The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 107 - Knight of Ascension (42)

“…”

Viktor silently walked forward. The nobles were fighting even more fiercely as if he wasn’t even in their consideration. He looked at the Count who was sitting in the seat of honor, quietly watching the spectacle.

‘…I was wrong.’

No, looking at it now, it wasn’t that the Count was just watching. He was doing his best to try to control this situation.

“Can’t you all hear me telling you to calm down?! Wait, wait, everyone be quiet and listen to me!”

…It was just that the nobles weren’t listening to the Count’s words at all.

‘I didn’t know his authority had weakened this much.’

While the heated atmosphere might have been a factor, even so, it was clearly strange that the Count’s subordinate nobles were so blatantly ignoring the words of the Count, who was the highest-ranking commander on the battlefield.

“Well, since Lord Yakobski is saying so, perhaps we should calm down a bit first…”

“Wasn’t most of the reason things got so twisted in the first place the Count’s fault! Do you even know how many of my retainers and knights died that day? I don’t intend to deny the fact that the Count is the supreme commander, but…he’s incompetent! He has no talent for command!”

“…Even so, such open rudeness…”

“Let him hear if he wants to hear! I cannot acknowledge the Count’s command!”

“Then get lost!”

“What, this person…”

‘…I see, because of that incident…’

Viktor understood the situation and nodded.

Certainly even he had doubted his ears when he first heard about the Count’s blunder. Of course, thinking coldly about it, the benefits the expeditionary force could have gained if they had succeeded in assassinating the Grand Chief on the spot would have been limitless.

However, the problem was that the execution was clumsy. Due to a moment’s arrogance and carelessness, the assassination failed, and the price was severe. The expeditionary force’s great defeat and Sir Vasilev’s death. Because of this incident, the Count had lost far more trust than Viktor had thought.

Even aspects that hadn’t been problematic at all when they first carried out the assassination were now becoming targets of criticism, constantly undermining the Count’s authority. Looking at the Count slumping into his seat with a dejected expression with somewhat pitying eyes, Viktor finally stepped forward.

First, he had to calm their excitement. The fact that the leadership was fracturing was fatal for the expeditionary force. It might benefit the enemies, but it was of no help whatsoever in making the expedition successful.

“Everyone, please stop for a moment.”

“…!”

When a low but clear voice that rang in their ears echoed through the great hall, the nobles who had been in the middle of a brawl flinched and began looking at the owner of that voice. He walked forward and went before the Count with his dark expression, then knelt respectfully and shouted.

“Viktor of House Kobarov. I came running after receiving Your Excellency’s summons, but…this current situation, could you explain it to me? I heard we gathered today for a strategic meeting, but why are the noble lords grabbing each other’s hair and fighting?”

“A-ahem…”

“…Let’s put this down first and talk.”

The excited ones briefly coughed, then released the collars they had been grabbing from each other and checked their attire.

They had come to their senses due to the knight’s words that strangely rang clearly in their ears. The nobles felt ashamed at having shown an undignified appearance and quickly managed the situation. The Count welcomed Viktor with a bright expression like someone who had been wandering in the dark night and found a bonfire.

“Sir, where have you been to only come now! I’ve been looking for you continuously…!”

“I apologize, Your Excellency. There were circumstances that…”

“Haha, it’s fortunate you came now at least. You couldn’t even imagine how much mental anguish I’ve suffered because of those colt-like bastards!”

The Count’s words were full of thorns. The nobles near him coughed and took their seats. After coming to their senses a bit, they realized what rudeness they had committed.

Based on massive funds, leading the largest proportion of troops in the expeditionary force, and being the supreme commander and high noble, as well as the likely next Grand Prince and center of this country’s power. Even if he had lost trust and authority due to his blunder, he was still a tremendous figure.

When the fact that they had openly defied Count Yakobski entered their minds, some nobles’ expressions became anxious. Viktor nodded calmly as the atmosphere reversed slightly and opened his mouth again.

‘This actually worked out well. I need to use this as an excuse to crush them here so they can’t even utter a word about the Church or whatever.’

