¡¯?? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????. ?? ???????? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°Yes. Since God is helping us, the gates will open soon. Let us all wait happily until then!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After sending the feudal lords gathered in the tent away, Johan called only the people who couldmunicate with each other. ¡°Do you know what kind of disease it is?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard of such a disease. I¡¯ve never heard of anything like it.¡± ¡°Could it be abination of different things?¡± Caenerna offered her opinion. Originally, diseases could sometimes pile up like a snowball and strike when one was unlucky. ¡°First of all, the deading back to life. . . That must be happening because of umted evil energy. I¡¯ve seen that happen before.¡± With all the battles and therge number of corpses, it was only natural for undead to appear, and Johan wasn¡¯t surprised by it anymore. ¡°I¡¯ve seen people going crazy or something, but I¡¯ve never seen them turn into demons.¡± At Jyanina¡¯s words, Ulrike nodded with a serious expression. Jyanina was even more flustered when the great feudal lord like Ulrike took her words more seriously than she expected. ¡°Is it a demon, not a disease?¡± ¡°!¡± The wizards looked intrigued when Johan said that without thinking. It was certainly a usible exnation. It was perfectly possible for a disease and monsters to ovep. ¡°What kind of monster can spread an infectious disease, Jyanina-gong?¡± ¡°Huh? Uhh. . .¡± While Jyanina hesitated, Ulrike brought up a different topic. ¡°The disease spreading inside is a problem, but let¡¯s talk about what happens after the enemy surrenders. We should worry about that after we¡¯ve opened the gates.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. I heard that the enemymander is experienced and persistent, so he won¡¯t surrender easily.¡± ¡°. . .Who did you hear that from?¡± ¡°The surrendered nobles.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± She wondered how they had managed to extract such information, but Ulrike let it go for now. That wasn¡¯t the priority right now. ¡°How about sending the friendly nobles to persuade them?¡± ¡°If they were the kind of people who would surrender to that, wouldn¡¯t they have done it already? The lord must have tried that already, but it won¡¯t work now that you¡¯re suggesting it.¡± Johan expressed a negative opinion to Ulrike¡¯s suggestion. Ulrike nodded in agreement, thinking, ¡®?? ?????????? ????¡¯. No matter how persuasive someone was, they would eventually break if they were pushed too far. It seemed like they would have been persuaded if they had kept trying. . . But the duke, who was close to the pagan nobles, must have had a reason for saying that. And then, a message came from outside. ¡°Your Highness. The enemymander has sent a messenger to say that he will surrender. He says he will hand over the city if you guarantee his safety.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike stared at the duke. Johan nodded while deliberately avoiding her gaze. ¡°What a stroke of luck! Is this God¡¯s will?¡± ¡°You could say that. . .¡±, In Johan¡¯s eyes, who was used to the Eastern Empire¡¯s system, the eunuchs hailing from the East were quite a novel shock. ¡®???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ????????, ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ He had heard that Vynashchtym and Eastern Empire both had eunuchs in their courts, but seeing them in person was a whole other level of surprise. ¡°Can you just waltz in here like this and do whatever you please while leaving your master behind?¡± ¡°He is present at this ce right now. Our lives are in Your Highness¡¯s hands.¡± The eunuch replied as if it was nothing special, and Johan felt a sense of subtle difort from it. ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?? ???????? ????????????????????????.¡¯ Even if they wanted to live, if their rtionship was good, there would be no reason for them to volunteer to poison him. It was clear that they got along poorly. ¡°I¡¯ll think carefully about your proposal.¡± The eunuchs smiled at the duke¡¯s words. They exchanged meaningful nces with each other. ©¥???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????? ©¥???????? ???? ????????????????. There was a reason why the eunuchs were acting this way. Although there were many nobles captured as prisoners, not many of them would side with the eunuchs. Especially since Yeheyman was taken alive. There was no way that Yeheyman, who almost got killed by the eunuchs, would say anything good about them. Yeheyman was intent on cing all the me of the defeat on the eunuchs, and he kept bbering on about it. The eunuchs were naturally furious, but. . . The eunuchs couldn¡¯t do anything about it right now. They had to seriously worry about their own lives first. If an enraged noble were to swing a sword, the eunuchs¡¯ lives would be forfeit. The best way was to get in the duke¡¯s good graces. And the eunuchs knew exactly how to scratch that itch. ©¥????¡¯???? ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ????????, ?????? ????¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ????????????. ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????????. . . After the eunuchs left, Johan spoke to his subordinates. ¡°Double the guards around the ce where they¡¯re staying and check everything they bring in. They¡¯re quite suspicious.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± However, there was something the eunuchs were mistaken about. Johan was much more suspicious and careful than they thought. If it was another noble, they might have reluctantly given permission, pretending to be unable to go against the wishes of the captured prisoners, but Johan was different. ¡°What are your thoughts on their proposal?¡± ¡°I really do not want to receive such a suspicious proposal unless the situation is extremely dire. It¡¯s very suspicious.¡± Johan¡¯s decisive refusal brought a sly smile to Caenerna¡¯s face and she nodded. Although he didn¡¯t borate much, the duke instinctively demonstrated political insight on this matter. If a rumor spreads from a single assassination gone wrong, it can be bothersome in many ways. But not everyone can immediately brush aside such a temptation and take the easy andfortable path. Hadn¡¯t Cardirian himself failed to resist such a temptation and brought about his own ruin? ¡°By the way, Caenerna-gong, wouldn¡¯t the price for the eunuchs¡¯ lives be rather inexpensive? They are ve status to begin with, right?¡± ¡°. . .Your Highness, is it appropriate to calcte such things?¡± ???????????? The atmosphere in the Holy Land was strange. An ominous silence lingered inside the city walls, while excited shouts constantly rang out from outside the city walls. Among the people in the Holy Land, the monotheists looked forward with anticipation, while the polytheists looked around with anxious expressions. ¡°I had a dream, brothers and sisters. I dreamed of a lightning bolt striking and destroying the thick city gates. When the crowned figure walked around the Holy Land three times, lightning struck the gates! What could this mean?¡± ¡°Ooh. . .!¡± When momentum was high, anyone could be a prophet. While some people had joined the expedition out of personal ambition or a sense of duty, there were also quite a few who had joined out of pure religious devotion. For them, even a dream was a prophecy, and a mere pebble on the road was a divine revtion. The miraculous victory further fueled their fanaticism. At various ces in the military camp, self-proimed prophets wereing up with usible interpretations of when the Holy Land would fall. The most popr one was ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ??????????????¡¯, and the second most popr one was ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????????? ????????????, ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????????????????¡¯. Ulrike was astonished by the crazy spectacle, but she didn¡¯t bother to stop them. It wasn¡¯t the kind of problem that could be solved with words, and if she tried to stop them, their energy might turn in a different direction, which would be dangerous. ¡°Did the enemymander ignore the surrender request again?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I suppose he intends to hold out until the end.¡± ¡°The siege weapons are almostplete. If you give the order. . .¡± ¡°No. We¡¯ll wait a little longer.¡± To be honest, Ulrike didn¡¯t want to lead an army like this in a siege warfare. If possible, she wanted to pressure the enemy into surrendering. Originally, a siege warfare was very inefficient for the attackers. The difficulty increased exponentially as the castle they were trying to conquer becamerger and sturdier. Furthermore, although the army gathered here hadrge numbers, they weren¡¯t very united. If they started attacking and suffered casualties, they would start to waver. It was better to surround them and wait. Since the defeat must have been shocking to them, they might copse on their own if left alone. ¡°!¡± A thunderous roar that sounded like the heavens and the earth were copsing came from outside. Ulrike opened her mouth without even checking outside the tent. ¡°His Highness the Duke must have arrived.¡± ???????????? Suhekhar looked down with a worried expression. He could guess who had arrived even without checking. There was only one person who could cause such a roar that could be heard all the way here. ¡®?? ?????????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ??????, ?????? ????????????. . .¡¯ He tried not to resent Yeheyman, but he couldn¡¯t help the frustration that welled up inside him when he thought about it. How could he just throw away such arge army like that? Even if he had retreated to the Holy Land, he would have had dozens of things he could have done if he had just preserved his troops. He prided himself as a seasonedmander, but he had only experienced shocking incidents ever since hended. At this point, he didn¡¯t think he would be surprised no matter what happened. ¡°Suhekhar-nim. Down there. . .¡± ¡°What¡¯s the fuss?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that. Look down there.¡± ¡°??¡± Suhekhar moved to where his subordinate was pointing. A few men on horses rode out of the enemy camp, holding a white g, and approached the city walls of the Holy Land. To their surprise, they were the captured nobles. ¡°Suhekhar-gong! Surrender! The battle is already as good as over!¡± ¡°Why did our soldiers disappear and why were we defeated? The gods¡¯ will lies with His Highness the Duke. Please open the gates and spare yourselves unnecessary suffering!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suhekhar, who had experienced so many shocking things that he thought he wouldn¡¯t be surprised anymore, couldn¡¯t help but drop his jaw this time. ¡®????, ????????!¡¯ He could understand losing the battle. Any greatmander could be defeated if misfortune struck. He could also understand being taken prisoner. He had wondered why they didn¡¯t run away, but there must have been extenuating circumstances. However, riding out on horses and suggesting surrender crossed the line of understanding. He couldn¡¯t fathom why they would do such a thing, considering the honor of the nobles. Did the duke drug them and control them with magic? ¡°W-What should we do?¡± ¡°Ignore them!¡± ¡°Should we shoot arrows?¡± ¡°Leave them alone. Shooting arrows will only backfire.¡± Suhekhar, who already had to defend the Holy Land with the small number of soldiers he had, felt a headacheing on. In fact, what he was most afraid of right now wasn¡¯t the enemy outside the castle walls, but the countless people inside the castle. If they were to rebel, he wouldn¡¯t be able to stop them. ¡°Calm the soldiers down and call the influential people in the city. We need to persuade them.¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± However, the ordeal that had befallen Suhekhar had only just begun. And that ordeal wasn¡¯t starvation or rebellion. It was a disease. ???????????? Johan listened with a frown. ¡°There¡¯s a disease spreading inside the Holy Land?¡± Johan wasn¡¯t afraid of soldiers with swords and spears, but he was afraid of diseases. He had experienced the pain of an infectious disease several times before, so he was even more afraid of it. ¡°Yes! They say the dead areing back to life and the healthy are turning into demons!¡± At the merchant¡¯s report, one of the feudal lords in the tent couldn¡¯t contain his excitement and joined the conversation. ¡°This can only mean one thing, Your Highness.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°??¡± Johan and Ulrike turned their gazes, still trying to grasp the situation. They wondered what the feudal lord had realized. ¡°God has forsaken them!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike had to work hard to keep herposure. To do that, she had to repeatedly remind herself that the feudal lord had brought quite a few knights with him. ¡°. . .I see.¡± Johan simply nodded, since he didn¡¯t have anything to say. Thinking that he agreed, the feudal lord continued. ¡°I may becking in religious devotion, but I dare say that God is with us! The infectious disease spreading in the city is God¡¯s fist. They will soon realize it and open the gates!¡± Johan turned to the bishop who was present. He wanted him to stop the cultistal nonsense. However, the bishop misunderstood his gaze and nodded with a big smile. He meant that he didn¡¯t have anyints about the feudal lord¡¯s religious devotion. ¡®??????????¡¯?? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????. ?? ???????? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°Yes. Since God is helping us, the gates will open soon. Let us all wait happily until then!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After sending the feudal lords gathered in the tent away, Johan called only the people who couldmunicate with each other. ¡°Do you know what kind of disease it is?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard of such a disease. I¡¯ve never heard of anything like it.¡± ¡°Could it be abination of different things?¡± Caenerna offered her opinion. Originally, diseases could sometimes pile up like a snowball and strike when one was unlucky. ¡°First of all, the deading back to life. . . That must be happening because of umted evil energy. I¡¯ve seen that happen before.¡± With all the battles and therge number of corpses, it was only natural for undead to appear, and Johan wasn¡¯t surprised by it anymore. ¡°I¡¯ve seen people going crazy or something, but I¡¯ve never seen them turn into demons.¡± At Jyanina¡¯s words, Ulrike nodded with a serious expression. Jyanina was even more flustered when the great feudal lord like Ulrike took her words more seriously than she expected. ¡°Is it a demon, not a disease?¡± ¡°!¡± The wizards looked intrigued when Johan said that without thinking. It was certainly a usible exnation. It was perfectly possible for a disease and monsters to ovep. ¡°What kind of monster can spread an infectious disease, Jyanina-gong?¡± ¡°Huh? Uhh. . .¡± While Jyanina hesitated, Ulrike brought up a different topic. ¡°The disease spreading inside is a problem, but let¡¯s talk about what happens after the enemy surrenders. We should worry about that after we¡¯ve opened the gates.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. I heard that the enemymander is experienced and persistent, so he won¡¯t surrender easily.¡± ¡°. . .Who did you hear that from?¡± ¡°The surrendered nobles.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± She wondered how they had managed to extract such information, but Ulrike let it go for now. That wasn¡¯t the priority right now. ¡°How about sending the friendly nobles to persuade them?¡± ¡°If they were the kind of people who would surrender to that, wouldn¡¯t they have done it already? The lord must have tried that already, but it won¡¯t work now that you¡¯re suggesting it.¡± Johan expressed a negative opinion to Ulrike¡¯s suggestion. Ulrike nodded in agreement, thinking, ¡®?? ?????????? ????¡¯. No matter how persuasive someone was, they would eventually break if they were pushed too far. It seemed like they would have been persuaded if they had kept trying. . . But the duke, who was close to the pagan nobles, must have had a reason for saying that. And then, a message came from outside. ¡°Your Highness. The enemymander has sent a messenger to say that he will surrender. He says he will hand over the city if you guarantee his safety.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike stared at the duke. Johan nodded while deliberately avoiding her gaze. ¡°What a stroke of luck! Is this God¡¯s will?¡± ¡°You could say that. . .¡± Chapter 329: ???????? ???????? (2) ¡°The two lords can share their jokes, but I hope you keep in mind that the situation is not that easy.¡± Suetlg said to remind them. It was certainly good news that the enemymander had surrendered, but Suetlg wasn¡¯t naive enough to lose his mind over a single piece of news. In fact, there was more to do than before the surrender. Before the enemy surrendered, he only had to worry about how to pass the castle walls and break the castle gate, but after the enemy surrendered, he had to upy the turbulent city and persuade people with different thoughts so that they wouldn¡¯tin. This alone was difficult, and now a gue was also spreading inside. He could guess the atmosphere of the city even without entering it. ¡°There are already many prisoners, and there must be many pagans inside the city as well, so it¡¯s a headache.¡± Johan frowned. It felt ironic that he had to worry even though the enemy had surrendered, but the reality didn¡¯t change just because heined. At any rate, he could only gratefully ept the enemy¡¯s surrender. ¡°Should I ask the duke¡¯s opinion?¡±Johan replied coolly to Ulrike¡¯s question. ¡°It¡¯s crazy to take all the troops into the city. Since the gue is spreading, I¡¯ll use that as an excuse and take only the elites inside. If I let the untrained ones in, I don¡¯t know what they might do.¡± Ulrike smiled faintly at Johan¡¯s words. A lord who couldmunicate was a truly precious partner. Especially in this distant easternnd. The other lords who led the soldiers were usually uselessly ferocious and annoyingly greedy. If they were that brave, they should have stood at the forefront when fighting against the enemy¡¯srge army, but at that time, those who were cowering in fear were now shamelessly raising their voices because the situation was favorable to them. ©¥???? ?????? ?????????? ????????????????????, ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????! ?????????? ?????? ??????????! ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????? ????????! ©¥???? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? ????????, ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????. These people often came up with novel arguments that even priests would reject in astonishment. Either they were intoxicated by excessive faith or intoxicated by overflowing greed. Either way, there was no difference in that they were uncontroble. Johan was annoyed by the lords who were talking nonsense, but when Johan finally spoke sensibly, Ulrike felt a little better. ¡°That¡¯s right. There are many people who want to set fire to the city and loot it. Even the feudal lords are no exception.¡± The pilgrims who gathered among themselves were not that organized, even if they resorted to violence. However, the looting led by a greedy lord left much deeper wounds. Johan didn¡¯t want the city he had finally acquired to burn down. ¡°The problem is how much they will listen to me. . .¡± Johan knew from experience that nobles really didn¡¯t listen to him as much as he thought. It wasn¡¯t because they ignored or looked down on Johan. The nobles who led their own men thought it was their natural right to act as they pleased. Of course, from Johan¡¯s point of view, there was no such thing as nagging. By that logic, it would also be Johan¡¯s right to swing his sword and cut off the noble¡¯s neck. ¡°But if I say it strongly, at least they¡¯ll pretend to listen?¡± ¡°. . .No madman would go against Your Highness¡¯s words, so I don¡¯t think you have to worry about that.¡± Ulrike was taken aback. She must have arrivedte after chasing the enemy, so she didn¡¯t seem to have grasped the atmosphere well, but there was no feudal lord who was so audacious as to ignore Johan¡¯s words now. They asserted their rights by reading the time and ce, and they didn¡¯t assert them in front of the duke whose authority reached the heavens. ???????????? The duke, who entered through the city gate, had his famous crown on his head. The crown shone brilliantly in the nted light. Even in the midst of the chaos in the city, people who had gathered to see the new conqueror eximed in admiration at his majestic appearance. Not only the monotheists but also the polytheists were in awe. The duke had such natural dignity. After the admiration, the polytheists made worried expressions. It was natural to worry about how the new conqueror would act. ¡°Should I have taken my wealth out in advance?¡± ¡°That¡¯s foolish. I buried it in advance. I n to sneak out tomorrow night. There¡¯s no reason to stay here like this. I¡¯ve already talked to the gatekeeper.¡± ¡°There are also rumors of mercy.¡± ¡°Mercy, my foot. Think about when the sultan¡¯s knights upied this city. After seeing all that blood, do you think they¡¯ll just stand still? I guess you haven¡¯t heard the rumors about the duke yet!¡± . . .Compared to all that fuss, Johan didn¡¯t do anything at all. Right after receiving the surrender directly from Suhekhar, he went straight to stabilize the city. ¡°Divide the area and check where the disease has spread. Block the entrance and exit of the area where the disease has spread! Otherwise, the disease could spread even more.¡± Johan went around the Holy Land with Suetlg. It wasn¡¯t bad to talk to the enemy nobles or to enter the holy tomb in the Holy Land and pray (of course, it was just a pretense), but there were other urgent matters at the moment. ¡°Smell the watering up from the canal. It¡¯s disgusting. Even a healthy warrior would get sick in an instant if he stayed in a ce like this.¡± ¡°Can it be purified?¡± ¡°If you want to see this old wizard copse for a month or so, that wouldn¡¯t be bad either.¡± ¡°I spoke carelessly.¡± ¡°Dividing the area seems like a good idea. Certainly, if we do it that way, not only will the disease spread less, but the number of dead people who turn into undead and harm the living will also decrease.¡± Suetlg was impressed by Johan¡¯s response. Usually, such a response came from experience, but there was no way that a young duke like Johan could have learned from experience. It was clear that he hade up with it on the spot. ¡°The dead have appeared over there!¡± ¡°Prepare to fight with your spears. We¡¯ll get rid of the undead.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the soldiers took their familiar stance. They were patrolling the areas with the duke and getting rid of the undead. It was tense at first, but now they were starting to get bored. ¡°What kind of city has so many dead people?¡± ¡°Be quiet. Be thankful that you don¡¯t encounter monsters.¡± The soldiers nodded at the captain¡¯s words. It was true. Unlike the ins, it was no fun to deal with monsters in aplex ce like a city. ???????????? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suhekhar and Yeheyman looked at each other withplicated expressions. Neither of them had expected to meet again in such a ce. ¡°I wondered why you didn¡¯t retreat to the Holy Land, but now I know there was a reason.¡± Suhekhar spoke first. It was meant to show that he understood, but it was actually closer to nagging and provoking. It wasn¡¯t something to brag about being tricked by a eunuch and fainting. In fact, Yeheyman¡¯s face turned red. ¡°. . .I, too, wondered why you surrendered so easily, given the high walls and deep moats, but now I know there was a reason.¡± ¡®???????? ??????. . .¡¯ This time, it was Suhekhar¡¯s turn to be displeased. The reason he surrendered was because of the gue and the appearance of monsters, not because he was scared. ¡°That¡¯s right. Thank you for understanding.¡± However, Suhekhar didn¡¯t express his emotions directly. Yeheyman was impressed by his appearance. It was a great thing to be able to control one¡¯s emotions even in this situation. Right now, Yeheyman would try to cut down the eunuchs if he was given just one sword. . . ¡°So, is that why you called me today? For this trivial matter?¡± Yeheyman cleared his throat and came to his senses. The reason he had called Suhekhar now wasn¡¯t to talk about why he had been captured. ¡°What do you think of the eunuchs, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Suhekhar was a little flustered by the sudden question. He didn¡¯t know what his intention was. Although he had been defeated in battle and captured as a prisoner, Suhekhar was still the sultan¡¯s loyal vassal. He had no intention of betraying him. Yeheyman spoke first, realizing that Suhekhar was hesitating. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill them!¡± ¡°. . .!¡± He had heard the story, but he seemed to be much more emotional than he had thought. Suhekhar asked cautiously. ¡°What do you n to do about the aftermath? The sultan¡¯s wrath will not be easy to handle.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to be punished for my defeat in battle anyway. I¡¯d rather go my own way than be dragged around like a fool and ridiculed by the sultan. My family can afford to pay the ransom to the duke, so I can leave as soon as the ransom is paid. But not the eunuchs.¡± Suhekhar was a little moved by Yeheyman¡¯s determination to kill the eunuchs. He also thought of the eunuchs as annoying toadstools. Of course, the sultan wouldn¡¯t like it if he touched the eunuchs. How ridiculous would it be for those who had lost theirrge army to also get rid of the eunuchs? However, Suhekhar couldn¡¯t help but admit that Yeheyman had a point. This defeat, and even the fall of the Holy Land. He might have returned to the sultan¡¯s camp and been executed without being able to say a word of excuse. In that case, it would be better to pay the ransom and go home to his family. If he holed up in his fiefdom, even the sultan wouldn¡¯t be able to touch him easily. ¡°. . .So what do you want to talk about?¡± ¡°Those eunuchs are currently under the protection of the duke. Removing this protection is the top priority. Once the duke¡¯s protection is gone, they¡¯re nothing but useless trash.¡± ¡°Are you saying that we should deal with them then?¡± Suhekhar asked seriously, curious. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Even if we say that¡¯s good. . .how are we going to remove the duke¡¯s protection? I don¡¯t think the duke himself will move on his own orders.¡± Unlike other ces, this was in the middle of the enemy camp. There weren¡¯t many chances to swing a sword at the eunuchs, and the eunuch¡¯s ttery was so great that he couldn¡¯t be seen properly. ¡°That¡¯s why you have to do it.¡± ¡°What did you say. . .?¡± Suhekhar was taken aback. Wasn¡¯t he slyly passing over the most difficult part? ¡°You¡¯re the only one who has talked to the duke. I¡¯m counting on you.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suhekhar was taken aback, but he didn¡¯t want to raise his voice. Besides, the more people who knew that he was going to kill the eunuchs, the better. There could be listening ears in the tents of these prisoners as well. ¡®???? ????. . .¡¯ Suhekhar smiled bitterly at the situation that had suddenly changed. Just a few days ago, he was in a position where he had to risk his life to stop the duke¡¯s invasion, but now he had to curry favor with the duke in order to kill the eunuchs. And this wasn¡¯t simple revenge. Yeheyman¡¯s proposal contained a hidden meaning. Will you continue to be loyal to the sultan, or will you find your own way to live? ¡®???? ???????? ????????. . .????????¡¯???? ?????????????????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Suhekhar was a man of strong loyalty, but there was no helping it when the sultan and the duke werepared. Just look at this surrender. Instead of humiliating him, the duke quickly epted the surrender and tried hard to quell themotion in the city. This was an unusual humility. ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ Suhekhar thought about leading his men to volunteer, but gave up. The other party wouldn¡¯t allow it. How could he give back his weapons after surrendering? Instead, Suhekhar prayed that the young duke would end thismotion quickly. It wasn¡¯t for the sake of the friendly tribes in the city. It was for Suhekhar to make his own judgment. He already had a rough idea, but he would be able to be sure with the attitude he showed this time. ???????????? ¡°You saw a mermaid?¡± ¡°Yes. . .Your Highness.¡± At the old beggar¡¯s words, the people in their seats looked at each other as if they were absurd. A mermaid. Mermaids were monsters that could only be seen in the distant sea, not in a city with rivers and canals at best. What was a mermaid doing all the way here? ¡°. . .It wouldn¡¯t hurt to hear it once.¡± ¡°Your Highness. That¡¯s just nonsense.¡± Jyanina looked at the beggar as if she couldn¡¯t believe it. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like he was making up a story to get a few silver coins., ¡°The two lords can share their jokes, but I hope you keep in mind that the situation is not that easy.¡± Suetlg said to remind them. It was certainly good news that the enemymander had surrendered, but Suetlg wasn¡¯t naive enough to lose his mind over a single piece of news. In fact, there was more to do than before the surrender. Before the enemy surrendered, he only had to worry about how to pass the castle walls and break the castle gate, but after the enemy surrendered, he had to upy the turbulent city and persuade people with different thoughts so that they wouldn¡¯tin. This alone was difficult, and now a gue was also spreading inside. He could guess the atmosphere of the city even without entering it. ¡°There are already many prisoners, and there must be many pagans inside the city as well, so it¡¯s a headache.¡± Johan frowned. It felt ironic that he had to worry even though the enemy had surrendered, but the reality didn¡¯t change just because heined. At any rate, he could only gratefully ept the enemy¡¯s surrender. ¡°Should I ask the duke¡¯s opinion?¡± Johan replied coolly to Ulrike¡¯s question. ¡°It¡¯s crazy to take all the troops into the city. Since the gue is spreading, I¡¯ll use that as an excuse and take only the elites inside. If I let the untrained ones in, I don¡¯t know what they might do.¡± Ulrike smiled faintly at Johan¡¯s words. A lord who couldmunicate was a truly precious partner. Especially in this distant easternnd. The other lords who led the soldiers were usually uselessly ferocious and annoyingly greedy. If they were that brave, they should have stood at the forefront when fighting against the enemy¡¯srge army, but at that time, those who were cowering in fear were now shamelessly raising their voices because the situation was favorable to them. ©¥???? ?????? ?????????? ????????????????????, ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????! ?????????? ?????? ??????????! ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????? ????????! ©¥???? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?????????????????? ????????, ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????. These people often came up with novel arguments that even priests would reject in astonishment. Either they were intoxicated by excessive faith or intoxicated by overflowing greed. Either way, there was no difference in that they were uncontroble. Johan was annoyed by the lords who were talking nonsense, but when Johan finally spoke sensibly, Ulrike felt a little better. ¡°That¡¯s right. There are many people who want to set fire to the city and loot it. Even the feudal lords are no exception.¡± The pilgrims who gathered among themselves were not that organized, even if they resorted to violence. However, the looting led by a greedy lord left much deeper wounds. Johan didn¡¯t want the city he had finally acquired to burn down. ¡°The problem is how much they will listen to me. . .¡± Johan knew from experience that nobles really didn¡¯t listen to him as much as he thought. It wasn¡¯t because they ignored or looked down on Johan. The nobles who led their own men thought it was their natural right to act as they pleased. Of course, from Johan¡¯s point of view, there was no such thing as nagging. By that logic, it would also be Johan¡¯s right to swing his sword and cut off the noble¡¯s neck. ¡°But if I say it strongly, at least they¡¯ll pretend to listen?¡± ¡°. . .No madman would go against Your Highness¡¯s words, so I don¡¯t think you have to worry about that.¡± Ulrike was taken aback. She must have arrivedte after chasing the enemy, so she didn¡¯t seem to have grasped the atmosphere well, but there was no feudal lord who was so audacious as to ignore Johan¡¯s words now. They asserted their rights by reading the time and ce, and they didn¡¯t assert them in front of the duke whose authority reached the heavens. ???????????? The duke, who entered through the city gate, had his famous crown on his head. The crown shone brilliantly in the nted light. Even in the midst of the chaos in the city, people who had gathered to see the new conqueror eximed in admiration at his majestic appearance. Not only the monotheists but also the polytheists were in awe. The duke had such natural dignity. After the admiration, the polytheists made worried expressions. It was natural to worry about how the new conqueror would act. ¡°Should I have taken my wealth out in advance?¡± ¡°That¡¯s foolish. I buried it in advance. I n to sneak out tomorrow night. There¡¯s no reason to stay here like this. I¡¯ve already talked to the gatekeeper.¡± ¡°There are also rumors of mercy.¡± ¡°Mercy, my foot. Think about when the sultan¡¯s knights upied this city. After seeing all that blood, do you think they¡¯ll just stand still? I guess you haven¡¯t heard the rumors about the duke yet!¡± . . .Compared to all that fuss, Johan didn¡¯t do anything at all. Right after receiving the surrender directly from Suhekhar, he went straight to stabilize the city. ¡°Divide the area and check where the disease has spread. Block the entrance and exit of the area where the disease has spread! Otherwise, the disease could spread even more.¡± Johan went around the Holy Land with Suetlg. It wasn¡¯t bad to talk to the enemy nobles or to enter the holy tomb in the Holy Land and pray (of course, it was just a pretense), but there were other urgent matters at the moment. ¡°Smell the watering up from the canal. It¡¯s disgusting. Even a healthy warrior would get sick in an instant if he stayed in a ce like this.¡± ¡°Can it be purified?¡± ¡°If you want to see this old wizard copse for a month or so, that wouldn¡¯t be bad either.¡± ¡°I spoke carelessly.¡± ¡°Dividing the area seems like a good idea. Certainly, if we do it that way, not only will the disease spread less, but the number of dead people who turn into undead and harm the living will also decrease.¡± Suetlg was impressed by Johan¡¯s response. Usually, such a response came from experience, but there was no way that a young duke like Johan could have learned from experience. It was clear that he hade up with it on the spot. ¡°The dead have appeared over there!¡± ¡°Prepare to fight with your spears. We¡¯ll get rid of the undead.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the soldiers took their familiar stance. They were patrolling the areas with the duke and getting rid of the undead. It was tense at first, but now they were starting to get bored. ¡°What kind of city has so many dead people?¡± ¡°Be quiet. Be thankful that you don¡¯t encounter monsters.¡± The soldiers nodded at the captain¡¯s words. It was true. Unlike the ins, it was no fun to deal with monsters in aplex ce like a city. ???????????? ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suhekhar and Yeheyman looked at each other withplicated expressions. Neither of them had expected to meet again in such a ce. ¡°I wondered why you didn¡¯t retreat to the Holy Land, but now I know there was a reason.¡± Suhekhar spoke first. It was meant to show that he understood, but it was actually closer to nagging and provoking. It wasn¡¯t something to brag about being tricked by a eunuch and fainting. In fact, Yeheyman¡¯s face turned red. ¡°. . .I, too, wondered why you surrendered so easily, given the high walls and deep moats, but now I know there was a reason.¡± ¡®???????? ??????. . .¡¯ This time, it was Suhekhar¡¯s turn to be displeased. The reason he surrendered was because of the gue and the appearance of monsters, not because he was scared. ¡°That¡¯s right. Thank you for understanding.¡± However, Suhekhar didn¡¯t express his emotions directly. Yeheyman was impressed by his appearance. It was a great thing to be able to control one¡¯s emotions even in this situation. Right now, Yeheyman would try to cut down the eunuchs if he was given just one sword. . . ¡°So, is that why you called me today? For this trivial matter?¡± Yeheyman cleared his throat and came to his senses. The reason he had called Suhekhar now wasn¡¯t to talk about why he had been captured. ¡°What do you think of the eunuchs, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Suhekhar was a little flustered by the sudden question. He didn¡¯t know what his intention was. Although he had been defeated in battle and captured as a prisoner, Suhekhar was still the sultan¡¯s loyal vassal. He had no intention of betraying him. Yeheyman spoke first, realizing that Suhekhar was hesitating. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill them!¡± ¡°. . .!¡± He had heard the story, but he seemed to be much more emotional than he had thought. Suhekhar asked cautiously. ¡°What do you n to do about the aftermath? The sultan¡¯s wrath will not be easy to handle.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to be punished for my defeat in battle anyway. I¡¯d rather go my own way than be dragged around like a fool and ridiculed by the sultan. My family can afford to pay the ransom to the duke, so I can leave as soon as the ransom is paid. But not the eunuchs.¡± Suhekhar was a little moved by Yeheyman¡¯s determination to kill the eunuchs. He also thought of the eunuchs as annoying toadstools. Of course, the sultan wouldn¡¯t like it if he touched the eunuchs. How ridiculous would it be for those who had lost theirrge army to also get rid of the eunuchs? However, Suhekhar couldn¡¯t help but admit that Yeheyman had a point. This defeat, and even the fall of the Holy Land. He might have returned to the sultan¡¯s camp and been executed without being able to say a word of excuse. In that case, it would be better to pay the ransom and go home to his family. If he holed up in his fiefdom, even the sultan wouldn¡¯t be able to touch him easily. ¡°. . .So what do you want to talk about?¡± ¡°Those eunuchs are currently under the protection of the duke. Removing this protection is the top priority. Once the duke¡¯s protection is gone, they¡¯re nothing but useless trash.¡± ¡°Are you saying that we should deal with them then?¡± Suhekhar asked seriously, curious. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Even if we say that¡¯s good. . .how are we going to remove the duke¡¯s protection? I don¡¯t think the duke himself will move on his own orders.¡± Unlike other ces, this was in the middle of the enemy camp. There weren¡¯t many chances to swing a sword at the eunuchs, and the eunuch¡¯s ttery was so great that he couldn¡¯t be seen properly. ¡°That¡¯s why you have to do it.¡± ¡°What did you say. . .?¡± Suhekhar was taken aback. Wasn¡¯t he slyly passing over the most difficult part? ¡°You¡¯re the only one who has talked to the duke. I¡¯m counting on you.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suhekhar was taken aback, but he didn¡¯t want to raise his voice. Besides, the more people who knew that he was going to kill the eunuchs, the better. There could be listening ears in the tents of these prisoners as well. ¡®???? ????. . .¡¯ Suhekhar smiled bitterly at the situation that had suddenly changed. Just a few days ago, he was in a position where he had to risk his life to stop the duke¡¯s invasion, but now he had to curry favor with the duke in order to kill the eunuchs. And this wasn¡¯t simple revenge. Yeheyman¡¯s proposal contained a hidden meaning. Will you continue to be loyal to the sultan, or will you find your own way to live? ¡®???? ???????? ????????. . .????????¡¯???? ?????????????????????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Suhekhar was a man of strong loyalty, but there was no helping it when the sultan and the duke werepared. Just look at this surrender. Instead of humiliating him, the duke quickly epted the surrender and tried hard to quell themotion in the city. This was an unusual humility. ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ Suhekhar thought about leading his men to volunteer, but gave up. The other party wouldn¡¯t allow it. How could he give back his weapons after surrendering? Instead, Suhekhar prayed that the young duke would end thismotion quickly. It wasn¡¯t for the sake of the friendly tribes in the city. It was for Suhekhar to make his own judgment. He already had a rough idea, but he would be able to be sure with the attitude he showed this time. ???????????? ¡°You saw a mermaid?¡± ¡°Yes. . .Your Highness.¡± At the old beggar¡¯s words, the people in their seats looked at each other as if they were absurd. A mermaid. Mermaids were monsters that could only be seen in the distant sea, not in a city with rivers and canals at best. What was a mermaid doing all the way here? ¡°. . .It wouldn¡¯t hurt to hear it once.¡± ¡°Your Highness. That¡¯s just nonsense.¡± Jyanina looked at the beggar as if she couldn¡¯t believe it. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like he was making up a story to get a few silver coins. Chapter 330: ???????? ???????? (3) ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that listening to a few words might put you at a disadvantage?¡± ¡®??????. . .¡¯ Jyanina grumbled to herself. There were times when the mercy duke disyed was hard to understand. Of course, that mercy was the whole reason Jyanina¡¯s head was still attached to her shoulders. . . As far as Jyanina could see, beggars were nothing more thanmon swindlers. From the westernmost reaches to the easternmost corners, every city had its fair share of beggars. They¡¯d band together, sometimes pilfering, sometimes robbing, sometimes begging for change. Now, regrmoners wouldn¡¯t dare spout lies in front of the duke, but beggars were a different story. Once they received their silver coins and scurried away into their hideouts, it would be a pain in the neck to track them all down and hang them. So it was no surprise that they¡¯d spout all sorts of nonsense. ¡°Even sailors have never seen mermaids in the sea, you know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Capable captains didn¡¯t intentionally steer their ships towards treacherous waters where mermaids were rumored to lurk. It was only natural. Jyanina had no desire to meet a mermaid, either.Mermaids, with their beautiful voices that could captivate sailors, were sometimes more fearsome than storms. Once ensnared by a mermaid¡¯s song, even seasoned captains would lose their minds and leap into the sea. ¡®??¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ????????????, ???????????¡¯ ¡°A-hem. A-hem.¡± Despite standing before the duke, the beggar rubbed his filthy hands together, straightened his clothes as best he could, and opened his mouth to speak. ¡°To tell you the truth, here¡¯s what happened. . .¡± The beggar¡¯s tale was vivid and gripping. Given that his line of work was begging, he must have had a way with words, but even taking that into ount, his story was incredibly captivating. One night, as the beggar was walking near the canal, he saw a group of mercenaries walking with dazed expressions on their faces. Curious to see if there was any money to be made, he quietly followed them. To his surprise, the mercenaries headed straight for the riverbank and threw themselves into the water. Startled, the beggar hid and watched. Thanks to that, he was able to clearly see the mermaid¡¯s back as it surfaced from the river. ¡°The mercenaries who disappearedter turned into monsters. It must have been the mermaids¡¯ doing!¡± ¡°There are so many things wrong with your story,¡± Jyanina said coolly. ¡°First off, the mercenaries were bewitched, but why were you safe?¡± ¡°Uh. . .¡± The beggar¡¯s expression turned nk. It was a look she¡¯d never seen before. Jyanina sighed. If he was going to tell a lie, he should at least make it believable. ¡°And what did the mermaid look like?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°What did the mermaid look like?¡± ¡°W-Well. . . she had long hair. . . and she was dazzlingly beautiful!¡± ¡°In the middle of the night?¡± ¡°The moon, the moonlight. . .¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t even a full moon, so it wouldn¡¯t have been that bright.¡± Johan, who had been listening to their conversation, couldn¡¯t help but feel impressed. ¡®?????? ??????????¡¯???? ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????????¡¯ Jyanina refuting the beggar¡¯s ims made her seem as wise as Suetlg. Then again, Jyanina wasn¡¯t stupid. It was just the people around her who were so knowledgeable that she seemed like the odd one out. In Johan¡¯s eyes, the beggar didn¡¯t seem to be lying. The way he struggled to answer yet persisted until the end made him seem all the more credible. Of course, the part about the mermaid¡¯s appearance seemed a bit forced. . . ¡°If they really were mermaids, is there a way to deal with them?¡± ¡°. . .You actually believe that?!¡± Jyanina was shocked. She couldn¡¯t believe that someone like Johan would listen to a beggar¡¯s nonsense. Johan scratched his cheek as he replied. ¡°When I ask a question, I expect you to answer it properly.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina¡¯s face suddenly turned pale. Johan realized from her expression that his joke had fallen t. ¡®????. ???????????????? ??????????¡¯???? ???????????? ????.¡¯ ¡°. . .You¡¯re right!¡± The snakekin wizard nodded vigorously. Her movements were filled with a desperate desire not to die. Feeling apologetic, Johan spoke in a gentler tone. ¡°I won¡¯t say another word, so please speak freely.¡± ¡°If you give me a chance, I¡¯ll go out there myself and try to lure the mermaids away.¡± ¡°No. . . there¡¯s no need for you to do that. We have plenty of soldiers.¡± ¡°Please let me go!¡± ¡°. . .Fine, so be it. Is there anything you¡¯ll need?¡± ¡°We should plug our ears first.¡± Johan summoned the city¡¯s candlemaker and had him seal the soldiers¡¯ ears with beeswax. It was a necessary precaution to prevent them from falling under the mermaids¡¯ spell. ¡°No matter what happens, remember not to remove the beeswax from your ears.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll make sure to tell them. What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°If they really are mermaids, we won¡¯t have anything to fear as long as we don¡¯t listen to their song. Without their songs, mermaids aren¡¯t particrly dangerous monsters.¡± ording to legend, mermaids would flee or disappear if their songs were avoided. That was because theycked thebat prowess to climb onto ships and attack. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I¡¯m curious about. Do mermaids usually take living people and turn them into monsters?¡± ¡°Uh. . . I¡¯ve never heard of that.¡± The soldiers preparing for the mermaid hunt paused and looked at Jyanina. Even though she was saying the same thing as them, it just felt differenting from her. The soldiers¡¯ lukewarm reactions proved it. Johan thought that asking any further would only make things awkward, so he simply nodded. ¡°I see. I¡¯ll trust you and give it a shot.¡± ¡°Thank you?¡± ???????????? At the location mentioned by the beggar, Jyanina sprinkled an unknown vision powder and incense and waited. It was hard for humans to smell, but monsters would definitely be drawn to this scent. In fact, Karamaf seemed to have been stimted by it, as he began to scratch the ground with his ws and growl ferociously. Johan patted Karamaf on the back. At that, Karamaf lowered his stance, his expression darkening. ¡°. . .?¡± While waiting impatiently, Johan realized something was amiss. The expressions of several soldiers had be vacant. ¡°Hey! Snap out of it.¡± However, his voice didn¡¯t reach the soldiers¡¯ ears, which were plugged with beeswax. The other soldiers seemed oblivious to what was happening. Johan strode forward. The soldiers, who had been moving with vacant expressions, were blocked by Johan. ??????????! Johan roused the soldier¡¯s senses in the most primal way possible. With a sharp sound, the soldier¡¯s head snapped back. The soldier came to his senses, clutching his stinging cheek. ¡°????¡± ¡°Snap out of it!¡± ¡°W-What¡¯s. . . going on. . .?¡± Johan went around pping the cheeks of the soldiers who seemed to be entranced. It was said that blocking one¡¯s ears would be enough to resist the mermaid¡¯s song, but seeing the current situation, it seemed that blocking one¡¯s ears was useless. ¡®???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????¡¯ There was a limit to how many people he could p by himself. Johan pushed the soldiers aside and headed towards the riverbank. Jyanina, who was at the forefront, was already there. Johan grabbed Jyanina by the shoulder and asked. ¡°It seems like the soldiers are under a spell now, but have you found the mermaids?¡± Instead of answering, Jyanina simply stared at him with a nk expression. Johan was momentarily speechless. He never thought that even Jyanina, a wizard, would fall victim to this. ¡°You there. Even if your mouth swells up and bleeds, you have to endure it.¡± Johan¡¯s attempt to p her was surprisingly blocked by the mermaids in the river. The mermaids spoke to Johan in a bubbling voice. ©¥?????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????????? The voices sounded in his head, not his ears. It was as if spirits were speaking to him. Johan frowned and replied. ¡°I¡¯ll ask the questions here. Are you the ones spreading disease throughout the city?¡± ©¥??????????. ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ????. With those words, the mermaids began to sing again. The song resonating in his head grew louder and louder. Johan could feel the spirits within him roaring and screaming in protest. ¡°Be quiet!¡± Johan shouted loudly. His forceful shout caused the mermaids¡¯ singing to pause momentarily. Johan could sense the mermaids bing flustered. It seemed they had realized that their song was ineffective. ¡°Even spirits far more cunning and violent than you have failed to bewitch me. You¡¯d best give up on trying to lure me in with your singing. Now. Tell me. Are you the ones spreading disease throughout the city?¡± ©¥???? ?? ???????? ????????????, ??????????. ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ????! Along with the mermaids¡¯ words, something began to crawl out of the river with a squelching sound. It was a giant smander that looked like a cross between a fish and a lizard. The beast, which seemed to be the mermaids¡¯ servant, red at Johan, its tongue flicking in and out of its mouth. ©¥???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ??????, ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ????. ??????????. ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????. ???????? ?? ?????????? ????????????. . . A dull thud rang out. It was the sound of Johan¡¯s fist connecting with the smander¡¯s jaw. With a ¡®thud¡¯, the smander copsed to the side like a broken doll. Johan growled, Giant yer in hand. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about moving or running away. I can skewer at least three of you with my spear.¡± ©¥. . .???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????, ??????????? The mermaids seemed to have realized the situation and suddenly became cooperative. ???????????? ©¥???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ??????????????! ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???? ?????????????? ????????????????????. However, the mermaids adamantly denied responsibility for the disease. Instead, they ced the me on the people of the city. ©¥?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????. ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????????? Johan had a good idea of what the mermaids were talking about. Ever since the pagan army entered the Holy Land, the city had been bustling with activity. The newly arrived army didn¡¯t care about the city¡¯s sanitation, so all sorts of filth were being dumped into the river and canals. It was these actions that had spread the disease and angered the river spirits. ¡°So you drowned and killed armed men in the river? To drive them away?¡± ©¥??????. In the mermaids¡¯ eyes, the culprits were the foreign invaders d in armor and wielding weapons. It was only natural that the remnants of Suhekhar¡¯s men would suffer such a fate. ¡°I¡¯ve driven away the outsiders who came from afar and defiled the city. The gue that spread throughout the city is currently being quarantined and treated, so it will subside in time.¡± ©¥. . . . . . The mermaids grew silent at Johan¡¯s words. They had good reason to be speechless. They had been causing amotion in an attempt to resolve the problem, only to find out that the problem was already being resolved. If they had any conscience, they couldn¡¯t help but feel foolish. ©¥???? ??????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????. When one of the mermaids spoke up, Johan responded coolly. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll make you believe me.¡± ©¥???????? ???? ?????? ????????? ¡°You¡¯ll know whether to believe me or not after you take a hit like that beast. Who was it? The one who said they didn¡¯t believe me.¡± Though their bodies were mostly hidden, Johan could sense the mermaids flinching. It seemed that threats were effective even when they were hiding in the river¡¯s waves. The leader of the mermaids spoke up cautiously. ©¥???????? ????????. ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ??????. ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????. ¡°Wait.¡± ©¥?? The mermaids paused at Johan¡¯s call, ready to leave. They had thought the conversation was over now that they had established trust with each other. ¡°Several of my men have been killed or injured. You just lured them into the river with your song without even trying to figure out who they were.¡± Technically speaking, they weren¡¯t Johan¡¯s men. They were Suhekhar¡¯s men. Johan¡¯s men had suffered no casualties, aside from getting their cheeks pped a few times. ¡°On top of that, the city has been thrown into chaos because they came back as monsters.¡± This was also a bit of an exaggeration. The city was in chaos primarily because the dead had risen as undead, not because those who had fallen into the river had be monsters. Compared to the former, thetter was a drop in the bucket. ¡°You¡¯re going topensate us properly for what you¡¯ve done!¡± ©¥. . .???????? ????????. One of the mermaids waddled closer to the riverbank. Johan could tell that the beggar had been lying. Somehow, he had felt a sense of falsehood when the beggar talked about the mermaids¡¯ beauty, and it turned out that it wasn¡¯t for nothing. The mermaids¡¯ pale, ghastly faces reminded him of spirits. ©¥????????. ¡°. . .???¡± Johan blinked and looked at what had been ced on the riverbank. They were seashells, no matter how he looked at them. ©¥???? ???????? ????????????? ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan lunged forward like lightning and grabbed the mermaid by the scruff of the neck. The mermaid seemed taken aback and didn¡¯t react properly., ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that listening to a few words might put you at a disadvantage?¡± ¡®??????. . .¡¯ Jyanina grumbled to herself. There were times when the mercy duke disyed was hard to understand. Of course, that mercy was the whole reason Jyanina¡¯s head was still attached to her shoulders. . . As far as Jyanina could see, beggars were nothing more thanmon swindlers. From the westernmost reaches to the easternmost corners, every city had its fair share of beggars. They¡¯d band together, sometimes pilfering, sometimes robbing, sometimes begging for change. Now, regrmoners wouldn¡¯t dare spout lies in front of the duke, but beggars were a different story. Once they received their silver coins and scurried away into their hideouts, it would be a pain in the neck to track them all down and hang them. So it was no surprise that they¡¯d spout all sorts of nonsense. ¡°Even sailors have never seen mermaids in the sea, you know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Capable captains didn¡¯t intentionally steer their ships towards treacherous waters where mermaids were rumored to lurk. It was only natural. Jyanina had no desire to meet a mermaid, either. Mermaids, with their beautiful voices that could captivate sailors, were sometimes more fearsome than storms. Once ensnared by a mermaid¡¯s song, even seasoned captains would lose their minds and leap into the sea. ¡®??¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ????????????, ???????????¡¯ ¡°A-hem. A-hem.¡± Despite standing before the duke, the beggar rubbed his filthy hands together, straightened his clothes as best he could, and opened his mouth to speak. ¡°To tell you the truth, here¡¯s what happened. . .¡± The beggar¡¯s tale was vivid and gripping. Given that his line of work was begging, he must have had a way with words, but even taking that into ount, his story was incredibly captivating. One night, as the beggar was walking near the canal, he saw a group of mercenaries walking with dazed expressions on their faces. Curious to see if there was any money to be made, he quietly followed them. To his surprise, the mercenaries headed straight for the riverbank and threw themselves into the water. Startled, the beggar hid and watched. Thanks to that, he was able to clearly see the mermaid¡¯s back as it surfaced from the river. ¡°The mercenaries who disappearedter turned into monsters. It must have been the mermaids¡¯ doing!¡± ¡°There are so many things wrong with your story,¡± Jyanina said coolly. ¡°First off, the mercenaries were bewitched, but why were you safe?¡± ¡°Uh. . .¡± The beggar¡¯s expression turned nk. It was a look she¡¯d never seen before. Jyanina sighed. If he was going to tell a lie, he should at least make it believable. ¡°And what did the mermaid look like?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°What did the mermaid look like?¡± ¡°W-Well. . . she had long hair. . . and she was dazzlingly beautiful!¡± ¡°In the middle of the night?¡± ¡°The moon, the moonlight. . .¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t even a full moon, so it wouldn¡¯t have been that bright.¡± Johan, who had been listening to their conversation, couldn¡¯t help but feel impressed. ¡®?????? ??????????¡¯???? ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????????¡¯ Jyanina refuting the beggar¡¯s ims made her seem as wise as Suetlg. Then again, Jyanina wasn¡¯t stupid. It was just the people around her who were so knowledgeable that she seemed like the odd one out. In Johan¡¯s eyes, the beggar didn¡¯t seem to be lying. The way he struggled to answer yet persisted until the end made him seem all the more credible. Of course, the part about the mermaid¡¯s appearance seemed a bit forced. . . ¡°If they really were mermaids, is there a way to deal with them?¡± ¡°. . .You actually believe that?!¡± Jyanina was shocked. She couldn¡¯t believe that someone like Johan would listen to a beggar¡¯s nonsense. Johan scratched his cheek as he replied. ¡°When I ask a question, I expect you to answer it properly.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina¡¯s face suddenly turned pale. Johan realized from her expression that his joke had fallen t. ¡®????. ???????????????? ??????????¡¯???? ???????????? ????.¡¯ ¡°. . .You¡¯re right!¡± The snakekin wizard nodded vigorously. Her movements were filled with a desperate desire not to die. Feeling apologetic, Johan spoke in a gentler tone. ¡°I won¡¯t say another word, so please speak freely.¡± ¡°If you give me a chance, I¡¯ll go out there myself and try to lure the mermaids away.¡± ¡°No. . . there¡¯s no need for you to do that. We have plenty of soldiers.¡± ¡°Please let me go!¡± ¡°. . .Fine, so be it. Is there anything you¡¯ll need?¡± ¡°We should plug our ears first.¡± Johan summoned the city¡¯s candlemaker and had him seal the soldiers¡¯ ears with beeswax. It was a necessary precaution to prevent them from falling under the mermaids¡¯ spell. ¡°No matter what happens, remember not to remove the beeswax from your ears.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll make sure to tell them. What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°If they really are mermaids, we won¡¯t have anything to fear as long as we don¡¯t listen to their song. Without their songs, mermaids aren¡¯t particrly dangerous monsters.¡± ording to legend, mermaids would flee or disappear if their songs were avoided. That was because theycked thebat prowess to climb onto ships and attack. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I¡¯m curious about. Do mermaids usually take living people and turn them into monsters?¡± ¡°Uh. . . I¡¯ve never heard of that.¡± The soldiers preparing for the mermaid hunt paused and looked at Jyanina. Even though she was saying the same thing as them, it just felt differenting from her. The soldiers¡¯ lukewarm reactions proved it. Johan thought that asking any further would only make things awkward, so he simply nodded. ¡°I see. I¡¯ll trust you and give it a shot.¡± ¡°Thank you?¡± ???????????? At the location mentioned by the beggar, Jyanina sprinkled an unknown vision powder and incense and waited. It was hard for humans to smell, but monsters would definitely be drawn to this scent. In fact, Karamaf seemed to have been stimted by it, as he began to scratch the ground with his ws and growl ferociously. Johan patted Karamaf on the back. At that, Karamaf lowered his stance, his expression darkening. ¡°. . .?¡± While waiting impatiently, Johan realized something was amiss. The expressions of several soldiers had be vacant. ¡°Hey! Snap out of it.¡± However, his voice didn¡¯t reach the soldiers¡¯ ears, which were plugged with beeswax. The other soldiers seemed oblivious to what was happening. Johan strode forward. The soldiers, who had been moving with vacant expressions, were blocked by Johan. ??????????! Johan roused the soldier¡¯s senses in the most primal way possible. With a sharp sound, the soldier¡¯s head snapped back. The soldier came to his senses, clutching his stinging cheek. ¡°????¡± ¡°Snap out of it!¡± ¡°W-What¡¯s. . . going on. . .?¡± Johan went around pping the cheeks of the soldiers who seemed to be entranced. It was said that blocking one¡¯s ears would be enough to resist the mermaid¡¯s song, but seeing the current situation, it seemed that blocking one¡¯s ears was useless. ¡®???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????¡¯ There was a limit to how many people he could p by himself. Johan pushed the soldiers aside and headed towards the riverbank. Jyanina, who was at the forefront, was already there. Johan grabbed Jyanina by the shoulder and asked. ¡°It seems like the soldiers are under a spell now, but have you found the mermaids?¡± Instead of answering, Jyanina simply stared at him with a nk expression. Johan was momentarily speechless. He never thought that even Jyanina, a wizard, would fall victim to this. ¡°You there. Even if your mouth swells up and bleeds, you have to endure it.¡± Johan¡¯s attempt to p her was surprisingly blocked by the mermaids in the river. The mermaids spoke to Johan in a bubbling voice. ©¥?????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????????? The voices sounded in his head, not his ears. It was as if spirits were speaking to him. Johan frowned and replied. ¡°I¡¯ll ask the questions here. Are you the ones spreading disease throughout the city?¡± ©¥??????????. ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ????. With those words, the mermaids began to sing again. The song resonating in his head grew louder and louder. Johan could feel the spirits within him roaring and screaming in protest. ¡°Be quiet!¡± Johan shouted loudly. His forceful shout caused the mermaids¡¯ singing to pause momentarily. Johan could sense the mermaids bing flustered. It seemed they had realized that their song was ineffective. ¡°Even spirits far more cunning and violent than you have failed to bewitch me. You¡¯d best give up on trying to lure me in with your singing. Now. Tell me. Are you the ones spreading disease throughout the city?¡± ©¥???? ?? ???????? ????????????, ??????????. ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ????! Along with the mermaids¡¯ words, something began to crawl out of the river with a squelching sound. It was a giant smander that looked like a cross between a fish and a lizard. The beast, which seemed to be the mermaids¡¯ servant, red at Johan, its tongue flicking in and out of its mouth. ©¥???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ??????, ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ????. ??????????. ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????. ???????? ?? ?????????? ????????????. . . A dull thud rang out. It was the sound of Johan¡¯s fist connecting with the smander¡¯s jaw. With a ¡®thud¡¯, the smander copsed to the side like a broken doll. Johan growled, Giant yer in hand. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about moving or running away. I can skewer at least three of you with my spear.¡± ©¥. . .???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????, ??????????? The mermaids seemed to have realized the situation and suddenly became cooperative. ???????????? ©¥???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ??????????????! ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???? ?????????????? ????????????????????. However, the mermaids adamantly denied responsibility for the disease. Instead, they ced the me on the people of the city. ©¥?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????. ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????????? Johan had a good idea of what the mermaids were talking about. Ever since the pagan army entered the Holy Land, the city had been bustling with activity. The newly arrived army didn¡¯t care about the city¡¯s sanitation, so all sorts of filth were being dumped into the river and canals. It was these actions that had spread the disease and angered the river spirits. ¡°So you drowned and killed armed men in the river? To drive them away?¡± ©¥??????. In the mermaids¡¯ eyes, the culprits were the foreign invaders d in armor and wielding weapons. It was only natural that the remnants of Suhekhar¡¯s men would suffer such a fate. ¡°I¡¯ve driven away the outsiders who came from afar and defiled the city. The gue that spread throughout the city is currently being quarantined and treated, so it will subside in time.¡± ©¥. . . . . . The mermaids grew silent at Johan¡¯s words. They had good reason to be speechless. They had been causing amotion in an attempt to resolve the problem, only to find out that the problem was already being resolved. If they had any conscience, they couldn¡¯t help but feel foolish. ©¥???? ??????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????. When one of the mermaids spoke up, Johan responded coolly. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll make you believe me.¡± ©¥???????? ???? ?????? ????????? ¡°You¡¯ll know whether to believe me or not after you take a hit like that beast. Who was it? The one who said they didn¡¯t believe me.¡± Though their bodies were mostly hidden, Johan could sense the mermaids flinching. It seemed that threats were effective even when they were hiding in the river¡¯s waves. The leader of the mermaids spoke up cautiously. ©¥???????? ????????. ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ??????. ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????. ¡°Wait.¡± ©¥?? The mermaids paused at Johan¡¯s call, ready to leave. They had thought the conversation was over now that they had established trust with each other. ¡°Several of my men have been killed or injured. You just lured them into the river with your song without even trying to figure out who they were.¡± Technically speaking, they weren¡¯t Johan¡¯s men. They were Suhekhar¡¯s men. Johan¡¯s men had suffered no casualties, aside from getting their cheeks pped a few times. ¡°On top of that, the city has been thrown into chaos because they came back as monsters.¡± This was also a bit of an exaggeration. The city was in chaos primarily because the dead had risen as undead, not because those who had fallen into the river had be monsters. Compared to the former, thetter was a drop in the bucket. ¡°You¡¯re going topensate us properly for what you¡¯ve done!¡± ©¥. . .???????? ????????. One of the mermaids waddled closer to the riverbank. Johan could tell that the beggar had been lying. Somehow, he had felt a sense of falsehood when the beggar talked about the mermaids¡¯ beauty, and it turned out that it wasn¡¯t for nothing. The mermaids¡¯ pale, ghastly faces reminded him of spirits. ©¥????????. ¡°. . .???¡± Johan blinked and looked at what had been ced on the riverbank. They were seashells, no matter how he looked at them. ©¥???? ???????? ????????????? ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan lunged forward like lightning and grabbed the mermaid by the scruff of the neck. The mermaid seemed taken aback and didn¡¯t react properly. Chapter 331: ???????? ???????? (4) ¡°How dare you try to trick me?¡± ©¥??-????????? ????! ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????! The captured mermaid struggled against Johan¡¯s grip. Even though he was out of the water, he could easily overpower a single human. However, to his surprise, the duke¡¯s arms did not budge. ¡®???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ????????. . .?¡¯ As the suffocating grip tightened, the mermaid cried out in desperation. ©¥???????? ???? ??????, ??????! ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ????????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????! ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ????????? ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????????! ¡°Do those seashells look like treasure to you? Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± Johan pointed at the seashells in disbelief. He realized that the mermaids had sincerely offered the seashells as treasure. Johan didn¡¯t know how the mermaids had grown attached to the seashells (he wasn¡¯t particrly interested either), but what he wanted was the sunken gold, silver, and mysterious treasures in the ocean, not these seashells.When he exined kindly, the mermaids seemed to understand Johan¡¯s words. However, it was the mermaids¡¯ turn to be bewildered. ©¥????¡¯???? ?????? ??????????????, ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ????????????. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s expression turned grim, and naturally, his grip tightened. The mermaid, who had been grabbed by the scruff of his neck, cried out desperately. It was an instinctive cry. ©¥. . .??????????????, ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ????????????, ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????. ?? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????, ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????! ?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????! Johan had heard stories about mermaids from bards. Most of those who got involved with mermaids met their doom, but sometimes, a lucky sailor would capture the heart of a mermaid. Then, the mermaid would be a benevolent patron of the sailor, helping him navigate. At the time, he thought it was just the bards¡¯ exaggeration, but from what he was hearing now, it seemed like the stories had some basis in reality. Of course, real mermaids were not as beautiful and mystical as the mermaids in the stories. ¡°I¡¯m not a sailor, and there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll be in danger on the sea.¡± ©¥?????????? ??????????, ?????????? ??????????????????. ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????????????????????! ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????, ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????. ¡°At best, you¡¯ll just bring a school of fish. . .¡± Johan muttered in disappointment. The mermaids didn¡¯t respond, which meant he was right. In fact, bringing a school of fish was truly an amazing ability. A school of fish, such as herring, could number tens of thousands at once, which could feed a nearby vige or port for years. It was like the silver of the sea. However, Johan, who had expected treasures like the other spirits onnd, couldn¡¯t help but be disappointed. Johan sighed and let go of the mermaid¡¯s scruff. The mermaid hesitated for a moment before slipping back into the river. ©¥?????????? ??????. ?? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????????????. ¡°Sure.¡± Rather than expecting much, it was more like he let them go because there was no point in strangling the mermaid. The gue would subside over time if he divided and cleaned up the districts, and the monster incident would disappear if the mermaids behaved themselves. ¡°Jyanina, wake up.¡± After the mermaids disappeared into the river, Johan roused Jyanina. Jyanina, who had been blinking her snake-like eyes nkly, btedly came to her senses and asked. ¡°. . .Did I get bewitched by a mermaid?¡± ¡°Yes. But keep it a secret.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina nodded, holding back her embarrassment. It was rare for the duke to be so merciful, especially when several soldiers were watching. ???????????? ¡°Did you really see a mermaid?!¡± Suetlg, who had been poring over a pile of papers, suddenly raised his head. A few sheets of paper fluttered to the floor from the sudden movement. Caenerna, who was sitting opposite him, red at Suetlg with an irritated look. The red-haired wizard ced a rectangr stone on the paper and said. ¡°I thought it was a doppelganger or a ghoul at best. . . I should have gone with you if I knew it would be like this.¡± ¡°Are you really going to end it like that?? Isn¡¯t this interesting?¡± Suetlg spoke in an unusually excited voice at Caenerna¡¯s nd reaction. However, unlike Suetlg, the philosopher of the Ipa?l River, Caenerna had no interest in mermaids. ¡°No. . . Mermaids are just legends that sailors like. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s just what those ignorant fools say. Mermaids are creatures with the blood of spirits and remember the ancient mysteries.¡± The wizards respected each other asrades who pursued mysteries, but that didn¡¯t mean they were unconditionally interested in each other¡¯s fields. Caenerna was not particrly interested in Suetlg¡¯s story. ¡°Oh. . . I see. . .¡± Johan noticed that Caenerna was getting annoyed. Johan changed the subject. ¡°So, are you almost done sorting?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nearly finished. Thanks to you not saddling me with subjugating the mermaids, I was able to focus on my work.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know either. Who would have thought that something like a mermaid would appear?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you visit and call them tonight?¡± Johan realized that it would be difficult to purify the gue with Suetlg¡¯s power, so instead of dragging Suetlg around, he had him sit in a cool ce in the inner citadel and asked him to do paperwork. Other nobles would raise their gs on the castle walls and show off when they conquered a city, and they would parade around the streets of the city, but Johan started with the fiefdom inventory and warehouse ledgers of the nearby regions in the inner citadel. And these documents were to be sorted again by the scribes under Johan. Honestly, the scribes felt like dying. If the duke was blind or uninterested, they would be able to do their workfortably and at their own pace, but the duke was also good with numbers. The scribes couldn¡¯t help but be shocked when they finished calcting all night, took a short break, and came in the morning to find ¡®??????, ???????? ???? ??????????,¡¯ written on their work. No wonder even the orc mathematician from the university, who was famous for his calcting skills, had been humiliated. That¡¯s why it was such a relief to have a wizard like Suetlg helping them. Not only was he knowledgeable, but when Johan came to take a peek, Suetlg would block him, saying, ¡®?????????? ???? ???????????????????????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡®????, ????????????-??????.¡¯ ¡®?????? ?????????? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ??????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ The scribes cheered in their hearts. They wanted Suetlg to talk Johan out of it. Fortunately, the duke listened to their plea. ¡°Even so, they must have given you a hard time since you¡¯re so bruised.¡± ¡°Really? How were they? Were they pretty?¡± ¡°Er. . . Yes. . . Well.¡± Come to think of it, Johan was the only one present who had seen the mermaid in person. Everyone else had been bewitched and lost their memories. Johan, who was usually honest, found it hard to tell the truth because Suetlg had a rare look of anticipation. ¡®???????????? ???? ????????????????????, ?????????? ??????.¡¯ ¡°I heard from my master that they have a sweet scent that makes you feel a strong life force. How was it?¡± ¡°I did feel a strong life force, but it was closer to the smell of salt water. I guess it¡¯s because they travel around the sea.¡± ¡°Indeed. . .! I didn¡¯t think of that.¡± Although it was closer to a fishy smell, Johan spared Suetlg¡¯s feelings. Caenerna, who was standing behind them, tilted her head as if something was strange. ???????????? Yeheyman wore a regretful expression. He had acted rashly and brought misfortune upon himself. He could tell that he had lost without having to fight anymore. ¡°I¡¯ve lost.¡± ¡°It was a fun game.¡± ¡°So, when will you answer my offer? Isn¡¯t it about time you gave me an answer? The city has quieted down!¡± It was no wonder Yeheyman was rushing him. When Yeheyman proposed to persuade Johan to kill the eunuchs, Suhekhar replied that he would decide after seeing how the duke handled the chaos in the city. Persuading the duke to kill the eunuchs meant betraying the sultan. No matter how much he tried to deny it, the meaning didn¡¯t change. In that case, shouldn¡¯t he at least find out if the duke on the other side was someone he could join hands with? . . .And surprisingly, the duke hadpletely quelled the chaos. Now, the foreigner who had just conquered the city was appeasing the pagans and chieftains of the various ns in the Holy Land while curing the gue. Of course, from Johan¡¯s point of view, he was simply responding with the most basic and feasible methods he knew. He divided the districts, controlled the areas where the disease was spreading, focused on cleanliness, prevented people from drinking contaminated water, and pushed aside the fanatics who were running around, saying they should burn the pagans who had received divine punishment. . . However, in the eyes of the people of the Holy Land, it seemed like Johan had brought about a miracle. Not only the ignorant people, but Suhekhar and Yeheyman thought so as well. Moreover, Johan had a track record of raising injured and sick mercenaries. This level of coincidence had to be considered inevitable. Suhekhar began to seriously suspect that this holynd had chosen the duke as its master. He wasn¡¯t the type to be obsessed with such superstitions, but the revtions were just. . . too obvious. The forest near the Holy Land, the crown that disappeared and then reappeared, the river and canals that were cleaned up by the duke¡¯s orders, and the gue that had suddenly disappeared. ¡°Gong, please give me an answer.¡± Yeheyman was younger than Suhekhar. Old nobles like Suhekhar valued revtions and superstitions, but Yeheyman had something more urgent. It was the eunuchs¡¯ necks. ¡°I understand. I will go and persuade the duke.¡± ¡°!¡± Yeheyman¡¯s face finally brightened. He had been treated well as a prisoner, so he wasn¡¯t physically ufortable, but he couldn¡¯t help but reach for his waist whenever he saw the eunuchs. The time had finallye for him to get his revenge. ¡°But Gong will have to help me. I don¡¯t want to go alone.¡± ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t go back on my word.¡± ???????????? ¡°This is really bad!¡± The eunuchs had already noticed the ominous atmosphere circting among the captive nobles. They were truly remarkable in this regard. ¡°Surely. . . They wouldn¡¯t act rashly in this situation, would they? Even they wouldn¡¯t dare to disrespect the duke.¡± No matter how much they were recognized as prisoners, if they ignored the duke¡¯s authority and broke thew, their own necks could be at stake. No one was that lenient towards pagans. At the young eunuch¡¯s words, the older eunuch shouted angrily. ¡°Fool! Don¡¯t you understand the situation yet? They know that much, of course. They¡¯re probably trying to bribe the duke to get his permission.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Only then did the faces of some of the eunuchs turn pale as they realized the gravity of the situation. ¡°How despicable!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of arguing about that when they can do it? Stop talking nonsense and think of a way to save your life, Your Excellency. You¡¯re the one who¡¯s been invited to the duke¡¯s quarters the most. Did you have any sess?¡± The eunuchs didn¡¯t just sit around. One of the things they were best at was winning the favor of those in power. No wonder the nobles of Vynashchtym wanted to buy and bring eunuchs from the East. The skill of discerning the subtle desires of their superiors and implementing them was a feat that even a ve who had worked for more than ten years couldn¡¯t imitate. The problem was. . . ¡°I apologize. I¡¯ve made several offers, but the duke doesn¡¯t seem interested at all. . .¡± The duke was exceeding the eunuchs¡¯ expectations. He refused when they got him an expensive horse and suggested a hunting trip, he refused when they offered to hold a jousting tournament, he refused when they found a splendid crown to give to his wife, and he refused with ridiculous excuses like ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ??????¡¯???? ???????? ????.¡¯ They had no idea what he liked, even after trying to win his favor. ¡°He really is a block of wood!¡± The oldest eunuch sighed, looking disappointed. ¡°You fools. . . If it¡¯s difficult to win the duke¡¯s favor, you should think about winning the favor of the people around him. How can you cling to him so stubbornly? When will you stop being so immature?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± The eunuchs felt enlightened by the advice of their elder., ¡°How dare you try to trick me?¡± ©¥??-????????? ????! ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????! The captured mermaid struggled against Johan¡¯s grip. Even though he was out of the water, he could easily overpower a single human. However, to his surprise, the duke¡¯s arms did not budge. ¡®???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ????????. . .?¡¯ As the suffocating grip tightened, the mermaid cried out in desperation. ©¥???????? ???? ??????, ??????! ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ????????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????! ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ????????? ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????????! ¡°Do those seashells look like treasure to you? Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± Johan pointed at the seashells in disbelief. He realized that the mermaids had sincerely offered the seashells as treasure. Johan didn¡¯t know how the mermaids had grown attached to the seashells (he wasn¡¯t particrly interested either), but what he wanted was the sunken gold, silver, and mysterious treasures in the ocean, not these seashells. When he exined kindly, the mermaids seemed to understand Johan¡¯s words. However, it was the mermaids¡¯ turn to be bewildered. ©¥????¡¯???? ?????? ??????????????, ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ????????????. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s expression turned grim, and naturally, his grip tightened. The mermaid, who had been grabbed by the scruff of his neck, cried out desperately. It was an instinctive cry. ©¥. . .??????????????, ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ????????????, ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????. ?? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????, ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????! ?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????! Johan had heard stories about mermaids from bards. Most of those who got involved with mermaids met their doom, but sometimes, a lucky sailor would capture the heart of a mermaid. Then, the mermaid would be a benevolent patron of the sailor, helping him navigate. At the time, he thought it was just the bards¡¯ exaggeration, but from what he was hearing now, it seemed like the stories had some basis in reality. Of course, real mermaids were not as beautiful and mystical as the mermaids in the stories. ¡°I¡¯m not a sailor, and there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll be in danger on the sea.¡± ©¥?????????? ??????????, ?????????? ??????????????????. ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????????????????????! ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????, ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????. ¡°At best, you¡¯ll just bring a school of fish. . .¡± Johan muttered in disappointment. The mermaids didn¡¯t respond, which meant he was right. In fact, bringing a school of fish was truly an amazing ability. A school of fish, such as herring, could number tens of thousands at once, which could feed a nearby vige or port for years. It was like the silver of the sea. However, Johan, who had expected treasures like the other spirits onnd, couldn¡¯t help but be disappointed. Johan sighed and let go of the mermaid¡¯s scruff. The mermaid hesitated for a moment before slipping back into the river. ©¥?????????? ??????. ?? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????????????. ¡°Sure.¡± Rather than expecting much, it was more like he let them go because there was no point in strangling the mermaid. The gue would subside over time if he divided and cleaned up the districts, and the monster incident would disappear if the mermaids behaved themselves. ¡°Jyanina, wake up.¡± After the mermaids disappeared into the river, Johan roused Jyanina. Jyanina, who had been blinking her snake-like eyes nkly, btedly came to her senses and asked. ¡°. . .Did I get bewitched by a mermaid?¡± ¡°Yes. But keep it a secret.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina nodded, holding back her embarrassment. It was rare for the duke to be so merciful, especially when several soldiers were watching. ???????????? ¡°Did you really see a mermaid?!¡± Suetlg, who had been poring over a pile of papers, suddenly raised his head. A few sheets of paper fluttered to the floor from the sudden movement. Caenerna, who was sitting opposite him, red at Suetlg with an irritated look. The red-haired wizard ced a rectangr stone on the paper and said. ¡°I thought it was a doppelganger or a ghoul at best. . . I should have gone with you if I knew it would be like this.¡± ¡°Are you really going to end it like that?? Isn¡¯t this interesting?¡± Suetlg spoke in an unusually excited voice at Caenerna¡¯s nd reaction. However, unlike Suetlg, the philosopher of the Ipa?l River, Caenerna had no interest in mermaids. ¡°No. . . Mermaids are just legends that sailors like. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s just what those ignorant fools say. Mermaids are creatures with the blood of spirits and remember the ancient mysteries.¡± The wizards respected each other asrades who pursued mysteries, but that didn¡¯t mean they were unconditionally interested in each other¡¯s fields. Caenerna was not particrly interested in Suetlg¡¯s story. ¡°Oh. . . I see. . .¡± Johan noticed that Caenerna was getting annoyed. Johan changed the subject. ¡°So, are you almost done sorting?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nearly finished. Thanks to you not saddling me with subjugating the mermaids, I was able to focus on my work.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know either. Who would have thought that something like a mermaid would appear?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you visit and call them tonight?¡± Johan realized that it would be difficult to purify the gue with Suetlg¡¯s power, so instead of dragging Suetlg around, he had him sit in a cool ce in the inner citadel and asked him to do paperwork. Other nobles would raise their gs on the castle walls and show off when they conquered a city, and they would parade around the streets of the city, but Johan started with the fiefdom inventory and warehouse ledgers of the nearby regions in the inner citadel. And these documents were to be sorted again by the scribes under Johan. Honestly, the scribes felt like dying. If the duke was blind or uninterested, they would be able to do their workfortably and at their own pace, but the duke was also good with numbers. The scribes couldn¡¯t help but be shocked when they finished calcting all night, took a short break, and came in the morning to find ¡®??????, ???????? ???? ??????????,¡¯ written on their work. No wonder even the orc mathematician from the university, who was famous for his calcting skills, had been humiliated. That¡¯s why it was such a relief to have a wizard like Suetlg helping them. Not only was he knowledgeable, but when Johan came to take a peek, Suetlg would block him, saying, ¡®?????????? ???? ???????????????????????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡®????, ????????????-??????.¡¯ ¡®?????? ?????????? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ??????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ The scribes cheered in their hearts. They wanted Suetlg to talk Johan out of it. Fortunately, the duke listened to their plea. ¡°Even so, they must have given you a hard time since you¡¯re so bruised.¡± ¡°Really? How were they? Were they pretty?¡± ¡°Er. . . Yes. . . Well.¡± Come to think of it, Johan was the only one present who had seen the mermaid in person. Everyone else had been bewitched and lost their memories. Johan, who was usually honest, found it hard to tell the truth because Suetlg had a rare look of anticipation. ¡®???????????? ???? ????????????????????, ?????????? ??????.¡¯ ¡°I heard from my master that they have a sweet scent that makes you feel a strong life force. How was it?¡± ¡°I did feel a strong life force, but it was closer to the smell of salt water. I guess it¡¯s because they travel around the sea.¡± ¡°Indeed. . .! I didn¡¯t think of that.¡± Although it was closer to a fishy smell, Johan spared Suetlg¡¯s feelings. Caenerna, who was standing behind them, tilted her head as if something was strange. ???????????? Yeheyman wore a regretful expression. He had acted rashly and brought misfortune upon himself. He could tell that he had lost without having to fight anymore. ¡°I¡¯ve lost.¡± ¡°It was a fun game.¡± ¡°So, when will you answer my offer? Isn¡¯t it about time you gave me an answer? The city has quieted down!¡± It was no wonder Yeheyman was rushing him. When Yeheyman proposed to persuade Johan to kill the eunuchs, Suhekhar replied that he would decide after seeing how the duke handled the chaos in the city. Persuading the duke to kill the eunuchs meant betraying the sultan. No matter how much he tried to deny it, the meaning didn¡¯t change. In that case, shouldn¡¯t he at least find out if the duke on the other side was someone he could join hands with? . . .And surprisingly, the duke hadpletely quelled the chaos. Now, the foreigner who had just conquered the city was appeasing the pagans and chieftains of the various ns in the Holy Land while curing the gue. Of course, from Johan¡¯s point of view, he was simply responding with the most basic and feasible methods he knew. He divided the districts, controlled the areas where the disease was spreading, focused on cleanliness, prevented people from drinking contaminated water, and pushed aside the fanatics who were running around, saying they should burn the pagans who had received divine punishment. . . However, in the eyes of the people of the Holy Land, it seemed like Johan had brought about a miracle. Not only the ignorant people, but Suhekhar and Yeheyman thought so as well. Moreover, Johan had a track record of raising injured and sick mercenaries. This level of coincidence had to be considered inevitable. Suhekhar began to seriously suspect that this holynd had chosen the duke as its master. He wasn¡¯t the type to be obsessed with such superstitions, but the revtions were just. . . too obvious. The forest near the Holy Land, the crown that disappeared and then reappeared, the river and canals that were cleaned up by the duke¡¯s orders, and the gue that had suddenly disappeared. ¡°Gong, please give me an answer.¡± Yeheyman was younger than Suhekhar. Old nobles like Suhekhar valued revtions and superstitions, but Yeheyman had something more urgent. It was the eunuchs¡¯ necks. ¡°I understand. I will go and persuade the duke.¡± ¡°!¡± Yeheyman¡¯s face finally brightened. He had been treated well as a prisoner, so he wasn¡¯t physically ufortable, but he couldn¡¯t help but reach for his waist whenever he saw the eunuchs. The time had finallye for him to get his revenge. ¡°But Gong will have to help me. I don¡¯t want to go alone.¡± ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t go back on my word.¡± ???????????? ¡°This is really bad!¡± The eunuchs had already noticed the ominous atmosphere circting among the captive nobles. They were truly remarkable in this regard. ¡°Surely. . . They wouldn¡¯t act rashly in this situation, would they? Even they wouldn¡¯t dare to disrespect the duke.¡± No matter how much they were recognized as prisoners, if they ignored the duke¡¯s authority and broke thew, their own necks could be at stake. No one was that lenient towards pagans. At the young eunuch¡¯s words, the older eunuch shouted angrily. ¡°Fool! Don¡¯t you understand the situation yet? They know that much, of course. They¡¯re probably trying to bribe the duke to get his permission.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Only then did the faces of some of the eunuchs turn pale as they realized the gravity of the situation. ¡°How despicable!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of arguing about that when they can do it? Stop talking nonsense and think of a way to save your life, Your Excellency. You¡¯re the one who¡¯s been invited to the duke¡¯s quarters the most. Did you have any sess?¡± The eunuchs didn¡¯t just sit around. One of the things they were best at was winning the favor of those in power. No wonder the nobles of Vynashchtym wanted to buy and bring eunuchs from the East. The skill of discerning the subtle desires of their superiors and implementing them was a feat that even a ve who had worked for more than ten years couldn¡¯t imitate. The problem was. . . ¡°I apologize. I¡¯ve made several offers, but the duke doesn¡¯t seem interested at all. . .¡± The duke was exceeding the eunuchs¡¯ expectations. He refused when they got him an expensive horse and suggested a hunting trip, he refused when they offered to hold a jousting tournament, he refused when they found a splendid crown to give to his wife, and he refused with ridiculous excuses like ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ??????¡¯???? ???????? ????.¡¯ They had no idea what he liked, even after trying to win his favor. ¡°He really is a block of wood!¡± The oldest eunuch sighed, looking disappointed. ¡°You fools. . . If it¡¯s difficult to win the duke¡¯s favor, you should think about winning the favor of the people around him. How can you cling to him so stubbornly? When will you stop being so immature?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± The eunuchs felt enlightened by the advice of their elder. Chapter 332: ???????? ???????? (5) When the situation gets desperate, even the wise crack jokes. A group of eunuchs, weathered from countless life-threatening situations, had overlooked a fundamental detail. ¡°Apologies, we let it slip our minds.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Mistakes happen. I won¡¯t lecture you further, for I believe everyone is well aware of the current situation. However, do keep your wits sharp and ears open. This camp is no longer a safe haven.¡± ¡°Should we flee? There might still be neighboring tribes willing to aid us.¡± The duke may have conquered the Holy Land, but not all tribes would genuinely pledge allegiance to the pagan duke. With careful negotiation, they could potentially assist their escape from the city and rush towards the harbor. ¡°It¡¯s risky. There¡¯s no guarantee we¡¯ll evade the pursuers, and the neighboring tribes might betray us. If we¡¯re captured, it¡¯ll give them a pretext to. . .¡± The eunuchs grimaced, reminded of the lingering intent of the captured nobles to kill them. Anger red within them, coupled with a creeping chill, as if a de had been pressed against their throats. ¡°Those who pledged loyalty to the Sultan would dare. . .¡± ¡®????¡¯?? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????.¡¯One of the younger eunuchs thought to himself but dared not voice it. ¡°We¡¯ll move ordingly, as you¡¯ve advised.¡± ¡°Good. May fortune favor you all.¡± ???????????? Suetlg, with a face aged by several more years, grumbled, ¡°What in the world are those fools up to?¡± ¡°I apologize, I don¡¯t quite understand. . .¡± Caenerna responded, causing Suetlg to sigh and borate. ¡°I¡¯m talking about those eunuchs. They keep pestering us at the most inconvenient times.¡± ¡°Oh, well, it¡¯s the nobles who. . .¡± With a smile, Caenerna traced her finger across her neck. Suetlg looked puzzled. ¡°Trying to kill them?¡± ¡°If rumors are to be believed, it¡¯s as good as true.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve certainly drawn a lot of resentment.¡± Suetlg had heard bits and pieces of the rumors circting among the captives, though he hadn¡¯t actively sought to confirm them. Apparently, the eunuchs had incurred the wrath of the captured nobles and faced threats to their lives. It sounded usible. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense though. Even if they are eunuchs, killing them at will would incur the wrath of the Sultan.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more than one way to skin a cat. . . They could hire someone to do it and pretend ignorance, or they could have one of their own take the fall and bear the responsibility.¡± Caenerna exined, folding her fingers one by one. Having served in the emperor¡¯s court, she was well-versed in such political maneuvering. ¡°. . .Hold on.¡± Caenerna paused mid-sentence. Of course, these deceptive tactics were more like a charade, with both sides being aware of the pretense. Whether it was the Emperor or the Sultan, indiscriminately suspecting and executing their subordinate nobles would promptly lead to a rebellion. Very few would risk escting the situation just to eliminate a few eunuchs. It was clear that as long as both parties maintained some semnce of decorum, the issue could be swept under the rug. The problem was the catastrophic defeat they had suffered not long ago. Whether or not news had reached the Sultan¡¯s ears, Caenerna believed that even the Sultan would have caused him to fall off his horse a few times. To be utterly crushed, despite leading such a formidable army. In such circumstances, would the Sultan tolerate the killing and parading of his eunuchs? Even those who might have overlooked it in normal times would likely be enraged and unsheath their swords. ¡®???????????? ?? ???????????? ?????????¡¯ Caenerna briefly considered it. However, she was not close to the nobles, and offering counsel to captives of a different faith would be futile. It might even cause unnecessary trouble. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I was just curious about how the eunuchs were bothering you.¡± Suetlg said, stroking his beard. ¡°They¡¯ve been rambling on about various things. They offered to introduce us to tribal leaders who could provide assistance, they mentioned knowing wealthy merchants with piles of gold coins, and they suggested we confiscate their wealth. . .¡± Having conquered the city, the Duke had the authority to do as he pleased. Seizing the assets of influential individuals within the city was certainly within his power. He could fabricate any justification he wanted. Of course, Suetlg had no intention of doing anything of the sort, not when he had barely managed to appease the popce. Any such action would instantly reverse the public¡¯s favor. ¡°Why do you look so amused?¡± Suetlg eyed Caenerna suspiciously. With a chuckle, Caenerna raised her hands in surrender. ¡°I apologize if I¡¯ve given you the wrong impression, Suetlg-gong.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. . . Well, I suppose it wouldn¡¯t hurt to ept a little something, if they¡¯re offering.¡± ¡°?!¡± Caenerna was taken aback by Suetlg¡¯s words. Of all the people in the camp, the strict and meticulous Suetlg, who even dared to contradict the duke, was saying something like that. ¡°Have you perhaps fallen under some evil spell??¡± ¡°What kind of person do you take me for? I¡¯m not suggesting we engage in excessive looting, of course. But after all the hardships we¡¯ve endured, it wouldn¡¯t be unreasonable to im a fair share of the spoils.¡± Suetlg was a stickler for principles and regtions, but he wasn¡¯t blind to human desires. People were weaker than they thought. Although Johan possessed an inhuman level of self-control, bordering on monstrous, Suetlg didn¡¯t expect the same from others. If Caenerna desired something, there was no harm in letting her have it. Caenerna was slightly surprised by Suetlg¡¯s words. She hadn¡¯t expected him to say something like that. ¡°. . .I cannot ept anything when you have taken nothing.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take my share.¡± ¡°?!¡± ¡°I heard that there are cultists stirring up trouble near the Holy Land. It would be wise to eliminate them before we make our move. It would be bothersome if they were to set fire to the city.¡± Cultists and those who worshipped strange deities were a nuisance wherever they went. It became even more dangerous when they drew upon their beliefs to wield sinister magic. They had conquered the Holy Land, but to the north, the Sultan¡¯s forces remained, and to the south, the viceroy who had defied the duke was holed up in his stronghold. At present, all the neighboring feudal lords were too intimidated to look Johan in the eye, but the tides could easily turn. It was best to prepare while they still had the advantage. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna looked at Suetlg incredulously. After making such a statement, how could he expect her to ept anything, even as a jest? ¡°. . .I suppose I should do my part for His Highness the duke as well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea.¡± Caenerna rose from her seat. By the time they had finished speaking, she hadpleted her assigned task. As she was about to leave, Jyanina entered with her attendants. ¡°. . .?¡± Caenerna sighed upon noticing the ne adorning Jyanina¡¯s neck. Not just one, but three of them. ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ From the looks of it, Suetlg was already preparing his sermon. He would likelyunch into a long lecture once Caenerna left. ¡®???????????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????. . .¡¯ Caenerna considered enlisting the help of wizards within the city with the eunuchs¡¯ assistance. They might not be loyal, but they could at least provide some aid in battle. Caenerna chuckled to herself, imagining the pleased expression on the duke¡¯s face. The young duke was someone who appreciated receiving gifts. Other nobles on the expedition said that the duke was indifferent to anything he received, but the people around Johan knew better. Surprisingly, Johan took great pleasure in the act of gift-giving. ???????????? ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????, ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????, ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ????????. . . ???? ???? ?????????????????¡¯ Johan was lost in thought. The conquest of the Holy Land was proceeding smoothly, and everyone seemed satisfied, but the situation was far from over. As a human being, Johan harbored a desire to seize the viceroy who had caused all this trouble and hang him from the gallows. If only he hadn¡¯t been so greedy, none of this would have happened. However, the Sultan¡¯s army was the problem. If they marched south while actively engaged in a siege, wouldn¡¯t they have to turn back if the Sultan¡¯s forces appeared from the north? In that case, it would be better to stay put. When he discreetly asked Ulrike, she answered without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ©¥?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ????????????, ?????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ??????????????, ???? ????????????? ©¥. . .???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??????. ©¥????????. ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????. ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??????? ©¥. . .???????????????? ??????? ????. . . ?????????? ?? ????????????. Ulrike¡¯s approach had some merit, albeit short-sighted. ¡°What¡¯s all themotion?¡± Johan stepped out, intrigued by the soundsing from outside. Mercenaries were checking their weapons and preparing to move somewhere. Knights were shouting orders, trying to establish order among the gathering mercenaries. It was chaotic and disorganized, but for a hastily assembled force, it was functional enough. ¡°We¡¯ve discovered a hideout of cultists and are preparing to eliminate them.¡± ¡°Oh? You could have told me. . .¡± From the perspective of the expeditionary knights, there was no reason to report such a minor operation to the duke, so they hadn¡¯t bothered. However, Johan, who had always taken the lead in such matters, couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit slighted. Johan started to ask the knights why they hadn¡¯t called him, but he stopped himself. The knights wouldn¡¯t mind, but if the duke spoke to them in such a manner, they would be shocked and prostrate themselves in apology. ¡°Your Highness, would you like to apany us? The knights would be delighted to have Your Highness with them.¡± Johan¡¯s escort, recognizing the duke¡¯s desire, spoke up first. ¡°Shall I?¡± ¡°Yes. Your Highness has been working very hardtely. It would do you good to get some fresh air and perhaps engage in a bit of hunting.¡± At the centaur warrior¡¯s words, another mercenary nearby whispered. ¡°Hey, did you know that the ce we¡¯re going to is underground?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Well, I guess the thought is important.¡± Johan shrugged it off. In any case, it might be better to move around a bit rather than continue brooding. ???????????? What had started as a casual participation in a punitive expedition led to unexpected reactions. First, several young knights from the expeditionary force who had not taken part in the operation volunteered. They were eager to demonstrate their prowess before the duke of extraordinary renown. Surprisingly, some of the captured nobles also stepped forward, offering to assist in the operation. Ordinarily, captured individuals wouldn¡¯t be given weapons, but after some deliberation, Johan agreed. If they witnessed the duke¡¯s kindness towards the pagans, wouldn¡¯t the surrounding tribes be more reassured? ©¥???????? ????????????????, ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????. . .? ©¥?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????????????????? ?????? ????? ©¥?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ??????????????????????????. Contrary to Johan¡¯s intentions, the surrounding tribes were somewhat bewildered. They had already witnessed the duke¡¯s sincerity. Refusing to massacre the poption after conquering the city walls was already extraordinary, and judging by his subsequent actions, anyone who failed to recognize his sincerity must be a beast, not a human being. What if he gave weapons to the captives and one of them, filled with resentment, attacked the duke. . .? The tribal leaders exchanged worried nces, although they didn¡¯t dare to voice their concerns, given their current standing with the duke. And finally, the eunuchs also joined the operation. Their excuse was that they knew the area well, but their real purpose was to keep an eye on the captured nobles. ¡°Those b*stards!¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we just kill them here and now?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Whether they followed Yeheyman or Suhekhar, the knights had one thing inmon: they all wanted to kill the eunuchs with their own hands. Their anger was already boiling, and now that they had swords in their hands, they wanted to kill those cultists and then some. ¡°Hold your horses! We¡¯re not here today to kill those treacherous eunuchs.¡± As Yeheyman had said, the captured nobles had joined the operation not to kill the eunuchs but to use the opportunity to make a proposal to the duke. Once the operation was sessfullypleted and the atmosphere was jovial, the duke would be more receptive to their words. It would be even better if they could distinguish themselves in battle. . . ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be best if Vaytar-gong led us?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Vaytar, Yeheyman¡¯s fourth son, who had been captured much earlier, looked wary when his name was called. The knights were puzzled to see the usually belligerent Vaytar behaving so humbly. However, there was nothing they could do about it. Being in the duke¡¯s camp had a way of humbling even the most aggressive warriors., When the situation gets desperate, even the wise crack jokes. A group of eunuchs, weathered from countless life-threatening situations, had overlooked a fundamental detail. ¡°Apologies, we let it slip our minds.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Mistakes happen. I won¡¯t lecture you further, for I believe everyone is well aware of the current situation. However, do keep your wits sharp and ears open. This camp is no longer a safe haven.¡± ¡°Should we flee? There might still be neighboring tribes willing to aid us.¡± The duke may have conquered the Holy Land, but not all tribes would genuinely pledge allegiance to the pagan duke. With careful negotiation, they could potentially assist their escape from the city and rush towards the harbor. ¡°It¡¯s risky. There¡¯s no guarantee we¡¯ll evade the pursuers, and the neighboring tribes might betray us. If we¡¯re captured, it¡¯ll give them a pretext to. . .¡± The eunuchs grimaced, reminded of the lingering intent of the captured nobles to kill them. Anger red within them, coupled with a creeping chill, as if a de had been pressed against their throats. ¡°Those who pledged loyalty to the Sultan would dare. . .¡± ¡®????¡¯?? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????.¡¯ One of the younger eunuchs thought to himself but dared not voice it. ¡°We¡¯ll move ordingly, as you¡¯ve advised.¡± ¡°Good. May fortune favor you all.¡± ???????????? Suetlg, with a face aged by several more years, grumbled, ¡°What in the world are those fools up to?¡± ¡°I apologize, I don¡¯t quite understand. . .¡± Caenerna responded, causing Suetlg to sigh and borate. ¡°I¡¯m talking about those eunuchs. They keep pestering us at the most inconvenient times.¡± ¡°Oh, well, it¡¯s the nobles who. . .¡± With a smile, Caenerna traced her finger across her neck. Suetlg looked puzzled. ¡°Trying to kill them?¡± ¡°If rumors are to be believed, it¡¯s as good as true.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve certainly drawn a lot of resentment.¡± Suetlg had heard bits and pieces of the rumors circting among the captives, though he hadn¡¯t actively sought to confirm them. Apparently, the eunuchs had incurred the wrath of the captured nobles and faced threats to their lives. It sounded usible. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense though. Even if they are eunuchs, killing them at will would incur the wrath of the Sultan.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more than one way to skin a cat. . . They could hire someone to do it and pretend ignorance, or they could have one of their own take the fall and bear the responsibility.¡± Caenerna exined, folding her fingers one by one. Having served in the emperor¡¯s court, she was well-versed in such political maneuvering. ¡°. . .Hold on.¡± Caenerna paused mid-sentence. Of course, these deceptive tactics were more like a charade, with both sides being aware of the pretense. Whether it was the Emperor or the Sultan, indiscriminately suspecting and executing their subordinate nobles would promptly lead to a rebellion. Very few would risk escting the situation just to eliminate a few eunuchs. It was clear that as long as both parties maintained some semnce of decorum, the issue could be swept under the rug. The problem was the catastrophic defeat they had suffered not long ago. Whether or not news had reached the Sultan¡¯s ears, Caenerna believed that even the Sultan would have caused him to fall off his horse a few times. To be utterly crushed, despite leading such a formidable army. In such circumstances, would the Sultan tolerate the killing and parading of his eunuchs? Even those who might have overlooked it in normal times would likely be enraged and unsheath their swords. ¡®???????????? ?? ???????????? ?????????¡¯ Caenerna briefly considered it. However, she was not close to the nobles, and offering counsel to captives of a different faith would be futile. It might even cause unnecessary trouble. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I was just curious about how the eunuchs were bothering you.¡± Suetlg said, stroking his beard. ¡°They¡¯ve been rambling on about various things. They offered to introduce us to tribal leaders who could provide assistance, they mentioned knowing wealthy merchants with piles of gold coins, and they suggested we confiscate their wealth. . .¡± Having conquered the city, the Duke had the authority to do as he pleased. Seizing the assets of influential individuals within the city was certainly within his power. He could fabricate any justification he wanted. Of course, Suetlg had no intention of doing anything of the sort, not when he had barely managed to appease the popce. Any such action would instantly reverse the public¡¯s favor. ¡°Why do you look so amused?¡± Suetlg eyed Caenerna suspiciously. With a chuckle, Caenerna raised her hands in surrender. ¡°I apologize if I¡¯ve given you the wrong impression, Suetlg-gong.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. . . Well, I suppose it wouldn¡¯t hurt to ept a little something, if they¡¯re offering.¡± ¡°?!¡± Caenerna was taken aback by Suetlg¡¯s words. Of all the people in the camp, the strict and meticulous Suetlg, who even dared to contradict the duke, was saying something like that. ¡°Have you perhaps fallen under some evil spell??¡± ¡°What kind of person do you take me for? I¡¯m not suggesting we engage in excessive looting, of course. But after all the hardships we¡¯ve endured, it wouldn¡¯t be unreasonable to im a fair share of the spoils.¡± Suetlg was a stickler for principles and regtions, but he wasn¡¯t blind to human desires. People were weaker than they thought. Although Johan possessed an inhuman level of self-control, bordering on monstrous, Suetlg didn¡¯t expect the same from others. If Caenerna desired something, there was no harm in letting her have it. Caenerna was slightly surprised by Suetlg¡¯s words. She hadn¡¯t expected him to say something like that. ¡°. . .I cannot ept anything when you have taken nothing.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take my share.¡± ¡°?!¡± ¡°I heard that there are cultists stirring up trouble near the Holy Land. It would be wise to eliminate them before we make our move. It would be bothersome if they were to set fire to the city.¡± Cultists and those who worshipped strange deities were a nuisance wherever they went. It became even more dangerous when they drew upon their beliefs to wield sinister magic. They had conquered the Holy Land, but to the north, the Sultan¡¯s forces remained, and to the south, the viceroy who had defied the duke was holed up in his stronghold. At present, all the neighboring feudal lords were too intimidated to look Johan in the eye, but the tides could easily turn. It was best to prepare while they still had the advantage. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna looked at Suetlg incredulously. After making such a statement, how could he expect her to ept anything, even as a jest? ¡°. . .I suppose I should do my part for His Highness the duke as well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea.¡± Caenerna rose from her seat. By the time they had finished speaking, she hadpleted her assigned task. As she was about to leave, Jyanina entered with her attendants. ¡°. . .?¡± Caenerna sighed upon noticing the ne adorning Jyanina¡¯s neck. Not just one, but three of them. ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ From the looks of it, Suetlg was already preparing his sermon. He would likelyunch into a long lecture once Caenerna left. ¡®???????????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????. . .¡¯ Caenerna considered enlisting the help of wizards within the city with the eunuchs¡¯ assistance. They might not be loyal, but they could at least provide some aid in battle. Caenerna chuckled to herself, imagining the pleased expression on the duke¡¯s face. The young duke was someone who appreciated receiving gifts. Other nobles on the expedition said that the duke was indifferent to anything he received, but the people around Johan knew better. Surprisingly, Johan took great pleasure in the act of gift-giving. ???????????? ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????, ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????, ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ????????. . . ???? ???? ?????????????????¡¯ Johan was lost in thought. The conquest of the Holy Land was proceeding smoothly, and everyone seemed satisfied, but the situation was far from over. As a human being, Johan harbored a desire to seize the viceroy who had caused all this trouble and hang him from the gallows. If only he hadn¡¯t been so greedy, none of this would have happened. However, the Sultan¡¯s army was the problem. If they marched south while actively engaged in a siege, wouldn¡¯t they have to turn back if the Sultan¡¯s forces appeared from the north? In that case, it would be better to stay put. When he discreetly asked Ulrike, she answered without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ©¥?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ????????????, ?????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ??????????????, ???? ????????????? ©¥. . .???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??????. ©¥????????. ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????. ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??????? ©¥. . .???????????????? ??????? ????. . . ?????????? ?? ????????????. Ulrike¡¯s approach had some merit, albeit short-sighted. ¡°What¡¯s all themotion?¡± Johan stepped out, intrigued by the soundsing from outside. Mercenaries were checking their weapons and preparing to move somewhere. Knights were shouting orders, trying to establish order among the gathering mercenaries. It was chaotic and disorganized, but for a hastily assembled force, it was functional enough. ¡°We¡¯ve discovered a hideout of cultists and are preparing to eliminate them.¡± ¡°Oh? You could have told me. . .¡± From the perspective of the expeditionary knights, there was no reason to report such a minor operation to the duke, so they hadn¡¯t bothered. However, Johan, who had always taken the lead in such matters, couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit slighted. Johan started to ask the knights why they hadn¡¯t called him, but he stopped himself. The knights wouldn¡¯t mind, but if the duke spoke to them in such a manner, they would be shocked and prostrate themselves in apology. ¡°Your Highness, would you like to apany us? The knights would be delighted to have Your Highness with them.¡± Johan¡¯s escort, recognizing the duke¡¯s desire, spoke up first. ¡°Shall I?¡± ¡°Yes. Your Highness has been working very hardtely. It would do you good to get some fresh air and perhaps engage in a bit of hunting.¡± At the centaur warrior¡¯s words, another mercenary nearby whispered. ¡°Hey, did you know that the ce we¡¯re going to is underground?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Well, I guess the thought is important.¡± Johan shrugged it off. In any case, it might be better to move around a bit rather than continue brooding. ???????????? What had started as a casual participation in a punitive expedition led to unexpected reactions. First, several young knights from the expeditionary force who had not taken part in the operation volunteered. They were eager to demonstrate their prowess before the duke of extraordinary renown. Surprisingly, some of the captured nobles also stepped forward, offering to assist in the operation. Ordinarily, captured individuals wouldn¡¯t be given weapons, but after some deliberation, Johan agreed. If they witnessed the duke¡¯s kindness towards the pagans, wouldn¡¯t the surrounding tribes be more reassured? ©¥???????? ????????????????, ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????. . .? ©¥?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????????????????? ?????? ????? ©¥?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ??????????????????????????. Contrary to Johan¡¯s intentions, the surrounding tribes were somewhat bewildered. They had already witnessed the duke¡¯s sincerity. Refusing to massacre the poption after conquering the city walls was already extraordinary, and judging by his subsequent actions, anyone who failed to recognize his sincerity must be a beast, not a human being. What if he gave weapons to the captives and one of them, filled with resentment, attacked the duke. . .? The tribal leaders exchanged worried nces, although they didn¡¯t dare to voice their concerns, given their current standing with the duke. And finally, the eunuchs also joined the operation. Their excuse was that they knew the area well, but their real purpose was to keep an eye on the captured nobles. ¡°Those b*stards!¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we just kill them here and now?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Whether they followed Yeheyman or Suhekhar, the knights had one thing inmon: they all wanted to kill the eunuchs with their own hands. Their anger was already boiling, and now that they had swords in their hands, they wanted to kill those cultists and then some. ¡°Hold your horses! We¡¯re not here today to kill those treacherous eunuchs.¡± As Yeheyman had said, the captured nobles had joined the operation not to kill the eunuchs but to use the opportunity to make a proposal to the duke. Once the operation was sessfullypleted and the atmosphere was jovial, the duke would be more receptive to their words. It would be even better if they could distinguish themselves in battle. . . ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be best if Vaytar-gong led us?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Vaytar, Yeheyman¡¯s fourth son, who had been captured much earlier, looked wary when his name was called. The knights were puzzled to see the usually belligerent Vaytar behaving so humbly. However, there was nothing they could do about it. Being in the duke¡¯s camp had a way of humbling even the most aggressive warriors. Chapter 333: ???????? ???????? (6) ¡°Why does Vaytar-gong behave like that?¡± ¡°The better the steel, the more it is hammered in the forge. Isn¡¯t Vaytar-gong growing through trials?¡± As the old knight said so, the other knights nodded in agreement. It wasn¡¯t that knights always had a smooth rise. Being captured by an opponent was not a pleasant thing, but it was not so humiliating that it had to be hidden. It could even be a somewhat honorable thing depending on the opponent, if one was captured after a fair fight. In that respect, it was not strange that Vaytar had changed. He must have had a lot of opportunities to mature while he was a captive in the duke¡¯s camp for quite a long time. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Vaytar, who heard that, tried to get angry but endured it. It was not an atmosphere where he could lose his temper. For one thing, there were several knights who were more famous and had a higher rank than Vaytar. ¡®???????? ???? ???????????? ????????????????!¡¯From the perspective of Vaytar, who underestimated the duke and tried tomit piracy and was then absurdly captured, the words of the knights were nothing but annoying. What did they mean by trials and growth? ¡®?????????? ???????????????? ??????????. . .¡¯ If they also stayed in the duke¡¯s camp for a long time, they woulde to know. How humble the duke made people. Even the most arrogant warrior in the empire would be incredibly humble if he stayed by the duke¡¯s side for just three days. ¡°It would be rude to decline when you are encouraged like this. You should ept it.¡± When even his father Yeheyman said so, Vaytar could no longer refuse. He nodded his head reluctantly. ¡®???????? ????. ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ??????, ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ ???????????? ¡°Those wicked cultist groups have been the vermin that have kept the people of this area terrified. And Your Highness is going to punish them. It is a decision that will be remembered in history! You are truly great!¡± Iselia, who was listening from the side, was impressed in a different sense. She thought she had seen many people ttering others, but there was always someone better. The shamelessness of the eunuchs, who chattered without resting, was beyond imagination. ¡°Yes, thank you. Is this the right ce?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Johan deployed his soldiers while listening to the eunuchs with one ear. The opponent was a sloppy group that was embarrassing to call an army, but even so, he couldn¡¯t let his guard down. ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ ording to the information he had received, the cultist group had made their nest in the dpidated old castle in front of them. The surrounding viges were so afraid because of the ominous rumors that they didn¡¯t evene near this area. Fortunately, the castle walls and gates did not look sturdy. The wooden castle walls seemed to be rotten and cracked, showing gaps, and the ce where the gate should be waspletely empty. It was a relief that he didn¡¯t have to go through a boring and suffocating siege, but Johan felt an ominous feeling for some reason. ©¥????????. ¡°Yes. I wonder what they are up to inside.¡± Johan, who had fought against the cultists several times, knew how persistent and wicked they were. If such guys left the outside like that, it was certain that they had the confidence to do so. ¡°Isn¡¯t that an exaggeration? No matter how barbaric they are, they would not have expected a punitive force of this scale to arrive.¡± Johan nodded at Iselia¡¯s words. Her words were right. cultists usually ran away and hid when a punitive force came up, and it was rare for them to fight head-on. The copsed castle walls and gates might have been left alone so as not to draw too much attention from the surroundings. Because the moment they started repairing, it would cost a lot of money and the surroundings would be noisy. ¡°But even considering that, I think there might be something inside.¡± ¡°You are truly wise. A wise man, even with a small sign. . .¡± ¡°I heard you guys talking. Right?¡± The eunuchs were slightly taken aback when Johan cut off their praise and asked a question. That¡¯s right. It was the eunuchs who had informed Suetlg of the location of the cultists here. It was to win Suetlg¡¯s favor. ¡®????????¡¯?? ??????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????????????????¡¯ Johan was puzzled. He could understand being flustered by a sudden question, but it was a bit strange for the seasoned eunuchs to be flustered by such a question in Johan¡¯s eyes. The eunuchs soon regained theirposure and smiled and opened their mouths. ¡°Yes, we have good ears, Your Highness.¡± The reason the eunuchs were flustered was because they had something to be sensitive about. These cultist groups were the ones who had beenmissioned by the eunuchs for assassination. Since the assassination attempt had failed miserably and only the wrong duke had died, the eunuchs had no intention of keeping their promise. And even if they had carried out the request properly, the eunuchs would have betrayed them at any time. ¡°That¡¯s great. I heard it¡¯s difficult to find the location of the cultists. Even Suetlg-gong praised you guys.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The cultists underestimated the eunuchs. The eunuchs were much more cunning and despicable than the cultists thought. While taking on the request, they had someone follow them just in case. It was to use it as a threat if neededter. I didn¡¯t know I would use it like this, but. . . ¡°How did you really find it? Can you teach me a trick?¡± ¡°?!¡± The eunuchs were startled when the direction of the arrows suddenly changed. They had never thought that someone like a duke would ask about such things in detail. ¡®?????? ???? ???? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????¡¯ However, once they were asked a question, they had to answer. Especially since the other person had a high status. The eunuchs racked their brains and came up with a usible story. ¡°Well, you see, there is a noble from a tribe I know, and one day, this person. . .¡± ¡°Your Highness. If you permit me, I would like to take the lead and charge.¡± Surprisingly, it was the monotheist knights who saved the eunuchs. Led by Valeon, the monotheist knights of the neighboring fiefdom volunteered without hesitation. Johan was a little surprised at the active attitude of these people who weren¡¯t even part of the expedition. ¡°Why are they doing that?¡± ¡°Perhaps they are stimted by the achievements you have umted.¡± ¡°Ah. I guess they want to build some achievements now.¡± ¡°. . .You should never say that to them.¡± As a fellow knight, Iselia was considerate of her opponents. Of course, Johan had no intention of saying that out loud. If the other party wanted to look good, it was the duke¡¯s job to amodate them. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take the lead. . .¡± ¡°Your Highness. There is a high probability that vile cultists are waiting inside with a trap. Please let us take the lead.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was a little flustered when even the pagan knights who had been captured volunteered. He had not expected them to argue over who would go first. Iselia could see sparks flying between the two groups. This was a fight for honor and pride. It was a fight that they could never back down from. And the end of such a quarrel was set. ¡°Your Highness. The knights from Tragalon are charging in on their own!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan shook his head. They weren¡¯t Johan¡¯s subordinates, it would be fine, but if they were Johan¡¯s subordinates, he would have been upset several times. ???????????? ¡°The army is approaching like a cloud!¡± They didn¡¯t know from the outside, but the situation inside the old castle was also very hectic. Who could stay still when arge punitive force visited outside? ¡°I don¡¯t know how they found out about this ce.¡± ¡°Did theye after hearing the rumors?¡± ¡°Does it make sense to lead an army based on unconfirmed rumors!¡± ¡°Stop it. It¡¯s not like the army that came in front of us will disappear now that we¡¯ve been found. Is the purpose revenge?¡± ¡°Yes. The duke brought an army.¡± These were cultists who worshiped the three skeleton gods, and they had already had a bad rtionship with Johan once. It was these guys who led the assassination attemptst time. ¡°Prepare to escape underground! The rest of you, hold them off at the entrance for as long as possible.¡± ¡°The enemy is approaching!¡± ¡°I know. Everyone, move!¡± ¡°What about the hostages?¡± ¡°Take them with us. They¡¯re too precious to leave behind!¡± The cultists also needed ie to survive. They couldn¡¯tst long with the small amount of money they extorted from the nearby viges. Their main source of ie was the gold coins they received for assassination and the ransom they received by kidnapping the nobles in the area. In fact, they were no different from a rogue group. As such, they could not just abandon the hostages they had captured. The cultists hurriedly headed underground, carrying the tied hostages. ¡°Underground! Move underground!¡± ???????????? ¡°Hmm.¡± Johan looked at the old castle with a sullen expression. A few knights charged first, and the other knights, stimted by that, charged, and the remaining knights looked at Johan with an expression asking for permission, so he gave permission. . . If this continued, it would be pointless for Johan to join inte. If he had charged first, it would have been different, but it was noticeable for him to runte as a duke. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Duke. We just thought we would charge first.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. It wouldn¡¯t be bad to just wait.¡± Johanforted Iselia, who had be sullen. The mercenaries left in the camp didn¡¯t seem to have anyints. They didn¡¯te after money, and they weren¡¯t looking for achievements like knights. Johan didn¡¯t really care how long he stayed like this, but the eunuchs couldn¡¯t just sit still. They went to the mercenary captains and persuaded them. ¡°Do you think it is right for His Highness the Duke to keep waiting in a ce like this?¡± ¡°What? What should we do then?¡± ¡°Make a request to have him rest in a nearby vige! His Highness the Duke must be hoping for that deep down.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± In the eyes of the mercenary captains, the eunuchs¡¯ words seemed usible. Who would want to wait in a ce with scorching sunlight and dusty sand? The mercenary captains thought that the duke might be grateful if they spoke up. ¡°Your Highness the Duke. Actually. . .¡± ¡°Do as you please. It wouldn¡¯t be bad for the mercenaries to rest.¡± The mercenaries cheered at the generous duke¡¯s words. The rumor that he was benevolent was not a false rumor. ???????????? The vigers responded fairly well for suddenly receiving distinguished guests. The vige chief hurriedly vacated his house and evacuated people to make space. Johan handed him a pouch containing silver coins as a token of gratitude. The vige chief¡¯s face brightened at the unexpected reward. When the vige chief whispered to the person next to him, the vigers brought out the livestock they had hidden. The faces of the mercenaries who saw that also brightened. It was a heartwarming atmosphere in contrast to the knights fighting fiercely inside the old castle. ¡°Iselia. Don¡¯t be so upset and just enjoy it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Duke. You can¡¯t catch game in every hunt, can you? Sometimes you have to enjoy the hunt itself.¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates nodded at the centaur¡¯s words. Killing enemies and receiving generous rewards from the duke was gratifying, but it was also enjoyable to be treated like this and eat and drink happily. Which mercenary could sit down and eat and drink with the duke? They must have been the blessed ones. ¡°Oh my. We finished everything.¡± ¡°There was a jar behind the house. Bring it.¡± Johan didn¡¯t drink, but his men got tipsy after having a drink or two. A mercenary walked to the back on his own without even calling the vigers to get a new jar. ¡°???¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did we run out of alcohol?¡± ¡°I hear noisesing from the ground. . .?¡± The mercenary was not another race, but a dwarf. As expected of a dwarf, the mercenary picked up the sounding from the ground incredibly well. ¡°Are you drunk?¡± ¡°No. I definitely heard it.¡± ¡°???¡± In the meantime, the cultists hiding underground exchanged nces with surprised expressions. They were originally going to escape through the passage. . . Surprisingly, there were soldiers, not vigers, above. At first, they thought it was an ambush, but upon listening carefully, it didn¡¯t seem like an ambush. The sound of eating and drinking continued. ©¥???? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????! ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????! ©¥?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????! ©¥????¡¯?? ?? ???????? ??????????! ?????????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ????????, ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ????????! The cultists, who had patiently waited and roughly estimated the number, decided to rush in and ambush them all at once instead of retreating. There were only about twenty people around the duke right now. It was enough to deal with. ¡°Catch the duke! If you catch the duke. . .!¡± ¡°??!¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates made absurd expressions as they watched the cultists rushing out in a situation where it would be toote to hide or run away since they had been caught. Are they crazy b*stards?? ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????????¡¯, ¡°Why does Vaytar-gong behave like that?¡± ¡°The better the steel, the more it is hammered in the forge. Isn¡¯t Vaytar-gong growing through trials?¡± As the old knight said so, the other knights nodded in agreement. It wasn¡¯t that knights always had a smooth rise. Being captured by an opponent was not a pleasant thing, but it was not so humiliating that it had to be hidden. It could even be a somewhat honorable thing depending on the opponent, if one was captured after a fair fight. In that respect, it was not strange that Vaytar had changed. He must have had a lot of opportunities to mature while he was a captive in the duke¡¯s camp for quite a long time. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Vaytar, who heard that, tried to get angry but endured it. It was not an atmosphere where he could lose his temper. For one thing, there were several knights who were more famous and had a higher rank than Vaytar. ¡®???????? ???? ???????????? ????????????????!¡¯ From the perspective of Vaytar, who underestimated the duke and tried tomit piracy and was then absurdly captured, the words of the knights were nothing but annoying. What did they mean by trials and growth? ¡®?????????? ???????????????? ??????????. . .¡¯ If they also stayed in the duke¡¯s camp for a long time, they woulde to know. How humble the duke made people. Even the most arrogant warrior in the empire would be incredibly humble if he stayed by the duke¡¯s side for just three days. ¡°It would be rude to decline when you are encouraged like this. You should ept it.¡± When even his father Yeheyman said so, Vaytar could no longer refuse. He nodded his head reluctantly. ¡®???????? ????. ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ??????, ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ ???????????? ¡°Those wicked cultist groups have been the vermin that have kept the people of this area terrified. And Your Highness is going to punish them. It is a decision that will be remembered in history! You are truly great!¡± Iselia, who was listening from the side, was impressed in a different sense. She thought she had seen many people ttering others, but there was always someone better. The shamelessness of the eunuchs, who chattered without resting, was beyond imagination. ¡°Yes, thank you. Is this the right ce?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Johan deployed his soldiers while listening to the eunuchs with one ear. The opponent was a sloppy group that was embarrassing to call an army, but even so, he couldn¡¯t let his guard down. ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ ording to the information he had received, the cultist group had made their nest in the dpidated old castle in front of them. The surrounding viges were so afraid because of the ominous rumors that they didn¡¯t evene near this area. Fortunately, the castle walls and gates did not look sturdy. The wooden castle walls seemed to be rotten and cracked, showing gaps, and the ce where the gate should be waspletely empty. It was a relief that he didn¡¯t have to go through a boring and suffocating siege, but Johan felt an ominous feeling for some reason. ©¥????????. ¡°Yes. I wonder what they are up to inside.¡± Johan, who had fought against the cultists several times, knew how persistent and wicked they were. If such guys left the outside like that, it was certain that they had the confidence to do so. ¡°Isn¡¯t that an exaggeration? No matter how barbaric they are, they would not have expected a punitive force of this scale to arrive.¡± Johan nodded at Iselia¡¯s words. Her words were right. cultists usually ran away and hid when a punitive force came up, and it was rare for them to fight head-on. The copsed castle walls and gates might have been left alone so as not to draw too much attention from the surroundings. Because the moment they started repairing, it would cost a lot of money and the surroundings would be noisy. ¡°But even considering that, I think there might be something inside.¡± ¡°You are truly wise. A wise man, even with a small sign. . .¡± ¡°I heard you guys talking. Right?¡± The eunuchs were slightly taken aback when Johan cut off their praise and asked a question. That¡¯s right. It was the eunuchs who had informed Suetlg of the location of the cultists here. It was to win Suetlg¡¯s favor. ¡®????????¡¯?? ??????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????????????????¡¯ Johan was puzzled. He could understand being flustered by a sudden question, but it was a bit strange for the seasoned eunuchs to be flustered by such a question in Johan¡¯s eyes. The eunuchs soon regained theirposure and smiled and opened their mouths. ¡°Yes, we have good ears, Your Highness.¡± The reason the eunuchs were flustered was because they had something to be sensitive about. These cultist groups were the ones who had beenmissioned by the eunuchs for assassination. Since the assassination attempt had failed miserably and only the wrong duke had died, the eunuchs had no intention of keeping their promise. And even if they had carried out the request properly, the eunuchs would have betrayed them at any time. ¡°That¡¯s great. I heard it¡¯s difficult to find the location of the cultists. Even Suetlg-gong praised you guys.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The cultists underestimated the eunuchs. The eunuchs were much more cunning and despicable than the cultists thought. While taking on the request, they had someone follow them just in case. It was to use it as a threat if neededter. I didn¡¯t know I would use it like this, but. . . ¡°How did you really find it? Can you teach me a trick?¡± ¡°?!¡± The eunuchs were startled when the direction of the arrows suddenly changed. They had never thought that someone like a duke would ask about such things in detail. ¡®?????? ???? ???? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????¡¯ However, once they were asked a question, they had to answer. Especially since the other person had a high status. The eunuchs racked their brains and came up with a usible story. ¡°Well, you see, there is a noble from a tribe I know, and one day, this person. . .¡± ¡°Your Highness. If you permit me, I would like to take the lead and charge.¡± Surprisingly, it was the monotheist knights who saved the eunuchs. Led by Valeon, the monotheist knights of the neighboring fiefdom volunteered without hesitation. Johan was a little surprised at the active attitude of these people who weren¡¯t even part of the expedition. ¡°Why are they doing that?¡± ¡°Perhaps they are stimted by the achievements you have umted.¡± ¡°Ah. I guess they want to build some achievements now.¡± ¡°. . .You should never say that to them.¡± As a fellow knight, Iselia was considerate of her opponents. Of course, Johan had no intention of saying that out loud. If the other party wanted to look good, it was the duke¡¯s job to amodate them. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take the lead. . .¡± ¡°Your Highness. There is a high probability that vile cultists are waiting inside with a trap. Please let us take the lead.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was a little flustered when even the pagan knights who had been captured volunteered. He had not expected them to argue over who would go first. Iselia could see sparks flying between the two groups. This was a fight for honor and pride. It was a fight that they could never back down from. And the end of such a quarrel was set. ¡°Your Highness. The knights from Tragalon are charging in on their own!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan shook his head. They weren¡¯t Johan¡¯s subordinates, it would be fine, but if they were Johan¡¯s subordinates, he would have been upset several times. ???????????? ¡°The army is approaching like a cloud!¡± They didn¡¯t know from the outside, but the situation inside the old castle was also very hectic. Who could stay still when arge punitive force visited outside? ¡°I don¡¯t know how they found out about this ce.¡± ¡°Did theye after hearing the rumors?¡± ¡°Does it make sense to lead an army based on unconfirmed rumors!¡± ¡°Stop it. It¡¯s not like the army that came in front of us will disappear now that we¡¯ve been found. Is the purpose revenge?¡± ¡°Yes. The duke brought an army.¡± These were cultists who worshiped the three skeleton gods, and they had already had a bad rtionship with Johan once. It was these guys who led the assassination attemptst time. ¡°Prepare to escape underground! The rest of you, hold them off at the entrance for as long as possible.¡± ¡°The enemy is approaching!¡± ¡°I know. Everyone, move!¡± ¡°What about the hostages?¡± ¡°Take them with us. They¡¯re too precious to leave behind!¡± The cultists also needed ie to survive. They couldn¡¯tst long with the small amount of money they extorted from the nearby viges. Their main source of ie was the gold coins they received for assassination and the ransom they received by kidnapping the nobles in the area. In fact, they were no different from a rogue group. As such, they could not just abandon the hostages they had captured. The cultists hurriedly headed underground, carrying the tied hostages. ¡°Underground! Move underground!¡± ???????????? ¡°Hmm.¡± Johan looked at the old castle with a sullen expression. A few knights charged first, and the other knights, stimted by that, charged, and the remaining knights looked at Johan with an expression asking for permission, so he gave permission. . . If this continued, it would be pointless for Johan to join inte. If he had charged first, it would have been different, but it was noticeable for him to runte as a duke. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Duke. We just thought we would charge first.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. It wouldn¡¯t be bad to just wait.¡± Johanforted Iselia, who had be sullen. The mercenaries left in the camp didn¡¯t seem to have anyints. They didn¡¯te after money, and they weren¡¯t looking for achievements like knights. Johan didn¡¯t really care how long he stayed like this, but the eunuchs couldn¡¯t just sit still. They went to the mercenary captains and persuaded them. ¡°Do you think it is right for His Highness the Duke to keep waiting in a ce like this?¡± ¡°What? What should we do then?¡± ¡°Make a request to have him rest in a nearby vige! His Highness the Duke must be hoping for that deep down.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± In the eyes of the mercenary captains, the eunuchs¡¯ words seemed usible. Who would want to wait in a ce with scorching sunlight and dusty sand? The mercenary captains thought that the duke might be grateful if they spoke up. ¡°Your Highness the Duke. Actually. . .¡± ¡°Do as you please. It wouldn¡¯t be bad for the mercenaries to rest.¡± The mercenaries cheered at the generous duke¡¯s words. The rumor that he was benevolent was not a false rumor. ???????????? The vigers responded fairly well for suddenly receiving distinguished guests. The vige chief hurriedly vacated his house and evacuated people to make space. Johan handed him a pouch containing silver coins as a token of gratitude. The vige chief¡¯s face brightened at the unexpected reward. When the vige chief whispered to the person next to him, the vigers brought out the livestock they had hidden. The faces of the mercenaries who saw that also brightened. It was a heartwarming atmosphere in contrast to the knights fighting fiercely inside the old castle. ¡°Iselia. Don¡¯t be so upset and just enjoy it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Duke. You can¡¯t catch game in every hunt, can you? Sometimes you have to enjoy the hunt itself.¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates nodded at the centaur¡¯s words. Killing enemies and receiving generous rewards from the duke was gratifying, but it was also enjoyable to be treated like this and eat and drink happily. Which mercenary could sit down and eat and drink with the duke? They must have been the blessed ones. ¡°Oh my. We finished everything.¡± ¡°There was a jar behind the house. Bring it.¡± Johan didn¡¯t drink, but his men got tipsy after having a drink or two. A mercenary walked to the back on his own without even calling the vigers to get a new jar. ¡°???¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did we run out of alcohol?¡± ¡°I hear noisesing from the ground. . .?¡± The mercenary was not another race, but a dwarf. As expected of a dwarf, the mercenary picked up the sounding from the ground incredibly well. ¡°Are you drunk?¡± ¡°No. I definitely heard it.¡± ¡°???¡± In the meantime, the cultists hiding underground exchanged nces with surprised expressions. They were originally going to escape through the passage. . . Surprisingly, there were soldiers, not vigers, above. At first, they thought it was an ambush, but upon listening carefully, it didn¡¯t seem like an ambush. The sound of eating and drinking continued. ©¥???? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????! ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????! ©¥?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????! ©¥????¡¯?? ?? ???????? ??????????! ?????????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ????????, ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ????????! The cultists, who had patiently waited and roughly estimated the number, decided to rush in and ambush them all at once instead of retreating. There were only about twenty people around the duke right now. It was enough to deal with. ¡°Catch the duke! If you catch the duke. . .!¡± ¡°??!¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates made absurd expressions as they watched the cultists rushing out in a situation where it would be toote to hide or run away since they had been caught. Are they crazy b*stards?? ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????????¡¯ Chapter 334: ???????? ???????? (7) Contrary to Johan¡¯s subordinates looking bewildered, the cultists were filled with confidence. There was faith and madness, but that was also because the situation was objectively advantageous for them right now. The duke¡¯s subordinates were scattered around, having just finished eating and drinking, and the main force¡¯s soldiers were waiting on the other side of the vige. They could subdue the duke and take him prisoner before he could run over here. If they captured the duke, that would recover all the damage they suffered from this punitive campaign. Considering the duke¡¯s fame, none of the expedition¡¯s nobles would dare ignore him or treat him recklessly. ¡°Get him! Get. . .¡± Before he could even finish speaking, a cultist¡¯s blood sprayed into the air as he copsed backward. There was a dull sound as his skull shattered. The cultists looked forward in a panic, unable to figure out what had flown toward them and crushed theirrade¡¯s skull. ¡°A. . . A drinking cup!¡± ¡°???¡± Throwing a cheap, flimsy drinking cup made of metal and shattering the head inside a helmet with it.These weren¡¯t just cultists; they were men who had received proper training and knew how to fight while armed. And yet, they fell without even being able to react. ¡°What¡¯s this?!¡± But the surprising events had only just begun. Johan didn¡¯t even draw his sword, instead just grabbing the cultist at the front and lifting him up. The cultist, who was quiterge, struggled in vain as he was lifted into the air. ????????! Along with a heavy sound, the cultists¡¯ formation copsed. The cultist who had been thrown didn¡¯t even groan, immediately losing consciousness. Johan drew his sword and shouted. ¡°The ones we need to capture have shown themselves! Attack!¡± He didn¡¯t know why the ones who were supposed to be inside the castle had appeared in the vige, but dealing with them was more important right now. Johan knew that the cultists used more troublesome techniques than he had expected. Surprisingly, there were even some of them who could use magic. Fortunately, the method to deal with wizards was simple: kill them before they could use magic. ¡°Ugh. . .¡± Johan swung his sword with maddening speed. The heads of the three in front of him were split open. It didn¡¯t matter if they blocked with a shield, a sword, or a helmet. The Seal Retriever cut through protective gear that wasn¡¯t enchanted like it was mud. ¡°Oh, my god!¡± Only then did the cultists begin to realize that the rumors about the duke might not have been exaggerated after all. They had cut down the throats of many knights, and as such, they hadn¡¯t really been afraid of the knights¡¯ reputations. . . But the aura that the young duke before them disyed had a different kind of ferocity from that. ¡°We can¡¯t capture him!¡± ¡°Attack him, even if you have to wound him!¡± The cultists didn¡¯t just wield swords and shields. They took out throwing weapons with unique shapes. Johan frowned at the strange energy he felting from them. ¡®????????¡¯???? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ??????????????.¡¯ Among outstanding wizards, there were many who were also skilled in alchemy. Just as Suetlg knew how to handle poisons, it wasn¡¯t strange for cultists who made assassination their profession to handle poisons. Johan didn¡¯t know what kind of poison it was, but if he started getting poisoned while exchanging blows with the cultists, it would only be Johan who suffered. Johan put himself on guard. ¡®?? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????.¡¯ The parts covered by armor would be hard for the enemies to prate no matter what they did. He just needed to be careful of his exposed skin. ¡°Your Highness, be careful!¡± The throwing weapons flew toward him with a swishing sound. A transparent, sharp thread was attached to the end of the throwing weapons. Johan, who had better eyesight than others thanks to a blessing, could see what was at the end of the weapons, although he wouldn¡¯t have been able to see it normally. ¡®??¡¯???? ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????????? ???? ???????????????????? ?????!¡¯ When he had first heard about it from his old assassin master, he had wondered how many times he would ever encounter assassins in his life, but he had surprisingly encountered them quite often. Johan swung his sword and cleanly severed the thread attached to the end of the throwing weapon. ¡°Shoot them down!¡± While the cultists¡¯ attention was focused on Johan, his subordinates picked up crossbows and bows. Some of them hurriedly blocked with their shields, but those who were a step too slow were hit in the limbs with arrows and fell to the ground. ¡°How dare you lowly b*stards be so arrogant!¡± ¡°Who are you nning on capturing? Say it again!¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates shouted fiercely at the cultists. Mercenaries were generally loyal to the employers they had spent a long time with, but the loyalty that Johan¡¯s subordinates showed was on a whole other level. It couldn¡¯t be exined away with just generous treatment. This was the loyalty that could only be earned by fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with someone for a long time. As such, they showed even more hostility toward the cultists who had dared to ambush them. If Johan hadn¡¯t stopped them, they would have left no survivors. ¡°Stop it. We¡¯ll need one or two prisoners.¡± Johan frowned as he spoke. Among the cultists who had copsed to the ground, there were some who were strangely twitching. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????????¡¯ ???????????? ¡°Carry the wounded to the rear! Set fire to the corpses after we get away!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t act on your own!¡± ¡°Then do you have a better idea?¡± ¡°. . .Fine. I agree. But next time, tell me before you give orders.¡± The monotheist knights were ragged, as were the pagan knights. Each of them had one or tworge or small wounds, and their once-shining armor was covered in dust. The mercenaries who had followed the knights wore expressions of deep regret. ¡®???????? ????. ?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ They had followed the knights in hopes of earning a bit more, only to suffer this misfortune. It was a terrible situation. ¡°How could there be so many damn traps?¡± ¡°Those crazy cultists. They don¡¯t die easily no matter what we do.¡± The mercenaries, who had thought the old, dpidated castle would be a piece of cake, were terrified. They had faced everything from vicious traps to the cultists holding out in narrow passageways, but the worst of all was the cultists who rose again like undead even after being stabbed and cut. How many mercenaries had fallen because of those monstrosities. . .? ¡°I guess it¡¯s a good thing the Sir Knights came with us.¡± ¡°You got that right.¡± The mercenaries let out a sigh of relief. Knights were always the most reliable when it came to dealing with monsters or evil wizards. Since part of their job was to travel around on horseback and deal with such things, knights were skilled in dealing with various kinds of enemies. . . .But now, the knights were in a difficult position. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay to burn it down like this?¡± ¡°What? Do you want to face them again? No matter how important honor is, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s worth fighting those monsters.¡± The knights, who had been subduing the castle, encountered an unexpected enemy in the depths of the castle. It was at least two heads taller than even the tallest knights, and its entire body was covered in chainmail and iron tes, so much so that its skin wasn¡¯t even visible. This knight didn¡¯t even seem to have learned how to speak properly, just growling constantly as it swung its weapon and blocked their path. Of course, the knights weren¡¯t scared of this creature just because of its appearance. Even if it was a bit big, it would fall if they stabbed it with a spear or sword, and if it covered its whole body like that, wouldn¡¯t it just get tired and copse first? It was natural for the knights, who had beenpeting with each other for¹¦exploits, to step forward, each saying they would deal with it. ©¥????¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????, ?????? ????¡¯?? ????????????. ??????¡¯???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ????????. ©¥?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ????! ??¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ????????????????¡¯ ??????????. ©¥????. ???? ??????????. ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?????????????? ????? The monotheist knight who had drawn the lucky straw, Valeon, swung his sword repeatedly and knocked down the pagan knight. The knight, stabbed in the gaps between the iron tes, rolled on the ground, coughing up blood. ©¥???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????????. ???????? ????????! ©¥???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????????. ©¥??????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????? ©¥. . .??????????????. But before thepliments were even finished, the enemy rose again. Valeon was startled and dodged the attack. ©¥???????? ?????? ?????????! ©¥?? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?????? ????????. . .?! ©¥?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ??????????! If it had risen after being stabbed in a vital spot, there was only one answer. The knights were furious at the cultists¡¯ methods. ©¥????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????. ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????. ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ????, ????¡¯???? ???????? ????????! ©¥??????. . . ????????! ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ????????????????. ©¥?????? ?????????????????? ©¥?????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?? ???????????? ?????! ???????? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ??????????????????? The monotheist knights all wore expressions of having been caught in their weak spot. It was true. Not only that, but there were some among them who had charged ahead on their own. If they couldn¡¯t aplish anything after doing that, it would be humiliating. They had already wasted a lot of time at the entrance, and if they wasted any more time here, the enemy might actually get away. ©¥??????¡¯?? ???? ????????????????! The knights all charged together. The knights were the kind of people who could even defeat trolls if they attacked together. Spears and arrows flew toward the enemy¡¯s vital spots, and heavy maces shattered the enemy¡¯s knees. However, the enemy was much stronger than they had expected. The knights were taken aback when the enemy rose again after being stabbed and crushed several times and swung its weapon once more. Some of them were beaten and barely managed to save their own lives. In the end, the knights decided that it just wasn¡¯t going to work. ¡°Set it on fire!¡± ¡°Burn it down!¡± Just like trolls, there was no one who could live forever in fire. The knights believed that the power of fire would purify the evil magic. Of course, they didn¡¯t bother exining the situation to the mercenaries behind them, since it was embarrassing. ¡°Why did you even set it on fire?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an evil ce.¡± ¡°No. Even if it¡¯s an evil ce, shouldn¡¯t we at least recover anything we can?¡± ¡°You idiot. We¡¯re setting it on fire because there¡¯s nothing there. Do you think the Sir Knights would be telling us to set it on fire if there was something there?¡± The mercenary looked impressed at his experiencedrade¡¯s words. It was certainly true. Behind them, the knights woreplicated expressions. Aside from the fact that it was embarrassing in front of the mercenaries, they were more concerned about the fact that they hadn¡¯t been able to properly pursue the enemy. If they set it on fire and waited for it to burn out, it would mean they had pretty much lost the enemy. ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????????.¡¯ ¡®?????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????????????¡¯ But it was still too early for them to be surprised. A messenger came running toward them in a hurry. ¡°His Highness has been ambushed! Return to the main force immediately!¡± ¡°What the hell??!¡± The knights were shocked to the point of nearly fainting. If they had known the exact situation, they wouldn¡¯t have been so surprised, but since the messenger had set off as soon as themotion started, the knights couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. ¡°Get the freshest horses ready! Those without horses should follow as quickly as they can. We need to get there first!¡± ¡°You idiot! Now¡¯s not the time to be packing! Leave the baggage behind! Make yourselves as light as possible!¡± The panicked knights hurriedly made preparations to leave, urging their servants to hurry. They were in such a hurry to get ready that the mercenaries couldn¡¯t even follow them. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s go!!¡± ¡°Run! We don¡¯t have time to waste!¡± ???????????? ¡°Ah. So the skeletons that guy was carrying were tools imbued with magic power.¡± ¡°Yes. . . That¡¯s what I heard.¡± Johan nodded in understanding after hearing a detailed exnation from the people who had been taken hostage. He had wondered what kind of magic they had used when some of the cultists kept rising again even after being stabbed and cut, but it turned out there was a secret like that. Putting the power of life into skeletons. ¡®???????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????????? ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ As he was tidying up, he saw a group of knights galloping toward them in the distance. ¡°You heard the news? You didn¡¯t need to rush here like this.¡± ¡°Are you alright??!¡± ¡°Do you think I would be defeated by cultists? Look at how many soldiers I have here.¡± Johan spoke to the knights as if he was dumbfounded. The knights were relieved to see this. It seemed that the worst-case scenario hadn¡¯t happened. ¡°Thank goodness.¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t any of those b*stards in here, I guess.¡± The knight whispered this quietly, but it was clear to Johan¡¯s ears. Johan asked, sounding interested. ¡°Oh? There was one holding out in the castle, too? Did you capture it? Or kill it?¡± ¡°W-We killed it.¡± He couldn¡¯t bring himself to say that he had captured it in front of the duke. ¡°Good job. How did you kill it?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The knights hesitated and avoided each other¡¯s gazes. It was obvious that they wanted someone else to speak first. Unable to stand the atmosphere, one of the knights changed the topic with a question. ¡°Was there one of those things here, too?¡± ¡°There was.¡± ¡°Amazing! You must have had a hard time dealing with it since it¡¯s such an open area that you couldn¡¯t use fire. . .¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t kill it with fire?¡±, Contrary to Johan¡¯s subordinates looking bewildered, the cultists were filled with confidence. There was faith and madness, but that was also because the situation was objectively advantageous for them right now. The duke¡¯s subordinates were scattered around, having just finished eating and drinking, and the main force¡¯s soldiers were waiting on the other side of the vige. They could subdue the duke and take him prisoner before he could run over here. If they captured the duke, that would recover all the damage they suffered from this punitive campaign. Considering the duke¡¯s fame, none of the expedition¡¯s nobles would dare ignore him or treat him recklessly. ¡°Get him! Get. . .¡± Before he could even finish speaking, a cultist¡¯s blood sprayed into the air as he copsed backward. There was a dull sound as his skull shattered. The cultists looked forward in a panic, unable to figure out what had flown toward them and crushed theirrade¡¯s skull. ¡°A. . . A drinking cup!¡± ¡°???¡± Throwing a cheap, flimsy drinking cup made of metal and shattering the head inside a helmet with it. These weren¡¯t just cultists; they were men who had received proper training and knew how to fight while armed. And yet, they fell without even being able to react. ¡°What¡¯s this?!¡± But the surprising events had only just begun. Johan didn¡¯t even draw his sword, instead just grabbing the cultist at the front and lifting him up. The cultist, who was quiterge, struggled in vain as he was lifted into the air. ????????! Along with a heavy sound, the cultists¡¯ formation copsed. The cultist who had been thrown didn¡¯t even groan, immediately losing consciousness. Johan drew his sword and shouted. ¡°The ones we need to capture have shown themselves! Attack!¡± He didn¡¯t know why the ones who were supposed to be inside the castle had appeared in the vige, but dealing with them was more important right now. Johan knew that the cultists used more troublesome techniques than he had expected. Surprisingly, there were even some of them who could use magic. Fortunately, the method to deal with wizards was simple: kill them before they could use magic. ¡°Ugh. . .¡± Johan swung his sword with maddening speed. The heads of the three in front of him were split open. It didn¡¯t matter if they blocked with a shield, a sword, or a helmet. The Seal Retriever cut through protective gear that wasn¡¯t enchanted like it was mud. ¡°Oh, my god!¡± Only then did the cultists begin to realize that the rumors about the duke might not have been exaggerated after all. They had cut down the throats of many knights, and as such, they hadn¡¯t really been afraid of the knights¡¯ reputations. . . But the aura that the young duke before them disyed had a different kind of ferocity from that. ¡°We can¡¯t capture him!¡± ¡°Attack him, even if you have to wound him!¡± The cultists didn¡¯t just wield swords and shields. They took out throwing weapons with unique shapes. Johan frowned at the strange energy he felting from them. ¡®????????¡¯???? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ??????????????.¡¯ Among outstanding wizards, there were many who were also skilled in alchemy. Just as Suetlg knew how to handle poisons, it wasn¡¯t strange for cultists who made assassination their profession to handle poisons. Johan didn¡¯t know what kind of poison it was, but if he started getting poisoned while exchanging blows with the cultists, it would only be Johan who suffered. Johan put himself on guard. ¡®?? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????.¡¯ The parts covered by armor would be hard for the enemies to prate no matter what they did. He just needed to be careful of his exposed skin. ¡°Your Highness, be careful!¡± The throwing weapons flew toward him with a swishing sound. A transparent, sharp thread was attached to the end of the throwing weapons. Johan, who had better eyesight than others thanks to a blessing, could see what was at the end of the weapons, although he wouldn¡¯t have been able to see it normally. ¡®??¡¯???? ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????????? ???? ???????????????????? ?????!¡¯ When he had first heard about it from his old assassin master, he had wondered how many times he would ever encounter assassins in his life, but he had surprisingly encountered them quite often. Johan swung his sword and cleanly severed the thread attached to the end of the throwing weapon. ¡°Shoot them down!¡± While the cultists¡¯ attention was focused on Johan, his subordinates picked up crossbows and bows. Some of them hurriedly blocked with their shields, but those who were a step too slow were hit in the limbs with arrows and fell to the ground. ¡°How dare you lowly b*stards be so arrogant!¡± ¡°Who are you nning on capturing? Say it again!¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates shouted fiercely at the cultists. Mercenaries were generally loyal to the employers they had spent a long time with, but the loyalty that Johan¡¯s subordinates showed was on a whole other level. It couldn¡¯t be exined away with just generous treatment. This was the loyalty that could only be earned by fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with someone for a long time. As such, they showed even more hostility toward the cultists who had dared to ambush them. If Johan hadn¡¯t stopped them, they would have left no survivors. ¡°Stop it. We¡¯ll need one or two prisoners.¡± Johan frowned as he spoke. Among the cultists who had copsed to the ground, there were some who were strangely twitching. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????????¡¯ ???????????? ¡°Carry the wounded to the rear! Set fire to the corpses after we get away!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t act on your own!¡± ¡°Then do you have a better idea?¡± ¡°. . .Fine. I agree. But next time, tell me before you give orders.¡± The monotheist knights were ragged, as were the pagan knights. Each of them had one or tworge or small wounds, and their once-shining armor was covered in dust. The mercenaries who had followed the knights wore expressions of deep regret. ¡®???????? ????. ?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ They had followed the knights in hopes of earning a bit more, only to suffer this misfortune. It was a terrible situation. ¡°How could there be so many damn traps?¡± ¡°Those crazy cultists. They don¡¯t die easily no matter what we do.¡± The mercenaries, who had thought the old, dpidated castle would be a piece of cake, were terrified. They had faced everything from vicious traps to the cultists holding out in narrow passageways, but the worst of all was the cultists who rose again like undead even after being stabbed and cut. How many mercenaries had fallen because of those monstrosities. . .? ¡°I guess it¡¯s a good thing the Sir Knights came with us.¡± ¡°You got that right.¡± The mercenaries let out a sigh of relief. Knights were always the most reliable when it came to dealing with monsters or evil wizards. Since part of their job was to travel around on horseback and deal with such things, knights were skilled in dealing with various kinds of enemies. . . .But now, the knights were in a difficult position. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay to burn it down like this?¡± ¡°What? Do you want to face them again? No matter how important honor is, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s worth fighting those monsters.¡± The knights, who had been subduing the castle, encountered an unexpected enemy in the depths of the castle. It was at least two heads taller than even the tallest knights, and its entire body was covered in chainmail and iron tes, so much so that its skin wasn¡¯t even visible. This knight didn¡¯t even seem to have learned how to speak properly, just growling constantly as it swung its weapon and blocked their path. Of course, the knights weren¡¯t scared of this creature just because of its appearance. Even if it was a bit big, it would fall if they stabbed it with a spear or sword, and if it covered its whole body like that, wouldn¡¯t it just get tired and copse first? It was natural for the knights, who had beenpeting with each other for¹¦exploits, to step forward, each saying they would deal with it. ©¥????¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ?? ??????????????, ?????? ????¡¯?? ????????????. ??????¡¯???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ????????. ©¥?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ????! ??¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ????????????????¡¯ ??????????. ©¥????. ???? ??????????. ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?????????????? ????? The monotheist knight who had drawn the lucky straw, Valeon, swung his sword repeatedly and knocked down the pagan knight. The knight, stabbed in the gaps between the iron tes, rolled on the ground, coughing up blood. ©¥???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????????. ???????? ????????! ©¥???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????????. ©¥??????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????? ©¥. . .??????????????. But before thepliments were even finished, the enemy rose again. Valeon was startled and dodged the attack. ©¥???????? ?????? ?????????! ©¥?? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?????? ????????. . .?! ©¥?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ??????????! If it had risen after being stabbed in a vital spot, there was only one answer. The knights were furious at the cultists¡¯ methods. ©¥????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????. ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????. ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ????, ????¡¯???? ???????? ????????! ©¥??????. . . ????????! ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ????????????????. ©¥?????? ?????????????????? ©¥?????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?? ???????????? ?????! ???????? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ??????????????????? The monotheist knights all wore expressions of having been caught in their weak spot. It was true. Not only that, but there were some among them who had charged ahead on their own. If they couldn¡¯t aplish anything after doing that, it would be humiliating. They had already wasted a lot of time at the entrance, and if they wasted any more time here, the enemy might actually get away. ©¥??????¡¯?? ???? ????????????????! The knights all charged together. The knights were the kind of people who could even defeat trolls if they attacked together. Spears and arrows flew toward the enemy¡¯s vital spots, and heavy maces shattered the enemy¡¯s knees. However, the enemy was much stronger than they had expected. The knights were taken aback when the enemy rose again after being stabbed and crushed several times and swung its weapon once more. Some of them were beaten and barely managed to save their own lives. In the end, the knights decided that it just wasn¡¯t going to work. ¡°Set it on fire!¡± ¡°Burn it down!¡± Just like trolls, there was no one who could live forever in fire. The knights believed that the power of fire would purify the evil magic. Of course, they didn¡¯t bother exining the situation to the mercenaries behind them, since it was embarrassing. ¡°Why did you even set it on fire?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an evil ce.¡± ¡°No. Even if it¡¯s an evil ce, shouldn¡¯t we at least recover anything we can?¡± ¡°You idiot. We¡¯re setting it on fire because there¡¯s nothing there. Do you think the Sir Knights would be telling us to set it on fire if there was something there?¡± The mercenary looked impressed at his experiencedrade¡¯s words. It was certainly true. Behind them, the knights woreplicated expressions. Aside from the fact that it was embarrassing in front of the mercenaries, they were more concerned about the fact that they hadn¡¯t been able to properly pursue the enemy. If they set it on fire and waited for it to burn out, it would mean they had pretty much lost the enemy. ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????????.¡¯ ¡®?????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????????????¡¯ But it was still too early for them to be surprised. A messenger came running toward them in a hurry. ¡°His Highness has been ambushed! Return to the main force immediately!¡± ¡°What the hell??!¡± The knights were shocked to the point of nearly fainting. If they had known the exact situation, they wouldn¡¯t have been so surprised, but since the messenger had set off as soon as themotion started, the knights couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. ¡°Get the freshest horses ready! Those without horses should follow as quickly as they can. We need to get there first!¡± ¡°You idiot! Now¡¯s not the time to be packing! Leave the baggage behind! Make yourselves as light as possible!¡± The panicked knights hurriedly made preparations to leave, urging their servants to hurry. They were in such a hurry to get ready that the mercenaries couldn¡¯t even follow them. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s go!!¡± ¡°Run! We don¡¯t have time to waste!¡± ???????????? ¡°Ah. So the skeletons that guy was carrying were tools imbued with magic power.¡± ¡°Yes. . . That¡¯s what I heard.¡± Johan nodded in understanding after hearing a detailed exnation from the people who had been taken hostage. He had wondered what kind of magic they had used when some of the cultists kept rising again even after being stabbed and cut, but it turned out there was a secret like that. Putting the power of life into skeletons. ¡®???????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????????? ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ As he was tidying up, he saw a group of knights galloping toward them in the distance. ¡°You heard the news? You didn¡¯t need to rush here like this.¡± ¡°Are you alright??!¡± ¡°Do you think I would be defeated by cultists? Look at how many soldiers I have here.¡± Johan spoke to the knights as if he was dumbfounded. The knights were relieved to see this. It seemed that the worst-case scenario hadn¡¯t happened. ¡°Thank goodness.¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t any of those b*stards in here, I guess.¡± The knight whispered this quietly, but it was clear to Johan¡¯s ears. Johan asked, sounding interested. ¡°Oh? There was one holding out in the castle, too? Did you capture it? Or kill it?¡± ¡°W-We killed it.¡± He couldn¡¯t bring himself to say that he had captured it in front of the duke. ¡°Good job. How did you kill it?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The knights hesitated and avoided each other¡¯s gazes. It was obvious that they wanted someone else to speak first. Unable to stand the atmosphere, one of the knights changed the topic with a question. ¡°Was there one of those things here, too?¡± ¡°There was.¡± ¡°Amazing! You must have had a hard time dealing with it since it¡¯s such an open area that you couldn¡¯t use fire. . .¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t kill it with fire?¡± Chapter 335: ???????? ???????? (8) ¡°Did you catch it with magic?¡± The knights looked around subconsciously. But the figure of the wizard was nowhere to be seen. ¡®????. ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????¡¯ ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ????????????????.¡¯ The centaurs were infamous for their ferocious name and their poison. There were also a few centaurs among Johan¡¯s subordinates, so it would not be strange if they used poison. ¡°Strange. It¡¯s the heirloom sword that has been passed down in my family.¡± ¡°What kind of magic do you need to use to defeat it?¡± When the knights were unable to contain their curiosity and started chattering, Johan replied as if he was puzzled. ¡°Magic? I didn¡¯t use any magic.¡±¡°Oh. Then was it the centaurs¡¯ poison?¡± The centaurs under Johan snorted with displeasure. They were the ones who shot the arrows smeared with poison. Of course, they couldn¡¯t help but be dissatisfied when the poison they shot didn¡¯t work. ¡°No. I just beat it up until it died after knocking it down.¡± ¡°Oh. I see. . . .Yes??¡± ¡°I used this weapon because I thought a blunt weapon would be better than a sword.¡± Johan pulled out the Giant yer. The old weapon made by the dwarves had the power to make even the most absurd story believable just by looking at its appearance. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Did you guys take them down like this too?¡± After hearing the details, the knights shut their mouths in embarrassment and absurdity. They never imagined that something like this would happen in the duke¡¯s camp. ¡®???? ??????. . .¡¯ ¡®?????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ????????!¡¯ The duke¡¯s method was simple. He crushed the monster¡¯s legs with the Giant yer, and every time it tried to get up, he swung it around and inflicted serious injuries. If they were stabbed with a sword, they could endure and get up, but even a seasoned warrior would not be able to get up easily if they were hit by such a siege weapon. ¡°. . .In fact, we set it on fire.¡± ¡°You set it on fire? Well. . . that¡¯s not a bad idea. You all must have suffered a lot.¡± Johan consoled the knights. Judging from their appearance, they must have suffered a lot inside the castle. Some of them were covered in soot because they even set fire to it. ¡°Thanks to you, the subjugation was sessful. Let¡¯s celebrate!¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± ¡°Thank you. Your Highness. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± John was a little taken aback by the atmosphere being so different from what he expected. Originally, the knights were a simple and hot-blooded group of people. They were the ones who would hold a celebration and praise themselves for their honorable achievements even if they only subjugated a goblin¡¯sir near the town. Of course, he thought that the knights would be excited after the subjugation of the cultists this time and would be noisy about who had made more achievements. Since the monotheists and the knights of the polytheists would definitely fight each other, he had prepared in advance, thinking about how to mediate the dispute if there was one between the two. . . The current atmosphere was reminiscent of a prayer city in a monastery. Johan¡¯s men looked at the knights who had copsed like withered grass as if they were elf theologians. It was the first time they had seen the knights acting like that. ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys happy?¡± ¡°We are happy.¡± ¡°Tell me about your achievements! I want to hear them!¡± ¡°No. I dare not. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The eunuchs behind them were also whispering to each other in embarrassment. The situation that was unfolding now was something that even the experienced eunuchs had not expected. ???????????? ¡°Thank you! Thank you! Your Highness!¡± ¡°I only did what I had to do.¡± Theposition of the hostages who were being held was diverse. There were nobles from distant tribes, farmers from nearby towns, and freemen from coastal cities. However, they all had something inmon. The fact that they had to pay a ransom since being captured. Even if they were captured by cultists, it was customary to pay the duke in the first ce. However, the duke mercifully decided to release them without receiving a ransom. ¡®???????? ???? ?? ???????????????? ????, ???? ????????????¡¯?? ???? ????????. ???????? ???? ?? ??????, ???? ?????????? ???????? ?? ???????? ????????. ????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ????.¡¯ Johan had calcted like that and made the decision, but it couldn¡¯t help but be touching for those who were captured. ¡°It seems like it will be difficult to interrogate the cultists because none of them are in their right minds. Your Highness.¡± ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± Because of the situation, there were almost no living prisoners. Even those who were captured chose death rather than being captured. Anyway, he decided to be satisfied with the subjugation of the main camp. The atmosphere of the knights had be a little strange, but that was inevitable. . . ¡°Excuse me. . . Can I help you with your work?¡± ¡°?¡± One of the captured prisoners raised his hand cautiously. ¡°I worked as a scribe in Aniza City. When I was captured by them, I heard a lot of things while doing variousbor. . . If that could be of any help. . .¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s a great help. Thank you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you too!¡± The prisoners volunteered to help in any way they could. Johan was very pleased to receive unexpected help. There were many capable people among the prisoners. Johan listened carefully to what they were saying. And in the process, he heard an interesting story. ???????????? ¡°Wait. Where did you renovate?¡± ¡°Yes??¡± When the duke suddenly spoke, the excited technician bowed his head in embarrassment. ¡°Speakfortably. I asked because I¡¯m curious.¡± ¡°Well. . . I renovated His Majesty Manansir¡¯s castle. My friends and I worked on it for eight years.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± ¡°Ooooooh. . .¡± Johan was impressed, but the other dwarf mercenaries next to him were even more impressed. The dwarves, who were well-versed in siege techniques, also had some knowledge of architecture. Construction workers who were capable of renovating a castle would know the structure of the castle better than the lord. The soldiers wanted to see the face of the b*stard Manansir who had captured the duke¡¯s ship and caused all this trouble anyway. In the midst of all this, the appearance of the technician was very wee. ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯ll ask you if I have any questions!¡± ¡°But you must have sworn an oath.¡± ¡°Hmm. An oath is sacred.¡± Of course, when the feudal lords called the technicians, they used various methods to ensure security. The oath was the most basic. They would either force the technician to live in the fiefdom, or they would silence them by assassination. In any case, the pride of these skilled craftsmen was considerable, and the oath they made in ordance with it was also sacred. It was clear that they would not speak easily even if they were told to. ¡°No. I can tell you. Can I draw you a blueprint?¡± ¡°. . .???¡± The dwarf soldiers looked at the technician with betrayed expressions. Of course, they were happy, but it was a shameless act as a technician. The technician must have realized the meaning of their gaze and hurriedly made excuses. ¡°No! It¡¯s not that I betrayed my oath. There¡¯s a reason for this. His Majesty was the first to break the oath.¡± Anyone who had worked under a feudal lord knew how difficult it was to receive the money promised by the lord. They would pay the deposit properly at first, but the feudal lords generally had a very poor sense of economy. They would often owe money to merchants, so there was no way they wouldn¡¯t owe money to technicians. Viceroy Manansir was simr. He kept postponing the payment while the work was being carried out for eight years, and when the construction waspleted, he started finding fault. The technician and his colleagues had to decide whether to hold out and receive the money until the end, or to run away in case of an unexpected situation. ¡°That¡¯s why I escaped!¡± ¡°Aha. If that¡¯s the case, then it¡¯s okay to break the oath. Come to think of it, you were a true technician?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for misunderstanding you.¡± The dwarf mercenaries rxed their expressions again and encouraged the technician with a warm attitude. It was a dwarf custom to allow the burning of a castle if the employer did not pay. ¡°Then can you draw a blueprint?¡± ¡°Yes. . . If you give me some time. . .¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Johan, who had been listening, was very pleased. The dwarves were also happy. He never thought he would obtain such an unexpected treasure from the subjugation. ¡°Your Highness. They said there were people who hired assassins to assassinate Your Highness!!!¡± The soldiers who had been extracting information from the other side shouted with trembling voices at the shocking fact. Johan, who was absent-minded, waved his hand and said. ¡°Just wait a moment. I¡¯ll hear itter.¡± ¡°No! Your Highness! They¡¯re saying that they were trying to assassinate Your Highness???¡± ???????????? The eunuchs found and reported the location of the cult¡¯s stronghold, but the cultists were not easy to deal with. They had secretly investigated who hadmissioned them to assassinate them. They imed to maintain absolute silence, but those who did dirty work could not have such loyalty. The cultists always identified their opponents in case of emergency. Johan, who heard the report, made an absurd expression. ¡®????????¡¯???? ?????????????? ????????????.¡¯ If it was true, it meant that the eunuchs who had ced the order had revealed the location of the cultists, and the cultists had checked to see who the client was just in case. It was ridiculous. ¡°But why did you ept the order to target me and target another duke?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know that either. We overheard them talking. . .