Chapter 229: ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ (3)
Johanโs conjecture was true. Despite the relatively intimate geographical relationship between the Western Empire and the Kingdom, the two proud nobles despised each other.
โ๐ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ธ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ข ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ตโ๐ด ๐ค๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ. ๐๐ท๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐๐ช๐ฐ๐ณ๐ข๐ณ๐ฏ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ.โ
โ๐๐ฉ๐บ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ง ๐ฃ๐ณ๐ข๐ต ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ณ๐ข๐ธ๐ญ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ถ๐ด๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ต ๐ข๐ด ๐ข ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต?โ
Nevertheless, they were extremely polite and kind to each other outwardly.
Johan, who was nearby, only vaguely noticed the signs with his intuition, while the knights behind nodded their heads with joy at the mellow appearance.
โHere are my knights escorting me, Ulrike-gong.โ
โMy, what great knights they are. No one will be able to defeat you with knights like these, Your Majesty.โ
โ. . .Youโre right. Although the Empireโs knights are decent knights, I know they rarely defeat elf knights.โ
โ๐๐ด ๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ธ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ ๐ข๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฆ?โ
Both the Elf King and Ulrike were throwing words at each other with extreme courtesy that they did not usually show. Although courteous, it was felt that emotions were slowly boiling inside.โLetโs go inside. I want to hear the situation.โ
Johan cut in. The two nobles nodded and dismounted from their horses. Seeing this, Johan felt a sense of foreboding.
Thereโs no way I have to play the mediator between these two here too, right?
โWhy do I feel like Iโm always put in bullsh*t situations as if I didnโt sin much in my past life?โ
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
Fortunately, the conflict Johan had imagined did not happen. Surprisingly, the two agreed.
โWhy didnโt you subdue the undead in that forest and just left them alone, Ulrike-gong?โ
โThe castellan is not paying proper compensation, Your Majesty.โ
โThen it couldnโt be helped.โ
The Elf King was convinced right away. He understood why the army did not move if compensation was not paid.
Having heard the details, Angoldolph immediately replied.
โLetโs subdue them.โ
โ. . . . . .โ
โ. . . . . .โ
โCount, isnโt the suggestion to subdue them inappropriate?โ
โ๐๐ฐ๐ฏโ๐ต ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐ฆ๐บ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ง๐ถ๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐บ๐ข๐ญ.โ
Johan said to the Elf King inwardly. This situation was not really one to fill him with such a sense of betrayal. It was quite nonsensical for him to look this way with a hurt expression.
โPelheim Castle has high walls and its inner castle is also sturdy. It also has well stocked supplies. It would not be easy to siege. Also, keeping still the other nobles nearby could make them uneasy, so please be cautious.โ
โIโve already considered that much Ulrike-gong. Count here also came with the intention to demonstrate power, considering that.โ
โ?โ
Seeing the Elf King speak of a conversation that never happened, Johan was perplexed. Noticing that Johan did not immediately respond, Ulrike laughed wryly and said,
โYour Majesty. Everyone here knows Your Majesty is a valiant knight. However, not everyone understands Your Majestyโs inner thoughts. Have You properly discussed this with His Excellency the Count?โ
โWe havenโt discussed it, but surely in my mind. . .โ
โUntil properly discussed, itโs just talk.โ
Since a similar situation had happened before, Ulrike was relieved. As expected, the young king had unilaterally thought and determined something.
Although Angoldolph could not refute, he clenched his fist tightly for a moment. Anyone could see that his contempt for Ulrike had layered even more.
โ๐๐ช๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐บ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต?โ
Intimidate the nobles around with force to join the alliance.
It was grandiose, but realistically impossible. Seeing that the emperor could not even subjugate the nobles entrenched in the south with that large army, one could tell.
If they withdrew behind well-built castle walls and held out, it would be nearly impossible to force them to surrender quickly. And on top of that, the emperor still had both eyes wide open and alive. . .
To redirect the atmosphere, Johan spoke up.
