The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 65 - Tribal Conflict (30)

“They’re coming!”

At someone’s shout, people all turned to look at the castle gates.

Unlike when they had departed, the large castle gates opened wide and knights with proud expressions slowly began to reveal themselves, causing cheers to ring out.

“Waaah, it’s the knights!”

“The saviors of Radovitz!”

“Barbarian slaughterers!”

With all sorts of embarrassing epithets, flower petals were scattered, and between them knights with arrogant expressions slowly passed by on horseback.

They had every right to do so.

The knights each waved their hands or loudly recited their military exploits while showing off, and the people responded with even louder cheers.

It was the natural privilege that those who returned victorious from battle could enjoy.

The faces of the eastern alliance knights who couldn’t participate and had to wait inside the castle twisted.

‘Originally, I should have been in that position too…’

‘Hah… I’m so frustrated I could go crazy. Such a golden opportunity to display my martial prowess like this…’

Enjoying even their faces consumed with jealousy to their heart’s content, soon the knights’ procession ended and attendants and cavalry began marching.

Originally they wouldn’t have been able to dare take such a position, but because it had been such a miraculous victory, this time they too could specially obtain the right to receive people’s cheers.

However, the people of the castle sending cheers could sense something strange.

No matter how much they looked, they couldn’t find the figure of the one knight who could be called the protagonist of this battle.

Gradually more people began looking around and murmuring voices grew louder.

“Where on earth is Sir Viktor?”

“Didn’t he pass among the other knights earlier?”

“No, I saw him once from afar and he was an incredibly large person. There’s no way he wouldn’t catch the eye…”

Finally, with someone taking the lead, people shouted loudly.

“Where is Sir Viktor?”

“The hero of victory, Sir Viktor! Please show yourself!”

“I say, where on earth has the Sir gone?”

At their words, the attendants were flustered, and the expressions of the knights who had gone ahead to meet the nobles who would be waiting for them became bitter.

One knight gritted his teeth and quietly muttered.

“Sir… please be safe…”

---

Turning back time a little, on the way back.

“My word, Lord Viktor! What on earth has happened?!”

When Lukovich made a fuss, Viktor waved his hand.

“Quiet. Others will hear.”

He sighed as he looked around.

Because Lukovich’s voice had been so loud, those with sharp ears were already gathering one by one wondering what was happening.

‘I don’t particularly want to show weakness…’

It was true that the knights were quite favorable toward him, but there was nothing wrong with being careful.

Even if they were comrades who had shared life and death together, there was no need to reveal weaknesses.

While Viktor was carefully continuing such thoughts, Mikhail, who had approached closest first, spoke to Lukovich.

“Say, what’s the matter? Has something happened to the Sir?”

Before Viktor could stop him, Lukovich pointed to his waist area.

“Look there. Lord Viktor has suffered such a large wound but says nothing about it…”

“Hmm… this is…!”

He had roughly rolled up his surcoat to cover it, but as blood gradually seeped out while riding, it was finally discovered.

“Sir, excuse me for a moment.”

When Mikhail lifted the surcoat, he let out another heavy groan.

Blood was continuously flowing down.

As if the chain mail had been torn away and metal rings had torn the flesh, raw red flesh was visible in its entirety.

Viktor opened his mouth as if it were nothing.

“It’s bearable, so don’t worry about it.”

“…This isn’t a wound that can be endured just by enduring, is it? And why are you suddenly using formal speech again?”

“Ahem… during battle it was urgent so I… I apologize.”

“The Sir sometimes has somewhat undisciplined aspects when I look at him…”

When Mikhail shook his head as if incredulous, the other knights who had been slowly approaching also confirmed Viktor’s wound and cried out in horror.

“My goodness, Sir Viktor is injured!”

“Why didn’t you speak up quickly, Sir!”

“…Was there any need to announce that I was injured during battle? And I said it was bearable.”

Viktor muttered while looking at those making more of a fuss than the person involved, but his words had no effect at all.

“Prepare a stretcher immediately! And call my attendant. Sir, don’t worry. My attendant has considerable skill in emergency treatment.”

“When on earth did you get injured like this? Surely not…!”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but put away the stretcher since it’s not needed. And if you’re really worried about me, it would be better to quickly return to the castle rather than doing this here.”

When those who were usually tough as nails were stamping their feet not knowing what to do as if looking at a critically ill patient, Viktor looked at them with an incredulous expression.

“But, but still… Sir, will you really be alright?”

