How to Live as a Wandering Knight – Chapter 376

𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 (20)

“. . .”

Of course, a mere messenger could not know the contents of the letter the duke had written. Realizing his blunder, Biorarn closed his mouth.

“What did His Highness say? Will he come to our aid immediately?”

The subordinates who were not fully aware of the situation asked without a second thought. Surprisingly, despite the fact that they had acted arbitrarily by setting out first, they had no awareness of having done anything wrong.

They believed that this was what a knight should do.

Of course, Johan was not going to cheer them on, knowing what they were thinking. The letter from the messenger urged them to ‘𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺,’ and though polite, it contained a restrained fury.

Biorarn may have been a brave northern knight who knew no fear, but the young duke possessed the power to instill fear even in the most fearless knights.

If they saw Johan fight even once, even the most hot-blooded knights would stop their show of bravado and obediently await orders.

Biorarn wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said,

“A dragon is a powerful demon beast. It’s better to wait for backup than to act rashly. Fall back for now!”

“What are you saying? His Highness seems more worried though?”

“We came all this way, but we can’t go back without seeing the dragon’s face? People will laugh at us. If you just give the order, we’ll raise our banners and charge in with our spears.”

The knights chattered carelessly, not knowing Biorarn’s true intentions. Biorarn said solemnly,

“Surely you haven’t forgotten your promise to obey my every command?”

“No. Sir Biorarn! What is this misunderstanding?!”

“Would we do something like that?”

The knights replied in surprise. They thought that Biorarn would agree with them, but they didn’t expect him to get angry.

‘𝘈𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴.’

Usually, they were comrades fighting shoulder to shoulder, but now, all he felt was frustration.

Of course, Biorarn did not realize that Johan thought the same way about him.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

As Biorarn had suspected, Volgarek intended to raid Biorarn’s camp by night. The notion that blood would prevent them from fighting one another was nonsense. On the contrary, because they were to share one inheritance, the fighting was only more savage.

Biorarn, who had participated in the expedition to the Holy Land, had gained much wealth, so his knights couldn’t help but covet it. His greedy subordinates unanimously agreed to Volgarek’s orders.

“Dammit. These bastards don’t even sleep.”

“The security is too tight.”

But there were some things that couldn’t be done just by willpower. Volgarek’s men tried their best to find an opening, but they eventually gave up on the night attack.

Normally, even if they kept watch, there would be some soldiers who would slack off or act carelessly as the long night wore on. . .

But these guys were guarding so fiercely as if they had eaten something wrong.

“Did they suspect something, Volgarek-nim?”

“They’re just a bunch of greedy bastards. If you brought back a mountain of gold from the east, you should share it a little. They don’t know anything about family ties.”

The mercenaries grumbled and retreated.

The surprises didn’t end there. Biorarn’s knights began to retreat as soon as the sun rose.

“??!”

“What’s their plan? Is it a trap?”

The subordinates reported in bewilderment. Volgarek, who had just woken up, was also surprised.

“Are they scared of the dragon?”

“Biorarn may be a vulgar and noisy son of a b*tch, but he’s not a coward. . .?”

Volegark scratched his cheek with his thick gauntlets and, as if he didn’t want to think about it anymore, made a decision.

“Don’t mind them. Let’s do what we came to do. Whether they chickened out or had another reason, I’m just glad they’re gone.”

“Move out?”

“Yes!”

Volegark had another reason for deliberately causing friction with Biorarn.

If Biorarn’s men were to take the lead and become sacrifices, that would be good in its own way. And if they moved separately. . .

‘𝘓𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴!’

Volegark had not come to hunt the dragon in the first place. He had come to loot the surroundings that had been destroyed by the dragon.

It had become a mess, but it was originally the castle of a feudal lord.

Thinking about how many valuable things were hidden inside, there was no way he could pass it up.

“Move out!”

“Yes!”

Volegark’s men were just as greedy as he was. They charged in without fear, even though they were near the castle where the dragon had appeared.

Anyone who would run away from here out of fear for a single monster shouldn’t have been working under Volgarek in the first place. Of course, greater risks meant greater rewards.

“Volgarek-nim.”

“Pour it.”

One of his men came carrying a wooden bucket and poured its contents over Volgarek. Sticky and foul-smelling blood poured down. It was mixed with the blood of a monster.

This kind of blood was effective in deceiving monsters. If a dragon approached, it would be confused by the smell.

“Keep your horses’ reins tightly tied. If they get spooked by the dragon and run away, you’ll have to walk all the way back.”

“Yes, sir.”

Volegark and his men wrapped themselves in the darkest cloth they could find and began to approach cautiously. According to the report from the scouts who had entered the castle first, the dragon was definitely not inside, but it was better to be careful.

“Isn’t it strangely quiet?”

“Shut up.”

“What? Are you scared?”

“Scared? You shouldn’t say that until you’ve faced a dragon’s jaws yourself.”

“If you guys don’t shut up, I’ll crack your skulls open.”

Volegark growled, and the subordinates stopped chattering. At that moment, a small voice was heard from within the ruins of the broken castle.

━■■■!

“. . .Isn’t that a goblin?!”

“These bastards are quick to catch on. Did they come to eat the corpses? Anyway. . .”

“Kill them quickly. They’re annoying.”

At that moment, the goblins’ eyes turned red, and they suddenly took out arrows and aimed them. The mercenaries saw this and grinned. Most of the goblins’ arrows were crude and lacked power, so experienced mercenaries could easily block them with their shields.

“. . .Block them! Quickly!”

Volegark felt an ominous feeling and shouted. At that moment, the goblins shot their arrows into the sky. Like the signal arrows often used by nomadic tribes, their loud whistling sound pierced the air.

━𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐑!

At that moment, the dragon roared. Volgarek and his men gulped, feeling a chill run down their spines. The sound of someone dropping their sword was heard.

The greedy warriors who had not been afraid of anything until just now began to panic.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

“Sir Biorarn!”

“Your Highness!”

Biorarn waved his hand cheerfully and greeted Johan.

“Even though I sent word that I would go to your aid, Sir Biorarn, you led your knights in first! So, did you achieve anything? Huh?”

“. . .M-My apologies.”

Biorarn hung his head at Johan’s sharp words. Biorarn’s knights, who were watching from afar, were shocked. Biorarn, who was not one to bow his head, was doing just that.

“Alright. I won’t say anything more.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. I will repay you with my achievements. . .”

“Just follow orders properly.”

“Yes.”

Johan stopped on the plain below the mountain and looked up. The dragon had appeared at a mountain castle, so the slope began from here.

‘𝘐𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯.’

Not only Johan’s men, but also the main force was slowly preparing behind them. If we include the forces of the northern feudal lords, we will have a considerable force.

The wizards and Johan agreed on how to hunt the dragon.

Surround it and then wage a war of attrition.

Even Johan had no intention of defeating the dragon in one blow. He intended to wear it down by continuously attacking it.

The northern captains were now diligently building additional siege weapons. Within a month, this area would be filled with more weapons than a siege unit.

‘𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵.’

Anyone could think of bombarding it with siege weapons. The next step was necessary to capture it for sure.

‘𝘐𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵. . .’

Johan thought about catching animals, poisoning them, and throwing them in. It would be quite effective if the dragon fell for it.

He also intended to use various magics and curses to weaken the dragon if possible. Among the treasures he had brought from the east were tools used for curses. Even if they weren’t skilled in handling them, the wizards could use them well if they put their heads together.

“?”

“What. . .?”

While camps were being built here and there, a group of goblins appeared in front of them. Johan’s men looked at them as if they were ridiculous.

“They’re the dragon’s messengers!”

A northern feudal lord who had followed them exclaimed in surprise. They had already experienced it once. Surprisingly, the dragon used monsters as its messengers.

“How curious. How does it control them?”

Johan glanced at them with interest. The northern knights asked in bewilderment.

“Isn’t it just so wicked?”

“Yes, it is. Wicked things are wicked, and curious things are curious, aren’t they?”

“Y-Yes, your highness.” 

The northern knights were slightly taken aback when Johan, who was more devout than anyone here, was so nonchalant.

It seemed a little different from what they had expected. . .?

But they couldn’t show such an attitude. The difference in status between a mere knight and a duke was too great.

“I’ll call for an interpreter.”

“No, I can read it.”

Johan opened the crumpled letter. It was written in the hand of a goblin, so it was very poorly written, but the contents were easy enough to read.

“It says he has the emperor’s child, so bring me the emperor?”

“. . .?”

The people present looked at Biorarn unconsciously. Biorarn waved his hand as if to say no.

“It must be talking about someone else. Sir Volgarek, was it?”

“Ah. . .! Volgarek said he was moving separately. In fact, the reason I came out was because that bastard provoked me. . .”

“Yes. I see. Then I guess we can assume that Sir Volgarek has been captured.”

Johan’s words caused a stir in the surroundings. Even though Volgarek had a bad reputation, his bloodline and name were not light. Wasn’t he the son of the emperor’s family?

For such a northern knight to be captured by a dragon. This was no ordinary matter.

“I’ll have to check, but I think we can assume that he’s been killed or captured. The dragon wouldn’t be stupid enough to tell such a lie.”

“Y-Your Highness.”

A northern feudal lord who had followed Johan spoke urgently. He spoke in a small voice so that the other knights couldn’t hear.

“You mustn’t charge in recklessly to save Sir Volgarek! I understand Your Highness’s feelings, but if Your Highness falls before we’re prepared, it will be truly irreversible.”

‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴?’

Johan had to hold back a chuckle. The northern feudal lord was worried about something strange.

Johan had no intention of going in first, even if the northern feudal lords pushed him from behind. What kind of son of a bitch was Volgarek?

Since he had come to help others, his cause was too just. Even if Johan did nothing and just drank in his tent, no one could say anything.

Still, he couldn’t just ignore someone who said that to him. Johan said with a grave expression.

“But we can’t just stand by while an honorable knight of the north has been captured, can we? The count may be dead, but the knight may still be alive.”

“Your Highness. In truth, Sir Volgarek is not a particularly honorable knight. Many nobles dislike him, so please. . .”

The northern feudal lord seemed to be genuinely worried, and he tried to grab Johan’s ankle, revealing his true feelings.

The other northern knights seemed to have guessed the contents of the conversation and hurriedly ran over and knelt down. They couldn’t send the duke into the dragon’s jaws because of Volgarek.

“Your Highness! Please don’t do this! I understand that you value Sir Volgarek, but we can’t ruin the operation because of one knight!”

“Your Highness! If Your Highness must go, cut us down and go!”

When one of the knights shouted fervently, Biorarn felt his heart sink. The duke was someone who might really cut them down and go.

Fortunately, Johan did not draw his sword. He nodded with a heavy expression.

“I deeply appreciate your feelings. I understand. I will endure this humiliation and wait.”

Behind him, Caenerna, who had arrived late with her troops, was puzzled by the sight of the northern knights kneeling.

“Why are they doing that?”

“They’re all trying to stop His Highness from going to rescue Sir Volgarek! Please help me stop him, wizard-nim!”

“??”

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