How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 288: ๐’๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ (6)



โ€œNo. . . No, thatโ€™s not true.โ€

โ€œWerenโ€™t you a duke? I heard you were a duke?โ€

โ€œM-Me acting so presumptuously? Thatโ€™s a misunderstanding.โ€

The gazes from the other paladins and priests were even hotter than Johanโ€™s. It was the first time they had heard that Halzedel had called himself the duke during the rebellion.

โ€œIs that so? I guess I misheard.โ€

It was fortunate for Halzedel. Johan was not very interested in Halzedel.

If it had been another Grand Duke, they would have been offended just by sitting in the same place as someone who had acted so presumptuously, but Johan did not care much about what other people called themselves.

He wouldnโ€™t have cared even if Halzedel had claimed the title of emperor.

โ€œIโ€™m sure youโ€™ve had a hard time, too.โ€

โ€œNo! How can you call it hardship when itโ€™s a devotion for God?โ€

Halzedel gave a model answer. The paladins next to him nodded in satisfaction, but strangely, the dukeโ€™s eyes seemed to have cooled slightly.

โ€˜๐˜ž-๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต? ๐˜‹๐˜ช๐˜ฅ ๐˜ ๐˜ด๐˜ข๐˜บ ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ธ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜จ?โ€™

Halzedel was a little flustered. The dukeโ€™s expression had already returned to normal, so he couldnโ€™t tell, but he felt like he had made a mistake.

That would have been an answer that a devout duke would have definitely liked. . .?

โ€˜๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜จ๐˜ถ๐˜บ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข ๐˜ค๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ป๐˜บ ๐˜ฃ*๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ.โ€™

Johan did not hate devout people, but having devout people around him always gave Johan a headache.

He wondered if it was because he saw the paladins and pilgrims together, but it was as he had expected.

Of course, he was a guy who had participated in the rebellion caused by the saint, so it would have been stranger if he wasnโ€™t a fanatic.

โ€œThe hospitality is poor, but please take a break. Letโ€™s talk again after we finish cleaning up the fortress.โ€

โ€œY-Yes!โ€

Halzedel heaved a sigh of relief. He had saved his life for the time being, but it was still too early to let his guard down. He never knew when an accusation against Halzedel might come in.

If someone who knew him well told the duke, โ€˜๐˜๐˜ต ๐˜ฎ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ถ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ,โ€™ he could lose his head with just a word. Fortunately, the people here were paladins and pilgrims. . .

โ€œYouโ€™re really lucky.โ€

โ€œI know. Here. Take this.โ€

Bolts received what Halzedel fumbled to take out and handed it to him, looking puzzled.

โ€œWhat is this. . .?โ€

โ€œItโ€™s a prayer book. Letโ€™s kneel down and pray together.โ€

Already, some of the pilgrims were settling down in a corner of the fortress and preparing to pray. Halzedel and Bolts sat down and began to pray together.

He didnโ€™t know how effective this would be, but it was better than doing nothing.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

Sub-Captain Bars searched the fortress thoroughly. Starting from the basement of the warehouse to the secret space where the leader of the rogues lived.

โ€œThereโ€™s a silver necklace here!โ€

โ€œAre you going to offer that now? Keep looking!โ€

Of course, something like a silver necklace was a huge income for the slave soldiers, but Bars was not looking for such spoils of war right now.

He was looking for something to offer to His Highness the Duke.

โ€˜๐˜‹๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ช๐˜ต. ๐˜ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ข ๐˜ฃ๐˜ช๐˜จ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜จ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ ๐˜จ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฑ! ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ด.โ€™

โ€œIt seems like theyโ€™re also searching over there?โ€

Barsโ€™ eyes flashed with sparks as he saw Alanka searching another building. They could tell what each other was thinking.

โ€œKeep looking!โ€

โ€œBut Bars. It doesnโ€™t come out just because youโ€™re looking for it.โ€

โ€œHow about these books?โ€

โ€œWill those books be worth anything! You idiots!โ€

At Barsโ€™ scolding, his subordinates looked away as if embarrassed. Still, some of them packed the books, thinking that they should take them at least. They had been ordered to scrape up as much as possible and offer it.

โ€œBars. Thereโ€™s someone here?โ€

Bars went inside the room after hearing his subordinateโ€™s words. There were several members of the vampire race like Bars. They all had frightened expressions, but they were trying their best not to tremble.

