The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 106 - Knight of Ascension (41)

Before Viktor was reborn into this world, there was a saying in his original world: “You can’t spit on a smiling face.” However, Viktor was now acutely feeling that when you live in a different place, the sayings that apply also change.

‘I want to punch him!’

Though it didn’t show outwardly, he was desperately suppressing such feelings.

“Sir? Are you feeling unwell?”

“…No. I’m just a bit bewildered.”

Of course, the sturdy man standing before him hadn’t done anything wrong. He had simply come all this way with a faithful heart, responding to the letter sent by the archdiocese.

Moreover, seeing his delighted face, it didn’t seem like there was any malicious intent.

‘But I can’t help feeling angry…’

However, sometimes even when one hasn’t done anything wrong, sparks can still fly. When Viktor became certain that this man who had been waiting for him while saying things that could cause unnecessary misunderstandings from the expeditionary force’s leadership seemed to be someone excessively zealous about religion, he found it hard to restrain his resentful feelings toward someone who bore no fault. His carefully laid plans might all go awry because of this.

Unaware of Viktor’s feelings, Vino opened his mouth again and thoroughly grated on his nerves.

“Then Sir, when shall we depart? We have made full preparations to cut the throats of those heathens at any time. If you wish, we can sortie right now!”

“…That would be difficult. It would be better to coordinate with the expeditionary force’s leadership before departing. Rather than that, when you say ‘we’…”

As Viktor barely managed to answer while suppressing his desire to be sarcastic, Vino made an “ah” expression.

“Right, right. I was too hasty. I only introduced myself without saying anything about those who came with me. I’m sorry about that, haha!”

“Ah, yes…”

“By the way, please speak comfortably, Sir! Though I am of noble birth, I’m not of high enough status to receive such formal address from you.”

“Hmm, but didn’t you say you’re the head of a monastic order?”

“To be precise, a military order. That doesn’t really matter. You are a hero of our principality before being a knight! I’m only uncomfortable receiving formal address from such a person.”

“…I understand. Then I’ll speak comfortably.”

“Good! Haha, yes, yes. Us, right. The archdiocese dispatched knights from several monastic orders led by the military order I belong to, as well as combat monks. For now I’m leading them, but from now on they’ll be placed under your command.”

With archaic expressions and gestures, Vino continued speaking.

“And His Eminence the Archbishop personally instructed me to politely ask if Sir Viktor would permit us to hang the Orthodox Church’s flag beside your family banner. Of course, I know you would gladly accept! Hahaha!”

‘Since when have we known each other?’

Glaring at Vino, who had a talent for speaking in strangely irritating ways, Viktor sighed.

Though it was annoying, he couldn’t refute his words. Unless he rejected them, accepting them would naturally include the right to raise the Church’s flag.

And if asked whether that was bad, it was actually the opposite. Raising the Church’s flag was like a privilege. In other words, those under this flag received formal recognition from the Church and were granted something like immunity—they could get away with causing all sorts of trouble in the name of faith.

Therefore, very few secular lords or knights were permitted to raise the Church’s flag. If they gave such rights to just anyone, God’s name would obviously be tarnished.

Viktor slowly answered while hiding his complex feelings of being both bewildered and annoyed.

“…I’m pleased to hear you say that, but I also think it’s excessive for me. Sir Vino, wouldn’t it be better to raise it beside the expeditionary force’s flag instead?”

“No, that won’t do.”

Vino, who had been continuously smiling, suddenly became serious and replied to Viktor’s words.

“Though it’s admirable that the expeditionary force came all this way to fight against heathens, the archdiocese’s orders are clear. My brothers and I came here to present this flag to you, Sir.”

“…Hmm, I was rude. If that was a slip of the tongue…”

“No, no. Seeing your humble attitude puts my mind even more at ease. Now that I see you with my own eyes, I’m certain. I feel I can entrust the flag and my sword to you without reservation!”

Looking at Vino, who was laughing heartily again, Viktor scratched his chin.

‘How should I accept this matter…’

What Vino’s words implied was clear. The Orthodox Church was trying to support only Viktor personally, not the expeditionary force or Count Yakobski who led it.

When his thoughts reached that point, Viktor unconsciously clenched his fists.

‘So my concerns have become reality.’

Seeing how firm Vino’s attitude was, the archdiocese’s intentions would soon spread rapidly throughout the expeditionary force.

Viktor recalled the Count’s face, which had been favorable toward him. No matter how much trust the Count showed him, it was uncertain whether it would remain the same after things flowed this way.

‘…Rather than that, it might be better to make a vassalage contract now, even if it’s late…No. That would complicate things even more.’

With belated regret, Viktor quietly sighed. Certainly the Church’s support was a great opportunity, but Viktor’s current situation wasn’t simple enough to rejoice purely about it.

The Count and Viktor had deliberately not made a vassalage contract to match the most favorable conditions for each other.

From the Count’s perspective, when they first met, no matter how promising Viktor was, he was nothing more than a wandering knight without a proper family. As the next Grand Prince, he was confident he could control him.

From Viktor’s perspective, as the Count said, it would be good to achieve merit and become a direct vassal of the Grand Prince to receive a count’s title or higher, and even if that didn’t work out, he could make a contract later.

Their interests aligned. However, this caused the current situation to become tangled. It would have been better if Viktor had been formally appointed as the Count’s knight.

Though the Church had blatantly ignored the expeditionary force, at least the Count’s dignity would have been preserved since his subordinate knight had been chosen.

But the two were nominally lord and vassal while actually having no legal relationship whatsoever. In other words, the Church had declared they would ignore the expeditionary force’s main body and supreme commander, the Count, and support only an unrelated noble serving under him.

Whether the archdiocese promoted this matter unknowingly would be problematic, and if they did it knowingly, it would be an even more serious problem.

‘If internal strife breaks out because of me, it’s over…!’

Viktor quickly racked his brain while ignoring Vino, who was chattering excitedly without dignity.

Fortunately, the other nobles didn’t know exactly what kind of relationship existed between the Count and Viktor. From their perspective, it would only seem like a knight who had already achieved many merits under the Count had monopolized even the Church’s support, so naturally the lord’s mood would be uncomfortable.

Then the key issue was how the Count would accept this matter. Fortunately, in this conversation, Viktor had reconfirmed the Count’s trust in him. With such a favorable Count, perhaps they could get through this safely without incident.

‘Let’s wait and see for now. Sigh, if only I could confide in someone about this and seek advice…’

Viktor recalled the face of an old knight who had always been a good advisor while leading the army.

‘It would be difficult to receive help now. Then Kulak…Ah.’

When his thoughts reached that point, Viktor felt his heart grow cold without realizing it.

“Um, Sir Vino.”

“…So from the time we returned from the Holy Land, we have made the recovery of the Holy Land our banner…Hm? What is it?”

As Vino, who had been chattering excitedly, tilted his head, Viktor carefully chose his words.

“I have something I’m curious about…If we were to fight alongside converted heathens, what would you do?”

Even after asking that question, Viktor inwardly frowned anxiously. He expected Vino, who clearly looked like a fervent fanatic, to get angry immediately. However, unexpectedly, Vino smiled gently and answered.

“Converted heathens…Well, if there were such people, wouldn’t calling them that in the first place be wrong? I’ve seen many such people from the records of our predecessors.”

At the unexpected answer, Viktor’s voice brightened slightly.

“Oh, so you have no problem with it?”

“Of course. Whatever they originally were, if they’ve accepted true faith, I, Vino, can entrust my back to them and call them brothers without reservation!”

“…Huh?”

“I’m not a narrow-minded person in such matters, haha. The stories of our predecessors fighting back-to-back with new Eastern brothers who accepted true faith when they reached the Holy Land always remain deep in my heart. Perhaps, are there such people among those you lead?”

As the dark-skinned man looked at him with sparkling eyes, Viktor turned his head as if burdened.

“Not…exactly. I was just curious and asked. Ah, just in case, what if they were converted but maintained their own faith…”

“Then they weren’t converted, were they?”

As Vino cut off his words abruptly, Viktor looked at him again.

“…Hmm.”

And he unconsciously made a sound of contemplation. Vino was still smiling, but something strangely unsettling could be felt from his face.

“Sir, that’s not conversion. They’re just pretending. If they don’t accept true faith, aren’t they just heathens?”

Even Viktor, who had never cowered before any opponent no matter how formidable, had a strange force that left him unable to respond.

“And the only ones you can fight back-to-back with are fellow ‘humans,’ aren’t they? Can you show your back to something that isn’t human?”

“…”

Viktor shook his head at the sensation of encountering something that deviated from his common sense, which he hadn’t felt in a long time.

‘Right, things had been too convenient until now.’

From Priest Anton to Mikhail, Krupin, and even the vanguard’s mercenaries. They had all accepted the steppe warriors more easily than expected, making him temporarily forget. This was the ordinary perspective of ‘faithful believers.’

‘Well, this man is a bit more extreme than others, but what’s certain is…’

Viktor smiled back. Vino, who had been puzzled for a moment, also began smiling.

“Hahaha.”

“Hahahaha.”

‘This is ruined.’

His gaze began turning toward the window, beyond the castle walls to somewhere.

---

“Achoo!”

“…Are you alright?”

“Yes, it’s just a bit cold…”

“…Use this.”

An awkward atmosphere flowed between the two people. However, as Alisa received the leather that the old beastman, Kulak, handed her, the atmosphere softened a little.

“Come to think of it, we haven’t really talked much.”

At Kulak’s words, Alisa covered herself with the leather and replied coldly.

“That’s natural given what happened.”

At her words, Kulak turned his gaze away from the witch with an awkward expression.

Alisa was still reluctant to get along with Kulak and some of the warriors. This was because she still remembered Kulak standing right there pressuring her when Bohdan was busy coaxing and exploiting her.

“…I’m sorry about that. Though I was following my lord’s will…”

“It’s fine. Let’s not talk about the past anymore. Since we’re together now, I don’t want to fight unnecessarily.”

“…Right.”

Alisa primly turned her head to look toward the other side. The faint shape of the fortress could be seen.

“I wonder if everyone is doing well?”

At her words, Kulak quietly replied.

“Mm, with Lord Viktor there, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“…I suppose so.”

The steppe warriors, including these two, were all camping in a hilly area quite far from Roshtov Castle, hidden from easy view.

No matter how much they had come under Viktor’s command, this was a measure Viktor had taken because they didn’t know how the nobles who had suffered a great defeat to the Grand Chief would treat them.

The cleverly hidden low ground was a good place that wouldn’t be easily discovered even if Yugrichi came to attack the castle.

The only drawback was that it was quite, no, very cold since it was in the shade. The weather had already become considerably cold, and while the beastmen might be fine, the young witch, who was still suffering from the aftereffects of her injuries, was struggling with the cold.

“…How long do we have to stay like this?”

As Alisa muttered as if complaining, Kulak also looked toward the fortress.

“Well…”

“To the principality people, we’ll always be treated like this, won’t we?”

Words with a strange sense of resentment. Kulak glanced at her briefly, then shook his head firmly.

“Things will change now.”

“…How do you know?”

“Because I believe Lord Viktor’s words.”

“…From what Tumen said, that’s not necessarily the case.”

“…That loose-lipped brat will get seriously scolded someday.”

“Huhu, that’s why he’s just lying there like that now. He needs to suffer a bit more.”

“…”

“…”

In silence, the two faced the increasingly strong wind while endlessly gazing at Roshtov Castle. Waiting for the good news their lord would bring.

---

Viktor held his head in his hands. This damned castle must have some curse on it.

‘They say bad premonitions never miss the mark.’

He stood in front of the door where continuous shouting and breaking sounds could be heard, grinding his teeth. It would be better to go outside and brawl with barbarians rather than having to rack his brains in a place like this.

“Sigh…it can’t be helped. I’ll settle this cleanly here.”

Still, he couldn’t delay any longer. Viktor calmly organized his thoughts. His face hardened, and resolve appeared in his eyes.

He had somewhat expected this to happen. With the Church’s flag hanging beside Viktor’s family banner and Vino beginning his activities in earnest, Roshtov Castle had become truly chaotic.

And finally summoned to the leadership meeting, Viktor calculated what kind of reaction the nobles, especially the Count, would show upon seeing him, then vigorously pushed open the door.

‘Since it’s come to this, I can’t back down here. I don’t know anymore. If I just go in hard, what can they do about it?’

Perfect mental preparation. Viktor boldly stepped into the great hall. And.

“…So I’m saying retreat is the best option! Why don’t you understand? After seeing what happened to Sir Vasilev, are you still talking about fighting, you ignorant fools!”

“Ignorant? Are you done talking, coward! It’s because of cowards like you that the principality is always in this state! Just castrate yourself, you bookworm from the capital!”

“…Has this country bumpkin lord finally lost his mind! This is why you can’t do great things with ignorant people. Don’t you understand yet? If you’re caught by those barbarian bastards, noble or not, you just die! This isn’t some refined war between us civilized people!”

“Where is there refinement in war! I heard that guy is from the old empire—exactly that attitude. Listen! To the men of the north, there is no such word as retreat! With this many troops gathered, what kind of men are you to be so frightened by one defeat!”

“Men, men! I’m sick to death of it. Please maintain some dignity. And! Since when were we and they the type to go to the end with each other? Fighting moderately and ending with negotiations has been a long precedent! If Count Yakobski hadn’t used such petty tricks…”

“What nonsense is that insolent bastard spouting about the supreme commander!”

“Bastard? This son of a bitch really wants to die!”

“…”

Contrary to his resolve, the problem regarding Viktor wasn’t even on the nobles’ minds. They were just busy cursing and fighting each other like the marketplace mercenaries they usually looked down upon.

“What is this…?”

Viktor quietly scratched his chin while looking around at the chaotic surroundings, his resolve rendered futile.

Crash!

“What a mess.”

Tableware flew over his head and shattered into pieces.