Chapter 38: The White Knight, Hermann Green

Chapter 38: The White Knight, Hermann Green

Regba Dando was dead, but the knights of Lanwan Viscountcy were far from idle. After all, there was still a main force of zombies lurking deep within the territory.

Although the weaker zombies had gradually turned into lifeless, rotting flesh following Regba Dando's death, nearly two thousand zombies still roamed the area. These mindless creatures posed no threat to fully armored knights, but they terrified the common folk, who dared not leave their homes.

Thus, the knights had no choice but to split into small teams of five or ten and conduct a thorough search across the territory.

Taking advantage of the knights' assembly and joint operations, Charlotte seized the opportunity to formalize the establishment of the Lanwan Viscountcy Territorial Guard.

Knights from both the south and the north, whether local to Lanwan or those brought by Charlotte, joined the Territorial Guard with the exception of Robin Mancini and Harvey Sherwin, who were still indulging in leisure at Ambratu. The newly formed guard consisted of 140 knights and approximately 300 squires, marking Charlotte's first armed force.

The position of captain for this guard was coveted by both the southern and northern knights, but they all knew it was out of their reach. Charlotte still held the cards of Rayne Nazares and Jarod Garcia, both Three-Winged Knights.

However, to the surprise of all the southern and northern knights, the title of captain was not given to Rayne Nazares or Jarod Garcia. Instead, it fell to the unassuming Hermann Green.

The local knights of Lanwan had every reason to be shocked. Unlike Rayne Nazares, who had shone brightly during the Blood Banquet, or Jarod Garcia, the lord's "Bloodhound," Hermann Green had never displayed his Three-Winged strength. He was a quiet figure, and if not for Charlotte appointing him to lead the vanguard before the battle against the necromancer, the local knights might not have even noticed him.

Yet, after spending a few days with Hermann Green, both the southern and northern knights came to respect and admire the newly appointed captain.

Unlike Rayne Nazares, who carried an air of superiority about his lineage and experience, or Jarod Garcia, the lord's ruthless enforcer, Hermann Green was gentle, humble, and courteous. In battle, he took the lead; in retreat, he covered the rear. He was the first to work when setting up camp and the last to sit down for meals. He made an effort to remember the names and achievements of even the lowliest squires, and he would dismount to speak with the poorest commoners.

Anyone who spent time with Hermann Green could sense the noble qualities that stories often attributed to knights.

"Captain Green, you've worked hard."

After a skirmish, a ten-man knight squad rested by a small grove.

Costa Scamario handed his water pouch to Hermann Green, who was licking his dry lips after his own pouch had been torn by a branch during the fight.

"Thank you for your generosity, Knight Scamario," Hermann Green said as he accepted the pouch.

"No, no, you flatter me. It's just half a pouch of water," Costa Scamario quickly replied, waving his hand.

Hermann Green took a sip and laughed. "To someone as thirsty as I am, this is the sweetest spring."

The young Costa Scamario scratched his head, still finding it hard to believe that this kind, tolerant man who treated everyone with respect was also a powerful Three-Winged Knight.

During the recent battle, Hermann Green had revealed his three light wings, nearly causing Costa's jaw to drop. Before this, the only Three-Winged Knights Costa had seen were Rayne Nazares and Jarod Garcia, neither of whom had left a favorable impression. So, in Costa's mind, Three-Winged Knights were somewhat difficult to get along with.

However, Costa felt that Hermann Green was what a true knight should be like.

As the group chatted and laughed, a thick white column of smoke suddenly rose from a distant hillside.

"What's that?" Hermann Green frowned. It was too thick to be cooking smoke from a farmhouse, yet too white to be a fire.

"That's probably the labor camp cooking," Eric Scamario explained. "The Viscount said she would recruit thousands of laborers to build a market."

With thousands of people cooking, such thick smoke wasn't surprising. Hermann Green glanced at the provisions tied to the squires' saddles and said, "I'm sure everyone's tired of dry rations. Let's head over and see if we can get a hot meal."

