Chapter 237: ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????? (2)

Chapter 237: Return of the Snake (2)

“No. Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not trying to kill you to shut you up.”

The most common occupational hazard that assassins faced was still their employer’s betrayal. Dead assassins don’t spill secrets after all.

“What does that mean then?”

The assassin from Nessus was skilled with a short sword and confident he could sever the windpipe of an enemy from ten paces away with a small, barely visible throwing dagger, but he did not want to duel Johan.

Attacking unarmed would be dangerous, but fighting properly equipped would likely lead to a gruesome death.

“Let’s fake a duel.”

“But. . .you’re a knight. Is that acceptable?”

“You’re an assassin who can’t assassinate. Why can’t I fake a duel?”

The assassin cursed Johan in his mind. He didn’t dare say it out loud or his neck could get snapped.

‘Even so, faking a duel. . .’

Duels were sacred, especially to knights who valued honor. Faked duels were unthinkable to them.

It was unbelievable to the assassin.

“We’ll fake a duel where you lose and become my hostage. That way you can avoid suspicion for a while.”

“. . .Not a bad scheme. It’ll take some time for my house to prepare a ransom.”

“Ah. And I can get a ransom out of this. How nice.”

“. . . . . .”

Seeing Johan act like a merchant, the assassin gave him an uneasy look. It was too out of place.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“. . .It’s nothing.”

“Is Count Shirivik’s house wealthy?”

“Neither wealthy nor poor. Some debts from campaigns, some rights ceded to merchants. . .”

“If someone close to the Count valued him, that would be good.”

“From his actions, that doesn’t seem likely.”

“Still, there should be a minimum of good faith. I understand. Prepare to return. We need that fake duel.”

“. . .I humbly request your help.”

“Yes, mine indeed.”

“I very humbly request your help.”

“Why do you keep emphasizing it?”

“. . . . . .”

The assassin held his tongue though he had much to say. Johan had to regulate his strength. Annoying him and causing a failure in that could make the assassin’s head explode.

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

The assassin, no Count Shirivik shouted as soon as he returned.

“I will duel with Count Yeats directly!”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“. . .Huh???”

The knights and soldiers below were surprised. It was too unexpected.

Count Shirivik was neither a knight nor a man who enjoyed dueling.

On the other hand, the opponent was a young knight whose reputation was splendid.

No matter how much they thought about it, there was no chance of winning.

The duel was the privilege and right of the nobility, but not everyone exercised it. It is not insulting for an old and sick person to refuse a duel. You can just send out a champion instead of going out directly, so why say that?

“The guy insulted His Majesty and insulted my family. I can never endure it unless I wash it directly.”

“Calm down, Your Excellency! No matter what, Your Excellency does not need to come forward at all!”

The count shook his head at the words of the deputy. As he insisted on his stubbornness no matter how much they tried to stop him, everyone began to accept reality.

‘He wasn’t originally so loyal. . .’

‘Unlike his usual complaints, he had loyalty in his heart?’

The scribes who followed the count had dissatisfied expressions, the knights had respectful expressions. The mercenary captains had expressions that they wanted to say something but did not dare to intervene.

“Bring me my armor and sword! It is a fight to defend honor and faith. To whom will God raise his hand?”

‘Even in terms of faith, it seems he will lose to his opponent.’

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

“It looks like it’s gone back. . .”

“No. Count seemed to know his honor a little. My eyes were wrong to say he was weak.”

The Elf King refuted Ulrike’s murmur. Any warrior who stood up to defend his own honor deserved to be respected.

Boom!

Count Shirivik fell off his horse in one blow. You could see the other side clutching their foreheads and sighing. They thought the count would stand up proudly and have some hidden skills, but there was really nothing.

“The future of Count Shirivik’s family is also worrying.”

“While I don’t agree with His Majesty, leaving the castle alone could become very annoying later.”

“That’s not an agree. . . oh, never mind.”

As Ulrike glared at him, Johan pretended not to know what she was talking about. He understood well what Ulrike was saying.

