How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 44: ๐‰๐จ๐ก๐š๐ง'๐ฌ ๐œ๐ก๐จ๐ข๐œ๐ž (๐Ÿ“)



Chapter 44: ๐‰๐จ๐ก๐š๐ง'๐ฌ ๐œ๐ก๐จ๐ข๐œ๐ž (๐Ÿ“)

Dorisโ€™s face crumpled suddenly. Some crazy mercenary. . .

The purpose of the mercenaryโ€™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.

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ *๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ-๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฑ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ? ๐˜Š๐˜ข๐˜ฏโ€™๐˜ต ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜จ๐˜ถ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ.โ€™

Of course, showing mercy to such begging mercenaries was both a nobleโ€™s role and pleasure, but Doris didnโ€™t feel like seeing that now, due to his ulterior motives.

The moment Doris heard the name โ€˜Marcelโ€™s troll slayer,โ€™ he realized.

โ”๐“๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ค๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ญ๐จ ๐‚๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ ๐‰๐š๐ซ๐ฉ๐ž๐ง!

Why else would a young knight like Johan wander in such times? It seemed clear he was heading to Count Jarpenโ€™s territory.

Countess Abner might have called him, but Countess Abner wasnโ€™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 Jarpenโ€™s territory.

Then?

โ”๐‚๐š๐ฉ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ž๐Ÿ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐›๐ž ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ญ๐š๐›๐ฅ๐ž! ๐‰๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐จ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ ๐ญ๐จ Count ๐€๐›๐ง๐ž๐ซ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐›๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ซ๐ž๐ฐ๐š๐ซ๐๐ฌ. . .

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 thatโ€™s not all. If a ransom is paid by Johanโ€™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 Abnerโ€™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 into laying down their arms, was indeed an impressive merchant.

But thereโ€™s always a flaw in plans.

The flaw in this plan was Khan.

โ€œArenโ€™t you Khan?โ€

โ€œYes! Thatโ€™s right! Itโ€™s an honor that you recognize me! Sob! Just once we fought together!โ€

The Khan pretended to cry, relieved. Johan, being perceptive, played along.

โ€œHearing that Sir Knight arrived, I was so happy that I had to come to see you, even from afar. Huh. I hope my coming here isnโ€™t an intrusion!โ€

โ€œWhat nonsense. Itโ€™s a joy to give to those below. Why wouldnโ€™t I treat a warrior I fought with? Come. Bring this friend some food and drink.โ€

Doris grimaced but couldnโ€™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.

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ฆโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ง๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜บ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ซ๐˜ฐ๐˜บ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ด.โ€™

Johan was surprised to learn that Khan was here and thought there must be a reason for Khanโ€™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. . .

โ€œSo, what are you doing here?โ€

โ€œAh, yes! I am working for a new employer who is very kind.โ€

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 didnโ€™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.

โ€œThe employer is such a good person. . . Do you remember Gamson-nim? The employer is even more benevolent, generous, and faithful than Gamson-nim.โ€

โ€œOh.โ€

Johanโ€™s eyes sparkled coldly as he feigned admiration. Doris, not noticing, laughed awkwardly. It was awkward to respond to such blatant flattery.

โ€œThe mercenary is acting like this because heโ€™s drunk.โ€

โ€œBut heโ€™s doing this because you treated him well. Itโ€™s rare for an employer to hear such words from a mercenary.โ€

โ€œHahaha. . . Thank you. Although I am a merchant who seeks gold, I try to live devoutly. Did you know? Thereโ€™s a priest behind me. But who is Mr. Gamson?โ€

โ€œA priest. A good man indeed.โ€

โ€œAh. . .!โ€

Pleased with the flattery, Doris decided to lighten the punishment. Instead of whipping, he would assign guard duty.

โ€œSir Knight. Do you remember what Gamson-nim did back then?โ€

โ€œHow could I forget? Such a person is rare.โ€

โ€œThis person will treat you even better than Mr. Gamson. You can trust me! He is that remarkable!โ€

โ€œ. . . . . .โ€

Upon hearing this, Johan made up his mind.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

After Khan finished eating and drinking everything, Johan coughed and said.

โ€œI have something to discuss with Doris, can you leave us alone for a moment?โ€

โ€œOf course, I should!โ€

โ€œTake this silver coin. Meeting like this is also a blessing.โ€

When Johan put a silver coin in Khanโ€™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!

โ€œThank you! Thank you!โ€

โ€œYes. You may leave now.โ€

Khan was confident that Johan had understood everything. He stepped back carefully, feeling proud of himself.

โ€œWhat do you want to talk about?โ€

โ€œHmm. . . Itโ€™s a really important story. Step aside for a moment.โ€

At Johanโ€™s words, the servants and slaves also stepped back. Doris involuntarily swallowed. The way Johan was acting, it somehow smelled like money.

โ€œThis is something Iโ€™m only telling you. After receiving such treatment.โ€

โ€œ. . .Yes!โ€

Dorisโ€™s heart pounded so loudly. Doris leaned in close to Johan.

โ€œActually, the name Gamson is a son of a b*tch.โ€

โ€œYes?โ€

Johan didnโ€™t say anything more and wrapped his strong arms around Dorisโ€™s neck. Feeling suffocated, Doris let out a gasp.

