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While mercenaries were beating up Gamson and Pell and rejoicing, Johan was indulging in a rare luxury. Marcel was indeed different from the rural fiefdom. In the countryside, to take a bath one had to plunge into cold river water, but here hot water was available everywhere.
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Thanks to Eldans’s consideration, Johan could utilize the connections of the trading company. He relaxed in a public bath known by the company, got reasonably priced clothes from a wool merchant known by the company, and asked a known expert for weapon repairs. . .
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All these were things he would have had to do upon entering the city alone. Johan was satisfied with joining the trading caravan.
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‘𝘈 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥.’
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“Johan-nim?”
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“?”
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“I am truly grateful that you brought me out here. The city is wonderfully filthy.”
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Geoffrey too seemed happy, breathing the city air after a long time. Karamaf also looked very pleased, having received a piece of meat.
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Johan chuckled.
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“It’s good to rest like this before things get tough.”
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“That’s naturally a job for a slave, isn’t it.”
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“Speaking of which, what skills do you have?”
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“Y-Yes? Oh, did I do something wrong?”
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“No, just curious. Can you fight?”
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Geoffrey heaved a sigh of relief at Johan’s words.
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He had feared Johan would sell him as soon as they arrived in the city and get a fresh new slave.
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Honestly, being under Johan was good. As a former merchant, Geoffrey knew how horribly a slave owner could treat their slaves. Not whipping, asking about the slave’s condition, allowing rest when tired. . .
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“I will fight diligently!”
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“Geoffrey. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but answer the questions before Karamaf asks.”
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━𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐥.
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“. . .Yes.”
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“Can you fight? What weapons have you handled?”
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“A quarterstaff. . .”
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The long six-foot staff, made by carving wood, was commonly used by everyone from merchants to shepherds. It was easy to find and handle. . .
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“Are you good with it?”
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“Well, I can fend off wild dogs. . .”
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“Hmm. Not much combat ability.”
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Geoffrey suddenly felt anxious at Johan’s mumbling.
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Was he going to be sold if his evaluation fell below the standard?
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“Do you have any knowledge of alchemy or medicine?”
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“. . .Johan-nim. If I had such talents, I wouldn’t be in that rural town. . .”
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“I see. Understood.”
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‘𝘖𝘰𝘱𝘴.’
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“J-Johan-nim. I know how to maintain weapons and armor!”
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“Oh. That’s unexpected. How did you learn that?”
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“Naturally, from often selling swords and armor. . .”
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“That’s good. I might leave the maintenance to you in the future.”
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‘𝘗𝘩𝘦𝘸.’
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Geoffrey let out a sigh of relief. It seemed like he had scored some points.
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Meanwhile, they arrived at the place where the horse merchant was. Johan greeted him lightly.
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“Thank you. Thanks to you, I could find the stolen horse.”
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“No, your Excellency. Catching a thief is a merchant’s honor, isn’t it?”
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The horse merchant was pleased with Johan’s gratitude, appearing to be of noble birth. When else would he receive thanks from such a person?
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Johan handed him half a silver coin of the Empire. The merchant’s eyes widened at the unexpected reward.
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“This, this, this is too much, your Excellency.”
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“No. My horse is worth that much.”
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‘𝘏𝘶𝘩. 𝘏𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺.’
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Geoffrey thought to himself, observing Johan. Such generous charity was something only those of noble birth could afford.
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Mercenaries, fretting over a single coin, could never be so lavish no matter how successful they became.
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Of course, Johan wasn’t thinking that way. He was thinking with an Earthling’s sensibility.
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‘𝘈 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.’
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Johan also thought the half silver coin was a regrettable loss, but decided to grit his teeth and hand it over.
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Someday, it would prove helpful.
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. . .Definitely!
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The horse merchant, hiding his moved expression, said.
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“Certainly, your horse was worth that.”
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“Is that true?”
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“Yes. A fine breed of warhorse.”
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A knight’s horse had to be neither too big nor too small, but just the right size and strength, with well-developed muscles. But that wasn’t all. A knight’s horse needed to be easily controllable for acceleration, stopping, maneuvering, and turning. These qualities came from training, not just lineage.
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Lineage and training. The essence of a warhorse. And Johan’s horse had passed in all these aspects.
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‘𝘕𝘰. . . 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦?’
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Johan was surprised by his half-brothers’ acumen. He hadn’t expected them to acquire such a quality horse, assuming they would settle for a decent packhorse or hunting horse.
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‘𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩?’
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“Come here, boy. Your master is here.”
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The horse whinnied in greeting to Johan. Johan felt a renewed affection for the horse. People often realize the value of something once they lose it.
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“Your name is Fern.”
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Johan decided to name the horse after his half-brother. Seeing such a magnificent horse made him somewhat regret beating Fern up in his youth.
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‘𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘳?’
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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Horses of any breed were quite expensive. After selling the horse received from Rutzbeck, there was enough money to spend while staying in the city. It seemed unnecessary to tap into the inheritance from Karamaf.
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Moreover, thanks to what Eldans had arranged, the merchants in the places visited offered low prices. Even Geoffrey, who was with him, was surprised and checked cautiously.
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“There’s no problem. . . This is definitely cheap. Milord.”
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Johan nodded his head and fitted himself with equipment. He bought an additional longsword, a mace, a sturdy steel shield, and even a long spear. There was nothing like the heavy lance specialized for assault that one would see in a movie. Here, even knights used ordinary spears.
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In any case, it was better to carry multiple weapons. The longsword from Karamaf was even more uncomfortable to use. . .
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He also picked up things he couldn’t carry when he left the fiefdom. He bought a cloak, a blanket for camping, pewter cups and bowls, animal fat solidified, some spices and herbs, and also a quarterstaff and a shortsword for Geoffrey to carry. The money went quickly. Before he knew it, the money he got from selling the horse turned into three Empire silver coins.
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‘𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.’
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In fact, Johan was quite well-off. He had the most expensive asset of a knight, his equipment. To acquire such chainmail immediately would cost in the hundreds, not tens of silver coins.
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Nevertheless, he couldn’t be complacent. After all, money has a way of disappearing like melting snow if you only spend without earning.
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Johan decided to speak to Eldans and meet the branch manager of the trading company in this city.