¡± Since the information about the eunuchs was not something to be taken lightly, Johan called others. He needed advice on what to do. Suetlg asked Johan curiously as soon as he saw his face. ¡°What happened during the subjugation that made the knights look like that?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan didn¡¯t have enough words to say even if he had ten mouths. ¡°It wasn¡¯t something we did on purpose.¡± ¡°Of course it wasn¡¯t something you did on purpose! It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen knights so discouraged after going on a subjugation.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not His Highness¡¯ fault.¡± Caenerna said from the side. Suetlg also nodded at those words. It was mostly their fault that the knights were so discouraged. And to be honest, it was fun to see them like that. ¡°Is it very serious?¡± Johan asked, a little worried. He had a lot of fights to fight in the future, so it wouldn¡¯t be good if the knights¡¯ morale dropped. Suetlg replied with a nonchnt expression. ¡°How serious can it be? Don¡¯t you know that it¡¯s better for knight dastards to be a little discouraged?¡± Caenerna nodded as if she agreed very much. The knights usually caused more idents when they were pretentious than when they were discouraged. The ones who always suffered headaches from the news from the emperor¡¯s court were the people of the court. When the knights under the emperor recklessly charged, the scribes and wizards were the ones who had to clean up the aftermath. It was better if they were discouraged like that. For a while, they would listen to what was said and there would be no idents. ¡°Thanks to that, the fights that used to happen havepletely disappeared.¡± ¡°Fights? Did it happen between the knights?¡± In response to Johan¡¯s question, Suetlg shrugged. ¡°It happened between the knights, between the captured and the knights, between the mercenaries, and between the mercenaries and the knights. . . Originally, if you gather those with swords, they fight among themselves. Since a huge number of them gathered, it¡¯s natural for fights to happen.¡± Johan made a dubious expression. Of course, he knew that there would be some friction or quarrels since the knights from various regions had gathered, but they usually refrained from doing so on their own. ¡°. . .There shouldn¡¯t be any crazy b*stards who fight in front of Your Highness, right. . .?¡± Caenerna looked at Johan as if he was asking a question that made no sense. Johan, who realized it btedly, coughed awkwardly with an embarrassed expression. ¡°So what do you guys think of the information about the eunuchs?¡± ¡°They should be executed properly.¡± ¡°Catch them and torture them. . . No, let¡¯s interrogate them first.¡± ¡°If we squeeze them until they tell the truth, they¡¯ll tell the truth.¡± Johan proceeded to the final confirmation with the opinions that were in firm agreement. ¡°The tribal chiefs who are close to the eunuchs might be dissatisfied, but wouldn¡¯t it be better to give them a word?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary. . . Well. . . I guess it¡¯s not bad to do that?¡± The reaction of the wizards was less refreshing than he thought. Johan was slightly taken aback. Anyway, since the opinions were unanimous, Johan called the tribal chiefs in the vicinity and carefully brought up the story. It was to see their reaction. ¡°You should send soldiers right now and lock them up, what are you doing?!¡± ¡°There is now anywhere that leaves those who are suspected ofmitting such acts alone! Your Highness. You have to lock them up right now!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± At the much hotter response of the tribal chiefs than he had expected, Johan realized that the tribes around here were much more cooperative than he had thought. , ¡°Did you catch it with magic?¡± The knights looked around subconsciously. But the figure of the wizard was nowhere to be seen. ¡®????. ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????¡¯ ¡®???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ????????????????.¡¯ The centaurs were infamous for their ferocious name and their poison. There were also a few centaurs among Johan¡¯s subordinates, so it would not be strange if they used poison. ¡°Strange. It¡¯s the heirloom sword that has been passed down in my family.¡± ¡°What kind of magic do you need to use to defeat it?¡± When the knights were unable to contain their curiosity and started chattering, Johan replied as if he was puzzled. ¡°Magic? I didn¡¯t use any magic.¡± ¡°Oh. Then was it the centaurs¡¯ poison?¡± The centaurs under Johan snorted with displeasure. They were the ones who shot the arrows smeared with poison. Of course, they couldn¡¯t help but be dissatisfied when the poison they shot didn¡¯t work. ¡°No. I just beat it up until it died after knocking it down.¡± ¡°Oh. I see. . . .Yes??¡± ¡°I used this weapon because I thought a blunt weapon would be better than a sword.¡± Johan pulled out the Giant yer. The old weapon made by the dwarves had the power to make even the most absurd story believable just by looking at its appearance. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Did you guys take them down like this too?¡± After hearing the details, the knights shut their mouths in embarrassment and absurdity. They never imagined that something like this would happen in the duke¡¯s camp. ¡®???? ??????. . .¡¯ ¡®?????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ????????!¡¯ The duke¡¯s method was simple. He crushed the monster¡¯s legs with the Giant yer, and every time it tried to get up, he swung it around and inflicted serious injuries. If they were stabbed with a sword, they could endure and get up, but even a seasoned warrior would not be able to get up easily if they were hit by such a siege weapon. ¡°. . .In fact, we set it on fire.¡± ¡°You set it on fire? Well. . . that¡¯s not a bad idea. You all must have suffered a lot.¡± Johan consoled the knights. Judging from their appearance, they must have suffered a lot inside the castle. Some of them were covered in soot because they even set fire to it. ¡°Thanks to you, the subjugation was sessful. Let¡¯s celebrate!¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± ¡°Thank you. Your Highness. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± John was a little taken aback by the atmosphere being so different from what he expected. Originally, the knights were a simple and hot-blooded group of people. They were the ones who would hold a celebration and praise themselves for their honorable achievements even if they only subjugated a goblin¡¯sir near the town. Of course, he thought that the knights would be excited after the subjugation of the cultists this time and would be noisy about who had made more achievements. Since the monotheists and the knights of the polytheists would definitely fight each other, he had prepared in advance, thinking about how to mediate the dispute if there was one between the two. . . The current atmosphere was reminiscent of a prayer city in a monastery. Johan¡¯s men looked at the knights who had copsed like withered grass as if they were elf theologians. It was the first time they had seen the knights acting like that. ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys happy?¡± ¡°We are happy.¡± ¡°Tell me about your achievements! I want to hear them!¡± ¡°No. I dare not. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The eunuchs behind them were also whispering to each other in embarrassment. The situation that was unfolding now was something that even the experienced eunuchs had not expected. ???????????? ¡°Thank you! Thank you! Your Highness!¡± ¡°I only did what I had to do.¡± Theposition of the hostages who were being held was diverse. There were nobles from distant tribes, farmers from nearby towns, and freemen from coastal cities. However, they all had something inmon. The fact that they had to pay a ransom since being captured. Even if they were captured by cultists, it was customary to pay the duke in the first ce. However, the duke mercifully decided to release them without receiving a ransom. ¡®???????? ???? ?? ???????????????? ????, ???? ????????????¡¯?? ???? ????????. ???????? ???? ?? ??????, ???? ?????????? ???????? ?? ???????? ????????. ????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ????.¡¯ Johan had calcted like that and made the decision, but it couldn¡¯t help but be touching for those who were captured. ¡°It seems like it will be difficult to interrogate the cultists because none of them are in their right minds. Your Highness.¡± ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± Because of the situation, there were almost no living prisoners. Even those who were captured chose death rather than being captured. Anyway, he decided to be satisfied with the subjugation of the main camp. The atmosphere of the knights had be a little strange, but that was inevitable. . . ¡°Excuse me. . . Can I help you with your work?¡± ¡°?¡± One of the captured prisoners raised his hand cautiously. ¡°I worked as a scribe in Aniza City. When I was captured by them, I heard a lot of things while doing variousbor. . . If that could be of any help. . .¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s a great help. Thank you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help you too!¡± The prisoners volunteered to help in any way they could. Johan was very pleased to receive unexpected help. There were many capable people among the prisoners. Johan listened carefully to what they were saying. And in the process, he heard an interesting story. ???????????? ¡°Wait. Where did you renovate?¡± ¡°Yes??¡± When the duke suddenly spoke, the excited technician bowed his head in embarrassment. ¡°Speakfortably. I asked because I¡¯m curious.¡± ¡°Well. . . I renovated His Majesty Manansir¡¯s castle. My friends and I worked on it for eight years.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± ¡°Ooooooh. . .¡± Johan was impressed, but the other dwarf mercenaries next to him were even more impressed. The dwarves, who were well-versed in siege techniques, also had some knowledge of architecture. Construction workers who were capable of renovating a castle would know the structure of the castle better than the lord. The soldiers wanted to see the face of the b*stard Manansir who had captured the duke¡¯s ship and caused all this trouble anyway. In the midst of all this, the appearance of the technician was very wee. ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯ll ask you if I have any questions!¡± ¡°But you must have sworn an oath.¡± ¡°Hmm. An oath is sacred.¡± Of course, when the feudal lords called the technicians, they used various methods to ensure security. The oath was the most basic. They would either force the technician to live in the fiefdom, or they would silence them by assassination. In any case, the pride of these skilled craftsmen was considerable, and the oath they made in ordance with it was also sacred. It was clear that they would not speak easily even if they were told to. ¡°No. I can tell you. Can I draw you a blueprint?¡± ¡°. . .???¡± The dwarf soldiers looked at the technician with betrayed expressions. Of course, they were happy, but it was a shameless act as a technician. The technician must have realized the meaning of their gaze and hurriedly made excuses. ¡°No! It¡¯s not that I betrayed my oath. There¡¯s a reason for this. His Majesty was the first to break the oath.¡± Anyone who had worked under a feudal lord knew how difficult it was to receive the money promised by the lord. They would pay the deposit properly at first, but the feudal lords generally had a very poor sense of economy. They would often owe money to merchants, so there was no way they wouldn¡¯t owe money to technicians. Viceroy Manansir was simr. He kept postponing the payment while the work was being carried out for eight years, and when the construction waspleted, he started finding fault. The technician and his colleagues had to decide whether to hold out and receive the money until the end, or to run away in case of an unexpected situation. ¡°That¡¯s why I escaped!¡± ¡°Aha. If that¡¯s the case, then it¡¯s okay to break the oath. Come to think of it, you were a true technician?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for misunderstanding you.¡± The dwarf mercenaries rxed their expressions again and encouraged the technician with a warm attitude. It was a dwarf custom to allow the burning of a castle if the employer did not pay. ¡°Then can you draw a blueprint?¡± ¡°Yes. . . If you give me some time. . .¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Johan, who had been listening, was very pleased. The dwarves were also happy. He never thought he would obtain such an unexpected treasure from the subjugation. ¡°Your Highness. They said there were people who hired assassins to assassinate Your Highness!!!¡± The soldiers who had been extracting information from the other side shouted with trembling voices at the shocking fact. Johan, who was absent-minded, waved his hand and said. ¡°Just wait a moment. I¡¯ll hear itter.¡± ¡°No! Your Highness! They¡¯re saying that they were trying to assassinate Your Highness???¡± ???????????? The eunuchs found and reported the location of the cult¡¯s stronghold, but the cultists were not easy to deal with. They had secretly investigated who hadmissioned them to assassinate them. They imed to maintain absolute silence, but those who did dirty work could not have such loyalty. The cultists always identified their opponents in case of emergency. Johan, who heard the report, made an absurd expression. ¡®????????¡¯???? ?????????????? ????????????.¡¯ If it was true, it meant that the eunuchs who had ced the order had revealed the location of the cultists, and the cultists had checked to see who the client was just in case. It was ridiculous. ¡°But why did you ept the order to target me and target another duke?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know that either. We overheard them talking. . .¡± Since the information about the eunuchs was not something to be taken lightly, Johan called others. He needed advice on what to do. Suetlg asked Johan curiously as soon as he saw his face. ¡°What happened during the subjugation that made the knights look like that?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan didn¡¯t have enough words to say even if he had ten mouths. ¡°It wasn¡¯t something we did on purpose.¡± ¡°Of course it wasn¡¯t something you did on purpose! It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen knights so discouraged after going on a subjugation.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not His Highness¡¯ fault.¡± Caenerna said from the side. Suetlg also nodded at those words. It was mostly their fault that the knights were so discouraged. And to be honest, it was fun to see them like that. ¡°Is it very serious?¡± Johan asked, a little worried. He had a lot of fights to fight in the future, so it wouldn¡¯t be good if the knights¡¯ morale dropped. Suetlg replied with a nonchnt expression. ¡°How serious can it be? Don¡¯t you know that it¡¯s better for knight dastards to be a little discouraged?¡± Caenerna nodded as if she agreed very much. The knights usually caused more idents when they were pretentious than when they were discouraged. The ones who always suffered headaches from the news from the emperor¡¯s court were the people of the court. When the knights under the emperor recklessly charged, the scribes and wizards were the ones who had to clean up the aftermath. It was better if they were discouraged like that. For a while, they would listen to what was said and there would be no idents. ¡°Thanks to that, the fights that used to happen havepletely disappeared.¡± ¡°Fights? Did it happen between the knights?¡± In response to Johan¡¯s question, Suetlg shrugged. ¡°It happened between the knights, between the captured and the knights, between the mercenaries, and between the mercenaries and the knights. . . Originally, if you gather those with swords, they fight among themselves. Since a huge number of them gathered, it¡¯s natural for fights to happen.¡± Johan made a dubious expression. Of course, he knew that there would be some friction or quarrels since the knights from various regions had gathered, but they usually refrained from doing so on their own. ¡°. . .There shouldn¡¯t be any crazy b*stards who fight in front of Your Highness, right. . .?¡± Caenerna looked at Johan as if he was asking a question that made no sense. Johan, who realized it btedly, coughed awkwardly with an embarrassed expression. ¡°So what do you guys think of the information about the eunuchs?¡± ¡°They should be executed properly.¡± ¡°Catch them and torture them. . . No, let¡¯s interrogate them first.¡± ¡°If we squeeze them until they tell the truth, they¡¯ll tell the truth.¡± Johan proceeded to the final confirmation with the opinions that were in firm agreement. ¡°The tribal chiefs who are close to the eunuchs might be dissatisfied, but wouldn¡¯t it be better to give them a word?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary. . . Well. . . I guess it¡¯s not bad to do that?¡± The reaction of the wizards was less refreshing than he thought. Johan was slightly taken aback. Anyway, since the opinions were unanimous, Johan called the tribal chiefs in the vicinity and carefully brought up the story. It was to see their reaction. ¡°You should send soldiers right now and lock them up, what are you doing?!¡± ¡°There is now anywhere that leaves those who are suspected ofmitting such acts alone! Your Highness. You have to lock them up right now!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± At the much hotter response of the tribal chiefs than he had expected, Johan realized that the tribes around here were much more cooperative than he had thought. Chapter 336: ???????? ???????? (9) ¡®????. ?? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan thought the tribal chiefs would take the eunuchs¡¯ side to some extent even if he told them to fold their arms inside, but he was wrong. They could not even bepared in the first ce. Compared to the listless eunuchs who had even lost their army and the vigorous elite troops led by the duke to the Holy Land. Even if the duke was a crazy b*stard, the tribal chiefs would consider taking the eunuchs¡¯ side a little, but the duke was too moderate, to the point that the tribal chiefs probably thought ¡¯???? ???????? ???????????? ?????????¡¯ If the tribal chiefs themselves were the duke, they would have already beheaded several families in the Holy Land and stained the rivers red with blood. ¡°If you say so, I should send someone to catch them.¡± ¡°Should I send my subordinates?¡± ????????????Seized and brought in, the eunuchs immediately confessed and begged for mercy the moment they heard the charges. ¡°Forgive us, Your Highness! We had no choice but to follow the Sultan¡¯s orders!¡± ¡°We were only following orders!¡± The torturers looked at the eunuchs, somewhat perplexed. They had spilled their guts too quickly than they had expected. Torture sessions usually involved breaking bones and tearing flesh before they reluctantly confessed. . . ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???????????? ????????, ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????!¡¯ Having served in the pce, the eunuchs were well aware of how these interrogations worked. Once they started, they never stopped until they got the answers they wanted. Rather than needlessly resisting and bing crippled, it was better to quickly confess and make excuses as much as possible. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????¡¯ ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ??????????. . .¡¯ ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°Even if we report it, we can¡¯t just let them go. The chieftains were adamant. They said not to show mercy.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The torturers exchanged nces and nodded in secret. The eunuchs trembled with anxiety as the atmosphere turned strange. ¡°Begin!¡± ¡°Wait! Wait! Please!¡± The eunuchs realized the situation and cried out, but it made no difference. As the oldest eunuch screamed, the others realized anew how dangerous their situation was. They never thought someone who acted soposed in the pce would behave like this. There was no one to save the eunuchs who had been captured. The captured nobles would be lucky if they didn¡¯t send assassins, and the associated tribes would note forward. . . .In fact, the eunuchs had been unaware that the chieftains had stepped forward and shouted to capture the eunuchs. And it was better for them not to know. ¡°Please don¡¯t do this! Please! If there¡¯s anything you want, just tell us. We¡¯ll do whatever you want!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The eunuchs couldn¡¯t bear the pain and babbled whatever came to mind, but the torturers ignored them. If they let the evil b*stards who tried to assassinate the duke go too easily, there was a chance they would be attacked. They didn¡¯t want to be tortured together just because they were suspected of colluding. The harsh interrogation stopped briefly after half a day. The torturers left for a while to rest. The eunuchs, who had barely bought some time, shouted anxiously. ¡°Where. . . where did the information leak from?!¡± ¡°This is not the time to worry about that. If you don¡¯t want to die together, think hard! Anything is fine. If you¡¯ve heard anything, tell us everything!¡± Frantic conversations took ce, and useless information piled up. ¡°The duke wanted to capture that Manansir guy! How about this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s useless too! Come up with something else. What about the wizard?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a shrewd b*stard, so asking for our life won¡¯t help! He¡¯s not even taking bribes!¡± ¡°There¡¯s a snakekin wizard in the camp. What about her?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t have much influence. It¡¯s impossible!!¡± ¡°Wait. Wait.¡± ¡°?¡± Everyone turned their gaze when the old eunuch interrupted the conversation. It seemed like a decent story hade up. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ ¡°Offer Manansir! That might work!¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± ???????????? After a long time, Ulrike visited, and Johan was puzzled and weed her. Both were busy because of the Holy Land. Johan was doing his best to manage the Holy Land in his own way, and Ulrike was busy managing the interests of the Holy Land in her own way. ¡°Have you been on a pilgrimage?¡± ¡°What? Oh. . .¡± Ulrike smiled bitterly. She realized what Johan was talking about. Whether they were devout or not, pilgrimage was very meaningful to monotheists. Why would so many people leave their distant hometowns and wander in foreignnds? Of course, Johan¡¯s reputation and resentment toward the enemy were also there, but the desire for pilgrimage was also quite strong. Among the widely known holy ces, there is no ce as authoritative as the Holy Land right now. If a pilgrim visited such a ce once, he could be recognized and blessed for the rest of his life. It seemed like nobles wouldn¡¯t do something like this, but surprisingly that wasn¡¯t the case. Even the most greedy and faithless nobles went on pilgrimages ahead of everyone else. ¡°Didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°. . .I did.¡± Ulrike was a little embarrassed for nothing. While talking, they had secretly enjoyed the fact that they bothcked faith, but they had to confess like this. ¡°But, since all the other nobles went there, you couldn¡¯t be the only one who missed it. . .¡± ¡°Who said what? I did it too.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± He cleansed my body, climbed up the nearby hill, looked at the temple covering the tomb, said a prayer, came down the hill again, went through the gate, and entered the cathedral, etc. Johan performed this boring ceremony with the bishops. It was said to be boring, but the bishops next to him burst into tears. Johan felt like he should cry for nothing, and he was upset. ¡°You didn¡¯te here toin about the pilgrimage, did you? Going around and praying is not my way.¡± ¡°Of course not. . . What a ridiculous joke. I came because of something more important.¡± Ulrike lowered her voice slightly and spoke seriously. ¡°There was a proposal that Your Highness should officially be the protector of the Holy Land.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan was puzzled for a moment because he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Aren¡¯t you already the protector of the Holy Land?¡± The title given to the one who conquered the Holy Land. To put it roughly, it was closer to talking about a feudal lord in a more usible way. If you just say that he is the feudal lord of the Holy Land, it would be nd, so wouldn¡¯t it be better to say that he is the protector of the Holy Land? Looking at it that way, it was Johan who was now inmand of the expeditionary force and upied the Holy Land. ¡°Of course, you are upying it now.¡± Ulrike stretched out her finger and swept down from the north to the south of the map. The territory of the monotheistic feudal lords was there. These feudal lords who came over a hundred years ago had a very delicate rtionship with the expeditionary force. They were allies in front of the enemy, but when the enemy disappeared, they alwaysined and grumbled and tried to devour the expeditionary force. Inside the expeditionary force, there was a saying that ¡¯???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡°If they had upied it first, they would have received money for the pilgrimage to the Holy Land.¡± Johan was a little shocked. In fact, it was an old tradition to receive money for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Pilgrimage to the Holy Land was possible even when it was upied by pagans. And of course, money made it possible. Johan intended not to stop them even if they came to the Holy Land on a pilgrimage, out of respect for this tradition and consideration for the polytheists. Of course, he would receive some silver coins. ¡°But it¡¯s okay because they didn¡¯t upy it, right?¡± ¡°Yes. But there are quite a few people who are worried. Right now, Your Highness is here, so they are obedient, but will they be the same after Your Highness returns?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Johan also thought about what Ulrike said. The Holy Land was too far from where Johan was. Moreover, the location was the worst, with many enemies coveting it and not many reliable allies. The fact that it had to be entered quite deeply from the coast was not good. It would be very annoying if it was taken away once. So Johan was thinking that it would be better to hand over the Holy Land to other feudal lords and get the port cities on the coast for himself. Although he couldn¡¯t say such a thing because the bishops might grab him by the back of the neck and knock him down. . . ¡°That¡¯s possible. But is there a solution?¡± ¡°Yes. It is to call the feudal lords here and unite them. Originally, the protector of the Holy Land in the old days was in such a position.¡± ¡°. . . . . .!¡± Johan was surprised by the unexpected proposal. To put it nicely, it¡¯s about uniting them, but to put it badly, it¡¯s closer to calling them out and receiving an oath of allegiance. Which feudal lord would like that? Long ago, when they first came across, they had no choice but to unite, so they had to endure the fact that the nobleman who upied the Holy Land first became the leader and moved down. Even considering such a situation, there was a tremendous amount of conflict and fighting, and in the same situation now, there was no way they would swear allegiance. Why would they be sorry? ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ????????¡¯???? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ????????. . .¡¯ ¡°Who supports it?¡± ¡°Almost everyone who participated in the expedition. Except for one or two, the bishops all agreed. And this proposal was not my idea, but someone else came and pressured me.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was genuinely surprised. He didn¡¯t know that such a story was going on under the surface. ¡°Why not in public?¡± ¡°I think they thought you would humbly refuse if they said it directly.¡± ¡®?? ????????¡¯?? ?????????? ????.¡¯ Johan was careful, but he wasn¡¯t so greedy as to spit out what others were feeding him directly. If others were suggesting it, wouldn¡¯t it be enough to stay still and ept it? ¡°So. . . what do you think?¡± ¡°If the feudal lords around here send soldiers and pay taxes regrly, there is nothing more I could ask for. But getting in is a problem.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s a problem that those who brought up the story will be responsible for.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan hesitated for a moment whether to stop him. It¡¯s definitely not going to be a peaceful way. ???????????? Members of the expedition were adept at wielding the carrot and the stick. During the daytime, the nobles would only drop hints, engaging in pleasantries, but by nightfall, pilgrims akin to fanatics would circle the tents threateningly, chanting. The nobles sent by the feudal lord realized that things were turning strange. They would have had a problem if they hadn¡¯t. ¡°Why are you doing this? Someone keep them in check!¡± The knights were hard enough to control, but the pilgrims in the expedition were more difficult to control in some respects. The knights had something to lose and hence could be reined in, but the pilgrims were people who hade with little more than their lives. They were people who had gathered, burning with passion, after hearing the sermon of a priest or a bishop. The nobles knew only too well that they were capable of doing anything if provoked. ¡°Haha. It seems you¡¯re drunk on the glory of conquering the Holy Land.¡± ¡°This is noughing matter! Disband them or cate them!¡± ¡°I would have given orders if they were my vassals or mercenaries. But they¡¯re freemen who came here on their own. I can¡¯t just give them orders.¡± ¡°Then I shall inform His Highness the Duke!¡± ¡°Do you know how busy His Highness is right now? I believe you¡¯ve heard rumors of the crusade against the pagans. What¡¯s more, things are already in turmoil because of the assassination rumors. Is there any reason why you have to see His Highness now?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡®?????????? ????????????, ?????????? ????????????????!¡¯ Being fellow monotheists, the nobles and knights who had joined the expedition were capable of acts just as despicable as the feudal lords here. The nobles on the feudal lord¡¯s side regretted not having weed the expedition when it first arrived and instead tried to extort gold. It was likely because of that very act that they had united like this. Normally, these people, whose interests and emotions wereplicatedly intertwined, would not have united. ¡°. . .I¡¯ll send a messenger to the feudal lord and ry the news.¡± In the end, they were the ones who suffered. The military strength of the expeditionary force currently around the Holy Land was formidable. They wouldn¡¯t have fared well if they resisted with just a handful of troops here. ¡°Your excellency has made a wise decision! I¡¯m sure the count will also make a wise choice.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The nobles on the feudal lord¡¯s side licked their lips in dissatisfaction. They hadn¡¯t expected to find their fellow believers so detestable., ¡®????. ?? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan thought the tribal chiefs would take the eunuchs¡¯ side to some extent even if he told them to fold their arms inside, but he was wrong. They could not even bepared in the first ce. Compared to the listless eunuchs who had even lost their army and the vigorous elite troops led by the duke to the Holy Land. Even if the duke was a crazy b*stard, the tribal chiefs would consider taking the eunuchs¡¯ side a little, but the duke was too moderate, to the point that the tribal chiefs probably thought ¡¯???? ???????? ???????????? ?????????¡¯ If the tribal chiefs themselves were the duke, they would have already beheaded several families in the Holy Land and stained the rivers red with blood. ¡°If you say so, I should send someone to catch them.¡± ¡°Should I send my subordinates?¡± ???????????? Seized and brought in, the eunuchs immediately confessed and begged for mercy the moment they heard the charges. ¡°Forgive us, Your Highness! We had no choice but to follow the Sultan¡¯s orders!¡± ¡°We were only following orders!¡± The torturers looked at the eunuchs, somewhat perplexed. They had spilled their guts too quickly than they had expected. Torture sessions usually involved breaking bones and tearing flesh before they reluctantly confessed. . . ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???????????? ????????, ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????!¡¯ Having served in the pce, the eunuchs were well aware of how these interrogations worked. Once they started, they never stopped until they got the answers they wanted. Rather than needlessly resisting and bing crippled, it was better to quickly confess and make excuses as much as possible. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????¡¯ ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ??????????. . .¡¯ ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°Even if we report it, we can¡¯t just let them go. The chieftains were adamant. They said not to show mercy.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The torturers exchanged nces and nodded in secret. The eunuchs trembled with anxiety as the atmosphere turned strange. ¡°Begin!¡± ¡°Wait! Wait! Please!¡± The eunuchs realized the situation and cried out, but it made no difference. As the oldest eunuch screamed, the others realized anew how dangerous their situation was. They never thought someone who acted soposed in the pce would behave like this. There was no one to save the eunuchs who had been captured. The captured nobles would be lucky if they didn¡¯t send assassins, and the associated tribes would note forward. . . .In fact, the eunuchs had been unaware that the chieftains had stepped forward and shouted to capture the eunuchs. And it was better for them not to know. ¡°Please don¡¯t do this! Please! If there¡¯s anything you want, just tell us. We¡¯ll do whatever you want!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The eunuchs couldn¡¯t bear the pain and babbled whatever came to mind, but the torturers ignored them. If they let the evil b*stards who tried to assassinate the duke go too easily, there was a chance they would be attacked. They didn¡¯t want to be tortured together just because they were suspected of colluding. The harsh interrogation stopped briefly after half a day. The torturers left for a while to rest. The eunuchs, who had barely bought some time, shouted anxiously. ¡°Where. . . where did the information leak from?!¡± ¡°This is not the time to worry about that. If you don¡¯t want to die together, think hard! Anything is fine. If you¡¯ve heard anything, tell us everything!¡± Frantic conversations took ce, and useless information piled up. ¡°The duke wanted to capture that Manansir guy! How about this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s useless too! Come up with something else. What about the wizard?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a shrewd b*stard, so asking for our life won¡¯t help! He¡¯s not even taking bribes!¡± ¡°There¡¯s a snakekin wizard in the camp. What about her?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t have much influence. It¡¯s impossible!!¡± ¡°Wait. Wait.¡± ¡°?¡± Everyone turned their gaze when the old eunuch interrupted the conversation. It seemed like a decent story hade up. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ ¡°Offer Manansir! That might work!¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± ???????????? After a long time, Ulrike visited, and Johan was puzzled and weed her. Both were busy because of the Holy Land. Johan was doing his best to manage the Holy Land in his own way, and Ulrike was busy managing the interests of the Holy Land in her own way. ¡°Have you been on a pilgrimage?¡± ¡°What? Oh. . .¡± Ulrike smiled bitterly. She realized what Johan was talking about. Whether they were devout or not, pilgrimage was very meaningful to monotheists. Why would so many people leave their distant hometowns and wander in foreignnds? Of course, Johan¡¯s reputation and resentment toward the enemy were also there, but the desire for pilgrimage was also quite strong. Among the widely known holy ces, there is no ce as authoritative as the Holy Land right now. If a pilgrim visited such a ce once, he could be recognized and blessed for the rest of his life. It seemed like nobles wouldn¡¯t do something like this, but surprisingly that wasn¡¯t the case. Even the most greedy and faithless nobles went on pilgrimages ahead of everyone else. ¡°Didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°. . .I did.¡± Ulrike was a little embarrassed for nothing. While talking, they had secretly enjoyed the fact that they bothcked faith, but they had to confess like this. ¡°But, since all the other nobles went there, you couldn¡¯t be the only one who missed it. . .¡± ¡°Who said what? I did it too.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± He cleansed my body, climbed up the nearby hill, looked at the temple covering the tomb, said a prayer, came down the hill again, went through the gate, and entered the cathedral, etc. Johan performed this boring ceremony with the bishops. It was said to be boring, but the bishops next to him burst into tears. Johan felt like he should cry for nothing, and he was upset. ¡°You didn¡¯te here toin about the pilgrimage, did you? Going around and praying is not my way.¡± ¡°Of course not. . . What a ridiculous joke. I came because of something more important.¡± Ulrike lowered her voice slightly and spoke seriously. ¡°There was a proposal that Your Highness should officially be the protector of the Holy Land.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan was puzzled for a moment because he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Aren¡¯t you already the protector of the Holy Land?¡± The title given to the one who conquered the Holy Land. To put it roughly, it was closer to talking about a feudal lord in a more usible way. If you just say that he is the feudal lord of the Holy Land, it would be nd, so wouldn¡¯t it be better to say that he is the protector of the Holy Land? Looking at it that way, it was Johan who was now inmand of the expeditionary force and upied the Holy Land. ¡°Of course, you are upying it now.¡± Ulrike stretched out her finger and swept down from the north to the south of the map. The territory of the monotheistic feudal lords was there. These feudal lords who came over a hundred years ago had a very delicate rtionship with the expeditionary force. They were allies in front of the enemy, but when the enemy disappeared, they alwaysined and grumbled and tried to devour the expeditionary force. Inside the expeditionary force, there was a saying that ¡¯???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡°If they had upied it first, they would have received money for the pilgrimage to the Holy Land.¡± Johan was a little shocked. In fact, it was an old tradition to receive money for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Pilgrimage to the Holy Land was possible even when it was upied by pagans. And of course, money made it possible. Johan intended not to stop them even if they came to the Holy Land on a pilgrimage, out of respect for this tradition and consideration for the polytheists. Of course, he would receive some silver coins. ¡°But it¡¯s okay because they didn¡¯t upy it, right?¡± ¡°Yes. But there are quite a few people who are worried. Right now, Your Highness is here, so they are obedient, but will they be the same after Your Highness returns?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Johan also thought about what Ulrike said. The Holy Land was too far from where Johan was. Moreover, the location was the worst, with many enemies coveting it and not many reliable allies. The fact that it had to be entered quite deeply from the coast was not good. It would be very annoying if it was taken away once. So Johan was thinking that it would be better to hand over the Holy Land to other feudal lords and get the port cities on the coast for himself. Although he couldn¡¯t say such a thing because the bishops might grab him by the back of the neck and knock him down. . . ¡°That¡¯s possible. But is there a solution?¡± ¡°Yes. It is to call the feudal lords here and unite them. Originally, the protector of the Holy Land in the old days was in such a position.¡± ¡°. . . . . .!¡± Johan was surprised by the unexpected proposal. To put it nicely, it¡¯s about uniting them, but to put it badly, it¡¯s closer to calling them out and receiving an oath of allegiance. Which feudal lord would like that? Long ago, when they first came across, they had no choice but to unite, so they had to endure the fact that the nobleman who upied the Holy Land first became the leader and moved down. Even considering such a situation, there was a tremendous amount of conflict and fighting, and in the same situation now, there was no way they would swear allegiance. Why would they be sorry? ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ????????¡¯???? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ????????. . .¡¯ ¡°Who supports it?¡± ¡°Almost everyone who participated in the expedition. Except for one or two, the bishops all agreed. And this proposal was not my idea, but someone else came and pressured me.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was genuinely surprised. He didn¡¯t know that such a story was going on under the surface. ¡°Why not in public?¡± ¡°I think they thought you would humbly refuse if they said it directly.¡± ¡®?? ????????¡¯?? ?????????? ????.¡¯ Johan was careful, but he wasn¡¯t so greedy as to spit out what others were feeding him directly. If others were suggesting it, wouldn¡¯t it be enough to stay still and ept it? ¡°So. . . what do you think?¡± ¡°If the feudal lords around here send soldiers and pay taxes regrly, there is nothing more I could ask for. But getting in is a problem.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s a problem that those who brought up the story will be responsible for.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan hesitated for a moment whether to stop him. It¡¯s definitely not going to be a peaceful way. ???????????? Members of the expedition were adept at wielding the carrot and the stick. During the daytime, the nobles would only drop hints, engaging in pleasantries, but by nightfall, pilgrims akin to fanatics would circle the tents threateningly, chanting. The nobles sent by the feudal lord realized that things were turning strange. They would have had a problem if they hadn¡¯t. ¡°Why are you doing this? Someone keep them in check!¡± The knights were hard enough to control, but the pilgrims in the expedition were more difficult to control in some respects. The knights had something to lose and hence could be reined in, but the pilgrims were people who hade with little more than their lives. They were people who had gathered, burning with passion, after hearing the sermon of a priest or a bishop. The nobles knew only too well that they were capable of doing anything if provoked. ¡°Haha. It seems you¡¯re drunk on the glory of conquering the Holy Land.¡± ¡°This is noughing matter! Disband them or cate them!¡± ¡°I would have given orders if they were my vassals or mercenaries. But they¡¯re freemen who came here on their own. I can¡¯t just give them orders.¡± ¡°Then I shall inform His Highness the Duke!¡± ¡°Do you know how busy His Highness is right now? I believe you¡¯ve heard rumors of the crusade against the pagans. What¡¯s more, things are already in turmoil because of the assassination rumors. Is there any reason why you have to see His Highness now?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡®?????????? ????????????, ?????????? ????????????????!¡¯ Being fellow monotheists, the nobles and knights who had joined the expedition were capable of acts just as despicable as the feudal lords here. The nobles on the feudal lord¡¯s side regretted not having weed the expedition when it first arrived and instead tried to extort gold. It was likely because of that very act that they had united like this. Normally, these people, whose interests and emotions wereplicatedly intertwined, would not have united. ¡°. . .I¡¯ll send a messenger to the feudal lord and ry the news.¡± In the end, they were the ones who suffered. The military strength of the expeditionary force currently around the Holy Land was formidable. They wouldn¡¯t have fared well if they resisted with just a handful of troops here. ¡°Your excellency has made a wise decision! I¡¯m sure the count will also make a wise choice.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The nobles on the feudal lord¡¯s side licked their lips in dissatisfaction. They hadn¡¯t expected to find their fellow believers so detestable. Chapter 337: ?????????? ?????????????? (1) By some means, the news had ascended north and reached the ears of the feudal lords. Despite the differing time it took for the message to arrive, the feudal lords, upon hearing the news, showed simr reactions. ¡°. . .What did you just say?¡± ¡°W-Well. . .¡± The cautious feudal lords were careful with their actions, mindful of the gazes around them, while the hot-tempered ones exploded with fury apanied by curses. ¡°You dare say that to me now?! You want me to be a vassal to the duke?! What deficiency do you see in me that I ought to pledge loyalty to the duke and offer him my soldiers? Speak!¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s not it. The Holy Land was conquered, but there are still quite a few enemies left, aren¡¯t there? His grace the duke intends for us to unite in order to prepare for those enemies. . .¡± ¡°Whose will are you delivering now!¡± The messenger was suddenly caught in the crossfire. The messenger, who had been trying to calm the count¡¯s anger, hurriedly lowered his head. ¡°My family came here over a hundred years ago. Both thisnd and this castle were built with the power of my family. And now a westerneres here and tells me to be his vassal!¡±¡°Your excellency. There are many who are listening.¡± The count stopped his ranting at the steward¡¯s words. But his anger did not subside. Bing another¡¯s vassal meant pledging oneself as a vassal, offering taxes and military service. Of course, this was quite significant, but what mattered most was pride. To the feudal lords who had crossed the sea and settled down, their pride was, above all else, a serious issue. They had lived like kings in their own fiefdoms without bowing their heads to anyone, and now they were being told to bow their heads. This was absolutely uneptable. ¡°However, the duke¡¯s army is strong and their numbers. . .¡± Not all the vassals showed their pride. The cautious and wise ones spoke up with concern. The expeditionary force from the west this time was fierce and strong, and their numbers exceeded ten thousand. Moreover, since the duke enjoyed authority from his great expedition, he would be able to use them as his arms and legs. When the sultan¡¯s armynded just recently, the feudal lords here had trembled in fear. Thinking back on how the feudal lords had groveled before the duke for help at that time, their current tantrums honestly feltughable. However, people tend to forget kindness once the danger has passed, and nobles tend to forget even more quickly. None of the people here brought up that story. The Count was definitely not the type of person who would feel ashamed even if he heard it. Rather, he would just get mad. . . ¡°Why do you think that expeditionary force was able to fight well here? It¡¯s because we supported them from behind.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The count¡¯s vassals were momentarily taken aback at his words. They had roughly expected what the count would say, but this was a bit too brazen. When the expeditionary force first arrived, the feudal lords here did not particrly wee them. Even now, most of their supplies wereing from the fleets arriving by sea, and they had not asked the feudal lords here for anything in particr. Of course, the feudal lords had provided soldiers and quite a bit of funding, butpared to the overall scale, it was nothing more than a drop in the bucket. ¡°You¡¯re right. Considering the duke¡¯s fame, he won¡¯t turn his spearhead towards us just because we reject his proposal.¡± ¡°But wouldn¡¯t the other nobles under him incite him?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why, even if that happens, if we cut off their supplies, they won¡¯t be able tost long. . .¡± ¡°If we let them into the ports that are currently open, it could turn into a long-term war. . .¡± ¡°Quiet!¡± The count cut off the noisy debate as his vassals¡¯ opinions were divided. His mind had been made up from the start. ¡°I absolutely refuse to kneel to those from the west! Tell the duke that if he wants an oath of fealty, he shoulde here himself and make me kneel!¡± After the furious count¡¯s outburst, the vassals led by the steward spoke to the scribe. ¡°Absolutely do not write it down as he said.¡± ¡°Yes. Understood.¡± Their opinions were divided, but they agreed on one thing. They had to send a reply as politely as possible, even if it was a rejection. There was no need to provoke the duke and incur his unnecessary wrath. ???????????? The old king who ruled the Ineressa Kingdom also received simr news. The old king, who had taken a liking to the duke through various incidents, frowned as if troubled. ¡°To make such a proposal. . .¡± ¡°He¡¯s so arrogant!¡± ¡°The duke isn¡¯t that kind of person.¡± ¡°. . .Thinking about it, that sounds right. Maybe the people around him incited him!¡± The court vassals who had opened their mouths thinking that the old king would get angry quickly changed direction upon his unexpected response. ¡°Well, when someone aplishes great things at such a young age, he¡¯s bound to attract greedy people. . . Tsk tsk. The nobles of the empire, I don¡¯t understand why they¡¯re so greedy.¡± If the nobles of the empire heard those words, they would have drawn their swords. Just recently, the earlier expeditionary forces had suffered greatly because of the old king¡¯sck of support. And yet, he was calling them greedy. ¡°Hmm. . .Tell him that I will carefully consider his proposal.¡± ¡°D-Does that truly mean what you say?!¡± The vassals were taken aback. This was apletely unexpected response. No matter how fond he was of the duke, this was going too far. Especially considering how much the old king was obsessed with honor. . . ¡°The other feudal lords will reject him anyway. Just think about their personalities. But the duke will be grateful to me.¡± ¡°Ah. . .! How brilliant!¡± The vassals eximed in admiration, realizing his intentions. Although he had made mistakes in various ways, the old king¡¯s political prowess was still intact. To predict the actions of others and respond like this, it was truly a brilliant response. ¡°Your majesty! Your majesty!¡± The vassals frowned at the sight of the messenger riding his horse and rushing towards them from in front of the inner castle gate. Unless it was truly urgent news, he should have dismounted and walked towards them. Has anything happened recently that¡¯s worth all this fuss? ¡°It seems that the other feudal lords have rejected the proposal. Perhaps one of the hot-headed ones insulted the duke.¡± The old king made predictions as if intoxicated by his own judgment. Since his words sounded quite usible, the vassals nodded unknowingly. If the duke, angered by the insult, sent the messengers again. . . ¡°Did the duke send you?¡± ¡°Yes? No. Your majesty. They say that the sultan¡¯s army has appeared in the north! They are rapidly marching south through the ck Mountains.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The atmosphere turned cold and frosty at the unexpected news. The first reaction was denial. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? How is that possible?¡± It was natural for the vassals to react this way. It hadn¡¯t been long since the sultan¡¯s great armynded in the south. The sultan could not mobilize that many troops so easily. And yet, they were saying that another army was approaching from the north. Logically, this story made no sense. ¡°But it¡¯s true! You must prepare. The captain of the guard testified to it, and the knights who went on patrol also testified to seeing them.¡± Everyone was at a loss for words. It felt as if God was angry with them. They had already gone through one ordeal, and now another ordeal was upon them. They could not understand why the sultan was doing this. ¡°We need to call up the soldiers and hire mercenaries.¡± ¡°We need to call the expeditionary force from the west! We don¡¯t know when the sultan¡¯s army will arrive here!¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s right. You¡¯re right.¡± The old king btedly snapped out of his shock. His vassals¡¯ words brought him back to his senses. ¡°Your majesty. You needn¡¯t worry. Our castle walls are tall and strong, and the people of our fiefdom are strong and loyal. We can hold out!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± When the old king did not seem very convinced, another vassal spoke up. ¡°The duke leading the expeditionary force will prioritize Your Majesty over the other feudal lords. Aren¡¯t you much closer?¡± Only then did the old king¡¯s expression rx a little. ???????????? ¡°Ah. I told you it would be futile.¡± Johan replied to Ulrike, sounding as if he hadn¡¯t expected much. From the start, the n to make the feudal lords here his vassals was too overly optimistic. Unless the feudal lords had arrows in their heads, they would resist fiercely, and repeating another long battle in a distantnd would be a losing proposition. No matter how threatening the atmosphere was here or how much he intimidated those from their fiefdoms, weren¡¯t the feudal lordsfortably settled in their own small, sturdy strongholds? Even if he took hostages and threatened them, they would not yield. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about useless things. Take care of the Holy Land while I¡¯m away on my expedition.¡± Johan spoke as he put on his armor. He had originally thought long and hard about whether he should go south to capture Manansir, but he had changed his mind. The eunuchs who he had intended to execute without much thought had brought up an interesting story. ©¥???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????????! ???????? ????????, ????????????. . .! ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I can trust eunuchs.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t have risked their lives to lie. And even if it¡¯s a lie, there¡¯s nothing to lose. All we have to do is return.¡± Johan didn¡¯t trust the eunuchs, but he figured that they wouldn¡¯t neglect something that risked their own lives. Ulrike felt slightly annoyed at the duke who didn¡¯t even change his expression as he embarked on such a risky expedition that was close to gambling. Ulrike decided to throw in a provocative question. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about what I might do in the Holy Land while Your Highness is away?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not that kind of person. Well then, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Johan walked away without looking back after his reply. Ulrike was speechless, caught off guard. Only after the duke had walked away did Ulrike open her mouth. ¡°Hey. . .¡± Ulrike, who had btedly tried to call out to him, realized that he was already too far away to hear, and she closed her mouth. Beside her, a servant asked,pletely unaware of the situation. ¡°Master. Should I call His Highness back?¡± ¡°. . .No need!¡± ???????????? How could the eunuchs have promised to hand over Viceroy Manansir, who was hiding deep in his fiefdom in the south? No matter how terrifying the expeditionary force was, the feudal lords under the viceroy were not so spineless as to surrender easily. Conquering those castles and fortresses one by one and capturing Viceroy Manansir would require a great deal of time and effort. However, the eunuchs came up with a brilliant idea. ¡°We will send a forged letter from the sultan! They won¡¯t dare to refuse!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± When he first heard it, Johan thought that the eunuchs were just bluffing because they didn¡¯t want to be thrown away. How could they forge a letter from the sultan? In Johan¡¯s case, a letter containing his orders was written on high-quality white paper that only a few among the nobles could write. The texture of the paper, the color of the ink, each of those served as proof. Of course, that wasn¡¯t all. The duke¡¯s seal, which was the most important, was imprinted inside the letter and also stamped on the sealing wax outside the letter. The ring with that seal engraved was a very important item to nobles. The sultan would likely go through a simr process. There was no way the eunuchs could have the sultan¡¯s si ring. Unless the sultan had lost his mind. . . ¡°Actually, we have the si ring. It¡¯s a forgery, though.¡± ¡°. . .What?¡± Johan was genuinely surprised. The other subordinates who were listening were also shocked. What crazy b*stards! The power of the eunuchs depended on how close they were to the sultan. Although he is a useless eunuch, he can influence the life and death of people by inciting the Sultan. However, the sultan was also human, and there were times when it was difficult to persuade him. In such times, wouldn¡¯t it be convenient if they could create fake orders instead of trying to persuade him? The sultan, who was burdened with his heavy workload, would also be happy not to have to bother with such trivial matters. ¡°. . .It¡¯s out of loyalty that we¡¯ve done this! Really!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you crazy b*stards??¡± The subordinates behind could no longer hold back and spoke up. No matter how much they tried to brush it off thinking, ¡®????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????¡¯, it was going too far. And Johan agreed with that opinion., By some means, the news had ascended north and reached the ears of the feudal lords. Despite the differing time it took for the message to arrive, the feudal lords, upon hearing the news, showed simr reactions. ¡°. . .What did you just say?¡± ¡°W-Well. . .¡± The cautious feudal lords were careful with their actions, mindful of the gazes around them, while the hot-tempered ones exploded with fury apanied by curses. ¡°You dare say that to me now?! You want me to be a vassal to the duke?! What deficiency do you see in me that I ought to pledge loyalty to the duke and offer him my soldiers? Speak!¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s not it. The Holy Land was conquered, but there are still quite a few enemies left, aren¡¯t there? His grace the duke intends for us to unite in order to prepare for those enemies. . .¡± ¡°Whose will are you delivering now!¡± The messenger was suddenly caught in the crossfire. The messenger, who had been trying to calm the count¡¯s anger, hurriedly lowered his head. ¡°My family came here over a hundred years ago. Both thisnd and this castle were built with the power of my family. And now a westerneres here and tells me to be his vassal!¡± ¡°Your excellency. There are many who are listening.¡± The count stopped his ranting at the steward¡¯s words. But his anger did not subside. Bing another¡¯s vassal meant pledging oneself as a vassal, offering taxes and military service. Of course, this was quite significant, but what mattered most was pride. To the feudal lords who had crossed the sea and settled down, their pride was, above all else, a serious issue. They had lived like kings in their own fiefdoms without bowing their heads to anyone, and now they were being told to bow their heads. This was absolutely uneptable. ¡°However, the duke¡¯s army is strong and their numbers. . .¡± Not all the vassals showed their pride. The cautious and wise ones spoke up with concern. The expeditionary force from the west this time was fierce and strong, and their numbers exceeded ten thousand. Moreover, since the duke enjoyed authority from his great expedition, he would be able to use them as his arms and legs. When the sultan¡¯s armynded just recently, the feudal lords here had trembled in fear. Thinking back on how the feudal lords had groveled before the duke for help at that time, their current tantrums honestly feltughable. However, people tend to forget kindness once the danger has passed, and nobles tend to forget even more quickly. None of the people here brought up that story. The Count was definitely not the type of person who would feel ashamed even if he heard it. Rather, he would just get mad. . . ¡°Why do you think that expeditionary force was able to fight well here? It¡¯s because we supported them from behind.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The count¡¯s vassals were momentarily taken aback at his words. They had roughly expected what the count would say, but this was a bit too brazen. When the expeditionary force first arrived, the feudal lords here did not particrly wee them. Even now, most of their supplies wereing from the fleets arriving by sea, and they had not asked the feudal lords here for anything in particr. Of course, the feudal lords had provided soldiers and quite a bit of funding, butpared to the overall scale, it was nothing more than a drop in the bucket. ¡°You¡¯re right. Considering the duke¡¯s fame, he won¡¯t turn his spearhead towards us just because we reject his proposal.¡± ¡°But wouldn¡¯t the other nobles under him incite him?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why, even if that happens, if we cut off their supplies, they won¡¯t be able tost long. . .¡± ¡°If we let them into the ports that are currently open, it could turn into a long-term war. . .¡± ¡°Quiet!¡± The count cut off the noisy debate as his vassals¡¯ opinions were divided. His mind had been made up from the start. ¡°I absolutely refuse to kneel to those from the west! Tell the duke that if he wants an oath of fealty, he shoulde here himself and make me kneel!¡± After the furious count¡¯s outburst, the vassals led by the steward spoke to the scribe. ¡°Absolutely do not write it down as he said.¡± ¡°Yes. Understood.¡± Their opinions were divided, but they agreed on one thing. They had to send a reply as politely as possible, even if it was a rejection. There was no need to provoke the duke and incur his unnecessary wrath. ???????????? The old king who ruled the Ineressa Kingdom also received simr news. The old king, who had taken a liking to the duke through various incidents, frowned as if troubled. ¡°To make such a proposal. . .¡± ¡°He¡¯s so arrogant!¡± ¡°The duke isn¡¯t that kind of person.¡± ¡°. . .Thinking about it, that sounds right. Maybe the people around him incited him!¡± The court vassals who had opened their mouths thinking that the old king would get angry quickly changed direction upon his unexpected response. ¡°Well, when someone aplishes great things at such a young age, he¡¯s bound to attract greedy people. . . Tsk tsk. The nobles of the empire, I don¡¯t understand why they¡¯re so greedy.¡± If the nobles of the empire heard those words, they would have drawn their swords. Just recently, the earlier expeditionary forces had suffered greatly because of the old king¡¯sck of support. And yet, he was calling them greedy. ¡°Hmm. . .Tell him that I will carefully consider his proposal.¡± ¡°D-Does that truly mean what you say?!¡± The vassals were taken aback. This was apletely unexpected response. No matter how fond he was of the duke, this was going too far. Especially considering how much the old king was obsessed with honor. . . ¡°The other feudal lords will reject him anyway. Just think about their personalities. But the duke will be grateful to me.¡± ¡°Ah. . .! How brilliant!¡± The vassals eximed in admiration, realizing his intentions. Although he had made mistakes in various ways, the old king¡¯s political prowess was still intact. To predict the actions of others and respond like this, it was truly a brilliant response. ¡°Your majesty! Your majesty!¡± The vassals frowned at the sight of the messenger riding his horse and rushing towards them from in front of the inner castle gate. Unless it was truly urgent news, he should have dismounted and walked towards them. Has anything happened recently that¡¯s worth all this fuss? ¡°It seems that the other feudal lords have rejected the proposal. Perhaps one of the hot-headed ones insulted the duke.¡± The old king made predictions as if intoxicated by his own judgment. Since his words sounded quite usible, the vassals nodded unknowingly. If the duke, angered by the insult, sent the messengers again. . . ¡°Did the duke send you?¡± ¡°Yes? No. Your majesty. They say that the sultan¡¯s army has appeared in the north! They are rapidly marching south through the ck Mountains.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The atmosphere turned cold and frosty at the unexpected news. The first reaction was denial. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? How is that possible?¡± It was natural for the vassals to react this way. It hadn¡¯t been long since the sultan¡¯s great armynded in the south. The sultan could not mobilize that many troops so easily. And yet, they were saying that another army was approaching from the north. Logically, this story made no sense. ¡°But it¡¯s true! You must prepare. The captain of the guard testified to it, and the knights who went on patrol also testified to seeing them.¡± Everyone was at a loss for words. It felt as if God was angry with them. They had already gone through one ordeal, and now another ordeal was upon them. They could not understand why the sultan was doing this. ¡°We need to call up the soldiers and hire mercenaries.¡± ¡°We need to call the expeditionary force from the west! We don¡¯t know when the sultan¡¯s army will arrive here!¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s right. You¡¯re right.¡± The old king btedly snapped out of his shock. His vassals¡¯ words brought him back to his senses. ¡°Your majesty. You needn¡¯t worry. Our castle walls are tall and strong, and the people of our fiefdom are strong and loyal. We can hold out!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± When the old king did not seem very convinced, another vassal spoke up. ¡°The duke leading the expeditionary force will prioritize Your Majesty over the other feudal lords. Aren¡¯t you much closer?¡± Only then did the old king¡¯s expression rx a little. ???????????? ¡°Ah. I told you it would be futile.¡± Johan replied to Ulrike, sounding as if he hadn¡¯t expected much. From the start, the n to make the feudal lords here his vassals was too overly optimistic. Unless the feudal lords had arrows in their heads, they would resist fiercely, and repeating another long battle in a distantnd would be a losing proposition. No matter how threatening the atmosphere was here or how much he intimidated those from their fiefdoms, weren¡¯t the feudal lordsfortably settled in their own small, sturdy strongholds? Even if he took hostages and threatened them, they would not yield. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about useless things. Take care of the Holy Land while I¡¯m away on my expedition.¡± Johan spoke as he put on his armor. He had originally thought long and hard about whether he should go south to capture Manansir, but he had changed his mind. The eunuchs who he had intended to execute without much thought had brought up an interesting story. ©¥???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????????! ???????? ????????, ????????????. . .! ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I can trust eunuchs.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t have risked their lives to lie. And even if it¡¯s a lie, there¡¯s nothing to lose. All we have to do is return.¡± Johan didn¡¯t trust the eunuchs, but he figured that they wouldn¡¯t neglect something that risked their own lives. Ulrike felt slightly annoyed at the duke who didn¡¯t even change his expression as he embarked on such a risky expedition that was close to gambling. Ulrike decided to throw in a provocative question. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about what I might do in the Holy Land while Your Highness is away?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not that kind of person. Well then, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Johan walked away without looking back after his reply. Ulrike was speechless, caught off guard. Only after the duke had walked away did Ulrike open her mouth. ¡°Hey. . .¡± Ulrike, who had btedly tried to call out to him, realized that he was already too far away to hear, and she closed her mouth. Beside her, a servant asked,pletely unaware of the situation. ¡°Master. Should I call His Highness back?¡± ¡°. . .No need!¡± ???????????? How could the eunuchs have promised to hand over Viceroy Manansir, who was hiding deep in his fiefdom in the south? No matter how terrifying the expeditionary force was, the feudal lords under the viceroy were not so spineless as to surrender easily. Conquering those castles and fortresses one by one and capturing Viceroy Manansir would require a great deal of time and effort. However, the eunuchs came up with a brilliant idea. ¡°We will send a forged letter from the sultan! They won¡¯t dare to refuse!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± When he first heard it, Johan thought that the eunuchs were just bluffing because they didn¡¯t want to be thrown away. How could they forge a letter from the sultan? In Johan¡¯s case, a letter containing his orders was written on high-quality white paper that only a few among the nobles could write. The texture of the paper, the color of the ink, each of those served as proof. Of course, that wasn¡¯t all. The duke¡¯s seal, which was the most important, was imprinted inside the letter and also stamped on the sealing wax outside the letter. The ring with that seal engraved was a very important item to nobles. The sultan would likely go through a simr process. There was no way the eunuchs could have the sultan¡¯s si ring. Unless the sultan had lost his mind. . . ¡°Actually, we have the si ring. It¡¯s a forgery, though.¡± ¡°. . .What?¡± Johan was genuinely surprised. The other subordinates who were listening were also shocked. What crazy b*stards! The power of the eunuchs depended on how close they were to the sultan. Although he is a useless eunuch, he can influence the life and death of people by inciting the Sultan. However, the sultan was also human, and there were times when it was difficult to persuade him. In such times, wouldn¡¯t it be convenient if they could create fake orders instead of trying to persuade him? The sultan, who was burdened with his heavy workload, would also be happy not to have to bother with such trivial matters. ¡°. . .It¡¯s out of loyalty that we¡¯ve done this! Really!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you crazy b*stards??¡± The subordinates behind could no longer hold back and spoke up. No matter how much they tried to brush it off thinking, ¡®????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????¡¯, it was going too far. And Johan agreed with that opinion. Chapter 338: ?????????? ?????????????? (2) ¡®?????? ??????, ?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????????????? ??????????????.¡¯ Thanks to this, the eunuchs were able to forge the sultan¡¯s letters almost perfectly. They had everything from the paper, handwriting, and even the experience as the sultan himself may not be as skilled in writing letters as the eunuchs were. ¡°Honestly speaking, it¡¯s worth a try.¡± ¡°It¡¯s absurd, but if it works. . .¡± However, even the hardened centurions did not deny the n as preposterous, although they thought the eunuchs were ridiculous. As experienced mercenaries, they had forged a lord¡¯s permission or a pass a few times. It seemed like a trivial piece of paper on the outside, but the value of this single sheet was worth more than a pouch of gold coins. It was useful when fleeing after a battle, entering a town to conscript serfs, and sometimes, even to fool knights. With more brains, it could be utilized in more diverse ways. After all, humans are weak to authority. ¡°I heard that Manansir refused to help when the pagan feudal lords asked for help, and he also refused when the eunuchs asked for help. I think he must be feeling guilty inside.¡±The reason why Manansir was called Viceroy Manansir, General Manansir, or Your Majesty Manansir was that he had an absolute rise to power. He started as a low-ranking noble and became a captain of a mercenary group, leading mercenaries. Then he was lucky enough to gain a fiefdom, and then he grew his power little by little by fighting, scheming, and betraying others. In any ce, if you exceed a certain level, you can¡¯t just rule with power alone. You could rule a small town with just a few mercenaries as the vige chief, but if it was a barony or higher, political power was essential. You can¡¯t conquer every vassal and neighboring feudal lords surrounding you with just power. In such times, authority was the most important. Political poweres from authority. Just like Johan borrowed authority by joining hands with the order, Manansir also tried to gain authority by iming various titles. Of course, there was a limit to this. No matter how many soldiers he led and titles he imed, the other nobles wouldn¡¯t ept him. In the end, what Manansir chose was to join hands with the sultan. Even though he was in a farawaynd, the sultan¡¯s name had great weight in these parts. Manansir frantically sent bribes and made all kinds of attempts to gain the sultan¡¯s favor even before the marriage alliance was formed. This alliance right now was the result of his relentless efforts. ¡°Since the lords under Manansir know that, they won¡¯t resist the sultan¡¯s authority easily.¡± Johan¡¯s n with the eunuchs¡¯ help was simple. Head towards where Manansir was hiding, with only elite cavalry. If there were any lords who heard of them and tried to block them on the way, summon them using the sultan¡¯s name. If they came out without thinking, capture them and hold them as prisoners. In any fiefdom, if the lord was captured as a prisoner, the people below him would be confused and find it difficult to react. To prepare for this, Johan had brought along pagan knights who were captured as prisoners. The pagan knights, not knowing the full story, were happy just to receive their weapons and horses back. ¡°Do they even know who those people are?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t you be shocked when they find outter?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t lie.¡± The duke¡¯s curt reply made his subordinates nod with joy. One of the best things about being a mercenary was when they got to feel like their employer was a great viin. ???????????? Baron Shrd was shocked at the sight of the cavalry that suddenly appeared in his fiefdom. Even from a distance, it was easy to tell that there were hundreds of them. Even if he gathered all the serfs in his fiefdom who could be used as soldiers, there wouldn¡¯t even be a hundred of them. Cavalry of that size had the terrifying power to burn his entire fiefdom to the ground with just a flick of their fingers. He heard that there was chaos to the north as the pagan expedition and the sultan¡¯s army shed, but he never expected the aftermath to reach this far. ¡®????????????. . . ???????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ There were rumors that pagan pursuit forces appeared in the coastal city a little above, but the people nearby were relieved when they heard that they quickly disappeared and went back. However, seeing cavalry appear like this made his heart pound. ¡°Master! They are not enemies! That¡¯s the sultan¡¯s g!¡± ¡°!!¡± The baron¡¯s face brightened at the servant¡¯s report. As they got closer, he could see the uniforms of some of the cavalry. The outfits were clearly different from the expedition that came from the west. ¡®?????????? ????????????????!¡¯ The baron heaved a sigh of relief. Of course, even if they were the sultan¡¯s army, it wasn¡¯t a situation where he could bepletely at ease. He had to start by treating them in his small fiefdom, and he might have to answer some ufortable questions in the process. ¡®?????? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???????????????¡¯ and things like that. . . But even if that was ufortable, wasn¡¯t it much better than a group of looters or rogues? ¡°Go to the vault and bring some gold coins. I¡¯ll go greet them myself.¡± ¡°Yes? But shouldn¡¯t you confirm their identities first?¡± ¡°You fool! You¡¯re going to say that now? Do you want to bother them with such a useless thing after they came all this way? It¡¯s because of people like you that they say we are tactless and dull.¡± ¡°I-I apologize, master.¡± The ve, who was scolded harshly for saying something unnecessary, hung his head, dejected. Originally, it was the rule that when outsiders came, the lower-ranking people would go out first to confirm their identities, then let a few of them in separately, and then let the rest in once their identities were confirmed. However, rules are meant to have exceptions. If you asked the knights who came from far away, who had a high status and seemed ill-tempered, such things one by one, it could cause unnecessary trouble. ¡°Wee, brave knights! This baron has been waiting for your lordships!¡± When the baron himself came out of the gate on horseback and ran towards them, Johan and his subordinates looked at each other. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????????????¡¯ ¡®???? ???? ?? ??????????¡¯ ¡®????. ???? ????????. . . ?????????? ???????? ?? ???????????????? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°Are you Baron Shrd?¡± Instead of replying to the baron¡¯s hospitality, Johan asked a question. It was a rude response, but the baron couldn¡¯t question him because he was intimidated by Johan¡¯s imposing manner and his subordinates who were overflowing with authority. ¡°Yes. . .¡± ¡°I see. Take the baron.¡± The knights grabbed both of the baron¡¯s arms with their strong hands. The baron¡¯s ves were shocked and froze in ce. ¡°W-What are you doing? What are you doing?? You fools, what are you doing? Are you just going to watch??¡± The knights were too big and too well-armed for the ves to rush in to save him. The ves just stood still. Johan spoke to the servant who had followed him. ¡°Tell the people inside the fiefdom that we¡¯ll be taking the baron as a prisoner, so they should refrain from acting rashly and behave themselves.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The servant ran away, happy that he wasn¡¯t caught with the baron. The baron, still not fully understanding the situation, shouted desperately. ¡°Sir! Please listen to me. The reason I couldn¡¯t respond to the request for support is because I had Manansir¡¯s orders! How can someone like me, who leads a small family, disobey such an order?¡± ¡°I understand, baron. You¡¯ll be treated as a prisoner, so keep your mouth shut!¡± The baron was dragged away, still not realizing who he was dealing with. Instead, there was amotion from a different ce. The pagan knights btedly realized what this march was and began to grumble. Vaytar, who had somewhat gotten close to the duke, stepped forward. Vaytar asked with a very reluctant expression. ¡°Your Highness. That. . . I have one question.¡± ¡°What is it, sir?¡± ¡°In the fiefdoms we¡¯re going to from now on, are you going to. . . capture them like this?¡± ¡°I clearly told you I¡¯m going to capture Manansir, didn¡¯t I?¡± Johan had clearly told the pagan knights the truth. That he was going to capture Manansir. The pagan knights were curious about how he nned to attack the castles and fortresses along the way, but they were happy to get their weapons and horses back, so they didn¡¯t ask further. However, looking at it now, his method was a bit. . . extremepared to what they had thought. ¡°Are you saying that you won¡¯t follow my orders now? Didn¡¯t you clearly swear on your honor that you would follow my orders?¡± Of course, the pagan knights had sworn and followed him. As prisoners, that much was natural. Vaytar was surprised and waved his hands. ¡°No! It¡¯s not like that. It¡¯s just that, you see, since the other party was foolish and came out just now, it¡¯s different. . . People who are suspicious won¡¯te out easily. I was curious about that.¡± The pagan knights still only understood half of the situation. They had only thought that ¡®???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ????????¡¯. No one would have thought that there would be a trick beyond that. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s a way for everything.¡± ¡°I-Is that so.¡± Vaytar was a hot-tempered and quick-witted person, but he was like a mouse in front of a cat in front of the duke. In the end, Vaytar returned without asking any further. The knights asked curiously. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°What¡¯s His Highness thinking?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a petty trick? Who came up with it?¡± To the flood of questions, Vaytar only picked the questions he could answer and replied. Fortunately, he knew about thest question because he had heard the others talking. ¡°They said the eunuchs advised it. . .¡± ¡°. . .Those poisonous mushrooms are still alive and doing more dirty work?!¡± However, the pagan knights didn¡¯t know. That the eunuchs¡¯ dirty scheme was just beginning (although strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t the eunuchs¡¯ fault). ???????????? ©¥??-?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????! ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ??????????????????. . . ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????! ????????! ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????! ???????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????????? ????, ???? ????????????, ?? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ??????????????! ©¥?? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ????????. . . ??-???????? ???????? ????. . .! ?? ??????????????????! ?? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????. ????????????! ©¥??????, ?????? ???????????? ??????????! ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????! ?? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ??????, ?????? ??????????! ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????? ?????? ????????????????????, ???? ?? ???????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ??????! ©¥????, ????, ????????¡¯??. . . Johan¡¯s subordinates advanced like a storm. The pagan knights, who didn¡¯t know what was going on, made expressions like they had seen a ghost. Even if they were reckless people, how could they open the gate ande out even after confirming their identities? Did the duke use magic or something? As soon as the next day dawned after they had rested, Johan quickly ran. The castle where Manansir was hiding was right before his eyes. To capture him right away before any strange rumors spread! ¡°Uhm, please wait a moment.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± However, the casten¡¯s reaction was different from what he had thought. Even though he saw the paper with the sultan¡¯s seal, the casten didn¡¯t open the gate right away and hesitated. Johan became a little impatient. His subordinates seemed to read Johan¡¯s mind and immediately took action. They held their swords to the eunuchs¡¯ necks. ¡°If they don¡¯t open that gate right now, I¡¯ll bathe these swords in your blood.¡± ¡°C-Calm down! Calm down! They haven¡¯t noticed at all!¡± The eunuchs tried desperately to calm the mercenaries down. The castle where Manansir was currently hiding was an unnamed mountain castle slightly away from the coastal port city. Although it was a little small, it was a good ce to hold out because it could take advantage of the ruggedness of the mountain. It was a good choice for Manansir, who nned to hide until the sultan¡¯s army arrived. The problem with such a ce was that it was not well-informed about rumors. When the eunuchs saw it, it was impossible for rumors to have reached there first. ¡°Then why aren¡¯t they opening it? Huh? Is it because you guys made a mistake??¡± ¡°M-Maybe Viceroy Manansir is scared, that¡¯s why??¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Think about it carefully! You came with so many troops just because he took a few ships. And the sultan¡¯s army thatnded first was smashed to pieces. Even the bravest person would be scared, wouldn¡¯t they? Why would the viceroy be hiding here!¡± ¡°A few ships? This punk. . .¡± ¡°Alright, so why aren¡¯t they opening the gate when we came to help?¡± ¡°W-Well, didn¡¯t Viceroy ignore us when we asked for support? He must be troubled because he knows he¡¯s guilty!¡± He blurted it out as best as he could, but after he said it, it sounded quite usible. The eunuch was slightly intoxicated by his own words. Of course, the mercenaries weren¡¯t satisfied with that. ¡°I see. So how can you open it?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°If you can talk so well, you shoulde up with a way too. Think of something in five seconds! Or else this sword will go in a little deeper. Five! Two!¡± ¡®??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ ¡°I-I thought of it! I thought of it!¡± The mercenaries were impressed. It was as if the answers came out when you squeezed a mouse, like the leather pouch with an infinite supply of gold coins from the story., ¡®?????? ??????, ?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????????????? ??????????????.¡¯ Thanks to this, the eunuchs were able to forge the sultan¡¯s letters almost perfectly. They had everything from the paper, handwriting, and even the experience as the sultan himself may not be as skilled in writing letters as the eunuchs were. ¡°Honestly speaking, it¡¯s worth a try.¡± ¡°It¡¯s absurd, but if it works. . .¡± However, even the hardened centurions did not deny the n as preposterous, although they thought the eunuchs were ridiculous. As experienced mercenaries, they had forged a lord¡¯s permission or a pass a few times. It seemed like a trivial piece of paper on the outside, but the value of this single sheet was worth more than a pouch of gold coins. It was useful when fleeing after a battle, entering a town to conscript serfs, and sometimes, even to fool knights. With more brains, it could be utilized in more diverse ways. After all, humans are weak to authority. ¡°I heard that Manansir refused to help when the pagan feudal lords asked for help, and he also refused when the eunuchs asked for help. I think he must be feeling guilty inside.¡± The reason why Manansir was called Viceroy Manansir, General Manansir, or Your Majesty Manansir was that he had an absolute rise to power. He started as a low-ranking noble and became a captain of a mercenary group, leading mercenaries. Then he was lucky enough to gain a fiefdom, and then he grew his power little by little by fighting, scheming, and betraying others. In any ce, if you exceed a certain level, you can¡¯t just rule with power alone. You could rule a small town with just a few mercenaries as the vige chief, but if it was a barony or higher, political power was essential. You can¡¯t conquer every vassal and neighboring feudal lords surrounding you with just power. In such times, authority was the most important. Political poweres from authority. Just like Johan borrowed authority by joining hands with the order, Manansir also tried to gain authority by iming various titles. Of course, there was a limit to this. No matter how many soldiers he led and titles he imed, the other nobles wouldn¡¯t ept him. In the end, what Manansir chose was to join hands with the sultan. Even though he was in a farawaynd, the sultan¡¯s name had great weight in these parts. Manansir frantically sent bribes and made all kinds of attempts to gain the sultan¡¯s favor even before the marriage alliance was formed. This alliance right now was the result of his relentless efforts. ¡°Since the lords under Manansir know that, they won¡¯t resist the sultan¡¯s authority easily.¡± Johan¡¯s n with the eunuchs¡¯ help was simple. Head towards where Manansir was hiding, with only elite cavalry. If there were any lords who heard of them and tried to block them on the way, summon them using the sultan¡¯s name. If they came out without thinking, capture them and hold them as prisoners. In any fiefdom, if the lord was captured as a prisoner, the people below him would be confused and find it difficult to react. To prepare for this, Johan had brought along pagan knights who were captured as prisoners. The pagan knights, not knowing the full story, were happy just to receive their weapons and horses back. ¡°Do they even know who those people are?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t you be shocked when they find outter?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t lie.¡± The duke¡¯s curt reply made his subordinates nod with joy. One of the best things about being a mercenary was when they got to feel like their employer was a great viin. ???????????? Baron Shrd was shocked at the sight of the cavalry that suddenly appeared in his fiefdom. Even from a distance, it was easy to tell that there were hundreds of them. Even if he gathered all the serfs in his fiefdom who could be used as soldiers, there wouldn¡¯t even be a hundred of them. Cavalry of that size had the terrifying power to burn his entire fiefdom to the ground with just a flick of their fingers. He heard that there was chaos to the north as the pagan expedition and the sultan¡¯s army shed, but he never expected the aftermath to reach this far. ¡®????????????. . . ???????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ There were rumors that pagan pursuit forces appeared in the coastal city a little above, but the people nearby were relieved when they heard that they quickly disappeared and went back. However, seeing cavalry appear like this made his heart pound. ¡°Master! They are not enemies! That¡¯s the sultan¡¯s g!¡± ¡°!!¡± The baron¡¯s face brightened at the servant¡¯s report. As they got closer, he could see the uniforms of some of the cavalry. The outfits were clearly different from the expedition that came from the west. ¡®?????????? ????????????????!¡¯ The baron heaved a sigh of relief. Of course, even if they were the sultan¡¯s army, it wasn¡¯t a situation where he could bepletely at ease. He had to start by treating them in his small fiefdom, and he might have to answer some ufortable questions in the process. ¡®?????? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???????????????¡¯ and things like that. . . But even if that was ufortable, wasn¡¯t it much better than a group of looters or rogues? ¡°Go to the vault and bring some gold coins. I¡¯ll go greet them myself.¡± ¡°Yes? But shouldn¡¯t you confirm their identities first?¡± ¡°You fool! You¡¯re going to say that now? Do you want to bother them with such a useless thing after they came all this way? It¡¯s because of people like you that they say we are tactless and dull.¡± ¡°I-I apologize, master.¡± The ve, who was scolded harshly for saying something unnecessary, hung his head, dejected. Originally, it was the rule that when outsiders came, the lower-ranking people would go out first to confirm their identities, then let a few of them in separately, and then let the rest in once their identities were confirmed. However, rules are meant to have exceptions. If you asked the knights who came from far away, who had a high status and seemed ill-tempered, such things one by one, it could cause unnecessary trouble. ¡°Wee, brave knights! This baron has been waiting for your lordships!¡± When the baron himself came out of the gate on horseback and ran towards them, Johan and his subordinates looked at each other. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????????????¡¯ ¡®???? ???? ?? ??????????¡¯ ¡®????. ???? ????????. . . ?????????? ???????? ?? ???????????????? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°Are you Baron Shrd?¡± Instead of replying to the baron¡¯s hospitality, Johan asked a question. It was a rude response, but the baron couldn¡¯t question him because he was intimidated by Johan¡¯s imposing manner and his subordinates who were overflowing with authority. ¡°Yes. . .¡± ¡°I see. Take the baron.¡± The knights grabbed both of the baron¡¯s arms with their strong hands. The baron¡¯s ves were shocked and froze in ce. ¡°W-What are you doing? What are you doing?? You fools, what are you doing? Are you just going to watch??¡± The knights were too big and too well-armed for the ves to rush in to save him. The ves just stood still. Johan spoke to the servant who had followed him. ¡°Tell the people inside the fiefdom that we¡¯ll be taking the baron as a prisoner, so they should refrain from acting rashly and behave themselves.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The servant ran away, happy that he wasn¡¯t caught with the baron. The baron, still not fully understanding the situation, shouted desperately. ¡°Sir! Please listen to me. The reason I couldn¡¯t respond to the request for support is because I had Manansir¡¯s orders! How can someone like me, who leads a small family, disobey such an order?¡± ¡°I understand, baron. You¡¯ll be treated as a prisoner, so keep your mouth shut!¡± The baron was dragged away, still not realizing who he was dealing with. Instead, there was amotion from a different ce. The pagan knights btedly realized what this march was and began to grumble. Vaytar, who had somewhat gotten close to the duke, stepped forward. Vaytar asked with a very reluctant expression. ¡°Your Highness. That. . . I have one question.¡± ¡°What is it, sir?¡± ¡°In the fiefdoms we¡¯re going to from now on, are you going to. . . capture them like this?¡± ¡°I clearly told you I¡¯m going to capture Manansir, didn¡¯t I?¡± Johan had clearly told the pagan knights the truth. That he was going to capture Manansir. The pagan knights were curious about how he nned to attack the castles and fortresses along the way, but they were happy to get their weapons and horses back, so they didn¡¯t ask further. However, looking at it now, his method was a bit. . . extremepared to what they had thought. ¡°Are you saying that you won¡¯t follow my orders now? Didn¡¯t you clearly swear on your honor that you would follow my orders?¡± Of course, the pagan knights had sworn and followed him. As prisoners, that much was natural. Vaytar was surprised and waved his hands. ¡°No! It¡¯s not like that. It¡¯s just that, you see, since the other party was foolish and came out just now, it¡¯s different. . . People who are suspicious won¡¯te out easily. I was curious about that.¡± The pagan knights still only understood half of the situation. They had only thought that ¡®???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ????????¡¯. No one would have thought that there would be a trick beyond that. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s a way for everything.¡± ¡°I-Is that so.¡± Vaytar was a hot-tempered and quick-witted person, but he was like a mouse in front of a cat in front of the duke. In the end, Vaytar returned without asking any further. The knights asked curiously. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°What¡¯s His Highness thinking?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a petty trick? Who came up with it?¡± To the flood of questions, Vaytar only picked the questions he could answer and replied. Fortunately, he knew about thest question because he had heard the others talking. ¡°They said the eunuchs advised it. . .¡± ¡°. . .Those poisonous mushrooms are still alive and doing more dirty work?!¡± However, the pagan knights didn¡¯t know. That the eunuchs¡¯ dirty scheme was just beginning (although strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t the eunuchs¡¯ fault). ???????????? ©¥??-?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????! ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ??????????????????. . . ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????! ????????! ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????! ???????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????????? ????, ???? ????????????, ?? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ??????????????! ©¥?? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ????????. . . ??-???????? ???????? ????. . .! ?? ??????????????????! ?? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????. ????????????! ©¥??????, ?????? ???????????? ??????????! ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????! ?? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ??????, ?????? ??????????! ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????? ?????? ????????????????????, ???? ?? ???????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ??????! ©¥????, ????, ????????¡¯??. . . Johan¡¯s subordinates advanced like a storm. The pagan knights, who didn¡¯t know what was going on, made expressions like they had seen a ghost. Even if they were reckless people, how could they open the gate ande out even after confirming their identities? Did the duke use magic or something? As soon as the next day dawned after they had rested, Johan quickly ran. The castle where Manansir was hiding was right before his eyes. To capture him right away before any strange rumors spread! ¡°Uhm, please wait a moment.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± However, the casten¡¯s reaction was different from what he had thought. Even though he saw the paper with the sultan¡¯s seal, the casten didn¡¯t open the gate right away and hesitated. Johan became a little impatient. His subordinates seemed to read Johan¡¯s mind and immediately took action. They held their swords to the eunuchs¡¯ necks. ¡°If they don¡¯t open that gate right now, I¡¯ll bathe these swords in your blood.¡± ¡°C-Calm down! Calm down! They haven¡¯t noticed at all!¡± The eunuchs tried desperately to calm the mercenaries down. The castle where Manansir was currently hiding was an unnamed mountain castle slightly away from the coastal port city. Although it was a little small, it was a good ce to hold out because it could take advantage of the ruggedness of the mountain. It was a good choice for Manansir, who nned to hide until the sultan¡¯s army arrived. The problem with such a ce was that it was not well-informed about rumors. When the eunuchs saw it, it was impossible for rumors to have reached there first. ¡°Then why aren¡¯t they opening it? Huh? Is it because you guys made a mistake??¡± ¡°M-Maybe Viceroy Manansir is scared, that¡¯s why??¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Think about it carefully! You came with so many troops just because he took a few ships. And the sultan¡¯s army thatnded first was smashed to pieces. Even the bravest person would be scared, wouldn¡¯t they? Why would the viceroy be hiding here!¡± ¡°A few ships? This punk. . .¡± ¡°Alright, so why aren¡¯t they opening the gate when we came to help?¡± ¡°W-Well, didn¡¯t Viceroy ignore us when we asked for support? He must be troubled because he knows he¡¯s guilty!¡± He blurted it out as best as he could, but after he said it, it sounded quite usible. The eunuch was slightly intoxicated by his own words. Of course, the mercenaries weren¡¯t satisfied with that. ¡°I see. So how can you open it?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°If you can talk so well, you shoulde up with a way too. Think of something in five seconds! Or else this sword will go in a little deeper. Five! Two!¡± ¡®??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????????¡¯ ¡°I-I thought of it! I thought of it!¡± The mercenaries were impressed. It was as if the answers came out when you squeezed a mouse, like the leather pouch with an infinite supply of gold coins from the story. Chapter 339: ?????????? ?????????????? (3) ¡°Right. But how?¡± ¡°I will enter personally and meet the viceroy. No matter how much time he tries to buy, he won¡¯t be able to reject a eunuch sent directly by the Sultan. Won¡¯t he at least ease his anxiety and open the gate?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s men responded lukewarmly to his words. From humans to centaurs, there was no one here who trusted eunuchs. ¡°. . .How can we believe you?¡± ¡°W-Why would I lie here?¡± ¡°What if you go in to save your own skin, betray them, and then hide in the fortress?¡± The eunuch¡¯s expression momentarily stiffened at these words. There was no way the veteran mercenaries would miss it. The sword pointed at his neck dug in a little deeper.¡°No! No!¡± ¡°He won¡¯t betray us so easily.¡± Johan, who had been watching, spoke up. His men all wore expressions of disbelief. ¡°I understand His Highness¡¯ generosity, but those guys are snakes wearing human skin. . .¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not that I particrly trust them. It¡¯s already toote to enter the castle and hide.¡± No matter how sturdy the castle walls were, holding out inside the castle required the guarantee of support from nearby areas. However, several lords had already been captured on the way here, and it was likely that the remaining ones would flee or hide upon hearing the news. If one were to hide inside the castle trusting in them, it would lead to a very gruesome and painful death. ¡°Ah. . .¡± ¡°Do you regret it now?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± The eunuchs missed the Sultan¡¯s pce. It was full of conspiracies and schemes, but at least they didn¡¯t have to mingle with fierce mercenaries like these who smelled bad. ???????????? The chambein desperately resisted, but the oue was decided from the start. It was impossible for someone of the chambein¡¯s status to block a eunuch carrying a letter from the Sultan. It would¡¯ve been a different story if it were an independent feudal lord with no connection, but Manansir had already borrowed a lot of power from the Sultan. As he had used the Sultan¡¯s authority to rule his vassals and feudal lords, it was impossible for him to reject that authority. ¡°His Majesty is really unwell!¡± ¡°Ah. Yes.¡± The young eunuch felt a little better at the polite treatment he received after a long time. However, that didn¡¯t mean he forgot the current situation. ¡®???????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ Feigning illness was an excuse often used by nobles. When summoned by the Sultan, one could simply use illness as an excuse if they thought their position was unstable or if there was bad news. Did they receive an undesirable assignment? They could use illness as an excuse then too. Of course, the eunuchs weren¡¯t fooled by such lies. They ate only the best food and received the most courteous treatment, so what illness could they possibly have? ¡®???????? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????. . .¡¯ The chambein fidgeted with his fingers. The eunuch¡¯s guess was spot on. Manansir, who used to be full of ambition and vigor, had changed ever since the expedition from the west arrived. Who could have imagined that heavily armed expeditionary forces would continue to pour in just because a few ships were stolen? Still, things were fine when he formed an alliance with the Sultan and the armynded. Until then, Manansir had seriously considered mobilizing his soldiers and advancing north. He had only been waiting for the right opportunity to raise his own worth, and he would¡¯ve definitely participated in the war if he had a little more time. . . .The problem was that the army suffered an unimaginable defeat. Manansir initially denied reality, but he could no longer deny it as reports continued to pour in. Shocked, Manansir retreated into his fortress. He ignored and refused to help the eunuchs who were desperately fleeing. He nned to stay in his fortress until the Sultan¡¯s main force arrived in person. ¡°. . . . . .¡± The chambein spoke as evasively as he could, but the eunuch listening to him could roughly guess the situation. The eunuch became extremely angry. ¡®???????? ?????? ???? ?? ??????????. . .!¡¯ If Manansir had stepped forward when they were being chased by the Duke, they wouldn¡¯t be in such a miserable state right now. That guy who didn¡¯t even participate in the battle is hiding because he¡¯s shocked?? However, the eunuch suppressed his anger as much as he could and smiled broadly. ¡°The Sultan is not particrly angry. A defeat of that level is nothing to the mighty Sultan¡¯s army.¡± It was a lie. The eunuch didn¡¯t know how the Sultan reacted when he heard of the defeat, but he was grateful that he wasn¡¯t by the Sultan¡¯s side right now. ¡°But to keep using illness as an excuse. . .¡± ¡°He¡¯s really sick.¡± ¡°I understand. But think about the people waiting outside. How humiliating is this for them?¡± The chambein frowned. Usually, chambeins were from the lower nobility and were experienced in the affairs of the court. He knew very well what it meant to leave the Sultan¡¯s knights out in the cold. ¡®??????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????????????????????. ???????? ???????????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????, ???? ???????????????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????. . .¡¯ The chambein came to a decision. Rather than trying to persuade Manansir, who was probably drunk somewhere deep inside the castle, it seemed better to take responsibility and treat them himself. The eunuchs would understand that much. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll open the gate. Here. . .¡± ¡°Oh-ho.¡± The eunuch¡¯s face brightened as he received the bribe as was customary. However, the eunuch¡¯s face soon darkened. ¡®??¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???? ????????-???????????????? ???????? ?? ????????????, ?????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????????????????? ?? ??????!¡¯ ???????????? The chambein was puzzled by the appearance of the iing knights. It was hard to put into words, but he felt a strange sense of difort. The subtle differences shown by people who lived in different countries and cultures. No matter how simr their attire, he could sense something strange when he looked closely. ¡°Why are you staring like that?¡± ¡°Ah, no. I was thinking that you looked very dignified. . .¡± ¡°Well, of course. We¡¯re notckeys like the eunuchs.¡± Johan¡¯s men said so and threw the Sultan¡¯s g they were holding to the ground. The onlookers were even more surprised when the g, which should never be soiled, rolled around in the dirt. ¡°Sound the trumpet!¡± ¡°You insignificant fools! If you don¡¯t want to die, keep your heads on the ground! His Highness the Duke is here!!¡± If one used deception repeatedly, they would naturally be proficient at it. The men naturally took over the gate and set fires here and there. If there was the sound of trumpets, the sound of weapons shing, and smoke on top of that, those who were quick-witted would know to run away. ¡°Let¡¯s go catch the thieving b*stard who stole His Highness¡¯ ship, and the rogue who tried to kill His Highness!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s that Manansir! Tell me!¡± ¡°T-This way. . .¡± The chambein led the way with a dazed look on his face. However, he couldn¡¯t understand it at all, so he asked the eunuchs a question. ¡°W-What on earth made you betray the Sultan? Aren¡¯t you afraid of the future?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± The eunuchs were already feeling bitter, and hearing such words made it even worse. But what could they do? They had to survive right now! ???????????? Whether or not they started out as mercenary captains, those who led armies for a long time and rose through the ranks had their own personal guards. They may be called personal guards, but they were nothing special. They were simply units made up of veteran soldiers who wore the best equipment, received the best treatment, and had served the longest. Even the most violent people cherished their own personal guards. After all, they had to at least take good care of those who would protect their lives when they swung their swords elsewhere. Those who didn¡¯t usually died before they could even rise in rank. Of course, Manansir also had personal guards. They were a unit made up entirely of vampire nobles of lower rank, and they fought just as well as knights. They didn¡¯t panic even when faced with a sudden attack, and they held their ground inside the inner castle, buying time for their master to escape. . . . . .or at least that¡¯s how it should¡¯ve been, but the situation was a little different now. ¡°If Manansir-nim doesn¡¯t wake up ande out right now, we¡¯re getting out of here, oaths be damned!¡± ¡°Are you going to betray your loyalty?! Snap out of it! The enemy is just waiting for you all to fall apart!¡± ¡°Shut up, wizard! It¡¯s been more than a month since west saw Manansir-nim, even if we¡¯re being generous. He could be dead or alive for all we know.¡± ¡°I am the one entrusted with all authority while Manansir-nim is recovering. Follow my orders!¡± Manansir¡¯s prolonged seclusion had caused internal strife among his men. The captain of the personal guard who led the personal guards. The wizard who served as an advisor by Manansir¡¯s side. These two were fiercely opposed to each other. ¡°This won¡¯t work. Arrest him!¡± ¡°. . .How dare you!¡± The wizard took out a bottle from his bosom and threw it. Then, lightning burst out of the bottle and roasted one of the personal guards alive. Everyone was shocked at the sight of him burned pitch ck as if he had been electrocuted. ¡°W-What the. . .?¡± ¡°You dare to cross the line when those mercenary b*stards areing at us! I am the chosen of lightning. If anyone else dares to be insolent, I will strike down everyone here with lightning!¡± ¡°C-Calm down, wizard.¡± The wizard¡¯s power didn¡¯t lie simply in his ability to manipte the arcane. The ability to skillfully control one¡¯s surroundings using that power was also essential for a wizard. The once fierce mercenaries began to follow the wizard¡¯s orders, their spirits dampened. They were overwhelmed by the power in the wizard¡¯s voice. ¡°The gate is open, but it won¡¯t be easy to get to the inner castle from here. We can definitely defeat them! Repel them and buy some time to escape.¡± ¡°We know! Stop yapping.¡± Before he could even finish speaking, a group of people charged from the other side with a war cry. The personal guards holding their ground inside the inner castle fiercely contorted their faces and shouted. ¡°Charge!¡± The pale-skinned warriors drew their weapons and pounced. They first targeted the imposing human who was charging at the forefront. ¡°I, Okarr, shall face you, you lowly mongrel!¡± The warrior called Okarr was known for being thergest and strongest among the vampires here. Okarr, whose head was a whole head bigger than his opponent¡¯s, was rumored to be a half-giant. Okarr rolled powerlessly to the side with a bone-cracking sound. ¡°. . .???¡± ¡°Where did you lowlifes who were hiding in some backwatere from! It seems you¡¯ve never met a real warrior before. Behold, the knight of knights! Taste His Highness the Duke¡¯s sword!¡± Johan¡¯s men who were swinging their swords from behind shouted, their morale soaring. The vampires who were fighting them made absurd expressions. So the one swinging his sword in front of their eyes right now was the Duke? ¡°What nonsense. . . Ugh!¡± However, the nonsense had only just begun. The personal guards who had been holding their formation firmly at the entrance of the inner castle melted away like butter. Although they thought they could hold out for at least a few hours, the vampires btedly realized how wrong they had been. ¡°Stop him!! He¡¯s breaking through!¡± When the Duke swung his sword with both hands, even the sturdiest shield was cut right through. Even if they were lucky enough to deflect it, they would copse from the force of the blow. The personal guards had never imagined that there would be an enemy who couldunch attacks that they couldn¡¯t block and had to dodge unconditionally. And not a monster, but a human! ¡°Get out of the way. Don¡¯t waste time!¡± Johan shouted in fluent Eastern and kicked away a personal guard. The personal guard who was sent flying with a scream didn¡¯t move anymore. When their formation was broken in an instant, those who were behind looked at Johan with expressions of disbelief. ¡°Wizard!¡± ¡°Lord Wizard!¡± Whenever they encountered a phenomenon that they couldn¡¯t understand or deal with, people always relied on wizards. The terrified vampire warriors also called for the wizard. The wizard nodded with a stiff expression. That young Duke¡¯s monstrous strength was beyond imagination, but in a way, it could be seen as an opportunity. If the Duke copsed or was injured, wouldn¡¯t all those fierce b*stards fall apart? The wizard called upon the power of lightning. The contracted spirit burned the wizard¡¯s bones, blood, and flesh, andughed ferociously. It required a huge price for a human to wield the power of lightning. ????????! The wizard fell backward. There was a dagger stuck in the wizard¡¯s neck. Johan, who had heard the word wizard, killed the wizard first., ¡°Right. But how?¡± ¡°I will enter personally and meet the viceroy. No matter how much time he tries to buy, he won¡¯t be able to reject a eunuch sent directly by the Sultan. Won¡¯t he at least ease his anxiety and open the gate?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s men responded lukewarmly to his words. From humans to centaurs, there was no one here who trusted eunuchs. ¡°. . .How can we believe you?¡± ¡°W-Why would I lie here?¡± ¡°What if you go in to save your own skin, betray them, and then hide in the fortress?¡± The eunuch¡¯s expression momentarily stiffened at these words. There was no way the veteran mercenaries would miss it. The sword pointed at his neck dug in a little deeper. ¡°No! No!¡± ¡°He won¡¯t betray us so easily.¡± Johan, who had been watching, spoke up. His men all wore expressions of disbelief. ¡°I understand His Highness¡¯ generosity, but those guys are snakes wearing human skin. . .¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not that I particrly trust them. It¡¯s already toote to enter the castle and hide.¡± No matter how sturdy the castle walls were, holding out inside the castle required the guarantee of support from nearby areas. However, several lords had already been captured on the way here, and it was likely that the remaining ones would flee or hide upon hearing the news. If one were to hide inside the castle trusting in them, it would lead to a very gruesome and painful death. ¡°Ah. . .¡± ¡°Do you regret it now?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± The eunuchs missed the Sultan¡¯s pce. It was full of conspiracies and schemes, but at least they didn¡¯t have to mingle with fierce mercenaries like these who smelled bad. ???????????? The chambein desperately resisted, but the oue was decided from the start. It was impossible for someone of the chambein¡¯s status to block a eunuch carrying a letter from the Sultan. It would¡¯ve been a different story if it were an independent feudal lord with no connection, but Manansir had already borrowed a lot of power from the Sultan. As he had used the Sultan¡¯s authority to rule his vassals and feudal lords, it was impossible for him to reject that authority. ¡°His Majesty is really unwell!¡± ¡°Ah. Yes.¡± The young eunuch felt a little better at the polite treatment he received after a long time. However, that didn¡¯t mean he forgot the current situation. ¡®???????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ Feigning illness was an excuse often used by nobles. When summoned by the Sultan, one could simply use illness as an excuse if they thought their position was unstable or if there was bad news. Did they receive an undesirable assignment? They could use illness as an excuse then too. Of course, the eunuchs weren¡¯t fooled by such lies. They ate only the best food and received the most courteous treatment, so what illness could they possibly have? ¡®???????? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????. . .¡¯ The chambein fidgeted with his fingers. The eunuch¡¯s guess was spot on. Manansir, who used to be full of ambition and vigor, had changed ever since the expedition from the west arrived. Who could have imagined that heavily armed expeditionary forces would continue to pour in just because a few ships were stolen? Still, things were fine when he formed an alliance with the Sultan and the armynded. Until then, Manansir had seriously considered mobilizing his soldiers and advancing north. He had only been waiting for the right opportunity to raise his own worth, and he would¡¯ve definitely participated in the war if he had a little more time. . . .The problem was that the army suffered an unimaginable defeat. Manansir initially denied reality, but he could no longer deny it as reports continued to pour in. Shocked, Manansir retreated into his fortress. He ignored and refused to help the eunuchs who were desperately fleeing. He nned to stay in his fortress until the Sultan¡¯s main force arrived in person. ¡°. . . . . .¡± The chambein spoke as evasively as he could, but the eunuch listening to him could roughly guess the situation. The eunuch became extremely angry. ¡®???????? ?????? ???? ?? ??????????. . .!¡¯ If Manansir had stepped forward when they were being chased by the Duke, they wouldn¡¯t be in such a miserable state right now. That guy who didn¡¯t even participate in the battle is hiding because he¡¯s shocked?? However, the eunuch suppressed his anger as much as he could and smiled broadly. ¡°The Sultan is not particrly angry. A defeat of that level is nothing to the mighty Sultan¡¯s army.¡± It was a lie. The eunuch didn¡¯t know how the Sultan reacted when he heard of the defeat, but he was grateful that he wasn¡¯t by the Sultan¡¯s side right now. ¡°But to keep using illness as an excuse. . .¡± ¡°He¡¯s really sick.¡± ¡°I understand. But think about the people waiting outside. How humiliating is this for them?¡± The chambein frowned. Usually, chambeins were from the lower nobility and were experienced in the affairs of the court. He knew very well what it meant to leave the Sultan¡¯s knights out in the cold. ¡®??????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????????????????????. ???????? ???????????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????, ???? ???????????????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????. . .¡¯ The chambein came to a decision. Rather than trying to persuade Manansir, who was probably drunk somewhere deep inside the castle, it seemed better to take responsibility and treat them himself. The eunuchs would understand that much. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll open the gate. Here. . .¡± ¡°Oh-ho.¡± The eunuch¡¯s face brightened as he received the bribe as was customary. However, the eunuch¡¯s face soon darkened. ¡®??¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???? ????????-???????????????? ???????? ?? ????????????, ?????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????????????????? ?? ??????!¡¯ ???????????? The chambein was puzzled by the appearance of the iing knights. It was hard to put into words, but he felt a strange sense of difort. The subtle differences shown by people who lived in different countries and cultures. No matter how simr their attire, he could sense something strange when he looked closely. ¡°Why are you staring like that?¡± ¡°Ah, no. I was thinking that you looked very dignified. . .¡± ¡°Well, of course. We¡¯re notckeys like the eunuchs.¡± Johan¡¯s men said so and threw the Sultan¡¯s g they were holding to the ground. The onlookers were even more surprised when the g, which should never be soiled, rolled around in the dirt. ¡°Sound the trumpet!¡± ¡°You insignificant fools! If you don¡¯t want to die, keep your heads on the ground! His Highness the Duke is here!!¡± If one used deception repeatedly, they would naturally be proficient at it. The men naturally took over the gate and set fires here and there. If there was the sound of trumpets, the sound of weapons shing, and smoke on top of that, those who were quick-witted would know to run away. ¡°Let¡¯s go catch the thieving b*stard who stole His Highness¡¯ ship, and the rogue who tried to kill His Highness!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s that Manansir! Tell me!¡± ¡°T-This way. . .¡± The chambein led the way with a dazed look on his face. However, he couldn¡¯t understand it at all, so he asked the eunuchs a question. ¡°W-What on earth made you betray the Sultan? Aren¡¯t you afraid of the future?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± The eunuchs were already feeling bitter, and hearing such words made it even worse. But what could they do? They had to survive right now! ???????????? Whether or not they started out as mercenary captains, those who led armies for a long time and rose through the ranks had their own personal guards. They may be called personal guards, but they were nothing special. They were simply units made up of veteran soldiers who wore the best equipment, received the best treatment, and had served the longest. Even the most violent people cherished their own personal guards. After all, they had to at least take good care of those who would protect their lives when they swung their swords elsewhere. Those who didn¡¯t usually died before they could even rise in rank. Of course, Manansir also had personal guards. They were a unit made up entirely of vampire nobles of lower rank, and they fought just as well as knights. They didn¡¯t panic even when faced with a sudden attack, and they held their ground inside the inner castle, buying time for their master to escape. . . . . .or at least that¡¯s how it should¡¯ve been, but the situation was a little different now. ¡°If Manansir-nim doesn¡¯t wake up ande out right now, we¡¯re getting out of here, oaths be damned!¡± ¡°Are you going to betray your loyalty?! Snap out of it! The enemy is just waiting for you all to fall apart!¡± ¡°Shut up, wizard! It¡¯s been more than a month since west saw Manansir-nim, even if we¡¯re being generous. He could be dead or alive for all we know.¡± ¡°I am the one entrusted with all authority while Manansir-nim is recovering. Follow my orders!¡± Manansir¡¯s prolonged seclusion had caused internal strife among his men. The captain of the personal guard who led the personal guards. The wizard who served as an advisor by Manansir¡¯s side. These two were fiercely opposed to each other. ¡°This won¡¯t work. Arrest him!¡± ¡°. . .How dare you!¡± The wizard took out a bottle from his bosom and threw it. Then, lightning burst out of the bottle and roasted one of the personal guards alive. Everyone was shocked at the sight of him burned pitch ck as if he had been electrocuted. ¡°W-What the. . .?¡± ¡°You dare to cross the line when those mercenary b*stards areing at us! I am the chosen of lightning. If anyone else dares to be insolent, I will strike down everyone here with lightning!¡± ¡°C-Calm down, wizard.¡± The wizard¡¯s power didn¡¯t lie simply in his ability to manipte the arcane. The ability to skillfully control one¡¯s surroundings using that power was also essential for a wizard. The once fierce mercenaries began to follow the wizard¡¯s orders, their spirits dampened. They were overwhelmed by the power in the wizard¡¯s voice. ¡°The gate is open, but it won¡¯t be easy to get to the inner castle from here. We can definitely defeat them! Repel them and buy some time to escape.¡± ¡°We know! Stop yapping.¡± Before he could even finish speaking, a group of people charged from the other side with a war cry. The personal guards holding their ground inside the inner castle fiercely contorted their faces and shouted. ¡°Charge!¡± The pale-skinned warriors drew their weapons and pounced. They first targeted the imposing human who was charging at the forefront. ¡°I, Okarr, shall face you, you lowly mongrel!¡± The warrior called Okarr was known for being thergest and strongest among the vampires here. Okarr, whose head was a whole head bigger than his opponent¡¯s, was rumored to be a half-giant. Okarr rolled powerlessly to the side with a bone-cracking sound. ¡°. . .???¡± ¡°Where did you lowlifes who were hiding in some backwatere from! It seems you¡¯ve never met a real warrior before. Behold, the knight of knights! Taste His Highness the Duke¡¯s sword!¡± Johan¡¯s men who were swinging their swords from behind shouted, their morale soaring. The vampires who were fighting them made absurd expressions. So the one swinging his sword in front of their eyes right now was the Duke? ¡°What nonsense. . . Ugh!¡± However, the nonsense had only just begun. The personal guards who had been holding their formation firmly at the entrance of the inner castle melted away like butter. Although they thought they could hold out for at least a few hours, the vampires btedly realized how wrong they had been. ¡°Stop him!! He¡¯s breaking through!¡± When the Duke swung his sword with both hands, even the sturdiest shield was cut right through. Even if they were lucky enough to deflect it, they would copse from the force of the blow. The personal guards had never imagined that there would be an enemy who couldunch attacks that they couldn¡¯t block and had to dodge unconditionally. And not a monster, but a human! ¡°Get out of the way. Don¡¯t waste time!¡± Johan shouted in fluent Eastern and kicked away a personal guard. The personal guard who was sent flying with a scream didn¡¯t move anymore. When their formation was broken in an instant, those who were behind looked at Johan with expressions of disbelief. ¡°Wizard!¡± ¡°Lord Wizard!¡± Whenever they encountered a phenomenon that they couldn¡¯t understand or deal with, people always relied on wizards. The terrified vampire warriors also called for the wizard. The wizard nodded with a stiff expression. That young Duke¡¯s monstrous strength was beyond imagination, but in a way, it could be seen as an opportunity. If the Duke copsed or was injured, wouldn¡¯t all those fierce b*stards fall apart? The wizard called upon the power of lightning. The contracted spirit burned the wizard¡¯s bones, blood, and flesh, andughed ferociously. It required a huge price for a human to wield the power of lightning. ????????! The wizard fell backward. There was a dagger stuck in the wizard¡¯s neck. Johan, who had heard the word wizard, killed the wizard first. Chapter 340: ?????????? ?????????????? (4) ¡®??????????.¡¯ Johan inwardly let out a sigh of relief. The enemies were fiercely swinging their swords beside him, but Johan was worried about the wizard who had been behind them from the beginning. He couldn¡¯t help but worry, as the wizard was surrounded by other soldiers and acting as if to dere, ¡¯??¡¯?? ?? ????????????¡¯. Having interacted with many wizards and being a wizard himself, Johan knew very well how annoying wizards could be in this situation. Just Jyanina had the potential to bring in terrible monsters and wreak havoc in the area if given the time. That¡¯s why Johan didn¡¯t even nce at the wizards when ughtering the enemies. It would have been troublesome if the opponent dodged or hid out of caution. Fortunately, the opponent seemed to be inexperienced in this area. If it had been about Suetlg, he might have felt ufortable and avoided it, but the opponent didn¡¯t notice and stayed still until he was taken by surprise. In fact, no one here had expected that someone could be killed by throwing a dagger from that distance. . . ¡°Wizard!!¡±The guards next to him eximed in shock. They couldn¡¯t have imagined that he would die from such a distance without any sign. ¡°Gulp. . .¡± The wizard who had been hit in the neck coughed up blood bubbles. The guards eximed with a bewildered expression. ¡°Speak! I¡¯m listening! What should we do?¡± ¡®??????. . . ??????????. . . ?????????????? ???? ??????. . .¡¯ With that thought, the wizard¡¯s breath stopped. However, the movement didn¡¯t stop. The wizard¡¯s body began to convulse as if he were having a seizure. ¡¯????¡¯?? ?? ????????????!¡¯ Johan was the first to notice. Just like Caenerna had gone berserk in the past, wizards who had a contract with spirits always had to be wary of the price. The more violent and evil the spirit, the higher the price. The spirits dwelling in Johan¡¯s body let out a low growl. It was a clear sign of rejection, meaning that the opponent was a very violent spirit. ¡®?????? ???? ??????????????????? ???? ????¡¯?? ?? ?????????????????? ????????????, ???? ??????¡¯?? ???? ????????-??????????????.¡¯ Much of the magical knowledge Johan possessed was learned from Suetlg. Although Johan himself handled magic instinctively, he had no choice but to learn theoretical knowledge from others, and Suetlg was an excellent teacher. ©¥??????????????????, ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ??????????????. ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ??????????????????????????. . . ©¥????, ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?????????????? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????! ©¥. . .????????, ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????, ????????¡¯?? ???? ??????????????????. ????????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ????????????????, ????¡¯?? ?? ????????????. . . ©¥????. ???? ???????? ????? ©¥?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ????????????????-????????¡¯?? ??????????????????????, ?????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????????? ????????¡¯?? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ????????. ©¥?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ??????. ©¥. . .????????¡¯?? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???? ????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ????????????, ?????? ???????????? ??¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ????. . . ?????????? ??????¡¯???? ??????????, ??????¡¯???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????. ?? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ????????, ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????? ??¡¯?? ?????????? ??????????. ©¥???????? ?? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ??????. . . ??¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????. ©¥????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????????. ??????¡¯?? ???????? ??????????????????. ???? ?????? ????????, ???????? ?????? ???????? ?? ????????????, ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????????. ?? ????????????¡¯?? ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????????? ?????? ????????????????????????, ?????? ??????????. ©¥?? ????????????????????. ©¥??????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????. ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ??????????????? ©¥?? ????????????????????. ??????¡¯?? ??????????. Johan grabbed the guy next to him and threw him away. The warrior flew away screaming at the monstrous force. ¡°Euaaaak!¡± The wizard¡¯s body was blown to pieces with the sound of lightning. Sparks also flew at the guards next to him. Struck by lightning, they rolled sideways and convulsed. ¡°Oh my God! It¡¯s a crazy malevolent spirit!!¡± ¡°Protect His Highness!¡± Johan¡¯s men were terrified. Although they prided themselves on being well-informed, the power of the malevolent spirit was terrifying. It had knocked out several warriors. Once again, a sh of fire shed. Johan grabbed another enemy next to him and threw him. The flying lightning collided with the enemy, burning him. ¡®???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ??*?????????? ???? ????????. . .?!¡¯ One of the surviving guards realized the situation and was shocked. What was that? He was blocking the spirit¡¯s attack with human flesh and bones. ¡°Your Highness! You¡¯re being reckless!!¡± Johan¡¯s men screamed in shock. The duke, who had seen the extent of his opponent, now lifted two enemies at once, raised them as shields, and began to charge forward. His men, who were hurriedly following him, unknowingly squeezed their eyes shut. Lightning shed and flew towards them. ????????! There was a thud as something heavy fell, followed by the smell of burning flesh and clothes. Johan had blocked the enemy by throwing them. The spirit tried to pounce on him in anger. Then Johan threw the remaining enemy again. In the meantime, the distance waspletely closed. Johan looked straight at the spirit. The spirit didn¡¯t attack right away, perhaps because it was exhausted from burning people. However, it wasn¡¯t scared. The spirit hissed as if mocking him, making crackling sounds like fire, and red at Johan while coiling its body like a snake on top of the corpses. It was strongly felt that he dared to do something. Johan silently raised Giant yer. It was a weapon that had turned many enemies blocking his path today into bloody pulps. However, it was still not a weapon that could harm spirits. The spirit contracted its body as if to say, ¡¯?????? ???? ????????.¡¯ Johan swung with all his might. The sound was so loud that the men behind him trembled. As Giant yer touched the spirit¡¯s sphere, a dazzling light shed and burst out. Electricity traveled through the weapon and into Johan¡¯s hand. The blessing flowing through his blood vessels and the spirit dwelling in his flesh and bones blocked the shock. And that was the end of it. With that single blow, the spirit that had been causing such a noisy riot disappeared without a trace. Before the men or anyone else could react, Valkalmur was the first to react. Valkalmur was startled by the spirit¡¯s sudden disappearance and shook. Johan, who was frowning at the tingling shock that was running through his body, said to Valkalmur. ¡°Be quiet, Valkalmur.¡± Valkalmur obeyed the order. However, that didn¡¯t mean Valkalmur¡¯s surprise had disappeared. Usually, there were cases where spirits ran away or were caught. . . This was the first time Valkalmur had seen a case where they were annihted all at once. Perhaps the lightning spirit that was hit didn¡¯t think it would end up like this, so it must have been so provocative. The spirit that had lived for hundreds of years, but it disappeared so meaninglessly! ¡°Your Highness, we¡¯re done!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. Let¡¯s go inside.¡± ¡°Let us take the lead this time!¡± ¡°No. . . It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s fine! Absolutely not!¡± The men said strongly, as if they would never back down this time. They had just seen Johan struck by lightning. He seemed fine, but they couldn¡¯t help but worry. ¡°I don¡¯t know when or where that malevolent spirit will attack again. We¡¯ll take the lead.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t usually spirits who have been badly beaten and run away not show up again?¡± ¡°How can we trust a malevolent spirit! We¡¯ll take the lead!¡± ¡°I understand. You don¡¯t have to capture him, but if you see anything suspicious, cut his throat right away.¡± Johan warned the men because he was worried. If there were more wizards, trying to capture them for no reason could lead to an ident. The men nodded as if to say not to worry. Valkalmur wanted to say that the spirit hadn¡¯t run away, but had died. However, he couldn¡¯tmunicate it. Valkalmur had to swallow the truth inside. ???????????? Until the moment Johan¡¯s men ran up the stairs and kicked open the door, Manansir was contemting whether to run away, fight, or surrender. He had heard the newste because he was too drunk. ¡°Your Majesty! The enemy has opened the door!¡± ¡°R. . . Really?¡± ¡°We should escape through the back door and into the underground passage. . .¡± ¡°There¡¯s a pirate b*stard over there!¡± Among the soldiers, Manansir and his men were already being called pirate b*stards who stole ships. As they faced each other across a corridor, Manansir¡¯s guards drew their weapons in terror. ¡°Shhtop, I shurshender!¡± Manansir shouted, reaching out his hand as if to calm them down. He didn¡¯t know how they had gotten this far, but it was safer to surrender at this point. It would be dangerous to try to escape or resist. Besides, the other party was a noble, so he wouldn¡¯t be able to refuse the custom of surrender. ¡°Shhh, calm down. I¡¯ll shurshender. . .¡± However, the enemies did not stop and rushed in. Manansir was bewildered, even in his drunken state, because their momentum didn¡¯t seem like that of soldiers epting a surrender. ¡°Wh. . .at?¡± Johan¡¯s men wielded their swords mercilessly. Manansir¡¯s guards were cut deeply, as was Manansir himself. Manansir wailed in the pain that was welling up. ¡°I shaid I shurrendered!¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± ¡°. . .I think he¡¯s saying he¡¯s surrendering?¡± Johan¡¯s men were bewildered. He had already been fatally wounded. . . He was mumbling nonsense in a slurred pronunciation because he was so drunk, so they thought he was casting some kind of spell, so they stabbed him first, but he said he was surrendering. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in pain, so let¡¯s just cut his throat. We¡¯ll have to report the truth to His Highness the Duke. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. He¡¯s not the kind of person who would punish us for this.¡± Even so, the soldiers raised their swords with grim expressions. Manansir struggled and then died. In the meantime, other soldiers who had captured and interrogated a servant came up from the other side. ¡°Manansir is over here?¡± ¡°Really? I haven¡¯t seen him. Where is he?¡± The soldiers searched the entire floor thoroughly for half a day. Then, after hearing the testimony of the terrified ve, they turned the corpse over just in case. ¡°. . . . . .sh*t.¡± ¡°Will we be punished for this too. . .?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, rookie.¡± ???????????? ¡°You killed him? Well, if you killed him, there¡¯s nothing you can do. Isn¡¯t it a battle where you can die if you resist?¡± Johan, who was resting downstairs with his guards, said so after hearing the report. The men didn¡¯t dare make eye contact and said again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. . . I killed him after he surrendered. . .¡± ¡°Why did you kill him?¡± ¡°He was mumbling something, so I thought he was using magic. . .¡± ¡°Really? Then it¡¯s that guy¡¯s fault. He should have shouted clearly so that you could hear it well. Good job. You¡¯ve worked hard, so go and rest. We¡¯ll share the rewards when we get back.¡± ¡°!¡± The men looked at Johan with their eyes wide open. It was very strange to make such an expression with their fierce faces that had experienced all kinds of battles. Johan said in a slightly ufortable voice. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°We are truly grateful for your grace!¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Go and rest.¡± Considering that he went through all this trouble because of the guy who stole the boat, Johan didn¡¯t really want to leave Manansir alive. If he had lived he would have done something in his own way, but if he had died. . . ¡°Be sure to pack up everything inside and bring it with you.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that our specialty?¡± ¡°And take care of that pirate¡¯s body.¡± ¡°Oh. Are you going to hold a funeral?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m going to send it to the Sultan. It¡¯s a dangerous job, so I¡¯ll have to send one of the eunuchs.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The men who were listening felt a little sorry for the eunuchs. ???????????? When the news of the initial defeat came in, the nobles under the Sultan thought it was a false rumor. ©¥???? ????????????, ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ????????????????-????????. ©¥???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????. ???????????? ??????????. However, the rumors continued toe in more and more specifically, and eventually some of the surviving soldiers even ran away and testified. The nobles under the Sultan were shocked and horrified by the report. If Yeheyman or Suhekhar, who were both excellentmanders, had been defeated, it would have been understandable. However, how could they have eaten up so many troops? They couldn¡¯t understand how they could have eaten up so many troops. Even if they had run away and held out inside the castle, they might have been able to do something, but several nobles fell backwards at the report that they had all been captured as prisoners. ©¥?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ????. . . ©¥?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????????! ????????¡¯???? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ????????! ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????????! ©¥??????¡¯???? ???????????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????? ??????! ©¥?????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????! ©¥???????? ????! ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ????????? Someone shouted, and the people in the room felt a chill down their spines. There was probably no one in the world who could contain their anger after hearing this defeat. How many people will die here?, ¡®??????????.¡¯ Johan inwardly let out a sigh of relief. The enemies were fiercely swinging their swords beside him, but Johan was worried about the wizard who had been behind them from the beginning. He couldn¡¯t help but worry, as the wizard was surrounded by other soldiers and acting as if to dere, ¡¯??¡¯?? ?? ????????????¡¯. Having interacted with many wizards and being a wizard himself, Johan knew very well how annoying wizards could be in this situation. Just Jyanina had the potential to bring in terrible monsters and wreak havoc in the area if given the time. That¡¯s why Johan didn¡¯t even nce at the wizards when ughtering the enemies. It would have been troublesome if the opponent dodged or hid out of caution. Fortunately, the opponent seemed to be inexperienced in this area. If it had been about Suetlg, he might have felt ufortable and avoided it, but the opponent didn¡¯t notice and stayed still until he was taken by surprise. In fact, no one here had expected that someone could be killed by throwing a dagger from that distance. . . ¡°Wizard!!¡± The guards next to him eximed in shock. They couldn¡¯t have imagined that he would die from such a distance without any sign. ¡°Gulp. . .¡± The wizard who had been hit in the neck coughed up blood bubbles. The guards eximed with a bewildered expression. ¡°Speak! I¡¯m listening! What should we do?¡± ¡®??????. . . ??????????. . . ?????????????? ???? ??????. . .¡¯ With that thought, the wizard¡¯s breath stopped. However, the movement didn¡¯t stop. The wizard¡¯s body began to convulse as if he were having a seizure. ¡¯????¡¯?? ?? ????????????!¡¯ Johan was the first to notice. Just like Caenerna had gone berserk in the past, wizards who had a contract with spirits always had to be wary of the price. The more violent and evil the spirit, the higher the price. The spirits dwelling in Johan¡¯s body let out a low growl. It was a clear sign of rejection, meaning that the opponent was a very violent spirit. ¡®?????? ???? ??????????????????? ???? ????¡¯?? ?? ?????????????????? ????????????, ???? ??????¡¯?? ???? ????????-??????????????.¡¯ Much of the magical knowledge Johan possessed was learned from Suetlg. Although Johan himself handled magic instinctively, he had no choice but to learn theoretical knowledge from others, and Suetlg was an excellent teacher. ©¥??????????????????, ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ??????????????. ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ??????????????????????????. . . ©¥????, ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?????????????? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????! ©¥. . .????????, ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????, ????????¡¯?? ???? ??????????????????. ????????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ????????????????, ????¡¯?? ?? ????????????. . . ©¥????. ???? ???????? ????? ©¥?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ????????????????-????????¡¯?? ??????????????????????, ?????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????????? ????????¡¯?? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ????????. ©¥?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ??????. ©¥. . .????????¡¯?? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???? ????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ????????????, ?????? ???????????? ??¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ????. . . ?????????? ??????¡¯???? ??????????, ??????¡¯???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????. ?? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ????????, ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????? ??¡¯?? ?????????? ??????????. ©¥???????? ?? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ??????. . . ??¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????. ©¥????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????????. ??????¡¯?? ???????? ??????????????????. ???? ?????? ????????, ???????? ?????? ???????? ?? ????????????, ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????????. ?? ????????????¡¯?? ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????????? ?????? ????????????????????????, ?????? ??????????. ©¥?? ????????????????????. ©¥??????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????. ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ??????????????? ©¥?? ????????????????????. ??????¡¯?? ??????????. Johan grabbed the guy next to him and threw him away. The warrior flew away screaming at the monstrous force. ¡°Euaaaak!¡± The wizard¡¯s body was blown to pieces with the sound of lightning. Sparks also flew at the guards next to him. Struck by lightning, they rolled sideways and convulsed. ¡°Oh my God! It¡¯s a crazy malevolent spirit!!¡± ¡°Protect His Highness!¡± Johan¡¯s men were terrified. Although they prided themselves on being well-informed, the power of the malevolent spirit was terrifying. It had knocked out several warriors. Once again, a sh of fire shed. Johan grabbed another enemy next to him and threw him. The flying lightning collided with the enemy, burning him. ¡®???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ??*?????????? ???? ????????. . .?!¡¯ One of the surviving guards realized the situation and was shocked. What was that? He was blocking the spirit¡¯s attack with human flesh and bones. ¡°Your Highness! You¡¯re being reckless!!¡± Johan¡¯s men screamed in shock. The duke, who had seen the extent of his opponent, now lifted two enemies at once, raised them as shields, and began to charge forward. His men, who were hurriedly following him, unknowingly squeezed their eyes shut. Lightning shed and flew towards them. ????????! There was a thud as something heavy fell, followed by the smell of burning flesh and clothes. Johan had blocked the enemy by throwing them. The spirit tried to pounce on him in anger. Then Johan threw the remaining enemy again. In the meantime, the distance waspletely closed. Johan looked straight at the spirit. The spirit didn¡¯t attack right away, perhaps because it was exhausted from burning people. However, it wasn¡¯t scared. The spirit hissed as if mocking him, making crackling sounds like fire, and red at Johan while coiling its body like a snake on top of the corpses. It was strongly felt that he dared to do something. Johan silently raised Giant yer. It was a weapon that had turned many enemies blocking his path today into bloody pulps. However, it was still not a weapon that could harm spirits. The spirit contracted its body as if to say, ¡¯?????? ???? ????????.¡¯ Johan swung with all his might. The sound was so loud that the men behind him trembled. As Giant yer touched the spirit¡¯s sphere, a dazzling light shed and burst out. Electricity traveled through the weapon and into Johan¡¯s hand. The blessing flowing through his blood vessels and the spirit dwelling in his flesh and bones blocked the shock. And that was the end of it. With that single blow, the spirit that had been causing such a noisy riot disappeared without a trace. Before the men or anyone else could react, Valkalmur was the first to react. Valkalmur was startled by the spirit¡¯s sudden disappearance and shook. Johan, who was frowning at the tingling shock that was running through his body, said to Valkalmur. ¡°Be quiet, Valkalmur.¡± Valkalmur obeyed the order. However, that didn¡¯t mean Valkalmur¡¯s surprise had disappeared. Usually, there were cases where spirits ran away or were caught. . . This was the first time Valkalmur had seen a case where they were annihted all at once. Perhaps the lightning spirit that was hit didn¡¯t think it would end up like this, so it must have been so provocative. The spirit that had lived for hundreds of years, but it disappeared so meaninglessly! ¡°Your Highness, we¡¯re done!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. Let¡¯s go inside.¡± ¡°Let us take the lead this time!¡± ¡°No. . . It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s fine! Absolutely not!¡± The men said strongly, as if they would never back down this time. They had just seen Johan struck by lightning. He seemed fine, but they couldn¡¯t help but worry. ¡°I don¡¯t know when or where that malevolent spirit will attack again. We¡¯ll take the lead.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t usually spirits who have been badly beaten and run away not show up again?¡± ¡°How can we trust a malevolent spirit! We¡¯ll take the lead!¡± ¡°I understand. You don¡¯t have to capture him, but if you see anything suspicious, cut his throat right away.¡± Johan warned the men because he was worried. If there were more wizards, trying to capture them for no reason could lead to an ident. The men nodded as if to say not to worry. Valkalmur wanted to say that the spirit hadn¡¯t run away, but had died. However, he couldn¡¯tmunicate it. Valkalmur had to swallow the truth inside. ???????????? Until the moment Johan¡¯s men ran up the stairs and kicked open the door, Manansir was contemting whether to run away, fight, or surrender. He had heard the newste because he was too drunk. ¡°Your Majesty! The enemy has opened the door!¡± ¡°R. . . Really?¡± ¡°We should escape through the back door and into the underground passage. . .¡± ¡°There¡¯s a pirate b*stard over there!¡± Among the soldiers, Manansir and his men were already being called pirate b*stards who stole ships. As they faced each other across a corridor, Manansir¡¯s guards drew their weapons in terror. ¡°Shhtop, I shurshender!¡± Manansir shouted, reaching out his hand as if to calm them down. He didn¡¯t know how they had gotten this far, but it was safer to surrender at this point. It would be dangerous to try to escape or resist. Besides, the other party was a noble, so he wouldn¡¯t be able to refuse the custom of surrender. ¡°Shhh, calm down. I¡¯ll shurshender. . .¡± However, the enemies did not stop and rushed in. Manansir was bewildered, even in his drunken state, because their momentum didn¡¯t seem like that of soldiers epting a surrender. ¡°Wh. . .at?¡± Johan¡¯s men wielded their swords mercilessly. Manansir¡¯s guards were cut deeply, as was Manansir himself. Manansir wailed in the pain that was welling up. ¡°I shaid I shurrendered!¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± ¡°. . .I think he¡¯s saying he¡¯s surrendering?¡± Johan¡¯s men were bewildered. He had already been fatally wounded. . . He was mumbling nonsense in a slurred pronunciation because he was so drunk, so they thought he was casting some kind of spell, so they stabbed him first, but he said he was surrendering. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in pain, so let¡¯s just cut his throat. We¡¯ll have to report the truth to His Highness the Duke. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. He¡¯s not the kind of person who would punish us for this.¡± Even so, the soldiers raised their swords with grim expressions. Manansir struggled and then died. In the meantime, other soldiers who had captured and interrogated a servant came up from the other side. ¡°Manansir is over here?¡± ¡°Really? I haven¡¯t seen him. Where is he?¡± The soldiers searched the entire floor thoroughly for half a day. Then, after hearing the testimony of the terrified ve, they turned the corpse over just in case. ¡°. . . . . .sh*t.¡± ¡°Will we be punished for this too. . .?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, rookie.¡± ???????????? ¡°You killed him? Well, if you killed him, there¡¯s nothing you can do. Isn¡¯t it a battle where you can die if you resist?¡± Johan, who was resting downstairs with his guards, said so after hearing the report. The men didn¡¯t dare make eye contact and said again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. . . I killed him after he surrendered. . .¡± ¡°Why did you kill him?¡± ¡°He was mumbling something, so I thought he was using magic. . .¡± ¡°Really? Then it¡¯s that guy¡¯s fault. He should have shouted clearly so that you could hear it well. Good job. You¡¯ve worked hard, so go and rest. We¡¯ll share the rewards when we get back.¡± ¡°!¡± The men looked at Johan with their eyes wide open. It was very strange to make such an expression with their fierce faces that had experienced all kinds of battles. Johan said in a slightly ufortable voice. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°We are truly grateful for your grace!¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Go and rest.¡± Considering that he went through all this trouble because of the guy who stole the boat, Johan didn¡¯t really want to leave Manansir alive. If he had lived he would have done something in his own way, but if he had died. . . ¡°Be sure to pack up everything inside and bring it with you.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that our specialty?¡± ¡°And take care of that pirate¡¯s body.¡± ¡°Oh. Are you going to hold a funeral?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m going to send it to the Sultan. It¡¯s a dangerous job, so I¡¯ll have to send one of the eunuchs.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The men who were listening felt a little sorry for the eunuchs. ???????????? When the news of the initial defeat came in, the nobles under the Sultan thought it was a false rumor. ©¥???? ????????????, ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ????????????????-????????. ©¥???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????. ???????????? ??????????. However, the rumors continued toe in more and more specifically, and eventually some of the surviving soldiers even ran away and testified. The nobles under the Sultan were shocked and horrified by the report. If Yeheyman or Suhekhar, who were both excellentmanders, had been defeated, it would have been understandable. However, how could they have eaten up so many troops? They couldn¡¯t understand how they could have eaten up so many troops. Even if they had run away and held out inside the castle, they might have been able to do something, but several nobles fell backwards at the report that they had all been captured as prisoners. ©¥?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ????. . . ©¥?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????????! ????????¡¯???? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ????????! ?? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????????! ©¥??????¡¯???? ???????????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????? ??????! ©¥?????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????! ©¥???????? ????! ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ????????? Someone shouted, and the people in the room felt a chill down their spines. There was probably no one in the world who could contain their anger after hearing this defeat. How many people will die here? Chapter 341: ???????????????? (1) Fortunately, the number of casualties was lower than expected. The Sultan knew this too. He had an army to lead south, and he couldn¡¯t afford to decimate the nobles in his wake. No matter how iron-fisted a Sultan he was, he couldn¡¯t simply ignore the feelings of the nobles serving under him. Among the nobles, there were those with fiefdoms and private armies, and those who hailed from prestigious families that had been established for generations. If he were to suppress them with force, he would only invite more resistance. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean he spared them entirely. Although the number of casualties was low, a few nobles who had rmended Yeheyman or Suhekhar lost their heads. ¡°Look, there goes Balharni.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while. . .¡± ¡°He looks pretty good considering the circumstances.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. He might look fine on the outside, but he¡¯s probably rotting on the inside.¡± The nobles gossiped amongst themselves. That¡¯s because the man riding towards them was none other than the Sultan¡¯s brother.The empire in the west employed a brutal method of selecting its sessors, unlike anything seen in Johan¡¯s world. When the Sultan died, his bloodline would fight amongst themselves, and the victor would im the throne. Naturally, the Sultan¡¯s siblings were not supposed to live, but. . . The Sultan did not do that. Instead of killing the defeated, he imprisoned them and used them to demonstrate his mercy. Of course, that didn¡¯t prove to be very effective. The imprisoned siblings of the Sultan were brought back at hismand. Each of them had been trained as potential sessors, and more importantly, they were useful in appeasing the Sultan¡¯s anxiety. If the Sultan were to lead his army south, leaving his rivals behind, he would surely feel uneasy about what they might do in his absence. ¡°Yudh-nim has repelled the elves!¡± ¡°What? Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes! We¡¯ve received a report.¡± The nobles rejoiced at the news that one of the Sultan¡¯s siblings, Yudhi, had achieved a military victory. They weren¡¯t necessarily part of Yudhi¡¯s faction, but good news was always wee. The march wasplex and time-consuming, as it involved moving an army asrge as the one that had been sent by sea. The Sultan was in a foul mood the entire time, splitting up and dividing his forces as he moved. This was hardly surprising, given the news he had been receiving. However, some of the troops that had crossed over from the west set up camp along a shallow river and blocked the Sultan¡¯s army. They couldn¡¯t have numbered more than two thousand men ready for battle, but they were so fierce that they routed the vanguard. In the end, Yudhi had to lead a force to outnk them, barely managing to surround them. Even for skilled warriors, it was impossible to hold out when surrounded on all sides, so they eventually surrendered. ¡°What are they doing here? Why are they camped here instead of marching south? This has only served to rile up the Sultan.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they usually elves? I thought they were royalty.¡± ¡°What? They were an army of royalty? No wonder they fought so well. . .¡± The nobles were taken aback. The elf king and his knights fought with skill that impressed even their opponents. It was unclear why they had chosen to make a stand here, but now that they knew their identities, their actions made a bit more sense. ¡°The elf king, huh. Is that a good thing? Maybe we can exchange him for the captured prisoners.¡± ¡°I wonder. . . Would he?¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°Who knows who the Sultan would want back among the prisoners. Even though Yeheyman-gong was so favored right now, he acted as if he would kill him as soon as he was in front of him.¡± ¡°Well, he was furious. . .¡± ¡°Do you think he¡¯s calmed down now?¡± The nobles found themselves agreeing with that statement, almost against their will. Perhaps it would be better for the captured prisoners to remain in their enemies¡¯ camp, and then slip away once things had settled down, using the power of their families to secure their release. If they were to be released through the Sultan¡¯s generosity, they would have to face his wrath directly. ¡°At any rate, with those fierce elves gone, there¡¯s no one to hinder us now. Even the rogues from the ck Mountains have gone quiet. . .¡± ¡°I wish I could pray for that. My heart sinks every time we fall behind schedule.¡± The atmosphere in the camp was tense, like walking on thin ice, due to the Sultan¡¯s temper. Better to be in the vanguard or the rearguard than to be attached to the troops led by the Sultan himself©¥that was how strong the fear of death was. However, the hardships were only just beginning. With the news of the fall of the coastal cities and the death of Manansir, the nobles began to seriously consider whether it would¡¯ be better to simply desert. ???????????? The Sultan was no longer raging, but that didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t furious. His normally pale face, a characteristic of vampires, looked even more drained of color, indicating the extent of his anger. The nobles present at the meeting were aware of this and were even more cautious in their actions. ¡°. . .When I first heard the news of Suhekhar¡¯s defeat, the old fool, I thought he was either unlucky or had made a mistake. Even the cowardly Yeheyman. But at this point, I just can¡¯t ignore it. Is that b*stard using magic? Is that what this is all about?!¡± The Sultan shouted fiercely, kicking over the table. Having defeated his siblings to im the throne, the Sultan was a skilled strategist and general in his own right. As such, he understood better than anyone how ridiculous the current situation was. Even if some of the rumors were false, the fact remained that the army that hadnded first had been defeated, the nearby tribes had all defected, and even the prosperous southern cities had fallen. He couldn¡¯t understand how an expeditionary force that had just crossed over from the west could have aplished such a feat. ¡°Moyez! You tell me! Didn¡¯t you sayst time that the nearby tribes were fierce and arrogant, and wouldn¡¯t be easily swayed?!¡± ¡°!!¡± The noble whose name was called was shocked. He was the one who had spoken out when the Sultan was nning to conquer the Holy Land. ©¥?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ????????????. ???? ????????????, ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ??????????????????, ??????. . . ©¥?????? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????. ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????? ©¥?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ??????????! ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ????????. ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????????????, ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????. ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????. ¡°I, -I apologize. It seems they were more desperate than we thought. How could they not be scared when such arge army was approaching?¡± ¡°Scared?¡± ¡°Yes. . .! When pushes to shove, people will say anything. They might have given up their children in marriage, or offerednd and gold. . .¡± Moyez babbled desperately. However, his rambling seemed surprisingly convincing, and the others present nodded in agreement. ¡°Fine. Then what about the fiefdoms in the south? Manansir is no fool. How could he not defend even a single one of his ownnds?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The room fell silent again. That was something they couldn¡¯t understand either. ¡°Could there be. . . a traitor?¡± ¡°A traitor?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Manansir is not very popr, and has made many enemies among his vassals and subordinates. If one of them betrayed him. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The Sultan nodded as if he understood. In truth, the current situation was not the cause of his anger. It was the solution. ¡°I¡¯ve realized that we¡¯ve been underestimating him. Each of you,e up with a n to defeat him!¡± ¡°F-First, I¡¯ll try bribing the tribes.¡± ¡°Those traitors?¡± ¡°Well, they betrayed once, won¡¯t they betray again? Even they can¡¯t be too fond of the arrogant monotheists. We can pay them a suitable price, and then get rid of them once the battle is over.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯ll think about it. Next?¡± ¡°It might also be possible to sow discord among the expeditionary force. With all the treasure they¡¯ve acquired by now, they¡¯re probably fighting over it. Just spreading rumors should be enough.¡± ¡°Not a bad idea.¡± ¡°Your Majesty! I¡¯ve heard rumors that the duke himself enjoys charging into battle with his own weapon. Let me face him myself.¡± Kaimud, the captain of the Sultan¡¯s ve soldiers, stepped forward. As a warrior whose strength was rumored even in the west, people were impressed. ¡°You fool. If you go, who will protect me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Your Majesty, the other guards will protect you. Just give me this honorable opportunity!¡± ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll think about it. Be quiet.¡± The Sultan folded his hands and said. ¡°The expeditionary force from the west is our enemy, but I will also take this opportunity to wipe out all those pesky feudal lords. From the coast to the mountains! Ignore any negotiations they try to make!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ???????????? ¡°The elf king has been captured??¡± Johan was shocked when he heard the news while marching. They had been moving somewhat slower than the others, but they had been fighting in the north. ¡®????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????????¡¯ With less than a tenth of the enemy¡¯s forces, it seemed better to simply retreat, but he couldn¡¯t understand why they had done otherwise. ¡°It was a truly honorable act.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± However, some of the knights seemed very impressed by the act. They were moved by the bravery of the elves, who had faced the enemy valiantly without any thought of defeat, despite being outnumbered. Johan gave them a slightly pitying look before turning his gaze away. ¡°It¡¯s going to cost a lot of money to pay the ransom and get them released. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t the elves have a lot of money?¡± ¡°Even if they do, they don¡¯t carry money with them when they go on a long expedition. Besides, the king has been captured.¡± Johan frowned as he answered Iselia¡¯s question. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to ask the other nobles for help. . .¡± ¡°. . .My dear. Surely you¡¯re not thinking of not paying?¡± ¡°I do n to pay. But if I¡¯m the only one who pays, it¡¯ll be a problem.¡± As a great noble who had participated in the expedition, he didn¡¯t mind paying a reasonable amount of the ransom. He wasn¡¯t short of money. However, if only nobles like Johan or Ulrike paid, it would be very difficult to bear. If it were the elf king, he would have dismissed them with contempt, saying ¡®?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ????¡¯, but Johan was not the kind of person to let it go. ¡°I¡¯ll have to get the feudal lords to pay in advance, just in case.¡± ¡°Would you really go that far?¡± ¡°As you can see from their request this time, they¡¯re the kind of people who will go back on their word whenever it¡¯s convenient for them.¡± As the Sultan¡¯s army approached, the feudal lords had sent desperate letters of apology. Compared to the letters they had sent before, saying ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????!¡¯, it was almostical. I was wrong, my vassal acted rashly and I punished him, so please join forces with us and fight against those pagans, or else Your Highness will be in trouble too, and so on. The people who were listening to how long and earnest the letters were couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Your Highness is right. We should definitely get the money upfront.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Lumahr was taken aback when the mercenaries chimed in. What was even more surprising was that the duke didn¡¯t seem particrly offended. This showed how close they were. ¡°Sir Lumahr. So you¡¯re saying there¡¯s no chance the Sultan¡¯s army will simply turn back?¡± ¡°Considering the Sultan¡¯s personality. . . I don¡¯t think it will be easy.¡± Half of the grand two-pronged offensive had been wiped out, and he was not the kind of person who would simply retreat. In order to restore his lost honor, he would need to aplish something significant. ¡°I thought he might retreat if he didn¡¯t make any progress in conquering the castle, but that¡¯s too bad.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll use whatever means he has to, so he won¡¯t do that.¡± While they were talking, the advance party led by Johan arrived in front of Kderas Castle. It was one of the castles on the way up, and it was ruled by the casten himself. ¡°Come in. Your Highness! We¡¯ve been waiting!¡± ¡°No. Tell the casten toe out.¡± ¡°. . . . . .?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait here until the castenes out.¡± Johan stopped moving and stood still. The chambein panicked at the unexpected reaction and looked around. ¡°What are you doing! Hurry up and tell the casten! Do you dare take His Highness¡¯s words lightly!¡± ¡°N-No!¡± The subordinates booed and cheered from behind. Johan waited expressionlessly. He didn¡¯t particrly enjoy humiliating people, but what he was doing now was necessary. To show the feudal lords in the area who was above and who was below! The casten, who must have been thinking about how to deal with Johan inside the castle by now, must be panicking and agonizing., Fortunately, the number of casualties was lower than expected. The Sultan knew this too. He had an army to lead south, and he couldn¡¯t afford to decimate the nobles in his wake. No matter how iron-fisted a Sultan he was, he couldn¡¯t simply ignore the feelings of the nobles serving under him. Among the nobles, there were those with fiefdoms and private armies, and those who hailed from prestigious families that had been established for generations. If he were to suppress them with force, he would only invite more resistance. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean he spared them entirely. Although the number of casualties was low, a few nobles who had rmended Yeheyman or Suhekhar lost their heads. ¡°Look, there goes Balharni.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while. . .¡± ¡°He looks pretty good considering the circumstances.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. He might look fine on the outside, but he¡¯s probably rotting on the inside.¡± The nobles gossiped amongst themselves. That¡¯s because the man riding towards them was none other than the Sultan¡¯s brother. The empire in the west employed a brutal method of selecting its sessors, unlike anything seen in Johan¡¯s world. When the Sultan died, his bloodline would fight amongst themselves, and the victor would im the throne. Naturally, the Sultan¡¯s siblings were not supposed to live, but. . . The Sultan did not do that. Instead of killing the defeated, he imprisoned them and used them to demonstrate his mercy. Of course, that didn¡¯t prove to be very effective. The imprisoned siblings of the Sultan were brought back at hismand. Each of them had been trained as potential sessors, and more importantly, they were useful in appeasing the Sultan¡¯s anxiety. If the Sultan were to lead his army south, leaving his rivals behind, he would surely feel uneasy about what they might do in his absence. ¡°Yudh-nim has repelled the elves!¡± ¡°What? Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes! We¡¯ve received a report.¡± The nobles rejoiced at the news that one of the Sultan¡¯s siblings, Yudhi, had achieved a military victory. They weren¡¯t necessarily part of Yudhi¡¯s faction, but good news was always wee. The march wasplex and time-consuming, as it involved moving an army asrge as the one that had been sent by sea. The Sultan was in a foul mood the entire time, splitting up and dividing his forces as he moved. This was hardly surprising, given the news he had been receiving. However, some of the troops that had crossed over from the west set up camp along a shallow river and blocked the Sultan¡¯s army. They couldn¡¯t have numbered more than two thousand men ready for battle, but they were so fierce that they routed the vanguard. In the end, Yudhi had to lead a force to outnk them, barely managing to surround them. Even for skilled warriors, it was impossible to hold out when surrounded on all sides, so they eventually surrendered. ¡°What are they doing here? Why are they camped here instead of marching south? This has only served to rile up the Sultan.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they usually elves? I thought they were royalty.¡± ¡°What? They were an army of royalty? No wonder they fought so well. . .¡± The nobles were taken aback. The elf king and his knights fought with skill that impressed even their opponents. It was unclear why they had chosen to make a stand here, but now that they knew their identities, their actions made a bit more sense. ¡°The elf king, huh. Is that a good thing? Maybe we can exchange him for the captured prisoners.¡± ¡°I wonder. . . Would he?¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°Who knows who the Sultan would want back among the prisoners. Even though Yeheyman-gong was so favored right now, he acted as if he would kill him as soon as he was in front of him.¡± ¡°Well, he was furious. . .¡± ¡°Do you think he¡¯s calmed down now?¡± The nobles found themselves agreeing with that statement, almost against their will. Perhaps it would be better for the captured prisoners to remain in their enemies¡¯ camp, and then slip away once things had settled down, using the power of their families to secure their release. If they were to be released through the Sultan¡¯s generosity, they would have to face his wrath directly. ¡°At any rate, with those fierce elves gone, there¡¯s no one to hinder us now. Even the rogues from the ck Mountains have gone quiet. . .¡± ¡°I wish I could pray for that. My heart sinks every time we fall behind schedule.¡± The atmosphere in the camp was tense, like walking on thin ice, due to the Sultan¡¯s temper. Better to be in the vanguard or the rearguard than to be attached to the troops led by the Sultan himself©¥that was how strong the fear of death was. However, the hardships were only just beginning. With the news of the fall of the coastal cities and the death of Manansir, the nobles began to seriously consider whether it would¡¯ be better to simply desert. ???????????? The Sultan was no longer raging, but that didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t furious. His normally pale face, a characteristic of vampires, looked even more drained of color, indicating the extent of his anger. The nobles present at the meeting were aware of this and were even more cautious in their actions. ¡°. . .When I first heard the news of Suhekhar¡¯s defeat, the old fool, I thought he was either unlucky or had made a mistake. Even the cowardly Yeheyman. But at this point, I just can¡¯t ignore it. Is that b*stard using magic? Is that what this is all about?!¡± The Sultan shouted fiercely, kicking over the table. Having defeated his siblings to im the throne, the Sultan was a skilled strategist and general in his own right. As such, he understood better than anyone how ridiculous the current situation was. Even if some of the rumors were false, the fact remained that the army that hadnded first had been defeated, the nearby tribes had all defected, and even the prosperous southern cities had fallen. He couldn¡¯t understand how an expeditionary force that had just crossed over from the west could have aplished such a feat. ¡°Moyez! You tell me! Didn¡¯t you sayst time that the nearby tribes were fierce and arrogant, and wouldn¡¯t be easily swayed?!¡± ¡°!!¡± The noble whose name was called was shocked. He was the one who had spoken out when the Sultan was nning to conquer the Holy Land. ©¥?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ????????????. ???? ????????????, ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ??????????????????, ??????. . . ©¥?????? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????. ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????? ©¥?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ??????????! ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ????????. ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????????????, ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????. ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????. ¡°I, -I apologize. It seems they were more desperate than we thought. How could they not be scared when such arge army was approaching?¡± ¡°Scared?¡± ¡°Yes. . .! When pushes to shove, people will say anything. They might have given up their children in marriage, or offerednd and gold. . .¡± Moyez babbled desperately. However, his rambling seemed surprisingly convincing, and the others present nodded in agreement. ¡°Fine. Then what about the fiefdoms in the south? Manansir is no fool. How could he not defend even a single one of his ownnds?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The room fell silent again. That was something they couldn¡¯t understand either. ¡°Could there be. . . a traitor?¡± ¡°A traitor?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Manansir is not very popr, and has made many enemies among his vassals and subordinates. If one of them betrayed him. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The Sultan nodded as if he understood. In truth, the current situation was not the cause of his anger. It was the solution. ¡°I¡¯ve realized that we¡¯ve been underestimating him. Each of you,e up with a n to defeat him!¡± ¡°F-First, I¡¯ll try bribing the tribes.¡± ¡°Those traitors?¡± ¡°Well, they betrayed once, won¡¯t they betray again? Even they can¡¯t be too fond of the arrogant monotheists. We can pay them a suitable price, and then get rid of them once the battle is over.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯ll think about it. Next?¡± ¡°It might also be possible to sow discord among the expeditionary force. With all the treasure they¡¯ve acquired by now, they¡¯re probably fighting over it. Just spreading rumors should be enough.¡± ¡°Not a bad idea.¡± ¡°Your Majesty! I¡¯ve heard rumors that the duke himself enjoys charging into battle with his own weapon. Let me face him myself.¡± Kaimud, the captain of the Sultan¡¯s ve soldiers, stepped forward. As a warrior whose strength was rumored even in the west, people were impressed. ¡°You fool. If you go, who will protect me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Your Majesty, the other guards will protect you. Just give me this honorable opportunity!¡± ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll think about it. Be quiet.¡± The Sultan folded his hands and said. ¡°The expeditionary force from the west is our enemy, but I will also take this opportunity to wipe out all those pesky feudal lords. From the coast to the mountains! Ignore any negotiations they try to make!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ???????????? ¡°The elf king has been captured??¡± Johan was shocked when he heard the news while marching. They had been moving somewhat slower than the others, but they had been fighting in the north. ¡®????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????????¡¯ With less than a tenth of the enemy¡¯s forces, it seemed better to simply retreat, but he couldn¡¯t understand why they had done otherwise. ¡°It was a truly honorable act.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± However, some of the knights seemed very impressed by the act. They were moved by the bravery of the elves, who had faced the enemy valiantly without any thought of defeat, despite being outnumbered. Johan gave them a slightly pitying look before turning his gaze away. ¡°It¡¯s going to cost a lot of money to pay the ransom and get them released. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t the elves have a lot of money?¡± ¡°Even if they do, they don¡¯t carry money with them when they go on a long expedition. Besides, the king has been captured.¡± Johan frowned as he answered Iselia¡¯s question. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to ask the other nobles for help. . .¡± ¡°. . .My dear. Surely you¡¯re not thinking of not paying?¡± ¡°I do n to pay. But if I¡¯m the only one who pays, it¡¯ll be a problem.¡± As a great noble who had participated in the expedition, he didn¡¯t mind paying a reasonable amount of the ransom. He wasn¡¯t short of money. However, if only nobles like Johan or Ulrike paid, it would be very difficult to bear. If it were the elf king, he would have dismissed them with contempt, saying ¡®?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ????¡¯, but Johan was not the kind of person to let it go. ¡°I¡¯ll have to get the feudal lords to pay in advance, just in case.¡± ¡°Would you really go that far?¡± ¡°As you can see from their request this time, they¡¯re the kind of people who will go back on their word whenever it¡¯s convenient for them.¡± As the Sultan¡¯s army approached, the feudal lords had sent desperate letters of apology. Compared to the letters they had sent before, saying ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????!¡¯, it was almostical. I was wrong, my vassal acted rashly and I punished him, so please join forces with us and fight against those pagans, or else Your Highness will be in trouble too, and so on. The people who were listening to how long and earnest the letters were couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Your Highness is right. We should definitely get the money upfront.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Lumahr was taken aback when the mercenaries chimed in. What was even more surprising was that the duke didn¡¯t seem particrly offended. This showed how close they were. ¡°Sir Lumahr. So you¡¯re saying there¡¯s no chance the Sultan¡¯s army will simply turn back?¡± ¡°Considering the Sultan¡¯s personality. . . I don¡¯t think it will be easy.¡± Half of the grand two-pronged offensive had been wiped out, and he was not the kind of person who would simply retreat. In order to restore his lost honor, he would need to aplish something significant. ¡°I thought he might retreat if he didn¡¯t make any progress in conquering the castle, but that¡¯s too bad.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll use whatever means he has to, so he won¡¯t do that.¡± While they were talking, the advance party led by Johan arrived in front of Kderas Castle. It was one of the castles on the way up, and it was ruled by the casten himself. ¡°Come in. Your Highness! We¡¯ve been waiting!¡± ¡°No. Tell the casten toe out.¡± ¡°. . . . . .?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait here until the castenes out.¡± Johan stopped moving and stood still. The chambein panicked at the unexpected reaction and looked around. ¡°What are you doing! Hurry up and tell the casten! Do you dare take His Highness¡¯s words lightly!¡± ¡°N-No!¡± The subordinates booed and cheered from behind. Johan waited expressionlessly. He didn¡¯t particrly enjoy humiliating people, but what he was doing now was necessary. To show the feudal lords in the area who was above and who was below! The casten, who must have been thinking about how to deal with Johan inside the castle by now, must be panicking and agonizing. Chapter 342: ???????????????? (2) ¡°There is no need to be swayed by those from the west! How could we listen to those who know nothing about ournd? We will never be a vassal.¡± ¡°But casten-nim, if they bring their army with them when theye. . .¡± ¡°I am no fool. If they were toe with an army just because I refused their offer, they would be theughingstock of the world. I tell you, the duke will note this far! Even if he does, this castle wall will not fall so easily.¡± . . .The casten, who had been shouting so proudly, rushed out in a hurry without even putting on his armor when the vanguard led by the duke arrived near the castle. ¡°C-Casten-nim, the main force hasn¡¯t even arrived yet. The duke won¡¯t be able to cross the wall unless he grows wings. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! Do you think you can take responsibility for your life if you offend His Highness the duke?¡± Originally, he could have stalled for more time. It was customary for the lord of the castle toe out a littlete, and there were always excuses he could make. However, the cowardly casten had already run out. From the other side, Ulrike, who was leading her army, sent a meaningful gaze. It was a look that seemed to say, ¡®???????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???????¡¯ ©¥?? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ??????????????????. ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ???? ????????????, ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ????????????.Johan wanted to take all the feudal lords with him as he marched to the Holy Land, both to increase the size of his army and to reduce unnecessary noise. He didn¡¯t want to worry about things he didn¡¯t need to worry about, even though he had all the power he needed. Feudal lords paid a certain amount of gold and sent a few soldiers to deal with therge army that hadnded, but most of them did not participate directly. It was natural that they didn¡¯t want to participate in person. The enemy was enormous, and it would cost a lot of money to lead an army and go out in person. The most ideal scenario for them was to stay within their own fiefdoms while the Sultan¡¯s army attacked and then withdrew from other feudal lords¡¯ fiefdoms. Of course, Johan naturally guessed their intentions. He couldn¡¯t help itst time because the situation was different, but this time he intended to drag them out if possible. Ulrike, who heard him answered right away. ©¥??????¡¯?? ???? ???????????? ??????????????????????????????. ????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???? ????????. ©¥???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????? ©¥. . .?? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????????. ???????? ????????????????. ?????????? ??????????????????. ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????. ?????? ????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????. ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????????, ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ????????????????. ©¥???? ???????? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ????????????. . . ©¥????????¡¯???? ?????? ???????? ????????????! ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????, ???????? ????????????????. ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ????????????????????. ???? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ??????, ?? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ????????. ©¥???? ?????? ?????? ????????. . . ©¥. . .???????? ?? ????????????. ???????? ?? ???????? ???????? ????. . . ©¥? ©¥. . .????. ¡®??????????????????????.¡¯ Ulrike was slightly relieved as she looked at the figure of the casten who had popped out. He couldn¡¯t take back what he said because of his pride as a nobleman, but things were going as expected. ¡°D-Duke Your Highness. I am honored to see you. . .¡± The casten looked up at Johan with a trembling voice. The young duke, sitting on arge ck horse with a shiny coat, exuded an aura of majesty. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was because of his recent achievements or the rumors that followed him. He couldn¡¯t catch his breath even though he didn¡¯t make eye contact. To the extent that he had no intention of questioning it, even though the duke did not dismount from his horse. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you. Lord of Kderas Castle.¡± ¡°N-No.¡± ¡°As the newly seeded protector of the Holy Land, I asked the monotheistic lords around here to fulfill their duties. You refused the request. Was it such a difficult request to grant?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The casten felt cold sweat running down his back. Johan didn¡¯t ask any more questions, but asked a different one. ¡°The Sultan¡¯s army ising down from the north. It¡¯s a situation where we need every soldier. Will the casten participate as well?¡± ¡°. . .Yes.¡± ¡°Good choice. Have your servants call the soldiers.¡± The casten nodded as if possessed by something. The participation in the military service, which should have been decided after much deliberation with his vassals, was decided in an instant. The casten, who got on the horse brought by the servant and stood quietly next to the soldiers, did not immediately understand why he was doing this. ???????????? Johan moved with the vanguard and called out to the castens. Surprisingly, those who had refused most furiously came out the fastest. Some of them seemed to have been waiting after hearing the rumors, and were waiting outside the castle gate. The case of Count Tragalon was a typical example. The count, who had been brutally raiding the pagan settlements around him, was honestly not much different from the captain of a band of rogues. Even Ulrike was a little worried. ¡°I am honored to meet Your Highness the Duke!¡± However, the Count, along with his men, was waiting outside the castle gate. It was ridiculous that he was waiting with his weapon down. ¡°I was thinking of attacking the pagans alone, but now that Your Highness the Duke has arrived with such arge army, there is nothing more to fear!¡± ¡°. . .I understand. Join us.¡± Johan was surprised, but he didn¡¯t scoff. Once they joined, there was no reason to make them feel bad by giving them unnecessary insults. At that, the count sighed in relief. ¡°Is this the right thing to do?¡± ¡°Be quiet! There are many people listening.¡± The escort knight quickly shut his mouth when the count growled irritably and fiercely. The count had been trembling even before the duke arrived. The rumors had already spread. ©¥?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ??????????????! It was natural for the most hated nobles to be targeted if one or two were to be executed. It couldn¡¯t be helped that a person like the count would be scared. Fortunately, however, the duke ordered him to join without doing so. The count heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Fortunately, His Highness the Duke is more merciful than I thought.¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s really fortunate. It looks like he is taking the lead when dealing with the sultan, but. . .¡± The count groaned. As expected of a count who led his men like a bandit and plundered the surrounding area, he was very sensitive to the smell of this kind of thing. The expeditionary force was now sorge that it was difficult to gather in one ce. There were easily over a hundred gs held by the nobles, and theposition was incrediblyplex, from small units led by knights, mercenary troops, monks belonging to monasteries, and the noble¡¯s own escort knights. Of course, they didn¡¯t all move separately, and there was a chain ofmand in the form of a pyramid. The duke only had to give orders from the top down. . . .The problem was that those who were hated would end up ying the role of taking damage at times like this. Someone has to scout the dangerous enemy area. Who should do it? It would be correct for capable rangers or light cavalry to do it, but in reality, those who had no backing and were hated did it. And the count smelled it. Among these countless people, it was clear that the one who was hated was the count himself. ¡°Should I offer a bribe?¡± ¡°Leave it alone. I heard he doesn¡¯t like bribes.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a lie? How can there be such a person in the world?¡± ¡°It must be true because I heard it from someone who tried it.