Chapter 94:The Knight Longs for Battle (9)

Sir Henri’s contract with Count Bogenberg came about for a truly absurd reason.

“So… it’s because of gambling debts?”

“Gambling? That was a duel of manhood!”

Keldric couldn’t hide the look of disdain. He knew the man had a penchant for loafing, but he never imagined he’d be so foolish as to blow all his money gambling.

“What kind of gambling?”

“Dice gambling (Würfelspiel). Damn it… if only one more pip had come up, I would have won!”

Dice gambling was an ancient pastime for the people of the Empire. An incredibly old game that had been passed down since long before the Eastern Kingdom, the Empire’s predecessor, was even founded.

Regardless of status, men, women, young, and old, even children, would carve eyes into stones and play.

Its popularity was so great that the Church, horrified by its intense speculative nature, even tried to ban dice gambling.

Of course, high-ranking nobles, knights, or ladies of the aristocracy couldn’t openly enjoy such dice gambling. They usually played chess or a game similar to checkers.

But even if they didn’t do it openly, there were many who enjoyed it one way or another.

Keldric recalled when his second brother, Fritz, was madly addicted to dice gambling.

Back when Lord Volpen was still hale and hearty, Fritz, from the relatively young age of fourteen, became addicted to dice gambling and even sold his sword.

After that, Fritz was beaten like a dog by Lord Volpen, but that’s how devilishly addictive dice gambling is.

‘How crude.’

Of course, Keldric had no interest in such crude gambling.

In fact, for Keldric, who already knew of even more speculative gambling, it just looked like child’s play.

If the opponent cheated with the dice, money would be sucked away helplessly.

Then, with the thought of just getting the principal back, they would continue to take on challenges, and the end result would be Sir Henri standing before Keldric.

“Hey, Lord Keldric. Have you ever gambled?”

“I have no interest.”

Keldric had no interest in dice gambling. Card gambling, on the other hand…

However, the playing cards that Keldric knew well did not yet exist in this world.

Perhaps something similar existed far away in the East or in the deserts of pagan lands, but it certainly wasn’t in the Empire.

Thinking about it that way, Keldric suddenly had this thought.

…Should I make them?’

Knights who are crazy about money and winning wouldn’t pass it up, and if Keldric made them, it would at least be established as a game enjoyed by those in high places.

Not a vulgar sight of shaking dice and throwing them haphazardly, but a game of drawing elegant, crisp paper.

In the early stages of development, there are privileges that only the developer can enjoy. If Keldric used the various card tricks he already knew, what could the knights who were playing for the first time do?

Moreover, there are endless possibilities for card gambling. If one game starts to lose its appeal, you can shake things up with another game.

But, perhaps it’s still too early. With that thought, Keldric temporarily shelved his dream of becoming a world-class gambler.

“So, you’re coming with me to Yaben?”

“Hmm? Ah, yes. That’s how it turned out. Count Bogenberg assigned you to me. Surely, our meeting must have been arranged by God.”

For now, preparing for the upcoming territory war was the priority.

In the past few days, Bogenberg Castle had become noticeably busier.

It was because of the territory war that was just around the corner. Serfs and some commoners were conscripted, and thanks to this, even those at the very bottom realized that the territory war was approaching.

The obligation of military service was imposed not only on serfs and commoners.

Count Bogenberg directly commanded around thirty knights. Even in addition to these, the number was quite large when including the vassal knights held by other advisory council members.

Most of them, especially the knights under Count Bogenberg, had to gather.

If Count Bogenberg gave a fief, the knight would pay a certain amount of produce from the fief as tax and answer the lord’s call.

This so-called vassal contract was an obligation.

Of course, not all the knights that Count Bogenberg brought out had received fiefs.

Perhaps nearly ten of them were salaried knights, but their responsibilities were no different.

As knights, they had to answer the lord’s call, and when a territory war broke out, they had to fight at the forefront.

That was no different for Keldric, who had temporarily signed a contract. Keldric had an obligation to go out and fight according to Count Bogenberg’s orders.

The only difference was that Keldric had some freedom from the constraints of obligation.

Keldric’s term of service specified in the contract was ‘until the capture of Baron Gottfried’s castle.’ After that, an additional contract was required.

