How to Live as a Wandering Knight

While Johan was leading his men like a storm along the Empire highway, events were unfolding urgently like interlocking gears elsewhere.

“Rebellion has broken out in the fief of His Highness the Duke! We must send the fleet immediately!”

“What crazy bastards?!”

The republic captains who heard the news were shocked. It was completely unexpected.

A rebellion only has a chance when the timing is right, but the Duke’s authority was currently at its peak. The expedition had ended successfully, and the soldiers who participated were returning full of loyalty and joy. A rebellion in this situation made no sense.

Regardless of which nobleman was behind it, it was truly an ingenious suicidal act.

“It may have been led by some clueless mercenary captain. . . Judging by what he’s doing, he clearly has no comprehension of how things are developing.”

“Even if the rebellion doesn’t last long, an ignorant fool is even more dangerous. What if he randomly sets fires and causes more damage?”

If it was a rebellion led by nobles, they would fight according to customs and rules even amidst the chaos. But rebellions led by serfs or mercenaries had no such things. If they snapped, they were likely to set fires and smash things.

If the port of Coolia was destroyed, it would immediately impact not only the republic’s trade but also the Duke’s mood. The balance of power was already tilted towards the Duke, giving him a justification would make the back of their necks feel cold.

“Understood. I’ll prepare the ships right aw━”

“More news came in! The rebellion is being led by Count Oldor!”

“Count Oldor? Who was that again?”

“Ah, the count in the eastern kingdom. The one with the iron ore fief under the mountain range. A greedy and ferocious bunch.”

“Oh right. . . What? That count is leading it?”

One of the captains nodded then made a bewildered expression. No matter how he thought about it, the scale didn’t match up.

“If His Highness the Duke says so, what can we do.”

“This makes no sense. What sinister conspiracy could be lurking?”

“Either way, it’s time we make a move.”

“Understood. The fleet, south! Send an envoy to the Count’s fief. Warn them strongly!”

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

The morale of the rebels couldn’t possibly be high with both their castle and city having fallen.

The servants and slaves shifted their eyes nervously. The knights might be able to pay a ransom, but they would likely meet an unfortunate end if things went south.

“Sir Contanzo has arrived with fresh mercenaries! Give them a warm welcome!”

“Wow. . .”

The knights who arrived late with reinforcements were flabbergasted as they took in the scene. They had gone through the trouble of hiring mercenaries, only to find themselves in this situation.

“What happened?”

“We fell victim to the enemy’s vile schemes.”

“. . .”

The other knights present nodded grimly. Their expressions were so serious that Sir Contanzo couldn’t bring himself to ask for details.

“We need to hurry and get inside the castle walls. We can’t just stand here.”

“Of course I know that! But what can we do when the enemy is acting so despicably?”

“Shall we challenge them to a duel?”

“They refused. Those dwarves know no honor.”

The mercenaries who had been hired were growing impatient with the turn of events.

They had been paid, so they were fine with doing their job, but things didn’t always go as planned.

If they wasted too much time outside the castle walls, these noblemen would run out of money, and once they ran out of money, these noblemen would say, ‘𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺, 𝘸𝘦’𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯,’ so. . .

“How about we threaten them?”

A mercenary captain spoke up carefully.

“What kind of threat?”

“We have a nobleman we captured on the way here. We could threaten to kill him if they don’t open the gates.”

“That’s a bit. . .”

Even in the midst of all this, a few knights looked unconvinced. From the mercenaries’ perspective, it was like, ‘𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦?’ But for the knights, it was a matter of honor.

After a long and heated discussion, the noblemen gathered finally came to a decision. They would make threats.

“Sir Stephen.”

“Y-Yes!”

With the bloodline of Countess Abner, Stephen shook his head with tears in his eyes.

He had never dreamed that he would be captured by mercenaries while out hunting with his friends in the forest.

“I’m so sorry it had to come to this.”

“Why are you doing this!? Do you think you’ll get away with this!?”

