The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 76 - Knight of Ascension (11)

The eastern region of the principality was truly a series of chaos.

Not only had various parts of the east been reduced to rubble as the war between the barbarians and the principality dragged on, but the war situation was becoming increasingly complex.

The barbarians’ momentum, which had overwhelmingly defeated the principality’s armies during the early stages of the war, reached its peak when they smashed the eastern alliance in a single battle.

After the lords fled to Radovitz Castle, the east became no different from an ownerless land, and the barbarians freely ravaged the principality’s territory without any interference, devoting themselves to plunder and massacre.

However, this advantage was short-lived. Rumors quickly spread that Bohdan, who had stood at the forefront of the eastern offensive and emerged as a new power through his tremendous achievements, had been defeated while attacking Radovitz Castle, causing the barbarians’ offensive to temporarily halt.

Now, a strange current was spreading among the steppe tribes.

Rumors began circulating that the Grand Chief would purge Bohdan’s faction, which had been growing rapidly day by day with tremendous power.

Along with stories that Bohdan had refused the Grand Chief’s summons to hold him accountable for his defeat, the barbarians’ expedition against the principality was entering a new phase.

Respected elders of the steppe sighed that they had thought this time would be different.

As the war temporarily entered a lull, they could clearly see the ancient traditions of the steppe tribes beginning to stir again.

Thorough survival of the fittest.

Cases where strengthened and powerful tribes devoured existing tribes, or were devoured before that could happen, were commonplace.

The sparks of tribal conflict continued to grow regardless of the massive enemy called the principality standing before them.

---

Bang!

A violently thrown helmet rolled across the floor.

“Grr… damn it, damn it!”

Along with it, rough curses echoed through the military tent, but the people present remained motionless, maintaining their stance in tense silence.

They were certain that if they irritated the man before them even slightly right now, they would face serious consequences.

The man, Bohdan, bared his sharp teeth and growled.

“Why the hell did things turn out like this! What was the problem? The strategy was perfect. We confirmed that the castle’s food supplies were nearly exhausted, and we properly established the encirclement… though it didn’t suit my temperament, we even followed the principality bastards’ siege methods properly… why did it turn into this mess!”

He threw various objects around in anger, then unconsciously frowned at a stinging pain.

It was pain rising from his empty left arm, something he still hadn’t gotten used to at all.

‘That damned knight bastard…!’

The half-torn mace that man had thrown had mercilessly shredded Bohdan’s arm.

The roughly severed cross-section looked as if it had been torn apart by someone, and it was terrible, with the wound healing slowly.

Only after amputating the arm up to the shoulder, risking death from blood loss, was Bohdan barely able to return alive.

However, the aftereffects still lingered heavily.

The pain that occasionally rose from the already missing area was one such effect, as was his shattered pride, and the fact that his carefully built status and reputation were being shaken in real time.

For the defeat of just one battle, it was quite a painful loss.

Bohdan collapsed weakly into his seat.

The cushion made of quality leather was soft, but Bohdan didn’t have the leisure to enjoy such things.

He muttered with a rarely seen expression of despair.

“How many of the tribes that had gathered below have scattered…?”

An old wolf beastman who had been watching him with a pitying expression approached and spoke.

“When I checked this morning, it seems nearly half of those who had sworn loyalty have returned to their tribal homelands. And… the chiefs of three tribes are waiting for an audience. They, if things continue like this, they plan to deliver an ultimatum to withdraw tribal support…”

“Damn it!”

When Bohdan struck down with his fist in anger, a nimble warrior spoke coldly.

“Chief, shall I kill them?”

“What are you talking about right now!”

At the old wolf’s protest, the warrior replied without changing expression.

“Kulak, they’re people who attach themselves here and there depending on the situation. If we don’t deal with them strictly, deserters will continue to increase.”

Kulak glared at the young warrior with an expression of disbelief.

Bohdan’s forces were already precarious as it was.

If they carelessly killed the tribal chiefs under their command at a time like this, it was obvious their forces would collapse in no time.

‘His martial prowess is useful, but his head doesn’t work… being merely cruel won’t make things work…’

Kulak quietly turned his gaze to his lord.

Most of Bohdan’s subordinates were like this.

Those who had gathered, captivated by his charisma, were cruel and rough excellent steppe warriors, but that was all.

With Bohdan, who practically played the role of the brain, falling into despair, they were beginning to act as they pleased.

‘Chief… you must come to your senses quickly. The only one who can lead us wolves is you, Chief…!’

While Bohdan was also quite ruthless and cold-blooded, he possessed the bearing of a hero beyond that.

It was only possible because he was Bohdan that he could raise the Uley wolves, who had been driven to the frontier, back to this position and draw in countless tribes with his outstanding charisma.

At least Kulak thought so.

He swallowed once, then opened his mouth with determination.

“Chief, this is no time to sit here in dejection. Even at this moment, those who want to attack us are moving. We must respond!”

“…”

Kulak carefully knelt on one knee.

“Chief, please lead us. Please protect us… the only one who can do that is you, Chief.”

“…Kulak.”

At that moment, following Kulak’s lead, those gathered in the room began kneeling one by one.

“Chief, please lead us!”

Bohdan slowly looked around at them.

Despite the humiliating defeat, they still believed in and followed him.

Bohdan’s eyes, which had seemed extinguished, began to come back to life.

“Right… I can’t collapse like this. Of course not… I, Bohdan, am not destined to fall like this, isn’t that right?”

“That’s right, Chief!”

“Yes, I am one who will become the father of the steppes! I cannot be broken by a mere defeat!”

Bohdan sprang to his feet and bared his teeth.

It was his previous appearance, full of confidence and ambition, that his subordinates had been captivated by.

“The Grand Chief summoned me? How ridiculous. No one can give me orders! Go and tell them right away. If they really want to hold me accountable, it would be faster to come find me directly!”

“Yes, Chief!”

As the warriors responded to Bohdan’s momentum, rough and violent energy overflowed through the military tent.

He had returned to his usual appearance.

“And, Stenka?”

“Your command.”

The nimble warrior who had lightly quarreled with Kulak quickly bowed.

“Bring those chief bastards before me immediately. I’ll deal with them directly.”

“Yes, Chief.”

When Stenka disappeared without a sound, Bohdan finally called Kulak in a gentle voice.

“Kulak, my wise warrior.”

“Chief, your command!”

“Thank you for awakening me. As you said, the only one who can lead and protect the wolves is I, Bohdan. I nearly abandoned these ones who are like my children by getting caught up in my emotions.”

“…No, Chief. We simply believe in and follow only you.”

Even at Bohdan’s words, which could sound arrogant, Kulak bowed his head without concern.

After all, his words weren’t wrong either.

Bohdan looked at his empty arm with a bitter expression and continued.

“It might have been my mistake to underestimate that knight… a precise surprise attack under cover of night, overwhelming force, power strong enough to charge even after receiving a witch’s sorcery with his body… he was truly the principality’s hidden sword.”

“…It’s my negligence. Perhaps if I had charged with full force then…”

“Ah, no. Rather, that was fortunate. Looking at him, I have the feeling that if you, Kulak, had charged then, you wouldn’t be by my side now.”

“…”

When Kulak, who had directly witnessed Viktor’s power, couldn’t bring himself to argue and kept his mouth shut, Bohdan let out a chuckle.

Unlike when he had been depressed, it was definitely a laugh that seemed to have regained his composure.

“But… there’s not no way to deal with him at all.”

“Chief, do you have a plan?”

At Kulak’s cautious question, Bohdan confidently nodded.

“Ah, our ancestor wolf also said so. When hunting powerful prey, first follow it around and find its weaknesses.”

When Kulak made a puzzled expression, Bohdan touched his nose bridge and fiercely scowled.

“If it’s certain that knight bastard is from that small village… let’s see if he can act nonchalantly in front of his own blood.”

“…!”

“Bring him, Kulak.”

“…Please wait a moment.”

Kulak carefully bowed his head and disappeared for a moment before revealing himself again.

He was accompanied by a disheveled man.

“Mmph… mmph…!”

