How to Live as a Wandering Knight – Chapter 313

𝐂𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧 (1)

Even without listening to the messenger’s words, he could guess how the situation turned out.

While he couldn’t believe it, it was obvious Duke Bronquia made a mistake. He didn’t think a crisis would occur with those troops he led, but the world is not a place where you can easily predict what will happen.

And Ulrike had no intention of going into the water and helping the drowning man.

“But we still can’t leave him alone.”

If he didn’t help when there were eyes and ears watching, Johan would be talked about behind his back no matter what.

He had to demonstrate his deeds in order to control numerous pilgrims following Johan.

“I know that. You are asking me to buy some time. Anyway, if he had to ask for help like this, it may be too late to go already. Isn’t necessary to hurry.”

Although he had not heard the messenger’s report yet, Ulrike was willing to bet that the support wouldn’t be much use.

Considering the time it took for the messenger to go back and forth, the battle was most likely over already. Furthermore, the messenger looked awful, covered in blood. He probably departed after the battle went sideways.

If that was the case, the issue was not providing support, but rather how many of Duke Bronquia and his knights managed to escape.

However, the messenger’s report that followed was different from Ulrike’s expectation.

“When I left, they were holding on, but I don’t know how long they can last. The pagan army is filling the area beneath the mountain, surrounding us. Your Highness. Please help us!”

The messenger’s voice was soaked in tears.

Yet the two lords were more surprised by something else.

“They are holding on? Really?”

“You are saying they are not defeated in battle, but rather surrounded? What are you talking about?”

Ulrike pressed the messenger as if he couldn’t believe it. However, the messenger was not capable of answering properly. How could a messenger have any command over the army in the first place?

“Be quiet. The messenger can’t even speak properly.”

After Johan calmed Ulrike down, the messenger was finally able to speak.

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“The enemies escaped.”

“Ahem.”

Unlike before, when dozens or hundreds of troops would raid, Duke Bronquia’s main forces showed up, and the enemies abandoned their town and retreated without any hesitation. The difference in numbers was simply too large.

Duke Bronquia was very satisfied as he easily captured towns that the knights failed to conquer several times.

“Keep marching forward! Our next destination is Citadel. If we capture that castle, the pagans occupying the Holy Land will feel a chill. Let’s cut off their limbs and arms one by one.”

“Your Highness. The soldiers are exhausted from the heat and the march. We may lose many of them if we don’t rest.”

“Biorarn-gong. I know that. But if we don’t strike while the iron’s hot, the enemies will get word of it and prepare their defenses. It won’t be easy to conquer the castle if their defenses are strengthened and reinforcements arrive.”

“I understand, but it’s only natural that it won’t be easy to capture the castle. I don’t think it would be a good idea to get too greedy.”

Duke Bronquia shook his head in annoyance. The way he looked at Biorarn was as if he was a coward worrying about unnecessary things, and Biorarn felt dumbfounded.

If not for the situation, he might’ve challenged him to a duel.

“If we keep moving and conquering one by one like this, when will we ever get rid of the enemies and liberate the Holy Land? Gong. Stop worrying about unnecessary things.”

“It will take at least a day’s march to get to Citadel, and there’s no clean water source on the way, and the weather is hot, and the worn-out soldiers. . .”

Biorarn tried his best to persuade him, but the Duke wouldn’t budge.

He said that the problem of water would be solved if they advanced quickly and took control of the area around the castle. Biorarn couldn’t persuade him any further when he was being this stubborn. He made sense. Even though it felt ominous, he felt like the mood would only get worse if he kept talking. . .

However, ominous feelings usually turned out to be right.

“Enemies are approaching!”

“Charge and crush them!”

“We cannot, Your Highness! It’s dangerous to charge recklessly in this situation!”

A veteran knight under the Duke called out to the Duke in a hurry.

The enemies were lightly armed and riding sturdy and resilient horses, galloping across the desert. Judging from the sand and dirt flying everywhere and the war cries coming from all directions, it was obvious they were trying to make it hard to tell their exact numbers.

That didn’t matter. Just charging without even figuring out how many enemies there were, simply trying to grab them and separate their troops, causing them to be defeated one by one.

The pagan warriors were especially skilled at such guerrilla tactics.

Lightly-armed mounted archers approach and shower arrows, and when the knights get heated up and start chasing them, the warriors hidden in other places slaughter the remaining soldiers.

“Ignore them and keep advancing. They are shooting arrows from a distance, so they won’t inflict much damage.”

“. . .Understood!”

Duke Bronquia wasn’t stupid enough to ignore the knights’ orders.

And so, the army pressed forward while enduring the rain of arrows. However, that was it.

The soldiers began to fall one by one due to the heat, arrows, fear, and fatigue.

In the end, they had no choice but to stop marching and set up a camp. As they stopped moving, enemies began to show up one by one. Duke Bronquia made a tired expression for the first time as he saw the disgusting pagans crawling in like worms.

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“. . .And we managed to escape through the encirclement with great difficulty!”

Ulrike looked even more displeased at the messenger’s words. It would’ve been easier if they were simply defeated, but now she was more annoyed because they were holding on like this. Since things turned out this way, they had no choice but to go. . .

“Very well. We can’t leave our brothers of the same faith alone. We shall go to their aid.”

“Your Highness! Thank you!”

“!”

Only after the messenger left, with tears in his eyes, did Ulrike lower his voice and ask. She couldn’t believe it.

“Are you really going to their aid?”

“Of course not. I’m just putting on an act.”

Ulrike was relieved at Johan’s words. It was always a good thing to have an understanding friend. If Johan had insisted on helping his brother like Duke Bronquia, Ulrike would’ve felt very annoyed.

“Do you already have an idea of how to buy some time?”

