The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 108 - Knight of Ascension (43)

The reaction was explosive.

“How dare you speak such words!”

“Has Sir Mikhail gone mad? He’s not the type to act so recklessly…”

Nobles from both sides looked at Mikhail with disbelieving expressions.

While knights were famous for being passionate, driven by honor, and notoriously disobedient, Mikhail was different. With his dignified demeanor rivaling any noble, perfect etiquette, cool and calm judgment, and extensive knowledge born from long experience—at least among those who knew him, everyone wouldn’t hesitate to praise Mikhail as the model all knights should follow. His name was that famous.

But for that very famous close associate of the Count to turn red-faced and roughly shout at the nobles—some nobles even rubbed their eyes wondering if they were seeing things wrong. However, they were definitely not mistaken.

“What kind of spectacle is this! The principality’s greatest enemy approaches with each passing moment, yet here you gather to engage in word fights. Aren’t you ashamed!”

“Sir Mikhail! Do you even know who you’re addressing right now! Show some manners!”

Bang!

“Don’t make me laugh!”

A young noble tried to scold him, but when Mikhail shattered the railing he was leaning on while shouting, the noble flinched and stepped back. Such was the passion and force in Mikhail’s attitude. With his face even redder, he glared at the nobles who wore either flustered or displeased expressions.

“Manners? After you’ve all behaved in such ways, you expect me to show manners! This is a battlefield, a battlefield! After suffering such a terrible defeat, this is no time to fail to come to your senses and engage in political struggles! Anyone watching would think we were overwhelmingly victorious and dividing spoils of war. Have you forgotten? You barely escaped with your lives and fled here! So what makes you so proud that you’re squabbling among yourselves about who’s better!”

“Ahem, Sir… I understand you’re angry, but your current words are somewhat excessive. First, calm down and…”

As Mikhail raged roughly with spittle flying, the Count finally stepped forward to appease him. Seeing the nobles’ faces contort at his scathing criticism, he quickly tried to protect him. While there wasn’t a single wrong word in what he said, people generally become more offended when they hear correct words. This was especially true for nobles with their high pride and boundless arrogance.

“You seem quite drunk, so first go inside and rest. We’ll talk again after you’ve calmed down.”

Fortunately, the principality had a beautiful tradition of overlooking matters caused by those under the influence of alcohol.

“Come, come. How much did you drink for your face to be so red? Is no one here? Quickly take Sir Mikhail inside!”

“Your Excellency, I’m not drunk.”

“Sir!”

“Your Excellency is the same from the beginning!”

“…!”

The Count’s face went pale at the unexpected attack.

“Wh-what did you just say?”

“We can lose in battle! Your command ability can be questioned! Even so, I didn’t mind! Because I thought Your Excellency, whom I’ve served until now, was someone who could easily overcome such difficulties and move forward! But!”

Having finished speaking to that point, Mikhail beat his chest as if he could no longer contain his anger.

“How, how can Your Excellency treat Sir Viktor in such a manner! The Sir is not merely a piece on a chess board! He’s the benefactor who has saved Your Excellency’s and my life several times, and the hero who has protected the country without a single defeat against those powerful and cruel barbarians!”

“Wait, when did I ever…!”

Before the Count could say anything, Mikhail whipped his head around to glare at the nobles again and shouted.

“You’re all the same! Especially you eastern natives there! Aren’t you ashamed? Have you already forgotten that you saved your lives thanks to the Sir breaking through the enemy’s encirclement at Radovitz? While you were just wasting time dawdling in the rear! Have you forgotten that the Sir alone led the vanguard and killed the east’s nemesis Bohdan!”

“Urgh.”

“Do you think the central nobles are any different? Who do you think stopped that precious expeditionary force main body from being annihilated before Roshtov! The defeated soldiers and knights who entered the castle! Who do you think saved them all!”

“…”

“You only say ‘knight sent by God,’ ‘knight acknowledged by the Church’… Is there not even a trace of faith in your hearts! If you truly think of the Sir that way, show respect! Is that so difficult? Or perhaps, you actually can’t acknowledge it? Sir Vino, what do you think!”

Vino, who had been leisurely sitting and just watching the nobles’ spectacle, smoothly rose from his seat. Then he bowed his head slightly in greeting before opening his mouth in a cold and polite voice.

“The Orthodox Church’s position remains unchanged. Sir Viktor of House Kobarov has met the requirements for miracles, and we have confirmed several pieces of evidence that he received divine revelation. Therefore, he is certainly a knight sent by God who received the holy command of crusade, and the archdiocese will spare no effort in providing all corresponding support. In short.”

Vino glared at the somewhat sickened nobles with cold eyes.

