How to Live as a Wandering Knight – Chapter 296

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 (4)

“What use do you think those men will be?”

“. . .More than adequate.”

The duke coughed several times, trying to ensure his voice was devoid of incredulity. He could not sound incredulous, no matter the absurdity; he was a duke, and these men were sprung from a republic. Condescension was not an option.

“Even if we disregard Barhan-nim of Vynashchtym, Sir Lumahr, and Mulc’s Sir Ahir are figures with considerable influence within the Empire.”

“But would they be able to show their influence in this instance?”

“Your Highness. You would be mistaken to assume so because of the notoriety of the sultan; the sultan is only a man. He, too, cannot do as he pleases, just as Cardirian cannot do as he pleases.”

Just as the emperor of the Empire considered the opinions of their many feudal lords, the sultan was also constrained to consider the opinions of the various clans.

Not even the sultan could reject a request to dispatch men to some faraway land, not a land of the Eastern Empire at that. If he did, the nobles would revolt in an instant.

“If Your Highness grants permission, I will immediately dispatch men on fast ships.”

“Of course. Please do. I feel secure knowing that you’re here.”

“Rather, we are the ones who feel secure knowing that Your Highness is here.”

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Ulrike, who had shouted vehemently, ‘𝘓𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣*𝘵𝘤𝘩!’ as soon as she met Johan, seemed to have calmed down somewhat after listening to Johan’s persuasion.

“. . .If you cooperate to that extent, I suppose we don’t necessarily have to kill him.”

“I’m glad you understand.”

Ulrike was a woman who knew how to put aside her emotions for the sake of profit. Regardless of the king’s impoliteness, she had no intention of cutting him down if he cooperated with the expedition.

“So, do you intend to gather the expeditionary forces that are coming this way while you wait?”

“Wouldn’t that be the most sensible approach?”

While the nobles of the Eastern Empire made their way over, Johan intended to gather other crusaders and armies while leading his own army nearby.

In expeditions like this, the most importJohan matter was for individuals to unite into a single entity.

In the previous holy war, too, there had been numerous instances in which a coalition was defeated because they were divided and could not manage proper command.

“. . .Is it truly impossible?”

Ulrike asked as if she could not comprehend. It was all the more puzzling since he was a duke, a person who should have understood this.

It was not that the nobles who had participated in the previous holy war were fools and thus failed to unite. They could not unite because uniting was impossible.

Every feudal lord who had come this far was essentially leading their own army. Why would such men willingly submit to someone else’s orders? There was no feudal lord so foolish as to do everything that benefited others.

Even the duke should be aware of this. . .

“Of course, it will be difficult, but I will do my best to gather them.”

“Ah. . . In that case, I will cooperate as best as I can.”

Ulrike spoke and then hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“No. I think it would be better for Your Highness the duke if I refrained from cooperating.”

“What is the meaning of this?”

“A revered duke like Your Highness would only find me an obstacle while trying to persuade them.”

“What. . . You also have a reputation among the other nobles, a favorable one at that.”

“A notorious one, you mean.”

It was rare for a feudal lord to be loved by everyone. Of course, Ulrike was no exception. After all, stirring up several wars and raising taxes to gain fiefdoms invariably earned her the resentment of nobles and priests alike.

In contrast, people like Johan, who were welcomed everywhere they went, were rare.

‘𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥.’

Of the feudal lords currently partaking in the Eastern Expedition, Ulrike felt that Johan had the greatest chance of getting along with the others.

The elf king was bound to clash with both the western and northern feudal lords, and the eastern feudal lords, who had joined the expedition, were not likely to cooperate well since they were used to operating independently. . .

At the very least, the duke, who was close to some of them, might be able to control their wild horses by holding the reins.

‘𝘐’𝘮 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱.’

Ulrike was genuinely apologetic. Although Johan likely did not care much, Ulrike could not help but mind the fact that she had failed to accomplish something that her mother, Countess Jarpen, would have accomplished.

