How to Live as a Wandering Knight

“No. Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not trying to kill you to shut you up.”

The most common occupational hazard that assassins faced was still their employer’s betrayal. Dead assassins don’t spill secrets after all.

“What does that mean then?”

The assassin from Nessus was skilled with a short sword and confident he could sever the windpipe of an enemy from ten paces away with a small, barely visible throwing dagger, but he did not want to duel Johan.

Attacking unarmed would be dangerous, but fighting properly equipped would likely lead to a gruesome death.

“Let’s fake a duel.”

“But. . .you’re a knight. Is that acceptable?”

“You’re an assassin who can’t assassinate. Why can’t I fake a duel?”

The assassin cursed Johan in his mind. He didn’t dare say it out loud or his neck could get snapped.

Duels were sacred, especially to knights who valued honor. Faked duels were unthinkable to them.

It was unbelievable to the assassin.

“We’ll fake a duel where you lose and become my hostage. That way you can avoid suspicion for a while.”

“. . .Not a bad scheme. It’ll take some time for my house to prepare a ransom.”

“Ah. And I can get a ransom out of this. How nice.”

“. . . . . .”

Seeing Johan act like a merchant, the assassin gave him an uneasy look. It was too out of place.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“. . .It’s nothing.”

“Is Count Shirivik’s house wealthy?”

“Neither wealthy nor poor. Some debts from campaigns, some rights ceded to merchants. . .”

“If someone close to the Count valued him, that would be good.”

“From his actions, that doesn’t seem likely.”

“Still, there should be a minimum of good faith. I understand. Prepare to return. We need that fake duel.”

“. . .I humbly request your help.”

“Yes, mine indeed.”

“I very humbly request your help.”

“Why do you keep emphasizing it?”

“. . . . . .”

The assassin held his tongue though he had much to say. Johan had to regulate his strength. Annoying him and causing a failure in that could make the assassin’s head explode.

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The assassin, no Count Shirivik shouted as soon as he returned.

“I will duel with Count Yeats directly!”

“. . .Huh???”

The knights and soldiers below were surprised. It was too unexpected.

Count Shirivik was neither a knight nor a man who enjoyed dueling.

On the other hand, the opponent was a young knight whose reputation was splendid.

No matter how much they thought about it, there was no chance of winning.

The duel was the privilege and right of the nobility, but not everyone exercised it. It is not insulting for an old and sick person to refuse a duel. You can just send out a champion instead of going out directly, so why say that?

“The guy insulted His Majesty and insulted my family. I can never endure it unless I wash it directly.”

“Calm down, Your Excellency! No matter what, Your Excellency does not need to come forward at all!”

The count shook his head at the words of the deputy. As he insisted on his stubbornness no matter how much they tried to stop him, everyone began to accept reality.

‘𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭. . .’

‘𝘜𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵?’

The scribes who followed the count had dissatisfied expressions, the knights had respectful expressions. The mercenary captains had expressions that they wanted to say something but did not dare to intervene.

“Bring me my armor and sword! It is a fight to defend honor and faith. To whom will God raise his hand?”

‘𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩, 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵.’

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“It looks like it’s gone back. . .”

“No. Count seemed to know his honor a little. My eyes were wrong to say he was weak.”

The Elf King refuted Ulrike’s murmur. Any warrior who stood up to defend his own honor deserved to be respected.

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐦!

Count Shirivik fell off his horse in one blow. You could see the other side clutching their foreheads and sighing. They thought the count would stand up proudly and have some hidden skills, but there was really nothing.

“The future of Count Shirivik’s family is also worrying.”

“I think it would be better not to be too harsh on the person who will come as a hostage, Your Majesty.”

“. . .I’ll be more careful in the future.”

‘𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯.’

‘𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯.’

When it was just the two of them, the irritation towards each other only increased.

Johan returned proudly. As Johan was greeted with applause and cheers from the knights in the camp, he felt a little embarrassed. He knew it was customary congratulations, but his opponent was so incompetent.

‘𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦.’

“Are you okay?”

“My bones feel a little sore. . .”

“As long as you’re not dead, that’s fine.”

Several members of the count’s group came running from the other side, while the rest began to show signs of wanting to retreat. With their leader taken hostage, none of them were going to stay here.

The elf king watched the retreating figures with an expression like a puppy who had its food snatched away. He couldn’t attack to defend his honor, but he clearly wanted to charge somehow.

When Count Shirivik appeared, supported by Johan, the elf king erased his reluctant expression and turned his gaze.

“It was a good duel, Count Shirivik. According to honor and custom, I will guarantee your rights.”

“. . .Thank you. If possible, I would like to go in and rest.”

“Please do.”

After Count Shirivik went inside, the elf king nodded his head and said,

“Judging by his gait, he doesn’t seem like such a weak warrior as the rumors say.”

“. . .!”

A chill went down Johan’s spine at the elf king’s intuition. The assassin was surely mimicking the count’s gait as well, yet he noticed something off.

‘𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭.’

He had shown a sloppy appearance to make them let their guard down, but the elf king was no ordinary figure either. Johan regained his composure.

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As the opponent withdrew, the subjugation in the baron’s territory proceeded smoothly. The soldiers of the three feudal lords moved cleanly to surround and annihilate the horde of undead.

The expeditionary force, which ended the subjugation vigorously while moving through four towns, stopped in front of the baron’s castle.

” . . .?”

“Has the family crest changed. . .?”

Ulrike looked up at the castle with a bewildered expression.

Instead of Halfbronn Baron’s flag, an unfamiliar flag was fluttering.

