In the Middle Ages, people drew cards to be promoted to nobility.

Even though the python has been gone for a long time.

Lothar still felt her heart beating hard.

In his past and present life, combined with the experience of two lifetimes, he has never seen such a terrifying giant beast: "How can there be such a big monster in this world?"

"It's not just about the size."

Prajna said in a deep voice: "The most terrifying thing about it is that it contains an extremely powerful magic power. This power is somewhat similar to some of my fellow warlocks."

In the darkness, a hint of excitement flashed through her eyes: "Maybe it's a witch?"

"Witch."

"Is it transfiguration?"

Lothar guessed.

Although he has never actually seen a witch, he has heard more or less about this kind of witchcraft from legendary novels and market rumors.

Prajna asked: "What is that?"

"It is said that witches can transform into various terrifying monsters by taking potions containing the blood of specific monsters to draw on their power, but at the same time they will also be gradually swallowed by their beastly nature due to the transformation."

"Every once in a while, he will involuntarily transform into a monster."

"In fairy tales and legends, the reason why Cinderella quickly left the prince's sight when it was almost twelve o'clock was because she was a witch who was proficient in transfiguration and was about to transform into a troll."

Lothar frowned and said: "Of course, I am just guessing. This world is strange to you, and it is also strange to me."

The original owner of this body was just a rich country man.

Prajna said softly: "The unknown is interesting enough, which is a good thing."

Lothar sighed softly: "I prefer this world to be a low-level magic world. With you and me, I can easily dominate the world, instead of having to be constantly vigilant about whether one day I will be silently cursed by a witch and die." ”

Prajna pursed his lips and gave advice: "Then you have to work hard to summon a medical attendant. I can block physical harm for you, but I can't block the invisible curse."

Lothar said helplessly: "This is not something I can decide. Although I created the system, the rules are established. I don't even have the authority to open a backdoor for myself."

He looked out the window.

The figure of the giant python has long since disappeared, but the muddy traces left on the ground are still very clear.

Snap.

Water drops fell.

The air became moist, and the pattering raindrops soon fell.

Lothar was surprised and said: "Is it raining? Could it be that the giant python used witchcraft to rain in order to cover up the traces of its passing?"

Prajna shook his head: "I don't know, but it is indeed possible."

the next day.

It's still rainy.

The whole world seemed to have turned gray.

Because it had rained all night, the traces left by the python had long been washed away on the streets of the town.

A group of people and six horses left the hotel early and walked on the muddy paths in the countryside. Their robes and clothes were all damp due to the damn weather.

The knights under the countess are kind people.

The two war horses she promised were Hungarian horses carefully selected by the knights from ordinary horses. They were said to be bred from native horse breeds and Arabian horses.

Although it was much shorter than Lothar's Nissaan war horse, it was still a good war horse and Lothar directly gave it to Prajna and Hans.

Lane and Model did not resent the late comers.

After all, they were not good at fighting on horseback, and it was useless to ride a war horse. Moreover, the former was suspected of being a witch and had a close relationship with the master; the latter was an elite knight who brought his own equipment, and they did not have the guts to complain.

When Hans came through time travel, he did not bring a lance or war horse, but that was because there were no paintings on the vertical painting. It did not mean that as a knight's squire, he did not know how to ride and spear.

At this time, they saw a dense crowd advancing ahead.

Their clothes were in tatters and they were dragging their families with them. Some of them looked like gangsters and some looked like mercenaries wearing chainmail.

There are three religions and nine streams, with complex ingredients.

Lothar stopped someone casually and asked, "Where are you from and what do you do?"

The man said in fear: "Reporting to the master, we are farmers who are going to the Holy Land for pilgrimage. My companions and I are all from the Brandenburg Border Territory."

"I see."

Is this a new version of the Poor People’s Crusade?

Lothar led the team and crowded on the road.

The civilians, dressed in shabby, dirty and dusty clothes, consciously gave way to the road.

The muddy water splashed by the horses' hooves flew into the faces of the civilians on the roadside, and they dared not speak out in anger.

But Lothar immediately stopped this approach and signaled everyone to dismount and walk.

In such a congested road, even a horse cannot run fast, and ordinary civilians did not dare to collide with a group of people when they saw them, and they all voluntarily got out of the way.

In front of a caravan with carriages, there was a sound of men and women gasping from time to time. Not long after, a mercenary with a sluggish and cheerful expression came down with his pants lifted.

Ryan chuckled and said: "These are the prostitutes who follow the team. The word wandering warbler is more appropriate. They move with the pilgrims to earn travel expenses. They may eventually settle down in the cities along the way, or they may just follow them all the way. Go to the Holy Land and wash away your sins.”

