Chapter 11: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ (๐๐)
Chapter 11: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ (๐๐)
Whether to work as a mercenary or go to the city to find work, I wasnโt sure yet, but it didnโt matter. Starting with nothing, yet for some reason, my heart was racing.
Johan realized that he had been waiting for such a moment for a very long time. He had spent more than a decade living like a dead mouse, waiting for the day to leave this cramped fiefdom. Though he was not leaving amidst a warm farewell but sneaking away in the dead of night, it didnโt matter.
โ๐๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ญ๐บ, ๐ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต.โ
The Aitz fiefdom was poor. Taking a set of expensive armor was one thing, but taking a horse as well would really be crossing a line.
Moreover, the stable was attached to an outbuilding next to the feudal lordโs house where the servants slept, and any mistake could wake them with the sound of a horse.
Despite the risk, the temptation of a horse was strong.
Having one or not made a tremendous difference. It wasnโt just about being fast and convenient. A horse was also a symbol of status.
Appearance, skin, accent, demeanor, attitude, clothing. . . all these things indicated what kind of person one was. A serf, no matter how smart or determined, found it hard to imitate a noble, and vice versa.
If Johan rode a horse, half of his troubles would diminish. People would think he was a knight.
After much thought, Johan made his decision.
โ๐๐ฆ๐ตโ๐ด ๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ ๐ช๐ต!โ
Even if it was excessive, he couldnโt give it up.
โ?โ
As Johan decided and was about to leave the storage room, he hesitated. He heard something.
โ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ตโ๐ด ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต?โ
Could someone in the feudal lordโs house have woken up? That would be very troublesome. . .
โ๐๐ตโ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต๐ด๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ!โ
The faint sound came from outside, not inside the feudal lordโs house. Hearing the hoarse voice bursting into rough laughter, Johan realized who it was.
Sir Aitz of Gessen had returned.
โ๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ฏ ๐ช๐ต. ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ญ๐ถ๐ค๐ฌ. . .โ
Johan cursed inwardly and pushed himself into a corner. Now that it had come to this, he had no choice but to wait, unseen.
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
โWake up the servants and have them bring something to eat. Iโm hungry.โ
Gessen had grown fat enough to cover his muscles but was still a menacing knight. His heavy build, hidden by armor, exuded strength.
The slave following and serving Gessen bowed his head and ran to the annex. True to his life spent on battlefields, Gessen had a foul temper. Not running immediately meant a slap on the face, and in a stroke of bad luck, one might get hit with a spiked club.
โYouโve worked hard. Sir Gessen.โ
โIt seems Count Gisored will soon send someone with good news.โ
A few subordinates quickly flattered Gessen, who smiled pleasantly. Even though he knew it was flattery, it didnโt upset him.
โCount Gisored knows people well. In these times of frequent battles, itโs not easy to find a knight like me.โ
โYou are absolutely right!โ
Gessen preferred selling his force to influential nobles over managing his small and insignificant fiefdom. Participating in territorial wars was far more profitable than farming wheat or raising pigs.
This trip wasnโt bad. Count Gisored was soon planning a war with a nearby noble, and his interest in Gessenโs force was evident.
Whether it was the Holy Empire or the Western Erlans Kingdom, feudal lords clashing swords for a bit more land was common. In fact, it was rare not to. This was why knights like Gessen or mercenaries thrived.
โHave you returned?โ
โOh. My wife!โ
Gessen laughed heartily, embracing and lifting Mrs. Aitz. Despite his strong sweat and dust smell, Mrs. Aitz didnโt blink an eye.
โHaving a wife who comes to greet me like this makes me a happy man.โ
In truth, Gessenโs group had woken her with their noise, but that was unimportant. Mrs. Aitz replied in a soft voice.
โOf course. But thereโs a guest waiting.โ
โA guest? Who?โ
โDonโt be surprised. Itโs Sir Karamaf.โ
โSir Karamaf? Why is he here?โ
Gessen asked in a lukewarm voice. He had no dealings with Karamaf.
โIโll explain the reason shortly.โ
โ!โ
The sound of Gessenโs group seemed to wake Karamaf too, as Karamaf emerged from the main entrance on the first floor. Although he must have been sleeping until just now, Karamaf was fully armed. Wrapped in a plate armor made by dwarves, only his cold face, with the faceguard up, was visible.
Gessen instinctively reached for the weapon at his waist. Having shattered the skulls of numerous enemies, Gessen could feel it. Karamaf was certainly not here for a visit.
โWhat brings you to my fiefdom?โ
โGessen Aitz. I arrest you for conspiring with heretics to poison His Holiness, the Emperor, and incite a rebellion.โ
โ. . .What nonsense!โ
Gessen exclaimed as if screaming. It was a charge he had never heard before. However, Karamafโs facial expression did not change.
