𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐆𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 (3)
It seemed like magic to him.
Gophredo had some honor and dignity as a knight, so he did not claim that his opponent had magical powers even though he lost.
That would have been too embarrassing.
But Gophredo’s squire did not have much reputation to uphold yet. He thought to himself.
‘𝘐𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤. 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦.’
If Gophredo knew, he would have whipped the squire for spouting nonsense, but the squire only thought to himself so Gophredo did not notice. Thanks to that, Gophredo did not realize anything.
I will definitely find the magic and reveal its secret to receive praise and accolades!
Sometimes even a fool can stumble onto the truth. The squire snooped around Johan’s camp, asking about this and that. Since battle had not started yet, the atmosphere was not too hostile towards outsiders.
“Is there anyone here who can use magic?”
“Magic? Ah, the count performs miracles. How else could all those sick people stand up from their beds? It’s an incredible story. . .”
“No, not that. I mean things like a mystical enchanted bow, or arrows that precisely hit the target.”
“Hahahaha! Get a load of this guy! Where are you from to be spouting this nonsense?”
“??”
The mercenaries laughed loudly at the squire. It sounded like something a country bumpkin would say.
Serf youths from quiet rural villages often harbored such strange fantasies. Mythical weapons or magic and the like.
But after coming to the city with a few pennies in hand, they realized those things only existed in fairy tales.
Anyone seriously looking for those things was an *sshole.
“Don’t laugh too much. Since we’ve been to so many places, it’s not inconceivable that someone might have those kinds of treasures.”
“Well, the treasures of the hundred kingdoms were pretty amazing.”
The mercenaries here became wealthy by following Johan. Exotic spoils from the hundred kingdoms fetched several times the price back on the peninsula.
Naturally, rumors would surround such things. The mercenaries themselves enjoyed spreading embellished rumors, making them spread further.
“Hey kid. I don’t know if you’re trying to make an archery bet somewhere, or want to become a mercenary archer, but there’s only one way to properly hit your target. Practice.”
“Hahahaha!”
The mercenaries’ laughter made the squire’s face turn red. He wanted to say which knight he was serving under, but the squire was not that stupid. He gritted his teeth and withdrew.
“With that level of idiocy, he won’t last long as a mercenary.”
“Who would take him in?”
But the squire did not give up. Now he was motivated. After asking around several times, he got a satisfactory answer.
“Come to think of it, there was a wizard. . .”
“!!”
The squire was surprised. And excited.
“W-Who? Where can I meet them?”
“Hmm, my hands feel empty. . .”
“. . .Here you go.”
The squire silently cursed as he handed over coins. Grinning, the mercenary said,
“I just heard this from some servants, but seems there’s a pretty amazing wizard. Jyanina or something like that?”
“Did that wizard offer magic to Count Johan?”
“Huh? Well, I wouldn’t know but if he had useful magic, wouldn’t he have used it already?”
Thinking about monster hunting, the mercenary said that even if he didn’t know well, a wizard would probably have cast decent magic.
“That’s good enough, thank you!”
Desperate not to forget the information he obtained, the squire hurried out of the camp.
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
𝘢𝙬ᴇ𝔟𝕤𝘵𝔬𝚛𝔦ᴇ𝕤.𝐜𝘰𝙢
“Johan Yeats is victorious!”
After archery came horseback riding and camel riding competitions. Johan did not send a proxy and competed directly.
Knights who initially charged ferociously soon changed to tired expressions after Johan was victorious seven times in the duels.
They knew he was an excellent knight, but did not expect him to be this good.
“Wonderful. Their faces turned pale.”
Johan took off his helmet. Slaves brought water and washed the dust and sweat from his face.
“Is there no one left?”
“None. Very quiet now. Aren’t you happy you won so decisively?”
“More tired than happy.”
He accepted their challenges since they kept asking to fight, but Johan himself was bored. It did not make much difference even as cheers erupted from all around.
Having to pay attention to his surroundings and behave himself properly while regulating his strength to not kill the opponents was more tiring than real combat.
‘𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.’
He was doing it because there was time left, but he was getting quite tired. He wanted to hurry and capture the viscount to get to the main issue.
“No one else says that after winning besides you, sir.”
A horn sounded three times outside. Meanwhile, no announcement could be heard from the herald. It signified that no more knights were charging forth.
“Finally over.”
Johan was relieved. But it was too early to feel at ease. Negotiation was just beginning now.
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
‘𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?’
Johan fell into serious contemplation.
Should I just lead the mercenaries and launch a night raid, capture the viscount so he can’t escape, and capture the other vassals as well? Wouldn’t the people inside the castle surrender then?
Of course, it was nonsense. If he committed such a rude act while receiving hospitality, Johan’s hard-earned reputation would fall into the sewer.
However, this negotiation process was. . .
Excessively long, slow, complicated, and tested his patience. What was more absurd was that other people did not seem to find this procedure particularly strange.
Giada of the republic also reacted like ‘𝘐𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵?’
During the day, he met people from all walks of life gathered here, graced the occasion, and enjoyed the banquets they prepared. Various entertainments such as hunting, competitions, plays, and songs were a bonus.
They had to eat and drink again in the evening as well. As a place to entertain the count, luxury was required. There was enough wine prepared to fill a river.
Meanwhile, no words about the negotiations could be brought up. He was being treated as a guest!
Only after enduring this could negotiations begin.
“It’s good to swear peace. Our republic has no dissatisfaction with that. But how many times has Cardirian broken its promises?”
“Watch what you say! Insulting our lord is tantamount to insulting us!”