“Oh…. As expected of the Knight!”
“To think there was such a method!”
“Certainly, if one possesses overwhelming skill, they can handle it like that.”
From the rear, the Elf knights let out exclamations of admiration all at once at the peculiar actions Shatien performed.
Such a way!
If one drew a weapon and someone died, it would become a battle of face between the respective nobles.
But if they did not die?
What could possibly be the problem?
It was a quite splendid way to uphold one's honor as a knight while avoiding disputes between nobles.
‘I must definitely try that next time.’
‘To beat them down with the flat of the blade! It truly inspires a sense of challenge.’
It was an action that suited the tastes of the Elf knights perfectly.
Of course, from the perspective of the parties receiving that massive violence, it was like being struck by a bolt from the blue.
“Aigo…….”
“I am dying. I think my teeth are broken. Uh-huh-huh.”
The mercenaries all clutched their jaws and crawled on the ground while whimpering. It was because Shatien’s sword was so accurate that he had slapped every one of their cheeks with a loud crack.
“Even if you are a noble, how can you act so tyrannically! Uh-huh-huh.”
The mercenary officer who had been in charge of the blockade raised his voice, feeling wronged by the beating. But Shatien, on the contrary, shrugged his shoulders.
“Tyrannically? I conceded enough. Is that not so?”
Shatien spoke while looking behind the huffing mercenary officer. Standing there with a stiff expression was Voltion, the captain of the Lily Mercenary Company. The officer, who discovered his captain late, shouted with a look of injustice.
“Captain! Captain! You have come. I tried to block them somehow, but it was not easy. They broke through with force like that and beat us down and…….”
“Be quiet.”
“Huh?”
Leaving behind his dazed subordinate, Voltion looked at the knight on the opposite side. A knight who, just moments ago, had shown a skill level that anyone would be astonished by. He was not an easy opponent.
‘No wonder why he was moving with the envoy of the Holy See…….’
Voltion thought that perhaps there would be more loss than gain today.
“Even if you are a noble, is this not too much? We are closing this bridge under the order of Count Shatin. Yet you tried to push through with force?”
Voltion spat out his complaints, trying to find a pretext to avoid responsibility as much as possible. However, this young knight, Shatien, did not even blink.
“Pushing through? I merely tried to mediate the situation.”
“Mediate?”
What kind of mediation was he performing with such violent actions? Voltion was flabbergasted. However, recalling the show of force the knight had shown just moments ago, the curses could not bring themselves to come out past his throat.
“Your subordinates who were blockading the bridge insulted the knights and the flag. Surely a man like you knows what this flag signifies?”
“H-Hmm….”
He had ordered them to block the bridge, and they had caused a major disaster. Voltion was speechless.
To insult the flag.
Furthermore, was that flag not the symbol of the Holy See? It could have been a fake, but there was no way knights equipped with that much armament would do such a thing, and above all, a clergyman was standing right next to them.
And that meant they truly were an embassy from the Holy See.
“I—I did not know that. My subordinates are low-born, so they did not recognize the crest…….”
Voltion tried to settle the situation as if making a hurried excuse. Shatien cut those words off immediately.
“Enough. I have no intention of holding you responsible, nor do I intend to blow this matter out of proportion. God spoke of mercy, not of conflict. Since no one was harmed, I intend to let this pass quietly. Is that not so?”
“Hahahaha. That is right. That is a good idea. We shall not hold you responsible.”
“A—Ahahaha… you are truly benevolent.”
A knight who spoke of benevolence. He wondered what kind of bastard this was, but because of his own guilt, Voltion laughed awkwardly and spoke.
“Sir Shatien is truly a knight who is an exemplar.”
“Ah, is he that mercenary knight, Sir Shatien?”
“That is right. This knight before you is indeed Sir Shatien.”
“No wonder.”
He had been surprised by the massive skill, but if it was that Shatien of many rumors, it was understandable. He had heard he was a knight from a formidable mercenary background with the nickname Knight Killer, right? Indeed, seeing him in person, it was plausible. Furthermore, benevolent? He thought it was some kind of nonsense, but since it came from the mouth of the Holy See envoy, he could not simply ignore it.
‘Well, there is no need for me to care. As long as the current problem is solved, is that not all that matters?’
Benevolent? He just had to play along with that appropriately and wrap up the current problem well. Thinking so, Voltion intended to settle the situation.
“I will tell the men and order them to clear the way. I am truly sorry for obstructing the procession.”
“It is fine.”
“Hahahaha. Yes, don't worry too much. As I say repeatedly, we shall not take issue with this.”
‘Whew.’
It was a stroke of luck.
Count Shatin was already in a very sensitive state, and if it were said that there was trouble with a Holy See embassy for no reason, he might have handed down a punishment.
The mercenary contract could have been canceled as well. Thanks to that, Voltion felt a tiny bit of gratitude toward the two people before him. Therefore, he tried to offer a bit of unsolicited advice.