“Sir Stephen. Your Highness the Duke has fallen in battle.”

“Wha━!?”

Stephen’s eyes widened. The noblemen present were so serious that he couldn’t believe it was a lie. At this shocking news, Stephen began to sob, tears streaming down his face.

“W-wah. . .! W-wah! I told you to leave those pagans alone in the Holy Land. . .!”

“. . .”

“. . .”

It wasn’t something a monotheist would say, but the noblemen pretended not to hear.

“Sir Stephen. . .”

“W-Wahhhhh!”

Stephen continued to cry, grieving the loss of one of his few friends. An irritated nobleman forced Stephen to raise his head.

“Stop crying! Please!”

“B-But. . . how can I help but be sad?”

“I’m sad too. But sir, think about the future. There are many fierce and greedy hordes in this vicinity. Right now, the only successor to His Highness the Duke is the young Lady Amien. Do you think Amien-nim can rule this region well enough to keep the enemies at bay?”

Stephen was shocked by the noblemen’s words. The task they were asking of Stephen was too much.

“S-So you want me to take the count’s seat?”

“. . .”

“. . .”

The mercenary captain also looked incredulous. Stephen realized from the atmosphere that this was not it.

“O-Or not? Then why did you capture me?”

“. . .Wouldn’t it be more reassuring to have another trustworthy noble in that seat?”

“S-Surely not Ulrike!? Please don’t tell me that!”

“It’s Count Oldor.”

“Huh? Who’s that? I’ve never heard of him.”

“He’s actually quite well-known in the east. . .”

The mercenary captain, who had been listening from the side, whispered impatiently.

“Why are you telling him everything? There’s no need to persuade him!”

“B-But. . .”

“We need to move quickly! My men are waiting!”

“I-I understand.”

“?????”

Stephen was gagged and bound again. Instead of being treated with respect as a prisoner, Stephen was hung from a pillar, and he turned his eyes away in horror.

“Eup-eup-eup (If you got it from Ulrike, I’ll give you double)!”

“What is he saying?”

“Ignore him. Hang him up front!”

※※※※※※

“!”

The threats made outside were quickly communicated. Mackald was also flustered by the news that an important nobleman had been captured.

“Wizard, didn’t you have everyone evacuated?”

“I. . . I did. . .”

Jyanina trembled. She could already picture the Duke scolding her, saying, ‘𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘬?!’

“This is no time for this. We need to confirm who it is. . .”

The people inside the castle hurried to check. When they looked outside, they saw a familiar-looking nobleman hanging from a pillar.

“. . .Oh. It’s Sir Stephen!”

“Oh. . .!”

Not only Jyanina, but the other scribes as well, gasped in surprise.

Somehow everyone had been evacuated, but they said someone had been captured!

“W-Wait. This isn’t the time to be impressed. What do we do? Sir Stephen has been captured?”

“Hmm. . .”

The dwarf captain was deep in thought. There were no specific instructions from the Duke regarding Stephen.

Judging from that, it seemed like they could just leave him there, but considering that he was of the bloodline of Countess Abner, perhaps they should show some concern. . .

As Mackald pondered, Jyanina noticed his hesitation.

“It’s not like we should open the gates and rescue him, but it’s a shame to just abandon him. . .?”

“You’ve hit the nail on the head, Wizard. Excellent.”

The loyal dwarf captain was a fine soldier. He had the virtue of obeying and praising his commander, no matter what they said. Thanks to him, Jyanina was able to regain her confidence.

“Then I’ll try to save him with my magic.”

“!!”

The people present reacted differently.

Those who didn’t know Jyanina well looked at her with admiration, while those who did know her looked worried. Jyanina spoke resolutely to those who were giving her worried looks.

“I’ll summon familiars that I brought from the East, so just watch!”

“Uhhh. . .”

“Wizard, you don’t have to push yourself.”

“. . .”

Jyanina almost cursed at them, but she held back.