“I said I’m fine, so why do you keep going on!”

Finally, only after he got angry did they calm down somewhat, but even so they didn’t persistently stay away.

Mikhail spoke solemnly.

“This won’t do. If something happens to the Sir, it would be terrible, so you must enter the castle first with me. Send a messenger to prepare healers.”

“…But Sir Mikhail, then what about the Sir’s honor and glory for achieving the greatest merit?”

The knights threw counterarguments with hesitant expressions.

They were genuinely worried about Viktor’s injury, while also concerned that he wouldn’t be able to stand in the honorable position that the victor should receive.

‘Do just one thing…’

Though Viktor had come to understand the knights’ way of thinking to some degree, that fanatical obsession with honor was still something he couldn’t easily adapt to.

But there was no choice.

Even that Mikhail was muttering with a pained expression.

“It’s truly lamentable that Sir Viktor cannot enjoy the honor he rightfully deserves… but the Sir’s life is more important. Moreover…”

Mikhail turned his head and whispered quietly to Viktor.

“If the fact of the Sir’s injury becomes known, there will be more than one or two who will be shaken. The Count himself of course, the eastern lords, and even mere mercenaries and commoners…”

“You’re building me up nicely, but it’s not to that extent, is it?”

Viktor countered with a somewhat incredulous face, but Mikhail was serious.

“With this victory, the Sir has become a much more important figure than you think. Having actually succeeded in that bold declaration in the great hall, you would receive overwhelming support from the people in the castle who heard that story.”

“…”

“If it becomes known that such a person has suffered a major injury, it wouldn’t be strange if the morale that finally rose plummeted. Moreover, if this news reaches the enemies, it would clearly be bad.”

“…I understand. Then let’s go in first and receive treatment. Well, it is bearable, but I am concerned about blood poisoning.”

At Viktor’s words, Mikhail nodded with an apologetic expression.

“You’ve made a truly great decision. Sir, though it may be painfully agonizing to be unable to attend the glorious occasion… even so, your honor will not fade.”

‘Is it really that unbearable…’

For Viktor, he was merely a bit worried about news of his injury spreading to those around him, but had no particular interest in glorious occasions and such.

‘If it hadn’t been revealed it would be one thing, but since everyone already knows, I should just go receive treatment.’

That was about the extent of his thinking – it wasn’t as if he would die if he didn’t receive people’s cheers.

Viktor, whose thoughts had wandered somewhere, tilted his head.

“But Sir Mikhail. If you come with me, won’t you also be unable to participate in that glorious occasion? Is that alright?”

At those words, Mikhail gave a faint smile.

“I too have regrets… but even so, ensuring you can safely receive treatment is more important to me than shining in that place.”

“…”

Viktor scratched his cheek for no reason at the strange feeling.

However, it wasn’t a bad feeling.

“Sir Mikhail, then please.”

Once the two had made their decision, what followed was swift.

Viktor and Lukovich, and Mikhail who was accompanying them without bringing a separate attendant.

The three were able to secretly arrive at the castle before the others.

This was the whole story of why Viktor wasn’t visible in the procession.

---

While the knights who couldn’t reveal the injury fled toward the inner castle, and the innocent attendants and cavalry were being pestered by the people, Viktor was resting lying down in comfortable attire.

He kept touching his waist with a look of wonder.

‘No matter how much I look at it, it’s amazing.’

Just as when he had witnessed Yelchin being treated before, this era’s treatment methods were truly bizarre beyond measure.

Certainly compared to his previous life, they were at such a primitive and undeveloped level that it was a continuous series of shocks, but in some aspects they possessed mystical power that easily surpassed modern medicine.

The healer who came from the monastery prayed briefly, then poured clear water claiming to be holy water onto Viktor’s wound.

Viktor had been nodding along up to that point, but when the healer took out a red-hot iron cross and tried to brand the wound area, he was startled and involuntarily flinched.

-Sir, don’t worry. This cross blessed by God will purify your wound.

-…It’s not just branding the wound with fire?

Truly mysteriously, even when the red-hot cross was brought to the affected area, he felt no pain at all.

Though there was the smell of burning flesh sizzling, when the bandages that had been wrapped were later unwound to reveal the wound that had begun to heal remarkably, Viktor unknowingly made the sign of the cross.

‘Some kind of sorcery? No… perhaps sorcery resembles this side’s abilities.’

