Chapter 10: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ (๐๐)
Chapter 10: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ (๐๐)
The mercenary was so taken aback that he couldnโt even react. Even if he had known, he wouldnโt have been able to respond. Johanโs punch was that fast and powerful.
There was a sound of a skull being crushed. The mercenary, frothing at the mouth with blood, fell off his horse sideways. After convulsing, he lay limp. It was a clear case of instant death.
โJ-Johan-nim!โ
โSave your thanks.โ
Johan took Joseph on the horse with him. Even with injuries, it was much better than both riding.
โ๐๐ตโ๐ด ๐ณ๐ฆ๐จ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ต๐ต๐ข๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ ๐ค๐ข๐ฏโ๐ต ๐ต๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐จ๐ถ๐บโ๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ๐ด.โ
Johan felt strange about himself. It was odd to have such leisurely thoughts in such a desperate and dangerous situation. Was his sense of danger broken?
โ๐๐ฐ. . . ๐๐ฐ, ๐ช๐ตโ๐ด ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต.โ
Johan didnโt feel this as danger.
Confidence!
The confidence that even if all the wolves here attacked, he could survive, was keeping Johan calm.
From behind the galloping horses, there was a sound of something being torn apart.
โThe wolves must be feasting.โ
โ. . .T-Thank you.โ
Joseph spoke in a voice still muddled by confusion. He hadnโt expected Johan to go to such lengths.
โIโve repaid my debt.โ
โHuh?โ
โYou kept me from becoming one of those fools.โ
Johan said, pointing to the mercenaries. Joseph had to suppress the tickle in his throat. Laughing in such a situation would be insane.
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
Four dead, two injured.
Sir Karamafโs face turned cold at the news that half of the personnel he brought along had either died or been injured. The mercenaries couldnโt even raise their heads.
โInjured and killed trying to catch a wolf?โ
โYes. . .โ
โI paid silver to mercenaries, not to *ssholes.โ
โI have nothing to say. Sorry, Karamaf-nim.โ
The mercenaries, covered in blood and with various wounds, hadnโt even thought about washing up. They were very afraid of Karamaf.
โI wonโt take away the silver. But remember, if things go wrong, even your necks might not be enough to take responsibility.โ
โYes! Thank you for your kindness!โ
The mercenaries shouted loudly. Internally, they were frustrated, but they knew better than to be insolent in front of Karamaf, as many who did lost their heads. To survive long as a mercenary, one had to know whom to pick a fight with.
โGo and rest.โ
๐๐ง๐จ๐๐ค ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐๐ค ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐๐คโ
โWhat is it?โ
โI came to take care of the knightsโ armor and weapons as ordered by the master. . .โ
The servant mumbled timidly. The mercenaries were interested in this. After a fight, armor and weapons needed maintenance. Chainmail had to be rolled in a barrel with sand and vinegar to prevent rust, and longswords needed to be cleaned of blood and flesh and oiled.
It was a tedious task, and having someone else do it was preferable. Knights could order their servants or vassals, but they were mercenaries.
โThen take them. . .โ
โStupid fool. How would that guy know how to do it? Forget it. Weโll do it.โ
The mercenary leader stopped the others. How could they trust the skills of a servant here? Their expensive gear could get damaged, and Karamaf would love to see them fight bare-handed.
โGo back and wait. Donโt wander outside the feudal lordโs domain. If you leave without permission again, Iโll cut off your ankles.โ
โYes! Thank you for your kindness!โ
The mercenaries shouted once more and were able to leave.
โShit. . . What a disgrace this is.โ
โDamn crazy wolves.โ
โGo put on some ointment and bandages, you idiots.โ
โEven with the forces waiting outside, this small fiefdom is nothing. I donโt understand why theyโre making such a fuss. Honestly, Karamaf alone could kill them all. In that armor, he could kill a hundred of these fiefdom men.โ
โA hundred? Theyโd all run away.โ
The mercenaries chuckled as they walked. This small fiefdom had no significant force. The ill-trained noble sons of the Aitz family and their servants were all they had.
๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฉโ
After the mercenaries left, the servant cautiously moved. He had not immediately come out after leaving but had hidden in a dark corner of the corridor.
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
โWell done.โ
Johan praised the servant, who, trembling, still managed a weak smile. He seemed proud of himself, as a devoted person.
After the mercenaries returned in disarray from their wolf hunt, Johan said to the frightened servant:
โ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ. . .
โ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ. ๐๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง.
Since Sir Karamafโs men were injured, the servant who lent the armor was in trouble too. It wouldnโt have been surprising if the other sons or Mrs. Aitz punished the servant to save face.
Knowing this well, Johan told the servant that he could use his name. After all, worsening relations with the other members of the Aitz family wouldnโt make a difference.
โ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ง-๐ง๐ข๐ฆ. . .!
The servant was tearfully moved. The kindness from someone of such higher status felt piercingly sweet. He regretted hesitating when Johan asked to borrow the armor.
โ๐๐ฐ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ-๐ฏ๐ช๐ฎ ๐ช๐ด ๐ต๐ณ๐ถ๐ญ๐บ ๐ง๐ช๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ข ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต. . .โ
The servant said resolutely:
โ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ง-๐ง๐ข๐ฆ. ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฒ, ๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ, ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐. ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ.
โ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ? ๐๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ . ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฌ๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ.
โ?
Johan instructed the servant to pretend to run an errand and eavesdrop on the mercenariesโ conversation. Both Karamaf and the mercenaries had one thing in common: they disregarded and ignored servants and slaves.
โ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐บ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ฏโ๐ต ๐ด๐ถ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ค๐ต.โ
Johanโs prediction was correct. The servant overheard everything, and the information was more serious than expected. Johanโs face hardened.
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
โ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ด ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐บ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด.โ
There are two things he just learned.
There are support troops waiting nearby.
And the guys who came with Sir Karamaf are ready to wield their swords at any moment.
โ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฏโ๐ต ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐บ ๐ด๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ข ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต ๐ช๐ด ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ข๐ถ๐ด๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ, ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ต ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐โ๐ท๐ฆ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต, ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐ต๐ป ๐ง๐ข๐ฎ๐ช๐ญ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ข๐ญ๐ด๐ฐ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ.โ
โDealing with mercenaries using serfs might not be much, but itโs better than doing nothing. . .โ
Either launching a surprise attack, digging traps, or even preparing for a defensive battle with the help of the feudal lord would be better than doing nothing.
Although it pales in comparison to a fortress with walls, the feudal lordโs mansion is a sturdy and large building. By arming the servants in the annex and holding out, the mercenaries, lacking siege equipment, will face difficulty.
โI must keep them in check so they canโt do anything foolish until Gessen Aitz arrives.โ
Gessen Aitz, though a country feudal lord, was a seasoned and experienced knight. Once he returns, neither the mercenaries nor Sir Karamaf will be able to act easily.
Johan licked his lips and headed towards Mrs. Aitz. He didnโt want to confront her, but he had no choice.
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
โWhat nonsense are you talking about?โ
โ๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ฏ ๐ช๐ต. ๐๐ด ๐ฆ๐น๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ.โ
Mrs. Aitz scolded Johan in a sharp voice. The gentle and sweet voice she used when dealing with Sir Karamaf or Gessen Aitz was nowhere to be found. Although Mrs. Aitz was not even ten years older than Johan, she was several times more dreadful and a more dominant figure. This was evident from how she manipulated the Aitz fiefdom at such a young age.
โSir Karamaf is plotting a conspiracy? Ha! And you overheard this and found out. Are you slandering Sir Karamaf right now?โ
โWhy would I slander Sir Karamaf?โ
โWell. You followed Sir Karamafโs men on a hunt and returned only with embarrassment. Seems like you have more than enough reason to slander.โ
People tend to see only what they want to see.
