40 – Episode 40
#40
Unlike the nobles, the knights did not particularly like the sorcerers.
First, because they resorted to despicable tricks on the battlefield. Second, because they shared no camaraderie with them.
Knights, in general, disliked sorcerers.
However, since outright rejection would lead to troublesome consequences, they only badmouthed sorcerers behind their backs, where they couldn’t hear.
“Excuse me, sorcerer.”
A knight suddenly approached Ian and spoke.
“I’ve heard that you’ve been spreading unfavorable rumors among the people.”
“Unfavorable rumors?”
“That if Lord Grime becomes the ruler, the land will wither and decay.”
Ah, so I did spread such baseless rumors.
Ian simply nodded.
“Yes, but why?”
As Ian affirmed, the knight narrowed his eyes and glared at him.
The reason was absurd.
“Sorcerer Ian, haven’t you unleashed curses that are too powerful?”
“…?”
“If the land really decays, how do you intend to take responsibility for that?”
Hey, don’t cast such strong curses. It seems weak, doesn’t it?
…Is that what it means?
A momentary brain freeze.
Ian couldn’t understand the knight’s words.
“Uh… so, what would happen if the land really decayed?”
“That’s right.”
Ian smiled and extended his hand.
Though his face was smiling, inside he cursed the ignorant knight.
That’s why they’re uneducated fools.
“Oh, I see. There seems to be a misunderstanding. The land won’t decay.”
“Why?”
“Because all those curses and whatnot are all lies.”
“…Lies?”
These ignorant knights, believing in the black propaganda spread by the ignorant masses.
Ian criticized the knights’ pathetic level of intelligence, but in truth, it wasn’t their fault.
This was the average level of information in this era.
To the modern people, who are immersed in various media including smartphones, knowledge is like a toy that can easily be obtained by simply turning on Namuwiki.
It’s a kind of toy that YouTubers make shows like “Secrets of ~ You Didn’t Know” and play with.
However, in this medieval fantasy world where information is severely limited, there were too many cases where rumors were taken as truth. This was because there was no way to distinguish whether the rumors were true or not.
Knowing this fact, people in the medieval era just openly spread lies.
If you get deceived by such absurd lies a few times, you’ll naturally become more discerning as a listener.
The problem arises when people buy into baseless misconceptions with such biased knowledge as they do now.
“Those words. Can you be sure of them?”
Sure of what to be sure of.
Ian looked at the knight in disbelief, but the knight’s eyes were filled with a strange conviction.
“I hope you won’t change your mind later.”
“What is he talking about? That guy?”
Ian couldn’t help but wonder if the count’s knights had eaten something that didn’t agree with them.
But the real headache came after the army arrived at the count’s estate.
“Your Lordship! We do not wish to stand on a dishonorable battlefield!”
The count’s knights… had declared a collective strike.
“Are you all serious?”
The count alternated his gaze between the knights and Ian with a mysterious look.
Combining the count’s gaze and the knights’ mysterious attitude, Ian reached a conclusion.
‘… No way?’
“Sorcerer Ian has been loudly proclaiming that a curse will come to this land. This is no different from an act that summons a curse!”
“If rumors spread that we are with a sorcerer who calls forth curses, our honor will be thrust into the mud. Your Lordship.”
It was clear what the knights were aiming for.
They were trying to exclude Ian from this upcoming war!
“No, the curse is all fake. What will you do if you fall for the rumors I’ve spread?”
Ian tried to logically persuade the knights, but they didn’t even listen to his words.
“How can we believe the sorcerer’s words?”
“Clearly they are trying to deceive us with their cunning tricks!”
The knights’ reasoning was as follows:
Ian is smart. He knows more than the knights, so there’s no way to catch him even if he uses deceit.
Conclusion: Therefore, I think all of Ian’s words are lies…?
“Crazy savages.”
From Ian’s perspective, it was maddening, but there was no sharp solution.
The protagonist of war is the knight.
No matter how much a wizard creates a battlefield and manages it, ultimately it is the knight who wields the sword.
If the knights deliberately declare a strike like they are now, the ruler has no choice but to take the side of the knights.
Without a wizard, it would be inconvenient, but without knights, there would be no battle at all.
“Hmm…”
The earl was aware of that fact.
So, while discreetly watching Ian’s reactions, he was still supporting the knights’ behavior.
Once Ian understood how things were going, he no longer wanted to linger in the castle.
“If my presence is so unpleasant, then step aside for me.”
“…”
“But don’t expect to receive my help no matter how things turn out.”
Ian stormed out of the room, half-seriously angry.
Only one person, Lucy Talian, followed Ian to try and stop him.
“Ian!”
Lucy hesitated, looking as if she was about to die of guilt.
Ian scrutinized Lucy intently. If that was an act to pacify Ian, then Lucy had a talent fit for a monarch.
…But it didn’t seem like an act.
In all the time Ian had known Lucy, she had never been the type to plan and execute something.
“Sorry. The knights suddenly interrogated me and…”
Oddly enough, Ian felt a bit relieved at Lucy’s apology.
He might not have known that it was a genuine apology stemming from sincere remorse, not an act.
“It’s fine. I’m not really mad.”
“…Really?”
Ian nodded.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t bothered at all, but the truth was, he wasn’t too angry.
Obsessing over the glory of battle or the spoils was for warriors.
Ian was a mage. Getting the magic sword Lucy promised was satisfying enough.
“It’s not like it’s a big deal if I miss the battlefield. What’s so mystical about a place littered with corpses?”
“But…”
Lucy spoke, torn with guilt.
“The chance to build a reputation is gone.”
Ian chuckled and ruffled Lucy’s hair.
“What good is building a reputation anyway? I’ll be content with just getting the sword from you.”
“Ian…!”
Lucy looked at Ian, who spoke generously, with moist eyes.
“I’ll definitely get you the magic sword! If, if it’s not enough, marry me and take over the territory…”
“No. Not buying. Not buying.”
In the end, Ian declared that he would gracefully withdraw from this battle against the count.
The count and Lucy expressed their apologies, but the knights were relieved.
Ian seemed to be monopolizing too much credit within the count’s army, causing unease.
Making magic potions and spreading rumors were the mage’s domain, so even if Ian was active, there was no way to stop him.
But this wasn’t a magical contest.
From Noble mtl dot com
The battlefield was the stage for knights!
The knights were not people who came to cheer for Ian’s performances; they were ambitious individuals who came out to win the count’s favor by splendidly showcasing their skills.
The count had promised to provide Ian with a few more scrolls, so Ian could change professions without any regrets.
“Well, how well does he fight?”
After a day of camping, the count’s army ascended the hill around lunchtime the next day.
Their target was the Grime’s mountain camp.
#
Upon hearing the news of Countess Katrina’s advance, Grime, a rebellious leader, led his subordinates and entrenched himself in a nearby mountain camp.
If the count had come with the intention of slaughtering the people, Grime should have rushed out to fight him.
However, the count marched peacefully and, instead, spread malicious rumors, using a sorcerer to discredit Grime. The rumor was that if Grime became the lord, a curse would befall this land.
As a result, the people of Talian created an atmosphere of rejection towards Grime, and reluctantly, Grime had to move his camp to the mountains for defense.
“The enemy’s numbers… about 400 or so.”
Former mercenary captain, Graeme, quickly assessed the enemy’s scale at a glance.
If there were 400 of them, it was highly likely that they were all mercenaries. Having stirred up military affairs with various schemes, they couldn’t afford to mobilize the people.
It was fortunate that the enemy’s numbers were small, but still, 400 was a significant number.
“You’re not scared, are you, Captain?”
Graeme’s subordinates approached him. They had been comrades since their days in the mercenary corps. Now, they were more like family than actual family.
“Me? The fearsome Graeme of the Outer Nightblade?”
Graeme sharpy chuckled as he looked at his subordinates.
Since disposing of the Talian Marquis couple, armed conflicts had become commonplace in their lives.
In that sense, Countess Katina’s army presented an opportunity, not a crisis.
It was a chance for Graeme to be recognized as the new ruler of the territory!
Lucy Talian, that arrogant woman sticking with the Marquis’ side, it was obvious. If they could secure victory in this battle, they could obtain Lucy through negotiation.
If it went that way, it would be Graeme’s triumph.
Graeme had around 200 subordinates and a few wandering knights recruited from outside.
Especially the black knight who came from the East, his combat skills were so exceptional that it was hard to believe he was hired for just a few silver coins.
“Whether it’s 400 or 4000 enemies, it doesn’t matter! Whoever dares to point their sword at me, Graeme, will meet their end!”
“Oh!”
Graeme ignited the spirits of his comrades. As a former mercenary, he had long lost his fear.
If he still had fear, would he have thought of killing the Marquis couple and seizing their territory?
But in this chaotic era, there were plenty of people like Graeme.
If they failed, they would be nothing but scoundrels, but if they succeeded, they would become revolutionaries who overturned the world’s order.
“Hey, knights! Take heart! If we can resolve this matter, I’ll grant you good land!”
The wandering knights nodded at Grime’s words. Though he was still a bit inexperienced, Grime was a decent lord. The hastily hired knights would surely be of help in the upcoming battle.
“Captain! The enemies are approaching!”
Grime checked his helmet and armor and stepped onto the battlefield.
“Let’s go!”
Grime and the mercenaries moved forward.
Now, the cheerful rebellion of the former mercenaries begins!
#
The sun was high in the sky, marking noon.
The armies of Lord Grime and Countess Katrina faced each other on the hill, lined up side by side.
An open field battle between armies.
It was known as a showdown.
The terrain favored Grime. It was a much higher ground, allowing for a vantage point to look down upon the enemy.
The Countess’s army split into three groups, each consisting of about 100 soldiers.
There were the left flank, right flank, and the center.
“They certainly seem overwhelming.”
The Countess’s knight, Sir Decado, stood beside Ian and spoke.
Due to his age, he had been assigned to guard important figures, including the Countess. He also had a desire to give young knights a chance to shine.
“Indeed it does.”
A battle between 400 and 200 soldiers.
Even to Ian, who was ignorant of the war, the Count’s army seemed overwhelmingly advantageous. It was the difference in military strength that could easily triumph even without Ian’s magical support.
In fact, even if Ian had engaged in magical support, there wasn’t much he could do.
Ian couldn’t conjure fire, nor could he cause earthquakes.
At best, he could summon darkness… but calling forth darkness wasn’t easy when the sun was shining so brightly.
But what good was that meager magical support? The overwhelming difference in military strength couldn’t be distinguished by magic. Once you win, that’s the end of it.
Ian, oblivious to the intricacies of war, and Lucy and the Count, watched the battle with calm expressions.
Ian, anticipating an entertaining spectacle after a long time, found the popcorn irresistibly itchy.
“Oh. They’re fighting.”
The two armies clashed fiercely.
Contrary to the expectation that the Count’s army would overwhelmingly triumph, Graeme’s forces did not yield easily.
Hey, they’re fighting much better than expected?
Ian exclaimed, sharing his admiration with Decado.
“He’s said to be a former mercenary, but he fights well against knights without being overwhelmed.”
…
The most amusing spectacles in the world are watching fire and watching battles.
Ian found it incredibly entertaining.
Wow. Feels like watching a movie.
However…
Unlike the thoughtless Ian, Decado’s expression was quite grim.
The enemies fought much better than anticipated.