How to Survive as a Knight’s Son – Chapter 85

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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The road leading to Polton was littered with indelible bloodstains, remnants of the previous battle.

The assembled troops’ gazes lingered on the marks, not with apprehension, but with pride, for they were testaments to their overwhelming victory.

Many of the soldiers even pointed out the stains to the newly arrived recruits, boasting of their exploits.

The hundred or so reinforcements were the Baron’s advisors, those slow moving individuals who had finally decided to take action.

One of the advisors, gathered in the command tent, spoke up.

“Lord Segeric, allow me to lead the vanguard in the next battle.”

Borden, the second most powerful advisor after Joang, expressed his ambition.

These advisors, who had initially intended to remain neutral and side with the victor of the civil war, had changed their minds.

The way they eyed me suggested their intention was to keep me in check. After all, i become quite powerful.

I had achieved decisive victories in every battle I participated in, and with my marriage to Usebia confirmed, I was now Segeric’s kinsman by marriage.

They must have felt threatened, fearing I might become even more powerful than Joang Conrad.

‘Those hyenas.’ They also likely believed they could easily defeat Ailgar and Joang Conrad, who had barely escaped with their lives.

In other words, this was an opportunity to claim a significant victory with minimal risk.

“Oh, with Sir Borden leading the charge, I have nothing to worry about.”

Segeric, too, seemed to think my influence in the political arena had grown too strong. That was likely why he agreed to Borden’s presumptuous request.

The other advisors in the command tent eagerly supported Segeric’s decision.

“A wise decision. With Sir Borden, who’s got a ton of experience, leading the charge, the rebels are going to get crushed, and their leader is going to be brought before you on his knees.”

“Indeed. His vast experience in leading successful campaigns will ensure victory once more.”

Their exchange felt like a well-rehearsed script, suggesting they had made a deal while I was spending time with Usebia. Segeric’s following statement confirmed my suspicions.

“I will lead the charge myself this time.”

Segeric and the advisors, acting as if victory was already assured, began discussing how to divide the spoils of war.

“Lord Segeric, it’s too dangerous.” While this situation wasn’t unfavorable to me, I had to feign concern to avoid suspicion. After all, i supposed to be Segeric’s loyal subject.

Segeric, however, was indifferent.

“Dangerous? Didn’t you hear that Ailgar and Joang are holed up in the tower? They’re trapped like rats. All that’s left is to finish them off.”

“The battlefield is unpredictable. What if you’re struck by a stray arrow? The Rasino line could end with you.”

Segeric waved his hand dismissively.

“Haha. I understand your concern. After all, this victory is all thanks to you. However, you must learn to share if you wish to continue serving this territory. We don’t live in a world where one man can have it all.”

He seemed to think I was objecting because I didn’t want to share the glory.

“I’m simply concerned. Your opponent is Joang, the man once known as the Baron’s strategist. Who knows what tricks he might have up his sleeve?”

“What can a man with no money and no troops do? You worry too much.”

Borden chimed in, supporting Segeric.

“He’s right. Even the most skilled gambler can’t win without any cards in hand.”

The other advisors, not wanting to be left out, added their own comments.

“Sir Allen, leave this to us. We’ll show them what old dogs are capable of.”

“Give us a chance. As someone who sees a bit of his younger self in you, let me offer you some advice. If you try to hoard everything for yourself, you’ll end up with no one by your side.”

With Segeric and the advisors united against me, there was nothing I could do.

Or rather, I was secretly amused. They were dancing to my tune without me even having to lift a finger.

“Then allow me to take my troops and search Joang’s territory. If he’s planning anything, he’ll likely be doing it from his own home.” This was my way of conceding and withdrawing from the upcoming battle, as they wished.

My immediate compliance, however, seemed to arouse Segeric’s suspicion. He narrowed his eyes, even as he expressed his gratitude.

“I’m grateful for your offer, but I trust you’re not planning to loot his territory? Joang’s lands will soon be mine, and I wouldn’t want them to be in ruins.”

To Segeric, acting as if victory was a foregone conclusion, the enemy’s territory was already his. I forced an awkward smile.

“Of course not.”

“Just be reasonable. Rea… son… able… okay?”

My act had worked. Segeric ended the meeting with a knowing smirk.