For Mrs. Aitz, who wanted to build connections with Sir Karamaf, the idea that Sir Karamaf could hatch such a conspiracy was unthinkable.
Moreover, it was even more preposterous that Johan, who she normally wouldnโt even consider, had overheard and brought this news.
โShouldnโt we prepare just in case?โ
โPrepare? Yes, we should prepare. Tomorrow, when the day breaks, I will confront you with Sir Karamaf. If you are truly of a knightโs lineage, apologize to Sir Karamaf for your rudeness and ask for his forgiveness.โ
Johan inwardly scoffed, seeing through the intent to sell him out to Karamaf and curry favor.
โ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ช๐ด ๐จ๐ฆ๐ต๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ด๐ถ๐ณ๐ฅ.โ
โWhatโs the matter?โ
In the midst of the conversation, Philip Aitz, the eldest son of the Aitz family, entered the hall. Philip frowned upon seeing Johan and Mrs. Aitz talking. It was an unusual pairing to see.
โBrother. About that. . .โ
Johan placed his last hope in Philip. Although Mrs. Aitz was in charge of the feudatory, Philip also had significant authority within it.
Being the oldest son and having spent a long time in the fiefdom, he had many followers.
However, Philip dismissed it as nonsense.
โAbsurd. Why would Sir Karamaf do such a thing? You must have heard some rumor from wanderers and clowns and brought it here. If you spread such baseless rumors again, I wonโt forgive you.โ
Unlike Mrs. Aitz, Philip did not wish to become close to Sir Karamaf, but he did not believe Johanโs words either.
โ๐๐ข๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ต๐ช๐ค. ๐๐ณ๐บ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ง๐ณ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ.โ
Sir Karamaf, not a rogue or rogue leader, had no reason to engage in such antics in a feudatory like this. It didnโt make sense.
Rather, it seemed more likely that Johan, humiliated in the recent hunt, was jealous of Sir Karamaf and framing him. Believing such words and preparing for a trap or fight was not feasible. It could be perceived as an insult or threat by Sir Karamaf if discovered.
And at that moment, Johan made up his mind.
Just to escape tonight.
He had intended to somehow pick up something valuable in the chaos, but staying longer seemed to risk a worse fate.
โ๐ ๐ด๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ด๐ค๐ข๐ฑ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐ซ๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ฉ๐ข๐ด๐ฆ๐ฅ.โ
Stealing too much might indeed provoke a real pursuit, so he planned to take just enough. Of course, thereโs no moderation in theft. . .
Anyway, facing Sir Karamaf one-on-one for explanations tomorrow was out of the question.
โGo back and reflect on your actions. From injuring Sir Karamafโs man in the unauthorized hunt to framing him, you have responsibilities to bear.โ
โ. . .Yes.โ
Johan feigned repentance. Internally, he was already calculating what to steal.
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
It was different to put on armor with the help of a servant in broad daylight and to sneakily put it on at night, muffling the sound.
Johan equipped himself using all his senses. He wore a fine, sturdy hemp shirt, covered it with a well-maintained chainmail, donned a surcoat, and finally, took a coat made of Finnish wool. The weather was gradually getting colder. He would need a thick outer garment to wrap around himself.
Thanks to what Johan learned from Joseph, he was able to quickly prepare what he needed to leave without hesitation.
โ๐๐ฆ๐ตโ๐ด ๐จ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ช๐ญ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ช๐ฏ๐ด.โ
Unlike the storeroom where the armor was kept, the silver coins would be in the bedroom safe. It was risky to go in and potentially wake someone up, and taking the expensive armor was risky enough, let alone adding silver coins, which could truly prompt a pursuit.
Of course, the items he was taking now were enough to infuriate, but considering the familyโs honor, there was a possibility they would overlook this extent.
โ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ณ๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐บ.โ