How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 12: ๐“๐ก๐ž ๐„๐ง๐ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐‚๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ (๐Ÿ๐Ÿ)



The mercenaries, after killing the servant who had accompanied Mrs. Aitz, took their positions near the door and windows. The nobles inside the feudal lordโ€™s mansion were poorly trained, likely to foolishly rush out.

โ€œWhy arenโ€™t they coming out yet?โ€

โ€œCould there be an underground passage?โ€

โ€œStop talking nonsense. We already checked, thereโ€™s nothing like that.โ€

โ€œShould we go in before the main force arrives and finish this?โ€

The earlier trumpet signal was meant for the mercenaries camping at a distance. Karamaf preferred certainty. He had prepared dozens of men separately, just in case.

These men would completely seize control of the fiefdom and become the pursuit team if any situation arose.

โ€œHey. Sir Karamaf ordered us to surround them and prevent their escape.โ€

โ€œWho said weโ€™re not surrounding them? Letโ€™s just go in and kill a couple. Itโ€™s better than waiting for those inside to arm themselves and come to their senses.โ€

This suggestion from one of the mercenaries intrigued the others. They had already been paid, but killing more of the Aitz family would earn them a bonus.

If they went in before the main force arrived, they could monopolize the reward, instead of sharing it with the others.

The mercenaries sought permission from Yein, Karamafโ€™s offspring.

โ€œYein-nim, may we go in?โ€

โ€œWouldnโ€™t it be better to enter with the main force? If we go in with a small group and get ambushed, it would be troublesome.โ€

โ€œHa, donโ€™t worry! If we get beaten by those nobodies, Iโ€™ll cut off my own wrist.โ€

The mercenaries boasted confidently. They were battle-hardened, unlikely to be defeated by those who were hardly knights of the Aitz family.

โ€˜๐˜‰๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ˆ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ป ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ.โ€™

Yein frowned, thinking of Johan. Even without experience, his innate strength and size were formidable weapons. The mercenaries could be caught off guard.

However, as the mercenaries suggested, killing the family members before they could arm themselves seemed like a good idea. If they started arming themselves with the armory inside, the casualties would only increase.

After all, the death of one or two mercenaries wouldnโ€™t change the situation. Dozens more were on their way.

To Yein, the lives of these mercenaries were as insignificant as those of the feudal lordโ€™s servants. That was the way of the nobility. These werenโ€™t soldiers he had personally raised but hired with money. Whether they succeeded quickly or died trying, it didnโ€™t matter. Thatโ€™s what they were paid for.

Yein nodded.

โ€œThree. I permit only three. The rest must hold their positions.โ€

โ€œThank you!โ€

The mercenaries excitedly decided who would go. For the three chosen, additional silver was almost guaranteed.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ง ๐˜ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏโ€™๐˜ต ๐˜ง๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข ๐˜ฃ๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ฌ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ง ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ง๐˜ถ๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ, ๐˜โ€™๐˜ฎ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ข ๐˜ฉ๐˜ถ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ. .โ€™

Johan sighed and closed the wooden window. Gessen didnโ€™t come in but kept talking outside, so curious, Johan secretly went upstairs and slightly opened the window, only to find the worst situation unfolding.

Sir Karamaf killed Gessen and Mrs. Aitz, then ordered to kill everyone. The reason behind this was unknown, but one thing was certain.

If you stay still, you die!

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜จ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ต ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ช๐˜ง ๐˜ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ ๐˜ง๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ซ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜บ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ.โ€™ Johan shook his head and let go of his regrets, focusing on the current situation.

After blowing the horn, torches flickered in the distance from the darkness. It was clear that the others waiting in ambush were approaching. At a glance, there seemed to be dozens of them.

At that moment, Johan gave up on fighting here. Meeting Kaegal had boosted his confidence, but he wasnโ€™t up to fighting dozens of experienced mercenaries alone. That would be foolhardy.

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ง ๐˜ ๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ข ๐˜ง๐˜ฆ๐˜ธ, ๐˜ฃ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ง ๐˜ ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ด๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜โ€™๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฃ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ป๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ. . .โ€™

Johan remembered Kaegalโ€™s teachings. Fleeing when you canโ€™t win wasnโ€™t shameful.

The problem was how and where to escape.

The mercenaries looked relaxed but were strategically positioned around the feudal lordโ€™s manor, their grip on their weapons showing no complacency.

โ€œI have to break through after all.โ€

Avoiding a fight wasnโ€™t an option. Johan needed to find a relatively weaker one, kill them in one strike, and break through. He quickly formed a plan in his mind.

โ€œS-Donโ€™t come here!โ€

โ€œOh dear. My lord. Your legs are shaking.โ€

โ€œCan you even swing a sword properly like that? Put some strength into it and swing. alright?โ€

The mercenaries laughed mockingly at Fern and John. The half-brothers, too, had awoken to the commotion outside. Unlike Johan, they foolishly rushed towards the stairs and encountered the mercenaries.

๐˜๐˜ถ๐˜ฉ? ๐˜ž๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏโ€™๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜บ ๐˜ซ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜จ๐˜ถ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ?โ€™

Maybe they got bored of waiting? That was possible. Johan walked through the corridor towards the stairs.

๐“๐ก๐ฎ๐โ”

Fern and John collapsed, their legs giving out. A foul smell wafted as their pants got soaked, possibly with urine. The mercenaries climbing the stairs laughed at them, wielding their weapons. For them, nothing was more enjoyable than killing arrogant nobles.

โ€œNoble sir, beg for your life. Maybe Iโ€™ll spare you.โ€

โ€œPlease. . . I have hidden money! Iโ€™ll give it to you if you spare me!โ€

โ€œOh? Where is it?โ€

The mercenary seemed intrigued. Hidden noble silver could be worth a lot.