※※※※※※

This beast called the ‘Quinzil’ had the appearance resembling a badger, but in the Orient they were treated strictly as magical beasts.

They were ferocious and brutal. Once they sneak into a barn under the cover of darkness, they would kill all the livestock inside.

But if one could control them well, they could penetrate the stern defenses and rescue Stephen.

‘𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯.’

Mackald did not evaluate highly of the alertness of the enemies’ defenses.

Compared to the Duke’s elite forces that patrol sternly every hour, the mercenaries who wandered around sporadically were only worthy of a yawn.

He wanted to take the dwarves with him to launch a surprise attack, but. . .

‘𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦.’

Mackald valued principles. What mattered was the castle, not Stephen’s life. It would be a shame if Stephen died, but it was a sacrifice that had to be made.

“Wizard, I trust you.”

“Just watch.”

“Yes!”

‘𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴.’

And so, under the cover of darkness, the monsters began to descend below the castle walls. The weasel familiars quickly ran and hid in the enemy’s camp.

“Did you hear something?”

“Are you just trying to get out of rolling the dice now? Stop messing around and roll the dice.”

“Even if I say something. . .”

𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐝!

The soldiers collapsed with a thud. The Quinzls clung to the soldiers’ necks, their red eyes glowing. The fallen soldiers didn’t even have time to scream.

𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐚𝐤, 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐚𝐤, 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐚𝐤!

The Quinzls quickly found Stephen, bit through the ropes with their teeth, and removed the gag. At first, Stephen was frozen with fear, but then he realized belatedly.

‘𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦!’

. . .But it was too scary for that. He was scared of the Quinzls, and he was also scared of having to run through this area alone in the middle of the night to get into the castle.

━𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡. . .!

“M-M-Move if you want to live.”

When the weasel familiar glared at him with a murderous look, Stephen nodded stiffly. Stephen trudged through the grass covered in cold morning dew, following the familiars.

‘𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵.’

Less than a minute after he had that thought, a commotion broke out behind him.

━𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩! 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩!

━𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐬! 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐞!! 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩! 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫!

“Ughhh!”

Stephen’s blood ran cold at the noise coming from behind him. Stephen looked at the Quinzls as if to ask for help. The Quinzls must have realized that the situation behind them was serious, because they immediately abandoned Stephen and fled to the castle walls.

“. . . . . .”

The familiars disappeared into the darkness in an instant.

Stephen despaired.

‘𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦. . .!’

If he had just stayed tied up, he would have at least saved his life!

Because those familiars had killed the mercenaries, he now had to worry about getting beaten up by the mercenaries if he was captured.

‘𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘳𝘶𝘯? 𝘖𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵? 𝘙𝘶𝘯? 𝘖𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵?’

Stephen hesitated. He thought that if he returned voluntarily, his punishment might be a little lighter.

While he was thinking, the noise behind him grew louder and louder. He could hear the mercenaries screaming and running. But Stephen, lost in thought, didn’t hear it.

‘𝘜𝘨𝘩. . . 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰?’

“There’s the nobleman! Catch him!”

“S-S-Surrender! I surrender!”

Stephen prostrated himself immediately at the rough voice coming from behind him.

“I-I was going to come back anyway! It’s hard to believe, but I didn’t kill them!! M-Monsters suddenly appeared and threatened me! I swear on my honor as a noble. . .!”

“. . .What are you doing, Sir Stephen?”

A centaur whose face he seemed to recognize looked down at Stephen in disbelief. He had captured Stephen thinking that he was a fleeing rebel, judging by his attire, but he was a noble he had seen before.

“Did you participate in the rebellion. . .?”

“N-N-No! Why would I do that?! I was captured!”

“Well, that makes sense. You are not someone with the ability to do that.”

“Ha ha. . . huh?”

‘𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 ‘𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺’ 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?

Stephen thought something was off, but he didn’t argue. He was scared of the centaur holding a spear, ready to strike.

“The duke is over there. Follow me.”

“What??? He came back to life?”

,

While Johan was leading his men like a storm along the Empire highway, events were unfolding urgently like interlocking gears elsewhere.

“Rebellion has broken out in the fief of His Highness the Duke! We must send the fleet immediately!”

“What crazy bastards?!”

The republic captains who heard the news were shocked. It was completely unexpected.

A rebellion only has a chance when the timing is right, but the Duke’s authority was currently at its peak. The expedition had ended successfully, and the soldiers who participated were returning full of loyalty and joy. A rebellion in this situation made no sense.

Regardless of which nobleman was behind it, it was truly an ingenious suicidal act.

“It may have been led by some clueless mercenary captain. . . Judging by what he’s doing, he clearly has no comprehension of how things are developing.”

“Even if the rebellion doesn’t last long, an ignorant fool is even more dangerous. What if he randomly sets fires and causes more damage?”

If it was a rebellion led by nobles, they would fight according to customs and rules even amidst the chaos. But rebellions led by serfs or mercenaries had no such things. If they snapped, they were likely to set fires and smash things.

If the port of Coolia was destroyed, it would immediately impact not only the republic’s trade but also the Duke’s mood. The balance of power was already tilted towards the Duke, giving him a justification would make the back of their necks feel cold.

“Understood. I’ll prepare the ships right aw━”

“More news came in! The rebellion is being led by Count Oldor!”

“Count Oldor? Who was that again?”

“Ah, the count in the eastern kingdom. The one with the iron ore fief under the mountain range. A greedy and ferocious bunch.”

“Oh right. . . What? That count is leading it?”

One of the captains nodded then made a bewildered expression. No matter how he thought about it, the scale didn’t match up.

“If His Highness the Duke says so, what can we do.”

“This makes no sense. What sinister conspiracy could be lurking?”

“Either way, it’s time we make a move.”

“Understood. The fleet, south! Send an envoy to the Count’s fief. Warn them strongly!”

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

The morale of the rebels couldn’t possibly be high with both their castle and city having fallen.

The servants and slaves shifted their eyes nervously. The knights might be able to pay a ransom, but they would likely meet an unfortunate end if things went south.

“Sir Contanzo has arrived with fresh mercenaries! Give them a warm welcome!”

“Wow. . .”

The knights who arrived late with reinforcements were flabbergasted as they took in the scene. They had gone through the trouble of hiring mercenaries, only to find themselves in this situation.

“What happened?”

“We fell victim to the enemy’s vile schemes.”

“. . .”

The other knights present nodded grimly. Their expressions were so serious that Sir Contanzo couldn’t bring himself to ask for details.

“We need to hurry and get inside the castle walls. We can’t just stand here.”

“Of course I know that! But what can we do when the enemy is acting so despicably?”

“Shall we challenge them to a duel?”

“They refused. Those dwarves know no honor.”

The mercenaries who had been hired were growing impatient with the turn of events.

They had been paid, so they were fine with doing their job, but things didn’t always go as planned.

If they wasted too much time outside the castle walls, these noblemen would run out of money, and once they ran out of money, these noblemen would say, ‘𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺, 𝘸𝘦’𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯,’ so. . .

“How about we threaten them?”

A mercenary captain spoke up carefully.

“What kind of threat?”

“We have a nobleman we captured on the way here. We could threaten to kill him if they don’t open the gates.”

“That’s a bit. . .”

Even in the midst of all this, a few knights looked unconvinced. From the mercenaries’ perspective, it was like, ‘𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦?’ But for the knights, it was a matter of honor.

After a long and heated discussion, the noblemen gathered finally came to a decision. They would make threats.

“Sir Stephen.”

“Y-Yes!”

With the bloodline of Countess Abner, Stephen shook his head with tears in his eyes.

He had never dreamed that he would be captured by mercenaries while out hunting with his friends in the forest.

“I’m so sorry it had to come to this.”

“Why are you doing this!? Do you think you’ll get away with this!?”

