Chapter 20.2: ๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ, ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ, ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐ (๐)
Chapter 20.2: ๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ, ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ, ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐ (๐)
โGoran.โ
ใ ค
โMr. Khan. Whatโs the matter?โ
ใ ค
โThe newcomer is a bigger mess than I thought.โ
ใ ค
โIs it that bad?โ
ใ ค
Goran frowned. Khan had known Goran for quite some time and didnโt take his words lightly.
ใ ค
โI want to get rid of him. He seems like he could cause trouble if left alone.โ
ใ ค
โHmm. . . Itโs a bit difficult right now. Eldans would not like it. Itโs a time when even one person is needed.โ
ใ ค
โDidnโt you see the fight earlier? When a fight broke out, he ran away and then sneakily came back.โ
ใ ค
โI saw it. But even if we have to punish him, it should be done in the city, not before the work is finished. It would only tarnish our reputation. Itโs better to monitor him until we return and then deal with him afterwards.โ
ใ ค
โDamn it. Letโs do that. Where did you find such a guy. . . Next time bring someone experienced. No matter how cheap they are.โ
ใ ค
โUnderstood.โ
ใ ค
Fortunately, no more fights occurred after that. Two days later, the group was able to reach Rutzbeck.
ใ ค
โItโs Rutzbeck!โ
ใ ค
โ๐๐ถ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐ต๐ป ๐ง๐ช๐ฆ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฎ.โ
ใ ค
โCan we go in right away?โ
ใ ค
โItโs fine. I know the village chief and many of the villagers.โ
ใ ค
The Aitz fiefdom, where a feudal lord like a knight lived and governed directly, was an exception. Usually, nobles didnโt live in their fiefdoms. They sent representatives to collect taxes when due.
ใ ค
In such cases, the townโs villagers managed things among themselves. The village chief, elected from among the wealthy serfs, handled major and minor matters, managing the town. Though it might seem trivial to modern eyes, for merchants, being on good terms with the village chief was crucial. Any issues with the chief could complicate matters.
ใ ค
โHave you been here before?โ
ใ ค
โI have. They make quite good beer.โ
ใ ค
Khan replied. Johan laughed.
ใ ค
โI like the sound of that. Anything else?โ
ใ ค
โItโs better not to eat the food from the inn. Ask the brewery to bring something for you. Just give them a coin, and theyโll bring something decent along with the beer.โ
ใ ค
โIโll keep that in mind. Thanks.โ
ใ ค
Johan said this and entered the town. The townspeople tensed up at the different atmosphere presented by the mercenaries. Murmurs were heard.
ใ ค
โ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ค๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ?
ใ ค
โ๐๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ. . . ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฒ?
ใ ค
โ๐๐โ๐ฌ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ญ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ .
ใ ค
Though they tried to whisper, Johan heard everything. He shrugged his shoulders and tied his horse in the stable. As he entered the inn, the innkeeper hurried out.
ใ ค
โWelcome!โ
ใ ค
In Aitzโs fiefdom, the innkeeper was unfriendly. To be precise, he was often absent. He had another job as his livelihood and only went to the inn to collect money when travelers came. He didnโt care much about them, so he was rude.
ใ ค
But here in Rutzbeck, the inn was decent enough. The innkeeper didnโt show any surprise when he saw a foreigner.
ใ ค
โAre you by chance a Sir Knight?โ
ใ ค
โJohan of the Yeats family. More importantly, have knights ever visited here?โ
ใ ค
โOccasionally, yes. Shouldnโt you, a knight, also stay?โ
ใ ค
If he were a noble with money and power, he might rent a house from the village chief or choose a pleasing one in the town, but as a mere wandering knight, he had no choice but to stay at an inn.
ใ ค
โLast year, a few knights did stop by. They were here to participate in the tournament. Are you interested in the tournament as well, sir?โ
ใ ค
โNo. I am just passing through.โ
ใ ค
Johan handed over half a coin of the Empireโs currency along with his horse. It was enough for lodging.
ใ ค
โIf you wish to have a meal. . .โ
ใ ค
โIโm fine without a meal.โ
ใ ค
At Johanโs words, the innkeeperโs face was tinged with disappointment, evidently hoping to charge more.
ใ ค
Entering his room, Johan collapsed onto the bed. It wasnโt very soft, but it was enough. He hadnโt properly relaxed since escaping from the fiefdom.
ใ ค
โ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ช๐ด ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ค๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ฅ. . . ๐ ๐ค๐ข๐ฏ ๐ง๐ช๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐บ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต ๐ข๐ง๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ข ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ.โ
ใ ค
โIโll think about the future plans after a good sleep,โ thought Johan, as he closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.
ใ ค
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
ใ ค
โIs that knight really so extraordinary?โ
ใ ค
โAh, indeed he is.โ
ใ ค
Upon hearing Eldansโ words, village chief Atanka wore a disbelieving expression.
ใ ค
โIโve never seen a decent person among wandering knights. Those who came last year were a mess too. Brimming with arrogance, those without a family name. . . Do you know what happened to them?โ
ใ ค
โWere they beaten and driven away?โ
ใ ค
โYes. I tried to tolerate it, but they just crossed the line.โ
ใ ค
Real nobility would have restrained themselves for fear of consequences, but a family-less wanderer knight was neither noble nor anything else. Just a mercenary proclaiming himself a knight.
ใ ค
Such men, thinking too highly of themselves, demanded the village chiefโs house, free food and drink, and women, pushing the townโs patience to its limits.
ใ ค
Aitzโs fiefdom only had a few slaves, servants, and family members as soldiers, but Rutzbeck was different. It had its own militia. The townโs spirited youth, toughened by farming, overwhelmed the untrained wandering mercenaries.
ใ ค
โThis man is different. He comes from a genuine knightโs family. And his skills are exceptional too.โ
ใ ค
It was common for knights from noble families to be strong, but it was rare for someone as young as Johan to be so accomplished. Eldans thought it only possible with talent and rigorous training.
ใ ค
โReally? Why is he wandering alone then?โ
ใ ค
It was unusual for nobility, even younger sons, to travel alone. It wouldnโt be strange to have a servant or two. Even self-proclaimed mercenary knights brought followers, calling them servants.
ใ ค
โThere must be circumstances within his family.โ
ใ ค
Whether a declining or a fallen family. Eldans implied subtly, and the village chief understood immediately. There was no need to openly criticize nobility in their absence.
ใ ค
Where there are no tigers, foxes reign. In places not directly governed by nobility, the village chiefโs authority was significant.
ใ ค
However, this was only within the village. Even a mere official sent by a noble could make the village chief fawn obsequiously. The chief was well aware of his position. Political acumen was essential to be the chief of such a large town.