How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Suetlg’s words were not wrong.

The guards at the gate, upon seeing the flag, contacted the inside, and Johan’s party was quickly allowed to enter.

The nobles of the city were not strictly real nobility.

Of course, there were those of true noble blood, but many were self-made families from the city. Their blood was not as blue as that of the true nobles.

The relationship between the city nobility and the true nobility who owned fiefdoms was quite delicate.

A relationship mixed with jealousy, admiration, and respect.

. . .Of course, this did not mean that families like Abner or Jarpen were not welcomed when they arrived, especially when they were gaining power in the west.

As a result, Johan’s party had to go on a mansion tour in succession.

“What are you drinking?”

“Water of life.”

“Alcohol? You just drank that and again?”

“. . .I’m drinking water that sobers you up. I’m not as robust as you.”

Suetlg, having drunk too much, was protecting his body using expensive antidotes.

In this world, the more lavish and debauched the hospitality, the more sincere it was considered.

Hiring musicians, minstrels, jesters, and preparing spectacular entertainments was part of the preparation, but the basis of any banquet was food and drink. Luxurious food and quality alcohol upheld the city nobles’ dignity.

Currently, Johan’s party was indulging in food and drink at the mansion of a city noble whose name and family they barely remembered.

Johan could handle strong grape wine poured down his throat, but not everyone else, especially not Suetlg.

“When will you visit the wizard friend?”

“One must follow customs. At least until tomorrow, shouldn’t we eat and drink?”

Suetlg said, wiping his mouth.

Accepting only one person’s hospitality and not another’s could build unnecessary resentment.

It was a noble’s duty to joyously eat and drink when invited.

“Eating and drinking is fine, but I’m more curious about magic.”

“You are quite unique. Perhaps, in such gatherings, being sober might be better than being drunk.”

Suetlg looked around.

Except for Johan, almost all of the party members were heavily intoxicated, including Marco and the knights.

Even the most honorable knights indulged in food and drink in such situations. Not enjoying oneself was considered odd. Heartily eating and drinking was also a way of proving a knight’s prowess.

Moreover, Marco and the knights, being from poor families, found such occasions even more delightful.

But Suetlg was a wizard. Proving strength through eating and drinking didn’t quite resonate with him.

“The glass of honor is empty! Why are you not refilling it?”

At the noble’s shout, a servant hurriedly filled Johan’s glass with grape wine to the brim, which Johan downed in one go. Cheers erupted from all around.

“Anyway,”

“. . .Was what you just drank really wine, not water?”

“Yes. Anyway, during our eating and drinking, I noticed some people giving us displeased looks. . . Shouldn’t we be concerned about this?”

Vaizen city was a free Empire city.

As a city granted freedom by the Emperor’s patent, it naturally had Emperor faction forces.

Even if the Emperor was tyrannical, such forces didn’t easily disappear.

“You noticed that while drinking? Impressive. But such people are everywhere, aren’t they? They wouldn’t dare do anything against custom in the city. Besides, now is not a good time for the Emperor’s faction to act out.”

The Emperor’s faction was suffering defeat in the west and attempting invasion in the south. Public opinion was not in favor of the Emperor.

Although the Emperor’s faction had many grievances against families like Abner or Jarpen, there was little they could do.

“Still, it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious. I’ll also inform the mercenaries in advance.”

“Yes. Do that.”