How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 189: ๐๐จ๐›๐ฅ๐ž๐ฌ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐‚๐š๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐š๐ฅ (7)



Chapter 189: ๐๐จ๐›๐ฅ๐ž๐ฌ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐‚๐š๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐š๐ฅ (7)

It seemed Jyanina had misunderstood what Johan was trying to say. With an even more arrogant tone of voice, she said,

โ€œOf course the people of the duchy are a bit barbaric, but Iโ€™ve worked under Cardirian before.โ€

It would have been an insult for which the distant emperor would have immediately cut off Jyaninaโ€™s head, had he heard it. No matter how bad-tempered and brutal the emperor was, comparing him to the barbarians of the Duchy of Runoa. . .

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ซ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ฃ๐˜ญ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ต ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ด ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ๐˜ด, ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ช๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ?โ€™

Thereโ€™s a saying that mice hear night words and birds hear day words. . .

Even Johan, who was listening, was puzzled.

โ€œI see. Use that experience well to gain the trust of the duchy people.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s right, Your Excellency.โ€

โ€œIf you gain the trust of the duchy people, can you help me out a bit with my work?โ€

At Johanโ€™s words, Jyaninaโ€™s face brightened slightly. It was almost the first time she had been recognized for her abilities by Johan.

If it was in her original nature, she would have spat at him to get revenge for the humiliations she had received so far, but for some reason, she was strangely moved by those words. Jyanina struggled to manage her expression and said,

โ€œIโ€™ll try to do that if possible.โ€

โ€œAttach a few guards to escort the wizard who will sit in a high position in the future.โ€

โ€œYou donโ€™t have to go that far. . . If you give them to me, Iโ€™ll gratefully accept them.โ€

Although flustered by Johanโ€™s favor, Jyanina accepted it. Had Johan finally opened his eyes to her abilities?

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

โ€œYour Excellency. Your Excellency.โ€

โ€œWhatโ€™s the matter?โ€

Johan was busy preparing for a hunt with Gaoalkana. If this was Johanโ€™s fiefdom, he could have just brought along a few guards and be on his way. But this was Vynashchtym.

He had to prepare the proper attire and procedures befitting tradition before stepping out grandly for the sake of keeping face. More than ten people had to move in orderly unison. Even though his subordinates were elite, preparation was necessary.

So amidst all that, it was perplexing for Johan that someone from the Republic came looking for him.

โ€œStill, itโ€™s not good to reject the noblesโ€™ invitations too much. You know youโ€™re close with His Majesty the Emperor, but their authority isnโ€™t weak either.โ€

โ€œAh. Did you come to say that?โ€

The nobles did send their attendants. Johan refused in the unique rhetoric of Vynashchtym, though not outright. It was along the lines of โ€˜๐˜๐˜ง ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ ๐˜ธ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ฉ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ, ๐˜โ€™๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜จ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ.โ€™

Johan already had a promise with the Emperor, so he had no reason to accept such an invitation. So Johan also politely declined, conveying โ€™๐˜ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏโ€™๐˜ต ๐˜จ๐˜ฐ.โ€™ But. . .

โ€œWouldnโ€™t it be more troublesome if I pointlessly attend? Rather than that, if I say I canโ€™t attend as the Captain of the Imperial Guard, it may be fine. But once a relationship is established, itโ€™ll become a headache.โ€

The young countโ€™s words surprised the noble from the Republic. He didnโ€™t know Johan had such thoughts.

Aside from whether his judgment was right or wrong, it was astonishing that someone so young could exhibit such self-restraint. At that age, wouldnโ€™t it be normal to happily rush over when invited by nobles, intoxicated by the honor?

โ€œOf. . . Of course, youโ€™re right. But if youโ€™re too curt, that causes its own rumors. I heard youโ€™ll be going hunting. How about inviting some others as well?โ€

โ€œHunting? Of course itโ€™s not a hunt by hunters, but we donโ€™t plan on easily catching something in a day to return.โ€

After coming to Vynashchtym, Johan felt the nobles here were slightly more lazy and extravagant than nobles in the West.

In the Holy Empire, even nobles not formerly knights would go hunting quite often. Hunting was a good sport to demonstrate a nobleโ€™s honor and pride.

Of course, such hunts made use of the help from beaters and soldiers, so they were luxurious hunts. But usually, people were prepared to be drenched in night dew.