“Sir Stephen. Your Highness the Duke has fallen in battle.”

“Wha━!?”

Stephen’s eyes widened. The noblemen present were so serious that he couldn’t believe it was a lie. At this shocking news, Stephen began to sob, tears streaming down his face.

“W-wah. . .! W-wah! I told you to leave those pagans alone in the Holy Land. . .!”

“. . .”

“. . .”

It wasn’t something a monotheist would say, but the noblemen pretended not to hear.

“Sir Stephen. . .”

“W-Wahhhhh!”

Stephen continued to cry, grieving the loss of one of his few friends. An irritated nobleman forced Stephen to raise his head.

“Stop crying! Please!”

“B-But. . . how can I help but be sad?”

“I’m sad too. But sir, think about the future. There are many fierce and greedy hordes in this vicinity. Right now, the only successor to His Highness the Duke is the young Lady Amien. Do you think Amien-nim can rule this region well enough to keep the enemies at bay?”

Stephen was shocked by the noblemen’s words. The task they were asking of Stephen was too much.

“S-So you want me to take the count’s seat?”

“. . .”

“. . .”

The mercenary captain also looked incredulous. Stephen realized from the atmosphere that this was not it.

“O-Or not? Then why did you capture me?”

“. . .Wouldn’t it be more reassuring to have another trustworthy noble in that seat?”

“S-Surely not Ulrike!? Please don’t tell me that!”

“It’s Count Oldor.”

“Huh? Who’s that? I’ve never heard of him.”

“He’s actually quite well-known in the east. . .”

The mercenary captain, who had been listening from the side, whispered impatiently.

“Why are you telling him everything? There’s no need to persuade him!”

“B-But. . .”

“We need to move quickly! My men are waiting!”

“I-I understand.”

“?????”

Stephen was gagged and bound again. Instead of being treated with respect as a prisoner, Stephen was hung from a pillar, and he turned his eyes away in horror.

“Eup-eup-eup (If you got it from Ulrike, I’ll give you double)!”

“What is he saying?”

“Ignore him. Hang him up front!”

※※※※※※

“!”

The threats made outside were quickly communicated. Mackald was also flustered by the news that an important nobleman had been captured.

“Wizard, didn’t you have everyone evacuated?”

“I. . . I did. . .”

Jyanina trembled. She could already picture the Duke scolding her, saying, ‘𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘬?!’

“This is no time for this. We need to confirm who it is. . .”

The people inside the castle hurried to check. When they looked outside, they saw a familiar-looking nobleman hanging from a pillar.

“. . .Oh. It’s Sir Stephen!”

“Oh. . .!”

Not only Jyanina, but the other scribes as well, gasped in surprise.

Somehow everyone had been evacuated, but they said someone had been captured!

“W-Wait. This isn’t the time to be impressed. What do we do? Sir Stephen has been captured?”

“Hmm. . .”

The dwarf captain was deep in thought. There were no specific instructions from the Duke regarding Stephen.

Judging from that, it seemed like they could just leave him there, but considering that he was of the bloodline of Countess Abner, perhaps they should show some concern. . .

As Mackald pondered, Jyanina noticed his hesitation.

“It’s not like we should open the gates and rescue him, but it’s a shame to just abandon him. . .?”

“You’ve hit the nail on the head, Wizard. Excellent.”

The loyal dwarf captain was a fine soldier. He had the virtue of obeying and praising his commander, no matter what they said. Thanks to him, Jyanina was able to regain her confidence.

“Then I’ll try to save him with my magic.”

“!!”

The people present reacted differently.

Those who didn’t know Jyanina well looked at her with admiration, while those who did know her looked worried. Jyanina spoke resolutely to those who were giving her worried looks.

“I’ll summon familiars that I brought from the East, so just watch!”

“Uhhh. . .”

“Wizard, you don’t have to push yourself.”

“. . .”

Jyanina almost cursed at them, but she held back.

