The treatment of Sir Ortwin wasn’t something that could be completed overnight.
Even if Keldric’s unintentional actions had made early treatment possible, there was still the need to eliminate the parasitic larvae spreading throughout the body and drain the blood laced with toxins.
Thus, whenever Niccolo went to perform bloodletting, Keldric never failed to follow him. Alyssa, whose desire to learn as a mage was equally strong, did the same.
“Why do you use a brass basin?”
“Brass is a metal that drives away bad energy. If you fill a brass basin with medicine and use that water to treat the affected area, it prevents festering after treatment.”
Watching Niccolo perform bloodletting, Keldric asked questions about anything he was curious about, leaving nothing out.
With Niccolo freely offering his knowledge, Keldric didn’t want to miss a single detail.
Though much of the treatment methods of this era leaned heavily toward superstition, there were still practical and useful techniques among them.
“Is there a particular reason to boil vinegar? The smell seems awful.”
“Vinegar prevents festering in the affected area, but the most important part is the sour smell. By creating an artificial stench similar to that of decay, the parasitic larvae mistake it for the real thing and come out of the body.”
“So… they’re similar to maggots, then?”
“Exactly. The parasitic larvae thrive on decayed bodily fluids. They induce the host’s death by excreting toxins for that very reason.”
The conversations flowed like a lively lecture, with Keldric and Alyssa asking eager questions and Niccolo providing detailed explanations.
Niccolo didn’t seem to harbor any hesitation about sharing his medical knowledge. Even when asked during brief breaks when he might reasonably have felt annoyed, he wiped his sweat and answered earnestly.
Thanks to this, Keldric managed to acquire some useful medical knowledge, even if it wasn’t much.
Before this, his understanding of medicine was limited to concepts akin to penicillin and other basic antibiotics.
But just as one should follow Roman law when in Rome, it was wise to adapt to the slightly primitive yet insightful medical practices of this world to survive.
Thus, Keldric tried to dig up every bit of potentially helpful medical knowledge.
“After bloodletting, the follow-up treatment seems crucial, doesn’t it?”
“That’s correct. Sir Keldric, you’ve made an excellent point.”
Conversations often followed in which Niccolo, already experienced in such practices, would widen his eyes in amazement at Keldric’s observations.
What Keldric had thought of as basic concerns—such as dealing with anemia or stopping bleeding after extracting blood—were often things most people lacked even rudimentary knowledge about.
In an era where even many knights couldn’t read, it wasn’t surprising that a knight like Keldric, who grasped such matters, would seem extraordinary.
“Sir Keldric, your insight is remarkable,” Alyssa said, echoing the sentiment with admiration.
“…Remarkable?”
“Ahem. Niccolo, please continue with your explanation.”
“Certainly. After bloodletting, the lack of blood disrupts the balance of the four bodily humors. It’s crucial to assist blood production and ensure the bleeding stops.”
Niccolo’s methods for addressing anemia and stopping bleeding impressed Keldric with their plausibility.
“Oak bark helps stop bleeding. If you grind nettles into a paste and apply it to the affected area, then thinly pound oak bark and wrap it with clean cloth around the wound, it works well.”
“Oh…”
“Afterward, it’s beneficial to brew and drink nettle tea and consume as much meat as possible. Red meat, which shares the color of blood, helps increase blood production.”
“Are there any other precautions?”
“Providing the patient with a warm environment is also important. When the balance of their blood is disrupted, most patients tend to feel cold.”
Thanks to this, Keldric learned a great deal.
While he found the more complex treatments—such as those involving lunar phases or seasonal changes—unreliable and too complicated to study, these basic medical practices seemed both practical and useful.
After spending two full days immersed in these lessons, the third day since the tournament was halted arrived.
“Sir Keldric, His Grace has summoned you.”
It was time to conclude the postponed tournament.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
The Bogenberg Tournament, held on such a grand scale, couldn’t continue indefinitely.
The daily expenses for the nobles who had gathered in the city, the maintenance of the arena, and the growing dissatisfaction among the knights over the delayed conclusion made it imperative to wrap things up as quickly as possible.
The reason Keldric had been summoned by the Count of Bogenberg was to address exactly that.
“Sir Ortwin’s situation is… truly unfortunate,” the Count began, addressing the matter of compensation for Sir Ortwin.
No matter how much Sir Ortwin had traveled across the land over the past few years, he had effectively done so under the banner of the Reisenbrunn family.
As Sir Ortwin’s reputation grew, so too did the prestige of the Reisenbrunn family. In return, the Reisenbrunn family guaranteed Ortwin’s noble status. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
The same applied to Keldric. Without the insignia of the Bellaph family, he was no more than a strong man, far from being recognized as a knight.
“We will ensure appropriate compensation and treatment,” the Count assured.
“Thank you. But before that, I ask that those who orchestrated this act be punished,” Keldric replied.
“That is, of course, a matter that must be addressed. For the honor of both the Reisenbrunn family and Sir Ortwin, we must find those responsible for this.”
The representative from the Reisenbrunn family, though bowing repeatedly, firmly insisted on the necessary reparations.
