How to Live as a Wandering Knight

“They’re back?”

Sir Valker snorted. It was a known fact that any coward would grow brave when they were behind castle walls. And what more did a knight like Sir Valker have to fear with a centaur outside his castle gates?

“Ignore them. They are no good, I tell you. Ignore their threats.”

“B-But my lord. . .”

“Are you going to disobey me!?”

Sir Valker roared as he threw the goblet he was holding at the servant. The servant, soaked in alcohol, cursed his master inwardly.

‘𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵

His initial joy when he first started serving the knight was long gone. Honorable and honest knights were only found in the tales of bards. In reality, most were no better than mercenaries, just like Sir Valker.

“B-But they said something strange. They said they had brought His Highness the Duke with them. . .”

Sir Valker burst into laughter. He laughed for a long time before suddenly stopping and flaring up again.

“Hahaha! Are you still talking nonsense!? Get out of my sight!”

“I-I apologize!”

The other servants present burst out laughing as well, wondering what the fuss was all about. The insulted servant gritted his teeth and left.

🔸🔸

“Hmm. Is he not here?”

“Aren’t they crazy bastards!?”

“No. I guess it is possible.”

Johan remained calm even though the door to the opposite room did not open.

Normally, a lord of a small wooden castle like this would have run out in his nightgown if the Duke’s name was mentioned, but the world didn’t always run on logic. Р

Perhaps they had ignored the news because it was too absurd or did not even come out because they thought the centaurs were lying.

“What should we do then? Shall we send someone again?”

“No. It would only embarrass us if we kept sending messengers to someone who does not trust us. As someone greedy as him, he might do something.”

Knights, who were no better than mercenaries, could easily become violent. Johan wanted to avoid any problems by sending his men as messengers.

“It would be better to go and ask him directly.”

“As expected. . .!”

“Indeed. I have been waiting for this!”

“?”

Johan felt a bit flustered as the centaur mercenaries looked at him with anticipation.

What is this?

“W-What are you expecting?”

“Isn’t His Highness the Duke going to break down the castle gate himself? That’s what I heard. . .”

“. . . . . .”

Johan looked at Achladda and Euclyia. The two centaurs avoided his gaze.

“Those centaurs are great warriors, but they tend to exaggerate a bit, so don’t take their words too seriously.”

“Ah. . . I apologize. Then, is it not true that His Highness the Duke broke down the castle gate?”

“It is true, but do not take their words seriously.”

“. . .???”

The centaur mercenaries couldn’t understand.

Then, isn’t it weird?

Johan, who was at a loss for words, walked around, ignoring the mercenaries. Although it was called a castle, it was only a small one. He wasn’t planning on foolishly attacking and destroying everything he saw just because he was impatient.

“There is a village over there. Go and let the village chief know that I am here. Then, the news will naturally reach the castle as well.”

“Yes. We shall do that.”

Although the castle was tightly shut, people did come and go. Servants would often come out to deliver messages to the nearby villages or to obtain food and drinks.

Johan set up camp near the forest and leisurely observed the castle.

‘𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦

If they waited, the people of the village would spread the news, and soon, those who wished to gain merit before dying would appear.

Johan only needed to wait quietly and enter the castle through the open gate. Compared to the formidable castles he had conquered so far, capturing a wooden castle like this would be as easy as twisting a child’s wrist.

As expected, a servant secretly approached the camp at dawn on the second day.

“Your Highness the Duke!”

The servant recognized Johan as the real duke the moment he saw his face.

Otherwise, how could he possess such dignity?

The jet-black, shiny horse, and the wolf crouching next to him were intimidating enough. He couldn’t even make eye contact with them.

“Despite hearing the news of Your Highness’s noble arrival, we could not open the gate. Please kill me!”

‘𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢

Johan was puzzled by the servant’s excessive flattery. The subordinates next to him also wondered why he was acting like that.

To put it bluntly, if their master ignored them, what could the servants do about it? The way he was acting now was just. . .

‘𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘴

He seemed desperate to slander his master somehow. Whatever the case may be, it was good for Johan. Johan nodded and said.

“Your honor and loyalty move my heart. Raise your head.”

“T-Thank you! Thank you!”

Johan coaxed and persuaded the servant, eventually making him open the castle gate.

The servant, who went inside with a pouch of silver coins, would open the castle gate with his fellow servants. The silver coins were a good incentive for the dissatisfied servants.

After finishing his task, the servant ran back in a hurry.

“Follow me!”