If the duke were able to win over even one or two more feudal lords, his strength would increase considerably. . .

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Viceroy Manansir was known as an ambitious opportunist, but after the Eastern Expedition began in earnest, he began to have nightmares.

No one would have predicted this. No, it was an eventuality that could not have been predicted.

What sense did it make to declare a holy war simply because some merchant ships had been captured?

No matter how one looked at it, this could only be seen as providing a pretext while discontent and power were bubbling up in the west. He would never have acted this way had he known this would happen.

At first, it was just rumors of ragged crusaders, but. . .

With the passage of time, the rumors gradually took on a more concrete form.

When news spread that nobles from clans known even in the east were leading their armies, the nearby feudal lords began to waver and murmur.

“Your Excellency Viceroy. . .”

“Have you come again because you are so worried?”

The person most responsible for this situation was Manansir himself, who had ordered the capture of the ships.

“I heard that their numbers are quite large.”

“Surely you are well aware of how strong and fearsome are the knights of the west. Once they charge, our soldiers will be swept away.”

“Their armor cannot be pierced by arrows, and their helmets remain unmoving even after being struck by swords several times. There was an instance where a thousand men ganged up on a few dozen knights of the west but failed to capture them and ended up fleeing. . .”

“There is nothing to worry about.”

Although Manansir felt as though he were burning up inside, he persevered. Manansir was the one who had risen to power in this region with iron and blood. If he showed weakness now, the feudal lords of this region would rise up before the western nobles even arrived.

‘𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘪𝘵, 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘪𝘵, 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘪𝘵!’

“I already have a plan in mind.”

“Oh. . .!”

Contrary to Manansir’s burning heart, the gathered feudal lords were reassured by his attitude.

Manansir had demonstrated such military prowess that they had no choice but to trust him since he seemed so confident.

“The enemy has come from afar. How exhausted must they be? On top of that, it will be difficult for them to procure proper supplies. What about the endemic diseases?”

“But the sea is open, is it not?”

“Even so, there are limits. I do not deny that they are strong and sturdy warriors, but they are also savage and violent like beasts. If they continue to charge in like that, they will dig their own graves, and I will annihilate them without letting a single one of them return.”

“Ohhhhh. . .”

“Moreover, the sultan will not simply stand idly by while these pagans run rampant. Has he not held out his hand to me?”

“The sultan??”

Manansir’s words caused the feudal lords to freeze.

Although they loathed the foreigners from the west, the sultan was not exactly someone they were familiar with either.

“Will the sultan’s army come?”

“That’s right. To provide support.”

“If the sultan’s army comes. . .”

The feudal lords trailed off. Everyone knew what they were worried about.

They were concerned that the sultan’s army might occupy the surrounding area or cause some other kind of damage, even if they did not occupy it.

Manansir spoke firmly.

“There is no need to worry about that. The target will be solely the lands of those monotheist b*stards. The sultan will not touch his brethren of the same faith.”

“Ummmm.”

The feudal lords nodded for the time being. Although it was not entirely satisfactory, they had no choice since Manansir had stated it so clearly.

After the feudal lords left, Manansir’s subordinates asked in a startled voice.

“Will the sultan’s army really come? I heard that the envoy has yet to return.”

“We must make him come. By any means necessary! Send more envoys. Offer whatever bribes are necessary to have them come to our aid!”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

Manansir’s subordinates nodded vigorously, startled by his ferocious expression.

Manansir was not a savage warrior who attacked indiscriminately, as the feudal lords presumed, but he did understand strategy.

It would be foolish to simply wait without doing anything while the enemy surged in like a wave.

Manansir bit his lips until they bled. He was not a particularly devout man, but he could not help but pray at times like this.

He prayed that those from the west would fight and quarrel among themselves, that they would grow exhausted on their way here and disperse, and that the sultan’s army would arrive on time. . .

