Skip to content 
Many knights fell for the warm hospitality of the nomadic tribes.
However, not all knights were deceived.
‘𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘺, 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?’
The warrior thought to himself. He was a warrior who had taken money from the Petreo family’s Boriska. Of course, he had no intention of keeping the promise either.
But Sir Boriska was really. . .
“Late.”
“Ah. Sorry, sir. It took longer to return avoiding people’s eyes.”
Boriska’s actions were so audacious that even warriors outside the Empire were amazed.
He even hired mercenaries separately to call them out!
Even if some leniency was expected, this was an outright disregard for the Duke’s orders. If caught, it could lead to not just embarrassment but also the revocation of his knighthood.
But Boriska didn’t bat an eye. He was burning with the desire and anger to regain his lost reputation.
It was ridiculous he fell off his horse in the tournament when he should have shone. Unlike Lucas, who fought honorably, he fell early and had no such consolation.
If he couldn’t make up for it in this hunt, he might never recover.
“What I asked for?”
“Of course, I brought it. A ranger from the east. You can trust his skills.”
The mercenaries of the Arrowhead group were not intimidated even in front of the knights.
Mercenaries from the east are known to be especially rough, being a mix of Empire people and barbarians, but these were exceptionally violent.
The knights behind Boriska looked at the mercenaries with complex expressions.
They had followed because they were originally with Boriska, but not everyone was in favor of this hire.
Some visibly disapproved of hiring such mercenaries, thinking it dishonorable.
Originally, they might have drawn swords in anger, but Boriska let it pass. After all, they needed the help of both the knights and the mercenaries.
“My name is Galambos, sir.”
“I see. You’re a ranger from the east?”
“Yes, I was a captain.”
“I heard a wyvern can be found around here. Do you think that’s true?”
At Boriska’s words, Galambos smirked.
“Hardly. In such plains where only low hills and mounds are visible, it’s hard to find. The mountain ranges are days away.”
“Is that so? Then it was a lie.”
“Damn it. . .!”
Realizing he was caught, the warrior drew his weapon. He hadn’t expected the mercenaries to be compared like this.
But the mercenaries were prepared. As soon as the warrior drew his weapon, crossbow bolts flew, piercing him in several places. He fell, writhing in pain.
“Get rid of that barbarian’s corpse! You said your name was Galambos, right? You should have brought good news. Is there any monster nearby worth catching?”
Galambos nodded with a sly smile. He had a reason to believe, which is why he had come to this knight.
“I heard rumors of Centaurs. Sir Knight might be interested.”
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
Nomadic tribes didn’t stay in one place forever. When the time came, they moved with their livestock.
The human tribe called ■■■■ in Eastern language warmly welcomed Johan and Achladda’s party.
“■■ Troll ■ ■■■■? ■■ ■■?”
“■■■■■! Troll ■!”
“Can’t we stop talking about trolls?”
“It’s too entertaining, Sir Knight. Have a drink! The hunters should be back in a couple of days. You can rest until then.”
Euclyia clung to Johan’s side, continuously pouring a drink made from livestock milk. The sweet drink went down easily.
The tribe applauded, amazed at Johan’s ability to drink without getting drunk.
“Troll slayer! Troll slayer!”
Learning to pronounce ‘troll slayer’ in Eastern language, Johan enjoyed their hospitality.
“■ ■ ■■■?”
“What’s the point of getting drunk?”
🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸
During the feast, Johan stepped outside the tent. He desperately needed some cool air due to the heat.
The sound of grass rustling in the wind reached his ears. This rhythmic sound made Johan nod his head in enjoyment.
𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞. 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞. 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞. . .
“?”
Something seemed off to Johan, prompting him to turn his head. He realized that given the season, the grass shouldn’t have been long enough to make such noise.
Suddenly, he remembered Kaegal. An assassin who boasted about various methods of infiltrating enemy lines.
━𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲? 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨 𝐢𝐧? 𝐎𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞.
From using the environment for camouflage to using people, Kaegal had enthusiastically discussed all kinds of methods. He spoke strongly, believing Johan wouldn’t use them otherwise.
. . .Though Johan had not used them to the extent that it seemed pointless to have mentioned them. . .
‘𝘐 𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺.’
Such brutal tasks were not common. This didn’t mean Johan lived a calm and peaceful life, however.
Johan walked towards the source of the sound and locked eyes with a man who looked like a tribesman.
The man twitched upon seeing Johan.
His expression didn’t change, but Johan could feel that he was startled.
“Who are you?”
“Oh my. Are you the new Sir Knight? I. . . might have had a bit too much to drink. . .”
“. . . . . .”
The man staggered as if drunk, with dirt on his hands and legs, suggesting he might have fallen.
‘𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦.’
It was normal to be startled by someone in the dark. Moreover, Johan didn’t look like the other tribespeople.
Suddenly, a thought crossed Johan’s mind. He spoke in the eastern tongue.
“. . .■■■■.”
“????”
Johan smiled broadly. Then, he abruptly grabbed the man’s throat.
“What kind of tribesman doesn’t understand his own insults?”
The man panicked and tried to draw a dagger, but Johan slapped him across the face with his other hand, knocking him out in one blow.
“Intruder! Intruder!”
Johan’s shout awakened the people. The tribespeople stopped drinking and ran out with their weapons.
“Where’s the intruder?!”
“Caught him here. Is he one of your tribe?”
The people who saw the man Johan caught scrutinized him with torches. He looked vaguely familiar.
“Clearly looks like a man from the west. . .”
“No, Sir Knight. This man is a knight dastard who was in the tournament!”
One of the warriors recognized the man’s face. Johan exclaimed in surprise.
“What?”
“I was surprised too! How did he end up here. . .”
“Too weak for a knight, isn’t he? Couldn’t even take one hit.”
“. . .But more importantly, shouldn’t we be wondering why he’s here?”
“That’s a good point. Wake him up.”