โ€œTheyโ€™re not tied up, so they must be servants, not hostages.โ€

โ€œCould they be hostages?โ€

One of the subordinates said with regret. If they were hostages, they could get a high ransom. Bars clicked his tongue at those words and said.

โ€œWhere are the hostages wearing such shabby clothes? Expensive hostages are treated well even if they are captured.โ€

โ€œIs that so?โ€

โ€œDrag them out.โ€

After that, Bars continued to search diligently with his subordinates. However, nothing special came out.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

โ€œYouโ€™ve had a hard time.โ€

โ€œNo, Master! I apologize for not finding anything proper.โ€

โ€œThe purpose was to occupy the fortress, not to loot it. It doesnโ€™t have to be that much.โ€

Johan had to work hard to calm the slave soldiers. There was a bit of a fanatical aspect to it as he tried to get Johanโ€™s attention every time he did something.

โ€œAre those the new hostages?โ€

โ€œThey seem to be the servants of the fortress.โ€

โ€œIs that so? Thatโ€™s strange. Bring them over for a moment.โ€

At Johanโ€™s words, Bars brought the newly found servants with a puzzled look. Johan looked them up and down and said.

โ€œTheir fingertips are too soft and clean to be servants. Arenโ€™t they hostages?โ€

โ€œ. . . . . .โ€

Barsโ€™ face turned red with shame and guilt. Johan said hurriedly.

โ€œWho found those guys?โ€

โ€œMe and my men. . .โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s right. Isnโ€™t that your achievement? Itโ€™s okay to be proud. Here.โ€

Johan handed Bars one of the decent swords he got from the fortress. Bars was moved and said, trembling.

โ€œI will cherish it for the rest of my life!โ€

โ€œ. . .Keep in mind that a sword can easily be ruined if itโ€™s not handled properly.โ€

Johan calmed Bars and his men and sent them away. As Suetlg said, the slave soldiers did not have much dissatisfaction. Rather, it was the opposite, and it was embarrassing.

โ€œWhat is your status?โ€

โ€œ. . . . . .โ€

โ€œI already confirmed earlier that youโ€™re not deaf. I wish you would answer.โ€

Even at Johanโ€™s words, the captured people remained silent. He asked in Eastern, so itโ€™s not like they couldnโ€™t understand what he was saying.

โ€œIf you hand them over to me, Iโ€™ll make them talk right away.โ€

โ€œThey seem to be of a noble status, so thatโ€™s a bit. . .โ€

Judging from their appearance, they seemed to be servants and slaves of nobles. It was clear that some of them had not done any hard work, as their fingertips were soft and clean.

There is a reason why people of noble status do not wear fancy clothes and hide themselves.

โ€œI wonder if they might have tried to hide themselves in reverse because they were of high status.โ€

โ€œThat sounds plausible.โ€

Suetlg nodded as if he thought Johanโ€™s words made sense. There is always a reason when customs differ from usual.

Since there was a possibility that they were expensive, Johan wanted to talk without shedding blood if possible, but the other party did not cooperate. The captains from the republic insisted firmly.

โ€œThere is a way to make them talk without shedding blood. . .โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s just a play on words.โ€

โ€œHow about calling Vaytar and having him talk to them?โ€

โ€œWho is Vaytar? Is he a slave soldier?โ€

โ€œ. . .Heโ€™s the son of Yeheyman and a nobleman from the East.โ€

The republican captains, who hated the Easterners, sympathized with Vaytar for the first time this time. No matter what, he must have been upset that the duke didnโ€™t even remember his name.

โ€œAh. . . right. Thatโ€™s a plausible suggestion. Call Vaytar.โ€

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

Vaytar was sure that his skills were needed when he was summoned.

Giving a captive a blade and letting him go on a dangerous mission could be considered an abuse, but it was possible given the relationship of mutual respect they shared.

โ€œBut master, isnโ€™t the battle over?โ€

โ€œThe duke probably intends to continue to the other fortresses atop the mountain.โ€

The slave overseer sensed something was amiss, and his premonition was on point.

