𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 (2)
The envoy returned half-convinced. However, Johan really kept his promise.
As he did not even move to build a camp near the town, public opinion within the religious order also changed rapidly. Johan already had considerable trust built up within the religious order.
━𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝. 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬, 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡?
━𝐖𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐔𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬.
━𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫!
There was a long history of bad blood between the religious order and Cardiria.
The order had always tried to increase the authority and rights it held within the Empire, starting with ordainment rights. The various rights held by the bishops could not be handed over to the greedy Emperor.
The Emperor could not have looked kindly on such attempts. To the Emperor, the order was merely an ornament that supported his authority and provided justification for his rule, nothing more. It was only natural that he would not appreciate their continued vocalization.
There had been a time in the past when the Emperor himself led an army right up to the gates of the Papal See, such was the depth of discord between them.
━𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐬𝐨! 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧!
━𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭?
While the Emperor was distracted, the religious order was doing whatever it wanted, even ignoring the Emperor’s request to excommunicate the rebellious nobles. From the Emperor’s perspective, they would surely seem like the enemy.
It would make things much easier if he could capture the Pope and bishops and install his own people.
━𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡. . .
━𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐦. 𝐈𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞, 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐭.”
While there were differing opinions, they were unified in agreeing that, even if it proved fruitless, the order should make preparations in advance.
Hearing the news, Johan heaved a sigh of relief. There were few things more frustrating than stupid allies when fighting together. He was fortunate that the other side had listened.
‘𝘔𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦.’
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
Although he had set up a camp and stopped, there was still work to be done. An army is like a living organism that is constantly moving even when left alone.
Johan set up a camp along the river. If there was one thing that impressed Johan in Vynashchtym, it was their fortification skills. The elite soldiers of Vynashchtym built fortifications much faster and sturdier than mercenaries digging trenches and setting up defenses.
The knowledge he had learned there was also evident in setting up the current camp.
“Your excellency. We have received permission from the Order.”
“Finally? That’s a relief.”
Johan was glad to hear that he could bring some of the soldiers into the Order’s fiefdom. He planned to send knights and sub-captains to take care of defense and reconnaissance.
Unless there was a special purpose, there was no need to gather many personnel in one place. It was better to divide them appropriately and scatter them for supplies and combat.
An army in this era was just a loose cluster of dozens or hundreds of groups. Since the enemies could not charge all at once, the allies had to prepare accordingly.
Since knights also participated in battles with their soldiers, it would be sufficient help just to position them at key locations.
“Go north along the highway. There is a small castle nearby, so defend using that castle if needed. Report the number of enemies that appear, no matter how many there are.”
“Yes, your excellency. I will not disappoint you!”
After giving orders to some knights, Johan himself moved with the elite troops. His own eyes were always the best.
“Fortunately, the atmosphere does not seem too bad.”
“There are benefits to gaining trust.”
Suetlg nodded at Johan’s words. No one would be unafraid when over a hundred armed heavy infantry passed by.
However, the villagers did not seem too frightened, just cautious. Thanks to Count Yeats’ flag.
There could be no easier way to earn cooperation in the region. Johan stayed and enjoyed the enthusiastic hospitality of the village chief.
“But my dear.”
“?”
“What if the enemies do not come?”
“. . .”
In fact, it was more problematic if the enemy did not come than if they came. Johan was quite embarrassed.
Of course, given Johan’s position, he would not be mocked, but it would have been better if they came. That way Johan’s suffering would have been recognized.
“Hmm. Bluea-gong made a perceptive point.”
“Caenerna is not. . . the type of person to betray. . .”
“Even if she is not the type to betray, she could still make a mistake. She could have been deceived.”
“Caenerna is not even Jyanina. . .”
Although Johan spoke like that, his voice was completely deflated. Iselia, thinking she had spoken nonsense, fretted trying to comfort Johan.
“I-It’s alright. My dear. Even prophets make mistakes occasionally. Even if that happens, I think it’s thanks to you that the invaders could not come.”
“Thank you, Iselia.”
“If anyone insults you for this, I will challenge them to a duel.”
Johan changed the subject, pretending not to hear.
“. . .Just in case, it would be good to prepare some excuses or explanations.”
“It should be enough just to subdue some monsters or rogue gangs. From what I’ve seen, the Order people will be satisfied with just that.”
With the persuasive power of the Order combined with Johan’s reputation, even raiding a goblin lair could be turned into a heroic legend.
Of course, Johan would not boast about raiding a goblin lair, but. . .
‘. . .𝘐𝘴 𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩?’
Using Jyanina’s skills to somehow disguise a manticore corpse and. . .
“Count! Count!”
“?”
Hearing the desperate cries from outside, Johan turned his head. A serf holding a torch was desperately shouting in the darkness.
“Honorable and faithful Count Yeats, I beg you to listen to me. . .”
“Catch him! Fool!”
“Marak, who is this guy trying to catch! Stay still!”
Before his subordinates could even move, the villagers came running hastily and grabbed the serf.
It was quite rude to just run up to a nobleman and make a request, but more than that, this was not even Count Yeats’ fiefdom.