๐’๐ฐ๐จ๐จ๐ฌ๐กโ”

At the same time, a longsword was drawn. Johan held the longsword in one hand, aiming it forward, and said,

โ€œShut your mouth. Anyone who opens their mouth will see their own tongue rolling on the ground!โ€

โ”๐†๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฅ!

At his shout, the servants and slaves froze. The sudden situation was one thing, but Johanโ€™s murderous aura bound them tightly.

โ€œCough. . . Sir Knight, why are you doing this?!โ€

โ€œWhy? You prepare mercenaries to ambush me outside and dare to say that?โ€

โ€œCough, cough. Thereโ€™s a misunderstanding. . .โ€

โ€œMisunderstanding? You merchant. Who are you underestimating? If you donโ€™t speak now, Iโ€™ll rip out your tongue and twist your neck. Speak!โ€

Johan glared at Doris with blazing eyes, growling. Doris felt his limbs go weak. Knights were not the kind to accept that their thoughts were wrong.

The fear of being broken by the enraged Johan surged in him.

โ€œSir Knight, please. . . please spare me. Iโ€™ll compensate you! Itโ€™s my fault!โ€

โ€œYou prepared the mercenaries, didnโ€™t you?โ€

Realizing that mercenaries were indeed prepared, Johanโ€™s eyes grew cold.

โ€œYes! 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!โ€

โ€œWhom did you intend to host as a guest?โ€

โ€œC-Countess Abner. . . Arenโ€™t you going to Count Jarpenโ€™s territory. . .? Oh, if not, I must have been mistaken, please forgive me. . . Iโ€™ll give you gold.โ€

โ€œ!โ€

Johan was honestly surprised. That this greedy merchant had so quickly figured out where he was going.

โ€˜๐˜ ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฏโ€™๐˜ต ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ฎ.โ€™

Just as a caterpillar can roll, merchants have an excellent sense for opportunities. Had it not been for Khanโ€™s warning, he would have waited until the opponent attacked first.

โ€œCall my mercenaries here.โ€

Johan instructed a servant to call the mercenaries into the tent. Doris didnโ€™t know what to do and fumbled.

โ€œ. . .!!!โ€

The experienced mercenaries, fittingly, did not make much noise even after seeing the situation inside the tent.

โ€œWhatโ€™s going on. . .?โ€

โ€œFor now, make noise eating and drinking. So no one suspects anything outside.โ€

โ€œAh, yes.โ€

The mercenaries began eating the food brought by the servants and slaves, sitting around various parts of the tent. If not for the situation, the food would have been really tasty.

โ€œThis merchant was trying to capture me and hand me over to Countess Abner.โ€

โ€œWhat. . .! Sir Knight, you havenโ€™t even joined Count Jarpenโ€™s forces yet! Itโ€™s impossible to take you hostage!โ€

โ€œI, I misunderstood. . .โ€

โ€œShut your mouth.โ€

Johan silenced Doris and then said,

โ€œThe sequence doesnโ€™t matter; they must have planned to catch him and then link him up.โ€

โ€œHow dare this damned merchant?โ€

โ€œWhat will you do? Will you escape right now?โ€

โ€œIf we take him and escape, what about these mercenaries?โ€

The mercenaries responded to Johanโ€™s question with various opinions. โ€˜๐˜š๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜บ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ด ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ข๐˜ฑ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ธ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ด๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ,โ€™ โ€˜๐˜•๐˜ฐ, ๐˜ช๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ด ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด, ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜บ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜ถ๐˜ด ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜บโ€™๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ,โ€™ โ€˜๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ด ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด? ๐˜ž๐˜ฆ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ,โ€™ and so on.

Johan, who was listening, then asked Doris.

โ€œListen carefully. If you want to save your life, you must be able to do what I tell you from now on.โ€

๐†๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฉโ”

The sound of Doris swallowing was unusually loud.

โ€œWho is in charge of this trade caravan?โ€

โ€œI. . . I am in charge.โ€

โ€œWhat about the other merchants?โ€

โ€œT-There are others Iโ€™ve taken money from to join the caravan, but theyโ€™re not the leaders.โ€

โ€œIf you change the direction of the caravan, will the others obediently follow?โ€

โ€œ. . .They will follow. B-But if you go somewhere too strange, they have eyes too. . .โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t worry. I donโ€™t plan to make it impossible to do business.โ€

Johan, holding Dorisโ€™s head with one hand, spoke to the mercenaries.

โ€œI have no intention of running away with this guy. If things get complicated, you might end up dying with this trash.โ€

โ€œThen. . .?โ€

โ€œWeโ€™ll make him lead this procession. Letโ€™s go to Count Jarpenโ€™s territory as planned.โ€

Since it was a trade caravan authorized by Countess Abner, there was no trouble even if they encountered the Countโ€™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 Countโ€™s territory, Johan and the mercenaries could safely secure Dorisโ€™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.

โ€œBut, if I go to Count Jarpenโ€™s territory with a permit from Countess Abner and do business there, Iโ€™ll be in big trouble!โ€

โ€œYes, I know. But Doris. Countess Abner is a problem for later, but I am the problem now. If you canโ€™t manage it, Iโ€™ll just cut your throat and then escape from this procession.โ€

โ€œ. . .!!!โ€

โ€œI might suffer a bit, but youโ€™ll lose your life. So, itโ€™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.โ€

Doris felt a dizzying sensation along with the overwhelming shock as if the sky was falling.

How did it come to this?


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