The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 18 - Knight of the Principality (4)

“Calm down, calm down! I said I’ll compensate you, don’t you believe me?”

“We’ll see about that.”

When Viktor responded coldly, Frizba was utterly bewildered as to why this knight had suddenly changed his attitude.

Just a moment ago, the atmosphere hadn’t been so bad…!

What Frizba didn’t know was that Viktor wasn’t the type to readily reveal his true emotions on his face.

On the outside, he appeared solid and sturdy, truly knight-like, but inwardly, he suspected that Frizba might be trying to beguile him with words.

Unaware of this, Frizba couldn’t understand why this rare knight who showed no hostility toward witches had suddenly become upset.

‘Surely he doesn’t actually think I won’t compensate him?’

She shook her head.

The young knight before her possessed the qualities of a hero rarely seen in recent times.

She couldn’t imagine a knight with such a powerful soul would cling to such trivial matters.

Though confused, Frizba decided to placate Viktor first.

“Come now. Don’t be like that. If there’s something you want, feel free to tell me. As a witch—though I find the term uncomfortable—I’m probably one of the most skilled you’ll find in this area.”

Viktor’s expression softened slightly at Frizba’s boast.

“I don’t want much. I’d like money as compensation for the injured horse and the snake attack. If you don’t have money, goods would be fine too.”

At Viktor’s words, Frizba began to fidget.

“Hmm… I’m sorry, but I don’t have any money.”

Viktor’s face, which had been relaxing, grew cold as frost again.

“You don’t have money? Not a single coin?”

“That’s right! Why would I have money used only by Principality folk in the first place?”

“…What about goods then? Surely a witch has some jewels or gold?”

“Do you think witches are jewelers? If I had such things, I would’ve used them long ago.”

“…”

“…”

Viktor finally drew his curved sword.

“So you prattled on about telling me what I want when you don’t even have money?”

“W-wait! I don’t have money, but I have many things that might be useful to you. I also have the ability to grant what you desire.”

Viktor gestured with his head for her to continue while pointing his curved sword at her.

“First… I could do something about that weapon. It’s quite unsuitable for a knight like you. Your armor seems fine, but why are you carrying such a thing?”

When Frizba made this unexpected comment, Viktor looked at her with slightly surprised eyes.

“Indeed, I do need a new weapon. But can a witch handle weapons too?”

“Strictly speaking, I can’t make or repair weapons myself. But I have… collected some equipment from knights who visited me in the past. Perhaps there might be something among them that could help you.”

That could definitely be useful.

After all, wasn’t the reason he wanted money or goods in the first place to obtain decent equipment?

If there was something useful, it might have been worth patiently listening to the witch all this time.

Then suddenly, Viktor felt puzzled.

“So there were other knights who found you before me?”

“…There were quite a few in the past. Heheh, those are all bygone matters now.”

When Frizba let out that peculiar laugh, Viktor asked without much thought,

“Really? What happened to those knights then?”

“What do you think happened?”

Frizba pointed to the flowers blooming on the ground as she answered.

“Knights who earned a witch’s enmity generally don’t meet good ends. Though that’s probably unnecessary advice for you.”

“…Why is that?”

“Because you don’t seem to have any particular thoughts about witches. At the very least, you wouldn’t antagonize me unless I harmed you first. Am I right?”

The old woman’s eyes began to glow ominously.

A devout person would naturally be disgusted or contemptuous of a witch who emanated such a sinister aura while waving her disproportionately large hands, but Viktor wasn’t that type of person.

He nodded calmly.

“Well, that’s right.”

“I knew it!”

Frizba was delighted that her judgment of him had been correct.

‘Of course, if there were priests or other people around, the story might be different…’

Viktor had interacted with priests from a very young age and possessed considerable theological knowledge for a layperson.

The doctrine of the Light God also had many similarities to the religion from his previous life, which made it feel familiar.

But if asked whether Viktor was truly devout, one would have to tilt their head in doubt.

His attempts to appear as a faithful believer were only to please the priests so he could get even a slight whiff of civilization, not because he was genuinely immersed in religion.

Now Frizba continued excitedly, clapping her hands repeatedly.

“Since your god set foot on this land, we’ve had to live in hiding, persecuted for a long time. So truly, this meeting feels incredibly precious to me.”

“…You say ‘we.’ I see. But Frizba, perhaps the persecution might have lessened if your witches hadn’t sneaked into villages to kidnap girls and eat them. Do you really have to eat children?”

At Viktor’s words, Frizba kicked the ground in anger.

“What nonsense! That story only emerged because Principality folk blame everything on witches! Mauled by beasts? Witches did it. Assaulted by the village miscreants? Witches did it! How could we possibly eat humans in the first place!”

“…I apologize. I wasn’t aware of such circumstances. Indeed, it would be convenient to blame everything on your kind.”

