The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 35 - Knight of the Principality (21)

Preparations to return to the city were finally complete.

Immediately after the battle ended, Georgi had ordered the mercenaries to search the surrounding area and successfully rescued several mercenaries who had been on the verge of death.

Strangely, no knights or nobles were visible anywhere, and Georgi insisted they must have all been taken as prisoners.

“You’re saying those barbarians took the principality’s nobles with them? What for? They can’t even collect ransoms.”

To Viktor’s question, Georgi responded simply.

“Barbarians negotiate too. Even in the past, they’ve kidnapped nobles several times and then traded them for goods.”

“Is that so? Don’t other nobles protest when people negotiate with them?”

It wouldn’t have been strange if people flew into a rage at the very idea of daring to negotiate with barbarians…

But to Viktor’s question, Georgi shook his head seriously and replied.

“Not at all. Of course, those barbarians are indeed beasts, but the principality and they are trading partners in ordinary times. I hear that especially in the eastern region, many people regularly interact with them.”

“Oh.”

For Viktor, whose Kobarov family had never traded with barbarians, this was an interesting revelation, but thinking about it further, it wasn’t that strange.

The principality was a nation of merchants.

Since they spoke the same Northern language, albeit with mixed dialects, communication was possible, and there was no reason not to trade if they could.

“Then, those captured people…”

“Well, they’ll suffer quite a bit, but they won’t die, will they? Those barbarians may be brutal, but they know the value of wealth, so they’ll come to exchange for ransom once the war ends.”

It was fortunate for those who had been captured, but also unfortunate at the same time.

It was clear they would receive much worse treatment than if they had been captured as prisoners by nobles within the principality.

“I heard they eat and sleep in some sort of leather tents. I wonder if the noble lords will be able to adapt well.”

Georgi spoke while scratching his temple.

His attitude showed remarkable indifference.

And Viktor was the same.

“I see. As long as they’re alive, that’s enough.”

‘There’s no reason to go out of our way to rescue them.’

If they had been here, he would have rescued them and taken them back to the city, but for those already captured, there was nothing he could do.

Besides, he didn’t even know them.

After taking one last look around, Georgi decided to return to the city.

The outcome of the campaign was very satisfactory.

The casualties were minor, and above all, they had succeeded in rescuing Count Yakobski.

The footsteps of those returning were remarkably light.

****

The city gates were wide open.

As the mercenaries at the head of the procession first set foot inside, citizens surrounding the gate threw white flowers and cheered.

“Waaaaah-!”

“Blessings to those who have achieved a magnificent victory!”

It was an incredible welcoming crowd.

News of the unbelievable victory achieved by the city’s army had spread rapidly.

The mercenaries swaggered and waved their hands as if enjoying the cheers, and behind them came Georgi and Viktor, escorted by the city guard.

And right behind them, Count Yakobski appeared, escorted by his knights.

“Waaaaah!!”

“It’s Guard Captain Georgi and the Knight!”

“I heard that knight fought incredibly well?”

“Oh my… how could he be so handsome and gallant…?”

“You’re right. Compared to the knight, this one is…”

“Woman, really!”

They were enveloped by tremendous cheers and enthusiasm.

To the citizens, Count Yakobski wasn’t particularly important.

Whether he was a high-ranking noble or the next Grand Prince, he was ultimately an outsider.

Rather, the citizens chose to cheer for the pride of their city, those who had achieved a great feat.

A knight standing beside the count opened his mouth with a slightly offended expression.

“Count, please permit me to say a word to them. How dare they ignore Your Excellency…”

To his words, the count shook his head coldly.

“What nonsense. This triumphal entry isn’t for us. How foolish…”

As the knight blushed, the elderly knight Mikhail added coldly.

“If you don’t understand the ecology of the city, it’s better to keep quiet. Forget any thoughts of acting recklessly here.”

This wasn’t their domain.

Moreover, the city was a peculiar place, different from the ordinary territories of the principality.

Having just barely been rescued, if they were to throw their weight around using their noble status, while the city’s leaders might have their own thoughts, the enraged citizens could do something unpredictable.

Meanwhile, while the count’s entourage was having this conversation, Viktor was also talking with Georgi with a dazed expression.

“My goodness. This is all new to me.”

“Haha, understandably so. Unless it’s a city as grand as Permikoff, you wouldn’t easily see such a spectacle. It doesn’t happen often, but when the city’s army achieves a victory, they hold a triumphal entry like this. I heard a former Administrator introduced it, imitating the customs of the Old Empire.”

Viktor nodded.

He had never heard of such a custom in the principality, but it turned out to be another culture imported from the Old Empire.

“It seems we’ve been influenced by that southern country in more ways than we realize…”

Viktor muttered while waving to the citizens who were passionately reaching out their hands and calling his name, and Georgi laughed in response.

“How could it be otherwise? I heard they even hold court banquets in the capital just like in the Old Empire’s royal courts. After all, it’s the oldest country in the world, so we should adopt the good things.”

