How to Live as a Wandering Knight – Chapter 169

𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐲 (3)

Jyanina inadvertently swallowed her saliva. She had often seen hundreds of soldiers come and go, but it was the first time she had seen so many gathered in one place. 

The soldiers seemed to fill the horizon from one end to the other. She could not even guess how many enemies there were. The sight of hundreds of fluttering banners made her heart sink.

On the battlefield, each individual was like a speck of dust. The brilliant and precise commander who could control the battlefield was just someone from a story, and the reality was much more chaotic and messy.

During battle, it was impossible to know who would win, and sometimes it was difficult to know who had won even after the fighting ended – that was the nature of a pitched battle.

While knights would gladly become specks of dust and charge into the dirt and dust, Jyanina was not one of them. She racked her brains for a way to get out of this somehow.

“Y-Your Excellency, aren’t the enemy’s numbers too great?”

“It appears so.”  

“In the city. . .”

“They could have stayed, yet they chose to follow us out. Their loyalty moves me.”

Johan preemptively cut off Jyanina’s attempt to suggest they retreat to the city. Crestfallen, Jyanina withdrew.

Though Jyanina was no wizard like Suetlg or Caenerna, she was still a wizard. There was no telling when Johan might need her skills. 

‘𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘺.’

Johan was casually contemplating thoughts that would alarm any priest.

“Achladda. You must retreat when the retreat signal sounds. You understand?”

“. . .Sir Knight. That’s the tenth time you’ve said that.”

“Then I’ll say it an eleventh time. Retreat when the signal sounds.”

“Why only say it to us. . .”

“Do you really not know why?”

Achladda and Euclyia pouted at Johan’s words, having no real rebuttal. What he said was true.

Right now, gathered on this battlefield were countless nobles and knights flying the banners of their houses. It was the same for both enemy and ally. 

Unified, seamless command was of course impossible, and any orders from the supreme commander often took a long time to relay or failed entirely.

In the end, they had to divide the field themselves and fight well on their own.

Johan was responsible for the right flank.

The dwarf mercenaries and slave soldiers were unlikely to act without orders, but the eastern tribes and cavalry led by Iselia were concerning.

Unlike infantry, once cavalry burst out it was hard to order them to fall back. 

On top of that, the eastern tribes were known for being aggressive, and Iselia’s cavalry loved to charge as much as any knight. . .

Johan planned to personally lead Iselia’s mercenary cavalry to maintain control over them. Heavily armed and armored cavalry could smash through enemy lines with devastating impact once they charged, and had to be committed at the right decisive moment.

But the eastern tribes were more suited to nimbly harassing the enemy and pursuing them. Though relatively lightly equipped, they possessed excellent archery and riding skills.

“Now, when the horns sound?”

“We retreat! Ah, I swear by my sword and bow that I will not let my eyes wander and give chase.”

“I swear too.”

Hearing the centaurs’ oaths, Johan nodded approvingly. That much could be trusted.

Johan called the mercenary captains for final orders. The various human sub-captains looked to Johan with excitement and anticipation in their eyes.  

“Listen well. This battle takes place on another’s field. I trust none of you will cause unnecessary trouble or endanger yourselves. Do only as much as you are paid for. Understand?”

At Johan’s words, the mercenaries smirked. When he spoke like this, it was hard to tell if this renowned count was really a nobleman or just another mercenary. 

But one thing was certain – such words were far more reassuring than any cheers or battle cries.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

Johan’s move was not because of Leoanos’ envoy. Leoanos’ proposals had no influence on Johan.  

━𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲. . . 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭?

━𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲. 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐜𝐡𝐭𝐲𝐦? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞?

━𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥.

━𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭.”

━𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲. . . 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭?

━𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧, 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐲. 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝.

Giada was frustrated, but Johan cut him off like a knife and sent the envoys back.  

It was others who changed Johan’s mind.

“I am Jusvan from the republic of Beneto. Please take good care of me, Your Excellency.”  

Captain Jusvan of the republic mercenary corps came down south with his army.

━𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜. 𝐇𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝.

The republic’s territory was not far north. They had no intention of just watching the pagans’ raids.

But still, to hire an army and come down so swiftly. . .

━𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐜𝐡𝐭𝐲𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐞. 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐜𝐡𝐭𝐲𝐦. . .

Giyada’s prediction was correct. The day after Jusvan arrived with his army, Vynashchtym’s emperor himself came with his imperial guard.  

Though they came down the northern highway, their speed was unbelievable. The emperor headed directly to join with Jusvan instead of the pass.

Together with Jusvan, they came to Johan and pleaded their case.

━𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐲’𝐬 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐈 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

━𝐀𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡, 𝐈 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐬.

Even combined, their armies were only four to five thousand. Still too insecure compared to the enemy’s scale. They desperately wanted Johan’s soldiers to join.

━𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬?

━𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝.”

━𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐀𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡.

Vynashchtym really did have a lot of gold. Johan responded explosively to their fiery offer.

Seeing Johan respond immediately, the emperor made a puzzled expression, but Johan paid it no mind. In that regretful position, the emperor and Jusvan had no choice but to offer thanks and withdraw.

And so the army of the republic, the count, and the emperor was completed. They headed grandly for the pass.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

“Can he really be trusted?”

