How to Live as a Wandering Knight – Chapter 249

𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦 (3)

“Why? We can talk comfortably.”

“. . .No.”

Olafsethan was perceptive and had extraordinary situational awareness. He seemed to sense that Johan and others were on good terms with Caenerna. 

Of course, nobles are guaranteed their status even when captured as prisoners of war. But this civil war had built up resentment on both sides. 

Just as the emperor had hanged the necks of southern feudal lords he had captured, Olafsethan could have been hanged too.

“Come to think of it, there were so many plotters at the royal court that I don’t know who plotted it.”

“I see. So you were being tortured because you were caught?”

Olafsethan nodded. Johan comforted him.

“You’ve suffered a lot. Although you were captured as a prisoner, I will guarantee your status in my name. Not only knights but also many Empire knights were captured, so you’ll be able to talk with them.”

“. . .Thank you!”

Olafsethan was relieved. Count Yeats was not as vicious and violent as the rumors made him out to be. On the contrary, he was quite courteous and polite. 

At least he no longer had to worry about being hanged for now. 

‘𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴.’

It was also fortunate that there were many Empire knights in the camp. It would have been miserable to stay in this vast military camp without even a single attendant to look after him. No matter how many conveniences Count Yeats provided, there were limits.

“By the way, Jyanina-gong. Why are you here?”

“. . .Wizards tend to have long and complicated secrets.”

“???”

Olafsethan wondered what she meant but did not inquire further. For now, there was no one more trustworthy than Jyanina around him. She was someone he had some connection with.

Although she had not received an official position, as the emperor’s child, Olafsethan knew quite a bit about the wizards active at the royal court. Enough to be in contact with Caenerna. 

In addition, Jyanina was a wizard who could wield quite creative magic. The idea that she could create an army of monsters was interesting enough that many people including the emperor had lent an ear.

“So Jyanina-gong. Our meeting like this must be God’s guidance. I ask for your advice.” 

“. . .?”

“Given your position, you must hold a high position in the Count’s court. Please advise me on how I should act based on your insight. If you help me, I will not forget this favor. I swear on the name of my family.”

Olafsethan honestly bowed his head.

The situation was dire so he had to accept anyone’s help. And no one else in this camp seemed more suitable than Jyanina.

. . .But for Jyanina, it was an overwhelmingly bewildering remark. 

‘𝘖𝘩 𝘮𝘺. . .’

Faced with words from the other party that she did not even know where to start pointing out, Jyanina broke into a cold sweat.

First of all, Jyanina did not hold a high position in Count Yeats’ court. Of course, as a wizard, she had taken on an advisory role and had the outward image of something like a noble philosopher. But that was just a façade. . .

Inside, Suetlg would say things like ‘𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘈𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.’ And Johan would mock her saying ’𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦? 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥.’

Even with the same position, influence varies widely depending on the person. Jyanina’s influence was negligible.

And Jyanina did not have particularly outstanding political insight. Caenerna and Suetlg were brooding about the situation of the Empire, but Jyanina’s goal was simply to eat well and live well.  

’𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴…’

Johan introduced Jyanina because they were from the same royal court, in order to relieve the other’s wariness and reassure them. But Olafsethan made an unexpected remark.  

“I ask a favor, Jyanina-gong!”

“. . .I’ll think about it.”

Jyanina hurried away. Olafsethan was left behind with a bewildered expression. 

To ignore his proposal. . .

“Could they be thinking of executing me? No way. . .!”

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

Johan was inside Suetlg’s tent. He was reading a book while keeping an eye on his servants changing the cloth on Suetlg’s forehead. 

“Are you feeling a bit better?”

“Much better. What’s the situation?”

“Good.”

The centaurs who went out scouting further were coming back and bringing news.

The feudal lords of the emperor faction were apparently panicking after hearing the shocking news of defeat. They stopped moving separately and were gathering in one place.

They were afraid that if the united allied forces with high morale advanced deeper, they could be defeated piecemeal. 

Similarly, allied troops were also gathering here. The news that the formidable emperor had fallen made even the most timid coward brave.

Even if they clash hard, our side is much more advantageous.

“Is the emperor dead?”

“He probably isn’t dead. He was covered with so much magic. . .”

It was the first time he felt strange cutting an opponent down, probably because of how much magic he had wrapped around himself. It seemed like he had all the treasures of the Empire on his one body.

Johan put away his book and took out his shield. Suetlg was puzzled by the delicate elven patterns and engravings. 

“A treasure from the king?”

“How did you know?”

“Well, not many can give such a treasure. . . It doesn’t look like you’ve used it.”

The shield wasn’t very big. It was close to a small buckler shield. However, the power felt from within was extraordinary. It was odd that he hadn’t used it until now.

“This shield is. . . a bit difficult to use, so I couldn’t use it.”

The elf king only said it was an item who chooses his master, a finicky item, and didn’t explain further.

No matter how many times he asked, he only said things like ’𝘈 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭,’  ━ he held back from smacking him one, since he was the one receiving the treasure. 

“So you’ve figured it out now?”

“I think I roughly grasped it.”

The shield awoke in a frustratingly simple way. Fighting intensely on the battlefield for a long time, it awoke itself. Johan was dumbfounded that he only noticed it when the battle was nearly over.

It awakens with the heat of battle. Indeed worthy of the elf king’s treasure.  