‘If the mercenaries are driven into a corner, they may call the emperor.’

Judging by the fact that the assassin, no, Count Shirivik did not know, there was probably no contact after that, but those kinds could easily turn their coats anytime.

If the situation got complicated later or they were driven into a corner, they might send a letter to the emperor, with whom they had a connection, and declare themselves his vassal.

And the emperor’s personality is. . .

“I think he’ll accept it.”

No matter what insults the central nobles hurled behind his back, the emperor was likely to accept them. He seemed like that kind of person.

“His fortress seems too sturdy and difficult to attack. Is it not possible to attempt negotiations?”

“While I appreciate the count’s idea, negotiating with those kinds of scoundrels could tarnish my honor.”

“Then what about pretending to negotiate to lure them out, and then dealing with them?”

Ulrike was slightly moved by Johan’s words, which seemed to read her inner thoughts. How upset would she have been if she was only with the elf king?

“That’s not a bad idea, but the elf king. . .”

“Leave it to me.”

“And more than anything, there’s a high chance they’ll get suspicious.”

“That would be a problem.”

An elf knight rode his horse up to the castle gate fully armed. Immediately, a catapult stone flew at him from atop the castle wall. The elf knight blocked it with his shield, shouted once, then returned.

“My apologies.”

“No, you did well. It doesn’t look like they have any intention to negotiate at all.”

The news that an army had come seemed to have spread within the castle as well, as mercenaries poked their faces out from the top of the wall. The mercenaries, composed of various races, shouted fiercely:

“Listen! The esteemed nobles of the Halfbronn family! We are protecting them. If you approach, we cannot guarantee their lives!”

“Show their faces! We cannot believe you unless we see their faces.”

The mercenaries spat out some curses and then brought out the baron. Although haggard and pale, the baron and his family members looked unharmed.

“Clever bunch. . .”

Johan muttered. Suetlg nodded.

Although it was a simple exchange, they were able to get a read on their opponents. First of all, the opponents clearly recognized that they were weaker in strength compared to the expedition.

Otherwise, there would have been no reason to show the baron’s face or threaten them. Such rough behavior came from the fear stemming from a clear grasp of the situation.

Additionally, not a single one of the baron’s family members was hurt at all. There seemed to be an intention to collect ransom for their release when necessary or use them as hostages.

“If he was a reckless fool, he wouldn’t have been able to maneuver like that.”

“Indeed. Call the dwarves.”

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

“Uh-uhm. . .”

“Ugh-uhng. . .”

The dwarves groaned. There was no answer. Johan apologetically said,

“I guess I said too much. Do not take it to heart.”

The lord’s considerateness sometimes felt even more painful. The dwarves trembled in humiliation.

However, the fortress of the Halfbronn family was literally impregnable.

Fundamentally, the defending side was overwhelmingly advantageous over the attacking side in a siege. When the defenders thoroughly eliminate weaknesses, the attackers have no options.

Located on high ground, seated on solid bedrock so tunneling was not viable either, with thick walls that could not be breached without siege weapons of a certain minimum size, and the angles were unsuitable as well. . .

“Since it is a castle built by dwarves in the old days, it seems quite sturdy.”

“That’s right. It is a castle built by dwarves. . .”

“Is this really the time to feel good about it??”

The centaurs who overheard mocked them. The dwarves awkwardly cleared their throats.

“Besides, even if we smash down the walls and gates, the hostages remain inside.”

“Your excellency. Just give the order, and we will try climbing over the walls at night.”

Some mercenaries boasted eagerly. The mercenaries who followed Johan were enthralled by their lord even without pay, willing to fight for him.

Scaling the walls under the cover of darkness was certainly within their capabilities.

Hearing that, Johan involuntarily fixed his gaze on Count Shirivik.

Translation-(COMPLETED) – How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Support and Rate This Novel《⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐》!!

『NU LINK』

????????‍♀️PREVINDEX