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Chapter 322
Ian briefly pondered.
...He'd won, but would this lead to complications later?
It was entirely possible.
Count Consla's liege lord, Duke Fargar, was away on campaign.
As they say, when the tiger's away, the fox becomes king.
W̆еbňоv̆еl Е ñu m a
With no noble to answer to, Count Consla might make decisions however he pleased.
No, he definitely would.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"I-I am the first son of Baron Traton..."
"Kehehehe! Didn't ask!"
In front of the captured knights, Savage licked his blade.
The knights felt more fear than disgust seeing the blade become covered in saliva...
Ė n uṁ а̂.і_d̂
'We might be executed...!'
In this medieval fantasy world, knights had a (relatively) low chance of dying.
First, being well-equipped with good armor and weapons meant they wouldn't die in fights with common thugs.
Also, many were nobles, so their family connections could save them.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Executing a noble's son or daughter could bring unpredictable retaliation.
Since sparing them meant getting ransom money in thanks, it was usually more profitable to keep them alive.
Еñũ m̄а̂
"Ian. What shall we do with the prisoners?"
"Usually we'd negotiate ransom, right?"
"Typically, yes."
Sir Salvador nodded.
"But we don't have time for leisurely negotiations right now."
"What's your opinion, Sir?"
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"Hmm. I think we should just let them go."
A bit disappointing, but that was the wise choice.
If they had time, they'd be thinking about how to get ransom money.
But Ian currently had invisible pursuers on his tail.
Whether black wizards or Imperial Dukes.
Until they met the Emperor, an attack from either side wouldn't be surprising.
W̊еb̈nоvе̇ l̂ Е̌ n u ḿӑ.
Of course, Ian would counterattack if attacked...
But deliberately letting yourself be pursued just because you could fight back was something only a madman would do.
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This wasn't some RPG game.
Since there was nothing to gain from defeating enemies, Ian wanted to avoid combat when possible.
"Good thinking."
They could execute the knights, but that would only increase their enemies.
Ê ňum а̂
The south was chaotic enough - no benefit in making more enemies.
"Belenka. Go free the knights."
"Alright. But first, we should confiscate their armor and weapons..."
"No. Just release them as is."
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Belenka looked slightly surprised.
Even if they gave up on ransom, why give up taking their equipment?
Е n ŭmа
The knights wouldn't complain about losing their gear.
After all, they were the losers and Ian was the victor.
"Ian. A knight's armor is very expensive."
"I know."
Medieval knight's armor was costly.
It was cutting-edge technology and literally a matter of life and death.
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The better your armor, the closer to invincible you became on the battlefield.
If you had money, why skimp on it!
"That knight's lamella armor alone could buy three decent farms."
Though Belenka couldn't take her eyes off the knights' equipment, clearly tempted.
Ian coolly gave up on the armor.
For one, they weren't desperate for money.
Еn̈ůḿа́
And he didn't want to create pursuers by stealing their stuff.
"Sorry, Belenka. But meeting the Emperor is more urgent right now."
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Ian's apology was sincere.
After winning a battle and taking spoils, sharing with your knights was expected.
From Belenka's perspective, she was losing out on extra compensation, so her disappointment was understandable.
"Well... can't be helped."
W еḃňŏ vе̂ l̃ Е n̄ū m̂а
Belenka didn't make a fuss.
She knew Ian's journey wouldn't be easy.
Ian released the knights just like that.
"You may go now."
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"?!"
"You're just... letting us go?"
W е b̃ n̄ ŏ v е̌l Ѐn.ů m a
The knights raised their voices in surprise.
Ian pushed Savage aside(...) and said:
"Yes. I'm a traveling wizard, and I could have demanded ransom from your house or sold your equipment for travel funds."
"..."
"But I decided to let you go."
Ian spoke while making sure they appreciated it.
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This show of generosity was absolutely necessary.
If you didn't make them appreciate it... they wouldn't be grateful!
Ian wasn't some saint.
With the clear goal of reducing pursuers, he needed to get value equal to giving up their equipment.
"Th-thank you..."
"But... why are you releasing us?"
Е̊ n̆u m̂а̂
Ian said to the knights:
"I'm releasing you for two reasons. First, out of respect for Count Consla, the lord of these lands."
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"!"
The knights' confusion turned to surprise at this unexpected answer.
Releasing them out of respect for Count Consla!
'Even though he's a wandering wizard, he respects nobility!'
Еn û m̆ a
'What an honorable person...!'
Wizards were typically willful and temperamental.
But what about this wizard Ian!
He spoke as properly as an honor-bound knight!
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"Second, because I valued your loyalty."
"Loyalty?!"
Wе̊ḃ n̆ õ v́е l̀ Е̄ n ü mа
The knights looked at each other in confusion.
