How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 297: 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 (1)

 

The young duke’s expression subtly distorted, but no one noticed.

Thanks to Lumahr, the atmosphere of the place became amicable. The Zurebek family apologized for their misunderstanding and fear, and Johan accepted it well.

“Your Highness. If you don’t mind, please visit our fiefdom once. It would be a great honor for us to have Your Highness visit us.”

Before Johan could answer, Lumahr interjected, seeking understanding through eye contact.

“With pilgrims from all over the place flocking to this region, Your Highness must be busy as well. We are happy to extend the invitation, but please do not expect too much.”

“Is that so? What a pity.”

The Zurebek family had a look of disappointment on their faces. Johan did not miss the regret that flashed across their faces.

After the small banquet ended and everyone left, Johan asked Lumahr.

“Why did you stop me? Was there a trap?”

“A trap? Oh. The Zurebek family? Haha. Your Highness. Didn’t you notice that the Zurebek family was afraid of Your Highness?”

“They can still set up a trap even if they’re afraid.”

“Of course, they can, but they’re not that foolish. The reason I stopped you was because there was no need for that at all.”

The noble pagan families in the vicinity tried to show off the dignity and prestige of their families by inviting distinguished guests.

Now that the misunderstanding had been resolved, a young duke like Johan was a worthy enough guest to invite. It would be an invitation that would be talked about for at least ten years.

However, in Lumahr’s eyes, a duke like Johan was not the kind of person who would respond to such an invitation. Just as the sultan would not personally travel to a feudal lord’s invitation, it was not necessary for him to accept it.

The other party would naturally understand and accept it without feeling offended.

“So, it’s not a trap, and it’s not particularly dangerous, but you just turned it down because you thought it would be a bother?”

“If I had to summarize it, that would be it. . . No, Your Highness. Once you respond to such invitations, other families in the vicinity will invite you as well. Wouldn’t that be annoying?”

“Not really?”

“. . . . . .”

Lumahr was honestly surprised. He had not expected Johan to answer like this.

“I would rather think that we should respond to such invitations. They have different religions and cultures from us. We haven’t known each other for long. How long can our bond with them last? Of course, they will be on our side when it is advantageous for them, but won’t they turn their backs when things get tough? When I think about that, the trouble of visiting them is nothing.”

Johan’s words made Lumahr reflect on himself. He had been thinking and acting as if he was still in the Eastern Empire, which was only natural.

As people become higher in status and their positions become more honorable, it is natural for them to become arrogant. To such people, invitations from people of lower status than them would inevitably feel insignificant.

That was why he had cut it off at his own discretion. . .

“I apologize, Your Highness. I was presumptuous in my actions without understanding Your Highness’s deep intentions.”

“There’s no need to apologize. Now that the guests are gone, shall we have one more game? If you’re having a hard time because of the alcohol. . .”

“No. I’m not so weak that a few drinks can get me.”

“Then let’s continue the game of Go that we were playing earlier. . .”

“Oops. I’m drunk.”

Lumahr staggered and swept the Go board with his sleeve. The Go pieces were mixed up in a jumble.

Johan looked at Lumahr in astonishment, but Lumahr shamelessly avoided his gaze with a diplomat’s expression.

“It’s because of you that we can’t play Go.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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When the old king heard Johan’s words, he reacted in exactly the same way as Lumahr.

“Do you have to??”

“. . .Isn’t it an honorable thing for both parties to accept an invitation?”

“That’s true, but do you have to. . .?”

“. . . . . .”

Johan wanted to say to the old king, ‘𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺?’ but he gave up.

It would only hurt the old king’s pride if he said it for nothing.

‘𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮?’

More than a hundred years ago, the newly arrived monotheistic families grumbled that the local families around them hated them, but seeing this now, it seemed that there was a reason why they had not become close in over a hundred years.

The old king tilted his head repeatedly, as if he didn’t understand. The chamberlain next to him offered his opinion.