“Indeed, Your Excellency. Even though I opened the door and entered, not one person including the servants reported my entry to Your Excellency. No matter how heated the meeting became, it would be troublesome to forget even the customs and honor that must be maintained as nobles.”

The nobles’ faces reddened at the words that were ostensibly directed at the Count but were actually indirect criticism of them. As they shrank back a little, the Count responded solemnly as if he had regained his spirit.

“Your words are correct, Sir. Drag that fellow out, strip his clothes and give him a beating. I have no need for useless ones who forget their duties.”

“Y-Your Excellency! I was wrong, Your Excellency! Please forgive me!”

One innocent servant who had been standing around dumbfounded watching the great hall that was no different from a marketplace was dragged out, but no one raised any objections.

They didn’t care whether one lowly servant lived or died, and they were also embarrassed since he had witnessed all their disgraceful behavior. The Count was also satisfied since he had sacrificed one servant to regain some initiative and dignity. Viktor whispered to the knight who was dragging the servant away.

‘Well, don’t kill him. It would be troublesome if a servant the Count cherished died because of me.’

‘Hmm? This one isn’t particularly cherished by His Excellency? Well…I understand anyway.’

Looking pitifully at the servant who was about to die in crisis due to his own words, Viktor turned his head. The Count’s words were beginning in earnest.

“I will overlook your rudeness just this once. But keep in mind that we are currently at war, and if we don’t unite as one under the threat of enemies, we can never defeat those cursed barbarians!”

As the Count took the position of yielding first, the nobles also slowly nodded. In any case, as long as they belonged to the expeditionary force, they couldn’t ignore all of the Count’s words, and antagonizing him wasn’t such a comfortable matter either. However, not everyone felt this way.

“Hmph, what Your Excellency said isn’t wrong. But let me make one thing clear. Your Excellency lacks the qualifications to command us. I have not forgotten Sir Vasilev’s sacrifice yet.”

“…What?”

“In the first place, talking about uniting as one is laughable. Do you think Your Excellency is some kind of king? Don’t forget that it was Your Excellency who first ignored the rights we possessed.”

“…”

The nobles from the capital who had come down with Vasilev. They, who advocated retreat and renegotiation, were criticizing the Count once again as if they weren’t afraid of even the next Grand Prince’s power. This time it was even more direct attack. The Count’s face hardened frighteningly as his dignity was damaged.

“You are spouting nonsense again. When did I ignore your rights?”

“Have you already forgotten that we suffered great damage due to Your Excellency’s arbitrary decision? What about Sir Vasilev’s death? And missing the opportunity to capture the Grand Chief due to your meaningless decision?”

“Hmm…”

The Count gritted his teeth looking at those who were openly denouncing his incompetence and pressing him. Their words weren’t wrong, but normally there wouldn’t be such biting attacks considering each other’s dignity.

‘These fellows are still harboring resentment…!’

In the end, the Count thought that was the only reason. Those who came down from the capital all belonged to families of the faction that had once opposed the Count.

It wasn’t particularly strange. When he was in central politics, most nobles belonged to factions opposing him.

They didn’t want the position of next Grand Prince to fall into the hands of Count Yakobski, whose power was already quite strong.

‘I thought they would acknowledge it by now…So, they want to go to the end?’

Those who had been controlled by Sir Vasilev, called the Grand Prince’s Sword, were now truly running wild after his death and the fact that the cause of his death was the Count’s blunder.

“Haven’t I told you several times that if you won’t acknowledge my command, then leave! The expeditionary force can handle them perfectly well even without your help.”

At the Count’s words, the noble who had been confronting him sneered.

“That cannot be done. What if the expeditionary force is defeated again? What if Your Excellency, a high noble of the principality, is captured? Not only would the country’s dignity be ruined, but it’s obvious how arrogant that Yugrichi would become! To renegotiate with him, we must not give him any more pretexts. Retreat is correct now.”

“…I simply cannot understand. If you want to retreat, then do so. It’s your freedom and right, so I won’t stop even that. But I will not forgive encouraging others to retreat as well!”

“…This is getting tiresome now. If you truly want to continue the expedition, either put forward another commander! Or retreat! Your Excellency decide! Either way, we will absolutely not listen to Your Excellency’s orders until our opinions are heard.”