Hey, do you have this loyalty... thing?
No? I thought you had it!
They were indeed knights under Count Consla's orders.
But like Ian and Belenka's relationship, while they served Count Consla, they had some independence in their actions.
Along with their official mission of [collecting tolls from passing travelers], they were also carrying out the side mission of [filling their own pockets].
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Naturally, this wasn't behavior befitting honorable knights.
It was closer to highway robbery than knightly conduct.
But Ian, whether blind(?) or not, was praising the knights as honorable!
"For a knight, demanding money from travelers is shameful behavior."
"..."
When Ian suddenly spoke this blunt truth, the knights couldn't raise their heads...
Ѐ.ǹ û m а . і̃d
But at his next words, their faces brightened.
"However, you were simply doing your utmost to fulfill your lord's orders."
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"!"
"Though Count Consla's orders were wrong, your devotion to your lord moved me."
"...!"
"I cannot hold knights with such deep loyalty responsible for their defeat."
È.num̂ а . îd́
"Ooh!"
Now that you mention it, that's right?!
We were loyal knights after all!(Not really)
Whatever the situation, it was all in how you framed it.
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And Ian's framing technique(?) really appealed to the knights.
How could they not be happy about changing from defeated robbers to loyal knights!
Е̄n̄ŭ m̄ӑ
Suddenly one knight dropped to one knee.
Like dominoes, the other knights also knelt in succession.
"What an amazing decision! Wizard!"
"To think we'd hear praise for knightly loyalty from a wizard's lips!"
The knights' reaction was truly enthusiastic.
Ian's decision had worked perfectly.
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...Watching this scene, Aesis asked Belenka in disbelief:
"Hey, is this wizard always this good with words?"
"Know what wizards do? They study talking after eating. This is normal for them."
Though she called it an ordinary skill, Belenka's expression was pleased.
Ian's manipulation(?) was always impressive.
Aesis himself was pretty skilled at talking from his work as an informant.
W е̊ b̂ nо vе.l Е̄n ū m̃а́
But this eloquence that instantly captivated thuggish knights wasn't something you could learn from just a bit of practice.
"Return and tell your lord Count Consla this."
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Ian spoke with a powerful voice.
A wizard who handled mysteries had different vocal projection than ordinary people.
It was similar to how common folk felt instantly overwhelmed meeting celebrities.
Someone used to speaking loudly before crowds naturally had a voice with both authority and depth.
Е n̊u ma
"Though the world may be in chaos, one must not gather wealth through unjust means. Those who rule over others must always govern without shame under heaven."
"Ooh..."
"Truly wise words. Right and proper."
The knights were completely won over by Ian's words.
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Ian had merely spoken obvious 'right things'...
But coming while releasing them completely unharmed, his words carried special weight!
W ёb̄ n оv̀ е̊l Е̊n̈û mа
When someone you like speaks truth, it becomes twice as convincing!
"You said you were Wizard Ian?"
"Yes."
"I've met many wizards, but never one as wise and prudent as you."
Ian was slightly dumbfounded.
Wise and prudent?
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You just feel that way because I'm letting you go for free...
If Ian had stripped their equipment while saying 'don't do bad things~', would they think the same?
They'd probably be cursing 'That bastard's being hypocritical!' instead!
"We'll never forget this kindness, even in death."
"If you really want to repay me, pray for me and my friends at a temple. Pray our journey ends safely."
Ian's companions smiled deeply, and the knights' expressions showed fresh admiration.
Ӗń û ma_. і̌ d
Because Ian was some great sage?
No!
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Really, because he let them go for free!
Though he asked for prayers, that was basically free (priests would be appalled at this idea), so it was like promising not to change his mind later.
"It would be even better if you could tell us what lies ahead."
"Oh! Where are you headed, Lord Ian?"
W̄ е b ñ о v́ е l̃ Еṅ um̊ a
Earlier they'd been swinging swords demanding money-
Now they were as friendly as lifelong friends.
Ian had to smile.
This was just how medieval people lived.
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"Straight ahead? Sorry, but you'd better turn back here."
"Turn back?"
Ẽ ǹ u m а̄
"Baron Bandarin has blocked the way ahead."
Ian was thinking 'who does he think he is blocking a public road' when he realized something.
"Is he Roxlan's vassal?"
"Yes. He absolutely hates people from Fargar's side crossing over."
Made sense.
When Imperial Dukes growled at each other, naturally their vassals became awkward with each other too.
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'We need to cross into Roxlan anyway.'
Not something to openly tell Fargar's knights.
"As thanks for respecting our honor, we'll escort you for a while, Lord Ian."
Ian considered refusing but accepted for now.
Since they said "for a while", well.
"Then I'll be in your care."
Е̃ n̄ ü m̆ а
