Chapter 18.1: ๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ, ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ, ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐ (๐)
Chapter 18.1: ๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ, ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ, ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐ (๐)
They target travelers, pilgrims, or merchants who are unarmed or look weak, and who travel alone. There was no need to risk attacking a carriage that was escorted by nine mercenaries.
ใ ค
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
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โIโm sorry about this.โ
ใ ค
โNot at all, Sir Knight.โ
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Goran bowed politely and then went about his business. As a noble in the group, he had no need to do menial tasks or stand guard.
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โ๐๐ฐ๐ค๐ช๐ข๐ญ ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ถ๐ด ๐ช๐ด ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ท๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต.โ
ใ ค
In this era, social status held absolute authority. In general circumstances, just revealing oneโs status could earn them special treatment.
ใ ค
While the mercenaries lit a fire and selected sentries for the night watch, Johan could rest comfortably after removing his armor. Of course, he didnโt take off all his inner gear. He couldnโt fully trust everyone. There are always bold and audacious people in the world.
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โ๐๐ฐ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐๐ญ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ด ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ช๐ต๐บ ๐ฎ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ข ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ข.โ
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Since he seemed to have made a good impression on Eldans, going to the city for an introduction seemed like a good plan. Everything becomes easier with a guide, and he had some money too.
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โ๐โ๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ธ๐ข๐ณ๐ง ๐ค๐ณ๐ข๐ง๐ต๐ด๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ช๐ต๐บ, ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ซ๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ธ๐ข๐ณ๐ง ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ด.โ
ใ ค
He wanted to get a weapon first, if possible. The current longsword felt a bit unreliable. He carried it because it would look odd without one. . .
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โThis is too humble for Sir Johan to eat. . .โ
ใ ค
โWhat would a traveler have to fuss about?โ
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Johan, who had left in a hurry, couldnโt have brought proper food with him. A few pieces of bread and light butter were all he had. Fortunately, the bread from the feudal lordโs house was soft wheat bread, a world apart from the hard black bread usually eaten by serfs and mercenaries.
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But even this can become monotonous after a while.
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The soup Eldans offered was more like a porridge, made by boiling a handful of mixed grains, water, and salted meat, but it was a feast for travelers. When in dire straits, one couldnโt even light a fire like this.
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The soup warmed his throat, making him feel slightly relaxed. Johan looked around. The sun was setting, and it was getting dark. He habitually checked if the campsite was in a vulnerable position for an attack.
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The camp was ideally located, with a gentle hill on one side and a distance from the forest. Setting a watch on the hill would allow them to spot anyone approaching.
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โ๐ ๐ฎ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฃ๐ญ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฑ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต๐ข๐ฃ๐ญ๐บ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ช๐ณ๐ด๐ต ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ข ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ช๐ญ๐ฆ.โ
ใ ค
There was a reason not to travel alone. Solo travel meant too many concerns. Joining this group of merchants seemed like a wise choice.
ใ ค
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
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Khan yawned. He thought that as he aged, he would sleep less, but it seemed that wasnโt the case.
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โSo, Mr. Khan, to be honest, itโs quite ridiculous. I donโt understand why everyone else is groveling. Sure, nobles are impressive, commanding soldiers and all. But this guy is just a knight without any followers, no different from a wanderer or a pilgrim. . .โ
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โGamson.โ
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โYes?โ
ใ ค
โShut up for a bit.โ
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โ. . . . . .โ
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As the oldest in the mercenary band, Khan was paired with the newbie Gamson for guard duty. If there were mistakes, it was likely Gamson who would make them.
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Of course, that didnโt mean Khan was kind to the rookie. The newcomer had to learn and adapt on his own. Not beating him up was kindness enough. Other mercenaries typically learned through beatings and menial tasks.
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โ๐๐ด ๐ช๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ค๐ข๐ถ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ฆโ๐ด ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ถ๐ฑ?โ
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Khan pondered whether to hit Gamson a few times but then decided against it. It would be silly for him to step in when the mercenary Captain Goran was there.
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Gamson was mistaken about nobility, having never seen one. He had spent his life in a remote village, only to flee with a passing mercenary band.
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Nobles were not scary because of the soldiers they commanded; their terror lay in their backgrounds. Thatโs why even the most worn-out mercenaries wouldnโt target nobles in public places. Especially if they didnโt want to be pursued for life.
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What if that noble was a well-trained knight?
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That alone made them a fearsome presence. Khan glanced at Johan, who was sleeping but still exuded an intimidating aura. His large physique and well-trained body, along with equipment far superior to that of ordinary mercenaries, spoke volumes.
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โCome on, there are nine of us. Are we really afraid of just one knight?โ
ใ ค
โNine or twenty, it doesnโt work with knights, Gamson. Youโve never been on a battlefield, itโs obvious, so stop blabbering.โ
ใ ค
โWhat are you talking about, Mr. Khan? Iโve been in two wars. . .โ
ใ ค
โProbably just goblin raids in the village. Ever been in a real fiefdom war? If you had, you wouldnโt be so clumsy. Have you even seen a knight? Do you know how mercenaries react when a knight charges at them on horseback?โ
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โ. . . . . .โ
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โHundreds of mercenaries run away crying. Theyโre not cowards; they know the front few will just die. Donโt mess with knights. Pretending to be tough only exposes your ignorance.โ
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Gamsonโs face trembled. Back in the village, he was feared by other youths, but now in the mercenary band, no one treated him well. Ignored and scolded for speaking, he didnโt realize that not being beaten was something to be grateful for. He took Khanโs advice as an insult. Turning his head, Gamson muttered.