The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 48 - Tribal Conflict (13)

Radovitz was a much more massive fortress than Viktor had expected.

The tightly and solidly built walls were made of stone, appearing difficult to easily capture, and the moat was wide and deep.

Even to an untrained eye, a fortress this sturdy would be difficult to assault without proper siege techniques.

“Radovitz Fortress is like a symbol of the principality’s eastern expansion. This fortress, built to face the barbarians, is truly said to be impregnable.”

When Mikhail provided additional explanation, Viktor nodded.

‘This place… is what Igor mentioned…’

Radovitz.

It had the same name as the fortress they had once planned to request aid from in preparation for barbarian attacks.

This was surely that very fortress.

In the end, no aid had come, and the village had burned…

‘It’s all in the past now.’

Looking at how the eastern situation had unfolded since then, it would have been difficult to expect support from Radovitz.

While Viktor was lost in thought, people who appeared to be castle servants busily stepped forward and spoke to people.

“So… yes, that’s right. All the knights should enter the inner castle… yes, the mercenaries can stay here.”

“Ah, and there will be a banquet this evening, so there were orders for everyone to attend.”

Viktor, who had been listening to the servants’ words, suddenly noticed something strange and muttered.

“The clothes they’re wearing are all different…?”

Usually, servants working in such places would have standardized uniforms, but the servants running around everywhere were each wearing different clothes.

Mikhail, walking beside him, spoke up.

“It seems there aren’t just the castle lord’s servants here. Since the eastern lords are staying here, their servants must be helping with the work as well.”

“No… then wouldn’t there be security problems?”

At Viktor’s question, Mikhail scratched his head.

“Well, that would be true, but… they might be so short-handed that they have to overlook such things… perhaps the situation is worse than we thought. If they can’t even pay attention to such basic visible aspects…”

As the two were exchanging words.

“Sir Mikhail, His Excellency is calling for you.”

“Ah, I suppose I should go. Then Sir Viktor, let’s meet again at the banquet.”

As Mikhail hurriedly disappeared, Viktor stood there blankly for a moment before starting to walk again.

Due to the sudden large-scale visit, the surroundings were extremely chaotic, but the faces of the people walking around were darker than expected.

‘The defenses seem well-prepared, but… the situation seems quite difficult.’

While watching the passing crowds and thinking various thoughts, Viktor suddenly turned his head at the sound of someone calling him.

“Sir, would you have a moment?”

“…Ah, you are…?”

A young knight he knew was cautiously looking around and approaching.

“We’ve had brief conversations before.”

“That’s right, Sir Krupin. Do you have something to say to me?”

The young knight who had said absurd things about the mercenary stuck in the mud, Krupin Iakov, had appeared before Viktor again.

‘We haven’t had any personal conversations since then…’

Iakov seemed very uneasy, constantly looking around undignifiedly and appearing tense.

Viktor opened his mouth again in a gentle voice.

“Sir, is something wrong? Perhaps something I can help with?”

At Viktor’s words, the young knight answered in a deliberately cheerful voice.

“Haha, it’s nothing special. I just wanted to have another conversation with you… and I have something I’d like to give you personally.”

“Hmm…”

“Sir, if it’s alright, for a moment…”

Iakov approached Viktor, pretending to hand him something.

Then he quickly whispered in a low voice.

“Sir, be careful. There are those who plan to scheme against you.”

“…!”

“I don’t know the exact methods, but many knights have become wary of you since the Leshy incident.”

Viktor asked quietly without showing any reaction.

“Sir Krupin. What’s your reason for telling me this?”

“…I consider the debt of having my life saved by you more important. And as a knight… I think it’s more fitting to openly challenge someone to a duel rather than act despicably behind their back when something displeases you.”

After quickly finishing his words, Iakov immediately stepped back several paces.

“Haha, I hope you liked my small gift. I’ll go do my duties now. Then Sir, I’ll see you again next time.”

Viktor stared at him intently before opening his mouth.

“The gift you gave me, I’ll use it gratefully.”

Iakov cautiously looked around again and disappeared into the crowd.

Viktor, who watched him until the end, sighed.

‘Schemes…’

Since he had never really thought about such problems, it was somewhat bewildering.

‘Hmm… I should keep it in mind while moving.’

However, he wasn’t particularly worried.

According to Iakov’s words, the opponents were probably knights under the Count.

They might be knights who had been chased by barbarians, or they might be knights who had come as reinforcements from the Count’s domain afterward, but whoever they were, one thing was certain.

No matter what schemes knights devised, they were all pretty much the same!

At least if Viktor’s discernment was accurate, all the Count’s knights he had met so far weren’t the type to be clever schemers.

‘Still, just in case, I should casually mention it to Sir Mikhail…’

Viktor looked toward the interior of the inner castle where audiences were probably being held.

---

“Phew… I don’t understand how they can come out like that!”

Mikhail slammed the table in frustration.

“Sir, what’s wrong?”

Viktor was having a private meeting with Mikhail in the personal room assigned to him.

Since there was still some time before the evening banquet, he had stopped by to chat for a moment, but because Mikhail was so angry, he ended up listening to his complaints instead.

“The eastern lords, I mean. I hate to say this, but… they’re pathetic.”

Mikhail kept shaking his head as if trying to calm his anger, then grabbed his head.

“Focus on defense? Ridiculous! If they were going to do that, why did we come all the way to the east! They’re completely scared. They’re terribly afraid of clashing with the barbarians again.”

Viktor tilted his head.