Rather than immediately returning, losing oneself in the wilderness for a few weeks to a few months did more to help oneโ€™s dignity.

But Vynashchtymโ€™s nobles frowned upon such hunts as inconvenient. Johan didnโ€™t think the nobles would enjoy this hunt.

โ€œIt will be a matter of some importance that you have invited them, Your Excellency. It will at least save the Imperial Familyโ€™s face a little. Of course, they will refuse, so Your Excellencyโ€™s face may be a little tarnished. . .โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t really care about that.โ€

Nobles often took proposals or invitations as a matter of honor and became unnecessarily angry if they were rejected, but Johan didnโ€™t think much of it.

In this respect, he was well-matched with the people from the republic. The man nodded.

โ€œI knew Your Excellency would not be attached to such things.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s right. You said a good thing. Thank you. Please tell them that I am always grateful for the Republicโ€™s efforts. In this foreign land, the only people I can rely on are the people of the Republic.โ€

โ€œThe others will be very happy too!โ€

Johanโ€™s skill at manipulating people was becoming more and more skillful. His natural bearing and dignity, combined with his title and fame, made his words strongly shake the other person. The republic nobleman left happily with the expression of having been seduced by his lover.

โ€œWell, of course the Imperial Family wonโ€™t come to such a place.โ€

Johan decided to send someone to invite them anyway. It wouldnโ€™t be bad if they refused and relaxed a little among themselves.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

โ€œ. . .uh, I donโ€™t really know, but why do we need to bring the other nobles?โ€

Gaoalkana was not stupid for not using her head. She was puzzled when she saw the nobles who came out dressed up.

They were close to ceremonial armors decorated gorgeously, but still functioning. The nobles were checking their bows and swords and showing off quite a bit.

โ€œI thought they would refuse the invitation because they were so dissatisfied. . .?โ€

โ€œYou should have asked me.โ€

Gaoalkana spoke as if it was obvious.

โ€œThey must have been curious about Johan, and rejecting a proposal from a far-away noble outright could also hurt their pride. Citizens are sensitive to such things.โ€

If Johan was not so popular, it would have been fine, but since citizens were loving him at the moment, those who rejected the proposal could have looked pathetic.

Such rumors spread easily and quickly, so in less than a month, it would have been enough for the story to grow that โ€˜๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ด๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฃ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜ข๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜บโ€™.

โ€œAnd if they refused, I would have mocked them in a play.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t do that.โ€

Gaoalkana wanted to add fuel to the fire because the situation was young and inexperienced, and they needed to slowly win over the support of other nobles, but Johan firmly stopped her.

Johan looked around at the nobles who were attending.

They were relatively young (although still much older than Johan or Gaoalkana), quite decent at wielding weapons, their guards also seemed very skilled. Also, from what they heard, their faces were full of determination.

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ถ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜บ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ?โ€™

If Gaoalkanaโ€™s words were true, the nobles here had made some resolution when they came. They were picked as decent people so as not to be mocked, given excellent guards. . .

It was unlikely the nobles suddenly started training hard and honing their swordsmanship, so it was the guards who were easy. One could guess how much they were pressed.

โ€œ!โ€

One of the guards with a familiar face bowed his head. He was the prosecutor who used to be an actor that Johan asked the emperor to release. It seemed he was employed by a noble now.

Johan lightly greeted him with his eyes. While it was not a very difficult thing for Johan, it must have been an enormous favor for the other.

โ€œSince preparations are complete, send the departure signal.โ€

With the trumpet sound, the procession left magnificently. Thanks to Gaoalkanaโ€™s guard in attendance followed by some nobles, outwardly there was nothing to fault.

The schedule was simple. Go up the street, hunt around Sararom fortress, and wait for the duchyโ€™s parade.

When those from the duchy join, plan to hunt together with them.

Wasnโ€™t it a schedule with nothing to pick on in and of itself?

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

โ€œYour excellency. This is a bit of a problem.โ€

โ€œHmm.โ€

The centaurs said with serious expressions. Johan also nodded his head seriously.

The nobles. . .

Were really bad at hunting.

The noble, who was around the cousin of the great great emperor (he didnโ€™t remember the exact relation), put down his bow with a bright red face. It was because the arrow he had just shot missed again.

