How to live as a wanderer

“I refuse.”

I didn't respect the offer because it was dishonorable in the first place. Urike also made the next suggestion to make sure he was expecting that much.

“How about double? ”

“Likewise. ”

“Four times. You don't like it either? How about ten? ”

“...... ”

John was surprised. I honestly didn't expect him to call me this far. Ten times, I betrayed him several times, and the price remained. Honestly, it didn't make sense to call a guy like Stefan ten times the price.

‘This is what I was going to call you. ’

Ulice also glanced at John casually, wondering if she had noticed John's thoughts. It was a beautiful face, but its beauty reminded me of a snake with venom somewhere. John clenches his fist at the awkward sensation.

“What's left now? Oh, yeah. You can't kill him with your own hands. I'm still a knight. I don't want that either. All you have to do is close your eyes. Just get rid of that annoying wolf and the people I sent will take care of it. ”

A confident attitude strangely opposed John's nerves. 'Of course I would accept an offer like this.'

To be honest, it was a proposition that the other knights would have accepted.

A knight after all.

Just as a devout believer covets gold and lies, a knight can be as honest as he wants to be.

Honor was the knight's armor, but you can take it off where no one else can see it.

And that's why Ulrike is so grumpy.

“This is my family's territory. If I die here, my family will suffer dishonor, not yours. Now, you've told me everything, haven't you? What should I be more considerate of? Do you need an excuse to leave? ”

“Isn't it too expensive to kill a brother without a birthright? ”

“That sounds like a stupid knight who knows nothing. ”

Ulrike laughs.

“Do you know how much money I've wasted on my stupid blood? Any more money to waste? Earl Abner writes money for the blood of his family, but I don't think so. Family comes first. First to join the family. Waste now is family money, but it's also my property. Better get rid of it before the money runs out. ”

“I'm a little more embarrassed to be honest than I thought. ”

“A wandering knight. No one will believe you if you go out there and talk. ”

“If you're that great, I'll send you back. Why don't you take care of it yourself? ”

“Are you being stupid on purpose, or are you being really stupid? If we get into the Earl's hands, we won't be able to kill him like we do now. I'll pack and spin again. ”

Ulrike takes out a certificate to see if she's bothered to talk more. It was a certificate stamped with the seal of the Chamber. It was a bill that could receive the promised amount as soon as I carried it.

Tuk

Ulice threw the deed in front of him.

"Don't you ever think that I ate and ran away? ’

Not only did I not worry about it, but I was sure I could handle it even if I ran away. Anyone who can spend a thousand gold coins to kill his brother can do more.

“Come on. Let's stop talking and make a decision. What are you going to do?”

Ulice was sure that John would accept it. John replied boldly.

“I refuse.”

“... for real? ”

“Honestly. Since you've told me long enough, I'll tell you long enough as a courtesy. Once the Earl is so dear to me, even if it's not my fault, I'll still have my grudge. A person's heart is not so clean. ”

“...... ”

When John finds out what he didn't think of himself, Ulrike's expression is subtly twisted. He was absolutely right. Occasionally, a person can unravel an unrelated opponent. Especially if you hate him for no reason.

“And even if you trust me, I can't trust you. I have no way of retaliation. ”

“If you put it that way, you won't be able to make every deal in the world? ”

“So when I deal with people who are stronger than me, I deal with relatively reliable people. ”

Ulrich stares at John's words. However, John was unafraid.

“So, have you finished talking? ”

“No. There's one last big reason. ”

“? ”

“My honor...”

“Oh, screw it. I told you no one would see or hear. ”

“You have to listen to the end. Apart from my honor, I made a promise to Stefan, but I'm not gonna break it first. Stefan may be an asshole, but he hasn't done anything wrong enough to break his promise and kill him. ”

After speaking, John got up from his seat. Any more conversations will only hurt each other.

“Then I'll be on my way. ”

Ulrich looks like he saw a rare monster.

If that's not honor you just said, then what is honor?

*

*

*

“Hm. The Ulrich ball was right to try to kill you. Actually, I was in the semi. ”

“... how did you know that? ”

“Come to me and I'll give you a few times as much gold, and I want you out of my way." ”

“...... ”

Stefan wraps his head around it and sticks his head into the blanket. I can't believe you're suggesting this.

“Scream... don't worry. You'll never make a fool of yourself if you see the erl. ”

“I don't think he's going to give up. ”

“Wait... you're not buying this, are you? What did you promise? What happened to your promise?! ”

“You're really good with people. Even a man who hasn't been bought has a knack for making him want to be bought. Don't worry. I'm not holding hands. ”

“Jung, are you sure? ”

Stefan looks at John with cautious eyes.

I had already known that Ulrich's skill with people has been experienced several times. Maybe he put the people in the castle in his hands.

