How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 11: ๐“๐ก๐ž ๐„๐ง๐ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐‚๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ (๐Ÿ๐Ÿ)

Whether to work as a mercenary or go to the city to find work, I wasnโ€™t sure yet, but it didnโ€™t matter. Starting with nothing, yet for some reason, my heart was racing.

Johan realized that he had been waiting for such a moment for a very long time. He had spent more than a decade living like a dead mouse, waiting for the day to leave this cramped fiefdom. Though he was not leaving amidst a warm farewell but sneaking away in the dead of night, it didnโ€™t matter.

โ€˜๐˜”๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜บ, ๐˜ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ญ ๐˜ข ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต.โ€™

The Aitz fiefdom was poor. Taking a set of expensive armor was one thing, but taking a horse as well would really be crossing a line.

Moreover, the stable was attached to an outbuilding next to the feudal lordโ€™s house where the servants slept, and any mistake could wake them with the sound of a horse.

Despite the risk, the temptation of a horse was strong.

Having one or not made a tremendous difference. It wasnโ€™t just about being fast and convenient. A horse was also a symbol of status.

Appearance, skin, accent, demeanor, attitude, clothing. . . all these things indicated what kind of person one was. A serf, no matter how smart or determined, found it hard to imitate a noble, and vice versa.

If Johan rode a horse, half of his troubles would diminish. People would think he was a knight.

After much thought, Johan made his decision.

โ€˜๐˜“๐˜ฆ๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ญ ๐˜ช๐˜ต!โ€™

Even if it was excessive, he couldnโ€™t give it up.

โ€œ?โ€

As Johan decided and was about to leave the storage room, he hesitated. He heard something.

โ€˜๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต?โ€™

Could someone in the feudal lordโ€™s house have woken up? That would be very troublesome. . .

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ!โ€™

The faint sound came from outside, not inside the feudal lordโ€™s house. Hearing the hoarse voice bursting into rough laughter, Johan realized who it was.

Sir Aitz of Gessen had returned.

โ€˜๐˜‹๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ช๐˜ต. ๐˜‘๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ฎ๐˜บ ๐˜ญ๐˜ถ๐˜ค๐˜ฌ. . .โ€™

Johan cursed inwardly and pushed himself into a corner. Now that it had come to this, he had no choice but to wait, unseen.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

โ€œWake up the servants and have them bring something to eat. Iโ€™m hungry.โ€

Gessen had grown fat enough to cover his muscles but was still a menacing knight. His heavy build, hidden by armor, exuded strength.

The slave following and serving Gessen bowed his head and ran to the annex. True to his life spent on battlefields, Gessen had a foul temper. Not running immediately meant a slap on the face, and in a stroke of bad luck, one might get hit with a spiked club.

โ€œYouโ€™ve worked hard. Sir Gessen.โ€

โ€œIt seems Count Gisored will soon send someone with good news.โ€

A few subordinates quickly flattered Gessen, who smiled pleasantly. Even though he knew it was flattery, it didnโ€™t upset him.

โ€œCount Gisored knows people well. In these times of frequent battles, itโ€™s not easy to find a knight like me.โ€

โ€œYou are absolutely right!โ€

Gessen preferred selling his force to influential nobles over managing his small and insignificant fiefdom. Participating in territorial wars was far more profitable than farming wheat or raising pigs.

This trip wasnโ€™t bad. Count Gisored was soon planning a war with a nearby noble, and his interest in Gessenโ€™s force was evident.

Whether it was the Holy Empire or the Western Erlans Kingdom, feudal lords clashing swords for a bit more land was common. In fact, it was rare not to. This was why knights like Gessen or mercenaries thrived.

โ€œHave you returned?โ€

โ€œOh. My wife!โ€

Gessen laughed heartily, embracing and lifting Mrs. Aitz. Despite his strong sweat and dust smell, Mrs. Aitz didnโ€™t blink an eye.

โ€œHaving a wife who comes to greet me like this makes me a happy man.โ€

In truth, Gessenโ€™s group had woken her with their noise, but that was unimportant. Mrs. Aitz replied in a soft voice.

โ€œOf course. But thereโ€™s a guest waiting.โ€

โ€œA guest? Who?โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t be surprised. Itโ€™s Sir Karamaf.โ€

โ€œSir Karamaf? Why is he here?โ€

Gessen asked in a lukewarm voice. He had no dealings with Karamaf.

โ€œIโ€™ll explain the reason shortly.โ€

โ€œ!โ€

The sound of Gessenโ€™s group seemed to wake Karamaf too, as Karamaf emerged from the main entrance on the first floor. Although he must have been sleeping until just now, Karamaf was fully armed. Wrapped in a plate armor made by dwarves, only his cold face, with the faceguard up, was visible.

Gessen instinctively reached for the weapon at his waist. Having shattered the skulls of numerous enemies, Gessen could feel it. Karamaf was certainly not here for a visit.

โ€œWhat brings you to my fiefdom?โ€

โ€œGessen Aitz. I arrest you for conspiring with heretics to poison His Holiness, the Emperor, and incite a rebellion.โ€

โ€œ. . .What nonsense!โ€

Gessen exclaimed as if screaming. It was a charge he had never heard before. However, Karamafโ€™s facial expression did not change.