When Viktor apologized, Frizba seemed to calm down and stopped fuming.

“Then were the stories about people offering sacrifices to you for good harvests or praying for livestock to grow well also just rumors?”

When Viktor muttered this, Frizba shook her head as if to say that wasn’t the case.

“Ah, that’s true. Receiving sacrifices and praying for good harvests is one of our long-standing practices.”

“…Perhaps then, do you accept livestock as sacrifices?”

“Mostly livestock, but occasionally humans too. Among living sacrifices, humans are certainly the finest.”

“…”

“…”

Though Viktor’s facial expression didn’t change much, she could feel it.

The knight’s opinion of them was rapidly deteriorating!

Frizba hastily explained,

“Look, it’s an ancient tradition. I can’t expect understanding from an Orthodox believer like you, but offering living sacrifices has been passed down since time immemorial. To survive in this barren land, it’s unavoidable… And let me add, at least I have never once offered a human as a sacrifice.”

“…I’m sure you haven’t.”

Viktor thought anew that it was fortunate in some ways that the Orthodox Church had expanded its influence in this land.

Despite everything, the church’s faith had clearly helped improve barbaric customs.

“I think we’ve talked enough. Will you show me the equipment?”

Viktor changed the subject as if he couldn’t bear to listen to her anymore.

However, instead of showing him the equipment, Frizba began talking about something else entirely.

“You can have it all if you want. Don’t worry about that. But I don’t intend to consider those mere weapons as sufficient compensation. I have my dignity too.”

“…I don’t understand what you’re saying, but do you have something more to give me?”

“Of course. Having met such a precious guest after so long, I have an obligation by witch… tradition to bestow my abilities upon you. If I sent you away empty-handed, I’d be cursed.”

Frizba reached into her garment and began pulling out various items, laying them out.

A small portable brazier and poker, powders of unknown origin, a concave pewter bowl, and even a small, dirty, worn drum.

It was surprising that all those items could fit inside her garment.

When Viktor looked at the witch with suspicion and some curiosity, she returned his gaze with an eerie gleam in her eyes and spoke,

“Strictly speaking, calling us ‘witches’ is a name your people arbitrarily assigned. Originally, we served as custodians of the natural spirits of this land and presided over rituals. Thus, each of us possesses a special skill according to the spirits we serve.”

“Ohh…”

Viktor unconsciously stroked his chin and began to focus on her words.

Seeing his reaction, Frizba continued with satisfaction, as if confirming her judgment of him was correct.

“It feels quite awkward saying these things to someone from the Principality. I’m telling you this because I trust you. I believe you won’t just stab me after hearing everything.”

“I don’t know why you trust me so much when we’ve just met, but I promise. As long as you don’t do anything strange, I won’t stab you.”

“Heheh… I can’t tell you which spirit I serve, but through its power, I’ve gained the ability to predict upcoming weather or determine where herds of animals are heading.”

If true, it was quite an impressive power.

The native people of this land were mostly nomads, and for them, knowing such information in advance would be incredibly valuable.

“That’s not all. I also have the power to… glimpse a person’s future.”

“…!”

“I am Frizba the Prophetess, the now-forgotten guide of shepherds and herdsmen. Knight Viktor, possessor of great heroic qualities, I shall foretell your future.”

****

As Frizba placed a few handfuls of powder on the pewter bowl and lit the brazier, the powder began to burn darkly, with flames swirling around the bowl.

When a terrible smell spread, Viktor felt goosebumps rising on his skin.

‘Do I have to accept this?’

Viktor looked at the old woman before him with discomfort.

Frizba’s eyes were glowing wickedly, and her hand movements with the poker, stirring the powder, followed a specific pattern.

Each time she waved her hand, the flames also swayed in a particular shape.

It was an extremely strange and sinister sight.

Gradually, an unpleasant, peculiar energy began to permeate the surroundings, and as the old woman’s hand movements quickened, the flames flickered wildly.

When Frizba’s movements reached their peak, the flames surged upward from the bowl.

With great composure, she pulled out a mask from her garment that barely covered the lower part of her face and carefully put it on.

Frizba’s masked face cast deep shadows from the leaping flames.

The mask, with its pointed chin and long, slit-like mouth, gave off an eerie feeling.

Soon, as she stroked the drum once, the worn instrument began to make sounds on its own, following the flickering of the flames.

Viktor felt the same sensation creeping up that he had experienced as a child when witnessing the feast of madness firsthand.

Such strangeness that even an Orthodox priest would have a seizure and call it the work of demons!

It was truly a power befitting the words “barbarism” and “mystery.”

Whether aware of Viktor’s feelings or not, the old woman, focusing on stirring the bowl again, quietly sprinkled another handful of powder and asked him a question in a voice that somehow wavered,

“Now, knight. Tell me. What is your goal? What do you desire for your future?”