The centaur mercenaries behind were amazed. The Duke was trying to open the castle gate easily without even using arrows or catapults.

It felt much more amazing than breaking down the castle gate with force.

‘𝘈𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨! 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵

‘𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘳

The centaur mercenaries were impressed as they watched Johan’s every move. They also wanted to learn such wisdom.

Achladda said in a know-it-all manner.

“This is the greatness of His Highness the Duke. He subdues his enemies not by force, but by using his brains.”

“You are truly amazing, Achladda. Do you know how to use such tactics as well?”

“Of. . . Of course.”

“Then, can you explain this tactic to me again in more detail?”

“. . .Maybe it would be better to hear it from the wizard rather than me. Wizard. Could you please explain to these foolish mercenaries what His Highness did just now. . .”

“!?”

Jyanina suddenly flared up and looked at Achladda in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Johan arrived at the castle gate with the servant. Normally, a few arrows should have been fired from the castle walls, but the guards must have found it bothersome and ignored them.

𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤, 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤, 𝐤�

The servant knocked on the door nervously. And then, nothing happened.

“. . .?”

𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤, 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤, 𝐤�

The servant knocked on the door again. Once again, nothing happened. The centaur warriors next to him began to look furious.

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“You treacherous bastard!?”

“Let’s skin him alive!”

“N-No! No! I would never lie and risk my life. . . Hey! Open the gate quickly! I’m going to die!!”

The servant shouted and banged on the door, but his fellow servants did not respond. Johan clicked his tongue and gestured for them to move aside.

“Move. Stop making a fuss.”

“W-What. . .”

�

The servant thought that the duke had gone mad at first. It was a castle gate made of thick iron, no matter how small the castle was. And yet, he was swinging a hammer at it.

‘𝘐𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘰�

𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐠, �

The castle gate broke with a loud crack. Johan sighed as he looked at the open gate.

“I was trying not to solve it with force. . . Let’s go!”

“Yes!”

The centaur mercenaries watching from behind gaped at Achladda. They were too shocked by what they had just seen.

“Th-Th-That. . . Ah, no. If he could do that, then why did he bother with the scheme. . .”

“What. Is. The. Problem?”

“It’s not like that. . .”

Achladda glared at the mercenaries who were questioning him and quickly turned and ran away. Achladda was also at a loss for words.

🔸🔸

Johan had been prepared for a trap because the servant’s fellow servants had disappeared. Plans could be discovered after all.

However, there was nothing like that. The servant’s fellow servants were surprised when they saw the servant who had suddenly appeared.

“What? Why are you here now?”

“You told me to come out when the third bell rang from the monastery and open the gate!!”

“Was it already the third one? Oh, my bad. I thought it was the second one.”

“. . . . . .”

The servant felt like he was going to die of embarrassment. He couldn’t imagine how the centaurs and the duke would see him.

Of course, Johan didn’t really care. It was such a trivial matter.

“Looks like I will have to take all the rewards. The others are not qualified to receive them.”

“Y-Your Highness the Duke?”

“How dare you. . . Bow down! You will pay dearly for not opening the gate!”

The servants hurriedly prostrated themselves as the centaurs grew angry. Johan stopped them.

“Find the knight dastard first. I should beat him up a little.”

“Yes!”

Sir Valker was shocked when he met the centaur warriors running down the hallway. The fear was even greater because he didn’t have a single weapon at his waist.

“Oh. . .”

Sir Valker fell backward with a thud. The centaur warrior, who swung his whip, said in bewilderment.

“What were you trying to say?”

“What do you think? Tie him up. Isn’t he the lord here?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

The servants at the back froze and dropped the dishes they were holding as they looked this way. The centaurs asked them kindly.

“Are you going to fight?”

“No! No!!”

The servants chose to let the angry centaurs take their master away rather than fighting to protect him.

Surely, they wouldn’t kill him. They might humiliate him a little and take away his silver coins. . .

🔸🔸

“I really didn’t know! I really didn’t know!”

“Sir. Saying that you didn’t know is not convincing.”

Johan sat on the chair where the lord usually sat and looked down at the knight while tapping the floor with his sword. His emotionless voice made Sir Valker even more terrified.

Behind him, the centaur mercenaries glared at him as if they would pounce on him and trample him at any moment, but it was the young duke in front of him that Sir Valker was most afraid of.

“If Sir had opened the gate quickly, I wouldn’t have had to waste my time. But Sir ignored my name and insulted my offer. Isn’t that too much, even though you are not my vassal?”

“I have committed an unforgivable sin. . .!”