“Anyone who doubts his qualifications without clear grounds or slanders him will be considered as questioning the judgment of the Orthodox Church and the diocese.”

Vino bowed his head once more and took his seat. Then cold silence covered the great hall. The nobles were all busily turning their heads, trying to figure out how to interpret this situation.

Mikhail, who had been called the Count’s loyal retainer, had not only criticized even his own lord, but through Vino’s mouth representing the archdiocese’s position, had issued a warning to everyone gathered there.

All for the knight named Viktor.

Mikhail no longer said anything more. He didn’t even make eye contact with the Count who was looking at him with disbelief. Mikhail was only looking at Viktor, who had been standing and listening to all of this. And that was enough.

‘Sir, thank you.’

Finally Mikhail had made his choice. And Viktor couldn’t hide his smile at how pleased this made him.

The anger in his chest had already been forgotten. Someone else had poured out what he was going to say in even more detail and refreshingly, and aren’t people strange beings who suddenly become calm when someone else gets even angrier beside them when they’re angry?

‘Then, how do I resolve this…’

It seemed Mikhail had also spoken without thinking about the aftermath. The way he was silently looking only at him made it certain. Seeing someone who was always calm and composed get so passionately angry on his behalf, Viktor felt his heart warm despite it not being the right time for such feelings.

And he made a decision. To somehow smooth over this situation. If things continued like this, Mikhail would certainly suffer great hardship.

Having even sharply criticized the Count who had been protecting him, there was no means of protection even if the nobles petitioned against him. No, there was even the possibility that the Count, feeling betrayed, might impose strong sanctions on him. Either way, it wasn’t a very interesting development for Viktor.

‘What method could get us through this without major incident… Hmm?’

That’s when the contents of a book he’d read in his previous life flashed through Viktor’s mind. The story of a general who had displayed great skill to reconcile two factions.

‘I don’t know if it’ll work or not, but…’

Without confidence, Viktor stepped forward.

---

The increasingly ominous atmosphere was not ordinary. Mikhail’s words had affected the nobles more fatally than expected. Viktor made the most gentle expression possible. Then he opened his mouth in a low, soft voice.

“Everyone, would you listen to what I have to say?”

“What is it this time?”

A disgruntled-faced noble spoke. It was clear he was restraining himself from wanting to give another word to this presumptuous knight acting up again. Viktor paid no heed and continued speaking.

“From listening to the discussion, I understand well what each of you wants to say. Both sides’ words all have merit. Whether to retreat or advance – whichever you choose will be a difficult decision.”

“So?”

“And it’s the same regarding the issues surrounding me. While I have achieved some small merits, it wouldn’t be strange if there were those who harbor doubts about whether I’m truly a knight worthy of the Church’s recognition, whether God truly… gave me revelation.”

“Sir, that matter has already been certified by the archdiocese. There’s nothing more to discuss.”

Vino refuted his words, but Viktor shook his head.

“No, if we continue this war in a state where we cannot trust each other, the end will only be destruction. Therefore, I have one proposal.”

“Proposal?”

As Vino tilted his head, Viktor looked confidently at everyone gathered there and shouted in a powerful voice.

“There is a way to resolve both where the expeditionary force should go and the suspicious looks toward me all at once. I will show you here.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

When the Count, who had maintained silence as if receiving a strong shock, opened his mouth in a tired and weary voice, Viktor replied lightly.

“There is proof that the expeditionary force will surely be victorious. Actually… I received a revelation last night.”

“…!!”

“Sir, what did you just say?!”

People looked at Viktor with startled eyes, and Vino rose from his seat and cried out with a shocked face.

“At first I couldn’t understand what it meant at all, but seeing everything that has happened in this place now, I’m certain. I knew you would quarrel, and I was told how to resolve that quarrel!”

Viktor’s method was simple. To deceive them with appropriate lies!

‘Actually I’ve never received any revelation or performed any miracles, but… if you want to believe it so much, I’ll show you.’

Of course, if he were truly faithful, he couldn’t have had such impious thoughts at all, and in this world, those who falsely sold God’s name truly received divine punishment, so no one attempted such things. But Viktor didn’t know this, making him all the more brazen.

A resolute and confident attitude. An unwavering solemn face and eyes full of faithfulness. At this moment, Viktor was truly like a model specimen of the crystallization of faith. Just as people were dumbfounded at his attitude, not knowing how to react, suddenly Vino knelt down.

“Sir Vino!”

“Everyone kneel! It seems God is delivering a message through the Sir.”

“Really?”

“Is this right…?”

As the nobles hesitated, Vino shouted even more strongly.

“Quickly! Surely you don’t intend to act impiously? This is a revelation! Don’t you understand!”

“Ah, understood.”

