Chapter 97.1: ๐๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐ง (๐)
โEven if that knight is a demon, it doesnโt matter. Weโre not asked to fight him, are we?โ
โ. . . . . .โ
โWe just need to bring out the magistrate.โ
The defense captain had no particular attachment to this city either. As Gurelic had said, the cityโs defense captains were usually of mercenary origin. They didnโt bury their bones in the city just because they had been paid there for a long time.
If the city falls, just take the property and go somewhere else!
However, the Slovak Kingdom wanted the magistrate. In case of an emergency, they were to bring out the magistrate. The defense captain couldnโt ignore that order.
โ๐ ๐ด๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ญ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ท๐ช๐จ๐ช๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต. . .โ
It was unexpected that the enemyโs vanguard could invade so boldly. Nor did they anticipate the others would betray them so quickly.
Anyway, there was only one thing to do now. They had to take the magistrate out somehow.
There were no other subordinates left, so they had no choice but to coax and persuade them.
โAccording to the spy, the magistrate is confined in the mansion. He will stay there until the duke decides otherwise. Nobody expects him to be rescued from outside. Moreover, the guards are not that strong.โ
Starting with gold coins and up to fiefs, the mercenaries began to be tempted, forgetting their fears.
What does it matter if the opponent is a demon? If they donโt meet him, they can make a fortune!
โ. . .Is that true?โ
โIโm with you guys in this. Itโs my life at stake too. Would I lie about such a thing?โ
The mercenaries nodded, their eyes shining at the defense captainโs words. If they could secretly whisk away the magistrate and escape the city, they could live lavishly in a town for the rest of their lives.
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
Books were precious and not widely circulated. They were not necessarily written in the Empireโs language. The monks who copied books in the monasteries also used the ancient imperial language.
Naturally, the books Johan had selected were written in the ancient imperial language.
โNow that I think about it, does Repiata-gong know the ancient imperial language?โ
Just because one liked books didnโt mean they knew the ancient imperial language. Books were held for their value and could be a symbol of dignity in themselves.
After all, the nobles could hire readers to read for them.
โWell. . . It should be fine.โ
โ?โ
โEven if he doesnโt know, he wonโt admit it out of pride, will he?โ
โ. . . . . .โ
Johan looked at Suetlg incredulously. Suetlg avoided his gaze, seemingly embarrassed.
โYou said he liked books, didnโt you?โ
โWhether he likes books or not, thatโs another matter, isnโt it?โ
โThatโs fine.โ
The books Johan had chosen were not particularly unusual: <The Baptism of Saint Gereos>, <The Gospel of Zoleo>, <The Four Seasons of Duke Milene>. . .
As they were difficult to produce, books usually related to the church or represented the nobilityโs authority. Going beyond this would enter a suspicious category.
๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ
As soon as Brรผnhilde saw Johan, she hugged him tightly. Although smaller than Johan, Brรผnhilde was a knight taller and stronger than most. Johan slowly pushed away Brรผnhildeโs arms with his hands.
โ๐๐ง ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ค๐ข๐ฑ๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ช๐ต๐บ ๐ต๐ธ๐ช๐ค๐ฆ, ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ณ๐ช๐ฃ๐ด ๐ธ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฃ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ.โ
โIโm truly grateful for your bravery! Gong is also pleased.โ
โI just did what had to be done. Is Gong inside?โ
โYes! The others have already arrived.โ
Johan rubbed his side and nodded. Caenerna, standing beside him, asked,
โIs that a book youโre holding? Did you bring a book as a gift?โ
โYes. How are you feeling?โ
โMy magic is not fully restored, and my head aches like a hangover, but itโs bearable.โcontemporary romance
Suetlg didnโt seem eager to join the gathering. In contrast, Caenerna enjoyed interacting with the powerful.
Currently aligned with the Emperorโs faction, but the more options for switching sides, the better.
Johan had suggested Caenerna accompany him to provide some comfort.
โI regret having pushed you into using magic.โ
โ. . .?โ
Caenerna looked at Johan strangely. Normally, witnessing a magic surge meant either killing or preparing for trouble.
But this knight was apologizing instead. Although Caenerna knew Johan was a unique knight involved with magic, still. . .
โWhy are you looking at me like that?โ
โI didnโt expect an apology. . .?โ
โItโs my fault for involving you. Iโll be more careful in the future.โ
โYouโd make a really good feudal lord.โ
โIs that sarcasm?โ
โNo. Itโs rare for nobles to treat a wizard like that. Normally, they are more. . .โ
โAnnoying? Arrogant?โ
โI was going to say they act like a son of a b*tch, but thatโs not incorrect either.โ
Many thought court wizard Caenerna manipulated the Emperor for her gain, but she had her struggles.
For a wizard like her, the relationship with the employer was everything. A bad relationship meant life-threatening consequences for her subordinates.
Everything she did or didnโt do was blamed on magic. Such was the nature of magic.
She had to make even the impossible seem at least feasible.
โNobles think magic can do anything. They think paying gold makes everything possible. Do you know what Cardirian wanted?โ
โNot sure.โ
โHe wanted an elixir of youth, to make himself young and healthy again.โ
Caenerna scoffed as she spoke.
โIs it possible?โ
โI donโt know. Whatโs certain is that I donโt know how. . . Can you imagine how annoying it was to convince him?โ
โMust have been terrible. Why serve such a master?โ
โBecause of the gold. Theyโre all the same, so better serve the one with more money.โ
Johan nodded, finding the explanation oddly convincing. When he nodded in agreement, Caenerna looked astonished.
As Caenerna followed Johan, she stopped at the sight of an orc in the courtyard.
โWait. . . That orc.โ
โWhat about it?โ
โItโs from the Alarhim family.โ
Orcs didnโt believe in gods and were greedy for money. Kings and nobles despised orcs but always sought them when in need of money.
The Alarhim family was famously wealthy among orcs. Having such an orc was unusual.
โImpressive to have such a companion. I donโt know how it was managed. . . Ah. Of course, orcs are disrespectful non-believers.โ
Caenerna, admiring the scene, changed her tone, realizing Johan was beside her. It would be hard for a devout knight to appreciate such praise.
โWow. That personโs family is so wealthy? Do you know how one can become friends with an orc?โ
โ. . . . . .โ
done.co