For the people of the principality, the culture and goods of the Old Empire were considered very sophisticated.

Not just nobles but also merchants who were somewhat well-off found it fashionable to enjoy the culture of the wealthy southern country.

Of course, Viktor, who had grown up in the countryside, had only vaguely heard such stories and had never actually experienced proper Old Empire culture.

‘A triumphal entry… I never would have imagined this.’

While it was understandable, the triumphal entry in Permikoff was so rudimentary compared to a real one that it was embarrassing to even call it an imitation, but no one present knew that.

Viktor decided to just enjoy the moment.

“Sir Viktor, why don’t you wave your hand a bit more grandly? It would be better.”

“Like this?”

When Viktor stretched out his arm and waved it widely, people began to go wild.

“Waaaaaaaah!!”

“Great Knight Viktor!!”

“I heard he charged alone into the barbarians!”

“I heard he beheaded a hundred barbarians!”

“No, from what I heard, when the knight stamped his foot and shouted, they were all so terrified that they knelt down and wept!”

“A friend of mine who’s a mercenary said that when the knight swung his sword, light descended from heaven and destroyed the enemies!”

Everyone seemed to be telling outrageous stories, but he soon decided to ignore them.

After all, rumors naturally tend to be a bit exaggerated, don’t they?

‘At most, they’re probably just saying I fought well against them.’

If he had actually heard the details of what was being said among the citizens, he would have been dumbfounded rather than simply bemused, but fortunately, Viktor did not get to hear more of their words.

The council members of the veche and the Administrator were waiting at the front of the procession to receive them.

****

Fedor embraced Viktor with a bright smile.

“Sir Viktor! Savior of this city! Congratulations on your safe return! This great victory can only be described as magnificent!”

“Thank you, Your Excellency.”

When Viktor responded impassively, Fedor laughed heartily and patted his shoulder several times.

Then he immediately began praising Georgi who was standing beside him.

“Guard Captain! I’ve always known you were an excellent commander. This victory would have been absolutely impossible without you! I’m truly proud.”

To the Administrator’s words, Georgi humbly shook his head and replied.

“Not at all, Your Excellency. I hardly did anything. Without Sir Viktor here, we could never have achieved such a great victory.”

“Hahaha, yes. I’ve heard about Sir Viktor’s deeds until my ears have grown calluses. At first, I couldn’t believe it and thought my servant was trying to fool me. How could anyone charge alone into a barbarian army?! I vaguely sensed you were an extraordinary knight, but this is truly…!”

Fedor became increasingly excited and began asking if Viktor had really charged alone, and if so, how he had returned alive without significant injuries.

And it wasn’t just the Administrator who was curious; even the council members of the veche standing behind him, and everyone else not present were clearly straining their ears while pretending not to listen.

‘How should I explain this…’

He couldn’t just say, “I surrendered to my instincts without thinking and swept away everything I saw, and that’s how I won.”

From Viktor’s perspective, that would seem… a bit uncultured.

As he hesitated for a moment, the Administrator suddenly let out a regretful sigh.

“Oh dear, I’ll have to hear the details later.”

The Administrator shook his head and subtly pointed behind them.

Count Yakobski and his entourage were finally reaching where the Administrator stood.

****

“I’m pleased to meet you like this. Above all, I’m even more delighted to see that the Count appears to be safe.”

“It must have been God’s guidance. I’m profoundly grateful to have been granted temporary shelter in your city by your kindness.”

The high noble and the leader of the city exchanged elegant and dignified courtesies.

Although Count Yakobski was dusty and shabby in appearance due to his ordeal, he spoke proudly without the slightest concern.

“The Grand Prince will also be pleased at your safe return, Count. Now, please come inside. It would be best if you could rest a bit and then come out again.”

The count nodded at Fedor’s suggestion.

“I’m grateful for your kindness. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

With the count’s response, everyone around breathed a sigh of relief.

“I heard the count was magnanimous, but he’s quite a decent person.”

After the count and his entourage entered without issue, the Administrator muttered.

When Viktor gave him a puzzled look, he continued.

“His dignity has been greatly wounded, so he could have picked a quarrel with us.”

“You mean about him nearly falling to the barbarians?”

“No, that too, but… I mean the triumphal entry. Didn’t everyone cheer only for you all? It must have been quite humiliating for a noble. Being treated like a trophy without any particular military merit.”

Given the pride of nobles, it was fortunate that no major incident had occurred.

To this, Viktor shook his head.

“If it were me, I would have been extremely grateful just to have my life saved.”

“Haha, nobles are rather complicated beings. In that sense, you have quite un-noble-like qualities. Is it because you’re a knight?”

Viktor also smiled lightly at Fedor’s joke.

“I wonder, Your Excellency. Perhaps it’s because I’m a country bumpkin?”

“…Excessive modesty is not good. With such achievements, you could be a bit more assertive. I’m worried someone might overhear.”

