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𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 (5)
“Why are you surprised?”
Gaoalkana looked at Johan with a puzzled expression.
Vynashchtym was constantly at war with the pagan Easterners, but it wasn’t a war where they cut off all relations and fought until one side was dead.
Vynashchtym had its circumstances and the Eastern Empire had theirs, so envoys and communication openly and privately went back and forth between them.
Just as the various petty kingdoms and republics around Vynashchtym’s ports had their own missions, merchant halls, and exclusive zones, so did the Eastern Empire.
‘𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺.’
It was easy to think that the Sultan ruled the vast Eastern Empire with an iron fist, but even there the power of provincial nobles was considerable. Politically it was unstable, to say the least.
Such nobles didn’t care much whether they traded with enemies or demons as long as it served their interests. Even now countless trade ships would be carrying goods along sea routes.
“Wait. Even if they’re nobles from the Eastern Empire that’s one thing, but royalty?”
“Yeah. Someone in exile.”
“Ah.”
Johan immediately grasped the situation. Succession disputes were also quite fierce in the Eastern Empire, and defeat in those battles awaited only death, both in the past and present.
In such times the safest place was ironically the enemy nation – the Sultan’s hand wouldn’t easily reach there.
“Her Majesty has arrived. Everyone come out and greet her.”
The vampires discovered Gaoalkana and streamed out. While exiled nobles had to be careful around an emperor, their reaction seemed rather familiar.
‘𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴.’
Johan thought Gaoalkana really got around a lot. As an emperor, was there a need to be so friendly with pagan exiles?
“. . .Don’t tell me you came by often because you wanted to hear Eastern tales?”
“Oh! How did you know?”
“. . . . . .”
Gaoalkana looked at Johan with genuinely surprised eyes. She felt it every time they talked, but this count from the west was a truly unique man.
The people of the west, even those of noble bloodlines, find it hard to shake off the customs of barbarians. Yet this count could converse freely with Vynashchtym’s other nobles, cultured as he was.
What’s more, he had a sense for art above all else. Even among Vynashchtym’s nobles this was a rare talent. Perhaps that was why their conversations always seemed to flow well.
‘𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨.’
Johan was suspicious of Gaoalkana’s gaze. She wasn’t a tyrant or arrogant, just liked to do as she pleased a bit too much.
To Johan, who had lived wearing restraint and patience like armor, Gaoalkana’s debauched hedonism was simply beyond comprehension.
“While we talk, stay by my side and don’t wander off anywhere.”
“Seeing how you’re relying on me, are you feeling good?”
Misunderstanding Johan’s suspicion, Gaoalkana was instead in an even better mood. She would have frowned if she knew his true feelings.
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Barhan, an old and blind vampire of the Eastern imperial family, sniffed and said,
“Your Majesty. Seeing that you have come with a human. . . Could it be Count Yeats?”
“That’s right. I brought him with me.”
It was quite amazing to see him identify races by smell. Despite Johan not saying anything, Barhan looked towards Johan and spoke.
“When you lose your eyesight, other senses become more acute. It’s not really an amazing talent.”
“. . .I see. People must be quite surprised.”
Barhan was surprised at Johan’s words. Usually when people saw a blind man identify races like that, they would be caught off guard.
By mentioning it first, as if he already knew, the mystery grew even more. But Johan did not fall for it.
“Thank you for coming all this way. Your Excellency Count. You must have already heard the reason, but let me thank you again.”
“Ah.”
Regardless of Barhan’s words, Johan honestly did not remember well what monster they were talking about.
He had hunted down so many monsters that day. He felt like he had caught some around here too, but he couldn’t remember which one they were referring to.
“It was the right thing to do.”
Johan did not show an ounce of arrogance in his attitude. The noble attendant escorting Barhan was slightly moved by that attitude.
Even if he was a pagan, such a humble attitude deserved respect. Especially since the other party was a Count Knight.
“Actually, the people of Vynashchtym don’t really like me or my entourage that much. . . So I thought you might not want to help. . .”
Barhan’s voice was sincere. He was resting comfortably in the small palace he had been given, but that was separate from the citizens’ favor.
When monsters run amok, the places that must be protected first are where the nobles are, then the merchants, and then. . .
But the newly arrived captain ignored these customs and rushed in to strike down the monsters. From their perspective, they had no choice but to be grateful.
‘𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭.’
Johan worried to himself. The centaurs had lost control and recklessly chased after wherever the monsters were, but the vampires seemed to think whatever they wanted.
In any case, he had no intention of interfering if they wanted to express gratitude.
‘𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘐’𝘮 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵.’
It was not often that he had the opportunity to hear directly from an Eastern imperial prince. Johan asked him various things.
About the envoy he had captured, the family of the commander he had fought against in the previous battle, and the status of the Mulc family, the family of the knight Ahir who had helped Johan.
The old vampire seemed to know much more than Johan had thought, smoothly answering everything.
What was most surprising was his status. Barhan was currently the Sultan’s uncle.
The Eastern Sultans had children like rabbits, so their bloodline was as numerous as grains of sand. But to meet an uncle-level person here. . .
