The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family – Chapter 92 – Knight of Ascension (27)

Author: Dawn

Tumen’s bold words were the kind that could not easily be overlooked, at least for the barbarians present.

Khan.

It was a title that no one had dared to utter since the first Grand Chief.

While the warriors looked at each other with expressions showing they didn’t know how to react, the woman who had maintained silence throughout finally began to speak slowly.

“…Do you even know what you’re saying right now?”

“That’s right! Let me ask you in return – why do you think my words are preposterous?”

At Tumen’s confident words, the woman sighed.

“…Khan, you’re like looking at a madman seriously discussing some legendary tale.”

“Ha! Then would you call your father a madman too? You seem to have forgotten that Bohdan was the one who desired that position more than anyone.”

At Tumen’s words, the woman couldn’t refute that fact and bit her lips for a moment before speaking again.

“Fine, let’s say that’s true. But if you thought we would revere that knight just because you say such things now, you’re gravely mistaken. The enemy of our chief and a hunting dog of the principality becoming the great king of the steppes? You’re out of your mind!”

The woman gripped the blade aimed at her throat with her hand.

The blade dug into her palm and blood flowed, but she growled as if it didn’t hurt at all.

“And to think he’s the brother of that bastard who deserves to be chewed up and spat out! No matter how much the law of the steppes is survival of the fittest, I absolutely cannot accept it. Just kill me instead!”

‘Damn, this isn’t working…’

Tumen’s previously confident face began to show traces of panic.

The woman’s reaction was much more stubborn than he had thought.

If it had been him, he would have seriously considered such talk.

Whether they were principality people or his father’s enemy, if they respected steppe traditions and showed their strength by hunting that Rock Demon Serpent, he would have thought them worth following.

Tumen wasn’t particularly strange – most steppe warriors were like that.

No matter what tribe they came from or what they looked like, anyone who respected tradition and had strength could be revered and respected.

In fact, weren’t the other warriors except for the woman unable to easily speak up and just watching each other’s reactions?

‘Damn… it seems this woman’s resentment toward the Kobarov family runs deeper than I thought… what should I do?’

From Tumen’s perspective, the woman surprisingly didn’t seem to have much emotion about the fact that her father had been killed.

Rather, it felt like she couldn’t accept it because Viktor was Igor’s brother.

In that she valued personal grudges more than blood ties, this woman was an extremely ordinary steppe person, but that made her all the more difficult to persuade.

As Tumen fidgeted, unable to find words to counter in the moment, Viktor uncrossed his arms and spoke.

“Enough, that’s far enough.”

“Lord Viktor…!”

“It would be stranger if such words could persuade them anyway. Tumen, you’ve worked hard, so step back.”

“No, that’s not it… please wait just a moment!”

Tumen tried to persuade Viktor in panic, but he was already gripping his axe.

“Rather than that, it would be better to go outside and try encouraging surrender. Ah, and when you do, leave out that ridiculous talk about kings and such. If your nonsense makes even those who would have been obedient start rioting to be killed instead, I won’t forgive you.”

‘Damn it, because of that woman…’

Originally it would have been words that would definitely work on the warriors, but because the woman reacted so sensitively, it ended up giving Viktor a completely negative impression.

Tumen glared at the back of the woman’s head while grinding his teeth, then swung his blade roughly.

The blade slipped from his grip and blood spattered, but he didn’t care.

“You’ll regret this.”

“…”

The woman said nothing and only glared at Viktor while clenching her fist.

Seeing that, even Tumen had no choice but to sigh and give up on persuasion.

With resentment that deep, she wouldn’t listen no matter what anyone around her said.

Just as he carefully bowed his head and stepped back, and Viktor was about to raise his axe to deal with those remaining.

“…There is something I wish to ask you.”

“…?”

Kulak, who had been quietly standing in the back until now, finally spoke.

“Kulak, I’m sorry but I have no intention of wasting more time uselessly. Either die or surrender.”

