Chapter 263: ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? (3)

Chapter 263: Golden Return (3)

In retrospect, it was only natural to run away.

The lord who came from the emperor’s side (of course, this was a mistake) had just beheaded the mercenary captain with a single stroke, so there was no reason to stay.

Of course, Fern could have survived, but he wasn’t stupid enough to be so foolish in a matter of life and death.

“This b*stard dares!”

“No. Don’t hurt him. Bring him back. He’s a friend of mine.”

The angry soldiers immediately calmed down at Johan’s words.

“Yes, sir!”

“That’s right. I’m counting on you.”

The soldiers quickly rode their horses and followed the trail. It was difficult to hide the tracks if you weren’t properly trained hunter or guide when running away.

On the other hand, the pursuers were experts in pursuit.

“Come back! We’ll forgive you if you come back now!”

“We’re not going to hurt you! Monk!”

“Aaargh!”

The soldiers’ words were not very convincing. The centaurs cried out in a voice full of discontent.

“Why doesn’t that guy believe our words? What’s wrong with monks!”

The soldier riding next to him thought it was probably because of the centaurs’ reputation, but he didn’t say anything out loud. He had a friendship with the centaurs.

“This b*stard!”

“Don’t move. We can’t break your legs. . . or your arms. Just come along quietly. We don’t want to hurt you either.”

It was more difficult than they thought to bring him without hurting him. The centaurs held Fern in awkward positions as they brought him. Fern was shaking as he was dragged away.

“It’s been a long time.”

“. . .???!”

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

When the captured monk sat down next to him, the castellan was quite surprised. He thought he would be beheaded like the mercenary captain.

Although he was a bit dissatisfied that a monk would be seated next to him, a nobleman, the castellan kept his mouth shut and waited. It was better to sit together than to be beheaded.

“Fern-nim. I think you will be shocked. It turns out that the count has been traveling and acting in the Empire and other lands during this time.”

The priest kindly explained to Fern. Of course, that didn’t get through to Fern’s ears.

“. . .Will you execute me?”

Fern said in a trembling voice. The castellan was surprised at the sight.

If the monk followed the mercenary captain and had his head cut off, the castellan’s chances of dying would increase as well.

“Why would I kill you?”

“Well, that is. . . I took the food and dirty the clothes. . .”

Johan, who was listening, burst out laughing. Valberga priest also seemed to find it hard to hold back his laughter, and a smile spread across his face. Of course, Fern was still in a daze.

“What’s wrong with that? And I’m sure you’ve been beaten more than that.”

“. . . . . .”

Fern frowned involuntarily as he remembered being beaten by Johan. He had been beaten regularly.

“Anyway, I’m glad to see you alive. I thought you might be dead. Don’t worry about it. I’ve spared people who deserve to die more than you, so why would I kill you?”

“T-Thank you.”

Fern bowed his head to his half-brother, whom he had not seen in a long time. For a moment, tears welled up in his eyes. He was ashamed that he didn’t know why he was doing this.

“Now that the person in charge of the town is gone, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have Fern take over.”

Johan said to the castellan. The castellan, who was tense and rigid, nodded quickly.

“I will do so.”

“Actually, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have him take over the position of castellan.”

“. . .Yes?? W-What, that, Your Excellency. Please think it over again. . . Of course, I am lacking in many ways, but with the blessing, I am legitimate. . .”

“I was joking.”

“T-Thank you.”

Iselia swung the shovel again with a face that said, ’I don’t understand, but I’ll believe it if Johan says so.’

But Johan began to feel uneasy.

‘I hope it wasn’t damaged.’

Contrary to Iselia’s worries, the appearance of the ancient Empire armor that came out from under the ground was very intact. Of course, it was only that the rust did not rust, but the shape of the armor was in a state of complete destruction.

“Did the knight who wore this armor fight a giant? No. . . I don’t think even a giant could hurt it like this. It looks like it was bitten by a dragon.”

In response to Iselia’s words, Johan said with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“I cut it and ruined it.”

“. . .Did you hit it on the armor itself instead of through the gaps in the armor?”

Iselia looked shocked that Johan had done such a foolish thing. Johan felt the urge to make excuses even though he hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Still, I thought a knight of your caliber could do that.”

“. . .There’s no need to give me empty comfort.”

Johan noticed Iselia’s expression and gave her an unusual comfort. They had become quite sensitive to each other’s emotions after living together.

“This is an ancient Empire armor, Iselia. It may look a bit strange, but. . . I’m sure a talented blacksmith will be able to repair it.”

“My dear. Are you planning to go hunting dragons wearing that?”

Iselia asked with a worried look.

Iselia was born into a knightly family and trained as a knight. She knew what knightly honor was, and she respected it.

However, even so, she couldn’t just let Johan go up against a dragon. She wanted to stop him, even if it meant being disgraced as a knight.

“. . .What terrible things are you saying?”

“Wasn’t it?”

“No, it wasn’t. Don’t say strange things. Iselia. For a moment, I thought you were Angoldolph.”

Iselia took Johan’s hand with a relieved expression. She was relieved to hear that he wasn’t going to go after the dragon.

‘If Iselia could make this kind of mistake, I’m sure other guys would be even more mistaken.’

He thought that it wasn’t the elf king who was strange, but that most of the western lords were probably misunderstanding Johan.

‘Well, I did make a fuss, so. . .’

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

After retrieving his armor, Johan did not leave immediately. He set out to personally assess the situation in the surrounding area.

The situation in the south was not good, not only in the town where the mercenary captain, who did not know the first thing about governing, was sitting as the lord.

When war breaks out and plundering occurs, the resulting chaos inevitably spreads.

Johan captured a few bands of bandits, personally handled trials that had been postponed because they were difficult to judge, restored unclear fiefdom records, and sorted out taxes.

The wizards, who thought they had come down to rest, grumbled, but Johan remained undeterred.

“You’ve all worked hard. It seems that things have been sorted out to some extent thanks to your efforts.”

“You are truly amazing, Count. To solve problems that have been accumulating for so long in one go!”

The castellan bowed his head at a more acute angle than when he first met Johan. His eyes were filled with fear, but more so with respect.

He had been a scribe in the city, but he had never seen anyone who could handle things like Johan. His administrative ability was truly formidable.

Even knights who hunt monsters on horseback might look down on such work, which involves ink, quills, and paper, but the scribes knew very well how amazing Johan’s ability was. It was a situation that could not help but elicit admiration.

“Your Excellency Count!”

Johan was puzzled by the appearance of a soldier who had rushed in from outside while he was soothing Caenerna, who had collapsed and said she could no longer do it. He was clearly in a state of shock.

“What is it?”

“The emperor. . . the emperor is dead!”

“Hmm. He was old, so it was time for him to die.”

The soldier was slightly taken aback by Johan’s very calm reaction.

Was it really the case that knights like counts did not even surprise at such news?

“Is that all?”

“And. . . a rebellion has broken out.”

“!”