“Trust me, Your Majesty. Count Yeats will not disappoint you.”

At Jusvan’s confident words, the emperor nodded. Johan’s first impression wasn’t very good.

First of all, he was too young. The emperor had imagined a veteran in his forties from Johan’s reputation. But the emperor wasn’t much older himself, was he?

Jusvan returned to lead the left wing.

Though the emperor was supreme commander, he couldn’t issue orders directly to the left or right wings. If Jusvan didn’t issue orders himself, the mercenaries wouldn’t obey.

“Jusvan isn’t deceiving me, is he?”

Jusvan was a pro-Vynashchtym noble, but he wasn’t the type to sacrifice the republic to help Vynashchtym.

Betrayal could happen at any time.

An old eunuch attending the emperor cautiously asked.

“Why do you think so?”

“Despite the rumors, isn’t he too young? Yet he has that reputation. I suspect the republic is deceiving me.”

Having lived in the military since childhood, the emperor knew well how difficult command was. He found it hard to believe someone as young as Johan had that much achievement.

“The republic has no reason to deceive Your Majesty.”

“Perhaps so. But there is no such thing as absolute.”

“If he does anything suspicious, I will take Jusvan’s head myself.”

At the eunuch’s words, the emperor finally relaxed his expression. It was the eunuchs and officials supporting the still inexperienced emperor. Their seasoned experience reassured the emperor.

“Anyway, the wings are just there to fill space. Trust the soldiers Your Majesty has personally trained. They will take care of it.”

“I understand.”  

The emperor nodded. He hadn’t expected much from Jusvan or Count Yeats from the beginning.

It would be none other than him and his imperial guard who would trample and crush the enemy’s center.

If Johan heard this, he would have been happy they were of the same mind.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

Both sides suddenly went into battle formation. There were no greetings, no pre-battle duels, no scouting.  

Seeing the enemies approaching from behind, the nobles of the Eastern Empire shouted fiercely and charged into battle. Cavalry and infantry units burst out from the left and right wings, and the battle commenced.

“Dwarves forward! His Excellency watches over us. Do not retreat!”

“Think of your master who owns your lives! It’s time to repay the grace!”

Though their robes were different, their weapons and armor were much the same. Enemy knights wearing chainmail charged to trample the ranks, brandishing longswords.  

But the dwarves did not flinch, stubbornly holding their ground. Crossbow bolts and arrows rained down relentlessly on the knights. Pitiful screams rang out as some fell.

Then Johan stepped up. Soldiers parted behind him, and Johan and Iselia burst out fiercely leading the cavalry.  

“The count! The count! Get him!”

Recognizing Johan’s banner, the pagan knights shouted and rushed at him. But before they could reach Johan, their heads were lopped off by Iselia.

“Die! Die! Die!”  

“. . .”

Johan pulled up alongside the berserk Iselia with a look of bewilderment.

“Iselia. Calm down.”

“Am I not calm?”

“Ah. . .I see. . .”

Surprisingly, Iselia’s blood-spattered face looked very serene. It was merely the elven war cry.

Once more the enemies charged. This time Johan stepped up first. As the Giantslayer swung around, flesh and blood sprayed everywhere, quickly opening up space.

“■■■! Demon ■■■!”

Unable to make out their gibberish in the eastern dialect, he could guess the gist of their shrieks.

Johan industriously harvested heads with the Warhammer. After charging in and pulling back five times, the enemies around him were routed and retreating.

“The enemies retreat!”

“Reform ranks! Reform ranks!”  

“Wounded fall back!”

“Your Excellency, we will lure them out.”

“Achladda, don’t forget what I promised.”

“Yes!”

The eastern tribesmen burst out in clouds of dust. Making full use of the battlefield, they rushed forth. Arrows pierced the backs of the retreating men, and the heads of those still inside the enemy camp.

Those who had recklessly charged out in anger became easy prey. About six enemy banners fell and groups became scattered. For a while, a lull settled on the right wing.

“The enemies aren’t coming.”

“They must be realigning their ranks.”

Unbeknownst to Johan, the enemies were too frightened to approach.

“Shall we advance?”

“No, let’s align timing.”

If he advanced alone and another ally happened to lose, even Johan would be unable to retreat from that situation.

‘𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘷𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦?’

Johan frowned, surveying the dusty battlefield. No matter how good his eyes, there were limits to what he could discern from here.

The only fight he could vaguely make out was the one nearby in the center.

What would have been invisible to others, Johan’s blessed vision pierced through the swirling grit to grasp the situation. Enemy banners were desperately converging on the center. It was a distress signal.

“I will reinforce the center! Follow me!”

Johan selected the freshest, swiftest cavalry and raced forth. He planned to harass the enemies’ flanks while their attention was diverted.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

“Capturing the emperor here will bring all glory in this world to you nobles!”

Even without Yeheman’s shouts, all the nobles with swords and spears were blind with bloodlust as they swarmed in.

The loyal imperial guards resisted fiercely with their weapons, but the enemies’ momentum was alarming.

The finest warriors gathered on this battlefield were all charging in to capture the emperor.

“Storm and shatter their ranks! Storm and shatter their. . .”

The shouting noble felt a chill amidst the battlefield’s sweltering heat.

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