“Anyway, the situation is much more advantageous for us, so when the troops gather, I plan to pressure the enemy. We also have the emperor’s bloodline as hostage. . .”

The Brduhe family’s army is coming to assist, the emperor leading them is heavily injured, and even his bloodline is taken hostage. No matter how modestly Johan sees it, time is on their side.

Of course, Johan had no intention to rush even though they were at an advantage. He planned to wait thoroughly.  

‘𝘙𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘙𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴.’

Suetlg clucked his tongue inside. The opponent this time was no ordinary opponent. He has the most renowned reputation in the Empire as an adversary.

Even someone with a cold heart would normally be excited after such a victory. But Johan was calmly waiting as if he didn’t just win.

It must be suffocating from the opponent’s position.

“Jyanina-gong is here.”

“Oh. Did the emperor’s child say anything?”

Johan welcomed Jyanina with delight. Olafsethan didn’t look like someone with a loose tongue, but it’s normal for one’s tongue to loosen when hurt and lonely.  

It wouldn’t be strange for him to make indiscreet remarks to someone he’s acquainted with like Jyanina.

“He. . . asked me for advice on the political situation. . .”

“To you?!”

Suetlg, who was lying down, was so surprised he sat up.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

Jyanina, who has returned with an incomprehensible deep gaze, opened her mouth. Olafsethan listened intently with a nervous expression.

“One day, a knight who went hunting came back after being bitten by a snake on his hand. What would you say, Your Excellency?”

“I would say to cut off the hand before the poison spreads.”  

“What if he says he doesn’t want to cut off the hand?”

“How can you compare a hand to a life?”

“That’s exactly your situation, Your Excellency.”

“What do you mean? Don’t tell me. . .?”

“His Majesty’s army is still powerful, but how long will this last? It’s as good as turning all the nobles of the Empire into enemies.”

“. . .I know that well. But it’s not like I can change anything. If things had gone well and I had seized full authority, I could have persuaded the vassals below to order a retreat. . .”

“No. That’s not enough.” 

Jyanina waved her hand dismissively.  

“No?”

“Do you think the nobles of the Alliance who raised the army will be satisfied with that? Even if His Majesty’s vassals are satisfied, the nobles of the Alliance will not be satisfied.”

“Then. . .?”

“You have to say that you will return the occupied fiefdoms from this time and pay compensation along with it.”

“What?! Do you know how much damage that would cause?!”

“It is you who should think carefully. If you don’t cut off your hand now, how much bigger will the damage be?”

Olafsethan was about to get angry but thought about it. Certainly Jyanina was right. Even if he retreated with the emperor’s vassals, there was no way the fighting nobles of the Alliance would accept a ceasefire.  

In the worst case, they could push forward into the north. . .

“No matter what, the damage would be too great. I would gain nothing from it!”

“No. You can gain their support. You need to think about continuing the family line.”

“. . .!”  

Olafsethan shuddered at Jyanina’s words. That’s right.  

“When the emperor’s army collapses, who will continue the family line? If you think about the fiefdom in the north, everything else is just something that can be cut off.”

“. . .Thank you, Jyanina-gong. I understand.”

Olafsethan made up his mind.  

Now was the time to move one step ahead of the other bloodlines.  

The other bloodlines beside the emperor probably think they can continue the family line, but the fight is not over yet.  

When the emperor’s army collapses, Olafsethan, who has the support of the feudal lords here, may be in an advantageous position.

‘𝘈𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥’𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨!’

Jyanina breathed a sigh of relief. She had repeated what she heard from Johan, and fortunately there were no mistakes. She didn’t seem to need to take out the backup plan hidden in her sleeve.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

“Look. These are the traces of that torture. If Count Yeats had not appeared, I might have died there without even a trial. I am really ashamed! How could a noble who should respect the Empire do this!”

Whenever nobles arrived in turn, Olafsethan joined the banquet held in the barracks and spoke eloquently. 

Several feudal lords nodded very favorably at Olafsethan’s words.

“I can’t believe he’s the emperor’s son, he’s so gentlemanly.”

“Cardirian should have died earlier. If so, this would not have happened.”

“But did the emperor really die?”

“It seems certain that he was defeated.”

The feudal lords gathered there sent gazes of reverence to Johan. His martial arts prowess could be understandable. It was common for a suddenly appeared young knight to show off his martial arts.

However, it was unimaginable to ambush and retreat the army of the veteran Emperor.  

How was that possible?

“I heard that God gave a revelation the day before.”

“Indeed. . .! Plausible.” 

‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵?’

Johan, who was passing by, was dumbfounded inside. No matter how unbelievable, believing in such things. . .

However, the nobles seemed to believe this theory a lot. Even Ulrike, who arrived late, secretly asked, ’𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮?’

“Your Excellency Count Yeats. Thank you again for saving my life. If the Count had not saved me. . .”

“It was something I had to do as a nobleman.”

Olafsethan’s attitude became even more polite than when he woke up. Jyanina’s words were so effective that he was walking around very enthusiastically.

‘𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴.’

He didn’t expect it to be this much even though he wanted cooperation. Since it wasn’t bad, Johan smiled.

“Your Excellency Count. I was so confused that I forgot, but I just remembered an important story.”

“?”

“There may be an assassin aiming at the count!”

Count Shirivik next to him flinched.

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