How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 4: ๐“๐ก๐ž ๐„๐ง๐ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐‚๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ (๐Ÿ’)



โ€œI feel filled with light when I think of your excellency watching.โ€

Johan said so and grumbled to himself.

Helping Valberga was not out of faith in God, nor was it to win Valbergaโ€™s favor. If the church here had been a bit bigger and more substantial, Johan might have tried to win some favor.

But the church here was small and humble, befitting the size of the estate. The only priest available was Valberga. This Valberga had to take on all the miscellaneous tasks of the estate, from baptism to mass, blessings, etc. There were some errand boys and servants to help, but Priest Valberga was the type to do as much of the work given by God himself.

It was best for Johan to learn while helping out, as there would be problems if Johan said, โ€˜Quit the estate job and teach me first.โ€™

โ€˜Heโ€™s a decent person, but Iโ€™m not going to be a priest or enter a monastery. . .โ€™

priest Valberga was a pure priest who believed solely in God without any particular ties to the church. There wasnโ€™t much he could do for Johan.

The reason Johan wanted to help was to learn literature.

If he learned the most difficult โ€˜ancient imperial languageโ€™ used by scholars and clergy on the continent or the elves of the Catalian Peninsula, โ€˜Holy Empire languageโ€™ or โ€˜Erlans Kingdom languageโ€™ was easy. They all had quite a few similarities.

Not many people knew how to write and read. Not only the serfs, but also the nobles. There was a lot of thinking like, โ€˜Why should I learn when I can hire someone who knows the letters.โ€™

Those who could write and read were the clergy who had to read the scriptures of the church or the merchants of the city! Here, priest Valberga was the most educated person in the estate.

โ€˜๐˜ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜Œ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ.โ€™

The religion was not much different in the Holy Empire. Our God, who is light and sun, is one, wants faith, the pope is the highest, so pay tithes. . .

Sometimes a great priest shows a miracle, but Johan didnโ€™t have much faith. It seemed hard to believe until he saw it with his own eyes.

Rather, the letters he taught like this felt more amazing.

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ง ๐˜ ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข ๐˜ฉ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ค๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ข๐˜ญ ๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜จ๐˜ถ๐˜ข๐˜จ๐˜ฆ, ๐˜ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏโ€™๐˜ต ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜บ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ.โ€™

Learning was a good thing. As you learn, fear disappears and confidence arises.

Knowing how to write and read the ancient imperial language, and moreover, Johan was proficient in calculations. The mathematical ability of a modern person who can do calculus was not common in this world. Valberga admired Johanโ€™s talent given by God when he did the calculations necessary for estate management.

At first, when he was praised for doing some mental arithmetic, Johan thought, โ€˜๐˜ˆ๐˜ฎ ๐˜ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜โ€™๐˜ฎ ๐˜ข ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ?โ€™ But soon he was able to realize the reason.

They didnโ€™t use Arabic numerals here. Johan was shocked.

โ”๐“๐ก๐ž๐ฌ๐ž ๐ฎ๐ง๐œ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐ž๐ ๐ƒ๐š๐ฌ๐ญ๐š๐ซ๐๐ฌ. . .!

In the ancient Empire, they used to calculate in a primitive way, writing one by one like I, II, III, without any zeros to align the digits. It was a mess and mistakes were common. Even now, itโ€™s unbelievable when you think about it.

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ฃ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ.โ€™

The more abilities Johan has that others donโ€™t, the easier it will be for him to survive.

Johan planned to scrape together whatever assets he had and head to a city with a port once Lord Aitz died. He thought there would be many places to work in a city with a port.

Whether using his body or his mind. . .

โ€˜๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต?โ€™

Walking from the church to the feudal lordโ€™s office, Johan felt something was off. There was a prickling sensation on the back of his neck.

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ฃ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ!โ€™

He didnโ€™t expect anyone to be lying in wait for him here, so his reaction was slow. Johan quickly tensed up and looked around.

