Chapter 206: Those on the Run (5)

Chapter 206: Those on the Run (5)

“What, not even going to throw anything?”

The giant was visibly disconcerted by Johan’s words. He fidgeted for a bit before reluctantly picking up his spear.

He wanted to accuse the human of trickery. But he had no idea how the human could have tricked him.

The giant hurled his spear forcefully. It had decent momentum but failed to reach the cliffside, instead falling straight down.

The mercenaries in the back whistled and jeered. The giant’s face flushed red with embarrassment.

“Enough. Act with honor.”

At Johan’s words, the mercenaries immediately shut their mouths. Though he didn’t show it outright, the giant seemed very grateful. He appeared to have a weaker disposition than expected.

“I win, no?”

“Yes. . .you win. Choose the next contest.”

The giant glared at Johan, determined to win no matter the contest.

‘Hmm, more difficult than I thought.’

Johan fell deep in thought. He wanted to end this soon but wasn’t coming up with any good ideas.

The only thing he was confident in was Go, but the giant likely wouldn’t suggest that. . .

“Propose a riddle.”

“A riddle?”

“Yes. Giants enjoy riddles so you’ll probably get this one easily.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Johan was intrigued to learn this new fact. Jyanina seemed to agree, nodding beside him.

“But are you confident you can win?”

“Humans. How many wizards are here? Can’t we beat one giant?”

When Suetlg said that, Johan decided to go along with it. When asked to compete in a riddle contest, the giant happily nodded with a smile.

Suetlg whispered with Jyanina and cleared his throat after aligning their story.

“Now, listen. O being of a large ancient race. This monster is extremely vicious and nothing can escape its jaws. No hero has been able to defeat this monster, and no fortress or kingdom has been able to stop it. This monster is. . .”

“That’s it! Time!”

The giant shouted as if it were easy. Suetlg had a shocked expression. Jyanina was similarly startled.

“. . .you two?”

“Ah, can’t we guess it too?”

It was the first time in a while Johan had seen Suetlg make a mistake. He let out an empty laugh but nodded.

‘Has the giant just been eating and playing riddle games?’

From the giant’s expression, it seemed so. The giant acted as if he was very happy to play like this now, regardless of the contest.

“In the morning it walks on four legs. . .”

“Are you talking about a person?”

“. . . . . .”

The giant looked sadly at Johan. His woeful eyes made Johan feel guilty for answering so quickly without even hearing the full riddle.

“. . .your turn again.”

Having their turn come so swiftly, Suetlg and Jyanina apparently hadn’t prepared a riddle yet. They whispered to each other, unable to provide one immediately. The giant impatiently tapped the floor.

“Can’t think of one?”

“Just this once, you try making one. We’ll need to look through some books first, it seems.”

‘Why suggest riddles if you weren’t prepared?’

The wizards were quite shocked by the giant’s higher-than-expected skill. Johan clicked his tongue.

He wracked his brain for passable riddles he knew. The best he could come up with was. . .

“This burns like fire but is not fire. When you grow lazy, it cools; when you succeed, it burns bright. What is it?”

The giant struggled, unable to answer.

‘What? Can he really not get this?’

Johan was surprised by the unexpected reaction. He only suggested an easy riddle to buy time. . .

Behind him, Suetlg couldn’t restrain himself and whispered softly.

“What’s the answer?”

“There’s a chance he might overhear. . . I’ll tell you after this ends.”

????????????????????????

“I don’t know! You win. Tell me the answer.”

“I appreciate your honorable admission. The answer is blood.”

The giant heaved a sigh. Suetlg also heaved a sigh. Jyanina also heaved a sigh. Johan looked back in disbelief. The two embarrassed wizards straightened their clothes.

The giant regretfully muttered.

When the giant appeared, Uterman tried to curse the giant. However, the giant remembered an ancient adage that had been passed down since the ancient Empire era.

Kill the wizard first.

As the giant’s club swung around, even the great Uterman turned into a piece of meat. It was so brutal that the others were so frightened that they threw down their weapons and shouted surrender.

“He’s dead?!”

“He. . . he didn’t pay the toll. It was his fault.”

The giant, who was watching from behind, unconsciously justified himself. Johan sighed as if exhausted.

“. . .Can’t be helped.”

The dead wizard could not be brought back to life. He had to be grateful for having rescued those who were here.

“Human hero. You can pass without paying the toll next time.”

“Thanks. But staying here long doesn’t seem like a good choice. There’s a town not too far from here. I recommend you move somewhere else.”

Johan bid the giant farewell and led his party down the mountain. Having obtained Adviko, his goal was achieved anyway.

“Adviko-gong, are you okay?”

“. . . . . .”

Johan chatted lively, but Adviko only nodded with a soulless face.

“I’ll allow you to send someone to the city to prepare the ransom and compensation.”

“I. . . I. . . .”

“You seem to be in great shock. Rest with the others until you regain your senses before sending someone.”

Since the other party was somewhat of a nobleman, and they were all captured, there was no need to act roughly. It was time to show magnanimity.

Adviko would have no choice but to accept Johan’s offer.

After the prisoners left, Suetlg came over and spoke up.

“I have a concern.”

“?”

“The city folks might drive that guy out.”

“No matter how defeated, isn’t he the city master?”

It was extremely rare for a feudal lord to be driven out of his fiefdom after being defeated. But cities were different.

Various city noble families and mercenary leaders were intricately intertwined, vying for power.

It was common to see nobles get kicked out over trivial mistakes in cities.

“. . .I don’t think things would go that badly. Even if it does, they can still pay the ransom.”

“That may be so, but it will probably take longer. It’s never good to drag out things like this for too long. We should get the money as soon as possible.”

“You’re right. He seems to be halfway out of his mind, so he’ll be easy to cooperate with.”

????????????????????????

He left as a mercenary but when he returned, he came back flying the banner of the count. The townspeople were surprised by the sudden visit of the count and tidied up the town.

The cleanest and largest building in the town was provided and Johan imprisoned the prisoners there. At the same time, he sent messengers to stop the wandering nobles who must still be wandering around.

After hurriedly drinking three cups of pure alcohol brought from the monastery near the town, without even diluting it, Adviko opened his mouth as if his mind had returned.

“The count was disguised and ambushed as a mercenary?”

“Yes.”

“Ah. . .”

Adviko shook his head around. From the giant’s bet, there were things that were simply unbelievable.

The knights on the Empire side were not as desperate as Adviko. Of course it was regrettable and frustrating to be caught, but they had a bright future. They just had to contact the family on the Empire side and receive a ransom.

So even while they were captured, the knights talked about the courage and valor of the young count. Honestly, it was a story that couldn’t be talked about other than betting directly with the giant and having the guts and power for it.

A slave attending Adviko carefully spoke up.

“Shouldn’t you send someone to receive the ransom, Master?”

“That’s not the problem right now. Even if I get the ransom, there is a high chance the city will be overturned before I can go back.”

“Shouldn’t you ask the emperor for help?”

“That side doesn’t even have one soldier to spare right now.”

“Then shouldn’t you ask the count for help?”

Adviko looked at the slave’s simple question as if it was absurd.

“Are you saying that now? The count wouldn’t unless he was crazy. . .”

As Adviko was speaking, he shuddered. It was a crazy idea but when he thought about it, it was a proposal with nothing to lose.

He didn’t know if he would have to offer up the many nobles of the Empire faction in the city and the envoys from the Empire, but above all, it was Adviko grasping power with Johan’s help.

Shouldn’t he at least try something rather than just die?

CH386(COMPLETED) - How to Live as a Wandering Knight