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“The advisors instigated this! Those treacherous bastards! They stood by idly while Lord Segeric was in danger, and now that it’s almost over, they’re trying to claim the glory! How can they be so shameless?!”

Muel, having heard about what transpired in the command tent, was furious.

“Well, I suspect Lord Segeric might have proposed it himself. A capable subordinate can sometimes be a threat to their lord. It’s only natural for him to be wary and suspicious.”

Muel quickly fell silent and eyed me cautiously. It was the first time he had heard me criticize Segeric.

I decided to reveal my true feelings. Showing weakness to an opportunist would only encourage betrayal.

“Why do you think Ailgar and Joang are holed up in the tower? If they were truly prepared to fight to the death, they wouldn’t have retreated from the previous battle.”

The enemy forces significantly outnumbered ours. If Ailgar and Joang had fought with their lives on the line, the outcome might have been different.

Dreng, sensing Muel’s hesitation, spoke up.

“You think they have something planned?”

“The tower is a stone’s throw from Baron Debussy’s territory.”

Muel and Dreng’s eyes widened.

“You think they’ll involve Baron Debussy?”

Muel refuted Dreng’s suggestion.

“That’s impossible! The war with Baron Debussy isn’t over. It’s only temporarily halted due to circumstances. Peace negotiations haven’t even begun…!”

Dreng and Muel found it hard to believe that Ailgar would try to ally himself with an enemy currently at war with them.

“Think about it from Ailgar’s perspective. He has no other options. If he fails, he’s dead. Even a cornered rat will bite a cat. Wouldn’t anyone do everything they can to survive? He’ll have to give Baron Debussy a large share of the pie if he succeeds, but that’s better than dying.”

Having witnessed Ailgar involve Baron Debussy in my previous life, I was certain of it.

‘That’s what I was trying to prevent…’

Usebia’s premature actions had rendered my preparations useless.

However, if the war dragged on, it could still disrupt the enemy’s rear. I would simply have to adjust my strategy accordingly.

Muel, nodding as he pondered my words, suddenly looked up at me, his face pale with shock.

“I-Is that why you gave up the chance to claim the greatest victory and withdrew?”

“As you said, I couldn’t just let those shameless advisors reap all the rewards. It was necessary to weaken their influence for our future.”

The advisors still held considerable power, thanks to their neutrality during the conflict between the brothers.

The fact that they had managed to assemble a hundred troops in just three days was proof of their influence.

Muel swallowed nervously and looked at me warily. He had seen what I’d done when I got rid of Segeric’s vassals, the advisors were a different matter; they weren’t exactly enemies.

“B-But if we suffer a major defeat because of this, it could be a grave mistake…”

“That’s why I’m doing this.” I separated from the main force at the fork in the road, three days’ march from the tower, and quickly led my troops forward.

“This isn’t the way to Joang’s territory!”

“We’re going to Baron Debussy’s territory.”

“What…!”

When I had instructed Dreng and Muel to organize the troops, I had told them to secure as many warhorses as possible. I had anticipated that mobility would be key in this battle.

As a result, a rather inexperienced cavalry of thirty had been assembled. While most of them would have to dismount to fight, they could still utilize their mobility.

“Armies are expensive. Only a great lord, like a count, can afford a standing army. Even if Baron Debussy decides to join the war, he won’t have many troops.”

Those few troops would have been sent to the tower to assist Ailgar and Joang Conrad. They would then recruit more troops and send them as reinforcements later. I was targeting those reinforcements.

“They’ll assume we don’t know about their alliance with Ailgar, so they won’t expect us to be lying in wait in their own territory.”

Dreng and Muel, finally realizing my true intentions, couldn’t hide their surprise.

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Meanwhile, as Allen infiltrated Baron Debussy’s territory and lay in wait, the war progressed as he had predicted.

“Agh!” Segeric’s forces, believing they were facing a small rebel force, charged recklessly towards the tower, only to be met with a volley of arrows.

Crossbowmen, an expensive troop type, lined the tower’s ramparts.

Segeric’s forces, caught completely off guard, suffered heavy casualties.

They could only be thankful that crossbows had a slow rate of fire.

“Ailgar, you bastard! You dared to involve an outsider in our family affairs?!” Segeric yelled, swinging his sword furiously. Only Baron Debussy could field this many crossbowmen in this region.

“Silence, intruder! Kill them all!”

