How to Live as a Wandering Knight

“A raid?!”

Bishop looked shocked. While fights did happen in the city, he hadn’t 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. It’s these people who are the devils. I, Biagione, didn’t want to say this, but. . . maybe it’s time for the brother to step in.”

“?”

“I-I mean, we may have to personally capture those spreading bad rumors about this Biagione.”

“Shh. That’s 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 wasn’t 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 isn’t fighting within the city against city law? The one who draws the sword first will be blamed.”

“Brother. Don’t cling to the laws of this republic. People like us may discuss dozens of laws, but in the end, there’s only one law 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 ‘𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦’. Religion had that kind of power.

However, Johan, who had not been swayed by wizards’ words, was not swayed by Bishop’s words either. Johan’s soul was not fooled by such flattery.

‘𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘉𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯?’

Johan realized. Surely, the bishop had also noticed something from the other’s 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.

The last 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.”

“Didn’t I tell you! It might seem small, but in the bigger picture, it’s 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 insults last time.

Why is the knight who used to rage so wildly now so meek?

“What’s 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, isn’t it? It’s not an honorable act.”

‘𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴!’

The bishop lamented the customs of the Empire people. That damn honor, those damn customs!

“I’ve 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 don’t need it. I will not do it.”

As Johan remained adamant, the bishop also started to get angry. He couldn’t believe Johan was being so obstinate after being offered so much gold.

The bishop slammed the table and spoke forcefully.

“Brother! Think carefully. This is not for me, but for the god we serve. It’s about standing up to those who commit vile and dirty acts, those who commit blasphemy, so they no longer defile this city. If you do not heed Biagione’s words, brother, you are committing a great sin before God! Yes, an indelible sin!”

“Well, I’ll atone for it later.”

“. . .????”

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 bishop’s words about sin. He should have been scared or angry.

“Brother. . . are you not afraid of God’s judgment in the name of the bishop?”

“I am afraid of God’s judgment, but it’s because of my actions, not because of your light words, Bishop. Gossiping Bishop.”

When Johan mentioned his nickname, the bishop’s face turned bright red. Johan continued coldly and rationally.

“Bishop, I have made an honorable promise with you as a knight and am acting accordingly. 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 playing with Johan, but it turned out he was the one being played. 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. You’ve 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 wouldn’t have been surprising if people wanting to get close to the duke had approached Johan.

‘𝘕𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩. . .!’

The bishop sat down with a look of despair. Johan looked down at him and said,

“Why don’t 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 live comfortably in a scenic place.”

“What nonsense are you talking about. . .”

Even in his despair, the bishop reacted sensitively to the mention of his power and wealth. He glared 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 to come in from outside. . .”

“No, no!”

The bishop instinctively covered his neck. Johan’s calm manner of speaking was utterly chilling. The polite demeanor was gone, replaced 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 haven’t 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, claws, and wings.

It resembled a dragon, but was clearly different, much smaller and uglier in appearance.

It was a gargoyle.

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