โ€œImpressive! You noticed.โ€

โ€œ. . .Youโ€™re not a wanderer.โ€

โ€œI am a wanderer. I just didnโ€™t come here for sightseeing. The way of the world is that things are not as they seem. Even though youโ€™re the son of a pig, youโ€™re like a lion.โ€

The old man stroked his chin and hesitated before opening his mouth.

โ€œ. . .Can I ask you something? This might be a bit rude. . .โ€

In this situation, throwing out such a question left Johan speechless. And it made him curious. What question would an old man, who was bold enough to lie in wait and ambush him in the dark evening, ask?

โ€œWhat is it?โ€

โ€œAre you really Lord Aitzโ€™s son? No matter how I think about it, you seem different.โ€

โ€œ. . .Well, itโ€™s possible for a lion to be born under a pig.โ€

At Johanโ€™s words, Kaegal opened his mouth wide. And then he started laughing like a madman.

โ€œHahaha! Hahaha!โ€

โ€œWhatโ€™s so funny?โ€

โ€œI never dreamed youโ€™d answer like that!โ€

If he were the son of a knight, he would have charged in anger at the insult to his father and his family. Kaegal had expected Johan to do so.

But Johan casually brushed off the insult.

โ€˜๐˜ ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ต! ๐˜ ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ต!โ€™

It felt like the witchโ€™s prophecy was coming true. Kaegal felt his heart pounding. He wanted to pass on his skills to the young man in front of him.

But he couldnโ€™t just pass them on without any conditions.

Kaegal started to think. He had planned to subdue Johan when he attacked and then talk. . .

โ€œSo whatโ€™s your purpose? Just so you know, I donโ€™t have anything. If you want to take some silver coins, it would be better to aim for the feudal lordโ€™s office over there where the light is on.โ€

โ€œEvery word you say hits the mark. But I didnโ€™t come here to collect silver coins. I have enough of those.โ€

At those words, Johanโ€™s eyes sparkled.

โ€œI came here to take a disciple.โ€

โ€œA. . . disciple?โ€

Johan asked as if he found it strange.

โ€œYes. I am Kaegal, one of the masters of <๐•๐ž๐ง๐จ๐ฆ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ>. Have you heard of me?โ€

โ€œ. . .I think Iโ€™ve heard of it.โ€

Johan had heard of it before. When a minstrel visited the feudatory, he sang about the great knight Sir Karamaf tearing apart the cowardly assassins from โ€˜Venom of Nessusโ€™.

Assassinโ€™s Guild!

โ€œKnowing that, this conversation will be easier. You must learn from me. Thereโ€™s no other choice.โ€

While speaking, Kaegal carefully observed Johan.

Naturally, someone raised in a knightโ€™s family would first refuse to learn from a master of a dirty, unofficial guild.

But Kaegal had no intention of accepting a refusal.

He was determined to make him his disciple!

The old man saw little chance of finding another disciple as fitting as Johan. He was resolute to make him a disciple today, by any means necessary.

โ€˜If he refuses, Iโ€™ll threaten his and his familyโ€™s lives to make him swear to learn as my disciple.โ€™

A vow was sacred, and as a knight, he had no choice but to keep it, even if it was made under duress in a life-threatening situation.

Thatโ€™s what knights were like.

Johan hesitated before speaking.

โ€œUh. . .โ€

โ€œ?โ€

โ€œHow much do I have to pay?โ€

โ€œ. . .What?โ€

And the words that came out of Johanโ€™s mouth were completely beyond expectation.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

Johan was flabbergasted.

A master had come to teach him swordsmanship.

What had he eaten wrong?

Or was it because Johan had lived so diligently that God was finally blessing him?

Of course, that wasnโ€™t the case. Johan asked cautiously,

โ€œHow much do I have to pay?โ€

โ€œ. . .What?โ€

โ€œYou wonโ€™t teach me without any compensation. . .โ€

โ€œHahahaha!โ€

Kaegal laughed until tears came out. The wrinkles on his face deepened.

