How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 43: ๐‰๐จ๐ก๐š๐ง'๐ฌ ๐œ๐ก๐จ๐ข๐œ๐ž (๐Ÿ’)



Chapter 43: ๐‰๐จ๐ก๐š๐ง'๐ฌ ๐œ๐ก๐จ๐ข๐œ๐ž (๐Ÿ’)

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 the commoners despite being of noble status, thereby impressing them.

Johan was a knight who knew how to use both methods, not that he particularly intended to. . .

โ€œSo what happened?โ€

โ€œWhat do you mean what happened! They dropped whatever they had looted and ran. They wouldโ€™ve been killed on the spot if they got caught by the feudal lordโ€™s heavily armed troops returning.โ€

At the campsite, the mercenaries were fond of Johanโ€™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.

โ€œHow in the world are you so strong, Sir Knight?โ€

โ€œHey, donโ€™t speak irreverently. He must have been trained from a young age, how can you even say that?โ€

The training of knights was rigorous. Young nobles from various places sweated from morning till night under the stewardโ€™s command 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, playing chess, reciting poetryโ”and could even advance to rhetoric, arithmetic, and astronomyโ”developing both externally and internally into complete knights.

Of course, this was the story of knights training under high nobles with proper fiefdoms. Johanโ€™s case was different.

So-called accelerated warrior training!

โ€œIโ€™m thinking of trying out the fencing guild, even if I canโ€™t become a Sir Knight.โ€

โ€œWerenโ€™t you saying itโ€™s a waste of money before?โ€

โ€œWell, it seems that the ones who learned really do fight better.โ€

The fencing guild was an organization established with the cityโ€™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 becomes an assassins guild like Kaegal, lurking with assassins.

โ€œI saw a swordsman from St. Johnsonโ€™s regiment the other day. He was just a trainee, but he fought really well. He wasnโ€™t pushed back even in a 1:2 fight.โ€

โ€œArenโ€™t trainees the lowest rank?โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s what Iโ€™m saying. If a trainee is that good, how well does a master fight?โ€

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.

โ€œEh, Sir Knight. Have you ever met the eastern patrolmen?โ€

โ€œ?โ€

The eastern patrolmen.

The east of the Holy Empire was a wild land beyond the reach of the Empireโ€™s influence. The Empireโ€™s nobles wanted to subjugate the tribes there and become 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.

โ€œWhat are you talking about?โ€

โ€œThe powder you just used, isnโ€™t that what the eastern patrolmen use? I once saved a life and learned how to mix it.โ€

โ€œ. . .!โ€

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.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

โ€œSir Knight, there is a problem.โ€

A mercenary who had returned from scouting with Karamaf said with a troubled expression.

โ€œWhy? Are more mercenaries coming?โ€

โ€œNo. Merchants are coming.โ€

Not just a few merchants with carts, but a large caravan of merchants was heading this way. There seemed to be well over two hundred of them.

A large procession mixed with merchants, mercenaries, porters, jesters, nurses, laundresses, prostitutes, minstrels, gamblers, and travelers!

โ€œLooks like theyโ€™re going for business.โ€

โ€œYes.โ€

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 place.

โ€œItโ€™s not a band of rogues, so is it right to wake up the mercenaries and move now?โ€

โ€œIt does seem so.โ€

Rest is essential during a journey, so unless facing a threatening army, there was no need to pack up and move again.

โ€œBut they will be concerned about us as well. Sir Knight.โ€

โ€œAre you saying I should go and talk to them myself?โ€

โ€œ. . .Yes.โ€

The mercenary spoke cautiously. It was nerve-wracking to suggest to an employer to โ€˜go and negotiate personally,โ€™ especially if that employer was a knight capable of beheading a troll with a single stroke.

Johan smirked.

โ€œNo need to worry about that. Speak freely. Letโ€™s go.โ€

It was better to talk to them before the procession came too close. Johan, donning his armor and surcoat, headed towards the merchantsโ€™ caravan with a few mercenaries.

It was already dark, but the large number of people made the caravan visible from afar due to its lights.

โ€œHalt! Identify yourselves!โ€

โ€œI am Johan of the Yeats family. The warriors behind me are mercenaries employed in the name of the Marcelโ€™s Katana Merchant Guild. And who are you?โ€

โ€œWe are mercenaries hired by Doris-nim. Doris-nim has a stamped permit, so Iโ€™d advise against any rash actions.โ€

The mercenaries were on guard, unsure of the size of Johanโ€™s forces. Such a large group wouldnโ€™t dare provoke deserters, but there were always crazies around.

โ€œFoolish men. What are you doing to a Sir Knight of honor? Stop.โ€

Then, a portly man bellowed from behind. It was clear at a glance that he was Doris, dressed in fine silk and adorned with rings.

โ€œJohan of the Yeats family, the renowned troll slayer of Marcel? Sir Knight?โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s right.โ€

โ€œThanks be to the gods! To meet such a distinguished Sir Knight in a place like this. Allow me to offer you hospitality! Hey, what are you all doing? Lower your weapons!โ€

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.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

Goran, yawning with Khan, trudged forward. He was fatigued from checking the dark forest in various ways.