Lothar asked subconsciously: "Aren't you afraid of getting sick?"

Ryan was overjoyed and said: "Hey, wouldn't it be a problem if we did it in a big city? These wandering warblers follow the pilgrims, but they will be less taxed by the lords."

Lothar was silent for a moment.

"Do you even have to pay taxes on the money you earn from selling your body?"

"Of course, and it's not low, plus the tithe, labor and military taxes, new taxes invented by the lords for their own selfish purposes."

When Ryan said this, his tone paused slightly: "Sir, your father is a kind-hearted lord, but most lords do not treat civilians as human beings."

Lothar nodded. He glanced at Prajna and remembered the conversation with her that night.

Since you are a time traveler, you have to do something in the face of this world.

Even if the world cannot be changed, at least he must make his subjects live a happier life in the future.

Beside the road, from time to time, people who were sick or too hungry to walk fell down in the mud.

Someone came to Lothar and begged with a broken bowl: "Honorable sir, please do me a favor. My wife is about to starve to death. Please give me some grain."

Some people held up the Crusader flags they had sewn and shouted: "Knights, we are also Crusaders. Please let us follow you. We can be your attendants and slaves, feeding your livestock and cultivating your fields."

The old woman, whose face was filled with tears, hugged her daughter, who was as skinny as skin and bones, and begged: "Please take in my daughter, she is about to starve to death."

Lothar was a little moved.

But Model immediately reminded in a low voice: "Sir, you can't help everyone."

Lothar nodded: "Indeed, even if I can help for a while, I can't help forever. Giving a few silver coins or a few pieces of bread can't save lives."

I am afraid that not even one-third of this kind of poor people's crusade led by poor priests will eventually reach the Holy Land.

"But something has to be done."

Lothar whispered: "Model, you go and deliver some food to that woman later. Others can help as well. Please give away half of the dry food we carry."

He warned: "Remember, don't be too conspicuous. If you attract other people to fight for it, you will not be helping others but harming them."

Someone pulled a fair-faced young man up to Nisaan's war horse and said flatteringly, "Master Knight, those little girls who are as shriveled as match sticks have nothing to play with. Why don't you give it a try."

"Get out of here!"

The knight wearing a horned helmet raised his whip and shouted angrily: "How dare you sell such an unclean thing to my noble lord. Do you want my lord to commit an unforgivable sin?"

According to Catholic teachings, homosexuality is a grave sin!

The salesman suddenly showed a look of horror. He originally thought that this knight who looked equally brave should be Lothar's companion, but he never expected that he was actually a squire.

In his eyes, Lothar's status was immediately elevated from a knight to a high-level noble. After all, it was impossible for a knight to have a loyal knight under his command.

"Please forgive me for my sin, but he is not a man, but a castrate who has been castrated since he was a child based on the secrets of the Eastern Empire's court. He is not an unclean thing. The emperors of the Eastern Empire like to appoint eunuchs as their confidants to govern the country for them. .”

The businessmen were frightened.

Eunuchs have been regarded as the third gender in many places and are deeply loved by princes and nobles.

But there are still many people who think that eunuchs are just incomplete men, and they deeply despise and disgust them.

Lothar waved to him, signaling him to leave quickly.

"Hans, don't be too excited. Eunuchs have existed for hundreds of years. In the Eastern Empire, there were even eunuchs who served as the Patriarch. This is a divine rank equivalent to His Majesty the Pope."

He lowered his voice and said: "I am very confused whether you are a knight of Heavenly Father or a knight who only serves me and remains loyal even if I commit myself to the pagan devil."

Lothar jumped onto his mount and ran forward.

Hans's face changed drastically under his helmet.

His lips lost color and he couldn't help but tremble.

After a moment, he slowly followed up with his horse and said to Lothar: "My Lord, I'm sorry, I may have integrated too well into this world. If Heavenly Father really exists in this world, you are still my creator. , the only Lord you worship, please forgive me for the decision I made for you. I will immediately go find the businessman and buy the eunuch."

Lothar didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "No need to, I don't like that eunuch, let alone such a special interest, but I value your loyalty, Hans."

"A philosopher once said that if loyalty is not absolute, it is absolutely disloyal."

Lothar said seriously.

If he becomes a lord, he will inevitably conflict with the church. He cannot let the church share half of his power, nor can he accept that the people in his territory are more loyal to the church than to him.

Hans said quickly: "Please believe in my loyalty. My sword and lance are all born for you and used by you."