Of course, if other priests or healers had known the thoughts he had while making the sign of the cross, they would have foamed at the mouth, but fortunately they didn’t have the skill to read others’ minds.

Whatever the case, thanks to this Viktor was able to heal quickly.

As he yawned lightly and was building up his energy, someone made their presence known and spoke to him.

“Sir, how is the wound?”

“Count.”

“Ah, stay lying down. It’s fine.”

Count Yakobski came in with a bright smile and sat down in a nearby chair.

“…Your Excellency, thanks to you it seems almost healed. Thank you for your concern.”

“How is it thanks to me? It’s thanks to the castle lord having invited excellent healers in advance. Still, they say these people are renowned in this region, and indeed they are excellent.”

According to the Count, the healers from that monastery were famous for not moving even if given a fortune.

Even ordinary nobles couldn’t dare to call them, the Count shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, they’re originally people who devote most of their power to helping the poor and righteous… they treated you quite gladly. Truly a fortunate thing.”

‘Indeed, not just anyone can receive such treatment.’

As Viktor was nodding, the Count suddenly opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“Sir, though it may seem repetitive, let me sincerely thank you once again.”

Then he rose from his seat and slowly bowed his head.

Viktor waved his hands in slight embarrassment.

“Your Excellency, please don’t do this. I can hardly dare to receive it.”

“Sir, as I’ve said before regarding the Leshy matter, excessive modesty is worse than none. You are fully qualified for this.”

The Count sent blazing eyes and continued his words.

“With this great victory, we were able to prevent being surrounded by those bastards. Their leader also suffered major injuries and retreated. Truly, you have saved countless lives in this castle.”

“…”

“Moreover, you quietly returned to the castle, declining even the most glorious position you rightfully should have enjoyed, out of concern for disturbance. No knight of past or present could easily act as you did.”

‘…Isn’t that just because knights are blockheads.’

Viktor didn’t bother to share his inner thoughts.

It seemed a bit awkward to interrupt the Count who was speaking so earnestly.

“You are truly a knight among knights, a warrior among warriors. Praise offered to such a person wouldn’t be wasted even if it lasted a week.”

The Count’s continuous extreme praise made Viktor uncomfortable as he listened, but he didn’t stop talking.

“The castle lord is fired up saying he should grant you a title right now. No matter what reward is given to you, it couldn’t possibly match your worth.”

‘…A title, is it.’

Viktor fell into deep thought.

Certainly with the merit he had achieved, it might not be bad to expect a fief.

While titles and fiefs were difficult to expect from just participating in one or two battles and achieving merit, in fact he had practically stopped the storm-like advance of the barbarians in addition to all the numerous nobles here, so with this level of merit he might be able to aim for it.

At that moment, the Count’s face hardened as he raised his voice.

“Truly a shameless fellow, isn’t that right? To dare come all the way here and still try to look after his own interests.”

“…?”

Viktor looked at the Count with a puzzled expression.

He couldn’t understand what he was trying to say now.

“Isn’t it obvious he’s coveting you! What qualification does that man have to grant you a title, and even if he did, how good a fief could he give you? His greed is excessive, yes. That’s right!”

“…Your Excellency, what do you mean…?”

The Count declared firmly.

“I will prevent a great knight who achieved such merit from falling to become a mere viscount’s vassal, even if dirt enters my eyes! Don’t worry, Sir!”

‘So… don’t receive a title and fief, is that what you’re saying now?’

Viktor’s expression instantly hardened.

He clenched his fists and threw a question at the Count.

“Then, I would like to hear Your Excellency’s opinion. What do you desire from me?”

‘Even if you’re a Count, I won’t forgive coveting my rights.’

Having fought hard enough to sustain injuries, he wasn’t having any worthless schemes from behind.

Just as Viktor’s brow was about to furrow, the Count dropped a bombshell declaration.

“Sir, let me be clear. I can no longer work together with these eastern people!”

“…!”

“I will independently organize an army and go on the counterattack. Coincidentally, I’ve also received word that quite a lot of reinforcements from the center are almost arriving.”

The Count spread both hands and sent eyes that blazed like fire.

“When that happens, I plan to entrust you with command of an army. You will no longer need anyone’s orders. Sir Viktor, from now on do as you wish.”

“…!!”

“I dare make one oath. All lands you occupy, all territories will be entirely entrusted to your hands! It’s time for a margrave to emerge in this land too.”

“…!!!”

Tremendous words that even the next heir to the principality couldn’t easily handle flowed from the Count’s mouth.