“Ailgar!” Segeric, heeding the advice of his advisors, ordered a retreat, but not before they had suffered nearly thirty casualties.

The atmosphere in the camp was grim. Segeric sighed.

“Ah… I shouldn’t have let Sir Allen go. I shouldn’t have.”

It was too late for regrets.

Conversely, the tower was in a celebratory mood. Ailgar, energized by their victory, turned to Powell.

“Let’s capitalize on this momentum and press our attack! Once we capture Segeric, the civil war is over!”

“I didn’t see Sir Allen. If this retreat is a trap to lure us out, and Sir Allen is waiting to ambush us, we’ll be fighting for our lives.”

Having been defeated by Allen multiple times, Powell was cautious.

“So you’re saying we should just stay holed up in this cramped tower?” Ailgar couldn’t hide his frustration. All they had to do was capture Segeric to end the civil war.

“We can attack after Baron Debussy’s reinforcements arrive.” Powell dismissed Ailgar’s concerns and turned away.

Ailgar, having barely escaped with his life and a handful of troops, had nothing to boast about other than being the Baron’s son, and was treated with little respect.

‘Once I become Baron, I’ll make that arrogant bastard pay…!’ Ailgar seethed, but his ascension of becoming Baron were dwindling. The messenger who arrived the next day, instead of the reinforcements he was expecting, confirmed his fears.

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“Sir Powell! The reinforcements were ambushed and annihilated!”

“What?! What are you talking about?!”

“That devil! It was that devil’s doing!” The devil they referred to was Allen. Powell’s face hardened.

“Allen, you bastard…!” In the end, both Segeric’s and Powell’s forces had landed a blow on each other, a result neither side desired.

Meanwhile, Allen, having successfully completed his ambush, returned to Segeric’s camp, revitalizing their morale.

Segeric even came out to the front of the command tent to greet him.

“Those loudmouths! What? They promised me victory? Ha! As I thought, you’re the only one I can trust.” Segeric praised Allen while berating his advisors.

The advisors, publicly humiliated, flushed crimson, but they couldn’t refute his words.

Silence was their only recourse. No matter how shameless they were, they couldn’t argue after their ambitious attempt to lead the vanguard had ended in defeat.

Of course, to Allen, Segeric was no different from those advisors.

“Save your praise for after we’ve won the war.”

“As expected of you! So, what’s the plan?” Having regained control, Allen led the strategy meeting.

“We still have the numerical advantage. We can engage in a war of attrition while continuing to ambush and eliminate their reinforcements. Ailgar and Sir Powell will wither away in that tower.”

“I doubt Sir Powell, a man of his stature, will surrender so easily.”

“Having lost face in the last battle, he’ll be desperate to redeem himself, even if it costs him his life. After all, capturing you would turn the tide of the war.” Allen explained his strategy. He would wait for Powell to become desperate and sally forth from the tower. Segeric and the advisors would hold the line, while Allen would attack from the rear, encircling and annihilating the enemy.

It was a classic hammer and anvil strategy. That was why he needed the cavalry.

“Hmm. Isn’t that dangerous?” Segeric, assigned the role of the anvil, expressed his reservations. He was truly a man who valued his own safety above all else.

“The rewards will be great.”

“Rewards?”

“Baron Debussy interfered in our internal affairs by mobilizing his troops to support an intruder. If we defeat Powell’s forces, we can use that as leverage to demand concessions from Baron Debussy. Perhaps even territory.”

Segeric’s eyes lit up. Expanding his territory was the dream of every lord.

“Territory… you say…?” Segeric finally agreed. The advisors, eager for their share of the spoils, also welcomed the plan.

“Then I’ll set up another ambush. Send a messenger as soon as Powell’s forces show any signs of leaving the tower.”

“Alright.” Allen set off for Baron Debussy’s territory once more. As before, he traveled alone.

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Gazing at the darkening mountainside, he recalled the day he interrogated Jude Horn. It had been just as dark that day.

Jude, under torture, had confessed everything about Maxim Tolbatz’s death.

The Baron had failed to send the promised reinforcements, turning a certain victory into a crushing defeat, costing Maxim his life.

A warrior who had once rivaled Andrei had been undone by a single act of betrayal.

‘It’s time for them to pay.’ Segeric, if he knew, would likely protest his innocence, but collective punishment was commonplace in this era.

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Pay back time!