The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 118 - Aftermath (5)

“…”

Viktor, who had been riding his horse, suddenly looked back. Countless people were watching him. From knights like Mikhail and Krupin to familiar-faced mercenary captains, steppe warriors including Kulak and Tumen, Alisa, the priest Anton, and his attendant Lukovich.

He unconsciously scratched his chin at the reassuring feeling that welled up. They were no longer borrowed forces or anything of the sort. They were the retainers and subordinates of the Kobarov family that would be newly rebuilt.

And together they would move to completely subjugate the land that would become their new territory. Of course, there had been some commotion before departure… Viktor looked at Roshtov Castle growing more distant and evaluated that things seemed to have worked out well overall.

---

“…I must have misheard just now?”

A noble from the capital asked again as if he couldn’t believe it, but the Count’s attitude was firm.

“You heard correctly, so what’s the point of such nonsense?”

“Your Excellency! This is tyranny! I cannot accept it!”

“Please take your seat.”

“Urgh…”

When the Count’s knight touched his pommel coldly as a warning, the noble ground his teeth and sat down heavily.

“Such petty threats… Your Excellency acts this way and still expects the expeditionary force to run smoothly?!”

However, even at such outcries, the Count was not shaken at all.

“Even without you saying so, I plan to disband the expeditionary force soon.”

“…!”

“Don’t you understand clearly? Then I have no choice but to kindly explain again. According to achievements in this war, I have fairly distributed fiefdoms, and particularly excellent performers will receive separate privileges. Cleanup of remnants and post-war management will be actively handled by the new lords established in each region exercising their rights.”

“This is!”

“I plan to disband the army and lower the expeditionary force’s banner, but those who wish to remain in the east are welcome to stay voluntarily. However, all subsequent matters are not my concern and each person will bear their own responsibility.”

“Irresponsibility has its limits too!”

Even at the noble’s outcry, the Count was merely indifferent.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve long exceeded the conscription period for my retainers. Shamefully, financial pressure is also becoming dangerous. And weren’t you originally not under my command anyway? What’s irresponsible about it?”

It was sound logic, but they couldn’t easily accept it. While the Count distributing newly acquired lands according to his preferences was unavoidable, even so, for them to benefit by handling remaining remnants and claiming empty lands, they needed the Count’s military force.

“No! Everything is invalid! Your Excellency completely ignoring those who achieved merit and arbitrarily distributing land makes no sense!”

In the end, the noble who began throwing a tantrum was blocked by the Count’s cold words.

“That’s clearly overstepping authority. Merit recognition has been decided by His Highness the Grand Prince’s edict to be at the expeditionary force supreme commander’s discretion. Do you think you have the right to argue about it?”

“Grrrr…!”

“All achievements are objectively recorded and I’m merely following them, so if you’re curious, inquire with the scribes. Do you have more to say?”

“…You will regret this. Do you think things will be fine after treating us this way?”

“Oh my, rather I think I’ve been considerate of you? Border territories would only be inconvenient anyway. I’ll give you plenty of gold and goods, so being satisfied with that would be good for both of us.”

The Count’s face finishing those words was full of mockery.

“If I had known you would come out so shamelessly from the beginning, I should have asked for your opinions earlier, but that was my discourtesy.”

Eyes that seemed to say he knew exactly what schemes they had been plotting behind the scenes. The faces of the anti-Count faction nobles from the capital all twisted in unison.

However, there were no more viable options. Just because the Count granted territories only to those he favored, that didn’t constitute any fault.

In fact, it was true that their achievements were somewhat lacking compared to others.

‘Damn it, only being crafty at times like this… who would have thought he’d make such concessions to Sir Viktor.’

Still, it wasn’t as if they had no thought-out measures.

That was Viktor’s existence. They planned to somehow win him over, even if he received appropriate or slightly excessive rewards.

For them who had rolled around in political circles for long periods, sweet-talking a faithful knight who only knew fighting was nothing.

But seeing the Count treat Viktor far more generously than they had expected, the nobles intuitively realized things had gone wrong.

‘Even so, that much… it’s not just generous but giving away everything he has… Count, how desperate were you!’

This made it impossible to compete.