Viktor threatened slightly while swinging his axe roughly.

Just letting Tumen try to persuade them had been enough.

Anything more was a waste of time.

As if guessing Viktor’s thoughts, Kulak nodded and quickly continued.

“What I want to ask you is just one thing. I merely wanted to confirm whether that young fool’s words are really true.”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you truly resolved to become the rightful ruler of this land, following the laws of the steppes?”

“Kulak, stop spouting nonsense!”

The woman who had been quiet screamed, but he paid no heed.

“If you truly wish to participate formally in tribal conflict according to steppe tradition, not as an invader from the principality… I, Kulak, will gladly follow you.”

“…!”

Shock descended upon the room.

Kulak, the chief’s most devoted retainer and confidant, had declared he would follow the knight who had killed his lord before anyone else.

The woman who hadn’t budged even at Tumen’s words staggered.

She opened her remaining eye wide with a shocked expression.

“Kulak, did you perhaps not hear what I said? No, I must have heard wrong.”

“You didn’t hear wrong, Lady Marzina.”

Kulak faced her with a calm expression.

“If Tumen wasn’t just making up words, and that knight truly harbors such intentions, I can gladly follow him.”

“…This is insane, Kulak… how could you, after seeing all that, how could you…!”

Marzina touched her one eye covered by an eyepatch and flushed bright red, but Kulak remained calm.

“For the tribe.”

“…!”

“Chief Bohdan lived his entire life for himself. His ambition, his greed – everything was only for himself.”

Kulak quietly glanced at the chief’s corpse that was slowly growing cold.

“I’m not saying that was bad. I was happy and honored to follow him. But I am different. If it’s only for the tribe.”

“…”

“If only the name of the Uley Wolf Tribe can continue to the end without being erased from this harsh steppe land.”

Kulak bowed his head to Viktor, who was looking at him with calm eyes.

“And if only Lady Marzina, whom I cherished as my chief’s lineage, can save her life, I can do anything.”

Viktor looked down at the old wolf bowing his head to him.

His resolve was being conveyed without reservation.

Marzina slumped down in her seat as if drained of strength.

“Of course, I have made such a resolve. I don’t know about king… but what I said to Bohdan was sincere.”

At those words, Kulak bowed his head even lower.

“Then that is enough. If Lord Viktor would permit it, could you accept me – no, our tribe?”

His voice was consistently calm.

“Kulak, you’re not someone who can decide such momentous matters carelessly, are you?”

Viktor spoke while glancing at Marzina who was muttering to herself, but Kulak replied without wavering.

“If necessary, I will take the chief’s position myself.”

“Ho… so you plan to usurp the position of the one you were serving until just now.”

“I am prepared to gladly welcome Lady Marzina when she comes to kill me for taking her master’s place.”

Viktor quietly admired him.

Kulak was continuing his loyalty in his own way.

To protect his lord’s daughter, he was prepared to bear even the infamy of being a chief usurper.

“Good. Then prove it.”

Viktor put away his axe and gave Kulak his first command.

“There will be many steppe warriors who haven’t surrendered yet. Cooperate with Tumen and manage them well. If they’re thinking of coming under me, further sacrifice is meaningless.”

Kulak couldn’t help but admire Viktor, who changed even his manner of speech instantly.

‘Steppe warriors…’

He could have just killed them all, but his incredible patience that could endure to the end for his goals, and his unquestionable martial prowess.

On top of that, the decisiveness and flexibility that could change even deeply rooted concepts as if he had been prepared for it.

He was someone who had many similarities to his former lord Bohdan, who had been called a hero.

‘I said it was for Lady Marzina, but… perhaps I…’

Although Kulak was relatively calm due to his deep experience and age, he was fundamentally a warrior living in the harsh steppes.

Thinking that somewhere in his heart, there was definitely a reason of being genuinely attracted to him, not for the tribe and Marzina, Tumen smiled bitterly.

Marzina, whom he had cherished and loved like a granddaughter, was glaring at him as if she had suffered a terrible betrayal.

