𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐆𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 (1)

The grudges from dissatisfaction could be dealt with later. That wasn’t the urgent matter right now.  

Right now, we had to increase the number of mercenaries by at least one person and heighten our vigilance.

None of the vassals who were present opposed. Some may have said, ‘𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.’  But still.  

Johan’s momentum was that threatening. No one underestimated the new count.

“Don’t you think about making peace, Your Excellency?”

‘𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘮.’

Some of the vassals grumbled to themselves. There had been some contacts from the republic. While being conscious of the glances around them, they spoke round and round but eventually their suggestion was this.

━𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬?

Of course, the viscount rejected it flatly and other vassals were also furious and chased away the envoys. However, their suggestion remained in people’s minds.  

It was certainly a dishonorable and humiliating thing to ignore the oath made to one’s lord and switch sides.  

However, there is no such thing as absolute in this world.

While the loyal vassals to the Emperor did not have any other thoughts, vassals other than them thought making peace was also possible. After all, isn’t the important thing their rights?

The viscount was the Emperor’s agent but he had ruled the fief for a long time and was the de facto feudal lord. If he made up his mind, he would be able to do that much.  

While it would be humiliating for the viscount, that humiliation would not be the vassals’ own.

“Hmm.”  

However, the vassals held back. No matter how they looked at it, it did not seem like the viscount would listen to their words.  

They were afraid that if they brought it up improperly, they might get branded by the vassals loyal to the Emperor or it might even be reported upwards. . .

“Your Excellency, there is an envoy from the city!”

“!!”

The people present became tense at the servant’s urgent shout.  

What would the new count demand?

However, contrary to such worries, the envoy only talked about very sensible matters.  

To release the captured knights and in exchange, he would also send guests from his side and asked to treat them well.

Since the viscount also sent knights, it was not an unreasonable demand that could not be accepted. Rather, it was an exceptionally moderate proposal.  

” . . .?”

“Isn’t this showing mercy honorably as fellow knights?”  

One of the vassals gave his opinion. The mask of fame that Johan was using had its influence at times like this. There were still people who thought of Johan as an honorable and faithful knight.

If that’s the case, then mercy without asking for ransom could also be understood.

“How will you respond, Your Excellency?”

“. . .If they come as guests, is there any reason to reject them?”

The viscount answered slowly and reasonably. Refusing could give the other party justification so he was being careful.  

“Send people to the port and tell them guests will come. To treat them properly. So they can’t find any excuse.”

The vassals nodded their heads. Surely things like this could become an excuse. While they couldn’t make unreasonable accusations, there was no harm in being careful.

“Who do you think will come?”

“It seems like it would be the knights serving under the count, but just in case, prepare for other possibilities as well.”

“Yes!”

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

𝚊𝙬ᴇ𝘣𝚜𝘵𝚘𝐫𝕚𝚎𝚜.𝕔𝚘𝚖

While mercenaries gathered and fleets assembled, Johan enjoyed the culture of the city at ease, resting comfortably. The sweetest wine and the city’s finest musicians adorned the place.   

“. . . . . .”

Lying diagonally, Johan’s figure resembled a lazy beast. Jyanina gulped. Karamaf, lying under Johan, blinked and looked at her.  

“I heard you were quiet in front of the knights. Express your gratitude.”   

“It’s nothing, Your Excellency. I can do it whenever you want.”  

“It seems the mud bath has made you humble.”  

“Yes. It was very educational.”  

‘𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣*𝘵𝘤𝘩. . .’ 

━𝐆𝐫𝐫𝐫!  

“!!!”  

As Karamaf growled low, Jyanina was startled. That beast had absurdly sensed her true feelings. Johan snorted.   

“Did you swear inside?”  

“No way!”   

Jyanina tried magic as she looked into Karamaf’s pupils – the magic of affinity to let the monster know ‘𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘺’.   

━𝐆𝐫𝐫𝐫.   

Karamaf shook his head as if annoyed, then lay down. The magic had failed. This was because mystical power surrounded the area.   

‘𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥?’

Jyanina was slightly surprised. She thought there was no one around who looked like a wizard. . .   

“Do you remember why I called you?”  

“Count, about the dragon playing dead, I swear to the name of gods and magic. . .”  

Seeing her bring up an oath she didn’t even make, she seemed quite upset. Johan shook his head.  

“I guess that could be possible.”

“Thank you.”  

‘𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦. 𝘏𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩?’

“The reason I called you. . . is to ask something to you who is called the handler of monsters and beasts. Can you build a monster army?”   

“What???”  

Jyanina doubted her ears.  

‘𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩?’   

Jyanina unconsciously looked around. This could be a trap, and the judges of the Order might be hiding. But there was no one around.  

Even Cardirian’s people who tamed a few decent monsters and secretly used them never thought of building a monster army. In the first place, as a follower of the One Truth Faith, they couldn’t have such wicked thoughts.   

“I. . . I’ve never had such thoughts in my life, Count.”  

“I didn’t ask if you’ve thought about it. Is it possible or impossible?”

“Impossible.”  

“Do you swear it’s impossible in the name of magic?”   

“. . . . . .”