In short, Keldric could just capture Baron Gottfried’s castle and leave, regardless of what happened to Count Rasau.

Of course, Keldric would leave after gauging the situation appropriately, but at least the burden was much less.

The average condition for a vassal knight is 40 days of mandatory service.

After 40 days, it was customary for the lord to reward the knight for additional service. In other words, the vassal knight had to bear the expenses incurred during the 40 days of service.

Keldric would not receive compensation from Count Bogenberg even after 40 days.

However, he said he would roughly support the hiring of mercenaries, so this was a great luxury.

There were quite a few other differences as well. For example, Keldric didn’t necessarily have to swear allegiance to Count Bogenberg.

Count Bogenberg wouldn’t do that, but even if he ordered Keldric to launch an attack close to suicide, Keldric could refuse with legitimate authority.

That was the difference between the vassal knights and Keldric.

A knight hired under contract is bound by restrictions that are virtually as loose as those of a mercenary.

However, mercenaries are those who have thrown away their honor, and Keldric is a knight who must risk his life for honor.

“All the mercenaries near Bogenberg have already been hired.”

At Sir Henri’s words, Keldric showed a look of disapproval.

If you’re going to hire mercenaries, it’s better to hire them in Bogenberg and depart.

It doesn’t unnecessarily cause fluctuations in available personnel and disrupt supplies, and it’s to formulate tactics, even briefly, while traveling to Yaben.

However, if the situation turns out like this, it seems there’s no choice but to hire mercenaries locally, as Count Bogenberg said.

‘That’s a shame.’

Keldric was quite disappointed that he couldn’t be with the Iron Claw Mercenary Company.

A mercenary you’ve already worked with versus a mercenary you’re seeing for the first time. It was clear which one would run more smoothly.

He couldn’t blame Count Bogenberg for hiring all the mercenaries in Bogenberg.

Giving up forty elite soldiers was proof that he trusted Keldric quite a bit.

In fact, in a normal territory war, instead of forming a separate detachment and sending it out like this, it would be right to join the main force and request a cavalry charge.

But now it’s not a normal territory war, and if you have to fight sporadically in various places, it’s right to divide the troops.

Mercenaries would have started flocking to Yaben as well, so it seemed it wouldn’t be too late to think about it then.

If worst comes to worst, Baron Yaben would add troops to Keldric.

No, maybe he’ll be with Baron Yaben.

“You’re worrying too much.”

“Aren’t you worried? You don’t seem to know how lowly mercenaries are. They’re cowards who run away if they think they’re going to lose!”

“Well, we just have to not create losing battles.”

“Is that going to happen as you please?”

“There’s no reason it can’t.”

Keldric knows nothing about strategy or tactics.

However, the open mind that opens up endless possibilities, something that people of this era cannot imagine, will surely be helpful.

After discussing various things about troop management with Sir Henri, Keldric immediately summoned Alyssa and the two young servants.

“We will probably be leaving Bogenberg within three days.”

Alyssa had a nonchalant expression as usual, as if she roughly knew.

But Arno and Helga were different. They looked at each other with bewildered expressions and blinked.

Their bright eyes seemed to be asking, ‘Where are we going next?’

Keldric hadn’t told these two young servants about the territory war.

In the first place, there was no reason to tell them in advance. If Keldric jumped into the territory war, would they not follow?

They have to follow Keldric wherever he goes, so it’s better to tell them right before, without having to be afraid or worry.

“We are scheduled to head to Yaben. There, we will lead troops and face Count Gottfried’s army.”

Arno and Helga didn’t quite understand Keldric’s words.

It’s not that they don’t know the word territory war, but they can’t imagine that they would be involved in it.

“What Lord Keldric is trying to say is that we are going to fight now.”

Alyssa, who was standing next to them, told them appropriately. Helga, who realized it late, looked at Keldric with slightly fearful eyes.

“F-Fight…?”

“Yes. Lord Keldric is an honorable knight, so it is right for him to fight.”

“Do we have to fight?”

“Helga…!”

Arno grabbed Helga’s hand in horror. Helga continued with a slightly gloomy expression.

“The miller who protected us is gone, and if Lord Keldric disappears too… I think I’ll be scared.”