โIf the castellan does not comply, letโs wait and then move. Itโs regrettable for the fiefdom, but itโs the castellanโs responsibility.โ
Ulrike nodded in agreement, and the Elf King reluctantly conceded as well.
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
โI did not expect this kind of situation.โ
Ulrike clicked her tongue as she spoke. There was irritation mixed in her voice. Two formidable people have come here.
โIn a way, this could be a good thing, Ulrike-nim.โ
โIt would be best if you explain your reasoning well.โ
Despite Ulrikeโs threat, the knight did not seem flustered and said familiarly.
โAlthough His Majesty Angoldolph is difficult to deal with, Count Yeats who has come with him can be reasoned with. Also, Count has ties with Ulrike-nimโs family. If you get on the same page with Count Yeats, you should be able to control His Majesty Angoldolph to some extent.โ
โ. . . . . .โ
In principle, the knightโs words were not wrong. Even if the Elf King was militant, he was not stupid enough to ignore the words of the other two feudal lords and act recklessly.
And at first glance, Count Yeats seemed to have quite some connection with the Abner family. . .
But in reality, the relationship was quite complicated.
First of all, the one Johan was close to was Ulrikeโs mother, the current Count Abner. They had a rather close relationship, exchanging various deals regarding Stephen.
On the other hand, Ulrike was not particularly close with Johan. Although they moved together during the siege, they did not get close. Looking back on their conversations, there seemed to be more blunt threats, and if anything, it was Johan considering the rights of the town Ulrike received.
It could be considered a favor, but Ulrike did not think it had much significance. Unless Johan was so poor that he could not even keep his own knights, he was a Count who led a considerable army.
โ๐๐ฆ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐บ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ด ๐ค๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฅ.โ
In just a few years, a knight who wandered around without a fiefdom has returned with elite troops and nobles under his command. It was surprising.
The atmosphere he exuded had also qualitatively changed. In the past, he seemed like a rough knight, but now, just by being there quietly, one could feel him as a master of a group. Such a leader who could mesmerize his subordinates just by his presence was rare.
โHow about inviting and treating them?โ
โUnderstood. I will make preparations.โ
If there was a proper reason to do it, Ulrike would do it even if she did not want to. She now needed to get along well with Johan.
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
โYouโre good at this.โ
โItโs our specialty, isnโt it?โ
The dwarves smiled as they finished setting up the camp. They were the mercenaries who had gone with Johan all the way to Vynashchtym. Thanks to the dwarvesโ already excellent skills and the Vynashchtym-style fortification techniques they had learned, the hastily constructed camp was solid and sturdy.
At first glance, the small fortress erected in front of Pelheim Castle might have seemed odd, but Johan always liked being prepared.
If you donโt know when the undead might crawl out of the forest, isnโt it better to build walls thicker than palisades?
โItโs not our specialty. . .โ
Of course, the centaurs groaned. While dwarves instinctively enjoy digging holes and building things, it was annoying for the centaurs.
And itโs not like they could complain when Johan himself was hauling lumber. . .
โThanks to you working hard, it will be finished by today.โ
โIf we had really worked hard, as a reward, shouldnโt you take us to hunt something other than the undead, Your Excellency?โ
The centaurs pulled the logs as they pleaded their case. The dwarves applauded and guided them. Johan dragged a huge tree over by himself and received a round of applause.
โYour Excellency.โ
โYes, what is it?โ
The elven knight was surprised to see Johan covered in dirt, but didnโt show it and delivered his message.
โMy master asked me to relay this message to the Count.โ
โOh. . . Thank you.โ
The horse with fur as dazzlingly white as snow was clearly a purebred and precious breed among Erlan horses. It had a well-proportioned physique and smooth gaits.
Johanโs horse, Cardirian, looked at the white horse greedily.
โDoes it have a name?โ
โYes. Its name is Lochtein.โ
โ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ?โ
โThank you. Iโll be sure to take good care of it.โ
โYes. My master will be pleased too.โ
After the elven knight left, Johan called Suetlg and Iselia.