Prajna's faint voice sounded: "He didn't lie. Lothar, you don't have to worry about whether we are loyal or not. We exist because of you. Even if I hate you and hate you, I will still obey your orders, let alone do anything." Things that endanger you.”

"I see."

Lothar nodded slightly, and then asked tentatively: "Prajna, do you hate me?"

Prajna was stunned for a moment, frowned, and after a while, said softly: "No."

A smile suddenly appeared on Lothar's face.

Hans followed behind him, his face full of annoyance and shame. Even General Prajna looked at you differently. I, a mere one-star retinue, dared to make independent decisions for you. It was really a huge arrogance.

Intimacy does not decrease but increases.

Lothar patted Hans on the shoulder with a strange look on his face, feeling that he might have mastered the essence of pua.

The crowds became denser.

A checkpoint manned by sergeants appeared in front. A knight rode on the back of a brown war horse, holding a sword on his waist and shouting loudly.

"Pilgrims who have come from afar, ahead is the territory of Lord Leopold of Babenberg, Lienz. I am ordered by Lord Leopold to donate grain to you, but you are not allowed to go further into the depths, where a festival is being held. A knight's competition, many nobles and knights gathered here, if you offend the nobles, you will be severely punished."

"Everyone, get the grain and go south immediately. If our patrol encounters you again, you will be brutally punished!"

Lothar sighed: "We have arrived in Lienz."

This place already belongs to the Austrian border area.

This is the territory belonging to the Babenberg family.

Count Leopold, who rules here, is only a count in name, but his authority and military strength far exceed the scope of an ordinary count.

The Austrian border area, in terms of size, is probably incomparable to ordinary duchies, but after all, it is located on the frontier, with many mountains and very barren lands.

Hans followed Lothar and whispered his loyalty: "Sir, this place should belong to your family."

indeed.

Austria has always been the base of the Habsburg family throughout history.

Lothar shook his head and said: "I heard my father mention that Count Leopold is not easy to mess with. Moreover, the reason why the Habsburg family can rise in history does not rely on Austria. Although it is here Basic base, but not irreplaceable.”

Lothar had no intention of targeting Austria. Both the King of Bohemia and Henry the Lion had been coveting this place for a long time. Even if he returned from the Holy Land, he would not rashly attack here.

If given a choice, he would prefer to open up the situation in the lowland areas, where the real wealth is.

Lienz is a city built around a castle.

The castle is in the very center of the city and has the highest and strongest walls.

On the periphery of the city, there is only a small low wall and a group of buildings arranged in a haphazard manner, making it difficult for people to realize that this is already a large city.

Outside the city gate, there were special servants registering. After seeing Lothar, he quickly greeted him: "My lord, you are also here to participate in the knight competition. If you want to register, please come with me. I will do it soon." It’s deadline time.”

Lothar asked: "What is the reward of the competition?"

The servant smiled and said: "The winner will likely win the favor of my master, Lord Leopold, and may be granted a fief and an honorary title. He may also receive a large sum of shiny coins and a charming maid. "

The fiefdom was tempting, but he had already made up his mind and would not waver.

As for maids, there is no need for them.

This wealth is the only thing he needs.

Lothar nodded and said: "My attendants and I will participate. Please take me to sign up."

"Attendant?"

The servant was a little disdainful: "Ha, sir, please don't underestimate this competition. There are quite a few knights with outstanding reputations, and the scale is no smaller than the last one held in Vienna. If they are just attendants, they may not be able to withstand it. Beaten to death.”

Squires are generally unarmored.

For the knight competition, you need to bring your own armor.

"Don't underestimate my attendants."

Lothar pointed at Hans: "He is well-equipped with armor and has strong martial arts skills. Even many formal knights are no match for him. If he hadn't made any meritorious service, I would have named him a real knight long ago."

While signing up, he said to Ryan behind him: "Lian, I need four lances made of white beech wood, two lances made of apple wood, and prepare a well-made side for Hans, which needs to be covered with leather or iron. The kite shield."

The white beech lance is brittle and easy to break, so it is most suitable for use in competitions.

The applewood lance is much tougher and suitable for use on the battlefield.

After receiving the order, Ryan immediately took the money bag and left.

Hans said with some excitement: "Sir, I will never embarrass you."

The servant looked surprised: "He is actually a squire. With this armor, he looks more like a knight than a real knight."

He scrawled down the names of the two people on the registration paper. Hans had no surname, so he borrowed the surname of Habsburg.

"You two, the competitive competition will start on time in the afternoon at the hunting ground outside the city. Please prepare in advance."