“That won’t happen! Lord Keldric is super strong!”

“But Arno, you get beaten by Lord Keldric all the time…”

“W-What are you talking about! You idiot! That’s not getting beaten, it’s training!”

Arno slapped the back of Helga’s hand. Helga’s gloomy expression didn’t improve.

Keldric, who was watching the scene, felt a bit complicated.

To have to take these two young ones to the battlefield, it was truly heartbreaking.

Of course, Keldric will do the actual fighting. These two only need to come out briefly when Keldric changes horses or weapons…

If the situation doesn’t allow it, the servants will have to fight too, and it was more common than you think for a knight’s servants to fight.

However, among the serfs conscripted in this era, there will be boys around Arno’s age.

They may have to withstand the brutal charges of knights in a situation far worse than Arno and Helga.

He has to steel his heart. He mustn’t be too soft.

“Uuu…”

Keldric, who reached out to Alyssa to comfort her, knelt down in front of Helga, who was making a crying face.

Tears welled up in her round eyes. It was quite cute to think that it was because she was worried about Keldric’s safety.

Thanks to that, a smile crept onto Keldric’s lips.

“Helga. Do you think I’m going to lose?”

“But, I’m scared…”

A knight should not assume defeat.

It may sound simple and ignorant, but if you see the majesty of a knight, a chariot of carnage, everyone will nod in agreement.

Keldric didn’t have a deep understanding of knights.

In the first place, he hasn’t lived as a knight for very long. At best, he’s only seen Lord Volpen’s back from afar.

But Keldric is now a knight, and if he doesn’t know the future that lies ahead, he will have to live as a knight for quite some time.

Then Keldric must renew his mindset as a knight.

He doesn’t yet know the honor that a knight must possess, the glory that a knight can enjoy, and the direction that a knight should pursue.

So, Keldric walks his own path of chivalry.

“Helga. I don’t know everything in the world, but I know one thing for sure.”

“Hic… Yes…?”

“It simply means I won’t suffer a pathetic defeat while leaving my loyal servants behind.”

Helga’s eyes widened. Arno, standing behind her, did the same.

“I will protect the weak and never abandon the good and faithful.”

“….”

“I will always triumph over the wicked, and that is my role. If I do so, God will surely watch over me.”

He didn’t yet fully understand the honor, glory, and other conceited notions that knights of this era pursued.

He invoked God, but there was no trace of faith to be found.

Yet, Keldric upheld the greater cause.

Keldric was a knight.

Therefore, the path Keldric walked must be the path of a knight.

Keldric placed his hand on Helga’s slightly disheveled hair. His large hand also rested on Arno’s head, who stood beside her.

“Helga, I ask you again. Do you still think I will lose?”

Helga and Arno had different looks in their eyes.

Helga held trust, while Arno held admiration and longing.

Although the gazes from the two pairs of eyes were different, the meaning within them was the same.

“No…!”

Sir Keldric would never be defeated.

It was complete trust.

☩   ☩   ☩   ☩   ☩   ☩   ☩

Around the dim break of dawn, the gates of Bogenberg opened with a loud noise.

Two knights on warhorses emerged first, followed by several squires and then soldiers in a line.

Near the still-dark ramparts, merchants who had slept outside, unable to enter the gate earlier, startled awake.

The anxious eyes of merchants and travelers followed the group of soldiers.

However, upon seeing the two knights leading the way at the very front of the soldiers, the anxiety vanished as if washed away.

“Huh, what a physique…”

“That’s him. The undefeated knight.”

The number of people wasn’t large. The soldiers numbered around forty, at a rough estimate.

But a knight alone could face many.

The merchants and travelers who had woken up stared blankly at the two knights, and when they passed nearby, they lowered their heads without realizing it.

“But, what business does he have, taking soldiers with him?”

“Well…”

The merchant gazed at the knight’s back as he moved further away.

A reliable back, armor faintly gleaming in the torchlight, and a surcoat emblazoned with the crest of a glorious family.

Surely, no soldier would lose heart before that back, and no enemy soldier would flee before the surcoat emblazoned with the honorable crest.

“It must be a glorious battle.”

A battle for each of their glories, and to prove their courage and honor.

A knight craves battle.