The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family – Chapter 51 – Tribal Conflict (16)

Author: Dawn

Lukovich slowly rode his horse, keeping pace with the people around him.

His master and the other knights were riding a bit ahead of the attendants, chatting among themselves as they traveled.

The journey was smooth.

Though Remolnyaf was said to be quite far, it was a distance that could be covered in less than a day if they rode at full speed.

Even at a leisurely pace, since they had departed at dawn, they could easily arrive by nightfall.

Of course, if they encountered barbarians along the way, that would be a different matter…

‘Surely nothing serious will happen.’

Lukovich thought optimistically.

As many as ten units had left through the city gates simultaneously.

And among them, the unit he belonged to boasted a formidable force that included several knights.

With this much strength, any barbarians they encountered would be the ones to be pitied.

‘Though Lord Viktor seemed to think somewhat differently…’

Lukovich gazed at his master’s back riding ahead in the distance.

Viktor, with his overwhelming build, made all the other knights around him look small in comparison.

This was true even though the other knights were also quite well-trained and boasted impressive physiques.

Moreover, riding Podaga, who was quite large even among warhorses, he seemed to stand a head taller than the others.

‘He’s powerful as it is, but he’s still cautious in some ways.’

Lukovich had seen it clearly.

When the other knights were excited and pleased by Sir Yelchin’s words, Viktor conversely had looked quite displeased!

‘I should stay alert too, just in case.’

Viktor wouldn’t show such an attitude without reason.

As Lukovich was steeling himself while stroking his horse’s mane, someone approached.

“Excuse me… do you have a moment?”

Someone spoke to him from the side.

It was the young squire he had briefly talked with before departure.

“Yes, what is it?”

However, being young didn’t mean he could be treated carelessly.

Lukovich’s status wasn’t particularly high, and while all the attendants here were supposedly similar, he was alone after all.

He didn’t want to cause problems and earn his master’s displeasure.

“I heard that knight is truly remarkable… may I ask about what happened during the expedition?”

“Hmm… well, alright. Come closer.”

Lukovich accepted the squire’s request without much thought.

After all, Viktor’s martial prowess was already known to those who needed to know.

Those who had joined the Count’s army, whether knights or mercenaries, had been busy talking about Viktor to everyone around them.

“By the way, who do you serve…?”

“Ah, I mentioned it but you must have forgotten. I’m a squire serving Sir Yelchin.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. So, so… you were curious about Sir Viktor?”

Lukovich began proudly recounting Viktor’s achievements with a slightly boastful heart.

The young squire listened to Lukovich’s story while appropriately responding.

However, the squire’s eyes gleamed sharply as he listened.

Before long, the sun was setting and darkness arrived.

Though they hadn’t galloped, as a result of walking steadily except for minimal rest, the party now had the village within sight.

Yelchin moved slightly forward and looked around at the people before speaking.

“Remolnyaf is right ahead. We didn’t encounter them on the way, but there are probably quite a few gathered in the village.”

“I say, are you planning to charge in immediately?”

When one knight asked, Yelchin shook his head.

“It would be better to scout first. Don’t you think it’s a bit strange?”

“Hmm… is it?”

“Hey, what do you think, Sir?”

Suddenly, Yelchin looked at Viktor, who was standing with his arms crossed in a corner of the group, and posed a question.

At the unexpected designation, Viktor stared blankly at Yelchin, but he just nodded as if to say go ahead and answer, without saying anything particular.

Viktor calmly opened his mouth.

“We haven’t encountered any barbarians once on our way here. This is indeed something to think about.”

“Perhaps they ran far away after seeing us? Those fellows are quick with such calculations.”

The middle-aged knight beside Viktor offered his opinion as if wondering what the problem was, but his reaction changed at Viktor’s following words.

“Even so, it’s clearly strange. From what I’ve heard, Remolnyaf was the first to be occupied by them and is now being used as a kind of forward base. If so, we should have seen at least their messengers, supply lines, or warriors patrolling nearby at least once. But this is as if… they’ve issued some kind of evacuation order.”

“Oh… certainly, now that you mention it…”

Finding it plausible after hearing it, the knights began nodding.

It was indeed a bit strange no matter how you looked at it.

Unless they knew in advance that they were coming, it would have been natural to see at least some ordinary tribespeople passing by.

Yelchin, who had heard Viktor’s words, loosened his hands with a fierce smile.

“Sir, that’s exactly it. You seem to be the quiet type usually, but when you open your mouth, you speak quite well, don’t you?”

When Viktor shrugged, Yelchin continued without waiting for an answer.

“It’s just as Sir Viktor said. We haven’t seen even an ant on our way here. No matter how scared they were and fled, it’s strange that absolutely no one is visible to this extent. Sirs, this is just my thought but… don’t you think they might have noticed in advance that we were coming?”