โ€œRecon complete. Nothing ahead.โ€

โ€œGood work. Go and rest.โ€

Although Goran was a captain leading his own mercenary group, that was only when they moved by themselves. When involved in larger convoys, there were higher-ranking mercenary captains in command.

Of course, it wasnโ€™t a matter of dissatisfaction. As a mercenary, one couldnโ€™t always be a captain. Being paid on time and not being used as cannon fodder was enough satisfaction.

โ€œWhatโ€™s that? Do we have a guest?โ€

Goran wondered as the tent where the employer stayed became noisy. A mercenary beside him spoke in a languid voice.

โ€œThey say heโ€™s entertaining Sir Knight.โ€

โ€œSir Knight?โ€

โ€œThe knight who killed the troll in Marcel. Heard of him?โ€

โ€œ!โ€

Goran and Khan exchanged glances. They obviously knew, having traveled together.

They didnโ€™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.

โ€œIf you eat and drink like that, something might trickle down to us, right?โ€

โ€œOh? Ah, right.โ€

Goran nodded. While the top indulged in luxury, leftovers often fell below, but that wasnโ€™t the issue now.

โ€œMr. Khan. We need to go greet him, right?โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t bother. Sir Johan may be approachable, but it doesnโ€™t mean trouble wonโ€™t find us. Wait a minute. Goran. What are those guys doing?โ€

Khan pointed towards the tent. The most senior mercenaries were loitering near the employer as usual.

โ€œWhat do you mean?โ€

โ€œAre your eyes just for show? Why are some mercenaries heavily armed in the middle of the campsite?โ€

โ€œ!โ€

That did seem odd. Usually, guards would be lightly armed, patrolling the area, but these mercenaries were unusually fully armed.

โ€œ. . .What are they doing?โ€

โ€œStay put. Iโ€™ll go and find out.โ€

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.

โ€œThose guys. . .โ€

โ€œ?โ€

โ€œSeem to be planning to ambush the knight.โ€

โ€œ. . .?!โ€

Surprised by the unexpected news, Goran was shocked.

โ€œW-Why would they do that?โ€

โ€œHow would I know?โ€

โ€œShould we tell someone?โ€

โ€œHmm. . .โ€

Usually, they would have asked, โ€˜๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜บ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต?โ€™ But this time was different. They could receive a reward for helping. Besides, both owed Johan a favor.

โ€œMaybe we could subtly inform him.โ€

โ€œWould that be okay?โ€

โ€œWhy, would you not do it if I said no?โ€

โ€œMust you say it like that now? Damn.โ€

Goran looked around. It was clear who the group led by Johan was. Because the mercenaries he hadnโ€™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.

โ€œWhat if I interject over there?โ€

โ€œItโ€™s unclear when and how to speak, and even if I do, Iโ€™m not sure itโ€™ll be conveyed properly. If a mercenary suddenly goes to that tent, Doris might get suspicious, right?โ€

โ€œThen how do we deliver the message?โ€

โ€œGive a bottle of wine and a silver coin.โ€

โ€œWhat??โ€

โ€œA bottle of wine and a silver coin. Then, Iโ€™ll show you some magic.โ€

โ€œWell. . . I get the wine, but the silver coin. . .โ€

โ€œIf you donโ€™t want to do it, you donโ€™t have to.โ€

โ€œAh, damn it. What if we donโ€™t get rewarded for this?โ€

โ€œGoran. If I knew you were this clever, I would have retired from being a mercenary long ago.โ€

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.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

โ€œSuch a magnificent wolf! Its name is Karamaf, even more impressive.โ€

โ”๐†๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฅ.

โ€œSorry about that. This creature has a bad temper.โ€

Karamaf growled and showed clear dislike whenever Doris came close. The wolfโ€™s mood seemed to rub off on Johan, making him feel unnecessarily wary.

โ€œOf course, a beastโ€™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 Knightโ€™s cup is empty!โ€

Doris urged the slaves beside him to refill Johanโ€™s cup whenever it emptied. The poorly clothed slaves rubbed against each other as they poured the wine. The smell was strong, but Johanโ€™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 didnโ€™t want to get drunk in front of this merchant.

โ€˜๐˜ž๐˜ข๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ท๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ข ๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ?โ€™

Rejecting a hostโ€™s hospitality was almost like insulting them. He had accepted it, not wanting to make more enemies on a journey through hostile territory. . .

But being in the heart of the enemyโ€™s land, if this merchant had ulterior motives, was concerning.

Yet, he couldnโ€™t make the first move either. Karamafโ€™s dislike for this merchant could simply be due to the merchantโ€™s greedy nature.

All he could do now was to stay alert while accepting the hospitality.

โ€œSir Knight!! Do you recognize me!!โ€

โ€œ??โ€

At that moment, an old, slightly drunk mercenary pushed through the tent flap. It was Khan.


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