Fedor was satisfied with Viktor’s unpretentiousness yet wore an expression of slight bewilderment.

In fact, he had felt this sentiment since watching those entering the city.

If he himself had achieved such feats as this knight, he would have positioned himself at the very front of the procession, adorned himself most splendidly, and displayed himself as much as possible.

It was a natural right, and acting this way would have been better for gaining popularity.

The same applied to this situation.

Even if Viktor were to suddenly boast of his achievements with a rude attitude, it would no longer be considered a flaw.

As all renowned knights of the North did, acting in accordance with one’s reputation was only natural.

Therefore, the fact that he didn’t swagger or boast about himself was actually somewhat strange from Fedor’s perspective.

‘According to rumors, Sir Viktor is extremely devout… could that be why?’

The Administrator subtly asked a question as he entered the banquet hall with Viktor.

“By the way… did you really hear the whispers of angels?”

At those words, Viktor turned to him with an incredulous expression.

“What, Your Excellency, you too?”

“Ah, is that not true? I heard you were able to charge so bravely because you received a divine revelation.”

Fedor scratched his cheek sheepishly, and Viktor deliberately adopted a stern expression.

He had already heard enough of such talk from the count.

“No one can carelessly invoke God’s name. How could I dare claim such a thing?”

‘What’s this? He really is a devout knight after all.’

Hearing Viktor’s words, the Administrator nodded as if now understanding.

Only priests or truly devout individuals could speak like that.

But immediately after, he was shocked by Viktor’s continued words.

“Lately, everyone’s been calling me a ‘knight sent by God’ and whatnot, which has become quite tiresome. The count does it too.”

“Haha, the count must feel that way because he owes his life to you. It wouldn’t be strange if he felt as though a halo was shining behind you!”

“Is that so… He kept asking me to go east with him the entire way here. It was an honor at first, but now it’s becoming… rather troublesome.”

“…What did you just say?! The count asked you that?”

The Administrator shouted at the entrance to the banquet hall.

“That man… I didn’t think he was like that…!”

‘Pretending to be nice while trying to steal away the city’s knight?!’

Strictly speaking, Viktor wasn’t the city’s knight, but that didn’t matter much to Fedor.

He had almost been blindsided and robbed of a treasure without knowing anything.

A fire blazed in the merchant-born Administrator’s eyes.

“So, did you accept his proposal?”

To his question, Viktor muttered with a sour expression.

“I’m not sure if it could be called a proposal… We agreed to talk again after entering the city.”

The Administrator smiled with relief at Viktor’s reluctant response.

‘Thank goodness, he hasn’t been won over yet.’

In truth, if the count had been determined to persuade the knight, the Administrator would have had no recourse.

If the count just bestowed a commission or promised lands, there was a high chance the knight would immediately follow him.

Even knights who already had lords would be tempted, and Viktor was a knight without a proper domain.

It was rather puzzling that he hadn’t immediately accepted the count’s offer.

Of course, this was only possible because Fedor didn’t know exactly how the count had spoken to Viktor.

‘The count must have at least promised him a fief or estate… not to mention wealth. Perhaps that backfired? Since Sir Viktor seems extremely devout…’

Fedor’s thinking was remarkably similar to the count’s, but no one knew that this had been the count’s mistake.

The count’s strategy was simple.

‘For a knight devout enough to be chosen by God, mentioning wealth and honor first would backfire!’

If he had known that Viktor wasn’t such a devout knight and that his goal was simply to live well, the count would have been devastated, but unfortunately, he didn’t know that yet.

Nor did he realize that his attempt to appear more magnanimous than his natural character to impress the knight had actually backfired.

If the count had simply made a normal recruitment offer, Viktor would likely have agreed to accompany him without much deliberation.

Overthinking had been the count’s tragedy.

Fedor carefully asked a question while grasping the handle of the door leading into the banquet hall.

“I don’t know what the count promised you… but such things might seem of little significance to you.”

“Hmm… embarrassingly, my thoughts have been revealed.”

‘Has the Administrator read my mind?’

No matter how much the count invoked faith, it had little resonance with Viktor.

Perhaps the Administrator had keenly perceived this and was subtly inquiring.

When Viktor admitted it with slight embarrassment, the Administrator spoke more confidently.

“But I’m different. If you wish… I could write a letter of recommendation for you to the Archbishop in Rurik!”

“?”

“That’s not all. There’s a church in the city. It’s a bit old, but I’ll consult with the council members of the veche to build a new one. Grand and majestic. Much more magnificent than the Archdiocese in Rurik!”

“???”

“This must still be insufficient. I know several monasteries nearby. I’ve been negligent in donations until now, but I’ll donate ten times as much from now on. No, no. What about building a suitable church in your hometown? I’ll support it all.”

‘…Is he mocking me right now?’

Viktor seriously began to wonder if the Administrator was doing this to insult him.