Partly to make an impression on the envoy of the Holy See.
“Uh, Envoy. I don't recommend going deep into the territory of Count Shatin. I suggest you continue straight down the road past the bridge.”
“Hmm? Is there some problem?”
Then, Voltion looked around and whispered cautiously.
“A plague has broken out in the territory of Count Shatin. Not only the people of the inner castle, but I hear that even the wife of Count Shatin has fallen ill and is hovering between life and death.”
“?!”
Hearing those words, Shatien and the envoy were greatly surprised.
A plague?!
And to think that even the wife of the Count was hovering on the brink of death.
It was truly massive information. Indeed, it was not for nothing that they were blockading the bridge even while overextending themselves.
“Hehehe…. It would be a disaster if a precious envoy like yourself caught the plague. So please, take a detour.”
* * *
A meeting was convened at the sudden news of the plague.
“If it is true that a plague is spreading, it is too dangerous. I think we must turn back.”
Branch Manager Marhen, who led the merchant caravan, expressed his refusal with a stiff expression. As a branch manager who intended to sell vast amounts of trade goods to the free cities of the wealthy northern peninsula using the Holy See envoy, he did not want to take unnecessary risks for no reason.
After all, it would only mean camping out for a day or two. Since the roads made since the days of the Ancient Empire were well-maintained here, the movement speed was quite exceptional.
The hardship would be short.
“That is right, Shatien. There is no need to go there. If a plague spreads by ill luck, all the boys I have raised will just collapse one by one.”
“Ugh…. Sir. Is there a need to go to a region where a plague has spread so irreverently?”
“Ahem, ahem.”
As Branch Manager Marhen set the tone like that, everyone added their words while nodding. In particular, the reactions of the Elf knights, who desired death on an honorable battlefield, were passionate.
They were expressing with their entire bodies that they did not want to go by any means.
However, what mattered was not their thoughts.
Shatien raised his hand to restrain them and looked at the envoy.
“What do you intend to do?”
The envoy had been stroking his chin and lost in thought for a while. He surely had something else he was hoping for or thinking about.
“It seems better to turn back, but….”
As expected.
“How about stopping by Count Shatin first to grasp the situation?”
“Huh?”
“It is too dangerous! Envoy.”
“That is right!”
Everyone shouted in surprise at the envoy's words.
Shatien silenced them once again.
“Stop! The envoy has a plan of his own.”
“Still….”
“Ahem!”
And then Shatien looked at the envoy and opened his mouth.
“There must be a reason, right? There is no need for an envoy who must hurry to the Holy See to take such a risk for no reason, is there?”
“Hahaha…. That is right, Sir Shatien.”
The envoy nodded.
Not only was he good at fighting, but he also knew how to grasp the situation and think. The envoy found Shatien to his liking once more.
“Count Shatin is one of the neutrals. He continues to weigh the scales between the Emperor and the Holy See. If we help Count Shatin and gain his favor, he might not take the side of the Holy See, but at least he will not stand on the side of the Emperor.”
“Since the fief of Count Shatin is also the gateway leading to the Empire, you surely think it will be helpful, Envoy?”
“That is correct.”
The envoy smiled brightly and nodded. And only after hearing that story did the people all nod their heads.
“Ah, if that is the reason….”
“Well, if you say so, then of course we must do that.”
They had accepted the envoy's actions to some extent. It could not be helped anyway since the envoy led this entire procession.
“Then, for now, let us proceed to meet Count Shatin…. If so, do you have a plan regarding treatment? It would be a disaster if the envoy caught the illness.”
Then the envoy shook his head.
“I plan to see Count Shatin and grasp the situation first, then send a separate messenger to the Holy See. Since the legacy of the Imperial era remains, there are also many doctors who treat plagues.”
“Oh….”
Shatien thought that he would not have to step forward to try and treat anything this time.
How much trouble had he suffered in the past?
He had absolutely no intention of experiencing such things by stepping forward to treat for no reason this time.
But whether they knew Shatien’s thoughts or not, the Elf knights caused trouble.
“Hahaha. Is there a need for that?”
“True. Come to think of it, we have a secret weapon to defeat the plague. Is that not so, Sir?”
“A—Ahahaha. What do you mean by that….”
Why on earth were these madmen dragging him into this when he was staying quiet?
Shatien hurriedly waved his hands and tried to shut the mouths of those pointy-eared bastards. But….
“Aww come on. No need to be so humble.”
“Envoy, please don't worry.”
Unlike Shatien’s wish, the mouths of the Elf knights could not be stopped.
“Could the miracle from that time be it?”
“That is right! Envoy! The healer of the plague. The miracle worker who turned plain water into the holy water of healing! It is none other than Sir Shatien. Hahaha!”
“Oh…! Indeed! This too might be a divine revelation. To think it would be so timely.”
“…….”
Shatien had an ominous feeling that this time too would not pass easily.
‘Damn it….’
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