“I tend not to make suspicious contracts with people I can't deal with. The Ulrike ball is a little... demonic. ”

“... Mwahaha! ”

Stefan laughs, not afraid. I've never heard anyone say that about Ulrike before.

“Well, yes. There's the devil part! ”

You said you were easy to handle, didn't you see that? ’

Stefan barely stops laughing and says,

“Yes, that's very thoughtful. I'd rather not make any suspicious deals like that. If you return safely, I can pay you some gold, not just for ransom. I promise.”

“You?”

John asked as if it were absurd. Stefan is furious with his blatant disregard.

“You think I don't have more money than a knight like you?! ”

Even though they were ignored by force, they could not be ignored by money. Especially for a knight like that.

“Oh, don't be offended. But you're not the first, and you don't have any inheritance. Do you have any gold? ”

The power of the nobles comes from that land. The poor Eights were armed with expensive armor and servants.

Ulrich was able to scatter gold like that because he had previously inherited lands. An heir to an adult family receives several territories in advance.

But what about Stefan?

“...... ”

Staffan silences the wounded. He ponders a little and opens his mouth.

“There is a way out. ”

“You don't mean to take it out on the Earl. ”

“What the hell...?! ”

“Or not. Anyway, I'll expect to hear you say that. ”

John didn't believe much. Will Stefan be able to provide that much gold?

*

*

*

John and the knights entered the castle unarmed. It was a privilege to win.

As soon as I entered, there were sights of frustration flying in from everywhere. There were no relatives who had not suffered losses due to the loss of this war. Of course, I didn't have good eyes.

Should I have had that damn peace?

So? Do you know how much money I owe the Orc moneymaker?

Besides, it's winter soon. Will those mercenaries still be on the run when winter comes?

War was to begin in spring, prepared for winter, not the other way around. Fighting in the winter was suicide while supplies were being pushed.

Besides, a good excuse for the knights and mercenary commanders caught by the commanders.

The next day, it was natural to retreat.

We must never leave the army with Lord Stefan again. The Earl was going to hand him over, but he should have just sent him to the monastery.

You're absolutely right.

Stefan's face turns red. He could not have been offended.

“The President is coming! ”

Only after the acolyte comes in and shouts, and the people in their seats raise their voices, does the Earl enter the hall. The Earl surrounding himself with expensive silk looked like an old man. A large body pours out a pressure that only a nobleman with a title can show.

“Why are you armed in my castle? ”

“Yes? Your Excellency didn't allow it? ”

“I never said yes. Disarm yourself."

The Earl raises his hand. Then the lieutenants beside him stepped forward as if pressing.

It seemed that there were more numbers and better armed than usual, and the intention seemed clear.

‘I was beaten.’

Earl Jarpen's lion licks his tongue. The Earl said he'd let me go quietly, but this is what he wanted.

It was a simple way to regain face and dignity in front of the goblins.

The knights here have not been able to overturn the negotiation this far. The Earl was playing around in the line of negotiability.

I was preparing to put down my weapons one by one with my chewing face, if the knights knew.

But John was different. Unlike the Knights of the Zarfen family, John didn't have to worry about that.

“To take my weapon. ”

“...? ”

“You'll have to take it from my corpse. Get your hands off me."

The approaching sergeant looks at the Earl with a bewildering look. I didn't know it would show such a reaction.

“Are you Marcel's Troll Killer? ”

“Yes, sir. ”

“I thought you were a knight, but were you a member of the Jarpen family? ”

“I was invited, but not by the Zarfen family. ”

“Then why did you get into a fight? ”

“I had no choice but to defend my honor. ”

“Do I understand that Earl Abner has no grudges? ”

“Of course, Mr. President. ”

“Then I will grant you the privilege of respecting that honor. ”

John was rather surprised as the Earl retreated gently. He seemed to be much more emotional when he heard it, but his attitude seemed like cold steel.

The conversation was like an offer of reconciliation to John.

I have no grudges, which means you have no grudges!

Of course, he had a reasonable attitude. But it's hard for people to be reasonable. Especially the higher you are.

John felt how cold the blood of the nobles who had been trained as the new lord could be. Compared to that, John and the knights were boiling blood.

“Earl! Even with your permission, I feel dishonored. Give my son a chance to fight Troll Assassins and restore my honor. ”

Just like this.

John felt that his reputation had spread considerably in the appearance of an old knight who suddenly appeared. Taking John one-on-one like this meant that John was worth it. Otherwise, it wouldn't look like that at all.

No one praises you for defeating a petty thief one-on-one. John is now at the level that knights who want fame will go after him.

Don't you dare! ’

“? ”

Stefan whispers in a desperate voice behind his back.

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