※※※※※※

This beast called the ‘Quinzil’ had the appearance resembling a badger, but in the Orient they were treated strictly as magical beasts.

They were ferocious and brutal. Once they sneak into a barn under the cover of darkness, they would kill all the livestock inside.

But if one could control them well, they could penetrate the stern defenses and rescue Stephen.

‘𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯.’

Mackald did not evaluate highly of the alertness of the enemies’ defenses.

Compared to the Duke’s elite forces that patrol sternly every hour, the mercenaries who wandered around sporadically were only worthy of a yawn.

He wanted to take the dwarves with him to launch a surprise attack, but. . .

‘𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦.’

Mackald valued principles. What mattered was the castle, not Stephen’s life. It would be a shame if Stephen died, but it was a sacrifice that had to be made.

“Wizard, I trust you.”

“Just watch.”

“Yes!”

‘𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴.’

And so, under the cover of darkness, the monsters began to descend below the castle walls. The weasel familiars quickly ran and hid in the enemy’s camp.

“Did you hear something?”

“Are you just trying to get out of rolling the dice now? Stop messing around and roll the dice.”

“Even if I say something. . .”

𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐝!

The soldiers collapsed with a thud. The Quinzls clung to the soldiers’ necks, their red eyes glowing. The fallen soldiers didn’t even have time to scream.

𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐚𝐤, 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐚𝐤, 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐚𝐤!

The Quinzls quickly found Stephen, bit through the ropes with their teeth, and removed the gag. At first, Stephen was frozen with fear, but then he realized belatedly.

‘𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦!’

. . .But it was too scary for that. He was scared of the Quinzls, and he was also scared of having to run through this area alone in the middle of the night to get into the castle.

━𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡. . .!

“M-M-Move if you want to live.”

When the weasel familiar glared at him with a murderous look, Stephen nodded stiffly. Stephen trudged through the grass covered in cold morning dew, following the familiars.

‘𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵.’

Less than a minute after he had that thought, a commotion broke out behind him.

━𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩! 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩!

━𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐬! 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐞!! 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩! 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫!

“Ughhh!”

Stephen’s blood ran cold at the noise coming from behind him. Stephen looked at the Quinzls as if to ask for help. The Quinzls must have realized that the situation behind them was serious, because they immediately abandoned Stephen and fled to the castle walls.

“. . . . . .”

The familiars disappeared into the darkness in an instant.

Stephen despaired.

‘𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦. . .!’

If he had just stayed tied up, he would have at least saved his life!

Because those familiars had killed the mercenaries, he now had to worry about getting beaten up by the mercenaries if he was captured.

‘𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘳𝘶𝘯? 𝘖𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵? 𝘙𝘶𝘯? 𝘖𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵?’

Stephen hesitated. He thought that if he returned voluntarily, his punishment might be a little lighter.

While he was thinking, the noise behind him grew louder and louder. He could hear the mercenaries screaming and running. But Stephen, lost in thought, didn’t hear it.

‘𝘜𝘨𝘩. . . 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰?’

“There’s the nobleman! Catch him!”

“S-S-Surrender! I surrender!”

Stephen prostrated himself immediately at the rough voice coming from behind him.

“I-I was going to come back anyway! It’s hard to believe, but I didn’t kill them!! M-Monsters suddenly appeared and threatened me! I swear on my honor as a noble. . .!”

“. . .What are you doing, Sir Stephen?”

A centaur whose face he seemed to recognize looked down at Stephen in disbelief. He had captured Stephen thinking that he was a fleeing rebel, judging by his attire, but he was a noble he had seen before.

“Did you participate in the rebellion. . .?”

“N-N-No! Why would I do that?! I was captured!”

“Well, that makes sense. You are not someone with the ability to do that.”

“Ha ha. . . huh?”

‘𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 ‘𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺’ 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?

Stephen thought something was off, but he didn’t argue. He was scared of the centaur holding a spear, ready to strike.

“The duke is over there. Follow me.”

“What??? He came back to life?”