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𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 (6)
Despite his title as the bravest knight, Johan tried quite hard not to make enemies.
His realistic personality and preference for the safe path led him to act that way.
If Johan had an uncompromising personality like Cardirian, at least a third of the nobles in the southern half of the peninsula would have died, and the nobles in the central region would now be struggling to survive against Johan’s army.
But instead, Johan dealt with them with patience and persuasion. No matter how much support he had from the Order and his own charisma, the few rebellions were thanks to Johan’s concessions and patience.
But inevitably, there were things Johan couldn’t handle.
The nobles opposed to Johan and the followers of the pagan faith could only be hostile to Johan.
While Johan himself didn’t care whether people believed in paganism, believed in rolling stones placed on the altar, the others felt differently.
With embarrassing titles like Sword chosen by the Order, Sword forged by the Order, Sword sent by the Only God, resentment and hostility had built up.
“Anyway, there’s nowhere to run. Surrender!”
“You cowards may flee, but I will not! The god who looks after me is not inferior to your god!”
‘𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺 𝘣*𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥.’
Johan grumbled to himself. Of course, people who thought like Johan were rare in this world. Most people showed dogmatic attitudes about the values they believed in.
Nobles obsessed with honor, priests obsessed with faith, knights obsessed with the custom of chivalry. . .
But the pagan believer before him was especially unpleasant to deal with among them. An opponent who readily accepts even his own death.
Suetlg replied instead.
“If you’re so bold, reveal the name of the god you believe in.”
“Old wizard! I am Beltazen, the warrior sent by Teshuka. Count! If you’re not a coward, fight me one-on-one!”
Suetlg frowned and whispered.
“Do you know him?”
“I’ve seen the name in documents. I remember he was a god of wilderness and life, thought to be forgotten. . .”
Johan recalled the dwarf flying out the window. No ordinary strength could easily throw a dwarf like that. It was surely due to some mystical power.
“No need to deal with whatever god he believes in. Order them to burn down the mansion at once.”
“There are too many watching eyes, it’s a bit difficult.”
If the opponent was just a mercenary, Johan could have ignored him and killed him. But with the mention of the Order and faith and the request for a duel, Johan had to consider appearances.
No one would openly speak ill before Johan, but rumors of avoidance could spread.
“Also, if we just kill him, we can’t hear what he knows.”
Johan wanted to know exactly what Beltazen had done. Who he joined hands with and what deeds he had committed. How much he was targeting Johan, etc.
‘𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. . .’
Johan recalled the second child of the Lizarek family. The guy had tireless arms and tenacious vitality. Johan had wondered where he had obtained his magic since it wasn’t easy to acquire. . .
At least Johan could tell he was similar to the guy before him.
‘𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘯.’
Johan finished his calculations. The opponent didn’t know Johan well, but Johan grasped the opponent to some extent. Plus, the situation overwhelmingly favored Johan.
“Come out, Beltazen! Your honor is worthless but I will accept your request for a one-on-one duel. I pledge my honor.”
“You have some courage at least, Count!”
Beltazen walked out, breaking through the window frame. A physique to match Johan, with magical energy emanating from the tattoos covering his body.
“If you lose, don’t flee and answer my questions.”
“Go ahead if you can.”
Beltazen was overflowing with confidence. Even Johan who had calculated everything regretted for a moment that he had picked a wrong fight.
Johan’s subordinates watched the duel with eyes mixed with excitement and worry. As much as they wanted to beat up the arrogant barbarian, this was a duel their master had personally accepted.
There were many nobles who shouted about honor, but there were few who would personally fight to defend that honor. Johan’s men didn’t want to tarnish the honor that he took the initiative to fight without relying on others.
The fight began with Beltazen’s attack. Beltazen wore no armor, not even a small piece. The god he believed in hated steel.
Instead, Beltazen wielded an iron club as hard as steel. It was as powerful as a mace that could turn an armored head into mush.
Johan did not confront him and carefully assessed his opponent’s strength while stepping back. He had faced a similar opponent before but Johan was not arrogant about it.
Being humble even against a rabbit was one of Johan’s greatest weapons.
‘𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦.’
Johan did not let his guard down. He could be killed by any opponent if he was careless. Johan had no intention of baring his fangs until he was sure.
As Johan evaded and retreated, Beltazen growled like a beast. His growl contained satisfaction. Johan’s retreat emboldened him.
“Cowardly b*stard! Are you running away?!”
According to the rumors he had heard, the count used such rough and powerful swordsmanship. The fact that such an opponent was retreating like this was proof that he had the upper hand.
Beltazen attacked even more fiercely. It was crude and vulgar but had an overwhelming pressure that was hard to face. It could feel similar to Johan in a way, but. . .
In fact, it was completely different.
It wasn’t that Johan didn’t know various techniques. He just didn’t use them because he didn’t need them. He had learned them but didn’t use them when unnecessary.
One well-aimed blow was enough to sink Beltazen who kept charging at him.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐜𝐤!
The warhammer swung without any sign. Usually there should be at least a little preparatory movement before an attack comes out, but Johan’s monstrous strength made the attack possible ignoring that.
The swiftly swinging warhammer brushed Beltazen’s chest.
“!!!”