The group laughed and agreed.

They mounted their horses and soon arrived at a sizable camp.

In truth, Charlotte's market had yet to be built. The laborers were currently constructing their own winter shelters. These shelters were far from refined essentially renovated mud-walled thatched huts made from wood, dry grass, mud, and eel skin.

Yes, Charlotte had discovered that eel skin was surprisingly useful. From the slaves of Ambratu, she learned that tanned eel skin could be peeled into layers. Unpeeled, it could be used to make tough, resilient armor; peeled into two layers, it could serve as a tent, providing warmth and wind resistance; peeled into four layers, it could be sewn into clothing. Though not durable, it was waterproof and windproof, and it cost less than a tenth of cowhide.

Charlotte had the laborers line their thatched roofs with four layers of eel skin, effectively solving the issues of drafts and leaks. The material might not last long, but it would suffice for the winter.

When Hermann Green and his men arrived, the laborers, having worked all morning, were just finishing up and gathering around steaming pots.

As soon as Hermann Green dismounted, the camp's overseer approached, bowing obsequiously. "What brings you here, Sir Knights?"

"Nothing serious, no need to be formal," Hermann Green said with a smile. "We just wanted to join you for lunch."

"Lunch?" The overseer quickly replied, "Of course, I'll have the cooks prepare something for you right away."

"No need for special treatment. What are you having for lunch?" Hermann Green asked.

"Uh, barley porridge," the overseer hesitated.

"Barley porridge is fine. We often eat it during campaigns," Hermann Green said.

"But... that wouldn't be appropriate," the overseer stammered.

"Why not?" Hermann Green turned to the other knights. "Do you mind barley porridge?"

"Not at all," they replied. They weren't nobles who would turn their noses up at such fare.

Yet the overseer still seemed uneasy, hesitating to speak.

Hermann Green grew suspicious.

As they passed by a large pot that had just started boiling, a young laborer openly poured something that was clearly not barley into the pot.

"Wait!" Hermann Green's sharp eyes caught the action, and he grabbed the bag. "What are you adding?"

The young laborer stuttered, "B-barley husks..."

Hermann Green opened the bag and saw it was filled with barley husks, typically used as horse feed. He stirred the pot with a ladle and found that nearly half the porridge was barley husks.

"Why is there so much barley husk in the porridge? Is this what you're feeding the Viscount's people?" Hermann Green demanded, his face darkening as he grabbed the overseer by the collar.

"N-no, it wasn't me..." The overseer trembled under Hermann Green's imposing presence.

"What do you mean it wasn't you?" Hermann Green pressed.

"I mean, I did it, but it was the Viscount's orders," the overseer explained.

"The Viscount ordered this?" Hermann Green asked, skeptical. "You're not lying?"

"I swear by Igg, I'm telling the truth," the overseer raised his right hand in oath.

Hermann Green released him. "I'll verify this with the Viscount myself. If you're telling the truth, I'll apologize. If you're lying, I'll deal with you personally."

"No need for apologies, no need..." The overseer shook his head repeatedly.

The ten-man squad ended up skipping lunch and settling for dry rations. By the afternoon, the zombies roaming the territory had been mostly cleared.

Hermann Green returned home to wash off the grime and change into clean clothes before heading to the Viscount's castle. He also brought along the black cylinder Charlotte had given him.

The black cylinder was actually a quiver containing ten arrows. These were no ordinary arrows but a "specialty" of the Oran Empire Griffon-hunting arrows.

Despite their name, Griffon-hunting arrows were only about a meter long, far too short to take down a massive griffon. However, they were the Oran Empire's most commonly used arrows against enemy griffon riders.

The arrowheads were a marvel. When they struck a shield, artifact, or even the body of a supernatural being, they would ignite like flames, rapidly draining the target's supernatural energy. This forced enemies to drop their shields, abandon their artifacts, or even exhaust their powers entirely.