“Yeheyman is an excellent warrior and commander. A warrior who sees beheading enemies and offering their heads to the gods as a virtue. After one defeat, wouldn’t he try to avenge that humiliation by any means?”
“. . .No. I did not want to know that much.”
Johan had simply asked what kind of guy he was and why he had landed with so many troops, but it just made him feel dirty. Johan frowned.
From the sounds of it, he seemed like quite a rough guy. Johan worried that he would be troublesome to deal with later.
“I may be old and sick, but I do not forget the grace I must repay. If not for this situation, I would have properly repaid you. . .”
By seeking asylum, their lives were safe but the power they had was gone. As Barhan vaguely trailed off in regret, Johan shrugged and said,
“I did not do this seeking compensation, so do not worry about repaying me.”
Johan was not so destitute that he would forcibly wring repayment from an exiled imperial prince. In the first place, he had not even considered it. Simply hearing various things about the Eastern Empire was satisfying enough. At least it was much more constructive than being dragged to Gaoalkana’s banquets.
“Barhan-nim, what do you think about calling over Sir Lumahr and introducing the count to him? Would Sir Lumahr not be sufficiently helpful?”
Sir Lumahr was an Eastern nobleman residing in Vynashchtym. He himself was also an excellent diplomat, and his family’s assets were considerable. Thanks to a past connection, Barhan was quite close with Lumahr.
However, acquainting a newly arrived captain with an Eastern noble was not a good idea.
More than caring about public opinion, the proud noble count himself might find it offensive. No matter how wide his connections or vast his assets, he was decidedly still a pagan.
“Don’t speak nonsense. Would you insult His Excellency the Count? His coming here alone is enough.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Who is Sir Lumahr?”
Johan, who had been listening, asked curiously. Gaoalkana explained next to him who it was. Hearing that, Johan immediately replied,
“I don’t mind meeting him.”
“Will it really be alright?”
“If he is your friend, there should be no dishonor in befriending him.”
Of course, Johan was saying this after hearing that he was wealthy with many connections back home. Such a person would be good to get close to.
As it was, Johan was already shamelessly securing interests however he could to increase trade routes in his fief. If he could get special privileges in the Eastern Empire like he did in Vynashchtym, it would be perfect.
“Then I will call for him. Your Excellency.”
The vampires there looked at Johan with newfound eyes. While there were rampant rumors about the newly arrived captain, seeing him in person made the feeling different.
What stood out the most was his modesty and how he respected Barhan. Such an attitude among pagans was rare.
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“The new personal guard captain? Ah, Count Yeats?”
“Yes.”
“Is he really an okay person? I heard something a bit different.”
Lumahr moved his steps in wonder after receiving the vampire attendant’s message.
Unlike Barhan, who was semi-retired, Lumahr was still active and energetic. He was in contact with the nobles of Vynashchtym, sending envoys to the emperor, reporting to the sultan, occasionally negotiating with the republicans. . .
As such, he heard a lot. Generous and magnanimous were not words that suited Count Yeats.
“A knight who participated in the battle told me. . .”
“What did he say to make you say that?”
“He said it was like a warrior born from the demon mating with a monster.”
━𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐝. 𝐍𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝.
𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫. . .
“What! He is not that kind of person.”
Seeing the attendant take his side, Lumahr became even more puzzled. No matter how many monsters he defeated and saved lives, can he really react like this?
“Anyway, Barhan-nim saved me, I guess I have to repay that debt.”
Lumahr owed Barhan a debt when he was young. He took it for granted to at least pay him back.
“A decent sword and shield might work.”
“How is the matter you told me about last time?”
“The petty kingdoms? The atmosphere was not good. Those guys have nothing yet want so freaking much. The republicans are better.”
The duchies and kingdoms near Vynashchtym always greedily coveted Vynashchtym. Rather than land, the privileges and gold that Vynashchtym possessed were the main goals.
“The emperor clenched his purse of coins so they got frustrated. They asked me if I was going to get up with them.”
“Do you have to say things like that?”
“Then it would be treason, wouldn’t it? I’m not even a vassal of Vynashchtym.”
He wouldn’t participate but had no intention of reporting it either. The duchies were still cooperative partners of a sort, so he couldn’t ruin the relationship like that.
“Just refusing is enough loyalty. Come to think of it, the monster outbreak is also pretty suspicious. Was it those guys?”
With those words, Lumahr arrived and opened the door. Inside, there was a familiar old vampire and an unfamiliar human facing each other across a low table.
‘𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥?’
Of course, he felt strong and sturdy, but it was a bit different from the expressions of the knights who had participated in the battle. No light or fire spilled from his eyes and mouth either.
“?!”
Lumahr was surprised in succession. It was good to play baduk. It was Barhan’s hobby and Lumahr also enjoyed playing it.
However, when he looked at the low table, Barhan was being crushed into a mess.
‘𝘕𝘰. . . 𝘐𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘯-𝘯𝘪𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬?’
He wondered if he had laid down a few stones and passed, but that was not the case either. Barhan hesitated while placing stones.
“Your excellency. Since Sir Lumahr has arrived, I think it would be best to stop this game here.”
‘𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥. . .’