How to Live as a Wandering Knight

After the battle, the first thing Johan did was collapse and fall asleep as if he were dead. He slept so long that Iselia came in several times to check on him by grabbing his wrist.

Thanks to that, the extreme fatigue he felt when he woke up was gone. Johan shook his head as if to clear it and stood up.

‘. . .𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭, 𝘐 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺.’

He still couldn’t remember how he fought, so it must have been a really intense battle. He had heard that he had cut down several famous nobles along the way, and that the Sultan had also been killed, but Johan honestly didn’t remember.

I just cut down everything in my path. . .

“Are you awake, Your Highness?”

“Ah. Yes.”

The leading slave, Geoffrey, was waiting outside with the slaves. When Johan looked around, it seemed that the other nobles had cleaned up while he was resting. The surroundings, which had been a mess, were completely cleaned up, and empire-style tents were set up.

“I prepared this in advance. Please try it once.”

“It’s alcohol that was found in the Sultan’s tent.”

He thought it was a little early in the morning to be drinking, but the serfs who were working were also taking a break and drinking beer, so the nobles couldn’t abstain. Rather, they drank even more.

Johan thanked him and took a sip of the alcohol. It tasted even sweeter because of the victory.

“If you had prepared yourself to find such alcohol. . . you must have already taken out the treasures.”

“Yes. The others are probably waiting for you.”

“Yeah. I can’t miss out on this.”

Wasn’t the most enjoyable time the time to share the spoils? With rumors that the Sultan’s camp was full of treasures, everyone’s eyes must have been half-turned.

But considering that they waited, they must all be really kind and gentle. . .

‘. . .𝘕𝘰, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦.’

Johan reflected for a moment. He still couldn’t believe that the feudal lords had been terrified and trembling, but he had acted too emotionally, even though he had seen such people once or twice before.

He thought that his head was filled with blood because of the heat of the battle, but if he acted like that. . .

“His Highness the Duke has arrived!”

The other nobles were waiting in the tent. When Johan arrived, the feudal lords stood up in line without waiting for anyone to tell them to do so. Johan thought about it when he saw that.

‘𝘕𝘰. 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘥.’

Come to think of it, it wouldn’t make much of a difference if I tried to appease them a little later. Johan frowned and made a face. At the simple change of expression, the feudal lords felt their hearts sink.

“Is something wrong?”

Ulrike whispered in a worried voice. The Duke’s face was not bright even after he had a good rest.

“I’m trying to control my expression so I can take the good stuff.”

“. . . . . .”

Ulrike almost cursed.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

The most loved were silk, gold, and jewels. Even if a knight returned home with just one of the trinkets that the Sultan cherished (Johan honestly thought that the eunuchs or the court nobles below him would have worn them), that knight could live comfortably for several generations.

The Sultan’s camp was a treasure trove not only for poor knights but also for feudal lords. Mirrors and trays carved with geometric patterns, pitchers, wine glasses, beautifully bound books that they couldn’t read, and large, tempting jewels. . .

Whenever it was Johan’s turn, he chose treasures that looked good or gave off a mysterious aura. And when another feudal lord tried to take something he had his eye on, he glared at them. Then the feudal lord would kindly yield.

‘𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵.’

Honestly, he wondered if he really needed to put a crimson carpet like the one the Sultan used on the floor of his castle.

He would give it to Iselia as a present if she liked it, but Iselia had been staring at the horse and armor in the Sultan’s camp since earlier.

‘𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘯? 𝘕𝘰, 𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵. 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵.’

It wasn’t the job of a knight to prepare presents for his children when he returned from an expedition. He was supposed to pray to God and swing his sword again.

Of course, Johan thought it was too cold, and. . .

“What’s gotten you so excited?”

Johan found Suetlg and greeted him happily.

Wizards were also given the opportunity to attend the distribution of the spoils.

They all arrived very late, so they hung their heads like sinners, but no one could ignore a wizard like Suetlg, who had participated in the war as Johan’s advisor.

━𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭.

━𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞. . . 𝐀𝐡, 𝐧𝐨. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐤𝐞. 𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.

The wizards who had received permission spoke in unison.

━𝐖𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩!

The nobles were impressed by their choice. In fact, there were some who were even more pleased because herbs, no matter how precious, couldn’t be compared to other gold or jewels.

Johan was curious. Suetlg had been saying a few things since a long time ago.

━𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨. . . 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛 𝐈’𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝.

━𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞. . . 𝐍𝐨. 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬.

━𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛. . .

Caenerna was no different.

━𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧.

━𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞.

━𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭, 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭, 𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞. . .

Of course, Johan refused. It was too suspicious. Besides, considering that most of the things that alchemists use as alchemy ingredients are toxic substances, he had to think about it even if it had the power of mystery.

“Aha. Were you curious about that? Follow me. I’ve already prepared it anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“I boiled the herb and made herbal tea.”

“I don’t want to drink it.”

“Why? Ah. I guess you’ve heard some strange rumors. Those are just rumors. They often drink it in the courts of the Orient. I had it once, and I’ve wanted to try it again ever since.”

Suetlg was delighted like a young boy. Johan asked Caenerna.

“Have you ever tasted it?”

“. . .It’s not that experiencing it necessarily gives you wisdom. . .”

“No. I asked if you’ve tasted it.”

“I know a lot about it, so it’s the same as if it were true. . .”

When Caenerna muttered and evaded the question, Suetlg answered instead.

“She says she hasn’t.”

“I knew it.”

Caenerna followed the two of them into the tent with a red face.

Inside, two wizards were holding a pitcher and pulling at each other.

“I studied alchemy at the University of Iorca, and I learned wisdom for five years under the philosopher of the desert. So when I say it’s right, it’s right! Got it?!”

“I served under the general and received this obsidian necklace for saving the lives of two noble families! Where are you bragging about your unproven exploits in front of me!?”

“. . .I’m Duke Yeats, so both of you shut up.”

The wizards were startled by Johan’s words. They didn’t know when the Duke had entered. He looked resentfully at Suetlg and Caenerna. If they were wizards, they could have been a little more considerate.

Of course, the two of them ignored it. Even if they weren’t close, the wizards wouldn’t listen to them if they tried to assert their loyalty to each other.

“Okay. Let’s see that Sultan’s herb.”

“H-Here you are. Your Highness.”

“. . . . . .”

Johan blinked.

‘𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴. . .’

He closed his eyes, but the herb didn’t change into something else.

The herb was. . . just coffee. To be exact, coffee beans, which are coffee seeds.

‘𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦??’

For a moment, Johan thought the wizards were making fun of him. However, the wizards all looked at Johan with eyes full of anticipation.

It was as if they were expecting Johan to be surprised.

“W. . . Wow! Amazing! Is this the Sultan’s herb?”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Johan felt a sense of shame. Maybe it was because he was among knights and centaurs, but wizards must have been the shining intellects of this era. . .

“Your Highness the Duke. Would you give me a chance to make herbal tea with this? At the University of Iorca. . .”

“Your Highness! That guy’s words are nothing but nonsense. I. . .”

“Is it that difficult to make?”

Johan couldn’t help but ask. The two wizards looked shocked at Johan’s words. If Johan hadn’t been a duke, they would have slapped him in the face.

“Not everyone can handle this herb. Your Highness. Only an alchemist who is proficient in alchemy and the wisdom of the desert. . .”

“. . . . . .”

Johan looked at Suetlg and Caenerna. The two of them also seemed to be suspicious of the two wizards’ words, perhaps because they had never handled coffee before.

━𝐈 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞.

━𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐬𝐨 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧.

“Get out of the way. God showed me how to handle this fruit last night.”

“T-That. . .!?”

Johan pushed the wizards aside. It wasn’t that difficult to make coffee. The tools were a bit primitive, but they were enough.

Grind the coffee beans, add the coffee grounds and sugar to the water. . .

“Sugar!?”

“Be quiet.”

“S-Sorry.”

After stirring it and boiling it gently, he waited patiently for it to finish. Johan handed a cup each to Suetlg and Caenerna.

“Try it.”

“Um. . .”

Suetlg took a sip with an interested expression on his face. Then he opened his eyes wide.

“It’s much more delicious and stronger than what I was treated to before!”

“So this is what it tastes like. . .”

“T. . . This is ridiculous! Originally, doing it that way goes against the law. . .”

At the wizard’s words, Suetlg clicked his tongue and glared at him.

“You were a little suspicious because you talked too much, but as expected. . .”

“As expected, you can’t trust a wizard who talks too much.”

“No, I really did study at the University of Iorca. . .”

“Get out. I don’t think we need your help.”

The unnamed wizard was expelled while sobbing. Suetlg asked with a truly impressed expression.

“I knew you were talented, Duke, but I didn’t know you could make it this well. How did you do it?”

“. . .I found it in a book and read it several times.”

The two wizards looked at Johan’s answer with awe. He should be in a good mood, but Johan didn’t feel much better.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

Originally, the following matters should have been discussed right away, but they were delayed by a few days. Everyone needed time to enjoy and appreciate the spoils of war they had taken.

In the meantime, messengers came to the expedition camp. They were messengers sent by the families of the captured nobles. They brought a large ransom, which made Johan happy.

“Your Highness. Even though we believe in different gods, if you show mercy just once on behalf of our family name, we will never forget. . .”

“Okay. I understand.”

“. . .?!”

The messengers who had come were very nervous because of the Duke’s reputation, and they were flustered by his quick consent.

“May you return safely. . . Anyway, I pray that your family will be blessed.”

“We will remember Your Highness the Duke’s mercy forever.”

Suhekhar, who was one of the commanders, bowed politely. It wasn’t a courtesy call, but a sincere word.

The young duke could have wielded his authority as he pleased. He had done so before he defeated the Sultan, and even more so after he defeated the Sultan. If he had just beheaded a few of the captured prisoners, those who had participated in the expedition would have cheered.

However, the Duke chose mercy instead of such cheap honor. It was something that couldn’t be done unless one had a truly broad mind.

“What do you think the situation in the empire will be like in the future?”

“It will be noisy in many ways.”

Suhekhar answered without hiding anything. Anyone with eyes and ears would know the current situation, so it wasn’t a secret. The Sultan had died a horrible death, and his brothers and sisters had fled, so it was obvious that they would stab each other and fight a civil war.

Such a fight was good for the powerful nobles. The Sultan’s bloodline, which had been in trouble, had a fixed place to reach out to.

“I heard that there is someone staying in Your Highness the Duke’s camp who used to live in the Sultan’s harem. . .?”

“I let them stay in the camp because I thought I might get a ransom.”

“Hehe. You’re really funny. I know Your Highness is merciful, but it might be better to expel them quickly. If you let them stay, won’t they just cause trouble? Even if they are of low status, they might try to get rid of their competitors.”

“Ah. . . Is there really nowhere to pay the ransom?”

“Who would pay?”

Johan’s expression darkened. Suhekhar guessed that the Duke’s leniency had hurt his own heart. The Sultan’s bloodline was still young children.

After the battle, the first thing Johan did was collapse and fall asleep as if he were dead. He slept so long that Iselia came in several times to check on him by grabbing his wrist.

Thanks to that, the extreme fatigue he felt when he woke up was gone. Johan shook his head as if to clear it and stood up.

‘. . .𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭, 𝘐 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺.’

He still couldn’t remember how he fought, so it must have been a really intense battle. He had heard that he had cut down several famous nobles along the way, and that the Sultan had also been killed, but Johan honestly didn’t remember.

I just cut down everything in my path. . .

“Are you awake, Your Highness?”

“Ah. Yes.”

The leading slave, Geoffrey, was waiting outside with the slaves. When Johan looked around, it seemed that the other nobles had cleaned up while he was resting. The surroundings, which had been a mess, were completely cleaned up, and empire-style tents were set up.

“I prepared this in advance. Please try it once.”

“Oh. What is it?”

“It’s alcohol that was found in the Sultan’s tent.”

He thought it was a little early in the morning to be drinking, but the serfs who were working were also taking a break and drinking beer, so the nobles couldn’t abstain. Rather, they drank even more.

Johan thanked him and took a sip of the alcohol. It tasted even sweeter because of the victory.

“If you had prepared yourself to find such alcohol. . . you must have already taken out the treasures.”

“Yes. The others are probably waiting for you.”

“Yeah. I can’t miss out on this.”

Wasn’t the most enjoyable time the time to share the spoils? With rumors that the Sultan’s camp was full of treasures, everyone’s eyes must have been half-turned.

But considering that they waited, they must all be really kind and gentle. . .

‘. . .𝘕𝘰, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦.’

Johan reflected for a moment. He still couldn’t believe that the feudal lords had been terrified and trembling, but he had acted too emotionally, even though he had seen such people once or twice before.

He thought that his head was filled with blood because of the heat of the battle, but if he acted like that. . .

“His Highness the Duke has arrived!”

The other nobles were waiting in the tent. When Johan arrived, the feudal lords stood up in line without waiting for anyone to tell them to do so. Johan thought about it when he saw that.

‘𝘕𝘰. 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘥.’

Come to think of it, it wouldn’t make much of a difference if I tried to appease them a little later. Johan frowned and made a face. At the simple change of expression, the feudal lords felt their hearts sink.