“There’s no need to buy time in particular. If we tried to make up excuses, we would only end up arguing meaninglessly.”

The situation the messenger reported was more dire than expected. They were surrounded, getting beaten, and had no water in this hot weather. It was impossible for such a large number of people to continue holding out.

Honestly speaking, he felt like they probably collapsed as soon as the messenger left.

It would be despicable to forcibly buy time in such a situation. It would be better to hurry to their aid and display his anger.

If Duke Bronquia and his knights managed to escape, wouldn’t they be even more grateful for this?

“Gong. Will you come with me?”

“Of course.”

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“There really is no flag of the demon.”

“Something must’ve gone wrong. There’s a rumor going around that he caught an illness.”

The tribe leaders looked at the monotheists who were trapped within the siege with satisfied expressions.

Even at a glance, it was obvious they were exhausted and drenched in sweat. If they could have a glass of cold water right now, they would’ve paid for it with gold coins.

Experienced hunters would say that finding and chasing prey is a task for boys, and killing it is men’s work. Commanding an army was similar.

Luring, attracting, and encircling enemies was difficult, but what came after was easy.

“It’s amazing how easy it was to encircle them. You are truly great.”

“I was just lucky. Our enemies were unfamiliar with the surrounding geography, and they neglected scouting.”

At Suhekhar’s words, the tribe leaders cast respectful gazes at him. Each tribe leader had different customs and personalities, but they all knew of Suhekhar’s wisdom.

To arrive late and achieve such a feat. In some ways, it might even be a greater feat than Yeheyman’s.

“I heard a rumor that a few of them ran away, terrified of Duke Yeats. . .”

“There must’ve been cowards among them.”

“The rumor may be a bit exaggerated.”

The tribe leaders spoke shamelessly. They too were reluctant to lead their subordinates out not long ago.

They regained their confidence now that their enemies weren’t fighting as well as they thought and the Duke’s flag was nowhere to be seen. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have come out at all.

Of course, Suhekhar, who arrived late, didn’t know the exact details of what happened in the Holy Land as he only heard it through word of mouth.

“Is that so? Then again. . . the fact that there are only veteran warriors doesn’t make sense. I must’ve fallen for a rumor because I’m getting old.”

“Hahaha!”

“Then it’s time to send a letter to the Duke over there. Let’s send a messenger and ask them politely to surrender.”

Suhekhar sent a messenger to ask for their surrender. He said that they would be treated honorably if they surrendered after all the pain he inflicted on them by encircling them.

However, surprisingly, the Duke refused to surrender.

━𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬. 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮? 𝐌𝐲 𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭!

“Blow the horn and start the attack. When they suffer enough to the point where they can’t endure it any longer, they’ll think about surrendering.”

“Yes!”

Trumpets blared from all directions, and flags fluttered. The warriors who were fully rested approached on horseback and pulled back their bows.

And at that moment, a new army appeared from the opposite horizon.

“. . .!”

“Are they reinforcements?”

Suhekhar muttered in disappointment. What would’ve been easy was now becoming annoying.

“Don’t worry. They are still a distance away, and our enemies must’ve exhausted themselves galloping from afar. Let’s maintain our encirclement and repel them.”

Nearly ten thousand of the tribe leaders’ combine forces were encircling Duke Bronquia’s army of several thousand. Their enemies must be plenty exhausted so that they can easily divide them up and fight.

Logically, Suhekhar’s judgment was correct. Logically.

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“They still haven’t surrendered?”

“He’s stubborn where it doesn’t matter.”

Johan sighed at Ulrike’s words. Seeing their enemies moving, it would be more dangerous if they retreated or hesitated carelessly.

“Gong, take the right flank. I’ll take the left. If we hold out until the reinforcements arrive, the enemies will retreat as well.”

Currently, only the cavalry had arrived first. Judging from the fact that the reinforcements were arriving late, the enemies were likely to give up and retreat.

Johan prepared to charge to prevent their opponents from doing anything reckless.

The knights’ charge was like the impact of swinging a giant hammer, and after being hit a few times, they wouldn’t dare to do anything foolish.

‘𝘞𝘦’𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴.’

Johan lightly bumped shoulders with Iselia, exchanged glances, and then nodded. The flag Johan received from the order was raised high. It didn’t mean anything in particular and was more of a show to boost morale.

“Charge!”

With a loud roar, Johan and his subordinates began their charge from the left flank. Johan tried his best to figure out where the enemy knights would come out while galloping.

If they didn’t just stand there and watch as they charged, of course they would jump out from the other side and block them.

Then. . .?

“???”

“My dear?”

Johan arrived in front of the infantry forming the encirclement without much hindrance. Now he could have just trampled it in a matter of seconds. His infantry and centaurs were also very confused and dazed.

‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭? 𝘐𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱?’

However, there was no such thing as a trap like this in the world. Traps are made by creating an opening to fall into, but what kind of trap is this when it’s wide open?

𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘨!

The ground shook as the soldiers collapsed. Johan tore through the encirclement like a thunderbolt. After a round of slaughter, Johan immediately gave the signal to retreat.

“Regroup and reorganize!”

“Yes!”

He paid attention to the possibility of an ambush on his way out, but no one jumped out from anywhere. Johan managed to safely complete his charge and return to his original camp.

‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺?’

“Did they run away because they were scared?”

“The enemies just opened up a path? That doesn’t make any sense at all?”

Iselia’s words unexpectedly hit the nail on the head, but Johan didn’t believe them at all. It was such a ridiculous thing to say.

Johan saw the enemy knights slowly moving and defending their positions where they were attacked earlier. It seemed like they were barely holding on. Johan’s head started to become complicated as he thought about these mysterious tactics.

‘𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵. . .?’

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