Upon hearing the report from Johan and the knights, the Captain blinked repeatedly. Suetlg, standing beside him, also displayed a look of disbelief.
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“What did you catch the troll with?”
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“Ah, no. Wizard-nim. That’s not the main issue right now. Didn’t you say Baron Einbeck was behind it? We need to return to the city quickly and report this.”
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“Ah, right. . . So, how did you catch the troll??”
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The Captain was indeed curious about how the troll was captured, but as a commander, his sense of responsibility prevailed. He patiently organized the situation related to Baron Einbeck.
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It was necessary to report to the magistrate immediately.
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“Seems the Emperor is in a tight spot.”
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“How do you think Marcel will react?”
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“Well. In the city, there are both pro-Emperor and anti-Emperor factions. Now that they’ve been caught red-handed, the pro-Emperor faction won’t have a choice but to keep quiet. The decision will come from the council, and depending on their leniency, it could either be exile or a more severe punishment.”
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Suetlg made a throat-slitting gesture, hoping that those aligned with the Emperor in the city wouldn’t cause trouble in this situation.
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“But about the troll, who tore it apart?”
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Suetlg wouldn’t have believed it had he not heard it directly from the elven knights and the monastery members.
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The elven knights were excitedly recounting how ‘𝘚𝘪𝘳 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵.’ Baron Einbeck’s involvement was not the main concern, but how Johan tore the troll apart. . .
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The knights were simple-minded. They disregarded those beneath them but were generous to their equals, let alone to a knight more formidable than themselves.
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Johan had clearly overwhelmed the knights with his skills.
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“Yes, somehow.”
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‘. . .𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘢𝘴 ‘𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘸’. 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭?’
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“Good. Becoming famous as a troll slayer, cutting off the troll with a single blow. Brute strength isn’t something to be praised in a bard’s song. . . Anyway, be careful for a while.”
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“?”
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“Sudden fame always brings trouble. But no need to worry about that now. Just relax and enjoy for the time being. The city won’t let this matter end just like that.”
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Now that the rogue band had been revealed as sponsored by the Emperor, Marcel would surely elevate the expedition and demean the Emperor.
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And such glorious praise was always fitting for a knight.
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“The elves will be pleased.”
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“. . .Ah, right. Speaking of which, you gave that water I gave you. Why use it on someone?!”
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“Ah. wizard-nim, how can you not save face? You now have connections with Count Bartok, don’t you?”
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“Damn grateful for that.”
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Suetlg couldn’t refute Johan’s words. Saving Count Bartok’s knight was indeed a good deed. Considering the Count’s reputation, this act would surely bring appropriate rewards.
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However, that was one thing, and the annoyance with the elven knights was another.
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“Since it was used for a good cause, could you please refill the water?”
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“. . .I’ll think about it.”
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🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
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The triumphal ceremony to honor those returning victorious from war has been a tradition since ancient times.
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Although not as extravagant as during the Empire era, the triumphant return of the punitive force was enough to captivate the attention of the city’s populace. It had an atmosphere akin to a festival.
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“Praise the honorable knights! These are the knights who contributed most significantly to the punitive expedition!”
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The knights were at the forefront, while at the end, mercenaries captured in the expedition were brought in. The citizens jeered, hurling stones and rotten objects at the mercenaries.
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Agitators positioned throughout loudly proclaimed the knights’ achievements and the reasons why the rogue band had plundered near the city.
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This was done to elevate the knights and simultaneously incite hatred against the Emperor.
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While there was disdain for the Emperor, people were astonished by the previously unheard name of Johan. The tale of a new knight’s exploits was fresh and intriguing.
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“He beheaded a troll all by himself, can you believe that?”
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“What are you talking about. . . He’s a Sir Knight. Obviously, he’s different from the likes of us.”
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“Even for a Sir Knight, capturing a troll all by himself. . .”
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“You doubt too much. The Sir Knights nearby must have helped. Anyway, capturing it is impressive, yes.”
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“Well, that’s true.”
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Though interpreted differently by the naive and the cunning, everyone agreed on one thing.
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Regardless of the help received or how it was done, capturing a troll was a remarkable feat!
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Already, the nickname ‘troll slayer’ was circulating among the people. After today, Johan would be referred to as Marcel’s troll slayer.