How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 99.2: ???? ???????? (??)

Chapter 99.2: ???? ???????? (??)

When Johan saw the orc who came to visit, he wondered who it was. Only after the orc spoke did he recognize him. It was the orc from the Alarhim family he had met at the mansion.

May I come in?

Johan shrugged his shoulders and gestured for him to come in. He had wondered why the servants asked, ? It was because the guest was an orc.

Many were reluctant to let orcs into their mansions. Letting one in without the masters permission could result in a whipping.

Thank you for allowing me. I came to thank you for saving my life.

It was what I had to do.

The orc was internally amazed at Johans demeanor, treating a guest so naturally. It was too unfamiliar for a young knight.

Did you receive your reward properly?

Of course.

After everything was settled, Johan received heartfelt thanks from both Count Ganolwood and Sir Karpati.

Especially for Count Ganolwood, this incident was like a bolt from the blue. The citys conquest, which was the biggest challenge, was easily accomplished, and to think such a thing happened within the city.

, . . . . , .

In return, Count Ganolwood cautiously offered some advice.

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. . .

-. .

Count Ganolwood guessed what Johan was thinking.

Initially thought to be just a young knight favored by the duke, his insane performance in the punitive expedition drew inevitable attention. Information about what kind of knight he was had already been gathered from the surroundings.

While other knights would have already tried to mingle with the children of the Brduhe family, Johan was not like that at all. He was clearly keeping his distance on purpose.

-, .

- ?

-. . - , - . - . - -, ?

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Count laughed scornfully.

- -. - . . . - , , - .

The dukes children were not fools. They wouldnt do such pointless things. Johan understood what Count meant.

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.

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Count Ganolwood is a clever person,

said the orc, snorting. The expression on his face was not a pleasant one.

Is there a problem?

Ha! How many times has that guy cunningly extorted money from the orcs through trials. . . Hes a tenacious character.

Johan didnt bother to respond. There was nothing to be gained by engaging in slander about the Count .

Coaxing and appeasing the wealthy to extract money was a skill. There were more than a few nobles who borrowed money and brazenly failed to repay it. . .

So, did you come here just to convey your gratitude? You could have sent a servant for that.

Acting grateful in such a manner is something only a rude person would do. If one has self-respect and pride, they cant express gratitude that way.

The orc pulled out a rolled-up certificate and laid it in front of Johan. Johan looked at it quizzically.

If youre a knight, there must be times when youre short of money. I promise you gold in the name of the Alarhim family.

Is this a gift?

What are you talking about? Its a loan.

Johan was slightly disappointed at the orcs expression, which seemed to say, .

But even lending it was a big deal. Merchants lending money to nobles was because of the appropriate collateral.

From various lands to rights. But Johan was a poor knight with almost nothing. All he had was his fists and a sword.

Ill accept it gratefully.

Johan did not show a reaction like, ! He expressed his gratitude and quickly pocketed it.

. . . . . .

Normally, other nobles also reacted that way when they were really desperate. But it was strange for Johan, who didnt seem in a hurry, to behave like that. The orc looked at Johan as if he found him peculiar.

So, are you following Repiata-gong?

Its a contract relationship. We provide the gold, and Gong will. . .

The rest didnt need to be said. They were obviously expecting various rights and privileges.

Some fools despise us for colluding with them, but its a laugh. Is there a noble without a money source? Are the souls of merchants cleaner than ours? Even the normally arrogant nobles beg us in desperation.

Thats true. Gold is supreme.

. . .????

The orc hesitated in the middle of speaking.

Are you flattering me?

Why would I flatter you?

As Johan asked curiously, the orc flinched.

He had been speaking as usual, but remembering Johan swinging his fists and killing mercenaries in the mansion made him recall.

The orc quickly straightened his posture. He thought it unlikely to be killed, but acting recklessly was foolish.

N-Never mind then. I misspoke because I didnt think a knight would understand the value of gold. Please understand.

Contrary to the orcs worry, Johan had no intention of killing him. He could extort a huge amount of gold later, so that much misbehavior was tolerable.

You really seem strong, where are you planning to go next?

Hmm? I have a fief to check on.

You could send an administrator for that. Why bother going yourself?

Johan, who wasnt setting up a family of knights nor intending to sit as a feudal lord, had no reason to personally visit each town to check.

Shouldnt a young knight aspire for greater opportunities, whether following his lord or roaming the battlefield?

?

The orc thought to himself.

Johan seemed to covet the territories governed by the nearby small kingdoms and city-states, gathering soldiers for this purpose.

The area was rife with targets for conquest, and the small kingdoms and city-states were preoccupied with various matters. It was a good time to attack.

However, this was a misconception of the orc. The afterimage he saw in the mansion had left a strong impression. He thought of Johan as a knight forged in blood and violence.

Its better to see for myself, then.

Why bother seeing the town in person?

It might help with managing my fiefdom. Why do you keep questioning my desire to inspect my own fiefdom?

N-No reason.

Nobles did engage in fiefdom management. A savvy feudal lord would choose crops effectively, hire additional people without family, prepare useful equipment, and increase the annual harvest.

But this was typically the work of a bishop-origin feudal lord, not something knights usually did.

The management by knights was much simpler: collect taxes, collect more if insufficient, earn elsewhere if still lacking, and suppress any rebellions that arose. . .

The orc began to doubt his assessment of this knight.

Incredibly, it seemed there might have been a glint of intelligence in the knights eyes, as impossible as it sounded.