How to Live as a Wandering Knight – Chapter 239

𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞 (4)

It was too meaningless a death for a prominent figure who led the Severed Gallows Mercenary Group, a rather famous mercenary group in the Empire.  

If he had properly drawn his sword and fought, he wouldn’t have fallen so meaninglessly.

However, nothing could be done for the dead. Johan flung aside the blood-stained wine glass. The drunk mercenary was startled by the flying wine glass as if flinging a javelin and fell back.  

“What!”

‘What’ was the mercenary’s last words. Before he could react, a dagger was already wielded in Johan’s hand.  The dagger pierced his throat.

‘𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭.’  

The assassin thought to himself as he charged from behind. It was a splendid skill. Though the mercenaries wouldn’t recognize, the assassin’s eyes could see how well-honed Johan’s dagger drawing motion was.

It must have taken effort to the point blood gathered at his fingertips.  

‘𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵?’

“Ambush! It’s an amb. . .ambush!”  

The rest seemed to have finally come to their senses and tried to call the mercenaries outside somehow. However, no sound traveled outside.  

Johan and the soldiers blocked the passage, brandishing swords to handle the remaining sub-captains. Blood splattered a few times and the inside became quiet.

“These mercenary b*stards ate and drank boastfully.”  

The soldiers grumbled as they picked up fruits and put them in their mouths. They had climbed the castle walls in the dead of night and sneaked in, yet these robbers were doing this. It was extremely annoying.

“I’ll move the corpses to the wall side. They’ll be decently covered with this cloth.”

The assassin tidied up the corpses using the space next to him. It would be more helpful for camouflage if only people disappeared rather than leaving the mess from when they entered.

“Just in case, let’s call and handle the guys outside too.”

“Yes.”

The assassin went out the door, whispered something. The mercenaries standing guard grinned and entered the room.

“Huh?”

Along with the sound of swords piercing bodies, the mercenaries collapsed. Feeling assured everything was completely taken care of, Johan nodded.  

“We just wasted time because of these weirdos. Let’s go rescue the baron!”

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

The people of the baron family stayed inside the inner quarters within the outer castle walls. Since they were the most important people in the castle, mercenaries were stationed accordingly. 

. . .Of course, such an arrangement was meaningless when disguised as a servant.

“The sub-captain ordered? Take them away.”

“The sub-captain? Is he trying to move our location?”

Johan admired the assassin’s skill. After staying for almost a week, he had finished surveying not only the structure of the castle but also the household registry.

No one even imagined that the servants currently here were infiltrators who had climbed over the castle walls.

When one of the suspicious mercenaries said, “Shouldn’t we at least check them out?”, the assassin angrily replied,

“I was whipped last time for being late. Are you telling me to get whipped again this time! This time when I get whipped, I will surely mention Sir Dieter’s name!”

“Calm down. I understand. Take them away.”

The party was able to easily take the baron family members away. Baron Halfbronn still seemed bewildered, not having grasped the situation yet.

While walking down the empty corridor, Johan asked the baron, 

“Baron. Did you know that people could infiltrate through the sewage drains outside the castle walls?”

“. . .What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Mind your manners when addressing him, Baron.”  

The soldiers behind them warned. At the very least, they could not tolerate the baron being rude to Johan.

“Sorry for the late introduction. I am Count Yeats. I came to rescue you after hearing the rumors.”

“!!!”

The baron was shocked as if he would faint.

“. . .How?”

“Just like I said earlier, through the sewage drains.”

“The toilet?? Through the filth??!!”

“Wouldn’t this have happened if the baron wasn’t captured?”   

At Johan’s words, the baron’s face turned red. Johan patted his shoulder as if feeling sorry.

“I spoke too harshly. My apologies, Baron. It’s only natural to encounter bandits and rogues in life.”

“. . .No. I should be the one apologizing. To fall for the honeyed words of those mercenary b*stards and hand over the castle. . .”

“As long as all the family members are safe, that’s all that matters.”

The baron’s family members were trying to maintain their dignity even in this situation. The baron’s young children were too scared to meet Johan’s eyes.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. Look here.”

After getting along with Amien and learning how to deal with young children, Johan knew what to do. He made a fist and opened it, making a coin appear and disappear like a simple assassin’s trick, fascinating the children who blinked their eyes.

‘𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘧 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.’

Karamaf disliked it, but he couldn’t deny that Karamaf was popular with young children. His unique physique and soft fur never failed to stop any crybaby from crying.

“Dear. Don’t bother His Excellency Count.”  

“It’s fine, madame. So baron. . . If you don’t mind, I’d like to send a signal right away to attack them. Is that alright with you?”

“Are there other soldiers too?”

“Quite a lot.”

The baron nodded with a surprised expression.

“When the mercenaries outside said enemies had come, I thought they were joking. Since there were none of you here at all. . .”

“Don’t you have allied families bonded by marriage?”

“Ah. . . they wouldn’t be the types to come help in this situation.”

The small and large feudal lords in the central region of the Empire were connected to each other somehow through trivial blood ties if you looked closely. The higher you go, the harder it is to find a family that isn’t related by blood to some extent.

In that entangled state, it was difficult to even call it an alliance. Unless an alliance was specifically established through marriage, it was awkward to request help. On top of that, they weren’t even in a situation where they could request help. . .

“They’re inside the temple. After we wipe them out, we can finish our talk. Send the signal!”

Johan sent the signal. Before the mercenaries noticed, even more soldiers would swarm over like a wave.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

When the mercenaries inside the castle realized it, infantrymen and knights were already swarming out from the top of the castle walls.