โWhen did I ever plot such a thing!โ
โSave your excuses for God, not me.โ
โI demand a trial. I am a noble of the Holy Empire and the head of the Aitz family. You canโt decide based on your trivial words!โ
โI accept your request. You shall go to His Majestyโs court and face trial.โ
Upon hearing Karamafโs words, Gessenโs face was momentarily filled with despair. Karamaf was like an extension of the Emperor. He would not have taken such action without certainty. If this was a trap, going to court for trial might not offer an escape.
Gessen thought hard, recalling the powerful nobles he knew. Now was the time to seek their help, even if it meant offering the pillars of his fiefdom.
However, reality exceeded Gessenโs expectations.
The moment he saw Karamafโs cold eyes, Gessen realized. Karamaf would not take him to court.
โHa!โ
Gessen drew his weapon from his waist, intending to strike at Karamaf. But Karamafโs attack was several times faster. Gessen, a knight, was not skilled in swift swordplay but in the martial arts of a strength-focused family.
In battlefields teeming with weaker foes, he could dominate like an invincible warrior, but Karamaf was several times stronger than Gessen.
Gessenโs throat was cut before he could even draw his weapon.
The torchlight flickered on the sword as it sprayed blood in an unreal spectacle, leaving Gessenโs men behind him unable to grasp the situation.
โKyaa!โ
The scream of Mrs. Aitz brought them back to reality. Her scream tore through the quiet nightโs silence, echoing everywhere.
Karamaf, his face covered with a visor, commanded.
โSend the signal.โ
As he spoke, Karamafโs waiting mercenary ran from behind the door and began blowing the horn. The sound, following the scream, eerily heralded doom.
โThis b*stard dares!!โ
One of Gessenโs men, in a fit of rage, charged. He stabbed at Karamaf with a spear from horseback. Karamaf deftly avoided it and slashed at the manโs leg. The sword, a famed blade enhanced by Karamafโs skill, tore through the armor.
The man fell from his horse with a โthudโ. Despite the pain in his leg, he quickly rolled to regain his stance, showing the prowess of an experienced warrior.
But it did not save his life. As Karamaf approached, the man lunged with his spear. Karamaf didnโt even dodge. The spearhead was futilely stopped by his armor.
The manโs face sank into despair upon encountering the legendary armor.
โDamn dwarven craft!โ
The dwarvesโ plate armor was impervious to ordinary attacks. One could only hope to knock the opponent down and prod at joints or gaps with something sharp.
But how could one attempt such against Karamaf?
โDie!โ
A thrust aimed at the face. Karamaf closed the distance in one fluid motion, deflecting the spear with one hand and slashing the manโs throat with his longsword in the other. The fatally struck man clutched his neck and fell.
โSurrender! We surrender!โ
โPlease spare us!โ
Realizing they couldnโt match Karamaf, the remaining men bravely surrendered. But Karamaf, unflinching, continued his assault.
โSleep. . .โ
One by one, like a butcher slaughtering sheep, Karamaf massacred Gessenโs men. The mercenaries behind him watched with a mix of awe and terror.
โThe Aitz family resisted arrest and attacked me. I proceed to subdue.โ
โYes!โ
Sir Gessen was killed before he could be arrested, but the mercenaries, who knew the reason they were here from the start, didnโt blink an eye. Yein, who came as a seed of Karamaf, calmly drew his weapon. He didnโt understand the situation well, but as a squire, he just followed what the knight said.
โSurround them. Donโt spare anyone related to the family.โ
The still half-asleep men of the Aitz family would be confused about what was happening inside the feudal lordโs manor. The mercenaries brought by Karamaf drew their weapons and surrounded the vicinity of the feudal lordโs manor to prevent any possible escapees.
Karamaf had one reason for coming here: to erase the Aitz family and send a warning to the disloyal nobles.
And the fault of the Aitz family was one: they were seen as an easy target.
They were weak enough to be trampled, and after being trampled, there were no other noble families to use this as a reason to object, and despite this, the head of the family kept mingling with all sorts of nobles.
They were the perfect scapegoats.
โW-What is this. . . God is watching! Sir Karamaf! What are you doing?!โ
A bloodied Mrs. Aitz screamed and questioned. Instead of answering, Karamaf signaled a mercenary. The mercenary raised a crossbow and shot her. Mrs. Aitz gasped and fell.
โMake sure sheโs dead.โ
โYes.โ
The mercenary licked his lips and cut off Mrs. Aitzโs breath. Normally, he might have had other desires due to her semi attractive face, but now that he was already in disfavor with Karamaf, doing such a thing would have really cost him his head.
โThe servants are running out.โ
โIโll handle it. Make sure to properly watch the men of the Aitz family. I wonโt forgive you if you let even one escape.โ
Karamaf turned and walked towards the annex where the servants stayed. It was better to block that side, as the sturdy servants would likely run away better than the Aitz family men, who were only strong in appearance.