When was the last time he laughed like this? He felt like he had never laughed as much as he did today.

โ€œDo you think Iโ€™m a swordsmanship teacher? Youโ€™re really not Aitzโ€™s son!โ€

โ€œI am his son.โ€

โ€œSay it again. Learning from me, one of the <๐•๐ž๐ง๐จ๐ฆ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ> masters, means learning the swordsmanship of an assassin, not the honor of a knight. If a knight who knows honor sees this, he will despise you, and if a priest of the church sees you, he will curse you. Are you still ready to learn?โ€

โ€œWhere is good and evil in strength? When making a sword, do you make it by hammering steel, or do you decide who to kill and who to protect? Swordsmanship is just swordsmanship, itโ€™s important who uses it. . . Wait. If I learn swordsmanship, do I have to join <๐•๐ž๐ง๐จ๐ฆ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ>?โ€

โ€œNo. You can live without caring about <๐•๐ž๐ง๐จ๐ฆ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ>. You just have to keep my swordsmanship from being interrupted.โ€

โ€œThen Iโ€™m ready anytime.โ€

โ€œ. . .God is fair even to those who donโ€™t believe. Follow me! Iโ€™ll teach you.โ€

Kaegal felt a surge of vitality in his body with joy. He realized that Johan sincerely regarded him as a teacher.

The son of a knightโ€™s family respects such an assassin as a teacher. It was something he had never dreamed of.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

โ€œHave you ever learned swordsmanship?โ€

โ€œNo.โ€

โ€œTry to lift it comfortably and naturally.โ€

Johan lifted the sword towards his left shoulder.

โ€œLeft-handed. Left-handers can make good assassins.โ€

โ€œI have no intention of assassinating.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s what you say. And who knows whether youโ€™ll have to assassinate someone in your life? I didnโ€™t decide to be an assassin from a young age either.โ€

Kaegal scanned Johanโ€™s body. It was a terrifyingly well-built body. He didnโ€™t need any training before giving him a sword.

โ€œSwordsmanship is not difficult. Once you understand the basics, the rest is practice and proficiency. The problem is whether you can understand that basic. Most people swing their swords all their lives without understanding it.โ€

โ€œWhat is the basic?โ€

โ€œRaise your sword, touching your opponent. His sword does not touch yours. Thatโ€™s it.โ€

Johan made a subtle expression. It was really basic.

โ€œThere are as many swordsmanship in the Empire as there are stars. You canโ€™t know and respond to all of them. But if you understand, you can see what youโ€™re trying to do just by looking at the opponentโ€™s actions. So. . . understand!โ€

With his words, Kaegal cut the tree. Even in the dark where only the moonlight was visible, the sword light flashed. The falling leaves were pierced and fell one by one.

โ€œOf course, I donโ€™t expect you to master it right away. This kind of thing takes time. Donโ€™t worry. I have plenty of time, so Iโ€™ll hammer it into your body.โ€

โ€œThank you for your warm words.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t flatter me, use a stab. Show me your actions.โ€

Johan took the same action as Kaegal just did. And he stabbed. The air was torn and a cool wind blew. It was as fast as a flash. It was dark, but it felt like it was bright for a moment.

โ€œ. . .again.โ€

Johan stabbed again. Kaegal was astonished.

It was perfect.

To the point where there was no need to point out.

โ€œLetโ€™s move on to the next.โ€

โ€œHuh? Arenโ€™t you looking?โ€

โ€œLetโ€™s move on to the next. Do this too.โ€

Kaegal showed a technique called <๐’๐ง๐š๐ค๐žโ€™๐ฌ ๐“๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ž> in the guild. At first glance, it looks like a normal diagonal cut, but itโ€™s a brutal technique that targets the neck and face while coming down on the opponentโ€™s weapon.


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