How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 127.2: 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 (2)

It was obvious where the mercenaries were staying. If there were no pirates in sight and the town looked relatively intact, thats where the mercenaries were staying.

Even the mercenaries did some looting while assessing the situation. When staying in one place for a long time, they did not completely devastate the surrounding area. Thanks to this, nearby towns maintained a tense atmosphere but looked quite intact.

Where are those mercenary b*stards?

O-Over there is their camp.

The serfs were so frightened when they encountered Johans cavalry that they couldnt continue talking. They thought the newcomers were mercenaries.

The exhausted mercenaries standing guard, upon discovering Johans group, extended their spears and said,

Halt. Where are you from?

Count Yeats.

. . . . . .

The mercenaries stared blankly as if they had been hit on the back of the head with a hammer. The name was so unexpected.

Originally, no matter how noble, they should have kept them waiting, reported above, prepared properly, and welcomed them formally. . .

But Johan did not give them that chance.

I need to go in. Step aside.

Ah. . . yes. P-Please come in.

The mercenaries unconsciously stepped aside.

Johans confident attitude, posture, tone, gaze, voice. . . all of these convinced them. The orderly mercenaries glaring from behind also intimidated them.

Despite Johan only being their employer without the authority to command all these mercenaries. . . Nevertheless, the mercenaries unconsciously accepted Johan as their commander.

Are you from the Gorgale Mercenary Group? Where is your captain?

He is lying in the tent.

Take me to him. I need to see his face directly.

While riding into the camp, Johan looked around. There were quite a few collapsed mercenaries. But it seemed more like an epidemic than a curse. There was no magical aura.

It was common for disease to spread when many men gathered in one place. Moreover, mercenary men moved urgently and brought whatever they could grab, making it even more likely.

. ?

Johan thought so as he approached the tent. The captains guards were taken aback and tried to stop him, but the mercenaries of the mercenary corps shouted even louder.

Its the Count! Get out of the way!

Get away quickly! Stupid b*stards!

Ah, no. Without telling the captain. . .

Before they knew it, Johan had already opened the tent and gone inside. The guards watched dumbfounded from their posts.

. . .Wha, crazy! What the hell are the guards doing!

Mercenary Captain Deosam panicked and shouted. With his finger, the crow beastman, Deosam, pointed at Johan.

Intruder! Intruder!

Calm down, Captain. Its Count Yeats.

What kind of bullshit. . . Cough, cough.

Deosam was angry, shouting and coughing before blinking. It was a young human man that looked very familiar.

. . .S-Sorry. Count cough.

Lets forget about the rudeness.

Johan looked up and down at Deosam. The mercenary captain lying there was clearly very ill.

He was different from the mercenaries outside. Magic energy could be felt from the mercenary captain. Moreover, it was vicious and ugly energy.

The magic square amulet trembled when brought near.

. . . .

Johan was embarrassed. To be honest, he thought the mercenary captains had also caught the epidemic.

, . . . ?

It was an absurd and laughable situation, but it was not a trivial matter. If they did not respond quickly, the mercenaries could fall apart.

You dont look well. I will take command of the mercenary corps instead.

A-Absolutely not!

Despite lying down, Deosam panicked and tried to resist. Command over the mercenaries he led was like life itself for a mercenary captain. There was no *sshole who would hand it over to his employer.

The seal and sword are here. I will use them well.

W-Wait!

Johan grabbed Deosams shoulder, preventing him from getting up. Deosams face twisted from the pain he felt in his shoulder.

The Order trusted you with this job, yet look at you now? If youre in too much pain to get up, you should have left it to the deputy captain, or if he couldnt do it, the next person.

Johans scolding was tantamount to naked threats. The guards were outside, and Johan with his drawn sword stood alone in front of the captain.

Deosam fell into terror that Johan might use this situation as an excuse to kill him.

Ugh. . . Ugh. . .

Looks like you need to rest. Take it easy.

Johans words would not allow any more dissent. Deosam could only nod his head.

I heard envoys came. Did any happen to arrive here?

Yes, they arrived. They are also bedridden.

. . .Really?

Again Johan was surprised. To be honest, he thought they had been attacked by pirates. . .

?

It was astonishing. Most of the mercenaries were not cursed, yet the envoys who had just arrived recently were.

Theres no need to check now. Captain has handed command to me. This sword and seal are proof. From now on Im in charge! All sub-captains who can move, assemble! Those who cannot move send representatives!

At Johans shout, the mercenaries hurriedly moved. The rough, greedy men who would normally be vicious obeyed Johan like lambs.

The sub-captains were confused that a noble, no matter how high-ranking, had suddenly entered and started ordering them around. Even with the seal and sword, it was too strange.

?

?

. . ., . . .

However, none of the sub-captains opened their mouths. Among the mercenaries, sub-captains had roamed battlefields for quite a long time. As such, they had some situational awareness and senses.

Above all, their instincts were warning them.

Yes! We pledge our loyalty!

Johan looked around at the mercenaries and separated those in poor condition. He then ordered them to find a new water source.

.

While Johan did not have professional knowledge, he knew the basic countermeasures. Bathe, clean up unsanitary conditions, find uncontaminated drinking water. . .

Boil water and dissolve salt in it. Is there any honey?

There is some left in the warehouse.

Youve been living in luxury. For those in poor health, mix honey into their drink.

Make simple oral rehydration solution and have them drink it. . .

Johan reacted quickly.

This much should quickly suppress the epidemic. Fortunately, despite the rumors caused by the curse, the situation was not serious.

As some of the healthy mercenaries started getting up, the atmosphere was instantly reversed. The mercenaries murmured Johans name in astonishment.

Indeed, the holy knight blessed by God is different no matter what!