โ€œWhen did I ever plot such a thing!โ€

โ€œSave your excuses for God, not me.โ€

โ€œI demand a trial. I am a noble of the Holy Empire and the head of the Aitz family. You canโ€™t decide based on your trivial words!โ€

โ€œI accept your request. You shall go to His Majestyโ€™s court and face trial.โ€

Upon hearing Karamafโ€™s words, Gessenโ€™s face was momentarily filled with despair. Karamaf was like an extension of the Emperor. He would not have taken such action without certainty. If this was a trap, going to court for trial might not offer an escape.

Gessen thought hard, recalling the powerful nobles he knew. Now was the time to seek their help, even if it meant offering the pillars of his fiefdom.

However, reality exceeded Gessenโ€™s expectations.

The moment he saw Karamafโ€™s cold eyes, Gessen realized. Karamaf would not take him to court.

โ€œHa!โ€

Gessen drew his weapon from his waist, intending to strike at Karamaf. But Karamafโ€™s attack was several times faster. Gessen, a knight, was not skilled in swift swordplay but in the martial arts of a strength-focused family.

In battlefields teeming with weaker foes, he could dominate like an invincible warrior, but Karamaf was several times stronger than Gessen.

Gessenโ€™s throat was cut before he could even draw his weapon.

The torchlight flickered on the sword as it sprayed blood in an unreal spectacle, leaving Gessenโ€™s men behind him unable to grasp the situation.

โ€œKyaa!โ€

The scream of Mrs. Aitz brought them back to reality. Her scream tore through the quiet nightโ€™s silence, echoing everywhere.

Karamaf, his face covered with a visor, commanded.

โ€œSend the signal.โ€

As he spoke, Karamafโ€™s waiting mercenary ran from behind the door and began blowing the horn. The sound, following the scream, eerily heralded doom.

โ€œThis b*stard dares!!โ€

One of Gessenโ€™s men, in a fit of rage, charged. He stabbed at Karamaf with a spear from horseback. Karamaf deftly avoided it and slashed at the manโ€™s leg. The sword, a famed blade enhanced by Karamafโ€™s skill, tore through the armor.

The man fell from his horse with a โ€˜thudโ€™. Despite the pain in his leg, he quickly rolled to regain his stance, showing the prowess of an experienced warrior.

But it did not save his life. As Karamaf approached, the man lunged with his spear. Karamaf didnโ€™t even dodge. The spearhead was futilely stopped by his armor.

The manโ€™s face sank into despair upon encountering the legendary armor.

โ€œDamn dwarven craft!โ€

The dwarvesโ€™ plate armor was impervious to ordinary attacks. One could only hope to knock the opponent down and prod at joints or gaps with something sharp.

But how could one attempt such against Karamaf?

โ€œDie!โ€

A thrust aimed at the face. Karamaf closed the distance in one fluid motion, deflecting the spear with one hand and slashing the manโ€™s throat with his longsword in the other. The fatally struck man clutched his neck and fell.

โ€œSurrender! We surrender!โ€

โ€œPlease spare us!โ€

Realizing they couldnโ€™t match Karamaf, the remaining men bravely surrendered. But Karamaf, unflinching, continued his assault.

โ€œSleep. . .โ€

One by one, like a butcher slaughtering sheep, Karamaf massacred Gessenโ€™s men. The mercenaries behind him watched with a mix of awe and terror.

โ€œThe Aitz family resisted arrest and attacked me. I proceed to subdue.โ€

โ€œYes!โ€

Sir Gessen was killed before he could be arrested, but the mercenaries, who knew the reason they were here from the start, didnโ€™t blink an eye. Yein, who came as a seed of Karamaf, calmly drew his weapon. He didnโ€™t understand the situation well, but as a squire, he just followed what the knight said.

โ€œSurround them. Donโ€™t spare anyone related to the family.โ€

The still half-asleep men of the Aitz family would be confused about what was happening inside the feudal lordโ€™s manor. The mercenaries brought by Karamaf drew their weapons and surrounded the vicinity of the feudal lordโ€™s manor to prevent any possible escapees.

Karamaf had one reason for coming here: to erase the Aitz family and send a warning to the disloyal nobles.

And the fault of the Aitz family was one: they were seen as an easy target.

They were weak enough to be trampled, and after being trampled, there were no other noble families to use this as a reason to object, and despite this, the head of the family kept mingling with all sorts of nobles.

They were the perfect scapegoats.

โ€œW-What is this. . . God is watching! Sir Karamaf! What are you doing?!โ€

A bloodied Mrs. Aitz screamed and questioned. Instead of answering, Karamaf signaled a mercenary. The mercenary raised a crossbow and shot her. Mrs. Aitz gasped and fell.

โ€œMake sure sheโ€™s dead.โ€

โ€œYes.โ€

The mercenary licked his lips and cut off Mrs. Aitzโ€™s breath. Normally, he might have had other desires due to her semi attractive face, but now that he was already in disfavor with Karamaf, doing such a thing would have really cost him his head.

โ€œThe servants are running out.โ€

โ€œIโ€™ll handle it. Make sure to properly watch the men of the Aitz family. I wonโ€™t forgive you if you let even one escape.โ€

Karamaf turned and walked towards the annex where the servants stayed. It was better to block that side, as the sturdy servants would likely run away better than the Aitz family men, who were only strong in appearance.

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