How to Live as a Wandering Knight

“Is Parre really safe?”

One of the elf knights looked at the envoys with disdain and asked.

To be precise, although it was a place a bit far west even in the south of the Empire, away from the turmoil of war, the envoys also had something to say.

How could they know how the situation around here would change as they left their fiefdom, went around the mountain range, and headed south?

“It looks like those who covet merit have brought their troops here.”

Count Puakonyu murmured as he identified the enemy’s military. At best, it was a force of less than a thousand.

After the emperor had won a great victory, the feudal lords of the south would have shrivelled up, and the nobles under the emperor would naturally have been swaggering around the south.

Originally, war was more often a series of small forces attacking and occupying towns, rather than hundreds of thousands gathering in one place to fight. It was closer to a tedious land grab than something dramatic.

“Should we wait for the follow-up troops, or attack right away. . .”

Johan was currently leading the vanguard of several hundred at the very front.

Behind them, the rest of the mercenaries and feudal lords of the Order faction followed, leading their troops separately.

To exert all their power, they had to wait for the whole army to gather, but the elf knights, as well as the mercenaries and centaurs, also wanted to attack immediately. And this was common. Whether nobles or commoners, they did not particularly want to share merit with others.

‘𝘕𝘰. 𝘐𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺.’

In fact, charging was not a bad judgement either. Johan’s vanguard consisted of some of the best warriors among the eastern tribes, and seasoned veterans among the mercenaries who were also well armed.

The fighting strength of the elf knights and the envoys was also considerable, so they were confident they could win even if they charged as they were. Giving the enemy little time to judge was also basic tactics. . .

“It looks like the enemy has noticed. They’ve started to retreat.”

“!”

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There were many nobles from traditional families under Cardirian, but there were also quite a few upstart nobles. They were mainly former mercenary captains who had rendered merit and received peerage.

The emperor employed far more troops than the strained finances could afford, and had to utilize various methods to pay their wages. One was conferring titles and certain rights.

Sir Torsten was one of them. Though to be precise, he was from a knightly family and worked as a mercenary captain before rising in status, other nobles didn’t care much about that fact. Mercenary captains and petty nobles looked much the same to them.

“Where did the relief troops come from? Could they be from Count Jarpen? I heard he doesn’t have any to spare??”

“I think you should retreat.”

“Damn it. We’re just about to take it. . .”

Sir Torsten looked at the castle walls with an expression full of regret. Originally, castles big and small were hard to capture swiftly, but Parre Castle was an exception. Its walls hadn’t been properly repaired since collapsing a few years prior.

Thanks to that, they could push relatively quickly, and the enemy was nearly beaten. . .

“Captain! Their numbers are smaller than expected! We can ignore them and push through! They probably can’t charge easily either!”

“And what if that’s just the vanguard?”

As the staff argued contradictory opinions noisily, Sir Torsten was getting a headache. Both sides had a point.

Reluctant to retreat after spending all that money, yet worried about the unknown reinforcements that could arrive anytime. . .

“The banners have been identified! It’s Count Yeats’ banner!”

“We retreat! Damn it! What’s that guy doing here?”

Upon learning which family the enemy banners belonged to, Sir Torsten made his decision instantly. His dilemma disappeared.

Some glory-hungry nobles and knights bragged about wanting to cross blades with Johan one day, but Sir Torsten didn’t have such lofty goals. He simply aimed to rise in status and wealth.

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“Is it a trap?”

Johan was puzzled. The opponent who had been aggressively trying to siege suddenly retreated, getting entangled and confused. The defenders along the city walls suddenly gained momentum and launched a counterattack.

Seeing them stumbling around like that even though they’re fine. . .

“We’ll find out if it’s a trap or not. Permission to advance!”

Euclyia shouted confidently. Johan nodded.

The centaurs would detour to the right to block the opponent’s escape route. Even if it was a trap, they would be able to get out immediately.

“We request permission to charge as well!”

Johan ignored the shout of the elf knights and waited. There didn’t seem to be any particular movement in the nearby forest either.

“It doesn’t look like a trap, does it?”

“It doesn’t seem so.”

“We request permission to charge as well!! Your Excellency!”

“Hmm. But let’s wait a little more.”

“Please give us permission to charge!! The centaurs will take them all!”

“That doesn’t sound too bad either. . .”

The elf knights were panting as if they were out of breath. Johan gave them permission, as he was worried they might challenge him to a duel if he left them alone any longer.

‘𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭.’

The elf knights charged into the center like hungry hounds, brandishing their swords and maces. Iselia watched them with an envious expression. She couldn’t join the charge because she had to guard Johan.

“The other side is requesting negotiations, Your Excellency!”

“Tell them to go negotiate in the afterlife.”

Johan sneered.

Why would they want to negotiate when the situation was not unfavorable at all?

However, the expressions of the envoys were strange. After hearing the terms of the negotiations, their faces turned pale as they spoke.

“. . .Your Excellency. It appears that Caccia-nim has been captured by those people.”

“!”

Caccia Jarpen. The youngest daughter of Count Jarpen and the wife of Ulrike. The envoys’ faces turned blue when they heard that such a noblewoman had been taken hostage by the opponent.

Iselia asked in puzzlement.

“What was she doing when she got caught?”

“She was probably walking around the area with some guards when she was ambushed. . .”

The envoy said in an anxious voice. Marriages between major noble families were quite dry.