¡± The count scratched his head. Surprisingly, there were people in the world who didn¡¯t ept bribes. Perhaps one would have to be loved by God and perform miracles to be like that. To be honest, the majesty shown by the young duke was enough to make even the count, who had a thick backbone, surrender. The way he swayed his surroundings with just a nce without even opening his mouth was truly creepy. Even though he should have been outraged, saying, ¡®?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????????¡¯ Strangely enough, he didn¡¯t feel resentful. Rather, the awe was greater. It felt like seeing a devout priest devoting himself to his fiefdom. ¡®?????? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ??????????. . .¡¯ Even if the duke himself lived like a saint, the duke¡¯s vassals and the nobles of the expeditionary force would surely act very meanly. Since the count himself and those like the count would not leave them alone. ¡°Good news! Count-nim!¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°The Casten of Atig Castle seems to have gone mad! He won¡¯t open the door even though the duke is here!¡± ¡°!!¡± ???????????? No one expected the Casten of Atig to hold out. First of all, Atig Castle was the northernmost castle among thends of the monotheistic lords. It is unknown when the Sultan¡¯s army will arrive. In that sense, it was a situation where it would be insufficient to run out and say, ¡¯?????????? ??????¡¯ if the duke¡¯s expeditionary force came up to here. Moreover, the Casten of Atig Castle was not an exceptionally rebellious figure. He paid gold regrly withoutint, and he was a person who responded politely to the solicitation made after the victory. So, it was absurd that he was holding out withouting out even when he was asked. ¡°Has he already been bought by the Sultan? Let¡¯s attack!¡± The knights of the expeditionary force were furious. The knights were furious because they had met a troublesome lord in an unexpected ce. They had to set up camps around them as soon as possible and prepare for the arrival of the Sultan¡¯s army, but the casten was doing that, so it was impossible not to get annoyed. ¡°Your Highness.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Johan was delighted when Count Tragalon came out. As he was a feudal lord in the same area, he wondered if he had something in mind. ¡°I¡¯m embarrassed to say it myself, but I know this area well.¡± ¡°Sure. So?¡± ¡°If you just support me with a few soldiers, I will capture the castle right away.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s face hardened subtly. ¡®?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ??????¡¯???? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????????¡¯ ¡®???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ??????????????????????????, ???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ????????????????????.¡¯ The count was convinced that this would satisfy the duke. Even if he was in a bad mood, how relieved would he be if he came forward like this? ¡°Thank you. But we¡¯re not attacking.¡± ¡°. . .??!¡± ???????????? Johan called Ulrike. Since he came first with the vanguard, it would take some time for the main force to gather here. If they wanted to attack, they could do it then. ¡°But I¡¯d like to end it with persuasion if possible. Can you guess why he¡¯s doing this?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike covered her head with both hands and bowed her head. It waspletely different from her usual dignified appearance. Johan asked doubtfully. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°. . .I swore on my honor and I was wrong.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Johan realized why the noblewoman in front was acting like that. She had staked her honor and swore that everyone would willingly yield if they came on strongly. But thest feudal lord had to be so stubborn. Ulrike must have found it absurd. ¡°You¡¯ve been hit enough after getting this far. It¡¯s just one.¡± ¡°I appreciate the thought but it¡¯s not much of afort.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to grant any wishes. I¡¯ve already received enough help.¡± ¡°Enough! Those were the words I already uttered. Don¡¯t disregard my honor any further.¡± Ulrike regretted it as soon as she said it. She was acting against what she learned from Countess Abner. ¡®???????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ????¡¯, that¡¯s what she was taught. . . ¡®???????? ???? ?? ???????????¡¯ ¡°If he doesn¡¯t listen to words, we¡¯ll have to show our skills.¡± ¡°So force is the answer after all?¡± ¡°The duke is quite amazing. If I were the duke, I would have cut off at least ten heads by now.¡± Ulrike looked at Johan curiously. While others found Johan¡¯s sacred miracles and great power amazing. . . What Ulrike found most amazing was his patience. That patience was the most difficult virtue for arrogant nobles to possess. A normal noble would have exploded ten times over, yet the duke was enduring it calmly. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????¡¯ ¡°Then we¡¯ll send another envoy and if there¡¯s still no reply, we¡¯ll have to prepare to attack.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll probably be useless but it wouldn¡¯t hurt for Your Highness the duke to try.¡± In Ulrike¡¯s view, it was highly likely that the casten had been bribed by those sent by the Sultan. There was no other exnation. ???????????? ¡°The Casten of Atig Castle has sent a reply of apology.¡± ¡°Are you kidding me now!¡±, ¡°There is no need to be swayed by those from the west! How could we listen to those who know nothing about ournd? We will never be a vassal.¡± ¡°But casten-nim, if they bring their army with them when theye. . .¡± ¡°I am no fool. If they were toe with an army just because I refused their offer, they would be theughingstock of the world. I tell you, the duke will note this far! Even if he does, this castle wall will not fall so easily.¡± . . .The casten, who had been shouting so proudly, rushed out in a hurry without even putting on his armor when the vanguard led by the duke arrived near the castle. ¡°C-Casten-nim, the main force hasn¡¯t even arrived yet. The duke won¡¯t be able to cross the wall unless he grows wings. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! Do you think you can take responsibility for your life if you offend His Highness the duke?¡± Originally, he could have stalled for more time. It was customary for the lord of the castle toe out a littlete, and there were always excuses he could make. However, the cowardly casten had already run out. From the other side, Ulrike, who was leading her army, sent a meaningful gaze. It was a look that seemed to say, ¡®???????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???????¡¯ ©¥?? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ??????????????????. ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ???? ????????????, ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ????????????. Johan wanted to take all the feudal lords with him as he marched to the Holy Land, both to increase the size of his army and to reduce unnecessary noise. He didn¡¯t want to worry about things he didn¡¯t need to worry about, even though he had all the power he needed. Feudal lords paid a certain amount of gold and sent a few soldiers to deal with therge army that hadnded, but most of them did not participate directly. It was natural that they didn¡¯t want to participate in person. The enemy was enormous, and it would cost a lot of money to lead an army and go out in person. The most ideal scenario for them was to stay within their own fiefdoms while the Sultan¡¯s army attacked and then withdrew from other feudal lords¡¯ fiefdoms. Of course, Johan naturally guessed their intentions. He couldn¡¯t help itst time because the situation was different, but this time he intended to drag them out if possible. Ulrike, who heard him answered right away. ©¥??????¡¯?? ???? ???????????? ??????????????????????????????. ????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???? ????????. ©¥???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????? ©¥. . .?? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????????. ???????? ????????????????. ?????????? ??????????????????. ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????. ?????? ????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????. ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????????, ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ????????????????. ©¥???? ???????? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ????????????. . . ©¥????????¡¯???? ?????? ???????? ????????????! ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????, ???????? ????????????????. ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????? ????????????????????. ???? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ??????, ?? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ????????. ©¥???? ?????? ?????? ????????. . . ©¥. . .???????? ?? ????????????. ???????? ?? ???????? ???????? ????. . . ©¥? ©¥. . .????. ¡®??????????????????????.¡¯ Ulrike was slightly relieved as she looked at the figure of the casten who had popped out. He couldn¡¯t take back what he said because of his pride as a nobleman, but things were going as expected. ¡°D-Duke Your Highness. I am honored to see you. . .¡± The casten looked up at Johan with a trembling voice. The young duke, sitting on arge ck horse with a shiny coat, exuded an aura of majesty. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was because of his recent achievements or the rumors that followed him. He couldn¡¯t catch his breath even though he didn¡¯t make eye contact. To the extent that he had no intention of questioning it, even though the duke did not dismount from his horse. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you. Lord of Kderas Castle.¡± ¡°N-No.¡± ¡°As the newly seeded protector of the Holy Land, I asked the monotheistic lords around here to fulfill their duties. You refused the request. Was it such a difficult request to grant?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The casten felt cold sweat running down his back. Johan didn¡¯t ask any more questions, but asked a different one. ¡°The Sultan¡¯s army ising down from the north. It¡¯s a situation where we need every soldier. Will the casten participate as well?¡± ¡°. . .Yes.¡± ¡°Good choice. Have your servants call the soldiers.¡± The casten nodded as if possessed by something. The participation in the military service, which should have been decided after much deliberation with his vassals, was decided in an instant. The casten, who got on the horse brought by the servant and stood quietly next to the soldiers, did not immediately understand why he was doing this. ???????????? Johan moved with the vanguard and called out to the castens. Surprisingly, those who had refused most furiously came out the fastest. Some of them seemed to have been waiting after hearing the rumors, and were waiting outside the castle gate. The case of Count Tragalon was a typical example. The count, who had been brutally raiding the pagan settlements around him, was honestly not much different from the captain of a band of rogues. Even Ulrike was a little worried. ¡°I am honored to meet Your Highness the Duke!¡± However, the Count, along with his men, was waiting outside the castle gate. It was ridiculous that he was waiting with his weapon down. ¡°I was thinking of attacking the pagans alone, but now that Your Highness the Duke has arrived with such arge army, there is nothing more to fear!¡± ¡°. . .I understand. Join us.¡± Johan was surprised, but he didn¡¯t scoff. Once they joined, there was no reason to make them feel bad by giving them unnecessary insults. At that, the count sighed in relief. ¡°Is this the right thing to do?¡± ¡°Be quiet! There are many people listening.¡± The escort knight quickly shut his mouth when the count growled irritably and fiercely. The count had been trembling even before the duke arrived. The rumors had already spread. ©¥?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ??????????????! It was natural for the most hated nobles to be targeted if one or two were to be executed. It couldn¡¯t be helped that a person like the count would be scared. Fortunately, however, the duke ordered him to join without doing so. The count heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Fortunately, His Highness the Duke is more merciful than I thought.¡± ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s really fortunate. It looks like he is taking the lead when dealing with the sultan, but. . .¡± The count groaned. As expected of a count who led his men like a bandit and plundered the surrounding area, he was very sensitive to the smell of this kind of thing. The expeditionary force was now sorge that it was difficult to gather in one ce. There were easily over a hundred gs held by the nobles, and theposition was incrediblyplex, from small units led by knights, mercenary troops, monks belonging to monasteries, and the noble¡¯s own escort knights. Of course, they didn¡¯t all move separately, and there was a chain ofmand in the form of a pyramid. The duke only had to give orders from the top down. . . .The problem was that those who were hated would end up ying the role of taking damage at times like this. Someone has to scout the dangerous enemy area. Who should do it? It would be correct for capable rangers or light cavalry to do it, but in reality, those who had no backing and were hated did it. And the count smelled it. Among these countless people, it was clear that the one who was hated was the count himself. ¡°Should I offer a bribe?¡± ¡°Leave it alone. I heard he doesn¡¯t like bribes.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a lie? How can there be such a person in the world?¡± ¡°It must be true because I heard it from someone who tried it.¡± The count scratched his head. Surprisingly, there were people in the world who didn¡¯t ept bribes. Perhaps one would have to be loved by God and perform miracles to be like that. To be honest, the majesty shown by the young duke was enough to make even the count, who had a thick backbone, surrender. The way he swayed his surroundings with just a nce without even opening his mouth was truly creepy. Even though he should have been outraged, saying, ¡®?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????????¡¯ Strangely enough, he didn¡¯t feel resentful. Rather, the awe was greater. It felt like seeing a devout priest devoting himself to his fiefdom. ¡®?????? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ??????????. . .¡¯ Even if the duke himself lived like a saint, the duke¡¯s vassals and the nobles of the expeditionary force would surely act very meanly. Since the count himself and those like the count would not leave them alone. ¡°Good news! Count-nim!¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°The Casten of Atig Castle seems to have gone mad! He won¡¯t open the door even though the duke is here!¡± ¡°!!¡± ???????????? No one expected the Casten of Atig to hold out. First of all, Atig Castle was the northernmost castle among thends of the monotheistic lords. It is unknown when the Sultan¡¯s army will arrive. In that sense, it was a situation where it would be insufficient to run out and say, ¡¯?????????? ??????¡¯ if the duke¡¯s expeditionary force came up to here. Moreover, the Casten of Atig Castle was not an exceptionally rebellious figure. He paid gold regrly withoutint, and he was a person who responded politely to the solicitation made after the victory. So, it was absurd that he was holding out withouting out even when he was asked. ¡°Has he already been bought by the Sultan? Let¡¯s attack!¡± The knights of the expeditionary force were furious. The knights were furious because they had met a troublesome lord in an unexpected ce. They had to set up camps around them as soon as possible and prepare for the arrival of the Sultan¡¯s army, but the casten was doing that, so it was impossible not to get annoyed. ¡°Your Highness.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Johan was delighted when Count Tragalon came out. As he was a feudal lord in the same area, he wondered if he had something in mind. ¡°I¡¯m embarrassed to say it myself, but I know this area well.¡± ¡°Sure. So?¡± ¡°If you just support me with a few soldiers, I will capture the castle right away.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s face hardened subtly. ¡®?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ??????¡¯???? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????????¡¯ ¡®???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ??????????????????????????, ???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ????????????????????.¡¯ The count was convinced that this would satisfy the duke. Even if he was in a bad mood, how relieved would he be if he came forward like this? ¡°Thank you. But we¡¯re not attacking.¡± ¡°. . .??!¡± ???????????? Johan called Ulrike. Since he came first with the vanguard, it would take some time for the main force to gather here. If they wanted to attack, they could do it then. ¡°But I¡¯d like to end it with persuasion if possible. Can you guess why he¡¯s doing this?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike covered her head with both hands and bowed her head. It waspletely different from her usual dignified appearance. Johan asked doubtfully. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°. . .I swore on my honor and I was wrong.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Johan realized why the noblewoman in front was acting like that. She had staked her honor and swore that everyone would willingly yield if they came on strongly. But thest feudal lord had to be so stubborn. Ulrike must have found it absurd. ¡°You¡¯ve been hit enough after getting this far. It¡¯s just one.¡± ¡°I appreciate the thought but it¡¯s not much of afort.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to grant any wishes. I¡¯ve already received enough help.¡± ¡°Enough! Those were the words I already uttered. Don¡¯t disregard my honor any further.¡± Ulrike regretted it as soon as she said it. She was acting against what she learned from Countess Abner. ¡®???????????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ????¡¯, that¡¯s what she was taught. . . ¡®???????? ???? ?? ???????????¡¯ ¡°If he doesn¡¯t listen to words, we¡¯ll have to show our skills.¡± ¡°So force is the answer after all?¡± ¡°The duke is quite amazing. If I were the duke, I would have cut off at least ten heads by now.¡± Ulrike looked at Johan curiously. While others found Johan¡¯s sacred miracles and great power amazing. . . What Ulrike found most amazing was his patience. That patience was the most difficult virtue for arrogant nobles to possess. A normal noble would have exploded ten times over, yet the duke was enduring it calmly. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????¡¯ ¡°Then we¡¯ll send another envoy and if there¡¯s still no reply, we¡¯ll have to prepare to attack.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll probably be useless but it wouldn¡¯t hurt for Your Highness the duke to try.¡± In Ulrike¡¯s view, it was highly likely that the casten had been bribed by those sent by the Sultan. There was no other exnation. ???????????? ¡°The Casten of Atig Castle has sent a reply of apology.¡± ¡°Are you kidding me now!¡± Chapter 343: ???????????????? (3) Ulrike was angry, but she could not ignore the apologetic response sent by the casten. Ulrike was not a crazy noble who would ignore an apology and choose war out of pride. ¡°Tell me the reason. Why didn¡¯t you open the door in the first ce?¡± ¡°That¡¯s. . . because the casten said it was to protest Your Highness the Duke not respecting their rights as a feudal lord and acting rudely.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike had a stunned expression at the unexpected answer. It was such an apt response that it was rather an unexpected answer given the current situation. The Duke was indeed acting quite rudely at the moment. The only reason why those who were captured and dragged here did not protest was because they hadmitted many crimes. If they started arguing over who was at fault, they would be at a very disadvantageous position, so they obediently kept their mouths shut. But people like the Atig casten were different. Since he had followed Johan¡¯s orders from the far south, he was in a position to protest rude behavior.If he was very fearful, he would have read the situation and the army and been more cautious, but the casten also had a rather stubborn personality. Since there was nothing to lose, he stood up to protest. ¡®?? ???????? ?? ??????????????. . .!¡¯ Ulrike twisted her hair and bit her lip. She had made a rash judgment because she was slightly annoyed by the actions of the nearby feudal lords. No matter how annoying the feudal lords were, she should have carefully considered each one. The feudal lords all had different thoughts and quirks. . . In the end, the Duke¡¯s judgment, which had seemed too cautious, was right. Ulrike felt her face flush with embarrassment. ¡°I will go and exin personally. Guide me to the casten.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about it. . .¡± ¡°Not required! The casten should know who made that suggestion.¡± Anyone could make a mistake, but at the very least, one had to take responsibility for it. Ulrike scolded herself and took a step forward. ???????????? Casten Atig was an old human woman who looked to be about the same age as Suetlg. Even so, her back was straight and her eyes sparkled with energy. A thought of Countess Abner crossed Ulrike¡¯s mind, making her feel even more ashamed. She had made the duke looked bad because she had misunderstood people. ¡°It¡¯s alright now, Your Highness duke. I have resolved the misunderstanding thanks to the warm gift Your Highness sent.¡± The casten spoke politely in a firm, powerful voice. Apparently the duke had not only sent an envoy a second time, as a threat, but had sent the envoy with great courtesy and kindness. This attitude had moved the casten. As the leader of a powerful expedition, the duke could have easily ignored the casten, who ruled over a tiny territory, and attacked in a fit of rage. Instead, he had sent another gift. The casten was ashamed of her narrow-mindedness. ¡°I was hasty and rude to the casten. I apologize.¡± ¡°No! My lord¡¯s grace toward a humble noble. . . I am very grateful.¡± A monotheist, Casten Atig was located at the northernmost point of the feudal lords and was thus gued by more enemies than anyone else due to her location. Starting with pagan nobles, there were also bands of rogues and monsters streaming out of the ck Mountains. The castens in this area inevitably became battle-hardened. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the surrounding area was poor and not worth much, the masters would have changed hands several times by now. Of course, the other feudal lords were not grateful for such hard work. With a small number of fiefdom citizens, soldiers, and wealth, the casten always had little say. Even if they wanted to provide support, they couldn¡¯t do that either. In the midst of all this, the young duke, who had led an expedition and defeated the pagan army and reimed the Holy Land, even though it was none of her business, could not help but be contrasted. The feudal lords who had been in thisnd for nearly a hundred years were only concerned with their own interests. In contrast, the duke came from across the sea, endured hardships, and fought only with the pagans without causing any problems, even reiming the Holy Land. No matter how hard the casten tried to break her own stubbornness and beliefs and side with the feudal lords, she simply could not bring herself to do so. She felt he would have to be something less than human, more like a beast, to side with the feudal lords. ¡°. . .In fact, it was my suggestion. Casten.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The casten did not say anything to Ulrike¡¯s words. Given the difference in their status, she could not get angry with Ulrike. However, Ulrike could clearly sense it. The casten had cast a look of contempt at Ulrike. The casten probably thought of Ulrike as ¡¯?? ???????????????????? ??????-?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ??????????????????.¡¯ ¡®????, ????!¡¯ And what made it even harder to bear was that the current situation was such that it couldn¡¯t be helped! Even Ulrike herself would have thought so. Ulrike bit her lip at the humiliating situation she had created. ¡°Casten. I want to stop the enemy here if possible.¡± The nobles of the expedition were drunk on victory due to their ridiculously easy victories. Some of them even argued that they should go further north and attack first. ©¥???? ???? ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????. ?????? ???? ???????????? ??????????! ©¥????????????????????! ¡®?????????? ?????????? ??????????. . .¡¯ Of course, Johan had no intention of doing such a thing. It would be to their advantage if the enemy came to them, so why would they go into the enemy¡¯s territory? Johan was impressed by the casten¡¯s words. ¡°You are wise indeed! If we were to force our way through, it would be difficult to feed so many soldiers. Your Highness.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Even if they were to divide therge army and deploy it, it was important where the supply lines reached. Johan nned to wait for the enemy here. Besides, there was one more advantage to this area. ¡°There¡¯s a big river ahead. How many ces can we cross?¡± ¡°It¡¯s marked on the map. The boats and bridges on the river have all been destroyed long ago, and the fiefdom citizens on the other side of the river have all been relocated to this side long ago.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± This time it was Johan¡¯s turn to be impressed by the casten¡¯s words. Johan was very pleased that the casten had scratched his itchy spot. ¡°Excellent! You¡¯ve already made such preparations.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a cowardly trick I learned to survive with a small number of soldiers. Your Highness. I am rather ashamed when you say that.¡± ¡°No, anyone who calls this cowardly doesn¡¯t know what tactics are. It¡¯s not just about facing each other head-on with spears. The point is to create a situation where you can win.¡± ¡°That¡¯s. . .¡± Even though they had only met a day ago, the two of them seemed to understand each other like old friends of ten years. When the casten brought up tactics, Johan praised her, and when Johan brought up tactics, the casten was impressed. Ulrike felt lonely. Ulrike herself agreed with the casten¡¯s tactics. . . However, Ulrike knew very well. She knew that if she tried to intervene here, the casten would see her as a young yes-man who knew nothing and was just trying to take credit. In the end, she had no choice but to sit here and listen obediently. Ulrike tried hard to respond to the casten¡¯s words in order to regain the trust she had lost. ???????????? ¡°This is as far as we go. Keep a close eye on them so that you don¡¯t miss any of them crossing over to this side.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As soon as the sun rose, Johan and his men scouted the area around the river. It was wide and deep enough that many would die if they tried to cross it recklessly. ¡®???? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????????? ????.¡¯ Except for a few shallow spots, the only way to go around was to go all the way east. It was not easy to lead such arge army around. ¡°Your Highness. There are cowards among those who have joined this honorable expedition. They say we should stop here and not move any further.¡± ¡°I gave the order.¡± ¡°. . .I apologize!¡± The oblivious feudal lords became the advance party again. They cautiously crossed the river to the other side as punishment for their lord¡¯s loose lips. ¡°Were you going to go with them?¡± ¡°No, Duke. Those kinds of people need to learn their lesson the hard way.¡± The centaurs spoke sternly. Even those who were careless be serious after being punished a few times. It is also the duty of adults to raise the young well. . . .Of course, the advance party crossing the river right now was not young. ¡°I¡¯m worried that they might be annihted if they make a mistake.¡± ¡°If they lose, that¡¯s their fate.¡± ¡°We can just send more.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan nced around briefly. Fortunately, there were no knights listening. If they had heard, the centaurs¡¯ reputation would only have grown. ¡°Let¡¯s go back. Your Highness. I¡¯ll signal you when they return, so you cane out again then.¡± When Johan did not move from his spot near the river, the centaurs advised him to return to camp. To be honest, there was no reason to wait here just because those annoying feudal lords and their dastard knights had gone out on patrol. He could have just rested in his tent ande outter. It was cold and windy, so why. . . ¡°No. I¡¯ll wait here. You can go back if it¡¯s too hard. The enemy won¡¯te out here anyway.¡± ¡°Hey. How can we go back alone? We¡¯ll wait with you.¡± The centaurs sat down next to Johan grumblingly without leaving. Acdda checked the string of his bow,bed his mane, and yawned. ¡°I¡¯m bored. Anyone want to bet while we wait? Who will bring back the greatest prey from across the river? I¡¯ll bet a gold ne.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with what I have, thank you. . .¡± ¡°Me too. I don¡¯t want to get my body wet.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Acdda was taken aback by his men¡¯s reaction after they had eaten their fill. Hisrades on the prairie would not believe this. They would fight over a single piece of gold, but now they were saying they didn¡¯t want to bet because they had too many gold nes. ¡°Hey! Huh! Look over there!¡± ¡°Oh! Okay. Are you going to bet?¡± ¡°No, look over there! It¡¯s the enemy!¡± Acdda hurriedly got up. He could see dust rising on the other side of the river. The enemy¡¯s advance party had finally arrived. ???????????? ¡°Retreat! Retreat!¡± The feudal lord, who had been riding his horse fearlessly and quickly, was terrified when he encountered the enemy. The experience of making eye contact with the enemy slowly climbing up from below as he crossed a low hill sent shivers down the spine of even a battle-hardened veteran. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö! ¡ö¡ö¡ö! He turned his horse around in fear and gave the order to retreat, but the enemy did not let this opportunity slip away. They hurriedly rushed forward as if they wanted to catch him at all costs. Unlike the allied knights, who were heavily armed and had traveled quite a distance, many of the enemy knights were lightly armed. In extreme cases, some of them didn¡¯t even wear metal armor. ¡°The duke is trying to kill me! The duke!¡± ¡°Master! Listening ears. . .¡± ¡°Anyway, they are my subordinates and we are caught here, why would I care about listening ears!¡± The feudal lord exploded in anger. He could feel the arrows, which had not been visible until a moment ago, flying in close, and the enemy following him on both sides. ©¥¡ö¡ö! ¡ö¡ö! ¡°?¡± However, the enemy who had been following him closely suddenly turned their horses around in a hurry. The feudal lord was bewildered. ¡®????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????¡¯ ¡°Master!! Reinforcements have arrived!¡± While he was so focused on running away that he didn¡¯t notice, the duke had crossed the river with his men. ¡°Charge!¡± Although it was impossible, the feudal lord felt like he could clearly hear the sound of something breaking. If the horde of enemies that had been chasing him were a single living creature, it was the sound of grabbing it and breaking its spine with brute force. The duke¡¯s charge was that fierce. ¡°Oh my God!¡± He saw an experienced subordinate knight gasp and cross himself. The duke and his men had charged into the enemy and were literally ughtering them. It seemed unreal as enemies fell every time they swung their weapons. The feudal lords who had not participated in the previous battle could not imagine how the duke had won despite the difference in numbers. They had only vaguely or abstractly imagined a miraculous scene like that. However, at least the feudal lord himself who was here could instinctively be sure of how he had won. That was how he had crushed the enemy¡¯s bones and flesh and won! When he had cut down more than twenty of them while holding his breath, the rest of them could not bear it any longer and ran away. Johan approached the feudal lord covered in blood. At the sight of his overwhelming aura, the small rebellious spirit that had been in the feudal lord¡¯s heartpletely disappeared. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I was wrong. . .!¡± ¡°???¡±, Ulrike was angry, but she could not ignore the apologetic response sent by the casten. Ulrike was not a crazy noble who would ignore an apology and choose war out of pride. ¡°Tell me the reason. Why didn¡¯t you open the door in the first ce?¡± ¡°That¡¯s. . . because the casten said it was to protest Your Highness the Duke not respecting their rights as a feudal lord and acting rudely.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike had a stunned expression at the unexpected answer. It was such an apt response that it was rather an unexpected answer given the current situation. The Duke was indeed acting quite rudely at the moment. The only reason why those who were captured and dragged here did not protest was because they hadmitted many crimes. If they started arguing over who was at fault, they would be at a very disadvantageous position, so they obediently kept their mouths shut. But people like the Atig casten were different. Since he had followed Johan¡¯s orders from the far south, he was in a position to protest rude behavior. If he was very fearful, he would have read the situation and the army and been more cautious, but the casten also had a rather stubborn personality. Since there was nothing to lose, he stood up to protest. ¡®?? ???????? ?? ??????????????. . .!¡¯ Ulrike twisted her hair and bit her lip. She had made a rash judgment because she was slightly annoyed by the actions of the nearby feudal lords. No matter how annoying the feudal lords were, she should have carefully considered each one. The feudal lords all had different thoughts and quirks. . . In the end, the Duke¡¯s judgment, which had seemed too cautious, was right. Ulrike felt her face flush with embarrassment. ¡°I will go and exin personally. Guide me to the casten.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about it. . .¡± ¡°Not required! The casten should know who made that suggestion.¡± Anyone could make a mistake, but at the very least, one had to take responsibility for it. Ulrike scolded herself and took a step forward. ???????????? Casten Atig was an old human woman who looked to be about the same age as Suetlg. Even so, her back was straight and her eyes sparkled with energy. A thought of Countess Abner crossed Ulrike¡¯s mind, making her feel even more ashamed. She had made the duke looked bad because she had misunderstood people. ¡°It¡¯s alright now, Your Highness duke. I have resolved the misunderstanding thanks to the warm gift Your Highness sent.¡± The casten spoke politely in a firm, powerful voice. Apparently the duke had not only sent an envoy a second time, as a threat, but had sent the envoy with great courtesy and kindness. This attitude had moved the casten. As the leader of a powerful expedition, the duke could have easily ignored the casten, who ruled over a tiny territory, and attacked in a fit of rage. Instead, he had sent another gift. The casten was ashamed of her narrow-mindedness. ¡°I was hasty and rude to the casten. I apologize.¡± ¡°No! My lord¡¯s grace toward a humble noble. . . I am very grateful.¡± A monotheist, Casten Atig was located at the northernmost point of the feudal lords and was thus gued by more enemies than anyone else due to her location. Starting with pagan nobles, there were also bands of rogues and monsters streaming out of the ck Mountains. The castens in this area inevitably became battle-hardened. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the surrounding area was poor and not worth much, the masters would have changed hands several times by now. Of course, the other feudal lords were not grateful for such hard work. With a small number of fiefdom citizens, soldiers, and wealth, the casten always had little say. Even if they wanted to provide support, they couldn¡¯t do that either. In the midst of all this, the young duke, who had led an expedition and defeated the pagan army and reimed the Holy Land, even though it was none of her business, could not help but be contrasted. The feudal lords who had been in thisnd for nearly a hundred years were only concerned with their own interests. In contrast, the duke came from across the sea, endured hardships, and fought only with the pagans without causing any problems, even reiming the Holy Land. No matter how hard the casten tried to break her own stubbornness and beliefs and side with the feudal lords, she simply could not bring herself to do so. She felt he would have to be something less than human, more like a beast, to side with the feudal lords. ¡°. . .In fact, it was my suggestion. Casten.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The casten did not say anything to Ulrike¡¯s words. Given the difference in their status, she could not get angry with Ulrike. However, Ulrike could clearly sense it. The casten had cast a look of contempt at Ulrike. The casten probably thought of Ulrike as ¡¯?? ???????????????????? ??????-?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ??????????????????.¡¯ ¡®????, ????!¡¯ And what made it even harder to bear was that the current situation was such that it couldn¡¯t be helped! Even Ulrike herself would have thought so. Ulrike bit her lip at the humiliating situation she had created. ¡°Casten. I want to stop the enemy here if possible.¡± The nobles of the expedition were drunk on victory due to their ridiculously easy victories. Some of them even argued that they should go further north and attack first. ©¥???? ???? ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????. ?????? ???? ???????????? ??????????! ©¥????????????????????! ¡®?????????? ?????????? ??????????. . .¡¯ Of course, Johan had no intention of doing such a thing. It would be to their advantage if the enemy came to them, so why would they go into the enemy¡¯s territory? Johan was impressed by the casten¡¯s words. ¡°You are wise indeed! If we were to force our way through, it would be difficult to feed so many soldiers. Your Highness.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Even if they were to divide therge army and deploy it, it was important where the supply lines reached. Johan nned to wait for the enemy here. Besides, there was one more advantage to this area. ¡°There¡¯s a big river ahead. How many ces can we cross?¡± ¡°It¡¯s marked on the map. The boats and bridges on the river have all been destroyed long ago, and the fiefdom citizens on the other side of the river have all been relocated to this side long ago.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± This time it was Johan¡¯s turn to be impressed by the casten¡¯s words. Johan was very pleased that the casten had scratched his itchy spot. ¡°Excellent! You¡¯ve already made such preparations.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a cowardly trick I learned to survive with a small number of soldiers. Your Highness. I am rather ashamed when you say that.¡± ¡°No, anyone who calls this cowardly doesn¡¯t know what tactics are. It¡¯s not just about facing each other head-on with spears. The point is to create a situation where you can win.¡± ¡°That¡¯s. . .¡± Even though they had only met a day ago, the two of them seemed to understand each other like old friends of ten years. When the casten brought up tactics, Johan praised her, and when Johan brought up tactics, the casten was impressed. Ulrike felt lonely. Ulrike herself agreed with the casten¡¯s tactics. . . However, Ulrike knew very well. She knew that if she tried to intervene here, the casten would see her as a young yes-man who knew nothing and was just trying to take credit. In the end, she had no choice but to sit here and listen obediently. Ulrike tried hard to respond to the casten¡¯s words in order to regain the trust she had lost. ???????????? ¡°This is as far as we go. Keep a close eye on them so that you don¡¯t miss any of them crossing over to this side.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As soon as the sun rose, Johan and his men scouted the area around the river. It was wide and deep enough that many would die if they tried to cross it recklessly. ¡®???? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????????? ????.¡¯ Except for a few shallow spots, the only way to go around was to go all the way east. It was not easy to lead such arge army around. ¡°Your Highness. There are cowards among those who have joined this honorable expedition. They say we should stop here and not move any further.¡± ¡°I gave the order.¡± ¡°. . .I apologize!¡± The oblivious feudal lords became the advance party again. They cautiously crossed the river to the other side as punishment for their lord¡¯s loose lips. ¡°Were you going to go with them?¡± ¡°No, Duke. Those kinds of people need to learn their lesson the hard way.¡± The centaurs spoke sternly. Even those who were careless be serious after being punished a few times. It is also the duty of adults to raise the young well. . . .Of course, the advance party crossing the river right now was not young. ¡°I¡¯m worried that they might be annihted if they make a mistake.¡± ¡°If they lose, that¡¯s their fate.¡± ¡°We can just send more.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan nced around briefly. Fortunately, there were no knights listening. If they had heard, the centaurs¡¯ reputation would only have grown. ¡°Let¡¯s go back. Your Highness. I¡¯ll signal you when they return, so you cane out again then.¡± When Johan did not move from his spot near the river, the centaurs advised him to return to camp. To be honest, there was no reason to wait here just because those annoying feudal lords and their dastard knights had gone out on patrol. He could have just rested in his tent ande outter. It was cold and windy, so why. . . ¡°No. I¡¯ll wait here. You can go back if it¡¯s too hard. The enemy won¡¯te out here anyway.¡± ¡°Hey. How can we go back alone? We¡¯ll wait with you.¡± The centaurs sat down next to Johan grumblingly without leaving. Acdda checked the string of his bow,bed his mane, and yawned. ¡°I¡¯m bored. Anyone want to bet while we wait? Who will bring back the greatest prey from across the river? I¡¯ll bet a gold ne.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with what I have, thank you. . .¡± ¡°Me too. I don¡¯t want to get my body wet.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Acdda was taken aback by his men¡¯s reaction after they had eaten their fill. Hisrades on the prairie would not believe this. They would fight over a single piece of gold, but now they were saying they didn¡¯t want to bet because they had too many gold nes. ¡°Hey! Huh! Look over there!¡± ¡°Oh! Okay. Are you going to bet?¡± ¡°No, look over there! It¡¯s the enemy!¡± Acdda hurriedly got up. He could see dust rising on the other side of the river. The enemy¡¯s advance party had finally arrived. ???????????? ¡°Retreat! Retreat!¡± The feudal lord, who had been riding his horse fearlessly and quickly, was terrified when he encountered the enemy. The experience of making eye contact with the enemy slowly climbing up from below as he crossed a low hill sent shivers down the spine of even a battle-hardened veteran. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö! ¡ö¡ö¡ö! He turned his horse around in fear and gave the order to retreat, but the enemy did not let this opportunity slip away. They hurriedly rushed forward as if they wanted to catch him at all costs. Unlike the allied knights, who were heavily armed and had traveled quite a distance, many of the enemy knights were lightly armed. In extreme cases, some of them didn¡¯t even wear metal armor. ¡°The duke is trying to kill me! The duke!¡± ¡°Master! Listening ears. . .¡± ¡°Anyway, they are my subordinates and we are caught here, why would I care about listening ears!¡± The feudal lord exploded in anger. He could feel the arrows, which had not been visible until a moment ago, flying in close, and the enemy following him on both sides. ©¥¡ö¡ö! ¡ö¡ö! ¡°?¡± However, the enemy who had been following him closely suddenly turned their horses around in a hurry. The feudal lord was bewildered. ¡®????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????¡¯ ¡°Master!! Reinforcements have arrived!¡± While he was so focused on running away that he didn¡¯t notice, the duke had crossed the river with his men. ¡°Charge!¡± Although it was impossible, the feudal lord felt like he could clearly hear the sound of something breaking. If the horde of enemies that had been chasing him were a single living creature, it was the sound of grabbing it and breaking its spine with brute force. The duke¡¯s charge was that fierce. ¡°Oh my God!¡± He saw an experienced subordinate knight gasp and cross himself. The duke and his men had charged into the enemy and were literally ughtering them. It seemed unreal as enemies fell every time they swung their weapons. The feudal lords who had not participated in the previous battle could not imagine how the duke had won despite the difference in numbers. They had only vaguely or abstractly imagined a miraculous scene like that. However, at least the feudal lord himself who was here could instinctively be sure of how he had won. That was how he had crushed the enemy¡¯s bones and flesh and won! When he had cut down more than twenty of them while holding his breath, the rest of them could not bear it any longer and ran away. Johan approached the feudal lord covered in blood. At the sight of his overwhelming aura, the small rebellious spirit that had been in the feudal lord¡¯s heartpletely disappeared. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I was wrong. . .!¡± ¡°???¡± Chapter 344: ???????????????? (4) Johan and his subordinates guessed that the feudal lord was in chaos due to the heat of battle. Otherwise, there was no reason to apologize suddenly. ¡°It seems you are quite tired. Protect the lord.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°N-No. I am fine.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Worried by the feudal lord¡¯s words, Johan approached with a concerned look. He worried that the feudal lord was pretending to be unharmed despite being injured. Of course, for the feudal lord, it was sheer terror. It felt like his heart stopped when the blood-soaked duke approached. ¡°I am really fine! I am truly fine!¡± After the feudal lord fled with his subordinates, Johan asked his escorts. ¡°. . .Is there something on my hands?¡±¡°Who knows? Maybe he cursed at the duke?¡± ???????????? The feudal lord, who had barely escaped a near-death crisis, realized once again that evening that he was a lucky man. The enemy forces gathering on the other side of the river were increasing in number. ¡°Wicked pagans!¡± ¡°Good heavens. . .¡± Although it was getting dark, the enemy forces were clearly visible. Torches moved chaotically from all directions, and there were loud shouts and horn sounds. Not being able to count their exact number made things more terrifying. The feudal lords who hade with Johan unconsciously made the sign of the cross, with frightened expressions on their faces. Seeing the enemies directly made them realize what kind of situation they were in. It was a terror that could not be fully grasped just by hearing news of victories from afar. ¡®???????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ????????????¡¯ ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ??????!¡¯ Some of the feudal lords regretted what they had said earlier. To speak so fearlessly without even seeing the size of the enemy forces. . . If the duke had called them and said, ¡¯?? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????. ???????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????,¡¯ their hearts would have stopped. But not everyone was afraid. ¡°The insolent pagans have finallye! God has given us a chance! He tells us to throw them all into the river!¡± ¡°Waaaah!¡± ¡°God is with us!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The enthusiasm of those who had participated since the beginning of the expedition did not diminish even after seeing the enemies. Rather, it burned more vigorously, as if things had gone well. Seeing this, the feudal lords who hadte joined the expedition were shocked. ¡°However ignorant they may be, there should be a limit!¡± ¡°Those guys swept away by the words of the priest don¡¯t know fear. They need to get shot by arrows and stabbed by swords beforeing to their senses.¡± The feudal lords turned away in disbelief. They had long known that the pilgrims from the west were full of madness. Such passion was needed toe to this distantnd after all. But the pilgrims in this expedition were especially intense. The feudal lords wanted to talk to the knights or other nobles. At least they would be more reasonable. ¡°There is no need to move as rashly as those excited brothers of faith right now.¡± ¡®????????.¡¯ Hearing the moderate words from the tent, the feudal lords heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Soon a miraculous revtion wille down! When that happens, let¡¯s all charge shoulder to shoulder! If faith is with us, even the highest walls of ancient kingdoms will crumble powerlessly! We have already seen the gates of the Holy Land open!¡± ¡°Waaaah!¡± ¡°. . .!!!¡± The feudal lords were horrified. They knew that the knights from the west were uncivilized and barbaric fighters, but this was too much. Even so, this was humiliating. ¡°Listen. This isn¡¯t the enemy¡¯s main force. More enemies will arrive here soon, so charging headfirst. . .¡± They wanted to say, ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????.¡¯ Hiding behind the tall castle walls wouldn¡¯t be as unsettling as it was now. However, they needed some agreement to say that. The current situation was far from that. ¡°Numbers don¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°If we charge with faith, our enemies will fall.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense is that? That¡¯s not how battles work! You have to assess the enemy¡¯s forces and find their weakness. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re obsessed with things like that you have not been winning.¡± The knights from the west looked at the feudal lords with ridicule. The feudal lords were so dumbfounded they weren¡¯t even angry. Who was supposed to be ridiculing whom here. . .? ¡°It¡¯s faith, my lords. True belief. It was His Highness the Duke¡¯s true faith that allowed us to defeat enemies many times our number.¡± ¡°Are you saying that. . .we have false belief or something?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Instead of answering, the knights exchanged looks. It was answer enough. The feudal lords, who expected at least a denial, were furious. ¡°If you let go of your pointless obsessions and try again to have true faith. . .¡± ¡°Oh, stop. That¡¯s enough.¡± The feudal lords gave up and backed down. Going back to their tents to await orders to charge seemed better than talking to these obstinate fools. The duke was no easy man to deal with either, butpared to these stubborn mules, the duke was much preferred. ???????????? The armies gathered near the riverbank, one after the other, and long rows of camps began to form. Tension hung thick over the wide river. At first, enemies who shot arrows or attempted to cross the river were silent, realizing the futility of their efforts. Arrows didn¡¯t have a chance of reaching, and trying to cross the river would mean bing a corpse at the bottom before making it across. ¡°I heard they sent an envoy?¡± ¡°Yes. They probably want to pay ransom and retrieve their prisoners, right?¡± While not all had arrived yet, there were quite a few pagan nobles being held prisoner in the military camp. From the sultan¡¯s perspective, he would want them back. It wasn¡¯t a bad deal for Johan either. Rumors of the sultan¡¯s hefty purse of gold coins were rampant. ¡ª???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????, ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ??????????! . . .There were simr rumors, so even if not entirely urate, there was no doubt he was wealthy. ¡°But there¡¯s a problem.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, people gathered looked puzzled, as if asking what could be problematic about exchanging ransom. ¡°There are quite a few who say they¡¯ll pay their own ransom using family power instead of waiting for the sultan to free them. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± The higher the status and more they had to lose, the more they didn¡¯t want to be freed, or rather, didn¡¯t want to face the sultan. Impossible under normal circumstances, but the situation was a bit special. There were many who would face the sultan¡¯s wrath upon returning. The feudal lords replied as if asking what the issue was. ¡°Can¡¯t you just refuse them?¡± ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan cursed the feudal lords in his head. If they also had rights over the ransom money, they would have said ¡¯?????? ???????????? ?????????????????????????? ?????? ????????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????! ????, ??????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????????!¡¯ ¡°Refusing is easy, but I¡¯m worried they¡¯ll use it as excuse to spread nonsense rumors.¡± ¡°The words of pagan scums can be ignored. . .¡± Instead of ignoring the words of pagan scums, Johan ignored the feudal lord who had just opened his mouth. There were quite a few pagan armies following Johan at the moment, so he couldn¡¯t be reckless. ¡°So I¡¯m thinking of having the envoy directly meet with the hostages.¡± ¡°Good idea. Meeting face to face should clear up any misunderstandings. What can they do if they don¡¯t want to leave?¡± ¡°Yes. I hope you guys can persuade them well.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the feudal lords nodded in understanding. They realized why the duke had summoned them. When the envoy arrives, they need to match words with the hostages so no unnecessary suspicions arise. It wasn¡¯t a very difficult task. ???????????? Leading the envoy delegation across the river, Iwp wiped the sweat and looked around. Delivering messages as an envoy trespassing each other¡¯s fiefdoms during the war was never an easy task. They could encounter rogues or assassins on the move. Though there was less to worry about just crossing a river like now, the risk was still there. They could get attacked and killed by an enraged enemy knight or get beheaded if the enemy monarch ignores the customs. Above all, the most dangerous one was the lord who sent the envoy. If the envoy fails to fulfill his duty, it¡¯s the lord who would kill the envoy first. ¡®????¡¯?? ??????????. ???? ??????????.¡¯ Looking at the camps scattered across the other side of the river, Iwp gulped. Though less in number than the Sultan¡¯s army, they were by no means trivial opponents. ©¥???? ?????? ????????????????????, ????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????. ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ?? ????????. ©¥??????, ???? ????????????. ©¥?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ??????????????????. ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????????????, ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ??????????????. The Sultan gave various instructions to the envoy delegation. The Sultan, who went berserk when first hearing the news of defeat, seemed to have calmed down a bit after the long march. Besides, other nobles kept offering bribes and begging for their lives. So the Sultan eventually decided to have them redeem their sins by making achievements instead of tearing them apart. There were various situations that led to such decision, but. . . ¡®?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ Compared to how much their enemies knew about them, the Sultan knew too little about the enemies. There were only groundless rumors about the enemies. Stuff like making pacts with demons and borrowing their power to win battles. . . So he clearly wanted to take them as hostages instead of killing them and collect ransom. ¡°I apologize, but I have to refuse.¡± ¡°?!!¡± Iwp was baffled as the captured noble showed his intent to refuse. It waspletely beyond his expectation. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?? Tell me your reason!¡± ¡°I promised the duke to pay the ransom with my family¡¯s power. If I get released now thanks to the Sultan, it would be disgraceful to my honor.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Lost for words at the unreasonable excuse, Iwp was speechless. He would be a fool to buy such story. There could be only one reason. ¡°The Sultan has no intention to punish you! There is no need to worry!¡± ¡°What are you talking about now? It looks like I¡¯m worried about that now!¡± On the contrary, the noble got angry. Iwp realized he made a mistake. ¡®???? ????. . .!¡¯ No matter how urgent, he shouldn¡¯t have spoken in haste. And there was one more thing. ¡®???? ????????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?? ??????!¡¯ As long as he feared the Sultan, any kind of persuasion was meaningless. Iwp wouldn¡¯t have believed it either if he were in the noble¡¯s shoes. Who would go back believing that? Iwp shuddered as he recalled the duke¡¯s figure happily allowing the envoys into his camp. He must have had some scheme going on to aim for this. After the envoys came and went, wouldn¡¯t the prisoners be even more afraid and rely on the duke? ¡°Are you done with the talk?¡± Seeing the envoying out, Johan asked without any hidden agenda. Since there seemed to be no issues, the talk must have gone well. ¡°. . .Yes, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°. . .Your Highness is truly a frightening man to devise such a scheme.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°But be aware. The Sultan will never back down from any scheme. I¡¯m telling you he will sweep through thisnd like a storm.¡± ¡®?????????? ???????????????¡¯ Johan was dumbfounded at the sight of the envoy, who was having a good conversation and then suddenly started babbling nonsense. Why is he suddenly boasting? ¡®???? ???????? ?? ????????????? ???? ????, ????¡¯?? ?? ???????????????? ??????.¡¯ He was so dumbfounded that he almost forgot the n he had originally prepared. Johan pulled himself together and opened his mouth. ¡°Since the hostages have chosen to remain here for the sake of honor, I was going to make another proposal for the Sultan. . .¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Those loyal subjects who would give their lives for the Sultan. . .¡± ¡°??¡± Iwp didn¡¯t understand right away. Johan exined it a bit awkwardly. ¡°I mean the eunuchs.¡± ¡°Oh. . . Oh I see!¡± Iwp was embarrassed too. It was so unexpected that he didn¡¯t think of it right away. ¡°Wait. You mean the eunuchs?¡± The Sultan didn¡¯t pay money to buy eunuchs, who were no better than ves. Of course some cherished ves were valued, but it was better to buy new ones rather than pay a high price for them. ¡°Yes. The eunuchs want to go back.¡± ¡°But the Sultan. . .¡± ¡°Does it have to be the Sultan who pays? Someone else could pay the money.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± To Iwp¡¯s ears, the Duke¡¯s voice seeped in like the whispers of a demon., Johan and his subordinates guessed that the feudal lord was in chaos due to the heat of battle. Otherwise, there was no reason to apologize suddenly. ¡°It seems you are quite tired. Protect the lord.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°N-No. I am fine.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Worried by the feudal lord¡¯s words, Johan approached with a concerned look. He worried that the feudal lord was pretending to be unharmed despite being injured. Of course, for the feudal lord, it was sheer terror. It felt like his heart stopped when the blood-soaked duke approached. ¡°I am really fine! I am truly fine!¡± After the feudal lord fled with his subordinates, Johan asked his escorts. ¡°. . .Is there something on my hands?¡± ¡°Who knows? Maybe he cursed at the duke?¡± ???????????? The feudal lord, who had barely escaped a near-death crisis, realized once again that evening that he was a lucky man. The enemy forces gathering on the other side of the river were increasing in number. ¡°Wicked pagans!¡± ¡°Good heavens. . .¡± Although it was getting dark, the enemy forces were clearly visible. Torches moved chaotically from all directions, and there were loud shouts and horn sounds. Not being able to count their exact number made things more terrifying. The feudal lords who hade with Johan unconsciously made the sign of the cross, with frightened expressions on their faces. Seeing the enemies directly made them realize what kind of situation they were in. It was a terror that could not be fully grasped just by hearing news of victories from afar. ¡®???????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ????????????¡¯ ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ??????!¡¯ Some of the feudal lords regretted what they had said earlier. To speak so fearlessly without even seeing the size of the enemy forces. . . If the duke had called them and said, ¡¯?? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????. ???????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????,¡¯ their hearts would have stopped. But not everyone was afraid. ¡°The insolent pagans have finallye! God has given us a chance! He tells us to throw them all into the river!¡± ¡°Waaaah!¡± ¡°God is with us!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The enthusiasm of those who had participated since the beginning of the expedition did not diminish even after seeing the enemies. Rather, it burned more vigorously, as if things had gone well. Seeing this, the feudal lords who hadte joined the expedition were shocked. ¡°However ignorant they may be, there should be a limit!¡± ¡°Those guys swept away by the words of the priest don¡¯t know fear. They need to get shot by arrows and stabbed by swords beforeing to their senses.¡± The feudal lords turned away in disbelief. They had long known that the pilgrims from the west were full of madness. Such passion was needed toe to this distantnd after all. But the pilgrims in this expedition were especially intense. The feudal lords wanted to talk to the knights or other nobles. At least they would be more reasonable. ¡°There is no need to move as rashly as those excited brothers of faith right now.¡± ¡®????????.¡¯ Hearing the moderate words from the tent, the feudal lords heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Soon a miraculous revtion wille down! When that happens, let¡¯s all charge shoulder to shoulder! If faith is with us, even the highest walls of ancient kingdoms will crumble powerlessly! We have already seen the gates of the Holy Land open!¡± ¡°Waaaah!¡± ¡°. . .!!!¡± The feudal lords were horrified. They knew that the knights from the west were uncivilized and barbaric fighters, but this was too much. Even so, this was humiliating. ¡°Listen. This isn¡¯t the enemy¡¯s main force. More enemies will arrive here soon, so charging headfirst. . .¡± They wanted to say, ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????.¡¯ Hiding behind the tall castle walls wouldn¡¯t be as unsettling as it was now. However, they needed some agreement to say that. The current situation was far from that. ¡°Numbers don¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°If we charge with faith, our enemies will fall.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense is that? That¡¯s not how battles work! You have to assess the enemy¡¯s forces and find their weakness. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re obsessed with things like that you have not been winning.¡± The knights from the west looked at the feudal lords with ridicule. The feudal lords were so dumbfounded they weren¡¯t even angry. Who was supposed to be ridiculing whom here. . .? ¡°It¡¯s faith, my lords. True belief. It was His Highness the Duke¡¯s true faith that allowed us to defeat enemies many times our number.¡± ¡°Are you saying that. . .we have false belief or something?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Instead of answering, the knights exchanged looks. It was answer enough. The feudal lords, who expected at least a denial, were furious. ¡°If you let go of your pointless obsessions and try again to have true faith. . .¡± ¡°Oh, stop. That¡¯s enough.¡± The feudal lords gave up and backed down. Going back to their tents to await orders to charge seemed better than talking to these obstinate fools. The duke was no easy man to deal with either, butpared to these stubborn mules, the duke was much preferred. ???????????? The armies gathered near the riverbank, one after the other, and long rows of camps began to form. Tension hung thick over the wide river. At first, enemies who shot arrows or attempted to cross the river were silent, realizing the futility of their efforts. Arrows didn¡¯t have a chance of reaching, and trying to cross the river would mean bing a corpse at the bottom before making it across. ¡°I heard they sent an envoy?¡± ¡°Yes. They probably want to pay ransom and retrieve their prisoners, right?¡± While not all had arrived yet, there were quite a few pagan nobles being held prisoner in the military camp. From the sultan¡¯s perspective, he would want them back. It wasn¡¯t a bad deal for Johan either. Rumors of the sultan¡¯s hefty purse of gold coins were rampant. ¡ª???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????, ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ??????????! . . .There were simr rumors, so even if not entirely urate, there was no doubt he was wealthy. ¡°But there¡¯s a problem.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, people gathered looked puzzled, as if asking what could be problematic about exchanging ransom. ¡°There are quite a few who say they¡¯ll pay their own ransom using family power instead of waiting for the sultan to free them. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± The higher the status and more they had to lose, the more they didn¡¯t want to be freed, or rather, didn¡¯t want to face the sultan. Impossible under normal circumstances, but the situation was a bit special. There were many who would face the sultan¡¯s wrath upon returning. The feudal lords replied as if asking what the issue was. ¡°Can¡¯t you just refuse them?¡± ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan cursed the feudal lords in his head. If they also had rights over the ransom money, they would have said ¡¯?????? ???????????? ?????????????????????????? ?????? ????????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????! ????, ??????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????????!¡¯ ¡°Refusing is easy, but I¡¯m worried they¡¯ll use it as excuse to spread nonsense rumors.¡± ¡°The words of pagan scums can be ignored. . .¡± Instead of ignoring the words of pagan scums, Johan ignored the feudal lord who had just opened his mouth. There were quite a few pagan armies following Johan at the moment, so he couldn¡¯t be reckless. ¡°So I¡¯m thinking of having the envoy directly meet with the hostages.¡± ¡°Good idea. Meeting face to face should clear up any misunderstandings. What can they do if they don¡¯t want to leave?¡± ¡°Yes. I hope you guys can persuade them well.¡± At Johan¡¯s words, the feudal lords nodded in understanding. They realized why the duke had summoned them. When the envoy arrives, they need to match words with the hostages so no unnecessary suspicions arise. It wasn¡¯t a very difficult task. ???????????? Leading the envoy delegation across the river, Iwp wiped the sweat and looked around. Delivering messages as an envoy trespassing each other¡¯s fiefdoms during the war was never an easy task. They could encounter rogues or assassins on the move. Though there was less to worry about just crossing a river like now, the risk was still there. They could get attacked and killed by an enraged enemy knight or get beheaded if the enemy monarch ignores the customs. Above all, the most dangerous one was the lord who sent the envoy. If the envoy fails to fulfill his duty, it¡¯s the lord who would kill the envoy first. ¡®????¡¯?? ??????????. ???? ??????????.¡¯ Looking at the camps scattered across the other side of the river, Iwp gulped. Though less in number than the Sultan¡¯s army, they were by no means trivial opponents. ©¥???? ?????? ????????????????????, ????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????. ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ?? ????????. ©¥??????, ???? ????????????. ©¥?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ??????????????????. ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????????????, ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ??????????????. The Sultan gave various instructions to the envoy delegation. The Sultan, who went berserk when first hearing the news of defeat, seemed to have calmed down a bit after the long march. Besides, other nobles kept offering bribes and begging for their lives. So the Sultan eventually decided to have them redeem their sins by making achievements instead of tearing them apart. There were various situations that led to such decision, but. . . ¡®?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ????????.¡¯ Compared to how much their enemies knew about them, the Sultan knew too little about the enemies. There were only groundless rumors about the enemies. Stuff like making pacts with demons and borrowing their power to win battles. . . So he clearly wanted to take them as hostages instead of killing them and collect ransom. ¡°I apologize, but I have to refuse.¡± ¡°?!!¡± Iwp was baffled as the captured noble showed his intent to refuse. It waspletely beyond his expectation. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?? Tell me your reason!¡± ¡°I promised the duke to pay the ransom with my family¡¯s power. If I get released now thanks to the Sultan, it would be disgraceful to my honor.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Lost for words at the unreasonable excuse, Iwp was speechless. He would be a fool to buy such story. There could be only one reason. ¡°The Sultan has no intention to punish you! There is no need to worry!¡± ¡°What are you talking about now? It looks like I¡¯m worried about that now!¡± On the contrary, the noble got angry. Iwp realized he made a mistake. ¡®???? ????. . .!¡¯ No matter how urgent, he shouldn¡¯t have spoken in haste. And there was one more thing. ¡®???? ????????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?? ??????!¡¯ As long as he feared the Sultan, any kind of persuasion was meaningless. Iwp wouldn¡¯t have believed it either if he were in the noble¡¯s shoes. Who would go back believing that? Iwp shuddered as he recalled the duke¡¯s figure happily allowing the envoys into his camp. He must have had some scheme going on to aim for this. After the envoys came and went, wouldn¡¯t the prisoners be even more afraid and rely on the duke? ¡°Are you done with the talk?¡± Seeing the envoying out, Johan asked without any hidden agenda. Since there seemed to be no issues, the talk must have gone well. ¡°. . .Yes, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°. . .Your Highness is truly a frightening man to devise such a scheme.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°But be aware. The Sultan will never back down from any scheme. I¡¯m telling you he will sweep through thisnd like a storm.¡± ¡®?????????? ???????????????¡¯ Johan was dumbfounded at the sight of the envoy, who was having a good conversation and then suddenly started babbling nonsense. Why is he suddenly boasting? ¡®???? ???????? ?? ????????????? ???? ????, ????¡¯?? ?? ???????????????? ??????.¡¯ He was so dumbfounded that he almost forgot the n he had originally prepared. Johan pulled himself together and opened his mouth. ¡°Since the hostages have chosen to remain here for the sake of honor, I was going to make another proposal for the Sultan. . .¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Those loyal subjects who would give their lives for the Sultan. . .¡± ¡°??¡± Iwp didn¡¯t understand right away. Johan exined it a bit awkwardly. ¡°I mean the eunuchs.¡± ¡°Oh. . . Oh I see!¡± Iwp was embarrassed too. It was so unexpected that he didn¡¯t think of it right away. ¡°Wait. You mean the eunuchs?¡± The Sultan didn¡¯t pay money to buy eunuchs, who were no better than ves. Of course some cherished ves were valued, but it was better to buy new ones rather than pay a high price for them. ¡°Yes. The eunuchs want to go back.¡± ¡°But the Sultan. . .¡± ¡°Does it have to be the Sultan who pays? Someone else could pay the money.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± To Iwp¡¯s ears, the Duke¡¯s voice seeped in like the whispers of a demon. Chapter 345: ???????????????? (5) ¡®????¡¯???? ???????????????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????????????. . .¡¯ Even though he tried to avoid it, things were not easy for Iwp and the other envoys. The sultan¡¯s anger had died down, but who knows when it might re up again? Iwp honestly didn¡¯t know how the sultan would react when he heard the news that the nobles who had been taken prisoner refused to be released as a group. The best course of action was to im some other achievement. If he were to scout the camp, he¡¯d just have to sweet-talk his way in, and with the hostages. . . ¡®?????? ?????????????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ????????????????, ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????????????? ???????????????¡¯ He could buy new ones cheaply from the market, but it would still be a shame to lose the ones who had been like his own tongue. It was a bit of a waste of money, but the eunuchs seemed like a decent alternative. ¡°I understand, Your Highness.¡± Iwp replied and then hesitated for a moment. In retrospect, the duke¡¯s offer seemed too convenient. It was as if the duke knew exactly what Iwp¡¯s circumstances were.¡®. . .???? ??????.¡¯ Even if the duke was a sly and cunning man, this was a different story altogether. How could a great noble from the distant West know what was going on in the sultan¡¯s barracks? ¡°Oh, right. I heard that when the sultan sets out with his army, he also brings with him a lot of herbs that are only used in the pce. I heard your younger brother is in charge of managing the herbs. Would you be willing to exchange them?¡± ¡°. . .??!¡± Iwp was shocked once again. ???????????? Johan sessfully returned the eunuchs for a high price. Of course, the eunuchs wouldn¡¯t leave willingly, so Johan threw avish banquet and got them drunk. The eunuchs dly epted the wine from the stern and frightening duke, who pretended to be friendly. No matter how experienced the eunuchs were, they wouldn¡¯t have guessed that the duke would sell them off to make some gold coins. On the surface, everything was peaceful. Envoys came and went, gold coins were exchanged, and not a single curse word was uttered. However, there was a palpable tension in the air. In fact, there were several surprise crossing attempts while Iwp was there. Surprisingly, it wasn¡¯t Johan¡¯s side that made the surprise attacks, but the sultan¡¯s. ©¥?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????. ©¥???? ?????????? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????????????! ????????????¡¯?? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????????????????? ???? ???? ????????????? ©¥???? ???? ????????, ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ??????. ?????? ???? ???? ??????????????, ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ????????. ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ????. ???? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ??????? The longer it dragged on, the more anxious the side that had led arge army from afar would be. Their hearts yearned for thends to the south, but their bodies were tied up here. In the end, the sultan and the great nobles inmand agreed to the proposal. It was unfortunate for Iwp, who had crossed over as an envoy, but it couldn¡¯t be helped if they wanted to win. And those who crossed the river were beaten like dogs. ©¥. . . . . . ©¥. . . . . . The nobles on the other side of the river were astounded as they watched the soldiers who had barely managed to cross the river while enduring all sorts of attacks copse at the charge of a single mad knight. The warriors who crossed the river were not ordinary men. The fact that they crossed the river without fleeing while blocking the flying arrows with their shields was proof that they were experienced and elite soldiers. Mediocre mercenaries would have drowned as they tried to escape. However, it was unbelievable to see such warriors being beaten like dogs, fleeing in all directions, and being captured or drowning in the river. ©¥???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????. ©¥. . .????¡¯?? ?????? ??????????, ???? ????? ???????? ???????????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ????????! ©¥??????. ??????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????????????. ???? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ????????. The sight of the duke rampaging like a demon, sweeping away the enemies, was shocking, but the nobles didn¡¯t give up and tried a few more times. They tried crossing at night, at dawn. . . However, the vignce of the expeditionary force was beyond imagination. Even though the area they were facing was wide and there were many people gathered, which would have made it easy for them to let their guard down, the veterans that Johan had brought with him focused on scouting to the point of obsession. Thanks to them, the other warriors who crossed over were once again beaten like dogs. Iwp¡¯s face turned pale and he had to apologize several times before he was allowed to leave. ¡®?????????? ???????? ???? ??????????????!¡¯ Trying to surprise attack during negotiations was like asking the envoys to die. Iwp gritted his teeth and stomped his feet to contain his anger. ¡°Punish those who dared tounch such a cowardly surprise attack!¡± ¡°Calm down, Iwp. How were the talks? Did you find any weaknesses in the enemy?¡± The sultan changed the subject. The sultan, a seasonedmander himself, couldn¡¯t have been unaware of the significance of a surprise attack. He had given his permission knowing full well. The more they talked about it, the more awkward it would be. It was a signal to change the subject. Iwp felt wronged and resentful, but he opened his mouth. ¡°. . .There were dog tents everywhere. They were all in high spirits and showed no signs of fear.¡± ¡°I suppose they only put up strong and vigorous men since the envoys wereing.¡± ¡°Yes. The duke praised the sultan¡¯s benevolence and reputation and released the eunuchs he had captured.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± The sultan, who had been listening pleasantly, asked, realizing something was amiss. ¡°What about the nobles?¡± ¡°. . .They submitted a petition to the sultan, asking to pay their own ransom for the honor of their families.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The atmosphere, which had been pleasant, suddenly turned cold. Some of the nobles noticed the change and started whispering among themselves. It was too obvious that they weren¡¯t being released now. Looking at the sultan¡¯s face, which was turning red and blue, those who were quick-witted closed their eyes tightly. ???????????? ¡°Are they beheading the ones who failed the surprise attack?¡± Johan watched curiously as the execution took ce on the other side of the river. In reality, it was an execution where the necks of the nobles who had sided with Suhekhar and Yeheyman were being cut off, but he couldn¡¯t know the details. ¡°I suppose they can be punished since they failed so badly.¡± ¡°Even so, that would make a mess of things. . .¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not worry about the enemy, Your Highness. Isn¡¯t it good if the enemy copses?¡± Johan nodded at Ulrike¡¯s words. Both sides were constantly adding more troops, but it was clear who was getting anxious. He could sense it from the several envoys he had sent and the scouting he had done. They tried to cross the river by surprise and failed, tried to find a way around and failed. . . Johan¡¯s strategy was simple. Hold on until the opponent gets tired and falls apart. It was a simple and unimpressive strategy, but if executed perfectly, there was nothing more difficult to deal with. And now, the duke was acting wlessly. If Ulrike was in the enemy¡¯s position, she thought she would have cursed the duke¡¯s ancestors. ¡°Everything¡¯s going well, but I¡¯m a little worried about the elf king.¡± Since all the nobles had refused to be repatriated, the sultan seemed determined to hold onto the elf king, even if he had to resort to trickery. Iwp had tried to subtly sound him out, but Iwp didn¡¯t seem to have any authority and just shook his head. ¡®???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????¡¯ Ulrike thought to herself. Of course, The elf king and Ulrike, were close to an alliance, both politically and strategically. . . Even if the elf king was held hostage for a long time or died in an unfortunate ident, it didn¡¯t seem like there would be a big problem. The next sessor would take his ce. It seemed like it would be much easier than it is now, no matter who took over. However, Ulrike didn¡¯t say it out loud. She was already reflecting on the fact that she might seem like a ¡®????????????-???????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????¡¯ because of the casten of Atig Castle. She didn¡¯t want to seem cold-blooded to the duke for no reason. ¡°I thought you¡¯d say that there¡¯s no need to save him since it¡¯s a merit.¡± ¡°?!¡± Johan spoke first when he didn¡¯t get the response he had expected. Ulrike flinched as her inner thoughts were exposed. ¡°Oh. Did you judge the elf king¡¯s worth to be high strategically?¡± ¡°. . .You could say that.¡± ¡°As expected, Gong¡¯s judgment is excellent.¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± Johan finished his scouting. He had thought about asking Suetlg to use his ability to surprise attack when his unit arrived, but no matter how he thought about it, it seemed impossible for a single wizard to divide this wide river. ¡®????¡¯?? ?? ??????????, ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????. ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????. . .¡¯ ¡°Your Highness, they say the enemy is gathering ships!¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± And waiting for Johan, who had returned after finishing his scouting, were the people of the republic. ???????????? It was like asking to ¡¯???????????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????¡¯ to board the boats and cross the river while ring sharply at each other. Of course, they weren¡¯t gathering boats to cross the river. The goal was a detour by sea! Just like thendings they had made before, they could circumvent the sea andnd, sacking the now empty enemy rear at will. The local feudal lords might be holding on for dear life right now, but wouldn¡¯t they run back home screaming if their fiefdoms were piged? Of course, the expeditionary force wasn¡¯t stupid enough to fall for the same trick twice. Back then, since the entire situation had been chaotic, there were plenty of openings in the sea and ports tond at. However, most of them had finished their upation now, and had densely blocked the sea routes, hiring everything from the republic fleet to mercenaries. If they rashly sent arge army, it could be drowned under the sea. ¡°But boats are still being gathered?¡± ¡°Yes. It doesn¡¯t seem like the rear fiefdoms are the target.¡± Rather than dreaming of the fiefdoms below, they are attempting anding to remove the troops blocking the river first. Even though the republic fleet was lurking ominously just below them, they didn¡¯te up this far and stayed put, because their target was the expeditionary force. ¡°You have a good head on your shoulders.¡± ¡°What good would a few thousand men do even if we sent them? Let theme!¡± ¡°No. We¡¯re not going to engage in a full-front war. We¡¯ll just send some men around to loot and steal supplies.¡± A thief knows a thief. Johan, who had done many shady things while mingling with centaurs, had immediately figured out what the other person wanted. If only fast cavalry was sent to the rear, it would be a big advantage. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Our republic fleet will definitely stop them.¡± The captains said, their eyes burning fiercely. Although they weren¡¯t particrly religious, the republic captains had deep faith and expectations for the profits that Johan brought in. He had already achieved results that were several times greater than expected. If they could defeat the Sultan¡¯s army here, the Republic would be able to sail the seasfortably for a hundred years. They had to invest unconditionally. Even if they had to go into debt, the Republic was going to send a fleet. ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????¡¯ ¡®????¡¯?? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ????.¡¯ Of course, some were offended when they did something they hadn¡¯t done before. The expeditionary force nobles and bishops grumbled. They were saying things like ¡®???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????¡¯ ¡®?????????? ????????????-???????? ????????????. . . ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????????¡¯ ¡®???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ????????????? ??????¡¯???? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ????????????????????????.¡¯ And the republic people naturally noticed their reaction. The republic people hated the expeditionary force nobles just as much. They were barbarians who only knew how to borrow money and mooch off of others, and they showed that they didn¡¯t understand the value of the Republic. ¡°We appreciate you trying to stop them, but is that even possible?¡± The sea was vast, and there weren¡¯t any proper ports in this area. The enemy fleet was gathering in a city far to the north. If they took advantage of the darkness of the night, slipped through and dropped off some soldiers, and then escaped, it seemed impossible to actually stop them. The sea wasn¡¯t as easy to patrol asnd. ¡°What, you were talking like it was impossible? Anyway, the republic people are all talk. . .¡± One of the captains clenched his fist. The same words could feel different depending on how they were said. The duke was expressing concern, but that punk with a count title was mocking them. ¡°Watch your mouth, count! Our Republic has already prepared a way to stop them.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°!!¡± Johan was also surprised by the captain¡¯s exmation. Is it really possible? ¡®???????? ???? ????? ???????????¡¯ ¡°Take back what you said just now and apologize. We republic people never bluff.¡± The count who was called out flushed red. He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but he couldn¡¯t ruin the expedition because of his pride. ¡°. . .I apologize. I¡¯m sorry.¡± The count red at the captain as if to say ¡®???????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ His eyes looked like he would be happier than the enemies if they failed. After the meeting was over, the republic captains who came out exchanged nces. Their eyes were very anxious and shaken. ¡°. . .What are we going to do now?¡± ¡°. . .We have to figure it out from now on.¡±, ¡®????¡¯???? ???????????????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????????????. . .¡¯ Even though he tried to avoid it, things were not easy for Iwp and the other envoys. The sultan¡¯s anger had died down, but who knows when it might re up again? Iwp honestly didn¡¯t know how the sultan would react when he heard the news that the nobles who had been taken prisoner refused to be released as a group. The best course of action was to im some other achievement. If he were to scout the camp, he¡¯d just have to sweet-talk his way in, and with the hostages. . . ¡®?????? ?????????????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ????????????????, ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????????????? ???????????????¡¯ He could buy new ones cheaply from the market, but it would still be a shame to lose the ones who had been like his own tongue. It was a bit of a waste of money, but the eunuchs seemed like a decent alternative. ¡°I understand, Your Highness.¡± Iwp replied and then hesitated for a moment. In retrospect, the duke¡¯s offer seemed too convenient. It was as if the duke knew exactly what Iwp¡¯s circumstances were. ¡®. . .???? ??????.¡¯ Even if the duke was a sly and cunning man, this was a different story altogether. How could a great noble from the distant West know what was going on in the sultan¡¯s barracks? ¡°Oh, right. I heard that when the sultan sets out with his army, he also brings with him a lot of herbs that are only used in the pce. I heard your younger brother is in charge of managing the herbs. Would you be willing to exchange them?¡± ¡°. . .??!¡± Iwp was shocked once again. ???????????? Johan sessfully returned the eunuchs for a high price. Of course, the eunuchs wouldn¡¯t leave willingly, so Johan threw avish banquet and got them drunk. The eunuchs dly epted the wine from the stern and frightening duke, who pretended to be friendly. No matter how experienced the eunuchs were, they wouldn¡¯t have guessed that the duke would sell them off to make some gold coins. On the surface, everything was peaceful. Envoys came and went, gold coins were exchanged, and not a single curse word was uttered. However, there was a palpable tension in the air. In fact, there were several surprise crossing attempts while Iwp was there. Surprisingly, it wasn¡¯t Johan¡¯s side that made the surprise attacks, but the sultan¡¯s. ©¥?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????. ©¥???? ?????????? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????????????! ????????????¡¯?? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????????????????? ???? ???? ????????????? ©¥???? ???? ????????, ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ??????. ?????? ???? ???? ??????????????, ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ????????. ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ????. ???? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ??????? The longer it dragged on, the more anxious the side that had led arge army from afar would be. Their hearts yearned for thends to the south, but their bodies were tied up here. In the end, the sultan and the great nobles inmand agreed to the proposal. It was unfortunate for Iwp, who had crossed over as an envoy, but it couldn¡¯t be helped if they wanted to win. And those who crossed the river were beaten like dogs. ©¥. . . . . . ©¥. . . . . . The nobles on the other side of the river were astounded as they watched the soldiers who had barely managed to cross the river while enduring all sorts of attacks copse at the charge of a single mad knight. The warriors who crossed the river were not ordinary men. The fact that they crossed the river without fleeing while blocking the flying arrows with their shields was proof that they were experienced and elite soldiers. Mediocre mercenaries would have drowned as they tried to escape. However, it was unbelievable to see such warriors being beaten like dogs, fleeing in all directions, and being captured or drowning in the river. ©¥???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????????. ©¥. . .????¡¯?? ?????? ??????????, ???? ????? ???????? ???????????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ????????! ©¥??????. ??????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ????????????. ???? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ????????. The sight of the duke rampaging like a demon, sweeping away the enemies, was shocking, but the nobles didn¡¯t give up and tried a few more times. They tried crossing at night, at dawn. . . However, the vignce of the expeditionary force was beyond imagination. Even though the area they were facing was wide and there were many people gathered, which would have made it easy for them to let their guard down, the veterans that Johan had brought with him focused on scouting to the point of obsession. Thanks to them, the other warriors who crossed over were once again beaten like dogs. Iwp¡¯s face turned pale and he had to apologize several times before he was allowed to leave. ¡®?????????? ???????? ???? ??????????????!¡¯ Trying to surprise attack during negotiations was like asking the envoys to die. Iwp gritted his teeth and stomped his feet to contain his anger. ¡°Punish those who dared tounch such a cowardly surprise attack!¡± ¡°Calm down, Iwp. How were the talks? Did you find any weaknesses in the enemy?¡± The sultan changed the subject. The sultan, a seasonedmander himself, couldn¡¯t have been unaware of the significance of a surprise attack. He had given his permission knowing full well. The more they talked about it, the more awkward it would be. It was a signal to change the subject. Iwp felt wronged and resentful, but he opened his mouth. ¡°. . .There were dog tents everywhere. They were all in high spirits and showed no signs of fear.¡± ¡°I suppose they only put up strong and vigorous men since the envoys wereing.¡± ¡°Yes. The duke praised the sultan¡¯s benevolence and reputation and released the eunuchs he had captured.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± The sultan, who had been listening pleasantly, asked, realizing something was amiss. ¡°What about the nobles?¡± ¡°. . .They submitted a petition to the sultan, asking to pay their own ransom for the honor of their families.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The atmosphere, which had been pleasant, suddenly turned cold. Some of the nobles noticed the change and started whispering among themselves. It was too obvious that they weren¡¯t being released now. Looking at the sultan¡¯s face, which was turning red and blue, those who were quick-witted closed their eyes tightly. ???????????? ¡°Are they beheading the ones who failed the surprise attack?¡± Johan watched curiously as the execution took ce on the other side of the river. In reality, it was an execution where the necks of the nobles who had sided with Suhekhar and Yeheyman were being cut off, but he couldn¡¯t know the details. ¡°I suppose they can be punished since they failed so badly.¡± ¡°Even so, that would make a mess of things. . .¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not worry about the enemy, Your Highness. Isn¡¯t it good if the enemy copses?¡± Johan nodded at Ulrike¡¯s words. Both sides were constantly adding more troops, but it was clear who was getting anxious. He could sense it from the several envoys he had sent and the scouting he had done. They tried to cross the river by surprise and failed, tried to find a way around and failed. . . Johan¡¯s strategy was simple. Hold on until the opponent gets tired and falls apart. It was a simple and unimpressive strategy, but if executed perfectly, there was nothing more difficult to deal with. And now, the duke was acting wlessly. If Ulrike was in the enemy¡¯s position, she thought she would have cursed the duke¡¯s ancestors. ¡°Everything¡¯s going well, but I¡¯m a little worried about the elf king.¡± Since all the nobles had refused to be repatriated, the sultan seemed determined to hold onto the elf king, even if he had to resort to trickery. Iwp had tried to subtly sound him out, but Iwp didn¡¯t seem to have any authority and just shook his head. ¡®???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????¡¯ Ulrike thought to herself. Of course, The elf king and Ulrike, were close to an alliance, both politically and strategically. . . Even if the elf king was held hostage for a long time or died in an unfortunate ident, it didn¡¯t seem like there would be a big problem. The next sessor would take his ce. It seemed like it would be much easier than it is now, no matter who took over. However, Ulrike didn¡¯t say it out loud. She was already reflecting on the fact that she might seem like a ¡®????????????-???????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????¡¯ because of the casten of Atig Castle. She didn¡¯t want to seem cold-blooded to the duke for no reason. ¡°I thought you¡¯d say that there¡¯s no need to save him since it¡¯s a merit.¡± ¡°?!¡± Johan spoke first when he didn¡¯t get the response he had expected. Ulrike flinched as her inner thoughts were exposed. ¡°Oh. Did you judge the elf king¡¯s worth to be high strategically?¡± ¡°. . .You could say that.¡± ¡°As expected, Gong¡¯s judgment is excellent.¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± Johan finished his scouting. He had thought about asking Suetlg to use his ability to surprise attack when his unit arrived, but no matter how he thought about it, it seemed impossible for a single wizard to divide this wide river. ¡®????¡¯?? ?? ??????????, ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????. ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????. . .¡¯ ¡°Your Highness, they say the enemy is gathering ships!¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± And waiting for Johan, who had returned after finishing his scouting, were the people of the republic. ???????????? It was like asking to ¡¯???????????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????¡¯ to board the boats and cross the river while ring sharply at each other. Of course, they weren¡¯t gathering boats to cross the river. The goal was a detour by sea! Just like thendings they had made before, they could circumvent the sea andnd, sacking the now empty enemy rear at will. The local feudal lords might be holding on for dear life right now, but wouldn¡¯t they run back home screaming if their fiefdoms were piged? Of course, the expeditionary force wasn¡¯t stupid enough to fall for the same trick twice. Back then, since the entire situation had been chaotic, there were plenty of openings in the sea and ports tond at. However, most of them had finished their upation now, and had densely blocked the sea routes, hiring everything from the republic fleet to mercenaries. If they rashly sent arge army, it could be drowned under the sea. ¡°But boats are still being gathered?¡± ¡°Yes. It doesn¡¯t seem like the rear fiefdoms are the target.¡± Rather than dreaming of the fiefdoms below, they are attempting anding to remove the troops blocking the river first. Even though the republic fleet was lurking ominously just below them, they didn¡¯te up this far and stayed put, because their target was the expeditionary force. ¡°You have a good head on your shoulders.¡± ¡°What good would a few thousand men do even if we sent them? Let theme!¡± ¡°No. We¡¯re not going to engage in a full-front war. We¡¯ll just send some men around to loot and steal supplies.¡± A thief knows a thief. Johan, who had done many shady things while mingling with centaurs, had immediately figured out what the other person wanted. If only fast cavalry was sent to the rear, it would be a big advantage. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Our republic fleet will definitely stop them.¡± The captains said, their eyes burning fiercely. Although they weren¡¯t particrly religious, the republic captains had deep faith and expectations for the profits that Johan brought in. He had already achieved results that were several times greater than expected. If they could defeat the Sultan¡¯s army here, the Republic would be able to sail the seasfortably for a hundred years. They had to invest unconditionally. Even if they had to go into debt, the Republic was going to send a fleet. ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????¡¯ ¡®????¡¯?? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ????.¡¯ Of course, some were offended when they did something they hadn¡¯t done before. The expeditionary force nobles and bishops grumbled. They were saying things like ¡®???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????¡¯ ¡®?????????? ????????????-???????? ????????????. . . ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????????¡¯ ¡®???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ????????????? ??????¡¯???? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ????????????????????????.¡¯ And the republic people naturally noticed their reaction. The republic people hated the expeditionary force nobles just as much. They were barbarians who only knew how to borrow money and mooch off of others, and they showed that they didn¡¯t understand the value of the Republic. ¡°We appreciate you trying to stop them, but is that even possible?¡± The sea was vast, and there weren¡¯t any proper ports in this area. The enemy fleet was gathering in a city far to the north. If they took advantage of the darkness of the night, slipped through and dropped off some soldiers, and then escaped, it seemed impossible to actually stop them. The sea wasn¡¯t as easy to patrol asnd. ¡°What, you were talking like it was impossible? Anyway, the republic people are all talk. . .¡± One of the captains clenched his fist. The same words could feel different depending on how they were said. The duke was expressing concern, but that punk with a count title was mocking them. ¡°Watch your mouth, count! Our Republic has already prepared a way to stop them.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°!!¡± Johan was also surprised by the captain¡¯s exmation. Is it really possible? ¡®???????? ???? ????? ???????????¡¯ ¡°Take back what you said just now and apologize. We republic people never bluff.¡± The count who was called out flushed red. He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but he couldn¡¯t ruin the expedition because of his pride. ¡°. . .I apologize. I¡¯m sorry.¡± The count red at the captain as if to say ¡®???????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ His eyes looked like he would be happier than the enemies if they failed. After the meeting was over, the republic captains who came out exchanged nces. Their eyes were very anxious and shaken. ¡°. . .What are we going to do now?¡± ¡°. . .We have to figure it out from now on.¡± Chapter 346: ?????????? ???????????? (1) A deafening silence hung in the air. There was no such method in the first ce. How could one possibly find every single ship passing through the narrow strait without putting up an iron chain? However, the haughty pride of the republic¡¯s people did not allow them to ept that. If a duke or another expeditionary noble had heard this conversation, they would have been dumbfounded, but fortunately, no one was there to hear this conversation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. We¡¯lle up with something eventually.¡± ¡°. . .Thank you.¡± He had blurted it out in the heat of the moment, but the other captains did not me their colleague. They were just as resentful as he was. The nobles who participated in the expedition kept bragging about their achievements onnd whenever they met. The republic¡¯s people, who were in charge of all the dirty work at sea, couldn¡¯t help but feel resentful. If it had been the duke himself, they could have understood. The duke¡¯s achievements were truly remarkable. Never before had there been anyone in the history of overseas expeditions who had achieved so much in such a short period of time like the duke.However, the duke himself was humble, but his subordinate nobles acted as if they were superior, which made them even more resentful. If it hadn¡¯t been for the duke mediating, they would have gotten into a fight or two. ¡°Is there really no way?¡± They said that a solution woulde if they thought about it, but sometimes there were exceptions. The captains fell silent as they racked their brains but couldn¡¯te up with a solution. ¡°There¡¯s no helping it. I didn¡¯t want to use this method, but. . .¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°How much does each of you have on hand right now?¡± ???????????? ¡°What do you think the republic b*stards are up to?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I hope they fail. I can¡¯t stand seeing those b*stards brag! While we risk our lives fighting onnd, those b*stards are profiting by moving supplies!¡± ¡°But if they fail, our rear will be in danger?¡± ¡°Tsk. . .¡± Johan could hear the nobles¡¯ conversations as he walked around the camp. He smiled bitterly. From the outside, it might seem like the expeditionary force was united by a single faith, but the reality of the expeditionary force was moreplicated than one might think. Each group stuck together ording to their origins and interests. Johan had tried to unite them several times, but he had long since given up. ¡®????????. ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ????????????????.¡¯ Johan was satisfied with just being able to have them go where he told them to go and fight where he told them to fight. By objective standards, this was considered to be very good military discipline. Originally, even if themander-in-chief gave an order, the soldiers would say things like, ¡®?? ???????? ???? ????????????, ???? ??¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ????????????,¡¯ or ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ????, ???? ??¡¯?? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan prayed that the Sultan¡¯s army would fight among themselves like this. ¡®????????, ????????¡¯???? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??????????, ???? ???? ???????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ He felt a little better when he thought about it like that. However, the problem still remained. ¡°Are things going well? Let me know if you need any help.¡± Johan spoke carefully and softly. He didn¡¯t want to hurt the pride of the republic¡¯s people. To be honest, Johan was a little suspicious right now. ¡®???????????? ????????¡¯???? ?????? ???????? ????????????????, ?????? ?????????¡¯ The captains of the republic were also human. They might have made a deration on impulse since they had beenughed at so much. It was fine to bluff, but he had to prevent things from getting worse by agonizing over it after the fact when there was no solution. Johan intended to listen if the republic¡¯s people had something to hide. ¡°Heh. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± However, the faces of the republic¡¯s people were beaming with confidence. Johan was taken aback by their determined expressions. ¡®???????? ???????¡¯ To be honest, Johan, Ulrike, and the other nobles with military experience didn¡¯t have a clear answer to the question, ¡®???? ?????????? ?? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????¡¯ But that expression. Do they really have a way? ¡°Can you tell me?¡± ¡°Of course, Your Highness. Your Highness is different from the others.¡± Johan nced around unconsciously. Fortunately, none of the other nobles from the expeditionary force were there. If they had heard, there would have been another uproar. ¡°It¡¯s bribery.¡± ¡°!¡± The captains of the republic spent their own money. The wealth they had umted through trade during this expedition was enormous. Originally, they really didn¡¯t want to spend it, but. . . They had no choice. Using that money, the republic¡¯s people sent spies and personnel to the port where the enemy fleet was gathering. They started bribing everyone they could. Although the Sultan¡¯s orders ensured thorough security, they couldn¡¯t do anything when faced with arge amount of gold. From the lowest-rankingborers to the most senior navigators, they spilled information one by one. ¡°Well done.¡± Johan was impressed. They must have needed a lot of money to bribe them, but they managed to get it. He wondered how they had gotten it, but the important thing was that they had seeded. ¡°Wait a minute. Even if you know the departure date, can you figure out the sea route? That must be really difficult.¡± Usually, only a few of the captains knew the sea route that the fleet was taking. There was no point in telling their subordinates in advance because they had already acquired the information. ¡°. . .There¡¯s a way to do that too.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°We n to mobilize more fleets and have them lie in ambush along all possible routes.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was speechless at the method, which was more ignorant than he had expected. Even so, this is really. . . ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????¡¯ ¡°Your Highness?¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m impressed by your devotion!¡± Johan quickly changed the subject. He didn¡¯t know why the other party was doing this, but if they were this enthusiastic, he had to show his appreciation. The captains were satisfied when the duke responded warmly. They couldn¡¯t help but feel touched. They had spent a lot of money, starting with bribes and even additional fleets. . . If the Sultan¡¯s fleet didn¡¯te after all this, one or two of the captains might go bankrupt. ¡°I¡¯ll help too.¡± ¡°Your Highness is going to help?? There¡¯s no need for you to. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s not good to underestimate your enemies.¡± Most naval battles in this era were fought after a collision, followed by closebat. The sailors were confident in closebat, but they were no match for skilled knights. The captains must have wanted help inwardly, because they didn¡¯t refuse any further. They nodded and said, ¡°We¡¯d be grateful for your help, Your Highness.¡± ¡°With Your Highness¡¯s centaurs, we can rest assured.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan didn¡¯t say that he wouldn¡¯t bring the centaurs because they were too timid to be on the sea. It was to protect their honor. ???????????? Johan¡¯s men and a few trustworthy pdins from the monastery were additionally deployed. The captain of the ship that Johan was on, Perzeno, was the most experienced and skilled captain among the captains. He was a sheepman from the Zepol family and was also acquainted with Johan. ¡°Your Highness. No matter what happens, I will make sure that no harmes to Your Highness.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Captain. I¡¯m counting on you.¡± Johan wasn¡¯t stupid enough to take overmand on someone else¡¯s ship. Perzeno was relieved by his attitude. It wouldn¡¯t have been strange for another noble to jump around and try to takemand. ¡°The republic¡¯s fleets must be located all over the sea right now, but how do you n to contact them?¡± Perzeno¡¯s fleet was currently hiding behind a small ind. The Sultan¡¯s fleet would pass through the darkness of the night, so they nned to lie in ambush and attack them. In the event that they were discovered elsewhere, it had been agreed in advance that they would contact each other for support. However, it was pitch ck and they were on the sea, which was like a vast ocean. He didn¡¯t quite understand how they were going to contact each other. ¡°Hey.¡± The captain called someone over. A pale and thin man came out of the cabin. He was holding a t candlestick with long branches in his hands. ¡®?? ????????????!¡¯ Johan could tell right away that the other party was a wizard. The wizard from the republic nodded at Johan. ¡°We¡¯ll use this magic candle to contact them. The captain who finds them will light the candle.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Are you a wizard who has contracted with the fire spirit?¡± ¡°Excuse me? What are you talking about, Your Highness! I¡¯m not like that!¡± The wizard eximed in surprise, waving his hands. The captain also looked at Johan with a bewildered expression. ¡°Your Highness. We¡¯re not arrogant enough to let such people onto the deck of the ship that Your Highness is on. Please don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Fire spirits had a bad reputation for being ferocious and difficult to tame. Wizards who contracted with such spirits often failed to control them. It would be fine if they died on their own, but if a fire broke out on the ship, it would lead to a major disaster. It wasn¡¯t for nothing that the republic¡¯s people were terrified when they heard about the fire spirits. ¡°No. . . Can¡¯t you just knock them out if they go berserk? There¡¯s no need to be so scared.¡± The captain and the wizard burst outughing at Johan¡¯s words. They seemed to think that the duke was trying to joke to ease their nerves. It was usually difficult to kill them even when they went berserk, let alone knock them out. It was a funny joke. ¡°Hahaha! Thank you, Your Highness. You¡¯ve eased our nerves.¡± ¡°Hey, I guess we can go somewhere and talk today. Where else in the world would you have the chance to hear a joke from His Highness the Duke?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was flustered, but he held back. He didn¡¯t want to ruin the friendly atmosphere right before the operation for no reason. ¡°. . .Wait a minute. Isn¡¯t that a fleet?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± The captain turned his gaze around in surprise at Johan¡¯s words. It was still too dark to see anything in the pitch ck darkness. It was a night when the moon and stars were faint, and the sailors on the lookout were doing their best to keep watch. It wasn¡¯t a situation where Johan, who was below deck, could see it first. ¡°Are you mistaken, Your Highness?¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s right. They¡¯reing this way. Captain. Send out the signal.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Perzeno hesitated for a moment before realizing. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????????????!¡¯ Perzeno had also heard stories of the duke¡¯s victories, which were guided by visions of miracles. Perzeno nodded with a hardened expression. ¡°I understand. If Your Highness saw a miracle.¡± ¡°No, what the. . .?¡± ¡°Light the candle to request support. Tell the other ships to prepare for battle!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The sound of creaking and knocking could be heard quietly in the darkness, and a murderous aura began to rise. The skilled sailors quietly looked out at the sea with gleaming eyes. Soon, lights began to flicker in the darkness. The Sultan¡¯s fleet had really appeared. ¡°We did it. . .!¡± Soft exmations erupted from all over the ce. The sailors rejoiced at their good luck. It seemed that God loved them a lot today. Capturing even one ship would be a huge profit. It would be even greater if it was the Sultan¡¯s ship. Greed made the sailors even braver. ¡°. . .Wait, just a moment.¡± However, it didn¡¯t take long for that joy to turn into bewilderment. The sailors with good eyesight realized something strange. There were too many lights. ¡°T-The size is. . .?¡± ¡°It looks like there are five or six ships!¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Perzeno was shocked. He realized what had happened. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????!¡¯ He couldn¡¯t believe it. No matter what, he wouldn¡¯t send the fleets from other ces to carry out the operation. It was a stupid thing to do, like removing the bottom stone to support the top stone. He hadn¡¯t expected the Sultan to be this reckless. ¡°What are we going to do? Send out the attack order!¡± ¡°Yes. . .?¡± ¡°If they stay here anyway, they¡¯re bound to get caught. The number of enemies has increased slightly, but what¡¯s the problem? The enemies will be just as scared and confused. Send out the signal to attack! The enemies will definitely be confused.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± At that moment, Perzeno was deeply grateful that the duke was on his ship. Otherwise, fear would have spread throughout the ship like a gue. ¡°Send out the signal! Spread out the ships and light the fire!¡± ¡°Prepare for battle!¡± Watching the sailors moving busily, Johan opened his palms. They were wet with sweat. ¡®. . .??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ??*??????????, ?????? ????????????, ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????????????!¡¯ The fleet in the city must have been expensively assembled, but on top of that, they bring in a fleet from somewhere else. He wondered if he was out of his mind, but he was the one who had led such arge army south in the first ce. He should have known that he was crazy by now. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared and move forward!¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke is with us!¡± ¡°Waaaaaaah!¡± Despite being outnumbered, the sailors¡¯ morale rose. And so the night raid began., A deafening silence hung in the air. There was no such method in the first ce. How could one possibly find every single ship passing through the narrow strait without putting up an iron chain? However, the haughty pride of the republic¡¯s people did not allow them to ept that. If a duke or another expeditionary noble had heard this conversation, they would have been dumbfounded, but fortunately, no one was there to hear this conversation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. We¡¯lle up with something eventually.¡± ¡°. . .Thank you.¡± He had blurted it out in the heat of the moment, but the other captains did not me their colleague. They were just as resentful as he was. The nobles who participated in the expedition kept bragging about their achievements onnd whenever they met. The republic¡¯s people, who were in charge of all the dirty work at sea, couldn¡¯t help but feel resentful. If it had been the duke himself, they could have understood. The duke¡¯s achievements were truly remarkable. Never before had there been anyone in the history of overseas expeditions who had achieved so much in such a short period of time like the duke. However, the duke himself was humble, but his subordinate nobles acted as if they were superior, which made them even more resentful. If it hadn¡¯t been for the duke mediating, they would have gotten into a fight or two. ¡°Is there really no way?¡± They said that a solution woulde if they thought about it, but sometimes there were exceptions. The captains fell silent as they racked their brains but couldn¡¯te up with a solution. ¡°There¡¯s no helping it. I didn¡¯t want to use this method, but. . .¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°How much does each of you have on hand right now?¡± ???????????? ¡°What do you think the republic b*stards are up to?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I hope they fail. I can¡¯t stand seeing those b*stards brag! While we risk our lives fighting onnd, those b*stards are profiting by moving supplies!¡± ¡°But if they fail, our rear will be in danger?¡± ¡°Tsk. . .¡± Johan could hear the nobles¡¯ conversations as he walked around the camp. He smiled bitterly. From the outside, it might seem like the expeditionary force was united by a single faith, but the reality of the expeditionary force was moreplicated than one might think. Each group stuck together ording to their origins and interests. Johan had tried to unite them several times, but he had long since given up. ¡®????????. ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ????????????????.¡¯ Johan was satisfied with just being able to have them go where he told them to go and fight where he told them to fight. By objective standards, this was considered to be very good military discipline. Originally, even if themander-in-chief gave an order, the soldiers would say things like, ¡®?? ???????? ???? ????????????, ???? ??¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ????????????,¡¯ or ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ????, ???? ??¡¯?? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ Johan prayed that the Sultan¡¯s army would fight among themselves like this. ¡®????????, ????????¡¯???? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??????????, ???? ???? ???????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ He felt a little better when he thought about it like that. However, the problem still remained. ¡°Are things going well? Let me know if you need any help.¡± Johan spoke carefully and softly. He didn¡¯t want to hurt the pride of the republic¡¯s people. To be honest, Johan was a little suspicious right now. ¡®???????????? ????????¡¯???? ?????? ???????? ????????????????, ?????? ?????????¡¯ The captains of the republic were also human. They might have made a deration on impulse since they had beenughed at so much. It was fine to bluff, but he had to prevent things from getting worse by agonizing over it after the fact when there was no solution. Johan intended to listen if the republic¡¯s people had something to hide. ¡°Heh. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± However, the faces of the republic¡¯s people were beaming with confidence. Johan was taken aback by their determined expressions. ¡®???????? ???????¡¯ To be honest, Johan, Ulrike, and the other nobles with military experience didn¡¯t have a clear answer to the question, ¡®???? ?????????? ?? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????¡¯ But that expression. Do they really have a way? ¡°Can you tell me?¡± ¡°Of course, Your Highness. Your Highness is different from the others.¡± Johan nced around unconsciously. Fortunately, none of the other nobles from the expeditionary force were there. If they had heard, there would have been another uproar. ¡°It¡¯s bribery.¡± ¡°!¡± The captains of the republic spent their own money. The wealth they had umted through trade during this expedition was enormous. Originally, they really didn¡¯t want to spend it, but. . . They had no choice. Using that money, the republic¡¯s people sent spies and personnel to the port where the enemy fleet was gathering. They started bribing everyone they could. Although the Sultan¡¯s orders ensured thorough security, they couldn¡¯t do anything when faced with arge amount of gold. From the lowest-rankingborers to the most senior navigators, they spilled information one by one. ¡°Well done.¡± Johan was impressed. They must have needed a lot of money to bribe them, but they managed to get it. He wondered how they had gotten it, but the important thing was that they had seeded. ¡°Wait a minute. Even if you know the departure date, can you figure out the sea route? That must be really difficult.¡± Usually, only a few of the captains knew the sea route that the fleet was taking. There was no point in telling their subordinates in advance because they had already acquired the information. ¡°. . .There¡¯s a way to do that too.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°We n to mobilize more fleets and have them lie in ambush along all possible routes.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was speechless at the method, which was more ignorant than he had expected. Even so, this is really. . . ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????¡¯ ¡°Your Highness?¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m impressed by your devotion!¡± Johan quickly changed the subject. He didn¡¯t know why the other party was doing this, but if they were this enthusiastic, he had to show his appreciation. The captains were satisfied when the duke responded warmly. They couldn¡¯t help but feel touched. They had spent a lot of money, starting with bribes and even additional fleets. . . If the Sultan¡¯s fleet didn¡¯te after all this, one or two of the captains might go bankrupt. ¡°I¡¯ll help too.¡± ¡°Your Highness is going to help?? There¡¯s no need for you to. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s not good to underestimate your enemies.¡± Most naval battles in this era were fought after a collision, followed by closebat. The sailors were confident in closebat, but they were no match for skilled knights. The captains must have wanted help inwardly, because they didn¡¯t refuse any further. They nodded and said, ¡°We¡¯d be grateful for your help, Your Highness.¡± ¡°With Your Highness¡¯s centaurs, we can rest assured.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan didn¡¯t say that he wouldn¡¯t bring the centaurs because they were too timid to be on the sea. It was to protect their honor. ???????????? Johan¡¯s men and a few trustworthy pdins from the monastery were additionally deployed. The captain of the ship that Johan was on, Perzeno, was the most experienced and skilled captain among the captains. He was a sheepman from the Zepol family and was also acquainted with Johan. ¡°Your Highness. No matter what happens, I will make sure that no harmes to Your Highness.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Captain. I¡¯m counting on you.¡± Johan wasn¡¯t stupid enough to take overmand on someone else¡¯s ship. Perzeno was relieved by his attitude. It wouldn¡¯t have been strange for another noble to jump around and try to takemand. ¡°The republic¡¯s fleets must be located all over the sea right now, but how do you n to contact them?¡± Perzeno¡¯s fleet was currently hiding behind a small ind. The Sultan¡¯s fleet would pass through the darkness of the night, so they nned to lie in ambush and attack them. In the event that they were discovered elsewhere, it had been agreed in advance that they would contact each other for support. However, it was pitch ck and they were on the sea, which was like a vast ocean. He didn¡¯t quite understand how they were going to contact each other. ¡°Hey.¡± The captain called someone over. A pale and thin man came out of the cabin. He was holding a t candlestick with long branches in his hands. ¡®?? ????????????!¡¯ Johan could tell right away that the other party was a wizard. The wizard from the republic nodded at Johan. ¡°We¡¯ll use this magic candle to contact them. The captain who finds them will light the candle.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Are you a wizard who has contracted with the fire spirit?¡± ¡°Excuse me? What are you talking about, Your Highness! I¡¯m not like that!¡± The wizard eximed in surprise, waving his hands. The captain also looked at Johan with a bewildered expression. ¡°Your Highness. We¡¯re not arrogant enough to let such people onto the deck of the ship that Your Highness is on. Please don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Fire spirits had a bad reputation for being ferocious and difficult to tame. Wizards who contracted with such spirits often failed to control them. It would be fine if they died on their own, but if a fire broke out on the ship, it would lead to a major disaster. It wasn¡¯t for nothing that the republic¡¯s people were terrified when they heard about the fire spirits. ¡°No. . . Can¡¯t you just knock them out if they go berserk? There¡¯s no need to be so scared.¡± The captain and the wizard burst outughing at Johan¡¯s words. They seemed to think that the duke was trying to joke to ease their nerves. It was usually difficult to kill them even when they went berserk, let alone knock them out. It was a funny joke. ¡°Hahaha! Thank you, Your Highness. You¡¯ve eased our nerves.¡± ¡°Hey, I guess we can go somewhere and talk today. Where else in the world would you have the chance to hear a joke from His Highness the Duke?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was flustered, but he held back. He didn¡¯t want to ruin the friendly atmosphere right before the operation for no reason. ¡°. . .Wait a minute. Isn¡¯t that a fleet?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± The captain turned his gaze around in surprise at Johan¡¯s words. It was still too dark to see anything in the pitch ck darkness. It was a night when the moon and stars were faint, and the sailors on the lookout were doing their best to keep watch. It wasn¡¯t a situation where Johan, who was below deck, could see it first. ¡°Are you mistaken, Your Highness?¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s right. They¡¯reing this way. Captain. Send out the signal.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Perzeno hesitated for a moment before realizing. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ?? ???????????????!¡¯ Perzeno had also heard stories of the duke¡¯s victories, which were guided by visions of miracles. Perzeno nodded with a hardened expression. ¡°I understand. If Your Highness saw a miracle.¡± ¡°No, what the. . .?¡± ¡°Light the candle to request support. Tell the other ships to prepare for battle!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The sound of creaking and knocking could be heard quietly in the darkness, and a murderous aura began to rise. The skilled sailors quietly looked out at the sea with gleaming eyes. Soon, lights began to flicker in the darkness. The Sultan¡¯s fleet had really appeared. ¡°We did it. . .!¡± Soft exmations erupted from all over the ce. The sailors rejoiced at their good luck. It seemed that God loved them a lot today. Capturing even one ship would be a huge profit. It would be even greater if it was the Sultan¡¯s ship. Greed made the sailors even braver. ¡°. . .Wait, just a moment.¡± However, it didn¡¯t take long for that joy to turn into bewilderment. The sailors with good eyesight realized something strange. There were too many lights. ¡°T-The size is. . .?¡± ¡°It looks like there are five or six ships!¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Perzeno was shocked. He realized what had happened. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????!¡¯ He couldn¡¯t believe it. No matter what, he wouldn¡¯t send the fleets from other ces to carry out the operation. It was a stupid thing to do, like removing the bottom stone to support the top stone. He hadn¡¯t expected the Sultan to be this reckless. ¡°What are we going to do? Send out the attack order!¡± ¡°Yes. . .?¡± ¡°If they stay here anyway, they¡¯re bound to get caught. The number of enemies has increased slightly, but what¡¯s the problem? The enemies will be just as scared and confused. Send out the signal to attack! The enemies will definitely be confused.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± At that moment, Perzeno was deeply grateful that the duke was on his ship. Otherwise, fear would have spread throughout the ship like a gue. ¡°Send out the signal! Spread out the ships and light the fire!¡± ¡°Prepare for battle!¡± Watching the sailors moving busily, Johan opened his palms. They were wet with sweat. ¡®. . .??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ??*??????????, ?????? ????????????, ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????????????!¡¯ The fleet in the city must have been expensively assembled, but on top of that, they bring in a fleet from somewhere else. He wondered if he was out of his mind, but he was the one who had led such arge army south in the first ce. He should have known that he was crazy by now. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared and move forward!¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke is with us!¡± ¡°Waaaaaaah!¡± Despite being outnumbered, the sailors¡¯ morale rose. And so the night raid began. Chapter 347: ?????????? ???????????? (2) ¡°Ambush!¡± A bloodcurdling scream in the eastern tongue ripped through the stillness of the enemy fleet. Lights flickered on in the darkness and shouts rang out, it would have been ignorant to not notice the situation. ¡°Ambush?! It¡¯s impossible! How could they know where we¡¯d be and lie in wait?!¡± Balharni, brother of the sultan andmander of the operation, shouted in disbelief. The secrecy of the operation was absolute, as security was paramount. Until that day, only Balharni himself knew which route they would take to makendfall. How the enemy had learned of their path was unknown. It was enough to make one suspect that there was a spy amongst their closest confidants. ¡°Balharni-nim. You must give the order.¡± The eunuchs who apanied Balharni to assist him urged him on. The assistance was in name only, in reality, they were there to keep an eye on him. It was well known that the eunuchs were the sultan¡¯s eyes and ears. Balharni found himself in a position where he had to carefully consider every action, having fallen from favor in the power struggle. A single mistake could cost him his life. Balharni steeled himself and shouted.¡°Do not be rmed! Our numbers are greater than the enemy. At most, it is only a few swift ships sent to scout that are attacking! Do not be fooled by the noise and lights!¡± Balharni shouted those words, but deep down, his heart pounded in his chest and a cold sweat ran down his back. In truth, he did not believe his own words. Even in the bright light of day, it was not easy for amander to fully grasp the situation of a battle. It was not unheard of formanders to believe they were winning when their side was actually losing, to the point ofmitting suicide. And this was the dark sea at night. Furthermore, it was after apletely unexpected ambush. The worst-case scenarios shed through Balharni¡¯s mind. ¡®????????????????????????, ??????????, ???????? ??????????????. . .!¡¯ However, Balharni did not give the order to retreat. No, he couldn¡¯t. Because the moment he turned back, he would be branded a traitor and executed. Balharni¡¯s desperate struggle, cornered as he was, had an unexpected effect. At the very least, his subordinates on the other ships did not panic and flee first. ¡°Fight! Do not let them board the ship!¡± ¡°Wizard, we need the wizard¡¯s help!¡± ???????????? ¡°No way, are they elites? They¡¯re fighting too well for that.¡± Johan, having boarded the nearest enemy ship, cut down the enemy soldiers alongside the pdins of the Order. At first, the warriors who had received them fiercely were now starting to flee as if they had seen a demon after being sent flying through the air a few times. ¡°Thanks to Your Highness leading the charge, the enemy is unable to fight back!¡± One of the pdins of the Order said excitedly. No one could have predicted that they would capture the enemy ship so quickly. When the enemy thrust their swords, he broke their swords. When they held up their shields to defend, he sent them flying along with their shields. When they swung their spears, he grabbed the shafts and threw them into the sea, disying overwhelming power in this chaotic battle. The sailors who had carelessly boarded the ship thinking that there were only a few of them paid a heavy price. ¡°The other ships aren¡¯t retreating, though.¡± The pdins were excited by their victory, but Johan was calm. Although it was difficult to grasp the full picture, Johan did his best to understand the current situation. ¡®?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?? ????????????????.¡¯ Johan had expected shock and awe. Just like he had done countless times before. Humans were more cowardly than they thought. Before a knight who tore through their ranks disying monstrous strength, there were few warriors who could stand and fight with their weapons. It was the same in naval battles. If they were suddenly ambushed and lights red up all around them, they could not help but panic and assume the worst. However, there were no ships fleeing at the moment. They were somehow holding on, although their formation was in shambles from the panic. He needed to give them a stronger shock. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????. . .¡¯ ????????????! Before he could even finish speaking, a pir of fire erupted from the enemy ship. Even the pdins were taken aback by the phenomenon, something that should not be possible normally. ¡°It¡¯s a wizard!¡± ¡°Your Highness! Is it a Republic wizard?!¡± ¡°No. Republic wizards don¡¯t have fire magic.¡± ¡°They¡¯re useless then!¡± The pdins grumbled. Compared to the abilities disyed by the wizard on the enemy side, the wizards on their side felt too weak. ¡°We have to take care of that one first. Follow me!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Normally, even experienced knights were reluctant to face wizards. If they were caught in a spell, even the sharpest sword was useless. However, the knights of the Order had no fear when it came to facing such wizards. Besides, with Johan in the lead, what was there to be afraid of? ¡°Your Highness! Retreat!¡± Perzeno, who was on the other side, spotted Johan and the knights and shouted urgently. The wizard on the enemy ship at the moment was definitely one of the sultan¡¯s Janissary wizards. He hadn¡¯t expected them to have a fire-wielding wizard on board, it seemed the enemy was also prepared to fight tooth and nail. The wizard seemed to be summoning spirits, gaining momentum. Two ships that had approached were hurriedly forced back due to the fire. Perzeno and the Republic wizard agreed on how to deal with the wizard. ¡ªLet¡¯s wait for the wizard to tire out and then snipe them with arrows! It would be suicide to rush in while the wizard was actively casting spells. Being human, the wizard was bound to lose strength eventually if they kept waiting. ¡°Your Highness! Step back!¡± However, when the duke and the pdins ignored the warning and tried to cross over, Perzeno¡¯s heart sank. If the duke were to get hit by a fireball and fall into the sea. . . Knowing that it was impossible, Perzeno urged the wizard beside him. ¡°Try talking to them!¡± ¡°M-Me? What can I do?!¡± The wizard also seemed frustrated and shouted loudly. Perzeno grabbed the wizard by the cor and shook them, then the wizard opened their mouth wide, their eyes wide open. ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± They were at a loss for words at the sight unfolding before them. ???????????? ??????????! As soon as he stepped onto the ship, arrows flew at him. Johan did not even try to dodge them as none of the arrows were aimed at his vital points. The arrowheads hit his armor and fell to the ground, losing their force. ??????! A nearby enemy was sent flying backward. It was as if he had been shot out of a ballista. ¡°Demon b*stard!¡± He couldn¡¯t believe that he had been sent flying that far with just a kick while holding his shield up to defend. The warrior cursed and charged in. Then he was sent flying backward again. With some space cleared on the deck, Johan ran towards the enemy wizard. The Janissary wizard, whose name was unknown, had almost lost their human form. mes constantly spewed out from his eyes, nose, and mouth, spitting out fire around him. ¡®??????????????!¡¯ Johan recalled the appearance of Caenerna that he had seen before. He had thought that it was too much, even for a wizard, but at that level, it was not the wizard controlling the spirits, but the spirits burning the wizard¡¯s body as fuel and destroying the surroundings. The wizard, no, the spirit seemed to have noticed Johan. A ball of me flew straight at him. ¡°!¡± Johan drew the Seal Retriever and swung it like a bolt of lightning. Therge ball of me split in two and burned the ship¡¯s railing. The spirit roared in surprise. Another ball of me flew at him. Johan raised the Shield of Agnarr that the elf king had given him to block it. The shield, filled with the blood of the enemy, absorbed the me like it was licking it up. A final ball of me flew at him. It was the Giant yer that shattered that ball of me. The Giant yer, shaped like a huge hammer, flew swiftly with a heavy sound. The ves who had been defending the wizard in front of him rushed in to block it with their bodies. No matter howrge and heavy the Giant yer was, it did not seem like it could pierce through human bodies and hit the wizard. However, surprisingly, the Giant yer pierced through the ves and flew on. The spirit was also surprised, mes bursting out in all directions. ????????! With a dull sound, the Giant yer struck the wizard directly. At the same time, a bolt of lightning from the sky pierced the wizard. ¡°?!¡± Johan was bewildered by the sudden phenomenon. Of course, he had thrown the Giant yer with the intention of killing the wizard in one blow, but the lightning was unexpected. ¡®???????? ??????. ???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ It was not umon for weapons that had in monsters to be imbued with the power of those monsters. The Giant yer fell to the deck with a sizzling sound. ¡°We¡¯ve captured the wizard!¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke has defeated the evil wizard!!¡± The pdins who hade up on deck shouted at the top of their lungs. Even those who did not understand the Empirenguage would have guessed what they were shouting about. Finally, the enemy began to waver. Johan smiled as he watched the ship at the very back subtly changing direction. The wizard¡¯s performance was noticeable even in the darkness. It stood to reason that the shockwaves from their disappearance would be just as great. ??????????¡ª ¡°?¡± Johan realized that the enemy ship directly in front of him was abnormally low. It looked like a ship that was about to sink. ¡®???? ??????. ???? ???? ??????????????!¡¯ ¡°D-Did Your Highness put a hole in it?!¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?!¡± The pdins of the Order seemed panicked as well, exchanging nonsensical words that they would never normally say. Why would an enemy ship start sinking when they hadn¡¯t done anything? Did they self-destruct? ¡°What the. . .¡± Before Johan could finish speaking, the pdins of the Order had nk expressions on their faces. It was as if they had been possessed by something. Johan instinctively realized what was happening. ¡°Stupid mermen!!! Stop singing right now! We need to give chase, what are you doing!!!¡± ¡ª. . .Ah, no. We came to help. It seemed like you were struggling. . . Sshing sounds could be heard as a mermaid emerged from the water next to the ship. Despite her strange appearance, she seemed to be feeling very wronged. ¡ªWe just came to keep our promise. ¡°If you wanted to keep your promise, you should havee and asked me beforehand, buting after it¡¯s all over is just a nuisance, you fools! Besides, why did you sink the ship? Don¡¯t you know how expensive each ship is?!¡± ¡ª. . . . . . The mermaids who had been scolded looked sullen. They had also done their best to rush over after hearing themotion. They had diligently dug holes next to the ship and sang to help. . . The mermaid leader spoke up, unable to bear it any longer. ¡ªIf we hadn¡¯t helped, those guys would have escaped. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to capture them, even if we had to sink their ship? Johan pointed behind him instead of answering. After receiving the call, the republic¡¯s fleets that had been waiting elsewhere wereing in one after another. The mermaids were dispirited and lowered their heads as they saw torches shing anding from all over the sea. ¡ª. . .We¡¯ll go down and retrieve it. ???????????? Although they had arrived after everything was over, the mermaids had indeed helped. They changed the direction of the fleeing ships and captured them, they sank the ships of those who tried to fight back, and if there were any warriors who still resisted, they dragged them into the sea. Only a few opponents were as fearsome as they were above water. ¡°A great victory! A great victory! The enemy will never dare to cross us again!¡± They had captured nearly half of the enemy ships. The captains¡¯ faces were beaming with joy, no matter how hard they tried to hide it. They had made several times the amount of money they had invested. It was not as if the oue was unsatisfactory. Of course, they had captured the ships, and they had also captured everyone on board. The enemy must be wondering why they had lost. ¡°Bring me the high-ranking prisoners separately. Make sure they don¡¯t disguise themselves and hide. Did you lose the enemymander?¡± ¡°Yes. It seems they escaped. They say they are of the sultan¡¯s bloodline. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate. They would have fetched a good price.¡± ¡°Your Highness likes to joke. . .¡± ¡®?? ????????¡¯?? ????????????.¡¯ Johan was slightly embarrassed by the reaction of the knights of the Order. He had really been disappointed because of the ransom. ¡°Here are the prisoners, Your Highness. Most of them are low-ranking knights and there are a few Janissary centurions, but I don¡¯t think there are any prisoners worth keeping. Oh. This one is the sultan¡¯s eunuch. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan and the eunuch locked eyes. The eunuch lowered his head, unable to meet his gaze. Even if he was unlucky, how could he be captured by the same demonic being twice. . ., ¡°Ambush!¡± A bloodcurdling scream in the eastern tongue ripped through the stillness of the enemy fleet. Lights flickered on in the darkness and shouts rang out, it would have been ignorant to not notice the situation. ¡°Ambush?! It¡¯s impossible! How could they know where we¡¯d be and lie in wait?!¡± Balharni, brother of the sultan andmander of the operation, shouted in disbelief. The secrecy of the operation was absolute, as security was paramount. Until that day, only Balharni himself knew which route they would take to makendfall. How the enemy had learned of their path was unknown. It was enough to make one suspect that there was a spy amongst their closest confidants. ¡°Balharni-nim. You must give the order.¡± The eunuchs who apanied Balharni to assist him urged him on. The assistance was in name only, in reality, they were there to keep an eye on him. It was well known that the eunuchs were the sultan¡¯s eyes and ears. Balharni found himself in a position where he had to carefully consider every action, having fallen from favor in the power struggle. A single mistake could cost him his life. Balharni steeled himself and shouted. ¡°Do not be rmed! Our numbers are greater than the enemy. At most, it is only a few swift ships sent to scout that are attacking! Do not be fooled by the noise and lights!¡± Balharni shouted those words, but deep down, his heart pounded in his chest and a cold sweat ran down his back. In truth, he did not believe his own words. Even in the bright light of day, it was not easy for amander to fully grasp the situation of a battle. It was not unheard of formanders to believe they were winning when their side was actually losing, to the point ofmitting suicide. And this was the dark sea at night. Furthermore, it was after apletely unexpected ambush. The worst-case scenarios shed through Balharni¡¯s mind. ¡®????????????????????????, ??????????, ???????? ??????????????. . .!¡¯ However, Balharni did not give the order to retreat. No, he couldn¡¯t. Because the moment he turned back, he would be branded a traitor and executed. Balharni¡¯s desperate struggle, cornered as he was, had an unexpected effect. At the very least, his subordinates on the other ships did not panic and flee first. ¡°Fight! Do not let them board the ship!¡± ¡°Wizard, we need the wizard¡¯s help!¡± ???????????? ¡°No way, are they elites? They¡¯re fighting too well for that.¡± Johan, having boarded the nearest enemy ship, cut down the enemy soldiers alongside the pdins of the Order. At first, the warriors who had received them fiercely were now starting to flee as if they had seen a demon after being sent flying through the air a few times. ¡°Thanks to Your Highness leading the charge, the enemy is unable to fight back!¡± One of the pdins of the Order said excitedly. No one could have predicted that they would capture the enemy ship so quickly. When the enemy thrust their swords, he broke their swords. When they held up their shields to defend, he sent them flying along with their shields. When they swung their spears, he grabbed the shafts and threw them into the sea, disying overwhelming power in this chaotic battle. The sailors who had carelessly boarded the ship thinking that there were only a few of them paid a heavy price. ¡°The other ships aren¡¯t retreating, though.¡± The pdins were excited by their victory, but Johan was calm. Although it was difficult to grasp the full picture, Johan did his best to understand the current situation. ¡®?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?? ????????????????.¡¯ Johan had expected shock and awe. Just like he had done countless times before. Humans were more cowardly than they thought. Before a knight who tore through their ranks disying monstrous strength, there were few warriors who could stand and fight with their weapons. It was the same in naval battles. If they were suddenly ambushed and lights red up all around them, they could not help but panic and assume the worst. However, there were no ships fleeing at the moment. They were somehow holding on, although their formation was in shambles from the panic. He needed to give them a stronger shock. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????. . .¡¯ ????????????! Before he could even finish speaking, a pir of fire erupted from the enemy ship. Even the pdins were taken aback by the phenomenon, something that should not be possible normally. ¡°It¡¯s a wizard!¡± ¡°Your Highness! Is it a Republic wizard?!¡± ¡°No. Republic wizards don¡¯t have fire magic.¡± ¡°They¡¯re useless then!¡± The pdins grumbled. Compared to the abilities disyed by the wizard on the enemy side, the wizards on their side felt too weak. ¡°We have to take care of that one first. Follow me!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Normally, even experienced knights were reluctant to face wizards. If they were caught in a spell, even the sharpest sword was useless. However, the knights of the Order had no fear when it came to facing such wizards. Besides, with Johan in the lead, what was there to be afraid of? ¡°Your Highness! Retreat!¡± Perzeno, who was on the other side, spotted Johan and the knights and shouted urgently. The wizard on the enemy ship at the moment was definitely one of the sultan¡¯s Janissary wizards. He hadn¡¯t expected them to have a fire-wielding wizard on board, it seemed the enemy was also prepared to fight tooth and nail. The wizard seemed to be summoning spirits, gaining momentum. Two ships that had approached were hurriedly forced back due to the fire. Perzeno and the Republic wizard agreed on how to deal with the wizard. ¡ªLet¡¯s wait for the wizard to tire out and then snipe them with arrows! It would be suicide to rush in while the wizard was actively casting spells. Being human, the wizard was bound to lose strength eventually if they kept waiting. ¡°Your Highness! Step back!¡± However, when the duke and the pdins ignored the warning and tried to cross over, Perzeno¡¯s heart sank. If the duke were to get hit by a fireball and fall into the sea. . . Knowing that it was impossible, Perzeno urged the wizard beside him. ¡°Try talking to them!¡± ¡°M-Me? What can I do?!¡± The wizard also seemed frustrated and shouted loudly. Perzeno grabbed the wizard by the cor and shook them, then the wizard opened their mouth wide, their eyes wide open. ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± They were at a loss for words at the sight unfolding before them. ???????????? ??????????! As soon as he stepped onto the ship, arrows flew at him. Johan did not even try to dodge them as none of the arrows were aimed at his vital points. The arrowheads hit his armor and fell to the ground, losing their force. ??????! A nearby enemy was sent flying backward. It was as if he had been shot out of a ballista. ¡°Demon b*stard!¡± He couldn¡¯t believe that he had been sent flying that far with just a kick while holding his shield up to defend. The warrior cursed and charged in. Then he was sent flying backward again. With some space cleared on the deck, Johan ran towards the enemy wizard. The Janissary wizard, whose name was unknown, had almost lost their human form. mes constantly spewed out from his eyes, nose, and mouth, spitting out fire around him. ¡®??????????????!¡¯ Johan recalled the appearance of Caenerna that he had seen before. He had thought that it was too much, even for a wizard, but at that level, it was not the wizard controlling the spirits, but the spirits burning the wizard¡¯s body as fuel and destroying the surroundings. The wizard, no, the spirit seemed to have noticed Johan. A ball of me flew straight at him. ¡°!¡± Johan drew the Seal Retriever and swung it like a bolt of lightning. Therge ball of me split in two and burned the ship¡¯s railing. The spirit roared in surprise. Another ball of me flew at him. Johan raised the Shield of Agnarr that the elf king had given him to block it. The shield, filled with the blood of the enemy, absorbed the me like it was licking it up. A final ball of me flew at him. It was the Giant yer that shattered that ball of me. The Giant yer, shaped like a huge hammer, flew swiftly with a heavy sound. The ves who had been defending the wizard in front of him rushed in to block it with their bodies. No matter howrge and heavy the Giant yer was, it did not seem like it could pierce through human bodies and hit the wizard. However, surprisingly, the Giant yer pierced through the ves and flew on. The spirit was also surprised, mes bursting out in all directions. ????????! With a dull sound, the Giant yer struck the wizard directly. At the same time, a bolt of lightning from the sky pierced the wizard. ¡°?!¡± Johan was bewildered by the sudden phenomenon. Of course, he had thrown the Giant yer with the intention of killing the wizard in one blow, but the lightning was unexpected. ¡®???????? ??????. ???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ It was not umon for weapons that had in monsters to be imbued with the power of those monsters. The Giant yer fell to the deck with a sizzling sound. ¡°We¡¯ve captured the wizard!¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke has defeated the evil wizard!!¡± The pdins who hade up on deck shouted at the top of their lungs. Even those who did not understand the Empirenguage would have guessed what they were shouting about. Finally, the enemy began to waver. Johan smiled as he watched the ship at the very back subtly changing direction. The wizard¡¯s performance was noticeable even in the darkness. It stood to reason that the shockwaves from their disappearance would be just as great. ??????????¡ª ¡°?¡± Johan realized that the enemy ship directly in front of him was abnormally low. It looked like a ship that was about to sink. ¡®???? ??????. ???? ???? ??????????????!¡¯ ¡°D-Did Your Highness put a hole in it?!¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?!¡± The pdins of the Order seemed panicked as well, exchanging nonsensical words that they would never normally say. Why would an enemy ship start sinking when they hadn¡¯t done anything? Did they self-destruct? ¡°What the. . .¡± Before Johan could finish speaking, the pdins of the Order had nk expressions on their faces. It was as if they had been possessed by something. Johan instinctively realized what was happening. ¡°Stupid mermen!!! Stop singing right now! We need to give chase, what are you doing!!!¡± ¡ª. . .Ah, no. We came to help. It seemed like you were struggling. . . Sshing sounds could be heard as a mermaid emerged from the water next to the ship. Despite her strange appearance, she seemed to be feeling very wronged. ¡ªWe just came to keep our promise. ¡°If you wanted to keep your promise, you should havee and asked me beforehand, buting after it¡¯s all over is just a nuisance, you fools! Besides, why did you sink the ship? Don¡¯t you know how expensive each ship is?!¡± ¡ª. . . . . . The mermaids who had been scolded looked sullen. They had also done their best to rush over after hearing themotion. They had diligently dug holes next to the ship and sang to help. . . The mermaid leader spoke up, unable to bear it any longer. ¡ªIf we hadn¡¯t helped, those guys would have escaped. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to capture them, even if we had to sink their ship? Johan pointed behind him instead of answering. After receiving the call, the republic¡¯s fleets that had been waiting elsewhere wereing in one after another. The mermaids were dispirited and lowered their heads as they saw torches shing anding from all over the sea. ¡ª. . .We¡¯ll go down and retrieve it. ???????????? Although they had arrived after everything was over, the mermaids had indeed helped. They changed the direction of the fleeing ships and captured them, they sank the ships of those who tried to fight back, and if there were any warriors who still resisted, they dragged them into the sea. Only a few opponents were as fearsome as they were above water. ¡°A great victory! A great victory! The enemy will never dare to cross us again!¡± They had captured nearly half of the enemy ships. The captains¡¯ faces were beaming with joy, no matter how hard they tried to hide it. They had made several times the amount of money they had invested. It was not as if the oue was unsatisfactory. Of course, they had captured the ships, and they had also captured everyone on board. The enemy must be wondering why they had lost. ¡°Bring me the high-ranking prisoners separately. Make sure they don¡¯t disguise themselves and hide. Did you lose the enemymander?¡± ¡°Yes. It seems they escaped. They say they are of the sultan¡¯s bloodline. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate. They would have fetched a good price.¡± ¡°Your Highness likes to joke. . .¡± ¡®?? ????????¡¯?? ????????????.¡¯ Johan was slightly embarrassed by the reaction of the knights of the Order. He had really been disappointed because of the ransom. ¡°Here are the prisoners, Your Highness. Most of them are low-ranking knights and there are a few Janissary centurions, but I don¡¯t think there are any prisoners worth keeping. Oh. This one is the sultan¡¯s eunuch. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan and the eunuch locked eyes. The eunuch lowered his head, unable to meet his gaze. Even if he was unlucky, how could he be captured by the same demonic being twice. . . Chapter 348: ?????????? ???????????? (3) Johan also felt a little sorry. Johan was the one who got the eunuchs drunk, received money and then handed them over to the envoy group. He thought he would be yed alive by the angry sultan, but he seemed to have survived unexpectedly. ¡°Get up. I¡¯m d to see you like this.¡± ¡°!¡± The eunuch was delighted when the duke spoke to him in a gentler voice than he had expected. He was such a fearsome figure that he had no idea how to react. Even if they were acquaintances, there was a limit to it. Anyone, even an acquaintance, would be nervous and scared if someone who had crawled on his stomach, ughtered soldiers, and crushed the wizard¡¯s skull approached them. ¡°Yes! I¡¯ve seen Your Highness before!!!¡± ¡°?¡± Johan was a little embarrassed when the other person was too happy. Why is he so happy as if he were a dog meeting his master after a long time?¡®?? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????¡¯ The eunuch was thinking of subtly changing the subject if he red at him or asked him a question, but there was no sign of that. Anyone who saw him would think he was an old friend. The captain next to him was amazed at his excessively friendly behavior. ¡°As expected of Your Highness. Even the sultan¡¯s eunuch reacts like that to Your Highness¡¯s fame.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a little different. . . Anyway, thank you.¡± Johan ordered the less tired of the remaining men to pursue them and cleaned up the battlefield. Thanks to the help of the mermaids, the work was easy. The mermaids looked carefully and brought up the salvaged items. The captains were amazed once again at the sight. ¡°I didn¡¯t know mermaids would help. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing.¡± They had been on ships all their lives, but few of them had seen the tail of a mermaid, let alone seen one. In the first ce, mermaids were a symbol of ominousness in the sea. It was nothing good to meet them. However, now that they saw the mermaids appearing like this and helping the duke, they felt as if they were in a story from mythology. There really were miracles. The people of the republic, who were among the least religious in the expedition and were always criticized by the bishops of the order for their unique materialistic attitude, made the sign of the cross with a sincere heart this time. ¡°Lift it up slowly. You fools!¡± ©¥?? ???????????? ???? ????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?? ???????? ??????, ???? ???? ??????????. ¡°Now the box is broken on the side and everything is spilling out!¡± ©¥??¡¯???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ????! ???????? ??????????????! ???????????? Suetlg and Caenerna were leading the rear party, assisting Iselia. Their objective was simple: to go around the remaining territories and enlist more troops. Although Johan had swept through quickly, capturing feudal lords and conscripting forcibly, there were still many territories left. Furthermore, there were still pagan feudal lords who were still watching the situation. It was their role to persuade or coerce them into joining. It was not as difficult as they thought. When things were evenly matched, persuasion was difficult, but the Duke¡¯s prestige was now almost absolute. Even when they sent messengers, they were treated with utmost courtesy. However, the wizards were not at ease. ¡°The elf king might be a fool!¡± ¡°Shh. There are many ears around.¡± ¡°The elf king might be using his head as a helmet!¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s funny, but be quiet.¡± Suetlg calmed Caenerna down. He understood her feelings. News hade that the elf king had been captured. The wizards¡¯ reaction was a little different from that of the knights. The knights respected the elf king, who had fought to the end without showing his back even in an unfavorable situation. It was a bravery that only the best of knights could show. However, to the wizards, it was absurd. With his full strength and no desperate situation, why would he insist on fighting alone instead of simply retreating and joining up? ¡°I heard that the Sultan¡¯s army is thatrge. . .¡± Caenerna trailed off anxiously. Her fingers tapped the horse¡¯s back repeatedly, showing how anxious she was. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine.¡± Suetlg said calmly. Caenerna looked at him in surprise. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just me, but it seems like I¡¯m the only one in this camp who¡¯s worried. . . Is it just me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried too. It¡¯s just that I have faith.¡± ¡°In what?¡± ¡°In the providence of God.¡± At the sound that did not fit Suetlg, Caenerna looked like she had seen a malevolent spirit. Suetlg tried to clear up the misunderstanding by borating further. ¡°The providence of God is not something grand. It is simply doing what you can do now and not being afraid of tomorrow that has not yete. His Highness the Duke is impable in that regard. Isn¡¯t he different from those feudal lords who do nothing but prayzily?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but. . .¡± Caenerna nced at Iselia. There was no confusion in her expression as she nced at the de once and then sheathed it again at her waist. Does that elf of the Bluea family know that and that¡¯s why she¡¯s not unnecessarily anxious? ¡°No. It¡¯s just that His Highness is naturally fearless.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°What can I do? It¡¯s the truth.¡± Suetlg said it in a roundabout way, but his meaning was clear. Caenerna looked at him in surprise. ¡°Suetlg-nim. The wizards areining. . .¡± ¡°Again?! Since those guys were really treated. . .¡± Caenerna was furious. There were many wizards in the camp who had been brought from the Holy Land and nearby. It was a kind of preparation for dealing with the Sultan¡¯srge army. The problem was that these wizards, who had followed them obediently when told to, had started toin. If the Duke had been in the camp, they would have kept their mouths shut out of fear, but since the Duke was not there, theyined, ¡®?????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????????????????????????,¡¯ ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ??????????,¡¯ ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Seeing them, Suetlg and Caenerna unknowingly began to reflect. Isn¡¯t it because of these wizards that there are so many bad rumors about them? ¡°It¡¯s not that difficult.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because that jinx has bad luck!¡± ¡°If we treat them well now, they won¡¯tinter. Just be patient for a while. Give them what they want.¡± As they sent the servants back, this time Gerdolf came running from the front. The knights, who had the nickname of the butcher, appeared, and the servants were scared and ran away. ¡°Have you confirmed it?¡± Gerdolf nodded. Suetlg¡¯s face hardened. He had heard that a monster had appeared in front of them and blocked the road, and it seemed that it was true. ¡°It will take too long if we go around. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to treat the wizards well. We should have them catch it.¡± Caenerna nodded at Suetlg¡¯s words. It was a very good idea. ???????????? ¡°This eunuch is the Sultan¡¯s advisor and is known as the philosopher of the court.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± The captains, who didn¡¯t know much about it, apuded as if it was great. The eunuch looked embarrassed, but he seemed happy. After all, no one would hate beingplimented. ¡°To leave such a person behind and run away. Isn¡¯t the Sultan¡¯s brother really stupid?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± In fact, Balharni had left the eunuchs behind and retreated when he retreated. The eunuchs, dressed in splendid clothes, became good prey for the warriors who rushed in to catch the expensive hostages, and thanks to that, Balharni was able to escape during that time. And it was no good for the eunuchs to go with him. Wouldn¡¯t they be the ones to badmouth the Sultan in order to live when they returned? The eunuch knew that, so he cursed Balharni. ¡°That¡¯s right! He¡¯s a real idiot.¡± ¡°Even this philosopher says so, so it must be true.¡± The captains, who would have responded with ¡®???? ???????? ????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ???? ?????¡¯ even if Johan had said, ¡®???? ????????, ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????, ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????,¡¯ were impressed. The captains apuded again. They were somewhat well-informed. But they had never heard of the eunuch¡¯s name. . . Judging from what he said, there must be something to it! ¡°Thank you, Your Highness. For treating me so well. . .¡± The eunuch burst into tears. After they returned to the Sultan¡¯s camp, their lives were spared, but they could not enjoy the power they had enjoyed before. It was natural after such a defeat. They had to do things that only the youngest eunuchs could do and could not participate in important conversations. In the midst of all this, he was moved by the warm treatment he received. ¡°Come to think of it, I¡¯m curious about something.¡± ¡°Yes. What are you curious about?¡± ¡°I heard that King Angoldolph is being held captive in the camp. Is he doing well? I¡¯m worried about him since we¡¯re close.¡± ¡°That¡¯s. . .¡± The eunuch hesitated. Information about the prisoners held in the camp should not be easily given out. Moreover, the elf king was such a high-ranking hostage that the Sultan was personally in charge of him. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell me? That¡¯s fine.¡± Johan said coldly on purpose. The eunuch could not help but notice the change in the Duke¡¯s voice. The eunuch hurriedly answered in a flustered manner. ¡°No! I was just worried because I didn¡¯t know enough.¡± ¡°Whatever it is, tell me slowly.¡± ¡®?????????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????????????, ????¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ Johan thought to himself. When there were many people, they would brainstorm and think hard, but the eunuch, who was rtively young, couldn¡¯t even think of doing that. From the other person¡¯s point of view, it was a lot of fun. If he pushed, he would be pushed, and if he pulled, he would be pulled. . . He was just thankful that the old eunuchs hadn¡¯t been caught. ???????????? ¡°To rescue His Majesty Angoldolph. I¡¯m impressed!¡± The knights in their seats were impressed by the n that came out so soon after they had won at sea. However, the feudal lords from the empire reacted somewhat nervously. ¡°Does Your Highness have to go yourself?¡± ¡°The enemy¡¯s morale must have been dampened since their surprise attack through the sea was thwarted. It might be better to wait this time.¡± ¡°The elf king is strong, so he¡¯ll be fine even if he¡¯s a prisoner for a long time.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The elf knights from the kingdom who had joined the expedition looked at the feudal lord who had just spoken as if he was ridiculous. However, the feudal lord ignored them as if he didn¡¯t see them. To be honest, the elf king was not a wee presence within the empire. He was a strong ally when it came to civil war, but now on the expedition, they wondered if they really needed to save him. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ??????????????????.¡¯ Of course, the elf knights from the kingdom, as well as those who had fled to this side after losing, were quite a force. If the elf kingmanded them directly, they could exert several times the strength. Johan knew from experience how fierce the fearless elf knights were. Moreover, if they seeded, they could give the enemy a greater shock than thest naval battle. It would be several times more shocking to rescue a hostage from right under the Sultan¡¯s nose. The captured eunuch was much more useful than he had thought. He squeezed out all the information he had, both useful and useless. Based on that, Johan drew a rough map. If he could just find the right opportunity, he could go right in and shake things up. ¡°Your Highness. I have something to ask you. . .¡± ¡°Speak.¡± Ulrike asked politely, and Johan nodded. Ulrike asked carefully. ¡°What if the king himself doesn¡¯t want to be rescued?¡± ¡°What are you talking about. . .¡± Johan was about to say that it didn¡¯t make sense, but he stopped. There was no way Ulrike would have said such a thing just because she didn¡¯t like the elf king. ¡®????. ???? ???? ???????????? ?????????????????¡¯ Come to think of it, there was a high possibility that he had sworn not to escape on his own while being treated properly when he was captured. It was not umon for such oaths to be made. However, most nobles broke their oaths in such situations. Nobles did not have the same strict faith as monks, and they could repentter ore up with a suitable excuse. That kind of flexibility was essential for a noble. However, the elf king was likely to be old-fashioned in that regard. Johan thought about Ulrike¡¯s words for a moment, but he said firmly. ¡°I can persuade him.¡± ¡°. . .Really?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Ulrike was surprised. To be able to persuade the elf king. Of course, she knew that Johan was close to the elf king. However, that was separate from persuasion. The elf king was such a person that he would be stubborn even if his own mother sent him a letter. ¡°I believe you because Your Highness says so. If you have any orders, I will support you as much as possible.¡± At Ulrike¡¯s response, the feudal lords in their seats sensed that the meeting wasing to an end. If a great feudal lord of that level agreed with the Duke¡¯s opinion, those below had to follow suit. It was better toe out first if they didn¡¯t want to be scolded and med and have their soldiers taken away. ¡°I will support you too, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Me too. . .¡± ¡°Thank you all.¡± Johan nodded and thought. ¡®?????? ?????? ????????. . . ?? ?????????? ??¡¯???? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????.¡¯ , Johan also felt a little sorry. Johan was the one who got the eunuchs drunk, received money and then handed them over to the envoy group. He thought he would be yed alive by the angry sultan, but he seemed to have survived unexpectedly. ¡°Get up. I¡¯m d to see you like this.¡± ¡°!¡± The eunuch was delighted when the duke spoke to him in a gentler voice than he had expected. He was such a fearsome figure that he had no idea how to react. Even if they were acquaintances, there was a limit to it. Anyone, even an acquaintance, would be nervous and scared if someone who had crawled on his stomach, ughtered soldiers, and crushed the wizard¡¯s skull approached them. ¡°Yes! I¡¯ve seen Your Highness before!!!¡± ¡°?¡± Johan was a little embarrassed when the other person was too happy. Why is he so happy as if he were a dog meeting his master after a long time? ¡®?? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????¡¯ The eunuch was thinking of subtly changing the subject if he red at him or asked him a question, but there was no sign of that. Anyone who saw him would think he was an old friend. The captain next to him was amazed at his excessively friendly behavior. ¡°As expected of Your Highness. Even the sultan¡¯s eunuch reacts like that to Your Highness¡¯s fame.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a little different. . . Anyway, thank you.¡± Johan ordered the less tired of the remaining men to pursue them and cleaned up the battlefield. Thanks to the help of the mermaids, the work was easy. The mermaids looked carefully and brought up the salvaged items. The captains were amazed once again at the sight. ¡°I didn¡¯t know mermaids would help. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing.¡± They had been on ships all their lives, but few of them had seen the tail of a mermaid, let alone seen one. In the first ce, mermaids were a symbol of ominousness in the sea. It was nothing good to meet them. However, now that they saw the mermaids appearing like this and helping the duke, they felt as if they were in a story from mythology. There really were miracles. The people of the republic, who were among the least religious in the expedition and were always criticized by the bishops of the order for their unique materialistic attitude, made the sign of the cross with a sincere heart this time. ¡°Lift it up slowly. You fools!¡± ©¥?? ???????????? ???? ????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?? ???????? ??????, ???? ???? ??????????. ¡°Now the box is broken on the side and everything is spilling out!¡± ©¥??¡¯???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ????! ???????? ??????????????! ???????????? Suetlg and Caenerna were leading the rear party, assisting Iselia. Their objective was simple: to go around the remaining territories and enlist more troops. Although Johan had swept through quickly, capturing feudal lords and conscripting forcibly, there were still many territories left. Furthermore, there were still pagan feudal lords who were still watching the situation. It was their role to persuade or coerce them into joining. It was not as difficult as they thought. When things were evenly matched, persuasion was difficult, but the Duke¡¯s prestige was now almost absolute. Even when they sent messengers, they were treated with utmost courtesy. However, the wizards were not at ease. ¡°The elf king might be a fool!¡± ¡°Shh. There are many ears around.¡± ¡°The elf king might be using his head as a helmet!¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s funny, but be quiet.¡± Suetlg calmed Caenerna down. He understood her feelings. News hade that the elf king had been captured. The wizards¡¯ reaction was a little different from that of the knights. The knights respected the elf king, who had fought to the end without showing his back even in an unfavorable situation. It was a bravery that only the best of knights could show. However, to the wizards, it was absurd. With his full strength and no desperate situation, why would he insist on fighting alone instead of simply retreating and joining up? ¡°I heard that the Sultan¡¯s army is thatrge. . .¡± Caenerna trailed off anxiously. Her fingers tapped the horse¡¯s back repeatedly, showing how anxious she was. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine.¡± Suetlg said calmly. Caenerna looked at him in surprise. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just me, but it seems like I¡¯m the only one in this camp who¡¯s worried. . . Is it just me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried too. It¡¯s just that I have faith.¡± ¡°In what?¡± ¡°In the providence of God.¡± At the sound that did not fit Suetlg, Caenerna looked like she had seen a malevolent spirit. Suetlg tried to clear up the misunderstanding by borating further. ¡°The providence of God is not something grand. It is simply doing what you can do now and not being afraid of tomorrow that has not yete. His Highness the Duke is impable in that regard. Isn¡¯t he different from those feudal lords who do nothing but prayzily?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but. . .¡± Caenerna nced at Iselia. There was no confusion in her expression as she nced at the de once and then sheathed it again at her waist. Does that elf of the Bluea family know that and that¡¯s why she¡¯s not unnecessarily anxious? ¡°No. It¡¯s just that His Highness is naturally fearless.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°What can I do? It¡¯s the truth.¡± Suetlg said it in a roundabout way, but his meaning was clear. Caenerna looked at him in surprise. ¡°Suetlg-nim. The wizards areining. . .¡± ¡°Again?! Since those guys were really treated. . .¡± Caenerna was furious. There were many wizards in the camp who had been brought from the Holy Land and nearby. It was a kind of preparation for dealing with the Sultan¡¯srge army. The problem was that these wizards, who had followed them obediently when told to, had started toin. If the Duke had been in the camp, they would have kept their mouths shut out of fear, but since the Duke was not there, theyined, ¡®?????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????????????????????????,¡¯ ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ??????????,¡¯ ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ??????????????????.¡¯ Seeing them, Suetlg and Caenerna unknowingly began to reflect. Isn¡¯t it because of these wizards that there are so many bad rumors about them? ¡°It¡¯s not that difficult.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because that jinx has bad luck!¡± ¡°If we treat them well now, they won¡¯tinter. Just be patient for a while. Give them what they want.¡± As they sent the servants back, this time Gerdolf came running from the front. The knights, who had the nickname of the butcher, appeared, and the servants were scared and ran away. ¡°Have you confirmed it?¡± Gerdolf nodded. Suetlg¡¯s face hardened. He had heard that a monster had appeared in front of them and blocked the road, and it seemed that it was true. ¡°It will take too long if we go around. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to treat the wizards well. We should have them catch it.¡± Caenerna nodded at Suetlg¡¯s words. It was a very good idea. ???????????? ¡°This eunuch is the Sultan¡¯s advisor and is known as the philosopher of the court.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± The captains, who didn¡¯t know much about it, apuded as if it was great. The eunuch looked embarrassed, but he seemed happy. After all, no one would hate beingplimented. ¡°To leave such a person behind and run away. Isn¡¯t the Sultan¡¯s brother really stupid?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± In fact, Balharni had left the eunuchs behind and retreated when he retreated. The eunuchs, dressed in splendid clothes, became good prey for the warriors who rushed in to catch the expensive hostages, and thanks to that, Balharni was able to escape during that time. And it was no good for the eunuchs to go with him. Wouldn¡¯t they be the ones to badmouth the Sultan in order to live when they returned? The eunuch knew that, so he cursed Balharni. ¡°That¡¯s right! He¡¯s a real idiot.¡± ¡°Even this philosopher says so, so it must be true.¡± The captains, who would have responded with ¡®???? ???????? ????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ???? ?????¡¯ even if Johan had said, ¡®???? ????????, ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????, ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????,¡¯ were impressed. The captains apuded again. They were somewhat well-informed. But they had never heard of the eunuch¡¯s name. . . Judging from what he said, there must be something to it! ¡°Thank you, Your Highness. For treating me so well. . .¡± The eunuch burst into tears. After they returned to the Sultan¡¯s camp, their lives were spared, but they could not enjoy the power they had enjoyed before. It was natural after such a defeat. They had to do things that only the youngest eunuchs could do and could not participate in important conversations. In the midst of all this, he was moved by the warm treatment he received. ¡°Come to think of it, I¡¯m curious about something.¡± ¡°Yes. What are you curious about?¡± ¡°I heard that King Angoldolph is being held captive in the camp. Is he doing well? I¡¯m worried about him since we¡¯re close.¡± ¡°That¡¯s. . .¡± The eunuch hesitated. Information about the prisoners held in the camp should not be easily given out. Moreover, the elf king was such a high-ranking hostage that the Sultan was personally in charge of him. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell me? That¡¯s fine.¡± Johan said coldly on purpose. The eunuch could not help but notice the change in the Duke¡¯s voice. The eunuch hurriedly answered in a flustered manner. ¡°No! I was just worried because I didn¡¯t know enough.¡± ¡°Whatever it is, tell me slowly.¡± ¡®?????????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????????????, ????¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ Johan thought to himself. When there were many people, they would brainstorm and think hard, but the eunuch, who was rtively young, couldn¡¯t even think of doing that. From the other person¡¯s point of view, it was a lot of fun. If he pushed, he would be pushed, and if he pulled, he would be pulled. . . He was just thankful that the old eunuchs hadn¡¯t been caught. ???????????? ¡°To rescue His Majesty Angoldolph. I¡¯m impressed!¡± The knights in their seats were impressed by the n that came out so soon after they had won at sea. However, the feudal lords from the empire reacted somewhat nervously. ¡°Does Your Highness have to go yourself?¡± ¡°The enemy¡¯s morale must have been dampened since their surprise attack through the sea was thwarted. It might be better to wait this time.¡± ¡°The elf king is strong, so he¡¯ll be fine even if he¡¯s a prisoner for a long time.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The elf knights from the kingdom who had joined the expedition looked at the feudal lord who had just spoken as if he was ridiculous. However, the feudal lord ignored them as if he didn¡¯t see them. To be honest, the elf king was not a wee presence within the empire. He was a strong ally when it came to civil war, but now on the expedition, they wondered if they really needed to save him. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ??????????????????.¡¯ Of course, the elf knights from the kingdom, as well as those who had fled to this side after losing, were quite a force. If the elf kingmanded them directly, they could exert several times the strength. Johan knew from experience how fierce the fearless elf knights were. Moreover, if they seeded, they could give the enemy a greater shock than thest naval battle. It would be several times more shocking to rescue a hostage from right under the Sultan¡¯s nose. The captured eunuch was much more useful than he had thought. He squeezed out all the information he had, both useful and useless. Based on that, Johan drew a rough map. If he could just find the right opportunity, he could go right in and shake things up. ¡°Your Highness. I have something to ask you. . .¡± ¡°Speak.¡± Ulrike asked politely, and Johan nodded. Ulrike asked carefully. ¡°What if the king himself doesn¡¯t want to be rescued?¡± ¡°What are you talking about. . .¡± Johan was about to say that it didn¡¯t make sense, but he stopped. There was no way Ulrike would have said such a thing just because she didn¡¯t like the elf king. ¡®????. ???? ???? ???????????? ?????????????????¡¯ Come to think of it, there was a high possibility that he had sworn not to escape on his own while being treated properly when he was captured. It was not umon for such oaths to be made. However, most nobles broke their oaths in such situations. Nobles did not have the same strict faith as monks, and they could repentter ore up with a suitable excuse. That kind of flexibility was essential for a noble. However, the elf king was likely to be old-fashioned in that regard. Johan thought about Ulrike¡¯s words for a moment, but he said firmly. ¡°I can persuade him.¡± ¡°. . .Really?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Ulrike was surprised. To be able to persuade the elf king. Of course, she knew that Johan was close to the elf king. However, that was separate from persuasion. The elf king was such a person that he would be stubborn even if his own mother sent him a letter. ¡°I believe you because Your Highness says so. If you have any orders, I will support you as much as possible.¡± At Ulrike¡¯s response, the feudal lords in their seats sensed that the meeting wasing to an end. If a great feudal lord of that level agreed with the Duke¡¯s opinion, those below had to follow suit. It was better toe out first if they didn¡¯t want to be scolded and med and have their soldiers taken away. ¡°I will support you too, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Me too. . .¡± ¡°Thank you all.¡± Johan nodded and thought. ¡®?????? ?????? ????????. . . ?? ?????????? ??¡¯???? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????.¡¯ Chapter 349: ???????????? (1) If the other great nobles present had been there, they would have been dumbfounded and speechless. Johan sounded like a severe duke who would have them brought out after knocking them out. However, Johan did not care. ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????????????? ??????.¡¯ Elves were inherently stubborn. He knew that because he had lived with Iselia and slept together for a long time. Elves were not in a position to call the dwarves stubborn. When the stubbornness became an Elf Knight, it doubled. The knights were also quite stubborn. And the Elf King was the knight of knights among the Elf Knights. His stubbornness was directly proportional to his abilities. Johan knew that very well. ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????¡¯ Ulrike was really curious. If there was a way to persuade the Elf King, she also wanted to learn it. Because she knew it would be useful someday. ???????????? ¡°Get this f*cking idiot out of my sight after whipping him!!¡± As expected, the Sultan¡¯s anger exploded. With his face flushed red with rage, the Sultan forgot about the nobles present and spewed profanity. Still not relieved of his anger, he grabbed whatever was in reach and hurled it at Balharni. Blood trickled from Balharni¡¯s forehead where a silver chalice struck, but he did not move and remained prostrate. Perhaps because the defeat was too shocking, even nobles who would normally advise showing mercy to rtives kept their mouths shut. How could an entire fleet simply be devoured? ¡°I. . .I don¡¯t understand. Was there a leak of information?¡± ¡°Even with leaked intelligence, how could the enemy predict our movements and lie in wait when the sea is so vast? Moreover, reports indicate the enemies outnumbered us several fold. . .¡± Apart from Balharni¡¯s responsibility, the nobles chattered toprehend the reason for the failure. At the same time, an ominous premonition shed through some minds. None of the nobles who followed the Sultan doubted victory. While there wereints like, ¡¯?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ????, ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????????¡¯ or ¡®???? ?????????? ????¡¯???? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ????????,¡¯ there were no doubts about winning. However, for the first time, the nobles considered the possibility that this campaign might fail. Momentum was frightening indeed. Once broken, it was hard to build back no matter what one did. Sensing the tepid air, the Sultan spoke strongly. ¡°I will give time. Figure a way to cross the river and trample the enemies! Otherwise, I will hold ountable even those here!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Voices were loud, but the nobles rolled their eyes anxiously. Sparks better not fly unnecessarily! ???????????? Iwp, who had led the Sultan¡¯s envoys to the Duke¡¯s camp. He was a trusted person among the tribal chiefs and nobles even in the camp. While the nobles were too afraid to open their mouths in front of the Sultan, they would gather in small groups and murmur their opinions when the Sultan disappeared. So it was not unusual for nobles who were uneasy about the current situation toe to Iwp. ¡°Calm down, Moyez-gong. The Sultan won¡¯t punish you for that.¡± ¡°But Balharni-nim was punished like that!¡± ¡°That case was different. . .¡± Iwp was about to reassure the anxious courtier when he paused. Come to think of it, those who were here did not stop the raid when Iwp went to the Duke¡¯s camp as an envoy. If it wasn¡¯t for Duke¡¯s generosity, their heads would have rolled. . . ¡°Why do you make that face?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t understand. There must have been a spy at the camp, right?¡± ¡°The spy is not a normal spy. Only a few including the Sultan knew the date, right? I can¡¯t believe how they found out.¡± As the nobles grumbled, Iwp came up with a solution. ¡°How about this? Hold the eunuchs responsible.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°There have already been bad rumors about the eunuchs since thest defeat. The Sultan doesn¡¯t trust them like before.¡± As both Suhekhar and Yeheyman were prominentmanders, it was hard to believe that they led an army that was several times their size and were defeated. As a result, only rumors had spread. That the enemy borrowed the power of demons, that there were traitors, etc. . . One of them was rumors about the eunuchs. Rumors that the eunuchs had betrayed the Sultan and had been bribed by the enemy. Of course, the nobles did not fully believe it. If they had been bribed, there was no reason to return to the Sultan¡¯s camp instead of being in the enemy¡¯s camp. However, the eunuchs had always incurred the hatred of nobles. They had no intention of stopping them from using eunuchs as scapegoats to change the atmosphere. ¡°The eunuchs secretlymunicated with the enemy?¡± ¡°It will make troublesome guys disappear, and the atmosphere will change, won¡¯t it? There are tribal leaders on their spots, but if this continues, who knows when they will escape.¡± Although Sultan seemed to be wielding his iron fist, there were many subtly unstable parts. The nobles and tribal chiefs who had brought their subordinates were loyal for now, but they were the kind who wouldn¡¯t hesitate to return to their ownnds if the situation flowed strangely. ¡°It seems like a good method.¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you, Iwp-gong.¡± The visiting nobles seemed to be in better spirits as their faces brightened. They chatted about something else for a while. ¡°But what are the wizards doing? If we can¡¯t cross the river, shouldn¡¯t they use magic to build a bridge or something?¡± ¡°What can you expect from wizards? They can¡¯t do anything if it¡¯s not something they know how to do themselves. Anyway, those wizard guys. . .¡± Wizards were always an object of awe and fear. Even in ordinary times, nobles couldn¡¯t dare to casually treat a wizard, so in this kind of situation, they were bound to get scolded. If they received that kind of treatment, shouldn¡¯t they demonstrate their abilities? ¡°But isn¡¯t the one you brought with you this time quite divine?¡± ¡°I get goosebumps every time I see him.¡± ¡°Stop chattering and let¡¯s get up. Anyway, I think sacrificing the eunuchs is a good idea, so after sacrificing them, let¡¯s try to boost morale.¡± The nobles got up one by one and left the tent. Those who were fairly drunk headed back to their own tents supported by their attendants. Alone, Iwp thought to himself. ¡®???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ????????, ?? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ????.