As a result, the Count of Bogenberg had to accept considerable financial losses—covering Sir Ortwin’s treatment, monetary support, and even additional compensation should he succumb during the process.
Keldric silently observed the proceedings.
It wasn’t what one might call a polished negotiation between nobles, but he thought it might be useful to remember for any similar situations he might face in the future.
“Sir Ortwin’s condition is showing signs of improvement, so there’s no need for excessive concern,”.
“Thank you for your consideration, Count of Bogenberg.”
The Reisenbrunn representative, having secured everything possible, left the hall with a polite demeanor.
Despite having extracted substantial reparations, they displayed no hint of triumph, a clear mark of a seasoned negotiator.
“Ah, Sir Keldric, my apologies for keeping you waiting.”
“It’s no problem. I’ve only just arrived.”
Keldric carefully took the seat offered by the Count of Bogenberg.
Alyssa, who had become something of his unofficial aide, naturally seated herself beside him.
Keldric had no issue with this arrangement. If her presence were problematic, the Count would surely have arranged a separate setting.
“The reason I’ve summoned you is none other than to ensure the tournament is concluded as swiftly as possible.”
“I understand.”
“It’s good that you grasp things quickly, but this needs to be clarified. Sir Keldric, could you share the story of your journey to Bogenberg?”
The Count of Bogenberg’s question was well within Keldric’s understanding.
After all, no one yet knew how Sir Ortwin had become infected by the parasitic larvae. In situations like this, prioritizing Keldric’s actions following his match against Ortwin was the correct approach.
“I’m not doubting you, but it’s unavoidable to clarify some things. I hope you understand.”
“I understand.”
Keldric nodded readily. He didn’t feel offended; he thought this was entirely reasonable. People like Alyssanna, Sir Henri, or Sir Allen knew that Keldric had no ill intentions toward Sir Ortwin.
The Count of Bogenberg seemed to believe the same. To him, Keldric appeared unlikely to be a suspect.
After all, Keldric wasn’t the kind of knight who would resort to such actions due to a lack of skill. Moreover, the early discovery of the parasitic larvae was thanks to Keldric’s powerful lance thrust. Though unintentional, Keldric’s earnestness in the match had likely saved Sir Ortwin’s life.
The problem was that to the unaware spectators, Keldric seemed the most suspicious person.
An unknown knight from a minor family had suddenly appeared in a renowned tournament, winning every match.
It was romantic and exciting, the stuff of knightly tales, but if his opponent collapsed showing strange symptoms, it was only natural for suspicions to arise.
The Count of Bogenberg needed to persuade the ignorant crowd. Retracing Keldric’s actions was necessary.
“Where should I begin?”
“Tell me what you were doing and where you were just before arriving at Bogenberg.”
“Understood.”
Keldric began recounting his story from when he had just arrived in Belam.
He described meeting Alyssanna and the Mountain Goat Mercenaries, arriving at Belam, uncovering a traitor threatening the town alongside Sir Hermann, Belam’s governor, and finally, defeating Sir Johannes in a duel and ensuring that Anselm, the rogue guildmaster, met justice.
Looking back, so much had happened in such a short time. Keldric’s narrative was smooth and well-organized, and the Count of Bogenberg nodded in apparent agreement as he listened.
“That should suffice. If we make this account public, no one will raise further issues.”
“Thank you for your trust.”
“I’m merely respecting your honor.”
Despite his words, it was clear the Count had already done his homework on Keldric.
The Count of Bogenberg wouldn’t risk trusting someone blindly in a situation that could damage his reputation.
He had likely spent the past two days thoroughly investigating both Keldric and the Bellaf family and was now matching that information with Keldric’s account as a show of respect.
“At dawn tomorrow, come to the tournament arena.”
“The arena?”
“You appear to have followed the tournament rules, so it’s only right to bestow upon you the honor of victory.”
Although Sir Ortwin had collapsed, dismissing Keldric’s victory was an uncomfortable prospect. The tournament was large in scale and had ties to the Church.
If it ended inconclusively, the Church might express discontent. It was wiser to declare Keldric the victor while pursuing the person responsible for Sir Ortwin’s condition. Compensation and treatment for Ortwin would naturally follow.
“Understood.”
Keldric, who had no qualms, nodded readily. His progress to the finals was entirely the result of his own skills. The title of tournament champion was a well-deserved honor.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
After four days, the once-quiet tournament arena was now bustling with activity and filled with a deafening commotion.
Most people were whispering about the peculiar events of the final match four days prior.
Among them were knights grumbling about the unnecessarily long process of determining the champion.
However, when Canon Kuno explained Sir Ortwin’s unfortunate circumstances, the entire audience fell into a solemn silence. It was only a brief moment, though. The announcement of Keldric’s victory would soon ignite the arena with excitement.
Tournaments didn’t necessarily reward only the last knight standing.
The champion, who triumphed until the end, would receive the greatest reward, honor, and glory.
Meanwhile, other knights who demonstrated exceptional skill or gave the champion a tough fight would also be suitably compensated.
Of course, none of that mattered to Keldric.
