Medieval Knight System: Building the Strongest Empire Ever!-Chapter 72: The Free Knight’s Pledge

August von Einbeck.

When I played Medieval Knight, he was one of the free knights available for hire in the Duchy of Beren. Unfortunately, I had never recruited a single free knight. August’s background was closely tied to Rosenheim. He had been a vassal of the Constance family, which ruled the territory.

But five years ago, when Baron Constance died in battle, his family line ended and his territory reverted to the royal family. Because of that, August, who had been a promising knight at the time, became a free knight and wandered from place to place. Gunter von Klugen, the Rose Knight, had been a fellow vassal knight, but Klugen had chosen the path of revenge against the royal family.

I still didn’t know why Klugen had targeted the Crown Prince for his vendetta against the royal family. I couldn’t figure it out even with the scouter. All I could guess was that something had happened between the Constance and Altringen families. Old man Bertheim wouldn’t tell me anything about it.

In any case, I never expected to encounter August here. Through my Manager Scouter, I could see his disposition was justice (good), his mindset showed respect toward me, and his favorability sat at 80. I didn’t know why he was so well-disposed toward me, but August was courteous throughout.

"It’s good to meet you, Sir Einbeck. Thanks to your successful defense of Feuzen, we were able to arrive in time. But who do you serve?"

"I was originally a vassal knight serving Baron Constance, but since the Baron’s passing five years ago, I’m now just a free knight protecting my hometown."

So Feuzen was his hometown—that explained why August was here. It all made sense now. He had likely returned home after his wandering. The fact that the villagers had defended so effectively from behind the palisade was entirely due to his command. Thanks to August, Feuzen had been kept safe.

"Leading a small cavalry force to ambush the enemy’s rear was truly impressive."

"You’re too kind. It only succeeded because the cavalry followed my commands well."

"But you were the one who led and commanded that cavalry, Sir Streit. It was truly remarkable. If your late father could see you now, he’d surely be proud."

"...You knew my father?"

August seemed to know about my father.

Well, my father and Baron Constance had both fought in the same war five years ago, so August might well have known him. But I knew far too little about my father.

"He was a brave duchy knight who fought to the very end under the Baron. I’m ashamed to say I couldn’t participate in that battle due to injury, and in the end, neither the Baron nor your father returned."

"..."

Baron Constance and my father had fought together to the very end on the same battlefield. I hadn’t known that they had stood side by side in battle. All I vaguely knew was that my father had died in the war against French Burgundy. It felt as though puzzle pieces about his life were slowly falling into place.

"Brother-in-law, I don’t know much about your father either, but I know he stayed on the battlefield to the end to buy time for our forces to retreat. He was truly a devoted and honorable knight."

"But what puzzles me is that despite such sacrifice, all he received was a token honor."

"I wasn’t involved in that part, so I don’t know the details, but Father might."

Could I learn more if I asked my father-in-law? Marquis Bertheim would know as well. Why hadn’t I asked more thoroughly before? Probably because I had prioritized my own survival and hadn’t thought deeply about my father’s death and the meager recognition that followed.

But now things were different.

I was someone carrying the Streit name.

Even though I had no memories of the man, I had a duty to face the truth.

"Oh dear, I’ve made the atmosphere heavy."

"Not at all. Don’t worry about it, Sir Einbeck. It just bothers me that I have so few memories of my father."

August seemed uncomfortable that the mood had turned somber. To lighten things, he began talking about the battlefield where I had distinguished myself. I had been too absorbed in reading morale and combat power through the scouter to know exactly how the battle had looked from the outside. But apparently, it had been quite a sight.

"You looked very much like Baron Constance, whom I once served. Watching you, I found myself lost in nostalgic memories of the Baron for the first time in years. He shone brilliantly five years ago."

All I knew about Baron Constance was that he had been the lord of Rosenheim and that his family line had ended when he died in the war five years ago. He had also been the previous owner of Rosengarden, my current home. But I reminded August of Constance in the way I led cavalry to strike the rear? Were there really similarities?