“…!”

“Sir Yelchin, what you’re saying is…!”

“A trap, they’ve set a trap?!”

“Well, it could be, that’s what I’m saying. There’s no harm in being cautious. I don’t want to do something stupid like jumping into what might be a trap.”

Yelchin’s words made sense.

The other knights also decided to follow his lead.

No matter how much knights were obsessed with valor to the point of stupidity, they weren’t foolish enough to charge headlong at enemies who would be bristling with thorns.

The knights and attendants gathered separately to discuss how to conduct reconnaissance and what signals to use.

Viktor also talked with Lukovich, who had fallen behind.

“As expected, Lord Viktor, you must have anticipated all of this from the beginning?”

When Lukovich sent him a look of admiration, Viktor made an incredulous expression.

“You sometimes say incomprehensible things. How could I anticipate this? More importantly, Lukovich, be careful from now on. We don’t know what situation might arise.”

At his master’s words, Lukovich thumped his chest confidently.

“Lord Viktor, don’t worry! I’ve trained enough to handle my share now. I’ve been nothing but baggage until now, but it will be different from now on!”

Viktor let out a scoff.

“Well, looking at your equipment alone, you’re not much different from a decent knight, so I’m sure you’ll manage…”

“Sir, do you have a moment?”

Just then, someone interjected between the two and spoke to Viktor.

It was Yelchin.

As Lukovich quickly bowed and stepped aside, Yelchin’s eyes gleamed mysteriously as he spoke again.

“That insight from earlier. It was truly excellent. Your eloquence is outstanding too. I thought you were only exceptional in martial prowess, but now I see you’re also brilliant in strategy.”

“Ah… thank you. But weren’t these things you had already figured out as well?”

When Viktor calmly praised Yelchin and stepped back, his eyes began to gleam even more mysteriously.

“You’re truly modest. Modesty is a good virtue. Though some call it old-fashioned, I at least think the most important virtues for a knight are loyalty and modesty.”

“…”

Viktor said nothing more and met Yelchin’s gaze.

Yelchin scratched his temple, showing his teeth.

“I have a personal fondness for you. How about it, if it’s alright, would you stand by my side in this battle? I think it would be reassuring to have a knight like you guarding my side.”

‘What’s his intention?’

Looking at Yelchin’s fierce smile, it didn’t seem like he purely liked Viktor and wanted to keep him by his side.

Perhaps he had other ulterior motives.

‘Come to think of it, when I first said my name, this man tried to say something… is it related to that?’

As Viktor remained silent and just looked at his face without giving any particular answer, Yelchin’s thick eyebrows twitched.

“Sir, why do you hesitate? I plan to take the vanguard. In other words, if you join me, you can seize the opportunity to overcome danger and hardship as a knight and achieve the highest honor!”

Yelchin delivered his passionate speech to the point where even those nearby felt heated.

Looking at him somewhat pitifully, Viktor made up his mind.

‘I don’t know what he’s thinking but…’

“Very well, Sir Yelchin. With a knight like you, there would be nothing to fear.”

“Ha! You really do speak well! That’s how it should be! Good, good!”

Yelchin thumped his chest with a hearty laugh.

Viktor also revealed a faint smile over his calm expression.

However, his eyes alone gleamed coldly.

‘If anything happens, I’ll just beat them all up.’

Though Viktor wouldn’t admit it, in the end, he too was an unavoidable knight.

The advance party’s report was more ordinary than expected.

Barbarian sentries were standing guard at the village entrance and on the hastily rebuilt palisades, and at a glance, what appeared to be ordinary tribespeople could be seen moving about inside the village.

“What, it was nothing special.”

“I guess it was just coincidence.”

The knights seemed ready to let it pass without further comment.

Even to them, Yelchin and Viktor’s words had been reasonable deductions.

Rather than that, now that it was confirmed there was no trap, they were clearly struggling to contain their itching hands, wanting to charge quickly.

Watching this, Yelchin looked at Viktor.

“What do you think?”

“Hmm… we have no choice but to go and see.”

“That’s true.”

Yelchin rode to the front.

As he looked around the assembly with fierce eyes, not only the knights but also the squires and servants began to focus on Yelchin’s mouth with anticipation.

“Everyone.”

His heavy voice rang out.

“Prepare to charge.”

Clank! Clank! Clank!

No loud cheers were heard.

Only the sounds of putting on helmets and raising weapons echoed.

However, the excitement and killing intent of those gathered here was clearly transmitted.

Viktor also tightened his chin strap and drew the battle axe he had strapped to his back.

‘Phew…’

His eyes blazed as if on fire.

From now on, he had to focus only on the enemies before him.

His entire body relaxed lightly, and his muscles writhed as if struggling.