¡¯ He didn¡¯t expect they would lose with an army of this size, but if they just stayed still, something big could have happened. Iwp thought he should make a move too. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. . . Heeheeheeheek! Frightened horses and cows bellowed from all over the camp. The ves cursed in irritation. ¡°Damn things. . .¡± ¡°Be patient. Aren¡¯t they precious guests?¡± The ves didn¡¯t dare to talk back at Iwp¡¯s words, but they shot gazes mixed with irritation and hatred. They were really annoying people. ???????????? ¡°Isn¡¯t it. . .strange?¡± Euclyia said in a puzzled voice. They were now past the river and upon the hill near the Sultan¡¯s camp. The journey had been short, yet they had gone through considerable hardship to reach this point. They had circled far to the east before swimming across the river under the cover of darkness and pressing on without resting to catch their breath. ¡®?????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????.¡¯ There were sentries by the river, but the perimeter was poorly guarded. Few nobles were as thorough as Johan in drilling their men, and there were also rare subordinates who did so. It was difficult for even the elite of the elite to maintain concentration and monitor steadily for several days. Furthermore, the farther one went from the center of the camp, the lower the rank of those stationed there tended to be. Naturally, their training wascking as well. ¡°Their best troops are probably in the middle, guarding the Sultan¡¯s tent. Besides, the enemy has a numerical advantage over us, so why would they bother keeping strict watch over the river? They¡¯d rather let us cross and pick us off once they¡¯re aware of our presence.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it, you idiot. Why aren¡¯t there any sentries when the horses and cattle are making such a racket?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Acdda stopped in his tracks at his cousin¡¯s words. One of the other mercenaries who had been following them, since the centaurs had stopped bickering and started moving again, spoke up. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you going? Are you scared?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s scared©¥¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even get on the boat.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The centaurs wilted, having been struck where it hurt. The other mercenaries who had started the teasing were taken aback when their words proved more effective than they had anticipated. N-No. It¡¯s just that different races have different strengths and weaknesses. No one criticizes dwarves for not being as good at digging as they are.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Why are you saying such things?¡± Johan cut off his subordinates¡¯ increasingly heated discussion. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a trap?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t. . .seem like it.¡± Eastern rangers such as Joseph and Gmbos also did not think it was a trap. Its position was too ambiguous for that. However, the centaurs who had gone ahead were right about one thing. It was strange that the sentries had not emerged despite the racket being made by the livestock in the camp. ¡®???????? ???? ?????¡¯ ¡°Maybe they¡¯ve all passed out drunk?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a little too optimistic?¡± ¡°But that¡¯s the only thing I can think of. . . It must be cold, and they probably don¡¯t have any cloaks, so I can see why they¡¯d want to drink.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving. There¡¯s no point in standing around here. Prepare to retreat as we advance.¡± The eunuch had told them that the elf king was being held somewhere close to the center of the camp. It was a spacious, isted area, but they would have to proceed with caution if they wanted to break in from outside. ¡°I smell something strange.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the wizards¡¯ camp.¡± Having heard about it from the eunuch, Johan was not surprised. There was a mystical air to the camp, where faint torchlight flickered in the darkness. It was undoubtedly where the wizards serving the Sultan were staying. ¡®???? ???????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????? ??????, ???? ??????????????¡¯?? ???? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ The Emperor¡¯s camp had been booby-trapped by wizards to a near-paranoid extent. In contrast, there was nothing like that here. All they had to do was ignore it and go around. ¡°Friendly Johan of House Yeats. It¡¯s been a while. What brings you here?¡± ¡°. . . . . .?!¡± The group could not help but be startled when a voice suddenly spoke out from the darkness. It hade out of nowhere. ¡°What the¨C?!¡± Johan btedly recognized the speaker. His vision, far superior to that of ordinary men, pierced the darkness and revealed the identity of the figure standing there. It was a giant. ¡°A Mahemaniu?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Johan of House Yeats. Have you made some new friends?¡± The Mahemaniu he had met in the ck Mountains greeted him cheerfully. Travelers like Johan, who had been kind and polite enough to pay the toll andpliment the gatekeeper on his hard work, were rare in the ck Mountains. ¡°Mahemaniu. It¡¯s good to see you, but could you keep your voice down?¡± Johan spoke as calmly as he could. The men behind him were already sweating profusely from tension. Given the presence of the giants, it would not be strange if they were discovered at any moment. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°If you wake up the sleepers, they¡¯ll cause amotion.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. We giants are always making a racket here. The others don¡¯t pay us any mind.¡± ¡°. . . . . .!¡± Johan felt a chill run down his spine at the Mahemaniu¡¯s words. The Sultan had brought the giants of the ck Mountains here! That was an incredible feat. ¡°That goddamn, ipetent son of a©¥¡± The centaurs gnashed their teeth and cursed. They were furious with the eunuch for not telling them about the giants beforehand. I¡¯ll rip his guts out when I get back! However, Johan did not think that the eunuch had done it intentionally. If the Sultan¡¯s wizards had brought the giants of the ck Mountains, they would have done so quietly. The Mahemaniu did not seem to have been here for long either. . . ¡°What kind of deal did you make with the wizards?¡± ¡°We do as they ask. We lost a bet, so it¡¯s only natural.¡± The Mahemaniu spoke with a slightly crestfallen expression. It seemed that he was ashamed of having lost a bet to humans as a giant. Johan asked, as if he did not understand. ¡°Normally, even if there¡¯s a bet, it would be about whether or not you¡¯ll let us pass for free. Why are you following them around like this? What was the bet about?¡± ¡°Hmm. I don¡¯t remember exactly.¡± ¡°Mahemaniu. They¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°Trust me. They¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Otherwise, there¡¯s no way you would have lost a bet.¡±, If the other great nobles present had been there, they would have been dumbfounded and speechless. Johan sounded like a severe duke who would have them brought out after knocking them out. However, Johan did not care. ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????????????? ??????.¡¯ Elves were inherently stubborn. He knew that because he had lived with Iselia and slept together for a long time. Elves were not in a position to call the dwarves stubborn. When the stubbornness became an Elf Knight, it doubled. The knights were also quite stubborn. And the Elf King was the knight of knights among the Elf Knights. His stubbornness was directly proportional to his abilities. Johan knew that very well. ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????¡¯ Ulrike was really curious. If there was a way to persuade the Elf King, she also wanted to learn it. Because she knew it would be useful someday. ???????????? ¡°Get this f*cking idiot out of my sight after whipping him!!¡± As expected, the Sultan¡¯s anger exploded. With his face flushed red with rage, the Sultan forgot about the nobles present and spewed profanity. Still not relieved of his anger, he grabbed whatever was in reach and hurled it at Balharni. Blood trickled from Balharni¡¯s forehead where a silver chalice struck, but he did not move and remained prostrate. Perhaps because the defeat was too shocking, even nobles who would normally advise showing mercy to rtives kept their mouths shut. How could an entire fleet simply be devoured? ¡°I. . .I don¡¯t understand. Was there a leak of information?¡± ¡°Even with leaked intelligence, how could the enemy predict our movements and lie in wait when the sea is so vast? Moreover, reports indicate the enemies outnumbered us several fold. . .¡± Apart from Balharni¡¯s responsibility, the nobles chattered toprehend the reason for the failure. At the same time, an ominous premonition shed through some minds. None of the nobles who followed the Sultan doubted victory. While there wereints like, ¡¯?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ????, ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????????¡¯ or ¡®???? ?????????? ????¡¯???? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ????????,¡¯ there were no doubts about winning. However, for the first time, the nobles considered the possibility that this campaign might fail. Momentum was frightening indeed. Once broken, it was hard to build back no matter what one did. Sensing the tepid air, the Sultan spoke strongly. ¡°I will give time. Figure a way to cross the river and trample the enemies! Otherwise, I will hold ountable even those here!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Voices were loud, but the nobles rolled their eyes anxiously. Sparks better not fly unnecessarily! ???????????? Iwp, who had led the Sultan¡¯s envoys to the Duke¡¯s camp. He was a trusted person among the tribal chiefs and nobles even in the camp. While the nobles were too afraid to open their mouths in front of the Sultan, they would gather in small groups and murmur their opinions when the Sultan disappeared. So it was not unusual for nobles who were uneasy about the current situation toe to Iwp. ¡°Calm down, Moyez-gong. The Sultan won¡¯t punish you for that.¡± ¡°But Balharni-nim was punished like that!¡± ¡°That case was different. . .¡± Iwp was about to reassure the anxious courtier when he paused. Come to think of it, those who were here did not stop the raid when Iwp went to the Duke¡¯s camp as an envoy. If it wasn¡¯t for Duke¡¯s generosity, their heads would have rolled. . . ¡°Why do you make that face?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t understand. There must have been a spy at the camp, right?¡± ¡°The spy is not a normal spy. Only a few including the Sultan knew the date, right? I can¡¯t believe how they found out.¡± As the nobles grumbled, Iwp came up with a solution. ¡°How about this? Hold the eunuchs responsible.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°There have already been bad rumors about the eunuchs since thest defeat. The Sultan doesn¡¯t trust them like before.¡± As both Suhekhar and Yeheyman were prominentmanders, it was hard to believe that they led an army that was several times their size and were defeated. As a result, only rumors had spread. That the enemy borrowed the power of demons, that there were traitors, etc. . . One of them was rumors about the eunuchs. Rumors that the eunuchs had betrayed the Sultan and had been bribed by the enemy. Of course, the nobles did not fully believe it. If they had been bribed, there was no reason to return to the Sultan¡¯s camp instead of being in the enemy¡¯s camp. However, the eunuchs had always incurred the hatred of nobles. They had no intention of stopping them from using eunuchs as scapegoats to change the atmosphere. ¡°The eunuchs secretlymunicated with the enemy?¡± ¡°It will make troublesome guys disappear, and the atmosphere will change, won¡¯t it? There are tribal leaders on their spots, but if this continues, who knows when they will escape.¡± Although Sultan seemed to be wielding his iron fist, there were many subtly unstable parts. The nobles and tribal chiefs who had brought their subordinates were loyal for now, but they were the kind who wouldn¡¯t hesitate to return to their ownnds if the situation flowed strangely. ¡°It seems like a good method.¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you, Iwp-gong.¡± The visiting nobles seemed to be in better spirits as their faces brightened. They chatted about something else for a while. ¡°But what are the wizards doing? If we can¡¯t cross the river, shouldn¡¯t they use magic to build a bridge or something?¡± ¡°What can you expect from wizards? They can¡¯t do anything if it¡¯s not something they know how to do themselves. Anyway, those wizard guys. . .¡± Wizards were always an object of awe and fear. Even in ordinary times, nobles couldn¡¯t dare to casually treat a wizard, so in this kind of situation, they were bound to get scolded. If they received that kind of treatment, shouldn¡¯t they demonstrate their abilities? ¡°But isn¡¯t the one you brought with you this time quite divine?¡± ¡°I get goosebumps every time I see him.¡± ¡°Stop chattering and let¡¯s get up. Anyway, I think sacrificing the eunuchs is a good idea, so after sacrificing them, let¡¯s try to boost morale.¡± The nobles got up one by one and left the tent. Those who were fairly drunk headed back to their own tents supported by their attendants. Alone, Iwp thought to himself. ¡®???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ????????, ?? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ????.¡¯ He didn¡¯t expect they would lose with an army of this size, but if they just stayed still, something big could have happened. Iwp thought he should make a move too. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. . . Heeheeheeheek! Frightened horses and cows bellowed from all over the camp. The ves cursed in irritation. ¡°Damn things. . .¡± ¡°Be patient. Aren¡¯t they precious guests?¡± The ves didn¡¯t dare to talk back at Iwp¡¯s words, but they shot gazes mixed with irritation and hatred. They were really annoying people. ???????????? ¡°Isn¡¯t it. . .strange?¡± Euclyia said in a puzzled voice. They were now past the river and upon the hill near the Sultan¡¯s camp. The journey had been short, yet they had gone through considerable hardship to reach this point. They had circled far to the east before swimming across the river under the cover of darkness and pressing on without resting to catch their breath. ¡®?????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????.¡¯ There were sentries by the river, but the perimeter was poorly guarded. Few nobles were as thorough as Johan in drilling their men, and there were also rare subordinates who did so. It was difficult for even the elite of the elite to maintain concentration and monitor steadily for several days. Furthermore, the farther one went from the center of the camp, the lower the rank of those stationed there tended to be. Naturally, their training wascking as well. ¡°Their best troops are probably in the middle, guarding the Sultan¡¯s tent. Besides, the enemy has a numerical advantage over us, so why would they bother keeping strict watch over the river? They¡¯d rather let us cross and pick us off once they¡¯re aware of our presence.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it, you idiot. Why aren¡¯t there any sentries when the horses and cattle are making such a racket?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Acdda stopped in his tracks at his cousin¡¯s words. One of the other mercenaries who had been following them, since the centaurs had stopped bickering and started moving again, spoke up. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you going? Are you scared?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s scared©¥¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even get on the boat.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The centaurs wilted, having been struck where it hurt. The other mercenaries who had started the teasing were taken aback when their words proved more effective than they had anticipated. N-No. It¡¯s just that different races have different strengths and weaknesses. No one criticizes dwarves for not being as good at digging as they are.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Why are you saying such things?¡± Johan cut off his subordinates¡¯ increasingly heated discussion. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a trap?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t. . .seem like it.¡± Eastern rangers such as Joseph and Gmbos also did not think it was a trap. Its position was too ambiguous for that. However, the centaurs who had gone ahead were right about one thing. It was strange that the sentries had not emerged despite the racket being made by the livestock in the camp. ¡®???????? ???? ?????¡¯ ¡°Maybe they¡¯ve all passed out drunk?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a little too optimistic?¡± ¡°But that¡¯s the only thing I can think of. . . It must be cold, and they probably don¡¯t have any cloaks, so I can see why they¡¯d want to drink.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving. There¡¯s no point in standing around here. Prepare to retreat as we advance.¡± The eunuch had told them that the elf king was being held somewhere close to the center of the camp. It was a spacious, isted area, but they would have to proceed with caution if they wanted to break in from outside. ¡°I smell something strange.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the wizards¡¯ camp.¡± Having heard about it from the eunuch, Johan was not surprised. There was a mystical air to the camp, where faint torchlight flickered in the darkness. It was undoubtedly where the wizards serving the Sultan were staying. ¡®???? ???????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????? ??????, ???? ??????????????¡¯?? ???? ?? ??????????????.¡¯ The Emperor¡¯s camp had been booby-trapped by wizards to a near-paranoid extent. In contrast, there was nothing like that here. All they had to do was ignore it and go around. ¡°Friendly Johan of House Yeats. It¡¯s been a while. What brings you here?¡± ¡°. . . . . .?!¡± The group could not help but be startled when a voice suddenly spoke out from the darkness. It hade out of nowhere. ¡°What the¨C?!¡± Johan btedly recognized the speaker. His vision, far superior to that of ordinary men, pierced the darkness and revealed the identity of the figure standing there. It was a giant. ¡°A Mahemaniu?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Johan of House Yeats. Have you made some new friends?¡± The Mahemaniu he had met in the ck Mountains greeted him cheerfully. Travelers like Johan, who had been kind and polite enough to pay the toll andpliment the gatekeeper on his hard work, were rare in the ck Mountains. ¡°Mahemaniu. It¡¯s good to see you, but could you keep your voice down?¡± Johan spoke as calmly as he could. The men behind him were already sweating profusely from tension. Given the presence of the giants, it would not be strange if they were discovered at any moment. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°If you wake up the sleepers, they¡¯ll cause amotion.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. We giants are always making a racket here. The others don¡¯t pay us any mind.¡± ¡°. . . . . .!¡± Johan felt a chill run down his spine at the Mahemaniu¡¯s words. The Sultan had brought the giants of the ck Mountains here! That was an incredible feat. ¡°That goddamn, ipetent son of a©¥¡± The centaurs gnashed their teeth and cursed. They were furious with the eunuch for not telling them about the giants beforehand. I¡¯ll rip his guts out when I get back! However, Johan did not think that the eunuch had done it intentionally. If the Sultan¡¯s wizards had brought the giants of the ck Mountains, they would have done so quietly. The Mahemaniu did not seem to have been here for long either. . . ¡°What kind of deal did you make with the wizards?¡± ¡°We do as they ask. We lost a bet, so it¡¯s only natural.¡± The Mahemaniu spoke with a slightly crestfallen expression. It seemed that he was ashamed of having lost a bet to humans as a giant. Johan asked, as if he did not understand. ¡°Normally, even if there¡¯s a bet, it would be about whether or not you¡¯ll let us pass for free. Why are you following them around like this? What was the bet about?¡± ¡°Hmm. I don¡¯t remember exactly.¡± ¡°Mahemaniu. They¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°Trust me. They¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Otherwise, there¡¯s no way you would have lost a bet.¡± Chapter 350: ???????????? (2) Johan¡¯s voice contained a potent force. The giant, upon hearing his words, nodded slightly, as if his resolve had been stirred. ¡°Thinking about it now, it¡¯s strange. I¡¯m not used to losing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s clear that the wizards cheated. The Sultan¡¯s wizards are well-known, you see.¡± ¡°Cheaters!¡± The giant was startled by Johan¡¯s words. Then he became furious. ¡°Unforgivable! Cheating in a wager!¡± ¡°Yes. They¡¯re truly despicable fellows. Were the ones we met before also present?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Go to the wizards with yourpanions. Make them confess the truth!¡±¡°I shall!¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Mahemaniu nodded as if awakened from a long slumber. ¡°Never cease until the wizards confess the truth. Wizards are naturally cunning and wicked, who knows what tricks they might employ. Ignore all their words except their confession of the truth.¡± ¡°I understand. Johan of House Yeats. Won¡¯t youe with us?¡± The giant invited him, convinced by Johan¡¯s reliable words. It felt like he would be able to see through the wizards¡¯ tricks as well. However, Johan shook his head. ¡°I have a ce I need to go.¡± ¡°Then it can¡¯t be helped.¡± ¡°Wait. What do you n to do once you learn that the wizards cheated? Are you thinking of returning to the ck Mountains?¡± Mahemaniu pondered for a moment and nodded. Johan extended his finger and pointed to a star. ¡°Do you see that star up there? Just follow that star and you¡¯ll reach the ck Mountains.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Take this.¡± Johan gave him detailed directions and then parted ways. In the darkness, the sound of the giants rising one by one could be heard. It was Mahemaniu calling out to hispanions. ¡°. . .If I were to pick the most wicked and powerful among the wizards, I would choose Your Highness the duke.¡± ¡°I appreciate the praise. Let¡¯s move!¡± Johan and his subordinates moved again. They had to reach the front of the tent while the giants were creating amotion. ???????????? Among the wizards under the Sultan, there were various factions. First were the royal wizards who had served in the pce for generations, originating from eunuchs. They excelled at concocting various drugs. Although some followed the army, there weren¡¯t many. After all, their abilities didn¡¯t align well withbat. Next were the wizards brought by the great nobles. Whether they were also from a lower aristocratic background or not, these wizards received treatment no less than the nobles themselves, and they excelled at prophecy and divination. These were the types of magic that nobles were most fond of. Of course, these wizards didn¡¯t stand out inbat. It was difficult to see immediate results from such magic. Finally, there were the wizards of the tribes scattered across the vastnds of the empire. Their loyalty wascking, but they were well-versed in diverse and rare mysteries. They were the most useful when it came tobat. Naturally, it could only have been a tribal wizard who managed to coax the giants from the ck Mountains and bring them along. ¡°Truly remarkable! How did you bring the giants with you?¡± The other wizards sent gazes of admiration and awe. As fellow beings devoted to mysteries, they couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. Bringing the giants was a truly great feat. Commoners often underestimated the intelligence of giants. However, giants were by no means stupid. They were simply fixated on the things that interested them, and they were never easy opponents to persuade. And yet, someone managed to persuade them toe. ¡°Normally, I wouldn¡¯t share this, but since we¡¯ve met like this, I shall tell you,¡± said the tribal wizard who had convinced the giants toe. None of the other wizards present were offended by his attitude. A capable wizard deserved respect. If he were to share his secrets, they had all the more reason to be humble. ¡°Giants will never do anything they don¡¯t want to. And they¡¯re quite stubborn.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true.¡± Wizards who had met giants before nodded. No matter how hard you tried to persuade them, giants wouldn¡¯t follow you if they didn¡¯t like you, even if you offered them a hundred cows, a hundred horses, and a hundred sheep. The wizard took out an incense burner and ced it down. It was a censer that emitted an extraordinary aura. ¡°This incense burner is a treasure I received from my master. If you put the right herbs inside and burn them, the resulting fragrance will temporarily erase memories. No matter how strong the giants are, they can¡¯t resist this.¡± The wizard tapped the incense burner and spoke with delight. It was easy to lie to the giants when their memories were temporarily gone. You could just say that they lost a bet and that they had agreed to assist the army under themand of the wizards. ¡°W-Was that how you brought them here? By lying to them??¡± While some wizards were impressed, many more were frightened or shocked. Tribal wizards were sensitive about tradition and discipline. Deceiving giants was taboo among many tribes. ¡°If you look at it that way, I suppose so.¡± ¡°If they find outter, how will you deal with the consequences?¡± ¡°If they don¡¯t find out, isn¡¯t that fine?¡± ¡°Even if you seal wine in a jar, it will eventually disappear over time. What makes you think. . . Don¡¯t you think the giants will retaliate against you and your descendants if they find out?¡± Despite what the other wizards said, the wizard holding the incense burner didn¡¯t seem to take it seriously. ¡°You worry too much. Not only will they not find out, but even if they do, how will they find me if I run away? The ce I came from is so far away that you can¡¯t even see it from the ck Mountains.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Since the wizard had a point, the others stopped talking and kept their mouths shut. Still, their expressions were stiff, as if they were still slightly anxious. ¡°Wizards,e out!!¡± ¡°??!!¡± A thunderous roar came from outside. It would have been better if it was actually thunder. That was the giants¡¯ furious yelling. The wizards who had been talking until just now gasped. ¡°Why are they doing that?¡± ¡°W-Well. . . Perhaps they didn¡¯t like the meal? Maybe the ves gave them scrawny livestock. . .¡± One of the wizards lifted the tent p and peeked outside. The soldiers and attendants were shocked and tried to block the giants, but it was no use. When the giants got angry and stomped their feet, the soldiers immediately made way for them. ¡°Wizards,e out!!¡± ¡°Why are they doing this?¡± ¡°Wizards, you tricked us! If you don¡¯t tell us the truth, you¡¯ll die here!¡± ????????! One of the furious giants kicked the tent with his foot. The firmly secured tent flew away and tumbled over and over. The wizards who had been lyingfortably were startled and got up. One quick-witted wizard crawled on all fours and hid in the darkness. ¡°You! You tricked us! Tell us the truth!¡± ¡°N-No! What are you talking about. . .? This is ridiculous.¡± The other wizards sighed. They had feared this, but the giants had really found out. And it was in the worst possible situation! ¡°Now that things havee to this, quickly apologize and promise thempensation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. . . Keep quiet! If you keep bbering, they¡¯ll get suspicious! There¡¯s no evidence whatsoever!¡± ¡°Do you think this is a city courthouse? What are you talking about, evidence? What does evidence mean to giants!¡± The wizards were arguing among themselves, anxiously chattering away, and the giants seemed to have made up their minds. ¡°Three seconds! We¡¯re not waiting any longer! If you don¡¯t confess, we¡¯ll kill you here!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Gulp©¥ While the wizards were panicking and trying to figure out what to do, the soldiers behind them made the worst possible choice. ¡°Attack! Rescue the wizards!¡± ¡°W-Wait! Wait!¡± Without a chance to stop them, the gathered archers began to shoot arrows. There was no answer when the angry giants started causing a scene. The captains shouted, ordering their men to shoot at the giants¡¯ weak points. ¡°We¡¯ve been tricked! Kill them!¡± The giants swung their clubs, letting out war cries. The wizard closest to them was instantly crushed to death. ¡°A. . . Am I dreaming?¡± ¡°Snap out of it! We have to drive the giants out!¡± Fires were rising up all around them, and panicked knights came running. They couldn¡¯t believe the reality of giants running wild and their mouths hung open. ¡°Did the wizards betray us?! Where did those wizards go!¡± ¡°They¡¯re hiding over there!¡± ¡°. . .Summon the remaining wizards!¡± ???????????? The giants¡¯ rampage was much more effective than expected. Johan and his men were able to easily reach the camp where the elf king was staying. Of course, there were guards in front. . . ¡°Swish!¡± ¡°Ack!¡± Nobody expected a surprise attack, especially not outside. The sentries fell without even being able to scream. Johan shook the blood off his sword and gestured. ¡°There are more inside.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait here.¡± The men were surprised when Johan walked inside as if it was nothing. He was just going to go in like that, when there were still enemies remaining? ¡°H-Hey, w. . .¡± After a short while, Johan came out. He was covered in even more blood than before. ¡°I took care of them. Let¡¯s go. You wake up the other elf knights and bring them with you. I¡¯ll take His Majesty.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± As agreed upon beforehand, the group split up. Johan headed towards the elf king¡¯s tent. He knew where it was, and since the king¡¯s tent was so splendid, it was easy to find. ¡°!¡± Johan lifted the tent p and went inside. The elf king was getting up from his bed, perhaps because of themotion outside. ¡°Who. . . Ugh!¡± BAM! Johan punched the elf king right in the jaw. And then he panicked. ¡®????????.¡¯ He had thrown the punch because his opponent had suddenly gotten up. He had originally nned to say a few words first, and if that didn¡¯t work, he would knock him out after securing him. Perhaps because Johan had been tense, his fist had moved first. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???? ????????????.¡¯ Johan lifted the elf king over his shoulder. The unconscious elf king went limp and stayed still. ¡°Duke! These people say they can¡¯t just leave!¡± ¡°Tell them the elf king ordered them to leave.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Johan had knocked out the elf king and was rying fake orders, but the centaurs who saw their master carrying the elf king on his shoulder didn¡¯t say anything and just ran. The elf knights followed the orders without knowing anything. ¡°If His Majesty ordered it. . .!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Now, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Where is His Majesty?¡± ¡°He must be walking ahead. Come on, let¡¯s move!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s dark!!! Are you going to keep wasting time with such pointless nonsense?! We risked our livesing to the Sultan¡¯s camp, you know?!¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. We¡¯ll properly repay this favor.¡± ¡°Of course you will!¡± The centaurs set fire to the camp as a final act. As a race known throughout history for causing the most fires, they skillfully threw firestarters all over the camp. They also threw jars filled with a thick, ck liquid that dwarves used in sieges. ¡°We¡¯re done! Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I see His Majesty. . .?¡± ???????????? ¡°There are soldiers over there!¡± ¡°Oh no. We caused too much of amotion. Let¡¯s go around them!¡± Johan and his men decided not to cross the river right away and take a detour instead. Unbeknownst to Johan, these soldiers were the ones who hade out because of the giants. Themotion had gotten so loud that even otherpanies had been mobilized. ¡°Are there any pursuers?¡± ¡°No! It seems like there aren¡¯t any!¡± Their path was blocked, but the men weren¡¯t flustered. The enemy was still in chaos, and there was no pursuit. Not being able to cross the river right away was only a minor problem. This was a great sess. ¡°Ugh. . .¡± ¡°Your Majesty! Wake up!¡± ¡°Who. . . Who attacked me?¡± ¡°It must have been the Sultan¡¯s men. I saw them.¡± ¡°???¡± The elf king touched his jaw and looked puzzled. There was no reason for the Sultan¡¯s men to attack him. ¡°Why would the Sultan. . .?¡± ¡°He envied Your Majesty¡¯s fame and power, and he was afraid you would be released. He¡¯s holding out for now without giving his ransom, but he¡¯ll have to let you go eventually. He must be afraid that that day will be the day of his downfall.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not to that extent. . .¡± The elf king felt a bit embarrassed at the praise he was hearing for the first time in a long while. He was modest, but he was happy. ¡°Wait a minute. I made a vow. . .¡± ¡°Since the other side broke it first, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± And then Johan immediately changed the subject. ¡°It was really hard getting here. My men also suffered a lot.¡± ¡°Thank you so much, duke.¡± ¡°Do you know how wide and deep the river in front of me is? The water was cold too, in this kind of weather.¡± ¡°Thank you again, duke.¡± ¡°Plus, there were the giants blocking my path.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s men behind him all had ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ expressions on their faces. No matter what, elf kings are people too, and doing this to one. . . However, the elf king just kept apologizing. Johan knew. ¡®?????? ???????? ????¡¯???? ?????????????? ?????? ????????, ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????????????.¡¯, Johan¡¯s voice contained a potent force. The giant, upon hearing his words, nodded slightly, as if his resolve had been stirred. ¡°Thinking about it now, it¡¯s strange. I¡¯m not used to losing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s clear that the wizards cheated. The Sultan¡¯s wizards are well-known, you see.¡± ¡°Cheaters!¡± The giant was startled by Johan¡¯s words. Then he became furious. ¡°Unforgivable! Cheating in a wager!¡± ¡°Yes. They¡¯re truly despicable fellows. Were the ones we met before also present?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Go to the wizards with yourpanions. Make them confess the truth!¡± ¡°I shall!¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Mahemaniu nodded as if awakened from a long slumber. ¡°Never cease until the wizards confess the truth. Wizards are naturally cunning and wicked, who knows what tricks they might employ. Ignore all their words except their confession of the truth.¡± ¡°I understand. Johan of House Yeats. Won¡¯t youe with us?¡± The giant invited him, convinced by Johan¡¯s reliable words. It felt like he would be able to see through the wizards¡¯ tricks as well. However, Johan shook his head. ¡°I have a ce I need to go.¡± ¡°Then it can¡¯t be helped.¡± ¡°Wait. What do you n to do once you learn that the wizards cheated? Are you thinking of returning to the ck Mountains?¡± Mahemaniu pondered for a moment and nodded. Johan extended his finger and pointed to a star. ¡°Do you see that star up there? Just follow that star and you¡¯ll reach the ck Mountains.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Take this.¡± Johan gave him detailed directions and then parted ways. In the darkness, the sound of the giants rising one by one could be heard. It was Mahemaniu calling out to hispanions. ¡°. . .If I were to pick the most wicked and powerful among the wizards, I would choose Your Highness the duke.¡± ¡°I appreciate the praise. Let¡¯s move!¡± Johan and his subordinates moved again. They had to reach the front of the tent while the giants were creating amotion. ???????????? Among the wizards under the Sultan, there were various factions. First were the royal wizards who had served in the pce for generations, originating from eunuchs. They excelled at concocting various drugs. Although some followed the army, there weren¡¯t many. After all, their abilities didn¡¯t align well withbat. Next were the wizards brought by the great nobles. Whether they were also from a lower aristocratic background or not, these wizards received treatment no less than the nobles themselves, and they excelled at prophecy and divination. These were the types of magic that nobles were most fond of. Of course, these wizards didn¡¯t stand out inbat. It was difficult to see immediate results from such magic. Finally, there were the wizards of the tribes scattered across the vastnds of the empire. Their loyalty wascking, but they were well-versed in diverse and rare mysteries. They were the most useful when it came tobat. Naturally, it could only have been a tribal wizard who managed to coax the giants from the ck Mountains and bring them along. ¡°Truly remarkable! How did you bring the giants with you?¡± The other wizards sent gazes of admiration and awe. As fellow beings devoted to mysteries, they couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. Bringing the giants was a truly great feat. Commoners often underestimated the intelligence of giants. However, giants were by no means stupid. They were simply fixated on the things that interested them, and they were never easy opponents to persuade. And yet, someone managed to persuade them toe. ¡°Normally, I wouldn¡¯t share this, but since we¡¯ve met like this, I shall tell you,¡± said the tribal wizard who had convinced the giants toe. None of the other wizards present were offended by his attitude. A capable wizard deserved respect. If he were to share his secrets, they had all the more reason to be humble. ¡°Giants will never do anything they don¡¯t want to. And they¡¯re quite stubborn.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true.¡± Wizards who had met giants before nodded. No matter how hard you tried to persuade them, giants wouldn¡¯t follow you if they didn¡¯t like you, even if you offered them a hundred cows, a hundred horses, and a hundred sheep. The wizard took out an incense burner and ced it down. It was a censer that emitted an extraordinary aura. ¡°This incense burner is a treasure I received from my master. If you put the right herbs inside and burn them, the resulting fragrance will temporarily erase memories. No matter how strong the giants are, they can¡¯t resist this.¡± The wizard tapped the incense burner and spoke with delight. It was easy to lie to the giants when their memories were temporarily gone. You could just say that they lost a bet and that they had agreed to assist the army under themand of the wizards. ¡°W-Was that how you brought them here? By lying to them??¡± While some wizards were impressed, many more were frightened or shocked. Tribal wizards were sensitive about tradition and discipline. Deceiving giants was taboo among many tribes. ¡°If you look at it that way, I suppose so.¡± ¡°If they find outter, how will you deal with the consequences?¡± ¡°If they don¡¯t find out, isn¡¯t that fine?¡± ¡°Even if you seal wine in a jar, it will eventually disappear over time. What makes you think. . . Don¡¯t you think the giants will retaliate against you and your descendants if they find out?¡± Despite what the other wizards said, the wizard holding the incense burner didn¡¯t seem to take it seriously. ¡°You worry too much. Not only will they not find out, but even if they do, how will they find me if I run away? The ce I came from is so far away that you can¡¯t even see it from the ck Mountains.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Since the wizard had a point, the others stopped talking and kept their mouths shut. Still, their expressions were stiff, as if they were still slightly anxious. ¡°Wizards,e out!!¡± ¡°??!!¡± A thunderous roar came from outside. It would have been better if it was actually thunder. That was the giants¡¯ furious yelling. The wizards who had been talking until just now gasped. ¡°Why are they doing that?¡± ¡°W-Well. . . Perhaps they didn¡¯t like the meal? Maybe the ves gave them scrawny livestock. . .¡± One of the wizards lifted the tent p and peeked outside. The soldiers and attendants were shocked and tried to block the giants, but it was no use. When the giants got angry and stomped their feet, the soldiers immediately made way for them. ¡°Wizards,e out!!¡± ¡°Why are they doing this?¡± ¡°Wizards, you tricked us! If you don¡¯t tell us the truth, you¡¯ll die here!¡± ????????! One of the furious giants kicked the tent with his foot. The firmly secured tent flew away and tumbled over and over. The wizards who had been lyingfortably were startled and got up. One quick-witted wizard crawled on all fours and hid in the darkness. ¡°You! You tricked us! Tell us the truth!¡± ¡°N-No! What are you talking about. . .? This is ridiculous.¡± The other wizards sighed. They had feared this, but the giants had really found out. And it was in the worst possible situation! ¡°Now that things havee to this, quickly apologize and promise thempensation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. . . Keep quiet! If you keep bbering, they¡¯ll get suspicious! There¡¯s no evidence whatsoever!¡± ¡°Do you think this is a city courthouse? What are you talking about, evidence? What does evidence mean to giants!¡± The wizards were arguing among themselves, anxiously chattering away, and the giants seemed to have made up their minds. ¡°Three seconds! We¡¯re not waiting any longer! If you don¡¯t confess, we¡¯ll kill you here!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Gulp©¥ While the wizards were panicking and trying to figure out what to do, the soldiers behind them made the worst possible choice. ¡°Attack! Rescue the wizards!¡± ¡°W-Wait! Wait!¡± Without a chance to stop them, the gathered archers began to shoot arrows. There was no answer when the angry giants started causing a scene. The captains shouted, ordering their men to shoot at the giants¡¯ weak points. ¡°We¡¯ve been tricked! Kill them!¡± The giants swung their clubs, letting out war cries. The wizard closest to them was instantly crushed to death. ¡°A. . . Am I dreaming?¡± ¡°Snap out of it! We have to drive the giants out!¡± Fires were rising up all around them, and panicked knights came running. They couldn¡¯t believe the reality of giants running wild and their mouths hung open. ¡°Did the wizards betray us?! Where did those wizards go!¡± ¡°They¡¯re hiding over there!¡± ¡°. . .Summon the remaining wizards!¡± ???????????? The giants¡¯ rampage was much more effective than expected. Johan and his men were able to easily reach the camp where the elf king was staying. Of course, there were guards in front. . . ¡°Swish!¡± ¡°Ack!¡± Nobody expected a surprise attack, especially not outside. The sentries fell without even being able to scream. Johan shook the blood off his sword and gestured. ¡°There are more inside.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait here.¡± The men were surprised when Johan walked inside as if it was nothing. He was just going to go in like that, when there were still enemies remaining? ¡°H-Hey, w. . .¡± After a short while, Johan came out. He was covered in even more blood than before. ¡°I took care of them. Let¡¯s go. You wake up the other elf knights and bring them with you. I¡¯ll take His Majesty.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± As agreed upon beforehand, the group split up. Johan headed towards the elf king¡¯s tent. He knew where it was, and since the king¡¯s tent was so splendid, it was easy to find. ¡°!¡± Johan lifted the tent p and went inside. The elf king was getting up from his bed, perhaps because of themotion outside. ¡°Who. . . Ugh!¡± BAM! Johan punched the elf king right in the jaw. And then he panicked. ¡®????????.¡¯ He had thrown the punch because his opponent had suddenly gotten up. He had originally nned to say a few words first, and if that didn¡¯t work, he would knock him out after securing him. Perhaps because Johan had been tense, his fist had moved first. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???? ????????????.¡¯ Johan lifted the elf king over his shoulder. The unconscious elf king went limp and stayed still. ¡°Duke! These people say they can¡¯t just leave!¡± ¡°Tell them the elf king ordered them to leave.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Johan had knocked out the elf king and was rying fake orders, but the centaurs who saw their master carrying the elf king on his shoulder didn¡¯t say anything and just ran. The elf knights followed the orders without knowing anything. ¡°If His Majesty ordered it. . .!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Now, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Where is His Majesty?¡± ¡°He must be walking ahead. Come on, let¡¯s move!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s dark!!! Are you going to keep wasting time with such pointless nonsense?! We risked our livesing to the Sultan¡¯s camp, you know?!¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. We¡¯ll properly repay this favor.¡± ¡°Of course you will!¡± The centaurs set fire to the camp as a final act. As a race known throughout history for causing the most fires, they skillfully threw firestarters all over the camp. They also threw jars filled with a thick, ck liquid that dwarves used in sieges. ¡°We¡¯re done! Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I see His Majesty. . .?¡± ???????????? ¡°There are soldiers over there!¡± ¡°Oh no. We caused too much of amotion. Let¡¯s go around them!¡± Johan and his men decided not to cross the river right away and take a detour instead. Unbeknownst to Johan, these soldiers were the ones who hade out because of the giants. Themotion had gotten so loud that even otherpanies had been mobilized. ¡°Are there any pursuers?¡± ¡°No! It seems like there aren¡¯t any!¡± Their path was blocked, but the men weren¡¯t flustered. The enemy was still in chaos, and there was no pursuit. Not being able to cross the river right away was only a minor problem. This was a great sess. ¡°Ugh. . .¡± ¡°Your Majesty! Wake up!¡± ¡°Who. . . Who attacked me?¡± ¡°It must have been the Sultan¡¯s men. I saw them.¡± ¡°???¡± The elf king touched his jaw and looked puzzled. There was no reason for the Sultan¡¯s men to attack him. ¡°Why would the Sultan. . .?¡± ¡°He envied Your Majesty¡¯s fame and power, and he was afraid you would be released. He¡¯s holding out for now without giving his ransom, but he¡¯ll have to let you go eventually. He must be afraid that that day will be the day of his downfall.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not to that extent. . .¡± The elf king felt a bit embarrassed at the praise he was hearing for the first time in a long while. He was modest, but he was happy. ¡°Wait a minute. I made a vow. . .¡± ¡°Since the other side broke it first, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± And then Johan immediately changed the subject. ¡°It was really hard getting here. My men also suffered a lot.¡± ¡°Thank you so much, duke.¡± ¡°Do you know how wide and deep the river in front of me is? The water was cold too, in this kind of weather.¡± ¡°Thank you again, duke.¡± ¡°Plus, there were the giants blocking my path.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s men behind him all had ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ expressions on their faces. No matter what, elf kings are people too, and doing this to one. . . However, the elf king just kept apologizing. Johan knew. ¡®?????? ???????? ????¡¯???? ?????????????? ?????? ????????, ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????????????.¡¯ Chapter 351: ???????????? (3) No offense to the Elf King, but Johan didn¡¯t believe in self-king¡¯s judgment very much. To be exact, it wasn¡¯t that hecked judgment. He made the right judgments, but he twisted them to fit his desires. If Johan sensed that they were outnumbered and would lose if they fought, he would retreat. Was it reasonable to say, ¡¯??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????????????¡¯ ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????. . .¡¯ Johan¡¯s strategy was effective. The Elf King pouted and shut his mouth. He looked like he was berating himself for not being able to kill all the enemies by himself and escape. ¡°Your Highness, I think we should find a ce to rest for a while. The elf knights look exhausted.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Johan nodded at his subordinate¡¯s words. Although he hadn¡¯t been mistreated while he was being held captive, his body became stiff because he was being watched and his actions were restricted. Although high-ranking nobles received different treatment, even individual knights did not receive luxurious special treatment. The elf knights looked exhausted from their hasty escape.¡°We¡¯ve shaken off the pursuit and put some distance between us overnight, so it shouldn¡¯t matter if we take a break.¡± ¡°Your Highness! Your Highness! We found a town up ahead.¡± The centaurs who had scattered and ran ahead returned with bright faces. Even though it was the same rest, there was a big difference between camping in the forest and getting dew on your body and borrowing a town to get a good night¡¯s sleep. The elf knights¡¯ faces also brightened when they heard that. They didn¡¯t show it, but they seemed quite tired. ¡°It¡¯s okay because we¡¯re far from the enemy. . . Be careful what you do. There¡¯s no point in making unnecessary trouble.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Duke. If there¡¯s a problem, I¡¯ll kill them all!¡± ¡°. . .Yeah. Don¡¯t do that.¡± The elf knights looked at Johan in bewilderment at his words. They thought they had said the right thing. ???????????? ¡°We should go out and scout again tomorrow. . .¡± ¡°No. Let¡¯s rest for a few days. If we keep showing our faces around here, they¡¯ll start to suspect something. We¡¯d better wait a while.¡± ¡°But. . .¡± The rogues huddled together and grumbled. While the battle-hardened warriors were poring over the map, the townspeople brought them baskets of freshly baked bread, eggs, sugar, and well-smoked ham. It was an extravagant meal that was hard to believe came from a small town. Mohado, one of the leaders of the rogues of the ck Mountains, scratched his head. ¡®??????. ???????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ????????????????.¡¯ The Sultan¡¯s march was a huge shock to the rogues hiding in the ck Mountains. At first, they thought he wasing to punish them. Fortunately, they found out that wasn¡¯t the case, but that didn¡¯t change anything. No matter how big their band of rogues was, they couldn¡¯t rob the Sultan¡¯s massive army. The rogues had to hold their breath and wait for the storm to pass. But as time went on, the atmosphere became strange. The Sultan¡¯s army, which they thought would be advancing fiercely, got tied up and even started to fight among themselves. It was the rogues¡¯ rule to ruthlessly tear apart a weakened opponent. The rogues of the ck Mountains confirmed the rumors and immediately started to move. Of course, they weren¡¯t crazy enough to go and pige the Sultan¡¯s camp. Their target was much more realistic. The enormous supplies headed for the Sultan¡¯s camp. If they could just rob them once, they would have enough to livefortably for several years. Of course, the other side wasn¡¯t stupid enough to leave themselves wide open. The rogues were good at surprise attacks, but they couldn¡¯t possibly win a head-on fight against the elite soldiers. They could only wait with watering mouths. ¡°But, chieftain. If we stay too long, the townspeople might betray us.¡± ¡°Are there any malcontents?¡± ¡°Not yet, but isn¡¯t this a little too far from the mountain range?¡± The rogues of the ck Mountains, like experienced rogues, knew how to use the townspeople well. Lurking in the woods and starving was something that only amateurs would do. In fact, after quickly upying the isted town and bribing them with silver coins, the townspeople weed the invaders without anyints. However, this method wasn¡¯t invincible. Time would keep passing, and the day woulde when the silver coins the rogues gave them would stop being effective. There was no way to prevent traitors from appearing among the townspeople at that time. ¡°I understand. Let¡¯s try to endure it a little longer. . .¡± ¡°Chieftain! Soldiers areing to the town!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Mohado was so surprised that he dropped the sword he was holding. The reason he chose this nameless town was precisely because it was located in a remote and secluded area. In fact, the feudal lord¡¯s administrator didn¡¯t even visit the town, and the vige chief had to go to him in person to pay taxes. And now, soldiers wereing this way. It was a very ominous sign. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ???????¡¯ Mohado gulped. To be honest, he wanted to run away right now, but as a seasoned rogue, Mohado maintained his expression. If he panicked now, the townspeople would be even more agitated. ¡°W-W-What should we do? Sir, you promised us that you wouldn¡¯t cause any trouble?¡± The vige chief, already terrified, begged with a face as pale as a sheet. No one wanted to end up on the gallows after hiding a band of rogues just to earn a few silver coins. Mohado was annoyed that he had to worry about saving their lives in this situation, but the cooperation of the townspeople was absolutely necessary. Mohado nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I, Mohado, swear by the name of the two gods that I will keep my promise. If we get caught, you can say that we threatened you.¡± ¡°T-Thank you.¡± ¡°But until then, you must also keep your promise!¡± ¡°Yes? What. . .¡± ¡°You fool. The soldiers areing from outside, but do you think they¡¯ll know everything? At most, they¡¯ll just be a little suspicious. Stay calm!¡± ¡°Ah. . .¡± Seeing that the vige chief still hadn¡¯te to his senses, Mohado threatened him in a stern voice. ¡°Think carefully. Even if I keep my oath, do you think the feudal lord will let it go? Who knows how many people will be hanged? The best thing for all of us is to not get caught.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, sir!¡± ¡°If you understand, move quickly! And don¡¯t show any suspicious signs, got it?!¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve never had to wee such distinguished guests before. . .¡± The vige chief hurriedly ran off to gather the town¡¯s elders. The rogues were actually getting anxious because he seemed so unsure of himself. ¡°What do we do? Will they be able to pull it off?¡± ¡°. . .Don¡¯t tell the townspeople, and lie in wait quietly.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°If we¡¯re discovered, we have to kill them. That way, we¡¯ll at least buy some time to escape.¡± It was something that would terrify the townspeople if they found out, but the rogues were prepared to dye the town red with blood if necessary. ???????????? ¡°. . .Indeed. It is very suspicious.¡± Arriving at the town¡¯s entrance, Johan made a troubled expression. A vague sense of difort was snowballing within him. Initially, the centaurs failed to understand Johan¡¯s words, but now, they too were frowning, finding the scene equally strange. ¡°What is strange?¡± In contrast, the elven knights were veryposed. Johan kindly exined, ¡°They shouldn¡¯t know who we are, yet isn¡¯t it a little strange that they¡¯re weing us so kindly?¡± As per the custom, two of Johan¡¯s subordinates first visited the town to deliver a message asking for cooperation, as they intended to rest in the town. Of course, the heavily armed soldiers would be visible in the town, so it was essentially a form of intimidation, but Johan knew well that even intimidation could sometimes have an unexpectedly positive effect if delivered in a friendly manner. Naturally, due to the situation, Johan concealed his identity, using the name of a suitable noble family. . . . . .and yet, the vige chief greeted them with an excessively enthusiastic wee. ©¥???????????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ????????????????. ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ????????! ¡°Isn¡¯t it natural to treat honorable knights? Although they are pagans, even the customs of pagans include treating guests. . .¡± Born in and of plenty and raised as nobles, the elven knights were used to being treated well wherever they went. It was a custom, aw. In contrast, Johan and the centaurs were more realistic. It was customary to treat guests well, but that too varied depending on the situation and ce. Heavily armed warriors visiting an unfamiliar and poor ce should not be a cause for such joy. ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Of course, Johan might be mistaken. It was possible that the vige chief was extraordinarily frightened and was thus being overly kind. . . ¡®??????????, ?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???? ????????.¡¯ ¡°Acdda. Station soldiers at the town entrance and make sure no one escapes.¡± ¡°Yes. I was nning to do that anyway.¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates were already filled with suspicion. ???????????? The open space where feasts were held in the town became the ce to entertain Johan. On a table made by splitting an oak tree in half, food was haphazardly ced. There were smoked ham and sausages, freshly baked bread and ale, a whole roasted pig and grilled rabbits, a stew of fish caught from the river, small candies hardened with sugar, and more. Although not particrly well-made, it was still a feast for the tired knights who had been traveling. ¡°Try it first.¡± ¡°. . .Ah. Yes!¡± The vige chief, trembling, ate one by one. The elven knights looked at the vige chief with half-doubtful expressions. Although they couldn¡¯tpletely ignore the words of the young duke, who was known to be quite extraordinary, they found it hard to believe that these innocent townspeople were scheming something. ¡°I¡¯ve eaten everything!¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s all eat. You must be tired, so eat a lot.¡± Johan merely nodded and asked the vige chief, ¡°Do you brew your own ale?¡± ¡°Yes? No.¡± ¡°Then you bought it?¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± ¡°Where did you buy it?¡± ¡°W-We have a friend in the town of Suderi who makes amazing alcohol. . .¡± ¡°I see.¡± The vige chief felt relieved when Johan seemed to ept the exnation. ¡°But I don¡¯t see anyone in the town who enjoys drinking ale, so why did you buy it?¡± ¡°. . .F-For feasts. . .¡± ¡°You serve ale at feasts? That¡¯s the first I¡¯ve heard of such a custom.¡± The vige chief¡¯s face went from pale to white. He couldn¡¯t understand how a noble knew everything about how they lived. ???????????? ¡°Hey. This is bad.¡± The rogues who had been observing clicked their tongues. Even though they couldn¡¯t hear the voices, they could tell that the vige chief had made a mistake. The atmosphere was getting tenser. As expected, even the elven knights, who had been eating and drinking, seemed to sense something was wrong and were cing their hands on their weapons. ¡°When did Mohado-nim say he would arrive? He shoulde quickly.¡± ¡°He said he woulde after confirming the enemy¡¯s identity, but he hasn¡¯te yet. He told us not to act rashly. . .¡± ¡°I know that! But look. Do you think that guy won¡¯t figure it out now?? Soon, he¡¯ll figure out even our location!¡± The rogue wielding a il spoke forcefully to hisrade. The il-wielding rogue was a warrior considered Mohado¡¯s right-hand man. This was due to his bravery, strength, and the numerous achievements he had made. With such a person speaking forcefully, the otherrades could no longer dissuade him. Moreover, even to them, the current situation seemed rather urgent. ¡°Send the signal. Paralyze them and then make them surrender!¡± ¡°U-Understood.¡± ????????! The il-wielding rogue jumped out of his seat and dashed into the open space. Then, he shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t move! Anyone who moves will have their heads crushed! We have surrounded this ce, so it would be wise to surrender peacefully! If I so much as lift a finger, arrows will rain down. . .¡± The rogue, who had been shouting loudly, sensed something strange. Normally, when he made such a sudden entrance, the opponents would panic, be frightened, or at the very least, get angry. . . But his opponents were looking at him with very peculiar expressions. Puzzled about what those expressions meant, the rogue suddenly recalled a possibility. It was ridicule. ???????????? Mohado ran in a panic. He realized it only after sneaking around and spying on the foreigners multiple times. ¡®???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????!¡¯ The duke who led the expedition from the west, boasting monstrous strength. The duke who had stormed the fortress of the ck Mountains and made a pact with them. He was certain of it. He couldn¡¯t believe they were here, so he confirmed it several times, but it was true. ¡°Stop! There¡¯s no need to fight! That man¡¯s true identity is the monstrous duke!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Mohado, who had been shouting while running through the alleyways, froze. The subordinates who were supposed to be waiting were all lying face down on the ground, and the elven knights and centaurs were looking at Mohado with expressionless faces., No offense to the Elf King, but Johan didn¡¯t believe in self-king¡¯s judgment very much. To be exact, it wasn¡¯t that hecked judgment. He made the right judgments, but he twisted them to fit his desires. If Johan sensed that they were outnumbered and would lose if they fought, he would retreat. Was it reasonable to say, ¡¯??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????????????¡¯ ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????. . .¡¯ Johan¡¯s strategy was effective. The Elf King pouted and shut his mouth. He looked like he was berating himself for not being able to kill all the enemies by himself and escape. ¡°Your Highness, I think we should find a ce to rest for a while. The elf knights look exhausted.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Johan nodded at his subordinate¡¯s words. Although he hadn¡¯t been mistreated while he was being held captive, his body became stiff because he was being watched and his actions were restricted. Although high-ranking nobles received different treatment, even individual knights did not receive luxurious special treatment. The elf knights looked exhausted from their hasty escape. ¡°We¡¯ve shaken off the pursuit and put some distance between us overnight, so it shouldn¡¯t matter if we take a break.¡± ¡°Your Highness! Your Highness! We found a town up ahead.¡± The centaurs who had scattered and ran ahead returned with bright faces. Even though it was the same rest, there was a big difference between camping in the forest and getting dew on your body and borrowing a town to get a good night¡¯s sleep. The elf knights¡¯ faces also brightened when they heard that. They didn¡¯t show it, but they seemed quite tired. ¡°It¡¯s okay because we¡¯re far from the enemy. . . Be careful what you do. There¡¯s no point in making unnecessary trouble.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Duke. If there¡¯s a problem, I¡¯ll kill them all!¡± ¡°. . .Yeah. Don¡¯t do that.¡± The elf knights looked at Johan in bewilderment at his words. They thought they had said the right thing. ???????????? ¡°We should go out and scout again tomorrow. . .¡± ¡°No. Let¡¯s rest for a few days. If we keep showing our faces around here, they¡¯ll start to suspect something. We¡¯d better wait a while.¡± ¡°But. . .¡± The rogues huddled together and grumbled. While the battle-hardened warriors were poring over the map, the townspeople brought them baskets of freshly baked bread, eggs, sugar, and well-smoked ham. It was an extravagant meal that was hard to believe came from a small town. Mohado, one of the leaders of the rogues of the ck Mountains, scratched his head. ¡®??????. ???????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ????????????????.¡¯ The Sultan¡¯s march was a huge shock to the rogues hiding in the ck Mountains. At first, they thought he wasing to punish them. Fortunately, they found out that wasn¡¯t the case, but that didn¡¯t change anything. No matter how big their band of rogues was, they couldn¡¯t rob the Sultan¡¯s massive army. The rogues had to hold their breath and wait for the storm to pass. But as time went on, the atmosphere became strange. The Sultan¡¯s army, which they thought would be advancing fiercely, got tied up and even started to fight among themselves. It was the rogues¡¯ rule to ruthlessly tear apart a weakened opponent. The rogues of the ck Mountains confirmed the rumors and immediately started to move. Of course, they weren¡¯t crazy enough to go and pige the Sultan¡¯s camp. Their target was much more realistic. The enormous supplies headed for the Sultan¡¯s camp. If they could just rob them once, they would have enough to livefortably for several years. Of course, the other side wasn¡¯t stupid enough to leave themselves wide open. The rogues were good at surprise attacks, but they couldn¡¯t possibly win a head-on fight against the elite soldiers. They could only wait with watering mouths. ¡°But, chieftain. If we stay too long, the townspeople might betray us.¡± ¡°Are there any malcontents?¡± ¡°Not yet, but isn¡¯t this a little too far from the mountain range?¡± The rogues of the ck Mountains, like experienced rogues, knew how to use the townspeople well. Lurking in the woods and starving was something that only amateurs would do. In fact, after quickly upying the isted town and bribing them with silver coins, the townspeople weed the invaders without anyints. However, this method wasn¡¯t invincible. Time would keep passing, and the day woulde when the silver coins the rogues gave them would stop being effective. There was no way to prevent traitors from appearing among the townspeople at that time. ¡°I understand. Let¡¯s try to endure it a little longer. . .¡± ¡°Chieftain! Soldiers areing to the town!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Mohado was so surprised that he dropped the sword he was holding. The reason he chose this nameless town was precisely because it was located in a remote and secluded area. In fact, the feudal lord¡¯s administrator didn¡¯t even visit the town, and the vige chief had to go to him in person to pay taxes. And now, soldiers wereing this way. It was a very ominous sign. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ???????¡¯ Mohado gulped. To be honest, he wanted to run away right now, but as a seasoned rogue, Mohado maintained his expression. If he panicked now, the townspeople would be even more agitated. ¡°W-W-What should we do? Sir, you promised us that you wouldn¡¯t cause any trouble?¡± The vige chief, already terrified, begged with a face as pale as a sheet. No one wanted to end up on the gallows after hiding a band of rogues just to earn a few silver coins. Mohado was annoyed that he had to worry about saving their lives in this situation, but the cooperation of the townspeople was absolutely necessary. Mohado nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I, Mohado, swear by the name of the two gods that I will keep my promise. If we get caught, you can say that we threatened you.¡± ¡°T-Thank you.¡± ¡°But until then, you must also keep your promise!¡± ¡°Yes? What. . .¡± ¡°You fool. The soldiers areing from outside, but do you think they¡¯ll know everything? At most, they¡¯ll just be a little suspicious. Stay calm!¡± ¡°Ah. . .¡± Seeing that the vige chief still hadn¡¯te to his senses, Mohado threatened him in a stern voice. ¡°Think carefully. Even if I keep my oath, do you think the feudal lord will let it go? Who knows how many people will be hanged? The best thing for all of us is to not get caught.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, sir!¡± ¡°If you understand, move quickly! And don¡¯t show any suspicious signs, got it?!¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve never had to wee such distinguished guests before. . .¡± The vige chief hurriedly ran off to gather the town¡¯s elders. The rogues were actually getting anxious because he seemed so unsure of himself. ¡°What do we do? Will they be able to pull it off?¡± ¡°. . .Don¡¯t tell the townspeople, and lie in wait quietly.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°If we¡¯re discovered, we have to kill them. That way, we¡¯ll at least buy some time to escape.¡± It was something that would terrify the townspeople if they found out, but the rogues were prepared to dye the town red with blood if necessary. ???????????? ¡°. . .Indeed. It is very suspicious.¡± Arriving at the town¡¯s entrance, Johan made a troubled expression. A vague sense of difort was snowballing within him. Initially, the centaurs failed to understand Johan¡¯s words, but now, they too were frowning, finding the scene equally strange. ¡°What is strange?¡± In contrast, the elven knights were veryposed. Johan kindly exined, ¡°They shouldn¡¯t know who we are, yet isn¡¯t it a little strange that they¡¯re weing us so kindly?¡± As per the custom, two of Johan¡¯s subordinates first visited the town to deliver a message asking for cooperation, as they intended to rest in the town. Of course, the heavily armed soldiers would be visible in the town, so it was essentially a form of intimidation, but Johan knew well that even intimidation could sometimes have an unexpectedly positive effect if delivered in a friendly manner. Naturally, due to the situation, Johan concealed his identity, using the name of a suitable noble family. . . . . .and yet, the vige chief greeted them with an excessively enthusiastic wee. ©¥???????????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ????????????????. ???? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ????????! ¡°Isn¡¯t it natural to treat honorable knights? Although they are pagans, even the customs of pagans include treating guests. . .¡± Born in and of plenty and raised as nobles, the elven knights were used to being treated well wherever they went. It was a custom, aw. In contrast, Johan and the centaurs were more realistic. It was customary to treat guests well, but that too varied depending on the situation and ce. Heavily armed warriors visiting an unfamiliar and poor ce should not be a cause for such joy. ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ??????????????.¡¯ Of course, Johan might be mistaken. It was possible that the vige chief was extraordinarily frightened and was thus being overly kind. . . ¡®??????????, ?? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???? ????????.¡¯ ¡°Acdda. Station soldiers at the town entrance and make sure no one escapes.¡± ¡°Yes. I was nning to do that anyway.¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates were already filled with suspicion. ???????????? The open space where feasts were held in the town became the ce to entertain Johan. On a table made by splitting an oak tree in half, food was haphazardly ced. There were smoked ham and sausages, freshly baked bread and ale, a whole roasted pig and grilled rabbits, a stew of fish caught from the river, small candies hardened with sugar, and more. Although not particrly well-made, it was still a feast for the tired knights who had been traveling. ¡°Try it first.¡± ¡°. . .Ah. Yes!¡± The vige chief, trembling, ate one by one. The elven knights looked at the vige chief with half-doubtful expressions. Although they couldn¡¯tpletely ignore the words of the young duke, who was known to be quite extraordinary, they found it hard to believe that these innocent townspeople were scheming something. ¡°I¡¯ve eaten everything!¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s all eat. You must be tired, so eat a lot.¡± Johan merely nodded and asked the vige chief, ¡°Do you brew your own ale?¡± ¡°Yes? No.¡± ¡°Then you bought it?¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± ¡°Where did you buy it?¡± ¡°W-We have a friend in the town of Suderi who makes amazing alcohol. . .¡± ¡°I see.¡± The vige chief felt relieved when Johan seemed to ept the exnation. ¡°But I don¡¯t see anyone in the town who enjoys drinking ale, so why did you buy it?¡± ¡°. . .F-For feasts. . .¡± ¡°You serve ale at feasts? That¡¯s the first I¡¯ve heard of such a custom.¡± The vige chief¡¯s face went from pale to white. He couldn¡¯t understand how a noble knew everything about how they lived. ???????????? ¡°Hey. This is bad.¡± The rogues who had been observing clicked their tongues. Even though they couldn¡¯t hear the voices, they could tell that the vige chief had made a mistake. The atmosphere was getting tenser. As expected, even the elven knights, who had been eating and drinking, seemed to sense something was wrong and were cing their hands on their weapons. ¡°When did Mohado-nim say he would arrive? He shoulde quickly.¡± ¡°He said he woulde after confirming the enemy¡¯s identity, but he hasn¡¯te yet. He told us not to act rashly. . .¡± ¡°I know that! But look. Do you think that guy won¡¯t figure it out now?? Soon, he¡¯ll figure out even our location!¡± The rogue wielding a il spoke forcefully to hisrade. The il-wielding rogue was a warrior considered Mohado¡¯s right-hand man. This was due to his bravery, strength, and the numerous achievements he had made. With such a person speaking forcefully, the otherrades could no longer dissuade him. Moreover, even to them, the current situation seemed rather urgent. ¡°Send the signal. Paralyze them and then make them surrender!¡± ¡°U-Understood.¡± ????????! The il-wielding rogue jumped out of his seat and dashed into the open space. Then, he shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t move! Anyone who moves will have their heads crushed! We have surrounded this ce, so it would be wise to surrender peacefully! If I so much as lift a finger, arrows will rain down. . .¡± The rogue, who had been shouting loudly, sensed something strange. Normally, when he made such a sudden entrance, the opponents would panic, be frightened, or at the very least, get angry. . . But his opponents were looking at him with very peculiar expressions. Puzzled about what those expressions meant, the rogue suddenly recalled a possibility. It was ridicule. ???????????? Mohado ran in a panic. He realized it only after sneaking around and spying on the foreigners multiple times. ¡®???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????!¡¯ The duke who led the expedition from the west, boasting monstrous strength. The duke who had stormed the fortress of the ck Mountains and made a pact with them. He was certain of it. He couldn¡¯t believe they were here, so he confirmed it several times, but it was true. ¡°Stop! There¡¯s no need to fight! That man¡¯s true identity is the monstrous duke!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Mohado, who had been shouting while running through the alleyways, froze. The subordinates who were supposed to be waiting were all lying face down on the ground, and the elven knights and centaurs were looking at Mohado with expressionless faces. Chapter 352: ???????????? (4) ¡°Your Highness! I am truly delighted to see you! I should havee to see you myself. . .!¡± Mohado¡¯s lips naturally uttered ttery. He didn¡¯t even have to think; the ttery flowed out like water. It was as if his body moved to survive without his brain thinking. ¡°Hey. This guy called His Highness the Duke monstrous.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Mohado truly detested the babbling centaur warrior. He could insult the lord even when he wasn¡¯t around, but now he was rudely reminding him again. Regardless, the centaurs continued to babble. ¡°In the ck Mountains, did they call the duke Monstrous Duke?¡± ¡°Oh right. That nickname is really well done. I¡¯ve heard nicknames like ¡®Good Duke¡¯ or ¡®Brave Duke¡¯ but ¡®Monstrous Duke¡¯ is really. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±Seeing Mohado on the verge of tears, Johan stopped the centaurs. He still didn¡¯t have a grasp on the exact situation, but the fact that the ones lying in ambush in the town were actually the ck Mountains¡¯ rogues was not bad news. They had formed an alliance, and more than anything, they were longtime enemies of the Sultan, so there was no chance of cooperation. ¡°We had to use some force because they suddenly attacked. I hope you understand?¡± ¡°Yes! Of course. Attacking without orders, those fools are stupid, are they not? I will discipline them harshly.¡± ¡°Good. When you¡¯re done cleaning up,e see me. I want to hear the details.¡± ???????????? ¡°Ssh water on them and wake them up!¡± ¡°They¡¯re not waking up?¡± ¡°Beat them awake! If there are still guys not getting up, burn them with torches! Why am I wasting my time like this?!¡± Mohado yelled at his subordinates and kicked them. He had to hurry up and wake these stupid subordinates, make them stand in formation, and then exin to the Duke what had happened. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t seem angry but it was not good to keep such a powerful person waiting. ¡°I. . .I flew. Flew. . .¡± ¡°What¡¯s this guy mumbling about?¡± ¡°Duke grabbed him and he flew just like that. That¡¯s why he¡¯s like this.¡± When the guy who usually seemed decent started babbling nonsense instead of getting himself together, Mohado pped the back of his head. ¡°Get the rest of the men up and have them stand by!¡± ¡°Yes sir!¡± Mohado¡¯s ve let out a relieved expression. From the atmosphere, it looked like the Duke would meet Mohado alone. ¡°No, youe with me too.¡± ¡°. . .¡± The ve followed with a pitch ck, dead look on his face. Fortunately, the young Duke had not be angry in the meantime, and he quietly listened attentively instead of picking a fight while listening to the story. If anything, he had an interested look on his face. ¡°So you were just waiting for the opportunity this whole time?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Good n. What do you think about doing it together?¡± ¡°Huh??¡± Mohado was surprised. Of course having Duke and his knights help out would provide assistance beyond measure. His subordinates who spent their days training by wandering the mountain ranges, shooting bows and setting traps were leagues apart from the knights of the west who had been properly trained since childhood. No wonder even the Sultan feared the knights of the west. ¡°But. . . would that really be alright with you?¡± The knights were just as proud as they were skilled. Having to work together with bands of rogues would surely be unbearable for them. Let alone their Duke leading them. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be? Are you perhaps worried aboutpensation? Don¡¯t worry. Take as much as you want.¡± With just the men here, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to take much anyway. Even if the rogues worked hard to grab stuff, they¡¯d likely have to burn what was left. But even so, those words were plenty surprising to Mohado. He found it hard to believe that a Duke would boss around rogues and properly pay them their dues. ¡°Thank you!¡± Mohado prostrated himself on the floor to express his gratitude. And he cursed the other tribal chiefs of the ck Mountains. If he made it back, he swore to never call Duke Johan a monster ever again. ???????????? ¡°Your majesty. Are you alright?¡± Several elven knights worriedly addressed the king. They respected the position of a duke and considered it an honor to serve under him. Therefore, they could endure being with a group of rogues or beggars. . . However, the king¡¯s mood could be different. In fact, the elven king¡¯s expression had not been bright since he escaped. ¡°I feel pathetic.¡± ¡°No! Your majesty! Your majesty fought like a knight. No one who was there could say that your majesty was cowardly.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t even get away on my own, and I couldn¡¯t retaliate on the spot against the enemy who used despicable tactics! I. . . I¡¯m ashamed!¡± ¡°Your majesty! Your majesty is currently enduring a difficult time in order to be tempered. Even if a cold frost sweeps through the harsh cold, the deep roots will not be damaged, so your majesty¡¯s time will return as soon as the day dawns!¡± ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???????????¡¯ Walking along, Johan wondered when he saw the elven knights hugging the king and shouting. Euclyia said with contempt. ¡°Aren¡¯t those knights too weak?¡± ¡°Well. . . I guess it¡¯s necessary if it cheers you up. We need the elven knights¡¯ help this time.¡± After hearing the details from Mohado, Johan learned why the rogues of the ck Mountains had not attacked until now and had only swallowed their pride. The defense was more formidable than expected. It was not usually difficult to move supplies bynd along the vastnd. Therefore, the supplies were transferred to a transport ship to the nearest coast. The supplies were temporarily stored at a base located near the coast, and from there, they were moved bynd to the sultan¡¯s camp. Of course, they were not simply moved, as the sultan¡¯s elite troops followed them. ¡°Why are you attaching knights to move supplies? No, it¡¯s not my ce to say, as we¡¯re the one trying to steal it. . .¡± The centaurs were also bewildered. It was hard to understand why knights were attached to escort a single transport unit. Of course, there was damage if they were ambushed, but the supplies were not all there. It could be moved again. They were hiding in a cave in preparation for rain in the dry sky. ¡°I heard it was due to the sultan¡¯s orders.¡± Merchants and peddlers who visited the camp brought supplies, but there was a limit as the size of the army grew. Moreover, the items used by the sultan and the nobles under him had to be the best of the best. If those were subjected to even a single act of roguery, many heads would roll. Therefore, the subordinates chose to guard them thoroughly, even if it meant suffering a little more. . . .However, no one could have imagined that this extravagance would now stop Johan. ¡°Besides, it wasn¡¯t going to work by attacking the transport team once or twice anyway. If the tail is long, you will be caught, so if you¡¯re going to do it, you have to do it big and back off.¡± ¡°Then. . .?¡± ¡°Attack the base directly.¡± Upon hearing the testimony, the base was now filled with supplies brought by transport ships. Since the fleet was gone, it was difficult to recover quickly if the base was blown up, as it was even more noticeable at sea. ¡°But they say it¡¯s almost like a castle.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have proper siege equipment.¡± ¡°I understand Your Highness¡¯s feelings, but I wonder if it¡¯s a bit reckless for Your Highness to break in by force. . . Starting with the moat, the castle gates would have been properly reinforced. I¡¯m worried that you might get hit by a blind arrow.¡± ¡°. . .I didn¡¯t say that.¡± Johan was bewildered when the centaurs tried to stop him. He hadn¡¯t even thought of such a crazy idea. ¡°Oh. Is that so?¡± ¡°Haha. . . Then what are we going to do?¡± Johan¡¯s men skillfully changed the subject. They were indeed people who had served for a long time. ¡°I was thinking of using a strategy to infiltrate the inside. If I can get inside, I¡¯ll be able to find a way somehow.¡± ¡°Indeed. What if we went in disguise? Since there are rogues, to the superior. . .¡± ¡°Is it impossible to disguise ourselves as escorts? Your Highness is well-versed in the heraldry and banners of the enemy¡¯s family.¡± Johan¡¯s men were not only good at changing the subject. Having experienced various battles with Johan, they were also good at devising various strategies. Mohado, who had been listening in admiration, suddenly came to his senses and said. ¡°Wait, wait a minute. It¡¯s all good, but there¡¯s one problem.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The captain guarding the base has a satyr with him.¡± Satyr. It was a monster with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a goat. The serfs in the countryside sometimes mistook centaurs and satyrs, but in such cases, the centaurs kindly exined the difference. If you step on it properly once, you will definitely feel the difference between two hooves and four hooves. And although centaurs were often called monsters, they were a race that couldmunicate, even if they were unruly. In contrast, satyrs were included in monsters. They could not have a proper conversation and did not live in tribes like centaurs. ¡°I found out by spying, but I heard he¡¯s incredibly good at spotting lies. It¡¯s not that we haven¡¯t infiltrated for nothing.¡± The captain of the base had not been attacked because he had raised the satyr since it was a cub. Thanks to this, the satyr was ying an active role as the captain¡¯s loyal dog. ¡°The satyr hasn¡¯t gone extinct yet?¡± ¡°Ha. If it was in the grasnd, it would have wiped out its seeds long ago. . .¡± The centaurs muttered murderously. Seeing Acdda and Euclyia cursing in the easternnguage, it seemed that they really disliked it. ¡°So infiltration is practically impossible. . .¡± Johan was lost in thought. Hearing the story of the satyr gave him a headache. Acdda asked. ¡°Shall we snipe the satyr from afar?¡± ¡°Even if he dies, the vignce will remain. . . Hmm. Is that the only answer?¡± ¡°If you give me a chance, I¡¯ll cut his throat right away.¡± It seemed that the opponent¡¯s vignce could be reduced somehow if their identity was properly disguised. Johan epted the strategy presented by the centaurs and went into specific nning. ???????????? The captain asionally went out of the base and patrolled. Of course, since the escorts were close by, it was almost impossible to snipe from a distance, but the satyr was different. Like a monster, he ran freely at the front of the procession. The centaurs waited in the woods, which was hard to imagine. They were excellent archers who had learned archery since the time of the old empire. It was nothing to put an arrow in arge monster. ¡°What was it after you shot? To avenge Yehekar-gong?¡± ¡°No. Yeheyman.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to remember the names of the nobles here.¡± Johan made something simr to the g Yeheyman used and made it known to the surroundings. It seemed that if the centaurs left as soon as they shot and the others swung the g once and then ran away, it would be usible. Yeheyman¡¯s men or close nobles were executed because of the defeat, and it would not be strange if they harbored resentment. It would be a suitable disguise. And above all, it seemed more usible that the escaped knights joined forces with the rogues than that the enemy duke crossed the river and joined forces with the rogues here. Johan thought he would think thetter. With the sound of the demonstration being pulled, the centaurs narrowed their eyes and red ahead. The tension was great as only those who were confident in their archery skills were selected and aimed. ¡°Shoot!¡± Johan watched far ahead with a force several times stronger than that of others. The arrows, which were shorter than normal arrows, flew with a thud and urately hit the satyr¡¯s vital point. . . ????????! The arrow hit the satyr¡¯s torso and bounced off. The satyr, startled by the attack, howled and threw his body to the side. Other arrows were deflected by the chill. ¡°What?!¡± Johan clearly saw the satyr¡¯s waistband trinket shatter the moment the arrow hit. ¡®?????? ???? ???? ?????????????????? ????????????!¡¯ ¡°Did you miss that!?¡± ¡°I-I hit it. . .!¡± ¡°Fall back. Even if you didn¡¯t catch it, proceed as nned.¡± The rogues of the ck Mountains jumped out of the woods and shouted. ¡°Let¡¯s avenge Yeheyman-gong!¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re the sultan¡¯sckey. Face us!¡± Arrows flew. It was a threatening arrow that did not aim to hit,pletely different from before. The soldiers moved hurriedly to form a formation. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s retreat for now. They won¡¯t chase us either.¡± ¡°They¡¯re, they¡¯re chasing us??¡± The rogue said in bewilderment. The captain was leading the soldiers and running towards them quickly. Johan was momentarily dumbfounded. ¡®???? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????, ?????? ?????? ???????????¡¯ How do you know how many people are hiding in the woods?, ¡°Your Highness! I am truly delighted to see you! I should havee to see you myself. . .!¡± Mohado¡¯s lips naturally uttered ttery. He didn¡¯t even have to think; the ttery flowed out like water. It was as if his body moved to survive without his brain thinking. ¡°Hey. This guy called His Highness the Duke monstrous.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Mohado truly detested the babbling centaur warrior. He could insult the lord even when he wasn¡¯t around, but now he was rudely reminding him again. Regardless, the centaurs continued to babble. ¡°In the ck Mountains, did they call the duke Monstrous Duke?¡± ¡°Oh right. That nickname is really well done. I¡¯ve heard nicknames like ¡®Good Duke¡¯ or ¡®Brave Duke¡¯ but ¡®Monstrous Duke¡¯ is really. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Seeing Mohado on the verge of tears, Johan stopped the centaurs. He still didn¡¯t have a grasp on the exact situation, but the fact that the ones lying in ambush in the town were actually the ck Mountains¡¯ rogues was not bad news. They had formed an alliance, and more than anything, they were longtime enemies of the Sultan, so there was no chance of cooperation. ¡°We had to use some force because they suddenly attacked. I hope you understand?¡± ¡°Yes! Of course. Attacking without orders, those fools are stupid, are they not? I will discipline them harshly.¡± ¡°Good. When you¡¯re done cleaning up,e see me. I want to hear the details.¡± ???????????? ¡°Ssh water on them and wake them up!¡± ¡°They¡¯re not waking up?¡± ¡°Beat them awake! If there are still guys not getting up, burn them with torches! Why am I wasting my time like this?!¡± Mohado yelled at his subordinates and kicked them. He had to hurry up and wake these stupid subordinates, make them stand in formation, and then exin to the Duke what had happened. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t seem angry but it was not good to keep such a powerful person waiting. ¡°I. . .I flew. Flew. . .¡± ¡°What¡¯s this guy mumbling about?¡± ¡°Duke grabbed him and he flew just like that. That¡¯s why he¡¯s like this.¡± When the guy who usually seemed decent started babbling nonsense instead of getting himself together, Mohado pped the back of his head. ¡°Get the rest of the men up and have them stand by!¡± ¡°Yes sir!¡± Mohado¡¯s ve let out a relieved expression. From the atmosphere, it looked like the Duke would meet Mohado alone. ¡°No, youe with me too.¡± ¡°. . .¡± The ve followed with a pitch ck, dead look on his face. Fortunately, the young Duke had not be angry in the meantime, and he quietly listened attentively instead of picking a fight while listening to the story. If anything, he had an interested look on his face. ¡°So you were just waiting for the opportunity this whole time?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Good n. What do you think about doing it together?¡± ¡°Huh??¡± Mohado was surprised. Of course having Duke and his knights help out would provide assistance beyond measure. His subordinates who spent their days training by wandering the mountain ranges, shooting bows and setting traps were leagues apart from the knights of the west who had been properly trained since childhood. No wonder even the Sultan feared the knights of the west. ¡°But. . . would that really be alright with you?¡± The knights were just as proud as they were skilled. Having to work together with bands of rogues would surely be unbearable for them. Let alone their Duke leading them. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be? Are you perhaps worried aboutpensation? Don¡¯t worry. Take as much as you want.¡± With just the men here, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to take much anyway. Even if the rogues worked hard to grab stuff, they¡¯d likely have to burn what was left. But even so, those words were plenty surprising to Mohado. He found it hard to believe that a Duke would boss around rogues and properly pay them their dues. ¡°Thank you!¡± Mohado prostrated himself on the floor to express his gratitude. And he cursed the other tribal chiefs of the ck Mountains. If he made it back, he swore to never call Duke Johan a monster ever again. ???????????? ¡°Your majesty. Are you alright?¡± Several elven knights worriedly addressed the king. They respected the position of a duke and considered it an honor to serve under him. Therefore, they could endure being with a group of rogues or beggars. . . However, the king¡¯s mood could be different. In fact, the elven king¡¯s expression had not been bright since he escaped. ¡°I feel pathetic.¡± ¡°No! Your majesty! Your majesty fought like a knight. No one who was there could say that your majesty was cowardly.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t even get away on my own, and I couldn¡¯t retaliate on the spot against the enemy who used despicable tactics! I. . . I¡¯m ashamed!¡± ¡°Your majesty! Your majesty is currently enduring a difficult time in order to be tempered. Even if a cold frost sweeps through the harsh cold, the deep roots will not be damaged, so your majesty¡¯s time will return as soon as the day dawns!¡± ¡®???????? ?????? ???????? ???????????¡¯ Walking along, Johan wondered when he saw the elven knights hugging the king and shouting. Euclyia said with contempt. ¡°Aren¡¯t those knights too weak?¡± ¡°Well. . . I guess it¡¯s necessary if it cheers you up. We need the elven knights¡¯ help this time.¡± After hearing the details from Mohado, Johan learned why the rogues of the ck Mountains had not attacked until now and had only swallowed their pride. The defense was more formidable than expected. It was not usually difficult to move supplies bynd along the vastnd. Therefore, the supplies were transferred to a transport ship to the nearest coast. The supplies were temporarily stored at a base located near the coast, and from there, they were moved bynd to the sultan¡¯s camp. Of course, they were not simply moved, as the sultan¡¯s elite troops followed them. ¡°Why are you attaching knights to move supplies? No, it¡¯s not my ce to say, as we¡¯re the one trying to steal it. . .¡± The centaurs were also bewildered. It was hard to understand why knights were attached to escort a single transport unit. Of course, there was damage if they were ambushed, but the supplies were not all there. It could be moved again. They were hiding in a cave in preparation for rain in the dry sky. ¡°I heard it was due to the sultan¡¯s orders.¡± Merchants and peddlers who visited the camp brought supplies, but there was a limit as the size of the army grew. Moreover, the items used by the sultan and the nobles under him had to be the best of the best. If those were subjected to even a single act of roguery, many heads would roll. Therefore, the subordinates chose to guard them thoroughly, even if it meant suffering a little more. . . .However, no one could have imagined that this extravagance would now stop Johan. ¡°Besides, it wasn¡¯t going to work by attacking the transport team once or twice anyway. If the tail is long, you will be caught, so if you¡¯re going to do it, you have to do it big and back off.¡± ¡°Then. . .?¡± ¡°Attack the base directly.¡± Upon hearing the testimony, the base was now filled with supplies brought by transport ships. Since the fleet was gone, it was difficult to recover quickly if the base was blown up, as it was even more noticeable at sea. ¡°But they say it¡¯s almost like a castle.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have proper siege equipment.¡± ¡°I understand Your Highness¡¯s feelings, but I wonder if it¡¯s a bit reckless for Your Highness to break in by force. . . Starting with the moat, the castle gates would have been properly reinforced. I¡¯m worried that you might get hit by a blind arrow.¡± ¡°. . .I didn¡¯t say that.¡± Johan was bewildered when the centaurs tried to stop him. He hadn¡¯t even thought of such a crazy idea. ¡°Oh. Is that so?¡± ¡°Haha. . . Then what are we going to do?¡± Johan¡¯s men skillfully changed the subject. They were indeed people who had served for a long time. ¡°I was thinking of using a strategy to infiltrate the inside. If I can get inside, I¡¯ll be able to find a way somehow.¡± ¡°Indeed. What if we went in disguise? Since there are rogues, to the superior. . .¡± ¡°Is it impossible to disguise ourselves as escorts? Your Highness is well-versed in the heraldry and banners of the enemy¡¯s family.¡± Johan¡¯s men were not only good at changing the subject. Having experienced various battles with Johan, they were also good at devising various strategies. Mohado, who had been listening in admiration, suddenly came to his senses and said. ¡°Wait, wait a minute. It¡¯s all good, but there¡¯s one problem.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The captain guarding the base has a satyr with him.¡± Satyr. It was a monster with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a goat. The serfs in the countryside sometimes mistook centaurs and satyrs, but in such cases, the centaurs kindly exined the difference. If you step on it properly once, you will definitely feel the difference between two hooves and four hooves. And although centaurs were often called monsters, they were a race that couldmunicate, even if they were unruly. In contrast, satyrs were included in monsters. They could not have a proper conversation and did not live in tribes like centaurs. ¡°I found out by spying, but I heard he¡¯s incredibly good at spotting lies. It¡¯s not that we haven¡¯t infiltrated for nothing.¡± The captain of the base had not been attacked because he had raised the satyr since it was a cub. Thanks to this, the satyr was ying an active role as the captain¡¯s loyal dog. ¡°The satyr hasn¡¯t gone extinct yet?¡± ¡°Ha. If it was in the grasnd, it would have wiped out its seeds long ago. . .¡± The centaurs muttered murderously. Seeing Acdda and Euclyia cursing in the easternnguage, it seemed that they really disliked it. ¡°So infiltration is practically impossible. . .¡± Johan was lost in thought. Hearing the story of the satyr gave him a headache. Acdda asked. ¡°Shall we snipe the satyr from afar?¡± ¡°Even if he dies, the vignce will remain. . . Hmm. Is that the only answer?¡± ¡°If you give me a chance, I¡¯ll cut his throat right away.¡± It seemed that the opponent¡¯s vignce could be reduced somehow if their identity was properly disguised. Johan epted the strategy presented by the centaurs and went into specific nning. ???????????? The captain asionally went out of the base and patrolled. Of course, since the escorts were close by, it was almost impossible to snipe from a distance, but the satyr was different. Like a monster, he ran freely at the front of the procession. The centaurs waited in the woods, which was hard to imagine. They were excellent archers who had learned archery since the time of the old empire. It was nothing to put an arrow in arge monster. ¡°What was it after you shot? To avenge Yehekar-gong?¡± ¡°No. Yeheyman.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to remember the names of the nobles here.¡± Johan made something simr to the g Yeheyman used and made it known to the surroundings. It seemed that if the centaurs left as soon as they shot and the others swung the g once and then ran away, it would be usible. Yeheyman¡¯s men or close nobles were executed because of the defeat, and it would not be strange if they harbored resentment. It would be a suitable disguise. And above all, it seemed more usible that the escaped knights joined forces with the rogues than that the enemy duke crossed the river and joined forces with the rogues here. Johan thought he would think thetter. With the sound of the demonstration being pulled, the centaurs narrowed their eyes and red ahead. The tension was great as only those who were confident in their archery skills were selected and aimed. ¡°Shoot!¡± Johan watched far ahead with a force several times stronger than that of others. The arrows, which were shorter than normal arrows, flew with a thud and urately hit the satyr¡¯s vital point. . . ????????! The arrow hit the satyr¡¯s torso and bounced off. The satyr, startled by the attack, howled and threw his body to the side. Other arrows were deflected by the chill. ¡°What?!¡± Johan clearly saw the satyr¡¯s waistband trinket shatter the moment the arrow hit. ¡®?????? ???? ???? ?????????????????? ????????????!¡¯ ¡°Did you miss that!?¡± ¡°I-I hit it. . .!¡± ¡°Fall back. Even if you didn¡¯t catch it, proceed as nned.¡± The rogues of the ck Mountains jumped out of the woods and shouted. ¡°Let¡¯s avenge Yeheyman-gong!¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re the sultan¡¯sckey. Face us!¡± Arrows flew. It was a threatening arrow that did not aim to hit,pletely different from before. The soldiers moved hurriedly to form a formation. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s retreat for now. They won¡¯t chase us either.¡± ¡°They¡¯re, they¡¯re chasing us??¡± The rogue said in bewilderment. The captain was leading the soldiers and running towards them quickly. Johan was momentarily dumbfounded. ¡®???? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????, ?????? ?????? ???????????¡¯ How do you know how many people are hiding in the woods? Chapter 353: ???????????? (5) ¡°I guess they¡¯re trusting the satyr too much!¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we just attack?¡± The other rogues stopped at Johan¡¯s words. He was confident that they could ughter the satyr and any soldiers if he called upon the elf knights and centaurs that were standing by. But he couldn¡¯t do that. ¡®???? ???????? ?????????????? ??????????????????¡¯?? ??????????, ????????¡¯???? ?????? ????????.¡¯ The captain was sharp and intelligent enough to realize that something was amiss if he saw the elves and centaurs and run away. Even if he managed to kill the satyr, it would be pointless if the captain went into hiding in the fortress since he would be on high alert. ¡°We¡¯ll stick to the n. They¡¯ll stop chasing us once we enter the forest.¡± . . .But the enemy didn¡¯t stop.The satyr kept crying out and searching for their tracks, and the soldiers followed close behind, running through the forest. Johan realized that he had been wrong. ¡®?????????? ???????? ????????¡¯?? ????????????.¡¯ The soldiers in the fortress had great confidence in the satyr¡¯s abilities. That was only natural since many of them had seen it with their own eyes. The mysterious eyes that could detect lies, the sharp andrge horns that could crush anything, the strong grip that could not be escaped once caught, the powerful legs that could crush rocks, and so on. At the very least, he had to take care of the soldiers in order to stop this pursuit. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that guy following us a little too well?¡± Of course, not everyone was as calm as Johan. The rogues were visibly terrified by the satyr¡¯s relentless pursuit. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s following us because it knows I¡¯m the leader. Monsters are sensitive to that kind of thing.¡± Johan was well aware of how monsters behaved, havingmanded Karamaf himself and having hunted all sorts of monsters. However, the rogues seemed even more frightened by his words. ¡°D-Does that mean we can¡¯t shake it off?¡± The rogues¡¯ eyes pleaded with him to call the elves or centaurs, even if it was just for a moment. Johan, however, gave a different order instead. ¡°Mohado. Even if the captain doesn¡¯t personally pursue us into the forest, I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll leave until the satyr brings him his prey. Can you take some men and sneak out of the forest and circle around to the fortress?¡± ¡°What? Right now??¡± ¡°If we¡¯re going to do it, we have to do it now.¡± ¡°I-I can disguise myself at any time but. . .¡± Mohado couldn¡¯t understand why the duke wanted to split his forces when the satyr was chasing them so fiercely. Even if he was confident, wasn¡¯t he being a little too reckless? However, the duke continued, not paying him any mind. ¡°Disguise yourselves however you want, but find a way to get inside the fortress. I¡¯ll lure the satyr deeper into the forest and then head to the fortress with my men.¡± Johan intended to make the captain pay dearly for his arrogance in trusting the satyr. Judging from what he had seen earlier, it was clear that the captain would be waiting leisurely in front of the forest, expecting the satyr to bring him his prey. There was no reason not to take advantage of this gap. ¡°Mohado-nim, even His Highness the Duke is telling you to do it!¡± One of the frightened servants whined. He had wanted to speak up earlier, but he couldn¡¯t because the duke had spoken first. He just wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. ¡°Shut up, you fool! What difference does it make if you save your own life right now!¡± However, Mohado snapped at him angrily. Beingpared to the duke¡¯s subordinate made him feel even more ashamed. To act so foolishly when he was in the middle of doing something important, just to save his own life. ¡°Move, now.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, sir.¡± Mohado decided to lead his men north through the forest, then circle around the hill and approach the fortress. Since the captain was so far away, they would be able to enter the fortress if they disguised themselves as merchants. ¡®???? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????¡¯ Mohado nced back at the young duke several times, worried that he might be making a mistake. As a human being, it was impossible topletely forget the kindness you had received. This was especially true for someone like Mohado. The rogues, who didn¡¯t understand his feelings, grumbled. ¡°Mohado-nim, I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re doing this. We should be running away as fast as we can.¡± ¡°You stupid, ignorant fools. . . How would you know what honor is!¡± ¡°???¡± The rogues were even more bewildered when Mohado started talking like someone they didn¡¯t recognize. Did he go mad after meeting the duke? ???????????? ¡°Let¡¯s fight together, right?¡± ¡°No. We¡¯ll lie in ambush and surround them. It¡¯ll be troublesome if the soldiers run away.¡± The soldiers chasing after the satyr were some of the fastest and most experienced in the fortress. If they missed them, they might not be able to catch them again due to the terrain of the forest. Karamaf had also been left with the wizards. . . The centaurs nodded. They were now deep in the forest. Even if the satyr were to die, it would take a long time for the captain, who was waiting outside the forest, to find out. Johan stopped running and stood tall. Cardirian snorted and looked ahead. It seemed that he, as a fellow demon, knew that the satyr wasing. ¡°There it is!¡± ¡°Son of a b*tch! It¡¯s so damn annoying!¡± The soldiers behind the satyr seemed to think that Johan was a fallen knight. They didn¡¯t mince their words as they ran through the forest, kicking up dust and dirt, and their arms and legs were covered in fatigue. There was no surrender request, nor could there be. The satyr was not a monster that would gently capture its prey. Besides, its master, the captain, was outside, so all the soldiers could do was go and kill. However, if the soldiers had been a little less tired, or if they had been a little more observant, they would have noticed that the satyr, who had made eye contact with Johan, had suddenly hesitated and started to falter. ¡°Kill it! Kill it!¡± ¡°You can even eat it!¡± The satyr hesitated for a moment before charging forward with a roar at the urging of the soldiers. Then, with a dull thud, the satyr¡¯s head burst open. ¡°. . .???¡± ¡°????¡± The soldiers couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. The satyr had been a ferocious beast that would not flinch even when faced with a lion, and it had just been killed with a single blow without even making a sound. ¡®???????? ?????? ????????. . .??¡¯ Whether the pursuing soldiers denied reality or not, Johan brushed the blood off his warhammer and said. ¡°Take care of the rest of them and erase all traces.¡± His words were followed by a volley of arrows. The soldiers cried out in horror. ¡°M-Monster!¡± ????????! The soldiers, who had been hit by arrows in the neck, were unable to finish their words. The centaurs said in surprise. ¡°Surely you don¡¯t mean the monster duke, do you?¡± ¡°Nah, no way. . . It¡¯s probably just ¡®monster¡¯.¡± ¡°I can hear you all. Stop talking nonsense and move.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ???????????? ¡°This is f*cked up. . .!¡± Mohado wondered if he should just stab himself in the neck with a dagger. His men were all in a panic as well. The reason was simple. . . . They still hadn¡¯t been able to get into the fortress. ¡®???????? ???? ??????, ???????? ???? ??????, ???????? ???? ??????. . .!¡¯ The captain¡¯s adjutant was in charge of the remaining soldiers in the fortress. Mohado thought that anyone would open the gates if he bowed down a few times with a suitable bribe. ©¥ ??¡¯?? ??????????. ?? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????. ©¥ ????????. . .! ????¡¯???? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?? ???????????? ????????. ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????????. ?????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????????????. . . ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????, ??????????! ©¥ ???? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????. . . ???? ?????? ????????, ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????. ??¡¯?? ??????????. ©¥ ????????, ???????????? ????¡¯?? ??????????, ??????. . . ©¥ ?????????? ??????. ?????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ????. ¡®???????? ?????? ???? ?? ??*??????.¡¯ The adjutant shamelessly pocketed the bribe. He had promised to help them out once they got into the fortress, but as far as Mohado was concerned, it was a very immoral act. ¡°That captain bastard is really a cruel and heartless man. How much did he bully his subordinates that he wouldn¡¯t even let a single one of them in?¡± ¡°Mohado-nim, shouldn¡¯t we run away?¡± ¡°Run away, what. . .! Shut up. If we run away from here, what will happen to His Highness the Duke, who came here trusting us!¡± ¡®???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?? ????????????.¡¯ The rogues grumbled inwardly. Mohado¡¯s sudden transformation into a loyal knight was very strange to them. The sight of the fake escort waiting in front of the gate, shuffling their feet. Johan realized this btedly. It was only after he climbed up the hill that he saw the group of rogues hesitating in front of the gate. The elf knights and centaurs who were behind him were also surprised when they heard this. They didn¡¯t think that the rogues wouldn¡¯t have been able to get inside. ¡°Those useless pieces of trash?!¡± ¡°What are we going to do?¡± There was no time to think long. Johan left the judgment to his instincts. ¡°. . . Since it¡¯se to this, we¡¯ll break through by force. There won¡¯t be many soldiers left in the fortress anyway. Send the signal!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± It was a deration that they would attack the fortress, which was as good as a wooden castle, with their bare hands and without any siege equipment, but no one objected. The elf knights were the ones who enjoyed this kind of recklessness the most, and the centaurs were the ones who would follow Johan even if he jumped into the sea, after a moment of hesitation. ¡°Blow the horn and send the signal!¡± ¡°Attack! Attack!¡± As the dust rose from the hill and a horde of creatures charged fiercely towards the fortress, the soldiers stationed on the wooden wall did not react immediately. It was all too sudden. ¡°W-What? What is it??¡± ¡°Who, here, how is attacking??¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we call the captain?¡± ¡°F-First we need to beat the drum and gather everyone. . .¡± That moment of panic bought them precious time. Johan led his men and arrived near the moat. ¡°Themander is dead by my hand. Surrender!!¡± His voice boomed, strong enough to make even the nearby rogues cover their ears. Some of the soldiers, hearing his voice, couldn¡¯t help but think that themander might be dead. ¡°B-Bullsh*t! I¡¯ll cut down anyone who acts rashly!¡± The adjutant, who had taken Mohado¡¯s bribe earlier, shouted urgently. He seemed to be quite strong-willed, as he didn¡¯t waver even after Johan¡¯s shout. ¡°I don¡¯t know what those guys are up to, but don¡¯t be scared. Look at this wall! Isn¡¯t it high enough? Those guys can¡¯t get over it. Look at that moat! It¡¯s a deep moat that you dug! They won¡¯t be able to cross it either!¡± The moat that filled the field outside the fortress was the first line of defense. Once the drawbridge was lifted, there was no way to get in. ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ They were panicking and floundering right now, but if the soldiers got into position and started attacking, Johan and his men under the walls would be in hell. We have to break through quickly! Johan said to Cardirian, ¡°If you can¡¯t jump over it, I don¡¯t know, but you¡¯ll get hurt badly. Jump over it no matter what!¡± ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö! Cardirian snorted in displeasure and jumped high. It was a jump several times higher than a normal horse. He cleared the deep and wide moat in one leap. Next, Johan drew Giant yer. The blood of the satyr he had killed earlier was caked on it, and a red aura swirled around it. Johan gripped Giant yer in his hand and swung it with all his might. There was a thunderous sound. ????????!!! The soldiers inside were literally terrified. Some of them fell to the ground, wondering what had happened. Another thunderous sound rang out. The thick gate, reinforced with iron and bronze, was being torn apart. One of the soldiers who made eye contact with Johan through the gap in the gate clutched his chest and copsed. Finally, there was another thunderous sound. The gate waspletely torn apart. A few arrows flew weakly, but Johan deflected them with a flick of his arm. Then he shouted. ¡°Come on!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The roguesid the nks they had prepared over the moat to make a makeshift bridge, and the elf knights and centaurs rushed into the gate. Acdda thought to himself as he ran powerfully. ¡®?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????????, ????????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????¡¯ If they were going to break it down by force anyway, why couldn¡¯t they have done it from the beginning. . .?, ¡°I guess they¡¯re trusting the satyr too much!¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we just attack?¡± The other rogues stopped at Johan¡¯s words. He was confident that they could ughter the satyr and any soldiers if he called upon the elf knights and centaurs that were standing by. But he couldn¡¯t do that. ¡®???? ???????? ?????????????? ??????????????????¡¯?? ??????????, ????????¡¯???? ?????? ????????.¡¯ The captain was sharp and intelligent enough to realize that something was amiss if he saw the elves and centaurs and run away. Even if he managed to kill the satyr, it would be pointless if the captain went into hiding in the fortress since he would be on high alert. ¡°We¡¯ll stick to the n. They¡¯ll stop chasing us once we enter the forest.¡± . . .But the enemy didn¡¯t stop. The satyr kept crying out and searching for their tracks, and the soldiers followed close behind, running through the forest. Johan realized that he had been wrong. ¡®?????????? ???????? ????????¡¯?? ????????????.¡¯ The soldiers in the fortress had great confidence in the satyr¡¯s abilities. That was only natural since many of them had seen it with their own eyes. The mysterious eyes that could detect lies, the sharp andrge horns that could crush anything, the strong grip that could not be escaped once caught, the powerful legs that could crush rocks, and so on. At the very least, he had to take care of the soldiers in order to stop this pursuit. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that guy following us a little too well?¡± Of course, not everyone was as calm as Johan. The rogues were visibly terrified by the satyr¡¯s relentless pursuit. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s following us because it knows I¡¯m the leader. Monsters are sensitive to that kind of thing.¡± Johan was well aware of how monsters behaved, havingmanded Karamaf himself and having hunted all sorts of monsters. However, the rogues seemed even more frightened by his words. ¡°D-Does that mean we can¡¯t shake it off?¡± The rogues¡¯ eyes pleaded with him to call the elves or centaurs, even if it was just for a moment. Johan, however, gave a different order instead. ¡°Mohado. Even if the captain doesn¡¯t personally pursue us into the forest, I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll leave until the satyr brings him his prey. Can you take some men and sneak out of the forest and circle around to the fortress?¡± ¡°What? Right now??¡± ¡°If we¡¯re going to do it, we have to do it now.¡± ¡°I-I can disguise myself at any time but. . .¡± Mohado couldn¡¯t understand why the duke wanted to split his forces when the satyr was chasing them so fiercely. Even if he was confident, wasn¡¯t he being a little too reckless? However, the duke continued, not paying him any mind. ¡°Disguise yourselves however you want, but find a way to get inside the fortress. I¡¯ll lure the satyr deeper into the forest and then head to the fortress with my men.¡± Johan intended to make the captain pay dearly for his arrogance in trusting the satyr. Judging from what he had seen earlier, it was clear that the captain would be waiting leisurely in front of the forest, expecting the satyr to bring him his prey. There was no reason not to take advantage of this gap. ¡°Mohado-nim, even His Highness the Duke is telling you to do it!¡± One of the frightened servants whined. He had wanted to speak up earlier, but he couldn¡¯t because the duke had spoken first. He just wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. ¡°Shut up, you fool! What difference does it make if you save your own life right now!¡± However, Mohado snapped at him angrily. Beingpared to the duke¡¯s subordinate made him feel even more ashamed. To act so foolishly when he was in the middle of doing something important, just to save his own life. ¡°Move, now.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, sir.¡± Mohado decided to lead his men north through the forest, then circle around the hill and approach the fortress. Since the captain was so far away, they would be able to enter the fortress if they disguised themselves as merchants. ¡®???? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????¡¯ Mohado nced back at the young duke several times, worried that he might be making a mistake. As a human being, it was impossible topletely forget the kindness you had received. This was especially true for someone like Mohado. The rogues, who didn¡¯t understand his feelings, grumbled. ¡°Mohado-nim, I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re doing this. We should be running away as fast as we can.¡± ¡°You stupid, ignorant fools. . . How would you know what honor is!¡± ¡°???¡± The rogues were even more bewildered when Mohado started talking like someone they didn¡¯t recognize. Did he go mad after meeting the duke? ???????????? ¡°Let¡¯s fight together, right?¡± ¡°No. We¡¯ll lie in ambush and surround them. It¡¯ll be troublesome if the soldiers run away.¡± The soldiers chasing after the satyr were some of the fastest and most experienced in the fortress. If they missed them, they might not be able to catch them again due to the terrain of the forest. Karamaf had also been left with the wizards. . . The centaurs nodded. They were now deep in the forest. Even if the satyr were to die, it would take a long time for the captain, who was waiting outside the forest, to find out. Johan stopped running and stood tall. Cardirian snorted and looked ahead. It seemed that he, as a fellow demon, knew that the satyr wasing. ¡°There it is!¡± ¡°Son of a b*tch! It¡¯s so damn annoying!¡± The soldiers behind the satyr seemed to think that Johan was a fallen knight. They didn¡¯t mince their words as they ran through the forest, kicking up dust and dirt, and their arms and legs were covered in fatigue. There was no surrender request, nor could there be. The satyr was not a monster that would gently capture its prey. Besides, its master, the captain, was outside, so all the soldiers could do was go and kill. However, if the soldiers had been a little less tired, or if they had been a little more observant, they would have noticed that the satyr, who had made eye contact with Johan, had suddenly hesitated and started to falter. ¡°Kill it! Kill it!¡± ¡°You can even eat it!¡± The satyr hesitated for a moment before charging forward with a roar at the urging of the soldiers. Then, with a dull thud, the satyr¡¯s head burst open. ¡°. . .???¡± ¡°????¡± The soldiers couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. The satyr had been a ferocious beast that would not flinch even when faced with a lion, and it had just been killed with a single blow without even making a sound. ¡®???????? ?????? ????????. . .??¡¯ Whether the pursuing soldiers denied reality or not, Johan brushed the blood off his warhammer and said. ¡°Take care of the rest of them and erase all traces.¡± His words were followed by a volley of arrows. The soldiers cried out in horror. ¡°M-Monster!¡± ????????! The soldiers, who had been hit by arrows in the neck, were unable to finish their words. The centaurs said in surprise. ¡°Surely you don¡¯t mean the monster duke, do you?¡± ¡°Nah, no way. . . It¡¯s probably just ¡®monster¡¯.¡± ¡°I can hear you all. Stop talking nonsense and move.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ???????????? ¡°This is f*cked up. . .!¡± Mohado wondered if he should just stab himself in the neck with a dagger. His men were all in a panic as well. The reason was simple. . . . They still hadn¡¯t been able to get into the fortress. ¡®???????? ???? ??????, ???????? ???? ??????, ???????? ???? ??????. . .!¡¯ The captain¡¯s adjutant was in charge of the remaining soldiers in the fortress. Mohado thought that anyone would open the gates if he bowed down a few times with a suitable bribe. ©¥ ??¡¯?? ??????????. ?? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????. ©¥ ????????. . .! ????¡¯???? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?? ???????????? ????????. ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????????. ?????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????????????. . . ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ????????? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????, ??????????! ©¥ ???? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????. . . ???? ?????? ????????, ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????. ??¡¯?? ??????????. ©¥ ????????, ???????????? ????¡¯?? ??????????, ??????. . . ©¥ ?????????? ??????. ?????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ????. ¡®???????? ?????? ???? ?? ??*??????.¡¯ The adjutant shamelessly pocketed the bribe. He had promised to help them out once they got into the fortress, but as far as Mohado was concerned, it was a very immoral act. ¡°That captain bastard is really a cruel and heartless man. How much did he bully his subordinates that he wouldn¡¯t even let a single one of them in?¡± ¡°Mohado-nim, shouldn¡¯t we run away?¡± ¡°Run away, what. . .! Shut up. If we run away from here, what will happen to His Highness the Duke, who came here trusting us!¡± ¡®???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?? ????????????.¡¯ The rogues grumbled inwardly. Mohado¡¯s sudden transformation into a loyal knight was very strange to them. The sight of the fake escort waiting in front of the gate, shuffling their feet. Johan realized this btedly. It was only after he climbed up the hill that he saw the group of rogues hesitating in front of the gate. The elf knights and centaurs who were behind him were also surprised when they heard this. They didn¡¯t think that the rogues wouldn¡¯t have been able to get inside. ¡°Those useless pieces of trash?!¡± ¡°What are we going to do?¡± There was no time to think long. Johan left the judgment to his instincts. ¡°. . . Since it¡¯se to this, we¡¯ll break through by force. There won¡¯t be many soldiers left in the fortress anyway. Send the signal!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± It was a deration that they would attack the fortress, which was as good as a wooden castle, with their bare hands and without any siege equipment, but no one objected. The elf knights were the ones who enjoyed this kind of recklessness the most, and the centaurs were the ones who would follow Johan even if he jumped into the sea, after a moment of hesitation. ¡°Blow the horn and send the signal!¡± ¡°Attack! Attack!¡± As the dust rose from the hill and a horde of creatures charged fiercely towards the fortress, the soldiers stationed on the wooden wall did not react immediately. It was all too sudden. ¡°W-What? What is it??¡± ¡°Who, here, how is attacking??¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we call the captain?¡± ¡°F-First we need to beat the drum and gather everyone. . .¡± That moment of panic bought them precious time. Johan led his men and arrived near the moat. ¡°Themander is dead by my hand. Surrender!!¡± His voice boomed, strong enough to make even the nearby rogues cover their ears. Some of the soldiers, hearing his voice, couldn¡¯t help but think that themander might be dead. ¡°B-Bullsh*t! I¡¯ll cut down anyone who acts rashly!¡± The adjutant, who had taken Mohado¡¯s bribe earlier, shouted urgently. He seemed to be quite strong-willed, as he didn¡¯t waver even after Johan¡¯s shout. ¡°I don¡¯t know what those guys are up to, but don¡¯t be scared. Look at this wall! Isn¡¯t it high enough? Those guys can¡¯t get over it. Look at that moat! It¡¯s a deep moat that you dug! They won¡¯t be able to cross it either!¡± The moat that filled the field outside the fortress was the first line of defense. Once the drawbridge was lifted, there was no way to get in. ¡®?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ They were panicking and floundering right now, but if the soldiers got into position and started attacking, Johan and his men under the walls would be in hell. We have to break through quickly! Johan said to Cardirian, ¡°If you can¡¯t jump over it, I don¡¯t know, but you¡¯ll get hurt badly. Jump over it no matter what!¡± ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö! Cardirian snorted in displeasure and jumped high. It was a jump several times higher than a normal horse. He cleared the deep and wide moat in one leap. Next, Johan drew Giant yer. The blood of the satyr he had killed earlier was caked on it, and a red aura swirled around it. Johan gripped Giant yer in his hand and swung it with all his might. There was a thunderous sound. ????????!!! The soldiers inside were literally terrified. Some of them fell to the ground, wondering what had happened. Another thunderous sound rang out. The thick gate, reinforced with iron and bronze, was being torn apart. One of the soldiers who made eye contact with Johan through the gap in the gate clutched his chest and copsed. Finally, there was another thunderous sound. The gate waspletely torn apart. A few arrows flew weakly, but Johan deflected them with a flick of his arm. Then he shouted. ¡°Come on!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The roguesid the nks they had prepared over the moat to make a makeshift bridge, and the elf knights and centaurs rushed into the gate. Acdda thought to himself as he ran powerfully. ¡®?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????????????, ????????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????¡¯ If they were going to break it down by force anyway, why couldn¡¯t they have done it from the beginning. . .? Chapter 354: ???????????????? ???????????? (1) ¡°Way to go! It was worth all the effort, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°R-Right.¡± Acdda had missed his chance to say something because the young duke spoke too happily. The elf knights also responded positively, seeing how pleased the duke was. ¡°Your Highness¡¯s strategy worked perfectly!¡± ¡°The enemy waspletely fooled.¡± ¡°Thank you all! But we¡¯re not done yet, so please stay focused.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Acdda endured it, though it frustrated him. Sometimes, a subordinate must hold back what they have to say. ????????????¡°Make way!¡± Johan or the elf knights were like fish in water, as long as they had broken through the gates. No matter how well-trained and well-equipped the guards were, they were no match for knights on horseback. Especially if they were caught off guard. ¡°Run! The enemies have entered!¡± ¡°The pagans have made their way inside!!¡± ¡°How did they manage to get past the gates?!¡± Some captains hurriedly gathered their men and tried to stop them, but it was no use. The smoke rising from various parts of the base gave an idea of the situation. Those who were quick-witted hid or even fled the base. They mistakenly thought that the enemy¡¯s main forces would soon be upon them. ¡°Mohado-nim! I think I see them over there! Shall we head there?¡± ¡°No! I think that looks better. It¡¯s an inner fortress that looks like it could be where themander is staying, don¡¯t you think!?¡± Mohado¡¯s men urged him on, excited. Being rogues by nature, they found the current situation of plundering to be irresistibly enjoyable. This base was full of treasures, from the items used by the Sultan himself to all sorts of riches. Most of them would have to be burned and destroyed before escaping, so how well they managed to pack things away in the short amount of time they had would demonstrate their abilities as rogues. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t His Highness be taking care of that?¡± ¡°. . .W-What do you mean?¡± The rogues looked at their chieftain as if he had gone mad. The duke might be getting rid of the remaining enemies in the base right now, but what did that have to do with the rogues? The duke¡¯s job was to wipe out the enemy honorably, while the rogues¡¯ job was to fill their pockets with treasures like proper rogues. ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly. Protect His Highness! Be wary of surprise attacks or stray arrows!¡± ¡°But, over there, the knights are. . . they¡¯ll do a better job than us. . .¡± ¡°Be quiet!!¡± Mohado¡¯s men grumbled less after he whipped one of them with the whip he was holding. They stayed near the duke, still muttering under their breaths. It seemed like the old Mohado had been better. ¡®?? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ After a battle, Johan looked at Mohado with a puzzled expression. He thought Mohado would have been off looting with his men by now, but he didn¡¯t expect him to stick around. ¡°What are you doing instead of looting?¡± ¡°. . .Y-Yes! I¡¯ll go loot now!¡± Johan¡¯s men made effective use of the short amount of time they had. They looted everything they could find since there were no more enemies in sight, and they burned and destroyed the rest. When themander btedly heard about themotion at the base, he hurriedly returned to find the base already engulfed in mes. ???????????? ¡°His Majesty has returned!¡± ¡°W-What?¡± ¡°Waaaahhhh?¡± Although their reactions were a beatte, the nobles still pretended to be happy at the good news. The knights and nobles from the kingdom who had been part of the expedition were overjoyed, but the nobles from the empire were somewhat puzzled. ©¥?? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ????????. ©¥???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????????. ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????, ??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????????????????. ©¥??????????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ?????????? ????????? ??¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????¡¯???? ??????. The expedition nobles and feudal lords pped, but their expressions showed something like, ¡®?????????? ???????????????? ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ????????????,¡¯ and ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????????????¡¯ The elf king nodded gratefully and eximed, ¡°This brave young duke came all the way to the enemy camp to rescue me. If it weren¡¯t for the duke, I might have fallen to the enemy¡¯s vile assassination attempt!¡± The nobles who heard this murmured in disbelief. ¡°A vile assassination attempt?¡± ¡°I heard the Sultan tried to kill the elf king.¡± ¡°Oh my! Such a despicable act?!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand. . . why would they kill a prisoner?¡± ¡°His anger must have exploded after a series of defeats. Are you saying that His Highness the Duke is lying?¡± ¡°N-No.¡± Regardless of what the nobles were saying, the elf king fervently eximed, stomping his feet. Fortunately, the elf king¡¯s pride, which had fallen to the ground during the attack on the base, had been somewhat restored. ¡°We attacked the enemy¡¯s fortresses in the rear together! We cut off the vile monsters that the enemy had under their control, trampled their forces, and burned the supplies they were guarding!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The expressions of the expedition nobles who had been listening intently began to turn grim. Even the elf nobles from the kingdom were looking at him with clouded faces. ¡®???????? ??????????????, ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????. . .¡¯ Knights were said to be prideful and honorable, but that didn¡¯t necessarily mean they always spoke the truth. Knights tended to exaggerate when talking about their exploits. They would make a big fuss about ying a dragon when all they had done was clear out a goblin¡¯s den. Thus, what the elf king was saying sounded absurd. He must have escaped, taken advantage of the enemy¡¯s confusion, and returned after making a long detour. How could they have attacked a fortress and burned supplies? The elf king was quick-witted when it came to things like this. Realizing that the people present didn¡¯t believe him, he eximed, filled with a sense of injustice, ¡°Do you dare doubt my testimony now?¡± ¡°No! Your Majesty! We all believe Your Majesty¡¯s words!¡± ¡°. . .As I thought! You don¡¯t believe me!¡± ¡°We do believe you!¡± The nobles responded with things like, ¡®???? ?????????????? ??????, ???? ????,¡¯ as if they were tired of it all, and the elf king became even more aggrieved. The elf king looked at Johan with eyes that seemed to be asking for help. ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s words are true. We happened toe across an enemy base, attacked and looted it. You can confirm it by checking the spoils of war.¡± ¡°!!¡± ¡°Is that really true?!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The elf king red at the expedition nobles. Those who had doubted the king¡¯s words just moments ago were now changing their reactions with just a single word from the duke. The nobles from the empire were inherently mean-spirited andcked faith, but even the elf nobles from the kingdom reacting like that was infuriating. ¡°If they have suffered such a blow, the enemy is bound to waver!¡± ¡°God is on our side!¡± Although he would have normally calmed them down, Johan nodded and agreed with the nobles. Indeed, with things going this well, it was natural to gain confidence that they didn¡¯t have before. It was like they had easily cut off the enemy¡¯s arms and legs. If all their forces were fully gathered here, it seemed like it would be okay to go on the offensive once after scouting out the enemy. The cautious duke, who would have unconditionally chosen to remain defensive, was now taking the initiative, which surprised people like the casten and Ulrike. They felt intuitively that the end of this battle was approaching. To think that they would be able to win without giving up an inch ofnd against that enormous army. It was hard to believe, even for them. ¡®???? ????????¡¯?? ????????????????, ???????? ???? ????????????. . .¡¯ Ulrike, who wasn¡¯t particrly religious, felt a sense of awe that was almost like a miracle. However, things in the world didn¡¯t always go smoothly. A harsh cold arrived, along with the early winter. ???????????? ¡°There is no need to worry. The enemy will suffer more, Your Highness.¡± The old casten spoke unflinchingly. Despite the sudden cold, the casten, a veteran of a hundred battles, remained unshaken. She gave out thick furs and wool to the soldiers and had the fires lit throughout the camp increased several times over. It was an extravagance that was possible because there was an abundance of supplies. In contrast, the enemy outnumbered them and would be short on supplies. Their morale must have been low due to the misfortunes, and this cold weather could not be good for them. However, Johan¡¯s expression remained grim. ¡°Why do you say that, Your Highness?¡± ¡°I am worried that the river will freeze.¡± ¡°This river has never frozen since my parents¡¯ time. The water is deep and wide, so it won¡¯t freeze with just a little bit of cold.¡± ¡°But there are always exceptions.¡± The casten listened attentively to the duke¡¯s warning. To be honest, she would have listened seriously even if the duke had said, ¡®?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°I am concerned that the enemy wizards might be at work.¡± ¡°You mean there¡¯s a wizard who¡¯s powerful enough to change the weather?¡± ¡°They may not be able to change the weather at will, but they might be able to make theing cold even harsher.¡± If the river began to freeze, it would be a golden opportunity for those who had been waiting for a chance to cross it. Johan med himself for hisck of ability as a wizard. ¡®???? ???????????????? ???????? ????????, ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Caenerna herself would have thrown up her hands in disbelief if she had heard that. No one, except for a god, could perform such a miracle. The duke, who rarely showed signs of worry, was acting like this, so Ulrike seemed to be quite worried as well. Ulrike opened her mouth tofort Johan. It was a very rare thing for her. ¡°But there¡¯s no need to worry too much. The enemy¡¯s morale is greatly weakened after being ambushed several times, and they won¡¯t be able to pull themselves together properly.¡± ¡°But they outnumber us several times over.¡± ¡°. . .And they¡¯re probably suffering from the cold with their supplies cut off?¡± ¡°But the merchants will still being even in this cold weather, and the supplies stockpiled in the camp seem to be quite a lot.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± When Ulrike fell silent, lost in thought, Johan gave a wry smile. ¡°Thank you for trying tofort me. I understand what you¡¯re trying to say. It¡¯s true, there¡¯s no use worrying about it here. I¡¯ve sent someone to tell the assembled forces to hurry, so let¡¯s do what we can.¡± Johan ordered his men to check the river for freezing every day. Whenever and wherever it froze deeply, the enemy¡¯s attack would begin. The wait wasn¡¯t long. Seven dayster, the enemy began to flock to the riverbank. ???????????? ¡°Why do you have to lead your men to the front?!¡± Ulrike shouted from atop her horse. The first to step forward to block the enemy¡¯s crossing were not the other nobles, but Johan and the elite soldiers he led. She couldn¡¯t understand why he insisted on being at the forefront when there were still many who had yet to listen to him. ¡°Putting together a rabble like that will only demoralize them. I have to show them something, at the very least.¡± It wasn¡¯t that Johan didn¡¯t want to order others to do it. No, he actually wanted to desperately. However, the expeditionary forces were disjointed, and the chain ofmand was in shambles. This wasn¡¯t just a problem for the expeditionary forces. The enemy would be the same. There were those who fought well, so they would be valiant when they won, but if they suddenly became frightened, it would be impossible to recover. Even so, there were already a few nobles who were terrified when the river suddenly froze over due to the unexpected cold. In this situation, the most reliable people were those who had been with him for a long time. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Show them how strong you are against those who have crossed the river!¡± ¡°Yes!!¡± Johan and his men formed ranks at the river crossing. Next to them and behind them, the soldiers brought by the other nobles and the expeditionary forces prepared for battle. If Johan and his men were pushed back, they would have to rush in and fight. ¡®?????? ?????????????????????????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????????, ?????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ????????-????????????????????, ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ????????-????????????????????, ?????? ????????¡¯???? ??????????, ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????????????? ???? ????????¡¯???? ???????????? ????????.¡¯ Johan vowed to never show weakness. With the enemy¡¯s overwhelming numbers, they had to inflict as much damage as possible, even if they were pushed back to some extent, and force the enemy to retreat once. That much was necessary to prevent his own forces from having wild thoughts. ¡°Here theye!¡± The enemy began to charge across the river. Their morale was low, but they were still fierce. The enemy must have sent their elite troops to the front, and more importantly. . . ¡®???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ He could imagine how frustrated they must have been. Johan raised his sword and encouraged the men beside him. The men on the other side already looked terrified. ¡°Even if we¡¯re forced to retreat, kill at least ten men for every one of you!¡± The first battlested about eight hours. When the enemy could no longer hold on and retreated, Johan¡¯s men looked at each other in disbelief. They were still standing in the same position they had been in at the start., ¡°Way to go! It was worth all the effort, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°R-Right.¡± Acdda had missed his chance to say something because the young duke spoke too happily. The elf knights also responded positively, seeing how pleased the duke was. ¡°Your Highness¡¯s strategy worked perfectly!¡± ¡°The enemy waspletely fooled.¡± ¡°Thank you all! But we¡¯re not done yet, so please stay focused.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Acdda endured it, though it frustrated him. Sometimes, a subordinate must hold back what they have to say. ???????????? ¡°Make way!¡± Johan or the elf knights were like fish in water, as long as they had broken through the gates. No matter how well-trained and well-equipped the guards were, they were no match for knights on horseback. Especially if they were caught off guard. ¡°Run! The enemies have entered!¡± ¡°The pagans have made their way inside!!¡± ¡°How did they manage to get past the gates?!¡± Some captains hurriedly gathered their men and tried to stop them, but it was no use. The smoke rising from various parts of the base gave an idea of the situation. Those who were quick-witted hid or even fled the base. They mistakenly thought that the enemy¡¯s main forces would soon be upon them. ¡°Mohado-nim! I think I see them over there! Shall we head there?¡± ¡°No! I think that looks better. It¡¯s an inner fortress that looks like it could be where themander is staying, don¡¯t you think!?¡± Mohado¡¯s men urged him on, excited. Being rogues by nature, they found the current situation of plundering to be irresistibly enjoyable. This base was full of treasures, from the items used by the Sultan himself to all sorts of riches. Most of them would have to be burned and destroyed before escaping, so how well they managed to pack things away in the short amount of time they had would demonstrate their abilities as rogues. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t His Highness be taking care of that?¡± ¡°. . .W-What do you mean?¡± The rogues looked at their chieftain as if he had gone mad. The duke might be getting rid of the remaining enemies in the base right now, but what did that have to do with the rogues? The duke¡¯s job was to wipe out the enemy honorably, while the rogues¡¯ job was to fill their pockets with treasures like proper rogues. ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly. Protect His Highness! Be wary of surprise attacks or stray arrows!¡± ¡°But, over there, the knights are. . . they¡¯ll do a better job than us. . .¡± ¡°Be quiet!!¡± Mohado¡¯s men grumbled less after he whipped one of them with the whip he was holding. They stayed near the duke, still muttering under their breaths. It seemed like the old Mohado had been better. ¡®?? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ??????.¡¯ After a battle, Johan looked at Mohado with a puzzled expression. He thought Mohado would have been off looting with his men by now, but he didn¡¯t expect him to stick around. ¡°What are you doing instead of looting?¡± ¡°. . .Y-Yes! I¡¯ll go loot now!¡± Johan¡¯s men made effective use of the short amount of time they had. They looted everything they could find since there were no more enemies in sight, and they burned and destroyed the rest. When themander btedly heard about themotion at the base, he hurriedly returned to find the base already engulfed in mes. ???????????? ¡°His Majesty has returned!¡± ¡°W-What?¡± ¡°Waaaahhhh?¡± Although their reactions were a beatte, the nobles still pretended to be happy at the good news. The knights and nobles from the kingdom who had been part of the expedition were overjoyed, but the nobles from the empire were somewhat puzzled. ©¥?? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ????????. ©¥???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????????. ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????, ??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????????????????. ©¥??????????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ?????????? ????????? ??¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????¡¯???? ??????. The expedition nobles and feudal lords pped, but their expressions showed something like, ¡®?????????? ???????????????? ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ????????????,¡¯ and ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ?????????????¡¯ The elf king nodded gratefully and eximed, ¡°This brave young duke came all the way to the enemy camp to rescue me. If it weren¡¯t for the duke, I might have fallen to the enemy¡¯s vile assassination attempt!¡± The nobles who heard this murmured in disbelief. ¡°A vile assassination attempt?¡± ¡°I heard the Sultan tried to kill the elf king.¡± ¡°Oh my! Such a despicable act?!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand. . . why would they kill a prisoner?¡± ¡°His anger must have exploded after a series of defeats. Are you saying that His Highness the Duke is lying?¡± ¡°N-No.¡± Regardless of what the nobles were saying, the elf king fervently eximed, stomping his feet. Fortunately, the elf king¡¯s pride, which had fallen to the ground during the attack on the base, had been somewhat restored. ¡°We attacked the enemy¡¯s fortresses in the rear together! We cut off the vile monsters that the enemy had under their control, trampled their forces, and burned the supplies they were guarding!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The expressions of the expedition nobles who had been listening intently began to turn grim. Even the elf nobles from the kingdom were looking at him with clouded faces. ¡®???????? ??????????????, ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????. . .¡¯ Knights were said to be prideful and honorable, but that didn¡¯t necessarily mean they always spoke the truth. Knights tended to exaggerate when talking about their exploits. They would make a big fuss about ying a dragon when all they had done was clear out a goblin¡¯s den. Thus, what the elf king was saying sounded absurd. He must have escaped, taken advantage of the enemy¡¯s confusion, and returned after making a long detour. How could they have attacked a fortress and burned supplies? The elf king was quick-witted when it came to things like this. Realizing that the people present didn¡¯t believe him, he eximed, filled with a sense of injustice, ¡°Do you dare doubt my testimony now?¡± ¡°No! Your Majesty! We all believe Your Majesty¡¯s words!¡± ¡°. . .As I thought! You don¡¯t believe me!¡± ¡°We do believe you!¡± The nobles responded with things like, ¡®???? ?????????????? ??????, ???? ????,¡¯ as if they were tired of it all, and the elf king became even more aggrieved. The elf king looked at Johan with eyes that seemed to be asking for help. ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s words are true. We happened toe across an enemy base, attacked and looted it. You can confirm it by checking the spoils of war.¡± ¡°!!¡± ¡°Is that really true?!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The elf king red at the expedition nobles. Those who had doubted the king¡¯s words just moments ago were now changing their reactions with just a single word from the duke. The nobles from the empire were inherently mean-spirited andcked faith, but even the elf nobles from the kingdom reacting like that was infuriating. ¡°If they have suffered such a blow, the enemy is bound to waver!¡± ¡°God is on our side!¡± Although he would have normally calmed them down, Johan nodded and agreed with the nobles. Indeed, with things going this well, it was natural to gain confidence that they didn¡¯t have before. It was like they had easily cut off the enemy¡¯s arms and legs. If all their forces were fully gathered here, it seemed like it would be okay to go on the offensive once after scouting out the enemy. The cautious duke, who would have unconditionally chosen to remain defensive, was now taking the initiative, which surprised people like the casten and Ulrike. They felt intuitively that the end of this battle was approaching. To think that they would be able to win without giving up an inch ofnd against that enormous army. It was hard to believe, even for them. ¡®???? ????????¡¯?? ????????????????, ???????? ???? ????????????. . .¡¯ Ulrike, who wasn¡¯t particrly religious, felt a sense of awe that was almost like a miracle. However, things in the world didn¡¯t always go smoothly. A harsh cold arrived, along with the early winter. ???????????? ¡°There is no need to worry. The enemy will suffer more, Your Highness.¡± The old casten spoke unflinchingly. Despite the sudden cold, the casten, a veteran of a hundred battles, remained unshaken. She gave out thick furs and wool to the soldiers and had the fires lit throughout the camp increased several times over. It was an extravagance that was possible because there was an abundance of supplies. In contrast, the enemy outnumbered them and would be short on supplies. Their morale must have been low due to the misfortunes, and this cold weather could not be good for them. However, Johan¡¯s expression remained grim. ¡°Why do you say that, Your Highness?¡± ¡°I am worried that the river will freeze.¡± ¡°This river has never frozen since my parents¡¯ time. The water is deep and wide, so it won¡¯t freeze with just a little bit of cold.¡± ¡°But there are always exceptions.¡± The casten listened attentively to the duke¡¯s warning. To be honest, she would have listened seriously even if the duke had said, ¡®?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°I am concerned that the enemy wizards might be at work.¡± ¡°You mean there¡¯s a wizard who¡¯s powerful enough to change the weather?¡± ¡°They may not be able to change the weather at will, but they might be able to make theing cold even harsher.¡± If the river began to freeze, it would be a golden opportunity for those who had been waiting for a chance to cross it. Johan med himself for hisck of ability as a wizard. ¡®???? ???????????????? ???????? ????????, ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????.¡¯ Caenerna herself would have thrown up her hands in disbelief if she had heard that. No one, except for a god, could perform such a miracle. The duke, who rarely showed signs of worry, was acting like this, so Ulrike seemed to be quite worried as well. Ulrike opened her mouth tofort Johan. It was a very rare thing for her. ¡°But there¡¯s no need to worry too much. The enemy¡¯s morale is greatly weakened after being ambushed several times, and they won¡¯t be able to pull themselves together properly.¡± ¡°But they outnumber us several times over.¡± ¡°. . .And they¡¯re probably suffering from the cold with their supplies cut off?¡± ¡°But the merchants will still being even in this cold weather, and the supplies stockpiled in the camp seem to be quite a lot.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± When Ulrike fell silent, lost in thought, Johan gave a wry smile. ¡°Thank you for trying tofort me. I understand what you¡¯re trying to say. It¡¯s true, there¡¯s no use worrying about it here. I¡¯ve sent someone to tell the assembled forces to hurry, so let¡¯s do what we can.¡± Johan ordered his men to check the river for freezing every day. Whenever and wherever it froze deeply, the enemy¡¯s attack would begin. The wait wasn¡¯t long. Seven dayster, the enemy began to flock to the riverbank. ???????????? ¡°Why do you have to lead your men to the front?!¡± Ulrike shouted from atop her horse. The first to step forward to block the enemy¡¯s crossing were not the other nobles, but Johan and the elite soldiers he led. She couldn¡¯t understand why he insisted on being at the forefront when there were still many who had yet to listen to him. ¡°Putting together a rabble like that will only demoralize them. I have to show them something, at the very least.¡± It wasn¡¯t that Johan didn¡¯t want to order others to do it. No, he actually wanted to desperately. However, the expeditionary forces were disjointed, and the chain ofmand was in shambles. This wasn¡¯t just a problem for the expeditionary forces. The enemy would be the same. There were those who fought well, so they would be valiant when they won, but if they suddenly became frightened, it would be impossible to recover. Even so, there were already a few nobles who were terrified when the river suddenly froze over due to the unexpected cold. In this situation, the most reliable people were those who had been with him for a long time. ¡°Let¡¯s go! Show them how strong you are against those who have crossed the river!¡± ¡°Yes!!¡± Johan and his men formed ranks at the river crossing. Next to them and behind them, the soldiers brought by the other nobles and the expeditionary forces prepared for battle. If Johan and his men were pushed back, they would have to rush in and fight. ¡®?????? ?????????????????????????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????????, ?????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ????????-????????????????????, ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ????????-????????????????????, ?????? ????????¡¯???? ??????????, ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????????????? ???? ????????¡¯???? ???????????? ????????.¡¯ Johan vowed to never show weakness. With the enemy¡¯s overwhelming numbers, they had to inflict as much damage as possible, even if they were pushed back to some extent, and force the enemy to retreat once. That much was necessary to prevent his own forces from having wild thoughts. ¡°Here theye!¡± The enemy began to charge across the river. Their morale was low, but they were still fierce. The enemy must have sent their elite troops to the front, and more importantly. . . ¡®???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ He could imagine how frustrated they must have been. Johan raised his sword and encouraged the men beside him. The men on the other side already looked terrified. ¡°Even if we¡¯re forced to retreat, kill at least ten men for every one of you!¡± The first battlested about eight hours. When the enemy could no longer hold on and retreated, Johan¡¯s men looked at each other in disbelief. They were still standing in the same position they had been in at the start. Chapter 355: ???????????????? ???????????? (2) ¡°That¡¯s weaker than expected, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t say such an ominous thing.¡± The subordinates also chatted among themselves. The senior captain encouraged the recruits, saying, ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ????????¡¯, but they were also surprised to be honest. The enemy was weaker than expected. Weren¡¯t they the elite? ¡°I heard that some of them have made pacts with demons.¡± ¡°Yeah. I heard that the Sultan has a man who can breathe fire, giants, and even monsters.¡± Not only the soldiers but also the knights of the expedition had a simr perception. In fact, there are only a few nobles who have an urate and objective understanding of the Sultan and his army.Except for the great lords like Johan and Ulrike, or the captains of the republic who oftene into contact with the Eastern Empire, everyone else had only abstract and vague images. When they saw the enemies crossing the river and charging towards them, not only the soldiers of the expedition but also Johan¡¯s men thought like this. ¡®???????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ??????????, ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????, ???? ???? ???? ?????????? ???????? ????????, ????????¡¯???? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????!¡¯ They were determined to never fall behind in bravery, even if they were overpowered. Of course, the results were simr. The only difference was that the opponent copsed more easily than expected. They thought that the enemies would push on tenaciously, but they charged in, retreated, charged in, and retreated. . . Therefore, the enemy¡¯s casualties were bound to increase. ¡°There is no difference than a butcher!¡± ¡°Is that apliment?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s apliment.¡± Unlike the subordinates or ordinary soldiers who were so focused on fighting that they could only see what was in front of them, the knights of the expedition were separately formed as a reserve force and were waiting in the back. Their role was to wait, observe the situation, and support the lines that seemed to be copsing. Thus, they were able to see the overall situation rtively broadly. ¡®????????¡¯???? ???????????? ?????? ??????????!¡¯ Among the knights of the expedition, surprisingly few had properly seen Johan fighting. In the fierce battlest time, Johan had divided the army and deployed them separately, and even then, he moved quickly in all directions. In the midst of such chaos, it was impossible to focus on one¡¯s own enemy while also watching the duke¡¯s fight. However, now that they were waiting in the back, they could see how he fought. A young squire who had never seen Johan fight because he was working as a horseman asked curiously. ¡°How did you fight like that?¡± ¡°It was just. . . really good.¡± ¡°?!¡± The squire thought the knight was making fun of him. But the knight was telling the truth. He couldn¡¯t exin any further. When the widely formed lines of each side shed, they were originally supposed to engage in fierce hand-to-handbat for a while. Unless one side was particrly weak, they would persistently fight each other, shing and swinging their weapons. However, the ce where the duke was was different. In less than a minute, the enemies turned their backs and fled from where the duke was. Then, the duke and his men would beat them up for a while and thene back to maintain their lines. Then, the duke moved to another line that was being pushed back and beat the enemy like crazy again. Then the enemies fled again, and the duke chased after them and beat them up. . . There were a few times when the duke was surrounded by enemies, which made the knights¡¯ hearts sink. However, upon closer inspection, it wasn¡¯t that he was surrounded. The duke had gotten caught in between while chasing the retreating enemies. ¡°The enemies must be perplexed. . .¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± In fact, the enemies had seized a few opportunities. Not everyone in the expedition fought as well as the duke¡¯s men, and quite a few of the conscripts brought by the feudal lords were terrified of the numbers and ran away. Whenever they were about to copse, the duke would rush in and drive them out by beating them like crazy. It was a maddening sight for the enemies. ¡®???? ????¡¯?? ???????? ????????, ????????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????¡¯ Some young knights with strongpetitive spirits thought so. Seeing the fight that had just taken ce, they felt that it was in vain that they had not been able to cross the river until now. They could have just crossed over and fought. . . ???????????? ¡°Execute the person in charge and prepare to charge again. I willmand it myself.¡± The nobles felt it through their whole bodies that when a person is truly enraged. The nobles sitting there were frozen stiff, unable to even open their mouths. The fleet that had been sent out with ambition had sunk, and the base in the rear had burned down. At this point, it seemed that even if they won, the losses would be greater, but no one could talk about retreating. Now, this fight was a matter of pride. If they returned like this, everyone in the empire wouldugh at the Sultan. Those who were just watching for an opportunity would dream of rebellion. No one disagreed that they had to win no matter what happened in the future. To be honest, the nobles were also scared to death by the Westerners who were jingling in front of their eyes. Did they mean to persistently aim only at their weaknesses? ¡°I will take the lead myself. The duke of the enemy seems to be quite strong, but he will not be able to defeat me!¡± Kaimud, the captain of the Janissaries, stepped forward. The Sultan nodded his head. How absurd it was every time he received a report of what had happened on the other side of the river. ©¥?????????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ??????????! ©¥????????! ???????? ???????? ??????????????! ©¥????????, ???????? ??????????????! ?? ???????? ?????????????????? ?? ?????? ???????????? ???? ??????????! ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ????????! ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????. . . ©¥. . . ©¥?????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????! ©¥??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????????! ??????????. . . ©¥?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????! ©¥. . . As if dozens of people were flying, themander trembled in fear as the enemy charged in here and there and cut down everything in their path. At this point, the rumor that he had made a pact with a demon might actually be true. ¡°I will give you my sword. Bring me the duke¡¯s head!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± When the Sultan¡¯s famous sword was given to the captain, the nobles present cast envious and admiring nces. Kaimud was already protected by enchanted weapons. To bestow such a treasure on such a person. ¡°Fortunately, the weather is on Your Majesty¡¯s side. If we wait a few more days, the river will freezepletely and we will be able to cross anywhere.¡± The nobles nodded their heads. No matter how much they thought about it, the cause of this attack was that they had attacked through a narrow path. Otherwise, there was really no reason to lose. If they all stormed in like a tempest at once, no matter how much of a demon the opponent was, they wouldn¡¯t be able to stop them all. ???????????? Johan¡¯s side could also feel that the river was freezing more and more. Some of the experienced nobles spoke cautiously. ¡°How about retreating, fortifying the castle, and defending ourselves?¡± ¡°From what I sawst time, the feudal lords are still thinking about running away. They¡¯re the kind of people who will run away as soon as things get tough. Honestly, they¡¯re less reliable than the pagans!¡± What was more dangerous than the enemy was the friendly forces who were fighting shoulder to shoulder and then running away. If the friendly forces started to retreat, even the warriors who were fighting well would be scared. ¡°We¡¯re not retreating.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± The nobles were surprised at Johan¡¯s resolute words. The duke¡¯s words, not anyone else¡¯s, carried weight. ¡°The reinforcements will arrive soon. They said they¡¯d be here tomorrow.¡± ¡°Really! That¡¯s wonderful news!¡± The nobles¡¯ faces brightened. In that case, the story was different. If they could hold out for just one day, they would be at a much greater advantage. ¡°And if we retreat even once, the feudal lords here will use that as an excuse to return to their fiefdoms.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The nobles of the expedition nodded in agreement with Johan¡¯s words. They felt more acutely how despicable they were as they fought together. As he encouraged them, the duke who had fought in the south felt strange. ¡°Your Highness. We will make sure that the feudal lords do not run away.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll join you too.¡± Some of the nobles of the expedition volunteered. If experienced knights and mercenaries were by their side, even the feudal lords who wanted to run away wouldn¡¯t be able to escape so easily. Johan nodded his head. That was definitely Johan¡¯s job. Even if Johan and his men took charge of the center, and the great lords including Ulrike took charge of the right nk, he was very uneasy about leaving the left nk only to the feudal lords. He had to mix them up to some extent. ¡°I¡¯ll count on you. And Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Me, I don¡¯t think it would be bad for me to stay in the center. . .¡± The elf king looked at the other nobles of the expedition as if asking for their support. He didn¡¯t want to be with those cowardly good-for-nothings. He wanted to fight alongside the duke in the center. Of course, the nobles of the expedition were disgusted. The elf king looked at Ulrike with hisst hope. Ulrike sneered. The elf king harbored a deep grudge. ¡°If Your Majesty does not go, I have no one I can trust. . .¡± ¡°. . .Alright.¡± Having been greatly indebted once, the elf king couldn¡¯t refuse Johan¡¯s request. With the knights, including the elf king, deployed on the left nk, Johan felt somewhat relieved. It seemed that he wouldn¡¯t have to see his friendly forces running away. ???????????? ¡°You pathetic bastards. Even if I whipped you, it wouldn¡¯t be enough, but I¡¯ll forgive you generously!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± At Suetlg¡¯s words, the wizards bowed their heads deeply and remained silent. Originally, it was the wizards who would talk back to the nobles with their necks stiff, but this time it was different. It was because of them that the advance had been significantly dyed. They were supposed to neatly clear out the monsters that appeared, but the wizards disagreed with each other, and thanks to that, they startedpeting even though theirbined strength wascking. . . It took Suetlg and Caenerna several days to clean up the unexpected mess. ¡°This is terrible. I heard the river is frozen. . .¡± Iselia looked ahead with a worried expression. As a knight, Iselia couldn¡¯t have not known what effect this cold weather would have. ¡°It is indeed terrible.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we melt the river with magic?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Perhaps they hadn¡¯t expected Iselia to ask that question, Suetlg and Caenerna looked taken aback. Suetlg answered, managing his expression. ¡°It¡¯s impossible, Iselia-nim.¡± ¡°Is that so. That¡¯s unfortunate.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It would be nice if we could melt the river.¡± Caenerna¡¯s teasing made Suetlg feel a little hurt. ¡°I wonder if Caenerna-gong, who knows how to handle the spirits of fire, could melt it. . .¡± ¡°Oh, my. What ability do I have. . . The ice on the river is thick and solid, so it won¡¯t melt even if I light a few fires.¡± ¡°Are you two fighting?¡± Iselia asked in surprise. The two wizards quickly replied. ¡°No, we¡¯re not. We¡¯re not.¡± ¡°Is that so. I was worried.¡± Iselia made them reconcile, wondering who on earth wasn¡¯t originally an elf knight. When the two pagan wizards who had been in the campst time got so emotional that they even had a duel, Iselia took them for a walk. It was called a walk, but a knight¡¯s walk was like torture for a wizard. At first, the two wizards walked on their own feet, but on the way back, they were carried back on horseback. And they never fought again. ¡°Let¡¯s increase the speed of our advance a little.¡± ¡°More than this? The soldiers will get tired.¡± ¡°But. . . It¡¯s ominous. The situation is the situation. . . I think we need to push ourselves a little.¡± Iselia didn¡¯t ignore Suetlg¡¯s premonition. Moreover, this old wizard was a prophet who could glimpse the future. Iselia nodded and gave the order. Caenerna asked, looking concerned. ¡°Did you see anything?¡± ¡°Not really, but. . . I didn¡¯t sleep well.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Dreams were always one of the signs. Caenerna¡¯s face became serious. ¡°Could something have happened because the river froze. . .¡± ¡°. . .No. I don¡¯t think so. I would have been contacted if we had lost.¡± However, Suetlg felt uneasy as he spoke. Even if they were defeated in battle, they would be contacted, but there were asional exceptions. If they copsed unexpectedly rapidly, they wouldn¡¯t have time to send a messenger. ¡°Iselia-nim!¡± The scouts who had rushed ahead returned. Since only one hill was left before the river, the scouts must have seen the situation first. Their voices were urgent and seemed surprised, so Suetlg felt a sinking feeling in his chest. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°You. . . You have to see it for yourself.¡± ¡°!¡± Iselia urgently rode her horse, taking the wizards and escorts with her. Even Suetlg, who normally didn¡¯t ride his horse in a hurry, didn¡¯t stop whipping it this time. The friendly forces¡¯ camp was spread out across the river. ¡°. . .???¡±, ¡°That¡¯s weaker than expected, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t say such an ominous thing.¡± The subordinates also chatted among themselves. The senior captain encouraged the recruits, saying, ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ????????¡¯, but they were also surprised to be honest. The enemy was weaker than expected. Weren¡¯t they the elite? ¡°I heard that some of them have made pacts with demons.¡± ¡°Yeah. I heard that the Sultan has a man who can breathe fire, giants, and even monsters.¡± Not only the soldiers but also the knights of the expedition had a simr perception. In fact, there are only a few nobles who have an urate and objective understanding of the Sultan and his army. Except for the great lords like Johan and Ulrike, or the captains of the republic who oftene into contact with the Eastern Empire, everyone else had only abstract and vague images. When they saw the enemies crossing the river and charging towards them, not only the soldiers of the expedition but also Johan¡¯s men thought like this. ¡®???????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ??????????, ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????, ???? ???? ???? ?????????? ???????? ????????, ????????¡¯???? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????!¡¯ They were determined to never fall behind in bravery, even if they were overpowered. Of course, the results were simr. The only difference was that the opponent copsed more easily than expected. They thought that the enemies would push on tenaciously, but they charged in, retreated, charged in, and retreated. . . Therefore, the enemy¡¯s casualties were bound to increase. ¡°There is no difference than a butcher!¡± ¡°Is that apliment?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s apliment.¡± Unlike the subordinates or ordinary soldiers who were so focused on fighting that they could only see what was in front of them, the knights of the expedition were separately formed as a reserve force and were waiting in the back. Their role was to wait, observe the situation, and support the lines that seemed to be copsing. Thus, they were able to see the overall situation rtively broadly. ¡®????????¡¯???? ???????????? ?????? ??????????!¡¯ Among the knights of the expedition, surprisingly few had properly seen Johan fighting. In the fierce battlest time, Johan had divided the army and deployed them separately, and even then, he moved quickly in all directions. In the midst of such chaos, it was impossible to focus on one¡¯s own enemy while also watching the duke¡¯s fight. However, now that they were waiting in the back, they could see how he fought. A young squire who had never seen Johan fight because he was working as a horseman asked curiously. ¡°How did you fight like that?¡± ¡°It was just. . . really good.¡± ¡°?!¡± The squire thought the knight was making fun of him. But the knight was telling the truth. He couldn¡¯t exin any further. When the widely formed lines of each side shed, they were originally supposed to engage in fierce hand-to-handbat for a while. Unless one side was particrly weak, they would persistently fight each other, shing and swinging their weapons. However, the ce where the duke was was different. In less than a minute, the enemies turned their backs and fled from where the duke was. Then, the duke and his men would beat them up for a while and thene back to maintain their lines. Then, the duke moved to another line that was being pushed back and beat the enemy like crazy again. Then the enemies fled again, and the duke chased after them and beat them up. . . There were a few times when the duke was surrounded by enemies, which made the knights¡¯ hearts sink. However, upon closer inspection, it wasn¡¯t that he was surrounded. The duke had gotten caught in between while chasing the retreating enemies. ¡°The enemies must be perplexed. . .¡± ¡°I guess so.¡± In fact, the enemies had seized a few opportunities. Not everyone in the expedition fought as well as the duke¡¯s men, and quite a few of the conscripts brought by the feudal lords were terrified of the numbers and ran away. Whenever they were about to copse, the duke would rush in and drive them out by beating them like crazy. It was a maddening sight for the enemies. ¡®???? ????¡¯?? ???????? ????????, ????????????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????¡¯ Some young knights with strongpetitive spirits thought so. Seeing the fight that had just taken ce, they felt that it was in vain that they had not been able to cross the river until now. They could have just crossed over and fought. . . ???????????? ¡°Execute the person in charge and prepare to charge again. I willmand it myself.¡± The nobles felt it through their whole bodies that when a person is truly enraged. The nobles sitting there were frozen stiff, unable to even open their mouths. The fleet that had been sent out with ambition had sunk, and the base in the rear had burned down. At this point, it seemed that even if they won, the losses would be greater, but no one could talk about retreating. Now, this fight was a matter of pride. If they returned like this, everyone in the empire wouldugh at the Sultan. Those who were just watching for an opportunity would dream of rebellion. No one disagreed that they had to win no matter what happened in the future. To be honest, the nobles were also scared to death by the Westerners who were jingling in front of their eyes. Did they mean to persistently aim only at their weaknesses? ¡°I will take the lead myself. The duke of the enemy seems to be quite strong, but he will not be able to defeat me!¡± Kaimud, the captain of the Janissaries, stepped forward. The Sultan nodded his head. How absurd it was every time he received a report of what had happened on the other side of the river. ©¥?????????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ??????????! ©¥????????! ???????? ???????? ??????????????! ©¥????????, ???????? ??????????????! ?? ???????? ?????????????????? ?? ?????? ???????????? ???? ??????????! ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ????????! ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????. . . ©¥. . . ©¥?????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????! ©¥??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????????! ??????????. . . ©¥?????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????! ©¥. . . As if dozens of people were flying, themander trembled in fear as the enemy charged in here and there and cut down everything in their path. At this point, the rumor that he had made a pact with a demon might actually be true. ¡°I will give you my sword. Bring me the duke¡¯s head!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± When the Sultan¡¯s famous sword was given to the captain, the nobles present cast envious and admiring nces. Kaimud was already protected by enchanted weapons. To bestow such a treasure on such a person. ¡°Fortunately, the weather is on Your Majesty¡¯s side. If we wait a few more days, the river will freezepletely and we will be able to cross anywhere.¡± The nobles nodded their heads. No matter how much they thought about it, the cause of this attack was that they had attacked through a narrow path. Otherwise, there was really no reason to lose. If they all stormed in like a tempest at once, no matter how much of a demon the opponent was, they wouldn¡¯t be able to stop them all. ???????????? Johan¡¯s side could also feel that the river was freezing more and more. Some of the experienced nobles spoke cautiously. ¡°How about retreating, fortifying the castle, and defending ourselves?¡± ¡°From what I sawst time, the feudal lords are still thinking about running away. They¡¯re the kind of people who will run away as soon as things get tough. Honestly, they¡¯re less reliable than the pagans!¡± What was more dangerous than the enemy was the friendly forces who were fighting shoulder to shoulder and then running away. If the friendly forces started to retreat, even the warriors who were fighting well would be scared. ¡°We¡¯re not retreating.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± The nobles were surprised at Johan¡¯s resolute words. The duke¡¯s words, not anyone else¡¯s, carried weight. ¡°The reinforcements will arrive soon. They said they¡¯d be here tomorrow.¡± ¡°Really! That¡¯s wonderful news!¡± The nobles¡¯ faces brightened. In that case, the story was different. If they could hold out for just one day, they would be at a much greater advantage. ¡°And if we retreat even once, the feudal lords here will use that as an excuse to return to their fiefdoms.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The nobles of the expedition nodded in agreement with Johan¡¯s words. They felt more acutely how despicable they were as they fought together. As he encouraged them, the duke who had fought in the south felt strange. ¡°Your Highness. We will make sure that the feudal lords do not run away.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll join you too.¡± Some of the nobles of the expedition volunteered. If experienced knights and mercenaries were by their side, even the feudal lords who wanted to run away wouldn¡¯t be able to escape so easily. Johan nodded his head. That was definitely Johan¡¯s job. Even if Johan and his men took charge of the center, and the great lords including Ulrike took charge of the right nk, he was very uneasy about leaving the left nk only to the feudal lords. He had to mix them up to some extent. ¡°I¡¯ll count on you. And Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Me, I don¡¯t think it would be bad for me to stay in the center. . .¡± The elf king looked at the other nobles of the expedition as if asking for their support. He didn¡¯t want to be with those cowardly good-for-nothings. He wanted to fight alongside the duke in the center. Of course, the nobles of the expedition were disgusted. The elf king looked at Ulrike with hisst hope. Ulrike sneered. The elf king harbored a deep grudge. ¡°If Your Majesty does not go, I have no one I can trust. . .¡± ¡°. . .Alright.¡± Having been greatly indebted once, the elf king couldn¡¯t refuse Johan¡¯s request. With the knights, including the elf king, deployed on the left nk, Johan felt somewhat relieved. It seemed that he wouldn¡¯t have to see his friendly forces running away. ???????????? ¡°You pathetic bastards. Even if I whipped you, it wouldn¡¯t be enough, but I¡¯ll forgive you generously!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± At Suetlg¡¯s words, the wizards bowed their heads deeply and remained silent. Originally, it was the wizards who would talk back to the nobles with their necks stiff, but this time it was different. It was because of them that the advance had been significantly dyed. They were supposed to neatly clear out the monsters that appeared, but the wizards disagreed with each other, and thanks to that, they startedpeting even though theirbined strength wascking. . . It took Suetlg and Caenerna several days to clean up the unexpected mess. ¡°This is terrible. I heard the river is frozen. . .¡± Iselia looked ahead with a worried expression. As a knight, Iselia couldn¡¯t have not known what effect this cold weather would have. ¡°It is indeed terrible.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we melt the river with magic?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Perhaps they hadn¡¯t expected Iselia to ask that question, Suetlg and Caenerna looked taken aback. Suetlg answered, managing his expression. ¡°It¡¯s impossible, Iselia-nim.¡± ¡°Is that so. That¡¯s unfortunate.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It would be nice if we could melt the river.¡± Caenerna¡¯s teasing made Suetlg feel a little hurt. ¡°I wonder if Caenerna-gong, who knows how to handle the spirits of fire, could melt it. . .¡± ¡°Oh, my. What ability do I have. . . The ice on the river is thick and solid, so it won¡¯t melt even if I light a few fires.¡± ¡°Are you two fighting?¡± Iselia asked in surprise. The two wizards quickly replied. ¡°No, we¡¯re not. We¡¯re not.¡± ¡°Is that so. I was worried.¡± Iselia made them reconcile, wondering who on earth wasn¡¯t originally an elf knight. When the two pagan wizards who had been in the campst time got so emotional that they even had a duel, Iselia took them for a walk. It was called a walk, but a knight¡¯s walk was like torture for a wizard. At first, the two wizards walked on their own feet, but on the way back, they were carried back on horseback. And they never fought again. ¡°Let¡¯s increase the speed of our advance a little.¡± ¡°More than this? The soldiers will get tired.¡± ¡°But. . . It¡¯s ominous. The situation is the situation. . . I think we need to push ourselves a little.¡± Iselia didn¡¯t ignore Suetlg¡¯s premonition. Moreover, this old wizard was a prophet who could glimpse the future. Iselia nodded and gave the order. Caenerna asked, looking concerned. ¡°Did you see anything?¡± ¡°Not really, but. . . I didn¡¯t sleep well.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Dreams were always one of the signs. Caenerna¡¯s face became serious. ¡°Could something have happened because the river froze. . .¡± ¡°. . .No. I don¡¯t think so. I would have been contacted if we had lost.¡± However, Suetlg felt uneasy as he spoke. Even if they were defeated in battle, they would be contacted, but there were asional exceptions. If they copsed unexpectedly rapidly, they wouldn¡¯t have time to send a messenger. ¡°Iselia-nim!¡± The scouts who had rushed ahead returned. Since only one hill was left before the river, the scouts must have seen the situation first. Their voices were urgent and seemed surprised, so Suetlg felt a sinking feeling in his chest. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°You. . . You have to see it for yourself.¡± ¡°!¡± Iselia urgently rode her horse, taking the wizards and escorts with her. Even Suetlg, who normally didn¡¯t ride his horse in a hurry, didn¡¯t stop whipping it this time. The friendly forces¡¯ camp was spread out across the river. ¡°. . .???¡± Chapter 356: ???????????????? ???????????? (3) ¡°A trap. . . isn¡¯t it?¡± The first words spoken expressed doubt in the oue. It was natural for the wizards to react that way. The battle was over sooner than expected, and in a totally unanticipated way. If the allied camp crossed the river, it meant that they had won the battle, but considering the size of the enemy forces, it was questionable if that was possible. ¡°It¡¯s not a trap.¡± Iselia pointed down as if asking what was being said. It was understandable to be suspicious, but something like that would be difficult to hide even if one tried to. Just the camp alone showed differences in customs between the western and eastern sides, and the knights from the expeditionary force were wandering around here and there in groups of three or five. Even something like that couldn¡¯t be faked. ¡°Let¡¯s go down for now.¡± The group nodded and cautiously approached. Corpses were strewn about on the frozen river, suggesting what had happened here. ¡°. . . . . .!?¡±Suetlg was shocked by what was happening in the camp. He had thought they had won, but an utterly unexpected situation was unfolding. ¡®???????? ???? ?????? ???????????¡¯ ???????????? Johan was a knight who, despite his young age, had a remarkable amount ofbat experience. It was said that knights sought out fights in their spare time, but it was rare to find someone like Johan who had experienced all sorts of battles. As such, Johan could proudly say that he was a skilledmander. Moreover,pared to other feudal lords, the difference was even greater. Usually, the personmanding a unit was not an experienced veteran knight or a seasoned mercenary captain, but a noble or lord from a prominent family. In many cases, such individuals had zerobat experience, and on top of that, they were stubbornly opinionated, making all sorts of mistakes. Although their aides or vassals tried to help them with most things, it was to no avail. Since they would normally try to make their own judgments, even if they listened to advice. Johan had no particrints about this reality. He had adapted to it by now. . . And Johan¡¯s situation was not unique. The other side was going through something simr. ¡®??¡¯???? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ????????, ?????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????.¡¯ Therger the scale of the battle, the more uncertainties arose. A mercenary unit unknown to Johan could have been bribed to flee backwards, or one of the feudal lords could have disobeyed orders and charged because he was greedy for credit. On the other side as well, a dissatisfied noble could seize the opportunity to escape. Or, they could quarrel among themselves, causing a dispute that would halt their advance. No matter how great themander¡¯s abilities were, it was impossible to control everything. That was the realm of the gods. Johan felt that all of this was like a gamble. A gamble where everything was at stake, and only one emerged victorious. He wasn¡¯t particrly religious, but seeing this spectacle made him think he understood why people here believed in gods. ¡°Acdda. Were you nervous?¡± ¡°Yes. I was a little nervous. Fortunately, God is on your side, Duke.¡± Johan smiled wryly. He wondered if the enemies also thought that their gods were on their side. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????¡¯??.¡¯ With that thought in mind, Johan drew his sword. No matter who came out from the enemy side, he intended to charge out without fail to boost morale. Perhaps the enemies had a simr idea, as several knights galloped out, their gs fluttering. They were speaking in an eastern tongue, likely stating their family¡¯s lineage and aplishments. ¡°What did you catch?¡± ¡°I think they caught a Lamia, but it might be a giant spider. It¡¯s hard to tell because it¡¯s so noisy.¡± Johan wore his helmet and held a huge gpole in one hand. It was an object so heavy that it would be impossible for a normal person to hold it, let alone with one hand. However, that was the extent of what was required when showing it off. At that moment, a cheer erupted from the camp. The enemies seemed to be making amotion. ©¥????????¡¯???? ?????????? ?? ????????! ????¡¯?? ?? ??????????! ¡®????????¡¯???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ Johan stepped forward. The enemies seemed slightly taken aback, probably because they hadn¡¯t expected the duke himself toe out from the start. ¡°Demon-contracted Duke! Your opponent is here!¡± A young pagan knight dashed out from the camp. The knight rode his horse fiercely and shouted. ¡°I am of the Aak lineage. . .¡± ????????! The knight didn¡¯t evenst a single sh. Johan rode his horse closer, dodged the enemy¡¯snce, and grabbed the knight¡¯s neck with one hand. He then dragged the knight, who was trying to resist with all his might by bracing his legs. ¡°!!¡± ¡°Goodness!¡± Those knights who were watching from a rtively close distance couldn¡¯t help but gasp at the fight that had just taken ce. He hadn¡¯t simply knocked him down, but had dragged him off his horse and captured him as if he were ying with a child. The captured knight tried to resist, his face red with humiliation, but he was no match for the duke¡¯s powerful grip. ¡°This time, face me!¡± Unable to bear watching any longer, the next knight charged out. Johan waited calmly and then drew and threw his shortsword like a sh of lightning. The knight, who had been relying on his shield, was pierced along with the shield. ¡°Ugh. . .!¡± The knight copsed with a dull thud. The enemy knights, who had only heard of the duke¡¯s strength and had not experienced his power firsthand, were beginning to understand the situation. When even the third knight copsed, his helmet grazed by an attack, the silence was deafening. ????????, ????????, ????????, ????????©¥ The enemy began to advance with the sound of drums. It was clear that they thought there was nothing to gain by fighting one on one any longer. Johan also had no intention of humiliating them further, so he turned to return to the allied camp. ¡°. . . . . .!?¡± Johan was shocked by the sight before his eyes. The allied left nk was copsing. ???????????? Johan was human, and there were a few things that he had misjudged. One of them was that the feudal lords here were more cowardly than he had expected. Although Johan had brought them along with his great reputation, their hearts were already back in their homnds. Even so, that was fine. Johan had anticipated it. The Sultan¡¯s nobles had focused on these feudal lords before the battle. They hadn¡¯t tried to persuade them to betray their lord. That wouldn¡¯t have worked. The nobles threatened the feudal lords. ©¥?????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ?????????????? ??????, ?????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????! ©¥?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????. . .? ©¥?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????. ???? ?????? ????????, ?????????? ??????????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ????????, ???? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????? ??????. ©¥????????. ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ??¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????? ©¥????. ??¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ????????????, ????????. ?? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ????¡¯?? ?????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ??????, ???????? ???????????? ??????¡¯???? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????. ??¡¯?? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ????????????. ??????¡¯?? ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ????????????????¡¯?? ????????????. ???? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ??????, ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ????????????. ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????. ©¥. . . . . . The threats mixed with truth effectively pricked the feudal lords. Even if they were to defeat the Sultan and rout his army in this battle, the Sultan would still be the Sultan. If he felt like it, he could retaliate against one or two feudal lords. Furthermore, the fact that they were not asked to betray, but simply not to stand out, was very effective. It struck a chord with the weakened feudal lords. ¡°Advance in coordination with the allied forces! Ry the order to advance!¡± The elf king shouted and urged them on. However, the feudal lords were slow to move. The elf king grew irritated at their dyed response. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°S-Sorry. I suddenly got a chronic illness. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! You fools!¡± The elf king rode his horse over to the feudal lords himself, furious, to question them. That was a mistake. If it had been Johan, he would have understood the feudal lords¡¯ feelings and persuaded them. When the enraged elf king came looking for them with his sword drawn, the feudal lords were terrified and ran into their barracks andy down. In the meantime, more time was wasted. ¡°Attack!¡± The right nk was bound to be made up of elites anyway. The enemies intended to crush the left nk like lightning and create an encirclement. They must have used some strategy. They fiercely charged in with all their might. The soldiers below had no way of knowing that themanders were fighting among themselves. The other allied forces were advancing, so just standing still made them feel isted and anxious. When the enemies charged in as well, that anxiety was further amplified. ¡°Don¡¯t retreat! Those who retreat may be cut down!¡± No matter how much the elf king led the knights and urged them on, there was a limit. When the soldiers wavered, the feudal lords, who were theirmanders, also wavered, and that wavering caused the soldiers to waver again. In the end, the left nk began to copse at an elerated pace. ???????????? ¡°I¡¯ll go if you give the order for reinforcements!¡± ¡°. . .Very well. We will break through the center.¡± Johan made a cool judgment. His heart ached, but he had to do what he could. For now, he could only pray that the elf king would somehow manage to rally the left nk and buy some time. Johan¡¯s job was to crush the enemy¡¯s center. If he pushed the enemy back together with the right nk, he could avoid being surrounded. An extremely difficult task that required him to pierce through and crush more enemies than the enemy, who had already gained the upper hand, and at a faster pace. Johan licked his lips. For some reason, he felt a taste of blood in his mouth. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Johan decided to forget about everything else. Now, he would simply entrust himself to the instincts that had helped him so far and do his best. The enemy¡¯s center, demoralized by the recent mounted duel, tried to block the charge by sending knights forward, as if they couldn¡¯t afford to lose. Johan ughtered those knights as they came. The Seal Retriever greedily sucked the blood of the eastern nobles. Although the person fighting didn¡¯t notice it, the enemy¡¯s vanguard waspletely split apart by that attack. The shocked enemies sent their other units forward. Johan swung his sword again. So many enemies were crowding in that Johan¡¯s subordinates next to him were being pushed back, exhausted. The centaurs looked at Johan with concern. ¡°Advance. . .¡± Johan, who was about to shout the order, stopped. There was no need to shout. Anotherrge enemy force was charging at them. For the first time, Johan felt overwhelmed. It felt like he was being suffocated by the sheer number of enemies. However, Johan gripped his sword again and swung it. He could feel the spirits being terrified by the countless lives that were being lost in such a short period of time. The blessing flowing through his veins was also weakening, growing tired. ¡°Protect His Majesty!¡± An eastern unit shouted urgently, blocking their path. Unlike before, their uniforms suggested that they were the elites. The mustached knight at the front charged forward, exuding an aura of mystery. Johan¡¯s instincts screamed. Johan mustered his strength even though he was exhausted. The Seal Retriever shrieked at that brute force. With a sh of light, Kaimud was cut down. Even as he died, the enemy wore an expression that showed he didn¡¯t understand what had happened. In that way, even valuable treasures could not save the knight¡¯s life in the face of overwhelming power. Johan was so exhausted that he didn¡¯t even know who he had cut down. He charged in again until he could no longer see the enemy. Even so, it seemed that he had dug quite deep. He could see the tents. Johan pushed aside the stragglers and continued to advance. He even cut down those who he had originally intended to take prisoner. ¡°. . .Ha! Your Highness! Your Highness!¡± ¡°!¡± Johan came to his senses at the loud shouts of his subordinates beside him. Before he knew it, there were no enemies left in front of him. He looked around and saw only those who were fleeing or lying on the ground in all directions. ¡°The Sultan is dead! We¡¯ve won!¡± ¡°. . .Is that true?¡± At the absurd words of their lord, the subordinates present had expressions that showed they didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. They were also quite exhausted. ¡°I¡¯ll cut off his head and bring it to you. Please rest for a while! You look like a mess!¡± Johan slowly nodded and looked around. The burnt and broken enemy camp waspletely in ruins. Looking back, he felt that he had somehow managed to advance this far. The allied forces were already upying the center and setting up their tents. ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ??*??????????. . .¡¯ A wee face came running towards him. It was Ulrike. She and her escorts were all in a mess, suggesting that they had fought a fierce battle. As soon as she saw Johan, Ulrike gave him a tight hug. It was a rare sight, her face filled with emotion. That¡¯s how hard-fought a victory it had been. ¡°. . .If it weren¡¯t for the duke, we might have been defeated several times in thisnd.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand, but I get that you¡¯re happy with the results. Can you let go for a moment?¡± Ulrike realized that Johan was not only exhausted to the point of copse, but also hadn¡¯t grasped the situation yet. ¡°Why are you saying that after making such a perfect breakthrough?¡± ¡°No. . . I don¡¯t remember anything from the middle.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike opened her mouth wide in disbelief, but tried her best to ept it. He had single-handedly turned the battlefield upside down and then said something like that. ¡°Did you feel God?¡± ¡°No. Even if you¡¯re happy, don¡¯t exaggerate things.¡± When the duke¡¯s usual demeanor returned, Ulrike was relieved. Behind her, her subordinates carefully spoke up. ¡°Duke. The dogs who ran away earlier. . . No, the cowards. . . Neither. . . The feudal lords want to see you, Duke, to congratte you on your victory.¡± ¡°. . .Tell them not toe in unless theye crawling on their knees with their armor off.¡± Johan was also human, and harsh words spilled out. Irritated words came out instinctively. ¡®????????.¡¯ Johan regretted it. They were the feudal lords here, after all. ¡°Forget what I just said. . .¡± ¡°No. Tell them that.¡± ¡°You can tell them that, Your Highness. Please do it for our sake.¡± Not only Ulrike, but all the other nobles pleaded earnestly. At that pathetic sight, Johan nodded. At the same time, he felt uneasy. ¡®???? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ??????????, ????¡¯???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ Johan had expected them to refuse and hold out. If that happened, he had nned to step in and mediate. ¡°. . .!¡± However, a momentter, all of the feudal lords appeared. They bowed their heads and crawled forward on their knees. There was not even a hint of arrogance left in their demeanor. At that rare sight that they might never see again, the nobles who had participated in the expedition instinctively realized that this expedition wasing to an end. This moment seemed to hint at the new order that would unfold in the future., ¡°A trap. . . isn¡¯t it?¡± The first words spoken expressed doubt in the oue. It was natural for the wizards to react that way. The battle was over sooner than expected, and in a totally unanticipated way. If the allied camp crossed the river, it meant that they had won the battle, but considering the size of the enemy forces, it was questionable if that was possible. ¡°It¡¯s not a trap.¡± Iselia pointed down as if asking what was being said. It was understandable to be suspicious, but something like that would be difficult to hide even if one tried to. Just the camp alone showed differences in customs between the western and eastern sides, and the knights from the expeditionary force were wandering around here and there in groups of three or five. Even something like that couldn¡¯t be faked. ¡°Let¡¯s go down for now.¡± The group nodded and cautiously approached. Corpses were strewn about on the frozen river, suggesting what had happened here. ¡°. . . . . .!?¡± Suetlg was shocked by what was happening in the camp. He had thought they had won, but an utterly unexpected situation was unfolding. ¡®???????? ???? ?????? ???????????¡¯ ???????????? Johan was a knight who, despite his young age, had a remarkable amount ofbat experience. It was said that knights sought out fights in their spare time, but it was rare to find someone like Johan who had experienced all sorts of battles. As such, Johan could proudly say that he was a skilledmander. Moreover,pared to other feudal lords, the difference was even greater. Usually, the personmanding a unit was not an experienced veteran knight or a seasoned mercenary captain, but a noble or lord from a prominent family. In many cases, such individuals had zerobat experience, and on top of that, they were stubbornly opinionated, making all sorts of mistakes. Although their aides or vassals tried to help them with most things, it was to no avail. Since they would normally try to make their own judgments, even if they listened to advice. Johan had no particrints about this reality. He had adapted to it by now. . . And Johan¡¯s situation was not unique. The other side was going through something simr. ¡®??¡¯???? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ????????, ?????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????.¡¯ Therger the scale of the battle, the more uncertainties arose. A mercenary unit unknown to Johan could have been bribed to flee backwards, or one of the feudal lords could have disobeyed orders and charged because he was greedy for credit. On the other side as well, a dissatisfied noble could seize the opportunity to escape. Or, they could quarrel among themselves, causing a dispute that would halt their advance. No matter how great themander¡¯s abilities were, it was impossible to control everything. That was the realm of the gods. Johan felt that all of this was like a gamble. A gamble where everything was at stake, and only one emerged victorious. He wasn¡¯t particrly religious, but seeing this spectacle made him think he understood why people here believed in gods. ¡°Acdda. Were you nervous?¡± ¡°Yes. I was a little nervous. Fortunately, God is on your side, Duke.¡± Johan smiled wryly. He wondered if the enemies also thought that their gods were on their side. ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????¡¯??.¡¯ With that thought in mind, Johan drew his sword. No matter who came out from the enemy side, he intended to charge out without fail to boost morale. Perhaps the enemies had a simr idea, as several knights galloped out, their gs fluttering. They were speaking in an eastern tongue, likely stating their family¡¯s lineage and aplishments. ¡°What did you catch?¡± ¡°I think they caught a Lamia, but it might be a giant spider. It¡¯s hard to tell because it¡¯s so noisy.¡± Johan wore his helmet and held a huge gpole in one hand. It was an object so heavy that it would be impossible for a normal person to hold it, let alone with one hand. However, that was the extent of what was required when showing it off. At that moment, a cheer erupted from the camp. The enemies seemed to be making amotion. ©¥????????¡¯???? ?????????? ?? ????????! ????¡¯?? ?? ??????????! ¡®????????¡¯???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ Johan stepped forward. The enemies seemed slightly taken aback, probably because they hadn¡¯t expected the duke himself toe out from the start. ¡°Demon-contracted Duke! Your opponent is here!¡± A young pagan knight dashed out from the camp. The knight rode his horse fiercely and shouted. ¡°I am of the Aak lineage. . .¡± ????????! The knight didn¡¯t evenst a single sh. Johan rode his horse closer, dodged the enemy¡¯snce, and grabbed the knight¡¯s neck with one hand. He then dragged the knight, who was trying to resist with all his might by bracing his legs. ¡°!!¡± ¡°Goodness!¡± Those knights who were watching from a rtively close distance couldn¡¯t help but gasp at the fight that had just taken ce. He hadn¡¯t simply knocked him down, but had dragged him off his horse and captured him as if he were ying with a child. The captured knight tried to resist, his face red with humiliation, but he was no match for the duke¡¯s powerful grip. ¡°This time, face me!¡± Unable to bear watching any longer, the next knight charged out. Johan waited calmly and then drew and threw his shortsword like a sh of lightning. The knight, who had been relying on his shield, was pierced along with the shield. ¡°Ugh. . .!¡± The knight copsed with a dull thud. The enemy knights, who had only heard of the duke¡¯s strength and had not experienced his power firsthand, were beginning to understand the situation. When even the third knight copsed, his helmet grazed by an attack, the silence was deafening. ????????, ????????, ????????, ????????©¥ The enemy began to advance with the sound of drums. It was clear that they thought there was nothing to gain by fighting one on one any longer. Johan also had no intention of humiliating them further, so he turned to return to the allied camp. ¡°. . . . . .!?¡± Johan was shocked by the sight before his eyes. The allied left nk was copsing. ???????????? Johan was human, and there were a few things that he had misjudged. One of them was that the feudal lords here were more cowardly than he had expected. Although Johan had brought them along with his great reputation, their hearts were already back in their homnds. Even so, that was fine. Johan had anticipated it. The Sultan¡¯s nobles had focused on these feudal lords before the battle. They hadn¡¯t tried to persuade them to betray their lord. That wouldn¡¯t have worked. The nobles threatened the feudal lords. ©¥?????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ?????????????? ??????, ?????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????! ©¥?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????. . .? ©¥?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????????. ???? ?????? ????????, ?????????? ??????????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ????????, ???? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????? ??????. ©¥????????. ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ????????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ??¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????? ©¥????. ??¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ????????????, ????????. ?? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ????¡¯?? ?????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ??????, ???????? ???????????? ??????¡¯???? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????. ??¡¯?? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ????????????. ??????¡¯?? ???????????????? ???????????? ???? ????????????????¡¯?? ????????????. ???? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ??????, ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ????????????. ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????. ©¥. . . . . . The threats mixed with truth effectively pricked the feudal lords. Even if they were to defeat the Sultan and rout his army in this battle, the Sultan would still be the Sultan. If he felt like it, he could retaliate against one or two feudal lords. Furthermore, the fact that they were not asked to betray, but simply not to stand out, was very effective. It struck a chord with the weakened feudal lords. ¡°Advance in coordination with the allied forces! Ry the order to advance!¡± The elf king shouted and urged them on. However, the feudal lords were slow to move. The elf king grew irritated at their dyed response. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°S-Sorry. I suddenly got a chronic illness. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! You fools!¡± The elf king rode his horse over to the feudal lords himself, furious, to question them. That was a mistake. If it had been Johan, he would have understood the feudal lords¡¯ feelings and persuaded them. When the enraged elf king came looking for them with his sword drawn, the feudal lords were terrified and ran into their barracks andy down. In the meantime, more time was wasted. ¡°Attack!¡± The right nk was bound to be made up of elites anyway. The enemies intended to crush the left nk like lightning and create an encirclement. They must have used some strategy. They fiercely charged in with all their might. The soldiers below had no way of knowing that themanders were fighting among themselves. The other allied forces were advancing, so just standing still made them feel isted and anxious. When the enemies charged in as well, that anxiety was further amplified. ¡°Don¡¯t retreat! Those who retreat may be cut down!¡± No matter how much the elf king led the knights and urged them on, there was a limit. When the soldiers wavered, the feudal lords, who were theirmanders, also wavered, and that wavering caused the soldiers to waver again. In the end, the left nk began to copse at an elerated pace. ???????????? ¡°I¡¯ll go if you give the order for reinforcements!¡± ¡°. . .Very well. We will break through the center.¡± Johan made a cool judgment. His heart ached, but he had to do what he could. For now, he could only pray that the elf king would somehow manage to rally the left nk and buy some time. Johan¡¯s job was to crush the enemy¡¯s center. If he pushed the enemy back together with the right nk, he could avoid being surrounded. An extremely difficult task that required him to pierce through and crush more enemies than the enemy, who had already gained the upper hand, and at a faster pace. Johan licked his lips. For some reason, he felt a taste of blood in his mouth. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Johan decided to forget about everything else. Now, he would simply entrust himself to the instincts that had helped him so far and do his best. The enemy¡¯s center, demoralized by the recent mounted duel, tried to block the charge by sending knights forward, as if they couldn¡¯t afford to lose. Johan ughtered those knights as they came. The Seal Retriever greedily sucked the blood of the eastern nobles. Although the person fighting didn¡¯t notice it, the enemy¡¯s vanguard waspletely split apart by that attack. The shocked enemies sent their other units forward. Johan swung his sword again. So many enemies were crowding in that Johan¡¯s subordinates next to him were being pushed back, exhausted. The centaurs looked at Johan with concern. ¡°Advance. . .¡± Johan, who was about to shout the order, stopped. There was no need to shout. Anotherrge enemy force was charging at them. For the first time, Johan felt overwhelmed. It felt like he was being suffocated by the sheer number of enemies. However, Johan gripped his sword again and swung it. He could feel the spirits being terrified by the countless lives that were being lost in such a short period of time. The blessing flowing through his veins was also weakening, growing tired. ¡°Protect His Majesty!¡± An eastern unit shouted urgently, blocking their path. Unlike before, their uniforms suggested that they were the elites. The mustached knight at the front charged forward, exuding an aura of mystery. Johan¡¯s instincts screamed. Johan mustered his strength even though he was exhausted. The Seal Retriever shrieked at that brute force. With a sh of light, Kaimud was cut down. Even as he died, the enemy wore an expression that showed he didn¡¯t understand what had happened. In that way, even valuable treasures could not save the knight¡¯s life in the face of overwhelming power. Johan was so exhausted that he didn¡¯t even know who he had cut down. He charged in again until he could no longer see the enemy. Even so, it seemed that he had dug quite deep. He could see the tents. Johan pushed aside the stragglers and continued to advance. He even cut down those who he had originally intended to take prisoner. ¡°. . .Ha! Your Highness! Your Highness!¡± ¡°!¡± Johan came to his senses at the loud shouts of his subordinates beside him. Before he knew it, there were no enemies left in front of him. He looked around and saw only those who were fleeing or lying on the ground in all directions. ¡°The Sultan is dead! We¡¯ve won!¡± ¡°. . .Is that true?¡± At the absurd words of their lord, the subordinates present had expressions that showed they didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. They were also quite exhausted. ¡°I¡¯ll cut off his head and bring it to you. Please rest for a while! You look like a mess!¡± Johan slowly nodded and looked around. The burnt and broken enemy camp waspletely in ruins. Looking back, he felt that he had somehow managed to advance this far. The allied forces were already upying the center and setting up their tents. ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ??*??????????. . .¡¯ A wee face came running towards him. It was Ulrike. She and her escorts were all in a mess, suggesting that they had fought a fierce battle. As soon as she saw Johan, Ulrike gave him a tight hug. It was a rare sight, her face filled with emotion. That¡¯s how hard-fought a victory it had been. ¡°. . .If it weren¡¯t for the duke, we might have been defeated several times in thisnd.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand, but I get that you¡¯re happy with the results. Can you let go for a moment?¡± Ulrike realized that Johan was not only exhausted to the point of copse, but also hadn¡¯t grasped the situation yet. ¡°Why are you saying that after making such a perfect breakthrough?¡± ¡°No. . . I don¡¯t remember anything from the middle.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike opened her mouth wide in disbelief, but tried her best to ept it. He had single-handedly turned the battlefield upside down and then said something like that. ¡°Did you feel God?¡± ¡°No. Even if you¡¯re happy, don¡¯t exaggerate things.¡± When the duke¡¯s usual demeanor returned, Ulrike was relieved. Behind her, her subordinates carefully spoke up. ¡°Duke. The dogs who ran away earlier. . . No, the cowards. . . Neither. . . The feudal lords want to see you, Duke, to congratte you on your victory.¡± ¡°. . .Tell them not toe in unless theye crawling on their knees with their armor off.¡± Johan was also human, and harsh words spilled out. Irritated words came out instinctively. ¡®????????.¡¯ Johan regretted it. They were the feudal lords here, after all. ¡°Forget what I just said. . .¡± ¡°No. Tell them that.¡± ¡°You can tell them that, Your Highness. Please do it for our sake.¡± Not only Ulrike, but all the other nobles pleaded earnestly. At that pathetic sight, Johan nodded. At the same time, he felt uneasy. ¡®???? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ??????????, ????¡¯???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ Johan had expected them to refuse and hold out. If that happened, he had nned to step in and mediate. ¡°. . .!¡± However, a momentter, all of the feudal lords appeared. They bowed their heads and crawled forward on their knees. There was not even a hint of arrogance left in their demeanor. At that rare sight that they might never see again, the nobles who had participated in the expedition instinctively realized that this expedition wasing to an end. This moment seemed to hint at the new order that would unfold in the future. Chapter 357: ????????-?????????? (1) After the battle, the first thing Johan did was copse and fall asleep as if he were dead. He slept so long that Iselia came in several times to check on him by grabbing his wrist. Thanks to that, the extreme fatigue he felt when he woke up was gone. Johan shook his head as if to clear it and stood up. ¡®. . .??????????, ?? ???????????? ??????????????.¡¯ He still couldn¡¯t remember how he fought, so it must have been a really intense battle. He had heard that he had cut down several famous nobles along the way, and that the Sultan had also been killed, but Johan honestly didn¡¯t remember. I just cut down everything in my path. . . ¡°Are you awake, Your Highness?¡± ¡°Ah. Yes.¡± The leading ve, Geoffrey, was waiting outside with the ves. When Johan looked around, it seemed that the other nobles had cleaned up while he was resting. The surroundings, which had been a mess, werepletely cleaned up, and empire-style tents were set up. ¡°I prepared this in advance. Please try it once.¡±¡°Oh. What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alcohol that was found in the Sultan¡¯s tent.¡± He thought it was a little early in the morning to be drinking, but the serfs who were working were also taking a break and drinking beer, so the nobles couldn¡¯t abstain. Rather, they drank even more. Johan thanked him and took a sip of the alcohol. It tasted even sweeter because of the victory. ¡°If you had prepared yourself to find such alcohol. . . you must have already taken out the treasures.¡± ¡°Yes. The others are probably waiting for you.¡± ¡°Yeah. I can¡¯t miss out on this.¡± Wasn¡¯t the most enjoyable time the time to share the spoils? With rumors that the Sultan¡¯s camp was full of treasures, everyone¡¯s eyes must have been half-turned. But considering that they waited, they must all be really kind and gentle. . . ¡®. . .????, ????¡¯?? ?????? ????????. ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ????.¡¯ Johan reflected for a moment. He still couldn¡¯t believe that the feudal lords had been terrified and trembling, but he had acted too emotionally, even though he had seen such people once or twice before. He thought that his head was filled with blood because of the heat of the battle, but if he acted like that. . . ¡°His Highness the Duke has arrived!¡± The other nobles were waiting in the tent. When Johan arrived, the feudal lords stood up in line without waiting for anyone to tell them to do so. Johan thought about it when he saw that. ¡®????. ?? ??????????????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ Come to think of it, it wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference if I tried to appease them a littleter. Johan frowned and made a face. At the simple change of expression, the feudal lords felt their hearts sink. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Ulrike whispered in a worried voice. The Duke¡¯s face was not bright even after he had a good rest. ¡°I¡¯m trying to control my expression so I can take the good stuff.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike almost cursed. ???????????? The most loved were silk, gold, and jewels. Even if a knight returned home with just one of the trinkets that the Sultan cherished (Johan honestly thought that the eunuchs or the court nobles below him would have worn them), that knight could livefortably for several generations. The Sultan¡¯s camp was a treasure trove not only for poor knights but also for feudal lords. Mirrors and trays carved with geometric patterns, pitchers, wine sses, beautifully bound books that they couldn¡¯t read, andrge, tempting jewels. . . Whenever it was Johan¡¯s turn, he chose treasures that looked good or gave off a mysterious aura. And when another feudal lord tried to take something he had his eye on, he red at them. Then the feudal lord would kindly yield. ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????.¡¯ Honestly, he wondered if he really needed to put a crimson carpet like the one the Sultan used on the floor of his castle. He would give it to Iselia as a present if she liked it, but Iselia had been staring at the horse and armor in the Sultan¡¯s camp since earlier. ¡®??????????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????? ?? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????? ????, ?? ?????????? ??????. ?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ????.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t the job of a knight to prepare presents for his children when he returned from an expedition. He was supposed to pray to God and swing his sword again. Of course, Johan thought it was too cold, and. . . ¡°What¡¯s gotten you so excited?¡± Johan found Suetlg and greeted him happily. Wizards were also given the opportunity to attend the distribution of the spoils. They all arrived veryte, so they hung their heads like sinners, but no one could ignore a wizard like Suetlg, who had participated in the war as Johan¡¯s advisor. ©¥???? ?????? ?????????????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ????, ?????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????. ©¥?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ????????. . . ????, ????. ????¡¯?? ??????????????. ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????. ?? ???????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????????????. The wizards who had received permission spoke in unison. ©¥???? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ????????! The nobles were impressed by their choice. In fact, there were some who were even more pleased because herbs, no matter how precious, couldn¡¯t bepared to other gold or jewels. Johan was curious. Suetlg had been saying a few things since a long time ago. ©¥?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ???? ?? ???????? ????. . . ??????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ??¡¯?? ???????? ???? ????????. ©¥????????. ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ??????. . . ????. ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????????????????? ???????? ???? ??????????. ??¡¯?? ???????? ??????????????. ©¥???????? ????????. . . Caenerna was no different. ©¥?????????????????? ???? ????????????, ???? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ??????????. ©¥?????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ????????????. ©¥???? ?? ?????? ????, ??¡¯???? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????, ???? ????????????. . . Of course, Johan refused. It was too suspicious. Besides, considering that most of the things that alchemists use as alchemy ingredients are toxic substances, he had to think about it even if it had the power of mystery. ¡°Aha. Were you curious about that? Follow me. I¡¯ve already prepared it anyway.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I boiled the herb and made herbal tea.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink it.¡± ¡°Why? Ah. I guess you¡¯ve heard some strange rumors. Those are just rumors. They often drink it in the courts of the Orient. I had it once, and I¡¯ve wanted to try it again ever since.¡± Suetlg was delighted like a young boy. Johan asked Caenerna. ¡°Have you ever tasted it?¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s not that experiencing it necessarily gives you wisdom. . .¡± ¡°No. I asked if you¡¯ve tasted it.¡± ¡°I know a lot about it, so it¡¯s the same as if it were true. . .¡± When Caenerna muttered and evaded the question, Suetlg answered instead. ¡°She says she hasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I knew it.¡± Caenerna followed the two of them into the tent with a red face. Inside, two wizards were holding a pitcher and pulling at each other. ¡°I studied alchemy at the University of Iorca, and I learned wisdom for five years under the philosopher of the desert. So when I say it¡¯s right, it¡¯s right! Got it?!¡± ¡°I served under the general and received this obsidian ne for saving the lives of two noble families! Where are you bragging about your unproven exploits in front of me!?¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m Duke Yeats, so both of you shut up.¡± The wizards were startled by Johan¡¯s words. They didn¡¯t know when the Duke had entered. He looked resentfully at Suetlg and Caenerna. If they were wizards, they could have been a little more considerate. Of course, the two of them ignored it. Even if they weren¡¯t close, the wizards wouldn¡¯t listen to them if they tried to assert their loyalty to each other. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s see that Sultan¡¯s herb.¡± ¡°H-Here you are. Your Highness.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan blinked. ¡®???????? ????. . .¡¯ He closed his eyes, but the herb didn¡¯t change into something else. The herb was. . . just coffee. To be exact, coffee beans, which are coffee seeds. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????¡¯ For a moment, Johan thought the wizards were making fun of him. However, the wizards all looked at Johan with eyes full of anticipation. It was as if they were expecting Johan to be surprised. ¡°W. . . Wow! Amazing! Is this the Sultan¡¯s herb?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness!¡± Johan felt a sense of shame. Maybe it was because he was among knights and centaurs, but wizards must have been the shining intellects of this era. . . ¡°Your Highness the Duke. Would you give me a chance to make herbal tea with this? At the University of Iorca. . .¡± ¡°Your Highness! That guy¡¯s words are nothing but nonsense. I. . .¡± ¡°Is it that difficult to make?¡± Johan couldn¡¯t help but ask. The two wizards looked shocked at Johan¡¯s words. If Johan hadn¡¯t been a duke, they would have pped him in the face. ¡°Not everyone can handle this herb. Your Highness. Only an alchemist who is proficient in alchemy and the wisdom of the desert. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan looked at Suetlg and Caenerna. The two of them also seemed to be suspicious of the two wizards¡¯ words, perhaps because they had never handled coffee before. ©¥?? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ????????????. ©¥?? ??????¡¯?? ????????, ???? ??¡¯???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ??????????. ¡°Get out of the way. God showed me how to handle this fruitst night.¡± ¡°T-That. . .!?¡± Johan pushed the wizards aside. It wasn¡¯t that difficult to make coffee. The tools were a bit primitive, but they were enough. Grind the coffee beans, add the coffee grounds and sugar to the water. . . ¡°Sugar!?¡± ¡°Be quiet.¡± ¡°S-Sorry.¡± After stirring it and boiling it gently, he waited patiently for it to finish. Johan handed a cup each to Suetlg and Caenerna. ¡°Try it.¡± ¡°Um. . .¡± Suetlg took a sip with an interested expression on his face. Then he opened his eyes wide. ¡°It¡¯s much more delicious and stronger than what I was treated to before!¡± ¡°So this is what it tastes like. . .¡± ¡°T. . . This is ridiculous! Originally, doing it that way goes against thew. . .¡± At the wizard¡¯s words, Suetlg clicked his tongue and red at him. ¡°You were a little suspicious because you talked too much, but as expected. . .¡± ¡°As expected, you can¡¯t trust a wizard who talks too much.¡± ¡°No, I really did study at the University of Iorca. . .¡± ¡°Get out. I don¡¯t think we need your help.¡± The unnamed wizard was expelled while sobbing. Suetlg asked with a truly impressed expression. ¡°I knew you were talented, Duke, but I didn¡¯t know you could make it this well. How did you do it?¡± ¡°. . .I found it in a book and read it several times.¡± The two wizards looked at Johan¡¯s answer with awe. He should be in a good mood, but Johan didn¡¯t feel much better. ???????????? Originally, the following matters should have been discussed right away, but they were dyed by a few days. Everyone needed time to enjoy and appreciate the spoils of war they had taken. In the meantime, messengers came to the expedition camp. They were messengers sent by the families of the captured nobles. They brought arge ransom, which made Johan happy. ¡°Your Highness. Even though we believe in different gods, if you show mercy just once on behalf of our family name, we will never forget. . .¡± ¡°Okay. I understand.¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± The messengers who hade were very nervous because of the Duke¡¯s reputation, and they were flustered by his quick consent. ¡°May you return safely. . . Anyway, I pray that your family will be blessed.¡± ¡°We will remember Your Highness the Duke¡¯s mercy forever.¡± Suhekhar, who was one of themanders, bowed politely. It wasn¡¯t a courtesy call, but a sincere word. The young duke could have wielded his authority as he pleased. He had done so before he defeated the Sultan, and even more so after he defeated the Sultan. If he had just beheaded a few of the captured prisoners, those who had participated in the expedition would have cheered. However, the Duke chose mercy instead of such cheap honor. It was something that couldn¡¯t be done unless one had a truly broad mind. ¡°What do you think the situation in the empire will be like in the future?¡± ¡°It will be noisy in many ways.¡± Suhekhar answered without hiding anything. Anyone with eyes and ears would know the current situation, so it wasn¡¯t a secret. The Sultan had died a horrible death, and his brothers and sisters had fled, so it was obvious that they would stab each other and fight a civil war. Such a fight was good for the powerful nobles. The Sultan¡¯s bloodline, which had been in trouble, had a fixed ce to reach out to. ¡°I heard that there is someone staying in Your Highness the Duke¡¯s camp who used to live in the Sultan¡¯s harem. . .?¡± ¡°I let them stay in the camp because I thought I might get a ransom.¡± ¡°Hehe. You¡¯re really funny. I know Your Highness is merciful, but it might be better to expel them quickly. If you let them stay, won¡¯t they just cause trouble? Even if they are of low status, they might try to get rid of theirpetitors.¡± ¡°Ah. . . Is there really nowhere to pay the ransom?¡± ¡°Who would pay?¡± Johan¡¯s expression darkened. Suhekhar guessed that the Duke¡¯s leniency had hurt his own heart. The Sultan¡¯s bloodline was still young children., After the battle, the first thing Johan did was copse and fall asleep as if he were dead. He slept so long that Iselia came in several times to check on him by grabbing his wrist. Thanks to that, the extreme fatigue he felt when he woke up was gone. Johan shook his head as if to clear it and stood up. ¡®. . .??????????, ?? ???????????? ??????????????.¡¯ He still couldn¡¯t remember how he fought, so it must have been a really intense battle. He had heard that he had cut down several famous nobles along the way, and that the Sultan had also been killed, but Johan honestly didn¡¯t remember. I just cut down everything in my path. . . ¡°Are you awake, Your Highness?¡± ¡°Ah. Yes.¡± The leading ve, Geoffrey, was waiting outside with the ves. When Johan looked around, it seemed that the other nobles had cleaned up while he was resting. The surroundings, which had been a mess, werepletely cleaned up, and empire-style tents were set up. ¡°I prepared this in advance. Please try it once.¡± ¡°Oh. What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alcohol that was found in the Sultan¡¯s tent.¡± He thought it was a little early in the morning to be drinking, but the serfs who were working were also taking a break and drinking beer, so the nobles couldn¡¯t abstain. Rather, they drank even more. Johan thanked him and took a sip of the alcohol. It tasted even sweeter because of the victory. ¡°If you had prepared yourself to find such alcohol. . . you must have already taken out the treasures.¡± ¡°Yes. The others are probably waiting for you.¡± ¡°Yeah. I can¡¯t miss out on this.¡± Wasn¡¯t the most enjoyable time the time to share the spoils? With rumors that the Sultan¡¯s camp was full of treasures, everyone¡¯s eyes must have been half-turned. But considering that they waited, they must all be really kind and gentle. . . ¡®. . .????, ????¡¯?? ?????? ????????. ???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ????.¡¯ Johan reflected for a moment. He still couldn¡¯t believe that the feudal lords had been terrified and trembling, but he had acted too emotionally, even though he had seen such people once or twice before. He thought that his head was filled with blood because of the heat of the battle, but if he acted like that. . . ¡°His Highness the Duke has arrived!¡± The other nobles were waiting in the tent. When Johan arrived, the feudal lords stood up in line without waiting for anyone to tell them to do so. Johan thought about it when he saw that. ¡®????. ?? ??????????????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????????????.¡¯ Come to think of it, it wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference if I tried to appease them a littleter. Johan frowned and made a face. At the simple change of expression, the feudal lords felt their hearts sink. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Ulrike whispered in a worried voice. The Duke¡¯s face was not bright even after he had a good rest. ¡°I¡¯m trying to control my expression so I can take the good stuff.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike almost cursed. ???????????? The most loved were silk, gold, and jewels. Even if a knight returned home with just one of the trinkets that the Sultan cherished (Johan honestly thought that the eunuchs or the court nobles below him would have worn them), that knight could livefortably for several generations. The Sultan¡¯s camp was a treasure trove not only for poor knights but also for feudal lords. Mirrors and trays carved with geometric patterns, pitchers, wine sses, beautifully bound books that they couldn¡¯t read, andrge, tempting jewels. . . Whenever it was Johan¡¯s turn, he chose treasures that looked good or gave off a mysterious aura. And when another feudal lord tried to take something he had his eye on, he red at them. Then the feudal lord would kindly yield. ¡®?? ???????????? ???? ?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ????.¡¯ Honestly, he wondered if he really needed to put a crimson carpet like the one the Sultan used on the floor of his castle. He would give it to Iselia as a present if she liked it, but Iselia had been staring at the horse and armor in the Sultan¡¯s camp since earlier. ¡®??????????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????? ?? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????? ????, ?? ?????????? ??????. ?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ????.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t the job of a knight to prepare presents for his children when he returned from an expedition. He was supposed to pray to God and swing his sword again. Of course, Johan thought it was too cold, and. . . ¡°What¡¯s gotten you so excited?¡± Johan found Suetlg and greeted him happily. Wizards were also given the opportunity to attend the distribution of the spoils. They all arrived veryte, so they hung their heads like sinners, but no one could ignore a wizard like Suetlg, who had participated in the war as Johan¡¯s advisor. ©¥???? ?????? ?????????????? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ????, ?????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????. ©¥?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ????????. . . ????, ????. ????¡¯?? ??????????????. ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????. ?? ???????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ??????????????????. The wizards who had received permission spoke in unison. ©¥???? ?????????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ????????! The nobles were impressed by their choice. In fact, there were some who were even more pleased because herbs, no matter how precious, couldn¡¯t bepared to other gold or jewels. Johan was curious. Suetlg had been saying a few things since a long time ago. ©¥?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ???? ?? ???????? ????. . . ??????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ??¡¯?? ???????? ???? ????????. ©¥????????. ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ??????. . . ????. ?? ??????¡¯?? ?????????????????????? ???????? ???? ??????????. ??¡¯?? ???????? ??????????????. ©¥???????? ????????. . . Caenerna was no different. ©¥?????????????????? ???? ????????????, ???? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ??????????. ©¥?????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ????????????. ©¥???? ?? ?????? ????, ??¡¯???? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????, ???? ????????????. . . Of course, Johan refused. It was too suspicious. Besides, considering that most of the things that alchemists use as alchemy ingredients are toxic substances, he had to think about it even if it had the power of mystery. ¡°Aha. Were you curious about that? Follow me. I¡¯ve already prepared it anyway.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I boiled the herb and made herbal tea.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink it.¡± ¡°Why? Ah. I guess you¡¯ve heard some strange rumors. Those are just rumors. They often drink it in the courts of the Orient. I had it once, and I¡¯ve wanted to try it again ever since.¡± Suetlg was delighted like a young boy. Johan asked Caenerna. ¡°Have you ever tasted it?¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s not that experiencing it necessarily gives you wisdom. . .¡± ¡°No. I asked if you¡¯ve tasted it.¡± ¡°I know a lot about it, so it¡¯s the same as if it were true. . .¡± When Caenerna muttered and evaded the question, Suetlg answered instead. ¡°She says she hasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I knew it.¡± Caenerna followed the two of them into the tent with a red face. Inside, two wizards were holding a pitcher and pulling at each other. ¡°I studied alchemy at the University of Iorca, and I learned wisdom for five years under the philosopher of the desert. So when I say it¡¯s right, it¡¯s right! Got it?!¡± ¡°I served under the general and received this obsidian ne for saving the lives of two noble families! Where are you bragging about your unproven exploits in front of me!?¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m Duke Yeats, so both of you shut up.¡± The wizards were startled by Johan¡¯s words. They didn¡¯t know when the Duke had entered. He looked resentfully at Suetlg and Caenerna. If they were wizards, they could have been a little more considerate. Of course, the two of them ignored it. Even if they weren¡¯t close, the wizards wouldn¡¯t listen to them if they tried to assert their loyalty to each other. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s see that Sultan¡¯s herb.¡± ¡°H-Here you are. Your Highness.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan blinked. ¡®???????? ????. . .¡¯ He closed his eyes, but the herb didn¡¯t change into something else. The herb was. . . just coffee. To be exact, coffee beans, which are coffee seeds. ¡®?????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????¡¯ For a moment, Johan thought the wizards were making fun of him. However, the wizards all looked at Johan with eyes full of anticipation. It was as if they were expecting Johan to be surprised. ¡°W. . . Wow! Amazing! Is this the Sultan¡¯s herb?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness!¡± Johan felt a sense of shame. Maybe it was because he was among knights and centaurs, but wizards must have been the shining intellects of this era. . . ¡°Your Highness the Duke. Would you give me a chance to make herbal tea with this? At the University of Iorca. . .¡± ¡°Your Highness! That guy¡¯s words are nothing but nonsense. I. . .¡± ¡°Is it that difficult to make?¡± Johan couldn¡¯t help but ask. The two wizards looked shocked at Johan¡¯s words. If Johan hadn¡¯t been a duke, they would have pped him in the face. ¡°Not everyone can handle this herb. Your Highness. Only an alchemist who is proficient in alchemy and the wisdom of the desert. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan looked at Suetlg and Caenerna. The two of them also seemed to be suspicious of the two wizards¡¯ words, perhaps because they had never handled coffee before. ©¥?? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ????????????. ©¥?? ??????¡¯?? ????????, ???? ??¡¯???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ??????????. ¡°Get out of the way. God showed me how to handle this fruitst night.¡± ¡°T-That. . .!?¡± Johan pushed the wizards aside. It wasn¡¯t that difficult to make coffee. The tools were a bit primitive, but they were enough. Grind the coffee beans, add the coffee grounds and sugar to the water. . . ¡°Sugar!?¡± ¡°Be quiet.¡± ¡°S-Sorry.¡± After stirring it and boiling it gently, he waited patiently for it to finish. Johan handed a cup each to Suetlg and Caenerna. ¡°Try it.¡± ¡°Um. . .¡± Suetlg took a sip with an interested expression on his face. Then he opened his eyes wide. ¡°It¡¯s much more delicious and stronger than what I was treated to before!¡± ¡°So this is what it tastes like. . .¡± ¡°T. . . This is ridiculous! Originally, doing it that way goes against thew. . .¡± At the wizard¡¯s words, Suetlg clicked his tongue and red at him. ¡°You were a little suspicious because you talked too much, but as expected. . .¡± ¡°As expected, you can¡¯t trust a wizard who talks too much.¡± ¡°No, I really did study at the University of Iorca. . .¡± ¡°Get out. I don¡¯t think we need your help.¡± The unnamed wizard was expelled while sobbing. Suetlg asked with a truly impressed expression. ¡°I knew you were talented, Duke, but I didn¡¯t know you could make it this well. How did you do it?¡± ¡°. . .I found it in a book and read it several times.¡± The two wizards looked at Johan¡¯s answer with awe. He should be in a good mood, but Johan didn¡¯t feel much better. ???????????? Originally, the following matters should have been discussed right away, but they were dyed by a few days. Everyone needed time to enjoy and appreciate the spoils of war they had taken. In the meantime, messengers came to the expedition camp. They were messengers sent by the families of the captured nobles. They brought arge ransom, which made Johan happy. ¡°Your Highness. Even though we believe in different gods, if you show mercy just once on behalf of our family name, we will never forget. . .¡± ¡°Okay. I understand.¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± The messengers who hade were very nervous because of the Duke¡¯s reputation, and they were flustered by his quick consent. ¡°May you return safely. . . Anyway, I pray that your family will be blessed.¡± ¡°We will remember Your Highness the Duke¡¯s mercy forever.¡± Suhekhar, who was one of themanders, bowed politely. It wasn¡¯t a courtesy call, but a sincere word. The young duke could have wielded his authority as he pleased. He had done so before he defeated the Sultan, and even more so after he defeated the Sultan. If he had just beheaded a few of the captured prisoners, those who had participated in the expedition would have cheered. However, the Duke chose mercy instead of such cheap honor. It was something that couldn¡¯t be done unless one had a truly broad mind. ¡°What do you think the situation in the empire will be like in the future?¡± ¡°It will be noisy in many ways.¡± Suhekhar answered without hiding anything. Anyone with eyes and ears would know the current situation, so it wasn¡¯t a secret. The Sultan had died a horrible death, and his brothers and sisters had fled, so it was obvious that they would stab each other and fight a civil war. Such a fight was good for the powerful nobles. The Sultan¡¯s bloodline, which had been in trouble, had a fixed ce to reach out to. ¡°I heard that there is someone staying in Your Highness the Duke¡¯s camp who used to live in the Sultan¡¯s harem. . .?¡± ¡°I let them stay in the camp because I thought I might get a ransom.¡± ¡°Hehe. You¡¯re really funny. I know Your Highness is merciful, but it might be better to expel them quickly. If you let them stay, won¡¯t they just cause trouble? Even if they are of low status, they might try to get rid of theirpetitors.¡± ¡°Ah. . . Is there really nowhere to pay the ransom?¡± ¡°Who would pay?¡± Johan¡¯s expression darkened. Suhekhar guessed that the Duke¡¯s leniency had hurt his own heart. The Sultan¡¯s bloodline was still young children. Chapter 358: ????????-?????????? (2) ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Suhekhar bowed and disappeared, turning Johan¡¯s stomach. Johan called the Republic over. The Republic, having enjoyed the Sultan¡¯s drink, wiped the coffee off their beard and hopped over. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I heard something.¡± Johan ryed what he had just heard, and the Republic nodded as if that made sense. ¡°Who will pay the ransom?¡± ¡°Even if she was a proper empress, it would be difficult to ept, but aren¡¯t you talking about an empress who was even banished? It¡¯s impossible. Rather than letting her stay in the camp and causing rumors, let¡¯s just quickly banish her.¡± ¡°If we banish her. . .¡±Johan calcted it simply. Since she had no family and the times were chaotic, if they chased out the empress and her child, they would just. . . ¡®????????¡¯???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ There was a high chance they would die before anyone could assassinate them. Johan smacked his lips. He didn¡¯t want to let a young child die just to collect the ransom. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same as telling her to die, since she has a young child?¡± The Republic both admired andughed slightly at Johan¡¯s words. The pious duke, who was loved by the Order, and the Republic, who were born businessmen, were divided in this regard. ¡°Your Highness is truly merciful. Since it¡¯s not that difficult, how about Your Highness shows mercy? You can simply throw her somewhere in an appropriate town and let her live quietly.¡± ¡®??????. . .¡¯ Johan thought for a moment. Come to think of it, Johan was in a position where he didn¡¯t have to do anything troublesome. Wasn¡¯t power originally a position where you could pass the annoying things on to your subordinates? ¡°I¡¯d like you to take care of this. Take her and arrange a quiet ce for her to live in an appropriate city in the Republic.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The Republic¡¯ faces turned pale. They had been needlessly nagging the duke and got scolded. However, they couldn¡¯t refuse the duke¡¯s order. . . ¡®?? ????????????¡¯???? ?????????????? ??????. . .¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s not that difficult, is it?¡± ¡°. . .Very well. We have control over several cities, so we¡¯ll find a suitable ce among the nearby cities and arrange a ce for her to live in seclusion.¡± The Republic were annoyed. Originally, doing good deeds withoutpensation left them in a bad mood for a week. If she was of noble birth or an empress who had a certain position in the pce, the Republic would havee forward to arrange her a house and means to live. Since times were chaotic, they wouldn¡¯t be able to benefit from it right away, but they would eventually gain somethingter. However, the empress was neither of noble birth nor did she have any particr position. No wonder even the Republic, who were well-versed in internal affairs, didn¡¯t know her name. What good would it be to show her kindness?. . . ¡°Hey, follow me.¡± ¡°W-We¡¯ll get ready right now.¡± ¡°A-Ah, what are you doing standing around? His Highness, the Duke, is waiting!¡± The Republic, who received the order, hurriedly went to the empress and urged her. The empress was already terrified from the oue of the battle. Even inside the tent, she knew better than anyone what was going on, as the ves brought her news. She wasn¡¯t sad that the Sultan, who had banished her for nothing, had died, but she was scared of what would happen because of it. Hadn¡¯t one of the reasons she was still alive disappeared? ¡°A-Am I. . . going to be executed?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± The Republican looked at the empress as if she was annoying. Even pagans usually showed each other courtesy befitting their titles or status, but that was only to a certain extent; they wouldn¡¯t show kindness to someone who had nothing. ¡°Since the Sultan is dead, there¡¯s no reason to keep me alive.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean we have a reason to execute you.¡± ¡°T-Then am I being banished?¡± The empress¡¯ face turned pale. Ironically, the safest ce for the empress right now was the expedition camp. If she was banished with nothing, there was no telling how long she wouldst. ¡°No. His Highness, the Duke, has shown mercy. He¡¯ll take you to a safe ce, so live quietly there.¡± ¡°His Highness, the Duke!?¡± The empress was genuinely surprised. She never thought that the iron-bloodedmander, who seemed to have no mercy or tears, would show her such mercy. The Republican said, as if he was annoyed to death. ¡°We¡¯re doing something we don¡¯t want to do, so stop asking questions. Thank His Highness, the Duke, and don¡¯t talk nonsense. Just eat what you¡¯re given and live quietly.¡± ¡°I. . . I understand.¡± The ves were rude enough to make her resentful, but the empress didn¡¯t argue. She had to be grateful for such treatment now. ???????????? ¡°I am grateful for Your Highness, the Duke¡¯s, grace. I apologize once again for misunderstanding you after hearing rumors that you made a deal with the demons.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The interpreter next to the empress looked at her in shock. It was clear that she didn¡¯t know proper etiquette because she was ofmon birth. How could she mention ¡®demons¡¯ in front of the duke? ¡®?????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ??????. . .!¡¯ While the interpreter was thinking about how to convey it appropriately, Johan simply understood it on his own and replied. ¡°I¡¯m d the misunderstanding has been resolved.¡± ¡°!?¡± ¡°The Republic have agreed to help you a lot, so be grateful.¡± ¡°. . .I can only thank you again for Your Highness.¡± Johan guessed from the empress¡¯s response that the Republic must have grumbled quite a bit. ¡®???? ??????¡¯???? ?????????? ???? ???? ????, ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????????¡¯ If they were going to do it anyway, wouldn¡¯t it be better to show kindness for the sake of the future? The Republic grumbled about it, unable to bear it, and hurt her feelings like this. However, since Johan had asked the Republic to do this, he decided not to say anything more. Since he would need the help of the Republic in the future, Johan meddling wouldn¡¯t do any good. After the empress left, Suetlg opened his mouth and praised Johan. ¡°You did well. I felt bad that you hadn¡¯t done any good deeds sinceing to thisnd, but I feel like you¡¯ve done one good deed.¡± ¡°I did it, so why are you saying that, Suetlg-nim?¡± ¡°. . .Do you really have to say that?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t a wizard speak the truth urately?¡± Suetlg, who had been stabbed in a sore spot by Johan¡¯s words, turned his gaze away. Then, after thinking for a moment, he said. ¡°Did you show mercy because you thought you could get a ransomter?¡± ¡°Yes? Ah. . . I¡¯ve given up on that. I am frugal, but I¡¯m not that desperate for gold coins.¡± ¡°You should splurge a little. . .¡± Just by returning with the treasures collected from this expedition, he would be able to boast of the greatest wealth in the empire. On top of that, the trade returning from the newly acquired fiefdoms was a bonus. ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s how it is. I thought you showed mercy because you thought you could get a ransom.¡± ¡°Who would pay a ransom when there¡¯s no one to fight?¡± ¡°Sometimes wizards can see the future through omens and premonitions, don¡¯t they? I thought maybe you saw something simr to me.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan turned his head at Suetlg¡¯s words. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°No. . . That empress¡¯s child seemed to have quite a precious destiny, so I wondered if you let her go because of that.¡± ¡°Is that true? If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m going to bring her right now. . .¡± ¡°Oh, no. Don¡¯t take it that seriously. These things are usually wrong. The chances of it being right are slim.¡± Suetlg was rather embarrassed when Johan reacted more seriously than he thought. ¡°Just take it as a light joke. The more seriously you take fortune-telling, the more flustered you be.¡± ¡°It sounds like an excuse made by fortune-tellers who are prepared to be wrong.¡± ¡°Anyway, if she bes noble in the future, who will she repay the favor to? Will she repay the arrogant and ill-mannered Republic? Or will she repay you?¡± ¡°Or she might not repay anyone at all. . .¡± ¡°. . .Don¡¯t be so twisted.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just stating a possibility. Anyway, thanks to you, I feel much better.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t expect too much.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll just forget about it.¡± ???????????? With the Sultan¡¯s threat gone and the empire in chaos for a while, all that was left for the expeditionary force, which had conquered even the Holy Land, was to return home. The fleets arrived one after another, and the people who had participated in the expedition packed their luggage with joyful expressions. They were returning with stories to tell their children and their children¡¯s children for the rest of their lives. In addition to mere tales of bravery, their hearts were filled with religious devotion, believing that they had carried out God¡¯s orders as intended. It was a strong sense of aplishment that couldn¡¯t be obtained by simply making a pilgrimage to a holynd. ¡°Can I buy something with this?¡± ¡°This sword was made by a great cksmith in the West, but can I trade it. . .¡± . . .Apart from such feelings, the pilgrims tried their best to get their hands on as many valuable items as possible before boarding the ship. They were spending the money they had saved up diligently, since they wouldn¡¯t being back once they left. Thanks to this, even the merchants who were in other ces came up to the port carrying valuable items. ¡°There might be some fakes among those items.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think everyone knows that and buys them anyway, Your Highness? That¡¯s also part of the fun of shopping.¡± ¡°Oh. . . No. Shouldn¡¯t merchants say that with their own mouths?¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± The old orc, Grumab, turned his gaze with a smile. He hade in person to see the duke before he left. ¡°Would Your Highness, the Duke, like to look around a little more before you leave?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already packed all the treasures I could find and put them on the ship. What¡¯s the point of doing it now?¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you spend some more time talking to the wizards? They didn¡¯t do much this time, but they¡¯re useful people.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Johan made a hesitant expression at Grumab¡¯s advice. Grumab asked as if he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Is it because they failed to deal with the monsters and made a fool of themselves? I mean, the fact that they werete for the battle. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s not because of that. I don¡¯t trust them much after seeing them make a fuss over a cup of coffee.¡± ¡°. . .As expected of someone skilled in alchemy, I guess he couldn¡¯t hide that part. I hope Your Highness will be generous enough to forgive him and hear his skills once.¡± ¡°Alright. I understand. Since I have some time, I¡¯ll listen to him.¡± After the coffee incident, the pagan wizards had be simr to Jyanina in Johan¡¯s eyes. That¡¯s why he hadn¡¯t called for them, but it seemed like it wouldn¡¯t be bad to hear their skills before leaving. ???????????? Having studied alchemy at the University of Iorca and learned wisdom under the desert philosopher for five years, the wizard Jaivir was a renowned philosopher near the Holy Land. Johan asked with an expression that didn¡¯t show much anticipation. ¡°What can you do, sir?¡± ¡°Your Highness. Look at that desert.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan turned his gaze. He saw the desert. ¡°What do you see?¡± ¡°I see a desert.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The ability of a wizard is as vast as that desert, so don¡¯t ask me what I can do. Tell me what you want to find in that desert, Your Highness.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jaivir had said those words with a certain air. He must have said it to many nobles and it worked well, but it didn¡¯t work on Johan, who was also a wizard and had several wizards around him. ¡°Stop talking nonsense and just say what you can do.¡± ¡°Your Highness. That¡¯s why I. . .¡± Johan looked at Jaivir instead of answering. His eyes contained the power of the soul. Jaivir felt himself being overwhelmed. It had been a long time since he had felt this overwhelmed by an opponent¡¯s gaze as a wizard. ¡°. . .I know how to make various potions and perfumes.¡± ¡°Wow, you can make perfume. That¡¯s amazing.¡± It sounded simple when he said perfume, but it was actually not simple at all. It was a high-level alchemy that required extracting and condensing the fragrance from a substance. In the West, perfumes were sold at exorbitant prices to extravagant nobles. In Johan¡¯s eyes, it was a primitive and rustic perfume, but that alone was popr enough. ¡°Wait. Do you really know how to make it? Judging from how you made coffee. . .¡± ¡°No! I made a mistake that time, but I really know how to make it!¡± The voice of the wronged alchemist grew louder. ¡°The perfumes I make have various effects. Your Highness won¡¯t be disappointed either.¡± ¡°Hmm. I see.¡± Johan thought about using it as a gift. There were many people he had to give gifts to when he returned. ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask you. What do I need, Jaivir?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to pay.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°Instead, if you are satisfied, just give me a testimony that Your Highness, the Duke, has acknowledged me. . .¡± Jaivir¡¯s request was really modest. Instead of extravagant gold, he wanted the duke¡¯s acknowledgement. He must have been quite shocked by the coffee incidentst time. However, Johan didn¡¯t ept it right away. ¡°Hmm. . . That¡¯s a bit. . .¡± ¡°Your Highness?!¡±, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Suhekhar bowed and disappeared, turning Johan¡¯s stomach. Johan called the Republic over. The Republic, having enjoyed the Sultan¡¯s drink, wiped the coffee off their beard and hopped over. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I heard something.¡± Johan ryed what he had just heard, and the Republic nodded as if that made sense. ¡°Who will pay the ransom?¡± ¡°Even if she was a proper empress, it would be difficult to ept, but aren¡¯t you talking about an empress who was even banished? It¡¯s impossible. Rather than letting her stay in the camp and causing rumors, let¡¯s just quickly banish her.¡± ¡°If we banish her. . .¡± Johan calcted it simply. Since she had no family and the times were chaotic, if they chased out the empress and her child, they would just. . . ¡®????????¡¯???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????.¡¯ There was a high chance they would die before anyone could assassinate them. Johan smacked his lips. He didn¡¯t want to let a young child die just to collect the ransom. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same as telling her to die, since she has a young child?¡± The Republic both admired andughed slightly at Johan¡¯s words. The pious duke, who was loved by the Order, and the Republic, who were born businessmen, were divided in this regard. ¡°Your Highness is truly merciful. Since it¡¯s not that difficult, how about Your Highness shows mercy? You can simply throw her somewhere in an appropriate town and let her live quietly.¡± ¡®??????. . .¡¯ Johan thought for a moment. Come to think of it, Johan was in a position where he didn¡¯t have to do anything troublesome. Wasn¡¯t power originally a position where you could pass the annoying things on to your subordinates? ¡°I¡¯d like you to take care of this. Take her and arrange a quiet ce for her to live in an appropriate city in the Republic.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The Republic¡¯ faces turned pale. They had been needlessly nagging the duke and got scolded. However, they couldn¡¯t refuse the duke¡¯s order. . . ¡®?? ????????????¡¯???? ?????????????? ??????. . .¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s not that difficult, is it?¡± ¡°. . .Very well. We have control over several cities, so we¡¯ll find a suitable ce among the nearby cities and arrange a ce for her to live in seclusion.¡± The Republic were annoyed. Originally, doing good deeds withoutpensation left them in a bad mood for a week. If she was of noble birth or an empress who had a certain position in the pce, the Republic would havee forward to arrange her a house and means to live. Since times were chaotic, they wouldn¡¯t be able to benefit from it right away, but they would eventually gain somethingter. However, the empress was neither of noble birth nor did she have any particr position. No wonder even the Republic, who were well-versed in internal affairs, didn¡¯t know her name. What good would it be to show her kindness?. . . ¡°Hey, follow me.¡± ¡°W-We¡¯ll get ready right now.¡± ¡°A-Ah, what are you doing standing around? His Highness, the Duke, is waiting!¡± The Republic, who received the order, hurriedly went to the empress and urged her. The empress was already terrified from the oue of the battle. Even inside the tent, she knew better than anyone what was going on, as the ves brought her news. She wasn¡¯t sad that the Sultan, who had banished her for nothing, had died, but she was scared of what would happen because of it. Hadn¡¯t one of the reasons she was still alive disappeared? ¡°A-Am I. . . going to be executed?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± The Republican looked at the empress as if she was annoying. Even pagans usually showed each other courtesy befitting their titles or status, but that was only to a certain extent; they wouldn¡¯t show kindness to someone who had nothing. ¡°Since the Sultan is dead, there¡¯s no reason to keep me alive.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean we have a reason to execute you.¡± ¡°T-Then am I being banished?¡± The empress¡¯ face turned pale. Ironically, the safest ce for the empress right now was the expedition camp. If she was banished with nothing, there was no telling how long she wouldst. ¡°No. His Highness, the Duke, has shown mercy. He¡¯ll take you to a safe ce, so live quietly there.¡± ¡°His Highness, the Duke!?¡± The empress was genuinely surprised. She never thought that the iron-bloodedmander, who seemed to have no mercy or tears, would show her such mercy. The Republican said, as if he was annoyed to death. ¡°We¡¯re doing something we don¡¯t want to do, so stop asking questions. Thank His Highness, the Duke, and don¡¯t talk nonsense. Just eat what you¡¯re given and live quietly.¡± ¡°I. . . I understand.¡± The ves were rude enough to make her resentful, but the empress didn¡¯t argue. She had to be grateful for such treatment now. ???????????? ¡°I am grateful for Your Highness, the Duke¡¯s, grace. I apologize once again for misunderstanding you after hearing rumors that you made a deal with the demons.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The interpreter next to the empress looked at her in shock. It was clear that she didn¡¯t know proper etiquette because she was ofmon birth. How could she mention ¡®demons¡¯ in front of the duke? ¡®?????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ??????. . .!¡¯ While the interpreter was thinking about how to convey it appropriately, Johan simply understood it on his own and replied. ¡°I¡¯m d the misunderstanding has been resolved.¡± ¡°!?¡± ¡°The Republic have agreed to help you a lot, so be grateful.¡± ¡°. . .I can only thank you again for Your Highness.¡± Johan guessed from the empress¡¯s response that the Republic must have grumbled quite a bit. ¡®???? ??????¡¯???? ?????????? ???? ???? ????, ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????????¡¯ If they were going to do it anyway, wouldn¡¯t it be better to show kindness for the sake of the future? The Republic grumbled about it, unable to bear it, and hurt her feelings like this. However, since Johan had asked the Republic to do this, he decided not to say anything more. Since he would need the help of the Republic in the future, Johan meddling wouldn¡¯t do any good. After the empress left, Suetlg opened his mouth and praised Johan. ¡°You did well. I felt bad that you hadn¡¯t done any good deeds sinceing to thisnd, but I feel like you¡¯ve done one good deed.¡± ¡°I did it, so why are you saying that, Suetlg-nim?¡± ¡°. . .Do you really have to say that?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t a wizard speak the truth urately?¡± Suetlg, who had been stabbed in a sore spot by Johan¡¯s words, turned his gaze away. Then, after thinking for a moment, he said. ¡°Did you show mercy because you thought you could get a ransomter?¡± ¡°Yes? Ah. . . I¡¯ve given up on that. I am frugal, but I¡¯m not that desperate for gold coins.¡± ¡°You should splurge a little. . .¡± Just by returning with the treasures collected from this expedition, he would be able to boast of the greatest wealth in the empire. On top of that, the trade returning from the newly acquired fiefdoms was a bonus. ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s how it is. I thought you showed mercy because you thought you could get a ransom.¡± ¡°Who would pay a ransom when there¡¯s no one to fight?¡± ¡°Sometimes wizards can see the future through omens and premonitions, don¡¯t they? I thought maybe you saw something simr to me.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan turned his head at Suetlg¡¯s words. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°No. . . That empress¡¯s child seemed to have quite a precious destiny, so I wondered if you let her go because of that.¡± ¡°Is that true? If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m going to bring her right now. . .¡± ¡°Oh, no. Don¡¯t take it that seriously. These things are usually wrong. The chances of it being right are slim.¡± Suetlg was rather embarrassed when Johan reacted more seriously than he thought. ¡°Just take it as a light joke. The more seriously you take fortune-telling, the more flustered you be.¡± ¡°It sounds like an excuse made by fortune-tellers who are prepared to be wrong.¡± ¡°Anyway, if she bes noble in the future, who will she repay the favor to? Will she repay the arrogant and ill-mannered Republic? Or will she repay you?¡± ¡°Or she might not repay anyone at all. . .¡± ¡°. . .Don¡¯t be so twisted.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just stating a possibility. Anyway, thanks to you, I feel much better.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t expect too much.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll just forget about it.¡± ???????????? With the Sultan¡¯s threat gone and the empire in chaos for a while, all that was left for the expeditionary force, which had conquered even the Holy Land, was to return home. The fleets arrived one after another, and the people who had participated in the expedition packed their luggage with joyful expressions. They were returning with stories to tell their children and their children¡¯s children for the rest of their lives. In addition to mere tales of bravery, their hearts were filled with religious devotion, believing that they had carried out God¡¯s orders as intended. It was a strong sense of aplishment that couldn¡¯t be obtained by simply making a pilgrimage to a holynd. ¡°Can I buy something with this?¡± ¡°This sword was made by a great cksmith in the West, but can I trade it. . .¡± . . .Apart from such feelings, the pilgrims tried their best to get their hands on as many valuable items as possible before boarding the ship. They were spending the money they had saved up diligently, since they wouldn¡¯t being back once they left. Thanks to this, even the merchants who were in other ces came up to the port carrying valuable items. ¡°There might be some fakes among those items.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think everyone knows that and buys them anyway, Your Highness? That¡¯s also part of the fun of shopping.¡± ¡°Oh. . . No. Shouldn¡¯t merchants say that with their own mouths?¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± The old orc, Grumab, turned his gaze with a smile. He hade in person to see the duke before he left. ¡°Would Your Highness, the Duke, like to look around a little more before you leave?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already packed all the treasures I could find and put them on the ship. What¡¯s the point of doing it now?¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you spend some more time talking to the wizards? They didn¡¯t do much this time, but they¡¯re useful people.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Johan made a hesitant expression at Grumab¡¯s advice. Grumab asked as if he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Is it because they failed to deal with the monsters and made a fool of themselves? I mean, the fact that they werete for the battle. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s not because of that. I don¡¯t trust them much after seeing them make a fuss over a cup of coffee.¡± ¡°. . .As expected of someone skilled in alchemy, I guess he couldn¡¯t hide that part. I hope Your Highness will be generous enough to forgive him and hear his skills once.¡± ¡°Alright. I understand. Since I have some time, I¡¯ll listen to him.¡± After the coffee incident, the pagan wizards had be simr to Jyanina in Johan¡¯s eyes. That¡¯s why he hadn¡¯t called for them, but it seemed like it wouldn¡¯t be bad to hear their skills before leaving. ???????????? Having studied alchemy at the University of Iorca and learned wisdom under the desert philosopher for five years, the wizard Jaivir was a renowned philosopher near the Holy Land. Johan asked with an expression that didn¡¯t show much anticipation. ¡°What can you do, sir?¡± ¡°Your Highness. Look at that desert.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan turned his gaze. He saw the desert. ¡°What do you see?¡± ¡°I see a desert.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The ability of a wizard is as vast as that desert, so don¡¯t ask me what I can do. Tell me what you want to find in that desert, Your Highness.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jaivir had said those words with a certain air. He must have said it to many nobles and it worked well, but it didn¡¯t work on Johan, who was also a wizard and had several wizards around him. ¡°Stop talking nonsense and just say what you can do.¡± ¡°Your Highness. That¡¯s why I. . .¡± Johan looked at Jaivir instead of answering. His eyes contained the power of the soul. Jaivir felt himself being overwhelmed. It had been a long time since he had felt this overwhelmed by an opponent¡¯s gaze as a wizard. ¡°. . .I know how to make various potions and perfumes.¡± ¡°Wow, you can make perfume. That¡¯s amazing.¡± It sounded simple when he said perfume, but it was actually not simple at all. It was a high-level alchemy that required extracting and condensing the fragrance from a substance. In the West, perfumes were sold at exorbitant prices to extravagant nobles. In Johan¡¯s eyes, it was a primitive and rustic perfume, but that alone was popr enough. ¡°Wait. Do you really know how to make it? Judging from how you made coffee. . .¡± ¡°No! I made a mistake that time, but I really know how to make it!¡± The voice of the wronged alchemist grew louder. ¡°The perfumes I make have various effects. Your Highness won¡¯t be disappointed either.¡± ¡°Hmm. I see.¡± Johan thought about using it as a gift. There were many people he had to give gifts to when he returned. ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask you. What do I need, Jaivir?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to pay.¡± ¡°!¡± ¡°Instead, if you are satisfied, just give me a testimony that Your Highness, the Duke, has acknowledged me. . .¡± Jaivir¡¯s request was really modest. Instead of extravagant gold, he wanted the duke¡¯s acknowledgement. He must have been quite shocked by the coffee incidentst time. However, Johan didn¡¯t ept it right away. ¡°Hmm. . . That¡¯s a bit. . .¡± ¡°Your Highness?!¡± Chapter 359: ????????-?????????? (3) Johan did not ept right away, but it wasn¡¯t because he particrly didn¡¯t trust Jaivir. He just didn¡¯t trust him at all. After all, if he agreed, Jaivir would go around saying, ¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????, ?????????????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????, ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°What if you go around dropping my name and end up making a mistake?¡± ¡°Your Highness! How could that happen?!¡± The duke¡¯s bluntness had hurt Jaivir deeply. His eyes were even brimming with tears from the offense. Johan felt slightly apologetic, so he nodded his head. ¡°Fine. I will act as your witness.¡± ¡°Thank you. I will never disappoint Your Highness.¡± ¡°Rather than using it myself, it would be better to match the perfume to the people I am gifting it to, so it would be better to have my subordinates ask about their preferences.¡± ¡°Do I really need to go that far. . .?¡±Jaivir was perplexed. The wizard¡¯s perfumes were always popr, and the nobles would buy them regardless of their personal preferences. They wanted popr items, not scents that suited their tastes. ¡°The receiver needs to be satisfied. What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Your Highness. I guess you don¡¯t trust me. . .¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Are you saying I should trust you?¡± ¡°N-No, my apologies. Please forgive my rudeness.¡± Johan¡¯s sudden irritation made the wizard bow deeply. The duke before him was lenient, but there was no telling when he might swing his sword. The wizard had heard vivid stories about the nobles and knights of the sultan¡¯s camp being ughtered. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ???? ??????????-????????????. ????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan thought to himself. Of course, Jaivir¡¯s so-called ¡°best-selling perfume¡± could be given as a gift, but honestly, he didn¡¯t trust it very much. It would be better to just have one that was custom-made. There would be no room for failure! ???????????? Ulrike had a scribe, who had been drafted nearby, read the books out loud to her. The books obtained from the sultan¡¯s camp were a pain for the nobles to read directly because they were written in a mixture of Eastern characters, the script of the old empire, and even a dialect. ¡°. . .Therefore, you shall burn the statue and perform a ritual. Then, a spirit of darkness shall appear. . .¡± ¡°What a useless book about paganism. Next.¡± ¡°Yes. This one is titled, .¡± ¡°What kind of book is it?¡± ¡°Judging from the title, it seems to be a collection of wise sayings about the art of governance and the wisdom of managing subordinates.¡± ¡°I see. Let¡¯s hear it.¡± However, the scribe stopped reading there. A servant of the duke hade to them. He carefully bowed his head and spoke. ¡°Abner-nim, His Highness wishes to see you.¡± ¡°His Highness?¡± Ulrike turned her gaze, looking puzzled. Nothing special was going on, and she was just about to head back, so what could it be? ¡°His Highness has ordered a wizard to create a perfume as a gift for Abner-nim, but we do not know what scent you would prefer, so he has sent me to ask.¡± ¡°!¡± Ulrike was delighted at his words. A heartfelt gift was always wee, and it was even better if it was from someone close. ¡°That¡¯s not a difficult request. I will prepare right away, so tell the wizard toe.¡± ¡°Yes. And His Highness also wishes to give gifts to Jarpen-nim¡¯s daughter and Countess Abner, so he was hoping Abner-nim could offer some advice.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike¡¯s expression instantly fell. Do you really need to give them some too? Not only did she realize that this was not a gift for her alone, but she also wondered why she had to give one to her spouse. Ulrike¡¯s mother, the countess, was a powerful figure, so that made sense, but her spouse was someone she wasn¡¯t particrly close to. ¡°Fine. I will help prepare them. Hmm. Let me see for a moment.¡± Ulrike said as she scanned the inside of the tent. ording to noble customs, one would send a gift in return, even if the initial gift was not that expensive. ¡°My lord said it¡¯s fine even if you don¡¯t send anything in return. . .¡± ¡°Even so, it¡¯s not right to send nothing at all. Ah. Give him that book.¡± At Ulrike¡¯s order, the scribe carefully wrapped the book he was holding in silk again. Books were expensive items in themselves. It was not easy to obtain books that had their pages gathered, handwritten, and filled with text. It wasn¡¯t for nothing that wizards were crazy about books. Furthermore, had a fairly impressive appearance. The book, with its leather cover embroidered with gold thread, looked like a splendid gift. ¡°Thank you. I will deliver it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ???????????? ¡°???¡± The high-ranking members of Johan¡¯s camp who were present¡ªincluding Iselia and the wizards¡ªwere testing out thepleted perfume. Suetlg was pleased with the scent that reminded him of his hometown, the Ipa?l River. Of course, it wasn¡¯t an extravagant scent that nobles liked, but so what? ¡°But why?¡± Suetlg asked, puzzled, when the duke made a confused expression. ¡°Do you not like the perfume?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t really interested in it in the first ce. . . I received a book as a gift from Ulrike-gong, and I¡¯m a bit bewildered.¡± ¡°What kind of book did you get?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a storybook, but the story is a bit. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°You know, the story about a lord going to war while his spouse enjoys herself with a knight.¡± ¡°Ah. That kind of book.¡± Suetlg was also taken aback. Not all books contained useful and excellent information. Sometimes, books with strange and vulgar content were published to cater to the tastes of entric lords. However, that was one thing, and giving such a book as a gift was another matter entirely. Caenerna, who was testing the perfume next to him, also turned her gaze, looking flustered. ¡°It seems like there¡¯s some kind of hidden meaning. . .¡± ¡°Do you think she heard about her spouse having an affair?¡± Caenerna and Suetlg put their heads together and pondered. Ulrike-gong was not someone who would send a book without any meaning. If she sent such a gift, there must be a reason behind it. Ulrike-gong¡¯s spouse, Cia of the Jarpen family, had not apanied them on the expedition and was instead guarding the fiefdom. Furthermore, in Suetlg¡¯s opinion, the two had opposite personalities. Ulrike-gong was as cold and indifferent as ice, while Cia had a fiery temper. It wouldn¡¯t be strange for one of them to have an affair while the other was away on an expedition, considering that they had married for the sake of their families. Caenerna remarked in surprise. ¡°Was Ulrike-gong the type to care about such things? I thought. . . she wouldn¡¯t care at all.¡± ¡°Everyone gets jealous.¡± Originally, most marriages between nobles were marriages of convenience, so it wasmon for them to turn a blind eye to each other¡¯s affairs. However, it was impossible for anyone to bepletely free of jealousy. Furthermore, since their spouses were often of lower status, swordy or assassination was not umon. ¡°Some people don¡¯t want to see their partner enjoying themselves, even if they themselves are free to do so.¡± Caenerna nodded as if she understood. Suetlg added to that. ¡°Ulrike-gong is rather abstinent, so she must be even angrier.¡± ¡°. . .Can you really tell all that just from a book?¡± Johan asked, looking bewildered, after listening to them. Just from a single book, it seemed as though Ulrike¡¯s spouse was already confirmed to be having an affair. ¡°Iselia, what do you think?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Iselia, who had just finished testing the perfume and was now oiling her newly acquired sword, perked up her ears and turned her gaze. ¡°You called? Sorry, I was checking my sword. . .¡± ¡°. . .It seems you didn¡¯t hear, so let me exin again.¡± Suetlg kindly exined the situation. Johan listened and then looked puzzled. ¡®. . .????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????¡¯ It seemed like Ulrike¡¯s anger and Cia¡¯s affair, which hadn¡¯t been mentioned before, had been added. Iselia, who had been listening, asked, looking puzzled. ¡°Why would she try to kill someone just because they loved someone else? Ulrike-gong is not that unfair of a person.¡± ¡°But Bluea-nim, think about it. Everyone has emotions and can get jealous. How would you feel if you saw His Grace rolling around with someone else?¡± ¡°Why are you dragging me into this. . .¡± Johan was taken aback. The sparks were flying in his direction. Iselia took it seriously again. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Does that matter?¡± ¡°If they are sick or evil, shouldn¡¯t we try to stop them?¡± ¡°. . .Let¡¯s say they are neither sick nor evil.¡± ¡°Then isn¡¯t it fine? Ah! No!¡± Iselia finally eximed as if she had realized something. Suetlg looked forward to it slightly, thinking that she had finally understood his point. ¡°Johan and I are close, but I¡¯m not rude enough to just barge in whenever I want. If I don¡¯t notice what¡¯s going on inside, I¡¯m not fit to be a knight!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg gave up. Iselia, who was a knight through and through, could not possibly understand the concept of jealousy. ¡°Hmm. I trust the duke. There must be some kind of misunderstanding.¡± However, despite Iselia¡¯s words, the two wizards did not change their minds. ¡°Anyone can get jealous.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Jealousy is like a malevolent spirit; once you¡¯re possessed by it, it¡¯s toote. I think that must be the meaning of this book.¡± ¡°So let¡¯s say Ulrike-gong heard the news and became jealous. Why did she send this book?¡± ¡°It¡¯s obvious. What else could it be? Revenge.¡± Caenerna nodded in agreement with Suetlg¡¯s words, her curly red hair swaying. ¡°Revenge?¡± ¡°The other person¡¯s family must be pretty decent. They could be a baron somewhere, or maybe a wealthy knight family. You can¡¯t just summon and execute people like that. It would be seen as petty. But assassinating them is also. . .¡± ¡°. . .She¡¯s quick-witted.¡± Caenerna continued. Having been in the emperor¡¯s court, Caenerna was familiar with such political dramas. The emperor¡¯s lover, a beautiful young boy, and the count¡¯s spouse had an affair, and the count¡¯s lover got involved out of jealousy and swung a sword. . . ¡°Those who sleep with someone of a higher status tend to be quick-witted. If you summon them, they¡¯ll juste up with excuses like ghosts. Ulrike-gong probably wants to deal with it as quickly as lightning.¡± Leading an army to punish them or summoning them would be noisy and time-consuming, so she would ambush and kill them on the spot, then disguise herself as a rogue group. It was a traditional method that many people used. ¡°So this book. . . is a suggestion for me to join her in killing her spouse¡¯s lover?¡± ¡°If Your Highness joins us, we¡¯ll have a solid ally.¡± ¡°It¡¯s highly likely.¡± Johan became flustered when the two wizards said so in unison. Suetlg gave him a strong warning. ¡°You need to persuade her and calm her anger. It¡¯s something that no one else can do. But since you¡¯re close to her, she might listen to you.¡± ¡°That makes sense. . . But what if she¡¯s trying to kill not only her lover, but also Cia of the Jarpen family? The civil war just ended, and now the west might catch fire again.¡± The two wizards wanted Ulrike¡¯s cold anger to subside. They didn¡¯t want to create a new spark after finally putting out such a huge fire. Johan pondered for a moment and then nodded. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll try to persuade her.¡± ¡°I trust you. For the peace of the empire.¡± ¡°. . .For peace.¡± ???????????? ¡°It truly is a beautiful sea.¡± ¡°?¡± When the duke suddenly said something unexpected while standing on the deck of therge ship, Ulrike-gong looked puzzled. What is he talking about? ¡°When I see such a vast sea. . . I sometimes think about how petty grudges and jealousy are.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? The sea is the sea, and grudges are grudges. Just because you see the sea, your grudges don¡¯t be insignificant. Your Highness, why are you saying this?¡± ¡°. . .You¡¯re right. The sea is the sea, and grudges are grudges. I just said something strange for a moment.¡± Johan gave up right away. To be honest, persuasion was only possible if he himself believed in it; it was difficult to persuade someone with logic that he himself didn¡¯t believe in. Ulrike looked at the duke¡¯s back, dumbfounded. However, the duke¡¯s strange behavior had only just begun., Johan did not ept right away, but it wasn¡¯t because he particrly didn¡¯t trust Jaivir. He just didn¡¯t trust him at all. After all, if he agreed, Jaivir would go around saying, ¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????, ?????????????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????, ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????.¡¯ ¡°What if you go around dropping my name and end up making a mistake?¡± ¡°Your Highness! How could that happen?!¡± The duke¡¯s bluntness had hurt Jaivir deeply. His eyes were even brimming with tears from the offense. Johan felt slightly apologetic, so he nodded his head. ¡°Fine. I will act as your witness.¡± ¡°Thank you. I will never disappoint Your Highness.¡± ¡°Rather than using it myself, it would be better to match the perfume to the people I am gifting it to, so it would be better to have my subordinates ask about their preferences.¡± ¡°Do I really need to go that far. . .?¡± Jaivir was perplexed. The wizard¡¯s perfumes were always popr, and the nobles would buy them regardless of their personal preferences. They wanted popr items, not scents that suited their tastes. ¡°The receiver needs to be satisfied. What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Your Highness. I guess you don¡¯t trust me. . .¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Are you saying I should trust you?¡± ¡°N-No, my apologies. Please forgive my rudeness.¡± Johan¡¯s sudden irritation made the wizard bow deeply. The duke before him was lenient, but there was no telling when he might swing his sword. The wizard had heard vivid stories about the nobles and knights of the sultan¡¯s camp being ughtered. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ???? ??????????-????????????. ????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????.¡¯ Johan thought to himself. Of course, Jaivir¡¯s so-called ¡°best-selling perfume¡± could be given as a gift, but honestly, he didn¡¯t trust it very much. It would be better to just have one that was custom-made. There would be no room for failure! ???????????? Ulrike had a scribe, who had been drafted nearby, read the books out loud to her. The books obtained from the sultan¡¯s camp were a pain for the nobles to read directly because they were written in a mixture of Eastern characters, the script of the old empire, and even a dialect. ¡°. . .Therefore, you shall burn the statue and perform a ritual. Then, a spirit of darkness shall appear. . .¡± ¡°What a useless book about paganism. Next.¡± ¡°Yes. This one is titled, .¡± ¡°What kind of book is it?¡± ¡°Judging from the title, it seems to be a collection of wise sayings about the art of governance and the wisdom of managing subordinates.¡± ¡°I see. Let¡¯s hear it.¡± However, the scribe stopped reading there. A servant of the duke hade to them. He carefully bowed his head and spoke. ¡°Abner-nim, His Highness wishes to see you.¡± ¡°His Highness?¡± Ulrike turned her gaze, looking puzzled. Nothing special was going on, and she was just about to head back, so what could it be? ¡°His Highness has ordered a wizard to create a perfume as a gift for Abner-nim, but we do not know what scent you would prefer, so he has sent me to ask.¡± ¡°!¡± Ulrike was delighted at his words. A heartfelt gift was always wee, and it was even better if it was from someone close. ¡°That¡¯s not a difficult request. I will prepare right away, so tell the wizard toe.¡± ¡°Yes. And His Highness also wishes to give gifts to Jarpen-nim¡¯s daughter and Countess Abner, so he was hoping Abner-nim could offer some advice.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike¡¯s expression instantly fell. Do you really need to give them some too? Not only did she realize that this was not a gift for her alone, but she also wondered why she had to give one to her spouse. Ulrike¡¯s mother, the countess, was a powerful figure, so that made sense, but her spouse was someone she wasn¡¯t particrly close to. ¡°Fine. I will help prepare them. Hmm. Let me see for a moment.¡± Ulrike said as she scanned the inside of the tent. ording to noble customs, one would send a gift in return, even if the initial gift was not that expensive. ¡°My lord said it¡¯s fine even if you don¡¯t send anything in return. . .¡± ¡°Even so, it¡¯s not right to send nothing at all. Ah. Give him that book.¡± At Ulrike¡¯s order, the scribe carefully wrapped the book he was holding in silk again. Books were expensive items in themselves. It was not easy to obtain books that had their pages gathered, handwritten, and filled with text. It wasn¡¯t for nothing that wizards were crazy about books. Furthermore, had a fairly impressive appearance. The book, with its leather cover embroidered with gold thread, looked like a splendid gift. ¡°Thank you. I will deliver it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ???????????? ¡°???¡± The high-ranking members of Johan¡¯s camp who were present¡ªincluding Iselia and the wizards¡ªwere testing out thepleted perfume. Suetlg was pleased with the scent that reminded him of his hometown, the Ipa?l River. Of course, it wasn¡¯t an extravagant scent that nobles liked, but so what? ¡°But why?¡± Suetlg asked, puzzled, when the duke made a confused expression. ¡°Do you not like the perfume?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t really interested in it in the first ce. . . I received a book as a gift from Ulrike-gong, and I¡¯m a bit bewildered.¡± ¡°What kind of book did you get?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a storybook, but the story is a bit. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°You know, the story about a lord going to war while his spouse enjoys herself with a knight.¡± ¡°Ah. That kind of book.¡± Suetlg was also taken aback. Not all books contained useful and excellent information. Sometimes, books with strange and vulgar content were published to cater to the tastes of entric lords. However, that was one thing, and giving such a book as a gift was another matter entirely. Caenerna, who was testing the perfume next to him, also turned her gaze, looking flustered. ¡°It seems like there¡¯s some kind of hidden meaning. . .¡± ¡°Do you think she heard about her spouse having an affair?¡± Caenerna and Suetlg put their heads together and pondered. Ulrike-gong was not someone who would send a book without any meaning. If she sent such a gift, there must be a reason behind it. Ulrike-gong¡¯s spouse, Cia of the Jarpen family, had not apanied them on the expedition and was instead guarding the fiefdom. Furthermore, in Suetlg¡¯s opinion, the two had opposite personalities. Ulrike-gong was as cold and indifferent as ice, while Cia had a fiery temper. It wouldn¡¯t be strange for one of them to have an affair while the other was away on an expedition, considering that they had married for the sake of their families. Caenerna remarked in surprise. ¡°Was Ulrike-gong the type to care about such things? I thought. . . she wouldn¡¯t care at all.¡± ¡°Everyone gets jealous.¡± Originally, most marriages between nobles were marriages of convenience, so it wasmon for them to turn a blind eye to each other¡¯s affairs. However, it was impossible for anyone to bepletely free of jealousy. Furthermore, since their spouses were often of lower status, swordy or assassination was not umon. ¡°Some people don¡¯t want to see their partner enjoying themselves, even if they themselves are free to do so.¡± Caenerna nodded as if she understood. Suetlg added to that. ¡°Ulrike-gong is rather abstinent, so she must be even angrier.¡± ¡°. . .Can you really tell all that just from a book?¡± Johan asked, looking bewildered, after listening to them. Just from a single book, it seemed as though Ulrike¡¯s spouse was already confirmed to be having an affair. ¡°Iselia, what do you think?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Iselia, who had just finished testing the perfume and was now oiling her newly acquired sword, perked up her ears and turned her gaze. ¡°You called? Sorry, I was checking my sword. . .¡± ¡°. . .It seems you didn¡¯t hear, so let me exin again.¡± Suetlg kindly exined the situation. Johan listened and then looked puzzled. ¡®. . .????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????¡¯ It seemed like Ulrike¡¯s anger and Cia¡¯s affair, which hadn¡¯t been mentioned before, had been added. Iselia, who had been listening, asked, looking puzzled. ¡°Why would she try to kill someone just because they loved someone else? Ulrike-gong is not that unfair of a person.¡± ¡°But Bluea-nim, think about it. Everyone has emotions and can get jealous. How would you feel if you saw His Grace rolling around with someone else?¡± ¡°Why are you dragging me into this. . .¡± Johan was taken aback. The sparks were flying in his direction. Iselia took it seriously again. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Does that matter?¡± ¡°If they are sick or evil, shouldn¡¯t we try to stop them?¡± ¡°. . .Let¡¯s say they are neither sick nor evil.¡± ¡°Then isn¡¯t it fine? Ah! No!¡± Iselia finally eximed as if she had realized something. Suetlg looked forward to it slightly, thinking that she had finally understood his point. ¡°Johan and I are close, but I¡¯m not rude enough to just barge in whenever I want. If I don¡¯t notice what¡¯s going on inside, I¡¯m not fit to be a knight!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg gave up. Iselia, who was a knight through and through, could not possibly understand the concept of jealousy. ¡°Hmm. I trust the duke. There must be some kind of misunderstanding.¡± However, despite Iselia¡¯s words, the two wizards did not change their minds. ¡°Anyone can get jealous.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Jealousy is like a malevolent spirit; once you¡¯re possessed by it, it¡¯s toote. I think that must be the meaning of this book.¡± ¡°So let¡¯s say Ulrike-gong heard the news and became jealous. Why did she send this book?¡± ¡°It¡¯s obvious. What else could it be? Revenge.¡± Caenerna nodded in agreement with Suetlg¡¯s words, her curly red hair swaying. ¡°Revenge?¡± ¡°The other person¡¯s family must be pretty decent. They could be a baron somewhere, or maybe a wealthy knight family. You can¡¯t just summon and execute people like that. It would be seen as petty. But assassinating them is also. . .¡± ¡°. . .She¡¯s quick-witted.¡± Caenerna continued. Having been in the emperor¡¯s court, Caenerna was familiar with such political dramas. The emperor¡¯s lover, a beautiful young boy, and the count¡¯s spouse had an affair, and the count¡¯s lover got involved out of jealousy and swung a sword. . . ¡°Those who sleep with someone of a higher status tend to be quick-witted. If you summon them, they¡¯ll juste up with excuses like ghosts. Ulrike-gong probably wants to deal with it as quickly as lightning.¡± Leading an army to punish them or summoning them would be noisy and time-consuming, so she would ambush and kill them on the spot, then disguise herself as a rogue group. It was a traditional method that many people used. ¡°So this book. . . is a suggestion for me to join her in killing her spouse¡¯s lover?¡± ¡°If Your Highness joins us, we¡¯ll have a solid ally.¡± ¡°It¡¯s highly likely.¡± Johan became flustered when the two wizards said so in unison. Suetlg gave him a strong warning. ¡°You need to persuade her and calm her anger. It¡¯s something that no one else can do. But since you¡¯re close to her, she might listen to you.¡± ¡°That makes sense. . . But what if she¡¯s trying to kill not only her lover, but also Cia of the Jarpen family? The civil war just ended, and now the west might catch fire again.¡± The two wizards wanted Ulrike¡¯s cold anger to subside. They didn¡¯t want to create a new spark after finally putting out such a huge fire. Johan pondered for a moment and then nodded. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll try to persuade her.¡± ¡°I trust you. For the peace of the empire.¡± ¡°. . .For peace.¡± ???????????? ¡°It truly is a beautiful sea.¡± ¡°?¡± When the duke suddenly said something unexpected while standing on the deck of therge ship, Ulrike-gong looked puzzled. What is he talking about? ¡°When I see such a vast sea. . . I sometimes think about how petty grudges and jealousy are.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? The sea is the sea, and grudges are grudges. Just because you see the sea, your grudges don¡¯t be insignificant. Your Highness, why are you saying this?¡± ¡°. . .You¡¯re right. The sea is the sea, and grudges are grudges. I just said something strange for a moment.¡± Johan gave up right away. To be honest, persuasion was only possible if he himself believed in it; it was difficult to persuade someone with logic that he himself didn¡¯t believe in. Ulrike looked at the duke¡¯s back, dumbfounded. However, the duke¡¯s strange behavior had only just begun. Chapter 360: ????????-?????????? (4) Thereafter, Johan continued to drop by to talk nonsense. Usually, even bards are reluctant to use outdated fables, tales, and proverbs, so much so that Ulrike wondered what was wrong with the duke. ¡®?????? ????????????-???????? ?????????? ???? ???????¡¯ Since the stories all dealt with themes like forgiveness, reconciliation, and spouses, she couldn¡¯t help but notice. Ulrike suspected that the duke was troubled with a marital problem. Ulrike herself wasn¡¯t particrly concerned with whom her partner slept with, but the duke may have been different. Weren¡¯t knights of old always causing trouble with their hot-bloodedness? . . .Although the duke didn¡¯t seem like the type, love was a disease after all. Ulrike recalled the sight of the staunch Countess Abner, whose judgment had been clouded by love. ¡°Bluea-nim.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°. . .Nevermind.¡±Ulrike had wanted to ask Iselia discreetly, but gave up. No matter how she thought about it, the elven knight before her eyes didn¡¯t seem like the type tomit adultery. In the first ce, she spent most of the day with Johan, so she didn¡¯t even have the time to fool around. After seeing her handle nothing but des all day yesterday, Ulrike¡¯s prejudice against elven knights only grew stronger. ¡®????????. . . ?????? ??????, ?????? ?????????????? ?????????¡¯ Ulrike tried to change her way of thinking. What if it wasn¡¯t her, but someone else? As you know, Johan was quite close with the people of the republic. Feudal lords of the empire disliked nobles (or rather, self-proimed nobles) from the republic, but the duke was on rather friendly terms with them. As such, he would¡¯ve heard news from the empire to some extent. What if Ulrike¡¯s spouse, Cia of the Jarpen family, wasmitting adultery? ¡®. . .????????????????????????, ?? ??????¡¯?? ????????.¡¯ Ulrike honestly didn¡¯t care. Of course, it would be a bit nasty of them to enjoy themselves while their spouse was on an expedition all the way to the distant Holy Land, but hadn¡¯t they gotten married with that in mind from the start? ¡°Yes. Duke. You¡¯re right. Revenge is bad.¡± ¡°Yes. There¡¯s no need to swing your sword at your spouse.¡± ¡°Sometimes, leniency is also. . .¡± Therefore, Ulrike spoke to Johan in agreement whenever he brought it up. To be honest, she didn¡¯t think that way at all, but she could do that much if it put the duke¡¯s mind at ease. And it was also a little funny to see Johan being surprised. . . ???????????? ¡°It seems Ulrike-gong¡¯s anger has subsided somewhat.¡± Johan said with a bright expression. However, Suetlg shook his head repeatedly. ¡°How could it subside so quickly?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. . . Wrath is like a spark. Even if the brazier has cooled down, the spark remains.¡± ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ????.¡¯ Johan was a little annoyed by Suetlg and Caenerna¡¯s reactions. In Johan¡¯s eyes, Ulrike seemed to have let go of her anger and forgiven her spouse, but the two of them insisted that she hadn¡¯t. ¡°So what do you want me to do?¡± ¡°Continue talking to her to calm her anger. . . The best way would be to talk about spouses and have them prepare in advance. Running away for a while might also be a good idea.¡± At Suetlg¡¯s words, Caenerna pped her hands as if it were a good idea. When caught cheating, putting some distance between them did indeed work effectively. Wouldn¡¯t the anger subside and thoughts be more organized if they weren¡¯t in each other¡¯s sight? ¡°Yes. I understand. I¡¯ll contact Lady Jarpen and have her go to another castle for a while.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. On this asion, you¡¯ve also learned how dangerous love can be.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Your Highness¡¯s turn to learn.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan was speechless at the sight of the two wizards nodding their heads. It was absurd for Caenerna to act as if she knew even though she had only heard about the incidents at the emperor¡¯s court, while Suetlg might be an exception. In that case, Johan had heard and seen more than Caenerna. ¡®????????????????. ????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????? ????. . .¡¯ Wizards were rather cowardly, and whenever they were at a disadvantage, they would argue, ¡¯?????????????? ?????? ??????????????????¡¯. Caenerna would definitely respond by saying, ¡®?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????????????? ???? ??????????????????¡¯. ¡°Your Highness! Mermaids havee out and are pushing the ship!¡± The captain came out and shouted in an excited voice. The sailors were already sending awestruck nces. No matter how big the ship was, no matter how many experienced sailors were on board, the fear of a long voyage never disappeared. Humans were insignificant beings in the face of nature. Therefore, it was only natural for sailors to be fascinated by superstition. It was truly symbolic for mysterious beings like mermaids toe and push the ship. Even sailors who had sailed quite a lot had never experienced something like this. ¡°The mermaids are pushing the ship for Your Highness!¡± ¡°Long live Your Highness! Blessings for a sacred voyage!!¡± The sailors were already rejoicing as if they had arrived at the port. Of course, Johan, who knew the inside story, showed a different reaction. ¡®??????. ?? ?????????? ?? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????. . .¡¯ There was a reason why the mermaids hade out and were desperately pushing the ship, causing waves. Because they hadn¡¯t done their job properlyst time. Since the mermaids arrived after the naval battle had already ended, all they did was listen to the duke¡¯s scolding. They ended up having to make up for it with their bodies. ¡°Oh my! Mermaids!¡± Suetlg walked towards the ship¡¯s bow with sparkling eyes. It was a boyish look, unlike the one he usually showed. Suetlg had been unlucky and had never met a mermaid, even though he had had the chance to see them during the expedition. He was grateful for this encounter on his way back after the expedition was over. ¡°. . .¡± Suetlg made a subtle expression. The subordinates next to him asked in an expectant voice. ¡°How is it? Wizard? Do you like them?¡± ¡°. . .The wonders of nature are truly beautiful.¡± ¡°Are mermaids beautiful? I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°You fool. I¡¯m sure you see something different from us wizards.¡± Suetlg looked up at the sea with a look of longing. Maybe it would¡¯ve been better if he hadn¡¯t seen them. ???????????? Mermaids didn¡¯t just have the ability to push ships and cause waves. They were beings simr to water spirits. Mermaids could predict events in the sea through various revtions. ¡°If we take the current course, we¡¯ll encounter a storm, so we¡¯ll have to go around.¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be the one saying this, but. . . can we really trust the mermaids?¡± Johan was rather taken aback when the experienced sailors epted it without any doubt. The captains burst outughing heartily. ¡°Your Highness! Didn¡¯t the mermaids tell us? Would the mermaids ever be wrong?¡± ¡®??????. ????????¡¯?? ????????. . .¡¯ The mermaids did possess greater abilities than the captains. However, they weren¡¯t as sacred and great as the captains thought. They could make mistakes too. ¡°Yes. Even if there¡¯s trouble, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to handle it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your Highness. Since the mermaids have shown us the way, there will be no problems with the voyage.¡± A few days after saying so, a storm approached from beyond the horizon, along with dark clouds. ¡°. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± The mermaids, looking flustered, couldn¡¯t open their mouths and just looked at each other. ©¥??-???? ??????????¡¯???? ?????????????????????? ?? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ??????. ????¡¯???? ?????? ??????????! ???????????? ?????????????? ????! ¡°Of course. . . We just didn¡¯t notice a storming this way.¡± ©¥. . . . . . The mermaids couldn¡¯t say anything even if they had ten mouths. Actually, if they wanted to make excuses, they could say, ¡¯???????????????? ?????? ?????? ????????, ???? ???? ??????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ??????.¡¯ Who could¡¯ve predicted that a storm would suddenly strike a course that was considered safe? However, the mermaids simply kept their mouths shut and looked apologetic. They were afraid that if they opened their mouths, the duke¡¯s spear would fly towards them. ©¥????¡¯???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????. ??????????????????????, ?????? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ??????. ¡°Don¡¯t make it sound like you¡¯re doing us a favor when it¡¯s only natural.¡± ©¥?????? ????. . . Fortunately, the sailors were very optimistic. Even though they had encountered a storm, they weren¡¯t afraid at all. ¡°I can only imagine how bad the storm would¡¯ve been if we had taken the path the mermaids showed us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We owe them our lives!¡± The sailors were convinced that everything would be fine even though a storm was approaching right in front of them, showing how much they believed in superstition. Johan shook his head repeatedly. ¡°Centaurs, go downstairs.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already gone downstairs.¡± ¡°Good. Don¡¯t make fun of themter.¡± As soon as they finished preparing, the storm hit the fleet. Getting tossed and turned around, Johan wished he was fighting the sultan¡¯s army again. ???????????? ¡°We overcame it magnificently!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we go off course a bit?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this also a revtion from God?¡± ¡°. . .¡± Originally, they should¡¯ve arrived at Johan¡¯s fiefdom, the Coolia fiefdom, a transportation hub located at the end of the penins. However, due to Johan¡¯s fleet, which had set off first, getting caught in a storm, it was pushed all the way northwest and ended up arriving at a port in the elven king¡¯s country. He could see people from the port running away in terror and then returning after seeing the fleet¡¯s g. ¡°The storm has passed, so the rear troops that set offter will arrive safely in Coolia. It¡¯s thanks to the mermaids. What did Your Highness talk about with the mermaids?¡± ¡°I thanked them for helping us.¡± ¡°Really. . . Do you think the mermaids were touched by Your Highness¡¯s mercy?¡± Of course, Johan had cursed at the mermaids and returned, but he hid the truth from the captains. Ulrike, whose seasickness hadn¡¯tpletely gone away, said, staggering. ¡°This is closer to the empire. . .¡± If they went a little further north, they could bypass the huge Dwarf Mountains and set foot on the empire¡¯s fiefdom. It wasn¡¯t that unfamiliar to Johan either. He hade down this way. Those on board weren¡¯t disappointed either. It was even more so because it wasn¡¯t a faraway ce and it was somewhere they were familiar with. And there was someone who was delighted. ¡°Call the feudal lord. Tell him Angoldolph has returned! We have great men here who havepleted an honorable expedition! Use everything in this city in their honor, in my name!¡± The elven king was very, very delighted. He wanted to treat them anyway, and he took the opportunity thanks to the fleet arriving at the kingdom¡¯s port. Johan, who was listening from the side, was puzzled. ¡®???? ???????? ??????¡¯???? ???????????????¡¯ The elven king must be overjoyed, but the feudal lord must feel like he¡¯s been struck by lightning out of the blue. . . ???????????? However, the feudal lord of the port didn¡¯t seem to dislike it as much as he thought. Johan initially thought it was because he was scared. Even if Johan, the elven king, and Ulrike had only brought a fraction of their troops, they were the best of the best. If they wanted, they could¡¯ve turned the port upside down. If it was like that, he figured they could endure it with a smile even if the feudal lord made absurd demands. However, as he talked to him, he could feel that the feudal lord was truly treating them. Johan said, not understanding. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll share some of the treasures we brought with us?¡± No matter how well he was treated, Johan wasn¡¯t generous enough to just give away the treasures he had brought from the East. Of course, the elven king would give a ne or bracelet without hesitation if he was delighted, but that was the elven king¡¯s business. . . Suetlg took a sip of water and looked at Johan as if he was ridiculous. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Of course they¡¯d show respect after such an expedition. I would¡¯ve done the same.¡± It was an era where the more devout and thorough one¡¯s faith, the more respect one received. People tried to prove their faith in various ways, and the best way was pilgrimage. In that regard, this expedition was close to perfect. They saved and protected pilgrims going to the Holy Land, reimed the Holy Land, and defeated the pagans. The nobles of the empire and the kingdom, who had only heard rumors, were showing respect beyond admiration. ¡°Oh. . .¡± Johan found it usible and handed his empty ss to the attendant. Instead of taking the ss away, the attendant carefully wrapped it in cloth and put it in his arms. ¡°. . .¡±, Thereafter, Johan continued to drop by to talk nonsense. Usually, even bards are reluctant to use outdated fables, tales, and proverbs, so much so that Ulrike wondered what was wrong with the duke. ¡®?????? ????????????-???????? ?????????? ???? ???????¡¯ Since the stories all dealt with themes like forgiveness, reconciliation, and spouses, she couldn¡¯t help but notice. Ulrike suspected that the duke was troubled with a marital problem. Ulrike herself wasn¡¯t particrly concerned with whom her partner slept with, but the duke may have been different. Weren¡¯t knights of old always causing trouble with their hot-bloodedness? . . .Although the duke didn¡¯t seem like the type, love was a disease after all. Ulrike recalled the sight of the staunch Countess Abner, whose judgment had been clouded by love. ¡°Bluea-nim.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°. . .Nevermind.¡± Ulrike had wanted to ask Iselia discreetly, but gave up. No matter how she thought about it, the elven knight before her eyes didn¡¯t seem like the type tomit adultery. In the first ce, she spent most of the day with Johan, so she didn¡¯t even have the time to fool around. After seeing her handle nothing but des all day yesterday, Ulrike¡¯s prejudice against elven knights only grew stronger. ¡®????????. . . ?????? ??????, ?????? ?????????????? ?????????¡¯ Ulrike tried to change her way of thinking. What if it wasn¡¯t her, but someone else? As you know, Johan was quite close with the people of the republic. Feudal lords of the empire disliked nobles (or rather, self-proimed nobles) from the republic, but the duke was on rather friendly terms with them. As such, he would¡¯ve heard news from the empire to some extent. What if Ulrike¡¯s spouse, Cia of the Jarpen family, wasmitting adultery? ¡®. . .????????????????????????, ?? ??????¡¯?? ????????.¡¯ Ulrike honestly didn¡¯t care. Of course, it would be a bit nasty of them to enjoy themselves while their spouse was on an expedition all the way to the distant Holy Land, but hadn¡¯t they gotten married with that in mind from the start? ¡°Yes. Duke. You¡¯re right. Revenge is bad.¡± ¡°Yes. There¡¯s no need to swing your sword at your spouse.¡± ¡°Sometimes, leniency is also. . .¡± Therefore, Ulrike spoke to Johan in agreement whenever he brought it up. To be honest, she didn¡¯t think that way at all, but she could do that much if it put the duke¡¯s mind at ease. And it was also a little funny to see Johan being surprised. . . ???????????? ¡°It seems Ulrike-gong¡¯s anger has subsided somewhat.¡± Johan said with a bright expression. However, Suetlg shook his head repeatedly. ¡°How could it subside so quickly?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. . . Wrath is like a spark. Even if the brazier has cooled down, the spark remains.¡± ¡®????¡¯?? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ????.¡¯ Johan was a little annoyed by Suetlg and Caenerna¡¯s reactions. In Johan¡¯s eyes, Ulrike seemed to have let go of her anger and forgiven her spouse, but the two of them insisted that she hadn¡¯t. ¡°So what do you want me to do?¡± ¡°Continue talking to her to calm her anger. . . The best way would be to talk about spouses and have them prepare in advance. Running away for a while might also be a good idea.¡± At Suetlg¡¯s words, Caenerna pped her hands as if it were a good idea. When caught cheating, putting some distance between them did indeed work effectively. Wouldn¡¯t the anger subside and thoughts be more organized if they weren¡¯t in each other¡¯s sight? ¡°Yes. I understand. I¡¯ll contact Lady Jarpen and have her go to another castle for a while.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. On this asion, you¡¯ve also learned how dangerous love can be.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Your Highness¡¯s turn to learn.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johan was speechless at the sight of the two wizards nodding their heads. It was absurd for Caenerna to act as if she knew even though she had only heard about the incidents at the emperor¡¯s court, while Suetlg might be an exception. In that case, Johan had heard and seen more than Caenerna. ¡®????????????????. ????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????? ????. . .¡¯ Wizards were rather cowardly, and whenever they were at a disadvantage, they would argue, ¡¯?????????????? ?????? ??????????????????¡¯. Caenerna would definitely respond by saying, ¡®?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????????????? ???? ??????????????????¡¯. ¡°Your Highness! Mermaids havee out and are pushing the ship!¡± The captain came out and shouted in an excited voice. The sailors were already sending awestruck nces. No matter how big the ship was, no matter how many experienced sailors were on board, the fear of a long voyage never disappeared. Humans were insignificant beings in the face of nature. Therefore, it was only natural for sailors to be fascinated by superstition. It was truly symbolic for mysterious beings like mermaids toe and push the ship. Even sailors who had sailed quite a lot had never experienced something like this. ¡°The mermaids are pushing the ship for Your Highness!¡± ¡°Long live Your Highness! Blessings for a sacred voyage!!¡± The sailors were already rejoicing as if they had arrived at the port. Of course, Johan, who knew the inside story, showed a different reaction. ¡®??????. ?? ?????????? ?? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????. . .¡¯ There was a reason why the mermaids hade out and were desperately pushing the ship, causing waves. Because they hadn¡¯t done their job properlyst time. Since the mermaids arrived after the naval battle had already ended, all they did was listen to the duke¡¯s scolding. They ended up having to make up for it with their bodies. ¡°Oh my! Mermaids!¡± Suetlg walked towards the ship¡¯s bow with sparkling eyes. It was a boyish look, unlike the one he usually showed. Suetlg had been unlucky and had never met a mermaid, even though he had had the chance to see them during the expedition. He was grateful for this encounter on his way back after the expedition was over. ¡°. . .¡± Suetlg made a subtle expression. The subordinates next to him asked in an expectant voice. ¡°How is it? Wizard? Do you like them?¡± ¡°. . .The wonders of nature are truly beautiful.¡± ¡°Are mermaids beautiful? I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°You fool. I¡¯m sure you see something different from us wizards.¡± Suetlg looked up at the sea with a look of longing. Maybe it would¡¯ve been better if he hadn¡¯t seen them. ???????????? Mermaids didn¡¯t just have the ability to push ships and cause waves. They were beings simr to water spirits. Mermaids could predict events in the sea through various revtions. ¡°If we take the current course, we¡¯ll encounter a storm, so we¡¯ll have to go around.¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be the one saying this, but. . . can we really trust the mermaids?¡± Johan was rather taken aback when the experienced sailors epted it without any doubt. The captains burst outughing heartily. ¡°Your Highness! Didn¡¯t the mermaids tell us? Would the mermaids ever be wrong?¡± ¡®??????. ????????¡¯?? ????????. . .¡¯ The mermaids did possess greater abilities than the captains. However, they weren¡¯t as sacred and great as the captains thought. They could make mistakes too. ¡°Yes. Even if there¡¯s trouble, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to handle it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your Highness. Since the mermaids have shown us the way, there will be no problems with the voyage.¡± A few days after saying so, a storm approached from beyond the horizon, along with dark clouds. ¡°. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± The mermaids, looking flustered, couldn¡¯t open their mouths and just looked at each other. ©¥??-???? ??????????¡¯???? ?????????????????????? ?? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ??????. ????¡¯???? ?????? ??????????! ???????????? ?????????????? ????! ¡°Of course. . . We just didn¡¯t notice a storming this way.¡± ©¥. . . . . . The mermaids couldn¡¯t say anything even if they had ten mouths. Actually, if they wanted to make excuses, they could say, ¡¯???????????????? ?????? ?????? ????????, ???? ???? ??????¡¯?? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ??????.¡¯ Who could¡¯ve predicted that a storm would suddenly strike a course that was considered safe? However, the mermaids simply kept their mouths shut and looked apologetic. They were afraid that if they opened their mouths, the duke¡¯s spear would fly towards them. ©¥????¡¯???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????. ??????????????????????, ?????? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ??????. ¡°Don¡¯t make it sound like you¡¯re doing us a favor when it¡¯s only natural.¡± ©¥?????? ????. . . Fortunately, the sailors were very optimistic. Even though they had encountered a storm, they weren¡¯t afraid at all. ¡°I can only imagine how bad the storm would¡¯ve been if we had taken the path the mermaids showed us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We owe them our lives!¡± The sailors were convinced that everything would be fine even though a storm was approaching right in front of them, showing how much they believed in superstition. Johan shook his head repeatedly. ¡°Centaurs, go downstairs.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already gone downstairs.¡± ¡°Good. Don¡¯t make fun of themter.¡± As soon as they finished preparing, the storm hit the fleet. Getting tossed and turned around, Johan wished he was fighting the sultan¡¯s army again. ???????????? ¡°We overcame it magnificently!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we go off course a bit?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this also a revtion from God?¡± ¡°. . .¡± Originally, they should¡¯ve arrived at Johan¡¯s fiefdom, the Coolia fiefdom, a transportation hub located at the end of the penins. However, due to Johan¡¯s fleet, which had set off first, getting caught in a storm, it was pushed all the way northwest and ended up arriving at a port in the elven king¡¯s country. He could see people from the port running away in terror and then returning after seeing the fleet¡¯s g. ¡°The storm has passed, so the rear troops that set offter will arrive safely in Coolia. It¡¯s thanks to the mermaids. What did Your Highness talk about with the mermaids?¡± ¡°I thanked them for helping us.¡± ¡°Really. . . Do you think the mermaids were touched by Your Highness¡¯s mercy?¡± Of course, Johan had cursed at the mermaids and returned, but he hid the truth from the captains. Ulrike, whose seasickness hadn¡¯tpletely gone away, said, staggering. ¡°This is closer to the empire. . .¡± If they went a little further north, they could bypass the huge Dwarf Mountains and set foot on the empire¡¯s fiefdom. It wasn¡¯t that unfamiliar to Johan either. He hade down this way. Those on board weren¡¯t disappointed either. It was even more so because it wasn¡¯t a faraway ce and it was somewhere they were familiar with. And there was someone who was delighted. ¡°Call the feudal lord. Tell him Angoldolph has returned! We have great men here who havepleted an honorable expedition! Use everything in this city in their honor, in my name!¡± The elven king was very, very delighted. He wanted to treat them anyway, and he took the opportunity thanks to the fleet arriving at the kingdom¡¯s port. Johan, who was listening from the side, was puzzled. ¡®???? ???????? ??????¡¯???? ???????????????¡¯ The elven king must be overjoyed, but the feudal lord must feel like he¡¯s been struck by lightning out of the blue. . . ???????????? However, the feudal lord of the port didn¡¯t seem to dislike it as much as he thought. Johan initially thought it was because he was scared. Even if Johan, the elven king, and Ulrike had only brought a fraction of their troops, they were the best of the best. If they wanted, they could¡¯ve turned the port upside down. If it was like that, he figured they could endure it with a smile even if the feudal lord made absurd demands. However, as he talked to him, he could feel that the feudal lord was truly treating them. Johan said, not understanding. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ll share some of the treasures we brought with us?¡± No matter how well he was treated, Johan wasn¡¯t generous enough to just give away the treasures he had brought from the East. Of course, the elven king would give a ne or bracelet without hesitation if he was delighted, but that was the elven king¡¯s business. . . Suetlg took a sip of water and looked at Johan as if he was ridiculous. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Of course they¡¯d show respect after such an expedition. I would¡¯ve done the same.¡± It was an era where the more devout and thorough one¡¯s faith, the more respect one received. People tried to prove their faith in various ways, and the best way was pilgrimage. In that regard, this expedition was close to perfect. They saved and protected pilgrims going to the Holy Land, reimed the Holy Land, and defeated the pagans. The nobles of the empire and the kingdom, who had only heard rumors, were showing respect beyond admiration. ¡°Oh. . .¡± Johan found it usible and handed his empty ss to the attendant. Instead of taking the ss away, the attendant carefully wrapped it in cloth and put it in his arms. ¡°. . .¡± Chapter 361: ????????-?????????? (5) Johann wondered if he was already drunk, but on closer inspection, the attendant had indeed taken his cup. ¡°Ah, damn. . .¡± While looking at the attendant, he identally dropped the knife. Johann called another attendant. ¡°Clean this up.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johann began to get a slight headache as he watched the other attendant carefully wrap the knife in a cloth and take it away. ¡°Is this some kind of local custom?¡± The feudal lord, who was drunk enough to wrestle with the king, turned his head at Johann¡¯s call. ¡°What do you mean. . . Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡±¡°. . .You sure about that?¡± ¡°Well, don¡¯t people want to possess something that belongs to someone sacred?¡± It was a chaotic and difficult time. Everyone needed something they could rely on. For Johann, it was the relic. Something possessed by someone who performed a sacred miracle. If you had one of those relics, you would be spared from misfortune and disaster, evil spirits and ghosts would run away, and even violent demons would not dare to approach. . . ¡°Superstition.¡± ¡°Superstition? But still. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s superstition.¡± Despite Johann¡¯s firm answer, the feudal lord was not easily persuaded. There was a relic that had been passed down through their family, and every time someone was hit with it, they repented their sins and became good people. ¡®. . .???????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ ¡°In any case, if Your Highness is offended, I will give those bastards a stern scolding.¡± The feudal lord groped for his sword with his drunken eyes. Johann, who had predicted what he was going to do, hurriedly stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t do that. I¡¯m not offended.¡± ¡°No. . . No. Uurp. I have to set an example. . .¡± Johann grabbed the feudal lord¡¯s wrist tightly. The power seemed to blow away the lord¡¯s drunkenness. The feudal lord shook his head repeatedly and shouted urgently. ¡°I won¡¯t do it!¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Johann let go of the feudal lord and enjoyed the rest of the meal. To be honest, the food was delicious. Originally, ces connected to ports tended to have an abundance of food, and the feudal lord spared no expense in trying to treat the heroes. There were roasted dishes of pigs, calves, roosters, and geese, fried dishes, fresh eggs and cheese, pigeons and woodcocks caught by hunters, roastpwings, jellies made with sauces and spices, stews boiled with seafood and vegetables, freshly baked tarts and pies with soft and fragrant aromas, and so on. And the most delicious spice of all was the sense of relief that he had returned safely. The sense of relief that came from returning to familiar scenery after a long journey was a spice that could not bepared to anything else. ¡°Your Highness, wipe your mouth with this.¡± ¡°Thank you. . . Wait, what¡¯s this pattern?¡± Johann stopped wiping his mouth with the cloth the feudal lord had offered him. It was not an ordinary cloth, but a fairly good cloth with a pattern embroidered on it. The lord said with an embarrassed expression. ¡°It¡¯s my family¡¯s g. I¡¯ll cherish it as a relic.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± He had thought that he didn¡¯t care about what the attendants were doing since he didn¡¯t seem interested, but it turned out he had been aiming for this from the beginning. ???????????? ¡°His Highness ising!!¡± ¡°Wo!¡± ¡°Get out of the way! Hey! I said get out of the way!¡± ¡°Are these people crazy!?¡± Johann¡¯s men looked at their master with bewildered expressions. The people who had gathered after hearing the rumors were unexpectedly strong. Normally, well-armed mercenaries would cause people to run away just by ring at them, but these people were so ferocious that they ran without blinking an eye, trying to touch even the hem of the duke¡¯s cloak. Even the Sultan¡¯s elite forces were not this brave. . . ¡°Everybody, step aside!¡± Johann said forcefully. At his words, the people who had been rushing in like crazy parted to the sides. The men, who had been pushing people away with difficulty until just now, looked at the people as if they were dumbfounded. ¡®?????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ????. . .¡¯ ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????¡¯ ¡°I¡¯ve heard the story of the miracle where His Highness the Duke returned from the dead! I¡¯m so d to see you!¡± ¡°Your Highness! You froze the river and trampled the pagans. . .¡± ¡°Things are getting crazy. They¡¯re getting crazy.¡± Suetlg, who was following behind, shook his head. There seemed to be more people gathered than at a jousting tournament or festival. At first, he was a little worried. Even if they were unarmed, if there were this many people, it could be powerful in itself. If someone started running towards the duke, even just to get his shoe, it could turn into a disaster. However, Johann did not panic at all and swayed the gathered people. Having gone through much more unfavorable situations than this several times, he had grown to the point where he did not even care about this muchmotion. ¡®?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°I suggested it, but I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d actually ept it. . .¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a bad suggestion.¡± Suetlg replied in agreement to Caenerna¡¯s words. Now that they hade all the way to the port, Caenerna suggested that they tour the empire. Rather than a simple stroll, it was closer to a triumphal procession led by an army of elite soldiers and pilgrims. Normally, the thick-headed lords of the empire would never ept such a thing, but now they had an excuse that no one could refuse. After all, they had just returned from the expedition to the Holy Land. With this as an excuse, no lord could grumble about touring the empire. Even if they didn¡¯t like it, they would have to prepare to treat themvishly. ¡°Whether they like it or not, the number of lords who have useless thoughts will decrease. Originally, there are many people who don¡¯t know unless they see it in person, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. . .¡± Caenerna deeply sympathized. If they had returned from smashing the Sultan¡¯s army in the distance and returned triumphantly, they should have epted it by thinking, ¡®??????, ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ????????????! ?? ???????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ However, there were some who thought, ¡®????, ????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????????????? ????????????????! ??¡¯???? ???? ???????????????? ?? ????????.¡¯ Such fools would naturallye out like maggots in spoiled food, so there was no way to stop them. ¡°If we let them have useless thoughts, it will only bother each other, so it¡¯s not a bad idea to prevent them from having other thoughts like this.¡± ¡°Nobles are. . .¡± ¡°They¡¯re foolish.¡± The two wizards shook their heads as if they were pathetic. Caenerna suddenly thought of something and asked. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t the Abner family¡¯s fiefdom just a little further up?¡± ¡°Oops. . . We have to be careful.¡± ¡°The fire of passion is more dangerous than the fire of magic.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The two wizards were still worried that Ulrike might kill her spouse in a fit of jealousy. If Ulrike herself had known, it would have been an absurd thought enough to make her challenge the two wizards to a duel, but their thoughts did not waver. ???????????? ¡°The duke ising from the west?¡± ¡°Did the knight hear a false rumor?¡± News of the expedition was constantlying into Countess Abner¡¯s court as well. It was natural since Ulrike had led an army into battle. So the news that suddenly came from the west was bewildering. Why suddenly from the west, not the east or the south? ¡°He might have drifted west because he ran into trouble on his way back.¡± ¡°I see. Anyone can do that if they are unlucky enough to encounter a storm.¡± ¡°In any case, why is he in the empire instead of his own fiefdom now that he¡¯s returned?¡± A young knight wondered. Countess Abner smiled wryly at his appearance. Hecked judgment because he was still young and inexperienced. ¡°It¡¯s foolish for those who recover the Holy Land to just let that opportunity slip away. He¡¯s obviously trying to show the nobles of the empire that they shouldn¡¯t have frivolous thoughts. He probably drifted the ship on purpose.¡± ¡°Indeed. . .!¡± The countess¡¯s vassals were impressed by the veteran countess¡¯ analysis. Indeed, it seemed more likely that he used that as an excuse rather than getting caught up in a storm that wouldn¡¯t happen so often. He had already known since the empire¡¯s civil war that the young duke was not an easy person. He was definitely not a simple knight like the elf king. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°Yes, what should we do?¡± The vassals tensed up at the countess¡¯s question. Countess Abner always tested her vassals with such questions. Vassals who gave the right answer here were highly regarded, while vassals who gave the wrong answer were poorly regarded. The knight who had spoken earlier opened his mouth. ¡°Although His Highness the Duke has achieved great things, leading an army and marching through someone else¡¯s fiefdom is an act of rudeness that goes against custom. Therefore, we must wield both the whip and the carrot at the same time. We should treat him ording to custom, but there is no need for the countess to move until the duke himselfes to this castle, right?¡± Several vassals nodded at the knight¡¯s answer, which showed his pride as a knight. Restoring the Holy Land was a very happy and thrilling event for a monotheist, but pride was another thing. . ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Do you think so too, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°Yes, I actually thought so too.¡± ¡°Your Excellency?¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± An old vassal sighed inwardly. He was just following the countess¡¯s lead because he was young. ¡°Prepare my carriage. I¡¯ll go out and wee him myself. Tell the pages to get ready quickly too.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The knights who had just spoken at the countess¡¯s words looked bewildered. They had faces that could not ept the situation. The old vassal said, as if tofort them. ¡°You¡¯ve been fooled.¡± ¡°Ah. . . No. Did I say something wrong?¡± ¡°There¡¯s some truth to that n. But think about it. The nobles of the empire will treat the duke as they please, but which one would you like? The duke is also a human being. You may have pride, but when there is something more expensive than that, you should know how to yield.¡± The knights were enlightened by his words. Then they nodded. ¡°We didn¡¯t know!¡± ¡°Yes. Do you understand now? What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I will ask His Highness the Duke for a chance to fight with a sword. I will show you my pride as a knight.¡± ¡°. . .Let me exin it to you again from the beginning. So. . .¡± ???????????? Ulrike¡¯s mood was not bad. First of all, the fact that she had entered her fiefdom was a high score. As a noble, it was always a pleasure to entertain guests. As a master, she felt powerful, and as a monotheist, she was doing charity work. It wasn¡¯t a hobby of the nobles for nothing. The nobles did not invite people and hold banquets every time they were bored. ¡°There are a lot of forests and mountains, and the weather is chilly. . . It¡¯s not like the kingdom though.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Of course, things were different when an annoying guest was in between. Ulrike was still annoyed that the elf king was in the procession. he would say, ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ and every time, ¡®???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????¡¯ came up to her throat. And whenever that happened, the two wizards chattered behind her. ©¥?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????. ©¥?? ?????????????????? ????????????. . . ¡°I should meet Countess Abner once. Would it be better to enter the castle?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± Ulrike did not have high expectations. Countess Abner probably won¡¯t run out to meet you, but she will probably be very happy (perhaps just pretending) if you visit her while she¡¯s in the castle, and will give you a warm wee. If she had turned him away, she would have been a crazy b*stard. . . ¡°But wouldn¡¯t shee to wee you now that you¡¯ve returned from the expedition?¡± Johan already knew that the blood rtions of the nobles were dry and cold, but there was still some lingering affection. And an expedition to the Holy Land was an exceptional event. One couldn¡¯t help but be happy if one¡¯s own flesh and blood participated in such an event and returned sessfully. ¡°The countess is definitely not the kind of person who would do that.¡± Ulrike said firmly. She knew the countess better than Johan. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°If the countesses out to greet me, I swear by. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious about whates after that, but since you¡¯re in a position to be treated well, I¡¯ll tell you in advance. There¡¯s the countess¡¯s g in front.¡± As much as he had been blessed, Johan was the first to see the g. Ulrike did not understand what he was talking about at first, and when she realized it btedly, she was shocked. ¡°This is a trap!¡± ¡°. . .No. I don¡¯t think so.¡±, Johann wondered if he was already drunk, but on closer inspection, the attendant had indeed taken his cup. ¡°Ah, damn. . .¡± While looking at the attendant, he identally dropped the knife. Johann called another attendant. ¡°Clean this up.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Johann began to get a slight headache as he watched the other attendant carefully wrap the knife in a cloth and take it away. ¡°Is this some kind of local custom?¡± The feudal lord, who was drunk enough to wrestle with the king, turned his head at Johann¡¯s call. ¡°What do you mean. . . Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°. . .You sure about that?¡± ¡°Well, don¡¯t people want to possess something that belongs to someone sacred?¡± It was a chaotic and difficult time. Everyone needed something they could rely on. For Johann, it was the relic. Something possessed by someone who performed a sacred miracle. If you had one of those relics, you would be spared from misfortune and disaster, evil spirits and ghosts would run away, and even violent demons would not dare to approach. . . ¡°Superstition.¡± ¡°Superstition? But still. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s superstition.¡± Despite Johann¡¯s firm answer, the feudal lord was not easily persuaded. There was a relic that had been passed down through their family, and every time someone was hit with it, they repented their sins and became good people. ¡®. . .???????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ??????????????. . .¡¯ ¡°In any case, if Your Highness is offended, I will give those bastards a stern scolding.¡± The feudal lord groped for his sword with his drunken eyes. Johann, who had predicted what he was going to do, hurriedly stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t do that. I¡¯m not offended.¡± ¡°No. . . No. Uurp. I have to set an example. . .¡± Johann grabbed the feudal lord¡¯s wrist tightly. The power seemed to blow away the lord¡¯s drunkenness. The feudal lord shook his head repeatedly and shouted urgently. ¡°I won¡¯t do it!¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Johann let go of the feudal lord and enjoyed the rest of the meal. To be honest, the food was delicious. Originally, ces connected to ports tended to have an abundance of food, and the feudal lord spared no expense in trying to treat the heroes. There were roasted dishes of pigs, calves, roosters, and geese, fried dishes, fresh eggs and cheese, pigeons and woodcocks caught by hunters, roastpwings, jellies made with sauces and spices, stews boiled with seafood and vegetables, freshly baked tarts and pies with soft and fragrant aromas, and so on. And the most delicious spice of all was the sense of relief that he had returned safely. The sense of relief that came from returning to familiar scenery after a long journey was a spice that could not bepared to anything else. ¡°Your Highness, wipe your mouth with this.¡± ¡°Thank you. . . Wait, what¡¯s this pattern?¡± Johann stopped wiping his mouth with the cloth the feudal lord had offered him. It was not an ordinary cloth, but a fairly good cloth with a pattern embroidered on it. The lord said with an embarrassed expression. ¡°It¡¯s my family¡¯s g. I¡¯ll cherish it as a relic.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± He had thought that he didn¡¯t care about what the attendants were doing since he didn¡¯t seem interested, but it turned out he had been aiming for this from the beginning. ???????????? ¡°His Highness ising!!¡± ¡°Wo!¡± ¡°Get out of the way! Hey! I said get out of the way!¡± ¡°Are these people crazy!?¡± Johann¡¯s men looked at their master with bewildered expressions. The people who had gathered after hearing the rumors were unexpectedly strong. Normally, well-armed mercenaries would cause people to run away just by ring at them, but these people were so ferocious that they ran without blinking an eye, trying to touch even the hem of the duke¡¯s cloak. Even the Sultan¡¯s elite forces were not this brave. . . ¡°Everybody, step aside!¡± Johann said forcefully. At his words, the people who had been rushing in like crazy parted to the sides. The men, who had been pushing people away with difficulty until just now, looked at the people as if they were dumbfounded. ¡®?????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ????. . .¡¯ ¡®???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????¡¯ ¡°I¡¯ve heard the story of the miracle where His Highness the Duke returned from the dead! I¡¯m so d to see you!¡± ¡°Your Highness! You froze the river and trampled the pagans. . .¡± ¡°Things are getting crazy. They¡¯re getting crazy.¡± Suetlg, who was following behind, shook his head. There seemed to be more people gathered than at a jousting tournament or festival. At first, he was a little worried. Even if they were unarmed, if there were this many people, it could be powerful in itself. If someone started running towards the duke, even just to get his shoe, it could turn into a disaster. However, Johann did not panic at all and swayed the gathered people. Having gone through much more unfavorable situations than this several times, he had grown to the point where he did not even care about this muchmotion. ¡®?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???? ????????????.¡¯ ¡°I suggested it, but I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d actually ept it. . .¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a bad suggestion.¡± Suetlg replied in agreement to Caenerna¡¯s words. Now that they hade all the way to the port, Caenerna suggested that they tour the empire. Rather than a simple stroll, it was closer to a triumphal procession led by an army of elite soldiers and pilgrims. Normally, the thick-headed lords of the empire would never ept such a thing, but now they had an excuse that no one could refuse. After all, they had just returned from the expedition to the Holy Land. With this as an excuse, no lord could grumble about touring the empire. Even if they didn¡¯t like it, they would have to prepare to treat themvishly. ¡°Whether they like it or not, the number of lords who have useless thoughts will decrease. Originally, there are many people who don¡¯t know unless they see it in person, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. . .¡± Caenerna deeply sympathized. If they had returned from smashing the Sultan¡¯s army in the distance and returned triumphantly, they should have epted it by thinking, ¡®??????, ?????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ????????????! ?? ???????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ However, there were some who thought, ¡®????, ????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????????????? ????????????????! ??¡¯???? ???? ???????????????? ?? ????????.¡¯ Such fools would naturallye out like maggots in spoiled food, so there was no way to stop them. ¡°If we let them have useless thoughts, it will only bother each other, so it¡¯s not a bad idea to prevent them from having other thoughts like this.¡± ¡°Nobles are. . .¡± ¡°They¡¯re foolish.¡± The two wizards shook their heads as if they were pathetic. Caenerna suddenly thought of something and asked. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t the Abner family¡¯s fiefdom just a little further up?¡± ¡°Oops. . . We have to be careful.¡± ¡°The fire of passion is more dangerous than the fire of magic.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The two wizards were still worried that Ulrike might kill her spouse in a fit of jealousy. If Ulrike herself had known, it would have been an absurd thought enough to make her challenge the two wizards to a duel, but their thoughts did not waver. ???????????? ¡°The duke ising from the west?¡± ¡°Did the knight hear a false rumor?¡± News of the expedition was constantlying into Countess Abner¡¯s court as well. It was natural since Ulrike had led an army into battle. So the news that suddenly came from the west was bewildering. Why suddenly from the west, not the east or the south? ¡°He might have drifted west because he ran into trouble on his way back.¡± ¡°I see. Anyone can do that if they are unlucky enough to encounter a storm.¡± ¡°In any case, why is he in the empire instead of his own fiefdom now that he¡¯s returned?¡± A young knight wondered. Countess Abner smiled wryly at his appearance. Hecked judgment because he was still young and inexperienced. ¡°It¡¯s foolish for those who recover the Holy Land to just let that opportunity slip away. He¡¯s obviously trying to show the nobles of the empire that they shouldn¡¯t have frivolous thoughts. He probably drifted the ship on purpose.¡± ¡°Indeed. . .!¡± The countess¡¯s vassals were impressed by the veteran countess¡¯ analysis. Indeed, it seemed more likely that he used that as an excuse rather than getting caught up in a storm that wouldn¡¯t happen so often. He had already known since the empire¡¯s civil war that the young duke was not an easy person. He was definitely not a simple knight like the elf king. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°Yes, what should we do?¡± The vassals tensed up at the countess¡¯s question. Countess Abner always tested her vassals with such questions. Vassals who gave the right answer here were highly regarded, while vassals who gave the wrong answer were poorly regarded. The knight who had spoken earlier opened his mouth. ¡°Although His Highness the Duke has achieved great things, leading an army and marching through someone else¡¯s fiefdom is an act of rudeness that goes against custom. Therefore, we must wield both the whip and the carrot at the same time. We should treat him ording to custom, but there is no need for the countess to move until the duke himselfes to this castle, right?¡± Several vassals nodded at the knight¡¯s answer, which showed his pride as a knight. Restoring the Holy Land was a very happy and thrilling event for a monotheist, but pride was another thing. . ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Do you think so too, Your Excellency?¡± ¡°Yes, I actually thought so too.¡± ¡°Your Excellency?¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± An old vassal sighed inwardly. He was just following the countess¡¯s lead because he was young. ¡°Prepare my carriage. I¡¯ll go out and wee him myself. Tell the pages to get ready quickly too.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The knights who had just spoken at the countess¡¯s words looked bewildered. They had faces that could not ept the situation. The old vassal said, as if tofort them. ¡°You¡¯ve been fooled.¡± ¡°Ah. . . No. Did I say something wrong?¡± ¡°There¡¯s some truth to that n. But think about it. The nobles of the empire will treat the duke as they please, but which one would you like? The duke is also a human being. You may have pride, but when there is something more expensive than that, you should know how to yield.¡± The knights were enlightened by his words. Then they nodded. ¡°We didn¡¯t know!¡± ¡°Yes. Do you understand now? What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I will ask His Highness the Duke for a chance to fight with a sword. I will show you my pride as a knight.¡± ¡°. . .Let me exin it to you again from the beginning. So. . .¡± ???????????? Ulrike¡¯s mood was not bad. First of all, the fact that she had entered her fiefdom was a high score. As a noble, it was always a pleasure to entertain guests. As a master, she felt powerful, and as a monotheist, she was doing charity work. It wasn¡¯t a hobby of the nobles for nothing. The nobles did not invite people and hold banquets every time they were bored. ¡°There are a lot of forests and mountains, and the weather is chilly. . . It¡¯s not like the kingdom though.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Of course, things were different when an annoying guest was in between. Ulrike was still annoyed that the elf king was in the procession. he would say, ¡®??????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ and every time, ¡®???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????¡¯ came up to her throat. And whenever that happened, the two wizards chattered behind her. ©¥?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ????????. ©¥?? ?????????????????? ????????????. . . ¡°I should meet Countess Abner once. Would it be better to enter the castle?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± Ulrike did not have high expectations. Countess Abner probably won¡¯t run out to meet you, but she will probably be very happy (perhaps just pretending) if you visit her while she¡¯s in the castle, and will give you a warm wee. If she had turned him away, she would have been a crazy b*stard. . . ¡°But wouldn¡¯t shee to wee you now that you¡¯ve returned from the expedition?¡± Johan already knew that the blood rtions of the nobles were dry and cold, but there was still some lingering affection. And an expedition to the Holy Land was an exceptional event. One couldn¡¯t help but be happy if one¡¯s own flesh and blood participated in such an event and returned sessfully. ¡°The countess is definitely not the kind of person who would do that.¡± Ulrike said firmly. She knew the countess better than Johan. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°If the countesses out to greet me, I swear by. . .¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious about whates after that, but since you¡¯re in a position to be treated well, I¡¯ll tell you in advance. There¡¯s the countess¡¯s g in front.¡± As much as he had been blessed, Johan was the first to see the g. Ulrike did not understand what he was talking about at first, and when she realized it btedly, she was shocked. ¡°This is a trap!¡± ¡°. . .No. I don¡¯t think so.¡± Chapter 362: ????????-?????????? (6) Unless Countess Abner goes crazy, she won¡¯t set an ambush on the Holy Land pilgrims here. . . .If she didn¡¯t want to be emunicated by the order and branded as a sphemer by every feudal lord in the empire as well as the west. Ulrike seemed toe to her senses a littlete. The countess¡¯s sessor asked in bewilderment. ¡°Why did shee out?¡± ¡°. . .You¡¯re asking me that?¡± Johan¡¯s absurdity must have been conveyed to Ulrike, and Ulrike¡¯s face turned slightly red. ¡°Didn¡¯t shee out to wee the expedition?¡± ¡°That¡¯s definitely not it.¡± Ulrike regained herposure. No matter how absurd the current situation was, it wasn¡¯t unreasonable. And thinking carefully, there was something she could guess.¡°She came all the way here to win favor by weing the duke and raise her own reputation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Hospitality doesn¡¯t only make the recipient happy, but it also enhances the reputation of the person who provides it. The countess, who warmly weed the heroes returning from a long expedition, was a good anecdote to be praised for. Even without that, there were ominous rumors circting among the feudal lords due to the long civil war. It was natural since she had squeezed the people below her while the war was going on. ¡°So this good story must be what Countess Abner is after.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not a trap, I don¡¯t think I have to worry about it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± If the other party came out to greet him with such intentions, Johan could also respond appropriately. However, Ulrike didn¡¯t take her eyes off. The countess, who was also riding a horse from a distance and approaching slowly, was the same. The soldiers, who felt the strained conflict between the feudal lord and her sessor, swallowed their saliva nervously. The elf king whispered to Johan. ¡°If Ulrike-gong asks to borrow troops out of friendship, will you help?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan had to endure a chuckle. The elf king¡¯s question wasn¡¯tpletely out of the blue. It was surprisinglymon among the nobles. I am the sessor, but my parents are so stubborn that they don¡¯t die, and in the meantime, they have many children, and since they are all thick-headed, they sh and be estranged, and then a different sibling is chosen as the sessor. . . At that point, this sessor wouldn¡¯t just give up since he already had the fiefdom, property, and vassals he had inherited. He would gather mercenaries, call upon friendly nobles, raise an army, and march to ¡°persuade¡± his parents. In the elf king¡¯s eyes, judging from the way Ulrike and the countess were ring at each other, the civil war wasn¡¯t far off. Thinking about how he had shed with Ulrike-gong in the past, he didn¡¯t want to help, but there was still a friendship from going on the expedition together, so he thought he should help. . . That¡¯s why he asked Johan. ¡°It would be better to think about it after it happens.¡± ¡°I understand. Duke. Don¡¯t forget to tell me before making a decision.¡± While the two were whispering, the countess got off her horse and approached slowly. And then she shouted. ¡°I pay my respects to the glorious pilgrims who havepleted the recovery of the Holy Land.¡± When the countess bowed politely and paid her respects, the elf king was so surprised that he almost fell off his horse. The elf king said in a bewildered voice. ¡°Countess. Why did you. . .¡± If you want to pay your respects, you can just say a few words while on your horse, but there was no need toe down like this and treat him so well. Isn¡¯t this something the inferiors do? ¡°Please consider it as my gesture of respect.¡± ¡°No, but still. . .¡± ¡°Actually, I wanted to hold the horse¡¯s reins myself and act as a coachman.¡± ¡°Why are you doing this? Why are you really doing this. . .¡± The elf king looked at Johan with eyes asking him to stop it. Of course, Johan didn¡¯t care. The countess wanted to act a little faithful, so there was no reason to stop him. Johan met the countess¡¯s eyes. The two nodded at each other. That was enough for them to understand each other¡¯s intentions. ¡°Countess. It¡¯s ufortable. I¡¯m telling you it¡¯s ufortable. . .¡± The elf kingined as he was dragged forward with the countess taking his horse¡¯s reins away. Ulrike shook her head with an annoyed expression. If you¡¯re going toe out and wee someone, do it thoroughly. She knew that was right in her head, but whenever she saw a high-ranking noble throw away her dignity ande out like that in person, she felt goosebumps. Ulrike suddenly frowned as something came to mind. Thinking about it, if the countess reached this point, wouldn¡¯t she be staying as a guest at her own fiefdom? ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ??????????????. . .¡¯ ??????????©¥ ¡°?¡± Ulrike was startled when Johan suddenly grabbed her hand tightly. Johan whispered in a serious voice. ¡°Don¡¯t hate her so much.¡± ¡°. . .??¡± Of course, when dealing with Stephen, she did think about whether she should poison him, but Ulrike didn¡¯t hate the countess. Ulrike replied with a puzzled look. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Johan nodded with a satisfied expression. Ulrike gradually realized that something was strange. She felt like there was a strange misunderstanding between the two of them. ???????????? Countess Abner, who had walked to the vicinity of the court, holding the reins of the horse the elf king was riding, shook her hands. By now, everyone who was supposed to see it would have seen it. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better for my health to walk like this asionally. What about Jarpen¡¯s daughter?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sent the message.¡± ¡°Yes. Tell her to prepare properly so that she doesn¡¯t cause unnecessary trouble.¡± In Countess Abner¡¯s eyes, Cia of the Jarpen family was the opposite of Ulrike. If one loves the military, politics, and power, the other loves art, pleasure, and enjoyment, so how could it work out? Anyway, it didn¡¯t matter. It wasn¡¯t a marriage of love. ¡®?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ????, ?????? ????????????.¡¯ The countess wanted Ulrike to make as few mistakes as possible. However, in the countess¡¯s eyes, Ulrike was still emotional. For example, what if she came back after a long and arduous expedition and her spouse was so drunk that she couldn¡¯t evene out of her bedroom, or was rolling around with her lover? Even if she didn¡¯t swing a sword, she could explode and retaliate with her fists or banish and confine them. The other family wouldn¡¯t be very happy with that. In order to prevent such scandals, it was necessary to make Cia have a minimum of manners. The countess sent her attendants to wash and change Cia. If she was drunk, they would pour cold water on her, and if she was rolling around with her lover, they would put holes in her lover¡¯s body. However, the countess was missing something. Ulrike changed the security of the court thoroughly because she hated outsiders wandering around, and. . . Cia was more spirited than she thought. ???????????? ¡°I need to rest for a while.¡± The elf king waved his hand with a tired expression. Despite being held captive for a long time, he didn¡¯t waver, but it seemed that the count¡¯s role as a coachman was very difficult. Johan didn¡¯t forcibly stop him either. Countess Abner twisted her stiff face into a smile and asked Ulrike. ¡°Ulrike-gong. Can you guide me through the court yourself?¡± ¡°I will guide you with the daughter of the Jarpen family.¡± When a distinguished guest arrived, the feudal lord would sometimes personally guide them through the court. Of course, it would be boring and shabby to do it alone, so they would naturally call their spouse. The countess wanted Cia toe out gracefully and satisfy Ulrike. Cia would wee the heroes returning from the expedition as she had rehearsed in advance, and Ulrike wouldn¡¯t be particrly impressed, but would pretend to be impressed, so it would be good for everyone. . . .However, Cia didn¡¯te out. The countess sensed something ominous. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°The attendants were caught by the soldiers while trying to go inside.¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about. . . Do you have no brains or tongue! Don¡¯t just stand there and open your mouth!¡± ¡°They said they talked, but the soldiers caught them saying there are no exceptions. . .¡± Misfortunes nevere alone. The countess winced, recalling the old proverb. If this misfortune brought another misfortune. . . ¡°She might still be getting ready, so let¡¯s go and find her ourselves.¡± ¡°Oh, no. . .¡± The countess wanted to stop him somehow, but there was no good excuse, even if she was the countess. Wouldn¡¯t it look even more suspicious if she forcibly stopped him? Walking forward, Ulrike gave a moderate exnation. Johan nodded moderately and listened. In fact, other people¡¯s castles didn¡¯t have a really strange structure, so there was nothing to be particrly interested in. Especially the portraits hanging on the walls. ¡°Duke.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°To be honest, what on earth are you thinking, telling me about forgiveness, love, peace, and moderation?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan hesitated for a moment before carefully opening his mouth. It didn¡¯t suit his personality to keep getting hurt. ¡°Don¡¯t I have my wizards?¡± ¡°The snakekin?¡± ¡°No. Not that wizard. The other two.¡± ¡°Oh. . . Right.¡± ¡°Those two said. . .¡± Johan exined what had happened. Ulrike¡¯s expression changed diversely while listening to it. After hearing it all, Ulrike nodded. ¡°Did they get it right?¡± ¡°. . .What do you mean did they get it right!? Are you crazy!? I¡¯ve never heard of such news, and even if I had, I wouldn¡¯t care!¡± Ulrike suddenly got angry. Johan thought he had done well to mention the names of the wizards in advance before speaking. Thanks to that, Johan didn¡¯t have to make a fool of himself. ¡°I thought they were wise. . . They¡¯re so focused on studying magic in their room that they¡¯re blind. The duke doesn¡¯t need advice from such bumpkins. They¡¯re going to die lonely and deste without ever getting married, so what do they know!¡± ¡°But the book I received. . .¡± ¡°Book?¡± Johan exined the contents of the book he had received. And Ulrike vowed to kill the scribe. ¡°. . .I hope you don¡¯t kill the scribe.¡± Ulrike, who had her innermost thoughts exposed, said through gritted teeth. ¡°I¡¯ll forgive him by banishing him.¡± ¡°Thank you for your mercy. So was it all a misunderstanding?¡± ¡°Yes! What nonsense. . .¡± Ulrike nervously opened the thick door. The smell of something burning, the smell of alcohol, and the smell of blood mixed together and spread out from inside. As soon as Johan smelled it, he could tell what had happened inside. ¡®??????. ????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ???? ????????.¡¯ It seemed that they had a rather enjoyable time, as several people were wriggling under the sheets. The attendants who followed turned pale and watched Ulrike¡¯s expression. Even though the attendants and servants of the inner pce weren¡¯t allowed in, only a few ves were allowed to stay, so they knew what was going on, but this was. . . ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike red at the bed with furious eyes. Even if you¡¯re having fun, shouldn¡¯t you have some basic manners? Even if they couldn¡¯t wee or greet them, ying around like this was spitting on Ulrike¡¯s pride, who was already proud. Johan grabbed Ulrike¡¯s arm for now. He had seen her fingers twitch. ¡°I told you not to worry about it. Gong.¡± ¡°Do you really think that¡¯s the same thing!?¡± ¡°I know that, but it¡¯s not good to swing a sword or a whip.¡± ¡°I¡¯d feel better! Why are you stopping me, duke? Do you owe something to the Jarpen family?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to see the gong suffer a loss by defeating an opponent who isn¡¯t worth it.¡± Johan¡¯s voice was sincere. Ulrike, who had been angry, came to her senses as if cold water had been poured on her. And then she released her strength. ¡°. . .That¡¯s right. You made a good point.¡± ¡°Think of your opponent as Stephen.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not very good advice. It makes me want to kill them even more.¡± Ulrike rxed enough to chuckle. Instead of swinging her sword, Ulrike coughed in vain. And then she said, ¡°Get ready ande out quickly.¡± ¡°T-Thank you.¡± Cia also seemed to have understood the situation and rushed out. The people under the sheets tried to crawl out on their stomachs, watching the situation. Ulrike kicked one of them, telling him to get out quickly. The group came out again. Johan spoke first. ¡°It was so dark inside that I couldn¡¯t see anything.¡± ¡°Y-Yes! We didn¡¯t see anything either!¡± The attendants also quickly agreed. They were so grateful that they could cry. He had released them from this hellish atmosphere. And Countess Abner, who had been watching all thismotion from behind, approached Ulrike. Ulrike turned her gaze away with disgust. The countess always gave boring sermons under the guise of advice and education. It was clear that this time would be the same. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you!¡± ¡°. . .???¡± For a moment, Ulrike thought that the countess had gone crazy because of her age., Unless Countess Abner goes crazy, she won¡¯t set an ambush on the Holy Land pilgrims here. . . .If she didn¡¯t want to be emunicated by the order and branded as a sphemer by every feudal lord in the empire as well as the west. Ulrike seemed toe to her senses a littlete. The countess¡¯s sessor asked in bewilderment. ¡°Why did shee out?¡± ¡°. . .You¡¯re asking me that?¡± Johan¡¯s absurdity must have been conveyed to Ulrike, and Ulrike¡¯s face turned slightly red. ¡°Didn¡¯t shee out to wee the expedition?¡± ¡°That¡¯s definitely not it.¡± Ulrike regained herposure. No matter how absurd the current situation was, it wasn¡¯t unreasonable. And thinking carefully, there was something she could guess. ¡°She came all the way here to win favor by weing the duke and raise her own reputation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Hospitality doesn¡¯t only make the recipient happy, but it also enhances the reputation of the person who provides it. The countess, who warmly weed the heroes returning from a long expedition, was a good anecdote to be praised for. Even without that, there were ominous rumors circting among the feudal lords due to the long civil war. It was natural since she had squeezed the people below her while the war was going on. ¡°So this good story must be what Countess Abner is after.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not a trap, I don¡¯t think I have to worry about it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± If the other party came out to greet him with such intentions, Johan could also respond appropriately. However, Ulrike didn¡¯t take her eyes off. The countess, who was also riding a horse from a distance and approaching slowly, was the same. The soldiers, who felt the strained conflict between the feudal lord and her sessor, swallowed their saliva nervously. The elf king whispered to Johan. ¡°If Ulrike-gong asks to borrow troops out of friendship, will you help?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan had to endure a chuckle. The elf king¡¯s question wasn¡¯tpletely out of the blue. It was surprisinglymon among the nobles. I am the sessor, but my parents are so stubborn that they don¡¯t die, and in the meantime, they have many children, and since they are all thick-headed, they sh and be estranged, and then a different sibling is chosen as the sessor. . . At that point, this sessor wouldn¡¯t just give up since he already had the fiefdom, property, and vassals he had inherited. He would gather mercenaries, call upon friendly nobles, raise an army, and march to ¡°persuade¡± his parents. In the elf king¡¯s eyes, judging from the way Ulrike and the countess were ring at each other, the civil war wasn¡¯t far off. Thinking about how he had shed with Ulrike-gong in the past, he didn¡¯t want to help, but there was still a friendship from going on the expedition together, so he thought he should help. . . That¡¯s why he asked Johan. ¡°It would be better to think about it after it happens.¡± ¡°I understand. Duke. Don¡¯t forget to tell me before making a decision.¡± While the two were whispering, the countess got off her horse and approached slowly. And then she shouted. ¡°I pay my respects to the glorious pilgrims who havepleted the recovery of the Holy Land.¡± When the countess bowed politely and paid her respects, the elf king was so surprised that he almost fell off his horse. The elf king said in a bewildered voice. ¡°Countess. Why did you. . .¡± If you want to pay your respects, you can just say a few words while on your horse, but there was no need toe down like this and treat him so well. Isn¡¯t this something the inferiors do? ¡°Please consider it as my gesture of respect.¡± ¡°No, but still. . .¡± ¡°Actually, I wanted to hold the horse¡¯s reins myself and act as a coachman.¡± ¡°Why are you doing this? Why are you really doing this. . .¡± The elf king looked at Johan with eyes asking him to stop it. Of course, Johan didn¡¯t care. The countess wanted to act a little faithful, so there was no reason to stop him. Johan met the countess¡¯s eyes. The two nodded at each other. That was enough for them to understand each other¡¯s intentions. ¡°Countess. It¡¯s ufortable. I¡¯m telling you it¡¯s ufortable. . .¡± The elf kingined as he was dragged forward with the countess taking his horse¡¯s reins away. Ulrike shook her head with an annoyed expression. If you¡¯re going toe out and wee someone, do it thoroughly. She knew that was right in her head, but whenever she saw a high-ranking noble throw away her dignity ande out like that in person, she felt goosebumps. Ulrike suddenly frowned as something came to mind. Thinking about it, if the countess reached this point, wouldn¡¯t she be staying as a guest at her own fiefdom? ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ??????????????. . .¡¯ ??????????©¥ ¡°?¡± Ulrike was startled when Johan suddenly grabbed her hand tightly. Johan whispered in a serious voice. ¡°Don¡¯t hate her so much.¡± ¡°. . .??¡± Of course, when dealing with Stephen, she did think about whether she should poison him, but Ulrike didn¡¯t hate the countess. Ulrike replied with a puzzled look. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Johan nodded with a satisfied expression. Ulrike gradually realized that something was strange. She felt like there was a strange misunderstanding between the two of them. ???????????? Countess Abner, who had walked to the vicinity of the court, holding the reins of the horse the elf king was riding, shook her hands. By now, everyone who was supposed to see it would have seen it. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better for my health to walk like this asionally. What about Jarpen¡¯s daughter?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sent the message.¡± ¡°Yes. Tell her to prepare properly so that she doesn¡¯t cause unnecessary trouble.¡± In Countess Abner¡¯s eyes, Cia of the Jarpen family was the opposite of Ulrike. If one loves the military, politics, and power, the other loves art, pleasure, and enjoyment, so how could it work out? Anyway, it didn¡¯t matter. It wasn¡¯t a marriage of love. ¡®?????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ????, ?????? ????????????.¡¯ The countess wanted Ulrike to make as few mistakes as possible. However, in the countess¡¯s eyes, Ulrike was still emotional. For example, what if she came back after a long and arduous expedition and her spouse was so drunk that she couldn¡¯t evene out of her bedroom, or was rolling around with her lover? Even if she didn¡¯t swing a sword, she could explode and retaliate with her fists or banish and confine them. The other family wouldn¡¯t be very happy with that. In order to prevent such scandals, it was necessary to make Cia have a minimum of manners. The countess sent her attendants to wash and change Cia. If she was drunk, they would pour cold water on her, and if she was rolling around with her lover, they would put holes in her lover¡¯s body. However, the countess was missing something. Ulrike changed the security of the court thoroughly because she hated outsiders wandering around, and. . . Cia was more spirited than she thought. ???????????? ¡°I need to rest for a while.¡± The elf king waved his hand with a tired expression. Despite being held captive for a long time, he didn¡¯t waver, but it seemed that the count¡¯s role as a coachman was very difficult. Johan didn¡¯t forcibly stop him either. Countess Abner twisted her stiff face into a smile and asked Ulrike. ¡°Ulrike-gong. Can you guide me through the court yourself?¡± ¡°I will guide you with the daughter of the Jarpen family.¡± When a distinguished guest arrived, the feudal lord would sometimes personally guide them through the court. Of course, it would be boring and shabby to do it alone, so they would naturally call their spouse. The countess wanted Cia toe out gracefully and satisfy Ulrike. Cia would wee the heroes returning from the expedition as she had rehearsed in advance, and Ulrike wouldn¡¯t be particrly impressed, but would pretend to be impressed, so it would be good for everyone. . . .However, Cia didn¡¯te out. The countess sensed something ominous. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°The attendants were caught by the soldiers while trying to go inside.¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about. . . Do you have no brains or tongue! Don¡¯t just stand there and open your mouth!¡± ¡°They said they talked, but the soldiers caught them saying there are no exceptions. . .¡± Misfortunes nevere alone. The countess winced, recalling the old proverb. If this misfortune brought another misfortune. . . ¡°She might still be getting ready, so let¡¯s go and find her ourselves.¡± ¡°Oh, no. . .¡± The countess wanted to stop him somehow, but there was no good excuse, even if she was the countess. Wouldn¡¯t it look even more suspicious if she forcibly stopped him? Walking forward, Ulrike gave a moderate exnation. Johan nodded moderately and listened. In fact, other people¡¯s castles didn¡¯t have a really strange structure, so there was nothing to be particrly interested in. Especially the portraits hanging on the walls. ¡°Duke.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°To be honest, what on earth are you thinking, telling me about forgiveness, love, peace, and moderation?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan hesitated for a moment before carefully opening his mouth. It didn¡¯t suit his personality to keep getting hurt. ¡°Don¡¯t I have my wizards?¡± ¡°The snakekin?¡± ¡°No. Not that wizard. The other two.¡± ¡°Oh. . . Right.¡± ¡°Those two said. . .¡± Johan exined what had happened. Ulrike¡¯s expression changed diversely while listening to it. After hearing it all, Ulrike nodded. ¡°Did they get it right?¡± ¡°. . .What do you mean did they get it right!? Are you crazy!? I¡¯ve never heard of such news, and even if I had, I wouldn¡¯t care!¡± Ulrike suddenly got angry. Johan thought he had done well to mention the names of the wizards in advance before speaking. Thanks to that, Johan didn¡¯t have to make a fool of himself. ¡°I thought they were wise. . . They¡¯re so focused on studying magic in their room that they¡¯re blind. The duke doesn¡¯t need advice from such bumpkins. They¡¯re going to die lonely and deste without ever getting married, so what do they know!¡± ¡°But the book I received. . .¡± ¡°Book?¡± Johan exined the contents of the book he had received. And Ulrike vowed to kill the scribe. ¡°. . .I hope you don¡¯t kill the scribe.¡± Ulrike, who had her innermost thoughts exposed, said through gritted teeth. ¡°I¡¯ll forgive him by banishing him.¡± ¡°Thank you for your mercy. So was it all a misunderstanding?¡± ¡°Yes! What nonsense. . .¡± Ulrike nervously opened the thick door. The smell of something burning, the smell of alcohol, and the smell of blood mixed together and spread out from inside. As soon as Johan smelled it, he could tell what had happened inside. ¡®??????. ????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ???? ????????.¡¯ It seemed that they had a rather enjoyable time, as several people were wriggling under the sheets. The attendants who followed turned pale and watched Ulrike¡¯s expression. Even though the attendants and servants of the inner pce weren¡¯t allowed in, only a few ves were allowed to stay, so they knew what was going on, but this was. . . ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike red at the bed with furious eyes. Even if you¡¯re having fun, shouldn¡¯t you have some basic manners? Even if they couldn¡¯t wee or greet them, ying around like this was spitting on Ulrike¡¯s pride, who was already proud. Johan grabbed Ulrike¡¯s arm for now. He had seen her fingers twitch. ¡°I told you not to worry about it. Gong.¡± ¡°Do you really think that¡¯s the same thing!?¡± ¡°I know that, but it¡¯s not good to swing a sword or a whip.¡± ¡°I¡¯d feel better! Why are you stopping me, duke? Do you owe something to the Jarpen family?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to see the gong suffer a loss by defeating an opponent who isn¡¯t worth it.¡± Johan¡¯s voice was sincere. Ulrike, who had been angry, came to her senses as if cold water had been poured on her. And then she released her strength. ¡°. . .That¡¯s right. You made a good point.¡± ¡°Think of your opponent as Stephen.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not very good advice. It makes me want to kill them even more.¡± Ulrike rxed enough to chuckle. Instead of swinging her sword, Ulrike coughed in vain. And then she said, ¡°Get ready ande out quickly.¡± ¡°T-Thank you.¡± Cia also seemed to have understood the situation and rushed out. The people under the sheets tried to crawl out on their stomachs, watching the situation. Ulrike kicked one of them, telling him to get out quickly. The group came out again. Johan spoke first. ¡°It was so dark inside that I couldn¡¯t see anything.¡± ¡°Y-Yes! We didn¡¯t see anything either!¡± The attendants also quickly agreed. They were so grateful that they could cry. He had released them from this hellish atmosphere. And Countess Abner, who had been watching all thismotion from behind, approached Ulrike. Ulrike turned her gaze away with disgust. The countess always gave boring sermons under the guise of advice and education. It was clear that this time would be the same. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you!¡± ¡°. . .???¡± For a moment, Ulrike thought that the countess had gone crazy because of her age. Chapter 363: ????????-?????????? (7) Everyone had dreamt of being acknowledged by their parents at some point in their lives. Ulrike was no exception. When she was younger, she had even dreamed about it. She would imagine Countess Abner, who had always been so strict, finally acknowledging her. It was always a variation of Ulrike performing some feat during a crisis the countess found herself in and being praised for it. Of course, as she grew older, she stopped expecting such things. She had her own fiefdom to manage, her own vassals to tend to. However, none of those fantasies resembled the current situation. Ulrike stared at the countess incredulously. ¡°Why are you acting like this?¡± ¡°You were able to suppress your emotions and make a cold, calcted political judgment. Not anyone can do that.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Come to think of it, it wasn¡¯tpletely absurd. Ulrike understood why the countess was suddenlyplimenting her.¡®???? ????????¡¯?? ??????. . .¡¯ But that didn¡¯t mean she felt good about it. Honestly, if not for Johan¡¯s quick thinking, a few more of those people under the covers, if not Cia, would have ended up as bloody pulps. Being praised for that didn¡¯t feel so great. Ulrike grumbled with thinly veiled resentment. ¡°I can only wonder why the countess was unable to make such a cool-headed judgment.¡± Just thinking about Stephen still made her so angry that she wanted to grab her sword. Ulrike had done all the dirty work, yet a no-good bastard who hadn¡¯t lifted a finger was receiving all the praise. Even as she grumbled, Ulrike expected the countess to brazenly brush her off or slip away smoothly. However, the countess readily admitted her fault. ¡°I failed to make a calm decision. That is why I wanted you to avoid making the same mistake.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Ulrike was filled with indescribable emotions. Suddenly, the countess seemed smaller. As Ulrike watched the countess¡¯s retreating figure from behind, she frowned slightly. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Johan asked, a little worried. Countess Abner wasn¡¯t exactly the kind of person who would cheer Ulrike up. Even without that, the situation was already annoying enough. Things would only get worse, not better, if the countess tried to talk to her. In the worst-case scenario, she might even swing her sword. . . ¡°I promise on my honor that I won¡¯t swing my sword, so please stop ncing at my sword. Okay?¡± ¡°You got me there. Sorry.¡± ¡°What do you take me for, some kind of maniac. . .¡± Ulrike grumbled and raised both hands. ¡°Thanks for your concern, Duke. I wasn¡¯t nning to swing my sword anyway. It¡¯s just that. . . the countess seems a little different than before, and I¡¯m curious about that.¡± ¡°Has she gotten older?¡± ¡°She has gotten older, but she used to seem more imposing.¡± Johan nodded at her words. ¡°Well, it¡¯s only natural that she would seem smaller. Just think about all the treasures we looted from this expedition.¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s not what I meant. . . Well, I guess it makes sense in a way. . .¡± A knight¡¯s squire begins as an apprentice knight and grows up following in their master¡¯s footsteps. They fight alongside their master on the battlefield until one day, they realize something. That their master has grown old and weary. And that they have surpassed their master. ¡°Right. Like knights. . . I guess it¡¯s the same for nobles.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m d it ended well.¡± ¡°Stop trying to gloss over it. Go get those two wizards over here.¡± ¡°Even if I told them, the wizards would insist that it wasn¡¯t their fault for the misleading. . .¡± As they conversed, Ulrike suddenly remembered a conversation she had had with the countess in the past. ¡°Wait. I almost forgot about the gift.¡± ¡°A gift for the countess?¡± ¡°No. One that I¡¯m supposed to receive.¡± ???????????? Sir Inno of the Gowan family was known for being quite a cantankerous old man. Even themoners of the nearby vige would avoid Sir Inno whenever they saw him. There was no point in getting into pointless arguments with him. However, Inno began acting differently at some point. There was always a faint smile on his face, he would greet themoners he met on the street, and he even went so far as to give coins to beggars. The vigers gossiped about it, saying things like, ¡¯?