It was natural since he had essentially brought the entire tribe and faction under the knight who could be called her enemy.

But there was no turning back now.

Kulak looked at the warriors who were now completely at a loss and stamping their feet, and gave orders in a calm voice.

“Escort Lady Marzina. And you, let go of that hand now.”

“…Yes!”

Igor, who had finally fainted as blades kept moving back and forth before his eyes during the rough conversation, could finally be freed from the warrior’s grasp.

Kulak slowly rubbed his neck.

From now on, he would have to do quite a lot of shouting.

Recalling how Tumen had looked at him like a monster as he left the mansion with Kulak, Viktor chuckled.

“Everyone lives with ambition in their hearts.”

Thanks to Kulak’s decision, made under the pretext of being for the tribe and the chief’s daughter, future matters would be much easier.

The main force might have something to say about it, but Viktor had absolutely no intention of giving up on the barbarians.

His rebuke to Tumen had also been because of the talk about kings and such, but his intention to firmly subjugate the barbarians remained unchanged.

“Whether it was your Khan nonsense that worked, Tumen, or whether the old wolf’s long-held ambition was reignited… I can’t know that.”

Either way, it wouldn’t be bad.

He’d have to think a bit more about how to handle that Marzina, the chief’s daughter, and matters concerning his brother.

Viktor left the mansion.

The loud voices of mercenaries searching the village could be heard.

“Count, are you really sure it’s alright?”

“Of course. Rather, I’m the one who wants to ask. Are you really sure you don’t need to come along?”

“…This much is sufficient for me.”

Viscount Odor smiled bitterly.

Count Yakobski standing before him was enthusiastically trying to persuade him to the end and drag him to the battlefield, but the viscount was now sick to death of grappling with barbarians.

Achieving merit was fine, but there was a limit to everything.

No matter what happened, he would not directly participate in this expedition.

Even if it meant slightly going against the heir apparent’s wishes.

Finally, the Count nodded with a regretful expression.

“Very well, if Viscount Odor refuses so firmly…”

“Instead, I didn’t stop the knights who wanted to participate… please take good care of them.”

“Don’t worry, Viscount. They’ll truly be reliable support.”

The two finished their farewells and parted.

The Count left the great hall and leaned against the castle walls.

Although Radovitz wasn’t a small castle, it looked cramped because it was packed full of people.

Among the fluttering military banners, he could see Vasilev on a platform passionately giving orders.

The Count smiled slightly.

Finally, finally the main expeditionary force’s departure was imminent.

‘Setting aside the eastern nobles, it was unexpected that others provided more help than expected…’

Thanks to that, they could gather forces far exceeding expectations.

With this scale, not only those barbarians but even decent small principalities could be conquered in an instant.

‘Sir Viktor… I don’t know what you’re doing now, but wait just a little longer.’

According to the most recent communication, after attacking the supply base, he was approaching where the Grand Chief’s main force was located while making a large detour.

It wasn’t a bad judgment.

But it was also a direction of advance somewhat different from what he had hoped for from Viktor.

‘Since the vanguard’s numbers are small, being cautious isn’t bad, but… still, if it were the Sir Viktor I know, I thought he would naturally charge quickly…’

Though slightly disappointing, the Count smacked his lips saying it couldn’t be helped.

No matter how mighty and excellent a knight he was, there were ultimately limits.

‘In the end, it means I must step forward… hahaha!’

Looking down at the busily moving mercenaries from the highest point of the castle, the Count’s smile deepened.

A hint of arrogance flickered across his face, but there was no one around who could notice it.

In fact, it wasn’t just the Count.

Most of the commanders gathered at Radovitz Castle were confident of victory seeing the enormously assembled forces.

No matter how scary the barbarians were, they surely couldn’t do much against so many people.

Thus the main force set out confidently.

And how much time had passed?

Viktor pressed his head while listening to the blood-covered messenger’s story.

“Tell me once more.”