Though the Count had made an important mistake, it was slightly insufficient to make his brilliant achievement of victory in the expedition completely fade.

‘Please… Sir, please step forward just once! God, please whisper to Sir Viktor just once!’

In the end, all they could do was pray earnestly while looking at Viktor.

‘Do they want territory that badly? With just a little thought, there’s no reason for the Count to grant territories to nobles from the capital.’

Viktor avoided their gazes appropriately while muttering inwardly. Land possessed such powerful magic that it could make nobles lose their sanity. You could tell just by watching those who were quite good at scheming, even if not great at fighting, come out so helplessly.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Viktor waited for the Count to finish speaking, then cleared his throat to gather attention. Though expectant gazes poured in hoping for something, he gracefully ignored them and opened his mouth.

“Then since things seem roughly settled, I’ll be going. If we don’t move diligently from now on, who knows what the remnants might do.”

Almost no one could refute words that were truly like a model of a solid knight. Except for one person.

“Sir! Sir! Why won’t you come along?! You have the duty to be treated more preciously!”

“…Sir Vino, haven’t I told you many times? Those who walk the path of true faith must not be swayed by things like honor.”

“That may be so, but you’re a knight! Knights are beings who should pursue honor! Moreover, wouldn’t not enjoying the honor you rightfully should enjoy also be a kind of sin?!”

‘What nonsense.’

Viktor sighed looking at Vino sweating profusely yet trying somehow to persuade him unlike his usual self.

He had been like this ever since Viktor said he wouldn’t participate in the triumph ceremony. To be precise, ever since he heard that Viktor wouldn’t participate in the victory ceremony at the archdiocese that would proceed alongside the triumph ceremony.

“I’m very grateful for Sir Vino’s caring heart toward me. But God is guiding me on a different path. He is telling me even now to enlighten those barbarians suffering under heathen ideas with light and draw them into the embrace of true truth!”

“Oh, ooh… then rather, I too!”

Just when it seemed he might be persuaded, he persistently clung on, so Viktor looked serious and shouted.

“You must go and make your report!”

‘If I set out with this person, rather than embracing the warriors, only problems would arise.’

There were limits to glossing things over with miracles. Vino, who was fanatically devoted to faith down to his bones, would absolutely not stand by and watch Viktor absorb warriors while following steppe traditions and customs. And that was something Viktor didn’t want.

“Ugh, but still…!”

“Don’t worry too much. Father Anton has graciously agreed to stay with us to the end following our connection so far. The faith of light will never be extinguished even in that barren land.”

Finally, those words seemed to be the deciding factor as even Vino retreated.

“…It can’t be helped. Sir, once rewards are decided, you must visit the archdiocese when you come to Rurik. I will always be waiting for you to come!”

‘No, if you’re a commander, do your own work.’

Viktor swallowed his inner voice and nodded.

Thus he had cut both chains that bound his free actions. The Count who was nominally his lord and would truly become his lord, and Vino the watcher under the name of faith. Having shaken off those two troublesome gazes, he could finally move as he wished without watching anyone’s mood.

---

“…Even so, isn’t this too excessive…”

The Count was dealing with a noble of considerable influence even within his faction.

“A margrave… no matter how Your Excellency is confirmed as the next successor, this could still be too much.”

“Then who exactly will manage that newly conquered vast land?”

“…Of course Your Excellency would…”

“Don’t test me with such absurd talk. For me right now, even absorbing a few directly controlled territories is already at my limit.”

If he got greedier than that, the eastern nobles would rise up immediately.

That said, it wasn’t as if he had suffered tremendous losses either. The Count had made several key points connecting the newly acquired eastern lands with existing eastern lands into his border territories. Those exquisite positions were such that even the most foolish person could easily guess the Count’s intentions. The Count was trying to make the east his own backyard.

“I dare to ask, Your Excellency. Do you truly have confidence in controlling him?”

At his words, the Count remained silent for a moment. And after some time passed, the words that came from the Count’s mouth were completely unexpected.

“I have to give what I should give to be able to collect again.”

“…Your Excellency?”

“Did you receive a reply from Viscount Odor?”

“…Ah, yes. He said all handovers are complete so there should be no problems…”

“Good.”

The Count looked at the crude map of the east. What he was focusing on was a small village in the forest without even any particular markings.