“Is something wrong?”

Ulrike whispered in a worried voice. The Duke’s face was not bright even after he had a good rest.

“I’m trying to control my expression so I can take the good stuff.”

“. . . . . .”

Ulrike almost cursed.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

The most loved were silk, gold, and jewels. Even if a knight returned home with just one of the trinkets that the Sultan cherished (Johan honestly thought that the eunuchs or the court nobles below him would have worn them), that knight could live comfortably for several generations.

The Sultan’s camp was a treasure trove not only for poor knights but also for feudal lords. Mirrors and trays carved with geometric patterns, pitchers, wine glasses, beautifully bound books that they couldn’t read, and large, tempting jewels. . .

Whenever it was Johan’s turn, he chose treasures that looked good or gave off a mysterious aura. And when another feudal lord tried to take something he had his eye on, he glared at them. Then the feudal lord would kindly yield.

‘𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵.’

Honestly, he wondered if he really needed to put a crimson carpet like the one the Sultan used on the floor of his castle.

He would give it to Iselia as a present if she liked it, but Iselia had been staring at the horse and armor in the Sultan’s camp since earlier.

‘𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘯? 𝘕𝘰, 𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵. 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵.’

It wasn’t the job of a knight to prepare presents for his children when he returned from an expedition. He was supposed to pray to God and swing his sword again.

Of course, Johan thought it was too cold, and. . .

“What’s gotten you so excited?”

Johan found Suetlg and greeted him happily.

Wizards were also given the opportunity to attend the distribution of the spoils.

They all arrived very late, so they hung their heads like sinners, but no one could ignore a wizard like Suetlg, who had participated in the war as Johan’s advisor.

━𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭.

━𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞. . . 𝐀𝐡, 𝐧𝐨. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐤𝐞. 𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.

The wizards who had received permission spoke in unison.

━𝐖𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩!

The nobles were impressed by their choice. In fact, there were some who were even more pleased because herbs, no matter how precious, couldn’t be compared to other gold or jewels.

Johan was curious. Suetlg had been saying a few things since a long time ago.

━𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨. . . 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛 𝐈’𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝.

━𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞. . . 𝐍𝐨. 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬.

━𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛. . .

Caenerna was no different.

━𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧.

━𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞.

━𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭, 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭, 𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞. . .

Of course, Johan refused. It was too suspicious. Besides, considering that most of the things that alchemists use as alchemy ingredients are toxic substances, he had to think about it even if it had the power of mystery.

“Aha. Were you curious about that? Follow me. I’ve already prepared it anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“I boiled the herb and made herbal tea.”

“I don’t want to drink it.”

“Why? Ah. I guess you’ve heard some strange rumors. Those are just rumors. They often drink it in the courts of the Orient. I had it once, and I’ve wanted to try it again ever since.”

Suetlg was delighted like a young boy. Johan asked Caenerna.

“Have you ever tasted it?”

“. . .It’s not that experiencing it necessarily gives you wisdom. . .”

“No. I asked if you’ve tasted it.”

“I know a lot about it, so it’s the same as if it were true. . .”

When Caenerna muttered and evaded the question, Suetlg answered instead.

“She says she hasn’t.”

“I knew it.”

Caenerna followed the two of them into the tent with a red face.

Inside, two wizards were holding a pitcher and pulling at each other.

“I studied alchemy at the University of Iorca, and I learned wisdom for five years under the philosopher of the desert. So when I say it’s right, it’s right! Got it?!”

“I served under the general and received this obsidian necklace for saving the lives of two noble families! Where are you bragging about your unproven exploits in front of me!?”

“. . .I’m Duke Yeats, so both of you shut up.”

The wizards were startled by Johan’s words. They didn’t know when the Duke had entered. He looked resentfully at Suetlg and Caenerna. If they were wizards, they could have been a little more considerate.

Of course, the two of them ignored it. Even if they weren’t close, the wizards wouldn’t listen to them if they tried to assert their loyalty to each other.

“Okay. Let’s see that Sultan’s herb.”

“H-Here you are. Your Highness.”

“. . . . . .”

Johan blinked.

‘𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴. . .’

He closed his eyes, but the herb didn’t change into something else.

The herb was. . . just coffee. To be exact, coffee beans, which are coffee seeds.

‘𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦??’

For a moment, Johan thought the wizards were making fun of him. However, the wizards all looked at Johan with eyes full of anticipation.

It was as if they were expecting Johan to be surprised.