“Really? For Sir Vino to go that far…”

Finally, as nobles knelt one by one, soon everyone gathered in the great hall was kneeling toward Viktor.

This included even high nobles like the Count. The sight of even the principality’s most prominent nobles kneeling and bowing to a single knight was truly spectacular. Representing them, Vino opened his mouth in a reverent voice.

“Sir Viktor, please share the message.”

“Mm, so…”

‘Has this person really gone mad? Why do such unnecessary things… my heart is pounding.’

Viktor, who never expected all the nobles to bow their heads before him, was quite flustered. Though he didn’t show it outwardly, he had been so startled his heart nearly dropped. Hiding his sudden increased nervousness, Viktor opened his mouth in a voice that now seemed even sacred.

“God said that to achieve victory in this war, all must become one and fight under His name. And as proof for those who cannot easily believe this…”

While speaking, Viktor approached the front of a pillar supporting the great hall.

Though Roshtov Castle was a wooden fortress, here where the nobles gathered – the great hall and other parts of the inner castle – were made of stone. Therefore the pillars were large and solid, unmovable by ordinary impact. In fact, though called pillars, they were no different from massive, elongated solid rocks. And Viktor stood before it, touching the pillar’s surface with both hands as he concluded his words.

“He said that if I push down this pillar with only these two hands, we will surely win the war.”

“…!!!”

Murmur murmur. The nobles looked at each other and muttered.

“No matter how strong someone is, for a person to push down that pillar…”

“That’s impossible… isn’t he just bluffing now?”

Viktor looked at the nobles disturbed by his words and muttered inwardly.

‘What if it doesn’t work… I said it because I thought I could do something like this… but still, it should be this much to believe it’s a miracle.’

At first he thought he just needed to show something light, but the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like something half-hearted wouldn’t be convincing.

His strength had already become very famous. So he had spoken half like a gamble, but as he felt around the pillar wall, Viktor became a bit anxious as it seemed both possible and impossible.

‘No, I trust myself. I need to give this level of shock for people to forget about Sir Mikhail too. If it doesn’t work… I’ll escape under cover of night…’

As Viktor’s thoughts were flowing negatively, Vino, who had been trembling quietly, raised his head. His face seemed full of ecstasy.

“Certainly if a mere human body could topple that massive pillar, it would be impossible without a miracle…! Come, Sir Viktor! Please show us! Whether God truly is with you!”

He could delay no longer. The gaze of Vino full of expectation and people half-believing, half-doubting was focused only on him.

“Understood. Then everyone, please step far back. You might get hurt.”

After confirming people had stepped far away, Viktor steeled his resolve. He inhaled with all his might and put full strength into both hands.

“Hup!”

And. Crack-crack-crack-crack! The pillar broke far too easily.

“Uh…”

Had he used too much strength? Rather than pushing it over, Viktor looked bewildered at the pillar that had shattered in the middle and split in two where he applied force.

‘Is this shoddy construction by any chance?’

Because it broke much more easily than he had prepared for, what should have been a tremendous miracle was accomplished far too quickly.

Viktor glanced at the debris of the broken pillar and opened his eyes wide.

‘What, this is just a wooden block?’

Looking closely, the pillar wasn’t built by stacking solid stone.

A log had been erected as the pillar, with its exterior papered to look like stone. Though the log was large and solid, it still couldn’t compare to real stone.

Whether it was corruption or the bitter reality of the poor east was unknown, but it was shocking in any case. Viktor scratched his chin and looked toward where people had gathered.

He had to say something about this. He didn’t know if only this pillar was like this, but if all the pillars were made of logs, the ceiling might collapse. Just as he was about to address the people, when the dust that had filled the room from the shattered pillar settled and people’s forms became visible, Viktor stopped.

“Lord! That massive pillar with just one application of force…!”

“Good heavens, it’s a miracle! I, I witnessed a miracle before my very eyes!”

Those haughty nobles were looking at him with their mouths agape as wide as possible, faces full of awe.

Someone was prostrate, trembling and praying, while someone else kept making the sign of the cross with tears flowing.

And as for Vino, he had fainted completely. Having finally witnessed before his eyes a miracle said to be difficult to see once in a lifetime, he had fainted from the experience.

The Count and Mikhail were no exceptions. The name called faith was far more immense to them than Viktor had thought. Truly tremendous effect.

‘Mm, let’s just keep quiet.’

Viktor waved his hand with a gentle face and casually kicked away the wooden fragments with his foot.

Since the ceiling didn’t seem likely to collapse immediately, he could repair it later. He decided to gratefully accept this unexpected fortune.

Of course, even if it was a pillar made of logs, how many humans in this world could call that fortune was unknowable. For ordinary people, whether the pillar was stone or log, it was all the same.