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Sir Lumahr was a renowned diplomat of the Eastern Empire. A renowned diplomat in this era essentially meant that one’s clan had to support them. In that respect, Sir Lumahr’s clan needed no further explanation.

During his stay in Vynashchtym, he had befriended the sultan’s uncle, Barhan, his connections were extensive, and he was politically astute.

On top of that, he had another talent, which was playing Go. Thanks to his reputation for having defeated several capable knights, even though he held the black stones, he had once played Go with the sultan.

The news that Sir Lumahr himself had come to this place came as quite a shock. Many people came to see him out of curiosity.

A light sound rang out on the wooden board, and then Lumahr let out a groan. When he came to his senses, he realized that the black piece was on the verge of death.

“Your Highness, you have a guest.”

“It would be best if you told him to wait for a while.”

Lumahr lifted his head from the wooden board and opened his mouth. Johan responded in a puzzled manner.

“Would that not be considered impolite?”

“You must demonstrate who is superior and who is inferior, Your Highness.”

Unlike Johan, who was not familiar with this region, Lumahr knew very well what kind of people the feudal lords of this region were.

Since they were likely probing to see what kind of person this young duke was, he had to make them pay the price. They were shrewd enough to understand this.

“Surely you aren’t doing this because you don’t want the game be disturbed. . .”

“Your Highness, how could you think such a thing of me? After coming all this way.”

Saying so, Lumahr placed down a stone and then smiled faintly. He was certain that the black piece had been saved. Johan shook his head and placed down a stone.

At that, Lumahr’s pale face turned even paler.

“Stone. . . Stone underneath. . . Stone. . .”

“Well, I suppose it’s been long enough. Shall we call them in?”

“No, we should make them wait a little longer. Trust me.”

“Alright then. Let us set the game aside for now and have a chat. I hear that General Manansir is quite notorious?”

“Ah, you mean that general. Yes, he is quite rash and ferocious.”

Lumahr spoke with disgust.

Whether they were from the west or the east, most of those who wielded swords and spears to become knights were brave and did not value their lives. However, even among them, there were a few who were particularly mad. Manansir was one such person.

“Although I do not dare compare himself to Your Highness the Duke, Manansir has also undertaken several mad charges in the past. He is a brave warrior.”

‘𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘳. . .’

“With such a man as our opponent, it will be easy for me to persuade him. That is not the problem, Your Highness. There are rumors circulating in the sultan’s palace.”

“. . .!”

Johan’s face hardened. Rumors circulating at this time could only mean one thing.

“That they are coming to provide support?”

“Yes. I think you should be prepared for that.”

“Ummmm. . .”

“Why do you ask?”

“Is there no way to negotiate with that Manansir fellow?”

“. . .Are you joking? No, you’re not joking?”

“There is no reason to risk our lives in a place like this.”

Although it was an interesting proposal, Lumahr shook his head.

“That man is completely bloodthirsty, so there is no way he will listen to something like negotiation.”

“Tsk. He’s no reincarnation of Cardirian is he?”

“Since you have called for me, let us do what we must. Let us bring them in already.”

Johan nodded. The people from the Zurebek clan hesitantly entered. Lumahr welcomed them with exaggerated gestures.

Wine was served several times, and Lumahr praised Johan until his mouth went dry. He said that Johan was renowned even in the Eastern Empire and that he was a knight who kept his word. . .

‘𝘏𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬.’

Although he was not good at Go, Lumahr’s eloquence was indeed worthy of a diplomat. He skillfully alleviated the anxiety of the people here by presenting past events in a plausible manner.

“The rumor that he tore off a troll’s arm is an exaggeration. Think about it. Does that even make sense? Rumors tend to grow in that way. Surely wise people like yourselves do not believe such rumors?”

“O. . . Of course not.”

“Those kinds of rumors have spread to the point that there are now rumors that he has a pact with a demon. You must never believe those rumors.”

“. . . . . .”

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