โWhat does this mean?โ
โUh. . . isnโt sending a horse an elven love confession?โ
Suetlg asked Iselia in a flustered voice. Thatโs what he knew. Iselia shook her head and said,
โThatโs when you ride the horse naked. . . This is a rather complicated custom that needs to be examined in writing. Simply sending a horse is a sign of respect.โ
โSo he wants to get along well?โ
โThatโs right. Itโs a really good horse.โ
Iselia was already stroking the horse fondly. Johan frowned.
โIsnโt someone suddenly wanting to get along just as suspicious?โ
โHe might want to join hands with you and oppose Ulrike-gong.โ
Thatโs exactly what Johan was expecting.
โNo need to worry too much.โ
โDid you have a plan, Your Excellency?โ
โNo. . . I didnโt have a plan. I just wanted to tell you to console them well so we can successfully defeat the undead.โ
Johan looked at Suetlg with a gaze mixed with disappointment, betrayal and contempt. Flustered, Suetlg said,
โWas that such a terrible thing to say?โ
โPlease attend the next meeting with me. Their extreme dislike for each other is quite something.โ
โFrom what I see, you have charmed even worse individuals and reconciled them.โ
โ. . . . . .โ
While Johan was struck speechless, a knight under Ulrike came this time.
โYour Excellency, my master wishes to have a chance to entertain Your Excellency the Count. Please come with Iselia-nim of the Bluea family.โ
โ. . .!โ
While he didnโt exactly have a feud with Ulrike at the moment, remembering how her wife had clung to him obsessively in love made him feel awkward.
But he couldnโt refuse the situation either.
โAlright. I will gladly accept. Suetlg-nim, please come along too.โ
โI donโt think anything will change just because Iโm there.โ
Before leaving, the knight added one more thing.
โSir Stephen is also welcome to come, she said.โ
โ. . .Really?โ
โYes!โ
After the knight left, Johan asked in confusion,
โShould I bring him along, or does she plan to kill him if I do?โ
โHmm. . .โ
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
Johan went to Ulrikeโs camp with Iselia. Servants immediately came running to attend to the party. Even Stephen did.
Stephen looked like he could barely breathe properly. Thinking that Suetlg felt sorry for him, she said.
โUlrike-gong wouldnโt kill anyone here. So relax, just keep your mouth shut and stay still until itโs time to leave.โ
โYes. . . Yes.โ
Stephen stuck close to Gerdolfโs side. At least next to Gerdolf he wouldnโt scream to death.
โ๐ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ช๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ง ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ช๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐บ ๐ข ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ง?โ
Johan thought to himself. While Gerdolf was loyal to Johan, he didnโt seem like he would be too enthusiastic about protecting Stephen. . .
Ulrike gifted Iselia a sword. According to her investigation, this elf from the Bluea house quite liked weapons.
โ๐๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ง๐ข๐ค๐ฆ ๐ช๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ข๐ถ๐ต๐ช๐ง๐ถ๐ญ. . . ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ต ๐ช๐ด๐ฏโ๐ต ๐ด๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ข ๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐ต๐ญ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ข๐ญ๐ญ?โ
She had heard they were close, but Iseliaโs appearance made Ulrike puzzled. She didnโt look like someone who would seduce and corrupt others as the rumors said.
Johan had shown quite an ascetic side when he stayed at her fiefdom, so when Ulrike heard the rumors she thought it must have been quite a fall from grace.
Ulrike had seen charms that invoke lust a few times before. Those who knew how to use lust charms had a unique, tempting scent about them.
In contrast, the only smells coming from Iselia were the oil on her armor and the sweet scent of freshly baked bread.
โCongratulations on your late marriage with the Jarpen house.โ
โ. . .Thank you?โ
Johan threw out questions like bait and glanced at Ulrikeโs reactions. It seemed she still hadnโt heard about Caccia yet.
โ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ตโ๐ด ๐ข ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ช๐ฆ๐ง.โ
Translation-(COMPLETED) โ How to Live as a Wandering Knight
๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฅใโญโญโญโญโญใ!!
ใ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ใ
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