“W. . . Wow! Amazing! Is this the Sultan’s herb?”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Johan felt a sense of shame. Maybe it was because he was among knights and centaurs, but wizards must have been the shining intellects of this era. . .

“Your Highness the Duke. Would you give me a chance to make herbal tea with this? At the University of Iorca. . .”

“Your Highness! That guy’s words are nothing but nonsense. I. . .”

“Is it that difficult to make?”

Johan couldn’t help but ask. The two wizards looked shocked at Johan’s words. If Johan hadn’t been a duke, they would have slapped him in the face.

“Not everyone can handle this herb. Your Highness. Only an alchemist who is proficient in alchemy and the wisdom of the desert. . .”

“. . . . . .”

Johan looked at Suetlg and Caenerna. The two of them also seemed to be suspicious of the two wizards’ words, perhaps because they had never handled coffee before.

━𝐈 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐛 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞.

━𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐬𝐨 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧.

“Get out of the way. God showed me how to handle this fruit last night.”

“T-That. . .!?”

Johan pushed the wizards aside. It wasn’t that difficult to make coffee. The tools were a bit primitive, but they were enough.

Grind the coffee beans, add the coffee grounds and sugar to the water. . .

“Sugar!?”

“Be quiet.”

“S-Sorry.”

After stirring it and boiling it gently, he waited patiently for it to finish. Johan handed a cup each to Suetlg and Caenerna.

“Try it.”

“Um. . .”

Suetlg took a sip with an interested expression on his face. Then he opened his eyes wide.

“It’s much more delicious and stronger than what I was treated to before!”

“So this is what it tastes like. . .”

“T. . . This is ridiculous! Originally, doing it that way goes against the law. . .”

At the wizard’s words, Suetlg clicked his tongue and glared at him.

“You were a little suspicious because you talked too much, but as expected. . .”

“As expected, you can’t trust a wizard who talks too much.”

“No, I really did study at the University of Iorca. . .”

“Get out. I don’t think we need your help.”

The unnamed wizard was expelled while sobbing. Suetlg asked with a truly impressed expression.

“I knew you were talented, Duke, but I didn’t know you could make it this well. How did you do it?”

“. . .I found it in a book and read it several times.”

The two wizards looked at Johan’s answer with awe. He should be in a good mood, but Johan didn’t feel much better.

🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸🔸

Originally, the following matters should have been discussed right away, but they were delayed by a few days. Everyone needed time to enjoy and appreciate the spoils of war they had taken.

In the meantime, messengers came to the expedition camp. They were messengers sent by the families of the captured nobles. They brought a large ransom, which made Johan happy.

“Your Highness. Even though we believe in different gods, if you show mercy just once on behalf of our family name, we will never forget. . .”

“Okay. I understand.”

“. . .?!”

The messengers who had come were very nervous because of the Duke’s reputation, and they were flustered by his quick consent.

“May you return safely. . . Anyway, I pray that your family will be blessed.”

“We will remember Your Highness the Duke’s mercy forever.”

Suhekhar, who was one of the commanders, bowed politely. It wasn’t a courtesy call, but a sincere word.

The young duke could have wielded his authority as he pleased. He had done so before he defeated the Sultan, and even more so after he defeated the Sultan. If he had just beheaded a few of the captured prisoners, those who had participated in the expedition would have cheered.

However, the Duke chose mercy instead of such cheap honor. It was something that couldn’t be done unless one had a truly broad mind.

“What do you think the situation in the empire will be like in the future?”

“It will be noisy in many ways.”

Suhekhar answered without hiding anything. Anyone with eyes and ears would know the current situation, so it wasn’t a secret. The Sultan had died a horrible death, and his brothers and sisters had fled, so it was obvious that they would stab each other and fight a civil war.

Such a fight was good for the powerful nobles. The Sultan’s bloodline, which had been in trouble, had a fixed place to reach out to.

“I heard that there is someone staying in Your Highness the Duke’s camp who used to live in the Sultan’s harem. . .?”

“I let them stay in the camp because I thought I might get a ransom.”

“Hehe. You’re really funny. I know Your Highness is merciful, but it might be better to expel them quickly. If you let them stay, won’t they just cause trouble? Even if they are of low status, they might try to get rid of their competitors.”

“Ah. . . Is there really nowhere to pay the ransom?”

“Who would pay?”

Johan’s expression darkened. Suhekhar guessed that the Duke’s leniency had hurt his own heart. The Sultan’s bloodline was still young children.