When the nobles eagerly said โ€˜๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต, ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จโ€™ as they were going up the path, Johan said โ€˜๐˜–๐˜ฉ, ๐˜ฑ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ.โ€™

Johan wasnโ€™t in such a dire situation that he had to compete with these nobles for prey to save his dignity, rather he was satisfied if the opponent was happy about it. It was a really cheap deal, wasnโ€™t it?

. . .The problem was that the abilities of the nobles were less than he thought. He didnโ€™t even dream that they would miss a deer from that distance.

At first the atmosphere was friendly with โ€˜๐˜๐˜ข ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข, ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ฑ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ, ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถโ€™๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ญ๐˜ถ๐˜ค๐˜ฌ๐˜บโ€™ but after the second, third and fourth failures it started to become chilly.

The noblesโ€™ entourages were sweating profusely with their heads deeply bowed, and Gaoalkana, who had a big smile on her face every time they missed, was now biting her lips to endure it.

โ€œThose assholes? Why the hell canโ€™t they catch it?โ€

โ€œThere are several reasons.โ€

The master hunter centaur analyzed seriously.

โ€œFirst thereโ€™s the lack of skill with the bow, but more than that, their sense for the hunt is too lacking. Whoโ€™s going to get hit straight on with all that noise? Besides, the skills of the entourage arenโ€™t that great either.โ€

Johan understood what he meant. A hunterโ€™s abilities couldnโ€™t just be swordmanship and archery. They had to understand the environment and know how to lure the prey. But the noblesโ€™ entourages were just guys who were good with swords and bows, so. . .

โ€œIโ€™m suffocating here. I need to ask you guys a favor.โ€

โ€œShould we drive them over for those assholes?โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t call them assholes. What if they understand Eastern. Anyway, driving them over is right. Go and drive them over!โ€

The most seasoned centaurs ran out. Meanwhile Johan started to comfort the nobles. They had a look on their faces as if they would cry if he didnโ€™t talk.

โ€œI understand that gong is merciful, but if he continues to show mercy like this, wonโ€™t it be embarrassing for his subordinates to take the initiative?โ€

โ€œ. .!โ€

โ€œItโ€™s hard for others to step up if their superiors donโ€™t catch them. I wish you would catch just one, even if you donโ€™t really want to.โ€

No matter how he looked, he lacked skill, but with just one word from Johan, he had missed on purpose out of mercifulness. The noble hurriedly nodded his head.

โ€œYe. . . yes, Iโ€™m sorry. It seems I killed the mood.โ€

โ€œEveryone was moved, how did you kill the mood?โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re. . . youโ€™re right, master. Everyone was moved by masterโ€™s mercy.โ€

When the quick-witted slave opened his mouth, the other entourages hurriedly nodded their heads. Inwardly, they were thankful to Johan. Thanks to him, this suffocating air had cleared.

Since he was a count, he could say such things, but if a slave had said such things, he would have been slapped in the face immediately.

โ€œRe. . . really? Is that how it is?โ€

It was easy for many people to make one person an asshole. As everyone praised him highly, the mood of the noble brightened immediately.

โ€œโ– โ– โ– -!โ€

The special sound of the centaurs signaling from afar could be heard. It was the sound indicating they were driving the prey over.

โ€œGong, the prey is coming over there.โ€

โ€œ. . .H-How about the count catches it?โ€

โ€œBeing too generous is also a problem. Here!โ€

The noble was about to slyly take his foot out, thinking he probably wouldnโ€™t hit it, but Johan grabbed the nobleโ€™s hand and pulled the bowstring taut before setting his posture properly for him.

At that moment, Johanโ€™s eyes met with the eyes of the approaching centaur. Without words, they understood each other.

โ€˜๐˜‹๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ต ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ.โ€™

โ€˜๐˜–๐˜ง ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ.โ€™

The arrow flew and the deer collapsed. The noble who hit it looked more surprised. He had hit targets before but hitting fast running prey was a first.

โ€œI hit it! I hit it!โ€

โ€œGreat! Hitting it right in the vitals while running fast! Even outstanding knights with the bow find it hard to hit fast running deer!โ€

โ€œR-Really?โ€

โ€œReally. Even western knights would be jealous seeing this. To think there was a knight with such skills here! Now I see there is someone else qualified to receive a knighthood!โ€

The centaurs who followed behind looked at Johan with astonished expressions.

No matter how much gold they were given, thereโ€™s no way they could say such things!


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.