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𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 (1)
“Where are you going, Adviko-gong?”
As Adviko stood up from his seat to request an audience with Johan, the knights looked at him with puzzlement, as if finding it odd.
They were suspicious that Adviko might try to escape.
While others escaping might not be a big deal to Johan, it was a major issue for the knights present there.
Having surrendered to Johan, turning a blind eye if Adviko escaped would be a dishonorable act.
“To see the count.”
“Ah. I thought. . .”
“. . . . . .”
Seeing the Empire knights chatter away with their wine glasses in hand, as if it were someone else’s business, Adviko spat in disgust. Worthless allies they were, in this world where no one can be trusted.
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“Uh. . .what did you just say?”
Johan looked at Adviko in confusion. He had come to talk about paying compensation, but his counterpart brought up a completely unexpected topic.
“I pledge my loyalty to you, Your Excellency Count!”
“Stand up. It’s too generous an offer to accept easily.”
Johan wondered why Adviko was acting this way.
Could he be trying to pay less compensation?
He fought fiercely on the side of the Order, but that was only to help the Order and not lose the Order’s friendly influence to John. John did not think at all about taking the city of Mairene.
‘𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦.’
As a fiefdom grew larger, it tended to try to break away from its original feudal lord. When it was at the town level it would remain quiet, but as its scale grew larger and larger, becoming a city, the council members and powerful families inside would stand up and struggle for freedom.
There were various methods. They could bribe the feudal lord with money, hire mercenaries to declare independence, or borrow the power of other nobles, and so on. . .
Because of this, it wasn’t easy to subjugate a city that had already obtained its freedom. The people inside would resist that much more fiercely.
For now, Johan was also leaving the cities within his personal territory alone, only collecting taxes from them. He didn’t want to face rebellions all over like the Emperor.
But suddenly pledging loyalty was quite a burden.
However, Adviko did not back down. It was like he had already climbed onto a galloping horse. Somehow Johan had to persuade him.
“Without Your Excellency Count’s help, my life is as good as forfeit. I beg you, please help me!”
Adviko explained his situation. Considering his various rivals in the city, if he returned he would be assassinated or driven out within a year, so he asked Johan to come with an army together with other nobles and stay.
“As far as I know, didn’t you join hands with the Emperor? Joining hands with me is tantamount to joining hands with the Order. Will you be able to handle the consequences?”
“It would be many times better than doing nothing! If I just go back, I will hand over the nobles on the Empire’s side to you. I will show you a loyalty that I would not hesitate to offer even my own children as tributes.”
‘𝘞𝘰𝘸. 𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴.’
Johan clicked his tongue at the reckless behavior of the city noble.
After losing a war he had led, borrowing armies from enemy nobles to return to the city, then suppressing dissatisfied opponents and selling out former allies. . .
It was something Johan could never do even if his back was against the wall. Unless he was planning to take his assets and flee. . .
‘𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦?’
Rather than abandon what he had and run away, stubbornly sticking it out to the end even if things got complicated and he died. . .His mindset was completely different from Johan’s.
“We could have the Order’s bishop certify and record the conversation we just had in writing?”
Somehow Johan’s tone had changed. It was an attitude like addressing a subordinate, but Adviko didn’t seem to mind at all as he replied.
“Of course. If that is what it takes, what objection could I have?”
“. . .Very well! I’ll give it a shot. But the other nobles will have to agree as well.”
Johan had no intention at all of leading an army to the city of Mairene alone.
If he did that, even with Adviko’s help he would have to shoulder the resentment of the city residents alone.
And If he led an army there in this setting, he would have to bring along other feudal lords and Order figures.
The armies of Count Yeats and the Order had completely different meanings.
“I trust in Your Excellency Count alone!”
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“Did the story turn out like that?”
“Were you expecting it?”
“Even though I have the nickname of a prophet, I couldn’t have known that much. I just said it because I’ve seen those city leaders die off one after another. They may be called the city’s masters, but sometimes they seem less valuable than a fly.”
The city’s representative, elected after fierce political strife, wields power that most feudal lords wouldn’t dare to, but dies just as easily. As soon as he makes one mistake, his political enemies behind his back swing their swords.
“But do you think he will be loyal?”
“I’m not trusting his loyalty, I’m trusting his self-interest.”
“That’s a good attitude.”
Suetlg smiled faintly. He was about to say that you can’t trust someone like Adviko, but Johan already seemed to know.
Fortunately, the guy had nowhere to betray them to. He was driven into a corner, so if they threw him a rope, he would grab it and cling on for dear life.
“And I’m not expecting much.”
At its foundation were the ransom and compensation. On top of that, eliminating the emperor faction’s influence in the city. That was all Johan wanted.
It would be bad news if a city close to the Empire joined hands with the emperor.
Johan had no plans to aggressively pursue revenge beyond the Empire, even though he held a grudge. He was too realistic to take such an uncertain gamble based on resentment alone.
But the other side would be different. The territories Johan currently held used to belong to the emperor or emperor-faction feudal lords, so as soon as the Empire stabilized, they would immediately send troops down.
‘𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘬𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵, 𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘳’𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺. . .’
“Wouldn’t it be good in many ways if the city pledged its loyalty?”
“Of course it would be good if they did, but do things in the world go so smoothly? I heard Mairene Free City has more than 10,000. . .”
“What’s 10,000. It must have over 20,000, no, 30,000.”