“What kind of reward will it be?”
Having won a tournament of this scale, Keldric was dying of curiosity to know what kind of grand reward awaited him.
He had received a significant reward even for his duel while assisting Sir Hermann in Belam. For a tournament openly designed to test one’s honor and courage, the reward had to be even greater.
The prize could vary widely depending on the tournament, but for the Bogenberg tournament, truly lavish rewards were within reach.
An exquisite sword worthy of becoming a family heirloom? A suit of armor so sturdy it would render weapons useless? Perhaps the tax rights to one of the villages under the Count’s rule for a year? Or an enormous monetary reward?
The possibilities were endless, and the frightening thing was that none of them were entirely unrealistic.
In Keldric’s estimation, the least useful reward would be something like a blessing from the Church. Tournaments often had ties to the Church, and if a high-ranking clergyman decided to substitute a blessing as the grand prize, it would be a swindle—a case of doing all the hard work only for someone else to reap the benefits.
This tournament, too, had partially been designed to bolster the Church’s authority. While it seemed unlikely that the Count of Bogenberg would resort to such measures, Keldric couldn’t let his guard down just yet.
“Sir Keldric, it’s almost time…”
“Understood.”
At the servant’s cue, Keldric rose to his feet and strode forward confidently, without hesitation.
“Honorable knights and noble guests gathered here today! Now, I present to you the glorious champion of the tournament, chosen by divine will!”
Canon Kuno’s booming voice echoed across the arena. Keldric cleared his throat repeatedly, trying to steady himself. He pretended to remain calm, but internally, he was a nervous wreck. His heart pounded uncontrollably, and his mind was filled with wild fantasies about the reward.
As Keldric stepped into the sunlit arena, the cheers and applause of countless spectators overwhelmed him.
“He has shown indomitable courage and incredible martial prowess, embodying the true spirit of chivalry! His sword was wielded in service of the divine, and today, his name shall be etched in honor as a knight under the name of Saint Benancio!”
Canon Kuno’s resounding proclamation came from a terrace-like area elevated above the arena. From there, the Count of Bogenberg and his retinue, including Sir Theodore, observed Keldric.
Keldric found himself locking eyes with Sir Theodore, who stared intently at him. Instinctively, Keldric swallowed hard.
“The champion of this glorious tournament! Honorable, faithful, and unmatched in courage and martial prowess—Sir Keldric of House Bellaf!”
Canon Kuno gestured toward Keldric, standing in the middle of the arena. The crowd’s cheers erupted even louder.
“Waahhh!”
“The Unbeatable Knight!”
“Sir Keldric of House Bellaf!”
Keldric stood still, overwhelmed by the thunderous applause and cheers. Pre-arranged flower petals rained down across the arena, and the gate opposite the one Keldric had entered began to open slowly.
“As a reward for Sir Keldric’s exceptional valor and achievements, His Excellency Johann von Bogenberg, rightful lord of Bogenberg, has prepared a special prize!”
Keldric gazed at the opening gate with eyes full of anticipation.
“This is insane.”
He couldn’t even begin to guess what the reward might be. His heart swelled with excitement, and he was so impatient that he wanted to drop all pretense and rush forward to see it.
As Keldric forced himself to wait, something began to emerge from the open gate.
The first thing that caught Keldric’s eye was the deep black coat that seemed to absorb all the sunlight. Over the glistening, jet-black body rippled powerful, defined muscles, while a patch of white fur on its forehead gleamed like a shooting star.
Below that were intelligent, sparkling eyes. Despite its majestic and commanding appearance, the horse emitted a gentle snort of calm.
The servants leading the horse carried an azure caparison emblazoned with the bear symbol of House Bellaf.
“Behold, this magnificent destrier! Of noble lineage by birth—”
Canon Kuno continued to extol the horse, but Keldric wasn’t listening. All that mattered was the imposing black stallion before him. Hypnotized, he extended a hand toward it.
When his fingers brushed the horse’s silky coat and mane, it accepted his touch without hesitation. Despite its powerful build, it was surprisingly docile.
In size, it was slightly larger than Boreas, Keldric’s previous horse. The horse’s rippling muscles seemed to pulse with raw strength, enough to make Keldric feel a surge of power just looking at it.
As the servants fitted the caparison and placed the saddle, Keldric wasted no time. With one smooth motion, he mounted the destrier.
“Sir Keldric, claim the glory and reward that you rightfully deserve! Ride this blessed steed and carry out the will of the divine!”
“O Divine One! Bless Sir Keldric’s honorable victory and his unparalleled feat of never tasting defeat!”
“Unchanging glory to the Unbeatable Knight!”
Sitting atop the destrier, Keldric unsheathed his sword and raised it high into the air. The arena resounded with a deafening roar of applause and cheers, sending shivers through him.
Wealth, glory, honor, fame, an extraordinary warhorse, monetary reward, and the acknowledgment of his righteous deeds all of it was his.
“May the divine bring honor to House Bellaf and praise to the Count of Bogenberg!”
Though Keldric had won so much, the glory of the tournament was priceless, a reward beyond value.