The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 66 - Knight of Ascension

Viktor pressed his side and quietly fell into thought.

The Count’s face remained consistently serious, but nobles were originally the type who should be able to change their attitude at any time depending on the situation.

‘This is the first time he’s mentioned a specific title, but… it’s too excessive.’

Thanks to this, he was able to cool down quickly instead.

Viktor’s eyes gradually began to narrow.

‘It’s suspicious to take at face value…’

The proposal that he should become a viscount was something he could sufficiently accept, and it was also the typical path for a knight who had become a war hero to advance.

Usually, it was almost standard practice for a knight who had achieved great merit to enter as a vassal under a notable figure in that region.

However, in the viscount’s case, since his own territory wasn’t located near here, there was the problem that if he entered under his command, he would have to leave the east.

‘Though I can’t really call that a problem…’

From Viktor’s perspective, if he thought about it carefully, it wasn’t a bad proposal.

From what he’d heard, Viscount Odor’s territory was located in the fertile lands of the principality’s south.

The weather, the surrounding environment—everything was incomparably better conditions than this barren place.

Of course, he hadn’t heard such stories directly from the viscount, but given what the Count had said and if he was a castle lord, he could reasonably expect that level of proposal.

However, on the other hand, the Count’s proposal that was waiting for an answer right before his eyes was… honestly so outrageous that it was difficult to accept easily.

Even setting aside the merit Viktor had achieved, the conditions were excessively generous.

‘Lend me an army and let me keep all the conquered land? Plus a margrave title? There’s no reason to give this much to a mere knight… Moreover, does the Count really have the power to do such things?’

No matter how great a merit one had achieved, there were proper procedures and limits to everything.

If a knight who had nothing but a sturdy body, no significant connections or wealth, were to occupy all conquered territories and ascend to a margrave title, the surrounding backlash would be tremendous and it would obviously be extremely difficult to properly manage the territory.

‘No, wait… if I think about it carefully, the Count’s intentions have been transparent since he first recommended military service…’

Viktor finally felt his head clearing a bit.

Looking at him, the Count still muttered with a serious face.

“Sir, this may be bewildering, but this is my sincere feeling. A great knight like you naturally has the qualifications.”

‘…Well, I suppose a noble is still a noble after all.’

Viktor now grasped the Count’s inner thoughts to some degree and showed a complex smile.

The Count’s words probably contained some sincerity.

Without considerable goodwill, he wouldn’t have made such a tremendous proposal to a mere knight who wasn’t even his blood relative.

However, at the same time, the Count had certainly completed various calculations in the meantime.

‘From when he sent Sir Mikhail to recommend military service to me, the Count wasn’t someone who tried to hide his intentions much. He had been consistently thinking of raising me in the east from the beginning.’

The Count wanted to raise Viktor to become a powerful figure in the east, then make him a major collaborator in governing the principality.

From that perspective, it was natural behavior to actively try to prevent him from forming a vassal contract with Viscount Odor.

‘If I enter under the castle lord’s command, the fief I’d receive would obviously be in the southern region.’

Viktor slowly bowed his head.

“Your Excellency, those are truly excessive words. No matter what merit I may have achieved, how could I dare speak of a count’s rank? The other lords of the east would obviously strongly object.”

At Viktor’s words, the Count firmly shook his head.

“No, you have sufficient qualifications. And there’s no need to worry about the eastern lords. What qualification do they have to complain about you? If not for you, they would have become the barbarians’ playthings by now.”

‘As expected… the Count doesn’t want me to get along well with the eastern lords.’

Viktor’s eyes gleamed while his head was bowed.

The Count wanted to make Viktor a definite collaborator in the east while simultaneously using him as a pressure stone to keep the eastern lords in check.

He was also clearly promising vast territory and high position to prevent Viktor from completely escaping his control.

Since Viktor, who wasn’t descended from an established noble family, lacked proper connections or wealth to manage territory, he would definitely need the Count’s help to properly establish roots in the east.

‘He probably didn’t intend to give a margrave title, but… since the barbarians are tougher than expected, this must be a statement considering even keeping them in check.’

Viktor slowly raised his head.

Then he shouted to the Count with a deliberately solemn face.

“Your Excellency, if you speak to that extent… this Viktor Kobarov will lead an army and thoroughly subjugate those barbarian bastards. However, please withdraw the excessive promises for now.”

“…You are truly loyal. Without greed too. That’s why I cherish you, but… very well. It won’t be too late to discuss merit after everything is finished.”

The Count smiled warmly, but Viktor didn’t miss it.

The strange emotion that briefly flashed across his eyes.

“But regarding the merit you achieved in this so-called Battle of Radovitz, there will definitely be clear compensation, so don’t worry about that. Ah, and don’t forget my words… you have the qualifications to rise higher. Please don’t fall for the viscount’s temptation.”

“Yes, Your Excellency. Thank you.”

It was a complex emotional current mixed with superiority and regret.

‘Is it because of the Count’s inherent nature? A more thorough noble would never have shown his emotions.’

A person who had received thorough training as a noble, but whose personality didn’t quite suit noble politics.

That was the human being called Count Yakobski.

In the end, the Count returned without noticing that Viktor had figured out his inner thoughts.