โ€œAh, you came.โ€

โ€œWhat. . . did you call me for?โ€

โ€œI have a hostage here who wonโ€™t open their mouths, so I called you here thinking you might be able to make them open up since youโ€™re from an eastern noble family.โ€

โ€œ. . .โ€

Vaytarโ€™s face turned gloomy. The slave overseer wanted to say, โ€™๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ฅ ๐˜ ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ,โ€™ but stopped. His master was in a serious funk.

โ€œYou call me to open the mouth of a mere merchant! Even a mercenary could do. . .โ€

The slave overseer grew anxious as Vaytar muttered and grumbled. The duke knew eastern languages, so acting like that was dangerous.

Fortunately, the duke simply watched without saying anything. It was a difference in degree.

โ€œ. . .โ€

โ€œWhy arenโ€™t you doing anything?โ€

Johan was puzzled when Vaytar froze after looking at the hostage. The republican captain standing next to him cracked a joke.

โ€œIs it his mother?โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s right!โ€

โ€œ. . .W-What?! Really?!โ€

The republican captain was shocked by Vaytarโ€™s response. Vaytar spoke as if he was annoyed.

โ€œNo, you imbeciles! Sheโ€™s one of the sultanโ€™s harem. The Valide Sultan! Do you not know what the Valide Sultan is?โ€

One of the captains fumbled to recall.

โ€œThe Valide Sultan, thatโ€™s. . . itโ€™s a title for a concubine who has borne a child to the sultan, Your Highness.โ€

โ€œOh, thatโ€™s a pretty high position, isnโ€™t it?โ€

โ€œIt varies, actually.โ€

The captain trailed off subtly. Among the western countries, the republic was one of the few that was well-informed about the affairs of the Eastern Empire. Naturally, the captain was somewhat knowledgeable about the Eastern Empire as well.

The harem where the sultanโ€™s concubines lived was a treasure trove of information, and republican merchants often bribed their way in to deliver goods.

Having a child by the sultan would seem like an extremely high position, but it depended on the situation and circumstance.

How many children did the sultan have? What was the concubineโ€™s own family background? Did the sultan favor the concubine? And so on.

โ€œI hear the sultan has over a hundred children.โ€

โ€œA hundred? That seems a bit excessive.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s probably an exaggeration, but he does have that many children. And if youโ€™re a favorite, itโ€™s hard to leave the sultanโ€™s harem. The fact that sheโ€™s here in these mountains suggests she may have been exiled because the sultan grew tired of her.โ€

โ€œI see.โ€

Johan nodded at the captainโ€™s explanation. If she really had power, she wouldnโ€™t need to hide herself in ragged clothes and would be leading troops instead.

Thatโ€™s why she was in this state.

Johan spoke to Vaytar.

โ€œAsk her why she wonโ€™t talk to me.โ€

Vaytar relayed the words, and the response was something Johan could understand.

โ€œ. . .T-That if I were to converse with one who has made a deal with a demon, my soul may be taken. . .โ€

โ€œIโ€™ve heard it, no need to repeat it.โ€

Johan wasnโ€™t surprised at this point, but the others present glared at the sultanโ€™s concubine in anger.

โ€œThatโ€™s the nonsense of an ignorant pagan. Donโ€™t mind it. Vaytar, try to convince her so she doesnโ€™t get scared. I need to ask her about her family.โ€

โ€œNo. . .โ€

Vaytar was bewildered. He was a warrior who roamed the seas, not someone who could gently coax reason.

As if on cue, the baby the concubine was carrying began to cry. Vaytar looked at his slave overseer, unsure of what to do.

โ€œH-Hey.โ€

โ€œM-Master, Iโ€™ve served you loyally all my life, but you know Iโ€™m not cut out for looking after babies.โ€

The two easterners were in a bind, and the captains behind them were awkwardly taken aback by the untimely crying.

Johan clicked his tongue and pushed them aside.

โ€œMove, Iโ€™ll do it myself. Youโ€™re both useless.โ€

โ€œ. . .โ€

Vaytar felt wronged, but he had nothing to say.

Johan took out a silver and gold coin and simply opened and closed his hand. The coins instantly disappeared.

It was a simple magic trick.

He had seen assassins conceal much larger weaponry than this, so it wasnโ€™t much of a feat.

However, it was apparently impressive enough for the baby. It stopped crying and clapped its hands.

โ€œA-Ah. . . the magic of a demon?โ€

โ€œ. . .If a demon were to work magic, it would be something far more horrifying than this. Milady.โ€


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