How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 277: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 (6)

The Elf King was quite a talkative man when it came to things he liked.

And the group battles that took place in the tournament were events the Elf King could not help but love.

Horses and over a dozen knights moved across the wide plains, clashing 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 uncomfortable.”

The Elf King gave an order with a face that had become 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 relayed 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 glasses.

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 succession, 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 blazing 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 to compete 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 was common 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 the latter 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 ‘𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘭𝘧 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨’ because the Elf King was considered the most honorable opponent.

It seemed like they had come 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 have come to this, let us leave it to God’s will.”

“That is a good idea.”

“Priest! Please come here.”

“?”

The priest, who had been waiting while sighing, ran over, curious about the knights’ call.

’𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯?’

“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 places. Sir Knight.”

“Ah. Don’t be so uptight. Come on! Choose!”

‘𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩! 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶!’

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 their laughter 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 will last 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 particularly 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 flag, 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 displayed 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 black flag instead of his family’s flag.

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 uncommon 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 clashed 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. Applause and laughter erupted from the audience. It was something the priests would have hated, but the Elf King was popular 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 applause. 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 accept 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.

‘𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰?’

“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 glaring 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 blamed 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.”

‘𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴?’

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.

━𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬, 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦!

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.

‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯?’

“These despicable b*stards! Didn’t you say you would take the right flank?!”

“I only lost my way by mistake! We have to move together now that things have come 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.