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????????????¡¯ However, the vige chief, who had a knack for getting information, didn¡¯t fall for it. He learned the truth from the bailiff and shared it with the vigers. ¡°Apparently, Sir Inno¡¯s son is doing very well.¡± ¡°You mean the Butcher?¡± ¡°Shhh. Be quiet. Do you want to get whipped?¡± Gerdolf himself didn¡¯t care much whether people called him the Butcher or the ughterer, but his father, Sir Inno, would fly into a rage and start swinging his whip whenever he heard those nicknames. Despite bragging about his son¡¯s savagery and bravery in front of other knights, he was secretly bothered by the underlying meaning of those nicknames. ¡°Such a brutish and bloodthirsty knight won¡¯tst long.¡± ¡°I heard from a bard that knights need to be wise as well.¡± ¡°My uncle is a mercenary, and he says that knights who don¡¯t know anything are never going to make it. . .¡± The vigers wished for Gerdolf to reveal his true nature, harboring ill feelings towards him. Sir Inno was extremely entric, and Gerdolf was a terrifying knight. The people preferred knights like Duke Yeats, who had pure passion in his heart and deep faith on his lips, rather than knights who always wore their helmets down, creating a fierce atmosphere. However, Sir Inno¡¯splexion improved every time they saw him. Not just hisplexion, but his overall demeanor. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a new outfit? Where did he get such fine clothes?¡± ¡°I heard it¡¯s made of the finest wool imported from far away.¡± ¡°But he wasining about not having enough money to buy a single sword thest time he was here. . .?¡± The vigers used to get angry at the knight, saying ¡°Don¡¯t you go out with tattered armor and a rusty sword just because you are poor!¡± But when he showed up wearing such fancy new clothes, it was quite surprising to them. And it didn¡¯t end there. ©¥?????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ?? ??????????. ???? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???? ????????. . . ©¥?? ??????????!? ?????? ????????!? ©¥???????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????????. ©¥??????????????????!? ?????? ????????!?! The vigers realized that a person could truly change. The man who used to grumble about everything now walked around with such dignity that it was hard to believe he was the same person. It was truly amazing, but there was a hint of majesty in his demeanor. ¡°He holds a high position in His Excellency the Countess¡¯s court.¡± ¡°I saw him talking to other knights the other day, and they all stepped aside to make way for him.¡± ¡°The Butcher sure has be something!¡± The vigers gradually adapted to this pleasant change. They were now ashamed of their past mockery of Sir Gerdolf. They prayed for him to rise even higher. ¡°I hope he aplishes many more great things.¡± ¡°I wonder if he¡¯ll perform another great feat before the autumn harvest? I¡¯m getting kinda hungry. . .¡± ¡°He might scatter silver coins if he does something great this time.¡± However, their expectations were met with apletely different oue. Sir Inno suddenly began walking around with a sullen expression on his face. His once broad shoulders slumped, and he walked around with his gaze fixed on the ground, making everyone who saw him feel sorry for him. ¡°Why is he acting like that?¡± ¡°I heard that Sir Gerdolf went on the Holy Land expedition.¡± ¡°Oh. . . Oh my. Isn¡¯t that a great honor!? Pilgrimage is a great thing, but an expedition. . .! But why is he acting like that?¡± The vigers, who were unaware of the truth, rejoiced innocently. However, the vige chief, who was quite knowledgeable, shook his head repeatedly. ¡°It¡¯s not always a good thing to go on an expedition, you fools. Don¡¯t you know how dangerous it is? He could get sick on the journey, or his ship could sink and he could drown. Or he could end up screaming and dying in battle against the pagans.¡± ¡°B-But it¡¯s an honorable thing to do. . .¡± ¡°Will honor fill your stomach? Don¡¯t talk nonsense to the lord without understanding the situation. You¡¯ll get whipped.¡± The vigers wisely kept their mouths shut. Thanks to that, they were able to avoid the whip. However, the same couldn¡¯t be said for the nobles of other families. They had always been jealous of Sir Inno¡¯s smug attitude, so they took this opportunity to visit him and pester him. ¡°Well, well. To think he would go on such a dangerous expedition. It is indeed a very honorable and sacred thing to do.¡± ¡°. . .¡± ¡°We should have joined him, but s, we are ashamed that we did not. . .¡± It didn¡¯t end there. Even the merchants, who would normally have been careful about their behavior, came to him after hearing the rumors and urged him. ¡°Sir Inno, it¡¯s about time you paid off your debts. . .¡± ¡°When did I ever say I wouldn¡¯t pay you back!?¡± ¡°I know, but my situation is really bad! Boohoo. I¡¯m on the verge of bankruptcy, so please pay me back for the sake of your honor.¡± There were indeed some high-ranking nobles who would borrowrge sums of money from merchants and then eat it all up or run away with it, but they were a very small minority. If it were that easy, all nobles would have done it. Merchants weren¡¯t that easy to fool. Furthermore, a knight like Sir Inno would be in real trouble if he tried to pull something like that, as the merchants would hire mercenaries to kill him. The nobles kepting to ridicule him, and the merchants kept hounding him. Just as Sir Inno was about to explode and either swing his sword or run away, rumors began to spread from afar. News that the Holy Land expedition had been a great sess and that the expeditionary force was returning. ¡°. . .It was truly an honorable and sacred thing to do! It must have been God¡¯s blessing that allowed it to end so perfectly!?¡± ¡°I believed in Sir Inno¡¯s teachings. Who else could have made Sir Gerdolf aplish such great feats?¡± ¡°My lord, now that I think about it, I might be able to afford not being paid back. You mentioned wanting to buy a new warhorse. Should I get one for you?¡± ¡°. . .¡± Inno was speechless, but he held back. After all, that was how the world worked. And then, Gerdolf returned. His return was highly anticipated, with most of the nobles from nearby families gathering to wait for him. From his achievements in the distant East to the treasures he brought back with him. If they could receive even one of those as a gift, it would be a fortune for the impoverished nobles. ¡°There hees!¡± The vigers were also very curious, so they went outside the vige and waited. In the distance, a heavily armed knight and dozens of soldiers were approaching. ¡°Where are the treasures??¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see any?¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯s bringing them separately?¡± ¡°How much treasure could there be that he needs to bring them separately?!¡± While the people were gossiping, Sir Inno ran up to Gerdolf and embraced him. When would the family ever see another knight like him? At first, when Gerdolf said he was going to follow the duke, Sir Inno thought, ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????!¡¯ But now that he thought about it, it was. . . ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard! You¡¯ve truly worked hard. All the nobles nearby have gathered here, just waiting for you! Let¡¯s sit down and have a chat!¡± Sir Inno said with an expectant look on his face. He was already excited at the thought of bragging about Gerdolf¡¯s achievements. ¡°I must go.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°His Grace the Duke is waiting. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± ¡°W-Wait a minute. Just a minute. . .¡± Inno was flustered and grabbed Gerdolf by the cor as he turned to leave without saying anything else. ¡°T-There must be time to eat, drink, and talk, right? I want to hear about what happened! Did you happen to obtain any interesting treasures!?¡± ¡°His Grace the Duke gave me the treasures from the Sultan¡¯s tent.¡± ¡°!???¡± Sir Inno¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head. What kind of treasure did he get from where?? ¡°T-T-Tell me more about it! I¡¯m so curious! Where is the treasure?¡± ¡°I left it at the fiefdom I received. It¡¯s being brought here by ship.¡± ¡°A fiefdom!? You received a fiefdom!? Again!? Where!?¡± ¡°I must go. His Grace the Duke is waiting.¡± Even after hearing just a few words, he was dying to know more, but Gerdolf remained indifferent. He shook off Sir Inno¡¯s clinging hand. ¡°I¡¯lle back again.¡± ¡°W-Wait. . . No! Just tell me a little bit and then go! Is it that hard!?¡± The vigers were bewildered as they watched Gerdolf leave again. ©¥?????? ???? ???? ??????????????? ©¥?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????. ©¥???? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????????. . . ???? ????????????????, ?????? ???????????? ???? ??????????????????! For the first time, Sir Inno resented the duke. No matter what, wasn¡¯t this too inflexible?, Everyone had dreamt of being acknowledged by their parents at some point in their lives. Ulrike was no exception. When she was younger, she had even dreamed about it. She would imagine Countess Abner, who had always been so strict, finally acknowledging her. It was always a variation of Ulrike performing some feat during a crisis the countess found herself in and being praised for it. Of course, as she grew older, she stopped expecting such things. She had her own fiefdom to manage, her own vassals to tend to. However, none of those fantasies resembled the current situation. Ulrike stared at the countess incredulously. ¡°Why are you acting like this?¡± ¡°You were able to suppress your emotions and make a cold, calcted political judgment. Not anyone can do that.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Come to think of it, it wasn¡¯tpletely absurd. Ulrike understood why the countess was suddenlyplimenting her. ¡®???? ????????¡¯?? ??????. . .¡¯ But that didn¡¯t mean she felt good about it. Honestly, if not for Johan¡¯s quick thinking, a few more of those people under the covers, if not Cia, would have ended up as bloody pulps. Being praised for that didn¡¯t feel so great. Ulrike grumbled with thinly veiled resentment. ¡°I can only wonder why the countess was unable to make such a cool-headed judgment.¡± Just thinking about Stephen still made her so angry that she wanted to grab her sword. Ulrike had done all the dirty work, yet a no-good bastard who hadn¡¯t lifted a finger was receiving all the praise. Even as she grumbled, Ulrike expected the countess to brazenly brush her off or slip away smoothly. However, the countess readily admitted her fault. ¡°I failed to make a calm decision. That is why I wanted you to avoid making the same mistake.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Ulrike was filled with indescribable emotions. Suddenly, the countess seemed smaller. As Ulrike watched the countess¡¯s retreating figure from behind, she frowned slightly. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Johan asked, a little worried. Countess Abner wasn¡¯t exactly the kind of person who would cheer Ulrike up. Even without that, the situation was already annoying enough. Things would only get worse, not better, if the countess tried to talk to her. In the worst-case scenario, she might even swing her sword. . . ¡°I promise on my honor that I won¡¯t swing my sword, so please stop ncing at my sword. Okay?¡± ¡°You got me there. Sorry.¡± ¡°What do you take me for, some kind of maniac. . .¡± Ulrike grumbled and raised both hands. ¡°Thanks for your concern, Duke. I wasn¡¯t nning to swing my sword anyway. It¡¯s just that. . . the countess seems a little different than before, and I¡¯m curious about that.¡± ¡°Has she gotten older?¡± ¡°She has gotten older, but she used to seem more imposing.¡± Johan nodded at her words. ¡°Well, it¡¯s only natural that she would seem smaller. Just think about all the treasures we looted from this expedition.¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s not what I meant. . . Well, I guess it makes sense in a way. . .¡± A knight¡¯s squire begins as an apprentice knight and grows up following in their master¡¯s footsteps. They fight alongside their master on the battlefield until one day, they realize something. That their master has grown old and weary. And that they have surpassed their master. ¡°Right. Like knights. . . I guess it¡¯s the same for nobles.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m d it ended well.¡± ¡°Stop trying to gloss over it. Go get those two wizards over here.¡± ¡°Even if I told them, the wizards would insist that it wasn¡¯t their fault for the misleading. . .¡± As they conversed, Ulrike suddenly remembered a conversation she had had with the countess in the past. ¡°Wait. I almost forgot about the gift.¡± ¡°A gift for the countess?¡± ¡°No. One that I¡¯m supposed to receive.¡± ???????????? Sir Inno of the Gowan family was known for being quite a cantankerous old man. Even themoners of the nearby vige would avoid Sir Inno whenever they saw him. There was no point in getting into pointless arguments with him. However, Inno began acting differently at some point. There was always a faint smile on his face, he would greet themoners he met on the street, and he even went so far as to give coins to beggars. The vigers gossiped about it, saying things like, ¡¯?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????????????¡¯ However, the vige chief, who had a knack for getting information, didn¡¯t fall for it. He learned the truth from the bailiff and shared it with the vigers. ¡°Apparently, Sir Inno¡¯s son is doing very well.¡± ¡°You mean the Butcher?¡± ¡°Shhh. Be quiet. Do you want to get whipped?¡± Gerdolf himself didn¡¯t care much whether people called him the Butcher or the ughterer, but his father, Sir Inno, would fly into a rage and start swinging his whip whenever he heard those nicknames. Despite bragging about his son¡¯s savagery and bravery in front of other knights, he was secretly bothered by the underlying meaning of those nicknames. ¡°Such a brutish and bloodthirsty knight won¡¯tst long.¡± ¡°I heard from a bard that knights need to be wise as well.¡± ¡°My uncle is a mercenary, and he says that knights who don¡¯t know anything are never going to make it. . .¡± The vigers wished for Gerdolf to reveal his true nature, harboring ill feelings towards him. Sir Inno was extremely entric, and Gerdolf was a terrifying knight. The people preferred knights like Duke Yeats, who had pure passion in his heart and deep faith on his lips, rather than knights who always wore their helmets down, creating a fierce atmosphere. However, Sir Inno¡¯splexion improved every time they saw him. Not just hisplexion, but his overall demeanor. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a new outfit? Where did he get such fine clothes?¡± ¡°I heard it¡¯s made of the finest wool imported from far away.¡± ¡°But he wasining about not having enough money to buy a single sword thest time he was here. . .?¡± The vigers used to get angry at the knight, saying ¡°Don¡¯t you go out with tattered armor and a rusty sword just because you are poor!¡± But when he showed up wearing such fancy new clothes, it was quite surprising to them. And it didn¡¯t end there. ©¥?????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ?? ??????????. ???? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???? ????????. . . ©¥?? ??????????!? ?????? ????????!? ©¥???????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????????. ©¥??????????????????!? ?????? ????????!?! The vigers realized that a person could truly change. The man who used to grumble about everything now walked around with such dignity that it was hard to believe he was the same person. It was truly amazing, but there was a hint of majesty in his demeanor. ¡°He holds a high position in His Excellency the Countess¡¯s court.¡± ¡°I saw him talking to other knights the other day, and they all stepped aside to make way for him.¡± ¡°The Butcher sure has be something!¡± The vigers gradually adapted to this pleasant change. They were now ashamed of their past mockery of Sir Gerdolf. They prayed for him to rise even higher. ¡°I hope he aplishes many more great things.¡± ¡°I wonder if he¡¯ll perform another great feat before the autumn harvest? I¡¯m getting kinda hungry. . .¡± ¡°He might scatter silver coins if he does something great this time.¡± However, their expectations were met with apletely different oue. Sir Inno suddenly began walking around with a sullen expression on his face. His once broad shoulders slumped, and he walked around with his gaze fixed on the ground, making everyone who saw him feel sorry for him. ¡°Why is he acting like that?¡± ¡°I heard that Sir Gerdolf went on the Holy Land expedition.¡± ¡°Oh. . . Oh my. Isn¡¯t that a great honor!? Pilgrimage is a great thing, but an expedition. . .! But why is he acting like that?¡± The vigers, who were unaware of the truth, rejoiced innocently. However, the vige chief, who was quite knowledgeable, shook his head repeatedly. ¡°It¡¯s not always a good thing to go on an expedition, you fools. Don¡¯t you know how dangerous it is? He could get sick on the journey, or his ship could sink and he could drown. Or he could end up screaming and dying in battle against the pagans.¡± ¡°B-But it¡¯s an honorable thing to do. . .¡± ¡°Will honor fill your stomach? Don¡¯t talk nonsense to the lord without understanding the situation. You¡¯ll get whipped.¡± The vigers wisely kept their mouths shut. Thanks to that, they were able to avoid the whip. However, the same couldn¡¯t be said for the nobles of other families. They had always been jealous of Sir Inno¡¯s smug attitude, so they took this opportunity to visit him and pester him. ¡°Well, well. To think he would go on such a dangerous expedition. It is indeed a very honorable and sacred thing to do.¡± ¡°. . .¡± ¡°We should have joined him, but s, we are ashamed that we did not. . .¡± It didn¡¯t end there. Even the merchants, who would normally have been careful about their behavior, came to him after hearing the rumors and urged him. ¡°Sir Inno, it¡¯s about time you paid off your debts. . .¡± ¡°When did I ever say I wouldn¡¯t pay you back!?¡± ¡°I know, but my situation is really bad! Boohoo. I¡¯m on the verge of bankruptcy, so please pay me back for the sake of your honor.¡± There were indeed some high-ranking nobles who would borrowrge sums of money from merchants and then eat it all up or run away with it, but they were a very small minority. If it were that easy, all nobles would have done it. Merchants weren¡¯t that easy to fool. Furthermore, a knight like Sir Inno would be in real trouble if he tried to pull something like that, as the merchants would hire mercenaries to kill him. The nobles kepting to ridicule him, and the merchants kept hounding him. Just as Sir Inno was about to explode and either swing his sword or run away, rumors began to spread from afar. News that the Holy Land expedition had been a great sess and that the expeditionary force was returning. ¡°. . .It was truly an honorable and sacred thing to do! It must have been God¡¯s blessing that allowed it to end so perfectly!?¡± ¡°I believed in Sir Inno¡¯s teachings. Who else could have made Sir Gerdolf aplish such great feats?¡± ¡°My lord, now that I think about it, I might be able to afford not being paid back. You mentioned wanting to buy a new warhorse. Should I get one for you?¡± ¡°. . .¡± Inno was speechless, but he held back. After all, that was how the world worked. And then, Gerdolf returned. His return was highly anticipated, with most of the nobles from nearby families gathering to wait for him. From his achievements in the distant East to the treasures he brought back with him. If they could receive even one of those as a gift, it would be a fortune for the impoverished nobles. ¡°There hees!¡± The vigers were also very curious, so they went outside the vige and waited. In the distance, a heavily armed knight and dozens of soldiers were approaching. ¡°Where are the treasures??¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see any?¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯s bringing them separately?¡± ¡°How much treasure could there be that he needs to bring them separately?!¡± While the people were gossiping, Sir Inno ran up to Gerdolf and embraced him. When would the family ever see another knight like him? At first, when Gerdolf said he was going to follow the duke, Sir Inno thought, ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??????!¡¯ But now that he thought about it, it was. . . ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard! You¡¯ve truly worked hard. All the nobles nearby have gathered here, just waiting for you! Let¡¯s sit down and have a chat!¡± Sir Inno said with an expectant look on his face. He was already excited at the thought of bragging about Gerdolf¡¯s achievements. ¡°I must go.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡°His Grace the Duke is waiting. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± ¡°W-Wait a minute. Just a minute. . .¡± Inno was flustered and grabbed Gerdolf by the cor as he turned to leave without saying anything else. ¡°T-There must be time to eat, drink, and talk, right? I want to hear about what happened! Did you happen to obtain any interesting treasures!?¡± ¡°His Grace the Duke gave me the treasures from the Sultan¡¯s tent.¡± ¡°!???¡± Sir Inno¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head. What kind of treasure did he get from where?? ¡°T-T-Tell me more about it! I¡¯m so curious! Where is the treasure?¡± ¡°I left it at the fiefdom I received. It¡¯s being brought here by ship.¡± ¡°A fiefdom!? You received a fiefdom!? Again!? Where!?¡± ¡°I must go. His Grace the Duke is waiting.¡± Even after hearing just a few words, he was dying to know more, but Gerdolf remained indifferent. He shook off Sir Inno¡¯s clinging hand. ¡°I¡¯lle back again.¡± ¡°W-Wait. . . No! Just tell me a little bit and then go! Is it that hard!?¡± The vigers were bewildered as they watched Gerdolf leave again. ©¥?????? ???? ???? ??????????????? ©¥?? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????. ©¥???? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????????. . . ???? ????????????????, ?????? ???????????? ???? ??????????????????! For the first time, Sir Inno resented the duke. No matter what, wasn¡¯t this too inflexible? Chapter 364: ????????-?????????? (8) ¡°Are you already back?¡± Johan looked at Gerdolf in surprise. He had gone to the fiefdom with his soldiers, so he would havee back a littleter after enjoying some rest, but he had returned too quickly. ¡°Did Sir Inno not treat you well? He has gone too far.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a big deal.¡± ¡°How could you say that? Even if Sir Inno is your father, shouldn¡¯t the other nobles have treated you better?¡± Johan frowned. Sir Inno, as the knight was also his own son, he may not have been able to openly express his joy. However, what were the other noble families in the area doing? Even if their rtionships were usually not good, when a knight returns sessfully from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, by courtesy all shoulde out and congratte him.¡°I should tell the countess.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re a little naive, so there are times when you fails to take care of things you should be taking care of.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The attendants following behind them flinched. Who¡¯s naive? Gerdolf blushed with shame. It seemed he was considerably embarrassed by the duke¡¯s words. The attendants trembled in fear at his unfamiliar appearance. ¡°First, send a message to Countess Abner. Then, ask the scribe to write a letter for the envoy to take. Tell the nearby nobles to properly entertain their guests.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± The contents of the letter the scribe wrote were a very mild reproach, but the nobles would understand its meaning. ©¥???? ?? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ??????????????????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ??????????, ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????????????? ??????????? ©¥> ©¥?? ???? ????????????????. ???? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ????????????, ??????????????????????????????, ???? ??????????????????, ?????? ????????????. ¡°This should be enough. Send it.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ???????????? While the nobles of the western empire were in a state of confusion over the sudden arrival of the letter and exchanging opinions, the next fleet safely arrived at Coolia harbor. Jyanina was also on board that fleet. ©¥???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????????, ??????¡¯?? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ??????????????? ©¥?? ?????? ?????????????? ????????! ©¥???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ??????????????? ©¥. . .???????? ????????????????, ????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ©¥??¡¯?? ??????????. ?? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ????????¡¯?? ??????????????????, ?????? ???? ????¡¯?? ???????? ????????, ????¡¯???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????????????? ????????. ©¥????¡¯?? ????????. ??¡¯???? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????. ©¥?????????? ???????? ???? ??????????????? ©¥???? ?????? ????????, ???? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???? ??????, ???????? ???? ??¡¯?? ????????. Jyanina had a reason for saying this. Of course, it wasn¡¯t bad to be on the duke¡¯s ship. The ship would be thergest and strongest in the fleet, and the best sailors and captain would be sailing it. However, Jyanina¡¯s position there would be, at best, an apprentice wizard or a wizard¡¯s disciple. There were so many high-ranking people. Jyanina wanted to be the leader, even if it was a smaller ship. The saying, ¡®????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????,¡¯ was true. The other wizards also supported Jyanina¡¯s opinion. ©¥???? ?? ????????????, ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ????????????????????. ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ????????, ????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ??????????????-????????¡¯?? ????????????. ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????????????. ©¥?? ???????? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ????????????????????. ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ????????????, ?????????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???? ????????????. . . ©¥. . . . . . In fact, Jyanina wanted to show the exotic animals to the nobles and rip them off, rather than the desire to have the mysteries as a wizard. When everyone else was carrying the fascinating treasures of the east, how discriminated would she be if she alone carried the animals of the east? However, she couldn¡¯t just sit still when the wizards said that. Jyanina nodded vigorously. ©¥????????. . . ???????? ???? ??????????????. ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????. ©¥???? ????????????! ©¥??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????, ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ??????????, ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????. ??????¡¯?? ???? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????. . . ©¥. . . . . . Jyanina was upset, but she endured it. Because the other party was the duke. And now. The fleet escorting Jyanina was anchored in the harbor. ¡°Long live His Highness the Duke!! Long live His Highness the Duke!!¡± The people of the city and the lower nobles who had gathered shouted. In the Coolia fiefdom, the duke¡¯s name was already something of a legend. His fame reached the heavens even in the empire, so the Coolia fiefdom, which had directly benefited from it, had nothing more to say. No wonder the minstrels went around saying, ¡®???? ????????????, ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????????.¡¯ Coolia was a fiefdom that had be wealthy with the merchant ships and treasuresing in from the East. Even without that, everyone flocked to the harbor without being told, since the duke was finally returning after finishing his expedition. Just to see the duke in person and receive even a little bit of his divine presence! ¡°. . .???¡± ¡°Is that His Highness the Duke?¡± ¡°No, you idiot. It¡¯s a centaur.¡± ¡°Where is he?¡± Of course, there was no way Johan, who wasn¡¯t even there, would disembark. The people of the fiefdom waited in disappointment before dispersing. And the one who was the most bewildered was Jyanina. As soon as she disembarked, Jyanina grabbed the scribe by the cor and questioned him. ¡°Why isn¡¯t His Highness the Duke here!?¡± ¡°H-How would I know that!?¡± Jyanina sat down in the courtyard in front of the inner pce with a look of despair. She had finallye to collect her share, but her strong backer had disappeared. It wasn¡¯t like such arge fleet had sunk in a typhoon. . . Did he receive a demon¡¯s curse? ¡®. . .????, ????, ????. ???????????? ??????.¡¯ Although the pagans had spread rumors that ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????,¡¯ not many people believed it seriously. He was too devout to be considered to have made a pact with a demon. However, his power was certainly demonic. Jyanina had also asked Suetlg furtively, ¡®?????????? ???? ???? ?? ??-??. . .?¡¯ She was hit with a bucket of water and chased away. . . ¡®?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?? ???????????¡¯ Not knowing what was going on, the lower nobles in the fiefdom came to Jyanina to ask for her opinion. She was a wizard who had participated in the expedition. ¡°When will His Highness the Duke return?¡± ¡°. . .He will probably arrive when the next fleet arrives.¡± ¡°Is that so. . . Did something happen in the battle by any chance?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about. . .?¡± Jyanina was speechless. She realized what the nobles were suspicious of. They were worried that the duke had died in battle in the east or had copsed with serious injuries. ¡°Stop talking nonsense! Does that make sense? His Highness the Duke is protected by God!¡± ¡°Ah. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????????¡¯ One of the nobles tilted his head. Wizards were often suspected of being non-religious, and Jyanina had more of those cases because of her usual conduct. Thanks to that, the nobles only had more unnecessary thoughts. Jyanina gave a detailed exnation to appease their suspicions. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about the battle that took ce in the Holy Land. Now, listen carefully!¡± ¡°Yes, Wizard.¡± ¡°The number of enemies was two to three times ours. Maybe even four times. . . It was that big of a difference because all the pagans nearby flocked to us.¡± ¡°Despite that, did you win? Were the enemy soldiers all conscripts?¡± ¡°The knights filled the front and there were over a hundred noble gs, so that wasn¡¯t it.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina was only rying what had actually happened, but a suspicious light gradually began to appear in the nobles¡¯ eyes. Jyanina didn¡¯t notice that and continued her exnation. ¡°So how did His Highness the Duke win and reim the Holy Land. . .?¡± With two to three times the number of soldiers and a higher level, there seemed to be no way to win in reality. Jyanina nodded as if she had been waiting for that question. ¡°The pagan chiefs came to His Highness the Duke at night. It was because they wanted to serve His Highness the Duke.¡± ¡°. . .Why did the pagan chiefs. . .?¡± ¡°Ah. That¡¯s. . . His Highness the Duke had obtained a crown in the forest before. It was a crown that had disappeared from the Holy Land in the past. . .¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the crown of the Holy Land belong to the guardian of the Holy Land? It¡¯s a crown that has been passed down from generation to generation, so why?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because it was a fake! It was a fake, and in reality, the pagans had taken it, but it was revealed to be a fake. . .¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s right.¡± Their suspicions were gradually rising to a medium level. Jyanina continued to diligently list the events that had happened. ¡°The battle became advantageous thanks to the pagan chiefs turning to His Highness the Duke. But the enemies held on tenaciously.¡± ¡°Oh. . . That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°So His Highness the Duke charged into the enemy camp at night.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how he won the battle. Got it?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The nobles looked at Jyanina with bewilderment and embarrassment. No matter how much of a wizard she was, this was a bit too much to just let go. ¡°D-Did you just win? Did the enemies all turn into scarecrows overnight?¡± ¡°No. . .! How stupid! That¡¯s why, when His Highness the Duke went in at night and cut down everything he could reach, the enemies were so scared that they all ran away, and their camp copsed because of it!¡± ¡°What did the enemymander do?¡± ¡°The enemies would also have knights, right?¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t go out in person like you guys, but they would have asked questions!¡± When Jyanina got angry, the nobles flinched. There was nothing good about provoking a wizard. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, Wizard. It¡¯s such a dramatic and ridiculous story. . .¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Ah, no! I¡¯m not doubting you. I believe you.¡± One of the nobles opened his mouth to change the atmosphere. ¡°How did you defeat the Sultan? I¡¯m curious about that!¡± ¡°Ah. That¡¯s because. . . The army gathered across the river tried to cross it by doing this and that. . .¡± ¡°Yes, I heard.¡± ¡°The Sultan¡¯s fleet sank. . .¡± ¡°I heard that the Elf King was rescued!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the Sultan, enraged by that, fill up the river with magic andunch an all-out attack? I heard that His Highness the Duke fought against that!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t filled with magic, it was because of the cold.¡± ¡°But I heard that it¡¯s a river that never freezes.¡± ¡°. . .In any case, the Sultan¡¯srge army crossed the frozen river. They were more elite than the pagan army in the Holy Land, and their size must have been three or four times ours. Our expeditionary force also got into formation to match them.¡± At Jyanina¡¯s words, the nobles made expectant expressions again. ¡°The left wing was made up of the feudal lords nearby, so they copsed quickly. They ran away not long after the battle started.¡± ¡°Hmph. . .!¡± ¡°How could that be. . .!¡± ¡°So His Highness the Duke charged.¡± The nobles nodded in sympathy. The heroic charge of a knight always inspired his allies. Surely there would have been an honorable duel between the knights, and the fleeing feudal lords would have returned, feeling ashamed. ¡°Did the enemy knightse out and face His Highness the Duke?¡± ¡°Ah. That was before the left wing ran away. He didn¡¯t have any more duels after that.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke just charged in, kept pushing forward, reached the Sultan¡¯s tent, cut off his head,pletely broke through the center, and split it apart. . .¡± Jyanina also began to notice the nobles¡¯ expressions. Even as she spoke, it sounded a bit too exaggerated. ¡®. . .?????? ?? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????. . .?¡¯ She could say she heard the voice of God or that an earthquake urred. . . ¡°And so the battle was over.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The nobles just blinked at each other and said nothing. They thanked Jyanina and walked out the door with slumped shoulders. After everyone had left, Jyanina quickly went up to the window and listened. ¡°Waaah. . .! Something must have happened to the Duke!¡± ¡°Oh,e on. . .! How could that be! He must be recuperating from his injuries. He¡¯ll be back soon!¡± ¡°If it was a minor injury, why would she tell such ridiculous lies! Waaahhhh!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Fortunately, not long after, a messenger came running from the west. It was a message saying that the duke hadnded in the west. Jyanina let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Wait. . .could it be that the wizard made a fake letter? She¡¯s a snakekin afterall. . .¡± ¡°And I heard she also worked in the emperor¡¯s court so. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡±, ¡°Are you already back?¡± Johan looked at Gerdolf in surprise. He had gone to the fiefdom with his soldiers, so he would havee back a littleter after enjoying some rest, but he had returned too quickly. ¡°Did Sir Inno not treat you well? He has gone too far.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a big deal.¡± ¡°How could you say that? Even if Sir Inno is your father, shouldn¡¯t the other nobles have treated you better?¡± Johan frowned. Sir Inno, as the knight was also his own son, he may not have been able to openly express his joy. However, what were the other noble families in the area doing? Even if their rtionships were usually not good, when a knight returns sessfully from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, by courtesy all shoulde out and congratte him. ¡°I should tell the countess.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re a little naive, so there are times when you fails to take care of things you should be taking care of.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The attendants following behind them flinched. Who¡¯s naive? Gerdolf blushed with shame. It seemed he was considerably embarrassed by the duke¡¯s words. The attendants trembled in fear at his unfamiliar appearance. ¡°First, send a message to Countess Abner. Then, ask the scribe to write a letter for the envoy to take. Tell the nearby nobles to properly entertain their guests.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± The contents of the letter the scribe wrote were a very mild reproach, but the nobles would understand its meaning. ©¥???? ?? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ??????????????????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ??????????, ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????????????? ??????????? ©¥> ©¥?? ???? ????????????????. ???? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???? ????????????, ??????????????????????????????, ???? ??????????????????, ?????? ????????????. ¡°This should be enough. Send it.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ???????????? While the nobles of the western empire were in a state of confusion over the sudden arrival of the letter and exchanging opinions, the next fleet safely arrived at Coolia harbor. Jyanina was also on board that fleet. ©¥???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????????, ??????¡¯?? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ??????????????? ©¥?? ?????? ?????????????? ????????! ©¥???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????? ??????????????? ©¥. . .???????? ????????????????, ????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ©¥??¡¯?? ??????????. ?? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ????????¡¯?? ??????????????????, ?????? ???? ????¡¯?? ???????? ????????, ????¡¯???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????????????? ????????. ©¥????¡¯?? ????????. ??¡¯???? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????. ©¥?????????? ???????? ???? ??????????????? ©¥???? ?????? ????????, ???? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ???? ??????, ???????? ???? ??¡¯?? ????????. Jyanina had a reason for saying this. Of course, it wasn¡¯t bad to be on the duke¡¯s ship. The ship would be thergest and strongest in the fleet, and the best sailors and captain would be sailing it. However, Jyanina¡¯s position there would be, at best, an apprentice wizard or a wizard¡¯s disciple. There were so many high-ranking people. Jyanina wanted to be the leader, even if it was a smaller ship. The saying, ¡®????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????,¡¯ was true. The other wizards also supported Jyanina¡¯s opinion. ©¥???? ?? ????????????, ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????????????? ????????????????????. ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ????????, ????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ??????????????-????????¡¯?? ????????????. ?????????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ????????????????????. ©¥?? ???????? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ????????????????????. ?????????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ????????????, ?????????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???? ????????????. . . ©¥. . . . . . In fact, Jyanina wanted to show the exotic animals to the nobles and rip them off, rather than the desire to have the mysteries as a wizard. When everyone else was carrying the fascinating treasures of the east, how discriminated would she be if she alone carried the animals of the east? However, she couldn¡¯t just sit still when the wizards said that. Jyanina nodded vigorously. ©¥????????. . . ???????? ???? ??????????????. ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????. ©¥???? ????????????! ©¥??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????, ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ??????????, ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????. ??????¡¯?? ???? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????. . . ©¥. . . . . . Jyanina was upset, but she endured it. Because the other party was the duke. And now. The fleet escorting Jyanina was anchored in the harbor. ¡°Long live His Highness the Duke!! Long live His Highness the Duke!!¡± The people of the city and the lower nobles who had gathered shouted. In the Coolia fiefdom, the duke¡¯s name was already something of a legend. His fame reached the heavens even in the empire, so the Coolia fiefdom, which had directly benefited from it, had nothing more to say. No wonder the minstrels went around saying, ¡®???? ????????????, ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ??????????????.¡¯ Coolia was a fiefdom that had be wealthy with the merchant ships and treasuresing in from the East. Even without that, everyone flocked to the harbor without being told, since the duke was finally returning after finishing his expedition. Just to see the duke in person and receive even a little bit of his divine presence! ¡°. . .???¡± ¡°Is that His Highness the Duke?¡± ¡°No, you idiot. It¡¯s a centaur.¡± ¡°Where is he?¡± Of course, there was no way Johan, who wasn¡¯t even there, would disembark. The people of the fiefdom waited in disappointment before dispersing. And the one who was the most bewildered was Jyanina. As soon as she disembarked, Jyanina grabbed the scribe by the cor and questioned him. ¡°Why isn¡¯t His Highness the Duke here!?¡± ¡°H-How would I know that!?¡± Jyanina sat down in the courtyard in front of the inner pce with a look of despair. She had finallye to collect her share, but her strong backer had disappeared. It wasn¡¯t like such arge fleet had sunk in a typhoon. . . Did he receive a demon¡¯s curse? ¡®. . .????, ????, ????. ???????????? ??????.¡¯ Although the pagans had spread rumors that ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????,¡¯ not many people believed it seriously. He was too devout to be considered to have made a pact with a demon. However, his power was certainly demonic. Jyanina had also asked Suetlg furtively, ¡®?????????? ???? ???? ?? ??-??. . .?¡¯ She was hit with a bucket of water and chased away. . . ¡®?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ?? ???????????¡¯ Not knowing what was going on, the lower nobles in the fiefdom came to Jyanina to ask for her opinion. She was a wizard who had participated in the expedition. ¡°When will His Highness the Duke return?¡± ¡°. . .He will probably arrive when the next fleet arrives.¡± ¡°Is that so. . . Did something happen in the battle by any chance?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you talking about. . .?¡± Jyanina was speechless. She realized what the nobles were suspicious of. They were worried that the duke had died in battle in the east or had copsed with serious injuries. ¡°Stop talking nonsense! Does that make sense? His Highness the Duke is protected by God!¡± ¡°Ah. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????????¡¯ One of the nobles tilted his head. Wizards were often suspected of being non-religious, and Jyanina had more of those cases because of her usual conduct. Thanks to that, the nobles only had more unnecessary thoughts. Jyanina gave a detailed exnation to appease their suspicions. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about the battle that took ce in the Holy Land. Now, listen carefully!¡± ¡°Yes, Wizard.¡± ¡°The number of enemies was two to three times ours. Maybe even four times. . . It was that big of a difference because all the pagans nearby flocked to us.¡± ¡°Despite that, did you win? Were the enemy soldiers all conscripts?¡± ¡°The knights filled the front and there were over a hundred noble gs, so that wasn¡¯t it.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina was only rying what had actually happened, but a suspicious light gradually began to appear in the nobles¡¯ eyes. Jyanina didn¡¯t notice that and continued her exnation. ¡°So how did His Highness the Duke win and reim the Holy Land. . .?¡± With two to three times the number of soldiers and a higher level, there seemed to be no way to win in reality. Jyanina nodded as if she had been waiting for that question. ¡°The pagan chiefs came to His Highness the Duke at night. It was because they wanted to serve His Highness the Duke.¡± ¡°. . .Why did the pagan chiefs. . .?¡± ¡°Ah. That¡¯s. . . His Highness the Duke had obtained a crown in the forest before. It was a crown that had disappeared from the Holy Land in the past. . .¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the crown of the Holy Land belong to the guardian of the Holy Land? It¡¯s a crown that has been passed down from generation to generation, so why?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because it was a fake! It was a fake, and in reality, the pagans had taken it, but it was revealed to be a fake. . .¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s right.¡± Their suspicions were gradually rising to a medium level. Jyanina continued to diligently list the events that had happened. ¡°The battle became advantageous thanks to the pagan chiefs turning to His Highness the Duke. But the enemies held on tenaciously.¡± ¡°Oh. . . That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°So His Highness the Duke charged into the enemy camp at night.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how he won the battle. Got it?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The nobles looked at Jyanina with bewilderment and embarrassment. No matter how much of a wizard she was, this was a bit too much to just let go. ¡°D-Did you just win? Did the enemies all turn into scarecrows overnight?¡± ¡°No. . .! How stupid! That¡¯s why, when His Highness the Duke went in at night and cut down everything he could reach, the enemies were so scared that they all ran away, and their camp copsed because of it!¡± ¡°What did the enemymander do?¡± ¡°The enemies would also have knights, right?¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t go out in person like you guys, but they would have asked questions!¡± When Jyanina got angry, the nobles flinched. There was nothing good about provoking a wizard. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, Wizard. It¡¯s such a dramatic and ridiculous story. . .¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Ah, no! I¡¯m not doubting you. I believe you.¡± One of the nobles opened his mouth to change the atmosphere. ¡°How did you defeat the Sultan? I¡¯m curious about that!¡± ¡°Ah. That¡¯s because. . . The army gathered across the river tried to cross it by doing this and that. . .¡± ¡°Yes, I heard.¡± ¡°The Sultan¡¯s fleet sank. . .¡± ¡°I heard that the Elf King was rescued!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the Sultan, enraged by that, fill up the river with magic andunch an all-out attack? I heard that His Highness the Duke fought against that!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t filled with magic, it was because of the cold.¡± ¡°But I heard that it¡¯s a river that never freezes.¡± ¡°. . .In any case, the Sultan¡¯srge army crossed the frozen river. They were more elite than the pagan army in the Holy Land, and their size must have been three or four times ours. Our expeditionary force also got into formation to match them.¡± At Jyanina¡¯s words, the nobles made expectant expressions again. ¡°The left wing was made up of the feudal lords nearby, so they copsed quickly. They ran away not long after the battle started.¡± ¡°Hmph. . .!¡± ¡°How could that be. . .!¡± ¡°So His Highness the Duke charged.¡± The nobles nodded in sympathy. The heroic charge of a knight always inspired his allies. Surely there would have been an honorable duel between the knights, and the fleeing feudal lords would have returned, feeling ashamed. ¡°Did the enemy knightse out and face His Highness the Duke?¡± ¡°Ah. That was before the left wing ran away. He didn¡¯t have any more duels after that.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke just charged in, kept pushing forward, reached the Sultan¡¯s tent, cut off his head,pletely broke through the center, and split it apart. . .¡± Jyanina also began to notice the nobles¡¯ expressions. Even as she spoke, it sounded a bit too exaggerated. ¡®. . .?????? ?? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????????. . .?¡¯ She could say she heard the voice of God or that an earthquake urred. . . ¡°And so the battle was over.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The nobles just blinked at each other and said nothing. They thanked Jyanina and walked out the door with slumped shoulders. After everyone had left, Jyanina quickly went up to the window and listened. ¡°Waaah. . .! Something must have happened to the Duke!¡± ¡°Oh,e on. . .! How could that be! He must be recuperating from his injuries. He¡¯ll be back soon!¡± ¡°If it was a minor injury, why would she tell such ridiculous lies! Waaahhhh!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Fortunately, not long after, a messenger came running from the west. It was a message saying that the duke hadnded in the west. Jyanina let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Wait. . .could it be that the wizard made a fake letter? She¡¯s a snakekin afterall. . .¡± ¡°And I heard she also worked in the emperor¡¯s court so. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Chapter 365: ????????-?????????? (9) Rumors were scary. Once something became a rumor, it was almost impossible to change it. Even if evidence to the contrary appeared, people perceived it in ordance with the facts they already believed. Several nobles were genuinely heartbroken and mourned upon hearing the rumor that Duke had fallen in battle during the expedition. Such heroes would not appear for a long time. And some nobles pretended to mourn while worrying about the future. Thanks to the duke, the surrounding area had been peaceful despite the many wolves and jackals. If the duke were gone, the mes of war could once again erupt here. And some crazy nobles hatched ambitious conspiracies. ¡°Now that His Highness the Duke has passed away, isn¡¯t this the opportunity? The only one currently in the fiefdom is an immature child. If we just seize the castle. . .¡± ¡°W-What is this nonsense? How can such a treacherous act work when there are so many nobles and knights serving His Highness the Duke?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the problem? Of course, I admit that the duke was a great man. Hepletely pacified this area with the approval of the Order.¡± The young duke¡¯s charisma was beyond imagination. No one expected that the foreign duke would control this area in such a way. Originally, it would not have been strange for the dissatisfied and stubborn feudal lords to rebel or rise up with their knights, but the duke skillfully handled the surrounding area with both a carrot and a stick.Sometimes humbly, sometimes ruthlessly. If you looked at the number of rebellions since then, you could see how overwhelming the duke was. Even when the duke went on an expedition, there was not even a singlemon disturbance ormotion. However, grievances are bound to build up in people. No matter how perfect the rule was, there were a few dissatisfied nobles at the bottom. ¡°But that duke is gone now!¡± ¡°Is that rumor true? If it¡¯s a false rumor. . .¡± ¡°You fools! How can that be a false rumor? Didn¡¯t you see the baron next door? He¡¯s calling the priests and mourning!¡± ¡°That makes sense! Now that the duke is gone, the nobles who were loyal to him won¡¯t be so loyal. At best, she¡¯s just a child who doesn¡¯t share a drop of blood with the duke.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re going to do it, we need to do it now. If other feudal lords or people from the republic get involved. . .¡± Rebellion also had its timing. They had to suppress, conquer, and finish everything while there was no one capable in the duchy, or they would be sitting ducks if more fleets returned and other forces came in from outside. ¡°Once we conquer and get our hands on the child, the other nobles will follow our will.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± The skeptical nobles gradually began toe around as the persuasion continued. In the first ce, those gathered there were the dissatisfied ones, so they couldn¡¯t help but be tempted. ¡°Pardon my rudeness, but with just the families here, it seems like our reputation might be a bit weak.¡± ¡°I knew you¡¯d say that, so I sent someone to the eastern kingdom.¡± ¡°!¡± The feudal lords had prepared meticulously in their own way. Since they obviouslycked a just cause and reputation on their own, they sent envoys to the small eastern kingdoms and recruited a capable count. Outwardly, it would proceed with the pretext prepared by the count (in fact, a distant rtive of the duke). The count was also very pleased with the fact that he could make a fortune without lifting a finger. ¡°Now. Let¡¯s all swear before God!¡± Five barons, eight quasi-barons, and eleven knights joined hands and took an oath. They nned to gather under the pretext of hunting and then rush in at once. ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù ¡°It¡¯s a rebellion! Rebellion!¡± However, their conspiracy was foiled from the start. One of the knights immediately galloped away to report it. The knight who came running did not want to forgive the nobles who dared to betray His Highness the Duke. ¡°Huh!?¡± The people in the fiefdom were shocked by the sudden news of the rebellion. There were scribes and merchants working inside the inner pce, but they had littlebat experience. They ran to the most reliable person. ¡°Jyanina-nim!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Cold sweat ran down Jyanina¡¯s back. She had no idea how things had turned out this way. ¡®?????? ???????? ??????????!? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????????! ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????!¡¯ From the perspective of Jyanina, who had seen Johan ughter the pagans, she couldn¡¯t understand the nobles who had rebelled. Why? Why on earth? ¡°Wizard, give us your orders!¡± Fortunately, Johan did not leave the fiefdom alone, only trusting Jyanina. The Dwarf captain, Mackald, ran up to Jyanina and whispered. ¡°Wizard, I will mobilize the mercenaries and ve soldiers right away and gather them. Calmly order them to evacuate to the inner pce. The reinforcement work on the inner pce isplete, and we can face a thousand men with just a hundred.¡± ¡°. . .C-Calmly order them to evacuate to the inner pce.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need to evacuate everyone. Wizard, at most, there will be about a thousand of them, no matter how many of them rebel. They won¡¯t be able to enter the city. You only need to evacuate the important people to the inner pce.¡± ¡°Order the important people to evacuate to the inner pce. . .¡± The scribes nodded with relief at the sight of Jyanina whispering instructions with the Dwarf captain. When the leader is calm in a crisis, their subordinates naturally calm down. ¡°Send a centurion to arrest those who can be arrested. Even if only one or two disappear, they will panic.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± As soon as everyone present left, Mackald eximed in admiration. ¡°Well done, Wizard. Very experienced. . .¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù ¡°Raise the g and attack!¡± The knights gathered around the outer castle with the soldiers, servants, and ves they had brought. Compared to the elites that Johan had led in the east, they looked like a ragtag group, but that was the average to begin with. Whether they were servants or ves, thanks to eating well under the lord, they were quiterge and had swung their weapons a few times, so they were decent soldiers. Even mercenaries who had fought all their lives were surprisingly rare. Usually, they died or retired before that, and there were many mercenaries who didn¡¯t know how to swing a sword. ????????????????????©¥ With the sound of trumpets, the knights burst out of the forest and rushed towards the eastern outer castle gate. They intended to rush through the outer castle gate in one breath and capture the people inside. ¡°!¡± However, what greeted the knights who came running were the raised drawbridge, the deep moat, and the eerily quiet atmosphere around the castle. Usually, it should be lively and noisy with peopleing and going from the outer castle. . . ¡°W-What is this. . .?¡± A noble muttered ominously, but the other knights were so excited that they didn¡¯t care at all. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, we¡¯ll cross the moat! Bring the equipment!¡± At the knight¡¯s cry, four servants came dragging adder from behind. ¡°You fool! If you cross the moat with adder, how do you n to cross the castle wall! Bring other nks!¡± It took a while, and the servants barely managed to find some nks from somewhere. They looked at the castle wall with anxious expressions and ced the nks over the moat. . . .However, it was too short. Instead of hanging over the moat, the nks fell to the bottom. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Look at those fools!¡± The knight beat his chest as if frustrated. The Dwarf mercenaries watching from above asked in disbelief. ¡°What are those guys doing?¡± ¡°It seems like they¡¯ve only done mountedbat and never fought a siege.¡± ¡°Should we just shoot them?¡± ¡°Wait. If we shoot them now, they might get scared and note at all.¡± The Dwarf mercenaries waited patiently. Originally, a siege was a heart-pounding battle where you waited for a formidable opponent who mighte at any time, but. . . Looking at their opponent¡¯s guts now, they couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Shouldn¡¯t you at least bring the proper equipment! ¡°Put it up!¡± It took another hour before the enemies began to hang nks everywhere. The soldiers crossed the moat hesitantly. And the attack began. ¡°Thwack!¡± ¡°Argh!¡± ¡°Cough!¡± Although they were not as good as knights, they were wearing armor and had some kind of metal attached to their limbs, but they were no match for the Dwarf mercenaries¡¯ precise aim. Dozens of soldiers fell in an instant and tumbled into the moat. There was no time to even put up adder. ??????????! The knights blocked the bolts with their shields and shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid and advance!¡± At that cry, his men advanced. Backwards. ¡°Advance! Advance! Don¡¯t run away! Cowards!¡± ¡°Oh my. . .¡± The baron covered his head as he watched the retreating figures from the rear camp. Looking at the way they were fighting now, he suddenly regretted why he was here. The knights, who had been acting so smug and causing trouble, were doing nothing but holding up their shields in front of the tightly closed castle wall and gate. ¡°Retreat! Retreat!¡± In the end, those who couldn¡¯t stand it anymore gave the signal to retreat. The knights shouted with resentful expressions. ¡°It seems there¡¯s a traitor! Judging from how thorough the defense is!¡± The Dwarves would have been shocked if they had heard that. The outer castle¡¯s defenses were at their usual level right now. They had also been hastily assembled. The ce that was hastily beefing up its defenses right now was the inner pce, and the outer castle only had the avable troops. . . Groaning sounds came from all over the camp. It was the sound of soldiers who had been hit by arrows groaning. ¡°Let¡¯s go down and get supplies. We have to get them from the city people.¡± Coolia originally consisted of the existing castle (which Johan had expanded several times since he arrived) and the port city below it. Although the important people were in the castle, the city was rich in supplies. If they requisitioned some, they would be able to restore their morale, which had fallen to the ground. ¡°Got it. Take your men and go requisition them.¡± The two knights led nearly a hundred of their men to the city. And four hourster, eighty of them returned. ¡°. . .We ran into those mercenary bastards who were lying in ambush.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The other knights dropped their jaws. The castle had a high wall and a moat, but the harbor below had a low wall, and there would probably be quite a few even outside the wall. . . ¡°The city people must have been very determined, so they organized a vignte group and waited. The moment we tried to break into a house, arrows flew. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? What crazy b*stard started a rebellion?¡± Johan was dumbfounded by the urgent message. Even though he was absent, it wasn¡¯t enough to start a rebellion. ¡°It¡¯s true! A rumor spread that Your Highness the Duke had passed away. . . Some must have harbored sinister intentions. Count Oldor from the eastern kingdom also joined the war with his army!¡± Of course, the count was in his own fiefdom, and he had no intention of attacking Coolia across the sea. What was he thinking doing something like that? However, once he lent his name, he naturally had to be included in the rumors. Johan¡¯s face became serious. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????, ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????????????.¡¯ Coolia¡¯s defenses were sufficient, but that was assuming a normal situation. What if a huge army came in from outside. . .? ¡°Select only those with good stamina and elites among the cavalry! Return quickly.¡± ¡°My dear. I¡¯ll go with you too.¡± ¡°No. Iselia, you¡¯re noting with me. It would be a bigger loss if we changed the direction of the expeditionary force because of something like that.¡± If things really got bad, he could bring them in for additional support, but he didn¡¯t want to change direction in the middle of leading the expeditionary force across the empire. It was better to suppress them as quickly as possible with a small and elite force. ¡®????????????, ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ????¡¯???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ Johan sent a message to the people of the republic to send ships, and he prepared to quickly rush out with his cavalry. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Johan also asked the two wizards for a favor. It was in case something happened while Johan was away. ¡°This isn¡¯t the east. . . Nothing will happen. Rest easy and don¡¯t worry about it. Contact me with the Fire Goblet if you need help.¡± Caenerna also gave advice. ¡°It might be a good idea to send someone to the count as well, just in case.¡± ¡°A threat? Will it work?¡± ¡°Even if it doesn¡¯t work, won¡¯t you remember itter if things get bad?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Send a message to that Count Oldor too! If he doesn¡¯t withdraw his army right now, I¡¯ll chase him to his fiefdom and cut off his head, even if he runs away! I¡¯ll hang him and all his bloodline on the gate of the castle!¡± Johan didn¡¯t intend to chase him that far, but when making threats, it¡¯s always better to make them strong. He might not know now, but he might remember itter if things got bad for him. ¡®???? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ??????????????????, ??????. . .¡¯, Rumors were scary. Once something became a rumor, it was almost impossible to change it. Even if evidence to the contrary appeared, people perceived it in ordance with the facts they already believed. Several nobles were genuinely heartbroken and mourned upon hearing the rumor that Duke had fallen in battle during the expedition. Such heroes would not appear for a long time. And some nobles pretended to mourn while worrying about the future. Thanks to the duke, the surrounding area had been peaceful despite the many wolves and jackals. If the duke were gone, the mes of war could once again erupt here. And some crazy nobles hatched ambitious conspiracies. ¡°Now that His Highness the Duke has passed away, isn¡¯t this the opportunity? The only one currently in the fiefdom is an immature child. If we just seize the castle. . .¡± ¡°W-What is this nonsense? How can such a treacherous act work when there are so many nobles and knights serving His Highness the Duke?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the problem? Of course, I admit that the duke was a great man. Hepletely pacified this area with the approval of the Order.¡± The young duke¡¯s charisma was beyond imagination. No one expected that the foreign duke would control this area in such a way. Originally, it would not have been strange for the dissatisfied and stubborn feudal lords to rebel or rise up with their knights, but the duke skillfully handled the surrounding area with both a carrot and a stick. Sometimes humbly, sometimes ruthlessly. If you looked at the number of rebellions since then, you could see how overwhelming the duke was. Even when the duke went on an expedition, there was not even a singlemon disturbance ormotion. However, grievances are bound to build up in people. No matter how perfect the rule was, there were a few dissatisfied nobles at the bottom. ¡°But that duke is gone now!¡± ¡°Is that rumor true? If it¡¯s a false rumor. . .¡± ¡°You fools! How can that be a false rumor? Didn¡¯t you see the baron next door? He¡¯s calling the priests and mourning!¡± ¡°That makes sense! Now that the duke is gone, the nobles who were loyal to him won¡¯t be so loyal. At best, she¡¯s just a child who doesn¡¯t share a drop of blood with the duke.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re going to do it, we need to do it now. If other feudal lords or people from the republic get involved. . .¡± Rebellion also had its timing. They had to suppress, conquer, and finish everything while there was no one capable in the duchy, or they would be sitting ducks if more fleets returned and other forces came in from outside. ¡°Once we conquer and get our hands on the child, the other nobles will follow our will.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± The skeptical nobles gradually began toe around as the persuasion continued. In the first ce, those gathered there were the dissatisfied ones, so they couldn¡¯t help but be tempted. ¡°Pardon my rudeness, but with just the families here, it seems like our reputation might be a bit weak.¡± ¡°I knew you¡¯d say that, so I sent someone to the eastern kingdom.¡± ¡°!¡± The feudal lords had prepared meticulously in their own way. Since they obviouslycked a just cause and reputation on their own, they sent envoys to the small eastern kingdoms and recruited a capable count. Outwardly, it would proceed with the pretext prepared by the count (in fact, a distant rtive of the duke). The count was also very pleased with the fact that he could make a fortune without lifting a finger. ¡°Now. Let¡¯s all swear before God!¡± Five barons, eight quasi-barons, and eleven knights joined hands and took an oath. They nned to gather under the pretext of hunting and then rush in at once. ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù ¡°It¡¯s a rebellion! Rebellion!¡± However, their conspiracy was foiled from the start. One of the knights immediately galloped away to report it. The knight who came running did not want to forgive the nobles who dared to betray His Highness the Duke. ¡°Huh!?¡± The people in the fiefdom were shocked by the sudden news of the rebellion. There were scribes and merchants working inside the inner pce, but they had littlebat experience. They ran to the most reliable person. ¡°Jyanina-nim!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Cold sweat ran down Jyanina¡¯s back. She had no idea how things had turned out this way. ¡®?????? ???????? ??????????!? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????????????????! ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ????????!¡¯ From the perspective of Jyanina, who had seen Johan ughter the pagans, she couldn¡¯t understand the nobles who had rebelled. Why? Why on earth? ¡°Wizard, give us your orders!¡± Fortunately, Johan did not leave the fiefdom alone, only trusting Jyanina. The Dwarf captain, Mackald, ran up to Jyanina and whispered. ¡°Wizard, I will mobilize the mercenaries and ve soldiers right away and gather them. Calmly order them to evacuate to the inner pce. The reinforcement work on the inner pce isplete, and we can face a thousand men with just a hundred.¡± ¡°. . .C-Calmly order them to evacuate to the inner pce.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need to evacuate everyone. Wizard, at most, there will be about a thousand of them, no matter how many of them rebel. They won¡¯t be able to enter the city. You only need to evacuate the important people to the inner pce.¡± ¡°Order the important people to evacuate to the inner pce. . .¡± The scribes nodded with relief at the sight of Jyanina whispering instructions with the Dwarf captain. When the leader is calm in a crisis, their subordinates naturally calm down. ¡°Send a centurion to arrest those who can be arrested. Even if only one or two disappear, they will panic.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± As soon as everyone present left, Mackald eximed in admiration. ¡°Well done, Wizard. Very experienced. . .¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù ¡°Raise the g and attack!¡± The knights gathered around the outer castle with the soldiers, servants, and ves they had brought. Compared to the elites that Johan had led in the east, they looked like a ragtag group, but that was the average to begin with. Whether they were servants or ves, thanks to eating well under the lord, they were quiterge and had swung their weapons a few times, so they were decent soldiers. Even mercenaries who had fought all their lives were surprisingly rare. Usually, they died or retired before that, and there were many mercenaries who didn¡¯t know how to swing a sword. ????????????????????©¥ With the sound of trumpets, the knights burst out of the forest and rushed towards the eastern outer castle gate. They intended to rush through the outer castle gate in one breath and capture the people inside. ¡°!¡± However, what greeted the knights who came running were the raised drawbridge, the deep moat, and the eerily quiet atmosphere around the castle. Usually, it should be lively and noisy with peopleing and going from the outer castle. . . ¡°W-What is this. . .?¡± A noble muttered ominously, but the other knights were so excited that they didn¡¯t care at all. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, we¡¯ll cross the moat! Bring the equipment!¡± At the knight¡¯s cry, four servants came dragging adder from behind. ¡°You fool! If you cross the moat with adder, how do you n to cross the castle wall! Bring other nks!¡± It took a while, and the servants barely managed to find some nks from somewhere. They looked at the castle wall with anxious expressions and ced the nks over the moat. . . .However, it was too short. Instead of hanging over the moat, the nks fell to the bottom. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°Look at those fools!¡± The knight beat his chest as if frustrated. The Dwarf mercenaries watching from above asked in disbelief. ¡°What are those guys doing?¡± ¡°It seems like they¡¯ve only done mountedbat and never fought a siege.¡± ¡°Should we just shoot them?¡± ¡°Wait. If we shoot them now, they might get scared and note at all.¡± The Dwarf mercenaries waited patiently. Originally, a siege was a heart-pounding battle where you waited for a formidable opponent who mighte at any time, but. . . Looking at their opponent¡¯s guts now, they couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Shouldn¡¯t you at least bring the proper equipment! ¡°Put it up!¡± It took another hour before the enemies began to hang nks everywhere. The soldiers crossed the moat hesitantly. And the attack began. ¡°Thwack!¡± ¡°Argh!¡± ¡°Cough!¡± Although they were not as good as knights, they were wearing armor and had some kind of metal attached to their limbs, but they were no match for the Dwarf mercenaries¡¯ precise aim. Dozens of soldiers fell in an instant and tumbled into the moat. There was no time to even put up adder. ??????????! The knights blocked the bolts with their shields and shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid and advance!¡± At that cry, his men advanced. Backwards. ¡°Advance! Advance! Don¡¯t run away! Cowards!¡± ¡°Oh my. . .¡± The baron covered his head as he watched the retreating figures from the rear camp. Looking at the way they were fighting now, he suddenly regretted why he was here. The knights, who had been acting so smug and causing trouble, were doing nothing but holding up their shields in front of the tightly closed castle wall and gate. ¡°Retreat! Retreat!¡± In the end, those who couldn¡¯t stand it anymore gave the signal to retreat. The knights shouted with resentful expressions. ¡°It seems there¡¯s a traitor! Judging from how thorough the defense is!¡± The Dwarves would have been shocked if they had heard that. The outer castle¡¯s defenses were at their usual level right now. They had also been hastily assembled. The ce that was hastily beefing up its defenses right now was the inner pce, and the outer castle only had the avable troops. . . Groaning sounds came from all over the camp. It was the sound of soldiers who had been hit by arrows groaning. ¡°Let¡¯s go down and get supplies. We have to get them from the city people.¡± Coolia originally consisted of the existing castle (which Johan had expanded several times since he arrived) and the port city below it. Although the important people were in the castle, the city was rich in supplies. If they requisitioned some, they would be able to restore their morale, which had fallen to the ground. ¡°Got it. Take your men and go requisition them.¡± The two knights led nearly a hundred of their men to the city. And four hourster, eighty of them returned. ¡°. . .We ran into those mercenary bastards who were lying in ambush.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The other knights dropped their jaws. The castle had a high wall and a moat, but the harbor below had a low wall, and there would probably be quite a few even outside the wall. . . ¡°The city people must have been very determined, so they organized a vignte group and waited. The moment we tried to break into a house, arrows flew. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? What crazy b*stard started a rebellion?¡± Johan was dumbfounded by the urgent message. Even though he was absent, it wasn¡¯t enough to start a rebellion. ¡°It¡¯s true! A rumor spread that Your Highness the Duke had passed away. . . Some must have harbored sinister intentions. Count Oldor from the eastern kingdom also joined the war with his army!¡± Of course, the count was in his own fiefdom, and he had no intention of attacking Coolia across the sea. What was he thinking doing something like that? However, once he lent his name, he naturally had to be included in the rumors. Johan¡¯s face became serious. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????, ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????????????????.¡¯ Coolia¡¯s defenses were sufficient, but that was assuming a normal situation. What if a huge army came in from outside. . .? ¡°Select only those with good stamina and elites among the cavalry! Return quickly.¡± ¡°My dear. I¡¯ll go with you too.¡± ¡°No. Iselia, you¡¯re noting with me. It would be a bigger loss if we changed the direction of the expeditionary force because of something like that.¡± If things really got bad, he could bring them in for additional support, but he didn¡¯t want to change direction in the middle of leading the expeditionary force across the empire. It was better to suppress them as quickly as possible with a small and elite force. ¡®????????????, ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ????¡¯???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ Johan sent a message to the people of the republic to send ships, and he prepared to quickly rush out with his cavalry. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Johan also asked the two wizards for a favor. It was in case something happened while Johan was away. ¡°This isn¡¯t the east. . . Nothing will happen. Rest easy and don¡¯t worry about it. Contact me with the Fire Goblet if you need help.¡± Caenerna also gave advice. ¡°It might be a good idea to send someone to the count as well, just in case.¡± ¡°A threat? Will it work?¡± ¡°Even if it doesn¡¯t work, won¡¯t you remember itter if things get bad?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Send a message to that Count Oldor too! If he doesn¡¯t withdraw his army right now, I¡¯ll chase him to his fiefdom and cut off his head, even if he runs away! I¡¯ll hang him and all his bloodline on the gate of the castle!¡± Johan didn¡¯t intend to chase him that far, but when making threats, it¡¯s always better to make them strong. He might not know now, but he might remember itter if things got bad for him. ¡®???? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ??????????????????, ??????. . .¡¯ Chapter 366: ????????-?????????? (10) While Johan was leading his men like a storm along the Empire highway, events were unfolding urgently like interlocking gears elsewhere. ¡°Rebellion has broken out in the fief of His Highness the Duke! We must send the fleet immediately!¡± ¡°What crazy bastards?!¡± The republic captains who heard the news were shocked. It waspletely unexpected. A rebellion only has a chance when the timing is right, but the Duke¡¯s authority was currently at its peak. The expedition had ended sessfully, and the soldiers who participated were returning full of loyalty and joy. A rebellion in this situation made no sense. Regardless of which nobleman was behind it, it was truly an ingenious suicidal act. ¡°It may have been led by some clueless mercenary captain. . . Judging by what he¡¯s doing, he clearly has noprehension of how things are developing.¡± ¡°Even if the rebellion doesn¡¯tst long, an ignorant fool is even more dangerous. What if he randomly sets fires and causes more damage?¡± If it was a rebellion led by nobles, they would fight ording to customs and rules even amidst the chaos. But rebellions led by serfs or mercenaries had no such things. If they snapped, they were likely to set fires and smash things. If the port of Coolia was destroyed, it would immediately impact not only the republic¡¯s trade but also the Duke¡¯s mood. The bnce of power was already tilted towards the Duke, giving him a justification would make the back of their necks feel cold. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll prepare the ships right aw©¥¡± ¡°More news came in! The rebellion is being led by Count Oldor!¡± ¡°Count Oldor? Who was that again?¡± ¡°Ah, the count in the eastern kingdom. The one with the iron ore fief under the mountain range. A greedy and ferocious bunch.¡± ¡°Oh right. . . What? That count is leading it?¡± One of the captains nodded then made a bewildered expression. No matter how he thought about it, the scale didn¡¯t match up. ¡°If His Highness the Duke says so, what can we do.¡± ¡°This makes no sense. What sinister conspiracy could be lurking?¡± ¡°Either way, it¡¯s time we make a move.¡± ¡°Understood. The fleet, south! Send an envoy to the Count¡¯s fief. Warn them strongly!¡± ???????????? The morale of the rebels couldn¡¯t possibly be high with both their castle and city having fallen. The servants and ves shifted their eyes nervously. The knights might be able to pay a ransom, but they would likely meet an unfortunate end if things went south. ¡°Sir Contanzo has arrived with fresh mercenaries! Give them a warm wee!¡± ¡°Wow. . .¡± The knights who arrivedte with reinforcements were bbergasted as they took in the scene. They had gone through the trouble of hiring mercenaries, only to find themselves in this situation. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°We fell victim to the enemy¡¯s vile schemes.¡± ¡°. . .¡± The other knights present nodded grimly. Their expressions were so serious that Sir Contanzo couldn¡¯t bring himself to ask for details. ¡°We need to hurry and get inside the castle walls. We can¡¯t just stand here.¡± ¡°Of course I know that! But what can we do when the enemy is acting so despicably?¡± ¡°Shall we challenge them to a duel?¡± ¡°They refused. Those dwarves know no honor.¡± The mercenaries who had been hired were growing impatient with the turn of events. They had been paid, so they were fine with doing their job, but things didn¡¯t always go as nned. If they wasted too much time outside the castle walls, these noblemen would run out of money, and once they ran out of money, these noblemen would say, ¡®??????????, ????¡¯???? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????,¡¯ so. . . ¡°How about we threaten them?¡± A mercenary captain spoke up carefully. ¡°What kind of threat?¡± ¡°We have a nobleman we captured on the way here. We could threaten to kill him if they don¡¯t open the gates.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit. . .¡± Even in the midst of all this, a few knights looked unconvinced. From the mercenaries¡¯ perspective, it was like, ¡®??????¡¯???? ???????????????? ?? ??????????????????, ???? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????¡¯ But for the knights, it was a matter of honor. After a long and heated discussion, the noblemen gathered finally came to a decision. They would make threats. ¡°Sir Stephen.¡± ¡°Y-Yes!¡± With the bloodline of Countess Abner, Stephen shook his head with tears in his eyes. He had never dreamed that he would be captured by mercenaries while out hunting with his friends in the forest. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry it had toe to this.¡± ¡°Why are you doing this!? Do you think you¡¯ll get away with this!?¡± ¡°Sir Stephen. Your Highness the Duke has fallen in battle.¡± ¡°Wha©¥!?¡± Stephen¡¯s eyes widened. The noblemen present were so serious that he couldn¡¯t believe it was a lie. At this shocking news, Stephen began to sob, tears streaming down his face. ¡°W-wah. . .! W-wah! I told you to leave those pagans alone in the Holy Land. . .!¡± ¡°. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± It wasn¡¯t something a monotheist would say, but the noblemen pretended not to hear. ¡°Sir Stephen. . .¡± ¡°W-Wahhhhh!¡± Stephen continued to cry, grieving the loss of one of his few friends. An irritated nobleman forced Stephen to raise his head. ¡°Stop crying! Please!¡± ¡°B-But. . . how can I help but be sad?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sad too. But sir, think about the future. There are many fierce and greedy hordes in this vicinity. Right now, the only sessor to His Highness the Duke is the young Lady Amien. Do you think Amien-nim can rule this region well enough to keep the enemies at bay?¡± Stephen was shocked by the noblemen¡¯s words. The task they were asking of Stephen was too much. ¡°S-So you want me to take the count¡¯s seat?¡± ¡°. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± The mercenary captain also looked incredulous. Stephen realized from the atmosphere that this was not it. ¡°O-Or not? Then why did you capture me?¡± ¡°. . .Wouldn¡¯t it be more reassuring to have another trustworthy noble in that seat?¡± ¡°S-Surely not Ulrike!? Please don¡¯t tell me that!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Count Oldor.¡± ¡°Huh? Who¡¯s that? I¡¯ve never heard of him.¡± ¡°He¡¯s actually quite well-known in the east. . .¡± The mercenary captain, who had been listening from the side, whispered impatiently. ¡°Why are you telling him everything? There¡¯s no need to persuade him!¡± ¡°B-But. . .¡± ¡°We need to move quickly! My men are waiting!¡± ¡°I-I understand.¡± ¡°?????¡± Stephen was gagged and bound again. Instead of being treated with respect as a prisoner, Stephen was hung from a pir, and he turned his eyes away in horror. ¡°Eup-eup-eup (If you got it from Ulrike, I¡¯ll give you double)!¡± ¡°What is he saying?¡± ¡°Ignore him. Hang him up front!¡± ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù ¡°!¡± The threats made outside were quicklymunicated. Mackald was also flustered by the news that an important nobleman had been captured. ¡°Wizard, didn¡¯t you have everyone evacuated?¡± ¡°I. . . I did. . .¡± Jyanina trembled. She could already picture the Duke scolding her, saying, ¡®?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ?????????!¡¯ ¡°This is no time for this. We need to confirm who it is. . .¡± The people inside the castle hurried to check. When they looked outside, they saw a familiar-looking nobleman hanging from a pir. ¡°. . .Oh. It¡¯s Sir Stephen!¡± ¡°Oh. . .!¡± Not only Jyanina, but the other scribes as well, gasped in surprise. Somehow everyone had been evacuated, but they said someone had been captured! ¡°W-Wait. This isn¡¯t the time to be impressed. What do we do? Sir Stephen has been captured?¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± The dwarf captain was deep in thought. There were no specific instructions from the Duke regarding Stephen. Judging from that, it seemed like they could just leave him there, but considering that he was of the bloodline of Countess Abner, perhaps they should show some concern. . . As Mackald pondered, Jyanina noticed his hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s not like we should open the gates and rescue him, but it¡¯s a shame to just abandon him. . .?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve hit the nail on the head, Wizard. Excellent.¡± The loyal dwarf captain was a fine soldier. He had the virtue of obeying and praising hismander, no matter what they said. Thanks to him, Jyanina was able to regain her confidence. ¡°Then I¡¯ll try to save him with my magic.¡± ¡°!!¡± The people present reacted differently. Those who didn¡¯t know Jyanina well looked at her with admiration, while those who did know her looked worried. Jyanina spoke resolutely to those who were giving her worried looks. ¡°I¡¯ll summon familiars that I brought from the East, so just watch!¡± ¡°Uhhh. . .¡± ¡°Wizard, you don¡¯t have to push yourself.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Jyanina almost cursed at them, but she held back. ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù This beast called the ¡®Quinzil¡¯ had the appearance resembling a badger, but in the Orient they were treated strictly as magical beasts. They were ferocious and brutal. Once they sneak into a barn under the cover of darkness, they would kill all the livestock inside. But if one could control them well, they could prate the stern defenses and rescue Stephen. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ Mackald did not evaluate highly of the alertness of the enemies¡¯ defenses. Compared to the Duke¡¯s elite forces that patrol sternly every hour, the mercenaries who wandered around sporadically were only worthy of a yawn. He wanted to take the dwarves with him tounch a surprise attack, but. . . ¡®???????? ???????????? ????.¡¯ Mackald valued principles. What mattered was the castle, not Stephen¡¯s life. It would be a shame if Stephen died, but it was a sacrifice that had to be made. ¡°Wizard, I trust you.¡± ¡°Just watch.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡®?? ?????????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ And so, under the cover of darkness, the monsters began to descend below the castle walls. The weasel familiars quickly ran and hid in the enemy¡¯s camp. ¡°Did you hear something?¡± ¡°Are you just trying to get out of rolling the dice now? Stop messing around and roll the dice.¡± ¡°Even if I say something. . .¡± ????????! The soldiers copsed with a thud. The Quinzls clung to the soldiers¡¯ necks, their red eyes glowing. The fallen soldiers didn¡¯t even have time to scream. ????????????, ????????????, ????????????! The Quinzls quickly found Stephen, bit through the ropes with their teeth, and removed the gag. At first, Stephen was frozen with fear, but then he realized btedly. ¡®????????¡¯???? ???????? ???? ???????? ????!¡¯ . . .But it was too scary for that. He was scared of the Quinzls, and he was also scared of having to run through this area alone in the middle of the night to get into the castle. ©¥??????????????. . .! ¡°M-M-Move if you want to live.¡± When the weasel familiar red at him with a murderous look, Stephen nodded stiffly. Stephen trudged through the grass covered in cold morning dew, following the familiars. ¡®???????????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ????????????. ???????????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ Less than a minute after he had that thought, amotion broke out behind him. ©¥?????? ????! ?????? ????! ©¥?????? ????????????! ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ??????!! ?????? ????! ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????! ¡°Ughhh!¡± Stephen¡¯s blood ran cold at the noiseing from behind him. Stephen looked at the Quinzls as if to ask for help. The Quinzls must have realized that the situation behind them was serious, because they immediately abandoned Stephen and fled to the castle walls. ¡°. . . . . .¡± The familiars disappeared into the darkness in an instant. Stephen despaired. ¡®???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????????. . .!¡¯ If he had just stayed tied up, he would have at least saved his life! Because those familiars had killed the mercenaries, he now had to worry about getting beaten up by the mercenaries if he was captured. ¡®???????????? ?? ??????? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ???????¡¯ Stephen hesitated. He thought that if he returned voluntarily, his punishment might be a little lighter. While he was thinking, the noise behind him grew louder and louder. He could hear the mercenaries screaming and running. But Stephen, lost in thought, didn¡¯t hear it. ¡®??????. . . ???????? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???? ?????¡¯ ¡°There¡¯s the nobleman! Catch him!¡± ¡°S-S-Surrender! I surrender!¡± Stephen prostrated himself immediately at the rough voiceing from behind him. ¡°I-I was going toe back anyway! It¡¯s hard to believe, but I didn¡¯t kill them!! M-Monsters suddenly appeared and threatened me! I swear on my honor as a noble. . .!¡± ¡°. . .What are you doing, Sir Stephen?¡± A centaur whose face he seemed to recognize looked down at Stephen in disbelief. He had captured Stephen thinking that he was a fleeing rebel, judging by his attire, but he was a noble he had seen before. ¡°Did you participate in the rebellion. . .?¡± ¡°N-N-No! Why would I do that?! I was captured!¡± ¡°Well, that makes sense. You are not someone with the ability to do that.¡± ¡°Ha ha. . . huh?¡± ¡®?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????¡¯, ?????? ¡®?????????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????¡¯ ???? ???? ????????? Stephen thought something was off, but he didn¡¯t argue. He was scared of the centaur holding a spear, ready to strike. ¡°The duke is over there. Follow me.¡± ¡°What??? He came back to life?¡±, While Johan was leading his men like a storm along the Empire highway, events were unfolding urgently like interlocking gears elsewhere. ¡°Rebellion has broken out in the fief of His Highness the Duke! We must send the fleet immediately!¡± ¡°What crazy bastards?!¡± The republic captains who heard the news were shocked. It waspletely unexpected. A rebellion only has a chance when the timing is right, but the Duke¡¯s authority was currently at its peak. The expedition had ended sessfully, and the soldiers who participated were returning full of loyalty and joy. A rebellion in this situation made no sense. Regardless of which nobleman was behind it, it was truly an ingenious suicidal act. ¡°It may have been led by some clueless mercenary captain. . . Judging by what he¡¯s doing, he clearly has noprehension of how things are developing.¡± ¡°Even if the rebellion doesn¡¯tst long, an ignorant fool is even more dangerous. What if he randomly sets fires and causes more damage?¡± If it was a rebellion led by nobles, they would fight ording to customs and rules even amidst the chaos. But rebellions led by serfs or mercenaries had no such things. If they snapped, they were likely to set fires and smash things. If the port of Coolia was destroyed, it would immediately impact not only the republic¡¯s trade but also the Duke¡¯s mood. The bnce of power was already tilted towards the Duke, giving him a justification would make the back of their necks feel cold. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll prepare the ships right aw©¥¡± ¡°More news came in! The rebellion is being led by Count Oldor!¡± ¡°Count Oldor? Who was that again?¡± ¡°Ah, the count in the eastern kingdom. The one with the iron ore fief under the mountain range. A greedy and ferocious bunch.¡± ¡°Oh right. . . What? That count is leading it?¡± One of the captains nodded then made a bewildered expression. No matter how he thought about it, the scale didn¡¯t match up. ¡°If His Highness the Duke says so, what can we do.¡± ¡°This makes no sense. What sinister conspiracy could be lurking?¡± ¡°Either way, it¡¯s time we make a move.¡± ¡°Understood. The fleet, south! Send an envoy to the Count¡¯s fief. Warn them strongly!¡± ???????????? The morale of the rebels couldn¡¯t possibly be high with both their castle and city having fallen. The servants and ves shifted their eyes nervously. The knights might be able to pay a ransom, but they would likely meet an unfortunate end if things went south. ¡°Sir Contanzo has arrived with fresh mercenaries! Give them a warm wee!¡± ¡°Wow. . .¡± The knights who arrivedte with reinforcements were bbergasted as they took in the scene. They had gone through the trouble of hiring mercenaries, only to find themselves in this situation. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°We fell victim to the enemy¡¯s vile schemes.¡± ¡°. . .¡± The other knights present nodded grimly. Their expressions were so serious that Sir Contanzo couldn¡¯t bring himself to ask for details. ¡°We need to hurry and get inside the castle walls. We can¡¯t just stand here.¡± ¡°Of course I know that! But what can we do when the enemy is acting so despicably?¡± ¡°Shall we challenge them to a duel?¡± ¡°They refused. Those dwarves know no honor.¡± The mercenaries who had been hired were growing impatient with the turn of events. They had been paid, so they were fine with doing their job, but things didn¡¯t always go as nned. If they wasted too much time outside the castle walls, these noblemen would run out of money, and once they ran out of money, these noblemen would say, ¡®??????????, ????¡¯???? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????,¡¯ so. . . ¡°How about we threaten them?¡± A mercenary captain spoke up carefully. ¡°What kind of threat?¡± ¡°We have a nobleman we captured on the way here. We could threaten to kill him if they don¡¯t open the gates.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit. . .¡± Even in the midst of all this, a few knights looked unconvinced. From the mercenaries¡¯ perspective, it was like, ¡®??????¡¯???? ???????????????? ?? ??????????????????, ???? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????¡¯ But for the knights, it was a matter of honor. After a long and heated discussion, the noblemen gathered finally came to a decision. They would make threats. ¡°Sir Stephen.¡± ¡°Y-Yes!¡± With the bloodline of Countess Abner, Stephen shook his head with tears in his eyes. He had never dreamed that he would be captured by mercenaries while out hunting with his friends in the forest. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry it had toe to this.¡± ¡°Why are you doing this!? Do you think you¡¯ll get away with this!?¡± ¡°Sir Stephen. Your Highness the Duke has fallen in battle.¡± ¡°Wha©¥!?¡± Stephen¡¯s eyes widened. The noblemen present were so serious that he couldn¡¯t believe it was a lie. At this shocking news, Stephen began to sob, tears streaming down his face. ¡°W-wah. . .! W-wah! I told you to leave those pagans alone in the Holy Land. . .!¡± ¡°. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± It wasn¡¯t something a monotheist would say, but the noblemen pretended not to hear. ¡°Sir Stephen. . .¡± ¡°W-Wahhhhh!¡± Stephen continued to cry, grieving the loss of one of his few friends. An irritated nobleman forced Stephen to raise his head. ¡°Stop crying! Please!¡± ¡°B-But. . . how can I help but be sad?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sad too. But sir, think about the future. There are many fierce and greedy hordes in this vicinity. Right now, the only sessor to His Highness the Duke is the young Lady Amien. Do you think Amien-nim can rule this region well enough to keep the enemies at bay?¡± Stephen was shocked by the noblemen¡¯s words. The task they were asking of Stephen was too much. ¡°S-So you want me to take the count¡¯s seat?¡± ¡°. . .¡± ¡°. . .¡± The mercenary captain also looked incredulous. Stephen realized from the atmosphere that this was not it. ¡°O-Or not? Then why did you capture me?¡± ¡°. . .Wouldn¡¯t it be more reassuring to have another trustworthy noble in that seat?¡± ¡°S-Surely not Ulrike!? Please don¡¯t tell me that!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Count Oldor.¡± ¡°Huh? Who¡¯s that? I¡¯ve never heard of him.¡± ¡°He¡¯s actually quite well-known in the east. . .¡± The mercenary captain, who had been listening from the side, whispered impatiently. ¡°Why are you telling him everything? There¡¯s no need to persuade him!¡± ¡°B-But. . .¡± ¡°We need to move quickly! My men are waiting!¡± ¡°I-I understand.¡± ¡°?????¡± Stephen was gagged and bound again. Instead of being treated with respect as a prisoner, Stephen was hung from a pir, and he turned his eyes away in horror. ¡°Eup-eup-eup (If you got it from Ulrike, I¡¯ll give you double)!¡± ¡°What is he saying?¡± ¡°Ignore him. Hang him up front!¡± ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù ¡°!¡± The threats made outside were quicklymunicated. Mackald was also flustered by the news that an important nobleman had been captured. ¡°Wizard, didn¡¯t you have everyone evacuated?¡± ¡°I. . . I did. . .¡± Jyanina trembled. She could already picture the Duke scolding her, saying, ¡®?????? ????????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ?????????!¡¯ ¡°This is no time for this. We need to confirm who it is. . .¡± The people inside the castle hurried to check. When they looked outside, they saw a familiar-looking nobleman hanging from a pir. ¡°. . .Oh. It¡¯s Sir Stephen!¡± ¡°Oh. . .!¡± Not only Jyanina, but the other scribes as well, gasped in surprise. Somehow everyone had been evacuated, but they said someone had been captured! ¡°W-Wait. This isn¡¯t the time to be impressed. What do we do? Sir Stephen has been captured?¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± The dwarf captain was deep in thought. There were no specific instructions from the Duke regarding Stephen. Judging from that, it seemed like they could just leave him there, but considering that he was of the bloodline of Countess Abner, perhaps they should show some concern. . . As Mackald pondered, Jyanina noticed his hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s not like we should open the gates and rescue him, but it¡¯s a shame to just abandon him. . .?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve hit the nail on the head, Wizard. Excellent.¡± The loyal dwarf captain was a fine soldier. He had the virtue of obeying and praising hismander, no matter what they said. Thanks to him, Jyanina was able to regain her confidence. ¡°Then I¡¯ll try to save him with my magic.¡± ¡°!!¡± The people present reacted differently. Those who didn¡¯t know Jyanina well looked at her with admiration, while those who did know her looked worried. Jyanina spoke resolutely to those who were giving her worried looks. ¡°I¡¯ll summon familiars that I brought from the East, so just watch!¡± ¡°Uhhh. . .¡± ¡°Wizard, you don¡¯t have to push yourself.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Jyanina almost cursed at them, but she held back. ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù This beast called the ¡®Quinzil¡¯ had the appearance resembling a badger, but in the Orient they were treated strictly as magical beasts. They were ferocious and brutal. Once they sneak into a barn under the cover of darkness, they would kill all the livestock inside. But if one could control them well, they could prate the stern defenses and rescue Stephen. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ Mackald did not evaluate highly of the alertness of the enemies¡¯ defenses. Compared to the Duke¡¯s elite forces that patrol sternly every hour, the mercenaries who wandered around sporadically were only worthy of a yawn. He wanted to take the dwarves with him tounch a surprise attack, but. . . ¡®???????? ???????????? ????.¡¯ Mackald valued principles. What mattered was the castle, not Stephen¡¯s life. It would be a shame if Stephen died, but it was a sacrifice that had to be made. ¡°Wizard, I trust you.¡± ¡°Just watch.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡®?? ?????????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????????.¡¯ And so, under the cover of darkness, the monsters began to descend below the castle walls. The weasel familiars quickly ran and hid in the enemy¡¯s camp. ¡°Did you hear something?¡± ¡°Are you just trying to get out of rolling the dice now? Stop messing around and roll the dice.¡± ¡°Even if I say something. . .¡± ????????! The soldiers copsed with a thud. The Quinzls clung to the soldiers¡¯ necks, their red eyes glowing. The fallen soldiers didn¡¯t even have time to scream. ????????????, ????????????, ????????????! The Quinzls quickly found Stephen, bit through the ropes with their teeth, and removed the gag. At first, Stephen was frozen with fear, but then he realized btedly. ¡®????????¡¯???? ???????? ???? ???????? ????!¡¯ . . .But it was too scary for that. He was scared of the Quinzls, and he was also scared of having to run through this area alone in the middle of the night to get into the castle. ©¥??????????????. . .! ¡°M-M-Move if you want to live.¡± When the weasel familiar red at him with a murderous look, Stephen nodded stiffly. Stephen trudged through the grass covered in cold morning dew, following the familiars. ¡®???????????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ????????????. ???????????? ??????¡¯?? ?????? ????????????.¡¯ Less than a minute after he had that thought, amotion broke out behind him. ©¥?????? ????! ?????? ????! ©¥?????? ????????????! ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ??????!! ?????? ????! ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????! ¡°Ughhh!¡± Stephen¡¯s blood ran cold at the noiseing from behind him. Stephen looked at the Quinzls as if to ask for help. The Quinzls must have realized that the situation behind them was serious, because they immediately abandoned Stephen and fled to the castle walls. ¡°. . . . . .¡± The familiars disappeared into the darkness in an instant. Stephen despaired. ¡®???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????????. . .!¡¯ If he had just stayed tied up, he would have at least saved his life! Because those familiars had killed the mercenaries, he now had to worry about getting beaten up by the mercenaries if he was captured. ¡®???????????? ?? ??????? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ???????¡¯ Stephen hesitated. He thought that if he returned voluntarily, his punishment might be a little lighter. While he was thinking, the noise behind him grew louder and louder. He could hear the mercenaries screaming and running. But Stephen, lost in thought, didn¡¯t hear it. ¡®??????. . . ???????? ???? ?? ???????????????? ???? ?????¡¯ ¡°There¡¯s the nobleman! Catch him!¡± ¡°S-S-Surrender! I surrender!¡± Stephen prostrated himself immediately at the rough voiceing from behind him. ¡°I-I was going toe back anyway! It¡¯s hard to believe, but I didn¡¯t kill them!! M-Monsters suddenly appeared and threatened me! I swear on my honor as a noble. . .!¡± ¡°. . .What are you doing, Sir Stephen?¡± A centaur whose face he seemed to recognize looked down at Stephen in disbelief. He had captured Stephen thinking that he was a fleeing rebel, judging by his attire, but he was a noble he had seen before. ¡°Did you participate in the rebellion. . .?¡± ¡°N-N-No! Why would I do that?! I was captured!¡± ¡°Well, that makes sense. You are not someone with the ability to do that.¡± ¡°Ha ha. . . huh?¡± ¡®?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ????????¡¯, ?????? ¡®?????????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????¡¯ ???? ???? ????????? Stephen thought something was off, but he didn¡¯t argue. He was scared of the centaur holding a spear, ready to strike. ¡°The duke is over there. Follow me.¡± ¡°What??? He came back to life?¡± Chapter 367: ????????-?????????? (11) The centaur warrior looked at Stephen like he was *sshole. In that instant, Stephen realized he had misspoken. ¡°Ahem, I mean. . .¡± ¡°His Highness has never even caught amon cold.¡± ¡°. . .I seem to have been misinformed.¡± The centaur didn¡¯t scoff, but his re spoke volumes. Stephen knew that to say anything further would only invite further humiliation. ¡°Will you show me the way?¡± ¡°Yes. Follow me.¡± Stephen started to follow but winced with each step. He seemed to have twisted his ankle during his escape. ¡°Um, would it be possible for you to give me a ride. . .?¡±¡°No.¡± ¡°But. . .my ankle. . .¡± ¡°No. Follow me.¡± ¡°Yes sir. . .¡± Stephen followed after the centaur with a scowl. The centaur¡¯s icy demeanor made any further conversation impossible. ???????????? It was a perfect victory. In fact, it felt a bit embarrassing to even call it a victory. It was on the level of a fight between a child and an adult. The ragtag rebels were not even worth a yawn for Johan¡¯s subordinates who had returned after fighting the Sultan¡¯s elites. When they first charged, the mercenary captains were already riding away on their horses, and when they set fires, the nobles also began to flee. Some remaining knights tried to stand and fight together with the subordinates, but Johan personally grabbed a spear and threw it. ??????????! The spear pierced through the shield and armor. The knight that was enduring fell off his horse and tumbled around. ©¥???????? ???????????? ?? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ????????????????? ©¥. . .??-???????? ?????????????????! ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ????????? ©¥?????? ??????????????????????. ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????????? ???????????? ???? ????????? ©¥????, ????????????! ??????????. . .! After amotion, Johan confirmed in an absurd manner. ¡°There were rumors going around that I had died?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Your Highness spread those yourself?¡± ¡°Why would I ever. . .?¡± ¡°To lure out those inclined to rebel!¡± The centaurs nodded their heads in admiration as they moved torn tents aside to make space. Although they had run all day, they did not feel tired due to the excitement of battle. Rather, they were amazed by another fact. To think all this was the Duke¡¯s scheme! ¡°Amazing!¡± ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Haha. We understand.¡± ¡°. . .It doesn¡¯t seem like you do.¡± Johan was bbergasted. The centaurs¡¯ reaction was unbelievable. Frankly speaking, why would he spread such rumors just to catch treacherous people when there were other methods? ¡°W-Was I really being yed in the palm of Your Highness¡¯s hand. . .?¡± The captured baron listened to the centaurs¡¯ words and let out a resigned sigh, realizing what kind of misunderstanding had urred. ¡°Did I not say no?¡± ¡°Yes, I understood Your Highness the duke¡¯s words.¡± The baron understood Johan¡¯s meaning. Having dared tomit such a rebellion, he should keep his mouth shut and not make pointless noises if he wanted a graceful death. Realizing he had been so perfectly toyed with, he felt neither anger nor injustice. Only fear and awe remained. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem you understood. . .¡± ¡°Please spare my family!¡± ¡°I will decide that after seeing the damage.¡± The ringleaders of the rebellion would be executed without question. No matter how merciful one was, this could not just be overlooked. The question was how to deal with the other members of the family. . . ¡®?? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡°Duke! We found a precious person!¡± ¡°A precious person? Is there someone like that?¡± Johan was puzzled by the centaur¡¯s report. Surely they had evacuated everyone inside the castle walls. . . Was someone caught outside? ¡°Could it be Jyanina-gong was captured?¡± ¡°No.¡± Acdda, who was listening nearby, tilted his head and murmured. ¡°Could it have been the wizard?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Countess Abner¡¯s bloodline, Stephen-gong.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± ¡°Ah. . .¡± Those gathered made a tepid, admiring sound. It wasn¡¯t a wrong statement. He certainly was a precious status. ¡°Well done. I will be sure to reward you properly.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Another centaur asked curiously, ¡°But did he note with others?¡± ¡°He¡¯s walking behind. He was too slow so I came ahead first.¡± ¡°. . .I see.¡± ¡®?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????. . .¡¯ That¡¯s what all the centaurs thought, but did not say out loud. It must have really been tedious. . .! ???????????? Under the thick darkness, Jyanina sent Quinzils and looked down from the rampart. Mackald, the dwarf captain that apanied her as her guard, asked. ¡°Wizard, it is cold, so won¡¯t you go inside and rest?¡± ¡°No. Magic punishes the arrogant. I will wait here until the beast returns.¡± ¡°Really. . .!¡± Jyanina waited anxiously. Although she had sent the beast, she was not very confident. What if the beast got caught, got lost somewhere in between, or even attacked the hostages. . . ¡®????. ???? ???????????????????????? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ Jyanina shook her head. Being persecuted by many wizards and neglected by the duke had led Jyanina to focus on her studies. Hadn¡¯t she searched for many books and studied secret techniques during the Eastern Expedition? Although she had difficulty with the ancient empirenguage and it required trantion. . . ¡°Wizard! We seeded!¡± ¡°!¡± Jyanina heard Mackald¡¯s words and lifted her head with a bright smile. ¡°Look! The enemy¡¯s camp is on fire!¡± ¡°. . .???£¿¡± Jyanina blinked in surprise. Following Mackald¡¯s words, she saw fires rising everywhere and the camp copsing. The dwarf captain shouted in excitement. ¡°Amazing! Wizard!¡± ¡°No, no, no. . .¡± ¡°??¡± ¡°This is. . . This kind of magic. . . Isn¡¯t it. . .¡± In the midst of the confusion, a centaur approached the castle with the duke¡¯s g. ¡°His Highness the Duke has arrived!¡± ¡°!!!¡± It was a fearsome centaur, but Mackald felt a sense of relief that his worries had dissipated. He had been worried about ¡®what had happened to His Highness the Duke¡¯. ¡°Thank goodness. You¡¯re safe.¡± ¡°. . .Didn¡¯t I tell you that I was safe. . .?¡± ¡°Ah, no. I didn¡¯t mean to distrust the wizard, it was just a formality. . .¡± ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù Themotion quickly ended as the day dawned. The city¡¯s influential people packed their belongings and came to see Johan. The mercenaries who tried to hide in the city were severely beaten and captured. ¡°You all worked hard.¡± ¡°Thanks to the rampart built by Your Highness the Duke, the people inside the castle were safe.¡± Mackald said with a proud expression. Although they were rebels who were nothing more than rabble, they were not a force to be ignored. He could be proud of the fact that he had not shown them a single gap. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Stephen, whose cheeks had sunken in, wore a somewhat resentful expression, but he did not say anything. It was his own fault for being caught while he was out hunting. ¡°You must have been very surprised. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t take care of you.¡± ¡°No! I didn¡¯t believe the rumors at all.¡± Amien seemed to have grown a handspan taller since thest time she saw her. It was not strange for Amien to be tall, given that Iselia was so tall. Amien was so happy to see Johan after a long time that she didn¡¯t know what to do. Compared to the strict and stoic Iselia, Johan was the epitome of an ideal parent. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t bring Iselia. She¡¯s leading the expeditionary force right now. . .¡± ¡°No! It¡¯s okay. That¡¯s understandable!¡± Johan didn¡¯t want her to shed tears of sadness because Iselia wasn¡¯t there, but he was a little puzzled when she epted it so readily. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????????. . .¡¯ Johan grumbled to Iselia, who was not there. Seeing the conversation between Ulrike and the countess made him feel the need for conversation even more. ¡°Jyanina-gong. You did a great jobmanding the people inside the castle as a wizard while I was away.¡± ¡°Th. . . Thank you.¡± Johan gave Jyanina gold coins as well. She had thought that she would be rewarded, but Jyanina found it hard to control her emotions when she actually received it. She suddenly felt tears in her eyes as she heard cheers and apuse from the surroundings. ¡°. . .Why are you crying?¡± ¡°I. . . I¡¯m not crying. . .¡± ¡°No. You seem to be crying?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that the cold wind is making my eyes water!¡± ¡®?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????? ?????????¡¯ Johan looked at Jyanina with pity. She must have felt a lot of pressure, having tomand so many people during the time when the rumors were spreading. ¡°When the fleet arrives, you can take any treasure you want.¡± ¡°. . .Why are you doing this, Your Highness?¡± Jyanina was rather frightened by Johan¡¯s sudden kindness. ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù The merchants of the republic, who had received an urgent message, rode their horses through the city and rushed to Count Oldor¡¯s court. Count Oldor, who was lying down leisurely, was displeased by the sudden request for an audience. ¡°No matter how great the republic¡¯s power is, you can¡¯t act like this in my territory. . .¡± ¡°This is not the time for this, Count! Are you really prepared for war!?¡± ¡°???¡± It was customary for the merchants to yield first when threatened, and then the count would talk to them in a good mood. However, the merchants this time were shouting with their waists stiff, as if they had eaten something wrong. The count said with an unpleasant expression. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? If you don¡¯t want to be expelled from my fiefdom, show some respect!¡± ¡°If we misunderstood the situation, we apologize. But Count! Is it really not true that you sent troops to Duke Yeats¡¯ fiefdom?¡± ¡°!¡± Count Oldor felt a pang of guilt at the sudden remark. It was true that he had epted the requests made by some of the nobles. No noble would refuse when they said that they would borrow his name and pay off the debtter. Moreover, if things went well, he might be able to get his hands on the duke¡¯s fiefdom. ¡°. . .I didn¡¯t send any troops.¡± The count denied it for the time being. And in fact, he had never sent any troops. He didn¡¯t have the will to do that. ¡°Count, we¡¯re not trying to ckmail you. We¡¯re just trying to inform you of the serious situation. His Highness the Duke is extremely furious and is leading the army that participated in the Holy Land expedition here. There is an army of nearly ten thousand marching south through the empire right now, and the rest of the fleet will arrive soon. Do you think you can stop them, Count?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The count froze and dropped the cup he was holding. He couldn¡¯t ept the reality because the situation had be much bigger than he had thought. ¡°W-What nonsense are you talking about. I have nothing to do with this. The. . . The republic wille forward and persuade him, right? You¡¯re on good terms with His Highness the Duke, aren¡¯t you? Since I allowed you to do business in my fiefdom. . .¡± ¡°Count, what power do we have to persuade His Highness the Duke? We would like to stop him if we could! Who would want to see this ce burn?¡± However, the merchants drew a line coldly, despite their desperate pleas. ¡°. . .But since His Highness the Duke is angry, we have no choice but to watch. I hope the republic understands.¡± ¡°Do. . . Do you think the republic will sit still if the duke attacks my fiefdom? Come to your senses!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The merchants remained silent to the unreasonable words. The count¡¯s face began to turn pale. ¡°H. . . Hey, please help me. What do you want? There must be something you want.¡± ¡°Withdraw your troops for now.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t send any troops!!¡± The count was furious. He really didn¡¯t send them, so how could he withdraw them. . . The merchants looked at the count as if he was being ridiculous. They thought that he was lying even at this point. ¡°Count, we¡¯re really serious about this. . .¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t send them!¡± ¡°. . .I understand. Anyway, if you didn¡¯t send them, go and exin the situation to the duke yourself.¡± ¡°Send an envoy?¡± ¡°No. You have to go yourself. Your neck will be on the line if you send an envoy.¡± The count was furious again, but he held back. The situation was not good enough for that. ¡°W-What if I go and get caught?¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke is not the kind of person who would do something so cowardly.¡± ¡°W. . . Well, that¡¯s true. The duke is not that kind of person.¡± If Johan had heard this, he would have gotten angry and captured him, but fortunately, Johan was not there., The centaur warrior looked at Stephen like he was *sshole. In that instant, Stephen realized he had misspoken. ¡°Ahem, I mean. . .¡± ¡°His Highness has never even caught amon cold.¡± ¡°. . .I seem to have been misinformed.¡± The centaur didn¡¯t scoff, but his re spoke volumes. Stephen knew that to say anything further would only invite further humiliation. ¡°Will you show me the way?¡± ¡°Yes. Follow me.¡± Stephen started to follow but winced with each step. He seemed to have twisted his ankle during his escape. ¡°Um, would it be possible for you to give me a ride. . .?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°But. . .my ankle. . .¡± ¡°No. Follow me.¡± ¡°Yes sir. . .¡± Stephen followed after the centaur with a scowl. The centaur¡¯s icy demeanor made any further conversation impossible. ???????????? It was a perfect victory. In fact, it felt a bit embarrassing to even call it a victory. It was on the level of a fight between a child and an adult. The ragtag rebels were not even worth a yawn for Johan¡¯s subordinates who had returned after fighting the Sultan¡¯s elites. When they first charged, the mercenary captains were already riding away on their horses, and when they set fires, the nobles also began to flee. Some remaining knights tried to stand and fight together with the subordinates, but Johan personally grabbed a spear and threw it. ??????????! The spear pierced through the shield and armor. The knight that was enduring fell off his horse and tumbled around. ©¥???????? ???????????? ?? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????????, ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ????????????????? ©¥. . .??-???????? ?????????????????! ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ????????? ©¥?????? ??????????????????????. ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????????????? ???????????? ???? ????????? ©¥????, ????????????! ??????????. . .! After amotion, Johan confirmed in an absurd manner. ¡°There were rumors going around that I had died?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Your Highness spread those yourself?¡± ¡°Why would I ever. . .?¡± ¡°To lure out those inclined to rebel!¡± The centaurs nodded their heads in admiration as they moved torn tents aside to make space. Although they had run all day, they did not feel tired due to the excitement of battle. Rather, they were amazed by another fact. To think all this was the Duke¡¯s scheme! ¡°Amazing!¡± ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Haha. We understand.¡± ¡°. . .It doesn¡¯t seem like you do.¡± Johan was bbergasted. The centaurs¡¯ reaction was unbelievable. Frankly speaking, why would he spread such rumors just to catch treacherous people when there were other methods? ¡°W-Was I really being yed in the palm of Your Highness¡¯s hand. . .?¡± The captured baron listened to the centaurs¡¯ words and let out a resigned sigh, realizing what kind of misunderstanding had urred. ¡°Did I not say no?¡± ¡°Yes, I understood Your Highness the duke¡¯s words.¡± The baron understood Johan¡¯s meaning. Having dared tomit such a rebellion, he should keep his mouth shut and not make pointless noises if he wanted a graceful death. Realizing he had been so perfectly toyed with, he felt neither anger nor injustice. Only fear and awe remained. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem you understood. . .¡± ¡°Please spare my family!¡± ¡°I will decide that after seeing the damage.¡± The ringleaders of the rebellion would be executed without question. No matter how merciful one was, this could not just be overlooked. The question was how to deal with the other members of the family. . . ¡®?? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ??????????.¡¯ ¡°Duke! We found a precious person!¡± ¡°A precious person? Is there someone like that?¡± Johan was puzzled by the centaur¡¯s report. Surely they had evacuated everyone inside the castle walls. . . Was someone caught outside? ¡°Could it be Jyanina-gong was captured?¡± ¡°No.¡± Acdda, who was listening nearby, tilted his head and murmured. ¡°Could it have been the wizard?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Countess Abner¡¯s bloodline, Stephen-gong.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± ¡°Ah. . .¡± Those gathered made a tepid, admiring sound. It wasn¡¯t a wrong statement. He certainly was a precious status. ¡°Well done. I will be sure to reward you properly.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Another centaur asked curiously, ¡°But did he note with others?¡± ¡°He¡¯s walking behind. He was too slow so I came ahead first.¡± ¡°. . .I see.¡± ¡®?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????. . .¡¯ That¡¯s what all the centaurs thought, but did not say out loud. It must have really been tedious. . .! ???????????? Under the thick darkness, Jyanina sent Quinzils and looked down from the rampart. Mackald, the dwarf captain that apanied her as her guard, asked. ¡°Wizard, it is cold, so won¡¯t you go inside and rest?¡± ¡°No. Magic punishes the arrogant. I will wait here until the beast returns.¡± ¡°Really. . .!¡± Jyanina waited anxiously. Although she had sent the beast, she was not very confident. What if the beast got caught, got lost somewhere in between, or even attacked the hostages. . . ¡®????. ???? ???????????????????????? ?????? ????????????????.¡¯ Jyanina shook her head. Being persecuted by many wizards and neglected by the duke had led Jyanina to focus on her studies. Hadn¡¯t she searched for many books and studied secret techniques during the Eastern Expedition? Although she had difficulty with the ancient empirenguage and it required trantion. . . ¡°Wizard! We seeded!¡± ¡°!¡± Jyanina heard Mackald¡¯s words and lifted her head with a bright smile. ¡°Look! The enemy¡¯s camp is on fire!¡± ¡°. . .???£¿¡± Jyanina blinked in surprise. Following Mackald¡¯s words, she saw fires rising everywhere and the camp copsing. The dwarf captain shouted in excitement. ¡°Amazing! Wizard!¡± ¡°No, no, no. . .¡± ¡°??¡± ¡°This is. . . This kind of magic. . . Isn¡¯t it. . .¡± In the midst of the confusion, a centaur approached the castle with the duke¡¯s g. ¡°His Highness the Duke has arrived!¡± ¡°!!!¡± It was a fearsome centaur, but Mackald felt a sense of relief that his worries had dissipated. He had been worried about ¡®what had happened to His Highness the Duke¡¯. ¡°Thank goodness. You¡¯re safe.¡± ¡°. . .Didn¡¯t I tell you that I was safe. . .?¡± ¡°Ah, no. I didn¡¯t mean to distrust the wizard, it was just a formality. . .¡± ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù Themotion quickly ended as the day dawned. The city¡¯s influential people packed their belongings and came to see Johan. The mercenaries who tried to hide in the city were severely beaten and captured. ¡°You all worked hard.¡± ¡°Thanks to the rampart built by Your Highness the Duke, the people inside the castle were safe.¡± Mackald said with a proud expression. Although they were rebels who were nothing more than rabble, they were not a force to be ignored. He could be proud of the fact that he had not shown them a single gap. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Stephen, whose cheeks had sunken in, wore a somewhat resentful expression, but he did not say anything. It was his own fault for being caught while he was out hunting. ¡°You must have been very surprised. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t take care of you.¡± ¡°No! I didn¡¯t believe the rumors at all.¡± Amien seemed to have grown a handspan taller since thest time she saw her. It was not strange for Amien to be tall, given that Iselia was so tall. Amien was so happy to see Johan after a long time that she didn¡¯t know what to do. Compared to the strict and stoic Iselia, Johan was the epitome of an ideal parent. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t bring Iselia. She¡¯s leading the expeditionary force right now. . .¡± ¡°No! It¡¯s okay. That¡¯s understandable!¡± Johan didn¡¯t want her to shed tears of sadness because Iselia wasn¡¯t there, but he was a little puzzled when she epted it so readily. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????????. . .¡¯ Johan grumbled to Iselia, who was not there. Seeing the conversation between Ulrike and the countess made him feel the need for conversation even more. ¡°Jyanina-gong. You did a great jobmanding the people inside the castle as a wizard while I was away.¡± ¡°Th. . . Thank you.¡± Johan gave Jyanina gold coins as well. She had thought that she would be rewarded, but Jyanina found it hard to control her emotions when she actually received it. She suddenly felt tears in her eyes as she heard cheers and apuse from the surroundings. ¡°. . .Why are you crying?¡± ¡°I. . . I¡¯m not crying. . .¡± ¡°No. You seem to be crying?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that the cold wind is making my eyes water!¡± ¡®?????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????? ?????????¡¯ Johan looked at Jyanina with pity. She must have felt a lot of pressure, having tomand so many people during the time when the rumors were spreading. ¡°When the fleet arrives, you can take any treasure you want.¡± ¡°. . .Why are you doing this, Your Highness?¡± Jyanina was rather frightened by Johan¡¯s sudden kindness. ¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù¡ù The merchants of the republic, who had received an urgent message, rode their horses through the city and rushed to Count Oldor¡¯s court. Count Oldor, who was lying down leisurely, was displeased by the sudden request for an audience. ¡°No matter how great the republic¡¯s power is, you can¡¯t act like this in my territory. . .¡± ¡°This is not the time for this, Count! Are you really prepared for war!?¡± ¡°???¡± It was customary for the merchants to yield first when threatened, and then the count would talk to them in a good mood. However, the merchants this time were shouting with their waists stiff, as if they had eaten something wrong. The count said with an unpleasant expression. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? If you don¡¯t want to be expelled from my fiefdom, show some respect!¡± ¡°If we misunderstood the situation, we apologize. But Count! Is it really not true that you sent troops to Duke Yeats¡¯ fiefdom?¡± ¡°!¡± Count Oldor felt a pang of guilt at the sudden remark. It was true that he had epted the requests made by some of the nobles. No noble would refuse when they said that they would borrow his name and pay off the debtter. Moreover, if things went well, he might be able to get his hands on the duke¡¯s fiefdom. ¡°. . .I didn¡¯t send any troops.¡± The count denied it for the time being. And in fact, he had never sent any troops. He didn¡¯t have the will to do that. ¡°Count, we¡¯re not trying to ckmail you. We¡¯re just trying to inform you of the serious situation. His Highness the Duke is extremely furious and is leading the army that participated in the Holy Land expedition here. There is an army of nearly ten thousand marching south through the empire right now, and the rest of the fleet will arrive soon. Do you think you can stop them, Count?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The count froze and dropped the cup he was holding. He couldn¡¯t ept the reality because the situation had be much bigger than he had thought. ¡°W-What nonsense are you talking about. I have nothing to do with this. The. . . The republic wille forward and persuade him, right? You¡¯re on good terms with His Highness the Duke, aren¡¯t you? Since I allowed you to do business in my fiefdom. . .¡± ¡°Count, what power do we have to persuade His Highness the Duke? We would like to stop him if we could! Who would want to see this ce burn?¡± However, the merchants drew a line coldly, despite their desperate pleas. ¡°. . .But since His Highness the Duke is angry, we have no choice but to watch. I hope the republic understands.¡± ¡°Do. . . Do you think the republic will sit still if the duke attacks my fiefdom? Come to your senses!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The merchants remained silent to the unreasonable words. The count¡¯s face began to turn pale. ¡°H. . . Hey, please help me. What do you want? There must be something you want.¡± ¡°Withdraw your troops for now.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t send any troops!!¡± The count was furious. He really didn¡¯t send them, so how could he withdraw them. . . The merchants looked at the count as if he was being ridiculous. They thought that he was lying even at this point. ¡°Count, we¡¯re really serious about this. . .¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t send them!¡± ¡°. . .I understand. Anyway, if you didn¡¯t send them, go and exin the situation to the duke yourself.¡± ¡°Send an envoy?¡± ¡°No. You have to go yourself. Your neck will be on the line if you send an envoy.¡± The count was furious again, but he held back. The situation was not good enough for that. ¡°W-What if I go and get caught?¡± ¡°His Highness the Duke is not the kind of person who would do something so cowardly.¡± ¡°W. . . Well, that¡¯s true. The duke is not that kind of person.¡± If Johan had heard this, he would have gotten angry and captured him, but fortunately, Johan was not there. Chapter 368: ????????-?????????? (12) ¡°I will go myself.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± The merchants were honestly surprised when the Count said he would go in person. They thought he would be a bit more stubborn. He was so adamant about not sending any troops that they thought he would either hold out until the end or hide inside the castle walls and pick them off. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ?? ???????? ¡®???? ?????????????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ¡°You people from the republic need to help me!¡± ¡°What power do we have. . .¡± ¡°This won¡¯t do, that won¡¯t do! If you¡¯re going to do business on mynd, you have to pay a fair price. You all act so selfish and shameless!¡± ¡®???????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? It was ridiculous to get angry at the harmless republic merchants after taking all their taxes. However, a cornered rat is the most dangerous. The merchants decided to avoid provoking the Count unnecessarily. ¡°We understand, Count. We will do our best to help you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it. That¡¯s what I wanted to hear. I¡¯ll leave the task of exining this misunderstanding to His Highness, the Duke.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand. I will do my best, as my connection with the Count runs deep.¡± After the conversation ended, the servant asked the merchant who was walking out, sounding worried. ¡°Master, His Highness the Duke was apparently quite angry. If you defend the Count for nothing and end up suffering great losses. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have no intention of defending him.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± The Count was still mistaken. Of course, it was a special privilege for the merchants to be able to travel around the fiefdom, butpared to the Duke, they were expendable. It was better to just abandon the Count rather than make an enemy of the Duke. ???? Johan was puzzled when not only republic ships, but also ships flying Count Oldor¡¯s g appeared in the harbor. ¡°Did the republic people go and capture him?¡± ¡°Were the republic mercenaries that conscientious?¡± ¡°Well no, not really.¡± Johan replied immediately to Mackald¡¯s question. The dwarf smiled wryly. ¡°After interrogating the noblemen who rebelled, we heard that they gathered people under the Count¡¯s g. At the very least, he must have supported them to some extent, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s a bit much to hold him ountable for that.¡± When the exact situation in the empire was unknown, they had no choice but to assume the worst and respond ordingly. Johan had thought that the Count might havended and led an army. However, it turned out that the rebels were a ragtag bunch (even the reason they gathered was due to absurd rumors), and the Count¡¯s army was nowhere to be seen. It was a little suspicious, but Johan was willing to let it go. He was quite lenient when it came to things that didn¡¯t benefit him. But then the Count came sailing in on a ship. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s trying to attack the harbor again in cahoots with the republic mercenaries?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit too far-fetched.¡± ¡°Or maybe he captured the republic ships and is nning to disguise himself andunch a surprise attack?¡± ¡°If that were the case, he would have taken down the Count¡¯s g.¡± Johan said that, but he didn¡¯t let his guard down. The eyes of the soldiers patrolling the fiefdom were sharp and focused, as the rebellion had only just urred. The dwarves aimed their ballistae, and the centaurs prepared to charge in case of an emergency. They were confident that they could repel anyone who tried tond. ? The ship came to a stop, and a man who appeared to be the Count disembarked with his attendants. The Count had a thick beard and slightly sunken eyes. Johan was even more surprised by the fact that the Count hade all the way here himself. ¡®. . .???????????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ?? ¡°Just in case, take their weapons.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The dwarves rushed forward. The attendants cried out in rm as the heavily armed dwarven soldiers approached. ¡°Your Highness! It is not customary to detain an envoy as a prisoner! Please, hear us out!¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m just here to collect his weapons.¡± ¡°. . .Oh. Yes. Here you go.¡± The attendants turned red and handed over the weapons as the dwarf looked at them incredulously. The Count, who was standing behind them, averted his gaze, looking embarrassed. ¡°Count Oldor.¡± ¡°Your Highness! This is an outrage!¡± ¡®?? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ?????????????????????????? Now that he was face to face with the Count, Johan became certain that he was somewhat involved. Someone who was truly upright and honest would not have made that kind of expression. While Johan was lost in thought, the Count kept making excuses. He said that he never would have thought the nobles here would use his name, that they must have misunderstood something after he invited them to a few banquets, and that he would never dare to make light of His Highness the Duke¡¯s fiefdom. . . ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????, ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????? ???????????? ???? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?? Johan didn¡¯t think the Count was that stupid. However, surprisingly, many people in the world deliberately believed the rumors they wanted to believe. Johan turned his head. The republic nobles who hade with him were standing nearby. ¡°What do you all think?¡± The Count¡¯s face lit up. Judging from the Duke¡¯s attitude, it was clear that he intended to ask the republic¡¯s people and leave the judgment to them. ¡®??¡¯?? ????????? Wasn¡¯t that why he had brought the republic people with him? The Count breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°We will abide by His Highness the Duke¡¯s judgment. We would never dare to interfere.¡± ¡°. . .?!??¡± The Count looked at the republic¡¯s people with an expression as if he had been hit in the back of the head with a hammer. However, the nobles from the republic didn¡¯t even nce at him. ¡°H. . .Hey, guys.¡± ¡°Well, do you have anything to say? Is there anything you can guess?¡± ¡°The Count did hire additional mercenaries and gather weapons.¡± ¡°Bastard!¡± The Count tried to grab the republic people by the cor out of anger, but before he could move, the dwarf¡¯s de was pointed at him. The dwarven mercenary said curtly. ¡°Your Excellency, if you make any sudden movements, you may get hurt.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The Count red at him fiercely, but that didn¡¯t change anything. Johan took advantage of the opportunity to speak up. ¡°Take the Count into custody. We will hold a trial in court.¡± ¡°Your Highness!! Your Highness!!! No! This is an outrage!!¡± Johan turned away, his expression filled with anguish. As the Count was dragged away by the dwarves, the centaur next to him said. ¡°You can rx now that he¡¯s been taken away.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Johan returned to his usual expression. He didn¡¯t particrly hate the Count enough to want to cut off his head at this opportunity, and he had nned to take him hostage and ransom him off while he was at it. ???? ¡°Thismp is truly a mysteriousmp.¡± ¡°Is there a genie inside that grants wishes?¡± ¡°Where would you find amp like that?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± When Jyanina¡¯s face fell slightly, Johan quickly changed the subject. ¡°Well, I suppose there could be such a genie. Your imagination is truly amazing.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina¡¯s face turned even paler when Johanplimented her. Johan was starting to get annoyed. ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?? She gets scared if I don¡¯tpliment her, and she gets scared if I do. . . Johan was currently touring the warehouse of the ship that had arrived from the East with a wizard. The ships were entering the harbor one after another after the expedition, and each time, they drew cheers from the people gathered at the harbor. When they saw the mercenaries and expedition members disembarking with all sorts of exotic treasures hanging from their bodies, even the merchants who held high positions in their guilds would rush out to greet them and try to entertain them. And Johan kept aside the magical items that contained an aura of mystery from among those treasures. He nned to give one of them to Jyanina as a gift for her contributions. ¡°Thismp emits a light that is only visible to the person holding it, so it would be quite useful when you are staying at the pce.¡± ¡°Wow. . . That must be very expensive. . . I mean, it¡¯s a beautiful item.¡± ¡®?????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? Johan decided to just look around separately instead of exining it to Jyanina. In fact, there were quite a few treasures that even Johan didn¡¯t recognize. Since they had gathered so many, Johan had taken a look at them once. ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????, ?? ???????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? It would make a good gift not only for the wizards, but also for Amien, Amien¡¯s friend, and Ardta, the third daughter of Viscount Ginolen. ¡°This is interesting. Do you know what this is?¡± Johan took out a candle that was carefully wrapped in silk. It was an item that the eastern wizards had diligently written an exnation on in the ancient empirenguage. Jyanina cursed the wizards inwardly. ¡®?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ¡°Apparently, it¡¯s a candle that detects evil. It says that the me will go out if an evil person approaches. Should we try it out?¡± ¡°N-No, that¡¯s fine. It seems like an item that would be more useful for Your Highness than for me.¡± ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll give it to Amien as a gift. . .¡± Johan lit the evil-detecting candle. The green me burned with a strange fragrance. Johan held it for a while before extinguishing it with his fingers. Just then, Jyanina took a step towards Johan. Jyanina was startled to see that the candle¡¯s me had gone out. The dwarves who were with them stared at Jyanina intently. ¡°I put it out.¡± ¡°. . .R-Really. . .! Is that so?!¡± Jyanina took a few steps back in a hurry. The dwarves asked suspiciously. ¡°Are you sure it was Your Highness who put it out?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ???? In the jade box, there is an ointment that heals wounds; a silver bell whose flimsy lock could be broken with a shake; an assassination weapon that looks like an ordinary bottle, but releases a deadly poison if broken. . . ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????????????????? ???????? In the past, he would have taken them thinking, ¡®????¡¯???? ???? ???????????????????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????????¡¯. But now, he honestly believed that his trained fingers were more reliable than those things. ©¥???????? ????????????????. ?? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ??????. ©¥???????? ????. ????????????????. Johan had a conversation with Countess Abner before he came. It was before the news of the rebellion had arrived. ©¥?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????. ©¥????¡¯?? ?? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???? ?????? ????, ?????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????. ©¥??¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????? ??????????????????. Johan¡¯s expression darkened. It was as though she were appealing, ¡®???????? ???? ????¡¯???? ??????????, ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ Countess Abner continued speaking as though she were slightly taken aback. ©¥. . .???? ????????????, ??¡¯???? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????. ©¥????. ???? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ????????. The Countess was taken aback at the sight of the Duke softening his stance. Whenever she saw something like that, she couldn¡¯t believe that it was the same person that she knew. He¡¯s clearly an up-anding young man with no equal among the Empire¡¯s nobles. . . ©¥???????? ???? ?????? ? ©¥?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????????????????¡¯?? ????????. ©¥??????. ??????¡¯???? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ??????????????. ©¥. . .????. Johan looked puzzled. ©¥???????? ?? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??? ©¥?? ????????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ???? ????????. The Countess replied with a smirk. To nobles, lovers were not treated equally. They were beings that could be thrown away whenever they grew tired of them. ©¥?? ???????? ?????? ????????????-????????. ©¥????. . . ????????¡¯?? ?? ???????? ???????? ????????. Johan actively agreed. Ulrike, who would insult the Countess whenever she opened her mouth, wouldn¡¯t insult her for at least a week if she received an expensive gift. If she still doesn¡¯t calm down after that, then it can¡¯t be helped, but shouldn¡¯t she at least try something? ©¥????????????????, ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ???????? ????????????-????????, ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????????????? ??????????????????. . . ©¥? ©¥???????? ????????????????. ?????????????? ?? ???????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ??????????. ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ????????, ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ????????????. ?????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????. ??????????????, ?????????? ?????? ???? ????????????????, ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????????????. ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ????????, ?????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????????. . .¡¯ ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ??????????, ???????? ????????? ©¥????¡¯?? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ??????????, ?????? ?? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ????????????????. ©¥????????¡¯?? ??????????! ?????? ????????????-???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ????????????????. ???? ???????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ????????????????, ???? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ??????. ©¥?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ??????¡¯???? ?????????????? ??????????, ?????? ?? ?????????? ??????¡¯???? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????? ????????????-????????. ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????????? ????. The Countess smiled at Johan¡¯s cool eptance. In fact, someone of the Duke¡¯s stature could have refused to be bothered with such a bothersome and trivial matter. The fact that he was epting it without much thought was a symbol in itself. ©¥?????? ?????? ?????? ??????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ????. . . ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ????????????-???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ????? ©¥. . .????. ?? ?????????? ???? ???? ??????????. At Johan¡¯s expression, which was bing generous again, Countess Abner seriously wondered why God favored this man so much., ¡°I will go myself.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± The merchants were honestly surprised when the Count said he would go in person. They thought he would be a bit more stubborn. He was so adamant about not sending any troops that they thought he would either hold out until the end or hide inside the castle walls and pick them off. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ?? ???????? ¡®???? ?????????????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ¡°You people from the republic need to help me!¡± ¡°What power do we have. . .¡± ¡°This won¡¯t do, that won¡¯t do! If you¡¯re going to do business on mynd, you have to pay a fair price. You all act so selfish and shameless!¡± ¡®???????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? It was ridiculous to get angry at the harmless republic merchants after taking all their taxes. However, a cornered rat is the most dangerous. The merchants decided to avoid provoking the Count unnecessarily. ¡°We understand, Count. We will do our best to help you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it. That¡¯s what I wanted to hear. I¡¯ll leave the task of exining this misunderstanding to His Highness, the Duke.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand. I will do my best, as my connection with the Count runs deep.¡± After the conversation ended, the servant asked the merchant who was walking out, sounding worried. ¡°Master, His Highness the Duke was apparently quite angry. If you defend the Count for nothing and end up suffering great losses. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have no intention of defending him.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± The Count was still mistaken. Of course, it was a special privilege for the merchants to be able to travel around the fiefdom, butpared to the Duke, they were expendable. It was better to just abandon the Count rather than make an enemy of the Duke. ???? Johan was puzzled when not only republic ships, but also ships flying Count Oldor¡¯s g appeared in the harbor. ¡°Did the republic people go and capture him?¡± ¡°Were the republic mercenaries that conscientious?¡± ¡°Well no, not really.¡± Johan replied immediately to Mackald¡¯s question. The dwarf smiled wryly. ¡°After interrogating the noblemen who rebelled, we heard that they gathered people under the Count¡¯s g. At the very least, he must have supported them to some extent, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s a bit much to hold him ountable for that.¡± When the exact situation in the empire was unknown, they had no choice but to assume the worst and respond ordingly. Johan had thought that the Count might havended and led an army. However, it turned out that the rebels were a ragtag bunch (even the reason they gathered was due to absurd rumors), and the Count¡¯s army was nowhere to be seen. It was a little suspicious, but Johan was willing to let it go. He was quite lenient when it came to things that didn¡¯t benefit him. But then the Count came sailing in on a ship. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s trying to attack the harbor again in cahoots with the republic mercenaries?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit too far-fetched.¡± ¡°Or maybe he captured the republic ships and is nning to disguise himself andunch a surprise attack?¡± ¡°If that were the case, he would have taken down the Count¡¯s g.¡± Johan said that, but he didn¡¯t let his guard down. The eyes of the soldiers patrolling the fiefdom were sharp and focused, as the rebellion had only just urred. The dwarves aimed their ballistae, and the centaurs prepared to charge in case of an emergency. They were confident that they could repel anyone who tried tond. ? The ship came to a stop, and a man who appeared to be the Count disembarked with his attendants. The Count had a thick beard and slightly sunken eyes. Johan was even more surprised by the fact that the Count hade all the way here himself. ¡®. . .???????????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ?? ¡°Just in case, take their weapons.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The dwarves rushed forward. The attendants cried out in rm as the heavily armed dwarven soldiers approached. ¡°Your Highness! It is not customary to detain an envoy as a prisoner! Please, hear us out!¡± ¡°. . .I¡¯m just here to collect his weapons.¡± ¡°. . .Oh. Yes. Here you go.¡± The attendants turned red and handed over the weapons as the dwarf looked at them incredulously. The Count, who was standing behind them, averted his gaze, looking embarrassed. ¡°Count Oldor.¡± ¡°Your Highness! This is an outrage!¡± ¡®?? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ?? ?????????????????????????? Now that he was face to face with the Count, Johan became certain that he was somewhat involved. Someone who was truly upright and honest would not have made that kind of expression. While Johan was lost in thought, the Count kept making excuses. He said that he never would have thought the nobles here would use his name, that they must have misunderstood something after he invited them to a few banquets, and that he would never dare to make light of His Highness the Duke¡¯s fiefdom. . . ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????, ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ????????? ???????????? ???? ????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ?? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?? Johan didn¡¯t think the Count was that stupid. However, surprisingly, many people in the world deliberately believed the rumors they wanted to believe. Johan turned his head. The republic nobles who hade with him were standing nearby. ¡°What do you all think?¡± The Count¡¯s face lit up. Judging from the Duke¡¯s attitude, it was clear that he intended to ask the republic¡¯s people and leave the judgment to them. ¡®??¡¯?? ????????? Wasn¡¯t that why he had brought the republic people with him? The Count breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°We will abide by His Highness the Duke¡¯s judgment. We would never dare to interfere.¡± ¡°. . .?!??¡± The Count looked at the republic¡¯s people with an expression as if he had been hit in the back of the head with a hammer. However, the nobles from the republic didn¡¯t even nce at him. ¡°H. . .Hey, guys.¡± ¡°Well, do you have anything to say? Is there anything you can guess?¡± ¡°The Count did hire additional mercenaries and gather weapons.¡± ¡°Bastard!¡± The Count tried to grab the republic people by the cor out of anger, but before he could move, the dwarf¡¯s de was pointed at him. The dwarven mercenary said curtly. ¡°Your Excellency, if you make any sudden movements, you may get hurt.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The Count red at him fiercely, but that didn¡¯t change anything. Johan took advantage of the opportunity to speak up. ¡°Take the Count into custody. We will hold a trial in court.¡± ¡°Your Highness!! Your Highness!!! No! This is an outrage!!¡± Johan turned away, his expression filled with anguish. As the Count was dragged away by the dwarves, the centaur next to him said. ¡°You can rx now that he¡¯s been taken away.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Johan returned to his usual expression. He didn¡¯t particrly hate the Count enough to want to cut off his head at this opportunity, and he had nned to take him hostage and ransom him off while he was at it. ???? ¡°Thismp is truly a mysteriousmp.¡± ¡°Is there a genie inside that grants wishes?¡± ¡°Where would you find amp like that?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± When Jyanina¡¯s face fell slightly, Johan quickly changed the subject. ¡°Well, I suppose there could be such a genie. Your imagination is truly amazing.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina¡¯s face turned even paler when Johanplimented her. Johan was starting to get annoyed. ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ?? She gets scared if I don¡¯tpliment her, and she gets scared if I do. . . Johan was currently touring the warehouse of the ship that had arrived from the East with a wizard. The ships were entering the harbor one after another after the expedition, and each time, they drew cheers from the people gathered at the harbor. When they saw the mercenaries and expedition members disembarking with all sorts of exotic treasures hanging from their bodies, even the merchants who held high positions in their guilds would rush out to greet them and try to entertain them. And Johan kept aside the magical items that contained an aura of mystery from among those treasures. He nned to give one of them to Jyanina as a gift for her contributions. ¡°Thismp emits a light that is only visible to the person holding it, so it would be quite useful when you are staying at the pce.¡± ¡°Wow. . . That must be very expensive. . . I mean, it¡¯s a beautiful item.¡± ¡®?????????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? Johan decided to just look around separately instead of exining it to Jyanina. In fact, there were quite a few treasures that even Johan didn¡¯t recognize. Since they had gathered so many, Johan had taken a look at them once. ¡®???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????, ?? ???????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? It would make a good gift not only for the wizards, but also for Amien, Amien¡¯s friend, and Ardta, the third daughter of Viscount Ginolen. ¡°This is interesting. Do you know what this is?¡± Johan took out a candle that was carefully wrapped in silk. It was an item that the eastern wizards had diligently written an exnation on in the ancient empirenguage. Jyanina cursed the wizards inwardly. ¡®?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ¡°Apparently, it¡¯s a candle that detects evil. It says that the me will go out if an evil person approaches. Should we try it out?¡± ¡°N-No, that¡¯s fine. It seems like an item that would be more useful for Your Highness than for me.¡± ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll give it to Amien as a gift. . .¡± Johan lit the evil-detecting candle. The green me burned with a strange fragrance. Johan held it for a while before extinguishing it with his fingers. Just then, Jyanina took a step towards Johan. Jyanina was startled to see that the candle¡¯s me had gone out. The dwarves who were with them stared at Jyanina intently. ¡°I put it out.¡± ¡°. . .R-Really. . .! Is that so?!¡± Jyanina took a few steps back in a hurry. The dwarves asked suspiciously. ¡°Are you sure it was Your Highness who put it out?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ???? In the jade box, there is an ointment that heals wounds; a silver bell whose flimsy lock could be broken with a shake; an assassination weapon that looks like an ordinary bottle, but releases a deadly poison if broken. . . ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????????????????? ???????? In the past, he would have taken them thinking, ¡®????¡¯???? ???? ???????????????????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????????¡¯. But now, he honestly believed that his trained fingers were more reliable than those things. ©¥???????? ????????????????. ?? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ??????. ©¥???????? ????. ????????????????. Johan had a conversation with Countess Abner before he came. It was before the news of the rebellion had arrived. ©¥?? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????. ©¥????¡¯?? ?? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ???? ?????? ????, ?????? ?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ????. ©¥??¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????? ??????????????????. Johan¡¯s expression darkened. It was as though she were appealing, ¡®???????? ???? ????¡¯???? ??????????, ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????????¡¯ Countess Abner continued speaking as though she were slightly taken aback. ©¥. . .???? ????????????, ??¡¯???? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????. ©¥????. ???? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ????????. The Countess was taken aback at the sight of the Duke softening his stance. Whenever she saw something like that, she couldn¡¯t believe that it was the same person that she knew. He¡¯s clearly an up-anding young man with no equal among the Empire¡¯s nobles. . . ©¥???????? ???? ?????? ? ©¥?? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????????????????¡¯?? ????????. ©¥??????. ??????¡¯???? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ???? ??????????????. ©¥. . .????. Johan looked puzzled. ©¥???????? ?? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ??? ©¥?? ????????????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????? ?? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????????????????? ???? ????????. The Countess replied with a smirk. To nobles, lovers were not treated equally. They were beings that could be thrown away whenever they grew tired of them. ©¥?? ???????? ?????? ????????????-????????. ©¥????. . . ????????¡¯?? ?? ???????? ???????? ????????. Johan actively agreed. Ulrike, who would insult the Countess whenever she opened her mouth, wouldn¡¯t insult her for at least a week if she received an expensive gift. If she still doesn¡¯t calm down after that, then it can¡¯t be helped, but shouldn¡¯t she at least try something? ©¥????????????????, ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ???????? ????????????-????????, ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????????????????? ??????????????????. . . ©¥? ©¥???????? ????????????????. ?????????????? ?? ???????? ?????????????????????? ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ??????????. ¡®?? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ????????, ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ????????????. ?????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????????????. ??????????????, ?????????? ?????? ???? ????????????????, ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ????????????. ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ????????, ?????? ???????????? ???????? ??????????????????. . .¡¯ ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ??????????, ???????? ????????? ©¥????¡¯?? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ?????????????? ??????????, ?????? ?? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ????????????????. ©¥????????¡¯?? ??????????! ?????? ????????????-???????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ????????????????. ???? ???????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ????????????????, ???? ?? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ??????. ©¥?? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ??????¡¯???? ?????????????? ??????????, ?????? ?? ?????????? ??????¡¯???? ???????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????? ????????????-????????. ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????????? ????. The Countess smiled at Johan¡¯s cool eptance. In fact, someone of the Duke¡¯s stature could have refused to be bothered with such a bothersome and trivial matter. The fact that he was epting it without much thought was a symbol in itself. ©¥?????? ?????? ?????? ??????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ????. . . ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ????????????-???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ????? ©¥. . .????. ?? ?????????? ???? ???? ??????????. At Johan¡¯s expression, which was bing generous again, Countess Abner seriously wondered why God favored this man so much. Chapter 369: ????????-?????????? (13) Johan really wanted to find a treasure worth taking in exchange for their conversation. But it was actually quite difficult. ¡®Ulrike probably picked out the good treasure, so there¡¯s no point in taking something mediocre.¡¯ Johan regretted not bringing other wizards with him. They would have known the most about these treasures. ¡°Acdda. Which treasure here looks good to you?¡± ¡°Thatrge gold ne seems like it would go for a good price.¡± ¡°. . .Euclyia. What do you think¡ª?¡± Euclyia looked at her cousin with contempt before confidently answering the duke¡¯s question. ¡°Rather than that gold ne, the one hanging on the right has jewels that are more borately crafted, even if it is a bit smaller.¡±¡°. . .Right. You can each take one of the ones you want and rest.¡± ¡°?!¡± The centaurs were incredibly disappointed that the duke¡¯s response was colder than they had imagined. They had given useful advice that could be used whenever and wherever they went on a raid! ¡°Mackald.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The dwarf captain broke out in a sweat when the duke¡¯s arrow was pointed at him. While traveling around the continent, he had oftene across the prejudices that other races held. One of them was ¡®?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????????????¡¯. ©¥?????? ??????????, ??????????????. ?? ?????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ?? ??????????¡¯?? ????????. ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ? ©¥??¡¯?? ?????? ????????, ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ? ©¥????????????. . .! ???? ???????????????? ???? ?? ??? ©¥??-????. ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????¡¯??. . . ©¥???? ???????????? The fact that dwarf craftsmen were so skilled in mining and engineering had led to the spread of such rumors. However, there was a slight misunderstanding here. The reason the excellent dwarf craftsmen could build such great structures was because they had been learning about construction and engineering since they were young. . . .The dwarf mercenaries, so to speak, had different specialties. All they learned about was siege warfare and defensive warfare in preparation for battle. Even if they were shown treasure, they wouldn¡¯t be able to tell its true value. At first, the dwarf mercenaries tried to exin themselves, but they eventually gave up and epted it. This rumor also had its advantages. Employers wouldn¡¯t try to cheat them out of their pay for fear of being caught. However, all the retribution that the mercenaries had umted over time had fallen on the shoulders of the captain. Mackald desperately tried to maintain his expression as he answered. ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Could you rmend a decent treasure?¡± ¡°A. . . book, perhaps? Rather than something expensive, I think that would be better. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea, but we can¡¯t do that this time.¡± It hadn¡¯t been long since Ulrike had gone on a tirade about the two wizards because of the book incident. If the countess gave her another book in this situation, she might just throw it away. ¡°Your Highness. The truth is, I¡¯ve lived my entire life as a mercenary, so I don¡¯t know much about treasure. . .¡± ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know that? I¡¯m just telling you to pick whatever you want.¡± ¡°!¡± Mackald¡¯s heart felt a little lighter after hearing the duke¡¯s words. He stroked his beard as he slowly walked through the hold. Looking at it this way, the duke¡¯s collection of treasure was truly overwhelming. Even Mackald, a seasoned veteran, had never seen such wealth. What was even more surprising was the duke¡¯s attitude of letting his subordinates look at the treasures without any greed. Outside, he was a man who hated waste and had a stern expression even over a silver coin, but he was now being extremely generous. Once again, Mackald felt a sense of respect welling up from the depths of his heart. It was a mercenary¡¯s good fortune to meet a trustworthy employer. It was even better when that person was someone worthy of respect. There were sculptures carved with various exotic beasts and monsters, sses made of mchite and chrysoprase, a bronze incense burner that was used by a sultan, a hammer that seemed to have been made by a dwarven craftsman, and a cape with a unique pattern that gave off an air of authority when worn. . . Mackald racked his brain but couldn¡¯t make a decision. Finally, he had an idea. ¡°How about asking Amien-nim?¡± ¡°You¡¯re trying to avoid taking responsibility, aren¡¯t you, Mackald? Jeeze. . .¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s not like that. Amien-nim¡¯s eyes are more urate than you think. Besides, Ardta-nim is a student who trained under a wizard, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°If you put it like that, then.¡± Johan nodded, not wanting to trouble the dwarf captain any longer who had fought so hard. Since he was going to give Amien a gift anyway, calling her over wasn¡¯t a bad idea. ???? ¡°Wooooo. . .!¡± ¡®???????? ???????????????? ???? ?? Amien let out an exmation. The members of the expedition had seen treasure several times before, so they had developed a resistance to it, but the treasures of the east were too shocking for the half elf who had been living in the seclusion of her fiefdom. When she was young, she didn¡¯t know exactly what her status was, but as she went from being a squire in the royal court to meeting all sorts of people, Amien came to realize the status of her family. So she was somewhat conscious of her dignity, but this was a bit much. . . ¡°Ardta. Did you see that? Did you see that?¡± ¡°I saw it, but there are a lot of people watching, so I think it¡¯s better to be quiet.¡± In contrast, Ardta was much more cautious in her actions. Having learned about magic under Suetlg, and originally belonging to a noble family that had been invited to stay in the royal court, her mindset couldn¡¯t be the same as that of a lower-ranking noble. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????????????????? ????????????. ???????? ???? ?? ?? Even though she had been called along with Amien, Ardta¡¯s situation was different. She had resolved herself to show the duke an achievement that would catch his eye. ¡°What about that golden astrbe?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good, but. . . that¡¯s something you like, not the best treasure here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Amien put the item down with a sullen expression. Ardta opened her mouth to appease her friend. ¡°If you tell His Highness, he¡¯ll let you have it, so don¡¯t be disappointed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to take this map with me too.¡± Amien hurriedly gathered up the treasure. Ardta looked around the hold with sparkling eyes. In order to be independent as a wizard, she needed to gain the favor of a noble. ¡®???????? ????????. . . ????. ????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????????. ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?? ???????????? ??????????, ???? ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ¡°Ardta?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Is that a treasure too?¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Ardta turned her head. In the narrow corridor of the lower deck below the deck, a blue leopard was ring at the two of them. ¡°. . .!¡± Ardta immediately drew the sword that was hanging by her side. ording to the description, it was a famous sword with a spirit dwelling inside it that would guide its master once a day to cut down their opponent. ??? The leopard took a step back as if it were exploring them after being attacked with such a sharp strike. Ardta thought with a puzzled expression. ¡®???????? ?????? ????????!? ?????? ???? ?????????? ?? ?????????????? ??? There should have been strict security, so it didn¡¯t make sense that a monster was able to get in. Amien picked up a potion from the side and threw it at the leopard. It was a potion that could dye something with just a single drop. With a sizzling sound, the leopard created some distance again with a wary expression. ¡°Stop it!¡± ¡°W-Why?! It¡¯s counterproductive?!¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s an expensive treasure!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Amien looked at her as if she was being ridiculous, but Ardta was serious. She racked her brain. ¡®???????? ???????????? ?? ???? ???? She had to protect Amien, call for help, and keep the leopard in check at the same time. . . ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????????????, ???? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ????. ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????????? ??????????, ??????. . . ???? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ¡°What¡¯s going. . .¡± ¡°Wizard!¡± Ardta felt like she was going to cry when she spotted Jyanina walking towards them. That was how tense she was. ¡°Help us!¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Jyanina seemed to have grasped the situation. Jyanina locked eyes with the blue beast and began to chant a spell while sprinkling powder from her pocket. The leopard, which had been growling as it crouched down, shook its head violently as if it was annoyed and roared. Jyanina¡¯s face hardened. Ardta had a gut feeling that things were going in a bad direction. ¡°Can I help?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s fine.¡± Ardta was slightly touched by Jyanina¡¯s answer. The decisiveness exuded by the experienced wizard calmed the apprentice. Ardta unknowingly averted her gaze and focused on Jyanina¡¯s movements, even though there was a beast in front of her. ¡®?? ???????????? ?????? ??????¡¯???? ??? ¡°Your Highness!!! Help us!!!!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± As she spoke, a growling sound could be heard from behind. It was a familiar growl, different from before. Arge wolf ran towards them, howling ferociously. It was the wolf that followed Johan around. The blue leopard seemed to be taken aback by Karamaf¡¯s appearance. It quickly rolled its body back to avoid the attack. Karamaf didn¡¯t let it go and lunged at it ferociously. The two beasts collided, creating a deafening noise in the surroundings. ¡°Karamaf! Tear it apart!¡± Johan ran over with an incredulous expression. At his shout, the wolf growled as if it had been discouraged. The blue leopard thought that this was its chance and quickly ran away. It intended to escape past Karamaf. The problem was that there was a new human in that direction. ©¥¡ö! The blue leopard let out a roar as if to tell it to get out of its way. Johan punched the leopard in the head without changing his expression. With a dull thud, the leopard tumbled backwards. The leopard looked at Johan with eyes that seemed to say it couldn¡¯t believe what had just happened to it. Johan looked down at it as if to say, ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ????????????? ©¥? And then, Karamaf pounced on it. Karamaf, who had been scolded by Johan, was still angry, so he pinned the leopard down with his strength and refused to let it go. The leopard let out a pitiful cry. ¡°Nice job, Karamaf. Hold it down. Where did ite from anyway?¡± When Johan looked at Jyanina, she eximed in surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring that beast with me!!¡± ¡°. . .no. . . I didn¡¯t think that even you would be this bad at management. I was just looking at you because I was curious.¡± Ardta¡¯s gaze at Jyanina became slightly colder. Jyanina didn¡¯t notice it. She simply sighed in relief. ¡°I sensed magic. It might have been hiding inside the treasure.¡± Johan nced over the hold that had turned into a mess. He noticed that one of the jeweled sculptures that had been there before was missing. ¡®?? ???????????? ??????????. ?????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ???????????????? ??????????? Originally, it was supposed to be slumbering quietly, but it seemed to have been stimted by the other treasures and had woken up and run out. Johan said to the leopard. ¡°Spirit, I apologize for making you angry because I didn¡¯t handle you properly.¡± ©¥¡ö! The leopard growled, baring its teeth as if it had no intention of epting the apology. Johan pressed his hand against its snout. There was a thud. ¡°I¡¯ll apologize, so will you go back to being a sculpture? I promise I won¡¯t treat you carelessly.¡± Unable to open its mouth and being overpowered by force, the leopard blinked its eyes and then returned to its original form as a sculpture. Johan carefully picked up the sculpture and wrapped it in silk. ¡®???????? ?? ?? He had been told by Suetlg not to take magic lightly, but now look what happened. Johan reflected on himself a little. Fortunately, not much had been broken. ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, so you don¡¯t have to apologize.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Ardta. You did a good job protecting Amien. You deserve to be praised instead.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. . .¡± ¡°Why is the duke apologizing?¡± Johan looked at Jyanina in disbelief. Jyanina, who had been swept up in the atmosphere and apologized along with them, thought, ¡®Oops.¡¯ In retrospect, there was nothing in particr to apologize for. ¡°I apologized for causing a mess.¡± ¡°You¡¯re humble too. Anyway, everyone go up while we clean up.¡± The people who had been there began to walk up, starting with Jyanina. Ardta carefully asked the duke. ¡°Your Highness. May I ask you something?¡± ¡°Ask me anything.¡± ¡°Um. . . originally, is it okay to call lords like Your Highness in this kind of situation?¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s better not to do it in other fiefdoms.¡±, Johan really wanted to find a treasure worth taking in exchange for their conversation. But it was actually quite difficult. ¡®Ulrike probably picked out the good treasure, so there¡¯s no point in taking something mediocre.¡¯ Johan regretted not bringing other wizards with him. They would have known the most about these treasures. ¡°Acdda. Which treasure here looks good to you?¡± ¡°Thatrge gold ne seems like it would go for a good price.¡± ¡°. . .Euclyia. What do you think¡ª?¡± Euclyia looked at her cousin with contempt before confidently answering the duke¡¯s question. ¡°Rather than that gold ne, the one hanging on the right has jewels that are more borately crafted, even if it is a bit smaller.¡± ¡°. . .Right. You can each take one of the ones you want and rest.¡± ¡°?!¡± The centaurs were incredibly disappointed that the duke¡¯s response was colder than they had imagined. They had given useful advice that could be used whenever and wherever they went on a raid! ¡°Mackald.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The dwarf captain broke out in a sweat when the duke¡¯s arrow was pointed at him. While traveling around the continent, he had oftene across the prejudices that other races held. One of them was ¡®?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????????????¡¯. ©¥?????? ??????????, ??????????????. ?? ?????? ?? ?????????? ???????? ?? ??????????¡¯?? ????????. ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ? ©¥??¡¯?? ?????? ????????, ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ? ©¥????????????. . .! ???? ???????????????? ???? ?? ??? ©¥??-????. ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????????¡¯??. . . ©¥???? ???????????? The fact that dwarf craftsmen were so skilled in mining and engineering had led to the spread of such rumors. However, there was a slight misunderstanding here. The reason the excellent dwarf craftsmen could build such great structures was because they had been learning about construction and engineering since they were young. . . .The dwarf mercenaries, so to speak, had different specialties. All they learned about was siege warfare and defensive warfare in preparation for battle. Even if they were shown treasure, they wouldn¡¯t be able to tell its true value. At first, the dwarf mercenaries tried to exin themselves, but they eventually gave up and epted it. This rumor also had its advantages. Employers wouldn¡¯t try to cheat them out of their pay for fear of being caught. However, all the retribution that the mercenaries had umted over time had fallen on the shoulders of the captain. Mackald desperately tried to maintain his expression as he answered. ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Could you rmend a decent treasure?¡± ¡°A. . . book, perhaps? Rather than something expensive, I think that would be better. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea, but we can¡¯t do that this time.¡± It hadn¡¯t been long since Ulrike had gone on a tirade about the two wizards because of the book incident. If the countess gave her another book in this situation, she might just throw it away. ¡°Your Highness. The truth is, I¡¯ve lived my entire life as a mercenary, so I don¡¯t know much about treasure. . .¡± ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know that? I¡¯m just telling you to pick whatever you want.¡± ¡°!¡± Mackald¡¯s heart felt a little lighter after hearing the duke¡¯s words. He stroked his beard as he slowly walked through the hold. Looking at it this way, the duke¡¯s collection of treasure was truly overwhelming. Even Mackald, a seasoned veteran, had never seen such wealth. What was even more surprising was the duke¡¯s attitude of letting his subordinates look at the treasures without any greed. Outside, he was a man who hated waste and had a stern expression even over a silver coin, but he was now being extremely generous. Once again, Mackald felt a sense of respect welling up from the depths of his heart. It was a mercenary¡¯s good fortune to meet a trustworthy employer. It was even better when that person was someone worthy of respect. There were sculptures carved with various exotic beasts and monsters, sses made of mchite and chrysoprase, a bronze incense burner that was used by a sultan, a hammer that seemed to have been made by a dwarven craftsman, and a cape with a unique pattern that gave off an air of authority when worn. . . Mackald racked his brain but couldn¡¯t make a decision. Finally, he had an idea. ¡°How about asking Amien-nim?¡± ¡°You¡¯re trying to avoid taking responsibility, aren¡¯t you, Mackald? Jeeze. . .¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s not like that. Amien-nim¡¯s eyes are more urate than you think. Besides, Ardta-nim is a student who trained under a wizard, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°If you put it like that, then.¡± Johan nodded, not wanting to trouble the dwarf captain any longer who had fought so hard. Since he was going to give Amien a gift anyway, calling her over wasn¡¯t a bad idea. ???? ¡°Wooooo. . .!¡± ¡®???????? ???????????????? ???? ?? Amien let out an exmation. The members of the expedition had seen treasure several times before, so they had developed a resistance to it, but the treasures of the east were too shocking for the half elf who had been living in the seclusion of her fiefdom. When she was young, she didn¡¯t know exactly what her status was, but as she went from being a squire in the royal court to meeting all sorts of people, Amien came to realize the status of her family. So she was somewhat conscious of her dignity, but this was a bit much. . . ¡°Ardta. Did you see that? Did you see that?¡± ¡°I saw it, but there are a lot of people watching, so I think it¡¯s better to be quiet.¡± In contrast, Ardta was much more cautious in her actions. Having learned about magic under Suetlg, and originally belonging to a noble family that had been invited to stay in the royal court, her mindset couldn¡¯t be the same as that of a lower-ranking noble. ¡®?? ???????? ???? ???????????? ?????????????????? ????????????. ???????? ???? ?? ?? Even though she had been called along with Amien, Ardta¡¯s situation was different. She had resolved herself to show the duke an achievement that would catch his eye. ¡°What about that golden astrbe?¡± ¡°It¡¯s good, but. . . that¡¯s something you like, not the best treasure here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Amien put the item down with a sullen expression. Ardta opened her mouth to appease her friend. ¡°If you tell His Highness, he¡¯ll let you have it, so don¡¯t be disappointed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to take this map with me too.¡± Amien hurriedly gathered up the treasure. Ardta looked around the hold with sparkling eyes. In order to be independent as a wizard, she needed to gain the favor of a noble. ¡®???????? ????????. . . ????. ????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ????????????. ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?? ???????????? ??????????, ???? ???? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ¡°Ardta?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Is that a treasure too?¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Ardta turned her head. In the narrow corridor of the lower deck below the deck, a blue leopard was ring at the two of them. ¡°. . .!¡± Ardta immediately drew the sword that was hanging by her side. ording to the description, it was a famous sword with a spirit dwelling inside it that would guide its master once a day to cut down their opponent. ??? The leopard took a step back as if it were exploring them after being attacked with such a sharp strike. Ardta thought with a puzzled expression. ¡®???????? ?????? ????????!? ?????? ???? ?????????? ?? ?????????????? ??? There should have been strict security, so it didn¡¯t make sense that a monster was able to get in. Amien picked up a potion from the side and threw it at the leopard. It was a potion that could dye something with just a single drop. With a sizzling sound, the leopard created some distance again with a wary expression. ¡°Stop it!¡± ¡°W-Why?! It¡¯s counterproductive?!¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s an expensive treasure!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Amien looked at her as if she was being ridiculous, but Ardta was serious. She racked her brain. ¡®???????? ???????????? ?? ???? ???? She had to protect Amien, call for help, and keep the leopard in check at the same time. . . ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????????????, ???? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ????. ???? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????????? ??????????, ??????. . . ???? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ¡°What¡¯s going. . .¡± ¡°Wizard!¡± Ardta felt like she was going to cry when she spotted Jyanina walking towards them. That was how tense she was. ¡°Help us!¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Jyanina seemed to have grasped the situation. Jyanina locked eyes with the blue beast and began to chant a spell while sprinkling powder from her pocket. The leopard, which had been growling as it crouched down, shook its head violently as if it was annoyed and roared. Jyanina¡¯s face hardened. Ardta had a gut feeling that things were going in a bad direction. ¡°Can I help?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s fine.¡± Ardta was slightly touched by Jyanina¡¯s answer. The decisiveness exuded by the experienced wizard calmed the apprentice. Ardta unknowingly averted her gaze and focused on Jyanina¡¯s movements, even though there was a beast in front of her. ¡®?? ???????????? ?????? ??????¡¯???? ??? ¡°Your Highness!!! Help us!!!!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± As she spoke, a growling sound could be heard from behind. It was a familiar growl, different from before. Arge wolf ran towards them, howling ferociously. It was the wolf that followed Johan around. The blue leopard seemed to be taken aback by Karamaf¡¯s appearance. It quickly rolled its body back to avoid the attack. Karamaf didn¡¯t let it go and lunged at it ferociously. The two beasts collided, creating a deafening noise in the surroundings. ¡°Karamaf! Tear it apart!¡± Johan ran over with an incredulous expression. At his shout, the wolf growled as if it had been discouraged. The blue leopard thought that this was its chance and quickly ran away. It intended to escape past Karamaf. The problem was that there was a new human in that direction. ©¥¡ö! The blue leopard let out a roar as if to tell it to get out of its way. Johan punched the leopard in the head without changing his expression. With a dull thud, the leopard tumbled backwards. The leopard looked at Johan with eyes that seemed to say it couldn¡¯t believe what had just happened to it. Johan looked down at it as if to say, ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ????????????? ©¥? And then, Karamaf pounced on it. Karamaf, who had been scolded by Johan, was still angry, so he pinned the leopard down with his strength and refused to let it go. The leopard let out a pitiful cry. ¡°Nice job, Karamaf. Hold it down. Where did ite from anyway?¡± When Johan looked at Jyanina, she eximed in surprise. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring that beast with me!!¡± ¡°. . .no. . . I didn¡¯t think that even you would be this bad at management. I was just looking at you because I was curious.¡± Ardta¡¯s gaze at Jyanina became slightly colder. Jyanina didn¡¯t notice it. She simply sighed in relief. ¡°I sensed magic. It might have been hiding inside the treasure.¡± Johan nced over the hold that had turned into a mess. He noticed that one of the jeweled sculptures that had been there before was missing. ¡®?? ???????????? ??????????. ?????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ???????????????? ??????????? Originally, it was supposed to be slumbering quietly, but it seemed to have been stimted by the other treasures and had woken up and run out. Johan said to the leopard. ¡°Spirit, I apologize for making you angry because I didn¡¯t handle you properly.¡± ©¥¡ö! The leopard growled, baring its teeth as if it had no intention of epting the apology. Johan pressed his hand against its snout. There was a thud. ¡°I¡¯ll apologize, so will you go back to being a sculpture? I promise I won¡¯t treat you carelessly.¡± Unable to open its mouth and being overpowered by force, the leopard blinked its eyes and then returned to its original form as a sculpture. Johan carefully picked up the sculpture and wrapped it in silk. ¡®???????? ?? ?? He had been told by Suetlg not to take magic lightly, but now look what happened. Johan reflected on himself a little. Fortunately, not much had been broken. ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, so you don¡¯t have to apologize.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Ardta. You did a good job protecting Amien. You deserve to be praised instead.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. . .¡± ¡°Why is the duke apologizing?¡± Johan looked at Jyanina in disbelief. Jyanina, who had been swept up in the atmosphere and apologized along with them, thought, ¡®Oops.¡¯ In retrospect, there was nothing in particr to apologize for. ¡°I apologized for causing a mess.¡± ¡°You¡¯re humble too. Anyway, everyone go up while we clean up.¡± The people who had been there began to walk up, starting with Jyanina. Ardta carefully asked the duke. ¡°Your Highness. May I ask you something?¡± ¡°Ask me anything.¡± ¡°Um. . . originally, is it okay to call lords like Your Highness in this kind of situation?¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s better not to do it in other fiefdoms.¡± Chapter 370: ????????-?????????? (14) Chapter 370: ????????-?????????? (14) Johan was afraid that Ardta would learn of Jyanina¡¯s actions when heter went to another court. The wizards at Johan¡¯s court were too close to their employers, and normally there was some tension in the rtionship between nobles and wizards. The nobles suspected, ¡¯???? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????¡¯ The wizards suspected, ¡®Will this greedy person who knows nothing about the mysteries really believe in me?¡¯ To that extent, the wizard had to maintain a certain amount of dignity. There was nothing good about being underestimated by the nobles. ¡°Youngdy, forget about that. By the way, don¡¯t talk about Jyanina-gong¡¯s anywhere.¡± ¡°Will I dare to gossip in the court thanks to Your Highness¡¯s grace?¡± Ardta was still young, but she was good at dealing with the world. Johan found it remarkable. Originally, even if you were quick-witted, you could only go halfway in the court. The example of someone who couldn¡¯t do that was walking in front of him, so it was even more remarkable.¡°You¡¯ll be a fine wizard.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ???????????? There were no major incidents after the jade leopard ran wild. Johan prepared the jade statue as a gift for Ulrike. Although it was violent, it was definitely a useful treasure. Ardta and Jyanina, who made contributions, were also rewarded. Amien received an additional gift because she was of the highest bloodline, even though she hadn¡¯t done anything in particr. And around that time, Count Oldor had lost weight and looked haggard. He seemed to have been terrified while hearing all sorts of rumors during his retirement. Some said that the angry duke would execute him as it is, or lock him up forever, or sell him to the East (Johan alsoughed a little at this idea). ¡°Count, we¡¯ve seeded in persuading His Highness the duke. He said he would release you if you paid the ransom as usual.