Johan, who was charging at the very front wielding the Giant Slayer, was like a natural disaster to the mercenaries. The mercenaries who gathered in groups of three or five trying somehow to block him were slashed in one blow.   

“A monster has entered the castle! A monster has entered the castle!!”

“No, asshole! It’s the enemy!! The enemy has entered!”

“Guard the gate! Where did they get in?!”

The mercenaries were at a complete loss as to where there was a breach. Some captains hurriedly tried to command and some ran to call the mercenary captain, but it was useless. The leader was already dead first.

While the mercenaries were running around, Johan and his men moved skillfully.  

“Secure the gate! Open it!”

With a heavy sound, the gate opened. Knights who had been waiting outside rushed in with a roar.

In the darkness, with blood splattering and only the screams of allies audible, the gate opened and over ten torches were brought in from outside. The mercenaries completely panicked.  

Those who were guarding the top of the wall took off their weapons and armor and tried to escape by disguising themselves as servants.

“Whether they are servants or slaves, catch them all first. It’s fine to cut down those trying to escape!”

“Don’t miss a single one. These are the b*stards who tried to plunder the baron’s territory!”

As the Elf King passed through the gate, he slashed at any mercenary he came across. His first priority was to find Johan.

“Count! Count! Where are you?!”  

“I’m here.”

“Thank goodness! I was worried that Count might have been injured by those petty thieves.”

While the two nobles greeted each other cordially, a massacre was taking place behind them. Some mercenaries threw down their weapons and tried to surrender, but the soldiers killed them without mercy. They were already deeply resentful.

“The baron and the others are above.”

“That’s good.”

Although Ulrike said that, the Elf King didn’t seem very interested. Getting rid of the guys who had occupied the baron’s territory was the main issue, the baron’s life itself had little meaning.

In the meantime, the fighting was over. The mercenaries were either dead, escaped or surrendered. The rest went into the tower inside the castle, locked the door and tried to hold out.

“Set fire to it.”  

The Elf King immediately gave the order. The elven knights did not hesitate at all and started setting fire under the tower. The mercenaries screamed in terror.

“. . .Shouldn’t we tell the baron?”

Unless the baron was trapped or dead, he was still comfortably resting above. Setting fire to buildings inside the castle without saying anything seemed inappropriate.

Of course, if the baron had any brains, he wouldn’t protest. But they should at least get his understanding to save face on both sides.

“What can be done about a fire that’s already been set?”  

Johan shrugged. Since the Elf King was willing to play the role of the bad feudal lord, he had no reason to step forward and interfere.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

“I am really grateful for this grace.”

“I just did what I had to do as a knight.”

The elf king spoke proudly. The Baron looked at the king with a complicated expression. He had heard that the elf king was the one who burned down one of the towers in the castle.

He was grateful but also had a subtle, complex feeling that made him want to nitpick. 

“You must have had a hard time. Have you rested a bit?”

The Baron nodded. During his rest he had calmed down to some extent and grasped the situation.

“Despite the undead plague wreaking havoc around here, I thank the three of you again for coming.”  

When you receive something, you must give something in return. No matter how benevolent and honorable the other person is, if you just end it with gratitude without giving anything in return, resentment builds up.

And in the current situation, there was only one thing the Baron could do for them.

“If you three allow it, I would also like to join the alliance.”

“Oh my. Is that so?”

Johan clucked his tongue and asked back. Usually this was the most important part when doing something like this. Though it was half forced, keeping up appearances was necessary.

“Yes.”

And Baron understood it well too.

You had to know how to accept it when the other party was considerate. The Baron was not stupid enough to stubbornly insist or put on airs.

Since the Baron accepted easily, an amiable conversation followed. Praising the martial valor of those who were active this time, wondering when they’ll hang the necks of those mercenary b*stards, so nice to finally meet you, I’ve wanted to meet you for some time. . .

The elf king asked Johan in a low voice.

“How many troops do you think the Baron can mobilize?”

“I hate to say this, but do not expect too much from the Baron.”

What Johan and Ulrike wanted was for the Baron to participate in the alliance and persuade other nearby nobles too. Just this area not siding with the Emperor faction was already several times more beneficial.

Even if he did not mobilize many soldiers, it was difficult for an army to pass through a region with a hostile feudal lord.

Seeing the situation, the Baron would have to take out several loans to properly mobilize an army.

“If he can’t even do that much after saving his life, he has no qualifications as a noble.” 

“You’re right, but even if you save someone’s life, if you demand too much their heart becomes estranged. Not everyone can be as chivalrous as Your Majesty, so please understand.”

Johan was already accustomed to dealing with the elf king. The elf king nodded with a convinced expression. 

The Baron could not hear the conversation between the two, but Ulrike next to him heard it clearly. Ulrike glanced at the elf king with an incredulous look.

“So, baron. When will the mercenaries be hanged?”

“Ah. . . please wait a moment. I have heard a rumor.”

“?”

“Well, it was something the mercenaries said, so I didn’t really listen, but. . .”

Johan smiled kindly. It was a smile that soothed baron’s heart.

“It’s okay, even if it’s a silly rumor. Please feel free to tell me.”

The mercenaries who were holding the baron captive were not just standing guard, but also drinking and chatting with each other.

One of the things they talked about was what would happen next.

The mercenaries knew what they were doing, so they were afraid. One of the captains said,

━𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲! 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫. 𝐇𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫.

━𝐈-𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞?”

━𝐒𝐡𝐡. 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰. 𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬!

━𝐎𝐡. . . 𝐎𝐡 𝐨𝐡 𝐨𝐡. . .!

“Oh. . .”

Johan listened to the story with great interest.

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