How to Live as a Wandering Knight

𝐈𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 (𝟖)

ㅤ

“Understood. What did the Lords decide to do?”

ㅤ

“They said they will interrogate them and then decide.”

ㅤ

“Understood. Tell them I will come as soon as possible.”

ㅤ

Suetlg made a look as if to say, ‘𝘚𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?’ Whether surrounded by forest or whatever, facing knights with just a few dozen mercenaries was absolutely impossible.

ㅤ

The captain of the guard shouted, gathering the captains of the mercenaries. Since the knights had already gone ahead and were causing trouble, they also had to hurry.

ㅤ

Honestly, the knights aren’t fools, they’ll handle it well. . .

ㅤ

But what if they’re late? What would they hear then?

ㅤ

“It would be easier if the Sir Knights just swept them all away.”

ㅤ

“I’m afraid to say that, it seems like we would get an earful for that. Aren’t the preparations complete yet?”

ㅤ

“They say it’s all ready now.”

ㅤ

Upon hearing the adjutant’s report, the captain of the guard nodded.

ㅤ

The plan of subjugation was simple.

ㅤ

Sweep through the nearby forest, destroying all possible camping sites, and kill any mercenary or rogue they encounter.

ㅤ

It was a simple but effective method. Since they had more numbers and better quality of troops, there was no need for complicated tactics.

ㅤ

The only reason these bands of rogues held out was because of the vast forest. If they destroyed all supplies and camping grounds, the mercenaries would be finished. Would these mercenaries, gathered for personal gain, regroup after a retreat? They would just scatter.

ㅤ

“Do you think they’ll run or fight?”

ㅤ

“Maybe they’ll fight at least once, right? After all that, they won’t just disband.”

ㅤ

Having betrayed the city and turned into a band of rogues, the mercenary captain had to produce results. Otherwise, he would be hanged by the angry mercenaries.

ㅤ

“Are you okay after drinking so much?”

ㅤ

“The wine? Good wine is like medicine.”

ㅤ

At Johan’s words, Suetlg made a disbelieving face. The elf knights and Johan had really drunk like madmen. Seeing Johan drink well, the elf knights seemed excited and kept pouring more.

ㅤ

‘𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺.’

ㅤ

Suetlg gulped down some cold water. Johan, while preparing for the march, asked.

ㅤ

“What conditions are needed to see the future?”

ㅤ

“Why? Do you want me to predict your future?”

ㅤ

“Haha. How could I ask for that? I was just wondering if someone like Suetlg could foresee and avoid a disadvantageous future.”

ㅤ

“To see the future, a few conditions are necessary. When water wants to tell me the future, when my life is in great danger, and most importantly, when I haven’t overdrunk the previous night.”

ㅤ

“Sounds plausible.”

ㅤ

“Why suddenly talk about the future? There must be a reason.”

ㅤ

“The mercenaries who betrayed the city and turned into a band of rogues wouldn’t have done it without reason. I was wondering if there’s something more to it.”

ㅤ

“Don’t overestimate those mercenary fools. Like I said, they’re like beasts. They eat when hungry, drink when thirsty. They resort to thievery when out of money. Probably thought they could extort more after receiving the down payment. With the Empire in turmoil, they’d flee there and Marcel couldn’t do anything.”

ㅤ

Blocking the path to the city meant that the city would have no choice but to negotiate. It would be much more profitable than the money to hire the mercenaries.

ㅤ

If the Oak Tree Mercenary Group and band of rogues were mistaken about anything, it was that the magistrate of Marcel was not an easy person.

ㅤ

“The mercenaries misjudged the person. In other cities, maybe, but here the magistrate is not so soft to fall for such tactics.”

ㅤ

“Hmm.”

ㅤ

They thought blocking the road would lead to negotiations, but the magistrate’s choice to hire twice as many troops for a counterattack was indeed threatening.

ㅤ

However, Johan felt strangely uneasy.

ㅤ

Could the opponent have some other plan in mind?

ㅤ

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

ㅤ

The sight of the burning fiefdom was horrific. The mercenaries who couldn’t escape in time were slaughtered right there. Unlucky merchants who came to the fiefdom to make some money, along with laborers and prostitutes, were also killed.

ㅤ

As the knights charged, shouting “For glory!”, one third of the mercenaries in the fiefdom panicked and fled, abandoning their weapons. Another third shouted, ‘𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳! 𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳!’, while the remaining third tried to fight, grasping their weapons.

ㅤ

The elf knights indiscriminately wiped out the mercenaries. Since the opponents were not nobles, there was no reason to accept their surrender.

ㅤ

“Sh, sh, sh, sh. . .”

ㅤ

A servant pointed a knife at the throat of a surviving female mercenary.

ㅤ

“You’re not alone, are you? Where are the others?”

ㅤ

“O-Over there, at the stream to the east. . . waiting to emerge if anyone passes by on the road. . .”

ㅤ

Before she could finish speaking, the servant slit the mercenary’s throat with a dagger. It was a skill he had honed following the knights. Servants or slaves accompanying knights often became skilled soldiers.

ㅤ

“Did you find out?”

ㅤ

“Yes. It seems they are waiting at the eastern stream.”

ㅤ

“Annoying bugs, scattered here and there.”

ㅤ

One of the knights frowned.

ㅤ

“The horses seem tired, let’s switch mounts. We need to attack before they hear the commotion and flee.”

ㅤ

None of the approximately thirty members of the party were injured. Even though the mercenaries were caught by surprise, the disparity in strength was immense.