“When I asked the centaurs, they said that Sir found fault with them for no reason and delayed their pay. Is that true?”

“That. . . That is. . . There is a slight misunderstanding. . .”

Johan calmed the centaurs who were about to explode and spoke calmly.

“Explain yourself.”

“. . . . . .”

Johan subdued the knight’s soul without even uttering a single curse. Sir Valker felt as if someone was squeezing his heart with their hands. He had to make excuses, but his tongue felt stiff and wouldn’t move.

“I. . . I will pay them. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“How much?”

“I. . . I will offer all the silver coins I have. Please accept my sincerity.”

“!”

Johan was honestly surprised. Usually, a greedy person would not give up their money easily, even if a knife was pointed at their neck. Yet, he was saying that he would give it up like that.

‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦. 𝘐𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤�

However, Sir Valker was not tricking him. He really opened the secret vault and scraped out all the silver coins. The servants murmured as they watched the knight who seemed to have aged in a short period of time.

“Is it the wizard’s doing?”

“No way. . .”

The knight, who had aged in a short period of time, prostrated himself and begged for forgiveness.

“Your Highness the Duke. Please. . . forgive my rudeness. . . I will never do it again.”

“. . .Alright. I shall accept Sir’s sincerity.”

Johan was rather embarrassed when the other person prostrated himself too much. Johan, who came out after receiving everything, asked in disbelief.

“Did I look that threatening? He seems to be too scared.”

“Maybe because you broke down the castle gate with your own hands!”

“Because of that?. . . He seem to be too scared for a knight.”

“Maybe he’s just unusually cowardly.”

The centaur mercenaries stood before Johan, fidgeting. And then, they expressed their heartfelt gratitude.

“Thank you, Duke. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have been able to receive it with our own strength.”

“I just got you what you deserved. You don’t need to thank me too much.”

“Thank you! Thank you!”

The mercenaries looked at Johan and his subordinates with respect as they left after finishing their work. The duke did not covet a single coin of the silver coins they had received. He even refused when they tried to offer it to him.

‘𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰�

‘𝘐 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦�

🔸🔸

“. . .I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but don’t you think mercenaries from the east have been coming to us a lot lately?”

Johan was surprised as he watched the mercenary captain who had suddenly come to greet him before leaving.

‘𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦-𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦�

“They’re back?”

Sir Valker snorted. It was a known fact that any coward would grow brave when they were behind castle walls. And what more did a knight like Sir Valker have to fear with a centaur outside his castle gates?

“Ignore them. They are no good, I tell you. Ignore their threats.”

“B-But my lord. . .”

“Are you going to disobey me!?”

Sir Valker roared as he threw the goblet he was holding at the servant. The servant, soaked in alcohol, cursed his master inwardly.

‘𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵

His initial joy when he first started serving the knight was long gone. Honorable and honest knights were only found in the tales of bards. In reality, most were no better than mercenaries, just like Sir Valker.

“B-But they said something strange. They said they had brought His Highness the Duke with them. . .”

“Hahaha!”

Sir Valker burst into laughter. He laughed for a long time before suddenly stopping and flaring up again.

“Hahaha! Are you still talking nonsense!? Get out of my sight!”

“I-I apologize!”

The other servants present burst out laughing as well, wondering what the fuss was all about. The insulted servant gritted his teeth and left.

🔸🔸

“Hmm. Is he not here?”

“Aren’t they crazy bastards!?”

“No. I guess it is possible.”

Johan remained calm even though the door to the opposite room did not open.

Normally, a lord of a small wooden castle like this would have run out in his nightgown if the Duke’s name was mentioned, but the world didn’t always run on logic.

Perhaps they had ignored the news because it was too absurd or did not even come out because they thought the centaurs were lying.

“What should we do then? Shall we send someone again?”

“No. It would only embarrass us if we kept sending messengers to someone who does not trust us. As someone greedy as him, he might do something.”

Knights, who were no better than mercenaries, could easily become violent. Johan wanted to avoid any problems by sending his men as messengers.

“It would be better to go and ask him directly.”

“As expected. . .!”

“Indeed. I have been waiting for this!”

“?”

Johan felt a bit flustered as the centaur mercenaries looked at him with anticipation.

What is this?

“W-What are you expecting?”

“Isn’t His Highness the Duke going to break down the castle gate himself? That’s what I heard. . .”

“. . . . . .”

Johan looked at Achladda and Euclyia. The two centaurs avoided his gaze.

“Those centaurs are great warriors, but they tend to exaggerate a bit, so don’t take their words too seriously.”