“…No matter how important rights and customs are, you people go too far! If you don’t like me, isn’t it simple enough to leave? Must we see blood before you’ll listen?”

“Hmph, try it. You’d better abandon the thought that we’ll just meekly accept such tyranny, Your Excellency.”

The atmosphere that had barely calmed down began blazing fiercely again.

Viktor exhaled with a cold expression. While he had been out with the vanguard, the emotional rift between the main force’s leadership had already deepened irreversibly.

Especially the nobles from the capital seemed to have decided to obstruct the Count and were being unreasonable, and while their words weren’t entirely without merit and there were actually many nobles dissatisfied with the Count’s command, the situation was very tense. Finally unable to watch any longer, Viktor stepped forward once again.

“What good could come from us fighting among ourselves like this? Please calm down for a moment and listen to His Excellency’s words…”

“Shut up! Are you getting arrogant because you achieved some merit? This is not a matter for a mere knight to interfere in!”

“…Hah.”

Viktor turned his head to look at the face of the one scolding him. Surprisingly, he was a noble of the Count’s faction.

“Your Excellency. You cannot continue to overlook that fellow’s arrogance. I understand that Your Excellency cherishes him, but what knight in the world can interrupt without regard for rank while his lord is speaking?”

‘What is this now…’

While Viktor was pondering how to respond, an unexpected statement came from an unanticipated source. One of the nobles from the capital defended Viktor.

“Arrogant? Are you saying that famous Sir Viktor is arrogant now? Have you forgotten that he received a flag from the Church and is acknowledged as the principality’s finest knight? Or perhaps you want to claim the archdiocese’s judgment was wrong? The Church has no eye for talent…is that what you want to say?”

“When did I?! Don’t misinterpret! I was merely trying to teach a knight his duty!”

“What right do you, who aren’t even of knight origin, have to tell him this and that? Well, seeing birds of a feather flocking together, those who can’t gauge their own ability gathering…come to think of it, I heard that a certain noble doesn’t know his own capabilities and is only becoming a hindrance to his capable subordinate…the archdiocese wisely recognized this and decided to support only that subordinate?”

“Are you done talking! A duel! No, war! Come out with me, I’ll cut off that insolent tongue!”

‘Look at these bastards?’

Viktor clenched his fists with an incredulous expression.

The nobles before him were using him verbally in their political strife. The Count’s faction nobles were wary of the fact that Viktor had received support from the Church and were belittling him, while the anti-Count faction nobles were cleverly praising him while scratching the Count’s pride and dignity.

Watching this, he could feel something boiling up from deep within his chest.

Viktor realized at some point what that emotion was.

‘Ah, this is fucking infuriating.’

He had excellent patience and was certainly incredibly generous, but he wasn’t a complete pushover.

In the first place, what he had resolved when first entering this place wasn’t anything else. If it didn’t work out, he’d just cause a ruckus! He had no intention of being tormented or dragged along by situations he didn’t want.

‘But seeing these bastards acting up, do they think I’m an idiot?’

Rough energy began leaking from Viktor’s body.

His usually impassive face reddened, and tendons bulged prominently over his clenched fists. One noble who had been excitedly criticizing him turned his head to look at Viktor and stopped breathing. The face that had been infuriatingly calm just moments before was now twisted like a demon.

“Uh, uh…?”

Viktor briefly closed his eyes and opened them again. Then, glaring around with eyes filled with blazing ghost fire, he tensed his body and shouted with all his might.

“Everyone…”

“Everyone shut up!”

“…??”

When someone shouted exactly what he was about to say without missing a single word, Viktor momentarily forgot his anger and was bewildered. The voice was so loud that those who had been mocking each other stopped talking and all looked at the one who had shouted. And.

“Ah, that person is…?”

“Sir! What, what did you just say?”

They murmured in confusion. The cold and experienced knight famous for never losing his composure in any situation and giving excellent advice. The Count’s head knight and advisor, Mikhail, was looking down at them with his face dyed bright red.

“Can’t you hear? I said shut up!”

“…!!!”

‘Sir Mikhail?!’

The old knight’s bombshell statement. The hall that had briefly quieted soon became a complete pandemonium.