The man, who came gagged and covered in scabs all over his body, couldn’t even raise his head and collapsed face-down on the floor.

Bohdan looked at him and spoke indifferently.

“You must be having a hard time dealing with that daughter of yours? It’s your karma, so who can you blame…”

“Mmph mmph!!”

“Kulak, remove his gag.”

When the gag, dirty with blood and saliva, was removed, the man exhaled roughly and looked up at Bohdan with bloodshot eyes.

“Pl-please, kill me…”

“Oh, I can’t do that. You’re still useful.”

Bohdan smiled coldly with gleaming eyes.

“Igor… was it? They say knights cherish their family members terribly. I’m curious whether he can stand calmly even in front of you. Hahaha!”

“Please… kill me…”

The man’s groans and Bohdan’s confident laughter echoed through the military tent.

---

“Sir, you are sometimes too lenient.”

“Hmm… I don’t think it’s to that extent.”

“Sometimes I think this: someone as merciful as you, Sir, might be better suited for the priesthood rather than knighthood.”

At Anton’s words, Viktor only scratched his chin.

His words weren’t entirely without merit.

It wasn’t uncommon for those of noble birth to walk the path of priesthood.

Of course, rather than struggling as military chaplains on battlefields like Anton, they usually succeeded in parishes based on their status and wealth…

“God teaches us to embrace even those heathens with His light.”

“I think few can practice that teaching… well, being under someone as faithful as Sir Viktor, perhaps they too might someday be converted.”

Anton continued with a benevolent smile.

“Others might have been anxious… but if it’s you, Sir, who is beloved by God, it’s different.”

“…Haha, I’m just grateful that you see it that way.”

“Even humble… Sir, you really are…”

After taking in Tumen and Alisa, Viktor, who had come to see the priest Anton to have his heathen slaves officially certified, let out a sigh of relief when things passed without major problems.

Perhaps it was worth having been together all this time, as Anton stamped the church’s permit and let it pass without saying much.

‘Tumen is one thing, but I was worried about Alisa… fortunately it passed safely.’

Barbarian slaves weren’t particularly rare in the east, where conflicts with them were frequent.

But witches were different.

While it would be one thing if everyone was unaware, in a situation where the fact that Alisa was a witch was already widely known by the knights who had fought together on the battlefield, taking her in was somewhat burdensome for Viktor as well.

‘Still, since Father has received permission from the diocese, this should get us through most situations.’

Even nobles of high rank like counts or castle lords couldn’t openly complain to him if he had received the Orthodox Church’s permission.

The power of religion in this era was that immense.

With things concluded without problems, Viktor drank the tea Anton served with a comfortable mind.

Most of the business he needed to handle at the castle was finished, so all that remained was to leave once support arrived from the center.

Anton set down his tea and asked a probing question.

“Sir, may I ask how you plan to move forward?”

“Feel free to ask. Actually, I haven’t decided anything definite yet…”

Anton nodded.

“Well, it’s something you need to discuss with His Excellency the Count… but I think it’s amazing how remarkable you are, Sir. Having an independent command of an army the size of a count’s forces at your age is truly uncommon!”

The priest continued his praise with sparkling eyes, asking persistently about future matters.

Perhaps because he was a military chaplain, Anton seemed quite interested in knights’ affairs for a priest, continuously praising Viktor’s achievements and asking tenacious questions about future plans.

‘Does Father inwardly find taking in the witch uncomfortable? He’s being unusually persistent today.’

Just as Viktor was beginning to look troubled, wondering how to change the subject.

Knock, knock.

Unlike last time with Yelchin, Lukovich entered the room with proper, respectful manners.

“Oh, Lukovich. What’s the matter?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation. But this is urgent, so I had to be rude.”

Viktor burst into hearty laughter.

“Why are you being so awkward? Usually you even give me a piece of your mind.”

At Viktor’s words, Lukovich blushed but stubbornly delivered his message.

“…A message has come from His Excellency the Count. Reinforcements have arrived, so he asks that you come to the great hall quickly.”

“Sir, finally…!”

With Anton’s exclamation, Viktor nodded and stood up.

The time for a full-scale attack was finally approaching.