“Ah. . . I apologize. Then, is it not true that His Highness the Duke broke down the castle gate?”

“It is true, but do not take their words seriously.”

“. . .???”

The centaur mercenaries couldn’t understand.

Then, isn’t it weird?

Johan, who was at a loss for words, walked around, ignoring the mercenaries. Although it was called a castle, it was only a small one. He wasn’t planning on foolishly attacking and destroying everything he saw just because he was impatient.

“There is a village over there. Go and let the village chief know that I am here. Then, the news will naturally reach the castle as well.”

“Yes. We shall do that.”

Although the castle was tightly shut, people did come and go. Servants would often come out to deliver messages to the nearby villages or to obtain food and drinks.

Johan set up camp near the forest and leisurely observed the castle.

‘𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦

If they waited, the people of the village would spread the news, and soon, those who wished to gain merit before dying would appear.

Johan only needed to wait quietly and enter the castle through the open gate. Compared to the formidable castles he had conquered so far, capturing a wooden castle like this would be as easy as twisting a child’s wrist.

As expected, a servant secretly approached the camp at dawn on the second day.

“Your Highness the Duke!”

The servant recognized Johan as the real duke the moment he saw his face.

Otherwise, how could he possess such dignity?

The jet-black, shiny horse, and the wolf crouching next to him were intimidating enough. He couldn’t even make eye contact with them.

“Despite hearing the news of Your Highness’s noble arrival, we could not open the gate. Please kill me!”

‘𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢

Johan was puzzled by the servant’s excessive flattery. The subordinates next to him also wondered why he was acting like that.

To put it bluntly, if their master ignored them, what could the servants do about it? The way he was acting now was just. . .

‘𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘴

He seemed desperate to slander his master somehow. Whatever the case may be, it was good for Johan. Johan nodded and said.

“Your honor and loyalty move my heart. Raise your head.”

“T-Thank you! Thank you!”

Johan coaxed and persuaded the servant, eventually making him open the castle gate.

The servant, who went inside with a pouch of silver coins, would open the castle gate with his fellow servants. The silver coins were a good incentive for the dissatisfied servants.

After finishing his task, the servant ran back in a hurry.

“Follow me!”

The centaur mercenaries behind were amazed. The Duke was trying to open the castle gate easily without even using arrows or catapults.

It felt much more amazing than breaking down the castle gate with force.

‘𝘈𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨! 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵

‘𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘳

The centaur mercenaries were impressed as they watched Johan’s every move. They also wanted to learn such wisdom.

Achladda said in a know-it-all manner.

“This is the greatness of His Highness the Duke. He subdues his enemies not by force, but by using his brains.”

“You are truly amazing, Achladda. Do you know how to use such tactics as well?”

“Of. . . Of course.”

“Then, can you explain this tactic to me again in more detail?”

“. . .Maybe it would be better to hear it from the wizard rather than me. Wizard. Could you please explain to these foolish mercenaries what His Highness did just now. . .”

“!?”

Jyanina suddenly flared up and looked at Achladda in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Johan arrived at the castle gate with the servant. Normally, a few arrows should have been fired from the castle walls, but the guards must have found it bothersome and ignored them.

𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤, 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤, 𝐤�

The servant knocked on the door nervously. And then, nothing happened.

“. . .?”

𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤, 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤, 𝐤�

The servant knocked on the door again. Once again, nothing happened. The centaur warriors next to him began to look furious.

“You treacherous bastard!?”

“Let’s skin him alive!”

“N-No! No! I would never lie and risk my life. . . Hey! Open the gate quickly! I’m going to die!!”

The servant shouted and banged on the door, but his fellow servants did not respond. Johan clicked his tongue and gestured for them to move aside.

“Move. Stop making a fuss.”

“W-What. . .”

�

The servant thought that the duke had gone mad at first. It was a castle gate made of thick iron, no matter how small the castle was. And yet, he was swinging a hammer at it.

‘𝘐𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘰�

𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐠, �

The castle gate broke with a loud crack. Johan sighed as he looked at the open gate.

“I was trying not to solve it with force. . . Let’s go!”

“Yes!”

The centaur mercenaries watching from behind gaped at Achladda. They were too shocked by what they had just seen.

“Th-Th-That. . . Ah, no. If he could do that, then why did he bother with the scheme. . .”

“What. Is. The. Problem?”

“It’s not like that. . .”

Achladda glared at the mercenaries who were questioning him and quickly turned and ran away. Achladda was also at a loss for words.

