How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Pilorachi was genuinely amazed by Johan’s knowledge. Johan’s talent was strangely twisted.

In some areas, he solved problems even Pilorachi couldn’t solve faster and more easily, but in others, he showed surprising gaps in knowledge.

But one thing was clear: this knight was more adept at arithmetic than many young numerologists or university students, sometimes even more than Pilorachi.

“You learned this from a priest? That’s too modest. This isn’t something you could learn from a priest at all.”

“. . .!”

“I’m amazed at how much you must have self-taught to reach this level.”

“Thank you.”

The fact that Johan dealt with Eastern numbers, not Empire numbers, meant he had deviated from the teachings of a priest, who mostly used Empire numbers.

Pilorachi excitedly noted down what he had learned from Johan. Despite the long conversation, he wasn’t tired at all, eager to experiment with his new knowledge.

“I thought it was a joke when I heard about it from the Alarhim family, but I’m truly delighted. Oh, take this.”

“What is this?”

“It’s a necklace containing the power of numerology. It’ll be helpful in these dangerous times in the city. Someone like you deserves to have it.”

The sponsoring Alarhim family would have been angry if they knew, but Pilorachi, true to being a wizard, didn’t care. Johan felt magical energy from the necklace offered to him.

‘𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦?’

The necklace, made of simplified shapes forming a magic circle, emanated a protective power. Johan gratefully accepted it.

Even though they shared the same mathematical knowledge, Pilorachi, who found mysticism in mathematics, and Johan, who had no such beliefs, were different. Such a necklace wouldn’t have been made if Johan had drawn it himself.

After finishing their conversation, Pilorachi seemed ready to talk about worldly matters.

He had a servant bring drinks and looked at Johan with concern.

“But I heard you’re working with Bishop Biagione, is that okay? You’re not being deceived, are you? He’s not a bad person but. . . he’s. . . not exactly a good person either.”

Pilorachi tried his best to speak positively, but that was his limit. Johan replied with a faint smile.

“I’m keeping that in mind.”

“That’s good to hear. The city is a bit dangerous these days. It’s not a good time for outsiders to stay for long.”

“People are hurling insults at the bishop. . .”

“No, not that. That’s always been the case.”

Insulting someone was a tradition of the city. Before the bishop, they insulted someone else, and they will insult someone else after him. Johan looked uneasy after hearing the explanation.

‘𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤?’

“Some lunatic keeps attacking citizens. . . There are rumors that a demon is roaming around.”

“?”

Johan didn’t realize it was true when he heard someone tell the bishop, ‘𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺!’. Suddenly, he became curious.

“Is there any known information about who the raider is?”

“None, none. It’s so bad that they even came to me for help.”

All Pilorachi could do was use numerology to locate the opponent, which was difficult in such a crowded city.

“I think it’s a retired mercenary or knight who returned from the East.”

The raider would flawlessly disappear after cutting off the victims’ breath in the middle of the night.

The skill to harm not only wanderers breaking curfew but also people inside their homes was not something anyone could do.

Maybe it’s a mercenary or knight who learned techniques from the East, where many evil assassins reside?

“What about a monster?”

“A monster. . . could be possible, but wouldn’t a monster be much more violent? Too cunning for a monster.”

Only targeting the victim and then escaping was not the kind of self-control a monster would show.

After the conversation, as he saw Johan off, Pilorachi repeatedly admonished him.

“If you feel something suspicious about the bishop, it wouldn’t be bad to back off. Of course, a contract is a matter of faith, but sometimes it’s okay to break it. . .”

Pilorachi, unaware that Johan was already playing with the bishop, had no choice but to worry. Johan quietly and gratefully accepted the kindness.

“Send letters often!”

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

“?”

On the way back with Gerdolf, Johan noticed something strange. The necklace he had tucked into his pocket was vibrating softly.

Looking ahead, he saw two people walking towards them from the far end of a narrow alley, and looking back, there were two more coming their way.

All four were wearing long coats, covering one side of their bodies. It was easy to guess that they had swords hidden underneath.

The servant guiding Johan seemed oblivious to the situation and kept walking. Johan grabbed him by the nape of his neck and stopped him.

“W-Why do you do this?”

“Gerdolf. It’s an ambush. Be careful.”

Gerdolf immediately drew his weapon. Since they were in the city, both were only carrying a longsword each.

“You’re quick on the uptake.”

The person who had been walking towards them from a distance stopped, swept aside his coat, and drew a shortsword. It was a weapon bordering on a rapier, narrower and longer than an ordinary shortsword.

Johan had to admit that the weapons they carried were quite suitable. They were easy to carry and ideal for stabbing in such narrow alleys.

Holding a longsword with both hands wouldn’t leave room for fancy techniques.

“Won’t you tell me who sent you?”

“Sorry about that. I’ll tell you after you’re dead.”

The swordsmen clearly had long training. From their well-developed muscles to their disciplined stance, they were obviously from a swordsmanship guild.

Johan, who had briefly hoped to identify the client, clicked his tongue. If a melee broke out, both the servant and Gerdolf could get hurt.

𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐩━

Johan lightly tapped the wall beside him. Fortunately, one side was a thick wall made of bricks. There was a space behind it.

Johan kicked the stone wall with all his might.

“. . .????”

The swordsmen, approaching from both front and back, were agape. They couldn’t understand what was happening right before their eyes. Suddenly, the wall beside them collapsed, creating a space.

Even though they clearly saw Johan kick it, their minds couldn’t make the connection. It defied common sense.

“There’s a space now. Gerdolf. Go to the side and protect the servant!”

“Yes.”

Johan picked up a piece of the broken stone and threw it. It sounded like something shot from a catapult. The stunned swordsman who was staring blankly got hit and was flung away.