Since there were no regrets or deficiencies on either side, they respected each other’s territories and didn’t interfere with what the other was doing.

“Even so, she should have brought more guards with her when going hunting.”

“Iselia. She probably wasn’t out hunting.”

Although Johan didn’t know the Jarpen family’s bloodline in detail, he had never heard that the youngest daughter enjoyed hunting.

He had heard talk about her having a beautiful appearance, talent for managing assets, and various other qualities that made her a good match. . .

“We have no choice. Tell them we accept the negotiations.”

He couldn’t abandon a noblewoman from the Jarpen family to capture some nameless knights and mercenaries. Johan’s words brightened the faces of the envoys.

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The battle was temporarily halted, and people came out from each camp. Sir Torsten looked ahead with a tense expression.

‘𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘯. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴.’

Although Count Yeats was not a nobleman who did not keep his faith, apart from that, facing someone from the central region was an extreme burden.

On one side was a mere mercenary captain, while on the other was the overlord of the south. He wanted to avoid accumulating resentment by facing him or drawing attention.

The count was younger than expected. The elven knights were escorting him. With the handsome count already surrounded by the elven knights, the pressure felt even greater.

“Sir Torsten, I presume?”

“Y-Yes, Count.”

Sir Torsten had to hold back the honorifics that wanted to come out.

“I will promise to not pursue you if you hand over the hostage.”

“Swear on your honor.”

“How dare a vulgar rascal like you doubt the honor of the Count!”

As the elven knight drew his sword, there were gasps around them. Johan stretched out his hand to stop him.

“I swear on my honor. Hand over the hostage.”

“I-I will do that.”

“You must be very angry. You were just about to take the castle, and then you got a hostage on top of that. . .”

“We were just lucky.”

They really were lucky. They happened to catch them because some people who looked valuable were wandering around, and it turned out to be the youngest daughter of the Jarpen family.

“A knight’s achievement is not determined by luck. Remember this knight’s name.”

Johan spoke as if making small talk. He meant for the other to save face by hearing this much since he must be very angry. However, the look on the other’s face was not very good.

‘𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.’

“Caccia-nim!”

The envoys were delighted to see Jarpen’s lineage. Other than looking a little tired, Caccia did not seem to have any other issues. It was natural since she was a precious hostage, but still it felt reassuring to see her in person.

“Your Excellency Count Yeats. You are the valiant knight who has visited the family fiefdom in the past.”

The envoy group was indebted to Johan so they sang his praises as much as possible. Even if they didn’t like it, they had to give compliments in this situation and with this debt, the flattery was inevitable.

Johan’s feats were exaggerated and the things he did for the Order were packaged as sacred devotion.

Seeing this, a dreamy look appeared on Caccia’s sullen face. Caccia looked at Johan with shining eyes and said,

“Sir Knight. You risked your life and honor to save me.”

“It wasn’t me but my subordinates who fought. . .”

The returning centaurs could be seen waving their hands behind, carrying two or three backpacks each on their backs.

Caccia held Johan’s hand, disregarding everything else.

“But it was Sir Knight who saved me.”

“If that is what my lady thinks, I can only feel honored. Hey, take Caccia-gong.”

At Johan’s gesture, the servants politely led Caccia away but Caccia shook off the servants’ hands and pressed a handkerchief into Johan’s hand. Then he walked away proudly.

Seeing this, the envoys’ expressions grew perplexed.

This. . .

Atmosphere. . .?

Suetlg whispered from the side.

“My friend, I think you’ve gotten yourself into big trouble.”

“I’m thinking the same thing right now, Your Excellency.”

Iselia, the only one who didn’t grasp the mood, cocked her head and asked.

“Isn’t it a handkerchief given as thanks and reward? When I was little, I also received one after saving a young maiden.”

“You should have looked into that maiden’s eyes. . . Were they the eyes of pure reward? They were the eyes of desire and longing!”

“Suetlg-nim. There are people from other families here too.”

The envoys pretended not to hear and awkwardly coughed. Suetlg waved his hand in irritation.

“Don’t pretend not to hear and come here. I don’t want things to get complicated so be honest with me. Who is Caccia-gong?”

“A kind and generous person.”

“That’s not what I’m asking right now.”

“. . .She likes tales of chivalry and courtly love and dreams about them.”

Suetlg and Johan understood the situation just from that and held their tongues. Despite being wrapped up in various stories and ballads, neither Suetlg nor Johan were the types to fall for such romance.

For noble ladies staying in castles, there were no more exciting partners than young and gallant knights.

Frankly put, it was just a fancy packaging for them to hook up when they were in heat.

The problem was that the nobles themselves were fooled by these stories made to trick others. The custom of swearing secret loyalty to an already married partner provided intense immersion and stimulation to knights and spouses alike.

Suetlg asked Johan.

“Isn’t she married to Duke Ulrike?”

“Yes.”

“Ulrike-gong is the power behind the Abner family?”

“That’s right.”

“Does Duke Ulrike happen to be the type to tolerate her wife openly having an affair with a nobleman?”

“. . .She’d kill them both.”

While it was customary not to care who hooked up with whom, that was only when it wasn’t public. Having an affair with a visiting count was a matter of face for Ulrike.

With his understanding of Ulrike’s temperament, the future was clearly laid out before Johan.

“Well, it’s fine. We just have to prevent her from approaching him.”

“. . .You still don’t know the blindness of love.”

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