Shocked and horrified, Beltazen still grabbed the warhammer. His ribs were broken and he had dropped his club, but he endured. There were astonished shouts among the mercenaries.
“Freaking monster!”
“What the hell is that guy. . .?!”
However, Johan was not surprised by this. He had expected that the opponent’s vitality could be tenacious. Instead of wrestling for the warhammer, Johan smashed the kneeling opponent’s face.
“Gah. . .!”
There were so many things he wanted to ask before his breath was cut off. Johan pounced on his opponent who was falling to the side. As soon as he squeezed the guy’s neck with his arm and applied force, Beltazen’s complexion began to change.
𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡!
Beltazen tried his best to break free. As he scratched the floor with his thick stubby fingers, the stone floor broke and cracked. The mercenaries watching were so confused about whether that guy was a monster or Johan who was subduing him was the monster.
‘𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴?’
Johan wondered if he had made a mistake. Even though his neck was about to break, his opponent was unfazed.
“Admit defeat. If you don’t want your neck to break like this.”
“Nonsense! I. . . haven’t lost yet!”
At that moment, Johan was able to witness an astonishing phenomenon. The magical energy that had been coiling around Beltazen’s body disappeared in an instant.
It wasn’t because his vitality had gone out. He was still alive, but the magical energy alone had disappeared as if a candle had been blown out.
That power surged into Johan. Beltazen was horrified at the unbelievable sight. His god had abandoned him.
“Ah, no! No!”
The warrior who was strong enough to fight Johan screamed in fear. Despite the pain that would surge through his body now that the magical power was gone, he desperately sought to regain his strength.
‘. . .𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘰?’
As a wizard, Johan could guess what had happened.
A wizard’s words were not the only thing that held power. Strong oaths also held strong power. The story of people being cursed for breaking oaths was not unique to just wizards.
Although he doesn’t know how Beltazen gained magical power, he clearly violated something when he gained that power. Once a taboo has been violated, the power is destined to leave.
“If you don’t want to be cursed by your god, keep your oath.”
Johan spoke firmly to Beltazen. Even as his life was fading, Beltazen slowly nodded his head.
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
Emano-gong, who was out for business, was startled to hear that his residence was under attack and rushed back.
However, by the time he arrived, the situation had already been dealt with. Count Yeats looked at him with cold eyes. The other knights had expressions like they would draw their swords at any moment.
‘. . .”
No matter how thick-skinned Emano-gong was in the city, he couldn’t help but sweat in this situation. Especially with armed men on both sides of the yard of his residence glaring at him.
𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐝━
First, he knelt down and bowed forward. Although there was no need to show such subservience to a count with no position in the city when the charges were still unclear. . .
If he had any sense, now was the time to do something.
“Do you know why we’re here, Emano-gong?”
“I. . . I don’t know what’s going on. Your Excellency.”
“. . .????”
Joseph turned his head in confusion. Johan was sitting arrogantly in his seat, but no one said anything, so he thought he had the lord’s trust.
But he just heard something strange.
“Did you say. . . count?”
“Why do you ask?”
The dwarf next to him looked at Joseph as if wondering. I thought they were quite close from the conversation with Johan, why doesn’t he even know the count’s status?
“Hasn’t Your Excellency Count arrived yet?”
“What nonsense are you talking about? Isn’t he right there?”
The dwarf pointed directly at Johan.
“In the first place, didn’t that crazy b*stard attack Your Excellency Count earlier? What did you hear then?”
“I thought the crazy b*stard was just rambling. . .”
“So who did you think the Count was?”
At the dwarf’s question, Joseph was at a loss for words. He gave up trying to say something, thinking he would look strange no matter what he said.
“. . .I was just joking around.”
“What a frivolous human.”
The dwarf shrugged his shoulders as if to say ’𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥𝘰’ and stepped back. Joseph began to wonder when things started to go strangely.
‘𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘐 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯?’
Meanwhile, Johan looked down at the city nobleman and said,
“I heard you gathered mercenaries to attack me. Don’t even think about making excuses. Many testimonies have already been heard.”
“No! Absolutely not! I swear to God!”
Emano-gong shouted with all his heart. His words were true. He was trying to kill Adviko, not Johan.
Why would he provoke a madman? His enraged subordinates would take revenge by burning down the city.
‘𝘖𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵.’
Johan realized that the other party was not lying. Fortunately, it seemed the city nobles were not seriously trying to kill Johan.
“Present the witnesses for confirmation!”
“I’ll give you a chance. Lock him up inside. Bring the nobles from the other families associated with this man too.”
Emano-gong struggled as he was dragged away. He still seemed to think he could prove his innocence if the witnesses were confirmed. Suetlg clicked his tongue.
“Even if the witnesses are confirmed, it’ll only get worse for him. . .”
The mercenaries who were with him were intricately involved in the count’s assassination plot along with heretics. His sins would only deepen, not lighten.
Not to mention, everyone from the servants to slaves in the residence witnessed it. It would be hard to deny it.
“Are you thinking of executing him?”
“I’m deliberating a bit.”
Johan was thinking about how to gain the most benefit out of this. His demeanor didn’t show any resentment over the attempt on his life at all. Suetlg was freshly impressed.