How to Live as a Wandering Knight

𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭 (2)

But Johan’s plan went awry from the beginning.

Achladda came to Johan’s tent.

“Did you have a good rest, Sir Knight?”

“You must be more tired than I am.”

“Haha! I could run three days and three nights without trouble.”

“From the way you fought, it didn’t seem like that. . . So, did you know about this hunt?”

“I had my suspicions. The Duke had hinted at it to the chieftain.”

Johan nodded. He had guessed as much from Achladda’s behavior, which had been overly significant.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you, Sir Knight.”

“No. Why worry about that? Such things shouldn’t be said out loud.”

“■■ ■■.”

Hearing Eastern speech from behind, Johan realized Achladda hadn’t come alone. Euclyia, his cousin, appeared behind him.

“I’m really grateful for your help last time.”

“■ ■ ■■ ■.”

“She say your fighting was like that of Tengri.”

“■■ ■ ■. . .”

“Can’t you tone it down a bit? Let me speak too. I told you to learn Empire language.”

Achladda grumbled. It was frustrating to come all this way only to interpret. Euclyia looked dejected and nodded.

“Shouldn’t you go in and rest, with us leaving tomorrow?”

“Haha. Before we leave tomorrow, I have a proposition.”

“?”

“Won’t you join us?”

Johan was surprised by the unexpected offer. He hadn’t thought of it.

“Isn’t it a rule to go alone?”

“You’re too honorable, Sir Knight. Perhaps that’s why you didn’t consider it.”

“No. . .”

Johan was incredulous to hear ‘𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦’. He wanted to object, but Achladda continued.

“Of course, the Duke said not to bring servants, slaves, or attendants. One must leave alone. But what’s to stop those who leave alone from meeting and traveling together?”

“!”

Now that I hear it, Achladda was right.

“𝘐 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴.”

It was quite plausible for knights to stick together and move as a group. There was no reason to deliberately suffer losses when they weren’t breaking any rules.

Thinking about how they moved together during the tournament made it seem even more plausible.

“You were really planning to move alone? Sir Knight is truly remarkable. Among the knights I’ve met, few are as honorable as Sir Knight.”

Achladda expressed pure admiration. Among the knights of the Empire he had met in the east, none failed to mention honor. However, truly honorable knights were rare.

They all easily go back on their words according to their interests.

“I was. . . planning to move alone.”

‘𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨. . .’

Achladda hadn’t considered that Johan might be planning to rest nearby and return after the hunt.

“If Sir Knight doesn’t dislike, despise, or avoid us, it would be an honor to join you. You don’t dislike, despise, or avoid us, do you?”

“That’s a bit of a sly way to put it.”

“Haha. Please understand that as a sign of how much I want to join. Besides, you won’t be at a loss, Sir Knight. The plains, mountains, rivers, and valleys nearby. . . all these places are under our control. The Empire’s knights are familiar with them, but they’re like sheep, always going to the same places.”

It was a remark that would have irked the knights, but Johan was unfazed. Achladda’s offer was also appealing.

One of the reasons Johan had been reluctant to step forward was his lack of knowledge about the geography.

The Duke had given him ample time, but it was not enough to decide on a monster, gather rumors, and pursue it. He should have been aware of these things in advance.

“Alright. Thanks for the offer. Let’s go together.”

“Really?! That’s great. You won’t regret it!”

Achladda smiled innocently and was delighted. He seemed not much older than Johan, so his lively attitude suited him well.

“■■ ■■ ■.”

“That’s a bit burdensome to say. It might be better not to convey that.”

“■■ ■?”

“You’re asking because you don’t know? No. Don’t ask me, ask the other adults around.”

“. . . . . .”

Johan resolved to learn the Eastern language as quickly as possible.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

As dawn broke, the sound of trumpets and bugles faded away as the knights began to depart one by one. However, Johan, now enlightened with the truth, saw something different.

He sensed an agreement among them, exchanging glances and waving hands, as if planning to regroup at a certain point.

Surprisingly, even knights from the Empire and those from the tribes outside the Empire were seen exchanging looks.

‘𝘚𝘰, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴. . .’

Johan realized the situation.

Not all knights of the Empire were hostile towards barbarians or nomadic tribes. There were neutrals and those willing to cooperate given the opportunity.

If there were connections, it made sense to join hands. The unexplored territories to the east were better known to these external tribes. Those who didn’t ally would fall behind.

‘𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘶𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?’