Chapter 273: ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????? (2)

Chapter 273: The Faithful Count (2)

They could not fathom what Johan’s intricate feelings were, thus the priests were simply elated that Johan had understood.

Although Johan was amiable towards the order and respectful towards even the poorest monks, in terms of status, there was a vast difference between Johan and the priests.

The reason feudal lords accepted the priests’ petitions was to show off their honor and religiosity, not because they were scared of the priests.

Johan, in such a position, was listening attentively to the priests and meeting the people the priests had brought with them without showing any signs of displeasure.

It was something that truly devout people would find difficult to do.

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“Did His Excellency really grant permission?”

“Yes. Didn’t I tell you? The devotion of Your Excellency is incomparable to the other feudal lords of the Empire; the difference is like that between the sun and a candle.”

If Johan heard them, he would have told them to hush, but the priests were being completely serious.

Julienne, who came from the Serderdits family, nodded with an expression of deep awe.

If it were a count-level figure, they might not have received the newly risen feudal lords.

Even if they recognized the new feudal lords, who had risen to power after fighting amongst themselves, it was still considered a loss of dignity to meet and converse with them in person.

In fact, when a delegation arrived, some of the lords in the west did not meet them in person and instead had their chamberlains handle matters. It was disrespectful, but given the circumstances, the rebels could hardly be blamed.

“So. Shall we go in, baron?”

“W-Well. . . I’m worried it will appear disrespectful if we go in just like this.”

Julienne felt a renewed sense of anxiety, looking himself and the priest up and down. They were both dressed roughly and dirtily. They had tried to dust themselves off before the meeting, but the stains that had soaked into their clothes did not disappear easily.

It didn’t matter when they were alone, but it was embarrassing to stand before a count dressed like this. He suddenly felt ashamed and anxious.

“It’s fine! Let’s go!”

“W-Wait a moment. . .”

Johan was puzzled as he watched Julienne enter with the priests. The man looked far more normal than he had expected.

Johan had been expecting a suspicious-looking appearance like Jyanina based on what the priests had said, but the opposite was true. He did not give off any sense of creepy fanaticism or madness. At a glance, he looked like a simple, harmless shepherd.

“How incredibly unexpected.”

Suetlg seemed surprised as well.

Ordinarily, famous fanatics showed signs from their appearance. Whether they had met a malevolent spirit or something else, those who believed that they had met a god exuded a peculiar aura.

They usually attracted people by giving off a unique atmosphere that could be felt from a distance.

In comparison, Julienne here really did just look like a shepherd. He looked like he couldn’t tell a single lie so honestly that even the city guards wouldn’t arrest him.

“The ones like that are more dangerous.”

“Indeed. . .”

Caenerna and Suetlg briefly exchanged opinions; a madman that looked sane was scarier than a madman that looked crazy.

“Rather than that, what’s with those wings? Is he an avian beastman?”

If there was one peculiar thing about him, it was the wings on his back. They were the kind of wings that avian beastmen would have. As a result, the back of his coat was puffed up, failing to conceal his wings.

“If he was an avian demi-human, his wings would have been much closer to his arms. That’s just a hex.”

“Don’t call it a hex.”

“Then is it a revelation?”

“Strictly speaking, it’s closer to a hex, but who’s going to listen?”

While the wizards were chattering, Julienne began his greeting.

“Y-Y-Your Excellency Count, I greet you.”

“Baron. There’s no need to be so polite with me.”

Johan spoke as he saw Julienne about to prostrate himself. There was a vast difference in their respective forces, but as long as they were both feudal lords and not in a vassal relationship, there was no need to show more courtesy than necessary.

“O-Oh, I see. I’d forgotten. My apologies. I haven’t been in my position for very long. . .”

Suetlg’s expression relaxed slightly. He had a weakness for people who were innocent and pure.

Caenerna, on the other hand, gave him an even more guarded look.