“You mean… they abandoned their territories?”

“They probably plan to hold out here until they can negotiate with the barbarians, then return to their territories once the storm passes. By then, all the eastern people will be dead.”

“Hmm…”

That was not good news.

At this point, the place where the eastern military power was most concentrated was right here, Radovitz.

If these eastern allied forces gave up fighting the barbarians, it would mean the Count’s army alone would have to fight the barbarians, which was nearly impossible.

The mercenaries the Count had brought were elites selected from Permikoff, and the knights were also well-trained excellent individuals, but that alone had its limits.

No matter what, the absolute numbers were too different.

To make up for that, the cooperation of the eastern allied forces was essential.

“Actually… even before coming here, I expected the Count wouldn’t be able to take overall command.”

No matter how prestigious the Count was and how likely he was to become the next Grand Prince, since it was ultimately an eastern battle, it would naturally be difficult for a Count from the west to become supreme commander.

Mikhail explained that they had strategized for a prestigious noble from an eastern family to take supreme command, while the Count would assist and significantly expand his influence.

“But now I see these people have no intention of fighting at all! You should have heard what they were saying!”

“Hmm… the situation is taking a strange turn.”

“His Excellency was also greatly disappointed… ah, but the castle lord here still seems to have thoughts of fighting…”

Mikhail hung his head low.

“Whether His Excellency will be able to persuade them…”

Silence soon filled the room.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I ended up holding you and lamenting for no reason…”

“Not at all. Sir, since we’ve come this far, there must be a good way.”

At Viktor’s reliable words, Mikhail also forced a smile.

“That’s right… I should stop making weak sounds. By the way Sir, didn’t you say you had something to tell me?”

“Hmm… well, it’s this.”

Since he had just heard about the irresponsible attitude of the eastern lords, he wondered if he might be adding fuel to the fire, but at Mikhail’s urging, he eventually began to speak.

“Is that so…? This is really…”

Mikhail smiled coldly, unbelievably different from the person who had just been so passionate.

“Well, whatever they scheme, what could they really do? But I thought you should know about it.”

Viktor added calmly.

Mikhail nodded, pleased with that attitude.

“You told me well. It seems the young fellows are harboring jealousy toward you for no reason… I’ll keep a good watch so they can’t do anything foolish.”

If he had known that one of the reasons they became even more jealous and competitive toward Viktor was because Mikhail constantly nagged them while comparing them to Viktor, he couldn’t have easily raised his face, but unfortunately, Mikhail didn’t think it might be partly his fault.

“Nevertheless, if those lacking fellows dare to pick a fight with you… I have just one request.”

“…?”

Mikhail smiled refreshingly.

“It’s about time someone straightened out their minds. As long as they don’t die, I don’t care what you do.”

The two men’s eyes met.

Viktor extended his hand.

“Hmm, don’t worry. Though it’s only if they come at me…”

‘Now that I have permission, I can teach them a moderate lesson.’

As Viktor’s eyes seemed to gleam coldly, Mikhail inwardly felt sympathy for the young knights.

‘It’s admirable that they have the courage to challenge this monster-like knight after seeing what he’s done so far… I hope they learn a bit more about their own inadequacy from this opportunity.’

---

The outskirts of Radovitz Fortress.

The fortress, which had begun to show vitality after a long time, was welcoming new reinforcements and remained lit until late at night.

Unlike the quiet surroundings, the bustling noise from the fortress side spread far into the distance.

“Tch… those bastards are really having a party.”

A barbarian warrior who had been watching the fortress grumbled and thumped his lower back.

His back was stiff from lying down too long.

“Well, whether those guys play around or not isn’t our business. More importantly, are you sure? That the one who entered Radovitz now is a high noble of the principality?”

“Yes, I confirmed it. Count Yakobski, the noble who withstood the warrior leader’s attack and pushed back instead. The banner is also certain.”

“Good. Everyone get up.”

At one man’s words, several warriors who had been lying in the reed grass began to rise one by one.

“Captain, so finally…?”

The man smiled at his subordinate’s words.

He seemed excited, showing his gums as he pleasantly shook his hands.

Each time he did so, the curved horns on his head swayed back and forth.

“Ah, report to the Grand Chief. If we just capture that one, this war is certainly our victory!”

“When capturing that guy, naturally the captain will take the lead, right?”

“Hah, that’s obvious. If not me, who would go?”

Each time the man boasted proudly, his large muscles writhed as if showing themselves off.

The warrior who had first spoken rubbed his nose bridge while flattering him.

“Hehe… after all, if not our captain who is the next Grand Chief, who would end this war?”

“You… watch your words. There are also older brothers, so what am I…”

While scolding his subordinate with those words, the man’s smile deepened as if he wasn’t displeased, and other warriors also began praising the man, not wanting to be left out.

“Haha, we all believe it. That the captain will truly ascend to the position of next Grand Chief rather than the other young masters!”

“Seriously, where else is there a warrior who works directly in the field like the captain? There’s no comparison with the other young masters!”

“Captain Tumen! We only trust you, captain!”

“You guys… heheh. You speak well. But remember this one thing. Our position will also change depending on whether we capture that guy or not!”

“Yes, captain!”

Shaking his sturdy yet flexible horns, the young man glared at Radovitz Fortress.

A man with such deep ambition for glory that he had voluntarily taken on the role of monitoring the most dangerous front of the principality.

The third son of the steppe’s Grand Chief, Tumen’s eyes blazed as if sparks were flying.