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𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 (𝟒)
The ballista had good penetrating power but was quite slow to reload compared to a bow.
Yet, it was frequently used due to its ease of use. It took far less time to master than a bow.
‘But it wouldn’t hurt to learn the bow as well.’
Groups like Johan’s, which moved around in small numbers, benefited from having a variety of skills.
Johan called Gerdolf, who was swinging his sword in the distance.
“Gerdolf. Stop swinging your sword and come try shooting a bow.”
Gerdolf, though reluctant, came over without complaining and took the bow. This was one of Gerdolf’s strengths.
“Practicing with the bow?”
“Suetlg-nim. Are you alright?”
“Yes. I feel magical energy from that bow.”
At Suetlg’s words, Marco blushed and replied.
“Yes. My master who gave me this said that as a knight, one must be honorable to pierce the target accurately.”
‘𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐰.’
“It seems to be made from winter-cut vermilion wood mixed with alchemical ingredients I’m not familiar with. Quite a well-crafted piece. . .”
Suetlg was intrigued but showed no further curiosity. The mystery of the arrow flying accurately with more honor was not of interest to Suetlg.
“Natural talent is essential for outstanding archers, but can it be taught?”
“Better to shoot a bow than do nothing, right?”
“Well, that’s true too.”
Johan asked the mercenaries if they could shoot a bow. Only two or three knew how.
“Khan, did you use a bow too?”
“Learned it from my oldman when I was young. For secretly hunting wild animals.”
Goran and Khan were mercenaries who had joined the group unexpectedly, thanks to Johan’s sudden invitation during a restful moment.
━𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫?
━𝐔𝐡. . . 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐝𝐨𝐦. 𝐒𝐢𝐫 𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.
━𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭?
━𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐫, 𝐈 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞?
━𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝. 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞?
━𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞.
━𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.
━????
Johan’s decision to take them to Duke Brduhe’s domain was unexpected, especially considering there were more experienced soldiers available.
━𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐫 𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞. . .
━𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐢𝐫 𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞?
━𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞. 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬?
Goran was slightly worried, but the anticipated conflict did not occur.
Johan’s selected mercenaries were all tight-lipped and loyal, not the type to belittle or quarrel with unfamiliar faces.
While the mercenaries and knights were practicing with bows, Suetlg spoke up.
“Anyway, I feel somewhat guilty. We could have traveled more comfortably.”
Noble travels usually followed ancient Empire roads or at least connected towns and cities. There was no need for nobles to camp outdoors.
However, the current party was moving along a river, necessitating camping outdoors for a few days.
“It’s not a problem. Wizard-nim.”
The knights spoke as if it didn’t bother them.
Unless they were high-ranking nobles, all of them were knights from poor families. They were very accustomed to sleeping outdoors, exposed to the dew.
This was even more true for mercenaries. . .
“What are you doing?!”
“?”
The group was puzzled by the sight of a person running towards them, their face flushed with anger. Since the person was alone and without any significant armament, none of them were tense.
“Do you know where you are?!”
“Isn’t this the land of the Balpa family?”
The gamekeeper flinched at Johan’s response, which was delivered without a change in expression. From his accent, it seemed he might be a noble.
“E-Excuse me, but where are you from?”
“From the Jarpen family. And this person is of the bloodline of the Abner family.”
“I’m so sorry! This lowly one has committed a crime worthy of death!”
The gamekeeper prostrated himself. He had thought these rowdy mercenaries, shooting their bows, were poaching in the lord’s forest.
“Why are such esteemed individuals here. . .?”
“Would a knight seek comfort?”
Marco answered on their behalf. The other knights nodded in agreement.
“I will guide you to the lord!”
The knights looked troubled. Rejecting such an offer could be seen as an insult. Suetlg said it was fine.
“It’s not necessary to stay by the river. Moving to a more comfortable location to receive hospitality doesn’t seem bad after we’ve been here long enough.”