"I apologize. In my excitement, I rambled. Please forgive my rudeness."

"Not at all. But I don’t think you requested this meeting just to reminisce."

"Now that Feuzen has regained stability, I’d like to stay on as a guest knight under your command for a while."

A guest knight wasn’t a formal vassal but more akin to a guest. He owed me no oath of fealty, but as a guest, he could receive some support. In other words, he had taken a liking to me and wanted to stay by my side for a time to judge whether I was worth serving as a lord. Michael said with a smile:

"With your current rank, brother-in-law, you can’t have subordinate knights. But when the war ends and you return to Breisburg, won’t your status be elevated? Why not take him as a vassal then?"

"That’s true, but to take on a vassal knight, all I can offer right now is wages."

Normally, hiring a vassal knight required land. For example, if I were lord of Rosenheim, I could grant a vassal knight Feuzen, the northern village of Rosenheim. The vassal knight would govern the village, raise troops, and bear the duty to fight in wars I waged.

That was the basic form of a feudal contract. Duchy knights sometimes had vassal knights as well, but they had to pay corresponding wages. All I could offer August was a salary. But material compensation didn’t seem to be what August valued.

"That’s fine, Sir Streit. I’m simply following my heart, and I have no wish to be a burden. I’m joining of my own accord, so please don’t turn me away."

I truly hadn’t expected this. In the game, recruiting August required a specific quest and was supposedly quite involved, but since this was a world where people actually lived, things didn’t always follow a script. The system’s reminder that everyone has their own life came to mind.

August wanted to follow me because he saw Baron Constance in me. That was why he had expressed his desire to serve under my command as a guest knight. It was surprising, honestly, but it also made me happy. To think I had grown enough that a free knight would entrust himself to me of his own will.

He wasn’t a formal vassal knight, but I now had my first guest knight under my command. When I introduced August to Ted and Oscar, their expressions turned to shock. Not just another soldier but a knight—a new superior had joined their ranks, which must have been both startling and a source of pride.

"I’m August von Einbeck, entrusting myself to the Streit family for the time being."

"T-Ted Meyer. I sincerely welcome you to our family!"

"Oscar Greifs. Welcome, sir knight."

"Haha, no need to be so stiff. You two are my seniors, having served the family before me."

Fortunately, August treated the soldiers warmly. Ted and Oscar were flustered at first but soon warmed up to him. For the first time in a while, I was able to rest for a night without incident. Feuzen was a small village without abundant supplies, so there wasn’t much to requisition.

Michael didn’t forcibly requisition anything and instead had invoices drawn up to pass every expense on to Finance. Normally, some supplies would be taken by force, but with Finance’s generous—if involuntary—backing, Michael could write as many invoices as he pleased. He seemed extremely satisfied.

"Look at this invoice, brother-in-law. Being able to stick it to Finance is a truly joyful thing."

"Let me see... the supply materials come to thirty silver coins? That’s hardly enough to bother Finance."

"The amount doesn’t matter. What matters is being able to issue invoices freely!"

Finance must have been truly tightfisted for Michael to be this happy just from producing a stack of invoices. He looked as if years of pent-up frustration had been relieved in one go. After completing most of the resupply, the full duchy force and all knights assembled.

The Rosenheim contingent had suffered two dead and five wounded. Compared to other units, the casualties were light, but Gustav was gloomy for a time because one of the dead had been a neighbor he knew. Even so, he wanted to continue serving under my command, and Michael allowed me to retain charge of the Rosenheim soldiers.

The effect of my Family Prestige reaching 1,050 points seemed to be significant.

I couldn’t speak to governance since I wasn’t ruling a territory, but I had clearly felt the effect of 21% recognition. August, a free knight, had volunteered to serve as a guest knight, and the Rosenheim soldiers wanted to fight alongside me. With that trust placed in me, I couldn’t allow their lives to be wasted.