No, perhaps he roughly noticed but didn’t care.

He had been someone who clearly revealed his intentions from the beginning by sending Mikhail.

Viktor lay back down in a comfortable position and quietly sighed.

‘It’s certainly an incredible opportunity that won’t come again, but… being dragged along entirely according to his intentions doesn’t suit my temperament either.’

Advancement was good, but Viktor wasn’t kind enough to just watch someone try to put a noose around his neck, regardless of their intentions.

He wasn’t so desperate for advancement that he’d endure that.

“I’m certainly not someone so powerless that I can only watch.”

As Viktor muttered to himself, his eyes began to gleam and shine.

“Countermeasures can come later. First, the barbarians.”

Titles and politics—those were stories for after winning the upcoming war.

Even amid the complexities in his mind, that alone presented a firm and clear goal.

---

“No, Sir! Are you really not going to accept? Why? For what reason!”

Sir Yelchin’s eyebrows twitched wildly as his face reddened.

Rather than being angry, it seemed like he was genuinely regretful.

“Hmm, I still think it’s excessive for me. More than that, Sir, though it’s late, congratulations on your recovery.”

“Ah, thank you. Though it’s belated, if not for you I would have died. I’m sincerely grateful… no, that’s beside the point! That’s one thing, this is another! Sir, don’t change the subject and think about it once more!”

‘Doesn’t work?’

When his deflection failed, Viktor scratched his chin and turned his head.

While the viscount who had actually been rejected and Lusimov beside him remained quiet, Yelchin, who had only been lying in bed until now, was making the most fuss.

“Sir Yelchin, please calm that temper. What if your wounds fester from this?”

Lusimov slowly tried to pacify Yelchin, but he couldn’t easily calm down.

“No, while I was just lying down, Sir Viktor achieved such merit! I’m ashamed and embarrassed of myself, but Sir Viktor is the real deal! He has the qualifications to receive a title!”

“…Anyone watching would think I’m your family member.”

Viktor threw out a light joke, but no one laughed.

Seeing Viktor awkwardly scratching his chin again, the viscount spoke up.

“Sir Yelchin, calm down. It doesn’t seem Sir Viktor rejected me with the intention of insulting me.”

“…No, I didn’t mean to go that far…”

“Really? Weren’t you angry on behalf of me, your lord?”

“…No, that’s not it. I apologize.”

After easily subduing Yelchin, the viscount smiled slightly and addressed Viktor.

“I don’t believe so, but you didn’t reject my proposal with the intention of truly insulting me, did you?”

Viktor shook his head with a firm and trustworthy expression.

“Castle lord, absolutely not. I simply consider it still an excessive proposal for me.”

“Haha, very well. The Count must have given you separate hints anyway. Not to accept my proposal.”

“…”

“No need to be so stiff. I would have done the same. Forget what I said earlier—it was a joke, haha.”

The viscount laughed casually as if he had expected this, then continued.

“Then how can I repay my debt to you… I’m from the south, so my face isn’t that thick. If I give you nothing like this, how much will people curse me?”

As the viscount fell into thought while speaking with strangely barbed words, Lusimov beside him wiped cold sweat and addressed Viktor.

“My lord sometimes enjoys unique jokes. From a subordinate’s position, it’s truly perplexing how to respond, but he doesn’t actually have any particular intentions, so please just listen and let it pass.”

‘Did Lukovich feel this way too?’

With a strange sense of déjà vu, Viktor nodded.

Like his faithful servant had advised, it seemed better to reduce the number of jokes in the future.

From the listening position, it was more of an ordeal than expected trying to figure out how to react.

Then Yelchin, who had been sulking after being scolded by the viscount, slowly approached.

“Sir, could I see you separately after the audience?”

“Sir Yelchin, you’re not planning to say something strange again, are you? Please, I hope you know that Sir Viktor is a knight belonging to the Count’s formation.”

While Lusimov watched him with hawk-like eyes, Viktor readily accepted.

He too felt uncomfortable continuing to face each other after rejecting the viscount’s proposal.

The matter of compensation wasn’t something that could be resolved by thinking about it briefly, so that day’s audience somehow ended safely.

However, Yelchin’s face remained hardened as he followed Viktor leaving the room after greeting the viscount.

---

As soon as they arrived at Yelchin’s room, he suddenly bowed his head.

“Sir, let me express my gratitude once more. You are my life’s benefactor.”

“What life’s benefactor… Your ability to survive even after taking those arrows was entirely due to your tenacious vitality and the monastery’s healers. You don’t need to bow to me.”

“No, didn’t you defeat those bastards and bring me back to the castle… And I have something I absolutely must apologize to you for.”

Yelchin’s eyebrows twitched with an expression mixing regret and shame.

“I… I misunderstood you! I’m truly sorry.”

At Yelchin’s sudden apology, Viktor hesitated briefly, not knowing how to respond.

“I secretly conducted background investigations on you, thinking you might be from that ‘Kobarov’ family. It was truly unknightly behavior.”

“…”

“But all of that was my arrogance. You are truly an excellent knight. You even saved the life of someone inadequate like me. Sincerely, I apologize, and I’m also grateful… I won’t dare ask for forgiveness.”

Yelchin bowed even deeper.

Viktor’s face began to harden strangely.