How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 276: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 (5)

“What do you mean? It is only natural for pagans to do that sort of thing.”

The Castellan 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 castellan 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?”

Castellan’s emotional exclamation 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 castellan’s attitude.

“You are right. Castellan. 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!”

“I heard a story recently. . .”

Castellan, who was feeling more confident, brought up a story about belief. The nobles listened closely to the castellan’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.

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“Was the Castellan 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 Castellan of Vipen now seemed to be getting along with the feudal lords from the west and even those from the north. The castellan 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 jousting competition 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 collaborator.

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.

‘𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦. . .’

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 flags of familiar families and flags 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 flags 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 accumulated 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 become 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.

‘𝘐𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵?’

As he continued to focus and look at the knight, Johan could feel the same sensation he felt at the Ipaël 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 Ipaël River. I have to release that spirit.”

“Ah. . .”

Unlike Johan, who lacked 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.

To come forward to help without any hesitation like this even though he was in the position of a count.

Moreover, Johan had made a declaration 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 accept such words from a subordinate like this. Especially so if it was someone in power like Johan.

‘𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸?’

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 could come 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 plausible 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 jousting competition right now.”

“Oh.”

Johan realized what Caenerna was talking about. In a jousting competition, 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 to come 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.

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“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.

‘𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘸, 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥.’

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 welcome you.”

In fact, the elf king was not wrong. Of course, the hosts of jousting competitions often did not participate.

There was no need for the person who had to give prizes to the winners of the competition and congratulate 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.”

‘𝘈𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.’

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 place. 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. . .”

“. . . . . .”