“Don’t you think the young duke might want to explore this exotic place because he’s so full of energy?”

“That’s true. In that case, it would be best to take Valeon with you.”

“. . .Yes???”

With a sullen expression, the old king’s son, Sir Valeon, who was in the court, was taken aback by the sudden remark.

Why was the arrow flying towards him?

“Isn’t he your spouse’s family? They’ll be more hospitable to you if you visit.”

“No, I. . .”

Valeon fumbled for words, at a loss for what to say. The old king, who had apparently not thought about such a response in the first place, waved his hand as if it had already been decided.

Just as the old king thought of the Zurebek family, Valeon thought of them in a similar way. They had formed a marriage alliance because they were powerful, but he did not see them as a completely equal opponent. It was even more surprising that he saw them as pagans with a different culture.

Honestly, in Valeon’s eyes, there was no big difference between the centaurs roaming around in the distance and the Zurebek family.

And now he was being told to follow the duke to visit their fiefdom. It was already awkward to be with a difficult person, but now he had to go to a difficult place with him, so he felt twice as uncomfortable.

“I’d like you to take him, duke.”

“We have received a young and excellent knight, so we should be thankful.”

Of course, Johan didn’t necessarily need Valeon, but there was no need to make the old king upset by ignoring his kindness.

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Thus, the procession to the fiefdom was decided, regardless of Valeon’s opinion. Johan had selected only his elite soldiers and intended to go and return quickly, so he did not prepare a large number of people.

The Zurebek family was constantly fussing and preparing their horses and luggage. The unexpected visit of His Highness the Duke delighted them. They could picture how happy the patriarch would be.

“We are grateful, Your Highness!”

“Thank you!”

“How could we refuse such an invitation?”

Johan looked at Valeon. The young knight’s expression was crumpled as if he had chewed on something very bitter.

“Is there a problem?”

“No. Your Highness.”

“It seems like you’re happy to visit your spouse’s family?”

“. . . . . .”

Valeon sighed, not realizing that Johan was teasing him. When the other person’s reaction was not as funny as he had expected, Johan returned to the original topic.

“We’re on our way to accept someone else’s invitation, so I’d like you to at least control your expression. Don’t you think a pleasant invitation could be ruined because of your expression?”

“They won’t care about such things. Your Highness. They won’t even notice.”

At Valeon’s words, Euclyia, who was standing next to him, raised her spear and thrust it under Valeon’s neck. Valeon was startled by the cold blade that entered without giving him a chance to react.

“Are you saying bullsh*t and not following the orders of His Highness, you son of a b*tch?”

“Stop it. Euclyia. What are you doing!”

“I’m sorry. Your Highness.”

“Go back and stay in your quarters.”

Euclyia bowed her head and stepped back, but she did not show any signs of remorse. Johan did not punish Euclyia seriously either.

At that sight, Valeon unconsciously rubbed the nape of his neck. Only then did it occur to him that this young duke was the one who had led his army and broken through the gates of someone else’s castle.

He had forgotten because of his gentlemanly demeanor, but he was a person who could become violent at any moment.

Johan looked straight into Valeon’s eyes and said.

“I apologize on her behalf. Anyway, control your expression. . . .Do you understand?”

“. . .I understand.”

Valeon nodded. His spouse, who was from the Zurebek family, spoke in the eastern language.

“■■ ■■■■ ■■ ■■■?”

“Be quiet. . .”

Valeon was about to get angry, but he stopped when he met Johan’s gaze. Valeon bit his lip and turned his head away.

Lumahr clucked his tongue at the sight.

“No matter how much you say, you’re married and you’re acting like that. It doesn’t seem like a good thing.”

“It’s not just that knight who’s like that. I don’t understand why they make enemies for no reason.”

As they left the castle and walked for quite a long time, the sunlight gradually grew stronger and the heat began to rise from the ground.

At some point, the shade and greenery disappeared, and all that could be seen was sand that stung the cheeks and neck when the wind blew.