🔸🔸

Johan had been prepared for a trap because the servant’s fellow servants had disappeared. Plans could be discovered after all.

However, there was nothing like that. The servant’s fellow servants were surprised when they saw the servant who had suddenly appeared.

“What? Why are you here now?”

“You told me to come out when the third bell rang from the monastery and open the gate!!”

“Was it already the third one? Oh, my bad. I thought it was the second one.”

“. . . . . .”

The servant felt like he was going to die of embarrassment. He couldn’t imagine how the centaurs and the duke would see him.

Of course, Johan didn’t really care. It was such a trivial matter.

“Looks like I will have to take all the rewards. The others are not qualified to receive them.”

“Y-Your Highness the Duke?”

“How dare you. . . Bow down! You will pay dearly for not opening the gate!”

The servants hurriedly prostrated themselves as the centaurs grew angry. Johan stopped them.

“Find the knight dastard first. I should beat him up a little.”

“Yes!”

Sir Valker was shocked when he met the centaur warriors running down the hallway. The fear was even greater because he didn’t have a single weapon at his waist.

“Oh. . .”

Sir Valker fell backward with a thud. The centaur warrior, who swung his whip, said in bewilderment.

“What were you trying to say?”

“What do you think? Tie him up. Isn’t he the lord here?”

“Yes! That’s right!”

The servants at the back froze and dropped the dishes they were holding as they looked this way. The centaurs asked them kindly.

“Are you going to fight?”

“No! No!!”

The servants chose to let the angry centaurs take their master away rather than fighting to protect him.

Surely, they wouldn’t kill him. They might humiliate him a little and take away his silver coins. . .

🔸🔸

“I really didn’t know! I really didn’t know!”

“Sir. Saying that you didn’t know is not convincing.”

Johan sat on the chair where the lord usually sat and looked down at the knight while tapping the floor with his sword. His emotionless voice made Sir Valker even more terrified.

Behind him, the centaur mercenaries glared at him as if they would pounce on him and trample him at any moment, but it was the young duke in front of him that Sir Valker was most afraid of.

“If Sir had opened the gate quickly, I wouldn’t have had to waste my time. But Sir ignored my name and insulted my offer. Isn’t that too much, even though you are not my vassal?”

“I have committed an unforgivable sin. . .!”

“When I asked the centaurs, they said that Sir found fault with them for no reason and delayed their pay. Is that true?”

“That. . . That is. . . There is a slight misunderstanding. . .”

Johan calmed the centaurs who were about to explode and spoke calmly.

“Explain yourself.”

“. . . . . .”

Johan subdued the knight’s soul without even uttering a single curse. Sir Valker felt as if someone was squeezing his heart with their hands. He had to make excuses, but his tongue felt stiff and wouldn’t move.

“I. . . I will pay them. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“How much?”

“I. . . I will offer all the silver coins I have. Please accept my sincerity.”

“!”

Johan was honestly surprised. Usually, a greedy person would not give up their money easily, even if a knife was pointed at their neck. Yet, he was saying that he would give it up like that.

‘𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦. 𝘐𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤�

However, Sir Valker was not tricking him. He really opened the secret vault and scraped out all the silver coins. The servants murmured as they watched the knight who seemed to have aged in a short period of time.

“Is it the wizard’s doing?”

“No way. . .”

The knight, who had aged in a short period of time, prostrated himself and begged for forgiveness.

“Your Highness the Duke. Please. . . forgive my rudeness. . . I will never do it again.”

“. . .Alright. I shall accept Sir’s sincerity.”

Johan was rather embarrassed when the other person prostrated himself too much. Johan, who came out after receiving everything, asked in disbelief.

“Did I look that threatening? He seems to be too scared.”

“Maybe because you broke down the castle gate with your own hands!”

“Because of that?. . . He seem to be too scared for a knight.”

“Maybe he’s just unusually cowardly.”

The centaur mercenaries stood before Johan, fidgeting. And then, they expressed their heartfelt gratitude.

“Thank you, Duke. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have been able to receive it with our own strength.”

“I just got you what you deserved. You don’t need to thank me too much.”

“Thank you! Thank you!”

The mercenaries looked at Johan and his subordinates with respect as they left after finishing their work. The duke did not covet a single coin of the silver coins they had received. He even refused when they tried to offer it to him.

‘𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰�

‘𝘐 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦�

🔸🔸

“. . .I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but don’t you think mercenaries from the east have been coming to us a lot lately?”

Johan was surprised as he watched the mercenary captain who had suddenly come to greet him before leaving.

‘𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦-𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦�