How to Live as a Wandering Knight – Chapter 189

𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 (7)

It seemed Jyanina had misunderstood what Johan was trying to say. With an even more arrogant tone of voice, she said, 

“Of course the people of the duchy are a bit barbaric, but I’ve worked under Cardirian before.”

It would have been an insult for which the distant emperor would have immediately cut off Jyanina’s head, had he heard it. No matter how bad-tempered and brutal the emperor was, comparing him to the barbarians of the Duchy of Runoa. . .

‘𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘳?’  

There’s a saying that mice hear night words and birds hear day words. . .

Even Johan, who was listening, was puzzled.

“I see. Use that experience well to gain the trust of the duchy people.”

“That’s right, Your Excellency.”

“If you gain the trust of the duchy people, can you help me out a bit with my work?”

At Johan’s words, Jyanina’s face brightened slightly. It was almost the first time she had been recognized for her abilities by Johan. 

If it was in her original nature, she would have spat at him to get revenge for the humiliations she had received so far, but for some reason, she was strangely moved by those words. Jyanina struggled to manage her expression and said,

“I’ll try to do that if possible.”

“Attach a few guards to escort the wizard who will sit in a high position in the future.”

“You don’t have to go that far. . . If you give them to me, I’ll gratefully accept them.”

Although flustered by Johan’s favor, Jyanina accepted it. Had Johan finally opened his eyes to her abilities?

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“Your Excellency. Your Excellency.”

“What’s the matter?”

Johan was busy preparing for a hunt with Gaoalkana. If this was Johan’s fiefdom, he could have just brought along a few guards and be on his way. But this was Vynashchtym. 

He had to prepare the proper attire and procedures befitting tradition before stepping out grandly for the sake of keeping face. More than ten people had to move in orderly unison. Even though his subordinates were elite, preparation was necessary.

So amidst all that, it was perplexing for Johan that someone from the Republic came looking for him.  

“Still, it’s not good to reject the nobles’ invitations too much. You know you’re close with His Majesty the Emperor, but their authority isn’t weak either.”

“Ah. Did you come to say that?”

The nobles did send their attendants. Johan refused in the unique rhetoric of Vynashchtym, though not outright. It was along the lines of ‘𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.’  

Johan already had a promise with the Emperor, so he had no reason to accept such an invitation. So Johan also politely declined, conveying ’𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘰.’ But. . .

“Wouldn’t it be more troublesome if I pointlessly attend? Rather than that, if I say I can’t attend as the Captain of the Imperial Guard, it may be fine. But once a relationship is established, it’ll become a headache.”  

The young count’s words surprised the noble from the Republic. He didn’t know Johan had such thoughts.

Aside from whether his judgment was right or wrong, it was astonishing that someone so young could exhibit such self-restraint. At that age, wouldn’t it be normal to happily rush over when invited by nobles, intoxicated by the honor?

“Of. . . Of course, you’re right. But if you’re too curt, that causes its own rumors. I heard you’ll be going hunting. How about inviting some others as well?”

“Hunting? Of course it’s not a hunt by hunters, but we don’t plan on easily catching something in a day to return.”

After coming to Vynashchtym, Johan felt the nobles here were slightly more lazy and extravagant than nobles in the West. 

In the Holy Empire, even nobles not formerly knights would go hunting quite often. Hunting was a good sport to demonstrate a noble’s honor and pride. 

Of course, such hunts made use of the help from beaters and soldiers, so they were luxurious hunts. But usually, people were prepared to be drenched in night dew.

Rather than immediately returning, losing oneself in the wilderness for a few weeks to a few months did more to help one’s dignity. 

But Vynashchtym’s nobles frowned upon such hunts as inconvenient. Johan didn’t think the nobles would enjoy this hunt.

“It will be a matter of some importance that you have invited them, Your Excellency. It will at least save the Imperial Family’s face a little. Of course, they will refuse, so Your Excellency’s face may be a little tarnished. . .”

“I don’t really care about that.”

Nobles often took proposals or invitations as a matter of honor and became unnecessarily angry if they were rejected, but Johan didn’t think much of it.

In this respect, he was well-matched with the people from the republic. The man nodded.

“I knew Your Excellency would not be attached to such things.”

“That’s right. You said a good thing. Thank you. Please tell them that I am always grateful for the Republic’s efforts. In this foreign land, the only people I can rely on are the people of the Republic.”

“The others will be very happy too!”

Johan’s skill at manipulating people was becoming more and more skillful. His natural bearing and dignity, combined with his title and fame, made his words strongly shake the other person. The republic nobleman left happily with the expression of having been seduced by his lover.

“Well, of course the Imperial Family won’t come to such a place.”

Johan decided to send someone to invite them anyway. It wouldn’t be bad if they refused and relaxed a little among themselves.

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“. . .uh, I don’t really know, but why do we need to bring the other nobles?”

Gaoalkana was not stupid for not using her head. She was puzzled when she saw the nobles who came out dressed up.  

They were close to ceremonial armors decorated gorgeously, but still functioning. The nobles were checking their bows and swords and showing off quite a bit.

“I thought they would refuse the invitation because they were so dissatisfied. . .?”

“You should have asked me.”

Gaoalkana spoke as if it was obvious.  

“They must have been curious about Johan, and rejecting a proposal from a far-away noble outright could also hurt their pride. Citizens are sensitive to such things.”

If Johan was not so popular, it would have been fine, but since citizens were loving him at the moment, those who rejected the proposal could have looked pathetic.  

Such rumors spread easily and quickly, so in less than a month, it would have been enough for the story to grow that ‘𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺’.

“And if they refused, I would have mocked them in a play.”

“Don’t do that.”

Gaoalkana wanted to add fuel to the fire because the situation was young and inexperienced, and they needed to slowly win over the support of other nobles, but Johan firmly stopped her.  

Johan looked around at the nobles who were attending.  

They were relatively young (although still much older than Johan or Gaoalkana), quite decent at wielding weapons, their guards also seemed very skilled. Also, from what they heard, their faces were full of determination.

‘𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥?’

If Gaoalkana’s words were true, the nobles here had made some resolution when they came. They were picked as decent people so as not to be mocked, given excellent guards. . .

It was unlikely the nobles suddenly started training hard and honing their swordsmanship, so it was the guards who were easy. One could guess how much they were pressed.  

“!”

One of the guards with a familiar face bowed his head. He was the prosecutor who used to be an actor that Johan asked the emperor to release. It seemed he was employed by a noble now.  

Johan lightly greeted him with his eyes. While it was not a very difficult thing for Johan, it must have been an enormous favor for the other.

“Since preparations are complete, send the departure signal.”

With the trumpet sound, the procession left magnificently. Thanks to Gaoalkana’s guard in attendance followed by some nobles, outwardly there was nothing to fault.  

The schedule was simple. Go up the street, hunt around Sararom fortress, and wait for the duchy’s parade.  

When those from the duchy join, plan to hunt together with them.  

Wasn’t it a schedule with nothing to pick on in and of itself?

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“Your excellency. This is a bit of a problem.”

“Hmm.”  

The centaurs said with serious expressions. Johan also nodded his head seriously.

The nobles. . .  

Were really bad at hunting.  

The noble, who was around the cousin of the great great emperor (he didn’t remember the exact relation), put down his bow with a bright red face. It was because the arrow he had just shot missed again.

When the nobles eagerly said ‘𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵, 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨’ as they were going up the path, Johan said ‘𝘖𝘩, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰.’

Johan wasn’t in such a dire situation that he had to compete with these nobles for prey to save his dignity, rather he was satisfied if the opponent was happy about it. It was a really cheap deal, wasn’t it?

. . .The problem was that the abilities of the nobles were less than he thought. He didn’t even dream that they would miss a deer from that distance.  

At first the atmosphere was friendly with ‘𝘏𝘢 𝘩𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘺’ but after the second, third and fourth failures it started to become chilly. 

The nobles’ entourages were sweating profusely with their heads deeply bowed, and Gaoalkana, who had a big smile on her face every time they missed, was now biting her lips to endure it.   

“Those assholes? Why the hell can’t they catch it?”

“There are several reasons.”

The master hunter centaur analyzed seriously.  

“First there’s the lack of skill with the bow, but more than that, their sense for the hunt is too lacking. Who’s going to get hit straight on with all that noise? Besides, the skills of the entourage aren’t that great either.”

Johan understood what he meant. A hunter’s abilities couldn’t just be swordmanship and archery. They had to understand the environment and know how to lure the prey. But the nobles’ entourages were just guys who were good with swords and bows, so. . .

“I’m suffocating here. I need to ask you guys a favor.”

“Should we drive them over for those assholes?”

“Don’t call them assholes. What if they understand Eastern. Anyway, driving them over is right. Go and drive them over!”

The most seasoned centaurs ran out. Meanwhile Johan started to comfort the nobles. They had a look on their faces as if they would cry if he didn’t talk.  

“I understand that gong is merciful, but if he continues to show mercy like this, won’t it be embarrassing for his subordinates to take the initiative?”

“. .!”

“It’s hard for others to step up if their superiors don’t catch them. I wish you would catch just one, even if you don’t really want to.”  

No matter how he looked, he lacked skill, but with just one word from Johan, he had missed on purpose out of mercifulness. The noble hurriedly nodded his head.   

“Ye. . . yes, I’m sorry. It seems I killed the mood.”  

“Everyone was moved, how did you kill the mood?”

“You’re. . . you’re right, master. Everyone was moved by master’s mercy.”  

When the quick-witted slave opened his mouth, the other entourages hurriedly nodded their heads. Inwardly, they were thankful to Johan. Thanks to him, this suffocating air had cleared.  

Since he was a count, he could say such things, but if a slave had said such things, he would have been slapped in the face immediately.   

“Re. . . really? Is that how it is?”

It was easy for many people to make one person an asshole. As everyone praised him highly, the mood of the noble brightened immediately.   

“■■■-!”  

The special sound of the centaurs signaling from afar could be heard. It was the sound indicating they were driving the prey over.   

“Gong, the prey is coming over there.”

“. . .H-How about the count catches it?”  

“Being too generous is also a problem. Here!”  

The noble was about to slyly take his foot out, thinking he probably wouldn’t hit it, but Johan grabbed the noble’s hand and pulled the bowstring taut before setting his posture properly for him.   

At that moment, Johan’s eyes met with the eyes of the approaching centaur. Without words, they understood each other.  

‘𝘋𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥.’   

‘𝘖𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦.’

The arrow flew and the deer collapsed. The noble who hit it looked more surprised. He had hit targets before but hitting fast running prey was a first.   

“I hit it! I hit it!”  

“Great! Hitting it right in the vitals while running fast! Even outstanding knights with the bow find it hard to hit fast running deer!”   

“R-Really?”   

“Really. Even western knights would be jealous seeing this. To think there was a knight with such skills here! Now I see there is someone else qualified to receive a knighthood!”  

The centaurs who followed behind looked at Johan with astonished expressions.  

No matter how much gold they were given, there’s no way they could say such things!