¡± ¡°Is that true!?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± Thanks to this, the merchants of the republic were overjoyed. The count forgot about the insults he had hurled at them and hugged the merchants. He felt like he could do anything if he could escape from this den of vipers safely. ¡°Then, Mackald. I¡¯m counting on you.¡± ¡°Yes. Your Highness. Leave it to me.¡± Johan took his exhausted men and prepared to head north again. He couldn¡¯t spend much time here as the expedition procession was waiting in the empire. ¡°Jyanina-gong is from the empire, aren¡¯t you interested in the empire¡¯s pilgrimage?¡± ¡°Uh. . .¡± Jyanina hesitated. If she had her way, she wanted to live leisurely in this city where she didn¡¯t matter, being served by ves. She wouldn¡¯t envy the feudal lords if she could just lie on a cool, shady terrace, being fanned while grapes were tossed into her mouth. However, she was concerned about the duke¡¯s question. Jyanina still remembered the emperor¡¯s court. When the emperor asked if she would go hunting, it meant that she should follow him on the hunt. On top of that, if she said, ¡®??¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????? ????????, ???? ??¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ?? ??????????,¡¯ she would end up resting in the ground forever. Of course, the duke was not like the emperor, but it was good to be careful. And Jyanina was also from the empire. . . ¡°I am interested!¡± ¡°Oh? It¡¯s going to be tough. Prepare Jyanina-gong¡¯s horse as well.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina realized that she had given the wrong answer from the duke¡¯s reaction and the centaurs¡¯ reactions. ???????????? The way back up was much more leisurely than the hasty descent. Of course, it was a harsh march for a wizard like Jyanina, but the centaurs took it easy enough to look around and even receive special products from a nearby town. ¡°Hey. Duke, try this. The people in this town seem to know how to make alcohol. Isn¡¯t it beer that should be made in a monastery?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really good.¡± ¡°Would you like a drink, wizard?¡± ¡°I¡¯m. . . fine. . .¡± Jyanina grabbed her thigh andy down on her side. She wasn¡¯t bad at riding a horse, but after riding all day, the muscles all over her body ached as if they had been beaten. ¡°Is the wizard having a hard time?¡± ¡°Her muscles seem to be stiff, so we need to stretch her body a bit.¡± Johan stood up. Jyanina was startled and held out her hand. ¡°I-It¡¯s okay! It¡¯s okay!¡± Her strange tone of voice came out because she was so flustered. However, it was natural for Jyanina to be surprised. The duke was going to stretch her body himself. Although it could be a bit romantic as Johan was a young and healthy knight, Jyanina felt more fear than that. ¡®??¡¯?? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ????¡¯?? ????????. . .!¡¯ ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Euclyia will do it, not me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Jyanina calmed down quickly as Euclyia approached. She looked gentle and kind on the outside, but Jyanina knew very well how violent this centaur was as a warrior. As she recalled the time she had seen her bury her head in the belly of a beast and drink fresh blood, she suddenly felt terrified of the centaur again. ¡°Y-Your Highness. By any chance, Your Highness. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, wizard. Don¡¯t say strange things ande here.¡± Euclyia scolded and grabbed Jyanina as if she had said something sphemous. Jyanina screamed at the centaur¡¯s strong grip. In the meantime, Johan had a simple party with his other men. It was just skewered venison, beer, cheese, eggs, and hard bread that they had exchanged from a nearby town, but this was enough. Originally, thepany and the food and drinks were important at a drinking party. ¡°Your Highness.¡± ¡°?¡± In the meantime, the men who had gone on patrol returned. They had strange expressions on their faces. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I. . . do you often see centaurs in the south as well?¡± The party had now reached the southern part of the empire. The southern region, which suffered the most from the emperor¡¯s civil war. After the civil war ended, it was thought that peace woulde as several feudal lords divided thend among themselves, but the world was not that simple. Newly inherited minor feudal lords in the south, rogue knights trying to gain something by taking advantage of the weakened feudal lords, and even greater feudal lords who supported them to gain profits. Small-scale battles were taking ce here and there. Of course, it was not asrge in scale as the emperor¡¯s civil war, but mercenaries and knights tended to get caught up in such disputes. However. . . ¡°I knew that, but even the centaurs came here?¡± ¡°Yes. We approached because there was a fiefdom there, but it turned out to be centaurs. We came back because they were heavily guarded.¡± The man who went on patrol was not a centaur, but he was from an eastern nomadic tribe, so he knew how to deal with them. He had returned carefully without provoking them unnecessarily. ¡°The centaurs shouldn¡¯t havee this far. . .¡± ¡°We¡¯ll go and find out.¡± ¡°Would you do that?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no centaur who doesn¡¯t know our Alcia tribe. We¡¯ll be back.¡± Acdda ran off with a few of his kind. After a while, strange centaurs returned with Acdda, walking hesitantly. ¡°H-Hello. Your Highness. It¡¯s an honor to meet you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay to speak in the easternnguage if you¡¯re ufortable with the empire¡¯snguage.¡± ¡°!¡± The strange centaurs looked at Johan with admiration for his fluent easternnguage. In fact, it was hard to find an empire noble who spoke the easternnguage well, even in the eastern part of the empire. ¡°I heard that Your Highness the duke is the hero of heroes, and it¡¯s true. I¡¯ve heard a lot of stories from the Alcia tribe. They said you filled the castle from the basement to the top of the tower with gold coins. . .¡± The centaurs looked at Johan with eyes of admiration. Johan looked at Acdda and Euclyia in bewilderment. The two avoided his gaze, pretending not to see him. ¡°That¡¯s a bit of an exaggeration.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t the warriors who followed Your Highness the duke bring back that much wealth?¡± ¡°I was just lucky.¡± ¡°That luck is proof that you are loved by the spirits! Ah. I¡¯m sorry. I raised my voice. . .Ahem.¡± The centaurs coughed in vain. Acdda gestured for them to stop talking nonsense and get to the point. ¡°W-Well, it¡¯s embarrassing to say this, but. . . we came here to work as mercenaries.¡± ¡°All the way to the south?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± If you go further east from the eastern part of the empire, you will find a vast grasnd. The grasnd was in chaos in various ways right now. The centaurs, who raised horses, sheep, and cows by driving them around, were hit hard by the sudden cold weather and decreased rainfall. Some of therge tribes that had close ties with the eastern part of the empire were able to survive by receiving support, but the small tribes that had been wandering the grasnds could not. They couldn¡¯t just attack the powerfulrge tribes, so. . . They came down to the empire like this to work as mercenaries. The rumors of the centaur warriors who had gone to the empire first were also famous in the grasnds. In particr, the warriors of the Alcia tribe were among the best of them. ©¥?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????, ???????? ??????????????????, ?????? ???????? ??????????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ????. ©¥???????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ??????????, ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????????????????. . . ©¥???????????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ©¥???? ???????? ??????. ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????, ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ????????. . . The centaurs from other tribes were naturally excited when they heard such rumors. They headed for the empire with their hearts pounding. . . .But the reality was cold. ¡°Hmm. I guess I know without hearing it.¡± ¡°The empire bastards are cunning, cowardly, and dirty.¡± Johan and his men looked at them with regret. Originally, to work as mercenaries, not only fighting skills but also social skills were essential. The ability to choose an employer, the ability to promise money from the employer, the ability to persuade the employer even if the battle is unsatisfactory, the ability to get the money that was taken awayter, and so on. It wasn¡¯t for nothing that a country bumpkin came up from the countryside and joined a famous mercenary group. Wouldn¡¯t they be exploited inside, if not outside? The centaur mercenaries, who only knew how to fight, were ignorant of the empire¡¯s situation, didn¡¯t know any nobles, and were clumsy at speaking, would meet their end. ¡°Did you get your money taken away?¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± The centaur said with a sullen expression. He had fought hard because the employer promised to pay him if he drove the enemy out of the town, but he suddenly made excuses and chased the centaurs away. He wanted to break into the castle, but he couldn¡¯t attack the castle with only a few dozen centaur warriors. Euclyia looked sorry. She wanted to help, but she couldn¡¯t do whatever she wanted as she was now working under Johan. ¡°It¡¯s also fate to meet like this. Let¡¯s help.¡± ¡°!¡± So when Johan spoke up, his men¡¯s faces brightened. Seeing that, Johan nodded. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ??????????????????.¡¯ There was no way Johan wouldn¡¯t notice that the centaurs wanted to help. Besides, the opponents were at best minor feudal lords in the vicinity. They were just barons or knights. Johan himself had territory in the south, and he even had a huge silver mine, but no one touched him. That was because everyone, including the minor feudal lords, knew that the moment they touched a duke like Johan, they would be scorched. It wouldn¡¯t be difficult to say a few words and earn favor. ¡°Thank you! Duke! I will serve you with loyalty!¡± ¡°No. . . I didn¡¯t hire you, so loyalty is. . .¡± The centaur mercenaries were so happy that they were almost in tears. Johan was embarrassed. ¡°Are you going to fight for a while and then leave?¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably what will happen.¡± The wizard behind him rose up, and the centaur mercenaries stopped. Acdda introduced him instead. ¡°The wizard is Jyanina-gong.¡± ¡°A. . . uh. .?¡± Acdda stomped on the mercenary¡¯s foot with her hoof. Then the mercenaries quickly shut their mouths. ¡°???¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan looked at the centaurs with a knowing expression. The centaurs averted their gaze. ???????????? ¡°Master. Is it okay to chase away the centaurs like that? The centaurs are a terribly fierce and violent race. . .¡± ¡°They seem like idiots.¡± Sir Valker, the knight, snorted at the ve¡¯s words. As a knight who had been on the battlefield for a long time, he knew well about the truth and falsehood of the centaurs. ¡°There are centaurs who are scary and those who are not. Those guys are obviously not scary. They¡¯re like sick, stray dogs that have been chased out of the pack. Don¡¯t you think they look sloppy at a nce?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t even speak the empire¡¯snguage, and their tribe isn¡¯t big, so where will they go and what will they do? They¡¯ll just swear and go back to the grasnds.¡± Walker said confidently. Just then, the door opened and a servant ran in and whispered something. ¡°They¡¯re here again.¡± , Johan was afraid that Ardta would learn of Jyanina¡¯s actions when heter went to another court. The wizards at Johan¡¯s court were too close to their employers, and normally there was some tension in the rtionship between nobles and wizards. The nobles suspected, ¡¯???? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????¡¯ The wizards suspected, ¡®Will this greedy person who knows nothing about the mysteries really believe in me?¡¯ To that extent, the wizard had to maintain a certain amount of dignity. There was nothing good about being underestimated by the nobles. ¡°Youngdy, forget about that. By the way, don¡¯t talk about Jyanina-gong¡¯s anywhere.¡± ¡°Will I dare to gossip in the court thanks to Your Highness¡¯s grace?¡± Ardta was still young, but she was good at dealing with the world. Johan found it remarkable. Originally, even if you were quick-witted, you could only go halfway in the court. The example of someone who couldn¡¯t do that was walking in front of him, so it was even more remarkable. ¡°You¡¯ll be a fine wizard.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ???????????? There were no major incidents after the jade leopard ran wild. Johan prepared the jade statue as a gift for Ulrike. Although it was violent, it was definitely a useful treasure. Ardta and Jyanina, who made contributions, were also rewarded. Amien received an additional gift because she was of the highest bloodline, even though she hadn¡¯t done anything in particr. And around that time, Count Oldor had lost weight and looked haggard. He seemed to have been terrified while hearing all sorts of rumors during his retirement. Some said that the angry duke would execute him as it is, or lock him up forever, or sell him to the East (Johan alsoughed a little at this idea). ¡°Count, we¡¯ve seeded in persuading His Highness the duke. He said he would release you if you paid the ransom as usual.¡± ¡°Is that true!?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± Thanks to this, the merchants of the republic were overjoyed. The count forgot about the insults he had hurled at them and hugged the merchants. He felt like he could do anything if he could escape from this den of vipers safely. ¡°Then, Mackald. I¡¯m counting on you.¡± ¡°Yes. Your Highness. Leave it to me.¡± Johan took his exhausted men and prepared to head north again. He couldn¡¯t spend much time here as the expedition procession was waiting in the empire. ¡°Jyanina-gong is from the empire, aren¡¯t you interested in the empire¡¯s pilgrimage?¡± ¡°Uh. . .¡± Jyanina hesitated. If she had her way, she wanted to live leisurely in this city where she didn¡¯t matter, being served by ves. She wouldn¡¯t envy the feudal lords if she could just lie on a cool, shady terrace, being fanned while grapes were tossed into her mouth. However, she was concerned about the duke¡¯s question. Jyanina still remembered the emperor¡¯s court. When the emperor asked if she would go hunting, it meant that she should follow him on the hunt. On top of that, if she said, ¡®??¡¯?? ?????? ?????????????? ????????, ???? ??¡¯???? ???????? ?????? ?? ??????????,¡¯ she would end up resting in the ground forever. Of course, the duke was not like the emperor, but it was good to be careful. And Jyanina was also from the empire. . . ¡°I am interested!¡± ¡°Oh? It¡¯s going to be tough. Prepare Jyanina-gong¡¯s horse as well.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Jyanina realized that she had given the wrong answer from the duke¡¯s reaction and the centaurs¡¯ reactions. ???????????? The way back up was much more leisurely than the hasty descent. Of course, it was a harsh march for a wizard like Jyanina, but the centaurs took it easy enough to look around and even receive special products from a nearby town. ¡°Hey. Duke, try this. The people in this town seem to know how to make alcohol. Isn¡¯t it beer that should be made in a monastery?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really good.¡± ¡°Would you like a drink, wizard?¡± ¡°I¡¯m. . . fine. . .¡± Jyanina grabbed her thigh andy down on her side. She wasn¡¯t bad at riding a horse, but after riding all day, the muscles all over her body ached as if they had been beaten. ¡°Is the wizard having a hard time?¡± ¡°Her muscles seem to be stiff, so we need to stretch her body a bit.¡± Johan stood up. Jyanina was startled and held out her hand. ¡°I-It¡¯s okay! It¡¯s okay!¡± Her strange tone of voice came out because she was so flustered. However, it was natural for Jyanina to be surprised. The duke was going to stretch her body himself. Although it could be a bit romantic as Johan was a young and healthy knight, Jyanina felt more fear than that. ¡®??¡¯?? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????????? ????¡¯?? ????????. . .!¡¯ ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Euclyia will do it, not me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Jyanina calmed down quickly as Euclyia approached. She looked gentle and kind on the outside, but Jyanina knew very well how violent this centaur was as a warrior. As she recalled the time she had seen her bury her head in the belly of a beast and drink fresh blood, she suddenly felt terrified of the centaur again. ¡°Y-Your Highness. By any chance, Your Highness. . .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, wizard. Don¡¯t say strange things ande here.¡± Euclyia scolded and grabbed Jyanina as if she had said something sphemous. Jyanina screamed at the centaur¡¯s strong grip. In the meantime, Johan had a simple party with his other men. It was just skewered venison, beer, cheese, eggs, and hard bread that they had exchanged from a nearby town, but this was enough. Originally, thepany and the food and drinks were important at a drinking party. ¡°Your Highness.¡± ¡°?¡± In the meantime, the men who had gone on patrol returned. They had strange expressions on their faces. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I. . . do you often see centaurs in the south as well?¡± The party had now reached the southern part of the empire. The southern region, which suffered the most from the emperor¡¯s civil war. After the civil war ended, it was thought that peace woulde as several feudal lords divided thend among themselves, but the world was not that simple. Newly inherited minor feudal lords in the south, rogue knights trying to gain something by taking advantage of the weakened feudal lords, and even greater feudal lords who supported them to gain profits. Small-scale battles were taking ce here and there. Of course, it was not asrge in scale as the emperor¡¯s civil war, but mercenaries and knights tended to get caught up in such disputes. However. . . ¡°I knew that, but even the centaurs came here?¡± ¡°Yes. We approached because there was a fiefdom there, but it turned out to be centaurs. We came back because they were heavily guarded.¡± The man who went on patrol was not a centaur, but he was from an eastern nomadic tribe, so he knew how to deal with them. He had returned carefully without provoking them unnecessarily. ¡°The centaurs shouldn¡¯t havee this far. . .¡± ¡°We¡¯ll go and find out.¡± ¡°Would you do that?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no centaur who doesn¡¯t know our Alcia tribe. We¡¯ll be back.¡± Acdda ran off with a few of his kind. After a while, strange centaurs returned with Acdda, walking hesitantly. ¡°H-Hello. Your Highness. It¡¯s an honor to meet you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay to speak in the easternnguage if you¡¯re ufortable with the empire¡¯snguage.¡± ¡°!¡± The strange centaurs looked at Johan with admiration for his fluent easternnguage. In fact, it was hard to find an empire noble who spoke the easternnguage well, even in the eastern part of the empire. ¡°I heard that Your Highness the duke is the hero of heroes, and it¡¯s true. I¡¯ve heard a lot of stories from the Alcia tribe. They said you filled the castle from the basement to the top of the tower with gold coins. . .¡± The centaurs looked at Johan with eyes of admiration. Johan looked at Acdda and Euclyia in bewilderment. The two avoided his gaze, pretending not to see him. ¡°That¡¯s a bit of an exaggeration.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t the warriors who followed Your Highness the duke bring back that much wealth?¡± ¡°I was just lucky.¡± ¡°That luck is proof that you are loved by the spirits! Ah. I¡¯m sorry. I raised my voice. . .Ahem.¡± The centaurs coughed in vain. Acdda gestured for them to stop talking nonsense and get to the point. ¡°W-Well, it¡¯s embarrassing to say this, but. . . we came here to work as mercenaries.¡± ¡°All the way to the south?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± If you go further east from the eastern part of the empire, you will find a vast grasnd. The grasnd was in chaos in various ways right now. The centaurs, who raised horses, sheep, and cows by driving them around, were hit hard by the sudden cold weather and decreased rainfall. Some of therge tribes that had close ties with the eastern part of the empire were able to survive by receiving support, but the small tribes that had been wandering the grasnds could not. They couldn¡¯t just attack the powerfulrge tribes, so. . . They came down to the empire like this to work as mercenaries. The rumors of the centaur warriors who had gone to the empire first were also famous in the grasnds. In particr, the warriors of the Alcia tribe were among the best of them. ©¥?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????????, ???????? ??????????????????, ?????? ???????? ??????????????, ?????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ????. ©¥???????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ??????????, ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ????????????????????. . . ©¥???????????????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ©¥???? ???????? ??????. ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????, ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ????????. . . The centaurs from other tribes were naturally excited when they heard such rumors. They headed for the empire with their hearts pounding. . . .But the reality was cold. ¡°Hmm. I guess I know without hearing it.¡± ¡°The empire bastards are cunning, cowardly, and dirty.¡± Johan and his men looked at them with regret. Originally, to work as mercenaries, not only fighting skills but also social skills were essential. The ability to choose an employer, the ability to promise money from the employer, the ability to persuade the employer even if the battle is unsatisfactory, the ability to get the money that was taken awayter, and so on. It wasn¡¯t for nothing that a country bumpkin came up from the countryside and joined a famous mercenary group. Wouldn¡¯t they be exploited inside, if not outside? The centaur mercenaries, who only knew how to fight, were ignorant of the empire¡¯s situation, didn¡¯t know any nobles, and were clumsy at speaking, would meet their end. ¡°Did you get your money taken away?¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± The centaur said with a sullen expression. He had fought hard because the employer promised to pay him if he drove the enemy out of the town, but he suddenly made excuses and chased the centaurs away. He wanted to break into the castle, but he couldn¡¯t attack the castle with only a few dozen centaur warriors. Euclyia looked sorry. She wanted to help, but she couldn¡¯t do whatever she wanted as she was now working under Johan. ¡°It¡¯s also fate to meet like this. Let¡¯s help.¡± ¡°!¡± So when Johan spoke up, his men¡¯s faces brightened. Seeing that, Johan nodded. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ??????????????????.¡¯ There was no way Johan wouldn¡¯t notice that the centaurs wanted to help. Besides, the opponents were at best minor feudal lords in the vicinity. They were just barons or knights. Johan himself had territory in the south, and he even had a huge silver mine, but no one touched him. That was because everyone, including the minor feudal lords, knew that the moment they touched a duke like Johan, they would be scorched. It wouldn¡¯t be difficult to say a few words and earn favor. ¡°Thank you! Duke! I will serve you with loyalty!¡± ¡°No. . . I didn¡¯t hire you, so loyalty is. . .¡± The centaur mercenaries were so happy that they were almost in tears. Johan was embarrassed. ¡°Are you going to fight for a while and then leave?¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably what will happen.¡± The wizard behind him rose up, and the centaur mercenaries stopped. Acdda introduced him instead. ¡°The wizard is Jyanina-gong.¡± ¡°A. . . uh. .?¡± Acdda stomped on the mercenary¡¯s foot with her hoof. Then the mercenaries quickly shut their mouths. ¡°???¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan looked at the centaurs with a knowing expression. The centaurs averted their gaze. ???????????? ¡°Master. Is it okay to chase away the centaurs like that? The centaurs are a terribly fierce and violent race. . .¡± ¡°They seem like idiots.¡± Sir Valker, the knight, snorted at the ve¡¯s words. As a knight who had been on the battlefield for a long time, he knew well about the truth and falsehood of the centaurs. ¡°There are centaurs who are scary and those who are not. Those guys are obviously not scary. They¡¯re like sick, stray dogs that have been chased out of the pack. Don¡¯t you think they look sloppy at a nce?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t even speak the empire¡¯snguage, and their tribe isn¡¯t big, so where will they go and what will they do? They¡¯ll just swear and go back to the grasnds.¡± Walker said confidently. Just then, the door opened and a servant ran in and whispered something. ¡°They¡¯re here again.¡± Chapter 371: ????????-?????????? (15) ¡°They¡¯re back?¡± Sir Valker snorted. It was a known fact that any coward would grow brave when they were behind castle walls. And what more did a knight like Sir Valker have to fear with a centaur outside his castle gates? ¡°Ignore them. They are no good, I tell you. Ignore their threats.¡± ¡°B-But my lord. . .¡± ¡°Are you going to disobey me!?¡± Sir Valker roared as he threw the goblet he was holding at the servant. The servant, soaked in alcohol, cursed his master inwardly. ¡®???????????? ???????? His initial joy when he first started serving the knight was long gone. Honorable and honest knights were only found in the tales of bards. In reality, most were no better than mercenaries, just like Sir Valker. ¡°B-But they said something strange. They said they had brought His Highness the Duke with them. . .¡±¡°Hahaha!¡± Sir Valker burst intoughter. Heughed for a long time before suddenly stopping and ring up again. ¡°Hahaha! Are you still talking nonsense!? Get out of my sight!¡± ¡°I-I apologize!¡± The other servants present burst outughing as well, wondering what the fuss was all about. The insulted servant gritted his teeth and left. ???? ¡°Hmm. Is he not here?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they crazy bastards!?¡± ¡°No. I guess it is possible.¡± Johan remained calm even though the door to the opposite room did not open. Normally, a lord of a small wooden castle like this would have run out in his nightgown if the Duke¡¯s name was mentioned, but the world didn¡¯t always run on logic. §² Perhaps they had ignored the news because it was too absurd or did not evene out because they thought the centaurs were lying. ¡°What should we do then? Shall we send someone again?¡± ¡°No. It would only embarrass us if we kept sending messengers to someone who does not trust us. As someone greedy as him, he might do something.¡± Knights, who were no better than mercenaries, could easily be violent. Johan wanted to avoid any problems by sending his men as messengers. ¡°It would be better to go and ask him directly.¡± ¡°As expected. . .!¡± ¡°Indeed. I have been waiting for this!¡± ¡°?¡± Johan felt a bit flustered as the centaur mercenaries looked at him with anticipation. What is this? ¡°W-What are you expecting?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t His Highness the Duke going to break down the castle gate himself? That¡¯s what I heard. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan looked at Acdda and Euclyia. The two centaurs avoided his gaze. ¡°Those centaurs are great warriors, but they tend to exaggerate a bit, so don¡¯t take their words too seriously.¡± ¡°Ah. . . I apologize. Then, is it not true that His Highness the Duke broke down the castle gate?¡± ¡°It is true, but do not take their words seriously.¡± ¡°. . .???¡± The centaur mercenaries couldn¡¯t understand. Then, isn¡¯t it weird? Johan, who was at a loss for words, walked around, ignoring the mercenaries. Although it was called a castle, it was only a small one. He wasn¡¯t nning on foolishly attacking and destroying everything he saw just because he was impatient. ¡°There is a vige over there. Go and let the vige chief know that I am here. Then, the news will naturally reach the castle as well.¡± ¡°Yes. We shall do that.¡± Although the castle was tightly shut, people dide and go. Servants would oftene out to deliver messages to the nearby viges or to obtain food and drinks. Johan set up camp near the forest and leisurely observed the castle. ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ????????, ???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????? If they waited, the people of the vige would spread the news, and soon, those who wished to gain merit before dying would appear. Johan only needed to wait quietly and enter the castle through the open gate. Compared to the formidable castles he had conquered so far, capturing a wooden castle like this would be as easy as twisting a child¡¯s wrist. As expected, a servant secretly approached the camp at dawn on the second day. ¡°Your Highness the Duke!¡± The servant recognized Johan as the real duke the moment he saw his face. Otherwise, how could he possess such dignity? The jet-ck, shiny horse, and the wolf crouching next to him were intimidating enough. He couldn¡¯t even make eye contact with them. ¡°Despite hearing the news of Your Highness¡¯s noble arrival, we could not open the gate. Please kill me!¡± ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? Johan was puzzled by the servant¡¯s excessive ttery. The subordinates next to him also wondered why he was acting like that. To put it bluntly, if their master ignored them, what could the servants do about it? The way he was acting now was just. . . ¡®?????????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? He seemed desperate to nder his master somehow. Whatever the case may be, it was good for Johan. Johan nodded and said. ¡°Your honor and loyalty move my heart. Raise your head.¡± ¡°T-Thank you! Thank you!¡± Johan coaxed and persuaded the servant, eventually making him open the castle gate. The servant, who went inside with a pouch of silver coins, would open the castle gate with his fellow servants. The silver coins were a good incentive for the dissatisfied servants. After finishing his task, the servant ran back in a hurry. ¡°Follow me!¡± The centaur mercenaries behind were amazed. The Duke was trying to open the castle gate easily without even using arrows or catapults. It felt much more amazing than breaking down the castle gate with force. ¡®??????????????! ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? The centaur mercenaries were impressed as they watched Johan¡¯s every move. They also wanted to learn such wisdom. Acdda said in a know-it-all manner. ¡°This is the greatness of His Highness the Duke. He subdues his enemies not by force, but by using his brains.¡± ¡°You are truly amazing, Acdda. Do you know how to use such tactics as well?¡± ¡°Of. . . Of course.¡± ¡°Then, can you exin this tactic to me again in more detail?¡± ¡°. . .Maybe it would be better to hear it from the wizard rather than me. Wizard. Could you please exin to these foolish mercenaries what His Highness did just now. . .¡± ¡°!?¡± Jyanina suddenly red up and looked at Acdda in disbelief. Meanwhile, Johan arrived at the castle gate with the servant. Normally, a few arrows should have been fired from the castle walls, but the guards must have found it bothersome and ignored them. ??????????, ??????????, ??? The servant knocked on the door nervously. And then, nothing happened. ¡°. . .?¡± ??????????, ??????????, ??? The servant knocked on the door again. Once again, nothing happened. The centaur warriors next to him began to look furious. ¡°You treacherous bastard!?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s skin him alive!¡± ¡°N-No! No! I would never lie and risk my life. . . Hey! Open the gate quickly! I¡¯m going to die!!¡± The servant shouted and banged on the door, but his fellow servants did not respond. Johan clicked his tongue and gestured for them to move aside. ¡°Move. Stop making a fuss.¡± ¡°W-What. . .¡± ? The servant thought that the duke had gone mad at first. It was a castle gate made of thick iron, no matter how small the castle was. And yet, he was swinging a hammer at it. ¡®???? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ??? ????????, ????????, ????????, ????????, ? The castle gate broke with a loud crack. Johan sighed as he looked at the open gate. ¡°I was trying not to solve it with force. . . Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The centaur mercenaries watching from behind gaped at Acdda. They were too shocked by what they had just seen. ¡°Th-Th-That. . . Ah, no. If he could do that, then why did he bother with the scheme. . .¡± ¡°What. Is. The. Problem?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that. . .¡± Acdda red at the mercenaries who were questioning him and quickly turned and ran away. Acdda was also at a loss for words. ???? Johan had been prepared for a trap because the servant¡¯s fellow servants had disappeared. ns could be discovered after all. However, there was nothing like that. The servant¡¯s fellow servants were surprised when they saw the servant who had suddenly appeared. ¡°What? Why are you here now?¡± ¡°You told me toe out when the third bell rang from the monastery and open the gate!!¡± ¡°Was it already the third one? Oh, my bad. I thought it was the second one.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The servant felt like he was going to die of embarrassment. He couldn¡¯t imagine how the centaurs and the duke would see him. Of course, Johan didn¡¯t really care. It was such a trivial matter. ¡°Looks like I will have to take all the rewards. The others are not qualified to receive them.¡± ¡°Y-Your Highness the Duke?¡± ¡°How dare you. . . Bow down! You will pay dearly for not opening the gate!¡± The servants hurriedly prostrated themselves as the centaurs grew angry. Johan stopped them. ¡°Find the knight dastard first. I should beat him up a little.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Sir Valker was shocked when he met the centaur warriors running down the hallway. The fear was even greater because he didn¡¯t have a single weapon at his waist. ¡°Oh. . .¡± Sir Valker fell backward with a thud. The centaur warrior, who swung his whip, said in bewilderment. ¡°What were you trying to say?¡± ¡°What do you think? Tie him up. Isn¡¯t he the lord here?¡± ¡°Yes! That¡¯s right!¡± The servants at the back froze and dropped the dishes they were holding as they looked this way. The centaurs asked them kindly. ¡°Are you going to fight?¡± ¡°No! No!!¡± The servants chose to let the angry centaurs take their master away rather than fighting to protect him. Surely, they wouldn¡¯t kill him. They might humiliate him a little and take away his silver coins. . . ???? ¡°I really didn¡¯t know! I really didn¡¯t know!¡± ¡°Sir. Saying that you didn¡¯t know is not convincing.¡± Johan sat on the chair where the lord usually sat and looked down at the knight while tapping the floor with his sword. His emotionless voice made Sir Valker even more terrified. Behind him, the centaur mercenaries red at him as if they would pounce on him and trample him at any moment, but it was the young duke in front of him that Sir Valker was most afraid of. ¡°If Sir had opened the gate quickly, I wouldn¡¯t have had to waste my time. But Sir ignored my name and insulted my offer. Isn¡¯t that too much, even though you are not my vassal?¡± ¡°I havemitted an unforgivable sin. . .!¡± ¡°When I asked the centaurs, they said that Sir found fault with them for no reason and dyed their pay. Is that true?¡± ¡°That. . . That is. . . There is a slight misunderstanding. . .¡± Johan calmed the centaurs who were about to explode and spoke calmly. ¡°Exin yourself.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan subdued the knight¡¯s soul without even uttering a single curse. Sir Valker felt as if someone was squeezing his heart with their hands. He had to make excuses, but his tongue felt stiff and wouldn¡¯t move. ¡°I. . . I will pay them. I¡¯m sorry, Your Highness.¡± ¡°How much?¡± ¡°I. . . I will offer all the silver coins I have. Please ept my sincerity.¡± ¡°!¡± Johan was honestly surprised. Usually, a greedy person would not give up their money easily, even if a knife was pointed at their neck. Yet, he was saying that he would give it up like that. ¡®???????? ???? ????????? ?????? ??????????????. ???? ???? ???????????? ???? ????????? However, Sir Valker was not tricking him. He really opened the secret vault and scraped out all the silver coins. The servants murmured as they watched the knight who seemed to have aged in a short period of time. ¡°Is it the wizard¡¯s doing?¡± ¡°No way. . .¡± The knight, who had aged in a short period of time, prostrated himself and begged for forgiveness. ¡°Your Highness the Duke. Please. . . forgive my rudeness. . . I will never do it again.¡± ¡°. . .Alright. I shall ept Sir¡¯s sincerity.¡± Johan was rather embarrassed when the other person prostrated himself too much. Johan, who came out after receiving everything, asked in disbelief. ¡°Did I look that threatening? He seems to be too scared.¡± ¡°Maybe because you broke down the castle gate with your own hands!¡± ¡°Because of that?. . . He seem to be too scared for a knight.¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just unusually cowardly.¡± The centaur mercenaries stood before Johan, fidgeting. And then, they expressed their heartfelt gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Duke. If it weren¡¯t for you, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to receive it with our own strength.¡± ¡°I just got you what you deserved. You don¡¯t need to thank me too much.¡± ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± The mercenaries looked at Johan and his subordinates with respect as they left after finishing their work. The duke did not covet a single coin of the silver coins they had received. He even refused when they tried to offer it to him. ¡®?? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ??????????? ???? ¡°. . .I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s my imagination, but don¡¯t you think mercenaries from the east have beening to us a lottely?¡± Johan was surprised as he watched the mercenary captain who had suddenlye to greet him before leaving. ¡®?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????????-???????????, ¡°They¡¯re back?¡± Sir Valker snorted. It was a known fact that any coward would grow brave when they were behind castle walls. And what more did a knight like Sir Valker have to fear with a centaur outside his castle gates? ¡°Ignore them. They are no good, I tell you. Ignore their threats.¡± ¡°B-But my lord. . .¡± ¡°Are you going to disobey me!?¡± Sir Valker roared as he threw the goblet he was holding at the servant. The servant, soaked in alcohol, cursed his master inwardly. ¡®???????????? ???????? His initial joy when he first started serving the knight was long gone. Honorable and honest knights were only found in the tales of bards. In reality, most were no better than mercenaries, just like Sir Valker. ¡°B-But they said something strange. They said they had brought His Highness the Duke with them. . .¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Sir Valker burst intoughter. Heughed for a long time before suddenly stopping and ring up again. ¡°Hahaha! Are you still talking nonsense!? Get out of my sight!¡± ¡°I-I apologize!¡± The other servants present burst outughing as well, wondering what the fuss was all about. The insulted servant gritted his teeth and left. ???? ¡°Hmm. Is he not here?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they crazy bastards!?¡± ¡°No. I guess it is possible.¡± Johan remained calm even though the door to the opposite room did not open. Normally, a lord of a small wooden castle like this would have run out in his nightgown if the Duke¡¯s name was mentioned, but the world didn¡¯t always run on logic. Perhaps they had ignored the news because it was too absurd or did not evene out because they thought the centaurs were lying. ¡°What should we do then? Shall we send someone again?¡± ¡°No. It would only embarrass us if we kept sending messengers to someone who does not trust us. As someone greedy as him, he might do something.¡± Knights, who were no better than mercenaries, could easily be violent. Johan wanted to avoid any problems by sending his men as messengers. ¡°It would be better to go and ask him directly.¡± ¡°As expected. . .!¡± ¡°Indeed. I have been waiting for this!¡± ¡°?¡± Johan felt a bit flustered as the centaur mercenaries looked at him with anticipation. What is this? ¡°W-What are you expecting?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t His Highness the Duke going to break down the castle gate himself? That¡¯s what I heard. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan looked at Acdda and Euclyia. The two centaurs avoided his gaze. ¡°Those centaurs are great warriors, but they tend to exaggerate a bit, so don¡¯t take their words too seriously.¡± ¡°Ah. . . I apologize. Then, is it not true that His Highness the Duke broke down the castle gate?¡± ¡°It is true, but do not take their words seriously.¡± ¡°. . .???¡± The centaur mercenaries couldn¡¯t understand. Then, isn¡¯t it weird? Johan, who was at a loss for words, walked around, ignoring the mercenaries. Although it was called a castle, it was only a small one. He wasn¡¯t nning on foolishly attacking and destroying everything he saw just because he was impatient. ¡°There is a vige over there. Go and let the vige chief know that I am here. Then, the news will naturally reach the castle as well.¡± ¡°Yes. We shall do that.¡± Although the castle was tightly shut, people dide and go. Servants would oftene out to deliver messages to the nearby viges or to obtain food and drinks. Johan set up camp near the forest and leisurely observed the castle. ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ????????, ???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????? If they waited, the people of the vige would spread the news, and soon, those who wished to gain merit before dying would appear. Johan only needed to wait quietly and enter the castle through the open gate. Compared to the formidable castles he had conquered so far, capturing a wooden castle like this would be as easy as twisting a child¡¯s wrist. As expected, a servant secretly approached the camp at dawn on the second day. ¡°Your Highness the Duke!¡± The servant recognized Johan as the real duke the moment he saw his face. Otherwise, how could he possess such dignity? The jet-ck, shiny horse, and the wolf crouching next to him were intimidating enough. He couldn¡¯t even make eye contact with them. ¡°Despite hearing the news of Your Highness¡¯s noble arrival, we could not open the gate. Please kill me!¡± ¡®????¡¯?? ?????????? ?????? ???????????????? Johan was puzzled by the servant¡¯s excessive ttery. The subordinates next to him also wondered why he was acting like that. To put it bluntly, if their master ignored them, what could the servants do about it? The way he was acting now was just. . . ¡®?????????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? He seemed desperate to nder his master somehow. Whatever the case may be, it was good for Johan. Johan nodded and said. ¡°Your honor and loyalty move my heart. Raise your head.¡± ¡°T-Thank you! Thank you!¡± Johan coaxed and persuaded the servant, eventually making him open the castle gate. The servant, who went inside with a pouch of silver coins, would open the castle gate with his fellow servants. The silver coins were a good incentive for the dissatisfied servants. After finishing his task, the servant ran back in a hurry. ¡°Follow me!¡± The centaur mercenaries behind were amazed. The Duke was trying to open the castle gate easily without even using arrows or catapults. It felt much more amazing than breaking down the castle gate with force. ¡®??????????????! ?????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? The centaur mercenaries were impressed as they watched Johan¡¯s every move. They also wanted to learn such wisdom. Acdda said in a know-it-all manner. ¡°This is the greatness of His Highness the Duke. He subdues his enemies not by force, but by using his brains.¡± ¡°You are truly amazing, Acdda. Do you know how to use such tactics as well?¡± ¡°Of. . . Of course.¡± ¡°Then, can you exin this tactic to me again in more detail?¡± ¡°. . .Maybe it would be better to hear it from the wizard rather than me. Wizard. Could you please exin to these foolish mercenaries what His Highness did just now. . .¡± ¡°!?¡± Jyanina suddenly red up and looked at Acdda in disbelief. Meanwhile, Johan arrived at the castle gate with the servant. Normally, a few arrows should have been fired from the castle walls, but the guards must have found it bothersome and ignored them. ??????????, ??????????, ??? The servant knocked on the door nervously. And then, nothing happened. ¡°. . .?¡± ??????????, ??????????, ??? The servant knocked on the door again. Once again, nothing happened. The centaur warriors next to him began to look furious. ¡°You treacherous bastard!?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s skin him alive!¡± ¡°N-No! No! I would never lie and risk my life. . . Hey! Open the gate quickly! I¡¯m going to die!!¡± The servant shouted and banged on the door, but his fellow servants did not respond. Johan clicked his tongue and gestured for them to move aside. ¡°Move. Stop making a fuss.¡± ¡°W-What. . .¡± ? The servant thought that the duke had gone mad at first. It was a castle gate made of thick iron, no matter how small the castle was. And yet, he was swinging a hammer at it. ¡®???? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ??? ????????, ????????, ????????, ????????, ? The castle gate broke with a loud crack. Johan sighed as he looked at the open gate. ¡°I was trying not to solve it with force. . . Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The centaur mercenaries watching from behind gaped at Acdda. They were too shocked by what they had just seen. ¡°Th-Th-That. . . Ah, no. If he could do that, then why did he bother with the scheme. . .¡± ¡°What. Is. The. Problem?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that. . .¡± Acdda red at the mercenaries who were questioning him and quickly turned and ran away. Acdda was also at a loss for words. ???? Johan had been prepared for a trap because the servant¡¯s fellow servants had disappeared. ns could be discovered after all. However, there was nothing like that. The servant¡¯s fellow servants were surprised when they saw the servant who had suddenly appeared. ¡°What? Why are you here now?¡± ¡°You told me toe out when the third bell rang from the monastery and open the gate!!¡± ¡°Was it already the third one? Oh, my bad. I thought it was the second one.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The servant felt like he was going to die of embarrassment. He couldn¡¯t imagine how the centaurs and the duke would see him. Of course, Johan didn¡¯t really care. It was such a trivial matter. ¡°Looks like I will have to take all the rewards. The others are not qualified to receive them.¡± ¡°Y-Your Highness the Duke?¡± ¡°How dare you. . . Bow down! You will pay dearly for not opening the gate!¡± The servants hurriedly prostrated themselves as the centaurs grew angry. Johan stopped them. ¡°Find the knight dastard first. I should beat him up a little.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Sir Valker was shocked when he met the centaur warriors running down the hallway. The fear was even greater because he didn¡¯t have a single weapon at his waist. ¡°Oh. . .¡± Sir Valker fell backward with a thud. The centaur warrior, who swung his whip, said in bewilderment. ¡°What were you trying to say?¡± ¡°What do you think? Tie him up. Isn¡¯t he the lord here?¡± ¡°Yes! That¡¯s right!¡± The servants at the back froze and dropped the dishes they were holding as they looked this way. The centaurs asked them kindly. ¡°Are you going to fight?¡± ¡°No! No!!¡± The servants chose to let the angry centaurs take their master away rather than fighting to protect him. Surely, they wouldn¡¯t kill him. They might humiliate him a little and take away his silver coins. . . ???? ¡°I really didn¡¯t know! I really didn¡¯t know!¡± ¡°Sir. Saying that you didn¡¯t know is not convincing.¡± Johan sat on the chair where the lord usually sat and looked down at the knight while tapping the floor with his sword. His emotionless voice made Sir Valker even more terrified. Behind him, the centaur mercenaries red at him as if they would pounce on him and trample him at any moment, but it was the young duke in front of him that Sir Valker was most afraid of. ¡°If Sir had opened the gate quickly, I wouldn¡¯t have had to waste my time. But Sir ignored my name and insulted my offer. Isn¡¯t that too much, even though you are not my vassal?¡± ¡°I havemitted an unforgivable sin. . .!¡± ¡°When I asked the centaurs, they said that Sir found fault with them for no reason and dyed their pay. Is that true?¡± ¡°That. . . That is. . . There is a slight misunderstanding. . .¡± Johan calmed the centaurs who were about to explode and spoke calmly. ¡°Exin yourself.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan subdued the knight¡¯s soul without even uttering a single curse. Sir Valker felt as if someone was squeezing his heart with their hands. He had to make excuses, but his tongue felt stiff and wouldn¡¯t move. ¡°I. . . I will pay them. I¡¯m sorry, Your Highness.¡± ¡°How much?¡± ¡°I. . . I will offer all the silver coins I have. Please ept my sincerity.¡± ¡°!¡± Johan was honestly surprised. Usually, a greedy person would not give up their money easily, even if a knife was pointed at their neck. Yet, he was saying that he would give it up like that. ¡®???????? ???? ????????? ?????? ??????????????. ???? ???? ???????????? ???? ????????? However, Sir Valker was not tricking him. He really opened the secret vault and scraped out all the silver coins. The servants murmured as they watched the knight who seemed to have aged in a short period of time. ¡°Is it the wizard¡¯s doing?¡± ¡°No way. . .¡± The knight, who had aged in a short period of time, prostrated himself and begged for forgiveness. ¡°Your Highness the Duke. Please. . . forgive my rudeness. . . I will never do it again.¡± ¡°. . .Alright. I shall ept Sir¡¯s sincerity.¡± Johan was rather embarrassed when the other person prostrated himself too much. Johan, who came out after receiving everything, asked in disbelief. ¡°Did I look that threatening? He seems to be too scared.¡± ¡°Maybe because you broke down the castle gate with your own hands!¡± ¡°Because of that?. . . He seem to be too scared for a knight.¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just unusually cowardly.¡± The centaur mercenaries stood before Johan, fidgeting. And then, they expressed their heartfelt gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Duke. If it weren¡¯t for you, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to receive it with our own strength.¡± ¡°I just got you what you deserved. You don¡¯t need to thank me too much.¡± ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± The mercenaries looked at Johan and his subordinates with respect as they left after finishing their work. The duke did not covet a single coin of the silver coins they had received. He even refused when they tried to offer it to him. ¡®?? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ??????????? ???? ¡°. . .I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s my imagination, but don¡¯t you think mercenaries from the east have beening to us a lottely?¡± Johan was surprised as he watched the mercenary captain who had suddenlye to greet him before leaving. ¡®?????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ????????????-??????????? Chapter 372: ????????-?????????? (16) At first, he saw them arrive with a couple of mercenaries, and he was like, ¡¯????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ But they literally just said, ¡®???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????¡¯, greeted them, and left. He thought maybe he had a weirdo on his hands, but then this kept happening, which started getting weird. Could there be some evil plot here that Johan doesn¡¯t know about? ¡°Maybe they just wanted to see His Highness the duke? He did just return from a crusade to the Holy Land.¡± ¡°You think mercenary captains are that free?¡± If they were travelers or pilgrims, that¡¯d be one thing, but mercenary captains don¡¯t drop by to greet you after a crusade to the Holy Land. They have more things to do than that. . . .But after that, mercenary captains kepting to greet him. Johan, who was starting to lose patience, asked them directly. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡±¡°I asked why you came to see me. Be honest.¡± ¡°I just wanted to. . . see His Highness the duke once?¡± ¡°Any other reason besides that?¡± ¡°There really isn¡¯t. I. . . heard that His Highness the duke helped out mercenaries, and I was touched, so I came to see you. We may not be fighting alongside you, but there aren¡¯t many out there who would show kindness to people like us.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was getting embarrassed. His aides next to him looked at Johan as if to say, ¡¯???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ¡°Then, Your Highness the duke! May the blessings of the gods be upon you!¡± The mercenary captain departed after showing the utmost etiquette a mercenary could show. Johan nodded and said. ¡°Yup. Looks like there¡¯s no suspicious plot involved.¡± ¡°I think we told you so from the beginning, Duke.¡± ???? Caenerna was puzzled by the news that the duke was returning after leading his army. ¡°That was a lot quicker than I thought.¡± Usually, rebellions didn¡¯t end with one battle. It was rare for nobles who lost one battle to meekly surrender and say, ¡¯?? ?????? ???? They flee, get chased, hide in their castles, resist, try to negotiate, and so on. Considering nobles from other territories were involved this time, she thought it would take longer. ¡°The nobles and knights who were part of the rebellion and present at the scene were all captured. We even captured Count Oldor, who supported them, and made him pay a ransom.¡± ¡°That¡¯s incredibly lucky. . . Was that count at the scene too? You were able to catch him?¡± ¡°No. The count was at his castle.¡± ¡°. . .???¡± Caenerna was confused as she listened to the story. Something was off. ¡°Then how did you capture him? Did you go all the way to his fiefdom in the meantime?¡± ¡°Of course not. He came to us.¡± ¡°Oh. The count. . . . . .Why???¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Maybe he got scared or something.¡± ¡°What an idiot.¡± Caenerna lowered her estimation of the count, whose face she barely knew. He was too clumsy for a feudal lord who ruled a vast territory. He didn¡¯t need to be as thorough as the duke, but the fact that he just came over like that. . . He wasn¡¯t just stupid. ¡°Has His Highness the duke returned?¡± Monastic pdins who participated in the expedition approached with happy faces. They were originally supposed to go back to their monasteries, but they stayed to apany Johan while he was on his procession to the empire. From Johan¡¯s perspective, he was essentially getting freebor from high-level personnel, be they knights or otherwise, so he couldn¡¯t be more grateful. Caenerna straightened her posture and tidied up her clothes. It was fine when no one was watching, but she didn¡¯t want to show excessive intimacy with the duke in front of the monastic or order bishop. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if rumors started spreading the next day that ¡¯?? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?? ¡®???????????????????? ???? Of course, just as Caenerna thought, the monastic pdins thought the same of Caenerna. Very few wizards were liked by devout monotheists. ¡°Your Highness. I offer my congrattions on your safe return after suppressing the rebellion of those vile and vulgar men. I heard rumors that you helped the mercenaries? To even consider the hardships of those rough and greedy men. Your Highness the duke is truly a devout man.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they unverified rumors? I can¡¯t believe knights from a monastery would believe such rumors.¡± Caenerna continued to speak politely but bluntly. The pdins frowned slightly at the wizard¡¯s cynical remarks. ¡°We don¡¯t necessarily believe those rumors.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Wouldn¡¯t it be awkward for His Highness the duke to receive praise for something he didn¡¯t do?¡± ¡°Yes. We misspoke. We apologize, Your Highness. Those who serve God should not listen to rumors and should act piously.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan, who was listening from the side, was embarrassed that he missed his chance to say something. ¡®?????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????? But if he said that now, Caenerna wouldn¡¯t be able to look the monastic pdins in the eye for a year. Johan decided to tell her about itter privately. ¡°It¡¯s alright. You must think highly of me to say that.¡± ¡°Thank you for your understanding. Please send someone when you are ready to depart.¡± The pdins bowed their heads and left. Caenerna smiled with satisfaction, having won one for a change. Johan whispered to Caenerna, so that only she could hear. ¡°He¡¯s right. I did it.¡± ¡°. . .Are you joking, Your Highness the duke??¡± ???? The expeditionary force, which had been restingfortably, began to stir and prepare to move as soon as the duke returned. Countess Abner, Ulrike, and the elf king all agreed. ©¥???? ???????? ???????? ??????????. They argued that they should head north and apply pressure while the expeditionary force¡¯s morale was at its highest. Even during the emperor¡¯s civil war, the north was a region that traditionally belonged to the emperor¡¯s faction. If they harbored ill intentions or acted presumptuously, it was better to strike them down first. ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ?? ???? Johan understood why the feudal lords were saying that. They received rewards after the civil war, but they hadn¡¯t yet taken control of their castles. They clearly wanted to see the northern feudal lords bow their heads and surrender properly. This was an issue of honor and pride, not just a matter of practicality. . . .However, Johan didn¡¯t really care that much. He didn¡¯t have such burning hatred for the emperor himself in the first ce, so how could he possibly harbor such a deadly grudge against the feudal lords who supported the emperor? He thought that if they bowed their heads and didn¡¯t cause any trouble after the civil war, he would just let bygones be bygones and get along with them. . . ¡®?????? ?? ?????????? ?? ???????? ???? ????????????. ????¡¯?? ???? ??????, ?????????? He couldn¡¯t risk upsetting his allies by trying to gain too much. Johan decided to head north. ¡°Oh. Suetlg-nim. You look refreshed. Did you get some good rest?¡± ¡°Yes, thanks to you. My mind wasn¡¯t at ease no matter how nice a ce we found during the expedition. At the end of the day, the ce that suits me best is the empire.¡± Suetlg nodded with a healthierplexion. Even while they were staying put, the expeditionary force was moving like a living creature. Soldiers were selling the treasures they had brought back to merchants who hade looking for them with their eyes wide open. Even the nobles nearby came looking for them, throwing away their pride, so the fervor was terrifying. Johan didn¡¯t just let that happen. In this situation, merchants were difficult opponents to deal with. There were countless mercenaries, and they could easily get scammed. Johan called in the scribes and ordered them to help the mercenaries. The scribes mediated between them for a small fee. There were asional raised voices, but overall, they ended up satisfied with each other. ¡°That¡¯s too bad. I would have liked to see that.¡± ¡°Thanks to that, I was able to hire a few more bureaucrats. Oh, right. They said Jyanina-gong has arrived? That¡¯s perfect. I¡¯ve gotten some tutors for Jyanina-gong.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± ¡°They¡¯re pretty good. They graduated from the empire¡¯s university and have worked at a count¡¯s castle before. Wouldn¡¯t Jyanina-gong be pleased?¡± ¡°She would be very happy. I should tell her myself.¡± ¡°Yes. Jyanina-gong often expressed regret that she couldn¡¯t participate in the discussions when she attended meetings, but now she won¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll call her when she¡¯s handling documents.¡± ¡°Really? Won¡¯t she find that bothersome?¡± ¡°Would a wizard hate something like that? I¡¯ll call her.¡± After saying that, Johan thought she might hate it. ¡®?????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ?????? Johan was the duke and Jyanina¡¯s employer. And wouldn¡¯t it be good for Jyanina to learn more? ???? The north was and of many cold and chilly ces. Rumor had it that if you went all the way north, you would find seas and mountains where the ice never melted all year round. ¡°Must be because of the spirits.¡± ¡°It must be because of the spirits.¡± ¡°I wonder if it¡¯s because the mountains are higher. . . Maybe?¡± Caenerna wasn¡¯t sure, so she didn¡¯t argue strongly. The two wizards, on the other hand, strongly believed that the reason the snow on the mountains never melted was because of the spirits. ¡®?????????? ?? ?????????????? ???? Johan shook his head disapprovingly. It was a shame to see the person who was right get pushed aside. When he looked to the side, Ulrike was crossing her arms with a subtle expression on her face. ¡°What does Your Excellency think?¡± ¡°Hmm? Oh? What?¡± ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the snow on the mountains melt?¡± ¡°Maybe it vowed not to melt because it felt deeply betrayed.¡± ¡°Oh. . . How poetic.¡± Suetlg said that without thinking. Of course, by the time Ulrike looked up, Suetlg was already avoiding her gaze. He still held a grudge over the incident with the storybook. ¡°Did something happen?¡± Ulrike hesitated before speaking. She seemed to think it was better to just let it out and forget about it than to keep it to herself. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. Remember what I told youst time? About the countess promising to give me a treasure?¡± ¡°Oh. I remember.¡± Of course Johan remembered. The countess had asked him to find a treasure right away. After returning, Johan met the countess and handed him the statue. The countess was very pleased with its extraordinary history and gave Johan a pouch of gold coins. Johan also left the room feeling very satisfied. Everyone thought they were happy, but was Ulrike the only one who was unhappy? ¡°Did you not like the gift?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a bad gift, and it was valuable, but something just felt off. . . When she mentioned it back then, I thought that wasn¡¯t she meant by treasure.¡± ¡®?? Johan was slightly impressed. And he anticipated. Was Ulrike finally going to solve the riddle the countess had given her? ¡°I think the countess used the original treasure to buy a gift for her new lover.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was impressed in a different way. That was amazing deduction. ¡°Then she hastily prepared something to give me when I came up with an answer she couldn¡¯t deny.¡± ¡°That¡¯s. . . Quite a thought.¡± ¡°The more I talk about it, the more suspicious it gets. . . Look at this. Doesn¡¯t it look a little fake? Do you think it really reflects light?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Would she have picked something fake?¡± ¡°Oh, no. The countess is capable of that and more. If I question herter, she¡¯ll say, ¡®?????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ????, ???? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ????????? Johan clicked his tongue inwardly. That was the countess¡¯ karma. However, it was true that he was a little anxious and nervous, as he was the one who had personally chosen and brought it back. ¡°But don¡¯t you think the curves are elegant and well-made? It¡¯s a decent item.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Ulrike was lost in thought. When he said that, it did seem that way. Even Ulrike¡¯s cool-headed rationality agreed with that. However, no matter how good an item was, it felt different depending on who gave it to you. Now that she thought about it, she suddenly wanted to nitpick everything about it because she thought the countess had found it carelessly and given it to her as a way to get rid of it. Was this something she hurriedly bought from one of the men who had joined the expedition? ¡°I think the eyes are a bit small.¡± ¡°Well. . . Don¡¯t leopards have eyes like that?¡± ¡°The colors are too vivid.¡± ¡°That means it¡¯s made of pure, unadulterated ore.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t like anything about it.¡± Ulrike didn¡¯t notice that Johan¡¯s face was getting darker and darker as she kept grumbling. Just then, Iselia, who had been scouting and riding her horse hard, returned. Iselia was delighted to see Ulrike holding the statue. ¡°That¡¯s the treasure you brought! Did his highness deliver it to Gong properly? Was Gong satisfied?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike looked back and forth between Iselia and Johan¡¯s faces after hearing that. And she realized the whole situation. Come to think of it, there weren¡¯t many people the countess could trust with such a task. ¡°. . .I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No. . . .If you really didn¡¯t like it, you can just give it back. It¡¯s my fault for choosing the wrong one. . .¡± ¡°No! I really like it. . .!¡±, At first, he saw them arrive with a couple of mercenaries, and he was like, ¡¯????????¡¯?? ???????? ???????? ?????????¡¯ But they literally just said, ¡®???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ????????¡¯, greeted them, and left. He thought maybe he had a weirdo on his hands, but then this kept happening, which started getting weird. Could there be some evil plot here that Johan doesn¡¯t know about? ¡°Maybe they just wanted to see His Highness the duke? He did just return from a crusade to the Holy Land.¡± ¡°You think mercenary captains are that free?¡± If they were travelers or pilgrims, that¡¯d be one thing, but mercenary captains don¡¯t drop by to greet you after a crusade to the Holy Land. They have more things to do than that. . . .But after that, mercenary captains kepting to greet him. Johan, who was starting to lose patience, asked them directly. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I asked why you came to see me. Be honest.¡± ¡°I just wanted to. . . see His Highness the duke once?¡± ¡°Any other reason besides that?¡± ¡°There really isn¡¯t. I. . . heard that His Highness the duke helped out mercenaries, and I was touched, so I came to see you. We may not be fighting alongside you, but there aren¡¯t many out there who would show kindness to people like us.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was getting embarrassed. His aides next to him looked at Johan as if to say, ¡¯???????? ?????? ???? ???????? ¡°Then, Your Highness the duke! May the blessings of the gods be upon you!¡± The mercenary captain departed after showing the utmost etiquette a mercenary could show. Johan nodded and said. ¡°Yup. Looks like there¡¯s no suspicious plot involved.¡± ¡°I think we told you so from the beginning, Duke.¡± ???? Caenerna was puzzled by the news that the duke was returning after leading his army. ¡°That was a lot quicker than I thought.¡± Usually, rebellions didn¡¯t end with one battle. It was rare for nobles who lost one battle to meekly surrender and say, ¡¯?? ?????? ???? They flee, get chased, hide in their castles, resist, try to negotiate, and so on. Considering nobles from other territories were involved this time, she thought it would take longer. ¡°The nobles and knights who were part of the rebellion and present at the scene were all captured. We even captured Count Oldor, who supported them, and made him pay a ransom.¡± ¡°That¡¯s incredibly lucky. . . Was that count at the scene too? You were able to catch him?¡± ¡°No. The count was at his castle.¡± ¡°. . .???¡± Caenerna was confused as she listened to the story. Something was off. ¡°Then how did you capture him? Did you go all the way to his fiefdom in the meantime?¡± ¡°Of course not. He came to us.¡± ¡°Oh. The count. . . . . .Why???¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Maybe he got scared or something.¡± ¡°What an idiot.¡± Caenerna lowered her estimation of the count, whose face she barely knew. He was too clumsy for a feudal lord who ruled a vast territory. He didn¡¯t need to be as thorough as the duke, but the fact that he just came over like that. . . He wasn¡¯t just stupid. ¡°Has His Highness the duke returned?¡± Monastic pdins who participated in the expedition approached with happy faces. They were originally supposed to go back to their monasteries, but they stayed to apany Johan while he was on his procession to the empire. From Johan¡¯s perspective, he was essentially getting freebor from high-level personnel, be they knights or otherwise, so he couldn¡¯t be more grateful. Caenerna straightened her posture and tidied up her clothes. It was fine when no one was watching, but she didn¡¯t want to show excessive intimacy with the duke in front of the monastic or order bishop. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if rumors started spreading the next day that ¡¯?? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?? ¡®???????????????????? ???? Of course, just as Caenerna thought, the monastic pdins thought the same of Caenerna. Very few wizards were liked by devout monotheists. ¡°Your Highness. I offer my congrattions on your safe return after suppressing the rebellion of those vile and vulgar men. I heard rumors that you helped the mercenaries? To even consider the hardships of those rough and greedy men. Your Highness the duke is truly a devout man.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they unverified rumors? I can¡¯t believe knights from a monastery would believe such rumors.¡± Caenerna continued to speak politely but bluntly. The pdins frowned slightly at the wizard¡¯s cynical remarks. ¡°We don¡¯t necessarily believe those rumors.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Wouldn¡¯t it be awkward for His Highness the duke to receive praise for something he didn¡¯t do?¡± ¡°Yes. We misspoke. We apologize, Your Highness. Those who serve God should not listen to rumors and should act piously.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan, who was listening from the side, was embarrassed that he missed his chance to say something. ¡®?????? ????¡¯?? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????? But if he said that now, Caenerna wouldn¡¯t be able to look the monastic pdins in the eye for a year. Johan decided to tell her about itter privately. ¡°It¡¯s alright. You must think highly of me to say that.¡± ¡°Thank you for your understanding. Please send someone when you are ready to depart.¡± The pdins bowed their heads and left. Caenerna smiled with satisfaction, having won one for a change. Johan whispered to Caenerna, so that only she could hear. ¡°He¡¯s right. I did it.¡± ¡°. . .Are you joking, Your Highness the duke??¡± ???? The expeditionary force, which had been restingfortably, began to stir and prepare to move as soon as the duke returned. Countess Abner, Ulrike, and the elf king all agreed. ©¥???? ???????? ???????? ??????????. They argued that they should head north and apply pressure while the expeditionary force¡¯s morale was at its highest. Even during the emperor¡¯s civil war, the north was a region that traditionally belonged to the emperor¡¯s faction. If they harbored ill intentions or acted presumptuously, it was better to strike them down first. ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ?? ???? Johan understood why the feudal lords were saying that. They received rewards after the civil war, but they hadn¡¯t yet taken control of their castles. They clearly wanted to see the northern feudal lords bow their heads and surrender properly. This was an issue of honor and pride, not just a matter of practicality. . . .However, Johan didn¡¯t really care that much. He didn¡¯t have such burning hatred for the emperor himself in the first ce, so how could he possibly harbor such a deadly grudge against the feudal lords who supported the emperor? He thought that if they bowed their heads and didn¡¯t cause any trouble after the civil war, he would just let bygones be bygones and get along with them. . . ¡®?????? ?? ?????????? ?? ???????? ???? ????????????. ????¡¯?? ???? ??????, ?????????? He couldn¡¯t risk upsetting his allies by trying to gain too much. Johan decided to head north. ¡°Oh. Suetlg-nim. You look refreshed. Did you get some good rest?¡± ¡°Yes, thanks to you. My mind wasn¡¯t at ease no matter how nice a ce we found during the expedition. At the end of the day, the ce that suits me best is the empire.¡± Suetlg nodded with a healthierplexion. Even while they were staying put, the expeditionary force was moving like a living creature. Soldiers were selling the treasures they had brought back to merchants who hade looking for them with their eyes wide open. Even the nobles nearby came looking for them, throwing away their pride, so the fervor was terrifying. Johan didn¡¯t just let that happen. In this situation, merchants were difficult opponents to deal with. There were countless mercenaries, and they could easily get scammed. Johan called in the scribes and ordered them to help the mercenaries. The scribes mediated between them for a small fee. There were asional raised voices, but overall, they ended up satisfied with each other. ¡°That¡¯s too bad. I would have liked to see that.¡± ¡°Thanks to that, I was able to hire a few more bureaucrats. Oh, right. They said Jyanina-gong has arrived? That¡¯s perfect. I¡¯ve gotten some tutors for Jyanina-gong.¡± ¡°Oh. . .¡± ¡°They¡¯re pretty good. They graduated from the empire¡¯s university and have worked at a count¡¯s castle before. Wouldn¡¯t Jyanina-gong be pleased?¡± ¡°She would be very happy. I should tell her myself.¡± ¡°Yes. Jyanina-gong often expressed regret that she couldn¡¯t participate in the discussions when she attended meetings, but now she won¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll call her when she¡¯s handling documents.¡± ¡°Really? Won¡¯t she find that bothersome?¡± ¡°Would a wizard hate something like that? I¡¯ll call her.¡± After saying that, Johan thought she might hate it. ¡®?????? ???? ??????????¡¯?? ?????? Johan was the duke and Jyanina¡¯s employer. And wouldn¡¯t it be good for Jyanina to learn more? ???? The north was and of many cold and chilly ces. Rumor had it that if you went all the way north, you would find seas and mountains where the ice never melted all year round. ¡°Must be because of the spirits.¡± ¡°It must be because of the spirits.¡± ¡°I wonder if it¡¯s because the mountains are higher. . . Maybe?¡± Caenerna wasn¡¯t sure, so she didn¡¯t argue strongly. The two wizards, on the other hand, strongly believed that the reason the snow on the mountains never melted was because of the spirits. ¡®?????????? ?? ?????????????? ???? Johan shook his head disapprovingly. It was a shame to see the person who was right get pushed aside. When he looked to the side, Ulrike was crossing her arms with a subtle expression on her face. ¡°What does Your Excellency think?¡± ¡°Hmm? Oh? What?¡± ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the snow on the mountains melt?¡± ¡°Maybe it vowed not to melt because it felt deeply betrayed.¡± ¡°Oh. . . How poetic.¡± Suetlg said that without thinking. Of course, by the time Ulrike looked up, Suetlg was already avoiding her gaze. He still held a grudge over the incident with the storybook. ¡°Did something happen?¡± Ulrike hesitated before speaking. She seemed to think it was better to just let it out and forget about it than to keep it to herself. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. Remember what I told youst time? About the countess promising to give me a treasure?¡± ¡°Oh. I remember.¡± Of course Johan remembered. The countess had asked him to find a treasure right away. After returning, Johan met the countess and handed him the statue. The countess was very pleased with its extraordinary history and gave Johan a pouch of gold coins. Johan also left the room feeling very satisfied. Everyone thought they were happy, but was Ulrike the only one who was unhappy? ¡°Did you not like the gift?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a bad gift, and it was valuable, but something just felt off. . . When she mentioned it back then, I thought that wasn¡¯t she meant by treasure.¡± ¡®?? Johan was slightly impressed. And he anticipated. Was Ulrike finally going to solve the riddle the countess had given her? ¡°I think the countess used the original treasure to buy a gift for her new lover.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan was impressed in a different way. That was amazing deduction. ¡°Then she hastily prepared something to give me when I came up with an answer she couldn¡¯t deny.¡± ¡°That¡¯s. . . Quite a thought.¡± ¡°The more I talk about it, the more suspicious it gets. . . Look at this. Doesn¡¯t it look a little fake? Do you think it really reflects light?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Would she have picked something fake?¡± ¡°Oh, no. The countess is capable of that and more. If I question herter, she¡¯ll say, ¡®?????? ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ????, ???? ????????¡¯?? ?????? ????????? Johan clicked his tongue inwardly. That was the countess¡¯ karma. However, it was true that he was a little anxious and nervous, as he was the one who had personally chosen and brought it back. ¡°But don¡¯t you think the curves are elegant and well-made? It¡¯s a decent item.¡± ¡°Hmm. . .¡± Ulrike was lost in thought. When he said that, it did seem that way. Even Ulrike¡¯s cool-headed rationality agreed with that. However, no matter how good an item was, it felt different depending on who gave it to you. Now that she thought about it, she suddenly wanted to nitpick everything about it because she thought the countess had found it carelessly and given it to her as a way to get rid of it. Was this something she hurriedly bought from one of the men who had joined the expedition? ¡°I think the eyes are a bit small.¡± ¡°Well. . . Don¡¯t leopards have eyes like that?¡± ¡°The colors are too vivid.¡± ¡°That means it¡¯s made of pure, unadulterated ore.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t like anything about it.¡± Ulrike didn¡¯t notice that Johan¡¯s face was getting darker and darker as she kept grumbling. Just then, Iselia, who had been scouting and riding her horse hard, returned. Iselia was delighted to see Ulrike holding the statue. ¡°That¡¯s the treasure you brought! Did his highness deliver it to Gong properly? Was Gong satisfied?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike looked back and forth between Iselia and Johan¡¯s faces after hearing that. And she realized the whole situation. Come to think of it, there weren¡¯t many people the countess could trust with such a task. ¡°. . .I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No. . . .If you really didn¡¯t like it, you can just give it back. It¡¯s my fault for choosing the wrong one. . .¡± ¡°No! I really like it. . .!¡± Chapter 373: ????????-?????????? (17) Ulrike desperately ran after the duke. It was the first time she had seen him look so forlorn. ¡°I liked it, actually, it¡¯s just that I was annoyed that the person who gave it to me was acting all smug about it. Duke! Understand.¡± Johan lowered his outstretched hand, perhaps barely persuaded by her earnest voice. Yet, still seemingly somewhat suspicious, Johan softly asked again. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not dissatisfied?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my favorite treasure out of all the ones I own.¡± ¡°What. . . not to that extent.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you undervaluing yourself, Gong? It¡¯s just a statue, neither a sword nor a shield.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike was momentarily slightly irritated by this duke and his wife.¡®????¡¯?? ???? ??????????, ???? ?? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ????. . .¡¯ ¡°No. It really is my favorite treasure. I¡¯ve always dreamed of a treasure like this.¡± It would be foolish to confess to being suspicious in this situation. Ulrike kept her expression unchanged and rattled off about how much she liked the treasure. Johan, who had been skeptical at first, soon seemed to have his doubts cleared, nodding his head. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I was worried whether I¡¯d be able to choose well when the countess asked me to. I¡¯m d you¡¯re satisfied.¡± ¡°. . .Are you really satisfied?¡± Ulrike inwardly cursed the countess. If you¡¯re going to give a gift, you should say so properly and hand it over. If you hide the details and give it to them, they¡¯ll end up in a difficult situation like this. Anyway, from top to bottom, there was nothing she didn¡¯t like. . . After the satisfied duke left, Ulrike left the statue to the attendant. ¡°Take this away.¡± ¡°Shall I have the servants return it to the fiefdom?¡± ¡°. . .There¡¯s no need to go that far. Have it kept in storage properly.¡± ¡°Yes. I shall do that.¡± She had thought about just sending it back, but then she realized that the gift was not at fault. There was also the giver¡¯s feelings, so Ulrike thought she would just erase the countess from her mind and use it. ???? ¡°Is it already this cold?¡± ¡°There are ces where it snows early.¡± It wasn¡¯t for nothing that the expedition had purchased cold-weather gear before setting out. Johan¡¯s men looked up at the sky, watching their breath. They were worried that the journey would be slowed down if it snowed. ¡°It would be good to arrive at the marquis¡¯s fiefdom by nightfall.¡± ¡°Is it possible that the marquis won¡¯t wee us?¡± ¡°It would be better if he didn¡¯t.¡± Johan answered his subordinate¡¯s question resolutely. It couldn¡¯t be helped but to be good for both parties if they were weed. Due to the gradually cooling weather, the soldiers of the expedition were reluctant to camp out. They even burned down the Sultan¡¯s camp, how could they fail to draw out a mere northern marquis? Grr. Karamaf raised his head, having caught a scent, and called out to Johan with a low whine. Johan squinted his eyes and gazed ahead. In the distance, faint shadows could be seen moving amidst the mountain path. ¡°It¡¯s the marquis¡¯s g.¡± ¡°You can see it from here? I hope they¡¯re noting out to fight us?¡± ¡°Yeah. It looks like they¡¯vee to wee us. Feel free to ry it.¡± As Johan¡¯s words spread, cheers of joy erupted from all over the expedition. . . .However, that joy soon vanished as the envoy carrying the marquis¡¯s g approached them from the front. ¡°Did I hear that wrong?¡± The elf king asked with a hardened expression. The envoy of Marquis Kertz almost fainted as the elf king red at them. Still, they managed to speak again. ¡°The marquis. . . has just received an urgent message and has left the castle with his men.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°W. . . We don¡¯t know that either.¡± ¡°I see. So the Marquis Kertz is not present right now, and you haven¡¯t prepared a single lie to exin that. . . How irresponsible can you be!¡± The furious elf king was about to draw his sword right away. Johan hurriedly stopped him. The elf king was a person who wouldn¡¯t listen to his subordinates no matter how much they tried to stop him once his anger exploded. However, when the duke grabbed him, the elf king held back his sword and endured it. At that sight, the elf knights who were escorting the king from behind were impressed. They felt how deep their friendship was. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ¡®???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????????????? However, Iselia, who was standing next to them, noticed something else. ¡®. . . ???? ???????? ????????, ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? The elf king wasn¡¯t specifically looking at the duke¡¯s face to suppress his temper. As he was about to get angry, Johan grabbed his wrist so tightly that he stopped moving due to the pain. From Iselia¡¯s perspective, who knew how terrifying Johan¡¯s strength was, it didn¡¯t seem strange even if the angle of his wrist was bent strangely right now. ¡°L. . . Let go.¡± ¡°Have you calmed down?¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you. Duke.¡± The elf king¡¯s advantage was that he didn¡¯t care much about any rudeness once he acknowledged the other person. Rubbing his wrist, the elf king spoke, seemingly because of something else. ¡°If the marquis knows honor, tell him honestly! That all he has to offer his guests are swords and arrows. Then we¡¯ll treat him ordingly!¡± It wasn¡¯t that the elf king was unusually bloodthirsty. Ulrike and everyone who knew even a little bit about customs had hardened expressions. The nobles who were currently touring the empire after finishing the expedition to the Holy Land were all great nobles. The marquis himself had toe out and treat them, and if he really couldn¡¯te out because of unavoidable circumstances, he had to exin why. Seeing the envoy simply bbering that the marquis had gone out without any of that, one couldn¡¯t help but suspect that he was trying to openly insult them. ¡°But isn¡¯t it a bit strange?¡± While the elf king was ranting and raving, Johan asked the others. ¡°What do you mean, duke?¡± ¡°If he was really so offended that he didn¡¯t want to greet us, he could have just pretended to be sick.¡± ¡°Even pretending to be sick would have hurt his pride. It¡¯s amon thing.¡± Suetlg sounded gloomy. The extremely rational young duke was a special case, and usually nobles made foolish choices due to pride and honor. The stubbornness of nobles was evident in the fierce eyes of the expedition army currently standing before them. ¡°Isn¡¯t it possible that he really did go out after receiving an urgent message?¡± ¡°Not everyone in the world is as rational and clever as you. . .¡± Suetlg said, as if he was worried. If he continued like this and was betrayed once, he would feel how irrationally nobles act, and that probably wouldn¡¯t be very good for his mind. Johan stopped the raging elf king again and asked the envoy. ¡°Then does that mean you can¡¯t let us into the castle since the marquis is absent right now?¡± ¡°No! Of course we will wee you in ordance with customs. The other masters are also waiting.¡± In the absence of the marquis, it seemed that his spouse and children would wee them instead. Of course, the elf king, whose mood was already sour, didn¡¯t take it straightforwardly. ¡°It must be a trap.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s real.¡± ¡°The duke is too kind and honest! Unlike Ulrike-gong and I who have coldness instead of piety, you can see the truth.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike was taken aback when she was suddenly hit by the elf king. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?? Ulrike felt for the first time that she couldn¡¯t even open her mouth because there were too many things to point out. Starting from the duke being innocent, to the elf king being cold. . . it was just too much. However, she agreed with the elf king about this matter. She wanted to make use of this opportunity to find fault with them even if they stayed put, but when they came out to pick a fight like this, she felt like asking ¡®???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ?? ¡°Still, I¡¯d like to check it out once.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°If you say it like that. . .¡± However, when Johan didn¡¯t give in, the two of them didn¡¯t stubbornly insist and backed down. It wasn¡¯t because of power or the number of soldiers they were leading. There was a respect that transcended that between them. The envoy of the marquis, who had been trembling, was moved to tears at the sudden change in atmosphere. To be honest, he thought he might die here. ¡°Thank you! Your Highness! I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re a benevolent duke, and today I¡¯ve learned that the rumors are true.¡± ¡°Do such rumors really circte in the north?¡± ¡°. . .Yes!¡± ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?? Johan smiled wryly to himself as the other person paused for a moment before answering. Even if good rumors spread, it didn¡¯t seem like they would spread all the way to the north. There might be rumors about him being a fearsome knight though. . . ¡°By the way. Duke. Do you know about the wonderful rumors circting in the north about you?¡± As the elf king opened his mouth with a delighted expression, Johan didn¡¯t really want to hear it. ???? ¡°We should just close the castle gates and hold out even now!¡± ¡°That¡¯s crazy. How long do you think we can hold out? The preparations for the siege aren¡¯t even done properly.¡± ¡°The castle walls are enough! How long can the enemy hold out?¡± The people inside Marquis Kertz¡¯s castle were not unaware of the situation outside. ¡®???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????????????¡¯ and ¡®???? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????????????????? ??????????????¡¯ were fiercely divided. And surprisingly, thetter was more numerous. It wasn¡¯t because they trusted the expedition, but because they feared it. ¡®???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????????????, ??????????¡¯?? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ??????. ????¡¯???? ???????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ¡®?????????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ????????????, ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????? ????????????????. . . ????¡¯?? ?????????????????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ¡®?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????? ???? ????????, ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????? ????????. ???????? ?????????????? ????????, ???????? ???????????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????????? They calcted that even if the expedition went on a rampage due to their anger, they wouldn¡¯t vent it on those who had at least opened the gates for them. That was the extent of their calctions. As a result, Marquis Kertz¡¯s castle waited for the expedition with its gates open. ¡°Isn¡¯t there an archer hiding over there?¡± ¡°Is that boiling oil up there?¡± ¡°Why are they pouring water? Ah! It¡¯s poisoned!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The elf king seemed to be quite wrong, as he found fault with everything the envoy did. If it wasn¡¯t for the sword, the envoy would have cursed at least once. ¡°. . .Are you sure it¡¯s not real?¡± Caenerna said in a surprised voice. The atmosphere inside the castle was so different from what she had imagined. If they had prepared an ambush, they should have hidden all the people who could be found and made artificial preparations. . . The faces of the people who wereing out in a disorderly manner right now were filled with confusion, anxiety, and fear. It was clear that the marquis had really left in a hurry. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s true that both the chief steward and the captain left with the marquis.¡± ¡°What reason could they possibly have to leave together like that. . .¡± ¡°Well, yeah. Unless his hidden lover suddenly copsed or something, there¡¯s no reason to do that. . .¡± The vassals who hade out hurriedly ran towards them. They needed to introduce themselves before the expedition started attacking out of anger. ¡°Your Highness! It is an honor to meet you like this. We have heard of Your Highness¡¯s honest and benevolent reputation from afar. I am. . .¡± ¡°No! I strongly insisted that we open the castle gates! When the others opposed. . . Oh, the scribe, Zabek, insisted that we shouldn¡¯t open them.¡± Johan was momentarily taken aback when he saw the vassals chattering noisily. It had been a long time since he had seen such a rabble. ¡°You guys are really capable people.¡± ¡°Th. . . Thank you!¡± ¡°So where is the marquis?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The vassals became speechless. No one knew the marquis¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°Someone has to take responsibility for the marquis¡¯s absence.¡± ¡°Yes. Your Highness! You¡¯re right!¡± The vassals eximed in unison. They weren¡¯t very scared because they were thinking of going to the marquis¡¯s remaining family and asking them to take responsibility. ¡°Alright. Put everyone here under house arrest. Don¡¯t treat them roughly, but punish them severely if they try to escape.¡± ¡°. . .Your Highness!?¡± ¡°Where are the vassals who don¡¯t know where the marquis has gone? You must be involved as well.¡± ¡°No! We really don¡¯t know!¡± ¡°Then figure it out.¡± Johan deliberately stopped speaking coldly and turned away. The elf king asked in a serious voice. ¡°Do you really think they¡¯re covering for him?¡± ¡°Not that. . . They seem like they¡¯d take good care of their own lives, so they¡¯ll find the marquis¡¯s whereabouts on their own.¡± Since they¡¯ve been working here for a long time and have even felt the threat of death, they should find him on their own! Johan intended to use them like hunting dogs., Ulrike desperately ran after the duke. It was the first time she had seen him look so forlorn. ¡°I liked it, actually, it¡¯s just that I was annoyed that the person who gave it to me was acting all smug about it. Duke! Understand.¡± Johan lowered his outstretched hand, perhaps barely persuaded by her earnest voice. Yet, still seemingly somewhat suspicious, Johan softly asked again. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not dissatisfied?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my favorite treasure out of all the ones I own.¡± ¡°What. . . not to that extent.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you undervaluing yourself, Gong? It¡¯s just a statue, neither a sword nor a shield.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike was momentarily slightly irritated by this duke and his wife. ¡®????¡¯?? ???? ??????????, ???? ?? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ???????? ?? ¡°No. It really is my favorite treasure. I¡¯ve always dreamed of a treasure like this.¡± It would be foolish to confess to being suspicious in this situation. Ulrike kept her expression unchanged and rattled off about how much she liked the treasure. Johan, who had been skeptical at first, soon seemed to have his doubts cleared, nodding his head. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I was worried whether I¡¯d be able to choose well when the countess asked me to. I¡¯m d you¡¯re satisfied.¡± ¡°. . .Are you really satisfied?¡± Ulrike inwardly cursed the countess. If you¡¯re going to give a gift, you should say so properly and hand it over. If you hide the details and give it to them, they¡¯ll end up in a difficult situation like this. Anyway, from top to bottom, there was nothing she didn¡¯t like. . . After the satisfied duke left, Ulrike left the statue to the attendant. ¡°Take this away.¡± ¡°Shall I have the servants return it to the fiefdom?¡± ¡°. . .There¡¯s no need to go that far. Have it kept in storage properly.¡± ¡°Yes. I shall do that.¡± She had thought about just sending it back, but then she realized that the gift was not at fault. There was also the giver¡¯s feelings, so Ulrike thought she would just erase the countess from her mind and use it. ???? ¡°Is it already this cold?¡± ¡°There are ces where it snows early.¡± It wasn¡¯t for nothing that the expedition had purchased cold-weather gear before setting out. Johan¡¯s men looked up at the sky, watching their breath. They were worried that the journey would be slowed down if it snowed. ¡°It would be good to arrive at the marquis¡¯s fiefdom by nightfall.¡± ¡°Is it possible that the marquis won¡¯t wee us?¡± ¡°It would be better if he didn¡¯t.¡± Johan answered his subordinate¡¯s question resolutely. It couldn¡¯t be helped but to be good for both parties if they were weed. Due to the gradually cooling weather, the soldiers of the expedition were reluctant to camp out. They even burned down the Sultan¡¯s camp, how could they fail to draw out a mere northern marquis? Grr. Karamaf raised his head, having caught a scent, and called out to Johan with a low whine. Johan squinted his eyes and gazed ahead. In the distance, faint shadows could be seen moving amidst the mountain path. ¡°It¡¯s the marquis¡¯s g.¡± ¡°You can see it from here? I hope they¡¯re noting out to fight us?¡± ¡°Yeah. It looks like they¡¯vee to wee us. Feel free to ry it.¡± As Johan¡¯s words spread, cheers of joy erupted from all over the expedition. . . .However, that joy soon vanished as the envoy carrying the marquis¡¯s g approached them from the front. ¡°Did I hear that wrong?¡± The elf king asked with a hardened expression. The envoy of Marquis Kertz almost fainted as the elf king red at them. Still, they managed to speak again. ¡°The marquis. . . has just received an urgent message and has left the castle with his men.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°W. . . We don¡¯t know that either.¡± ¡°I see. So the Marquis Kertz is not present right now, and you haven¡¯t prepared a single lie to exin that. . . How irresponsible can you be!¡± The furious elf king was about to draw his sword right away. Johan hurriedly stopped him. The elf king was a person who wouldn¡¯t listen to his subordinates no matter how much they tried to stop him once his anger exploded. However, when the duke grabbed him, the elf king held back his sword and endured it. At that sight, the elf knights who were escorting the king from behind were impressed. They felt how deep their friendship was. ¡®????????¡¯?? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ¡®???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????????????? However, Iselia, who was standing next to them, noticed something else. ¡®. . . ???? ???????? ????????, ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? The elf king wasn¡¯t specifically looking at the duke¡¯s face to suppress his temper. As he was about to get angry, Johan grabbed his wrist so tightly that he stopped moving due to the pain. From Iselia¡¯s perspective, who knew how terrifying Johan¡¯s strength was, it didn¡¯t seem strange even if the angle of his wrist was bent strangely right now. ¡°L. . . Let go.¡± ¡°Have you calmed down?¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you. Duke.¡± The elf king¡¯s advantage was that he didn¡¯t care much about any rudeness once he acknowledged the other person. Rubbing his wrist, the elf king spoke, seemingly because of something else. ¡°If the marquis knows honor, tell him honestly! That all he has to offer his guests are swords and arrows. Then we¡¯ll treat him ordingly!¡± It wasn¡¯t that the elf king was unusually bloodthirsty. Ulrike and everyone who knew even a little bit about customs had hardened expressions. The nobles who were currently touring the empire after finishing the expedition to the Holy Land were all great nobles. The marquis himself had toe out and treat them, and if he really couldn¡¯te out because of unavoidable circumstances, he had to exin why. Seeing the envoy simply bbering that the marquis had gone out without any of that, one couldn¡¯t help but suspect that he was trying to openly insult them. ¡°But isn¡¯t it a bit strange?¡± While the elf king was ranting and raving, Johan asked the others. ¡°What do you mean, duke?¡± ¡°If he was really so offended that he didn¡¯t want to greet us, he could have just pretended to be sick.¡± ¡°Even pretending to be sick would have hurt his pride. It¡¯s amon thing.¡± Suetlg sounded gloomy. The extremely rational young duke was a special case, and usually nobles made foolish choices due to pride and honor. The stubbornness of nobles was evident in the fierce eyes of the expedition army currently standing before them. ¡°Isn¡¯t it possible that he really did go out after receiving an urgent message?¡± ¡°Not everyone in the world is as rational and clever as you. . .¡± Suetlg said, as if he was worried. If he continued like this and was betrayed once, he would feel how irrationally nobles act, and that probably wouldn¡¯t be very good for his mind. Johan stopped the raging elf king again and asked the envoy. ¡°Then does that mean you can¡¯t let us into the castle since the marquis is absent right now?¡± ¡°No! Of course we will wee you in ordance with customs. The other masters are also waiting.¡± In the absence of the marquis, it seemed that his spouse and children would wee them instead. Of course, the elf king, whose mood was already sour, didn¡¯t take it straightforwardly. ¡°It must be a trap.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s real.¡± ¡°The duke is too kind and honest! Unlike Ulrike-gong and I who have coldness instead of piety, you can see the truth.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Ulrike was taken aback when she was suddenly hit by the elf king. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ????¡¯?? ?????????????? ?? Ulrike felt for the first time that she couldn¡¯t even open her mouth because there were too many things to point out. Starting from the duke being innocent, to the elf king being cold. . . it was just too much. However, she agreed with the elf king about this matter. She wanted to make use of this opportunity to find fault with them even if they stayed put, but when they came out to pick a fight like this, she felt like asking ¡®???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ?? ¡°Still, I¡¯d like to check it out once.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°If you say it like that. . .¡± However, when Johan didn¡¯t give in, the two of them didn¡¯t stubbornly insist and backed down. It wasn¡¯t because of power or the number of soldiers they were leading. There was a respect that transcended that between them. The envoy of the marquis, who had been trembling, was moved to tears at the sudden change in atmosphere. To be honest, he thought he might die here. ¡°Thank you! Your Highness! I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re a benevolent duke, and today I¡¯ve learned that the rumors are true.¡± ¡°Do such rumors really circte in the north?¡± ¡°. . .Yes!¡± ¡®?? ?????????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?? Johan smiled wryly to himself as the other person paused for a moment before answering. Even if good rumors spread, it didn¡¯t seem like they would spread all the way to the north. There might be rumors about him being a fearsome knight though. . . ¡°By the way. Duke. Do you know about the wonderful rumors circting in the north about you?¡± As the elf king opened his mouth with a delighted expression, Johan didn¡¯t really want to hear it. ???? ¡°We should just close the castle gates and hold out even now!¡± ¡°That¡¯s crazy. How long do you think we can hold out? The preparations for the siege aren¡¯t even done properly.¡± ¡°The castle walls are enough! How long can the enemy hold out?¡± The people inside Marquis Kertz¡¯s castle were not unaware of the situation outside. ¡®???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????????????????¡¯ and ¡®???? ???????????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????????????????? ??????????????¡¯ were fiercely divided. And surprisingly, thetter was more numerous. It wasn¡¯t because they trusted the expedition, but because they feared it. ¡®???????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????????????????, ??????????¡¯?? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ??????. ????¡¯???? ???????????????? ???? ???? ???????? ¡®?????????? ???????? ???? ???????????????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ????????????, ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ?????????? ????????????????. . . ????¡¯?? ?????????????????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ¡®?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????? ???? ????????, ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?????????? ?????? ????????. ???????? ?????????????? ????????, ???????? ???????????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????????? They calcted that even if the expedition went on a rampage due to their anger, they wouldn¡¯t vent it on those who had at least opened the gates for them. That was the extent of their calctions. As a result, Marquis Kertz¡¯s castle waited for the expedition with its gates open. ¡°Isn¡¯t there an archer hiding over there?¡± ¡°Is that boiling oil up there?¡± ¡°Why are they pouring water? Ah! It¡¯s poisoned!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The elf king seemed to be quite wrong, as he found fault with everything the envoy did. If it wasn¡¯t for the sword, the envoy would have cursed at least once. ¡°. . .Are you sure it¡¯s not real?¡± Caenerna said in a surprised voice. The atmosphere inside the castle was so different from what she had imagined. If they had prepared an ambush, they should have hidden all the people who could be found and made artificial preparations. . . The faces of the people who wereing out in a disorderly manner right now were filled with confusion, anxiety, and fear. It was clear that the marquis had really left in a hurry. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s true that both the chief steward and the captain left with the marquis.¡± ¡°What reason could they possibly have to leave together like that. . .¡± ¡°Well, yeah. Unless his hidden lover suddenly copsed or something, there¡¯s no reason to do that. . .¡± The vassals who hade out hurriedly ran towards them. They needed to introduce themselves before the expedition started attacking out of anger. ¡°Your Highness! It is an honor to meet you like this. We have heard of Your Highness¡¯s honest and benevolent reputation from afar. I am. . .¡± ¡°No! I strongly insisted that we open the castle gates! When the others opposed. . . Oh, the scribe, Zabek, insisted that we shouldn¡¯t open them.¡± Johan was momentarily taken aback when he saw the vassals chattering noisily. It had been a long time since he had seen such a rabble. ¡°You guys are really capable people.¡± ¡°Th. . . Thank you!¡± ¡°So where is the marquis?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The vassals became speechless. No one knew the marquis¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°Someone has to take responsibility for the marquis¡¯s absence.¡± ¡°Yes. Your Highness! You¡¯re right!¡± The vassals eximed in unison. They weren¡¯t very scared because they were thinking of going to the marquis¡¯s remaining family and asking them to take responsibility. ¡°Alright. Put everyone here under house arrest. Don¡¯t treat them roughly, but punish them severely if they try to escape.¡± ¡°. . .Your Highness!?¡± ¡°Where are the vassals who don¡¯t know where the marquis has gone? You must be involved as well.¡± ¡°No! We really don¡¯t know!¡± ¡°Then figure it out.¡± Johan deliberately stopped speaking coldly and turned away. The elf king asked in a serious voice. ¡°Do you really think they¡¯re covering for him?¡± ¡°Not that. . . They seem like they¡¯d take good care of their own lives, so they¡¯ll find the marquis¡¯s whereabouts on their own.¡± Since they¡¯ve been working here for a long time and have even felt the threat of death, they should find him on their own! Johan intended to use them like hunting dogs. Chapter 374: ????????-?????????? (18) And indeed, they moved quickly. ¡°Send men at once to find him!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t ask me to go searching in the night like that. . .¡± ¡°You! Are you trying to take advantage of the fact that you¡¯re not locked up right now?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. . .¡± The captured vassals called in their subordinates to threaten them and their colleagues to persuade them. No matter how dirty or deadly it was, the others had no choice but to move. Out of desperation, one of the servants came up with a brilliant idea. ¡°They say that one of the gamekeepers outside rushed to find a new horse because the Marquis¡¯s horse was injured! I also heard that he heard where the Marquis was headed!¡± ¡°Is that true! Where in the world did he go?!¡±The confined vassals shouted with joy as if they were about to jump up. However, the servant¡¯s expression was not so bright. The vassals didn¡¯t understand why the servant was acting like this. What is it? ¡°The Marquis. . .he. . .¡± ¡°Speak quickly!!¡± ¡°. . . It¡¯s too absurd of a story. . .¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s an absurd story! The Marquis left without a word! Be prepared to believe any absurd story, so hurry up and tell me!¡± The vassals kicked their feet in anger. In the first ce, the fact that the Marquis suddenly ran out into the night with only his men without a proper exnation was absurd and unconventional. Maybe his lover suddenly copsed, or maybe the leader of the rogue group that suddenly appeared was the Marquis¡¯s hidden child, or maybe the Marquis was actually a devotee of an evil cult and disappeared for a secret ritual. . . The vassals were prepared to ept any exnation they heard now. ¡°T-That. A dragon appeared. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . .Didn¡¯t I tell you it was an absurd story. . .¡± The servant protested as if he was feeling wronged. However, the vassals¡¯ gazes did not change. One of the vassals mumbled. ¡°Perhaps His Highness the Duke will forgive us if we offer that guy and the gamekeeper who spread that nonsense instead?¡± ???? ¡°Oh. . . After the dragon appeared and he heard the news, the marquis rushed out hurriedly. . . .¡± Johan¡¯s reaction made the retainers not dare to raise their heads. They trembled at the thought of innocent servants and gamekeeperS being executed. ¡°T-That, Your Highness. Maybe I heard wrong because my ears are not good. Sir Knight did say a dragon appeared but that might not have actually been a dragon. . .¡± ¡°How dare you chatter here!¡± As the gamekeeper mumbled, one of the retainers got angry. He was afraid of worsening the duke¡¯s mood. Of course, Johan got angry at the vassal. ¡°Are you ignoring my words now and talking arbitrarily? Do you want to take over this seat?¡± ¡°. . .Ah, no!¡± ¡°The huntsman testified well. Give him silver coins and send him back to his post. The servant also did a good job finding it. Simrly, give him a reward. If that testimony was wrong, it would be because the master hurriedlymanded, so it would be the master¡¯s mistake.¡± ¡°!?¡± As the arrow suddenly turned back on them, the vassals were shocked. What? How did this be their fault here? ¡°A dragon. . . A dragon. It¡¯s not an impossible story.¡± Johan muttered as he folded his arms. The vassals couldn¡¯t help but be even more bewildered at the Duke¡¯s reaction. Is he saying that he believes it? Dragons only existed in old tales. It is said that one appeared in the Empire in the past, but whether that was real or just a rumor, is. . . ¡°Could it have flown over here?¡± ¡°Your Highness stabbed it, but the wound wouldn¡¯t have been fatal.¡± The vassals turned their heads with wide eyes at the words of the centaurs. ¡®???????? ?????? ???? ? ¡°Well, since dragons are so rare, it could possibly be the same one.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s the same one, it would have grown much stronger.¡± Johan rose from his seat and gave orders to the vassals. Although they were relieved that they¡¯d be able to get out alive for the time being, the vassals were bewildered because they couldn¡¯t understand the conversation that had taken ce inside. Could a dragon have really appeared? ¡°The reason they hid the appearance of the dragon is probably. . . It¡¯s likely because they were watching the situation in many ways.¡± Caenerna stepped up to give her exnation in a bright voice. Having worked as a wizard for the Emperor¡¯s faction, Caenerna was well-versed in the psychology of the Northerners. The Elf King also nodded in agreement. ¡°Even without that, they had a grudge, and if a dragon appeared, the feudal lords would be drooling!¡± The civil war was over, but the feudal lords were not on good terms with each other. If rumors of a dragon in the North spread, the mes of war could be rekindled. Even considering that, it was not necessarily good to spread rumors of a powerful monster. It was best to quietly catch it if possible. ¡®???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ??????????, ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? When a group of monsters appears, the feudal lords naturally had to focus all their efforts on subjugating it, and those who hadints in the meantime would spread all sorts of strange rumors. Especially if it¡¯s a dragon. . . ¡°If it¡¯s an opponent that made the marquis rush out like that, it must¡¯ve been called by another feudal lord in the North, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It wouldn¡¯t be strange for a dragon to take over an entire castle.¡± Johan fell into thought as he listened to the stories going back and forth. Although there were some people among those present who said that ¡®?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ??????????,¡¯ Johan somehow didn¡¯t think that the story of the dragon was a lie. If it was true, then it was an ill-fated rtionship. Wasn¡¯t it the case that he met the one he met once before again in this unfamiliarnd in the North? Johan whispered quietly enough for only Suetlg, who was next to him, to hear. ¡°If it¡¯s really a dragon, let¡¯s avoid it and run away.¡± ¡°I really like your cowardly attitude.¡± The young Duke and the old wizard nodded with expressions that showed they understood each other. The Elf King, who was standing next to them, thought as he watched them. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ????????????? ???????? The Elf King swore to himself that if the Duke set out to catch the dragon, he would definitely go with him and stab his sword into its heart. His fingertips were already tingling and his heart was beating fast. ???? The fact that the army of heroes who had finished their expedition to the Holy Land had just arrived in the North through the West had not yet spread widely. The feudal lords of the North, who did not know that, were sitting in the conference room with serious expressions. It wasn¡¯t even this heavy when the Emperor was overwhelmingly defeated in battle. ¡°So the dragon. . . sent a letter?¡± ¡°It was an ancient Empirenguage that was crooked and hard to understand, but it was definitely a letter!¡± The damage from the dragon was much more severe than Johan and the others had thought. The dragon suddenly appeared one day, quietly piercing the darkness of the night. The gate of the mountain castle of the count, who was unfortunately caught, waspletely destroyed, and the dragon went inside and preyed on the victims. Because it was a remote ce in the North, the rumor did not spread for a while. The rumor spread by those who had escaped did circte a bit, but the feudal lords in the North weren¡¯t so free as to pay attention to such absurd rumors. It was thanks to the free knights wandering the North who rushed to the feudal lords in shock after seeing the tragedy that proper information was spread. ©¥?? ???????????? ?????? ????????? Of course, the feudal lords didn¡¯t believe it all at once from the beginning. However, as the knights increased one by one, and above all, the dragon sent a letter. Goblins, who seemed to be possessed by something, dragged a pack animal and handed over a letter written in blood, then died coughing up blood. The contents of the letter were mixed with a lot of archaguage, but it could be summarized in one sentence. Give me the Emperor¡¯s head. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°That crazy dragon!¡± One of the feudal lords shouted, gnashing his teeth. It was humiliating to be worrying so much about a monster. There were none as strong and ferocious as the feudal lords of the North, even in the Empire. No matter what monster appeared, they had never backed down, but they were being ridiculed like this by a dragon. ¡°What in the world does it mean by ¡®???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ??? ¡°I don¡¯t know. How would I know what¡¯s inside a dragon¡¯s head? Maybe he heard a rumor that the Emperor¡¯s flesh is sweet.¡± ¡°Watch your mouth! Whose name do you dare to©¥¡± ¡°Watch my mouth? Your Excellency, who do you think almost ruined the North right now? Honestly, I don¡¯t want to see the sight of the Visalfurk family either! My daughter and son-inw died because of the Emperor!¡± The Visalfurk family, the Emperor¡¯s family, was a great family that was like the master of the North. But that was in the past. After their defeat in the civil war, the North could be considered to have been split in half. The Visalfurk family was no longer able to speak out as they had before. ¡°Everyone, calm down. This is not the time to fight over such things. We can¡¯t not ept the help of the Visalfurk family in dealing with the dragon. What if it moves to another ce?¡± The others who had been fighting at the mediation of the other feudal lords also stopped talking. It was certainly a persuasive warning. Even though the crazy dragon was full and settled in the mountain castle for now, there was no telling when it would move. ¡°Let¡¯s hire more mercenaries.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about subjugating a group of bandits! Do you think it¡¯ll work if we hire more mercenaries?¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t do nothing. Hiring Eastern rangers. . .¡± ¡°No matter how brave the Eastern rangers are, they¡¯ll nevere if there¡¯s talk of a dragon. Besides, the nobles in the East will never yield easily.¡± ¡°We might as well inform them of the truth and call the knights from all over the Empire! Or call the Elven knights!¡± ¡°Do you know what the situation is like right now? If you call them rashly, an irreversible situation could ur!¡± ¡°Everyone.¡± ¡°??¡± ¡°I heard that the Duke¡¯s army has arrived in the North.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The expressions of the feudal lords in the North twisted at the news that was worse than a dragon in some ways. They came looking for them when we¡¯re in no condition to receive them. ¡°Surely they didn¡¯t find out about the dragon?¡± ¡°Is that even logical? How many people would believe it if we said a dragon appeared?¡± ¡°Well. . .¡± ¡°Let¡¯s all keep quiet. What¡¯s the problem if we treat them well and send them back? It¡¯s not really a great achievement.¡± ¡°The ce that will wee the expeditionary force must be suffering. What if they cause trouble. . .¡± ¡°Marquis, the Duke¡¯s army has arrived at the Marquis¡¯s castle.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Kertz, the marquis who had been sneering, froze. He never expected something so big to happen while he was briefly away from the castle. ¡°M-My castle?! Is my castle safe?!¡± ¡°Yes. . . I asked a servant who came from there and he said there were no major problems.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The marquis heaved a sigh of relief. He didn¡¯t know about the other things, but he was really grateful for this. To be honest, he didn¡¯t think the expeditionary force would show such consideration. ¡®?????????? ??????, ????????. ??¡¯?? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ¡°So what did the messenger from the expeditionary force say? Is there any Northern liquor they want to drink?¡± ¡°He said to tell us not to hide it if a dragon appeared.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± A frozen silence hung in the room. ???? ¡°They won¡¯t be caught, will they?¡± ¡°With so many eyes and ears, they won¡¯t be able to.¡± It was Caenerna who advised them to stab it openly. Since the feudal lords in the North would hide the truth among themselves if left alone, they had to go out as if they knew everything from the beginning. Wouldn¡¯t they spill everything they knew out of fear then? The feudal lords in the North conveyed the situation with a few excuses for their pride (we weren¡¯t trying to hide it, we¡¯re not afraid of dragons, we just regrly gather among feudal lords to enjoy banquets and we talked about dragons a bit). ¡°The dragon wants the Emperor¡¯s head?¡± Johan was slightly pricked. If there was anyone who was most rted to the Emperor¡¯s death here, it was Johan himself. ¡°Did the Emperor perhaps kill a dragon¡¯s cub?¡± ¡°Cardirian was crazy, but he wasn¡¯t that crazy, Your Highness.¡± Caenerna answered, shaking her head as if to say no. ¡°The Emperor¡¯s head. . . the Emperor¡¯s head. It is unique. But how can we know the thoughts of a monster?¡± ¡°Maybe he just hates the Emperor.¡± ¡°That makes sense in a way. . .¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he mistaking the Emperor?¡± The people gathered there threw out a word each. Johan fell into thought as he listened to them. ¡®???? ????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??????????????. . . ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????????????? A person that the dragon could have a grudge against. In fact, a grudge was an emotion that was surprisingly difficult to have. When you¡¯re a dragon, there¡¯s not much for you to hold a grudge against, right? Whenever one appears, monsters and people try to avoid it. Perhaps the only time he would have a grudge would be against the one who had inflicted a great wound on the dragon. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan suddenly felt goosebumps at the thought that came to him. ¡®???? ???? ?????????????? ??????, And indeed, they moved quickly. ¡°Send men at once to find him!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t ask me to go searching in the night like that. . .¡± ¡°You! Are you trying to take advantage of the fact that you¡¯re not locked up right now?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. . .¡± The captured vassals called in their subordinates to threaten them and their colleagues to persuade them. No matter how dirty or deadly it was, the others had no choice but to move. Out of desperation, one of the servants came up with a brilliant idea. ¡°They say that one of the gamekeepers outside rushed to find a new horse because the Marquis¡¯s horse was injured! I also heard that he heard where the Marquis was headed!¡± ¡°Is that true! Where in the world did he go?!¡± The confined vassals shouted with joy as if they were about to jump up. However, the servant¡¯s expression was not so bright. The vassals didn¡¯t understand why the servant was acting like this. What is it? ¡°The Marquis. . .he. . .¡± ¡°Speak quickly!!¡± ¡°. . . It¡¯s too absurd of a story. . .¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s an absurd story! The Marquis left without a word! Be prepared to believe any absurd story, so hurry up and tell me!¡± The vassals kicked their feet in anger. In the first ce, the fact that the Marquis suddenly ran out into the night with only his men without a proper exnation was absurd and unconventional. Maybe his lover suddenly copsed, or maybe the leader of the rogue group that suddenly appeared was the Marquis¡¯s hidden child, or maybe the Marquis was actually a devotee of an evil cult and disappeared for a secret ritual. . . The vassals were prepared to ept any exnation they heard now. ¡°T-That. A dragon appeared. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . .Didn¡¯t I tell you it was an absurd story. . .¡± The servant protested as if he was feeling wronged. However, the vassals¡¯ gazes did not change. One of the vassals mumbled. ¡°Perhaps His Highness the Duke will forgive us if we offer that guy and the gamekeeper who spread that nonsense instead?¡± ???? ¡°Oh. . . After the dragon appeared and he heard the news, the marquis rushed out hurriedly. . . .¡± Johan¡¯s reaction made the retainers not dare to raise their heads. They trembled at the thought of innocent servants and gamekeeperS being executed. ¡°T-That, Your Highness. Maybe I heard wrong because my ears are not good. Sir Knight did say a dragon appeared but that might not have actually been a dragon. . .¡± ¡°How dare you chatter here!¡± As the gamekeeper mumbled, one of the retainers got angry. He was afraid of worsening the duke¡¯s mood. Of course, Johan got angry at the vassal. ¡°Are you ignoring my words now and talking arbitrarily? Do you want to take over this seat?¡± ¡°. . .Ah, no!¡± ¡°The huntsman testified well. Give him silver coins and send him back to his post. The servant also did a good job finding it. Simrly, give him a reward. If that testimony was wrong, it would be because the master hurriedlymanded, so it would be the master¡¯s mistake.¡± ¡°!?¡± As the arrow suddenly turned back on them, the vassals were shocked. What? How did this be their fault here? ¡°A dragon. . . A dragon. It¡¯s not an impossible story.¡± Johan muttered as he folded his arms. The vassals couldn¡¯t help but be even more bewildered at the Duke¡¯s reaction. Is he saying that he believes it? Dragons only existed in old tales. It is said that one appeared in the Empire in the past, but whether that was real or just a rumor, is. . . ¡°Could it have flown over here?¡± ¡°Your Highness stabbed it, but the wound wouldn¡¯t have been fatal.¡± The vassals turned their heads with wide eyes at the words of the centaurs. ¡®???????? ?????? ???? ? ¡°Well, since dragons are so rare, it could possibly be the same one.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s the same one, it would have grown much stronger.¡± Johan rose from his seat and gave orders to the vassals. Although they were relieved that they¡¯d be able to get out alive for the time being, the vassals were bewildered because they couldn¡¯t understand the conversation that had taken ce inside. Could a dragon have really appeared? ¡°The reason they hid the appearance of the dragon is probably. . . It¡¯s likely because they were watching the situation in many ways.¡± Caenerna stepped up to give her exnation in a bright voice. Having worked as a wizard for the Emperor¡¯s faction, Caenerna was well-versed in the psychology of the Northerners. The Elf King also nodded in agreement. ¡°Even without that, they had a grudge, and if a dragon appeared, the feudal lords would be drooling!¡± The civil war was over, but the feudal lords were not on good terms with each other. If rumors of a dragon in the North spread, the mes of war could be rekindled. Even considering that, it was not necessarily good to spread rumors of a powerful monster. It was best to quietly catch it if possible. ¡®???????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ??????????, ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? When a group of monsters appears, the feudal lords naturally had to focus all their efforts on subjugating it, and those who hadints in the meantime would spread all sorts of strange rumors. Especially if it¡¯s a dragon. . . ¡°If it¡¯s an opponent that made the marquis rush out like that, it must¡¯ve been called by another feudal lord in the North, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It wouldn¡¯t be strange for a dragon to take over an entire castle.¡± Johan fell into thought as he listened to the stories going back and forth. Although there were some people among those present who said that ¡®?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ???? ??????????,¡¯ Johan somehow didn¡¯t think that the story of the dragon was a lie. If it was true, then it was an ill-fated rtionship. Wasn¡¯t it the case that he met the one he met once before again in this unfamiliarnd in the North? Johan whispered quietly enough for only Suetlg, who was next to him, to hear. ¡°If it¡¯s really a dragon, let¡¯s avoid it and run away.¡± ¡°I really like your cowardly attitude.¡± The young Duke and the old wizard nodded with expressions that showed they understood each other. The Elf King, who was standing next to them, thought as he watched them. ¡®?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ????????????? ???????? The Elf King swore to himself that if the Duke set out to catch the dragon, he would definitely go with him and stab his sword into its heart. His fingertips were already tingling and his heart was beating fast. ???? The fact that the army of heroes who had finished their expedition to the Holy Land had just arrived in the North through the West had not yet spread widely. The feudal lords of the North, who did not know that, were sitting in the conference room with serious expressions. It wasn¡¯t even this heavy when the Emperor was overwhelmingly defeated in battle. ¡°So the dragon. . . sent a letter?¡± ¡°It was an ancient Empirenguage that was crooked and hard to understand, but it was definitely a letter!¡± The damage from the dragon was much more severe than Johan and the others had thought. The dragon suddenly appeared one day, quietly piercing the darkness of the night. The gate of the mountain castle of the count, who was unfortunately caught, waspletely destroyed, and the dragon went inside and preyed on the victims. Because it was a remote ce in the North, the rumor did not spread for a while. The rumor spread by those who had escaped did circte a bit, but the feudal lords in the North weren¡¯t so free as to pay attention to such absurd rumors. It was thanks to the free knights wandering the North who rushed to the feudal lords in shock after seeing the tragedy that proper information was spread. ©¥?? ???????????? ?????? ????????? Of course, the feudal lords didn¡¯t believe it all at once from the beginning. However, as the knights increased one by one, and above all, the dragon sent a letter. Goblins, who seemed to be possessed by something, dragged a pack animal and handed over a letter written in blood, then died coughing up blood. The contents of the letter were mixed with a lot of archaguage, but it could be summarized in one sentence. Give me the Emperor¡¯s head. ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°That crazy dragon!¡± One of the feudal lords shouted, gnashing his teeth. It was humiliating to be worrying so much about a monster. There were none as strong and ferocious as the feudal lords of the North, even in the Empire. No matter what monster appeared, they had never backed down, but they were being ridiculed like this by a dragon. ¡°What in the world does it mean by ¡®???????? ???? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ??? ¡°I don¡¯t know. How would I know what¡¯s inside a dragon¡¯s head? Maybe he heard a rumor that the Emperor¡¯s flesh is sweet.¡± ¡°Watch your mouth! Whose name do you dare to©¥¡± ¡°Watch my mouth? Your Excellency, who do you think almost ruined the North right now? Honestly, I don¡¯t want to see the sight of the Visalfurk family either! My daughter and son-inw died because of the Emperor!¡± The Visalfurk family, the Emperor¡¯s family, was a great family that was like the master of the North. But that was in the past. After their defeat in the civil war, the North could be considered to have been split in half. The Visalfurk family was no longer able to speak out as they had before. ¡°Everyone, calm down. This is not the time to fight over such things. We can¡¯t not ept the help of the Visalfurk family in dealing with the dragon. What if it moves to another ce?¡± The others who had been fighting at the mediation of the other feudal lords also stopped talking. It was certainly a persuasive warning. Even though the crazy dragon was full and settled in the mountain castle for now, there was no telling when it would move. ¡°Let¡¯s hire more mercenaries.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about subjugating a group of bandits! Do you think it¡¯ll work if we hire more mercenaries?¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t do nothing. Hiring Eastern rangers. . .¡± ¡°No matter how brave the Eastern rangers are, they¡¯ll nevere if there¡¯s talk of a dragon. Besides, the nobles in the East will never yield easily.¡± ¡°We might as well inform them of the truth and call the knights from all over the Empire! Or call the Elven knights!¡± ¡°Do you know what the situation is like right now? If you call them rashly, an irreversible situation could ur!¡± ¡°Everyone.¡± ¡°??¡± ¡°I heard that the Duke¡¯s army has arrived in the North.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The expressions of the feudal lords in the North twisted at the news that was worse than a dragon in some ways. They came looking for them when we¡¯re in no condition to receive them. ¡°Surely they didn¡¯t find out about the dragon?¡± ¡°Is that even logical? How many people would believe it if we said a dragon appeared?¡± ¡°Well. . .¡± ¡°Let¡¯s all keep quiet. What¡¯s the problem if we treat them well and send them back? It¡¯s not really a great achievement.¡± ¡°The ce that will wee the expeditionary force must be suffering. What if they cause trouble. . .¡± ¡°Marquis, the Duke¡¯s army has arrived at the Marquis¡¯s castle.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Kertz, the marquis who had been sneering, froze. He never expected something so big to happen while he was briefly away from the castle. ¡°M-My castle?! Is my castle safe?!¡± ¡°Yes. . . I asked a servant who came from there and he said there were no major problems.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The marquis heaved a sigh of relief. He didn¡¯t know about the other things, but he was really grateful for this. To be honest, he didn¡¯t think the expeditionary force would show such consideration. ¡®?????????? ??????, ????????. ??¡¯?? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ¡°So what did the messenger from the expeditionary force say? Is there any Northern liquor they want to drink?¡± ¡°He said to tell us not to hide it if a dragon appeared.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± A frozen silence hung in the room. ???? ¡°They won¡¯t be caught, will they?¡± ¡°With so many eyes and ears, they won¡¯t be able to.¡± It was Caenerna who advised them to stab it openly. Since the feudal lords in the North would hide the truth among themselves if left alone, they had to go out as if they knew everything from the beginning. Wouldn¡¯t they spill everything they knew out of fear then? The feudal lords in the North conveyed the situation with a few excuses for their pride (we weren¡¯t trying to hide it, we¡¯re not afraid of dragons, we just regrly gather among feudal lords to enjoy banquets and we talked about dragons a bit). ¡°The dragon wants the Emperor¡¯s head?¡± Johan was slightly pricked. If there was anyone who was most rted to the Emperor¡¯s death here, it was Johan himself. ¡°Did the Emperor perhaps kill a dragon¡¯s cub?¡± ¡°Cardirian was crazy, but he wasn¡¯t that crazy, Your Highness.¡± Caenerna answered, shaking her head as if to say no. ¡°The Emperor¡¯s head. . . the Emperor¡¯s head. It is unique. But how can we know the thoughts of a monster?¡± ¡°Maybe he just hates the Emperor.¡± ¡°That makes sense in a way. . .¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he mistaking the Emperor?¡± The people gathered there threw out a word each. Johan fell into thought as he listened to them. ¡®???? ????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??????????????. . . ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????????????? A person that the dragon could have a grudge against. In fact, a grudge was an emotion that was surprisingly difficult to have. When you¡¯re a dragon, there¡¯s not much for you to hold a grudge against, right? Whenever one appears, monsters and people try to avoid it. Perhaps the only time he would have a grudge would be against the one who had inflicted a great wound on the dragon. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan suddenly felt goosebumps at the thought that came to him. ¡®???? ???? ?????????????? ?????? Chapter 375: ????????-?????????? (19) Unexpectedly, Johan sensed that this idea was highly possible. Because there weren¡¯t many people the dragon would have a grudge against. ¡®?????????????????? ????, ?????????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? Johan¡¯s expression became serious. Noticing this, Caenerna approached him with a curious look on her face. The red-haired wizard whispered softly into the duke¡¯s ear. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± ¡°Hmm. What if the dragon is after me, mistaking me for the emperor?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna¡¯s expression hardened at his outrageous words. However, she quickly understood what Johan meant. There was no way the duke would say something like this without reason. ¡°. . .You don¡¯t intend to hide in a monastery, do you?¡±¡°I¡¯ll consider that if it really bes dangerous, but not right now.¡± It was like Johan to say a definite no. Caenerna let out a wry smile at the sight of Johan joking even in this situation. ¡®?????? ????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ???????????? Caenerna folded her fingers and went through them one by one. First of all, there weren¡¯t many people whom the dragon could have a grudge against. If the dragon held a grudge against Johan, it wouldn¡¯t be strange for him to mistake Johan for the emperor. No matter how powerful the dragon was, it wouldn¡¯t know much about the human kingdoms. ¡®???? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ?? ????????????????????????????????, ????¡¯?? ??????????????????????, ?????? ????¡¯?? ???????????????????????? ?????? ?????? ?? Caenerna was cold-hearted. Even if the people of the north suffered, the wizard intended to prioritize Johan¡¯s benefit. People often thought that wizards transcended profit and politics and followed reason and principle, but that was a misconception held by those who didn¡¯t know magic. Wizards were just as human as anyone else, and they had their own selfish desires. Caenerna wondered. What was the best course of action in this situation? ¡®???? ?????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????, ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ??????????????????????. ???? ???????? ????????, ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???? The red-haired wizard sent a meaningful nce at the duke. Johan nodded in understanding. ??????? Caenerna drew her knife and stabbed the table in front of her. The knights present were startled by the wizard¡¯s sudden movement and couldn¡¯t react in time. ?? ¡°My lords, this is a tremendous humiliation! We are swayed by the arrogant words of a mere monster and try to figure out his intentions. Such humiliation cannot be tolerated by the honorable liberators of the Holy Land!¡± ¡®???? ?????? ???? Suetlg identally spilled some of the water he was drinking, taken aback. He nced at Johan, who didn¡¯t seem surprised at all. It was clear that they had finished their conversation in that short time. Suetlg, who realized this btedly, also straightened his expression and became serious. ¡°There are those among the northern feudal lords who participated in the rebellion. I admit it. There are those among the northern feudal lords who sided with the tyrant. I admit it. However, aren¡¯t they also monotheists? There is no need to listen to the words of a monster. Unsheath your swords and help us with the heart of an honorable knight!¡± ¡°You speak the truth!¡± The elf king kicked his chair away and stood up. His face was flushed red with excitement. ¡°What does the intention of a mere monster matter? If the honorable brothers here unite, we can defeat any evil monster!¡± The elven knights also seemed to be moved by the elf king¡¯s cry. They also drew their swords and cheered. Ulrike was nervous, but just like Suetlg, she had a simr understanding of the situation. That red-haired wizard was the duke¡¯s advisor. She wouldn¡¯t havee forward without a reason. As the feudal lords present responded enthusiastically or at least showed signs of agreement, the other nobles followed suit. At the unexpected decision, the envoys from the north shed hot tears without realizing it. They never thought that the lords here woulde to their aid. They were prepared for plunder, humiliation, or other such acts of barbarism, but wasn¡¯t this too merciful? ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± The envoys from the north expressed their gratitude, shedding tears. They were grateful to everyone here. Particrly, they were even more grateful to Caenerna. They couldn¡¯t believe that she would help them like this, considering her past association with the emperor¡¯s faction. They were ashamed of themselves for ndering her as a suspicious wizard. ¡®?????????? ??????, ????????????. ?????????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? When they first heard the news, the northern feudal lords doubted their ears. Then, they wondered if it was a trap. ¡°But what would they gain by setting a trap? They could just. . . spread the truth throughout the empire and raise an army.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± One of the feudal lords was right. The feudal lords who had seeded in the expedition to the Holy Land now had everything from fame to funds. If they wanted, they could start another war at any time. There was no reason for them to fall into such an obvious trap. Wouldn¡¯t it only tarnish their reputation? ¡°And such a cowardly ambush was something the emperor would do. The duke or the king aren¡¯t the kind of people who would do such a thing.¡± One of the feudal lords sneered. Surprisingly, no one refuted him. Even the feudal lords who still belonged to the emperor¡¯s faction couldn¡¯t bring themselves to defend the emperor¡¯s despicable deeds. ¡°If they help us, we¡¯ll be grateful. How long are we going to leave the dragon alone?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Even the most prideful of the northern feudal lords nodded their heads. At this point, they should be the ones asking for help first. How many nobles had been hurt, injured, or disappeared since the dragon upied the castle? They had to take down the dragon before it moved elsewhere. ¡°Long live His Highness Duke Yeats!¡± ¡°Long live His Highness the Duke!!¡± As a result, when Johan arrived first, the people of the north gathered at the city gate and weed Johan enthusiastically. It was a wee that reeked of artificiality, no matter how you looked at it. ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ?? The way people rushed out because they were genuinely moved was different from the way they rushed out because they were threatened by soldiers beforehand. The people of the north did their best to shout Johan¡¯s name while ncing back furtively. They were worried that the soldiers would get angry. ¡°I guess I need to give them more practice.¡± Caenerna muttered with a sly smile. Johan nodded in agreement. In fact, he felt a little awkward receiving such praise. Both Johan and Caenerna had other intentions in mind. ¡®???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ¡®. . .???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???? If they were going to kill the dragon anyway, it had to be in the north! The people of the north would have been shocked if they had heard this, but they had no choice. Johan didn¡¯t want to kill the dragon in his fiefdom. If there was a riot in the harbor, Johan would cry bloody tears. After the grand and artificial wee, the gathered northern feudal lords greeted Johan. ¡°The main force will arrive within a week.¡± ¡°I apologize, Your Highness.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan felt a sense of foreboding as the northern feudal lords began to apologize as soon as they started talking. It was a sight he had often seen when he used to lead the nobles of the penins in the past. ©¥???????? ????????????????, ?? ??????????????????. ?? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????????????? ????????????. ©¥?? ??????. ??????????????, ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ????????????????, ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ??????????. . . ©¥?? ??????????????????. ???? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ????????????. ©¥. . .???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ©¥????? ©¥????¡¯?? ??????????????. ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ??????????????. ©¥?? ??????????????????! ?? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????. That distinctive expression of causing trouble first and then checking the other person¡¯s reaction. That expression was evident on the faces of the northern feudal lords. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Two days before Your Highness arrived, the northern knights acted on their own. . . to defeat the dragon.¡± ¡°Those foolish brats.¡± ¡®?? Caenerna, who had been standing by silently, was surprised by Johan¡¯s words. Weren¡¯t his thoughts and words the opposite? ¡°Your Highness?!¡± ¡°I told you to listen. It¡¯s not like they can¡¯t do this much.¡± ¡°Well. . .¡± Caenerna was convinced. Come to think of it, it seemed like they could let it slide. In fact, the northern feudal lords were pretending not to hear even though they had heard it. Johan sighed and lowered his head. Well, hadn¡¯t he been prepared for this kind of problem ever since he decided to help? ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ????????. ???? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? He felt a little better afterposing himself once more. Johan responded with a gentle smile. ¡°Yes. How could I have stopped the knights from charging recklessly out of their youthful enthusiasm?¡± In fact, if you were to judge by youthful enthusiasm, Johan should have been the most enthusiastic here, but no one made such a remark. The northern feudal lords bowed their heads in shame. ¡°So, how many knights went? Who led them?¡± ¡°Sir Volgarek and Sir Biorarn of the Visalfurk family led the knights.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Caenerna could clearly see Johan¡¯s fist clenching. The reins in his fingertips trembled pitifully. Caenerna slowly shook her head. Even when the emperor¡¯s bloodline did nothing, they didn¡¯t look so good, but it was amazing how they would cause trouble by stepping forward like that. ???? The emperor was called a tyrant, but he left behind some decent children. The eldest, fsethan, didn¡¯t inherit the emperor¡¯s heart or sword, but he had a rational and diplomatic nature. fsethan, who was also acquainted with Johan, did his best to resolve the situation left behind after the emperor¡¯s death. Some feudal lords said he was better than the emperor. In contrast, the second son Volgarek and the third son Biorarn were children who had inherited the emperor¡¯s heart or sword. The difference was that Volgarek inherited the emperor¡¯s cruelty, while Biorarn inherited the emperor¡¯s honor. Since both of them had such strong personalities, their sh was pretty much a given. ¡°Lead your knights forward! When are you going to use those noisy guys if not now?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you gain a knack for talking nonsense while I wasn¡¯t looking? You want me to send my knights inside without knowing the situation? Such things are best left to those who have the skills for it. Send your men in. There must be a lot of prisoners, right?¡± Volegarek¡¯s eyebrows twisted ferociously at Biorarn¡¯s words. Unlike Biorarn¡¯s knights, which wereposed of northern knight families, the knights that Volgarek led were mostly rogue knights or ex-rogues. After all, only those who matched the master¡¯s personality would gather. However, it didn¡¯t feel good to be pointed out like that separately. Volgarek, who was already jealous of Biorarn¡¯s achievements during the expedition to the Holy Land, gritted his teeth. ¡°I guess I can¡¯t work with you anymore.¡± ¡°Sir Volgarek! Calm down. . .¡± ¡°Shut up. I don¡¯t want to hear it anymore!¡± Volegarek eventually exploded, unable to hold back any longer. He dered that he would act independently. Since he had wanted to act separately from the beginning, Biorarn¡¯s attitude was like adding fuel to the fire. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we try to stop him?¡± ¡°Ha. Leave him alone. Do you think he¡¯ll change his mind if we try to persuade him now?¡± Biorarn snorted. As they shared the same blood, he knew Volgarek¡¯s true intentions very well. They hade this far together, but if he continued to act like that, it was better to move separately. ¡°We have to be prepared for Volgarek¡¯s night attack.¡± ¡°Surely he wouldn¡¯t do such a thing?¡± ¡°He¡¯s more than capable of doing it! Even if he doesn¡¯te, it doesn¡¯t hurt to be prepared.¡± The knights nodded at Biorarn¡¯s words. Volgarek¡¯s eyes were indeed too fierce, even for the knights to be wary of. ¡°But is it okay to act separately?¡± ¡°Honestly, I think it might be more dangerous to hang out with those guys. Besides, don¡¯t we have the weapons we brought from the east? Since they contain mysterious power, they will surely be able to pierce the dragon¡¯s scales.¡± After the camp waspleted, the northern knights stood guard more attentively than usual. Biorarn¡¯smand was sharper and more precise than before, as if saying he hadn¡¯t participated in the expedition to the Holy Land for nothing. The knights followed hismands with admiration. A pitch-ck night. A messenger ran through the darkness. ¡°A messenger has arrived!¡± ¡°Who sent the messenger?¡± ¡°He says he¡¯s a messenger sent by His Highness Duke Yeats.¡± ¡°!¡± The knights looked impressed. From the looks of it, it was clear that he had sent someone because of his connection with Biorarn during the expedition to the Holy Land. Even though they were enemies, they sent a messenger of encouragement. This was the world of knights, where politics and profit were set aside. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Biorarn¡¯s face hardened as he read the letter delivered by the messenger. Biorarn made an excuse to the messenger without thinking. ¡°Actually, Volgarek told me to go. . .¡± ¡°B-Biorarn-nim. You don¡¯t know the contents of the letter yet.¡±, Unexpectedly, Johan sensed that this idea was highly possible. Because there weren¡¯t many people the dragon would have a grudge against. ¡®?????????????????? ????, ?????????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? Johan¡¯s expression became serious. Noticing this, Caenerna approached him with a curious look on her face. The red-haired wizard whispered softly into the duke¡¯s ear. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± ¡°Hmm. What if the dragon is after me, mistaking me for the emperor?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna¡¯s expression hardened at his outrageous words. However, she quickly understood what Johan meant. There was no way the duke would say something like this without reason. ¡°. . .You don¡¯t intend to hide in a monastery, do you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll consider that if it really bes dangerous, but not right now.¡± It was like Johan to say a definite no. Caenerna let out a wry smile at the sight of Johan joking even in this situation. ¡®?????? ????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ???????????? Caenerna folded her fingers and went through them one by one. First of all, there weren¡¯t many people whom the dragon could have a grudge against. If the dragon held a grudge against Johan, it wouldn¡¯t be strange for him to mistake Johan for the emperor. No matter how powerful the dragon was, it wouldn¡¯t know much about the human kingdoms. ¡®???? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ?? ????????????????????????????????, ????¡¯?? ??????????????????????, ?????? ????¡¯?? ???????????????????????? ?????? ?????? ?? Caenerna was cold-hearted. Even if the people of the north suffered, the wizard intended to prioritize Johan¡¯s benefit. People often thought that wizards transcended profit and politics and followed reason and principle, but that was a misconception held by those who didn¡¯t know magic. Wizards were just as human as anyone else, and they had their own selfish desires. Caenerna wondered. What was the best course of action in this situation? ¡®???? ?????? ???????????? ????????????????????????????, ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ????????¡¯?? ??????????????????????. ???? ???????? ????????, ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???? The red-haired wizard sent a meaningful nce at the duke. Johan nodded in understanding. ??????? Caenerna drew her knife and stabbed the table in front of her. The knights present were startled by the wizard¡¯s sudden movement and couldn¡¯t react in time. ¡°My lords, this is a tremendous humiliation! We are swayed by the arrogant words of a mere monster and try to figure out his intentions. Such humiliation cannot be tolerated by the honorable liberators of the Holy Land!¡± ¡®???? ?????? ???? Suetlg identally spilled some of the water he was drinking, taken aback. He nced at Johan, who didn¡¯t seem surprised at all. It was clear that they had finished their conversation in that short time. Suetlg, who realized this btedly, also straightened his expression and became serious. ¡°There are those among the northern feudal lords who participated in the rebellion. I admit it. There are those among the northern feudal lords who sided with the tyrant. I admit it. However, aren¡¯t they also monotheists? There is no need to listen to the words of a monster. Unsheath your swords and help us with the heart of an honorable knight!¡± ¡°You speak the truth!¡± The elf king kicked his chair away and stood up. His face was flushed red with excitement. ¡°What does the intention of a mere monster matter? If the honorable brothers here unite, we can defeat any evil monster!¡± The elven knights also seemed to be moved by the elf king¡¯s cry. They also drew their swords and cheered. Ulrike was nervous, but just like Suetlg, she had a simr understanding of the situation. That red-haired wizard was the duke¡¯s advisor. She wouldn¡¯t havee forward without a reason. As the feudal lords present responded enthusiastically or at least showed signs of agreement, the other nobles followed suit. At the unexpected decision, the envoys from the north shed hot tears without realizing it. They never thought that the lords here woulde to their aid. They were prepared for plunder, humiliation, or other such acts of barbarism, but wasn¡¯t this too merciful? ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± The envoys from the north expressed their gratitude, shedding tears. They were grateful to everyone here. Particrly, they were even more grateful to Caenerna. They couldn¡¯t believe that she would help them like this, considering her past association with the emperor¡¯s faction. They were ashamed of themselves for ndering her as a suspicious wizard. ¡®?????????? ??????, ????????????. ?????????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? When they first heard the news, the northern feudal lords doubted their ears. Then, they wondered if it was a trap. ¡°But what would they gain by setting a trap? They could just. . . spread the truth throughout the empire and raise an army.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± One of the feudal lords was right. The feudal lords who had seeded in the expedition to the Holy Land now had everything from fame to funds. If they wanted, they could start another war at any time. There was no reason for them to fall into such an obvious trap. Wouldn¡¯t it only tarnish their reputation? ¡°And such a cowardly ambush was something the emperor would do. The duke or the king aren¡¯t the kind of people who would do such a thing.¡± One of the feudal lords sneered. Surprisingly, no one refuted him. Even the feudal lords who still belonged to the emperor¡¯s faction couldn¡¯t bring themselves to defend the emperor¡¯s despicable deeds. ¡°If they help us, we¡¯ll be grateful. How long are we going to leave the dragon alone?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Even the most prideful of the northern feudal lords nodded their heads. At this point, they should be the ones asking for help first. How many nobles had been hurt, injured, or disappeared since the dragon upied the castle? They had to take down the dragon before it moved elsewhere. ¡°Long live His Highness Duke Yeats!¡± ¡°Long live His Highness the Duke!!¡± As a result, when Johan arrived first, the people of the north gathered at the city gate and weed Johan enthusiastically. It was a wee that reeked of artificiality, no matter how you looked at it. ¡®?????? ???? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???? ???????? ?? The way people rushed out because they were genuinely moved was different from the way they rushed out because they were threatened by soldiers beforehand. The people of the north did their best to shout Johan¡¯s name while ncing back furtively. They were worried that the soldiers would get angry. ¡°I guess I need to give them more practice.¡± Caenerna muttered with a sly smile. Johan nodded in agreement. In fact, he felt a little awkward receiving such praise. Both Johan and Caenerna had other intentions in mind. ¡®???????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ¡®. . .???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???? If they were going to kill the dragon anyway, it had to be in the north! The people of the north would have been shocked if they had heard this, but they had no choice. Johan didn¡¯t want to kill the dragon in his fiefdom. If there was a riot in the harbor, Johan would cry bloody tears. After the grand and artificial wee, the gathered northern feudal lords greeted Johan. ¡°The main force will arrive within a week.¡± ¡°I apologize, Your Highness.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Johan felt a sense of foreboding as the northern feudal lords began to apologize as soon as they started talking. It was a sight he had often seen when he used to lead the nobles of the penins in the past. ©¥???????? ????????????????, ?? ??????????????????. ?? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???????????????? ????????????. ©¥?? ??????. ??????????????, ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ????????????????, ?????? ?????? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????. ???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???? ??????????. . . ©¥?? ??????????????????. ???? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ??????????¡¯?? ?????????????????? ????????????. ©¥. . .???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ©¥????? ©¥????¡¯?? ??????????????. ???? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ??????????????. ©¥?? ??????????????????! ?? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????. That distinctive expression of causing trouble first and then checking the other person¡¯s reaction. That expression was evident on the faces of the northern feudal lords. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Two days before Your Highness arrived, the northern knights acted on their own. . . to defeat the dragon.¡± ¡°Those foolish brats.¡± ¡®?? Caenerna, who had been standing by silently, was surprised by Johan¡¯s words. Weren¡¯t his thoughts and words the opposite? ¡°Your Highness?!¡± ¡°I told you to listen. It¡¯s not like they can¡¯t do this much.¡± ¡°Well. . .¡± Caenerna was convinced. Come to think of it, it seemed like they could let it slide. In fact, the northern feudal lords were pretending not to hear even though they had heard it. Johan sighed and lowered his head. Well, hadn¡¯t he been prepared for this kind of problem ever since he decided to help? ¡®???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ????????. ???? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? He felt a little better afterposing himself once more. Johan responded with a gentle smile. ¡°Yes. How could I have stopped the knights from charging recklessly out of their youthful enthusiasm?¡± In fact, if you were to judge by youthful enthusiasm, Johan should have been the most enthusiastic here, but no one made such a remark. The northern feudal lords bowed their heads in shame. ¡°So, how many knights went? Who led them?¡± ¡°Sir Volgarek and Sir Biorarn of the Visalfurk family led the knights.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Caenerna could clearly see Johan¡¯s fist clenching. The reins in his fingertips trembled pitifully. Caenerna slowly shook her head. Even when the emperor¡¯s bloodline did nothing, they didn¡¯t look so good, but it was amazing how they would cause trouble by stepping forward like that. ???? The emperor was called a tyrant, but he left behind some decent children. The eldest, fsethan, didn¡¯t inherit the emperor¡¯s heart or sword, but he had a rational and diplomatic nature. fsethan, who was also acquainted with Johan, did his best to resolve the situation left behind after the emperor¡¯s death. Some feudal lords said he was better than the emperor. In contrast, the second son Volgarek and the third son Biorarn were children who had inherited the emperor¡¯s heart or sword. The difference was that Volgarek inherited the emperor¡¯s cruelty, while Biorarn inherited the emperor¡¯s honor. Since both of them had such strong personalities, their sh was pretty much a given. ¡°Lead your knights forward! When are you going to use those noisy guys if not now?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you gain a knack for talking nonsense while I wasn¡¯t looking? You want me to send my knights inside without knowing the situation? Such things are best left to those who have the skills for it. Send your men in. There must be a lot of prisoners, right?¡± Volegarek¡¯s eyebrows twisted ferociously at Biorarn¡¯s words. Unlike Biorarn¡¯s knights, which wereposed of northern knight families, the knights that Volgarek led were mostly rogue knights or ex-rogues. After all, only those who matched the master¡¯s personality would gather. However, it didn¡¯t feel good to be pointed out like that separately. Volgarek, who was already jealous of Biorarn¡¯s achievements during the expedition to the Holy Land, gritted his teeth. ¡°I guess I can¡¯t work with you anymore.¡± ¡°Sir Volgarek! Calm down. . .¡± ¡°Shut up. I don¡¯t want to hear it anymore!¡± Volegarek eventually exploded, unable to hold back any longer. He dered that he would act independently. Since he had wanted to act separately from the beginning, Biorarn¡¯s attitude was like adding fuel to the fire. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we try to stop him?¡± ¡°Ha. Leave him alone. Do you think he¡¯ll change his mind if we try to persuade him now?¡± Biorarn snorted. As they shared the same blood, he knew Volgarek¡¯s true intentions very well. They hade this far together, but if he continued to act like that, it was better to move separately. ¡°We have to be prepared for Volgarek¡¯s night attack.¡± ¡°Surely he wouldn¡¯t do such a thing?¡± ¡°He¡¯s more than capable of doing it! Even if he doesn¡¯te, it doesn¡¯t hurt to be prepared.¡± The knights nodded at Biorarn¡¯s words. Volgarek¡¯s eyes were indeed too fierce, even for the knights to be wary of. ¡°But is it okay to act separately?¡± ¡°Honestly, I think it might be more dangerous to hang out with those guys. Besides, don¡¯t we have the weapons we brought from the east? Since they contain mysterious power, they will surely be able to pierce the dragon¡¯s scales.¡± After the camp waspleted, the northern knights stood guard more attentively than usual. Biorarn¡¯smand was sharper and more precise than before, as if saying he hadn¡¯t participated in the expedition to the Holy Land for nothing. The knights followed hismands with admiration. A pitch-ck night. A messenger ran through the darkness. ¡°A messenger has arrived!¡± ¡°Who sent the messenger?¡± ¡°He says he¡¯s a messenger sent by His Highness Duke Yeats.¡± ¡°!¡± The knights looked impressed. From the looks of it, it was clear that he had sent someone because of his connection with Biorarn during the expedition to the Holy Land. Even though they were enemies, they sent a messenger of encouragement. This was the world of knights, where politics and profit were set aside. ¡°. . . . . .¡± Biorarn¡¯s face hardened as he read the letter delivered by the messenger. Biorarn made an excuse to the messenger without thinking. ¡°Actually, Volgarek told me to go. . .¡± ¡°B-Biorarn-nim. You don¡¯t know the contents of the letter yet.¡± Chapter 376: ????????-?????????? (20) ¡°. . .¡± Of course, a mere messenger could not know the contents of the letter the duke had written. Realizing his blunder, Biorarn closed his mouth. ¡°What did His Highness say? Will hee to our aid immediately?¡± The subordinates who were not fully aware of the situation asked without a second thought. Surprisingly, despite the fact that they had acted arbitrarily by setting out first, they had no awareness of having done anything wrong. They believed that this was what a knight should do. Of course, Johan was not going to cheer them on, knowing what they were thinking. The letter from the messenger urged them to ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????????????????,¡¯ and though polite, it contained a restrained fury. Biorarn may have been a brave northern knight who knew no fear, but the young duke possessed the power to instill fear even in the most fearless knights. If they saw Johan fight even once, even the most hot-blooded knights would stop their show of bravado and obediently await orders. Biorarn wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said,¡°A dragon is a powerful demon beast. It¡¯s better to wait for backup than to act rashly. Fall back for now!¡± ¡°What are you saying? His Highness seems more worried though?¡± ¡°We came all this way, but we can¡¯t go back without seeing the dragon¡¯s face? People willugh at us. If you just give the order, we¡¯ll raise our banners and charge in with our spears.¡± The knights chattered carelessly, not knowing Biorarn¡¯s true intentions. Biorarn said solemnly, ¡°Surely you haven¡¯t forgotten your promise to obey my everymand?¡± ¡°No. Sir Biorarn! What is this misunderstanding?!¡± ¡°Would we do something like that?¡± The knights replied in surprise. They thought that Biorarn would agree with them, but they didn¡¯t expect him to get angry. ¡®???? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? Usually, they wererades fighting shoulder to shoulder, but now, all he felt was frustration. Of course, Biorarn did not realize that Johan thought the same way about him. ???? As Biorarn had suspected, Volgarek intended to raid Biorarn¡¯s camp by night. The notion that blood would prevent them from fighting one another was nonsense. On the contrary, because they were to share one inheritance, the fighting was only more savage. Biorarn, who had participated in the expedition to the Holy Land, had gained much wealth, so his knights couldn¡¯t help but covet it. His greedy subordinates unanimously agreed to Volgarek¡¯s orders. ¡°Dammit. These bastards don¡¯t even sleep.¡± ¡°The security is too tight.¡± But there were some things that couldn¡¯t be done just by willpower. Volgarek¡¯s men tried their best to find an opening, but they eventually gave up on the night attack. Normally, even if they kept watch, there would be some soldiers who would ck off or act carelessly as the long night wore on. . . But these guys were guarding so fiercely as if they had eaten something wrong. ¡°Did they suspect something, Volgarek-nim?¡± ¡°They¡¯re just a bunch of greedy bastards. If you brought back a mountain of gold from the east, you should share it a little. They don¡¯t know anything about family ties.¡± The mercenaries grumbled and retreated. The surprises didn¡¯t end there. Biorarn¡¯s knights began to retreat as soon as the sun rose. ¡°??!¡± ¡°What¡¯s their n? Is it a trap?¡± The subordinates reported in bewilderment. Volgarek, who had just woken up, was also surprised. ¡°Are they scared of the dragon?¡± ¡°Biorarn may be a vulgar and noisy son of a b*tch, but he¡¯s not a coward. . .?¡± Volegark scratched his cheek with his thick gauntlets and, as if he didn¡¯t want to think about it anymore, made a decision. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them. Let¡¯s do what we came to do. Whether they chickened out or had another reason, I¡¯m just d they¡¯re gone.¡± ¡°Move out?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Volegark had another reason for deliberately causing friction with Biorarn. If Biorarn¡¯s men were to take the lead and be sacrifices, that would be good in its own way. And if they moved separately. . . ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? Volegark had note to hunt the dragon in the first ce. He hade to loot the surroundings that had been destroyed by the dragon. It had be a mess, but it was originally the castle of a feudal lord. Thinking about how many valuable things were hidden inside, there was no way he could pass it up. ¡°Move out!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Volegark¡¯s men were just as greedy as he was. They charged in without fear, even though they were near the castle where the dragon had appeared. Anyone who would run away from here out of fear for a single monster shouldn¡¯t have been working under Volgarek in the first ce. Of course, greater risks meant greater rewards. ¡°Volgarek-nim.¡± ¡°Pour it.¡± One of his men came carrying a wooden bucket and poured its contents over Volgarek. Sticky and foul-smelling blood poured down. It was mixed with the blood of a monster. This kind of blood was effective in deceiving monsters. If a dragon approached, it would be confused by the smell. ¡°Keep your horses¡¯ reins tightly tied. If they get spooked by the dragon and run away, you¡¯ll have to walk all the way back.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Volegark and his men wrapped themselves in the darkest cloth they could find and began to approach cautiously. ording to the report from the scouts who had entered the castle first, the dragon was definitely not inside, but it was better to be careful. ¡°Isn¡¯t it strangely quiet?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°What? Are you scared?¡± ¡°Scared? You shouldn¡¯t say that until you¡¯ve faced a dragon¡¯s jaws yourself.¡± ¡°If you guys don¡¯t shut up, I¡¯ll crack your skulls open.¡± Volegark growled, and the subordinates stopped chattering. At that moment, a small voice was heard from within the ruins of the broken castle. ¡°. . .Isn¡¯t that a goblin?!¡± ¡°These bastards are quick to catch on. Did theye to eat the corpses? Anyway. . .¡± ¡°Kill them quickly. They¡¯re annoying.¡± At that moment, the goblins¡¯ eyes turned red, and they suddenly took out arrows and aimed them. The mercenaries saw this and grinned. Most of the goblins¡¯ arrows were crude andcked power, so experienced mercenaries could easily block them with their shields. ¡°. . .Block them! Quickly!¡± Volegark felt an ominous feeling and shouted. At that moment, the goblins shot their arrows into the sky. Like the signal arrows often used by nomadic tribes, their loud whistling sound pierced the air. ©¥? At that moment, the dragon roared. Volgarek and his men gulped, feeling a chill run down their spines. The sound of someone dropping their sword was heard. The greedy warriors who had not been afraid of anything until just now began to panic. ???? ¡°Sir Biorarn!¡± ¡°Your Highness!¡± Biorarn waved his hand cheerfully and greeted Johan. ¡°Even though I sent word that I would go to your aid, Sir Biorarn, you led your knights in first! So, did you achieve anything? Huh?¡± ¡°. . .M-My apologies.¡± Biorarn hung his head at Johan¡¯s sharp words. Biorarn¡¯s knights, who were watching from afar, were shocked. Biorarn, who was not one to bow his head, was doing just that. ¡°Alright. I won¡¯t say anything more.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Highness. I will repay you with my achievements. . .¡± ¡°Just follow orders properly.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Johan stopped on the in below the mountain and looked up. The dragon had appeared at a mountain castle, so the slope began from here. ¡®???? ???? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ????????, ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? Not only Johan¡¯s men, but also the main force was slowly preparing behind them. If we include the forces of the northern feudal lords, we will have a considerable force. The wizards and Johan agreed on how to hunt the dragon. Surround it and then wage a war of attrition. Even Johan had no intention of defeating the dragon in one blow. He intended to wear it down by continuously attacking it. The northern captains were now diligently building additional siege weapons. Within a month, this area would be filled with more weapons than a siege unit. ¡®?????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?? Anyone could think of bombarding it with siege weapons. The next step was necessary to capture it for sure. ¡®???? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ?? Johan thought about catching animals, poisoning them, and throwing them in. It would be quite effective if the dragon fell for it. He also intended to use various magics and curses to weaken the dragon if possible. Among the treasures he had brought from the east were tools used for curses. Even if they weren¡¯t skilled in handling them, the wizards could use them well if they put their heads together. ¡°?¡± ¡°What. . .?¡± While camps were being built here and there, a group of goblins appeared in front of them. Johan¡¯s men looked at them as if they were ridiculous. ¡°They¡¯re the dragon¡¯s messengers!¡± A northern feudal lord who had followed them eximed in surprise. They had already experienced it once. Surprisingly, the dragon used monsters as its messengers. ¡°How curious. How does it control them?¡± Johan nced at them with interest. The northern knights asked in bewilderment. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just so wicked?¡± ¡°Yes, it is. Wicked things are wicked, and curious things are curious, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, your highness.¡± The northern knights were slightly taken aback when Johan, who was more devout than anyone here, was so nonchnt. It seemed a little different from what they had expected. . .? But they couldn¡¯t show such an attitude. The difference in status between a mere knight and a duke was too great. ¡°I¡¯ll call for an interpreter.¡± ¡°No, I can read it.¡± Johan opened the crumpled letter. It was written in the hand of a goblin, so it was very poorly written, but the contents were easy enough to read. ¡°It says he has the emperor¡¯s child, so bring me the emperor?¡± ¡°. . .?¡± The people present looked at Biorarn unconsciously. Biorarn waved his hand as if to say no. ¡°It must be talking about someone else. Sir Volgarek, was it?¡± ¡°Ah. . .! Volgarek said he was moving separately. In fact, the reason I came out was because that bastard provoked me. . .¡± ¡°Yes. I see. Then I guess we can assume that Sir Volgarek has been captured.¡± Johan¡¯s words caused a stir in the surroundings. Even though Volgarek had a bad reputation, his bloodline and name were not light. Wasn¡¯t he the son of the emperor¡¯s family? For such a northern knight to be captured by a dragon. This was no ordinary matter. ¡°I¡¯ll have to check, but I think we can assume that he¡¯s been killed or captured. The dragon wouldn¡¯t be stupid enough to tell such a lie.¡± ¡°Y-Your Highness.¡± A northern feudal lord who had followed Johan spoke urgently. He spoke in a small voice so that the other knights couldn¡¯t hear. ¡°You mustn¡¯t charge in recklessly to save Sir Volgarek! I understand Your Highness¡¯s feelings, but if Your Highness falls before we¡¯re prepared, it will be truly irreversible.¡± ¡®???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????? Johan had to hold back a chuckle. The northern feudal lord was worried about something strange. Johan had no intention of going in first, even if the northern feudal lords pushed him from behind. What kind of son of a bitch was Volgarek? Since he hade to help others, his cause was too just. Even if Johan did nothing and just drank in his tent, no one could say anything. Still, he couldn¡¯t just ignore someone who said that to him. Johan said with a grave expression. ¡°But we can¡¯t just stand by while an honorable knight of the north has been captured, can we? The count may be dead, but the knight may still be alive.¡± ¡°Your Highness. In truth, Sir Volgarek is not a particrly honorable knight. Many nobles dislike him, so please. . .¡± The northern feudal lord seemed to be genuinely worried, and he tried to grab Johan¡¯s ankle, revealing his true feelings. The other northern knights seemed to have guessed the contents of the conversation and hurriedly ran over and knelt down. They couldn¡¯t send the duke into the dragon¡¯s jaws because of Volgarek. ¡°Your Highness! Please don¡¯t do this! I understand that you value Sir Volgarek, but we can¡¯t ruin the operation because of one knight!¡± ¡°Your Highness! If Your Highness must go, cut us down and go!¡± When one of the knights shouted fervently, Biorarn felt his heart sink. The duke was someone who might really cut them down and go. Fortunately, Johan did not draw his sword. He nodded with a heavy expression. ¡°I deeply appreciate your feelings. I understand. I will endure this humiliation and wait.¡± Behind him, Caenerna, who had arrivedte with her troops, was puzzled by the sight of the northern knights kneeling. ¡°Why are they doing that?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all trying to stop His Highness from going to rescue Sir Volgarek! Please help me stop him, wizard-nim!¡± ¡°??¡±, ¡°. . .¡± Of course, a mere messenger could not know the contents of the letter the duke had written. Realizing his blunder, Biorarn closed his mouth. ¡°What did His Highness say? Will hee to our aid immediately?¡± The subordinates who were not fully aware of the situation asked without a second thought. Surprisingly, despite the fact that they had acted arbitrarily by setting out first, they had no awareness of having done anything wrong. They believed that this was what a knight should do. Of course, Johan was not going to cheer them on, knowing what they were thinking. The letter from the messenger urged them to ¡®???????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ??????????????????????,¡¯ and though polite, it contained a restrained fury. Biorarn may have been a brave northern knight who knew no fear, but the young duke possessed the power to instill fear even in the most fearless knights. If they saw Johan fight even once, even the most hot-blooded knights would stop their show of bravado and obediently await orders. Biorarn wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, ¡°A dragon is a powerful demon beast. It¡¯s better to wait for backup than to act rashly. Fall back for now!¡± ¡°What are you saying? His Highness seems more worried though?¡± ¡°We came all this way, but we can¡¯t go back without seeing the dragon¡¯s face? People willugh at us. If you just give the order, we¡¯ll raise our banners and charge in with our spears.¡± The knights chattered carelessly, not knowing Biorarn¡¯s true intentions. Biorarn said solemnly, ¡°Surely you haven¡¯t forgotten your promise to obey my everymand?¡± ¡°No. Sir Biorarn! What is this misunderstanding?!¡± ¡°Would we do something like that?¡± The knights replied in surprise. They thought that Biorarn would agree with them, but they didn¡¯t expect him to get angry. ¡®???? ???????????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????? ???? Usually, they wererades fighting shoulder to shoulder, but now, all he felt was frustration. Of course, Biorarn did not realize that Johan thought the same way about him. ???? As Biorarn had suspected, Volgarek intended to raid Biorarn¡¯s camp by night. The notion that blood would prevent them from fighting one another was nonsense. On the contrary, because they were to share one inheritance, the fighting was only more savage. Biorarn, who had participated in the expedition to the Holy Land, had gained much wealth, so his knights couldn¡¯t help but covet it. His greedy subordinates unanimously agreed to Volgarek¡¯s orders. ¡°Dammit. These bastards don¡¯t even sleep.¡± ¡°The security is too tight.¡± But there were some things that couldn¡¯t be done just by willpower. Volgarek¡¯s men tried their best to find an opening, but they eventually gave up on the night attack. Normally, even if they kept watch, there would be some soldiers who would ck off or act carelessly as the long night wore on. . . But these guys were guarding so fiercely as if they had eaten something wrong. ¡°Did they suspect something, Volgarek-nim?¡± ¡°They¡¯re just a bunch of greedy bastards. If you brought back a mountain of gold from the east, you should share it a little. They don¡¯t know anything about family ties.¡± The mercenaries grumbled and retreated. The surprises didn¡¯t end there. Biorarn¡¯s knights began to retreat as soon as the sun rose. ¡°??!¡± ¡°What¡¯s their n? Is it a trap?¡± The subordinates reported in bewilderment. Volgarek, who had just woken up, was also surprised. ¡°Are they scared of the dragon?¡± ¡°Biorarn may be a vulgar and noisy son of a b*tch, but he¡¯s not a coward. . .?¡± Volegark scratched his cheek with his thick gauntlets and, as if he didn¡¯t want to think about it anymore, made a decision. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them. Let¡¯s do what we came to do. Whether they chickened out or had another reason, I¡¯m just d they¡¯re gone.¡± ¡°Move out?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Volegark had another reason for deliberately causing friction with Biorarn. If Biorarn¡¯s men were to take the lead and be sacrifices, that would be good in its own way. And if they moved separately. . . ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????????????????? Volegark had note to hunt the dragon in the first ce. He hade to loot the surroundings that had been destroyed by the dragon. It had be a mess, but it was originally the castle of a feudal lord. Thinking about how many valuable things were hidden inside, there was no way he could pass it up. ¡°Move out!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Volegark¡¯s men were just as greedy as he was. They charged in without fear, even though they were near the castle where the dragon had appeared. Anyone who would run away from here out of fear for a single monster shouldn¡¯t have been working under Volgarek in the first ce. Of course, greater risks meant greater rewards. ¡°Volgarek-nim.¡± ¡°Pour it.¡± One of his men came carrying a wooden bucket and poured its contents over Volgarek. Sticky and foul-smelling blood poured down. It was mixed with the blood of a monster. This kind of blood was effective in deceiving monsters. If a dragon approached, it would be confused by the smell. ¡°Keep your horses¡¯ reins tightly tied. If they get spooked by the dragon and run away, you¡¯ll have to walk all the way back.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Volegark and his men wrapped themselves in the darkest cloth they could find and began to approach cautiously. ording to the report from the scouts who had entered the castle first, the dragon was definitely not inside, but it was better to be careful. ¡°Isn¡¯t it strangely quiet?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°What? Are you scared?¡± ¡°Scared? You shouldn¡¯t say that until you¡¯ve faced a dragon¡¯s jaws yourself.¡± ¡°If you guys don¡¯t shut up, I¡¯ll crack your skulls open.¡± Volegark growled, and the subordinates stopped chattering. At that moment, a small voice was heard from within the ruins of the broken castle. ¡°. . .Isn¡¯t that a goblin?!¡± ¡°These bastards are quick to catch on. Did theye to eat the corpses? Anyway. . .¡± ¡°Kill them quickly. They¡¯re annoying.¡± At that moment, the goblins¡¯ eyes turned red, and they suddenly took out arrows and aimed them. The mercenaries saw this and grinned. Most of the goblins¡¯ arrows were crude andcked power, so experienced mercenaries could easily block them with their shields. ¡°. . .Block them! Quickly!¡± Volegark felt an ominous feeling and shouted. At that moment, the goblins shot their arrows into the sky. Like the signal arrows often used by nomadic tribes, their loud whistling sound pierced the air. ©¥? At that moment, the dragon roared. Volgarek and his men gulped, feeling a chill run down their spines. The sound of someone dropping their sword was heard. The greedy warriors who had not been afraid of anything until just now began to panic. ???? ¡°Sir Biorarn!¡± ¡°Your Highness!¡± Biorarn waved his hand cheerfully and greeted Johan. ¡°Even though I sent word that I would go to your aid, Sir Biorarn, you led your knights in first! So, did you achieve anything? Huh?¡± ¡°. . .M-My apologies.¡± Biorarn hung his head at Johan¡¯s sharp words. Biorarn¡¯s knights, who were watching from afar, were shocked. Biorarn, who was not one to bow his head, was doing just that. ¡°Alright. I won¡¯t say anything more.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Highness. I will repay you with my achievements. . .¡± ¡°Just follow orders properly.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Johan stopped on the in below the mountain and looked up. The dragon had appeared at a mountain castle, so the slope began from here. ¡®???? ???? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ????????, ???????? ???????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? Not only Johan¡¯s men, but also the main force was slowly preparing behind them. If we include the forces of the northern feudal lords, we will have a considerable force. The wizards and Johan agreed on how to hunt the dragon. Surround it and then wage a war of attrition. Even Johan had no intention of defeating the dragon in one blow. He intended to wear it down by continuously attacking it. The northern captains were now diligently building additional siege weapons. Within a month, this area would be filled with more weapons than a siege unit. ¡®?????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ?? Anyone could think of bombarding it with siege weapons. The next step was necessary to capture it for sure. ¡®???? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ?? Johan thought about catching animals, poisoning them, and throwing them in. It would be quite effective if the dragon fell for it. He also intended to use various magics and curses to weaken the dragon if possible. Among the treasures he had brought from the east were tools used for curses. Even if they weren¡¯t skilled in handling them, the wizards could use them well if they put their heads together. ¡°?¡± ¡°What. . .?¡± While camps were being built here and there, a group of goblins appeared in front of them. Johan¡¯s men looked at them as if they were ridiculous. ¡°They¡¯re the dragon¡¯s messengers!¡± A northern feudal lord who had followed them eximed in surprise. They had already experienced it once. Surprisingly, the dragon used monsters as its messengers. ¡°How curious. How does it control them?¡± Johan nced at them with interest. The northern knights asked in bewilderment. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just so wicked?¡± ¡°Yes, it is. Wicked things are wicked, and curious things are curious, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, your highness.¡± The northern knights were slightly taken aback when Johan, who was more devout than anyone here, was so nonchnt. It seemed a little different from what they had expected. . .? But they couldn¡¯t show such an attitude. The difference in status between a mere knight and a duke was too great. ¡°I¡¯ll call for an interpreter.¡± ¡°No, I can read it.¡± Johan opened the crumpled letter. It was written in the hand of a goblin, so it was very poorly written, but the contents were easy enough to read. ¡°It says he has the emperor¡¯s child, so bring me the emperor?¡± ¡°. . .?¡± The people present looked at Biorarn unconsciously. Biorarn waved his hand as if to say no. ¡°It must be talking about someone else. Sir Volgarek, was it?¡± ¡°Ah. . .! Volgarek said he was moving separately. In fact, the reason I came out was because that bastard provoked me. . .¡± ¡°Yes. I see. Then I guess we can assume that Sir Volgarek has been captured.¡± Johan¡¯s words caused a stir in the surroundings. Even though Volgarek had a bad reputation, his bloodline and name were not light. Wasn¡¯t he the son of the emperor¡¯s family? For such a northern knight to be captured by a dragon. This was no ordinary matter. ¡°I¡¯ll have to check, but I think we can assume that he¡¯s been killed or captured. The dragon wouldn¡¯t be stupid enough to tell such a lie.¡± ¡°Y-Your Highness.¡± A northern feudal lord who had followed Johan spoke urgently. He spoke in a small voice so that the other knights couldn¡¯t hear. ¡°You mustn¡¯t charge in recklessly to save Sir Volgarek! I understand Your Highness¡¯s feelings, but if Your Highness falls before we¡¯re prepared, it will be truly irreversible.¡± ¡®???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????? Johan had to hold back a chuckle. The northern feudal lord was worried about something strange. Johan had no intention of going in first, even if the northern feudal lords pushed him from behind. What kind of son of a bitch was Volgarek? Since he hade to help others, his cause was too just. Even if Johan did nothing and just drank in his tent, no one could say anything. Still, he couldn¡¯t just ignore someone who said that to him. Johan said with a grave expression. ¡°But we can¡¯t just stand by while an honorable knight of the north has been captured, can we? The count may be dead, but the knight may still be alive.¡± ¡°Your Highness. In truth, Sir Volgarek is not a particrly honorable knight. Many nobles dislike him, so please. . .¡± The northern feudal lord seemed to be genuinely worried, and he tried to grab Johan¡¯s ankle, revealing his true feelings. The other northern knights seemed to have guessed the contents of the conversation and hurriedly ran over and knelt down. They couldn¡¯t send the duke into the dragon¡¯s jaws because of Volgarek. ¡°Your Highness! Please don¡¯t do this! I understand that you value Sir Volgarek, but we can¡¯t ruin the operation because of one knight!¡± ¡°Your Highness! If Your Highness must go, cut us down and go!¡± When one of the knights shouted fervently, Biorarn felt his heart sink. The duke was someone who might really cut them down and go. Fortunately, Johan did not draw his sword. He nodded with a heavy expression. ¡°I deeply appreciate your feelings. I understand. I will endure this humiliation and wait.¡± Behind him, Caenerna, who had arrivedte with her troops, was puzzled by the sight of the northern knights kneeling. ¡°Why are they doing that?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all trying to stop His Highness from going to rescue Sir Volgarek! Please help me stop him, wizard-nim!¡± ¡°??¡± Chapter 377: ????????-?????????? (21) Caenerna listened to the report of the situation again and hid her face with the sleeve of her robe. At this sight, the Northmen thought that the wizard was in despair. ¡°Wizard. This is not the time to sigh!¡± ¡°O. . . K. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°???¡± Surprisingly, there was a slight smile mixed in the wizard¡¯s voice. The Northmen looked at each other in bewilderment. ¡®?????? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ???? As soon as she entered the Duke¡¯s tent, Caenerna startedughing all by herself. Johan quietly watched the red-haired wizard as if she were a mad person. Afterughing to her satisfaction, Caenerna raised her head. As her eyes met the Duke¡¯s, Caenerna asked.¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No. . . It¡¯s good to see youughing. So, do you have a way to deal with the dragon?¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Caenerna twisted her hair with a troubled expression. ¡°It seems like there isn¡¯t a proper one.¡± ¡°Since dragons are notmon demons. . . Most of the remaining records are hard to believe, to be honest.¡± Most of the records found in the monastery seemed tock credibility. It was so much so that it made one wonder if the dragon had left because it was full, rather than being repelled. Therefore, the records could not be used as references. ¡°Just in case, can you tell me what methods there were?¡± ¡°Hmm. There was one that involved selecting the three fattest people in the vicinity, stripping them naked, thering their entire bodies with honey and spices, and then cing them where the dragon appeared. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan stopped listening. ¡°Wait. Isn¡¯t it about offering a beautiful person as a sacrifice?¡± ¡°Duke. The dragon won¡¯t recognize beauty. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Johan was convinced. Come to think of it, Caenerna was right. It seemed that a dragon would be more interested in the meat and sauce than the facial features of a small human. ? ¡®???????????????? ?????????? ????, ???? ?????????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ¡°What¡¯s the other method?¡± ¡°There is a way to drive away the dragon by setting fire to the surrounding ins.¡± ¡°. . .Didn¡¯t it just be a wastnd, so the dragon left?¡± At Johan¡¯s reaction, Caenerna nodded as if she had thought so too. ¡®??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ????????? ¡°I have some weapons brought from the East, so I think it will be okay to go for a long-term battle. . .¡± Carefully, Caenerna checked Johan¡¯s reaction as she spoke. In fact, the countermeasures proposed by the wizard were too simple. ¡°We should go for a long-term battle. It¡¯s not a big expectation, so don¡¯t feel burdened.¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t say this as the one who brought it up, but is it really okay. . .¡± ¡°Volgarek? I don¡¯t care if he dies or not.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna burst into forcedughter at the Duke¡¯s refreshing answer. Then she nodded. Come to think of it, the Duke had always been this kind of person. ???? ¡°Your Highness can¡¯t move easily, but we are different. Your Highness. I believe Your Highness will understand the burning hearts of the knights!¡± ¡°I am telling you not to go out.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± After about three days, the northern knights, not wanting to leave the duke in a bad situation, gradually approached and asked to rescue Sir Volgarek themselves. Although Johan felt sorry for preventing them from going, he couldn¡¯t let them go on their own. The knights applied three times and were rejected, and their spirits were dampened. Johan called his men and said. ¡°Wait outside at night and catch anyone who is trying to sneak out. If they don¡¯t listen, you can beat them up.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The subordinates were ecstatic. When else would they get a chance to beat these knights up? When the sun rose, the people in the camp witnessed the knights who seemed to have been beaten up a few times. Meanwhile, the camps in front of the mountain were gradually taking shape. The disassembled siege weapons were assembled and revealed their majesty. ¡°Wonderful! No matter how strong the dragon is, it won¡¯t be safe.¡± ¡°It will be able to break down even the walls of the old empire!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± ¡°I. . . Is that so?¡± When Johan did not answer, the dragon surprisingly sent a messenger again. A goblin came down again, spitting blood and copsing. ¡®???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???????????????? ????????, ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???? ¡°What did the beast say this time?¡± ¡°The writing is so messy and toxic that I can¡¯t read it. It¡¯s better to burn it because you might be cursed for nothing.¡± Instead of speaking, Johan tore up the letter. As a human being with pride, he could not lose in a battle of wits with a dragon. ¡®????????¡¯?? ????????. ???? ???? ?????????? ??????, ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ??????????????????, ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? Unfortunately, the dragon had misjudged the situation and timing. The families of the North were intertwined with each other, so they could not refuse if they were taken hostage, but it was different when someone who had nothing to do with them came as themander. Johan could really kill Volgarek without blinking an eye. ???? ¡°Hey. Goblin.¡± ©¥¡ö? Volgarek and his men were dragged into a dark cave with their eyes covered. It seemed like they had gone quite deep into the mountains from the Count¡¯s ruined castle, so the location was nowhere to be found. However, Volgarek¡¯s men were also warriors who had gained experience as robbers, looters, and thieves. After some time had passed since they were dragged in, they began to think about how to survive. ¡°I think this rope is tied too tightly. Can you loosen it a little?¡± ©¥¡ö¡ö. ¡ö¡ö. The goblins snickered in annoyance and mocked the warriors. At theirughter, the warriors forgot that they were tied up and became angry. They had never dreamed that they would be ignored by goblins in their lives. ¡°Did he just call us *ssholes?¡± ¡°Those bastards who should be torn apart. . .¡± The mercenaries gritted their teeth and spat. Some of the mercenaries had been prisoners of war before, but this was the worst. Not only were they locked in a deep cave with no air cirction, but the only things they had to eat were rotten meat and moldy bread. The water smelled, and they couldn¡¯t even dream of going outside for a short walk. ¡°Where did Sir Volgarek go?¡± ¡°The dragon took him away separately, so he must be getting treated well.¡± ¡°Do you think the dragon knows how to treat him well?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you ever read a book? Haven¡¯t you heard stories about the dragon¡¯s castle?¡± ¡°. . .?¡± The mercenary who had spoken up and was unnecessarily persecuted held back from arguing, saying, ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????.¡¯ His colleague was a bit smarter. Since he knew a fair amount of letters, the story about the dragon might be true. ¡°Well, nobles usually get special treatment.¡± ¡°Damn it, are you saying that to us while you¡¯re getting treated like that? Shouldn¡¯t you at least give us proper food!?¡± The goblins threw a ball of rotten mud at the noisy mercenaries. The mercenaries shut their mouths after being hit by the mud. ¡®???????? ???????? While the mercenaries were suffering, Volgarek was also being treated properly by the dragon. He had been hung between the dragon¡¯s ws for days. The dragon could not treat the prisoner he had captured in the manner of humans. Volgarek was the most precious hostage, so the dragon kept him pressed between his ws so that he would never be missed. ¡®???????? ????, ???? ?????? ?? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????? Volgarek struggled, but the dragon¡¯s weight was so heavy that he didn¡¯t budge. Volgarek tried to use more strength and then gave up. He was afraid that the dragon might wake up. When he recalled the time he had faced the dragon, his body stiffened as fear welled up inside him again. ???? When the dragon appeared, Volgarek and his men froze. Even the fiercest and bravest man did not dare to draw his weapon. The dragon must have known that, and it let out a nastyugh. It was the arrogantughter of the victor. The goblin next to the dragon groped and wrote. It was the script of the ancient empire. ¡°. . .What, what does it say?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know?¡± ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö. . . The goblins gave a look of contempt and wrote again in an easier script. It was crooked, but it was recognizable. ©¥?????? ?????? ¡°I. . . I am Volgarek of the Visalfurk family.¡± ©¥???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????? ????? ¡°The great family of the North. . . The emperor¡¯s family.¡± Volgarek spoke strongly, mixing pride and bluff. Although the emperor was gone, Volgarek still found it difficult to admit it. And there was also the calction that the higher the status, the better the treatment would be. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. ¡°!?¡± ???? The calction was correct. Half correct. Wasn¡¯t he receiving a kind of special treatment of being directly monitored by the dragon? Then, the dragon stood up with a loud roar. Volgarek closed his eyes tightly and pretended to be asleep. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? To his surprise, the dragon began to move. Volgarek was startled and closed his eyes, lost in thought. He had no idea why the one who had been quiet was moving. The only thing he could tell was that he was quite angry. ¡®???????? ???? ????? ???? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ??????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??? Volgarek pinned his hopes on thetter. Volgarek was still a great noble of the North. The people of the North would not just sit still and watch Volgarek being captured. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! The cheer that only an army could make. At that sound, Volgarek came to his senses and opened his eyes wide. Down on the in below, countless people were gathered and surrounding this ce. ¡°!!!¡± Even in the murderous atmosphere, the dragon paid no attention. He lifted Volgarek with his ws and ced him in front of his mouth. It was an arrogant attitude, asking what these people could do about him, as he had the emperor¡¯s bloodline here. ¡®???????? ????????????? Volgarek red at the dragon with eyes filled with anger. Despite being a huge, ferocious beast, he knew very well about the kingdom of men. No matter how many soldiers gathered here, they could not attack if the dragon put up a shield like this. Who would bear the dishonor of killing the great noble of the North? ¡°Start the attack.¡± Johan said coldly. The heralds next to him ryed the duke¡¯s cry as a signal. The g was waved and the sound of trumpets burst out. With the sound of the thick ropes being released, the siege weapons began to fire. Massive boulders, burning balls of pitch, and sharp, giant arrows flew towards the dragon. ©¥!!! The dragon seemed to have never expected it. He took the attack head-on and rolled backwards. Although the arrows did not pierce through because of the hard scales, the attack was so heavy that the impact was severe. ¡°It¡¯s working!¡± ¡°Keep firing. Don¡¯t stop! We have to finish him off here!¡± As they had only practiced until the dragon came out, the skills of those gathered here were near perfect. ¡°His Highness the Duke said that he will personally reward the one who cuts off the dragon¡¯s breath! Aim!¡± ¡°Fire it up!¡± Caenerna thought to herself as she watched the siege weapons being quickly loaded and fired. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????? Well, Volgarek was not a person who was well-liked wherever he went. He had looted several fiefdoms in the North (even his identity had been revealed. He had gotten off the hook because the emperor was alive), but he had been rude to other feudal lords, and he had the personality of talking bullsh*t even when he was invited to a banquet and talking bullsh*t even when he was not invited. . . If he was really a pitiful person, one or two of the feudal lords of the North would have said, ¡®???????? ????????????????, ???????????? ???????? ??????????. . .¡¯ but judging from the fact that no one spoke up, it seemed that he was really not pitiful. Everyone seemed grateful to the duke, who was armed with a musket. The dragon swung Volgarek around like a madman. He was trying to somehow block the iing attacks. ¡°Don¡¯t fall for his tricks. Don¡¯t stop attacking!¡± ¡°Sir, no one has stopped!¡± When one of his men answered, a snickeringughter came from somewhere else. Johan spoke without paying any attention. ¡°He¡¯s running away! Move!¡± When he gained the upper hand, Johan moved without hesitation. The dragon¡¯s weakness had to be cut off when it was revealed. Things got annoying if he ran away or hid. ¡°Chase him! Don¡¯t let him get away!¡± The dragon was still slow to crawl as he had not yet recovered from the shock. Some of the centaurs who were confident in their bows raised their arrows and aimed for the dragon¡¯s eyes. In the midst of the chaos, it seemed that the dragon¡¯s vignce had been heightened even more. He pulled back his head and covered his face. The centaurs sighed. ¡°He¡¯s trying to throw the hostage!¡± ¡°What do we do!?¡± Johan¡¯s men panicked. They had attacked without paying attention until now, but they still thought they should receive it. The duke gave the order cheerfully. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it and ignore it!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The warriors were impressed by their master¡¯s judgment. It was a clean judgment that was refreshing., Caenerna listened to the report of the situation again and hid her face with the sleeve of her robe. At this sight, the Northmen thought that the wizard was in despair. ¡°Wizard. This is not the time to sigh!¡± ¡°O. . . K. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°???¡± Surprisingly, there was a slight smile mixed in the wizard¡¯s voice. The Northmen looked at each other in bewilderment. ¡®?????? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ???? As soon as she entered the Duke¡¯s tent, Caenerna startedughing all by herself. Johan quietly watched the red-haired wizard as if she were a mad person. Afterughing to her satisfaction, Caenerna raised her head. As her eyes met the Duke¡¯s, Caenerna asked. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No. . . It¡¯s good to see youughing. So, do you have a way to deal with the dragon?¡± At Johan¡¯s words, Caenerna twisted her hair with a troubled expression. ¡°It seems like there isn¡¯t a proper one.¡± ¡°Since dragons are notmon demons. . . Most of the remaining records are hard to believe, to be honest.¡± Most of the records found in the monastery seemed tock credibility. It was so much so that it made one wonder if the dragon had left because it was full, rather than being repelled. Therefore, the records could not be used as references. ¡°Just in case, can you tell me what methods there were?¡± ¡°Hmm. There was one that involved selecting the three fattest people in the vicinity, stripping them naked, thering their entire bodies with honey and spices, and then cing them where the dragon appeared. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan stopped listening. ¡°Wait. Isn¡¯t it about offering a beautiful person as a sacrifice?¡± ¡°Duke. The dragon won¡¯t recognize beauty. . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Johan was convinced. Come to think of it, Caenerna was right. It seemed that a dragon would be more interested in the meat and sauce than the facial features of a small human. ¡®???????????????? ?????????? ????, ???? ?????????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ¡°What¡¯s the other method?¡± ¡°There is a way to drive away the dragon by setting fire to the surrounding ins.¡± ¡°. . .Didn¡¯t it just be a wastnd, so the dragon left?¡± At Johan¡¯s reaction, Caenerna nodded as if she had thought so too. ¡®??????????¡¯?? ???????????? ?????????????? ???? ????????? ¡°I have some weapons brought from the East, so I think it will be okay to go for a long-term battle. . .¡± Carefully, Caenerna checked Johan¡¯s reaction as she spoke. In fact, the countermeasures proposed by the wizard were too simple. ¡°We should go for a long-term battle. It¡¯s not a big expectation, so don¡¯t feel burdened.¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t say this as the one who brought it up, but is it really okay. . .¡± ¡°Volgarek? I don¡¯t care if he dies or not.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Caenerna burst into forcedughter at the Duke¡¯s refreshing answer. Then she nodded. Come to think of it, the Duke had always been this kind of person. ???? ¡°Your Highness can¡¯t move easily, but we are different. Your Highness. I believe Your Highness will understand the burning hearts of the knights!¡± ¡°I am telling you not to go out.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± After about three days, the northern knights, not wanting to leave the duke in a bad situation, gradually approached and asked to rescue Sir Volgarek themselves. Although Johan felt sorry for preventing them from going, he couldn¡¯t let them go on their own. The knights applied three times and were rejected, and their spirits were dampened. Johan called his men and said. ¡°Wait outside at night and catch anyone who is trying to sneak out. If they don¡¯t listen, you can beat them up.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The subordinates were ecstatic. When else would they get a chance to beat these knights up? When the sun rose, the people in the camp witnessed the knights who seemed to have been beaten up a few times. Meanwhile, the camps in front of the mountain were gradually taking shape. The disassembled siege weapons were assembled and revealed their majesty. ¡°Wonderful! No matter how strong the dragon is, it won¡¯t be safe.¡± ¡°It will be able to break down even the walls of the old empire!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± ¡°I. . . Is that so?¡± When Johan did not answer, the dragon surprisingly sent a messenger again. A goblin came down again, spitting blood and copsing. ¡®???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???????????????? ????????, ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????¡¯?? ???? ¡°What did the beast say this time?¡± ¡°The writing is so messy and toxic that I can¡¯t read it. It¡¯s better to burn it because you might be cursed for nothing.¡± Instead of speaking, Johan tore up the letter. As a human being with pride, he could not lose in a battle of wits with a dragon. ¡®????????¡¯?? ????????. ???? ???? ?????????? ??????, ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ??????????????????, ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? Unfortunately, the dragon had misjudged the situation and timing. The families of the North were intertwined with each other, so they could not refuse if they were taken hostage, but it was different when someone who had nothing to do with them came as themander. Johan could really kill Volgarek without blinking an eye. ???? ¡°Hey. Goblin.¡± ©¥¡ö? Volgarek and his men were dragged into a dark cave with their eyes covered. It seemed like they had gone quite deep into the mountains from the Count¡¯s ruined castle, so the location was nowhere to be found. However, Volgarek¡¯s men were also warriors who had gained experience as robbers, looters, and thieves. After some time had passed since they were dragged in, they began to think about how to survive. ¡°I think this rope is tied too tightly. Can you loosen it a little?¡± ©¥¡ö¡ö. ¡ö¡ö. The goblins snickered in annoyance and mocked the warriors. At theirughter, the warriors forgot that they were tied up and became angry. They had never dreamed that they would be ignored by goblins in their lives. ¡°Did he just call us *ssholes?¡± ¡°Those bastards who should be torn apart. . .¡± The mercenaries gritted their teeth and spat. Some of the mercenaries had been prisoners of war before, but this was the worst. Not only were they locked in a deep cave with no air cirction, but the only things they had to eat were rotten meat and moldy bread. The water smelled, and they couldn¡¯t even dream of going outside for a short walk. ¡°Where did Sir Volgarek go?¡± ¡°The dragon took him away separately, so he must be getting treated well.¡± ¡°Do you think the dragon knows how to treat him well?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you ever read a book? Haven¡¯t you heard stories about the dragon¡¯s castle?¡± ¡°. . .?¡± The mercenary who had spoken up and was unnecessarily persecuted held back from arguing, saying, ¡®???? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ??????????.¡¯ His colleague was a bit smarter. Since he knew a fair amount of letters, the story about the dragon might be true. ¡°Well, nobles usually get special treatment.¡± ¡°Damn it, are you saying that to us while you¡¯re getting treated like that? Shouldn¡¯t you at least give us proper food!?¡± The goblins threw a ball of rotten mud at the noisy mercenaries. The mercenaries shut their mouths after being hit by the mud. ¡®???????? ???????? While the mercenaries were suffering, Volgarek was also being treated properly by the dragon. He had been hung between the dragon¡¯s ws for days. The dragon could not treat the prisoner he had captured in the manner of humans. Volgarek was the most precious hostage, so the dragon kept him pressed between his ws so that he would never be missed. ¡®???????? ????, ???? ?????? ?? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????????? Volgarek struggled, but the dragon¡¯s weight was so heavy that he didn¡¯t budge. Volgarek tried to use more strength and then gave up. He was afraid that the dragon might wake up. When he recalled the time he had faced the dragon, his body stiffened as fear welled up inside him again. ???? When the dragon appeared, Volgarek and his men froze. Even the fiercest and bravest man did not dare to draw his weapon. The dragon must have known that, and it let out a nastyugh. It was the arrogantughter of the victor. The goblin next to the dragon groped and wrote. It was the script of the ancient empire. ¡°. . .What, what does it say?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know?¡± ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö. . . The goblins gave a look of contempt and wrote again in an easier script. It was crooked, but it was recognizable. ©¥?????? ?????? ¡°I. . . I am Volgarek of the Visalfurk family.¡± ©¥???????? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????????????????? ????? ¡°The great family of the North. . . The emperor¡¯s family.¡± Volgarek spoke strongly, mixing pride and bluff. Although the emperor was gone, Volgarek still found it difficult to admit it. And there was also the calction that the higher the status, the better the treatment would be. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. ¡°!?¡± ???? The calction was correct. Half correct. Wasn¡¯t he receiving a kind of special treatment of being directly monitored by the dragon? Then, the dragon stood up with a loud roar. Volgarek closed his eyes tightly and pretended to be asleep. ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? To his surprise, the dragon began to move. Volgarek was startled and closed his eyes, lost in thought. He had no idea why the one who had been quiet was moving. The only thing he could tell was that he was quite angry. ¡®???????? ???? ????? ???? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ??????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??? Volgarek pinned his hopes on thetter. Volgarek was still a great noble of the North. The people of the North would not just sit still and watch Volgarek being captured. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! The cheer that only an army could make. At that sound, Volgarek came to his senses and opened his eyes wide. Down on the in below, countless people were gathered and surrounding this ce. ¡°!!!¡± Even in the murderous atmosphere, the dragon paid no attention. He lifted Volgarek with his ws and ced him in front of his mouth. It was an arrogant attitude, asking what these people could do about him, as he had the emperor¡¯s bloodline here. ¡®???????? ????????????? Volgarek red at the dragon with eyes filled with anger. Despite being a huge, ferocious beast, he knew very well about the kingdom of men. No matter how many soldiers gathered here, they could not attack if the dragon put up a shield like this. Who would bear the dishonor of killing the great noble of the North? ¡°Start the attack.¡± Johan said coldly. The heralds next to him ryed the duke¡¯s cry as a signal. The g was waved and the sound of trumpets burst out. With the sound of the thick ropes being released, the siege weapons began to fire. Massive boulders, burning balls of pitch, and sharp, giant arrows flew towards the dragon. ©¥!!! The dragon seemed to have never expected it. He took the attack head-on and rolled backwards. Although the arrows did not pierce through because of the hard scales, the attack was so heavy that the impact was severe. ¡°It¡¯s working!¡± ¡°Keep firing. Don¡¯t stop! We have to finish him off here!¡± As they had only practiced until the dragon came out, the skills of those gathered here were near perfect. ¡°His Highness the Duke said that he will personally reward the one who cuts off the dragon¡¯s breath! Aim!¡± ¡°Fire it up!¡± Caenerna thought to herself as she watched the siege weapons being quickly loaded and fired. ¡®???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????? Well, Volgarek was not a person who was well-liked wherever he went. He had looted several fiefdoms in the North (even his identity had been revealed. He had gotten off the hook because the emperor was alive), but he had been rude to other feudal lords, and he had the personality of talking bullsh*t even when he was invited to a banquet and talking bullsh*t even when he was not invited. . . If he was really a pitiful person, one or two of the feudal lords of the North would have said, ¡®???????? ????????????????, ???????????? ???????? ??????????. . .¡¯ but judging from the fact that no one spoke up, it seemed that he was really not pitiful. Everyone seemed grateful to the duke, who was armed with a musket. The dragon swung Volgarek around like a madman. He was trying to somehow block the iing attacks. ¡°Don¡¯t fall for his tricks. Don¡¯t stop attacking!¡± ¡°Sir, no one has stopped!¡± When one of his men answered, a snickeringughter came from somewhere else. Johan spoke without paying any attention. ¡°He¡¯s running away! Move!¡± When he gained the upper hand, Johan moved without hesitation. The dragon¡¯s weakness had to be cut off when it was revealed. Things got annoying if he ran away or hid. ¡°Chase him! Don¡¯t let him get away!¡± The dragon was still slow to crawl as he had not yet recovered from the shock. Some of the centaurs who were confident in their bows raised their arrows and aimed for the dragon¡¯s eyes. In the midst of the chaos, it seemed that the dragon¡¯s vignce had been heightened even more. He pulled back his head and covered his face. The centaurs sighed. ¡°He¡¯s trying to throw the hostage!¡± ¡°What do we do!?¡± Johan¡¯s men panicked. They had attacked without paying attention until now, but they still thought they should receive it. The duke gave the order cheerfully. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it and ignore it!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The warriors were impressed by their master¡¯s judgment. It was a clean judgment that was refreshing. Chapter 378: ????????-?????????? (22) Despite ignoring the hostage, it wasn¡¯t easy to catch up with the dragon. The dragon was even increasing its speed. As it began to trudge up the foothills with loud rumbles, the thick trees hid the dragon¡¯s body. ¡°What will we do?¡± ¡°We continue chasing. At the very least, we have to figure out where it is.¡± The dragon must not have been unscathed during this sh. Although it was running away, pretending to be unfazed, Johan was certain that it was quite badly injured. Then, there was a high probability that the dragon was running away to itsir to recover from its wounds. That was what all monsters did. A chase full of distance began. It was a chase where not a single arrow was fired, only the sound of heavy breathing quietly echoing, but it was filled with intense tension. Johan¡¯s subordinates were even holding arrows in their mouths, ready to shoot the dragon if it stopped and turned its head. Although it was a steep mountain ridge, those who hade this far were either confident in their horse riding skills or were Centaurs. And one advantage of chasing the dragon was that the opponent was very easy to chase. No matter how hard you try to hide, you can be seen from afar, leaving traces. ¡°It¡¯s been a long timeing.¡±¡°Don¡¯t worry. It will get tired first. It won¡¯t be able to move around like that with that body for long.¡± Gmbos said so while ring at the dragon. The words of an Eastern Ranger were always trustworthy. Even the Centaurs nodded. . . .However, the dragon suddenly disappeared. ¡°?!¡± As they rode up the steep path and reached the ridge, the dragon that should have been clearly visible was gone. The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment, as if they had been possessed by a malevolent spirit. ¡°Gmbos, you rascal! I thought you said it can¡¯t move for long!¡± ¡°I-I meant It can¡¯t move for long. I didn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t move fast . . .¡± In his bewilderment, Gmbos had forgotten that the dragon, if it had indeed descended the slope quickly, would have left a trail. Johan quelled the rising tumult of his subordinates. ¡°There are no traces. That means he must have escaped somewhere around here. Find him.¡± ¡°. . .Yes! That¡¯s exactly what I was thinking, sir!¡± ¡®???????? ???? ?????????????????????? ?? The subordinates regained theirposure and began the search. It was not Gmbos, but Karamaf, who found him first. Gmbos froze when he saw Karamaf sniffing and pawing the ground with hisrge front paws. ¡°. . .Maybe I shouldn¡¯t say I found him . . .?¡± Krrrrrrr! As if he found it ridiculous, Karamaf ignored him and let out a resounding bark. The soldiers rushed in at the sound. ???? ¡°You¡¯re saying the dragon disappeared underground?¡± The northern feudal lords were surprised by the unexpected news. Johan nodded and continued his exnation. ¡°ording to the reports of those who entered, it seems to be the old ruins of the empire. It was a fairlyrge space.¡± It was ruins located in a huge underground cavity, not just underground. The sight of the copsed castle, passageways, and inner castle dimly lit in the darkness was magnificent. ? ¡°Perhaps because it was the ruins from the era of the empire, the size was extraordinary. Even the passageways inside the castle were wide enough for several wagons to pass through. . .¡± ¡°A dragon can also pass through.¡± The northern knight who spoke with an excited voice at Johan¡¯s words let out a dry cough. He was overly excited because of the unexpected discovery. At Johan¡¯s news, the northern knights went down the hole one after the other without a word. It was truly an amazing sight. ¡°Perhaps because the dragon is a long-lived monster, it may have known about the ce. It might be hiding somewhere in the ruins and recovering from its wounds.¡± ¡°Then. . .¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a good thing? Since it¡¯s badly injured, won¡¯t it avoiding out of fear?¡± The northern feudal lords said hesitantly. Their expressions were as if they wanted the dragon to fall into a deep sleep once and reappear after a few hundred years. ¡°What are you talking about, count!? If we don¡¯t catch it this time, we might not be able to catch it forever!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Your Highness the duke barely managed to injure it. . .!¡± The northern knights were taken aback and stepped forward. For them, letting go of a monster that was almost caught was something that should never happen. However, the northern feudal lords were not doing this because they didn¡¯t want to catch the dragon. Would they want to leave a monster that could appear at any time in the north? ¡®???? ???? ?????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ??????????????, ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????. ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ¡®???????? ???? ????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ????????????????. ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ????????????. ???? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ????????????, ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ??????????????? The northern feudal lords were now watching the expressions of the guests who hade from afar. They were people who had already spent a lot of gold coins for this hunt. If they agreed with the ignorant northern knights who said they would catch the dragon, the atmosphere could turn cold. ¡°Let¡¯s catch it. If we don¡¯t catch it this time, it will be able to fly again in a few years.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± That was why Johan¡¯s words were surprising. The northern feudal lords looked at Johan with bewildered expressions. They didn¡¯t think he would go this far, even though he didn¡¯t have any grudge against the dragon. ¡°I knew Your Highness would say that!¡± The knights eximed with moved expressions. Fortunately, unlike the feudal lords, the duke was on their side. ¡®???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ????????, ???? ???????????? ?? Unlike what the northern feudal lords thought, Johan had his own intentions. He had the intention of definitely catching the dragon in the northernnds and leaving. Johan didn¡¯t care if the dragon woke up again after he grew old and died, but what if it came out before that? ¡°Northern brave knights who want to defeat the dragon, volunteer. I will distribute weapons.¡± At the duke¡¯s words, the knights tried to rush forward one after another. If they remained still after hearing those words, they wouldn¡¯t be able to call themselves knights. Even if there were knights who didn¡¯t want to step forward, they had no choice but to do so now, watching the atmosphere. As the atmosphere heated up, Johan suddenly remembered and asked. ¡°Come to think of it, what happened to Sir Volgarek?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The knights who had been cheering with heated hearts paused. They didn¡¯t know because they weren¡¯t particrly interested. ???? As expected of a veteran knight, Sir Volgarek was alive. He had a few broken bones, but that was a very mild condition, considering that he had escaped from the dragon¡¯s palm. However, Volgarek¡¯s heart was boiling like a hot volcano. Of course, he was caught by the dragon, and the attack began on its own. ¡®???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? Of course, if you think rationally, it was right to attack rather than falling for the dragon¡¯s hostage drama. In fact, he managed to save his life because of that. Otherwise, he would have died long ago. However, no one who had witnessed a house-sized rock and a thick wooden skewer flying in front of them could remain rational. And Volgarek¡¯s original nature was far from rational. ¡®???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????????????! ?????????? He resented the northern feudal lords even more than the duke. As fellow northerners, they didn¡¯t try to dissuade him, but agreed with him. Perhaps the bastards had instigated it out of resentment for their defeat in the civil war. The fact that they didn¡¯t evene to the tent made him think so even more. ¡°A guest has arrived, Sir Volgarek.¡± ¡°!¡± At those words from the servant that a guest had arrived, Volgarek¡¯s eyes widened. It seemed that the northern feudal lords had finallye to apologize. He had no intention of forgiving them, but he thought his anger would subside a little if he spat out curses at their shameless faces. ¡°These shameless. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± However, it wasn¡¯t the northern feudal lords who came in, but the young duke. Despite not having met Johan very often, Volgarek could guess who Johan was at a nce. How many people in the vicinity could walk around with that kind of dignity at that age? That dignity only twisted Volgarek¡¯s heart even more. Volgarek said in a fierce voice, ¡°What brings you here? What about the other feudal lords?¡± ¡°Why are you asking me about the other feudal lords? Ask them yourself. I¡¯m here to ask you about the dragon. You must have some information since you were caught by the dragon. Will you tell me in detail so we can subdue it?¡± Volgarek blinked at Johan¡¯s words and then smiled bitterly. It was the smile he often showed when looking for someone to plunder. ¡°Very well, duke. Since you¡¯re going to kill that dragon, I, as a northern man, can¡¯t help but cooperate. Even though you came from a foreignnd, you are braver than the feudal lords here.¡± ¡°I appreciate it.¡± ¡°But I have a condition.¡± ¡°What is it? Do you want a better bed?¡± ¡°. . .Make the northern feudal lords kneel before me! I feel like I can only help if I make those despicable bastards rub their faces on the dirt floor!¡± ¡°??¡± Johan tilted his head at Volgarek¡¯s words. Volgarek decided to borate more, seeing the duke¡¯s attitude as if he didn¡¯t understand the situation. ¡°Oh benevolent duke, you may not know this, but I don¡¯t let those who snub me go! The northern feudal lords betrayed me and acted so insolently that they need to pay the price for it. Summon them quickly! If they have any shame, they will not refuse! ¡°Ah. It seems like you misunderstood something. The reason I was taken aback is. . . I¡¯m wondering why you¡¯re trying to negotiate so strongly in that condition.¡± Johan was taken aback because Volgarek failed to grasp the subject. What kind of guts did he have to make a fuss when he didn¡¯t have a fiefdom, subordinates, or poprity, and all he had was grudges? Volegarek¡¯s face turned red as he realized what Johan meant. Volgarek said through gritted teeth, ¡°Don¡¯t insult me, duke! Even in this condition, I can kill two or three soldiers. Furthermore, what if I keep my mouth shut? ¡°I¡¯ll make you open your mouth.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯ll keep my mouth shut! What the hell are you talking about!¡± ¡°Gerdolf. Come in.¡± Therge knight who had been guarding the entrance to the tent came inside. He was a knight who exuded apletely different, barbaric atmosphere from the duke. Volgarek instinctively felt goosebumps at his appearance. He could asionally see such a man among the mercenaries. ¡°Per. . .¡± ¡°Make him talk. Can you do it?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Johan patted Gerdolf on the shoulder and went out. Volgarek screamed in horror. ¡°This is ridiculous! I am Volgarek of the Visalfurk family, you can¡¯t just torture me like this. . .¡± Volegarek couldn¡¯t finish his words. Gerdolf¡¯s sinister hands grabbed Volgarek. Gerdolf didn¡¯t care at all that his opponent had broken bones or other injuries. The servants outside made eye contact with Johan as he came out. Johan nodded. The servants also nodded. After about thirty minutes, Gerdolf came out and said, ¡°He¡¯ll talk.¡± ¡°Excellent. Your skills are always great.¡± ¡°It is an honor.¡± Gerdolf nodded, his face flushed. However, the flushed face was not very noticeable because it was covered in so much blood. ???? ¡°Judging from the fact that there was no sound of rocks hitting each other, it¡¯s likely that the ce where the dragon is staying is deep in the ruins.¡± All the knights of the north seemed to havee down. There were so many torches that it was as bright as daytime despite being underground. ¡°He must be hiding somewhere, badly injured, waiting for an opportunity. If you find him, don¡¯t rush in first and send a signal! If you covet glory and put the north in danger, it will be a dishonorable act!¡± The old knights said it over and over again. Among the knights here, not many worked under the feudal lords. Small knight families who worked independently, or wandering knights who didn¡¯t even have a town, or even mercenaries, were all gathered here. Their loyalty to the north was loyalty, but their ambition and desire for honor to stab the dragon with a sword were even greater. It wasn¡¯t for nothing that the old knights were worried. ¡°However. . . wouldn¡¯t it be dishonorable if the knights from other ces cut off the dragon¡¯s windpipe?¡± ¡°. . .Let me say it again. Now. If you find the dragon. . .¡± No matter how much the old knights talked, there was a limit. Johan didn¡¯t expect much from the knights here in the first ce. ©¥???? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ????, ???????? ????. ??¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ????????????????. ¡°I heard a rumor that if you make a great achievement here, His Highness the duke will make you a vassal. Do you think that¡¯s true?¡± ¡°Hmm. It¡¯s possible. It¡¯s a dragon, after all.¡± If they dealt with other monsters well, their reputation would be enough for the feudal lords to call them, but in the case of a dragon, there was no need to say more. ¡°Hey, that knight over there, isn¡¯t he His Highness the duke¡¯s knight? He¡¯s walking like that, bare-handed. . .¡± ¡°He must have that much courage.¡± The centaurs on the other side looked at the conversation between the northern knights as if they were looking at a crazy person. The eastern rangers were walking around without their armor on, trying not to make any noise, but what kind of misunderstanding. . ., Despite ignoring the hostage, it wasn¡¯t easy to catch up with the dragon. The dragon was even increasing its speed. As it began to trudge up the foothills with loud rumbles, the thick trees hid the dragon¡¯s body. ¡°What will we do?¡± ¡°We continue chasing. At the very least, we have to figure out where it is.¡± The dragon must not have been unscathed during this sh. Although it was running away, pretending to be unfazed, Johan was certain that it was quite badly injured. Then, there was a high probability that the dragon was running away to itsir to recover from its wounds. That was what all monsters did. A chase full of distance began. It was a chase where not a single arrow was fired, only the sound of heavy breathing quietly echoing, but it was filled with intense tension. Johan¡¯s subordinates were even holding arrows in their mouths, ready to shoot the dragon if it stopped and turned its head. Although it was a steep mountain ridge, those who hade this far were either confident in their horse riding skills or were Centaurs. And one advantage of chasing the dragon was that the opponent was very easy to chase. No matter how hard you try to hide, you can be seen from afar, leaving traces. ¡°It¡¯s been a long timeing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It will get tired first. It won¡¯t be able to move around like that with that body for long.¡± Gmbos said so while ring at the dragon. The words of an Eastern Ranger were always trustworthy. Even the Centaurs nodded. . . .However, the dragon suddenly disappeared. ¡°?!¡± As they rode up the steep path and reached the ridge, the dragon that should have been clearly visible was gone. The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment, as if they had been possessed by a malevolent spirit. ¡°Gmbos, you rascal! I thought you said it can¡¯t move for long!¡± ¡°I-I meant It can¡¯t move for long. I didn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t move fast . . .¡± In his bewilderment, Gmbos had forgotten that the dragon, if it had indeed descended the slope quickly, would have left a trail. Johan quelled the rising tumult of his subordinates. ¡°There are no traces. That means he must have escaped somewhere around here. Find him.¡± ¡°. . .Yes! That¡¯s exactly what I was thinking, sir!¡± ¡®???????? ???? ?????????????????????? ?? The subordinates regained theirposure and began the search. It was not Gmbos, but Karamaf, who found him first. Gmbos froze when he saw Karamaf sniffing and pawing the ground with hisrge front paws. ¡°. . .Maybe I shouldn¡¯t say I found him . . .?¡± Krrrrrrr! As if he found it ridiculous, Karamaf ignored him and let out a resounding bark. The soldiers rushed in at the sound. ???? ¡°You¡¯re saying the dragon disappeared underground?¡± The northern feudal lords were surprised by the unexpected news. Johan nodded and continued his exnation. ¡°ording to the reports of those who entered, it seems to be the old ruins of the empire. It was a fairlyrge space.¡± It was ruins located in a huge underground cavity, not just underground. The sight of the copsed castle, passageways, and inner castle dimly lit in the darkness was magnificent. ¡°Perhaps because it was the ruins from the era of the empire, the size was extraordinary. Even the passageways inside the castle were wide enough for several wagons to pass through. . .¡± ¡°A dragon can also pass through.¡± The northern knight who spoke with an excited voice at Johan¡¯s words let out a dry cough. He was overly excited because of the unexpected discovery. At Johan¡¯s news, the northern knights went down the hole one after the other without a word. It was truly an amazing sight. ¡°Perhaps because the dragon is a long-lived monster, it may have known about the ce. It might be hiding somewhere in the ruins and recovering from its wounds.¡± ¡°Then. . .¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a good thing? Since it¡¯s badly injured, won¡¯t it avoiding out of fear?¡± The northern feudal lords said hesitantly. Their expressions were as if they wanted the dragon to fall into a deep sleep once and reappear after a few hundred years. ¡°What are you talking about, count!? If we don¡¯t catch it this time, we might not be able to catch it forever!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Your Highness the duke barely managed to injure it. . .!¡± The northern knights were taken aback and stepped forward. For them, letting go of a monster that was almost caught was something that should never happen. However, the northern feudal lords were not doing this because they didn¡¯t want to catch the dragon. Would they want to leave a monster that could appear at any time in the north? ¡®???? ???? ?????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ??????????????, ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????. ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ¡®???????? ???? ????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ?????????? ????????, ???? ?????????? ???? ????????????????. ?????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ????????????. ???? ???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ????????????, ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???? ???????? ???? ??????????????? The northern feudal lords were now watching the expressions of the guests who hade from afar. They were people who had already spent a lot of gold coins for this hunt. If they agreed with the ignorant northern knights who said they would catch the dragon, the atmosphere could turn cold. ¡°Let¡¯s catch it. If we don¡¯t catch it this time, it will be able to fly again in a few years.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± That was why Johan¡¯s words were surprising. The northern feudal lords looked at Johan with bewildered expressions. They didn¡¯t think he would go this far, even though he didn¡¯t have any grudge against the dragon. ¡°I knew Your Highness would say that!¡± The knights eximed with moved expressions. Fortunately, unlike the feudal lords, the duke was on their side. ¡®???? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ????????, ???? ???????????? ?? Unlike what the northern feudal lords thought, Johan had his own intentions. He had the intention of definitely catching the dragon in the northernnds and leaving. Johan didn¡¯t care if the dragon woke up again after he grew old and died, but what if it came out before that? ¡°Northern brave knights who want to defeat the dragon, volunteer. I will distribute weapons.¡± At the duke¡¯s words, the knights tried to rush forward one after another. If they remained still after hearing those words, they wouldn¡¯t be able to call themselves knights. Even if there were knights who didn¡¯t want to step forward, they had no choice but to do so now, watching the atmosphere. As the atmosphere heated up, Johan suddenly remembered and asked. ¡°Come to think of it, what happened to Sir Volgarek?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The knights who had been cheering with heated hearts paused. They didn¡¯t know because they weren¡¯t particrly interested. ???? As expected of a veteran knight, Sir Volgarek was alive. He had a few broken bones, but that was a very mild condition, considering that he had escaped from the dragon¡¯s palm. However, Volgarek¡¯s heart was boiling like a hot volcano. Of course, he was caught by the dragon, and the attack began on its own. ¡®???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? Of course, if you think rationally, it was right to attack rather than falling for the dragon¡¯s hostage drama. In fact, he managed to save his life because of that. Otherwise, he would have died long ago. However, no one who had witnessed a house-sized rock and a thick wooden skewer flying in front of them could remain rational. And Volgarek¡¯s original nature was far from rational. ¡®???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ??????????????! ?????????? He resented the northern feudal lords even more than the duke. As fellow northerners, they didn¡¯t try to dissuade him, but agreed with him. Perhaps the bastards had instigated it out of resentment for their defeat in the civil war. The fact that they didn¡¯t evene to the tent made him think so even more. ¡°A guest has arrived, Sir Volgarek.¡± ¡°!¡± At those words from the servant that a guest had arrived, Volgarek¡¯s eyes widened. It seemed that the northern feudal lords had finallye to apologize. He had no intention of forgiving them, but he thought his anger would subside a little if he spat out curses at their shameless faces. ¡°These shameless. . .¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± However, it wasn¡¯t the northern feudal lords who came in, but the young duke. Despite not having met Johan very often, Volgarek could guess who Johan was at a nce. How many people in the vicinity could walk around with that kind of dignity at that age? That dignity only twisted Volgarek¡¯s heart even more. Volgarek said in a fierce voice, ¡°What brings you here? What about the other feudal lords?¡± ¡°Why are you asking me about the other feudal lords? Ask them yourself. I¡¯m here to ask you about the dragon. You must have some information since you were caught by the dragon. Will you tell me in detail so we can subdue it?¡± Volgarek blinked at Johan¡¯s words and then smiled bitterly. It was the smile he often showed when looking for someone to plunder. ¡°Very well, duke. Since you¡¯re going to kill that dragon, I, as a northern man, can¡¯t help but cooperate. Even though you came from a foreignnd, you are braver than the feudal lords here.¡± ¡°I appreciate it.¡± ¡°But I have a condition.¡± ¡°What is it? Do you want a better bed?¡± ¡°. . .Make the northern feudal lords kneel before me! I feel like I can only help if I make those despicable bastards rub their faces on the dirt floor!¡± ¡°??¡± Johan tilted his head at Volgarek¡¯s words. Volgarek decided to borate more, seeing the duke¡¯s attitude as if he didn¡¯t understand the situation. ¡°Oh benevolent duke, you may not know this, but I don¡¯t let those who snub me go! The northern feudal lords betrayed me and acted so insolently that they need to pay the price for it. Summon them quickly! If they have any shame, they will not refuse! ¡°Ah. It seems like you misunderstood something. The reason I was taken aback is. . . I¡¯m wondering why you¡¯re trying to negotiate so strongly in that condition.¡± Johan was taken aback because Volgarek failed to grasp the subject. What kind of guts did he have to make a fuss when he didn¡¯t have a fiefdom, subordinates, or poprity, and all he had was grudges? Volegarek¡¯s face turned red as he realized what Johan meant. Volgarek said through gritted teeth, ¡°Don¡¯t insult me, duke! Even in this condition, I can kill two or three soldiers. Furthermore, what if I keep my mouth shut? ¡°I¡¯ll make you open your mouth.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯ll keep my mouth shut! What the hell are you talking about!¡± ¡°Gerdolf. Come in.¡± Therge knight who had been guarding the entrance to the tent came inside. He was a knight who exuded apletely different, barbaric atmosphere from the duke. Volgarek instinctively felt goosebumps at his appearance. He could asionally see such a man among the mercenaries. ¡°Per. . .¡± ¡°Make him talk. Can you do it?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Johan patted Gerdolf on the shoulder and went out. Volgarek screamed in horror. ¡°This is ridiculous! I am Volgarek of the Visalfurk family, you can¡¯t just torture me like this. . .¡± Volegarek couldn¡¯t finish his words. Gerdolf¡¯s sinister hands grabbed Volgarek. Gerdolf didn¡¯t care at all that his opponent had broken bones or other injuries. The servants outside made eye contact with Johan as he came out. Johan nodded. The servants also nodded. After about thirty minutes, Gerdolf came out and said, ¡°He¡¯ll talk.¡± ¡°Excellent. Your skills are always great.¡± ¡°It is an honor.¡± Gerdolf nodded, his face flushed. However, the flushed face was not very noticeable because it was covered in so much blood. ???? ¡°Judging from the fact that there was no sound of rocks hitting each other, it¡¯s likely that the ce where the dragon is staying is deep in the ruins.¡± All the knights of the north seemed to havee down. There were so many torches that it was as bright as daytime despite being underground. ¡°He must be hiding somewhere, badly injured, waiting for an opportunity. If you find him, don¡¯t rush in first and send a signal! If you covet glory and put the north in danger, it will be a dishonorable act!¡± The old knights said it over and over again. Among the knights here, not many worked under the feudal lords. Small knight families who worked independently, or wandering knights who didn¡¯t even have a town, or even mercenaries, were all gathered here. Their loyalty to the north was loyalty, but their ambition and desire for honor to stab the dragon with a sword were even greater. It wasn¡¯t for nothing that the old knights were worried. ¡°However. . . wouldn¡¯t it be dishonorable if the knights from other ces cut off the dragon¡¯s windpipe?¡± ¡°. . .Let me say it again. Now. If you find the dragon. . .¡± No matter how much the old knights talked, there was a limit. Johan didn¡¯t expect much from the knights here in the first ce. ©¥???? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ????, ???????? ????. ??¡¯?? ???????????? ???? ????????????????. ¡°I heard a rumor that if you make a great achievement here, His Highness the duke will make you a vassal. Do you think that¡¯s true?¡± ¡°Hmm. It¡¯s possible. It¡¯s a dragon, after all.¡± If they dealt with other monsters well, their reputation would be enough for the feudal lords to call them, but in the case of a dragon, there was no need to say more. ¡°Hey, that knight over there, isn¡¯t he His Highness the duke¡¯s knight? He¡¯s walking like that, bare-handed. . .¡± ¡°He must have that much courage.¡± The centaurs on the other side looked at the conversation between the northern knights as if they were looking at a crazy person. The eastern rangers were walking around without their armor on, trying not to make any noise, but what kind of misunderstanding. . . Chapter 379: ????????-?????????? (23) Chapter 379: ????????-?????????? (23) While various groups of knights were on the move, Johan was not resting either. After descending underground, Johan waited leisurely in the rear. He roasted himself a cup of coffee over a campfire in a tin cup, prompting Caenerna to ask in a slightly bemused voice. ¡°Is it. . . okay for us to not go with them?¡± Being in thepany of many watchful eyes and ears, even Caenerna¡¯s voice was somewhat polite. Johan nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯ll only get in the way if we move together with those knights.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Caenerna was impressed by Duke¡¯s tant attitude of using them as bait. He seemed to have no trust whatsoever in the northern knights. ¡°But the northern knights are quite capable.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand me, Caenerna-gong. I don¡¯t distrust the northern knights. They must be capable.¡±The northern part of the empire was and of rugged terrain and harsh conditions, and as such, there were many beasts and monsters. The knights who fought while traveling through such ces had no choice but to be veterans. However, that was only when they were fighting one-on-one. A dragon was an opponent that had to be fought by many people working together. No matter how strongly they were ordered, knights who had not been fighting together for long would have limitations in their movements. Rather than coordinating with such unreliable allies, Johan intended to fight with his trusted subordinates, even if it meant being outnumbered. ¡°But if we fight together, they¡¯ll just get in my way, so I¡¯m waiting here. If the northern knights manage to cut off the dragon¡¯s windpipe, then I¡¯ll be grateful for that.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a little greedy?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Johan¡¯s words made Caenerna burst outughing, almost spilling her coffee. ©¥????????????. ¡°. . .¡± Karamaf let out a whine as he stared into the distance. Johan also felt a sense of unease. A faint, trembling vibration wasing from the ground. ??????????????! A signal re was shot from up ahead. The piercing sound grated on their ears. It was a sign that the dragon had been found. ¡®?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ????????????? ???????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ It was hard to believe that a heavily injured dragon could cause such a vibration. Johan frowned and watched ahead. ¡°. . . . . .!¡± With a rumbling roar, an ancient stone wall began to rise in front of Johan. Everyone¡¯s expressions changed at the unexpected situation. Caenerna, meanwhile, watched the scene as if she were possessed. How many more times in her life would she get to see the buildings of the old empiree to life and move? ¡°What are you doing!¡± Johan grabbed Caenerna¡¯s wrist in disbelief. The speed at which the wall was rising and changing shape was slow, but it was still dangerous to be caught off guard. He couldn¡¯t believe that a wizard of Caenerna¡¯s caliber would make such a mistake. ¡°S-Sorry. . .¡± ¡°No need to apologize. Just give me advice! Did the dragon do this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a possibility. The dragon has lived in this hideout for a long time!¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates followed after their master and asked, ¡°Your Grace! Can¡¯t we just break the wall?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how this ce is changing, so it would be reckless to. . . No. Wait a minute. That might not be a bad idea.¡± Johan tossed the petite Caenerna, who he had been carrying in one hand, over his shoulder (a small shriek could be heard), and picked up THE Giant yer. And then, the wall burst open. ¡°As expected of Your Highness!¡± ¡°I knew you could break through a flimsy wall like this!¡± The subordinates cheered at his feat, despite their initial confusion. ¡°. . .?!¡± However, unlike the enthusiastic reactionsing from behind him, Johan was somewhat taken aback. His hand was tingling more than he had expected. ¡®. . .????¡¯?? ???????????????????????? ?????????????¡¯ It may have sounded arrogant, but Johan had honestly thought that the wall would break more easily. He had swung Giant yer a few times before. He had a good sense of how much force he needed to exert to break through an old wall of this thickness. And yet, it was this sturdy. ¡°Your Highness.¡± Suddenly, a head of red hair descended from above, blocking Johan¡¯s view. Johan was startled for a moment, thinking it was a malevolent spirit. Fortunately, it was not a malevolent spirit. It was Caenerna, who had climbed onto his shoulder and twisted her body to appear in front of him. ¡°This wall seems to be built with ancient empire technology. If you keep breaking it like that, Your Highness¡¯s hand. . .¡± ¡°Wizard! Do not underestimate Duke¡¯s strength! He can break a wall like this more easily than fresh cheese!¡± ¡°. . .¡± Caenerna looked at Johan with a pitiful gaze, having read the irritation that flitted across his face. ¡°Then. . . please do your best, Duke.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me that kind of encouragement, even you.¡± ???????????? Nevertheless, Johan diligently continued to break down the walls. His hands were getting numb, but it was a bearable amount of damage. As he forced his way through the shifting terrain, he realized that this was abyrinth. ¡®?????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?????????????¡¯ It was truly an amazing ce. He had thought it was just a ruined old castle, but there was abyrinth hidden beneath it. The first intruders must have been terrified. And so were the knights now. ¡°But there is a silver lining.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°The dragon must be desperate since it¡¯s doing this.¡± Caenerna nodded at Johan¡¯s words. Indeed, the dragon¡¯s petty tricks suggested that it was feeling cornered. It was clear that the wounds inflicted by the siege weapons were more serious than they had thought. . . .The problem was that they still had to find the dragon¡¯s location by traversing this dark and vastbyrinth. ¡°Karamaf. Can you track the others¡¯ scents?¡± ©¥??????????????. . . The wolf let out an unusually weak whine. Caenerna brought a finger to her ear and frowned, saying, ¡°It seems like thebyrinth was designed to intentionally spread sound. The scents have been disrupted as well. . .¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we just break everything?¡± ¡°You ignorant fool. Even for you, it would take years to break down all these walls.¡± Caenerna spoke to Johan, who was deep in thought. ¡°Duke?¡± ¡°Oh. Gong. Do you have a good idea?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have one yet, but I¡¯d appreciate it if you could put me down.¡± ¡°. . .Ah. My apologies.¡± Johan let go of Caenerna. He had been carrying her so effortlessly that he hadn¡¯t even thought about it. Caenernanded unsteadily, then dusted off her robe and said, ¡°The dragon is most likely in the center of thebyrinth. That¡¯s where the device is usually located when something like this is activated. The problem is how to find the way. . .¡± Caenerna fell into thought. Among all the wisdom she possessed, the wisdom to find a path through such abyrinth was not something that came to mind immediately. Without Suetlg by her side, Caenerna¡¯s shoulders felt even heavier. ¡®?????????? ???? ????????????. . . ????. ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????. ???????????? ?? ?????? ?? ????????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????? ????????. ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????, ??????????¡¯?? ???? ?????????????? ????????????. . . ???????????? ?? ?????? ??????????????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????????? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ As Caenerna pondered, Johan nudged her. The red-haired wizard turned her head, a slightly irritated look on her face. ¡°Why are you calling me? Why?¡± ¡°Come to think of it, I memorized the direction of the inner castle before thebyrinth appeared. Since we have apass, we should be able to reach the inner castle by breaking through the walls in that direction.¡± ¡°. . .¡± ¡°Hmm. Do you think it won¡¯t work? I¡¯m curious to hear your opinion.¡± Caenerna felt a sense of self-loathing for not being able toe up with a better method than such a brute-force approach. What was the point of learning magic if this was all she could do? ???????????? ¡°Here is the mark I carved earlier. This way seems to be a dead end.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Despite being trapped in thebyrinth, the northern knights were diligently creating a map. ¡°I¡¯m sure we saw it earlier. . . We must have found the dragon.¡± ¡°That must be it. It must have panicked ande up to thisbyrinth. Wait. The path is splitting again.¡± ¡°This is impossible. I¡¯ll have to use the vision treasure passed down in my family.¡± The dwarven knight took out a candlestick and carefully lit it. As he did, smoke rose up and pointed in one direction. ¡°This way.¡± ¡°To use such a precious treasure for our sake. . .¡± ¡°Nonsense. Aren¡¯t we all gathered here to y the dragon?¡± The knights¡¯ camaraderie grew stronger in the face of adversity. As they wandered, the knights gradually made progress and met up with their scatteredrades. ¡°Over here!¡± ¡°So you wereing this way!¡± As their numbers grew, so did the information they shared. The knights counted on their fingers to find out who was present and who was missing. ¡°Biorarn-nim. Was His Highness at the back?¡± ¡°He was behind us.¡± ¡°If he got lost on his own, we should rescue him. . .¡± ¡°No. His Highness is not the kind of person who would get lost like that. Besides, if we were to go back now that we¡¯ve finally found our way, wouldn¡¯t it be putting the cart before the horse?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I just used up myst torch. . .¡± The dwarven knight pointed to the candlestick with a regretful expression. It had been one of the treasures of his family, but it had melted away before he knew it. The knights lowered their heads solemnly. Biorarn saw this and said with a determined face, ¡°I have a treasure that I obtained from the Holy Land in the East. It seems like it¡¯s time to use that treasure.¡± ¡°!¡± At the mention of the treasure of the Holy Land in the East, the knights¡¯ eyes widened. ¡°What kind of treasure is it?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see when you see it.¡± Biorarn carefully untied a piece of silk. The golden casket was old, but it exuded an antique beauty. The knights let out a gasp without realizing it. ??????????©¥ The casket opened, and light spilled out from within. Even the knights, who knew nothing about magic, could tell that a mysterious power was slumbering inside the casket. ¡°Oh, mysterious power. Show me the way. . .¡± At that moment, Johan and his party burst out from behind, apanied by the sound of crumbling walls. Johan¡¯s subordinates were overjoyed to see the northern knights. They had been worried about them, but they were alive and well. ¡°Duke! Everyone is safe! I was worried about you.¡± ¡°Yes. It is indeed fortunate.¡± ¡°. . .¡± However, the northern knights, who should have been weing them, looked at them with a mixture of grief and bewilderment. Johan¡¯s subordinates tilted their heads, wondering why they were acting that way. ???????????? ¡°Ah. Were you trying to borrow the power of the spirit in the casket?¡± Johan was about to feel a little sorry for them, but then he stopped. Come to think of it, if they were just looking for a way, Johan had a better way of finding it. ¡°Since we¡¯re headed in the right direction anyway. . . It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Biorarn, a cheerful knight, seemed a bit disheartened that he had wasted a treasure, judging by theck of energy in his voice. Johan suddenly asked, feeling curious, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t given a proper order, the spirit would havee back, right?¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Biorarn opened the casket upon hearing those words. The light that had been inside was gone, and there was nothing there. ¡°It¡¯s gone?¡± ¡°This is strange. Is the spirit a rather mean-spirited one?¡± Johan asked Caenerna. Caenerna seemed to think it was strange as well, and she kept tilting her head. ¡°Unless something special happens, spirits don¡¯t just run away from objects they¡¯re attached to. . .?¡± At those words, Johan suddenly remembered something. It was when he had thrown the spear at the dragon, imbued with Valkalmur¡¯s power. Valkalmur had gotten scared of the dragon and had run away with its tail between its legs. As he recalled that incident, Valkalmur began to grumble inside him, as if it was embarrassed. Johan ignored it and continued his train of thought. If it was scared of the dragon, then it was certainly possible. After all, the dragon was still a dragon, even if it was injured. ©¥??????????????! ¡°It¡¯s the dragon! Prepare for battle!¡± Johan hadn¡¯t thought that they would encounter the dragon so soon, since they were still some distance away from the estimated target location. However, the dragon already knew that there were many intruders. The dragon realized that it was at a disadvantage if it continued on like this, so it decided to take a gamble. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????!¡¯ ¡°Valkalmur!¡± Johan immediately drew his spear and threw it with all his might. Valkalmur flew with the spear, determined to wash away the humiliation it had sufferedst time. At that moment, the dragon opened its maw. With an ominous ¡®hiss¡¯, a huge ball of fire burst out from within. Valkalmur let out a pitiful shriek and was once again forced out of the spear. No matter how aggressively it charged, it couldn¡¯t withstand such mes. ©¥¡ö¡ö! However, even though Valkalmur was gone, the spear¡¯s power remained. The dragon howled as the sharp de pierced its soft pte. ¡°Out of the way!¡± Caenerna shouted fiercely, making the knights step aside. Her red hair bristled upwards, and her eyes turned a fiery color. The knights looked on in awe, but Johan suddenly remembered a memory from long ago. ¡°Sleep. . .¡± Before he could even try to talk her out of it, saying that they could defeat it without resorting to this, Caenerna unleashed her power., While various groups of knights were on the move, Johan was not resting either. After descending underground, Johan waited leisurely in the rear. He roasted himself a cup of coffee over a campfire in a tin cup, prompting Caenerna to ask in a slightly bemused voice. ¡°Is it. . . okay for us to not go with them?¡± Being in thepany of many watchful eyes and ears, even Caenerna¡¯s voice was somewhat polite. Johan nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯ll only get in the way if we move together with those knights.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Caenerna was impressed by Duke¡¯s tant attitude of using them as bait. He seemed to have no trust whatsoever in the northern knights. ¡°But the northern knights are quite capable.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand me, Caenerna-gong. I don¡¯t distrust the northern knights. They must be capable.¡± The northern part of the empire was and of rugged terrain and harsh conditions, and as such, there were many beasts and monsters. The knights who fought while traveling through such ces had no choice but to be veterans. However, that was only when they were fighting one-on-one. A dragon was an opponent that had to be fought by many people working together. No matter how strongly they were ordered, knights who had not been fighting together for long would have limitations in their movements. Rather than coordinating with such unreliable allies, Johan intended to fight with his trusted subordinates, even if it meant being outnumbered. ¡°But if we fight together, they¡¯ll just get in my way, so I¡¯m waiting here. If the northern knights manage to cut off the dragon¡¯s windpipe, then I¡¯ll be grateful for that.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a little greedy?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Johan¡¯s words made Caenerna burst outughing, almost spilling her coffee. ©¥????????????. ¡°. . .¡± Karamaf let out a whine as he stared into the distance. Johan also felt a sense of unease. A faint, trembling vibration wasing from the ground. ??????????????! A signal re was shot from up ahead. The piercing sound grated on their ears. It was a sign that the dragon had been found. ¡®?????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ????????????? ???????? ??????????¡¯?? ???????? ??????????.¡¯ It was hard to believe that a heavily injured dragon could cause such a vibration. Johan frowned and watched ahead. ¡°. . . . . .!¡± With a rumbling roar, an ancient stone wall began to rise in front of Johan. Everyone¡¯s expressions changed at the unexpected situation. Caenerna, meanwhile, watched the scene as if she were possessed. How many more times in her life would she get to see the buildings of the old empiree to life and move? ¡°What are you doing!¡± Johan grabbed Caenerna¡¯s wrist in disbelief. The speed at which the wall was rising and changing shape was slow, but it was still dangerous to be caught off guard. He couldn¡¯t believe that a wizard of Caenerna¡¯s caliber would make such a mistake. ¡°S-Sorry. . .¡± ¡°No need to apologize. Just give me advice! Did the dragon do this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a possibility. The dragon has lived in this hideout for a long time!¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates followed after their master and asked, ¡°Your Grace! Can¡¯t we just break the wall?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how this ce is changing, so it would be reckless to. . . No. Wait a minute. That might not be a bad idea.¡± Johan tossed the petite Caenerna, who he had been carrying in one hand, over his shoulder (a small shriek could be heard), and picked up THE Giant yer. And then, the wall burst open. ¡°As expected of Your Highness!¡± ¡°I knew you could break through a flimsy wall like this!¡± The subordinates cheered at his feat, despite their initial confusion. ¡°. . .?!¡± However, unlike the enthusiastic reactionsing from behind him, Johan was somewhat taken aback. His hand was tingling more than he had expected. ¡®. . .????¡¯?? ???????????????????????? ?????????????¡¯ It may have sounded arrogant, but Johan had honestly thought that the wall would break more easily. He had swung Giant yer a few times before. He had a good sense of how much force he needed to exert to break through an old wall of this thickness. And yet, it was this sturdy. ¡°Your Highness.¡± Suddenly, a head of red hair descended from above, blocking Johan¡¯s view. Johan was startled for a moment, thinking it was a malevolent spirit. Fortunately, it was not a malevolent spirit. It was Caenerna, who had climbed onto his shoulder and twisted her body to appear in front of him. ¡°This wall seems to be built with ancient empire technology. If you keep breaking it like that, Your Highness¡¯s hand. . .¡± ¡°Wizard! Do not underestimate Duke¡¯s strength! He can break a wall like this more easily than fresh cheese!¡± ¡°. . .¡± Caenerna looked at Johan with a pitiful gaze, having read the irritation that flitted across his face. ¡°Then. . . please do your best, Duke.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me that kind of encouragement, even you.¡± ???????????? Nevertheless, Johan diligently continued to break down the walls. His hands were getting numb, but it was a bearable amount of damage. As he forced his way through the shifting terrain, he realized that this was abyrinth. ¡®?????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?????????????¡¯ It was truly an amazing ce. He had thought it was just a ruined old castle, but there was abyrinth hidden beneath it. The first intruders must have been terrified. And so were the knights now. ¡°But there is a silver lining.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°The dragon must be desperate since it¡¯s doing this.¡± Caenerna nodded at Johan¡¯s words. Indeed, the dragon¡¯s petty tricks suggested that it was feeling cornered. It was clear that the wounds inflicted by the siege weapons were more serious than they had thought. . . .The problem was that they still had to find the dragon¡¯s location by traversing this dark and vastbyrinth. ¡°Karamaf. Can you track the others¡¯ scents?¡± ©¥??????????????. . . The wolf let out an unusually weak whine. Caenerna brought a finger to her ear and frowned, saying, ¡°It seems like thebyrinth was designed to intentionally spread sound. The scents have been disrupted as well. . .¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we just break everything?¡± ¡°You ignorant fool. Even for you, it would take years to break down all these walls.¡± Caenerna spoke to Johan, who was deep in thought. ¡°Duke?¡± ¡°Oh. Gong. Do you have a good idea?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have one yet, but I¡¯d appreciate it if you could put me down.¡± ¡°. . .Ah. My apologies.¡± Johan let go of Caenerna. He had been carrying her so effortlessly that he hadn¡¯t even thought about it. Caenernanded unsteadily, then dusted off her robe and said, ¡°The dragon is most likely in the center of thebyrinth. That¡¯s where the device is usually located when something like this is activated. The problem is how to find the way. . .¡± Caenerna fell into thought. Among all the wisdom she possessed, the wisdom to find a path through such abyrinth was not something that came to mind immediately. Without Suetlg by her side, Caenerna¡¯s shoulders felt even heavier. ¡®?????????? ???? ????????????. . . ????. ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????. ???????????? ?? ?????? ?? ????????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????? ???? ?????????????? ???? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????? ????????. ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?? ?????????????? ???????? ?????? ????????, ??????????¡¯?? ???? ?????????????? ????????????. . . ???????????? ?? ?????? ??????????????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????????? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ??????????.¡¯ As Caenerna pondered, Johan nudged her. The red-haired wizard turned her head, a slightly irritated look on her face. ¡°Why are you calling me? Why?¡± ¡°Come to think of it, I memorized the direction of the inner castle before thebyrinth appeared. Since we have apass, we should be able to reach the inner castle by breaking through the walls in that direction.¡± ¡°. . .¡± ¡°Hmm. Do you think it won¡¯t work? I¡¯m curious to hear your opinion.¡± Caenerna felt a sense of self-loathing for not being able toe up with a better method than such a brute-force approach. What was the point of learning magic if this was all she could do? ???????????? ¡°Here is the mark I carved earlier. This way seems to be a dead end.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Despite being trapped in thebyrinth, the northern knights were diligently creating a map. ¡°I¡¯m sure we saw it earlier. . . We must have found the dragon.¡± ¡°That must be it. It must have panicked ande up to thisbyrinth. Wait. The path is splitting again.¡± ¡°This is impossible. I¡¯ll have to use the vision treasure passed down in my family.¡± The dwarven knight took out a candlestick and carefully lit it. As he did, smoke rose up and pointed in one direction. ¡°This way.¡± ¡°To use such a precious treasure for our sake. . .¡± ¡°Nonsense. Aren¡¯t we all gathered here to y the dragon?¡± The knights¡¯ camaraderie grew stronger in the face of adversity. As they wandered, the knights gradually made progress and met up with their scatteredrades. ¡°Over here!¡± ¡°So you wereing this way!¡± As their numbers grew, so did the information they shared. The knights counted on their fingers to find out who was present and who was missing. ¡°Biorarn-nim. Was His Highness at the back?¡± ¡°He was behind us.¡± ¡°If he got lost on his own, we should rescue him. . .¡± ¡°No. His Highness is not the kind of person who would get lost like that. Besides, if we were to go back now that we¡¯ve finally found our way, wouldn¡¯t it be putting the cart before the horse?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I just used up myst torch. . .¡± The dwarven knight pointed to the candlestick with a regretful expression. It had been one of the treasures of his family, but it had melted away before he knew it. The knights lowered their heads solemnly. Biorarn saw this and said with a determined face, ¡°I have a treasure that I obtained from the Holy Land in the East. It seems like it¡¯s time to use that treasure.¡± ¡°!¡± At the mention of the treasure of the Holy Land in the East, the knights¡¯ eyes widened. ¡°What kind of treasure is it?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see when you see it.¡± Biorarn carefully untied a piece of silk. The golden casket was old, but it exuded an antique beauty. The knights let out a gasp without realizing it. ??????????©¥ The casket opened, and light spilled out from within. Even the knights, who knew nothing about magic, could tell that a mysterious power was slumbering inside the casket. ¡°Oh, mysterious power. Show me the way. . .¡± At that moment, Johan and his party burst out from behind, apanied by the sound of crumbling walls. Johan¡¯s subordinates were overjoyed to see the northern knights. They had been worried about them, but they were alive and well. ¡°Duke! Everyone is safe! I was worried about you.¡± ¡°Yes. It is indeed fortunate.¡± ¡°. . .¡± However, the northern knights, who should have been weing them, looked at them with a mixture of grief and bewilderment. Johan¡¯s subordinates tilted their heads, wondering why they were acting that way. ???????????? ¡°Ah. Were you trying to borrow the power of the spirit in the casket?¡± Johan was about to feel a little sorry for them, but then he stopped. Come to think of it, if they were just looking for a way, Johan had a better way of finding it. ¡°Since we¡¯re headed in the right direction anyway. . . It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Biorarn, a cheerful knight, seemed a bit disheartened that he had wasted a treasure, judging by theck of energy in his voice. Johan suddenly asked, feeling curious, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t given a proper order, the spirit would havee back, right?¡± ¡°. . .?¡± Biorarn opened the casket upon hearing those words. The light that had been inside was gone, and there was nothing there. ¡°It¡¯s gone?¡± ¡°This is strange. Is the spirit a rather mean-spirited one?¡± Johan asked Caenerna. Caenerna seemed to think it was strange as well, and she kept tilting her head. ¡°Unless something special happens, spirits don¡¯t just run away from objects they¡¯re attached to. . .?¡± At those words, Johan suddenly remembered something. It was when he had thrown the spear at the dragon, imbued with Valkalmur¡¯s power. Valkalmur had gotten scared of the dragon and had run away with its tail between its legs. As he recalled that incident, Valkalmur began to grumble inside him, as if it was embarrassed. Johan ignored it and continued his train of thought. If it was scared of the dragon, then it was certainly possible. After all, the dragon was still a dragon, even if it was injured. ©¥??????????????! ¡°It¡¯s the dragon! Prepare for battle!¡± Johan hadn¡¯t thought that they would encounter the dragon so soon, since they were still some distance away from the estimated target location. However, the dragon already knew that there were many intruders. The dragon realized that it was at a disadvantage if it continued on like this, so it decided to take a gamble. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????????!¡¯ ¡°Valkalmur!¡± Johan immediately drew his spear and threw it with all his might. Valkalmur flew with the spear, determined to wash away the humiliation it had sufferedst time. At that moment, the dragon opened its maw. With an ominous ¡®hiss¡¯, a huge ball of fire burst out from within. Valkalmur let out a pitiful shriek and was once again forced out of the spear. No matter how aggressively it charged, it couldn¡¯t withstand such mes. ©¥¡ö¡ö! However, even though Valkalmur was gone, the spear¡¯s power remained. The dragon howled as the sharp de pierced its soft pte. ¡°Out of the way!¡± Caenerna shouted fiercely, making the knights step aside. Her red hair bristled upwards, and her eyes turned a fiery color. The knights looked on in awe, but Johan suddenly remembered a memory from long ago. ¡°Sleep. . .¡± Before he could even try to talk her out of it, saying that they could defeat it without resorting to this, Caenerna unleashed her power. Chapter 380: ????????-?????????? (24) ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? The heat made the surrounding air re up before the familiar sensation could be recalled. Caenerna¡¯s summoned spirit of fire materialized in the air, inting its form. Then, the surrounding torches were extinguished simultaneously. The fire spirit had devoured the mes in the vicinity. Despite the extinguishing, the underground cavity was brighter than broad daylight. ©¥¡ö! The lump of fire remaining at the dragon¡¯s maw silently disappeared into thin air. The dragon let out an irritated roar as it sucked the fuel forbustion from the depths of its throat. ¡°The wizard is taking down the dragon!¡± ¡°Waaahhhh!¡± The unaware knights cheered as their morale rose. They raised their spears and crossbows to help in any way they could, aiming at the dragon. Most of them bounced off the scales without piercing, but the asional hit found a gap, irritating the dragon. But the most threatening opponent for the dragon was the fire spirit.Even among the same type of spirit, their nature and actions differed depending on the spirit. That was why vicious and despicable spirits were called malevolent spirits, just as their name suggested. In that regard, the fire spirit was a brutal and violent being. And it possessed the power to match its nature. The reason Caenerna, despite not being an unskilled wizard, had failed to control it several times was all due to these reasons. The mes gathered into one, then lunged at the dragon. The dragon fiercely swung its ws to meet the fire spirit head-on. The fight between them was so intense and bloody that even the valiant northern knights couldn¡¯t find an opening to intervene. Once they shed, the surrounding stone statues shattered, and mes erupted one after another, both above and below. ¡®???????????? ?? ???????? ?? Johan halted as he was about to throw his spear. With the two of them fighting all intertwined, he wondered if he really needed to get involved. Even if the fire spirit were to lose, it wouldn¡¯t be bad if the dragon¡¯s stamina was drained like this. ¡°Protect the wizard.¡± Instead, Johan had Caenerna carried to the back. The fact that she had already lost control over the hastily summoned spirit was palpable. The fire spirit was currently engaged in a fierce battle with the dragon, but if the dragon were not present, it would have set fire to the surroundings. That was how brutal of a bastard it was. ¡°The wizard is truly amazing. To be able to cast such magic. . .¡± ¡°. . .Yes. Amazing.¡± Johan, who was about to exin, shut his mouth for Caenerna¡¯s honor. There was no need to point out that she had lost consciousness and her spirit was running wild. The one who emerged victorious from the battle between the spirit and the monster was the monster. As a monster that inherently stored mes inside its body, the dragon was resistant to heat and mes. The dragon believed in its tough, thick scales and charged forward. The fire spirit struck the dragon with all its might, but its strength was insufficient to stop the opponent. The dragon bit its foe with all its might. No sound could be heard, but Johan thought he could hear the spirit¡¯s scream. ¡°!¡± The fire spirit suddenly lost its momentum and changed direction. Johan could read its mind from that single movement. ¡®???????? ???????? Whether it was because it had been badly beaten by the dragon, or because it had suddenly be frightened, the fire spirit no longer wanted to fight the dragon. Instead, it tried to burn the contractor who had summoned it. If the wizard were to disappear, the spirit would be free and able to leave this ce. ¡°You dare!¡± Drawing his Seal Retriever, Johan swung it to cleanly cut down the fire spirit in a single stroke. Sliced by the steel forged long ago, the spirit let out a scream of agony. But perhaps because it was less frightening than the dragon, the fire spirit fiercely spat mes and lunged at Johan. The knights watching were shocked, and they were about to throw their bodies at it. Then, the young duke confronted it in a way that was much more reckless than they had expected. He thrust his Seal Retriever at the charging spirit, then spread his arms wide to tightly grab the spirit. The fire spirit, which had never been caught by a human in all its long life, thrashed in bewilderment. No matter how much armor and treasures protected him, the fire spirit was a living me. Intense heat traveled up his palms and arms. However, Johan didn¡¯t care. The concentration required to finish this now numbed the pain. The spirits dwelling in Johan whispered to him to finish it off. The fire spirit thrashed and struggled, doing everything it could, but it couldn¡¯t ovee Johan¡¯s strength. The fire spirit revealed its intention to surrender as it was gradually overpowered. The mes diminished significantly to the point that it could fit in the palm of Johan¡¯s hand. ¡°Go fight! Either kill it or die with it!¡± Johan harshly treated the fire spirit that had shown its submission. The fire spirit, which was thrown once again, grew in size and pounced on the dragon. Johan didn¡¯t just stand there either. Feeling the rapidly healing wounds on his arms, Johan picked up his spear. ¡°Come forth, Valkalmur! Aim for the dragon¡¯s torso. I will not forgive you if you miss!¡± Valkalmur, who had been hiding after suffering a severe blow, eventually sprang out at Johan¡¯s call. Power filled the spear, then it shot out. The dragon, which was about to strike the fire spirit again, scoffed at the iing spear. It had aimed for the tough lower abdomen covered in scales instead of the vital points that were not covered by scales. There was no reason to defend against something like that. In an instant, an ominous premonition bloomed in the dragon¡¯s memory. It was a premonition that emerged from the wound it had suffered before. ? A tremendous force pierced through the gaps in the scales. Valkalmur let out a cry of victory. The dragon fighting below screamed at the intense pain it felt from below. ¡°Next!¡± Johan called out to the other knights as he threw spears at anything he could reach. The knights, who had been watching nkly, hurriedly gathered spears and brought them to him. The spears held in the duke¡¯s hand tore through the air. Some of them broke in half due to the force he threw them with. But the rest of the spears were embedded in the dragon¡¯s torso. The dragon, which had been enduring while protecting its vital points, writhed and twisted its body. ¡°Throw the grappling hooks! Don¡¯t let it escape!¡± The knights threw ropes with grappling hooks, using the tactic they used when facingrge monsters. The ropes tied to the stakes were pulled tight, hindering the dragon¡¯s movements. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. . . The dragon felt its life being threatened for the first time. Until now, it had only felt amusement or anger, but now, it felt for the first time that it could die. Various poisons and curses spread through its body from the wounds all over its body, tormenting the dragon, while the puny humans in front of it raised their spirits as if they were going to see it through to the end. ? In the end, the dragon¡¯s knees buckled. As its massive body fell sideways, a cloud of dust rose up with a loud noise. The knights thought it was their chance and tried to rush in. ¡°Stab it!¡± ¡°T-The sword. . . The sword won¡¯t go in!¡± However, most of the attacks didn¡¯t work. The dragon instinctively covered its vital point on its neck due to themotion. Even for a dragon, it was a vital point that would be fatal if stabbed. Then, Johan approached. Even in the blurry state where he couldn¡¯t see properly, the dragon recognized Johan and tried to stop him somehow. ©¥? Surprisingly, the human who looked like a monster wasn¡¯t holding a sword. He was holding a giant hammer. Moreover, he wasn¡¯t aiming for the vital point on its neck. The dragon was puzzled, but it was also slightly relieved. In that instant, the dragon felt a shock that shook its skull. The impact from its jaw was so great that its head shook uncontrobly. Once, twice, thrice, four times. . . Before long, the dragon¡¯s vital point that had been covered up was exposed. Johan tossed the Giant yer, dripping with blood, to the side. The dragon¡¯s jaw had been struck so hard that its bones were visible. ¡°In the name of the honorable knights, I shall execute the wicked dragon that set the North aze!¡± Johan mercilessly stabbed the Seal Retriever as he roared. Blood gushed out like a waterfall as the opponent¡¯s windpipe was severed. Johan frowned in annoyance. ¡°Long live Your Highness the duke!!¡± ¡°Long live Your Highness the duke!!!!¡± The knights of the North cheered without realizing it as they saw Johan standing on the dragon. Titles, family, lineage, wealth. . . There was a definite qualification that couldn¡¯t be reced by any of those things, right before their eyes. The qualification that only a knight who severed the dragon¡¯s windpipe and received its blood could dere! ???? ¡°How many died?!¡± The first thing Caenerna said after waking up from her sleep was to ask how many people had died. Johan replied indifferently. ¡°No one died. There were some injured, though.¡± ¡°. . .Wait. Put me down, Your Highness.¡± Caenerna realized that she was being carried by Johan. She felt like her body was floating. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to move your body because the spirit ran wild, right?¡± ¡°Ah. . . Ugh. Ouch.¡± Only after hearing his words did Caenerna groan, feeling a headacheing on. It was a headache worse than what she got after chugging down a barrel of bad alcohol. ¡°I wish you would have told me beforehand if you wanted to puke.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that bad. . . Ugh. No. You did well to calm the spirit down. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve touched magic, so I¡¯ve gotten the hang of it.¡± ¡°. . .??¡± Johan¡¯s subordinate tilted his head. ¡®????????. . . ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??? The world of magic was truly mysterious. No matter how much he thought about it, it was more like. . . ¡°You didn¡¯t have to hurriedly summon the spirit there.¡± ¡°Ugh. . . I apologize, Your Highness. Ugh. Ugh.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trying to hear an apology. . . I¡¯m saying this because I was worried you might get hurt. What good would it have done to kill the dragon if the contractor died?¡± ¡°The knights. . .¡± Caenerna retched. Johan roughly interpreted it as, ¡®???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ??????, ?????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????????, ???? ???? ????????????? ¡°They¡¯re not my knights, so even if a few of them die, what¡¯s the big deal. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates coughed without realizing it. They made fun of and looked down on the knights of the North a little, but their master was beyond their imagination. The knights of the North were so moved that they kept ncing back at them as they walked forward, but if they had heard that, they might have really burst into tears. ¡°S-So. . . You. . . Caught. . . That. . . Thing. . .?¡± ¡°Judging from the way you¡¯re talking, it seems like you caught the dragon? Yes, I did.¡± The subordinates unconsciously eximed in admiration. ¡°Amazing, Your Highness. How did you know?¡± ¡°After fighting together like that, this much isn¡¯t that difficult.¡± ¡°Everyone. . . Be. . . Quiet. . .¡± Caenerna wanted to tell her subordinates to shut up, but her voice wouldn¡¯te out. Johan spoke as if he was worried. ¡°You look very tired, so you should just rest. Stop making a fuss and rest. You can talk to me once you¡¯ve recovered.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s a good idea, wizard.¡± ¡°Should I bring you some alcohol to help you sleep?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea, Your Highness. Why don¡¯t you rub her back? It¡¯ll be quite effective for hangovers.¡± ¡°Hey. Idiots. Does this look like a hangover to you?¡± Caenerna¡¯s head started throbbing even more at the voices of the noisy warriors. Caenerna made up her mind to just rx and rest. The duke¡¯s hand patting her back was strangely warm andfortable, which secretly irritated her. ¡®. . .????????. ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ??????? Wondering why the contracted fire spirit was acting so docile as if it had eaten something wrong, Caenerna fell into thend of slumber. ???? Since it was caught in such a deep ce, they couldn¡¯t bring the entire dragon out. The knights celebrated the day by cutting off parts of the dragon that they could carry. However, there was one thing that they absolutely couldn¡¯t give up. It was the dragon¡¯s head. As the head of the huge and ferocious monster was pulled up with ropes, the gathered workers screamed and cheered. ¡°It¡¯s a real dragon!!!¡± ¡°So it¡¯s true that he caught it. . .!¡± Even the feudal lords of the North who were at the back flinched. In fact, when they first heard the report that it had been caught, not all of the feudal lords believed it. It wasn¡¯t because they suspected Johan, but because the dragon held such a high status. Moreover, the knights¡¯ reports often contained some exaggeration, so there were cases where they imed to have caught something that had escaped or gotten away. That was why they thought, ¡®???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ????????????????,¡¯ but. . . ¡°Long live Your Highness the duke!¡± ¡°L-Long live Your Highness the duke!¡± The political situation of the empire didn¡¯t mean much to the workers and craftsmen working on site. They were genuinely happy at the news that the duke had caught the dragon. They were d that the monster of the North had been caught, and also that they were at the scene of the miracle. The knights also shouted once again at the cheers. Then, the feudal lords of the North had no choice but to show their awareness. They weren¡¯t even vassals, so how humiliating would it be to offer such praise to a feudal lord from outside. . .? ¡°Long live Your Highness the duke!¡± . . .However, even the most skeptical people had to p their hands in the end. The atmosphere was so enthusiastic. No one was immune to this atmosphere., ¡®????¡¯?? ?????? ?????? The heat made the surrounding air re up before the familiar sensation could be recalled. Caenerna¡¯s summoned spirit of fire materialized in the air, inting its form. Then, the surrounding torches were extinguished simultaneously. The fire spirit had devoured the mes in the vicinity. Despite the extinguishing, the underground cavity was brighter than broad daylight. ©¥¡ö! The lump of fire remaining at the dragon¡¯s maw silently disappeared into thin air. The dragon let out an irritated roar as it sucked the fuel forbustion from the depths of its throat. ¡°The wizard is taking down the dragon!¡± ¡°Waaahhhh!¡± The unaware knights cheered as their morale rose. They raised their spears and crossbows to help in any way they could, aiming at the dragon. Most of them bounced off the scales without piercing, but the asional hit found a gap, irritating the dragon. But the most threatening opponent for the dragon was the fire spirit. Even among the same type of spirit, their nature and actions differed depending on the spirit. That was why vicious and despicable spirits were called malevolent spirits, just as their name suggested. In that regard, the fire spirit was a brutal and violent being. And it possessed the power to match its nature. The reason Caenerna, despite not being an unskilled wizard, had failed to control it several times was all due to these reasons. The mes gathered into one, then lunged at the dragon. The dragon fiercely swung its ws to meet the fire spirit head-on. The fight between them was so intense and bloody that even the valiant northern knights couldn¡¯t find an opening to intervene. Once they shed, the surrounding stone statues shattered, and mes erupted one after another, both above and below. ¡®???????????? ?? ???????? ?? Johan halted as he was about to throw his spear. With the two of them fighting all intertwined, he wondered if he really needed to get involved. Even if the fire spirit were to lose, it wouldn¡¯t be bad if the dragon¡¯s stamina was drained like this. ¡°Protect the wizard.¡± Instead, Johan had Caenerna carried to the back. The fact that she had already lost control over the hastily summoned spirit was palpable. The fire spirit was currently engaged in a fierce battle with the dragon, but if the dragon were not present, it would have set fire to the surroundings. That was how brutal of a bastard it was. ¡°The wizard is truly amazing. To be able to cast such magic. . .¡± ¡°. . .Yes. Amazing.¡± Johan, who was about to exin, shut his mouth for Caenerna¡¯s honor. There was no need to point out that she had lost consciousness and her spirit was running wild. The one who emerged victorious from the battle between the spirit and the monster was the monster. As a monster that inherently stored mes inside its body, the dragon was resistant to heat and mes. The dragon believed in its tough, thick scales and charged forward. The fire spirit struck the dragon with all its might, but its strength was insufficient to stop the opponent. The dragon bit its foe with all its might. No sound could be heard, but Johan thought he could hear the spirit¡¯s scream. ¡°!¡± The fire spirit suddenly lost its momentum and changed direction. Johan could read its mind from that single movement. ¡®???????? ???????? Whether it was because it had been badly beaten by the dragon, or because it had suddenly be frightened, the fire spirit no longer wanted to fight the dragon. Instead, it tried to burn the contractor who had summoned it. If the wizard were to disappear, the spirit would be free and able to leave this ce. ¡°You dare!¡± Drawing his Seal Retriever, Johan swung it to cleanly cut down the fire spirit in a single stroke. Sliced by the steel forged long ago, the spirit let out a scream of agony. But perhaps because it was less frightening than the dragon, the fire spirit fiercely spat mes and lunged at Johan. The knights watching were shocked, and they were about to throw their bodies at it. Then, the young duke confronted it in a way that was much more reckless than they had expected. He thrust his Seal Retriever at the charging spirit, then spread his arms wide to tightly grab the spirit. The fire spirit, which had never been caught by a human in all its long life, thrashed in bewilderment. No matter how much armor and treasures protected him, the fire spirit was a living me. Intense heat traveled up his palms and arms. However, Johan didn¡¯t care. The concentration required to finish this now numbed the pain. The spirits dwelling in Johan whispered to him to finish it off. The fire spirit thrashed and struggled, doing everything it could, but it couldn¡¯t ovee Johan¡¯s strength. The fire spirit revealed its intention to surrender as it was gradually overpowered. The mes diminished significantly to the point that it could fit in the palm of Johan¡¯s hand. ¡°Go fight! Either kill it or die with it!¡± Johan harshly treated the fire spirit that had shown its submission. The fire spirit, which was thrown once again, grew in size and pounced on the dragon. Johan didn¡¯t just stand there either. Feeling the rapidly healing wounds on his arms, Johan picked up his spear. ¡°Come forth, Valkalmur! Aim for the dragon¡¯s torso. I will not forgive you if you miss!¡± Valkalmur, who had been hiding after suffering a severe blow, eventually sprang out at Johan¡¯s call. Power filled the spear, then it shot out. The dragon, which was about to strike the fire spirit again, scoffed at the iing spear. It had aimed for the tough lower abdomen covered in scales instead of the vital points that were not covered by scales. There was no reason to defend against something like that. In an instant, an ominous premonition bloomed in the dragon¡¯s memory. It was a premonition that emerged from the wound it had suffered before. ? A tremendous force pierced through the gaps in the scales. Valkalmur let out a cry of victory. The dragon fighting below screamed at the intense pain it felt from below. ¡°Next!¡± Johan called out to the other knights as he threw spears at anything he could reach. The knights, who had been watching nkly, hurriedly gathered spears and brought them to him. The spears held in the duke¡¯s hand tore through the air. Some of them broke in half due to the force he threw them with. But the rest of the spears were embedded in the dragon¡¯s torso. The dragon, which had been enduring while protecting its vital points, writhed and twisted its body. ¡°Throw the grappling hooks! Don¡¯t let it escape!¡± The knights threw ropes with grappling hooks, using the tactic they used when facingrge monsters. The ropes tied to the stakes were pulled tight, hindering the dragon¡¯s movements. ©¥¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. . . The dragon felt its life being threatened for the first time. Until now, it had only felt amusement or anger, but now, it felt for the first time that it could die. Various poisons and curses spread through its body from the wounds all over its body, tormenting the dragon, while the puny humans in front of it raised their spirits as if they were going to see it through to the end. ? In the end, the dragon¡¯s knees buckled. As its massive body fell sideways, a cloud of dust rose up with a loud noise. The knights thought it was their chance and tried to rush in. ¡°Stab it!¡± ¡°T-The sword. . . The sword won¡¯t go in!¡± However, most of the attacks didn¡¯t work. The dragon instinctively covered its vital point on its neck due to themotion. Even for a dragon, it was a vital point that would be fatal if stabbed. Then, Johan approached. Even in the blurry state where he couldn¡¯t see properly, the dragon recognized Johan and tried to stop him somehow. ©¥? Surprisingly, the human who looked like a monster wasn¡¯t holding a sword. He was holding a giant hammer. Moreover, he wasn¡¯t aiming for the vital point on its neck. The dragon was puzzled, but it was also slightly relieved. In that instant, the dragon felt a shock that shook its skull. The impact from its jaw was so great that its head shook uncontrobly. Once, twice, thrice, four times. . . Before long, the dragon¡¯s vital point that had been covered up was exposed. Johan tossed the Giant yer, dripping with blood, to the side. The dragon¡¯s jaw had been struck so hard that its bones were visible. ¡°In the name of the honorable knights, I shall execute the wicked dragon that set the North aze!¡± Johan mercilessly stabbed the Seal Retriever as he roared. Blood gushed out like a waterfall as the opponent¡¯s windpipe was severed. Johan frowned in annoyance. ¡°Long live Your Highness the duke!!¡± ¡°Long live Your Highness the duke!!!!¡± The knights of the North cheered without realizing it as they saw Johan standing on the dragon. Titles, family, lineage, wealth. . . There was a definite qualification that couldn¡¯t be reced by any of those things, right before their eyes. The qualification that only a knight who severed the dragon¡¯s windpipe and received its blood could dere! ???? ¡°How many died?!¡± The first thing Caenerna said after waking up from her sleep was to ask how many people had died. Johan replied indifferently. ¡°No one died. There were some injured, though.¡± ¡°. . .Wait. Put me down, Your Highness.¡± Caenerna realized that she was being carried by Johan. She felt like her body was floating. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to move your body because the spirit ran wild, right?¡± ¡°Ah. . . Ugh. Ouch.¡± Only after hearing his words did Caenerna groan, feeling a headacheing on. It was a headache worse than what she got after chugging down a barrel of bad alcohol. ¡°I wish you would have told me beforehand if you wanted to puke.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that bad. . . Ugh. No. You did well to calm the spirit down. . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve touched magic, so I¡¯ve gotten the hang of it.¡± ¡°. . .??¡± Johan¡¯s subordinate tilted his head. ¡®????????. . . ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??? The world of magic was truly mysterious. No matter how much he thought about it, it was more like. . . ¡°You didn¡¯t have to hurriedly summon the spirit there.¡± ¡°Ugh. . . I apologize, Your Highness. Ugh. Ugh.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trying to hear an apology. . . I¡¯m saying this because I was worried you might get hurt. What good would it have done to kill the dragon if the contractor died?¡± ¡°The knights. . .¡± Caenerna retched. Johan roughly interpreted it as, ¡®???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ??????, ?????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????????, ???? ???? ????????????? ¡°They¡¯re not my knights, so even if a few of them die, what¡¯s the big deal. . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan¡¯s subordinates coughed without realizing it. They made fun of and looked down on the knights of the North a little, but their master was beyond their imagination. The knights of the North were so moved that they kept ncing back at them as they walked forward, but if they had heard that, they might have really burst into tears. ¡°S-So. . . You. . . Caught. . . That. . . Thing. . .?¡± ¡°Judging from the way you¡¯re talking, it seems like you caught the dragon? Yes, I did.¡± The subordinates unconsciously eximed in admiration. ¡°Amazing, Your Highness. How did you know?¡± ¡°After fighting together like that, this much isn¡¯t that difficult.¡± ¡°Everyone. . . Be. . . Quiet. . .¡± Caenerna wanted to tell her subordinates to shut up, but her voice wouldn¡¯te out. Johan spoke as if he was worried. ¡°You look very tired, so you should just rest. Stop making a fuss and rest. You can talk to me once you¡¯ve recovered.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s a good idea, wizard.¡± ¡°Should I bring you some alcohol to help you sleep?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea, Your Highness. Why don¡¯t you rub her back? It¡¯ll be quite effective for hangovers.¡± ¡°Hey. Idiots. Does this look like a hangover to you?¡± Caenerna¡¯s head started throbbing even more at the voices of the noisy warriors. Caenerna made up her mind to just rx and rest. The duke¡¯s hand patting her back was strangely warm andfortable, which secretly irritated her. ¡®. . .????????. ?????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ??????? Wondering why the contracted fire spirit was acting so docile as if it had eaten something wrong, Caenerna fell into thend of slumber. ???? Since it was caught in such a deep ce, they couldn¡¯t bring the entire dragon out. The knights celebrated the day by cutting off parts of the dragon that they could carry. However, there was one thing that they absolutely couldn¡¯t give up. It was the dragon¡¯s head. As the head of the huge and ferocious monster was pulled up with ropes, the gathered workers screamed and cheered. ¡°It¡¯s a real dragon!!!¡± ¡°So it¡¯s true that he caught it. . .!¡± Even the feudal lords of the North who were at the back flinched. In fact, when they first heard the report that it had been caught, not all of the feudal lords believed it. It wasn¡¯t because they suspected Johan, but because the dragon held such a high status. Moreover, the knights¡¯ reports often contained some exaggeration, so there were cases where they imed to have caught something that had escaped or gotten away. That was why they thought, ¡®???? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ????????????¡¯?? ????????????????,¡¯ but. . . ¡°Long live Your Highness the duke!¡± ¡°L-Long live Your Highness the duke!¡± The political situation of the empire didn¡¯t mean much to the workers and craftsmen working on site. They were genuinely happy at the news that the duke had caught the dragon. They were d that the monster of the North had been caught, and also that they were at the scene of the miracle. The knights also shouted once again at the cheers. Then, the feudal lords of the North had no choice but to show their awareness. They weren¡¯t even vassals, so how humiliating would it be to offer such praise to a feudal lord from outside. . .? ¡°Long live Your Highness the duke!¡± . . .However, even the most skeptical people had to p their hands in the end. The atmosphere was so enthusiastic. No one was immune to this atmosphere. Chapter 381: ????????-?????????? (25) Amidst the cheers of the gathered crowd, Johan looked at the northern feudal lords in bewilderment as they waved their hands. ¡°Why are you doing that?¡± His words were polite, but his meaning was closer to, ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?? ?????????????¡¯ Only then did the feudal lords realize what they were doing, and they stopped their hands, their faces reddening. ¡°W-Well. . . We were just carried away by the joyous shouts of themoners, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Really? Well, there are many eyes watching, so it¡¯s best to refrain from doing anything strange. Otherwise, people might misunderstand.¡± ¡°N-No. . . You¡¯re right.¡± It was no use trying to reason with them. The fact that they had been caught up in the excitement and cheered remained unchanged. The feudal lords quietly shut their mouths. Unaware of their embarrassment, the spectators on the other side had already begun gossiping among themselves. ????They didn¡¯t disband immediately after hunting the dragon. Even when a much weaker demon was caught, they held a festival, so it was only natural for a grand celebration to be held now that a dragon had been in. Johan nodded in satisfaction as he watched new tents being set up and piles of wooden barrels being stacked. Acdda spoke up as if he understood. ¡°Festivals are truly enjoyable, aren¡¯t they, Duke? When I was back home, festival time was always the best.¡± It was a much harshernd than the Empire, a prairie with nothing but grasnds, but even so, festivals were joyful. They drank liquor made from mare¡¯s and sheep¡¯s milk and held variouspetitions to determine who was the most skilled warrior. The prizes were simple trinkets with a bit of silver mixed in, but even now, he recalled those times with great fondness. ¡°Hmm? What did you say?¡± ¡°I said that festivals are truly enjoyable.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s what you were talking about.¡± ¡°Were you not enjoying yourself because of the festival?¡± ¡°Well, you see, it¡¯s not my gold that¡¯s being spent; it¡¯s the northern lords¡¯ gold, you see.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Acdda looked at his lord with a speechless expression. Was the knight who slew a dragon just a few days ago really this dense? However, Johan was genuinely enjoying himself. He enjoyed the festival itself, but the fact that it was all on someone else¡¯s dime made it even more enjoyable. The northern lords had participated in the civil war on the emperor¡¯s side, and while they hadn¡¯t managed to y the dragon themselves, they weren¡¯t shameless enough to lose all sense of custom and conscience. If knights from outside had hunted the dragon for them and they still asked for money to hold a festival, they wouldn¡¯t be called northern lords; they¡¯d be called northern beggars. That said, the lords weren¡¯t holding the festival out of obligation. There was a reason why the northern lords, impoverished by the civil war, were so willing to open their purses. This festival tomemorate the dragon hunt would more than appease the northern people¡¯s discontent. The grander the festival, the more satisfied the people would be. It could instantly wash away the grudges they held for being forcibly dragged into the civil war, and the disappointment of not gaining anything from it. The feudal lords couldn¡¯t help but care about northern public opinion. It had been particrly fiercetely. There was sometimes a misunderstanding that the feudal lords viewed serfs not as people but as walking bags of silver that could be squeezed, but as long as they had brains, the feudal lords naturally paid attention to the opinions of their subjects. If they crossed the line, a rebellion could break out, and they would lose their investment. ¡°Are you participating in the jousting tournament, Duke?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pass. Let the northern knightspete among themselves.¡± ¡°U-uh. . . Can I not participate either?¡± Acdda asked with a look of dismay. Johan replied as if it were obvious. ¡°Why would you try to butt in on an event where only the people of the north are enjoying themselves?¡± ¡°B-But. . . Don¡¯t you think people would love to see a foreigner from afar defeating all the knights?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. And tell the others to stay put as well.¡± Johan¡¯s well-trained warriors followed him and would surely defeat the northern knights in the jousting tournament. He could guess what the atmosphere would be like after that without even having to see it. Johan didn¡¯t want to see such a sight. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????, ?????????? Acdda grumbled inwardly. ???? While the festival was in full swing, the main force arrived one after another. They hade with siege weapons in tow, only to be met with the news that the dragon had already been in, leaving many people feeling let down. ¡°Still, it¡¯s a good thing we caught it. If we hadn¡¯t, the north might have be a scorched wastnd.¡± The dwarven engineers who had heard the news responded earnestly. The elf king muttered with a sullen expression. ¡°If only it had held out a little longer. . .¡± The others present pretended not to hear. Johan pointed to the inner tent and said, ¡°Come, the feudal lords are waiting for us.¡± Under thergest tent in the north, every piece of furniture that could be brought in seemed to have been brought in. Even so, the tent didn¡¯t feel empty thanks to its immense size. Ulrike whispered in a small voice, ¡°Aren¡¯t the northerners being a bit too pretentious?¡± ¡°Well, this is theirnd, so I guess it¡¯s fine to indulge them to this extent.¡± Ulrike nodded at Johan¡¯s reply. To be sure, she found it a bit funny when she thought about the rumors she had heard along the way. It has been said that northern lords flocked to Johan as if vassals paying homage to their lord. No matter how desperate the northern lords were, they would never do such a thing. It was a rumor that some fool had started, and if the northern lords heard it, they would surely be hopping mad. But at a time like this, they couldn¡¯t punish the ones spreading the rumors and dampen the mood. . . ¡°Count Visalfurk approaches!¡± fsethan, the emperor¡¯s eldest son, entered the tent. fsethan was also a noble who had rushed over upon hearing the news of the dragon hunt. Having inherited the fiefdom of the emperor, fsethan respectfully bowed his head to Johan. Johan considered the two of them to be people they couldmunicate with, as Johan had once saved fsethan¡¯s life when he was on the verge of death. They were both moderates who didn¡¯t particrly enjoy fighting. Of course, one of them didn¡¯t look that way on the surface. . . fsethan began tovishly praise the foreigners with a brief greeting. As he recited each of their minor achievements from years ago, Johan and Ulrike almost yawned without realizing it. In contrast, Iselia and the elf king listened with great interest, their ears perked up. Elves had a talent for enjoying even the most trivial of achievements as long as they were their own. ¡°Now, let us offer a toast to the honorable guests who have graced the north with their presence!¡± After a round of apuse, fsethan looked at Biorarn. Despite not being on the best of terms with his younger brother, fsethan spoke with sincerity. ¡°Sir Biorarn. I have heard that you also participated in the dragon hunt and distinguished yourself. As a lord of the north, I am grateful to you. I shall duly reward you in ordance with custom.¡± Originally, he had no intention of giving even a small fiefdom to his brother, with whom he didn¡¯t get along, but his mind had changed after hearing the story of the dragon hunt. His brother deserved to be rewarded as a knight, and fsethan had a duty as the head of the family to reward him. ¡°W-Well. . .¡± ¡°??¡± fsethan had expected Biorarn to be more pleased. As a knight, receiving a fiefdom was an enormous boon. However, Biorarn only hesitated, ncing at the duke. ¡°Considering your aplishments, it is only right that you be celebrated.¡± ¡°T-Thank you!¡± Only then did Biorarn seem to rx, genuinely delighted. fsethan suddenly wondered if Biorarn had perhaps suffered a head injury. Otherwise, there was no reason for him to be acting so strangely. It wasn¡¯t like it was unheard of for knights to ignore orders and charge in recklessly. . . ¡°Wait a moment. Where is that Volgarek bas. . . No, Sir Volgarek?¡± ¡°He isid up with serious injuries.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± A smile spread across fsethan¡¯s lips. It was an instinctive smile. fsethan soon realized this and gave an awkward cough. ¡°Ahem. That is unfortunate. Sir Volgarek shall also be rewarded in ordance with custom. . .¡± ¡°Sir Volgarek didn¡¯t really do anything. He didn¡¯t even participate in the subjugation.¡± ¡°His scouting didn¡¯t seem to be of much help either.¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± fsethan was taken aback. He wasn¡¯t taken aback by the duke¡¯s cold evaluation. As a foreigner, the duke was free to say whatever he wanted. What fsethan was taken aback by was the fact that the other northern lords were looking away. ¡®????????¡¯???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? Unless he hadmitted some major blunder, there was no way the lords would be this cold to him. They weren¡¯t even giving him a piece of their ownnd. This was an opportunity to curry favor with someone else¡¯snd. ¡°Then let us simply pass over Sir Volgarek.¡± fsethan readily agreed. He had no intention of forcefully givingnd to Volgarek, whom he disliked. He was even tempted to visit his tent and mock him. ¡°Your Excellency Count!¡± ¡°?¡± One of the northern lords stood up. It was clear at a nce that he had drunk the most, as he waspletely flushed. ¡°Do you have something to say regarding Sir Volgarek?¡± ¡°That. . . No! That is. . . Ack!¡± Instead of speaking, the northern lord pounded his chest. The others burst intoughter, as there were quite a few who were drunk. It was only natural for there to be at least one such person at a lively gathering. ¡°I. . . I can¡¯t breathe. . .¡± ? The northern lord copsed forward. Theughter of the northerners grew louder. Suetlg, who had been silent, spoke up, realizing that something was amiss. ¡°Wait, something¡¯s wrong!¡± ¡°Of course there is, wizard! This is how we drink in the north!¡± ¡°Hahahahahaha!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg was enraged by the northerners¡¯ uncooperativeness. Having spent so long speaking with the duke, who was exceptionally easy tomunicate with, he had forgotten that nobles were originally like this. ¡°Hear me out, lords!¡± ¡°Very well, wizard. If you can finish this cup, we shall all listen to you! Now, fill the wizard¡¯s cup to the brim!¡± ? Johan mmed his fist on the table. With a loud crack, the thick table was smashed to pieces, and everything on it fell to the floor. The atmosphere instantly turned chilly. Theughing lords gasped and held their breath. ¡°Listen up.¡± ¡°. . .Yes!¡± ¡°He did not copse from drinking!¡± Suetlg shouted as he ced a hand on the fallen lord¡¯s neck. It was clear that he hadn¡¯t copsed from drinking. ¡°What in the. . . Ugh.¡± ¡°Urgh. . .?¡± The northern lords began to copse one after another. The lords from afar were bewildered by the sudden change of events and looked at each other. ¡®?????? ?????? ???????? ????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ??? Ulrike looked at Johan with wavering eyes. Fortunately, Johan was fine. She then looked at the elf king. He was also fine, despite her not being particrly worried about him. fsethan said with a trembling voice, ¡°W-What is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s clearly the dragon¡¯s curse!!¡± One of the servants screamed. He had heard in old tales that the dragon¡¯s curse was so powerful that it could even drag its killer down to the afterlife. ¡°. . .?¡± As soon as he heard this, Johan realized that something was logically wrong. Johan was the one who had done the most stabbing and beating, killing the dragon, yet he was perfectly fine. Furthermore, the dragon hadn¡¯t uttered any curses or the like when it died. ¡°It¡¯s the dragon¡¯s curse!! The dragon¡¯s curse!!¡± ¡°Aaaaargh!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it just an illness?¡± Johan said to Suetlg. Suetlg, who had been seriously checking the condition of the lords, nodded. ¡°I think so too. Judging from the fact that quite a few people are fine, it doesn¡¯t seem to be contagious. . . It looks like some kind of illness caused by eating or drinking something bad.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief, at least.¡± Johan opened his mouth to calm the other northerners. ¡°Everyone, calm down. This isn¡¯t the dragon¡¯s curse, it¡¯s just an illness.¡± ¡°I-Is that so!¡± ¡°R-Really. It¡¯sforting to hear you say that, Your Highness the Duke.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan sensed something off in the reactions of the others. They didn¡¯t seem to be genuinely epting what he said, but rather answering in a way that suggested they were simply acknowledging it out of fear of Johan. ¡°It¡¯s really not the dragon¡¯s curse. . .¡± ¡°I. . . I think so too, Your Excellency. I trust it is not impolite of me to take my leave now, Your Highness.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡±, Amidst the cheers of the gathered crowd, Johan looked at the northern feudal lords in bewilderment as they waved their hands. ¡°Why are you doing that?¡± His words were polite, but his meaning was closer to, ¡®???????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?? ?????????????¡¯ Only then did the feudal lords realize what they were doing, and they stopped their hands, their faces reddening. ¡°W-Well. . . We were just carried away by the joyous shouts of themoners, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Really? Well, there are many eyes watching, so it¡¯s best to refrain from doing anything strange. Otherwise, people might misunderstand.¡± ¡°N-No. . . You¡¯re right.¡± It was no use trying to reason with them. The fact that they had been caught up in the excitement and cheered remained unchanged. The feudal lords quietly shut their mouths. Unaware of their embarrassment, the spectators on the other side had already begun gossiping among themselves. ???? They didn¡¯t disband immediately after hunting the dragon. Even when a much weaker demon was caught, they held a festival, so it was only natural for a grand celebration to be held now that a dragon had been in. Johan nodded in satisfaction as he watched new tents being set up and piles of wooden barrels being stacked. Acdda spoke up as if he understood. ¡°Festivals are truly enjoyable, aren¡¯t they, Duke? When I was back home, festival time was always the best.¡± It was a much harshernd than the Empire, a prairie with nothing but grasnds, but even so, festivals were joyful. They drank liquor made from mare¡¯s and sheep¡¯s milk and held variouspetitions to determine who was the most skilled warrior. The prizes were simple trinkets with a bit of silver mixed in, but even now, he recalled those times with great fondness. ¡°Hmm? What did you say?¡± ¡°I said that festivals are truly enjoyable.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s what you were talking about.¡± ¡°Were you not enjoying yourself because of the festival?¡± ¡°Well, you see, it¡¯s not my gold that¡¯s being spent; it¡¯s the northern lords¡¯ gold, you see.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Acdda looked at his lord with a speechless expression. Was the knight who slew a dragon just a few days ago really this dense? However, Johan was genuinely enjoying himself. He enjoyed the festival itself, but the fact that it was all on someone else¡¯s dime made it even more enjoyable. The northern lords had participated in the civil war on the emperor¡¯s side, and while they hadn¡¯t managed to y the dragon themselves, they weren¡¯t shameless enough to lose all sense of custom and conscience. If knights from outside had hunted the dragon for them and they still asked for money to hold a festival, they wouldn¡¯t be called northern lords; they¡¯d be called northern beggars. That said, the lords weren¡¯t holding the festival out of obligation. There was a reason why the northern lords, impoverished by the civil war, were so willing to open their purses. This festival tomemorate the dragon hunt would more than appease the northern people¡¯s discontent. The grander the festival, the more satisfied the people would be. It could instantly wash away the grudges they held for being forcibly dragged into the civil war, and the disappointment of not gaining anything from it. The feudal lords couldn¡¯t help but care about northern public opinion. It had been particrly fiercetely. There was sometimes a misunderstanding that the feudal lords viewed serfs not as people but as walking bags of silver that could be squeezed, but as long as they had brains, the feudal lords naturally paid attention to the opinions of their subjects. If they crossed the line, a rebellion could break out, and they would lose their investment. ¡°Are you participating in the jousting tournament, Duke?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pass. Let the northern knightspete among themselves.¡± ¡°U-uh. . . Can I not participate either?¡± Acdda asked with a look of dismay. Johan replied as if it were obvious. ¡°Why would you try to butt in on an event where only the people of the north are enjoying themselves?¡± ¡°B-But. . . Don¡¯t you think people would love to see a foreigner from afar defeating all the knights?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. And tell the others to stay put as well.¡± Johan¡¯s well-trained warriors followed him and would surely defeat the northern knights in the jousting tournament. He could guess what the atmosphere would be like after that without even having to see it. Johan didn¡¯t want to see such a sight. ¡®?????? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????, ?????????? Acdda grumbled inwardly. ???? While the festival was in full swing, the main force arrived one after another. They hade with siege weapons in tow, only to be met with the news that the dragon had already been in, leaving many people feeling let down. ¡°Still, it¡¯s a good thing we caught it. If we hadn¡¯t, the north might have be a scorched wastnd.¡± The dwarven engineers who had heard the news responded earnestly. The elf king muttered with a sullen expression. ¡°If only it had held out a little longer. . .¡± The others present pretended not to hear. Johan pointed to the inner tent and said, ¡°Come, the feudal lords are waiting for us.¡± Under thergest tent in the north, every piece of furniture that could be brought in seemed to have been brought in. Even so, the tent didn¡¯t feel empty thanks to its immense size. Ulrike whispered in a small voice, ¡°Aren¡¯t the northerners being a bit too pretentious?¡± ¡°Well, this is theirnd, so I guess it¡¯s fine to indulge them to this extent.¡± Ulrike nodded at Johan¡¯s reply. To be sure, she found it a bit funny when she thought about the rumors she had heard along the way. It has been said that northern lords flocked to Johan as if vassals paying homage to their lord. No matter how desperate the northern lords were, they would never do such a thing. It was a rumor that some fool had started, and if the northern lords heard it, they would surely be hopping mad. But at a time like this, they couldn¡¯t punish the ones spreading the rumors and dampen the mood. . . ¡°Count Visalfurk approaches!¡± fsethan, the emperor¡¯s eldest son, entered the tent. fsethan was also a noble who had rushed over upon hearing the news of the dragon hunt. Having inherited the fiefdom of the emperor, fsethan respectfully bowed his head to Johan. Johan considered the two of them to be people they couldmunicate with, as Johan had once saved fsethan¡¯s life when he was on the verge of death. They were both moderates who didn¡¯t particrly enjoy fighting. Of course, one of them didn¡¯t look that way on the surface. . . fsethan began tovishly praise the foreigners with a brief greeting. As he recited each of their minor achievements from years ago, Johan and Ulrike almost yawned without realizing it. In contrast, Iselia and the elf king listened with great interest, their ears perked up. Elves had a talent for enjoying even the most trivial of achievements as long as they were their own. ¡°Now, let us offer a toast to the honorable guests who have graced the north with their presence!¡± After a round of apuse, fsethan looked at Biorarn. Despite not being on the best of terms with his younger brother, fsethan spoke with sincerity. ¡°Sir Biorarn. I have heard that you also participated in the dragon hunt and distinguished yourself. As a lord of the north, I am grateful to you. I shall duly reward you in ordance with custom.¡± Originally, he had no intention of giving even a small fiefdom to his brother, with whom he didn¡¯t get along, but his mind had changed after hearing the story of the dragon hunt. His brother deserved to be rewarded as a knight, and fsethan had a duty as the head of the family to reward him. ¡°W-Well. . .¡± ¡°??¡± fsethan had expected Biorarn to be more pleased. As a knight, receiving a fiefdom was an enormous boon. However, Biorarn only hesitated, ncing at the duke. ¡°Considering your aplishments, it is only right that you be celebrated.¡± ¡°T-Thank you!¡± Only then did Biorarn seem to rx, genuinely delighted. fsethan suddenly wondered if Biorarn had perhaps suffered a head injury. Otherwise, there was no reason for him to be acting so strangely. It wasn¡¯t like it was unheard of for knights to ignore orders and charge in recklessly. . . ¡°Wait a moment. Where is that Volgarek bas. . . No, Sir Volgarek?¡± ¡°He isid up with serious injuries.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± A smile spread across fsethan¡¯s lips. It was an instinctive smile. fsethan soon realized this and gave an awkward cough. ¡°Ahem. That is unfortunate. Sir Volgarek shall also be rewarded in ordance with custom. . .¡± ¡°Sir Volgarek didn¡¯t really do anything. He didn¡¯t even participate in the subjugation.¡± ¡°His scouting didn¡¯t seem to be of much help either.¡± ¡°. . .?!¡± fsethan was taken aback. He wasn¡¯t taken aback by the duke¡¯s cold evaluation. As a foreigner, the duke was free to say whatever he wanted. What fsethan was taken aback by was the fact that the other northern lords were looking away. ¡®????????¡¯???? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? Unless he hadmitted some major blunder, there was no way the lords would be this cold to him. They weren¡¯t even giving him a piece of their ownnd. This was an opportunity to curry favor with someone else¡¯snd. ¡°Then let us simply pass over Sir Volgarek.¡± fsethan readily agreed. He had no intention of forcefully givingnd to Volgarek, whom he disliked. He was even tempted to visit his tent and mock him. ¡°Your Excellency Count!¡± ¡°?¡± One of the northern lords stood up. It was clear at a nce that he had drunk the most, as he waspletely flushed. ¡°Do you have something to say regarding Sir Volgarek?¡± ¡°That. . . No! That is. . . Ack!¡± Instead of speaking, the northern lord pounded his chest. The others burst intoughter, as there were quite a few who were drunk. It was only natural for there to be at least one such person at a lively gathering. ¡°I. . . I can¡¯t breathe. . .¡± ? The northern lord copsed forward. Theughter of the northerners grew louder. Suetlg, who had been silent, spoke up, realizing that something was amiss. ¡°Wait, something¡¯s wrong!¡± ¡°Of course there is, wizard! This is how we drink in the north!¡± ¡°Hahahahahaha!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg was enraged by the northerners¡¯ uncooperativeness. Having spent so long speaking with the duke, who was exceptionally easy tomunicate with, he had forgotten that nobles were originally like this. ¡°Hear me out, lords!¡± ¡°Very well, wizard. If you can finish this cup, we shall all listen to you! Now, fill the wizard¡¯s cup to the brim!¡± ? Johan mmed his fist on the table. With a loud crack, the thick table was smashed to pieces, and everything on it fell to the floor. The atmosphere instantly turned chilly. Theughing lords gasped and held their breath. ¡°Listen up.¡± ¡°. . .Yes!¡± ¡°He did not copse from drinking!¡± Suetlg shouted as he ced a hand on the fallen lord¡¯s neck. It was clear that he hadn¡¯t copsed from drinking. ¡°What in the. . . Ugh.¡± ¡°Urgh. . .?¡± The northern lords began to copse one after another. The lords from afar were bewildered by the sudden change of events and looked at each other. ¡®?????? ?????? ???????? ????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ??? Ulrike looked at Johan with wavering eyes. Fortunately, Johan was fine. She then looked at the elf king. He was also fine, despite her not being particrly worried about him. fsethan said with a trembling voice, ¡°W-What is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s clearly the dragon¡¯s curse!!¡± One of the servants screamed. He had heard in old tales that the dragon¡¯s curse was so powerful that it could even drag its killer down to the afterlife. ¡°. . .?¡± As soon as he heard this, Johan realized that something was logically wrong. Johan was the one who had done the most stabbing and beating, killing the dragon, yet he was perfectly fine. Furthermore, the dragon hadn¡¯t uttered any curses or the like when it died. ¡°It¡¯s the dragon¡¯s curse!! The dragon¡¯s curse!!¡± ¡°Aaaaargh!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it just an illness?¡± Johan said to Suetlg. Suetlg, who had been seriously checking the condition of the lords, nodded. ¡°I think so too. Judging from the fact that quite a few people are fine, it doesn¡¯t seem to be contagious. . . It looks like some kind of illness caused by eating or drinking something bad.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief, at least.¡± Johan opened his mouth to calm the other northerners. ¡°Everyone, calm down. This isn¡¯t the dragon¡¯s curse, it¡¯s just an illness.¡± ¡°I-Is that so!¡± ¡°R-Really. It¡¯sforting to hear you say that, Your Highness the Duke.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan sensed something off in the reactions of the others. They didn¡¯t seem to be genuinely epting what he said, but rather answering in a way that suggested they were simply acknowledging it out of fear of Johan. ¡°It¡¯s really not the dragon¡¯s curse. . .¡± ¡°I. . . I think so too, Your Excellency. I trust it is not impolite of me to take my leave now, Your Highness.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Chapter 382: ????????-?????????? (26) Johan realized that persuasion would be impossible. How much more could he try to persuade here? ¡®???? ?? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ????????, ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????????? It¡¯s not like there were no wizards in the north, and the nobles would have several people around them who could provide advice. If he left them alone to think for themselves, they would surely regain theirposure. ¡°There are many who have copsed, so let¡¯s end the banquet here. Go and get some rest.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Johan suddenly felt uneasy as the feudal lords disregarded the customs and hastily got up and left. ¡®. . .?????????? ???? ????, ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ¡°There are strange rumors going around.¡±¡°. . . . . .¡± He knew what rumors were being spread even without asking. The rumors of the evil dragon cursing them as it was dying. The rumors spread quickly due to therge number of people who gathered for the festival. The people mourned the brave northern lords. Giving up their lives to y the ferocious dragon. Johan raised a reasonable doubt. ¡°Are they spreading these rumors to y the victim?¡± It was something Johan would do if he was a northern lord. They could pin the me on the outsiders, the foreigners, and no longer had to bow their heads. If they just let this go, wouldn¡¯t they stand out? There was already a ridiculous rumor going around that the northern lords were so moved that they swore fealty. The rumor that the northern lords had received the dragon¡¯s curse by risking their lives was quite effective in garnering sympathy. No matter how greedy the lords were, public opinion could be swayed by such rumors. If they were to suffer for a while and then get up, they could call it a miracle. ¡°That sounds usible. . . but anyone that clever wouldn¡¯t be in the emperor¡¯s faction. The northern lords aren¡¯t as clever as dukes.¡± Ulrike shook her head. That was a bold and cunning trick that someone like Countess Abner would pull. The northern lords who valued their pride and dignity couldn¡¯t do something like that. ¡°Suetlg-nim. Please try to persuade the lords to get some proper treatment. We can¡¯t just leave them like this. They might cause trouble if they die.¡± Johan had initially thought that the northern lords would be able to make rational judgments once they regained theirposure. However, that was an overestimation of the lords. ? The northern lords genuinely believed they were cursed by the dragon. A few of them had already sent for a bishop to leave their will after bribing a servant or two. ¡®????????¡¯???? ???????????? ???? Johan couldn¡¯t believe it. Judging from how the lords who had gathered first to discuss countermeasures fell one after another, it was clear that they had consumed contaminated food or water. What was this nonsense about a dragon¡¯s curse? They needed to get a proper diagnosis and treatment, or they might actually die. It didn¡¯t really matter to Johan whether the lords lived or died, but it could lead to unnecessary gossipter on. Besides, Johan and the north had a history of bad blood. The cleanest way was to heal them first and let them do whatever they wanted after that. ¡°Hmm. There are a few problems.¡± Suetlg spoke with a troubled expression. Judging from his unusually troubled expression, he seemed to be in a real dilemma. ¡°First of all, the problem is that they firmly believe it¡¯s the dragon¡¯s curse. They think they¡¯re going to die, so they¡¯ll develop illnesses that didn¡¯t exist before.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Everyone present held their heads at the wizard¡¯s words. They were already feeling a headacheing on. ¡°Aren¡¯t there other wizards or priests in the north? Can¡¯t they persuade them?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s the next problem. They don¡¯t all agree.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan closed his eyes. He felt the same frustration he had felt when he led the lords of the penins andmanded the army in the past. ¡®??¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ¡°Wizards don¡¯t agree on everything. There are those who are skilled and those who aren¡¯t. And not many of them saw the whole thing from the beginning. It¡¯s not strange for the lords to think they got sick from the dragon¡¯s curse. I would have thought the same if I had only heard the story.¡± The situation was too coincidental. Wizards believed in coincidences and fate. It was natural to suspect a curse if they fell ill after killing a dragon. ¡°Lastly, the problem is that even I don¡¯t know what this disease is. If it¡¯s a local disease of the north, the people of the north would know best. I have no way of knowing.¡± Even Suetlg didn¡¯t know everything. If it was a disease from the north, the wizards of the north would surely know. Ulrike, who had been listening, stopped tapping her fingers on the table. ¡°Wait a minute. What about Caenerna-gong?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not feeling well and is still resting.¡± ¡°Surely not the dragon¡¯s cu. . . No. What nonsense am I talking about.¡± Ulrike gave a wry smile. It was a careless remark, but it was understandable that even Ulrike would be scared if she said something like that. ¡°I think it¡¯s best to persuade the lords first.¡± Iselia said, looking at Johan. ¡°If you speak to them sincerely, won¡¯t the lords listen?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll listen, but they¡¯ll hear it in a different way. . .¡± Judging from how scared they werest time, it was more likely to be perceived as a threat rather than persuasion. The Johan that Iselia saw and the Johan that the northern lords saw were different. ¡°Your Highness. A servant of a baron hase to see you.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan was puzzled when he heard that one of the northern lords had sent a servant. What is it? ¡®?? ???????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ¡°My Lord!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s something that shouldn¡¯t be heard by others, so I humbly ask for a private audience.¡± Johan¡¯s expectations rose slightly at the servant¡¯s words. It was clear that the other northern lords would notice if they heard, so he must havee to ask for treatment in private. ¡°Okay. Speak freely.¡± ¡°Thank you, my Lord!¡± The baron¡¯s servant was touched by Johan¡¯s attitude. The rumors of his benevolence were not unfounded. ¡°I would like to purchase dragon¡¯s blood. Please sell it to me.¡± ¡°. . .??¡± ???? It was said that dragon¡¯s blood was the best cure for a dragon¡¯s curse. Even Suetlg agreed with this, as long as it was really a dragon¡¯s curse. The lords who were dying (or at least thought they were) recalled that the knights who hunted the dragon had taken various parts of the dragon¡¯s body as spoils. Most of the knights had taken scales or bone fragments, but the men from the east among Johan¡¯s men had collected some blood in a leather pouch. It was to give to the wizard and receive a reward. The lords had somehow heard about this and sent their servants to Johan. ¡°. . .Even if you use dragon¡¯s blood, it won¡¯t improve much, and we don¡¯t have that much dragon¡¯s blood anyway.¡± ¡°It was really just a small amount. We used it all up right away because it would have rotted if we left it alone.¡± Suetlg also seemed troubled. He wished he had kept some if he had known this would happen. ¡°If we go back down, the blood will have already rotted. . .¡± Johan, who had been pondering, pped his knee. ¡°I have a good idea.¡± ¡°Did you keep some of the blood separately?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just use pig¡¯s blood. How would the lords know if it¡¯s dragon¡¯s blood or pig¡¯s blood?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg was shocked. ¡®???? ???????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?? ?????????? When he arrivedte with his troops, he had clearly seen something like a halo behind Johan, even though they had known each other for a long time. Not only Suetlg, but the elf king and Lady Ulrike had also said they had simr experiences. Hunting a dragon was a great feat. Something that only a saint from an old tale could do. It was such a great feat that Suetlg felt a sense of distance from him. But judging from what he was saying now, he was the usual duke. Suetlg nodded with a meaningful expression. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± ¡°It seemed like it took you a while just now. Don¡¯t tell me you thought I was trying to swindle you?¡± ¡°W. . . What are you talking about?¡± ¡°From the way you¡¯re talking, it really seems like you thought that. .?¡± Johan looked at Suetlg suspiciously when he panicked after joking. In any case, with the n decided, the two wizards began concocting the fake blood. They couldn¡¯t use pig¡¯s blood as it was. The northern wizards might notice something strange, even though the lords were groaning in pain. ¡°Let¡¯s add some leaves of the poisonous lily. The smell is too clean right now.¡± ¡°Dragon¡¯s blood was a bit more viscous.¡± ¡°How did you. . . Ah. I see.¡± Suetlg was once again impressed. How many people on the continent could describe dragon¡¯s blood so vividly? ¡°Should we add some tar to make it sticky?¡± ¡°. . .Wait. The lords might have to drink it, so let¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Ah. Right.¡± The two of them worked hard to make fake blood. It was fake blood made ording to Johan¡¯s memory, but it turned out quite well. ¡°If you pretend to use this, the lords won¡¯t have any more useless thoughts. By the way, have you figured out what disease it is?¡± ¡°I asked around and the northern wizards said they had a few guesses. We should call them and ask.¡± ¡°. . .Wait. If they have a guess, why aren¡¯t they treating it?¡± ¡°Well, they think they need to cure the dragon¡¯s curse first.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan held back. If this was Johan¡¯s fiefdom and those wizards were wizards who received Johan¡¯s silver, they would have been whipped. ???? Wizard Offgarden was the most prestigious wizard among the northern wizards gathered at the camp. He had a lot of weight and trust among the lords. ¡°His Highness the Duke is calling for you.¡± ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll go now.¡± Offgarden stood up and strode forward. The mercenaries were slightly impressed when they saw Offgarden, who had a sturdy appearance like a warrior. He looked more like a savage than a wizard. ¡®?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ¡°It seems His Highness the Duke wants to hear Offgarden¡¯s advice.¡± ¡°I guess so. Unfortunately, this curse will not be easy to lift.¡± Offgarden had some guesses about the disease that the lords had contracted. However, Johan¡¯s current goal was not to cure the disease. As long as they had the dragon¡¯s curse, curing the disease would only lead to another disease. If it was a disease that they could endure like this, it was better than if a more serious disease, perhaps even a gue, broke out. . . .Offgarden made this argument persuasively. As expected of an outstanding wizard from the north, Offgarden¡¯s words carried weight. ¡°I heard you. Offgarden-gong. I give you an order. Cure the disease, regardless of the dragon¡¯s curse or whatever.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Offgarden was taken aback. The duke had brushed him off so cleanly. It wasn¡¯t the snub that was shocking, but the fact that he couldn¡¯tmunicate like this. He had rarely failed tomunicate since bing a wizard. ¡°Your Highness. The dragon¡¯s curse. . .¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the dragon¡¯s blood. Suetlg-nim will lift the curse once you cure the disease.¡± ¡°!¡± Offgarden was surprised to hear that he had dragon¡¯s blood. Moreover, he knew how to use it to lift the curse. He was indeed worthy of being called a philosopher of the Ipa?l River. ¡°You are brilliant!¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s quite thepliment.¡± Suetlg was modest. Offgarden thought it was because of his humility, but in fact, there was a different reason behind it. ¡°Can I check the dragon¡¯s blood once?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Offgarden stepped forward. In order to persuade the lords, he had to check the dragon¡¯s blood himself. A peculiar stench rose from the dark red blood sloshing in the jar. ¡°. . .?¡± Offgarden felt something was strange. No matter how he looked at it, it didn¡¯t seem like dragon¡¯s blood. Of course, Offgarden had never seen dragon¡¯s blood in his life. However, he had read many documents and stories describing what dragon¡¯s blood was like. This is more like. . . ¡®?????? ???????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ????? Offgarden tilted his head in iprehension. Of course, he couldn¡¯t openly ask, ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????????¡¯ because of the duke¡¯s status and reputation, but he had to check and take responsibility since the lords had called him. ¡°Your Highness. May I ask you something. . . Huh.¡± Offgarden, who was speaking, stopped. The duke was suddenly standing right behind him. Johan grabbed Offgarden¡¯s shoulder with one hand and said, ¡°What are you curious about? Tell me. What are you curious about?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡±, Johan realized that persuasion would be impossible. How much more could he try to persuade here? ¡®???? ?? ???????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ????????, ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????????? It¡¯s not like there were no wizards in the north, and the nobles would have several people around them who could provide advice. If he left them alone to think for themselves, they would surely regain theirposure. ¡°There are many who have copsed, so let¡¯s end the banquet here. Go and get some rest.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Johan suddenly felt uneasy as the feudal lords disregarded the customs and hastily got up and left. ¡®. . .?????????? ???? ????, ???????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ¡°There are strange rumors going around.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± He knew what rumors were being spread even without asking. The rumors of the evil dragon cursing them as it was dying. The rumors spread quickly due to therge number of people who gathered for the festival. The people mourned the brave northern lords. Giving up their lives to y the ferocious dragon. Johan raised a reasonable doubt. ¡°Are they spreading these rumors to y the victim?¡± It was something Johan would do if he was a northern lord. They could pin the me on the outsiders, the foreigners, and no longer had to bow their heads. If they just let this go, wouldn¡¯t they stand out? There was already a ridiculous rumor going around that the northern lords were so moved that they swore fealty. The rumor that the northern lords had received the dragon¡¯s curse by risking their lives was quite effective in garnering sympathy. No matter how greedy the lords were, public opinion could be swayed by such rumors. If they were to suffer for a while and then get up, they could call it a miracle. ¡°That sounds usible. . . but anyone that clever wouldn¡¯t be in the emperor¡¯s faction. The northern lords aren¡¯t as clever as dukes.¡± Ulrike shook her head. That was a bold and cunning trick that someone like Countess Abner would pull. The northern lords who valued their pride and dignity couldn¡¯t do something like that. ¡°Suetlg-nim. Please try to persuade the lords to get some proper treatment. We can¡¯t just leave them like this. They might cause trouble if they die.¡± Johan had initially thought that the northern lords would be able to make rational judgments once they regained theirposure. However, that was an overestimation of the lords. The northern lords genuinely believed they were cursed by the dragon. A few of them had already sent for a bishop to leave their will after bribing a servant or two. ¡®????????¡¯???? ???????????? ???? Johan couldn¡¯t believe it. Judging from how the lords who had gathered first to discuss countermeasures fell one after another, it was clear that they had consumed contaminated food or water. What was this nonsense about a dragon¡¯s curse? They needed to get a proper diagnosis and treatment, or they might actually die. It didn¡¯t really matter to Johan whether the lords lived or died, but it could lead to unnecessary gossipter on. Besides, Johan and the north had a history of bad blood. The cleanest way was to heal them first and let them do whatever they wanted after that. ¡°Hmm. There are a few problems.¡± Suetlg spoke with a troubled expression. Judging from his unusually troubled expression, he seemed to be in a real dilemma. ¡°First of all, the problem is that they firmly believe it¡¯s the dragon¡¯s curse. They think they¡¯re going to die, so they¡¯ll develop illnesses that didn¡¯t exist before.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Everyone present held their heads at the wizard¡¯s words. They were already feeling a headacheing on. ¡°Aren¡¯t there other wizards or priests in the north? Can¡¯t they persuade them?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s the next problem. They don¡¯t all agree.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan closed his eyes. He felt the same frustration he had felt when he led the lords of the penins andmanded the army in the past. ¡®??¡¯?? ?????????? ???? ¡°Wizards don¡¯t agree on everything. There are those who are skilled and those who aren¡¯t. And not many of them saw the whole thing from the beginning. It¡¯s not strange for the lords to think they got sick from the dragon¡¯s curse. I would have thought the same if I had only heard the story.¡± The situation was too coincidental. Wizards believed in coincidences and fate. It was natural to suspect a curse if they fell ill after killing a dragon. ¡°Lastly, the problem is that even I don¡¯t know what this disease is. If it¡¯s a local disease of the north, the people of the north would know best. I have no way of knowing.¡± Even Suetlg didn¡¯t know everything. If it was a disease from the north, the wizards of the north would surely know. Ulrike, who had been listening, stopped tapping her fingers on the table. ¡°Wait a minute. What about Caenerna-gong?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not feeling well and is still resting.¡± ¡°Surely not the dragon¡¯s cu. . . No. What nonsense am I talking about.¡± Ulrike gave a wry smile. It was a careless remark, but it was understandable that even Ulrike would be scared if she said something like that. ¡°I think it¡¯s best to persuade the lords first.¡± Iselia said, looking at Johan. ¡°If you speak to them sincerely, won¡¯t the lords listen?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll listen, but they¡¯ll hear it in a different way. . .¡± Judging from how scared they werest time, it was more likely to be perceived as a threat rather than persuasion. The Johan that Iselia saw and the Johan that the northern lords saw were different. ¡°Your Highness. A servant of a baron hase to see you.¡± ¡°?¡± Johan was puzzled when he heard that one of the northern lords had sent a servant. What is it? ¡®?? ???????? ????¡¯?? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????¡¯?? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ¡°My Lord!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°. . .It¡¯s something that shouldn¡¯t be heard by others, so I humbly ask for a private audience.¡± Johan¡¯s expectations rose slightly at the servant¡¯s words. It was clear that the other northern lords would notice if they heard, so he must havee to ask for treatment in private. ¡°Okay. Speak freely.¡± ¡°Thank you, my Lord!¡± The baron¡¯s servant was touched by Johan¡¯s attitude. The rumors of his benevolence were not unfounded. ¡°I would like to purchase dragon¡¯s blood. Please sell it to me.¡± ¡°. . .??¡± ???? It was said that dragon¡¯s blood was the best cure for a dragon¡¯s curse. Even Suetlg agreed with this, as long as it was really a dragon¡¯s curse. The lords who were dying (or at least thought they were) recalled that the knights who hunted the dragon had taken various parts of the dragon¡¯s body as spoils. Most of the knights had taken scales or bone fragments, but the men from the east among Johan¡¯s men had collected some blood in a leather pouch. It was to give to the wizard and receive a reward. The lords had somehow heard about this and sent their servants to Johan. ¡°. . .Even if you use dragon¡¯s blood, it won¡¯t improve much, and we don¡¯t have that much dragon¡¯s blood anyway.¡± ¡°It was really just a small amount. We used it all up right away because it would have rotted if we left it alone.¡± Suetlg also seemed troubled. He wished he had kept some if he had known this would happen. ¡°If we go back down, the blood will have already rotted. . .¡± Johan, who had been pondering, pped his knee. ¡°I have a good idea.¡± ¡°Did you keep some of the blood separately?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just use pig¡¯s blood. How would the lords know if it¡¯s dragon¡¯s blood or pig¡¯s blood?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Suetlg was shocked. ¡®???? ???????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???????????? ?? ?????????? When he arrivedte with his troops, he had clearly seen something like a halo behind Johan, even though they had known each other for a long time. Not only Suetlg, but the elf king and Lady Ulrike had also said they had simr experiences. Hunting a dragon was a great feat. Something that only a saint from an old tale could do. It was such a great feat that Suetlg felt a sense of distance from him. But judging from what he was saying now, he was the usual duke. Suetlg nodded with a meaningful expression. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± ¡°It seemed like it took you a while just now. Don¡¯t tell me you thought I was trying to swindle you?¡± ¡°W. . . What are you talking about?¡± ¡°From the way you¡¯re talking, it really seems like you thought that. .?¡± Johan looked at Suetlg suspiciously when he panicked after joking. In any case, with the n decided, the two wizards began concocting the fake blood. They couldn¡¯t use pig¡¯s blood as it was. The northern wizards might notice something strange, even though the lords were groaning in pain. ¡°Let¡¯s add some leaves of the poisonous lily. The smell is too clean right now.¡± ¡°Dragon¡¯s blood was a bit more viscous.¡± ¡°How did you. . . Ah. I see.¡± Suetlg was once again impressed. How many people on the continent could describe dragon¡¯s blood so vividly? ¡°Should we add some tar to make it sticky?¡± ¡°. . .Wait. The lords might have to drink it, so let¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Ah. Right.¡± The two of them worked hard to make fake blood. It was fake blood made ording to Johan¡¯s memory, but it turned out quite well. ¡°If you pretend to use this, the lords won¡¯t have any more useless thoughts. By the way, have you figured out what disease it is?¡± ¡°I asked around and the northern wizards said they had a few guesses. We should call them and ask.¡± ¡°. . .Wait. If they have a guess, why aren¡¯t they treating it?¡± ¡°Well, they think they need to cure the dragon¡¯s curse first.¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan held back. If this was Johan¡¯s fiefdom and those wizards were wizards who received Johan¡¯s silver, they would have been whipped. ???? Wizard Offgarden was the most prestigious wizard among the northern wizards gathered at the camp. He had a lot of weight and trust among the lords. ¡°His Highness the Duke is calling for you.¡± ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll go now.¡± Offgarden stood up and strode forward. The mercenaries were slightly impressed when they saw Offgarden, who had a sturdy appearance like a warrior. He looked more like a savage than a wizard. ¡®?????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?? ¡°It seems His Highness the Duke wants to hear Offgarden¡¯s advice.¡± ¡°I guess so. Unfortunately, this curse will not be easy to lift.¡± Offgarden had some guesses about the disease that the lords had contracted. However, Johan¡¯s current goal was not to cure the disease. As long as they had the dragon¡¯s curse, curing the disease would only lead to another disease. If it was a disease that they could endure like this, it was better than if a more serious disease, perhaps even a gue, broke out. . . .Offgarden made this argument persuasively. As expected of an outstanding wizard from the north, Offgarden¡¯s words carried weight. ¡°I heard you. Offgarden-gong. I give you an order. Cure the disease, regardless of the dragon¡¯s curse or whatever.¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Offgarden was taken aback. The duke had brushed him off so cleanly. It wasn¡¯t the snub that was shocking, but the fact that he couldn¡¯tmunicate like this. He had rarely failed tomunicate since bing a wizard. ¡°Your Highness. The dragon¡¯s curse. . .¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the dragon¡¯s blood. Suetlg-nim will lift the curse once you cure the disease.¡± ¡°!¡± Offgarden was surprised to hear that he had dragon¡¯s blood. Moreover, he knew how to use it to lift the curse. He was indeed worthy of being called a philosopher of the Ipa?l River. ¡°You are brilliant!¡± ¡°. . .That¡¯s quite thepliment.¡± Suetlg was modest. Offgarden thought it was because of his humility, but in fact, there was a different reason behind it. ¡°Can I check the dragon¡¯s blood once?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Offgarden stepped forward. In order to persuade the lords, he had to check the dragon¡¯s blood himself. A peculiar stench rose from the dark red blood sloshing in the jar. ¡°. . .?¡± Offgarden felt something was strange. No matter how he looked at it, it didn¡¯t seem like dragon¡¯s blood. Of course, Offgarden had never seen dragon¡¯s blood in his life. However, he had read many documents and stories describing what dragon¡¯s blood was like. This is more like. . . ¡®?????? ???????? ?????? ??????¡¯?? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ????? Offgarden tilted his head in iprehension. Of course, he couldn¡¯t openly ask, ¡®??????¡¯?? ???????? ??????¡¯?? ???????????¡¯ because of the duke¡¯s status and reputation, but he had to check and take responsibility since the lords had called him. ¡°Your Highness. May I ask you something. . . Huh.¡± Offgarden, who was speaking, stopped. The duke was suddenly standing right behind him. Johan grabbed Offgarden¡¯s shoulder with one hand and said, ¡°What are you curious about? Tell me. What are you curious about?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Chapter 383: ????????-?????????? (27) Offgarden wasn¡¯t a weakling. Wizards were mostly strong-willed, and although there were exceptions, they rarely wavered from their convictions. Offgarden wasn¡¯t particrly interested in wealth or power and had no desire to be swayed by them. However. . . ¡°Y-Your Highness?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Your hand. . .¡± ¡°My hand?¡± His hand, which he had been resting lightly on the table, tightened until it felt like his shoulder was being crushed. Offgarden felt a primal sense of fear. Even though he wasn¡¯t showing any hostility and was just standing there quietly, his whole body trembled as if he were standing before a demon. He had heard that Johan hunted the dragon, but at this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to mistake the Duke for a dragon.Offgarden felt his soul being crushed. ¡°Actually, I think I can guess without asking. . .!¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± Johan released his hand with a gentle smile. Offgarden gasped for breath. It had only been a brief moment, but his entire body was drenched in cold sweat. ¡°You¡¯ve confirmed that it¡¯s dragon¡¯s blood, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s dragon¡¯s blood. This is definitely dragon¡¯s blood.¡± ¡°I see. As expected of a wizard renowned in the north, your eye for detail is remarkable. Make sure to exin it well so that the feudal lords won¡¯t misunderstand.¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± Offgarden left looking much paler and more exhausted than when he had entered. As the wizard left, Johan felt a pang of guilt. ¡°Did I throw him too hard?¡± ¡°If a wizard is stupid, that¡¯s his fault. Not being able to save the feudal lords¡¯ lives yet being stubborn deserves death. You practically saved that wizard¡¯s honor and life, so you have nothing to feel sorry about. That wizard will learn the truthter.¡± Unlike the slightly regretful Johan, Suetlg was very cold-hearted. If the positions were reversed, Suetlg would have epted it. If the wizard was not making proper judgements and was acting stupidly, then he deserved insults more severe than what happened today. ¡°His shoulder isn¡¯t broken, is it?¡± ¡°. . .How did you even grab him that his shoulder broke in between?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say I have nothing to feel sorry about because I practically saved his honor and life?¡± ¡°I did say that but there was no need to break his shoulder. . .¡± ???? Fortunately, Offgarden appeared without any bandages. Feeling the gaze of Johan and Suetlg behind him, Offgarden stood before the feudal lord who was suffering from the most severe symptoms. £Ò ¡°I will now heal your illness. . .¡± ¡°Please do, wizard!¡± The feudal lord¡¯s vassals spoke earnestly, oblivious to the hidden truth. They couldn¡¯t afford to lose their lord to a dragon¡¯s curse. Offgarden felt guilty as he brewed the herbal medicine. This medicine, created through a vision, could cure endemic diseases, but it couldn¡¯t cure the dragon¡¯s curse. How would the vassals react if another illness struck? ¡®??¡¯?? ???? Offgarden apologized in his heart. Even the wizard himself didn¡¯t know he would act this way. The person behind him was too intimidating to ignore or defy. ¡°Drink this.¡± ¡°Ugh. . .¡± The feudal lord groaned and gulped it down. Suetlg then nodded and stepped forward. ¡°I will protect you from the dragon¡¯s curse.¡± Suetlg, with pig, no, dragon¡¯s blood smeared on his finger, began to draw geometric patterns on the feudal lord¡¯s face and chest. The vassals, who didn¡¯t know any better, were impressed, but Johan realized that they were mathematical symbols used in the East. ¡®??????????????????, ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????? Even so, it¡¯s not like he¡¯s deliberately creating fake patterns because he¡¯s toozy to draw real ones. What if someone notices if he just uses the mathematical symbols from the East? However, not surprisingly, no one noticed. Offgarden also seemed ignorant of arithmetic. ¡°Haas! Haaas!¡± Suetlg shouted and recited fake spells. He threw the powder he was holding, and the powder caught fire in the air, creating a fantastic effect. The vassals were once again impressed. Offgarden and Johan knew that it wasn¡¯t magic but just a trick of scattering powder, but they pretended to be impressed as well. ¡°Well. That¡¯s it. The dragon¡¯s curse will never touch you, my lord.¡± ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± The vassals, moved to tears, grabbed Johan¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Your Highness for granting us the dragon¡¯s blood. Thank you so much. We will never forget this favor!¡± ¡°It¡¯s only natural to do this much for my fellow nobles who fought alongside me.¡± Johan replied solemnly. Offgarden, who knew the truth, made aplicated expression and tried to check the feudal lord¡¯s condition. If the dragon¡¯s curse were to strike again and invade the feudal lord¡¯s body, he would have to do something. . . .However, the feudal lord was sleeping veryfortably. ¡°???¡± Offgarden hurriedly grabbed the feudal lord¡¯s wrist, checked his neck, and even flipped the feudal lord over. The vassals spoke with displeasure. ¡°Wizard, Lord is resting. . .¡± ¡°Ah. . . No. I¡¯m sorry. I just wanted to check something. The feudal lord seems to be fine.¡± ¡°Of course, he is fine. We just lifted the curse!¡± The vassals spoke to the wizard as if to say, ¡¯???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????¡¯ Offgarden nodded slightly, feeling a little embarrassed. ¡°Right. That¡¯s. . . That¡¯s right. I guess I acted too hastily.¡± ¡°I apologize, wizard. I think I was a little rude because I was so worried about the Lord¡¯s health.¡± ¡°Ah. . . No. I was hasty too.¡± Offgarden carefully nced around. Even when he looked again, the feudal lord was perfectly fine. Suetlg clicked his tongue at the sight. He then approached Offgarden and whispered quietly. ¡°Do you understand what¡¯s going on now?¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Offgarden¡¯s expression turned to realization. And then he sincerely apologized to Johan and Suetlg. Out of his character as a wizard, he had caused them unnecessary trouble due to his misunderstanding. Evenmoners would make such ignorant mistakes. ¡°I am truly ashamed. . .!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I would have misunderstood too if the situation were reversed. Just try to be a little more flexible in your thinking from now on, taking this as a lesson.¡± ¡°I was really surprised. I thought it. . . was real dragon¡¯s blood.¡± ¡°. . .Think about it again.¡± ¡°???¡± ???? After treating thest feudal lord, Suetlg washed his hands with a relieved expression. ¡°Let¡¯s nevere to the north again.¡± ¡°I thought so too.¡± He figured he had done everything he needed to do in the north anyway. After all, he had initiallye here to lead an expeditionary force, unt his authority, and keep the suspicious feudal lords in check. He had aplished something dozens of times more effective. It could be said that it was thanks to the dragon. He wouldn¡¯t say it was thanks to him, considering how much he had struggled. ¡®???????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???? No matter how he thought about it, the events of the past few weeks had been ridiculous. It was easy to hunt the dragon, but who would have thought that it would cause such a mess because of an unrted endemic disease? When it was time to say goodbye, the nobles who had participated in the expedition greeted the people of the north. Northern nobles who had arrivedte for the festival also came to express their gratitude. ¡°Your Highness. By any chance. . . Can I also receive a lump of soil from your town?¡± ¡°???¡± Johan was taken aback when a knight who clearly owned a town approached him with strange words. At first, he thought he was asking for a fiefdom. After all, giving a lump of soil was a ceremony performed by a feudal lord when epting a vassal. But no one in their right mind would ask a foreign high noble fornd without any justification, saying, ¡¯???????????? ????, ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?? Moreover, he said it was soil from his own town. That wasn¡¯t asking Johan for a fiefdom but rather asking him to ept him as a vassal since he would be pledging his loyalty. The knight would pay taxes, and Johan would lend him his fame. It wasn¡¯t a nonexistent rtionship, but it was a bit unexpected to be asked about it so suddenly. ¡°Wait a minute. ¡®I also¡¯? Does that mean others have done so?¡± ¡°Yes? Didn¡¯t the lords pledge vassge to Your Highness after you showed them the miracle of lifting the dragon¡¯s curse?¡± The knight asked back, looking puzzled. ¡°They don¡¯t pledge vassge just because I hunted a dragon, sir knight.¡± ¡°Yes. I know that too.¡± ¡°Then why are you spreading such rumors. . .¡± ¡°I thought the lords pledged their allegiance because Your Highness showed them the miracle of lifting the dragon¡¯s curse. . .?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The rumor the knight brought had an unexpected beginning, middle, and end. The logic was quite sound as well. The feudal lords, who were ungrateful even after the dragon was hunted, were humbled and realized the importance of humility when the dragon¡¯s curse befell them. So when they were healed, they pledged vassge as God¡¯s will. . . ¡°I¡¯m saying this for your own good, but don¡¯t go around saying that.¡± ¡°I. . . I apologize.¡± The knight stepped back, flustered. And then the next count came to greet him. ¡°Your Highness. I heard about you hunting the dragon instead of the northern knights. I am truly impressed.¡± ¡°You tter me. Thank you.¡± ¡°Would you happen to bestow upon me a lump of soil from your fiefdom?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan tried to find hisposure. And then he spoke again. ¡°When you hear rumors, make sure to check if they are true.¡± ¡°Yes? No. Haha! Your Highness. I don¡¯t just blindly believe such rumors.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°If Your Highness were to lend me your strength, I would use the authority of a tyrant to deal with those who dared to meddle. Lend me your strength, Your Highness! I will be your faithful dog!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± This one was taking things a step further. From the looks of it, he seemed to be a young master who had been alienated in the north because he supported the emperor¡¯s faction. Johan firmly refused, saying that he had no intention of starting another civil war that had just ended. ¡°I have no intention of starting a war in the north.¡± ¡°How can that be. . .!¡± The count looked at Johan with a betrayed expression. He seemed to have genuinely thought that Johan would start a war. ???? Having finished what he had to do in the north, Johan slowly turned his direction back to his fiefdom and returned. Of course, he received invitations from various nobles who had heard the rumors, but they were nothing specialpared to hunting the dragon. When he saw the harbor in the distance and the familiar castle walls, Johan realized anew that he hade a long way. If he hadn¡¯t encountered the storm, he would have arrived much sooner. Instead, he had suffered several times more because of an unexpected coincidence. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ????????¡¯?? ???? ?????? Fortunately, his struggles were not in vain. If he hadn¡¯t traveled the empire himself, he wouldn¡¯t have known what the nobles of the empire were thinking after the civil war. And it would have been impossible to capture their hearts. There were many peculiar people, but judging from the friendly hospitality and farewell they gave him, even the most discontented northerners, he was sure that there would be no problems for a while. He was confident of that. ¡°What do you n to do first when you return?¡± ¡°Well.¡± At Iselia¡¯s question, Johan thought for a moment. There were still many things left to deal with. From the newly acquired spoils of war to responding to the proposals of the northern nobles. But thinking about it, those were trivial matters. ¡°For a while. . . I just want to stop wandering. I¡¯ve been wandering around too much.¡± The vassals burst intoughter at Johan¡¯s answer. It was indeed a refreshing answer. After traveling from almost the western end to the eastern end, what did he mean? ¡°No one can stop you if that¡¯s what you want.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Johan nodded at the kind words. He really didn¡¯t feel like traveling for a while. Looking back, he realized how much he had traveled. As if something was calling him from a different ce. ¡°Yes. When I return to my fiefdom, I will sit down for a while and focus on governing. . .¡± The faces of the wizards lit up slightly with anticipation. They thought that their lord would finally pick up a quill instead of a sword. Just then, an envoy came running from afar in a hurry. He must have been in such a hurry that he didn¡¯t wait at the inner castle and came running as soon as he heard that the duke¡¯s party wasing. He was an envoy from the republic. ¡°Your Highness! We have been waiting for your arrival. Only Your Highness can do this!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan frowned instead of responding. However, what he was going to say was already as good as decided. ©¥©¥?????? ? Offgarden wasn¡¯t a weakling. Wizards were mostly strong-willed, and although there were exceptions, they rarely wavered from their convictions. Offgarden wasn¡¯t particrly interested in wealth or power and had no desire to be swayed by them. However. . . ¡°Y-Your Highness?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Your hand. . .¡± ¡°My hand?¡± His hand, which he had been resting lightly on the table, tightened until it felt like his shoulder was being crushed. Offgarden felt a primal sense of fear. Even though he wasn¡¯t showing any hostility and was just standing there quietly, his whole body trembled as if he were standing before a demon. He had heard that Johan hunted the dragon, but at this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to mistake the Duke for a dragon. Offgarden felt his soul being crushed. ¡°Actually, I think I can guess without asking. . .!¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± Johan released his hand with a gentle smile. Offgarden gasped for breath. It had only been a brief moment, but his entire body was drenched in cold sweat. ¡°You¡¯ve confirmed that it¡¯s dragon¡¯s blood, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s dragon¡¯s blood. This is definitely dragon¡¯s blood.¡± ¡°I see. As expected of a wizard renowned in the north, your eye for detail is remarkable. Make sure to exin it well so that the feudal lords won¡¯t misunderstand.¡± ¡°Yes. . .¡± Offgarden left looking much paler and more exhausted than when he had entered. As the wizard left, Johan felt a pang of guilt. ¡°Did I throw him too hard?¡± ¡°If a wizard is stupid, that¡¯s his fault. Not being able to save the feudal lords¡¯ lives yet being stubborn deserves death. You practically saved that wizard¡¯s honor and life, so you have nothing to feel sorry about. That wizard will learn the truthter.¡± Unlike the slightly regretful Johan, Suetlg was very cold-hearted. If the positions were reversed, Suetlg would have epted it. If the wizard was not making proper judgements and was acting stupidly, then he deserved insults more severe than what happened today. ¡°His shoulder isn¡¯t broken, is it?¡± ¡°. . .How did you even grab him that his shoulder broke in between?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say I have nothing to feel sorry about because I practically saved his honor and life?¡± ¡°I did say that but there was no need to break his shoulder. . .¡± ???? Fortunately, Offgarden appeared without any bandages. Feeling the gaze of Johan and Suetlg behind him, Offgarden stood before the feudal lord who was suffering from the most severe symptoms. ¡°I will now heal your illness. . .¡± ¡°Please do, wizard!¡± The feudal lord¡¯s vassals spoke earnestly, oblivious to the hidden truth. They couldn¡¯t afford to lose their lord to a dragon¡¯s curse. Offgarden felt guilty as he brewed the herbal medicine. This medicine, created through a vision, could cure endemic diseases, but it couldn¡¯t cure the dragon¡¯s curse. How would the vassals react if another illness struck? ¡®??¡¯?? ???? Offgarden apologized in his heart. Even the wizard himself didn¡¯t know he would act this way. The person behind him was too intimidating to ignore or defy. ¡°Drink this.¡± ¡°Ugh. . .¡± The feudal lord groaned and gulped it down. Suetlg then nodded and stepped forward. ¡°I will protect you from the dragon¡¯s curse.¡± Suetlg, with pig, no, dragon¡¯s blood smeared on his finger, began to draw geometric patterns on the feudal lord¡¯s face and chest. The vassals, who didn¡¯t know any better, were impressed, but Johan realized that they were mathematical symbols used in the East. ¡®??????????????????, ??????¡¯?? ???????? ?????? ?????? Even so, it¡¯s not like he¡¯s deliberately creating fake patterns because he¡¯s toozy to draw real ones. What if someone notices if he just uses the mathematical symbols from the East? However, not surprisingly, no one noticed. Offgarden also seemed ignorant of arithmetic. ¡°Haas! Haaas!¡± Suetlg shouted and recited fake spells. He threw the powder he was holding, and the powder caught fire in the air, creating a fantastic effect. The vassals were once again impressed. Offgarden and Johan knew that it wasn¡¯t magic but just a trick of scattering powder, but they pretended to be impressed as well. ¡°Well. That¡¯s it. The dragon¡¯s curse will never touch you, my lord.¡± ¡°Thank you! Thank you!¡± The vassals, moved to tears, grabbed Johan¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Your Highness for granting us the dragon¡¯s blood. Thank you so much. We will never forget this favor!¡± ¡°It¡¯s only natural to do this much for my fellow nobles who fought alongside me.¡± Johan replied solemnly. Offgarden, who knew the truth, made aplicated expression and tried to check the feudal lord¡¯s condition. If the dragon¡¯s curse were to strike again and invade the feudal lord¡¯s body, he would have to do something. . . .However, the feudal lord was sleeping veryfortably. ¡°???¡± Offgarden hurriedly grabbed the feudal lord¡¯s wrist, checked his neck, and even flipped the feudal lord over. The vassals spoke with displeasure. ¡°Wizard, Lord is resting. . .¡± ¡°Ah. . . No. I¡¯m sorry. I just wanted to check something. The feudal lord seems to be fine.¡± ¡°Of course, he is fine. We just lifted the curse!¡± The vassals spoke to the wizard as if to say, ¡¯???????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????¡¯ Offgarden nodded slightly, feeling a little embarrassed. ¡°Right. That¡¯s. . . That¡¯s right. I guess I acted too hastily.¡± ¡°I apologize, wizard. I think I was a little rude because I was so worried about the Lord¡¯s health.¡± ¡°Ah. . . No. I was hasty too.¡± Offgarden carefully nced around. Even when he looked again, the feudal lord was perfectly fine. Suetlg clicked his tongue at the sight. He then approached Offgarden and whispered quietly. ¡°Do you understand what¡¯s going on now?¡± ¡°. . .!¡± Offgarden¡¯s expression turned to realization. And then he sincerely apologized to Johan and Suetlg. Out of his character as a wizard, he had caused them unnecessary trouble due to his misunderstanding. Evenmoners would make such ignorant mistakes. ¡°I am truly ashamed. . .!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I would have misunderstood too if the situation were reversed. Just try to be a little more flexible in your thinking from now on, taking this as a lesson.¡± ¡°I was really surprised. I thought it. . . was real dragon¡¯s blood.¡± ¡°. . .Think about it again.¡± ¡°???¡± ???? After treating thest feudal lord, Suetlg washed his hands with a relieved expression. ¡°Let¡¯s nevere to the north again.¡± ¡°I thought so too.¡± He figured he had done everything he needed to do in the north anyway. After all, he had initiallye here to lead an expeditionary force, unt his authority, and keep the suspicious feudal lords in check. He had aplished something dozens of times more effective. It could be said that it was thanks to the dragon. He wouldn¡¯t say it was thanks to him, considering how much he had struggled. ¡®???????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????? ???? No matter how he thought about it, the events of the past few weeks had been ridiculous. It was easy to hunt the dragon, but who would have thought that it would cause such a mess because of an unrted endemic disease? When it was time to say goodbye, the nobles who had participated in the expedition greeted the people of the north. Northern nobles who had arrivedte for the festival also came to express their gratitude. ¡°Your Highness. By any chance. . . Can I also receive a lump of soil from your town?¡± ¡°???¡± Johan was taken aback when a knight who clearly owned a town approached him with strange words. At first, he thought he was asking for a fiefdom. After all, giving a lump of soil was a ceremony performed by a feudal lord when epting a vassal. But no one in their right mind would ask a foreign high noble fornd without any justification, saying, ¡¯???????????? ????, ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?? Moreover, he said it was soil from his own town. That wasn¡¯t asking Johan for a fiefdom but rather asking him to ept him as a vassal since he would be pledging his loyalty. The knight would pay taxes, and Johan would lend him his fame. It wasn¡¯t a nonexistent rtionship, but it was a bit unexpected to be asked about it so suddenly. ¡°Wait a minute. ¡®I also¡¯? Does that mean others have done so?¡± ¡°Yes? Didn¡¯t the lords pledge vassge to Your Highness after you showed them the miracle of lifting the dragon¡¯s curse?¡± The knight asked back, looking puzzled. ¡°They don¡¯t pledge vassge just because I hunted a dragon, sir knight.¡± ¡°Yes. I know that too.¡± ¡°Then why are you spreading such rumors. . .¡± ¡°I thought the lords pledged their allegiance because Your Highness showed them the miracle of lifting the dragon¡¯s curse. . .?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± The rumor the knight brought had an unexpected beginning, middle, and end. The logic was quite sound as well. The feudal lords, who were ungrateful even after the dragon was hunted, were humbled and realized the importance of humility when the dragon¡¯s curse befell them. So when they were healed, they pledged vassge as God¡¯s will. . . ¡°I¡¯m saying this for your own good, but don¡¯t go around saying that.¡± ¡°I. . . I apologize.¡± The knight stepped back, flustered. And then the next count came to greet him. ¡°Your Highness. I heard about you hunting the dragon instead of the northern knights. I am truly impressed.¡± ¡°You tter me. Thank you.¡± ¡°Would you happen to bestow upon me a lump of soil from your fiefdom?¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan tried to find hisposure. And then he spoke again. ¡°When you hear rumors, make sure to check if they are true.¡± ¡°Yes? No. Haha! Your Highness. I don¡¯t just blindly believe such rumors.¡± ¡°. . .?¡± ¡°If Your Highness were to lend me your strength, I would use the authority of a tyrant to deal with those who dared to meddle. Lend me your strength, Your Highness! I will be your faithful dog!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± This one was taking things a step further. From the looks of it, he seemed to be a young master who had been alienated in the north because he supported the emperor¡¯s faction. Johan firmly refused, saying that he had no intention of starting another civil war that had just ended. ¡°I have no intention of starting a war in the north.¡± ¡°How can that be. . .!¡± The count looked at Johan with a betrayed expression. He seemed to have genuinely thought that Johan would start a war. ???? Having finished what he had to do in the north, Johan slowly turned his direction back to his fiefdom and returned. Of course, he received invitations from various nobles who had heard the rumors, but they were nothing specialpared to hunting the dragon. When he saw the harbor in the distance and the familiar castle walls, Johan realized anew that he hade a long way. If he hadn¡¯t encountered the storm, he would have arrived much sooner. Instead, he had suffered several times more because of an unexpected coincidence. ¡®???? ?????????? ???? ????????¡¯?? ???? ?????? Fortunately, his struggles were not in vain. If he hadn¡¯t traveled the empire himself, he wouldn¡¯t have known what the nobles of the empire were thinking after the civil war. And it would have been impossible to capture their hearts. There were many peculiar people, but judging from the friendly hospitality and farewell they gave him, even the most discontented northerners, he was sure that there would be no problems for a while. He was confident of that. ¡°What do you n to do first when you return?¡± ¡°Well.¡± At Iselia¡¯s question, Johan thought for a moment. There were still many things left to deal with. From the newly acquired spoils of war to responding to the proposals of the northern nobles. But thinking about it, those were trivial matters. ¡°For a while. . . I just want to stop wandering. I¡¯ve been wandering around too much.¡± The vassals burst intoughter at Johan¡¯s answer. It was indeed a refreshing answer. After traveling from almost the western end to the eastern end, what did he mean? ¡°No one can stop you if that¡¯s what you want.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Johan nodded at the kind words. He really didn¡¯t feel like traveling for a while. Looking back, he realized how much he had traveled. As if something was calling him from a different ce. ¡°Yes. When I return to my fiefdom, I will sit down for a while and focus on governing. . .¡± The faces of the wizards lit up slightly with anticipation. They thought that their lord would finally pick up a quill instead of a sword. Just then, an envoy came running from afar in a hurry. He must have been in such a hurry that he didn¡¯t wait at the inner castle and came running as soon as he heard that the duke¡¯s party wasing. He was an envoy from the republic. ¡°Your Highness! We have been waiting for your arrival. Only Your Highness can do this!¡± ¡°. . . . . .¡± Johan frowned instead of responding. However, what he was going to say was already as good as decided. ©¥©¥?????? The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!