Moreover, that was not the crest of a noble family. That crudely drawn flag without proper standards and formats. . .

“Your Excellency. Your Excellency.”

“?”

“That flag is the flag of the Severed Gallows Mercenary Group!”

The assassin, no, Count Shirivik, whispered.

The reason he knew the Severed Gallows Mercenary Group was simple. That mercenary corps had been hired by the emperor before.

Although their nature was rough and brutal, they were relied upon for their unquestionable abilities and distinguished war service.

“Then why are they here? Were they chased out?”

“To be precise, they left on their own.”

“Why? Did they disobey the emperor’s order?”

“No. The emperor had failed to pay their wages.”

“Ah. . .”

Johan immediately understood. The emperor faction’s situation had not been very good until winning the last battle. It was natural for the mercenaries’ wages to be delayed several times.

‘𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴. . .’

There was only one reason why the mercenary corps would raise their flag like this. Since they would not dare to do such a thing if employed, this was. . .

An occupation!

In peaceful times, mercenary leaders or rogue knights would not dare to attempt this, but in turbulent times, they would occupy castles or towns and attempt to become new feudal lords.

Most did not work out well, but with good luck, some managed to just sit tight.

Johan shared the information with others. The Elf King flared up in anger.

“How dare those petty mercenaries infringe upon the legitimate rights of proper nobles!”

As a baron of the Empire, he was still a noble. It was unbelievable that rogue gangs had attacked and seized the castle of such a baron.

“Judging that there has been no contact during the subjugation, it seems that the entire baron family has been captured.”

“I thought the same.”

Johan also agreed with Ulrike’s words. Baron Halfbronn and his family were likely trapped inside.

“While I don’t agree with His Majesty, leaving the castle alone could become very annoying later.”

“That’s not an agree. . . oh, never mind.”

As Ulrike glared at him, Johan pretended not to know what she was talking about. He understood well what Ulrike was saying.

‘𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘳.’

Judging by the fact that the assassin, no, Count Shirivik did not know, there was probably no contact after that, but those kinds could easily turn their coats anytime.

If the situation got complicated later or they were driven into a corner, they might send a letter to the emperor, with whom they had a connection, and declare themselves his vassal.

And the emperor’s personality is. . .

“I think he’ll accept it.”

No matter what insults the central nobles hurled behind his back, the emperor was likely to accept them. He seemed like that kind of person.

“His fortress seems too sturdy and difficult to attack. Is it not possible to attempt negotiations?”

“While I appreciate the count’s idea, negotiating with those kinds of scoundrels could tarnish my honor.”

“Then what about pretending to negotiate to lure them out, and then dealing with them?”

Ulrike was slightly moved by Johan’s words, which seemed to read her inner thoughts. How upset would she have been if she was only with the elf king?

“That’s not a bad idea, but the elf king. . .”

“Leave it to me.”

“And more than anything, there’s a high chance they’ll get suspicious.”

“That would be a problem.”

An elf knight rode his horse up to the castle gate fully armed. Immediately, a catapult stone flew at him from atop the castle wall. The elf knight blocked it with his shield, shouted once, then returned.

“My apologies.”

“No, you did well. It doesn’t look like they have any intention to negotiate at all.”

The news that an army had come seemed to have spread within the castle as well, as mercenaries poked their faces out from the top of the wall. The mercenaries, composed of various races, shouted fiercely:

“Listen! The esteemed nobles of the Halfbronn family! We are protecting them. If you approach, we cannot guarantee their lives!”

“Show their faces! We cannot believe you unless we see their faces.”

The mercenaries spat out some curses and then brought out the baron. Although haggard and pale, the baron and his family members looked unharmed.

“Clever bunch. . .”

Johan muttered. Suetlg nodded.

Although it was a simple exchange, they were able to get a read on their opponents. First of all, the opponents clearly recognized that they were weaker in strength compared to the expedition.

Otherwise, there would have been no reason to show the baron’s face or threaten them. Such rough behavior came from the fear stemming from a clear grasp of the situation.

Additionally, not a single one of the baron’s family members was hurt at all. There seemed to be an intention to collect ransom for their release when necessary or use them as hostages.

“If he was a reckless fool, he wouldn’t have been able to maneuver like that.”

“Indeed. Call the dwarves.”

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“Uh-uhm. . .”

“Ugh-uhng. . .”

The dwarves groaned. There was no answer. Johan apologetically said,

“I guess I said too much. Do not take it to heart.”

The lord’s considerateness sometimes felt even more painful. The dwarves trembled in humiliation.

However, the fortress of the Halfbronn family was literally impregnable.

Fundamentally, the defending side was overwhelmingly advantageous over the attacking side in a siege. When the defenders thoroughly eliminate weaknesses, the attackers have no options.

Located on high ground, seated on solid bedrock so tunneling was not viable either, with thick walls that could not be breached without siege weapons of a certain minimum size, and the angles were unsuitable as well. . .

“Since it is a castle built by dwarves in the old days, it seems quite sturdy.”

“That’s right. It is a castle built by dwarves. . .”

“Is this really the time to feel good about it??”

The centaurs who overheard mocked them. The dwarves awkwardly cleared their throats.

“Besides, even if we smash down the walls and gates, the hostages remain inside.”

“Your excellency. Just give the order, and we will try climbing over the walls at night.”

Some mercenaries boasted eagerly. The mercenaries who followed Johan were enthralled by their lord even without pay, willing to fight for him.

Scaling the walls under the cover of darkness was certainly within their capabilities.

Hearing that, Johan involuntarily fixed his gaze on Count Shirivik.

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