The Oran Empire strictly controlled the production of Griffon-hunting arrows. Every craftsman capable of making them had to be registered with the royal family, one of the two great kingdoms, or one of the two grand duchies. Each arrow was stamped with the craftsman's name and serial number. Charlotte had gone to great lengths to acquire this quiver through her brother.

She had given the arrows to Hermann Green as insurance during their battle against the necromancer. If the necromancer proved stronger than expected, a few well-placed arrows might turn the tide.

Upon arriving at the castle, Hermann Green found Charlotte in the desolate garden at the back.

Charlotte was busy preparing a true holy oil, following a recipe she had purchased from Fado, to test for supernatural aptitude. Beside her, assisting, were Beatrice and Anna. Since their trip to Ambratu, Charlotte had kept the mother and daughter close.

As soon as Hermann Green saw Charlotte, he moved to kneel.

"No need for formalities, Knight," Charlotte stopped him. "I'm busy. What do you need?"

Hermann Green complied and presented the Griffon-hunting arrows. "The zombie cleanup is complete. The guard has scoured every corner of the Viscountcy, and we can confirm no zombies remain."

"Good," Charlotte praised.

Renee stepped forward to take the black cylinder. She glanced at Hermann Green, a flicker of wariness in her eyes that went unnoticed.

"Anything else?" Charlotte asked.

"Yes..." Hermann Green hesitated, then recounted his encounter at the labor camp and the overseer's explanation.

Charlotte nodded. "Yes, I ordered the barley husks added."

"Why?" Hermann Green couldn't hide his surprise.

"I'd like my people to eat proper grain," Charlotte said with a sigh. "But, my knight, you may have forgotten we don't have enough food. The castle's granaries are empty. I've sent people to buy grain from the Green Plains Duchy, but it will take time to arrive. Until then, what else can I do but add barley husks to the porridge? I can't let my people starve."

Her reasoning was sound, and Hermann Green accepted it. "You're right. I apologize."

"No need to apologize," Charlotte said with a smile. "Your concern for the people is commendable."

"Perhaps you could borrow grain from the local knights?" Hermann Green suggested. "You could repay them in a few days."

Charlotte shook her head. "The local knights don't have much to spare either. We're newcomers here, and I don't want to impose on them. It might breed resentment."

This wasn't entirely true. The local knights weren't short on grain Charlotte was likely the only noble in Lanwan facing a shortage. If she asked, they would probably lend her some.

But Charlotte didn't want to ask. She had just established her authority in Lanwan and didn't want to give the local knights the impression that she needed their help to govern. Her plans whether consolidating administrative power or annexing Ambratu required her to maintain an unshakable position of strength.

Hermann Green sighed. "Then I suppose the people will have to endure a little hardship."

Charlotte smiled and changed the subject. "Knight Hermann, there's something I'd like to entrust to you."

Hermann Green stood at attention. "Please, go ahead."

Charlotte gestured to Anna. "This is Anna Durand, daughter of Marion Durand. She has decent supernatural aptitude. Marion Durand died protecting me, and I want Anna to inherit her father's title. I've prepared her awakening ceremony, but she still needs a good teacher to train her as a proper knight. Would you take on this responsibility?"

Anna Durand did have the potential to awaken as a sorceress, though it was only average. Charlotte's description of it as "decent" was a bit of self-promotion.

"Marion Durand's loyalty was admirable. It would be an honor to teach his descendant," Hermann Green said without hesitation.

"Anna, go and get acquainted with your new teacher," Charlotte said.

"Yes," Anna obediently followed Hermann Green away.

Charlotte turned to Beatrice Durand, locking eyes with her. "I've fulfilled my promise. Isn't it time you told me what you know?"

Beatrice Duran's eyes widened in shock, then glazed over with confusion. After a few seconds, she relaxed, only to suddenly look terrified.

Then, she dropped to her knees, her voice trembling. "It... it was the Church. They contacted my husband and ordered him to assassinate you..."

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