Medieval Knight System: Building the Strongest Empire Ever!-Chapter 83: Welcome to the Streit Family

We leisurely escaped west, and when the sun began to set, our unit safely reached the small village. I wondered if Burgundy’s command was going nuts right about now. Since we’d focused on burning the supply bases, plenty of soldiers had escaped, so they definitely knew by now.

Luckily, the loot and roughly forty horses we’d captured from the enemy light cavalry were still there. I wanted to rest, but since enemy pursuit units could show up at any moment, we switched horses instead. The light cavalrymen each led two horses and rode south at a canter, so the pace didn’t burden the tired horses much.

The stable keeper led Mont Blanc along without trouble.

Naturally, August and Fiel showed interest in the beautiful Mont Blanc. We’d been too busy executing operations and escaping before, but now that we’d switched horses and reorganized, we had some breathing room. August examined Mont Blanc carefully and turned to me.

"When did you grab such a fine horse? It’s comparable to Schatten."

"Amid the soaring flames, this horse was all I could see."

"But why was a horse this good at a supply base?"

"It’s Count Épinay’s horse."

"Good lord! Not only did a major supply base burn, but he lost his horse too—Count Épinay must be absolutely furious."

Yeah, probably. I was going to be on the receiving end of every curse Count Épinay could muster from now on. But for a horse this good, I was fully prepared to be a righteous horse thief. And crucially, Count Épinay sadly wouldn’t be able to catch me.

Because I’m just as good at escaping as I am at attacking.

I detected enemy cavalry within range through the Commander Scouter. Just seeing dozens of units tearing through every field and forest like bloodhounds on a scent—and with so few men, no less—showed that Count Épinay was well and truly enraged. Enemy units were detected in every direction except south.

The reason they’d split into so many small units was because darkness was falling with the sunset. Luckily, the duchy’s light cavalry under my command were skilled at night marches, so no stragglers fell behind. The key was whether their commander could properly navigate through this darkness.

"Captain! In this darkness, if we enter the forest, we’ll get hopelessly lost!"

"Don’t worry, just follow me. I know the way."

The lieutenants had no doubts about my abilities after witnessing my outstanding achievements and cavalry command, but night marches were a whole different beast. I was safely navigating us back through the optimal route function, so there was no need for anxiety.

Obviously, no further explanations.

Just follow where the captain goes.

After crossing two hills, traversing one plain, and fording a river, lights finally began appearing in the distance—definitely the duchy’s garrison, separate from Euz Castle. But somehow it looked bigger. As we approached, we met a patrol.

"Halt! Which unit are you?!"

"Streit from Breisburg. Returning from a completed mission."

"Streit? By any chance, are you the one they call the Gale Knight?"

He seemed to recognize the name. After confirming the family crest, his eyes went wide at the sight of the horses and loot the unit had brought. Escorted by the patrol, we finally reached the outskirts of Euz Castle, where I confirmed that the duchy’s garrison had grown much larger. Wait, what about supplies?

It seemed my father-in-law had arrived with reinforcements while I was out intercepting raiding parties. But first, I drove all the captured horses into the horse ranch Michael had temporarily set up. Later, I’d either reward the light cavalrymen with them or give them to those who wanted them.

"Truly a magnificent horse!"

The stable keeper couldn’t hide his excitement at the sight of Schatten. Schatten didn’t even glance at the new horses that had suddenly arrived, but as if drawn by fate, he locked eyes with Mont Blanc. As I understood it, Schatten dominated most stallions; what would happen if mares were around?

Luckily, the stable keeper handled the situation skillfully, so no horse fights broke out. Schatten was just staring at me intently. Wait, was he expecting me to explain myself right now?

The stable keeper’s name was Winter. I already knew through the Manager Scouter, but only now realized I hadn’t formally introduced myself, so I hastily gave him my name. Anyway, Winter? Winter is a harsh season for medieval people, so it’s not exactly an auspicious name.

"I was born in winter, so they named me Winter. I hated it at first, but what can you do? It’s the name my parents gave me, so I have to live with it. Anyway, I was the second son of a stable keeper family in Rosenheim. Since my older brother inherits everything, I had to leave home." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"And then you got captured by a raiding party?"

"Yes. Actually, when war breaks out, most grooms secretly go near the battlefield because ownerless horses occasionally wander around. So I went too close thinking I’d snag one and got captured instead."

Dragged to Épinay, Winter had almost become a slave, but the count’s ranch manager needed a stable keeper and put him to work as a laborer. He managed horses better than expected, though, and ended up caring for the count’s personal horses—which brought him to where he was now: a German getting mistreated under French masters who didn’t even speak his language.

"Even if you go back to Rosenheim, if your brother inherited everything, you won’t have work, will you?"

"Ranch management is always short-handed, so my brother would hire me too."

"Wouldn’t a stable keeper position with my family be better than that?"

As if it were an offer he’d never imagined, Winter just blinked. Mont Blanc was a very fierce horse; managing him without Winter, who was practically a horse whisperer, would be difficult. Boarding all my horses at the royal ranch cost outrageous maintenance fees. One horse, Schatten, was fine, but I was thinking of raising vassal cavalry.

Since there was a stable in Rosengarden that could house ten horses, wouldn’t it be much cheaper to hire Winter, who’d managed Count Épinay’s horse, as stable keeper and handle things directly? Winter knew that even if he returned to Rosenheim, he’d never become head stable keeper there.

So after careful consideration, he accepted my offer.

Going home would be nice, but realistically, wanting to work under better conditions is just human nature. Winter quickly knelt before me and said:

"Sir Knight, you not only saved me but entrusted me with your family’s stable keeper position—a grace I cannot repay even unto Resurrection Day. I will do my utmost to keep your horses healthy and strong."

"Welcome to the Streit family, Winter."

He’d worked as a stable keeper under Count Épinay, but I liked his compliant (good) disposition and the fact that his hometown was Rosenheim. And most importantly, he was the person who’d managed Mont Blanc. That alone made hiring this man named Winter well worth it.

After letting my men rest and heading to Euz Castle, I spotted Michael running toward me. His face was flushed bright red, out of place on his huge frame—just like a golden retriever greeting its owner.