Knight

Lothar was very hungry.

Practicing martial arts consumed a great deal of stamina.

Combined with the fact that lunch had been quite good today, he ate somewhat hurriedly.

At that moment, he suddenly heard someone tapping their fingers against the table, producing a dull knocking sound.

When Lothar looked over, the count glanced at his elder brother Otto before saying, "His Holiness the Pope has called for a new holy war."

"In the distant East, the Egyptians have joined forces with Sasanian Persia. These evil heathen devils who believe in Zoroastrianism have, for decades, steadily encroached upon the Eastern Empire's territories in Asia Minor. They cruelly persecute our brethren, block the pilgrimage routes, and have surrounded the Kingdom of Jerusalem on all sides."

The count paused briefly.

"Empress Ragaia of the Eastern Empire and Grand Master Gerard of the Knights Templar each wrote to His Holiness the Pope some time ago, requesting that all knights who believe in the Heavenly Father be mobilized to help the Eastern Empire liberate Asia Minor and reopen the road to the holy city of Jerusalem."

"In Gaul, princes and nobles have already assembled over two thousand knights, hired two Witch advisors to accompany the army, and set out on their eastern campaign."

Elder brother Otto said excitedly, "Father, when will the Crusaders of our Greater Germania depart? We can't let the Gauls beat us to it."

Count Werner frowned and sighed in disappointment. Ignoring him, he said to Lothar, "Lothar, prepare to depart."

Lothar, who had been listening intently, was startled. "Me?"

Count Werner's gray eyes fixed on Lothar. "To fight for God is an obligation the Habsburg family must fulfill. As the second son of the family, you cannot shirk this responsibility."

He then looked at Otto, who seemed to want to speak but hesitated, and said coldly, "Stop thinking about it. The Habsburg family has already fulfilled its duty to the Heavenly Father."

Lothar was momentarily stunned.

Indeed.

This was no longer the early Middle Ages, when Partible Inheritance was still widespread. The mainstream system in Europe was now Primogeniture.

The change in inheritance systems stemmed from the fact that Partible Inheritance produced effects similar to the Han Dynasty's Tui'en Decree, dividing a family's lands into ever-smaller pieces. It was poorly suited to survival in Europe, where rival powers stood divided and lords great and small constantly annexed one another.

Thus, second sons of the family like Lothar basically had only two paths.

One was to become a knight under a lord, earning land and titles through military merit.

The other was to enter a monastery and become a monk serving God.

For instance, his two younger brothers were studying at Avignon Monastery. If the family became prominent enough to support them, and if they themselves proved capable, they might one day become feudal lords with clerical status, such as archbishops of a diocese.

Lothar could only choose the former, because he had to serve as his brother's backup—ready to inherit the count's seat should his elder brother die without heirs, whether in battle or from illness.

Therefore, he was destined never to follow the path of a clergyman.

As for the Crusades, they were a path fraught with danger, but also one that could make a man rich overnight.

If Count Werner had not taken part in the eastern campaign back then, he would probably have been no different from those impoverished low-ranking nobles who gnawed on coarse black bread every day.

Nowadays, fiefs in Germania and Gaul had already been divided up completely. Even a knight who served another lord for years might not obtain so much as a barren fief.

For Lothar, who needed land and renown to unlock the system, fighting heathens in the Holy Land promised far quicker rewards than pledging himself to another lord.

As for the risks—

How could anyone achieve success and fame without taking risks?

Since he had come to this world, Lothar was no longer willing to settle for mediocrity.

"I understand, Father. I will go."

Lothar lowered his head, picked up his spoon, and shoved a mouthful of thick pea soup into his mouth.

Then—

Count Werner suddenly spoke in a stern voice. "Kneel, Lothar!"

Somewhat bewildered, Lothar set down his spoon. Then he realized something and hurriedly pushed back his chair before kneeling in front of the long table.

The count rose to his feet, drew the sharp longsword at his waist in one swift motion, and laid it across Lothar's shoulder. "Lothar von Habsburg, in the name of a warrior, I grant you courage; in the name of the Heavenly Father, I grant you justice; in the name of the Holy Mother, I grant you the duty to protect the innocent."

"Now swear by the Eight Virtues of the Knights of the Heavenly Father: you shall do all in your power to strike down heathens and the enemies of the Heavenly Father, suppress the strong and aid the weak, and sweep away all brigands."

"Father, I swear by the Heavenly Father and the Eight Virtues that I shall treat the weak with kindness, face powerful foes with courage, punish the wicked, uphold justice, remain loyal and fair, and never waver until death."

Smack—

The count's palm struck Lothar hard across the face with a crisp crack. "Remember this: as a knight, you will face countless hardships and perils. I hope you will remain steadfast and always remember a knight's code."

That blow was quite vicious.

Lothar muttered inwardly, his expression unchanged. "I will, my liege."

The count's brows relaxed slightly. Holding the knight's sword horizontally in both hands, he said, "Then take the sword, Knight Lothar. I may not yet see your virtues clearly, but where personal martial skill is concerned, I am certain you are worthy of it."

This was an arming sword, commonly known as a knight's sword.

Unlike the hand-and-a-half sword Lothar usually used, which could be wielded with either one hand or two, an arming sword was suited only for one-handed use and was generally paired with a Kite Shield.

Lothar accepted the arming sword and its scabbard, then fastened them at his waist.

Count Werner sighed softly. "You need not call me your liege. All I can grant you is the title of knight, not a fief. Even now, three of the knights under my command remain landless—they have served me faithfully for many years, and even if I gain new lands in war, I must consider their needs first."

Lothar nodded. "I understand."

Count Werner sighed again. "Lothar, before you set out, you may select two shrewd and capable squires, along with all the equipment you require. Remember to choose carefully. Even the poorest knight needs a squire's assistance. A squire is both a knight's legs and his shield."

"Thank you for your generosity, Father."

Lothar thanked him sincerely.

Count Werner had not treated this second son particularly well, but he had treated him better than average.

As for this investiture ceremony, it had been somewhat hasty. There was no Bishop to witness it, none of the iris-cutting rituals favored by the Gauls who styled themselves the Knight's Bloom, and certainly no grant of the all-important fief.

Yet Lothar was still deeply excited, because a clear system notification rang in his ears.

On the system panel, the title field quietly turned silver-white: Knight.

You have activated the Title System and obtained your chief squire: Prajna (6-star squire)