“Y-Your Excellency Count, whose reputation shines so brightly throughout the Empire. . .”

As he was speaking, Julienne stole a glance downward. Caenerna realized it.

‘He’s reading from something he wrote down!’

“I dare not accept it, Your Excellency Count!”

“It is my joy and honor to bestow it upon the priests. Why would you refuse?”

Johan was not giving them the silver coins because they were rotting and he wanted to give them to the priests. In fact, they had been rotting lately, but his true intention was to impress the priests and keep them from having other thoughts.

If he gave them a gift like this in advance, they wouldn’t hold a grudge against him even if he refused their requests later.

‘I guess you can feel the count’s intent to make them dependent on him.’

Caenerna thought so, and she was right.

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It wasn’t just the wizards; Johan also guessed that the new baron wouldn’t last very long. No matter how much the order helped him, there was a clear limit. He said that he would use force if necessary, but feudal lords also had force at their disposal.

However, the news from the priests was different from what he had expected.

“A castellan was exempted from working as a collaborator this time.”

“Did you hear, count? That cruel baron promised to reduce punishment in the future.”

“No. . .”

Johan was shocked.

Was there something more to that pathetic-looking shepherd baron?

“Perhaps he has the talent of a wizard.”

“What?”

“Didn’t he show a miracle? A wizard’s words have power, and those who aren’t strong are easily swayed. You and I know magic and have strong spirits, but others don’t. They might have been surprisingly easy to persuade.”

Come to think of it, the wizards here and Johan were quite lacking in faith.

Most feudal lords lived debauched lives or didn’t follow the order’s teachings, but they weren’t completely devoid of faith.

To them, Julienne, who had suddenly appeared and even shown them a miracle, might have seemed more convincing than they had expected.

“It’s strange, but isn’t it a good thing?”

“He does seem a bit crazy, but it’s definitely not a bad thing for the people of the Empire.”

“Aren’t you both being a little too optimistic. . .”

Unlike Caenerna, Johan and Suetlg didn’t have any particular thoughts. Wouldn’t it be a good thing if the serfs of the Empire could live a little better? Besides, there hadn’t been any fighting.

However, even Caenerna had to admit that there were more pressing matters right now than the fanatics down south.

With the Rimpangel family sending more dwarves to build the castle, mercenaries were also gathering in response.

Among the knights with fiefdoms like Johan with fierce reputations, mercenaries were the ones who could cause trouble. If they weren’t managed strictly, order would collapse in an instant.

The mercenary captains were surprised to see the count suddenly appear and hurriedly prepared themselves.

They had expected a representative of the count to come, not the count himself.

“Your Excellency Count, our mercenary company is famous for our exploits in hunting trolls. If you entrust us with the task, we will ensure that no monsters set foot in your fiefdom.”

“Count, our mercenary company is known for our loyalty, even if we are paid late. If you find it hard to believe, you can ask Bishop Baek, who hired us before! Here is a document written by Bishop Baek himself!”

When there was a lot of work, the mercenary captains would get arrogant, but when there was no work, their heads would naturally hang low.

Now that there was less work in this area, Johan, a count who paid his mercenaries well and on time, was a coveted employer for many mercenary groups.

With the silver mine discovered, wouldn’t he be developing all of this nearby land?

“Your Excellency Count, I have something to tell you in private.”

One of the mercenary captains said that, and the others gave him guarded looks.

If he tried to curry favor with the count by saying something useless, it would be to their detriment.

“How dare you request a private audience with Your Excellency Count? You’re incredibly rude!”

“Your Excellency Count himself is speechless at your rudeness!”

“Enough. I’ll hear what he has to say, so be quiet.”

“Yes. I’m sorry!!”

“How dare you interrupt? You deserve to die!”

‘Are mercenaries starving a lot these days?’

Johan was puzzled by the mercenary captains’ overly servile attitudes compared to usual.

How much work must there have been. . .