It was inappropriate in itself to plead for help from a count who was not their lord, and it could insult their own master’s dignity.
Why ask another count for help when they have a perfectly fine master?
“That’s enough. Let’s hear what he has to say.”
Johan gestured to the village chief. The young count’s attitude reassured the village chief for now. He did not seem annoyed or irritated at the disruption of his rest.
“It’s really nothing much. It’s just some local rogues, our feudal lord will soon take care of them.”
“If that were really so, would there be any reason to shout so desperately?”
“. . .”
“Give him some liquor. It’ll loosen his tongue. I won’t forgive any more interference.”
Unexpectedly, Johan was even more cordial. After some drinks, the serf seemed to gain some courage. He babbled on about the rogues he encountered while herding pigs.
“As soon as they saw me, they shot arrows at me! After that I was too scared to even enter the woods. . .”
“Didn’t you hire any mercenaries?”
Whenever there are monsters, rogues or too many mercenaries near a town, isn’t it common to hire more mercenaries? The village chief looked embarrassed as he said:
“We sent them twice but both times they did not return. . .”
“I see.”
Johan nodded.
He was rather bored of visiting around and just waiting to be treated. This was good timing. Not only would he get to express his thanks, cutting off several necks would also serve as a good excuse later.
Even if he claimed to have driven off the mercenaries, it was obvious these villagers did not have the means to afford decent quality mercenaries. No matter how many rogues there were, they would melt away when facing Johan’s elites.
“It’ll be a hunt at dawn. Let’s take a look at the faces hiding in the woods!”
Hearing Johan’s shout, his subordinates cheered loudly. The serfs seemed stunned, unable to even lift their heads.
“M-My lord Count. To trouble his lordship the Count with such nuisance. . . Our feudal lord will. . .”
“I’ll explain it to your feudal lord. As a knight I cannot bear to stand still when facing enemies, he’ll understand.”
Iselia nodded. Johan’s words completely resonated with her.
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
“How boring.”
“Go to sleep.”
“I just stretched out and slept a while ago.”
“Sleep more. Once you start moving, you won’t be able to sleep even if you want to.”
“What nonsense. . .”
The rogues grumbled as they rolled old bone dice. There were many things they had to give up when they abandoned the town and hid in the forest. One of them was comfort.
Their bodies grew restless as they had to keep waiting in the forest to divide up their shares and head into town or the city.
“But that job the captain brought in, is it really true?”
“You doubt the captain?”
“No. . . Why would a well-off noble give us something like that when they have hundreds of soldiers?”
“Sometimes a quiet blade that can be used without a sound is necessary.”
The rogues were decently successful former mercenaries. Their captain was even acquainted with some lower nobles.
After some trouble, they made a living as rogues. One day, the rogue captain came back with an excited look on his face and shouted.
━𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞!
━𝐎𝐡? 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?
━𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐢𝐧.
━𝐖𝐡𝐚, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭??
━𝐀 𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞. 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐛𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦.
Mereine City, one of the cities in the northern part of the peninsula, had amassed enormous wealth through the trade of textiles and wool. The observant rogue captain recognized the origin at a glance.
━𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞?
━𝐎𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭. 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲!
The reason didn’t matter to the rogues. The point was they could raid some easy towns and receive more gold coins. Any loot they got while raiding was a bonus.
“Wait. I hear something.”
A shrill sound was heard from afar. It was the sound when something got caught in their traps.
“A boar must have gotten caught!”
“Our captain has great skills. Let’s go.”
“Bring it back neatly.”
The rogues praised their captain’s skill and ran over. The rogue captain had been a hunter and served as a soldier before. He had many skills. Especially, his trap skills made it difficult for anyone to carelessly step foot in this forest.
In the past, he had caught eight pursuers with his traps alone.
“. . .?”
What burst out from the bushes wasn’t a boar, but a well-dressed young noble. The young noble was intrigued by the trap, turning it over in his hands.
“Kill him!”
The rogues followed orders and pulled out their short swords, moving to strike the young noble’s head.
‘𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵, 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵!’
It would be such a waste to just kill a noble!
𝐓𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐜𝐤!
With a dull thud, the sword in their hand disappeared. The rogues blinked, looking baffled.
What just happened?
“Are you rogues who have been committing murder, pillage, rape, arson, and theft in this forest?”
“Uh. . .”
That was when the rogues noticed their surroundings. Dozens of heavily armed infantry were coldly staring at them. They were decked out in mismatched gear, while the rogues were thinly equipped after their long life on the run.
“The count asked you a question!”
“!!!”
Violence rained down immediately. The soldiers gagged the rogues and beat them. While the men were being beaten up nicely, Johan looked over the traps.
‘𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘺.’
If Hunter Joseph saw this, he would have laughed. Just in case, he purposely triggered it to make a sound. He didn’t expect something to get caught so perfectly.
He was lucky he didn’t have to search the forest. Johan threw away the trap and turned his gaze.
“Remove their gags.”
“Urk, count, Count. I, I didn’t know it was you, please forgive my rudeness. . .”