“Yes. Anyway, it’s that kind of city. And a city that gained its freedom several generations ago. It’s not a place that would welcome an outsider leading an army.”
“. . .Don’t tell me you’re waiting for other nobles because of that?!”
Suetlg asked in surprise.
Considering they didn’t have that many soldiers and Adviko was there, it seemed like they could depart at any time, so why were they waiting. . .
“Yes. I can’t go alone and tarnish my name for nothing.”
“Uh. . .”
Suetlg was genuinely impressed by the patience of this young count. The knights from the Empire were distracted by Johan’s might, but this count’s true mettle lay within.
Compared to nobles who couldn’t control their temper and made mistakes over and over, his patience shone even brighter.
“My dear. An Empire knight says he wants to learn a thing or two from you, would it be okay to duel him?”
“. . . . . .”
“. . . . . .”
Johan and Suetlg looked at Iselia with awkward expressions.
While such duels were common custom between knights, it was an absurd notion to Suetlg the wizard and Johan the knight merely in appearance.
What if the opponent, who they needed to claim compensation from, died? Or what if Iselia got hurt?
“No.”
“Oh. I understand. . .”
Iselia’s shoulders drooped as she turned away. Suetlg jabbed Johan in the side.
“Go comfort her.”
“. . .Do you want me to ask her to duel?”
“No! Honestly. . . is fighting all there is to comfort someone? Isn’t there something else she likes?”
“But Iselia is an elf, Sir Suetlg.”
“. . .At least gift her a sword or something.”
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“To the city? I agree!”
The nobles who came after receiving the messenger’s contact were delighted with Johan’s words.
Before they could even feel disappointed at the news that the young Count had captured prisoners, they heard words that pleased their ears.
Leading an army to the city folks and showing them a lesson. More than the compensation, they felt the pleasure of showing the greedy, arrogant city folks a lesson. It was an opportunity to enjoy the legitimate honor and treatment as the victor of the battle.
“I will join you, Your Excellency Count.”
“If they close the gates and resist, I will be the first to climb over the walls!”
“No, this is not the place for that.”
Seeing the misunderstanding nobles, Johan put on the brakes. They were not going there to plunder, just to sit until the city paid compensation.
“Don’t worry, Your Excellency Count. If the greedy pigs of the city keep their promise, we too will act with honor.”
It was rare for reassuring words to be so unconvincing. Johan gave up on saying anything.
‘𝘖𝘩 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦.’
Fortunately, the nobles agreed more readily than expected. They responded immediately as if they had expected it.
“I thought you’d hesitate more.”
“That’s because it’s a matter of honor.”
Iselia had another short sword tucked into her belt, a less than balanced choice, but Johan wasn’t going to say anything if she liked it.
“What honor?”
“It’s not just about defeating the enemy. It’s about raising your family crest on the enemy’s base. Clearly two different things.”
“I see.”
Johan was about to say it’s the same whether you win or lose, why obsess over such formalities, but he stopped when he saw Iselia’s expression.
Clearly not an expression that could be persuaded.
Iselia continued excitedly,
“We must prepare to raise your crest first when we arrive at the city.”
“My crest? Is that necessary?”
“If not your crest, whose coward’s crest would we raise!?”
Iselia exclaimed as if it was absurd. Being the first to raise the flag on the castle wall was an important right. It showed who was the master of this army, and who contributed the most to capturing the castle.
Although he didn’t directly occupy the city himself, based on his accomplishments in battle the honor rightly belonged to Johan.
‘𝘐𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘬𝘴.’
In a situation where he had brought several nobles to share the resentment, he didn’t want to take it all himself.
“Iselia, God teaches us to be humble.”
“No, my dear. Some people don’t need to be humble. You don’t need to be humble.”
“. . . . . .”
Do elf nobles get separate religious education?
“Didn’t they teach you not to be arrogant?”
“They did. . . but isn’t that a natural right, not arrogance?”
Johan decided to explain it a different way.
“Iselia, look here, there’s one arrow.”
“I see it, my dear.”
“With just one, it’s easy to break. But three bound together?”
“My dear, surely you could still break them easily?”
“. . .I made a useless analogy. My mistake. I just want to consider the nobles here. They didn’t accomplish much in battle or even capture the fleeing prisoners, it’s understandable if they feel dissatisfied, right?”
“Oh, I understand, my dear. Among the knights I trained with, some had no ability at all yet were full of complaints. Is it the same with them?”
“. . .I didn’t necessarily mean that. Don’t say that to them.”
Iselia wasn’t stupid just because she was an elf. Understanding Johan wanted to accommodate the nobles, she caught on quickly even as she regretted it.
‘𝘕𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵. 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵.’
━𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬?
━𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲. . . 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲’𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞!
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The huge city was surrounded by forests, rivers and mountain ranges. The civilized form amidst nature that was still undeveloped showed an heterogeneous majesty.
“It’s been a while since I last saw the Dwarf Mountains.”
Suetlg murmured involuntarily. The long Dwarf Mountains separating the Holy Empire and the Peninsula. He had seen its figure from afar many times, but this time he was seeing it from the completely opposite direction.
“Why are there so many mercenaries going towards the mountains?”
“You’ve got good eyes. They’re probably hired by those going into the mountains.”
The mountains contained treasures worth risking your life to hire mercenaries and go inside.