The soldiers following Johan wrapped cloth around their armor to prevent the sun from shining directly on them. Karamaf stuck his tongue out and gasped.

“Amazingly, you can find your way in this sandy wasteland. Can I ask you how you do it?”

When Johan asked the question, the Zurebek family guide approached him, feeling embarrassed. When someone else tried to step forward to interpret, Johan held out his hand to stop them.

“Speak comfortably. I understand.”

“Y-Yes, Your Highness. I’m sorry you’re interested in such a trivial skill.”

“What trivial skill is there in the world? The skill to find your way in a place like this where there are no landmarks is truly amazing. Can you tell me how you do it?”

The guide opened his mouth slowly, as if afraid of making a mistake.

“The sand here all looks the same, but if you look closely, it’s all different colors. It’s mostly where rivers form during the rainy season, but if you follow that way, you’ll find a spring. Following such a spring is the first. . .”

“I see. Go on. It’s interesting.”

Johan listened to the guide with genuine interest. Like a hunter’s knowledge, the guide’s know-how, who had been wandering in the desert for a long time, was sharp and keen.

‘𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦.’

Lumahr held back a yawn next to him. He was not a soldier. His body was tired after riding a horse for so long. He wanted to find a tent of a friendly tribe, go inside, have a few drinks, and get a good night’s sleep.

“. . .That’s it.”

“Excellent work. Give this man a reward.”

The spoils from the Black Mountains came in handy at times like this. The guide, who received a silver necklace, was surprised as if he was going to faint.

The Zurebek family members bowed their heads.

“We invited you, but we can’t accept such a reward.”

“That’s enough. If I listened to such wise words and gave nothing, it would be my face that would be damaged. That guide’s words were truly wise.”

At Johan’s words, the Zurebek family members smiled brightly, unable to hide the fact that they were humble but happy to have their family’s skills highly praised. No one hated it when their skills were highly praised.

Meanwhile, in the distance, dust rose up and several horses were seen running away in all directions. Among them, Johan, who had been blessed with overwhelmingly bright eyes, was the first to notice the chaos.

“The horses are running away. Are the merchants being attacked?”

“Are they running away?! Yes. If so. . .”

“We have to help them.”

Johan called his soldiers and prepared for battle. Lumahr asked in a panic.

“Your Highness. If it’s someone who’s wandering around this area, it definitely won’t be a monotheistic pilgrim. . .”

“I know. But if we save them, they won’t forget our kindness.”

“What good will it do if they don’t forget our kindness?”

“It’ll be useful anywhere. If there’s no place to use it, we don’t use it. Prepare for battle!”

Lumahr felt something distant and obscure that he couldn’t grasp from Johan’s back as he prepared to charge with the centaurs.

Is this the power of that young duke?

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“For St. Galanto!”

“For St. Galanto, charge!”

What attacked the merchants was not a monster, but a group of rogues. Seeing that the rogues were better armed than expected, the centaurs did not attack them right away, but spread out to the surrounding area and created a siege.

The centaurs were puzzled by the distant shouting.

“. . .?”

“Who’s St. Galanto?”

“. . .just some dead guy!”

“Are there one or two of those dead guys?”

“Isn’t he that saint? The one that the Empire guys believe in.”

“. . .What? Are they Empire people?? Your Highness. Those guys are just like the Empire guys???”

Johan made a nervous expression at the words of the centaurs. He never thought he would meet brother-thieves with the same faith here.

What’s the best way to deal with this?

“What if we get involved and those guys start arguing?”

“To His Highness? If they do that, I’ll pull their tongues out.”

“But they’re guys with the same faith.”

“Should we just let them loot the merchants? It’s not our business anyway.”

Johan, who had been pondering, came to a conclusion.

“Kill all the rogues.”

If they were all dead, there would be no one to complain. Even if there were one or two nobles, they wouldn’t be able to argue. The centaurs were impressed by Johan’s wisdom.

“What a wise saying, Your Highness!”