โ€œItโ€™s. . .โ€

Fern rolled his eyes. Even without experience, he wasnโ€™t a fool. Revealing the location without any promise was idiotic.

โ€œSmart kid.โ€

โ€œAaaah!โ€

With a โ€˜thudโ€™, blood splattered from Fernโ€™s leg. The mercenary had stabbed him with the tip of his weapon.

โ€œEnough, kid. Even if you donโ€™t tell us, we can find it. Do you think we havenโ€™t robbed noblesโ€™ houses before? Itโ€™s probably hidden behind a wall or under a bed.โ€

The mercenary kicked Fern. Fern crawled, trying to escape. The mercenary followed Fern with his eyes and then noticed someone standing in the corridor.

โ€œHuh?โ€

One strike.

It took only one slash to sever the mercenaryโ€™s neck.

Swoosh!

Johanโ€™s monstrous strength instantly decapitated an unsuspecting mercenary. A fountain of blood sprayed, drenching Fernโ€™s face.

โ€œWha, what? What?โ€

A mercenary behind him swung his sword in panic. It wasnโ€™t a thoughtful action, but one borne of experience.

Johan charged fiercely. Before the mercenary could fully swing, his sword was struck out of the air.

๐‚๐ซ๐š๐œ๐คโ”

The impact twisted the mercenaryโ€™s arm backwards, exposing his torso.

And then, a deadly strike to the exposed torso.

The mercenary who was attacked was the most experienced and well-armored mercenary among the mercenaries who followed Karamaf. He wore a full chainmail and even added a separate metal plate on top of it for a mercenary.

However, against Johanโ€™s strength, it was meaningless.

From the shoulder to the side, the body was nearly split in half, spewing blood and entrails. The mercenary died without a sound. The last remaining mercenary panicked and tried to call for help outside.

โ€œDamn it! Thereโ€™s a monster here. . .โ€

Once Johan saw blood, he didnโ€™t stop. His longsword gleamed as it pierced the mercenaryโ€™s neck. The mercenary gasped for air and then knelt.

โ€˜๐˜ˆ๐˜ฏ๐˜บ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ?โ€™

Johan looked at his old longsword, now filthy with blood and entrails, worrying more about its durability than the dirt. He felt he had used too much strength in his last swing.

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ต, ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜จ๐˜ถ๐˜บโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ธ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ.โ€™

โ€œYou. . . You. . . You. . .!โ€

John and Fern pointed at Johan, speechless from shock at what had just happened.

โ€œYou killed Sir Karamafโ€™s men. How will you handle the aftermath?!โ€

โ€œ. . .Youโ€™re talking nonsense at a time like this? Idiots. Look outside. Karamaf has unleashed mercenaries to kill us.โ€

Only then did they come to their senses.

โ€œWhereโ€™s your brother?โ€

โ€œWaiting in the bedroom. . . But why did you save us?โ€

Fern asked, puzzled. They never thought Johan would save them. They always mocked Johan, and he beat them when the time came.

โ€œSo you wished to be left to die?โ€

โ€œNo. . . itโ€™s not that. . .โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t like you, but I donโ€™t hate you enough to leave you to die. Thatโ€™s all.โ€

โ€œ. . .Thank you.โ€

Fern and Johm nodded in gratitude. Seeing Johan fully armed, they said,

โ€œWeโ€™ll bring weapons too! Letโ€™s fight together until father arrives!โ€

โ€œSir Gessen is dead. Karamaf killed him. By now, every armed man near the lordโ€™s manor is probably dead, and no serfs will come to our aid. Stop talking nonsense and think about escaping.โ€

Johanโ€™s words froze them. They were overwhelmed by the flood of information.

โ€œFather is. . .โ€

๐’๐ฅ๐š๐ฉ!

Johan slapped Fern. Fern, stunned, asked,

โ€œWha. . .?โ€

โ€œSnap out of it.โ€

โ€œYou. . . You could have just said it, no need to hit!โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t have time to coddle you. Iโ€™m planning to break out now.โ€

โ€œWait! Me too!โ€

โ€œNo, it canโ€™t be. John.โ€

As Fern tried to stop him, John looked at him as if asking why.

โ€œWe. . . itโ€™s too much for us.โ€

โ€œOh, because you got stabbed in the leg? Donโ€™t worry! Iโ€™ll carry you and run. . .โ€

โ€œYou fool. Itโ€™s too much for your skills.โ€

Johan scolded John. It was literal. How could he think of breaking through with skills that couldnโ€™t even handle a single mercenary? John couldnโ€™t retort and just blushed.

โ€œBut brother, if we keep staying here, really. . .โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s true. . .โ€

Fern licked his dry lips with his tongue, unsure of what to do. Johan picked up a longsword from the mercenaries and said.

โ€œThere is one way.โ€

โ€œWhat, what is it?โ€

โ€œSet a fire.โ€

โ€œ. . .!!โ€

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

The mercenaries initially thought they were seeing things wrong. Flames began to burst from the windows of the feudal lordโ€™s residence.

โ€œT-This is crazy. . .!โ€

โ€œWhich b*stard set the fire?! Are they insane?!โ€

Karamaf had strictly forbidden setting fires for the purpose of identification. Moreover, there were things to loot inside, so no mercenary would be foolish enough to start a fire.

โ€œItโ€™s definitely the guys who went in! These idiots must have messed up something and started the fire during the fight!โ€

โ€œThese b*stards. . . if they come out, Iโ€™ll kill them!โ€

The mercenaries cursed their colleagues who had entered first. They never imagined that the Aitz family would set the fire. What kind of madmen would set fire to their own location?


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