‘I wonder if they’ve arrived by now? Consider it my small gift.’

---

Viktor looked at Tumen’s face watching him suspiciously and finally burst into laughter.

“Rather than looking at me like that, just ask.”

“…Ah, I’m sorry. It’s been a while since we moved together so it felt awkward, hehe.”

The makeup of what should now be called the Kobarov Army rather than the vanguard hadn’t changed much.

Viktor’s worries had been completely unfounded. The mercenaries were very active about renewing contracts. There were even countless people who wanted to follow even if their pay was cut somewhat.

Though it was talk he never would have thought could come from mercenaries’ mouths, from their perspective it was natural.

Those who followed Viktor and won every battle without a single defeat could truly earn massive amounts of money.

Pay was merely a secondary factor! Originally generous enough to grant horses to everyone without discrimination, always winning wars, paying wages well without delays, and being incredibly strong – there were no mercenaries who would dislike such an employer.

In the end, Viktor was able to absorb the mercenaries he had been leading and have one proper army. In addition, with the steppe warriors who had been acting separately now able to travel together without watching moods, a powerful military force that could never be ignored anywhere in the principality was completed.

The combination of skilled soldiers armed with overwhelming war experience, all composed of cavalry regardless of whether they were from the principality or steppes, was truly fearsome beyond words.

‘Well, the only knights are Sir Mikhail and Sir Krupin.’

As if to compensate for this, his army had many with unique backgrounds, so there were no problems.

“The same goes for you all. Kulak, Alisa? If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

At his words, Kulak finally asked a question hesitantly.

The young witch was giggling about something interesting she was discussing with the priest, then straightened her back at Viktor’s call.

‘No problems there.’

It was a scene that would make archdiocese bishops faint if they saw a priest and witch getting along, but it wasn’t particularly problematic for him. Viktor turned his gaze and listened to Kulak’s words.

“That… I was curious if we’re going in the wrong direction. This is the road toward the principality…”

“Isn’t now the time we should quickly absorb the tribes? If they scatter like this, it’ll be hard to find them.”

Tumen also couldn’t help but add his words. Viktor looked at the two men, then bowed his head. Before he knew it, a small ring was rolling around in his hand. He fiddled with the ring and quietly opened his mouth.

“The place we’re going now… is my hometown.”

“…!”

When the warriors looked surprised as if they hadn’t expected such words, Viktor provided further explanation.

“Since the war ended, I was able to reclaim my family’s territory too. Honestly, I’m not that interested in that backwater place, but…”

“What do you mean! What place should be more precious than a family’s territory! No matter how urgent things are, visiting at least once is right, my lord!”

“Sir Krupin.”

“This is the moment of reclaiming lost territory. You must clearly imprint on the territory’s people how great their master is, why they shouldn’t run away!”

“…They didn’t run away, most of them died.”

“…Anyway, I want to see your territory quickly, Sir. What could be more glorious for a knight serving his lord, haha!”

Krupin, who had suddenly popped up, mumbled through his words then fled back to the rear of the procession. Kulak, who had been watching him pathetically, slowly bowed his head.

“I didn’t realize, my lord. Please forgive me.”

“What, it’s not something to bow your head over so much. But my lord? Are you copying Sir Krupin now?”

“…We can’t keep calling you Lord Viktor forever, can we?”

“No, if we’re being precise, wouldn’t calling him Your Majesty be correct, old man? Since he’s now truly become king of the steppes in name and reality!”

When the warriors listening nearby made expressions of agreement at Tumen’s words, Viktor waved his hand dismissing his words.

“Just call me as usual. Tumen, don’t go ahead.”

“Yes sir.”

Viktor roughly put away the crude ring he had been rolling in his hand, then opened his mouth again as if something had occurred to him.

“Rather than that now… where is my brother?”

“Ah, he’s following behind. Should I call him?”

At Lukovich’s words, he nodded. He was thinking of settling things between the two surviving brothers. He couldn’t keep dragging him around like a prisoner forever. Viktor’s eyes sank deeply enough to be difficult to read. And after some time passed.

“…I heard… you called for me.”

When Igor appeared before him with a haggard expression, hands politely clasped, Viktor’s mouth slowly began to open.